Category: Union Territory

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday registered an FIR after a communally sensitive video went viral on social media, officials said.

A few people were detained for allegedly sharing the video, they said, adding that the clip showed the skin of a bovine.

Considering that the clip could disturb communal harmony in the area, an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the law at Kishtwar Police Station and a few suspects were detained for questioning, they said.

After preliminary investigation, it surfaced that the video was reportedly shot near a nullah in Palmar area of Kishtwar.—(PTI)

Indian envoy meets senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha

New Delhi: In the first formal and publicly acknowledged contact, Indian Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal met senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai on Tuesday and conveyed India’s concerns that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the discussions also focused on the safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan and the travel of Afghan nationals, especially members of minority communities to India.

The meeting took place at the Indian embassy in Doha at the request of the Taliban side and came two weeks after the outfit seized control of Kabul.

The MEA said the Taliban representative assured the ambassador that “these issues” would be positively addressed.

“Today, Ambassador of India to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha. The meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request of the Taliban side,” the MEA said in a statement.

It said the discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan and the travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit India also came up.

“Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.

People familiar with India’s ties in Afghanistan said it was the first publicly acknowledged contact between the two sides in over at least two decades.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, replying to questions during his weekly briefing in the last few months on whether India has reached out to the Taliban, has been maintaining that New Delhi is in touch with all stakeholders.

It was learnt that India had opened a channel of communication with the Taliban but it was never acknowledged officially.

The meeting between Mittal and Stanekzai took place hours after the US completed the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, ending its 20-year-long military campaign in the country.

The last American aircraft left the Kabul airport in the early hours of Tuesday.

On Saturday, Stanekzai, in a clear overture, described India as an important country in the region and said the Taliban wants to maintain Afghanistan’s trade, economic and political relations with it.

“We attach great importance to our trade, economic and political relations with India and want to maintain that relation,” he had said.

“We also need to keep the air trade open,” the Taliban leader was quoted as saying by Pakistani media outlet Independent Urdu.

He was referring to the air corridor between India and Afghanistan that was established to boost trade between the two countries in view of Pakistan’s denial to allow transit access.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on August 20 held talks with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on the Afghan crisis during a stopover in Doha on his way back home from a four-day visit to the US.

Doha has been the venue for the intra-Afghan peace talks and the Gulf country has emerged as a crucial player in facilitating the Afghan peace process.

Political leaders of the Taliban have been residing in Qatar for years.

In September last year, an Indian delegation attended the inaugural ceremony of the intra-Afghan negotiations featuring various stakeholders including the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha. Jaishankar had joined it through a video conference.

Meanwhile, a high-level group comprising Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval and a number of other senior officials is focusing on India’s immediate priorities in Afghanistan following the drawdown of American forces from the country.

Official sources said on Tuesday that the group has been meeting regularly over the last few days following a direction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India’s immediate priorities include the safe return of its nationals still in Afghanistan, bringing back the Afghan nationals who stood by New Delhi and ensuring that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism directed at it.

“In view of the evolving situation in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Modi recently directed that a high-level group comprising of External Affairs Minister, the National Security Adviser and senior officials focus on the immediate priorities of India,” said a source.

“It is seized of issues pertaining to the safe return of stranded Indians, the travel of Afghan nationals (especially minorities) to India, and assuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used in any manner for terrorism directed against India,” it said.

India has been a key stakeholder in Afghanistan and it has invested nearly USD 3 billion in carrying out nearly 500 projects across Afghanistan.

India has been in touch with all major regional players including those in the Gulf region on the developments in Afghanistan.

The UN Security Council, under India’s presidency, on Monday adopted a resolution demanding that the territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists.

There have been mounting concerns in India over the possibility of rise in activities of various terror groups including Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Budgam 31Aug : A line man of Power Development Department (PDD) was electrocuted to death in khanchtipora village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tue afternoon
that the deceased, who has been identified as Mohmad Amin Bhat resident of sadipora Beeewa, was repairing an electric HT line at Khanchtipira khag on Tue afternoon when he came in contact with a HT live wire resulting into an electric shock.

He said that the lineman was shifted to SDH Beerwa where he was declared as brought dead.

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 31: According to Director Floriculture Department Kashmir, several gardens and parks taken over from Jammu and Kashmir Bank by the Department of Floriculture, Kashmir shall be thrown open for visitors from 1st September 2021.

These parks and gardens included Hikers Park, Pahalgam; Lidder view Park, Pahalgam; Gulistan Wazir Bagh Park; Rani Bagh Park; Darashikow Park, Bijbehara; Padshahi Bagh Park, Bijbehara in Anantnag district; Shaheed Park in Pulwama District; Badamwari Park; Iqbal Park in Srinagar district and Gulnar Park in Baramulla District.

All the visitors to these Gardens & Parks are requested to follow Covid SOPs in letter and spirit.

Says Foreign Minister’s speech on Taliban situation in Parliament reply to all queries

Srinagar, Aug 31: Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday said that the Government of India is committed to hold Assembly elections in J&K Union Territory soon after the Delimitation Commission (DC) will complete its exercise.

“In the August 15 speech, the Prime Minister Narendera Modi stated that the Delimitation Commission was working on a fast-track basis. Apart from that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already stated on the floor of the house that statehood will be granted to J&K at an appropriate time,” the LG said addressing a press conference on the side-lines of a function at SKICC here on the banks of famous Dal Lake, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The LG said that soon after the DC will complete its exercise, Assembly elections will be held in J&K. “As far as the dates of elections, it’s the prerogative of the Election Commission of India,” he said.

Pertinently, the LG said that the number of Assembly seats will go up from existing 87 to 94 in J&K. Interestingly, during its visit to J&K, the Delimitation Commission members had stated that the process of delimitation was not a mere athematic. Replying to a query, whether there was a possibility of any impact on J&K in the wake of Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the LG said that the foreign minister has already made a speech in the Parliament over the issue and people should stick to that—(KNO)

Sarpanchs, Panchs, political leaders facing life threats; World to see Taliban impact for sure, can’t say which country will have more impact; Covid hit employment, development in J&K

Srinagar, Aug 31 : National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Tuesday claimed that his party will sweep assembly elections in J&K whenever polls are held and “we will form the next government”.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at SKICC here, Dr Farooq while replying to a query about whether NC was preparing for the upcoming Assembly polls, said: “We will sweep and win elections….you see…I am saying it with authority as NC is the biggest party in J&K.”

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the NC chief said that Covid pandemic has hit development as well as employment opportunities in J&K. “You can see for yourself whether the situation has improved post Article 370 or deteriorated. I won’t talk about it much. If I say anything, they (BJP) would say I being in opposition has started targeting them. So let people judge themselves what has changed and what has not,” he said.

On Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, he said there will surely be an effect of the development taking place in Afghanistan. “Our neighbouring countries are in distress. I don’t know which country will face more impact of the Taliban take over. We have Pakistan, China, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Russia as our neighbor. Who knows whether the US would face more impact from Taliban take over. I can’t say, but yes, there will surely be an impact of the Afghan situation on the world,” Dr Farooq said.

About Sarpanchs security in Kashmir, he said Sarpanchs and Panchs besides other leaders are facing life threats as recently many of them belonging to BJP and one of them who was affiliated with the Apni Party were killed. “There has to be some security for them. BJP lost eight leaders in recent attacks,” the NC chief said—(KNO)

‘People fully vaccinated also need to adhere SOPs’

Srinagar, Aug 30: Warning against not adhering to the COVID-19 appropriate behavior, experts on Monday said that all people, even those fully vaccinated must follow all the precautionary measures to avoid the third wave and save precious life.

With the positivity virus graph on decline, people across the Kashmir valley are seen roaming at the busiest places without masks and not adhering to the social distancing norms to keep the virus at bay.

Medical experts have warned against the possible third wave in Jammu and Kashmir and are continuously advising people to follow all the precautionary measures to avoid its intensity.

Notably, the government has started a vaccination drive in all the areas of the Kashmir valley including the door-to-door service to fight the deadly Coronavirus .

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) valley’s well-known pulmonologist Dr Khursheed said that if people don’t follow the necessary precautions the virus will spread.

“Even though the vaccination is going on, people need to maintain appropriate behavior to avoid its further spread. Even those fully vaccinated need to adhere to all the necessary precautions,” Khursheed said. “We only have two pivotal things to fight against this virus which include vaccination and necessary precautions.”

Another senior health official wishing not to be named said that it’s very vital to follow the precautionary measures to fight the possible third wave and stop it from further spreading and consuming human lives.

He said that the virus has already left a huge impact on human life and mental health.

The health authorities in the valley have so far vaccinated a total of 4,001,041 individuals against the virus while the drive is ongoing across the valley even at the farthest places—(KNO)

Taking a strong note of the ‘hiring’ advertisement published in Sunday edition of Greater Kashmir, the management at Greater Kashmir Communications (GKC) on Monday sacked two staffers and blacklisted the advertising agency which had placed the ad.

Earlier in the day, the Greater Kashmir management while taking full responsibility for the ‘inadvertent publication’ of the classified had clarified on the social media handles of the publication that the ‘hiring’ advert was placed by an advertising agency, namely Walnut Advertisers.

“We have put a disclaimer on all advertisements that our organisation is not responsible for contents or claims of any ads. Still we regret inadvertent publication of this classified. We apologize to our valued readers if the ad in any way caused inconvenience to our valued readers. We will ensure that such ads are not published in our paper in future,” the ads section of the newspaper had said in the clarification. “Besides, we are investigating further the contents of the ad with the advertising agency Walnut Ads.”
In the evening, the company said that they have blacklisted the advertising agency while also sacking its two employees responsible for verifying the advertisements before sending them for the print.
“We are deeply saddened with the issue. As a company that is very sensitive to the feelings of the society, we issued a clarification and took strong action against the advertising agency and our two staff members following an internal investigation,” said a management executive.

Srinagar Aug 30: After two years, Kashmiri Pandits on Monday celebrated Janmashtami on the streets of the valley with religious fervour and gaiety.
The Janmashtami processions organised by Pandits passed through streets in several parts of Kashmir.
The processions could not take place in 2019 post abrogation of Article 370 then in 2020 due to COVID in the valley.
Members of the Kashmiri Pandits including women and children were seen visiting temples since morning to join special prayers.
According to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), the Pandits on Monday also took out the procession from Ganpatyar temple of Lord Ganesha in Habba Kadal and passed through Zaindaar Mohalla, Jehangir Chowk, Gantaghar, Moulana Azad Road to Residency Road Srinagar.
The celebration of the Krishna Janamashtami with religious fervour and gaiety has been reported from other parts of Kashmir.
Men and women were chanting ‘Ram Ram Hari Ram, Hari Krishna Hari Ram.”
Both men and women of Kashmiri Pandits were seen dancing. Members from the Muslim and other communities greeted Kashmiri Pandits.
The Muslims were also seen participating by showering flower petals and providing every assistance in the smooth conduct of procession by the Kashmiri Pandit community.
A Kashmiri Pandit, Aparji Yogi, who was part of the procession said they celebrated the Janmashtami on streets of Srinagar due to support of Muslims.
“The majority community in Kashmir had decorated their streets. We hope this brotherhood will continue forever. People from all religions live here united,” he said.
A Kashmiri Pandit youth said the procession was an open invitation to their migrant brethren to return to their homeland.
“Kashmir is known for brotherhood across the world. Outsiders should come here and see our brotherhood. We received good support from the administration and the locals,” he said.
Such processions were also taken out by Kashmiri Pandits in several parts of the valley including in North Kashmir’s Handwara where they were praising Lord Krishna. They also prayed to God to end Corona.
The administration had made tight security arrangements to ensure there was no trouble.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has extended his heartiest greetings on the auspicious occasion of Shri Krishna Janamashtami.
In a message, the Lt Governor said the festival reinforces the belief that a life of morality and righteousness can be achieved amidst all difficulties through devotion, selfless service, commitment and compassion.
“May this Janmashtami strengthen our faith in the goodness of mankind, inspire us to lead a virtuous life and usher in happiness, prosperity and well-being of all. We should renew our commitment to Lord Krishna’s ideals on this occasion,” Lt Governor added.
Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti greeted people on the occasion. (KINS)

O Allah Bless and Grant Peace To Our Prophet Muhammad (Saw)