Category: Union Territory

Ganderbal, Sep 27: With his mesmerizing and enthusiastic voice, a youngster from Anderwan—a remote village in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district is getting popular with each passing day by singing rap songs.

A class 5th student, who is just 10-year-old, is singing Sidhu Moose wala’s and RCR’s songs on the themes of mother’s greatness.

Jameel Ahmad Chichi told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that he didn’t have the opportunity yet to work on a big platform to demonstrate his skills. Unlike other artists, Jameel is not connected himself with social media, but despite having no social media to make his reach among the people, he is becoming a face of rappers in central Kashmir.

“I was a student of 3rd standard when I listened to hip hop and got interested in it. It was the time when I decided to choose this field,” he said and appealed to the government to provide support and facilities.

I am not writing songs but I just listen to Sidhu Moose Wala’s and RCP’s songs on YouTube and later perform on it, he said. He said that he wants to represent Kashmir on a big platform.

“I am getting enough support from my Parents. I want people across Kashmir to support me,” he said.

Jameel’s brother, Javaid Ahmad said: “My brother was fond of Rapping since childhood; he used to steal my phone to listen to songs on YouTube. We have supported him a lot.”

He said that youth must follow their dreams with determination and one day they will definitely achieve their goal—(KNO)

J&K Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said BJP is adopting Israel policy of Palestine in Kashmir.

Although Supreme Court has banned any alterations, however the practice of altering vehicles is rampant and more than 90% of the modifications are done on headlights.

The original lamps fixed by the manufacturer are replaced with illegal ‘extra powerful’ white lights. Though this is done in an attempt to increase the visibility, it is causing inconvenience to commuters, thereby resulting in accidents.

A professor from the Institute of Road and Transport Technology, Erode, said that on an average it takes 1-1.5 seconds for a driver to react to something they see ahead.

“So for a person travelling at 60 km per hour, a 700-lumen headlight (1,200 lumen in case of a high-beam) is more than enough to identify potential obstacles on road and react. But the white LED lights that available in local market range from 2,000 to 3,000 lumen,” the professor added.

“Bright lights also distract drivers travelling in front of the vehicle as high-beams fall on their rear-view mirrors. One can hardly see what is 10-20 feet ahead in a two-way road,” said a driver, who regularly drives regularly across the city.

Speaking with Kashmir Today, group citizens appealed authorities to look into the matter and take action against this curb.

With input from TOI

Srinagar, Sep 24: Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a conglomerate of Kashmir’s religious clerics, Saturday said forcing students in educational institutions of valley to sing Bhajas and to do Surya Namaskar was direct interference in religions and the move was totally unacceptable.

The MMU also sought release of Kashmir’s head priest Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, ahead of the sacred month of Rabi-ul-Awal, that marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Mirwaiz is under continuous house detention since August 5, 2019, when Government of India scrapped article 370 and sliced J&K into two UTs.

Talking to reporters after holding an important meeting over several issues here, key members of MMU, Moulana Rehmatullah Qasmi, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) stated that the MMU expresses its concern over the fact that Kashmiri students are being forced to sing Bhajas and to do Suraya Namaskar at various educational institutions of the Valley. “This is a direct interference into the religious affairs and the move is totally unacceptable,” he said.

He said that MMU, during the meeting, took note of several issues including that of students being forced to sing Hindu hymns in their schools in the name of extra co-curricular activities. “This was an attempt to weaken the Muslim identify of Kashmir,” he said.

Moulana Rehmatuallah said that if such things in schools continue and authorities did not budge, MMU will be forced to ask parents to admit their wards in such schools, where such activities are not done.

“We also urge Ulemas, religious scholars and heads of respective sects to make people aware, through their respective social media platform, about what is religious and what is not, so that people do not commit sins and become aware about several things that are being forced on them,” he added.

The MMU also passed a resolution that reads that the amalgam censures attempts to weaken Muslim identity of Kashmir

“The Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir expresses deep and serious concern over attempts being made to weaken the Muslim identity of this ‘Valley of Saints’ and strongly regrets activities being implemented through schools and educational institutions aimed at furthering the Hindutva agenda in Kashmir,” the resolution reads, adding that “this meeting expresses serious resentment against imposing acts in the name of yoga and morning prayers in educational institutions wherein Muslim students are made to chant Bhajans and at times asked to perform Surya Namaskar. This is against the fundamentals of our religious practices.”

The resolution reads that the meeting notifies the Government, Education Department and concerned agencies that such activities will not be tolerated by the Muslims in Kashmir as it is a direct challenge to their religious and Islamic beliefs.

“As such MMU appeals to the Government and concerned authorities to immediately withdraw its orders and stop these practices in schools and educational institutions, which deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and cause them grief,” the resolution states further, adding that the meeting urges the parents that if their children are forced to participate in un Islamic activities in government schools, they should withdraw their children from these schools and enrol them in private schools. This meeting urges Muslim teachers to avoid promoting such un-Islamic activities and give preference to their faith.

The resolution also stated that MMU expresses satisfaction that Friday prayers and Five daily prayers are now being allowed by the authorities at central Jama Masjid Srinagar and people are not being stopped from assembling at the mosque as such it appeals to authorities to now release its Patron and Mirwaiz Kashmir Molvi Umar Farooq and end his illegal house arrest since Auf 2019 , in wake of the coming holy month of Rabiul Awwal so that the Mirwaiz can pursue his religious obligations and duties.(KNO)

Srinagar: Budgam police today arrested a lotus stem fritters/tea stall vendor at Ompora Budgam after a video went viral showing him making unhealthy food items (Nadur Munji) by kneading the flour dough with feet. Budgam Police swung into action and  the unit was sealed soon after the video surfaced on social media.The  arrested  person involved in the act has been identified as Imran Hussain Halwayi son of Mehboob Hussain Halwayi resident of Rehadu Uttar Pradesh, at present Imran Hotel Ompora Budgam.

In this regard Case FIR number 334/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Budgam and investigation into the matter is going on.

Community members have applauded the efforts made by the Police to nab such persons for unhygienic way of kneading the dough and to sell the contaminated food items to general public. Our consistent actions shall assure community members that Police has resolved to act tough against individuals involved in any kind of criminal activities.

Srinagar, Sep 24: Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir – the representative amalgam of religious social and educational organisations today held a meeting at Jama Masjid Srinagar in the wake of unfortunate  attempts being made  to undermine  the Muslim identity of  Kashmir  by asking Muslim students in schools  and educational institutions to sing Hindu religious songs and do Surya Namaskar. These diktats hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and create anguish in them.

MMU wants to make clear certain points in this regard in a resolution adopted unanimously which reads as follows:

The Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir expresses deep and serious concern over attempts being made to weaken the Muslim identity of this ‘Valley of Saints’ and strongly regrets activities being implemented through schools and educational institutions aimed at furthering the Hindutva agenda in Kashmir.

This  meeting expresses serious resentment against imposing  acts in the name of yoga and morning prayers in educational institutions wherein Muslim students are made to chant Bhajans and at times asked to perform Surya Namaskar. This is against the fundamentals of our religious practices.

The meeting notifies the Government, Education Department and concerned agencies that such activities will not be tolerated by the Muslims in Kashmir as it is a direct challenge to their religious and Islamic beliefs.

 As such MMU appeals to the Government and concerned authorities to immediately withdraw its orders and stop these practices in schools and educational institutions, which deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and cause them grief .

This meeting urges the parents that if their children are forced to participate in un Islamic activities  in government schools, they should withdraw their children from these schools and enroll them in private schools. This meeting urges Muslim teachers to avoid promoting such un-Islamic activities and give preference to their faith and Imaan.

MMU expresses satisfaction that Friday prayers and Five daily prayers are now being allowed by the authorities at central Jama Masjid Srinagar and people are not being stopped from assembling at the mosque as such it appeals to authorities to  now release its Patron and Mirwaiz Kashmir Molvi Umar Farooq and end his illegal house arrest since Auf 2019 , in wake of the coming holy month of Rabiul Awwal so that the  Mirwaiz can pursue his religious obligations and duties.

This meeting also raises its voice in strong protest against tarnishing the reputation of Islamic centres and Muslim institutions in Jammu and Kashmir by arbitrary  arrests of Islamic scholars, preachers and imams and booking them under PSA and sending them to outside Jails. It condemns this act and calls for their immediate release.

Sopore, Sept 23: Amid rising wild animal attacks in Kashmir especially in North Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir’s Wildlife Protection department on Friday issued an advisory to avoid man-wild animal conflict.

In an advisory, issued by Wildlife Warden North Division Sopore, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) officials advised people not to move alone in the forest area.

The advisory reads that children and woman are more vulnerable to leopard and bear attacks, which can be contained if they move in groups or children are accompanied by an elderly person and always move on regular forest paths and avoid short cuts.

“Avoid going to forests for collection of wood etc. in early morning or evening hours, which is the peak activity time for Leopards. Do not chase or try to go near to a wild animal if sighted from a distance in the forest areas.”

It reads that livestock taken to pastures inside forests and near crop fields must be attended by three to four persons and any type of bell or sound producing device be put around the neck of few cattle.

It added that people living in vicinity of forests should also complete their outside activities such as social visits, fetching water from streams, grazing cattle, collection of house hold items etc. during day time only.

“Provide sufficient light around your utilities outside your home so that animals do not feel safe in the vicinity. Do not create kitchen dumping around your houses as this invites stray dogs to the spot which in turn invite leopard movement. As dogs is delicacy for these carnivores,” it added.

The advisory further reads that the villagers must regularly remove all bushes or shrubs from the vicinity of houses in cooperative manner. “Such wegetation clearance wall increase visibility and help to keep the Leopard away from their houses.”

It added that it has been observed that whenever leopard is sighted, people make a lot of noise which can prove dangerous and as such the wild animal feels insecure and can cause damage. “It is advisable not to make noise, while leopard is sighted.”—(KNO)

Anantnag, Sept 22: A soldier allegedly shot himself dead in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Thursday evening.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the soldier posted with Army’s 1 RR shot himself dead with his service rifle at High Ground in Annatnag.

He said that the reason behind soldier taking this extreme step was not immediately, however, investigation has been started in this regard—(KNO)

Uri, Sep 22: A minor boy was taken away by a leopard at Dhanisyedan village of Uri tehsil in North kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday late evening.

A local resident told KNS that a minor boy identified as Syed Ali Hussain son of Syed Abbas Kazmi, was playing outside his home when the leopard pounced over him and took him away in the nearby forests

Police confirmed the incident and said search operation along with locals was launched to trace him.

Earlier this week a minor girl was taken away by leopard and was later found dead.

The incident has caused panic among people, and  urged administration to catch the animal.
Meanwhile a month before 3 persons were killed by the leopard in the area.
(KNS)

Jammu: Hearing the Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping case, a special court in Jammu on Wednesday asked the CBI to produce separatist leader and JKLF chief Yasin Malik before it on October 20 to cross-examine the witnesses. Rubaiya, daughter of former Union Home Minister and J&K ex-CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was kidnapped in 1989 and released five days later on December 13 after the then government freed five terrorists to secure her release.

Monika Kohli, standing counsel for the CBI, said the court issued production warrants despite objection by the central agency on the ground that there were specific directions of the High Court that all accused be presented through videoconference.

Rubaiya Sayeed, who was present during the hearing, said she never looked back at the horrific incident as she tried to live a normal life. Currently lodged in Tihar jail, Malik appeared before the court through videoconferencing. He once again insisted for his physical appearance to cross-examine the witness.

On reports that Rubaiya told the court that she did not recall any of the accused present in the court or having identified any of them before the investigating agency, the CBI counsel said, “She had identified Malik again through the photographs during the cross-examination.”

Kohli said Rubaiya had on July 15 identified five accused, including Malik, and the question of identifying the accused again today was never there. Rubaiya will be present in the court on October 20 because Malik has to cross-examine her, Kohli said.

Malik has been insisting on his physical appearance to cross-examine the witness and had turned down the court’s offer of legal aid or amicus in the past.

Rubaiya was abducted near Lal Ded Hospital on December 8, 1989 and freed five days later on December 13 after the then VP Singh government, supported by the BJP at the Centre, released five terrorists in exchange.

The 56-year-old Malik is at present lodged in the high-security Tihar Jail after he was sentenced by a special NIA court in Delhi in May.

Witness to be cross-examined

The court issued the production warrant for cross-examining the witness on October 20. Malik had been seeking his physical presence for months and had even observed a hunger strike. In July this year, Rubaiya Sayeed had identified Yasin Malik and four others in the court who took her captive in 1989.
(With inputs from PTI)