Category: Union Territory

  • In a first, clock tower at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk illuminated in tricolour

    Srinagar August 7: The famous clock tower at Lal Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar was illuminated in Indian tricolour on Friday night ahead of Independence Day.
    Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu took to Twitter to share a photograph of the clock tower that was lit up by the district administration for the first time.
    “We have illuminated the Clock Tower (‘Ghanta Ghar’) at Lal Chowk in colours of the Tricolour ahead of Independence Day. New clocks fitted,” he tweeted.
    Lal Chowk is a highly sensitive area in Srinagar. Traffic plying or a deserted look during shutdown, often gives a glimpse of the situation in the city.
    In a similar incident on Friday, the Zero Bridge, a popular spot for visitors in Srinagar, was also illuminated in tricolour of the national flag.
    The first noticeable flag hoisting at Lal Chawk was done in 1992. The flag was hoisted by the then BJP president, Murli Manohar Joshi, and coordinator of the Ekta Yatra Narendra Modi amid tightened security.
    Since then, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) hoists the tricolour every year at the clock tower, after evaluating the security situation. However, this is the first time that the clock tower was illuminated in tricolour.

  • COVID-19 third wave; Remain alert as next 100 days crucial, LG Sinha

    Srinagar, Aug 7: Cautioning that next 100 days are crucial as per the report of expert, Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) Lt Governor Manoj Sinha asked officials and people to remain alert, vigilant and adhere to COVID protocols to prevent third wave.
    Ensure no congregation takes place with more than 25 people, he said.
    “ Religious, social and community leaders must be roped in for generating awareness among the people”, Mr Sinha said at a weekly meeting on COVID Task Force, a press release issued by Raj Bhavan here today said.
    Mr Sinha said focus shall be on timely inoculation of second dose and ensuring 100 per cent coverage of 18-44 year age group.
    The release said that Mr Sinha chaired the weekly meetings with members of COVID Task Force, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police (SsPs) on present Covid scenario in the UT.
    “Next 100 days are crucial as per the experts’ report. We need to be alert, vigilant and must dhere to Covid protocols to prevent the third wave”, observed the Lt Governor.
    Emphasizing on reaching out to the maximum population to make them aware about the COVID related Standard Operating Procedure ( SoPs), the Lt Governor directed the Health and Information departments to come up with a comprehensive district-level plan for conducting IEC campaigns. Divisional Commissioners will monitor the implementation of awareness activities in their respective divisions, he added.
    He further asked the DCs and SsPs to rope in religious leaders and community heads for spreading awareness regarding adherence of COVID Appropriate Behaviour, besides making informative announcements from religious places to create a sense of responsibility on the part of the general public to follow covid protocols and control the spread of the infection.
    The Lt Governor laid special emphasis on mobilizing the joint teams for effective enforcement on the ground and taking long-term solutions to mitigate the spread of Corona virus. Directions were passed to the DCs, SsP to ensure that no congregation takes place with more than 25 people.
    On being informed that as many as 5,62,000 vaccine doses are available with J&K, the Lt Governor observed that availability of vaccines in such large numbers will go a long way in complementing the government’s efforts to achieve the set target of covering 60 per cent of our population by this month.
    Dedicated focus must be given on timely inoculation of 2nd dose, besides ensuring 100% coverage of the 18-44 age group with the first dose, the Lt Governor told the officials.
    While assessing the surveillance activities being conducted in the districts, the Lt Governor directed the district administrations to scale up the surveillance exercises. Contact tracing must be done at a 1:15 ratio to break the spread chain of the virus, he added.
    The Lt Governor passed specific directions for uploading of all covid related data at the earliest, besides increasing testing and awareness activities in areas with high positivity rates.
    While taking a district-wise thorough assessment, the Lt Governor sought the present standings of the districts in respect of various indicators and norms set for evaluating the COVID situation from Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo, who in turn briefed the chair about the analysis of Covid-19 pandemic including the status of vaccine availability and coverage; real time reproductive number of cases ( Rt value); availability of vaccine; positivity rate; daily trends of COVID 19 cases & testing done.
    He informed that more than 51 lakh population has been inoculated with 1st dose till date. It was further informed that the remaining districts viz Kupwara, Srinagar, Doda, Kathua, Reasi, and Udhampur which were yet to achieve saturation of 1st dose in 45 and above age group are also nearing the 100 per cent coverage.
    The Lt Governor also sought the status of the covid containment efforts of the Administration, besides the measures taken to vaccinate the targeted population under different age-groups and other interventions made to effectively tackle the spread of the corona virus.

  • Sehar Iqbal’s ‘A Strategic Myth’ showcases J&K’s development

    7 years research of PHD scholar helps her to prove UT’s status compared to other States, UTs

    Srinagar, Aug 06: The seven year’s research of a PHD scholar from Kashmir, Sehar Iqbal has finally come to an end in the shape of a book ‘A Strategic Myth Under Development in Jammu and Kashmir’.

    The writer from Kashmir has showcased that Jammu and Kashmir is not under developed but a developed State, compared to the rest of the country. She went from pillar to post and visited far-flung areas in seven years to gather the facts vis-à-vis development in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Iqbal, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that she has been supported by her family in all these years in completing this book. “It was quite difficult for me to move out for research purposes having a 4-year-old with me. I am thankful to my family who supported me all the time,” she said.

    “To compile this book, secondary research as well as field research was done by me in seven years,” she said, adding that it was not an easy task to gather the facts from the ground to check all the indicators in which Jammu and Kashmir is better than the other States or the Union Territories.

    “I visited far-flung areas in Kashmir also to ascertain the facts,” Iqbal, a PHD scholar from Oxford University said, adding that this book is not only an academic book, but it’s for all those who want to know about Kashmir and history of Kashmiri people with proper facts and figures.

    According to facts collected, Jammu and Kashmir is better than compared with other States and Union territories in terms of poverty, literacy, life expectancy, infant mortality rate, women literacy, electricity and many other things.

    “J&K is less than 10 per cent in terms of poverty rate and compared to India, it is only 1/3rd,”she said as per the figures.

    As far as women literacy is concerned, the rate in J&K is 69% while in India, it is 68.4 %, adding that the 87 % men are literate in J&K while in India the rate is only 85.7 %.

    Iqbal hoped that this book will increase the knowledge of people and help them in comparing easily that J&K is better than the rest of the country.

    This book is available at Gulshan Books, Watan Publications and also available on Amazon, she said—(KNO)

  • Greater Kashmir Staffer Journalist Nazir Ganaie to feature in synthesis symphony

    Srinagar August 06: Senior journalist and artist, Nazir Ganaie, is all set to be featured in ‘Synthesis Symphony’ along with noted classical artists from across other Indian states.

    According to organizers, Nazir Ganaie, a senior staffer with Srinagar based Greater Kashmir, besides performing his professional duties chose to preserve and promote the playing of Rabab instruments in the region. His effort has given impetus in popularizing this art form.

    The organisers said that Ganaie would be part of the Synthesis team and would be accompanying noted vocalists Dhanashree Pandit Rai, Sonam Kalra, Anushree Gupta, Kutle Khan and Sunita Bhuyan. The other artists in the melodic team would be Ambi Subramaniam – (Carnatic Violin), Hidayat Khan – Sitar, Ajay Prasanna – Flute, Naviin Gandharv – Belabaharr, Sunita Bhuyan – Assamese Violin. While Nathulal Solanki – Nagaras Fazal Qureshi – Tabla and Padanth Sridhar Parthasarathy – Mridangam Vijay Chavan – Marathi Dholki Kutle Khan – Khartaal, would be part of the percussion team.

    Ganaie said today said folk music and folk arts are witnessing the worst case scenario from the last over a decade due to the emergence of electronic music gadgetry. “Folk music has resonated with fans for as long as we can remember,” he said.

    Composer, Ravi Iyer, said that it would be a great experience to understand the instruments of every region, especially Rabab, and use its tonality. The song has been written by K.C. Lot, mix-mastered by Aslam Khan – Mix & Master, and programmed by Abhinay Jain.

    Art expert and CEO, ShowCase Events, Nanni Singh, while elaborating about Synthesis, said that it was her dream project to bring artists from places or origin together and work on unique projects that are aimed at promoting the real art forms.

    “We work with an intent of showcasing the original music and good but dying talent, due to lack of right visibility and platforms. Curations leading to experiences is our main forte and music is our first love,”

    “In the folk genre, what the artists today are playing as folk is totally commercialized music. That’s when we thought of channelizing our love for music into curations under the name of Sounds of India and curated our first one, ‘Sounds From The Desert’ a complete showcase of Rajasthani folk music. A production that had 19 artists from different parts of Rajasthan exhibiting their prowess and natural, untrained talent,” she said. “Similarly in synthesis we bring artists together from almost other areas of the county.” She said that she was excited to feature Rabab as an instrument in their productions and assured that she along with her colleagues would continue to promote real folk genres.

  • ‘Street dog population out of control in Srinagar city’

    Srinagar, Aug 06: Failure of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to take measures for controlling the fast growing population of stray dogs is taking a heavy toll on people of the summer capital.
    People believe here that street dog numbers continue to affect people in majority of the areas of Srinagar city and this will be the trend if the authorities continue to do nothing.
    “The control methods used are inadequate, as trapping is rarely a method that is considered and is totally undervalued and underutilized,” one of the local residents of Srinagar city told this KINS Correspondent.
    The stray dog menace is more prevalent in city centre areas including Lal Chowk, Khayam, Khanyar, Munwarabad and Dalgate, Bemina, Batmalo, Qamarwari.
    People blame the authorities for not taking appropriate steps to reduce the increasing dog population.
    The cases reported with Socio and Preventive Medicine Department at the SMHS Hospital, the only tertiary care hospital in the Valley, has registered hundreds of dog bites during the recent years.
    To control the canine population in the city, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has taken the process of sterilization, but people said that it was a long process and there should be some short-term plan by the SMC to stop the cases of dog bites.
    “Sterilization is a long time process. The government is not serious in solving this grave issue. Something needs to be done timely to check the menace,” Habib-ullah, a resident of Srinagar told KINS.
    “Stray canines can be seen roaming on streets, chasing cars, pulling down bicycle riders and often attacking pedestrians and children ,” said another local resident.
    The situation is worse in the outskirts where the municipal corporation is not that active is checking the menace. The peripheral hospitals of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir receive thousands of cases of dog bites every year, sources said.
    According to experts, the reason behind the ferocity of the dogs is the high-protein food which is available regularly because of the dietary habits of residents of Kashmir, where mutton and chicken are a staple diet.
    “We fear that the dog population if kept unchecked could trigger fear psychosis among people. The dog issue needs to be dealt with seriously or else by four years dogs may outnumber Srinagarites and they will victimize every one of us,”
    The SMC officials couldn’t be contacted for their comments.(KINS)

  • Jammu: Gunfight breaks out in Rajouri

    Srinagar, August 06:A fierce Gunfight broke out between militants and security forces in Thanamandi area in district Rajouri on Friday.

    Reports reaching GNS that a joint team of Police and Army launched a cordon and search operation in Thanamandi.

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

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

  • Army man hangs self to death inside camp in Mansbal

    Ganderbal, Aug 06 : An Army man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself to death inside an army camp in Mansbal area of Centeral Kashmiri’s Ganderbal on Friday.

    Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the army man of HQ Bn 207 Army Unit committed suicide by hanging himself inside the camp.

    They further said that investigation has been started to ascertain the reasons as to why he took this extreme step—(KNO)

  • BJP is celebrating 2nd anniversary of Article 370 while Kashmir is mourning: Mehbooba

    SRINAGAR, AUG 05: Former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday marched out on Srinagar streets while observing 5th August as black day.

    PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti said that today is a day of mourning for Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP government started harassment and vandalism in 2019. It is unfortunate that BJP is celebrating while Kashmir is mourning. We will oppose it. We will force the government to talk to Pakistan to address the external dimensions.

    PDP workers were raising slogans take back black judgement of black day at earliest. PDP has been advocating for restoration of special status of Jammu and Kashmir despite that dozens of leaders have left the party.

    Significantly, on August 5, 2019, Article 370 was abolished from Jammu and Kashmir and its special status was also abolished and the erstwhile state was divided into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Mufti and her PDP have been quite vocal in opposing the Centre’s move two years ago. Not only this, Mehbooba Mufti was placed under house arrest for a long time.

    “Today is a day of mourning for Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP government started oppression, vandalism in 2019. It is unfortunate that the BJP is celebrating while Kashmir is mourning. We will oppose it. We will let the government look at external dimensions. Will force to talk to Pakistan to address,” Mehbooba Mufti said.

  • APHC calls abrogation of Article 370, 35-A as unilateral arbitrary action, reiterates its resentment

    Srinagar, Aug 05 : On the completion of two years of abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of India’s own constitution and break up of J&K into two union territories, in an attempt to erase its status as a disputed territory, All Parties’ Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has reiterated its strong resentment and opposition to these unilateral and arbitrary actions.

    APHC, in statement, issued said that it would also like to draw attention of the citizens of India and the world at large, that the present Indian Government’s actions of August 5,2019 has only complicated the dispute further over the state of J&K.

    “This is illustrated by the fact that it ignited the flames along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) even as some measure of calm has been introduced along the Line of Control. It is worth pointing out that whereas before August 2019 New Delhi would argue that Kashmir was the main trouble spot in the state, today it is faced with four trouble spots of Leh, Kargil and Jammu as there is disaffection in these regions too.”

    It said that meanwhile, the government continues to assault the people of the state by continuing to incarcerate political prisoners and youth, intimidate people by arrests and bringing in arbitrary and anti-people laws, media gags ,arbitrary dismissal of locals from government services, gagging all voices of dissent and continued misrepresentation of the actual conditions in the (former) state.

    It said that APHC has had a long-standing policy of engagement in meaningful dialogue among all the stakeholders, that sees the situation on the ground for what it is and encourages dialogue rather than armed confrontation.

    “The latter benefits no one and harms everyone. Nor is intransigence and denial a helpful stance. All political prisoners, including APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, hundreds of youths and all others arrested arbitrarily or under draconian laws should be released by the government.”

    The statement reads that the APHC is cognizant that although they cannot match the muscle of status quo powers, the political education in the last thirty years has been significant and they appreciate all platforms that give them a voice. .These platforms must be created and we should be allowed to participate in them – not only to allow our voice as peoples representatives be heard, but because it is just . It is time that the conflict over the state of J&K is resolved so that not just Kashmir, but all of South Asia can look forward to living up to its collective potential.(KNS)

  • August 05 2019 decisions unacceptable :Dr Farooq Abdullah

    Will continue our democratic, peaceful, constitutional battle for restoration of people’s rights

    Srinagar, 05 August: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party President, and Member of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday reiterated the party’s position on the unilateral, unconstitutional and undemocratic decisions taken on 5, August 2019 will never change and that the party will keep up with its struggle for the restoration of J&K people’s abridged constitutional and democratic rights.

    In a statement issued Dr Farooq said this while addressing a meeting of party functionaries, here at party headquarters Nawa e Subha, Srinagar. He termed the august 5 decisions as a lethal assault on the country’s secular visage, its pluralistic and asymmetrical federalism and violation of sovereign promises made by the country to the People of Jammu , Kashmir and Ladakh.

    He said the abrogation of Articles 370, 35-A, downgrading of J&K into two UTs are few milestones for which the people of J&K would never forgive the present government.

    Among others Party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr. Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Senior Leaders Mubarak Gul, State Women’s Wing President Shameema Firdous, Central Zone President Ali Muhammad Dar, Provincial Secretary Showkat Ahmed Mir also addressed the functionaries. Among others Peer Afaq Ahmed, Qaisar Jamsheed Lone, Syed Tauqeer Ahmed, Dr Sajad Shafi Uri, Tanvir Sadiq, Imran Nabi Dar, Salman Ali Sagar, Er. Sabiya Qadri, Mudassar Shahmiri, Ifra Jan, Younis Mubarak Gul, JS Azad, GN Tailbali, scores of parent body, YNC functionaries were also present on the occasion.

    Those who spoke on the occasion termed the August 5, 2019 decisions of the incumbent ruling dispensation in New Delhi as a catastrophic event in the recent history of Jammu and Kashmir that gave a death knell to the vital democratic, political, constitutional, cultural, economic interests of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and ladakh. “In the run up for abrogation on the fateful day of august 5, 2019, it was said that the rationale behind the decisions was to facilitate the integration and bring about better administration. Two years have passed since, not a single promise has materialized on ground. The decisions have only managed to suspend democracy in the state, and put all the crucial institutions on death bed. As against facilitating the integration and bringing the region at par with other states, as was promised, the GOI has inversely been thrusting custom made top bottom decisions on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Post unilateral abrogation of its status, the region has been put on much lower pedestal than other constituent units of the union,” the functionaries said.

    The functionaries said that the decisions have come with a steep cost to people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh in the shape of collapsed economy, growing administrative inertia, and development deficit as well. “A choked atmosphere has been created in J&K. The idea of peace still remains elusive. BJP’s drum beating has not helped it gloss over the fall out of its imprudent decisions. Huge barriers have been placed aimed to deny political space to voices of dissent be it political or from the media fraternity. The employees and youth have been pushed to the wall by New Delhi without any hesitation. The successive executive orders post abrogation in the shape of issuance of domicile certificates, curbs on media, intimidation of government employees, discriminatory rules on employment are some of the top down authoritarian diktats that have been pushed down the throats of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” they said.