Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Will act strictly against militants, their supporters: DGP Dilbagh Singh

    Says won’t allow situation in Kashmir to deteriorate in wake of Taliban takeover in Afghanistan; Killing of Abbas Sheikh, his aide major breather for police, people

    Bandipora, Aug 28: Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbagh Singh Saturday said that police will go tough against militants and their supporters in Kashmir to keep the prevailing peaceful atmosphere intact.
    He also said that police and the other security won’t allow the prevailing situation to deteriorate in the wake of Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to District Police Lines (DPL) Bandipora, the DGP said that due to the Covid situation, meetings with the police officers had slowed down a bit and now that the Covid graph has going down, the interactions have once again picked up.
    “Bandipora is on a peaceful track and the situation has improved here,” he said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). The DGP said that in the past few weeks many top commanders of various militant outfits were killed in encounters and especially the killing of Lashkar-e-Toiba/TRF chief Abbas Sheikh and his aide Saqib in Srinagar encounter, people have heaved a sigh of relief.
    “Abbas and his associate were involved in so many activities. After their killing, people are feeling relieved,” the DGP said, adding that similarly in other districts of Kashmir, the situation is peaceful and people are enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
    About the growing number of militant supporters in Kashmir, the DGP said that police will act strictly against militants and militant supporters including OGWs. “It is the OGWs who carry a pistol to do selective killing and throw grenades to target innocent civilians. We are going very tough against them,” he said.
    Asked how he sees the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan and possible infiltration of Taliban militants into Kashmir, the DGP said that they won’t allow the prevailing situation in Kashmir to deteriorate. “Situation at present in Kashmir is peaceful and it will remain so,” he said—(KNO)

  • Two lecturers discover ‘gigantic fossil site’ near Aharbal waterfall in Kulgam

    Kulgam, Aug 28: Two lecturers, working in the School Education department Saturday claimed to have discovered a “gigantic fossil site” while scouting for fossil samples near world famous Aharbal waterfall in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

    Fossil Images

    As per reports available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the gigantic fossil site was discovered by two lectures namely Manzoor Javaid and Dr Rouf Hamza when they came across a site, which is rich in fossil diversity at specific locations aged between 488- 354 million years.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CSR-e2vhrwn/

    Notably, the site is located at a distance of about two kilometers from Ahrabal Waterfall in Kulgam district and the site is studded with thousands of fossil remains of diverse nature which got exposed due to weathering, construction of road and subsequent erosion.

    Fossil Image

    Dr Rouf Hamza while talking with KNO said that thousands of fossils are visible at the site superficially without any excavation. “This is an indication that huge haul of fossils could be hidden beneath.”

    He said that if the potential areas of the site are excavated, it may reveal an astonishing fossil world to the scientific community.

    “During the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the fossil samples fall between Ordovician and Devonian period. However, it needs to be ascertained through serious research and Carbon Dating.”

    He said that the organisms commonly found during this period belong to Bryozoa (Fenestella, Fenestrillina, Trepestome, Rhombopore), Trilobites, Crinoids, Brachiopods, Corals etc. “However, the site needs to be evaluated for other fossil flora and fauna.”

    Rouf claimed that till date, it is presumably the biggest find in J&K in terms of occurrence, area, diversity and age of the fossils.

    “Interestingly most of the fossil sites have been discovered either by the foreigners or by the professionals. However, this is the only discovery in Jammu and Kashmir made by the amateur fossil hunters,” he claimed—(KNO)

  • Ruhullah Mehdi Tweets

  • Yamraj is everywhere, Says Farooq Abdullah, referring to people who are afraid of travelling to J&K

    Says we must fight that fear and we will vercome insurgency soon, Two-day National Meet on Safety and Energy concludes at Sonamarg

    Sonamarg, Aug 27: Referring to the people who are afraid of travelling to Jammu and Kashmir due to insurgency, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday said the Yamraj is everywhere.

    “Though J&K is Paradise on Earth, still people have fear in travelling to this region. Due to the violence and insurgency, they are not sure whether they go back live or not. But, I am happy you have come, you made it a point to come here. Like you fought the fear came here, you have seen how secured it is. When you go back home tell your friends, what you have witnessed here,” he said, as per a statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS)

    Dr, Farooq Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of J&K was the chief guest at the closing ceremony of Greentech Foundation’s two-days meet on Safety and Energy.

    Welcoming the gathering, CEO of Greentech Foundation, Kamaleshwar Sharan, said what they hear about Jammu & Kashmir about safety is different from what they have been witnessing for the past couple of days.

    “There is a perception gap. We need to correct this. We will spread a positive word about it. We will convey the ground reality of the region.”

    Recalling an incident, which he witnessed in Dubai on a 31st New Year evening, where Dr Abdullah saw a hotel caught up with fire, killing many. “Later it was found that it didn’t have fire fighting mechanism in place. We have been constructing sky scrapers, but fail to give attention to fire safety and security,” Abdullah said.

    Referring to Covid-19, which crippled mighty nations like the USA, he said that India has fared well, despite the highest poverty. “Our Scientific and Medical community made our country proud.”

    Giving hope to the audience that comprised of Safety and Energy Professionals Greentech Foundation drawn from across India, Abdullah, a former Union Minister for Energy said, they will get over insurgency soon. “Keep faith. We have to survive and we will make our nation survive.”

    He also said that the Holy Quran teaches us to respect each other, respect humanity. “When you go back home make a new India, make India for all. Before I sleep I want to see a new India. The liberators of this nation, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru couldn’t see. But, I am optimistic and I would like to see a new India, the India that stands for all.”

    Dr Abdullah also gave away Genentech’s Leading Director Awards to a few individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to their profession and the Industry.

    The few recipients include City Corporation, Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company and Manipur Police Housing and others.

    As per the statement, 150 delegates from across India and cross-section of industries participated in the meet.

    “The delegates came from organizations like ONGC, NTPC Ltd, Dalmia Cement, HPCL, IIM Rohtak, Steel Authority of India Ltd, Lupin Ltd etc deliberated, said Kamaleshwar Sharan, CEO of Greentech Foundation.”

    The two-day national meet organized by New Delhi based 21-year-old Greentech Foundation on Safety at Workplace and Energy concluded on Friday with an awards presentation ceremony.

  • Heat wave conditions to end as Western Disturbance to affect J & K parts from tomorrow

    A weak Western Disturbance is very likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir from tomorrow. Under its influence, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected at some places in Jammu and Kashmir.

    There is no forecast of any continuous or heavy rainfall. However, intensity of thundershowers in parts of Jammu region can be heavy as the western arm of monsoon lies close to the foothills of the Himalayas.

    These shorts spells of rain may keep the weather pleasant across the Union Territory till 01 September.

    Regards: Kashmir Weather

  • PICTURES: A photographer captures lightning strikes on the clock tower during a thunderstorm on Thursday

    A photographer captures lightning strikes on the clock tower during a thunderstorm on Thursday

  • No Forecast Of Any ‘Significant Weather’ In Next 7-10 Days In J&K, Ladakh: MeT

    Srinagar, Aug 27: Meteorological department on Friday predicted hot and dry during next one week with possibility of “brief spell of light to moderate showers”, mainly during late afternoon and evening on August 28-30.

    “Weather to remain hot and dry during next one week in both J&K and Lakdakh. However, a brief spell of light to moderate shower can’t be ruled out at isolated place s of j&k during 28-30th mainly during late afternoon/evening,” an official of the meteorological department said, adding, “There’s no forecast of any significant weather for next 7-10 days,” the official said.

    The official told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, reordered a low of 18.5 degrees Celsius against 16.4 normal for this time of the year.

    Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, recorded a minimum of 27.4 degrees Celsius against normal of 24.1 degrees Celsius, he said.

    Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, recorded minimum of 15.7 (against normal of 14.5) degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 12.7 degrees Celsius while Kokernag recorded 15.9 degrees Celsius, the official said.

    The border town Kupwara recorded low of 15.9 degrees Celsius against normal of 15.0 degree Celsius, he said.

    World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir recording minimum of 11.5 degrees Celsius against the normal of 11.0 degree Celsius for this time of the season for the place, the official added.

  • As COVID 3rd wave looms, admin set up testing facilities at all paid gardens, parks in Valley

    Srinagar, Aug 26: Amid fear of the 3rd wave of Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir the administration has set up Covid-19 testing facilities at all paid gardens and parks for every visitor in the valley.

    Talking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) a doctor assigned at Shalimar garden said they have done 50 rapid antigen tests for the day.

    “Our protocol is if any visitor has a vaccination certificate or RTPCR within 72 hours or has an antigen test within 24 hours are only allowed to enter the garden, else we do a rapid antigen test to every visitor before their entry into the garden,” the doctor said.

    Many paramedics were seen taking nasal swab samples from every visitor to conduct a rapid antigen test for Covid-19 before entering the garden.

    The facilities have been made available at Shalimar garden, Nishat garden and many other paid Mughal gardens in Srinagar—(KNO)

  • PHOTO: A bird rests on the Ka’bah

    PHOTO: A bird rests on the Ka’bah

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CTBxHuSlQ8b/?utm_medium=copy_link

  • Newly wed youth dies in Banihal road mishap

    Banihal, August 25 : A 25-year-old newlywed youth died after the scooty he was riding skidded off the Srinagar-Jammu highway near Chareel Banihal in J&K’s Ramban district on Wednesday

    An official said that a person namely Asgar Ali Sheikh age, son of Ali Mohammad Sheikh, a resident of Takya Tethar in Banihal Tehsil was riding the two-wheeler bearing registration number JK02BB/3742 this morning when the vehicle skidded off the highway near Char Chinar, around 3 kms from Banihal town resulting in grievous injuries to him.

    He said that Asgar was immediately shifted to Emergency Hospital Banihal from where he was reffered to GMC Anantnag where he succumbed to his injuries.

    He further informed that the deceased had tied the knot some 10 days ago.