SRINAGAR: A pedestrian was killed after being hit by a vehicle in Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday evening.
Reports said that a pedestrian identified as Ashiq Hussain Sheikh (37), a resident of Kunzar Tangmarg was hit by a ‘speedy’ vehicle on Srinagar-Baramulla highway near Hanjiwara area this evening.
Ashiq was immediately shifted to Trauma hopital Pattan where doctors declared him dead, the vehicle has fled from the spot, they said.
Meanwhile, police have launched a man hunt to nab the driver, trace the vehicle and a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in this regard. (KDC)
SRINAGAR: At least six districts of Jammu and Kashmir including the summer capital of the Union Territory, Srinagar have recorded deficient rainfall since January 01-February 08, 2023, a data compiled by Meteorological department reveals on Wednesday.
Quoting the data news agency KNO reported that J&K in general has recorded normal rainfall as against the normal rainfall of 125.5 mm, it recorded 143.5 mm, which is 14 per cent above normal.
However, six of the districts including Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora, Kathua, Jammu and Shopian have recorded deficient rainfall with official data stating that Srinagar has recorded 91.3 mm rainfall against 113.5 mm normal rainfall, indicating 20 per cent deficient rainfall since January 01 this year to February 08.
Against 88.6 mm normal rainfall, Budgam in central Kashmir has recorded 53.7 mm rainfall during the same period and also against 95.3 mm, Bandipora has recorded only 54.8mm rainfall, which is 39 and 43 per cent deficient rainfall respectively in the two districts.
The data further reads that Shopian has recorded 38 per cent deficient rainfall till today, adding that against normal rainfall of 60.9 mm, the district has recorded only 37.8 mm rainfall till today.
Jammu and Kathua districts have also recorded 41 and 38 per cent deficient rainfall respectively, the data added.
Moreover, the data reads that seven J&K districts including Anantnag, Doda, Kulgam, Poonch, Pulwama, Rajouri and Ramban have recorded excess rainfall since January 01 till today.
It added that six J&K districts including Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Samba, Kupwara, Reasi and Udhampur have recorded normal rainfall during the same period.
Meanwhile, the weatherman here has predicted light snowfall in J&K.
Director Meteorological department, Sonum Lotus said that there is a possibility of widespread light to moderate snowfall and rain in J&K with chances of heavy snowfall over higher reaches from tomorrow afternoon till February 10.
The night temperature plummeted once again at a few places while Pahalgam, a famous tourist destination, recorded a low of minus 7.6 degree Celsius.
Srinagar also recorded minus 0.1 degree Celsius while Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 6.5 degree Celsius.
SRINAGAR: The Centre on Wednesday said that 4598 drug smuggling cases were registered in Jammu and Kashmir from 2017 to 2021 and that drugs. Among these cases 12 have been registered by the National Investigation Agency.
Quoting Union Minister of Home Nityanand Rai, the news agency KNO reported that as per the report of NCRB, the number of cases of drug smuggling registered in J&K in the last five years including 743 in 2017, 680 in 2018, 918 in 2019, 933 in 2020 and 1324 in 2021.
He said there is no data or study to indicate an increase in smuggling and consumption of narcotics or drugs in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 5 years.
He said the data is available as per survey conducted by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on Extent and Pattern of Substance use in India through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi during 2018 for which report was released in February, 2019.
He also said that the estimated number of various drug substance users with age between 18 to 75 is 585000 including 1,36,000 cannabis, 4,47,000 opioids, 1000 cocaine and 1000 Amphetamines type stimulant.
He said the various steps taken by the Centre to deal with menace of Narco-terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir include National Investigation Agency empowered under NDPS Act 1985 for investigation of Narco terrorism cases.
“To keep check at the land borders, Border Security Force has been empowered under the Narcotics Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act for making interdiction of narcotic drugs,” he said.
He further said the Government has introduced NCORD mechanism in 2016 to have effective coordination of actions among various Ministries, Departments, Central and States law enforcement agencies dealing with narcotics.
“The mechanism was restructured in 2019 into a 4 tier structure as detailed under Apex Level Committee (headed by Union Home Secretary) Executive Level Committee (headed by Special Secretary (IS),MHA). State Level Committee (headed by Chief Secretary of the concerned State). District Level Committee (Headed by District Magistrate). The NCORD mechanism has been further strengthened by addition of new members at different levels to make it more effective and comprehensive,” he added
He also said dedicated Anti Narcotic Task Force has been established in Jammu & Kashmir, which will also function as the NCORD secretariat.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested ten absconders who were evading their arrest from last two decades.
Ten persons absconding since two decades arrested In Pulwama: Police
A police spokesman in a statement said that Police in Pulwama constituted a special team to nab the absconders who were evading their arrest since long.
“After strenuous efforts, special team were able to arrest 10 absconders who were evading their arrest from last two decades,” he said.
He added that these absconders are involved in heinous cases of PS Rajpora and PS Pulwama. They have been identified as Manzoor Ganai son of Abdullah Ganai, Bashir Ganai son of Abdul Ahad, Aziz Bakshi son of Nabir Bakshi, Gulzar Sheikh son of Mohda Sheikh, Mushtaq Ah Lone son of Abdullah Lone, all residents of Drabgam Rajpora, Javied Ahmad Shah son of Gh Mohammad Shah resident of Bagat Barzullah at present Dangerpora Nowgam, Abdul Hamid Parray son of Gh Ahmad Parray resident of Pandit Pora Ballah Tangmarg, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat son of Gh Mohammad Bhat resident of Jagir Parigam, Ab Hamid Bhat son of Wali Mohammad Bhat resident of Tenpuna Pulwama and Mohd Afzal Malik son of Abdul Rahim Malik resident of Ugergund Newa.
“All the arrested absconders have been produced before Court for further disposal,” he further added.
“Our consistent actions against anti-social elements should reassure the community members that we are making every effort to keep our society free of crime. Police has resolved to act as per law against those who indulge in criminal activities,” said police spokesman in a statement.
JAMMU: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta conducted virtual tour of works taken up under the central flagship programme Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) across the UT of J&K. He interacted with public and officials of the department for taking first hand appraisal of the progress made in the mission so far.
The virtual tour took place in a meeting attended by Principal Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Mission Director, JJM; Deputy Commissioners; Special Secretary, JSD; Director Finance, JSD; Chief Engineers; Superintending Engineers; Executive Engineers and other officers of the Jal Shakti Department.
At the outset, the Chief Secretary asked the officers about the progress of the mission and asked them to meet the deadlines without any fail. He directed them to tender all the components of each scheme to complete them fully. He also urged them to expedite the tendering of remaining works so that these are taken up before March this year.
He impressed upon them to involve the local people so that the scheme runs successfully in future as well.
He enjoined upon the officers of the mission to augment the monitoring mechanism for the effective implementation of this mega mission. He also stressed on third party evaluation of the works besides greater role for public representatives and Paani Samities in monitoring progress.
He laid stress on using techniques like Critical Path Method (CPM) and Resource Management System for better control and understanding of the priority areas and discerning the way forward to complete each work on time.
He instructed the officers to carry out the capacity building of the field workers so that the mission worth Rs 11000 Cr is implemented efficiently. He maintained that such missions provide golden opportunity to departments to enhance their efficiency in terms of capacity of their employees and addressing the manpower requirements as well.
Dr Mehta also asked about the pace of water testing under JJM and the remedial measures taken in case of poor quality of water found anywhere. He exhorted upon them to involve people and PRI representatives in the testing process and give the testing kits to PaaniSamities for quality check of the tap water.
The Principal Secretary, Shaleen Kabra informed the Chief Secretary that the mission is under implementation from 2019 and has achieved a substantial progress till now. He informed the meeting that all rural institutions like schools, Anganwadi centres and health institutions has been provided piped water under this mission.
He revealed that every remaining rural household would get the tap water connection under this mission by June this year as most of the targets would be completed by then. In the presentation he threw light on all the aspects of the mission. He gave detailed analysis of the objectives, procedures, progress and way forward to take the mission to its logical conclusion.
It was further given out that of 6774 works 6712 had already been tendered out and 3696 works stands allotted till date. It was further revealed that 1893 works are currently under progress and 284 works stands completed in the UT. It was given out that all the works of the Mission would be allotted till March this year.
The meeting was apprised that in order to enhance the transparency and monitoring of the works NGOs have been empanelled as Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs). These ISAs are going to work across villages and help in capacity building of Gram panchayats, PaniSamities and perform other support activities as well.
SRINAGAR: Asserting that there is no restriction in Kashmir to hoist the national flag after the abrogation of Article 370, Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday said that he was once jailed for raising the national flag in the Union Territory.
“I was longest serving BJP Youth Wing President, from 2010 to 2017. I took a yatra from Kolkata to Kashmir to hoist the national flag. I was put in jail to hoist the national flag in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, I see Jammu and Kashmir is a different state with no such restrictions,” Thakur said while speaking at the first Y20 meeting under G20 India at IIT Guwahati.
The minister further said that after August 2019, when the article was ruled out by the Central government there are no such restrictions in the territory.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, it was difficult to even hoist the national flag. But after the abrogation of Article 370, you could see last year during the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ program, there was a Tiranga hoisted on each and every house in Kashmir,” Thakur said.
The first Y20 meeting in 2023, under G20 India, began in Guwahati on February 6.
The deliberations at the Youth20 were aimed at reaching out to the youth and holding consultations with them for ideas “for a better tomorrow”.
More than 150 Youth delegates from G20 countries are participating in the three-day meeting.
Over 12,000 college and university students are also expected to participate in these events.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will also present research papers from students and academicians of Assam.
The state government, along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, has taken up several initiatives to make the youth aware of Y20 and involve them in the process of nation-building. (ANI)
SRINAGAR: Indian Navy is inviting applications for the post of Navik (General Duty and Domestic Branch) for male Indian citizens in the Indian Coast Guard through the Coast Guard Enrolled Personnel Test (CGEPT).
There are a total of 255 posts available and the last date to apply is February 16, 2022.
Candidates between the ages of 18-25 who have passed their secondary and higher secondary exams from any recognized board are eligible to apply.
The documents required include academic transcripts, identity proof, Birth certificate, Domicile certificate, scanned copies of a photograph, thumb impression, and signature.
The candidates need to apply online through the online portal of the Indian Navy.
Shah Rukh Khan’s flick, Pathaan tells the same old ‘Kashmir story’ that Bollywood has always showcased, with or without the bikini, reports Fahd Khan
Bollywood flick, Pathaan poster showing the lead actors including Shahrukh Khan, John Ibrahim and Deepika Padukone
Bollywood film Pathaan which is literally minting money revolves around an ex-army man turned RAW agent. He is the Pathaan, the main protagonist of the flick played by Shah Rukh Khan. The Star cast includes John Abraham, who plays Khan’s arch-rival, Jim, the main villain. Deepika plays the role of an ISI agent Rubayi. The film tells the audience about how an amendment in the Indian constitution is infuriating its neighbour, Pakistan.
The film begins with the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 and its effects on a Pakistani general who, in an effort to exact revenge on India, hires the former RAW agent turned dreaded devil, Jim to carry out the mission of destroying India. Jim feels betrayed and dejected since his family was killed as a result of the terror organization holding him captive and torturing him during one of the missions he was leading as the government of India failed to give the ransom amount. Jim is joined by Rubayi, an ISI agent who works with him to complete the mission.
Pathaan, Jim, and Rubayi travel quickly across several nations to carry out their respective missions of destroying and saving the worlds they believe in.
Superstar Returns
The movie marks the return of the superstar Shah Rukh Khan to the big screen after a hiatus and his comeback is quite enough to pull the audience to the theatres. Shah Rukh Khan, who has been the heartthrob of Bollywood fans for his portrayal of Rahul and Raj in the romantic Yash Raj and Karan Johar directorials, finds his new place in the action genre. His evocative eyes and chiselled body manage to salvage the poor script and screenplay.
Pathaan is an ambitious and most hyped film of the year, thanks to the boycott gang for the free publicity. When the teaser and trailer of the film were released, it promised to be an out-and-out action film and provides what it had promised. For a long time in the pre-interval, the audience wonders about what is going on. Be it the high-octane action scenes on the streets of Dubai, or the flashbacks, people are unable to connect to the story as the movie is fast-paced.
Bad Story
The story is a hackneyed, idea that has bored people already. However, there are a couple of emotional scenes post-interval like the touching Afghanistan flashback sequence where Pathaan gets his name and the one where he saves India from the disaster. Betrayal and apologies like the typical Bollywood movies, the screenplay is loose and predictable at many points. Interestingly the hero and the villain, both are equally powerful which we hardly find in Indian movies. Both perform some never seen high-octane action scenes on a train and are a delight to watch. If Pathaan punches his villain, the villain punches him back. Salman Khan’s cameo as Tiger is the USP of the film, the whole theatre turns into a stadium when you see two of the biggest superstars in one single frame. Both perform some never seen high-octane action scenes on a train and are a delight to watch. The action scenes seem to be inspired by the Bond series or Tom Cruise’s Top Gun Maverick.
Shah Rukh Khan has played his part extremely well. Every time the screen lights up with his brilliant acting when he appears on the screen and he is looking more handsome than ever at 58. His dialogue delivery and emotions can be felt by the viewers.
It seems as though John Abraham was destined to play Jim because of his tough demeanour, muscular build, and eyes filled with vengeance. In some scenes, particularly the final one, one feels sorry for Jim and thinks that he should have been rescued. Nobody in Bollywood other than John could have provided the Pathaan with fierce competition. John as Jim gave the finest performance of his career.
Alluring Performance
Deepika as Rubayi has a certain allure of her own, and her action moments with Pathaan and Jim create a strong impression. She also shines in the emotional scenes and is at the hottest best. Her character may be seen to be inspired by Black Widow and many other female Hollywood characters.
Siddharth Annand’s direction is average. He has focused more on the action, and grandeur rather than quality and story. The film has been made on a huge scale; more than Siddharth’s previous film War. The director has not been able to do justice providing the star cast he had. There are a number of shortcomings in the story rather than good moments. Scenes like Pathaan beating Russian forces single-handedly is hardly digestible. The Afghanistan episode in the climax of the film is also predictable.
Shah Rukh Khan whose Red Chillies VFX company is known to have revolutionized Bollywood in terms of VFX and CGI fails terribly in Pathaan. Its VFX is done by Yash Raj itself and is too shabby. In many of the scenes, one could easily trace the shot having been filmed on the green screen but the fast pace prevents the general masses from locating the technical issues.
Film’s two songs – Besharam Rang and Jhoome Jo Pathaan make one groove to the music as its plays, credit goes to Vishal-Shekhar. Satchith Paulose’s cinematography is spectacular as they have captured the essence of exotic locations of France, Spain, and Russia.
Casey O’Neill, Craig Macrae and Sunil Rodrigues’s action is the highlights of the film and matches the global standards. The editor Arif Sheikh has tried to keep the film fast-paced and crisp.
The background music by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara is the film’s soul that keeps one hooked to the seat. The BGM on villains’ entry encourages people to download the music.
On the whole, Pathaan is a brainless entertainer. Shah Rukh Khan fans who see his return after four years will watch it regardless of whether it has a plot or not. Given the situation in which the Depika’s bikini created such a huge fuss seems far-fetched as Pathaan supplements and compliments what the government did in Kashmir and how it wants to be conveyed.
SRINAGAR: In order to ensure proper regulation of courier service agencies as per SOPs for delivery of shipments, the Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad in an order issued here on Monday has asked all unregistered Courier Service Providers in District Srinagar to get registered with competent Authority within a period of 7 days, failing which they will not be allowed to continue their operations in the district.
The order stated that “Whereas, it has come to the notice of DM Srinagar through the Drug and Food Control Department, that some Courier Services are being misused for peddling of Psychotropic substances in District Srinagar”.
Accordingly, vide order No. DCS/DDMO/Thq/22/1211-15 dated 04-01-2023 a Committee headed by Sub Divisional Magistrate East was constituted for verification of Courier Service Providers operating in District Srinagar.
Subsequently, the Committee vide communication, No. ALC/SGR/2023/60-62 dated: 27-01-2023 provided list of unregistered Courier Service Providers in District Srinagar. In addition, the Office of Deputy Drug Controller/ Drug & Food Control Organisation, Kashmir vide communication number DFO/K/Drug/Misc-04 dated 03/02/2023 has sought registration of unregistered Courier Service providers in District Srinagar, to curb the misuse of the courier services for peddling of Psychotropic substances.
Therefore, in view of this, the District Magistrate has passed directions to all unregistered Courier Service agencies operating in District Srinagar to get registered with competent Authority within a period of 7 days, failing which they shall not be allowed to continue their operations.
The order further reads that “Moreover, all the Courier Service Providers shall install High Resolution CCTV Cameras inside the courier offices for better surveillance, adopt computerized systems to maintain records and accounts of both the consignors and consignees”.
The order also stated that “The Courier Service Providers would ask for Aadhar identity proof, address, drug sale licence, purchase order copy of the medical products and other antecedents of the consignor and consignee while booking pharmaceutical preparations”.
Furthermore, Courier Service Providers will adhere to SOPs for courier service agencies issued by Deputy Drug Controller Kashmir with respect to shipment of pharmaceutical consignments; else action under relevant provisions of law shall be initiated against the violators.
Pertinent to mention that during the month of January various instances have been brought into the notice of DM Srinagar with regard to trafficking of psychotropic substances through various Courier agencies for delivery to different parts of the Kashmir Division.
Notably the DM was apprised by the Deputy Drug Controller Kashmir Shah Nighat that in the recent past on receiving credible inputs raids have been conducted during which huge quantities of psychotropic substances were seized. She said that in the month of October, during a surprise raid at Airport cargo logistic space of the Srinagar Airport about 7500 capsules of Spasmo-proxyvon were seized. Subsequently, special stress is being laid on strict adherence to SOPs for pharmaceutical procurement.
SRINAGAR: Describing abrogation of Article 370 as a landmark and path breaking political initiative in the history of independent India, Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana today said the constitutional amendment by Parliament of the world’s largest and greatest democracy on August 5, 2019 was a step towards realization of the concept of ‘one nation, one people’.
“With this temporary provision gone, the citizens of India from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and North East to Kuchh are emotionally and psychologically connected as one people,” Devender Rana said while interacting with student activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) from North Eastern States, currently on National Integration Tour under Students’ Experience in Inter-state Living (SEIL) at the picturesque Surinsar.
Rana added: “Removing the discriminatory special status of Jammu and Kashmir gives a better shape to the ideology of one nation”.
He said the changing scenario across the country is manifestation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s urge to make India a global leader with his mission of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Pryas. This is only possible when Indians, irrespective of region, religion, caste or race mould themselves as ‘one people of one nation’. Much headway has been made in this regard during the past nearly nine years with everyone, especially the youth, working towards the progression of the country, he added.
Rana recalled the scenario in the North East prior to 2014 and said the despair of yesteryears has been overtaken by hope and promise of a better tomorrow. The region has really come out of the era of instability and is fast steering towards stability and peace.
He said the challenges faced to the North East and Jammu and Kashmir were not conducive years ago but the strong leadership at the Centre has made all the difference. While the NE is scripting a new saga of progress and development, J&K is at the threshold of becoming part of the country’s growth story. The nightmarish era of stone pelting and hartal culture in Kashmir is now history and the Valley is humming with economic activity and development like Jammu and any other part of the country, he maintained.
Rana, however, cautioned against the elements inimical to India’s spirit of unity, who are engaged in the sinister machinations of dividing the people on the basis of religion and caste. He exuded confidence that the youth of India will play a decisive role in foiling their game plan by maintaining unity and tranquillity.
Senior BJP leader Rana hoped that the youth exchange under SEIL will provide an opportunity to the youngsters to know their nation better and understand its diverse character and the challenges ahead. The activists of the ABVP will have to play their designated role in bringing youth together under the banner of One India. The youth represent the aspirations of vibrant India, he said, adding that the decisive leadership of the Prime Minister is fully capable of satiating these as per their expectations.
He lauded the initiative of SEIL –founded in 1965 as an initiative of the then members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad under the presidency of Acharya Giriraj Kishore and hoped that such visits will promote the feeling of brotherhood between youths from northeast India and the rest of the nation.
The SEIL comprised the ABVP activists from North East, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Akshi Balioria State Secretary ABVP Jammu and Kashmir; Tilak Thakur, State Organising Secretary; Novjot Jasrotia, State SEAL Coordinator J&K, Nirdesh Khajuria, Jammu Mahanagar Organising Secretary; Chahat Anand, State Joint Secretary besides Sarpanch Surinsar Bodh Raj, Sarpanch Chilla, Krishan Singh, Sarpanch Nadore Rajinder Singh, Sarpanch Khanpur Mohd Iqbal, Sarpanch Pounthal Anil, Ex Sarpanch Subash Singh, Pritam Singh, Mohd Amin, Abdul Mehmood, Balbir Singh, Mohd Sadiq, Bhushan Singh and others.
