SRINAGAR: Two persons, including a migrant worker, were found dead in mysterious circumstances in Bemina and Batmaloo areas of Srinagar city on Tuesday, reports said.
Quoting an official, news agency KDC reported that Babu Ali (65), son of Hussain, a resident of Jalalpur in Uttar Pradesh, was found dead at his rented accommodation at SD colony in Bemina.
In a separate incident, Naseer Ahmad Lone, son of Habibullah, a resident of Baramulla, was found dead in his vehicle (Tata mobile) bearing registration no JK13G-0150 near Tengpora in Batmaloo by CRPF jawans of 73 BN this morning.
Police have taken cognizance of both the incidents and further investigations are on, it said.
SRINAGAR: One-way traffic movement was restored on Jammu-Srinagar Highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, after remaining closed during the night and several hours on Tuesday morning.
Quoting a traffic police official, news agency GNS reported that the single-way traffic was restored after clearance of the debris. “Firstly stranded vehicles will be cleared,” he said and urged commuters to “travel with caution.”
Intermittent shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria area in Ramban on highway led to closure of the highway last night, he said.
Mohita Sharma, SSP Traffic Highway, said that the authorities were clearing stranded vehicles on priority as the thoroughfare remained blocked for the entire night due to shooting stones. “LMVs from Qazigund and Udhampur to follow soon,” she said.
SRINAGAR: Mayor Srinagar, Junaid Azim Mattu on Monday held a detailed meeting with the residents and community elders of various localities and colonies on the stretch of Aloochi Bagh to Chattabal Doodhganda Rejuvenation and Restoration Project and assured the residents that no colonies will be displaced, nor any houses demolished – including the downtrodden colonies and slum settlements on this stretch. The meeting was also attended by Commissioner SMC and CEO Srinagar Smart City, Athar Aamir Khan, SE City Drainage in addition to senior officials and engineers.
The Mayor assured the local residents that the Doodhganga Canal Restoration and Rejuvenation Project was a vital flood mitigation project that would first and foremost benefit the residents and colonies in Aloochi Bagh, Haft Chinar, Batamaloo and Chattabal. The Mayor, while condemning traditional mischief mongers and agent provocateurs who were provoking the people and spreading misinformation, assured the residents that not a single residential colony, including slum structures, would be disturbed or affected by this project.
“The Public Notice that has been issued concerns encumbrances, obstacles and physical encroachments within and on top of the canal and does not pertain to residential colonies, houses or structures. Not a single house will be demolished by this project. It is my assurance to the residents that this wont be allowed. Contrary to what is being wrongly peddled by vested interests, this restoration project will resolve the longstanding issue of localised urban flooding and water-logging in these areas — benefiting the locals of these areas”, the Mayor said while interacting with the residents.
The Mayor also made it very clear that attempts to connect SMC with the ongoing land eviction and retrieval of State land drive were misleading and a larger deliberate ploy to spread misinformation and canards by a particular political party. “SMC is not involved in the ongoing drive in any way, shape or form – neither at the policy level nor at the execution level. A recent statement issued by a particular political party and its motley crew of corrupt former legislators is a shameful attempt to derive political dividends by misleading the downtrodden sections of the society. The administration’s ongoing drive does not involve the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and as the Mayor of Srinagar, I have formally urged the administration to put in place a humane and sympathetic policy of regularisation, especially for the poor and downtrodden sections of our society – keeping in view the fragile and sensitive economy of J&K”, the Mayor added.
“SMC’s enforcement jurisdiction and activities as mandated under a statutory duty under law constitute a routine process that is based on the Master Plan and its by-laws. Besides this normal, routine function that SMC performs in adherence to the law, not a single slum or structure will be demolished for any drive or any project by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. SMC will abide by the judgements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on the matter and work towards proposing the provision of dignity and rights to all slum dwellers. Those trying to hide their own greed and decades of misrule and misappropriation of public resources behind this misinformation campaign should introspect and understand the human costs and consequences of their provocations and instigations over the past three decades. Their penchant to provoke and instigate the poor, common-man on the street has filled our graveyards in Srinagar with our youth while they have given their own children very contrasting lives. We need no lectures from the murderers and tormentors of the children of Srinagar,” the Mayor said while speaking after the meeting.
“Those out playing conscience keepers and sympathisers of economically impoverished urban slum dwellers in Srinagar should be asked why they failed to rehabilitate the slum dwellers in Srinagar since four decades – giving them a life of dignity and respect – despite being elected as legislators multiple times. These economically disadvantaged fellow citizens and residents of Srinagar are like my own family and I will not allow any harm to come upon them at any cost. In my humble capacity as the Mayor, I – along with fellow Corporators and officers —have ensured multiple steps were taken to improve their day to day lives and extended basic facilities to these areas after they were deprived of these basic rights for decades by the same shameless people pretending to be sympathisers today,” the Mayor further said.
The Mayor said he has passed strict directions to ensure that no scope is left for misinterpretation of steps being taken for public and community welfare, such as the Doodhganga Rejuvenation and Restoration Project.
SRINAGAR: An elderly man who lost both legs yesterday after allegedly attempting suicide by jumping in front of a moving train in South Kashmir’s Anantnag, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Soura on Tuesday morning.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the man from Mattan allegedly tried to commit suicide when he jumped in front of a moving train at Sadora area and lost both legs.
He said he was shifted to GMC Anantnag in a critical condition where from he was referred to SKIMS Soura for specialised treatment, however, today morning he succumbed.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Railway Police have issued an advisory, asking people not to use the railway tracks for walking and also warned of action against trespassers.
“We appeal to the general public against walking, sitting on railway tracks and grazing livestock. If any person is found involved in such activities, strict legal action will be taken against him. He shall be personally responsible,” reads the advisory.
SRINAGAR: A Kashmir court has turned down the bail application of five soldiers who were arrested in a drug peddling case, NDTV reported. The court ruled that their detention is required to lay hands on other accused.
The five soldiers were operating the drug-peddling gang while being posted at Panzgam in Kupwara. They were arrested last month and accused for running the drug cartel from Tangdhar, a border town located on the Line of Control (LoC).
The bail application was moved before the Additional district and sessions judge, Kupwara, who rejected the plea. The court observed that soldiers were supposed to protect society but regretted this bunch worked in contravention of it.
“According to the police, drugs were coming from Pakistan through Tangdhar sector and five soldiers posted in Panzgam area of Kupwara were involved in drug trafficking,” the NDTV report said, identifying the accused soldiers as Naib-Subedar Puran Singh, Anil Kumar (driver) Sepoy Sushil Kumar, Naik Waseem Ahmad Mir and Mohammad Shafiq Khan.
The soldiers apparently were working with four civilians who were identified as Mashkoor Sheikh (working as a porter with Army), Mohammad Yousaf Kothari, Saleem Sheikh and Mohammad Imran Teli.
This is the second time in the last two months that security personnel have been arrested for drug smuggling from the Line of Control in Kupwara district.
The report said that federal investigator, 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, report said Rs 91 lakh cash was recovered from Kumar.
SRINAGAR: Thousands of fish died after some people allegedly poisoned them in a farm at Bhatnoora village in Pulwama, an official said.
Quoting Manzoor Ahmad Mir son of Ab Salam Mir of Bhatnoora who was running the farm for the last eight years news agency KNO reported that unknown people mixed some poisonous substance in the water entering the farm causing death to fish. He said that some fishes were even 5-6 year old, weighing about 2 kg each.
“It has caused loss in lakhs and shattered my dreams. It was a source of livelihood for me,” he said.
He along with his family members requested concerned authorities to look into the matter and nab those responsible for the incident.
A police official said that prima facie it seems an act of mischief committed by someone to inflict damages to the owner.
He said a case has been registered and further investigations have been taken up.
SRINAGAR: A delegation of the civil society members on Monday called on Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar at his office and discussed the issue of ongoing anti-encroachment drive.
The delegation comprised Devender Singh Rana, Khalid Hussain, Suhail Qazmi, Sahil Ji Maharaj, Arun Gupta, President Chamber of Commerce, Jammu, Rajeev Gupta, Mahant Mohan Giri, Mahant Rajesh Bittu, Mahant Rajeshwar Giri, Vinay Hindu, Mohammad Aslam Qureshi, Choudhary Iqbal, Haji Ashraf, S. Ravinder Singh, S. Manpreet Singh, Anwar Khan, besides other prominent citizens.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Avny Lavasa was also present during the interaction.
The delegation informed the Div Com about the concern and sense of insecurity prevailing among the poor people with regard to the ongoing anti-encroachment and demolition drive being carried out by the administration. They urged the Divisional Commissioner that poor people may not be targeted during the ongoing anti-encroachment drive.
Stating that no one was opposed to the action against the land grabbers, they said that there was a need to safeguard the interests of the poor who have constructed small dwelling units.
Responding to the issues raised by the delegation, the Div Com assured that no landless person/ family would be affected by the government during the ongoing anti encroachment drives carried out to retrieve encroached state land. However, he reiterated that big encroachers would not be spared.
“Clear instructions have already been issued to the concerned authorities not to target the poor and the landless public,” he assured.
The delegation members also assured to extend full support and cooperation to the administration in the ongoing drive. The delegation said that the Jammu Civil Society is united and committed to maintain amity, tranquility and order in the city as per its glorious ethos of peace and harmony.
JAMMU: Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana on Monday exhorted the administration to take effective measures for allaying the fears of common masses about the ongoing anti-encroachment drive as per the clear directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on the matter, saying that this will silence the vested interests who are out to exploit the situation as per their contingencies.
Addressing a delegation of the Civil Society, comprising representatives of every walk and shade of life, which met him at his residence, here this morning, Rana referred to the assurance held out by Lieutenant Governor that the poor would not be touched and said those creating unnecessary apprehensions are actually doing to camouflage their nefarious activities or to further their political interests by inciting common masses.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Arun Gupta, President Chamber of Commerce, Jammu, Sahil Ji Maharaj, Mahant Mohan Giri, Mahant Rajesh Bittu, Mahant Rajeshwar Giri, Vinay Hindu, Suhail Qazmi ,Khalid Hussain, Rajeev Gupta, Mohammad Aslam Qureshi, Choudhary Iqbal, Haji Ashraf, S. Ravinder Singh, Haji Fareed, S. Manpreet Singh, Anwar Khan and many others.
He said the administration has more than once reassured the common people not to nurture any apprehension but some elements were igniting the situation to cover up and protect their shady deals. In this misadventure, unfortunately some political elements have also jumped in to give spin after spin to the drive by claiming that only a particular community is being targeted to engineer demographic change.
These political players with vested interest have already been rejected by their core constituency in the Valley for the sins committed over the decades and now they were misadventuring in this region to cook their breads, he said.
“Let these political misadventurists understand that Jammu has immense capacity and capability to sort out its own issues unitedly and the proud Dogras– Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christians, all inclusive –need no diktat from the discredited Valley leaders,” Rana said, adding that these chameleons have inflicted lot many scars on their own innocent brethren back home and now making attempts to vitiate the atmosphere. Again they are wrong in their calculation about the wisdom of Jammu, he added.
Rana said the Jammu people are unitedly acknowledging the assurance of the administration and want a comprehensive policy on anti encroachment drive as per the commitment of the Lieutenant Governor. He said the people believe in rule of law and were unequivocally against the land mafia.
Rana cautioned the disruptive elements for taking law into their own hands, saying disturbing peace and order is not Jammu ethos. He said these elements were actually playing in the hands of vested interests and disgruntled politicians, who want disharmony and disaffection among the people. Actually these people are unnerved by the massive outreach of the visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi to last person in the society, irrespective of caste, creed, culture, region or religion, as per his cherished agenda of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabk Vishwas, Sabka Prayàs. Spreading falsehood therefore is their only ulterior tool to create disruption in the society, he maintained.
Devender Rana complimented the delegation for rising to the occasion once àgain to fight their cause as a single entity like they are known for doing in the past. He recalled how Jammu has withstood the test of times against the evil designs of vested interests whenever attempts were made to divide them by provocative actions like desecrations or by creating communal wedge. This is actually the real strength of Jammu, he added.
Later, Devender Rana accompanied the delegation to meet the Divisional Commissioner to put their case for a Comprehensive Anti Encroachment Policy.
“The worker picked up Pakhom’s spade, dug a grave, and buried him—six feet from head to heel, exactly the amount of land a man needs.” (Leo Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need?)
A Kashmiri Bakarwal bridegroom Mohammad Farooq, second right, watches as his relatives argue about the amount of Mahar which is a mandatory required amount or possession paid by the groom to the bride at the time of marriage and is often money or anything agreed by the bride such as jewellery, home goods, during a wedding ceremony at a temporary camp on the outskirts of Srinagar, India, Friday, May 31, 2013. Bakarwals are nomadic herders in Jammu Kashmir state, who wander in search of good pastures for their cattle. (KL Image: Special Arrangemnet)
The old Kashmiri proverbMulan Droth Tah Patran Saghbrings my entire concept to fruition. The literal meaning of the famous saying is “a sickle for the roots, but water for the leaves.”
Owing to the ambiguous nature of literature, this proverb could be interpreted in enormous ways. A simple interpretation is that ‘you love the offspring of a person you dislike or hate’. The symbolic interpretations of the saying are related to the concepts of relationships.
In other words, close relations are left behind and mundane relationships are given importance. Besides, it could be interpreted as emphasising the trivial aspects of life, such as materialistic possessions, while ignoring the important ones. This proverb somehow befits the condition of our contemporary society, where people seem to forget the significance of all the worthwhile things around them.
With the advent of modernity, our society witnessed major changes, be it in the form of lifestyle, change in daily routines, or any other, followed by an increased gap between in-person meetings, miscommunication, and an increase in broken relationships (of any sort). However, we might have observed that over the years everyone has become so engrossed with their busy schedules that they don’t even have a spare moment to spend time with their loved ones, thus resulting in miscommunication and eventually broken relationships.
Having said that, have we ever considered what the root cause of all of the aforementioned events is? What makes a person so hardhearted that he is willing to end long-term relationships? It consists solely of three elements: greed, materialism, and jealousy. Greed means to have the desire for things more than one has in possession; materialism, on the other hand, means an excess want of materialistic things; and eventually, jealousy is the product of these two elements.
Cowries are small sea shells that in ancient were a form of currency. A huge quantity of this currency of the bygone era are protected by people living in Kehribal area of south Kashmir. Pic: Special Arrangement
We are overtaken by greed in such a manner that one such model is that in almost every family there is a conflict between siblings regarding a piece of land, property, or anything related to the same without even comprehending the fact that excessive desires can lead them to lose everything, including precious relationships. By this, I am reminded of a quote: “The worker picked up Pakhom’s spade, dug a grave, and buried him—six feet from head to heel, exactly the amount of land a man needs.” (Leo Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need?)
However, we live in a society where we must deal with these pressures, but that does not mean that we will betray our own blood and believe that by doing this agonising act against them, we will live a prosperous life.
Materialism is yet another matter of concern, the best example that I can specify in it is that of the lavish marriages we observe nowadays. In present times, marriage rather than a union of two beings on a simple basis has become more than that of a show-off in order to demean those who are devoid of material wealth, therefore leaving behind our roots.
It is quite unfortunate that in order to ensure the happiness of one’s daughter in her to be home, these materialistic things will prove how she will be received, or for that matter, treated, over there. As the saying goes, marriages are made in heaven, but due to these luxurious expenses one perceives at the moment, it seems to be what Eunice de Souza has said, “Marriages Are Made.”
Additionally, still after all these extravagances in marriages, we come up with ample cases of domestic violence, brutal killings of daughters-in-law, and many related ones. As Naseem Shafaie has rightly said in one of her notable works: “…Will they awaken her on gentle, mellow sounds? Or, will they, I misgive, snatch her sleep away?” thus materializing the condition of women in our worldly-minded society. Hence, materialism is working at all levels in our society, and we are under its clutches.
Another factor that is the end product of greed and materialism is jealousy or envy, which has engulfed almost everyone these days. If a person successfully attempts his course of action in life, followed by achieving great things through hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm, he is despised by his own kin, and the irony is that everyone will act quite jovial at face value while using illicit means to stop him prosper. Envy makes a person go to any extent without even considering their conscience.
Hurmat Altaf
Christopher Marlowe, in his splendid work, Doctor Faustus, considers Envy as one of the seven deadly sins. Envy is personified in the play and says, “I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books were burnt; I am lean with seeing others eat – O that there would come a famine through all the world, that all might die, and I live alone; then thou shouldst see how fat I would be!.”
Therefore, these things are inherited in a human being, and he cannot altogether deprive himself of them, but I believe that there is a possibility for one to move beyond these things to some extent and value relationships more than anything else.
Otherwise, one is left with repentance and nothing else. Furthermore, these are things that lead a society slowly and steadily towards degradation. As the saying goes, “This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but with a whimper.” (TS Eliot, The Hollow Men).
(The author is pursuing BA Honours in English from Cluster University Srinagar, Kashmir. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of TheNewsCaravan.)
SRINAGAR: The auction for the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), underway at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra, saw ‘Delhi Capitals’ franchise making a successful bid to bag Kashmir-based Cricketer Jasia Akhtar for an amount of rupees 20 lakh.
Akhtar, a right-hand batter hailing from Braripora village of Shopian, has been playing for Rajasthan state team for past two years. The top-order batter, who previously played for Punjab, Trailblazers and India Reds, was recently appointed to take reins of Rajasthan team as skipper.
Jasia who now has become the lone cricketer to feature in WPL from Kashmir, is learnt to have received a call for National camp for India women’s national team in 2017 – but was unable to find a place in the playing eleven.
The other Cricketer who features alongside Jasia in the auction list from Jammu and Kashmir is Sarla Devi. The latter might however fail to make the cut this time around as the organizers are supposed to auction a maximum of 90 players for the inaugural league – scheduled to begin from March 4, 2023.
Notably, the auction saw Indian opener Smriti Mandhana being the top buys so far, with RCB splurging Rs 3.4 crore for her. (GNS)
