SRINAGAR: A youth was killed after a vehicle he was travelling in met with an accident at Shamsipora railway crossing along Jammu-Srinagar national highway in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, an official said.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that a person identified as Aqib Mehmood Sheikh son of Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Bankoot Banihal who was traveling in his own vehicle (JK06-2337) from Srinagar towards Jammu met with an accident at Shamsipora railway crossing last evening.
He was shifted to District hospital Anantnag for treatment in critical condition, however, he was declared brought dead by the doctors, he said.
Meanwhile, Police have taken cognizance of the incident.
JK Police arrested the founder of Awami Awaaz Party on February 16, 2023 for being anti national. The party came into being after the reading down of Article 370 in August 2019. Pic: JKP
In an interesting twist in the Kashmir tale, the police booked three ‘leaders’ of a post-2019 “political party” under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), for allegedly ‘intimidating’ journalists and making anti-national statements. Identified as Suhail of Mustafabad HMT, Nadeem Shafi Rather of Maloora HMT and Umar Majeed Wani of Soura, the trio were running Awami Awaz Party. It was one of the many “nationalist” groups that would unfurl the tricolour in Lal Chowk and sing the national anthem to the social media cell phones while attacking the “dynasts” for the bloodshed in Kashmir. “I urge all youth of Jammu and Kashmir to take the pledge on this Republic Day to make our country proud on the world stage,” Khan said in his Lal Chowk speech on 2022 Republic Day.
The arrest came within days after a press conference in which they rebuked the “media” for working against the “interests” of Kashmir. “Our party was formed by the army. I have hoisted the tricolour,” one of the trio was quoted as having told the presser. “But when I saw atrocities on common people I decided to fight for freedom.” Police termed them “miscreants” and “anti-national”. A senior army officer told NDTV that “the group may have been supported by some individual officers, but the army has nothing to do with such groups”. The U-turn, Khan led trio claimed came in response to the use of bulldozers against the people. The group had been vocal on the mysterious disappearance of a driver in a Kupwara village in army’s custody.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) yearly survey has found a construction worker in Jammu and Kashmir is Rs 524, one of the highest daily wages in India. It is only Rs 362 in Maharashtra, Rs 250 in Tripura, Rs 267 in MP, and Rs 296 in Gujarat.
LASSIPORA
Chairman and managing director of JSW group Sajjan Jindal laid the foundation stone of a steel processing unit in Pulwama on February 17, 2023.
Leading steel maker Jindal South West (JSW) laid the foundation stone of its first steel processing plant in Lassipora. Group MD Sajjan Jindal personally flew to lay the foundation in, what he said, “the heart of Kashmir”. The Rs 150 crore plant spread over 70 kanals of land has installed capacity manufacturing 1.2 lakh metric tonne colour-coated for local consumption. It will also make steel sandwich panels and steel doors for the local market. This is said to be the first project that was set up after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was read down in August 2019. Kashmir in the last decade had set up two steel plants, one each at Lassipora and Rangreth, to reduce its dependence on Jammu plants. Of the two, one was closed already and another one is battling for survival owing to the post-2019 work conditions. Jammu has traditionally been the main supplier of steel to Kashmir, apart from SAIL.
IMHANS run Tele Mental Health Assistance received more than 4000 distress calls across Jammu and Kashmir since its launch on November 4. These included 694 calls were about sadness, 619 about anxiety, 502 about stress-related issues, 191 related to suicidal ideation or attempts, 454 had reduced interest in pursuing activities, 441 were palpitation-related, 416 related to sleep disturbances, and 283 related to hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, and guilt.
JAMMU
M M Khajuria
MM Kahjuria, former Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief passed away after a brief illness on February 16, 2023. He was 91. He is survived by three daughters, six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Born on June 11, 1931, Khajuria is reported to have spearheaded an agitation for free education up to the postgraduate level before joining the JKP in 1954. He eventually became the first JKP officer to be inducted into the IPS. Khajooria was JKP’s second DGP from January 16, 1985, to May 25, 1986.
After the government clubbed schools, owing to low roll, 33 government school buildings in Rajouri remain vacant and locked. Now the authorities are working to repurpose the infrastructure.
PAHALGAM
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha presenting a Saffron tray in full bloom to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on November 13, 2022.
The National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is busy drafting a preliminary report to construct a road to Amarnath shrine so that it is accessible from Pahalgam as well as the Baltal side. If approved this year, it will be ready within the next five years. The announcement was made by LG Manoj Sinha. “I think you will see that day with the blessings of Lord Shankar,” Sinha said.
The finance department has released Rs 714 crore for clearance of Rs 458 of pending GPF bills and Rs 256 of Gratuity.
SHOPIAN
Jasia Akhter
Making history, Jasia Akhtar, 34, a female Kashmir cricketer got a berth in India’s Women’s Premier League (WPL). A resident of Shopian’s Braripora, she was taken by Delhi Capitals at Rs 20 lakh in the last WPL auction where 409 players from 15 countries participated. Passionate about the game, Jasia, a right-hand batter, shifted to Punjab where she is playing domestic cricket for around eight years now. In 2022, she moved to Rajasthan. Currently, she is the second-highest run-getter in the senior women’s T20 Trophy. A total of 409 players from 15 countries went under the hammer for the WPL auction.
The Elder of five siblings, Jasia is the daughter of a marginal farmer, Gul Mohammad Wani. Her first bat was chiselled out of a willow log by her father when she was five, using his axe. At the peak of tensions, she would normally play with the boys in the village till she was noticed for having a great capacity and required coaching. “My father had made a willow bat and had kept it in the rice container fearing that I would hurt myself with it,” Jasia was quoted as having said after her selection. “I would take the bat out and hide in my pheren and go to play with the boys in the village ground.” Later she would play with boys at Government Higher Secondary School at Kaprin. In 2010, she was selected by JKCA for its women’s team. In 2011, she impressed everybody when her team played against Harmanpreet Kaur-led Punjab team in the BCCI domestic competition at Jammu – 39 runs off 25 balls, following which Kaur gifted her bat to Jasia. In 2012, she shifted to Amritsar to play for the BBK DAV College team and later played for PCA women’s team.
Sarla Devi from Jammu also made it to WPL, this season.
226 thousand people visited 131 public libraries across Jammu and Kashmir in 2022.
NEW MEXICO
Kashmir neuroscientist, Dr Mubarak Hussain Syed, is among the 125 scientists from USA and Canada who were declared prestigious Sloan Research Fellows for 2023. Every one of them receives US $75000 to pursue their research within two years. Syed is an assistant professor of Biology at The University of New Mexico and runs his Neural Diversity Lab which has already helped solve certain mysteries of mind works in fruit flies. The Alfred P Sloan Foundation said the 2023 fellows “represent the most promising scientific researchers working today” and their “achievements and potential place them among the next generation of scientific leaders in the US and Canada.” The nomination is given in “recognition of distinguished performance and a unique potential to make substantial contributions to their field”. His laboratory is working on fruit flies, which offer an excellent model system to understand the genetic basis of nervous system development and function. His extensive work has given him a nickname within the scientific community – Fly Guy. His lab has already identified a novel role of insect growth hormone in regulating neural stem cell temporal gene expression. Now they are testing if this hormonal signalling regulates the formation of diverse neuron types in the fruit fly brain. “I am humbled,” Syed said. “It is an honour to be on this list of extraordinary scientists.”
Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught 136 government officials red-handed while accepting bribes in the last three years with the Srinagar district topping the chart.
JAMMU
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have booked the Jammu newspaper Taskeen editor for cheating under section 420. He is also a member of the Waqf Board. The case has been registered at Peer Mitha police station on the basis of an audio recording produced by the complainant, Dr KL Sharma, wherein Kazmi is being heard demanding Rs 5 lakh from the complainant in lieu of a government job. Reports said he had taken the money in 2021 but the candidate did not get selected and he did not return the “bribe”
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has declared Jammu and Kashmir’s eight water bodies as `polluted’ based on Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). These include Srinagar’s Chuntkol (11.21), the entire length of Jhelum from Srinagar to Baramulla (7.8); Pahalgam’s Lidder (7); Gawkadal (3.2); Tawi Jammu (14); Katra’s Banganga (6.2); Udhampur’s Devaka (10) and Samba’s Basanter (4.2).
GULMARG
Under a thick blanket of snow and crowded by hundreds of skiers from across the world and youngsters participating in various winter sports events, Gulmarg saw India’s Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and top Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi. While Thakur visited as part of the game management, Rahul flew for five days to cool his heels over the slopes after remaining busy with Bharat Jodo Yatra for many months. Over the slopes, Omar Abdullah, an impressive skier, joined him. Rahul was seen zigzagging on the slope at Gulmarg skiing resort with an instructor filming the video. Pictures of the Congress leader were also shared on social media platforms.
The government has terminated the services of Saleem Ahmad Beig, a Jail Superintendent and Abdul Majid Bhat, a former Assistant Regional Transport officer.
KUPWARA
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Kupwara turned down the bail application of nine persons including five soldiers who were arrested in a drug peddling case. The five soldiers were operating a drug peddling gang from the Panzam garrison and were arrested in January 2023 for running the drug cartel from Tangdhar, a town located on the Line of Control (LoC). The court observed that soldiers were supposed to protect society but regretted this bunch worked in contravention of it. The accused soldiers were identified as Naib-Subedar Puran Singh, Anil Kumar (driver) Sepoy Sushil Kumar, Naik Waseem Ahmad Mir and Mohammad Shafiq Khan. Their civilian accomplices were identified as Mashkoor Sheikh (working as a porter with Army), Mohammad Yousaf Kothari, Saleem Sheikh and Mohammad Imran Teli. Earlier, the NIA arrested a BSF officer posted in Handwara – also part of the frontier Kupwara district, “on charges of cross-border drug smuggling linked with the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist group”. Identified as Romesh Kumar, the report said Rs 91 lakh cash was recovered from Kumar. On December 23, 2022, JKP arrested 17 people including five of its own cops for drug peddling.
MHA declared Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) as outfits bringing the total number of such illegal organisations to 44.
SRINAGAR: Weather was cloudy in Jammu and Kashmir during the last 24 hours. However, the MeT office said on Monday that light rain/thundershowers are likely during the next 24 hours.
“Light rain/thundershowers are likely in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said.
Srinagar had 5.3, Pahalgam 1.7 and Gulmarg 0.2 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature today.
SRINAGAR: Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Kashmir Police is carrying out searches at two places in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said on Monday.
Quoting a police officer, GNS reported that the searches are carried out in connection with a case under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
The officer said further details would be shared latter.
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday addressed a seminar on ‘Financing the Future of Agriculture’ in Jammu.
The seminar brought together the stakeholders in agriculture sectors and Banking institutions to discuss agricultural growth and credit support.
The Lt Governor exhorted the banking sector to play a lead role in realising the dream of accelerated development of Agriculture & allied sector. He also assured all the assistance to farmers and adequate fund for revival of cooperative banks.
“In the first budget of Amrit Kaal, Hon’ble Prime Minister & Hon’ble Finance Minister has shown the way for inclusive development & empowering every section of society with the vision of “Vanchito ko Variyata” and giving priority to the Agriculture sector,” said the Lt Governor.
Agriculture Accelerator Fund envisaged in this year’s budget, will encourage agri-startups in rural areas. It will provide entrepreneurial opportunities to local youth and affordable solutions to tackle challenges in agriculture sector. The agriculture credit target has been increased to Rs. 20 lakh crore with focus on animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries, he added.
Highlighting the transformation in the agriculture sector, the Lt Governor said the progressive reforms introduced by the administration in the last three years are paying the dividends to the farmers.
The Amrit Kaal provides us an opportunity to transform the agriculture sector and also protect the farmers from effects of unpredictable market, climate change and loss of biodiversity, he observed.
Projects under holistic development of agriculture & allied sector being implemented in J&K UT is one amongst the few major long-term and groundbreaking interventions in the agricultural horizon of the country, the Lt Governor said.
The revolutionary projects worth Rs 5013 crore for Holistic development of agriculture and allied sector will provide practical solutions to meet the future challenges, accelerate the growth momentum and usher in a new era of farmer prosperity and rural livelihood security in J&K UT, he added.
The Lt Governor impressed on all stakeholders for successful implementation of the projects under holistic development of agriculture & allied sector.
The Lt Governor said the holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors will develop a strong ecosystem of agriculture entrepreneurs in Jammu Kashmir and create jobs in the sectors. It will cross the Rs 30,000 crore mark in the 4th year, he noted.
The Lt Governor further emphasized on streamlining the institutional credit flow to the farmers.
J&K has its share of challenges of geo-climatic conditions which are mostly affecting small & marginal farmers. The onus lies on all banks to connect these farmers with banking system, observed the Lt Governor.
Banking institutions are the most important support system to ensure maximum institutional credit reaches the farmers, especially in unbanked villages, noted the Lt Governor.
Promoting institutional credit in the agriculture sector will be a game changer in strengthening the agriculture economy and realizing the goal of inclusive and balanced development. Credit access for tenant, small and medium farmers must be ensured, he said.
The Lt Governor further underscored the significant role of the regional rural banks in credit flow and extension of credit facilities to every farmer.
In the last 8 years, credit by the commercial banks has been doubled. Still, we have to increase the credit flow and ensure equal disbursement of institutional credit and identify the areas which are facing inequality, observed the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor asked the Banks to work in a planned manner and ensure time bound saturation of KCC for all farmers associated with agriculture & allied activities. He further asked the J&K Bank to organize a programme to honour the women associated with agriculture & allied sector.
The banking industry needs to serve the small & marginal farmers, youth and women agripreneurs and act as catalyst for growth. It must be ensured that every woman who wants to become agripreneur should receive hassle-free financial assistance, said the Lt Governor.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department; Dr Ashok Dalwai, CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority; Yasha Mudgal, Commissioner/Secretary Cooperatives Department; Kamal P Patnaik, Regional Director RBI; Baldev Prakash, MD & CEO J&K Bank; Dr Ajay Kumar Sood, CGM NABARD Jammu, and members of Kissan Advisory Board present on the occasion also shared their views on the role of financial institutions in Agriculture sector.
SRINAGAR: Srinagar-Leh national highway was closed, while several houses and a cowshed were damaged due a landslide in Rezin area of Sonamarg in central Kashmir Ganderbal district on Sunday evening.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the landslide triggered by heavy rainfall caused massive damage to houses and a cowshed and also blocked the Leh highway.
He said that officials were assessing the situation and taking steps to provide assistance to the affected people.
Meanwhile, in a statement, district administration said a landslide triggered at Rezin, leading to blockage of the highway.
“Some houses have been damaged by slide, however, no loss of life or injury had been reported. Area has been cleared, and residents of the affected area have been moved to safer places,” reads the statement.
It reads rescue teams and senior officers are also present on the spot and monitoring the situation closely.
“The highway will be cleared with the help of Beacon authorities. For any emergency or information, please contact these numbers 9906668731, 9419371774, 9541786731, 0194-2416478 and 0194-2416564,” it reads.
SRINAGAR: Dozens of villages falling near the Line of Control (LoC) in northern Kashmir get disconnected from the rest of the valley during every winter due to the heavy snowfall leaving them in severe shortage of the essential commodities due to the blockade of roads.
With snow capped mountains, pristine rivers running down the villages, serene nature and heart-warming people, Gurez valley is one of the such isolated place where winter for residents means settling into their homes with a stockpile of canned goods, dried vegetables and firewood or coal, and waiting patiently for spring to arrive.
Razdan Pass, which is the gateway to Gurez mountainous valley and Sadhna top, connecting border town of Tangdhar with Kupwara records around 10-15 feet snow during winter months and becomes the main reason for the closure of the roads, thereby making the area inaccessible during the harsh conditions of winter months.
“The long months of isolation for the Gurez which is picking up swiftly as one of tourist destination residents are passed by working on handicrafts for sale the following summer, listening to Shina and Kashmiri music, feeding cattle and visiting each other,” says Bashir Ahmad, a local health worker.
During the heavy snowfall, Bashir and his friends contribute money and assemble in the house to sing the traditional songs, besides folk tales are being told.
However the greatest concern over the long winter, other residents say, is health care as the snow-clad region comprising 15 sub villages remains cut off from the rest of the world during winters due to heavy snowfall which led to multiple administrative problems and created panic among the locals.
Critically ill patients have no choice during winter but to airlift from here to other hospitals,” the residents of Karnah said, adding that due to continuous snowfall, the situation is sometimes so complicated that the villagers of the valley cannot reach the sub district hospital. This winter, they said that the situation was so tough that they could not even bring the corpses to their native areas for four several days.
The snowfall which had draped the pristine Gurez and Karnah regions since the last three months has forced the administration to press choppers into service for winter to manage medical emergencies of the people living in the region.
Hoping that the road will be re-opened very quickly this year, people said that they don’t want to depend on chopper service during the emergency period. “If the weather is unfavorable then it can’t operate at that time either,” Abdul Rasheed, a Tulail resident said.
“During the winter months, nearby roads might not be in the best shape or not be as well maintained as urban roads,” Aziz said, adding that in some cases you may not even be able to spot your neighbours at all due to heavy snowfall because things may no longer remain as rosy as they seemed to be in summer.
The government in Gurez valley has installed diesel generators in the villages. A single generator feeds a village of about 60 households and provides regular 5-hour electricity daily from 7 PM to 11 PM besides two-hour electricity from 5 AM to 7 AM.
“As the villages are scattered and settled at high altitudes facing immense hardships in winter, in the form of connectivity, electricity and health emergency, Masoor Ahmad a resident of Karnah says people also lose daily earning due to unavailability of work around.
The closure of the road coupled with harsh weather conditions forces many residents to migrate to other parts of the valley, he said while citing harsh weather conditions, shortage of essential commodities and the health emergency as main reasons for migration.
“Everyone has to keep a huge stock of firewood and essential food items including rice, oil and dried vegetables which we use during winters when our area remains under several feet of snow and remains cut off with the rest of the valley,” he said.
The locals of duo snow bound regions said the tunnel at the high altitude tops would facilitate round the year traffic movement on the only surface link connecting the towns with district headquarters.
Recently people in the Karnah region have registered a protest demonstration to press their demand regarding the construction of the Tunnel while the same demand is also being raised by the residents of Gurez.
Quoting officials the news agency KNO reported that the critically ill patients of these areas in the winter season were airlifted from their respective areas to the city hospital on priority basis through chopper service with the help of administration. Besides the students in need of evacuation also availed the service.
They said that a Snow clearance operation has started on a massive scale to clear the Gurez-Bandipora and Karnah-Kuwara Roads. “It is being ensured that both roads will be opened as soon as possible,” the officials said.
SRINAGAR: Former All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi (MP) Sunday chaired a meeting of Party leaders of Kashmir and exhorted them to work for the betterment of people.
Gandhi expressed serious concern over the difficulties confronting people in absence of the democratic system in J&K while slamming the Govt for snatching the rights of people.
Rahul Gandhi in a meeting with the party leaders of Kashmir expressed serious concern over the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir while slamming the Centre Govt for failing people on all counts.
Gandhi said J&K was divided into to UTs against the wishes of the people besides they are being abandoned of their democratic rights by the BJP aiming to hide its (BJPs) wrong policies and utter failure on all fronts, but the Congress shall continue to fight for the democratic rights of the people and ensure justice to them, he said.
Gandhi slammed the current eviction drive in J&K terming it BJP’s deliberate move to divert attention of the people from real issues especially rising unemployment, unprecedented price hike and other developmental issues concerning people.
Gandhi also expressed confidence that people especially the youth are joining the Congress party given its pro people policies urging Party leaders to keep their doors open for those wishing to join Congress and encourage them to work for the wellbeing of the people.
Gandhi told the Party leaders that he (RG) will continue to visit J&K as that he feels their pain and anguish, he will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice to people of J&K, who have undergone enormous hardships due to the wrong policies adopted by the BJP Govt towards J&K, Gandhi added.
Speaking on the occasion AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi urged the party leaders to work hard to strengthen the Congress party at grass roots and perform their legitimate role to resolve people’s issues, for the fact, Congress Party is an instrument of service to the people.
AICC Incharge Rajni Patil (MP) and JKPCC President Vikar Rasool Wani briefed Shri Rahul Gandhi about the organizational affairs and activities in J&K.
SRINAGAR: Five houses were damaged by landslides in J&K’s Ramban district on Sunday, officials said.
Officials said landslides hit Duksar Dal village of Sangaldan area, 45 km from Ramban district headquarters.
“The incident occurred nearly a fortnight after 19 residential houses, a mosque, and a girls religious school had developed cracks due to land sinking at Nai Basti village of Doda district.
“The affected families have been shifted and provided tents, ration, utensils and blankets as an immediate relief,” an official said. (IANS)
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the 33rd Police-Public Mela at Gulshan Ground on Sunday.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated 33rd Police-Public Mela at Gulshan Ground on Sunday
The Lt Governor said, the Police-Public Mela has emerged as a powerful platform for police officers & public to interact and celebrate the shared heritage.
The Lt Governor commended the Jammu & Kashmir Police Wives Welfare Association ( JKPWWA ) for carrying out numerous initiatives all round the year to address the concerns of the families of martyrs and serving personnel.
JKPWWA is doing exceptional work in promoting welfare measures for JKP Jawans and their families, he added.
The Lt Governor paid tributes to the martyrs of Jammu Kashmir Police who devoted their lives to serving and protecting the nation.
We will forever be grateful to our Bravehearts and their families who made supreme sacrifice for the sovereignty and integrity of the country, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor went around the stalls put up by various Police establishments, Districts, JKRLM and also interacted with the police families.
Dilbag Singh, DGP and Dr Rubinder Kaur, Chairperson PWWA briefed the Lt Governor about the extensive arrangements made for the Police-Public Mela and the activities undertaken for the welfare of families of J&K Police personnel.
