SRINAGAR: Police on Thursday said that a government employee was arrested for ‘posting hateful posts and comments’ on his Facebook account.
In a statement, police said that the employee Amrik Singh, son of late Ranbir Singh, a resident of Beoli Doda, posted as a Class-IV employee in the office of Chief Education officer Doda, was found to have uploaded hateful post/comments on his Facebook account and in consequence of which, there were every apprehension of eruption of law and order problem in the district.
“Sensing the sensitivity of the matter and to prevent the situation from turning into law and order problem, police arrested the said person and after preparing a detailed report, he was produced before Executive Magistrate Class 1st Doda. He was sent to district jail Bhaderwah under preventive detention,” police said.
SRINAGAR: It is something that is basic to almost everybody – Tankha, the salary. It is always a matter of concern for everybody working for the government or private sector. This was the theme of the fourth play in the ongoing Theatre Festival Kashmir 2023. The play is written by Rashid Gamgeen and presented by Dilshad Cultural Forum.
A group photograph of artists who performed the theatre play, Tankha (salary) in the Cultural Academy’s Theatre Festival in Tagore Hall in March 2023. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
As the curtain raised, a farmer offered greetings to everyone. The man was worried about the barren land and chose to work on it to make it fertile again. A woodcutter, a Hindu, and a Sikh joined him.
Everyone asked him about what he was doing there and shared it. They all mutually intend to follow the path of brotherhood to bloom the barren land and they dance together. This segment was the opening and the actual play followed later.
Tankha revolves around a family of four, Mohammad Amin, Maimoona, and their two kids Zamrooda and Tariq. The scene starts with a small house set up and a lady – Maimoona ranting about the miseries she faces all the time with respect to her work, lack of resources, and inability to live a better life. Her husband, Mohammad Amin who works on an honorarium basis returns from his work and questions her behaviour. She complains about his little salary of Rs 3000, jammed salary of two months and not fulfilling any of her demands. They get into an argument while both of them complain about their problems.
In another scene, an office with some clerks is shown where Mohammad Amin works. All of them have faced the same issue in their homes. They talk about the debt, load of work, less salary, corruption, and apart from all this the misunderstanding that people have about them having huge amounts of money. They even consider business is better than their job.
At home, when Mohammad Amin offers prayers and asks for respite from debt, a voice responds to him saying that might is right and he should not follow the right path always. He gets scared about this suggestion and asks him where the voice is coming from. The voice replies, “I am your soul.” This scene somehow shows a person’s fight with himself to follow the righteous path at a time when choosing the wrong one can resolve your problems.
The debtors frequently visit Amin’s home asking for their money. The couple assures them of returning it soon. As soon as Amin gets his salary of two months, he distributes it among the debtors and the rest to his children for some school activities. The whole salary goes into it and the couple gets into the argument again. Maimoona has to attend her brother’s wedding and she demands certain things for it.
Mohammad Amin fell ill and had a high fever. His wife doesn’t believe it at first, but later on, seeing the condition worsening, she believes. Amin gives her the money and things she demanded. Maimoona was shocked after knowing that Amin had sold his watch and scooter. He had done it out of love for her wife as she used to fight and cry over the issue. She feels bad about it and the couple gets emotional.
The play shows the efforts put in by such employees to meet the ends of their families. He suggests his children opt for government school instead of private but they refuse by giving the reason that everyone goes to private schools. His wife also timely compares herself to neighbouring ladies and their lifestyle. It shows the reality that people instead of focusing on rightly managing their lifestyle compare with other people and add to the miseries.
The play is written by Rashid Gamgeen, presented by Dilshad Cultural Forum, directed by Dilshad Mustafa, assistant direction by Akash G.M Bahar, and set designed by Saleem Yousuf. The cast line included Mukhtar Ahmad as Mohammad Amin, Shahida Alvi as Maimoona, Ghulam Mohammad Bahar as Bilal, Mohammad Yousuf Dar as Akram, Ali Mohammad Mir as Hilal, Aamir Ahmad Malik, Tasaduk Hussain, and Sajad Hussain as debtors, Mohammad Yousuf Ganie as Dervish, Ghulam Hussain Hak Nawaz as his assistant, Shazia Akhter as Zamrooda and Munawar Ali as Tariq.
SRINAGAR: Protests against JKSSB gained momentum after a massive online campaign against JKSSB and Aptech trended for days all over social media.
Scores of job aspirants hit the streets for the second consecutive day on Thursday to protest against the hiring of the blacklisted Aptech by JKSSB for conducting written examinations for recruitment to various posts.
Job spirants assembled at the Press Enclave and raised slogans against Aptech and the JKSSB.
“Why is JKSSB adamant on giving contract to a tainted company. We just want our future to be in safe hands and for that there should be a blanket ban on Aptech,” the protesting students said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of aspirants from Jammu on Wednesday assembled at Dogra Chowk and protested against the notification and issuance of admit cards even as the matter of JKSSB is still pending before the court.
The protesting students who were demanding a ban on Aptech were lathi-charged and some of them were detained.
Pertinently, the Jammu and Kashmir administration headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha last year cancelled the selected list of 1,200 police sub-inspectors, 1,300 junior engineers and 1,000 finance account assistants (FAA) following allegations of paper leak and malpractices.
After scrapping recruitment lists, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha announced fresh exams and promised a transparent and fair recruitment process, however, the contract with Aptech again brought the students on streets, halting the exam process.
Meanwhile, the protesting aspirants from all over the UT have drawn immense support from political class who continuously are posting in favour of the aspirants on their Twitter Handles.
The political class is demanding for an immediate action against Aptech and has strongly condemned the use of force against students in Jammu.
Former chief minister Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah took to Twitter and wrote, “I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the use of force & lathi charge against students & JKSSB aspirants. These youngsters were exercising their democratic right to protest against the recent decision to engage a blacklisted firm #Aptech by JKSSB.”
Speaking to reporters in Shopian, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “Many job aspirants are on protest both in Srinagar and Jammu. They were lathi-charged and I condemn that in strongest possible terms,” she said.
“Strongly condemn the use of force against students protesting APTECH. Using force against students shows how alienated the administration is. Who would order use of force against young students. Have some shame. U would probably have children at home, of same age group,” People’s Conference chairperson Sajjad Lone wrote on his Twitter handle.
SRINAGAR: Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday ordered for attachment of Additional Superintendent of Police Bandipora with immediate effect.
“In the interest of administration, Shri Ashiq Hussain Tak, Addl. Superintendent of Police, Bandipora, is hereby attached with the Police Headquarters, JK, with immediate effect”, reads an order.
The fresh attachment comes hours after another cop, of DySP rank, was attached over ‘some allegations of professional misconduct’ against him. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries has given shutdown call On March 11 against imposition of property tax in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a press conference president CCI Arun Gupta, said that after series of meetings with members of civil society and other organizations, they have decided to observe complete shutdown on Saturday.
He said that Chamber of Commerce and Industry will oppose any move that will put burden on the people—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: At least two houses were damaged after a massive fire broke out in the Kalwal Mohalla Rainawari area of central Kashmir’s Srinagar district on Thursday.
Quoting officials, news agency GNS reported that the fire broke out in one house and soon after spread to another house in proximity, causing damage to the roofs and upper parts of both houses.
Soon after the news broke, the men from rushed to the spot. Despite the tightly packed and congested area, the fire was eventually brought under control. “The men are doing their job, and the fire will be contained down within some time,” an F&ES official added.
The cause of the fire and the identification of the house owners is yet to be ascertained.
SRINAGAR: A man allegedly killed his brother after a scuffle broke between the two over some argument in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said.
Quoting officials, news agency GNS reported that an argument ensued between two brothers over some dispute at Kuzweera Budgam, which soon after turned ugly and one of the party attacked the other leaving him grievously injured.
Before the injured could be rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed.
The deceased has been injured as Kaisar Yousaf Zargar son of Mohammad Yousuf Zargar.
A senior police officer confirming the incident said that a team has been dispatched to the scene to verify the facts.
SRINAGAR: A man died after a scuffle broke between the two persons over some argument in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said.
Quoting officials, news agency GNS reported that an argument ensued between two persons over some dispute at Kuzweera Budgam, which soon turned ugly leaving one of persons grievously injured.
Before the injured could be rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed.
The deceased has been injured as Kaisar Yousaf Zargar son of Mohammad Yousuf Zargar.
A senior police officer confirming the incident said that a team has been dispatched to the scene to verify the facts.
SRINAGAR: Locals and police on Thursday recovered a body of a youth from river Jhelum near cement bridge in Qamarwari area of Srinagar, officials said.
Quoting an official, news agency KNO reported that the body was recovered from the Jhelum on Thursday afternoon.
He said the body has been shifted to GMC for postmortem and other medico-legal formalities.
Meanwhile, the official said the body is likely of a Budgam youth who had drowned in Jhelum around 20 days ago.
“His family members have been called to identify the body,” he said. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: The School Education Department Thursday said that the new academic session will commence soon after the culmination of annual regular board examinations.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Director School Education Kashmir, Tassaduq Hussain Mir said new academic session will begin soon after the culmination of ongoing exams.
“We are prepared for the new academician session and we have set the timelines too,” he said.
On being asked about transportation fee of those months during which schools were closed, he said private school students are not liable to pay for services they did not avail during those months.
He said earlier the academic session used to end in December but now it has changed to March. “The ongoing session will end after the culmination of annual regular board exams.”
About the violation of government guidelines for charging admission fee by some private schools, Mir said wherever they will get written complaints, they will act tough against the violators. (KNO)
