Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Sep 12: The police officer who was shot at point blank range from behind has reportedly succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS.

CCTV footage which is viral shows unidentified pistol borne youth follows a police officer shortly after he comes out from a shop. The pistol borne youth as per CCTV footage fires upon the officer from behind and runs away.

The police officer who was taken to SKIMS for treatment has succumbed. He has been identified as Sub-Inspector Arshad Ashraf Mir who was posted at police station Khanyar Srinagar. (KNT)

Srinagar, September 12: Militants on Sunday fired upon Police party near Khanyar area of Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

A senior Police officer told GNS that militants fired upon Police party, in this incident one cop identified as Arshid Ahmad was injured. He was shifted to nearby hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile whole area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers. Details still emerging.(GNS)

PTI

Srinagar: Noted writer and former secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Aziz Hajini passed away here after a brief illness, family sources said on Sunday. He was 64.

Hajini passed away late on Saturday night, the family sources said. He was laid to rest on Sunday morning here.

Hajini, who hailed from Hajin Sonawari area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, held several positions in academic and literary circles, including as secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, and authored several books.

Several organisations, political parties and leaders have expressed condolences over Hajini’s demise.

Dr Aziz Hajini’s demise has a left a big void in the literary circles of J&K. Hajini Sb, a noted writer & former Secretary Cultural Academy was also the author of numerous acclaimed books.His absence in Art & culture circuit will be deeply felt. May his soul rest in eternal peace, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wrote on Twitter.

May Allah (SWT) bestow the departed soul place in Jannah and perseverance to the bereaved family for this irreparable loss, the People’s Conference said.

PTI

On the recommendations of the Hon’ble Full Court of High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor is pleased to order the termination of services of Mr Mohammad Yousuf Allai, Civil Judge (Jr Division)/Munsiff (under suspension) with immediate effect, the order read.

An order to this effect was issued on Friday by the secretary, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, on the directions of the J-K Lieutenant Governor. It, however, gave no reason for the termination.

Srinagar, September 12: Gunfight has started between militants and security forces in higher reaches of Barote Village of Rajouri district on Sunday in Jammu division.

Reports reaching GNS that a joint team of Police and Army launched a cordon and search operation in the area after having a specific input about presence of some militants.

As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight.

A senior police officer also confirmed to GNS about exchange of firing between militants and security forces.

Gunfight was underway as this report was being filed. (GNS)

Handwara, Sep 11: A 40-year-old Kashmiri shawl seller belonging to north-Kashmir’s Handwara area of Kupwara district was found dead in Haryana on Saturday morning, reports and officials said.

Mohammad Shafi Shah son of Mohammad Satar Shah, a resident of Lillam in Ramhall Handwara, as per the family was found dead at his rented accommodation at Shalferi Golah district Keithal near Sher-e-Punjab Dhaba. “He was working as a shawl seller there for last seven years”, a family members told GNS.

Some family members and relatives have left for Punjab to retrieve the body back home, they further said.

A senior police officer here told GNS that as per initial enquiry at Haryana, “prima facie, it appears to be a natural death. “Moreover family members have gone there. Rest of the story will come out in a couple of days,” the officer added. (GNS)

PTI

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 146 fresh Covid cases, taking the infection tally to 3,26,799, while no new death due to the virus was reported from the Union Territory in the past 24 hours, officials said.

Out of the fresh cases, 25 were from the Jammu division and 121 from the Kashmir division, the officials said.

Srinagar district recorded the highest number of 72 cases followed by 15 cases in Baramulla district.

There are 1,301 active cases in the Union Territory as recoveries outnumbered fresh cases while the number of recovered patients was 3,21,086, the officials said.

The death toll in the Union Territory due to the pandemic was 4,412 as no new fatality was reported in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the officials said there were 46 confirmed cases of mucormycosis (black fungus) in the Union Territory as one fresh case was reported since last evening.

PTI

The annual Patt Mela, devoted to Lord Vasuki Nag, commenced here on Saturday amid tight security and strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines, officials said.

Patt Mela is a symbol of the Nag culture and is celebrated every year on Nag Panchami with hundreds of people from across Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country converging at Khakhal Mohallah.

The Mela Pat, which is celebrated every year for three days to commemorate the historic meet between Mughal emperor Akbar and King Nagpal of Bhaderwah in the 16th century at Delhi, started here on Tuesday at Mohalla Khakhal of Bhaderwah.

Thousands of people from different parts of the state participated in the fair, which is devoted to Lord Vaskui Naag, the presiding deity of Bhaderwah valley.The Mela was first started in 16th century by King Nagpal, ruler of a small principality called Bhaderkashi, now known as Bhaderwah.

The Mela is organised on the conclusion of Kailash Yatra and people without any difference of caste, colour and creed participate in the fair.The traditional Dhaku dance, a unique folk dance of the area, is a regular feature during the Mela. According to legend, Raja Nagpal did not use to bow before anyone except his lord, Vasuki Nag.

Once, Mughal emperor Akbar summoned Nagpal to Delhi. It was mandatory for all rulers to bow before the emperor, but Raja Nagpal entered the Darbar and took his seat without bowing to the emperor, which offended Akbar. His courtiers suggested stern action against Raja Nagpal but the latter justified his action by claiming that he does not bow before anybody except his lord, Vasuki Nag.

The next day Akbar’s minister decided that the Raja would enter the hall through a small window, compelling him to bow. But instead of bowing his head, King Nagpal projected his legs from the window. This enraged Akbar and he asked him to prove the power of his lord Vasuki Nag or else action will be taken against him. To the surprise of everyone, the colourful turban of King Nagpal turned into a big serpent with many heads.

Thereupon Akbar asked for pardon and accorded due place to King Nagpal in his Darbar.

On returning to Bhaderwah on the day of Nag Panchmi, the king made a public display of the costly gifts and wealth given to him by Akbar. Since then, the Mela Pat is celebrated in Bhaderwah.The Sanatam Dharam Sabha Bhaderwah and mela Committee makes all arrangements for the mela and the local dance is performed with people raising slogans in praise of Raja Nagpal and Lord Vasuki Naag.

Braving rain, a large number of devotees thronged Khakhal and performed the traditional ‘Dekho’ dance.

“Perhaps, this is the only festival in India which has been celebrated for the last 600 years without any untoward or ugly incident, which clearly shows the communal harmony of this area and the respect for our King Nag Pal,” he said.

Bandipora, 11 Sep: Bandipora: A 28-year-old man died of a massive cardiac arrest at his native village in Nebirpora area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Saturday afternoon.

An official identified the deceased as Ishfaq Ahmad Mir son of Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, a resident of Nebirpora saying he died after suffering a heart attack at his home.

He was immediately taken to District hospital Bandipora, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The sudden death of the young boy left the area in grief.

The growing incidents of heart attack, especially among the youngsters across Kashmir, have created fear among the people.

Recently, there have been several cases in which a number of youth died following heart attack.

Srinagar, Sep 11: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday said people can receive Covid and flu vaccine at the same time.

“You can get jabs for the flu and Covid on the same day,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Receiving the Covid-19 vaccine and flu shot together is safe and won’t affect your immune response to either one,” he said.

Dr Hassan said it is just as safe and effective to get Covid shot and a flu shot at the same time as it is to get them several days or weeks apart.

“You can get both vaccines in the same arm, but providers should separate injection sites by at least one inch,” he said.

“However, those influenza vaccines that are more likely to cause a local reaction like the high dose or adjuvant flu vaccine should be administered in different limbs,” he added.

“Previously, the CDC had recommended that people should receive their Covid-19 vaccination alone and schedule any other vaccination at least 2 weeks before or after Covid-19 vaccination,” Dr Hassan said.

“This was out of an abundance of caution, since Covid-19 vaccine was brand new to all of us,” he said.

The DAK President said getting a flu shot in times of Covid crisis is more important than ever.

“Becoming infected with both viruses at the same time is possible and could increase the chances of becoming severely ill,” he said.

“Last year flu season was mild due to masking, social distancing, reduced travel, remote work and other mitigation measures in place because of Covid-19 pandemic,” Dr Nisar said.

“But unlike last year, this year’s flu season could be harsher as students are returning to schools, workplaces are transitioning back to in-person operation and many people have thrown caution to the wind,” he said.

“As last year flu hasn’t been able to be in circulation like it normally would, there is less of that natural immunity to the flu.

So we could have more flu cases this year than last year that makes this year’s flu shot crucial than ever,” he added.