Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: A youth who was injured along with three other when some unattended explosive substance went off from debris of a house razed during a gunfight in Sirhama area of south Kashmir succumbed to his wounds, officials said on Monday.

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They told GNS that the youth, Yaseen Mohammad Rather son of Mohammad Maqbool Rather of Sirhama died last night at a hospital here.

Yaseen and three others— Irfan Ahmad, Shahid Yousuf and Mudasir Ahmad Magray—were injured when some unattended explosive exploded from the debris of a house which was razed during the gunfight in which two LeT commanders— Adil Ahmad Bhat of Pulwama and Abu Rehan alias Towheed—were killed on Friday last.

Yaseen and other youth suffered serious wounds and were shifted to Srinagar hospital for advanced treatment. However, Yaseen succumbed to the wounds late last night, the officials added. (GNS)

The decision to do away with the Entrance Exam is not final, VC IUST

Pulwama: The students aspiring to get admission in Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora have complained of unfairness as the varsity is going to skip the annual entrance exam, at least according to the official Admission Notification No. 1 of 2020.

According to the official notification, B.Tech Engineering, MBA/MBA-IB, M.Tech Food Technology and MBA (5-Year Integrated) admissions will be done as per performance in JEE Main, CMAT, GATE and test conducted by a National Level Testing Agency, respectively. However, for all other programmes including M.A and M.Sc, the admissions will be “based on the percentage of marks in aggregate obtained by a candidate in the qualifying examination.”

Some agitated aspirants, while expressing their fears over phone to news agency Kashmir News Trust (KNT), said that various Universities across the State have invited fresh admissions for current academic session 2020-21 and are selecting the candidates by conducting Entrance Examination but the IUST Awantipora seems to do otherwise.

“Recently, Kashmir University successfully conducted its entrance examination for various Post Graduate and Undergraduate programmes and is going to conduct other tests for Admissions, under proper SOPs in place. Even, the national level examinations for Medical and Engineering studies like NEET & JEE Mains were conducted across the country in which lakhs of students appeared. But I fail to understand the helplessness of IUST authorities,” Adnan Mushtaq, a student said.

Saima Gulzar, another student, said, “IUST Awantipora has decided to select candidates for admission to various PG & UG programmes as per the percentage in their qualifying exam, which is Graduation for PG Programmes, and Diploma for B-Tech Lateral Entry. This is very brazen.”

The candidates are aghast against the University authorities for not conducting the usual entrance examination for new admissions for current academic session.

“When KU conducted the entrance exam without any issues for large number of seats, why can’t IUST do so for comparatively fewer seats? When JEE Mains & NEET exams were held across the country, what’s holding IUST back?” Shabir Ahmad, an aspirant said.

He added, “Selecting candidates merely on qualifying exam merit is sheer injustice as anyone can get good grades in his course by unfair means, which is not uncommon. That’s why entrance examination is conducted, to make sure deserving candidates get entry.”

When KNT contacted Professor A. M. Shah, IUST’s Dean Academic Affairs, he said, “This decision was taken long back in a meeting of Dean’s / HODs under the chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor, keeping in view a number of factors and COVID-19 situation at that time. For any other information regarding the matter, you can call VC of the University.”

“The Entrance Exam issue impacts fever programmes offered by the University, which are mainly M.A and M.Sc. Also, the decision to do away with the Entrance Exam is not final, given that the application process ends on October 03 (Saturday) and a meeting will be conducted on Monday (October 05) to take a final call,” Professor Mushtaq Siddiqi, the varsity’s Vice-Chancellor told KNT, while speaking on phone.

The VC, however, said that one of the key factors which will impact the decision will be the number of applicants for the entrance exam. “We are facing a stiff resistance from onroll students to conduct their exams online and we now decided to blend the process with both online and offline, (after accessing the number of examinees),” the VC said. (KNT)

Out of 130 newly recruited militants, security forces have killed 55 and arrested 29 till now

Notwithstanding the claims of the Center, the recruitment of local youth into militancy continues in Kashmir with 130 joining the militant ranks this year so far as against 140 in 2019.

As per the official data 140 local youth joined militant ranks in 2019 while the number is 130 this year so far. In 2018, over 200 local youth had joined militant ranks in the Union Territory.

However, out of 130 newly recruited militants, security forces have killed 55 and arrested 29 till present.

On August 5 last year, New Delhi scrapped the constitutional provisions of autonomy in Article 370 and 35A and split the region into two union territories. The Center contended these measures were needed to dismantle a system they claimed fostered separatism, radicalization and militancy.

However, more than a year later, the violence continues unabated in Kashmir and since the beginning of 2020, more than 180 militants have been killed. The number of militants killed in 2019 was less than 160.

Kashmir’s armed insurgency became more local in recent years and the trend continues this year as well. As cross-border infiltration from Pakistan became more difficult in recent years, locally recruited Kashmiri militants continue to outnumber foreign Islamist militants.

A senior police officer involved in counter-insurgency operations told DH that though local militants prove less militarily effective, they help galvanize support for separatism.

“Only the limited weapons supply is preventing the resentment in Kashmir from swelling into a mass insurgency. If weapons are available easily, more local youths will join the militancy,” he revealed.

The officer warned that Kashmir appears poised for a gradual resurgence of violence and armed insurgency if right steps are not taken now.

“Frustrations are mounting in Kashmir over corruption and governance deficits. Assurances of stability, development and a resumption of normality have fallen short. The government needs to work on this front immediately,” he added.

Recently, Lt Gen B S Raju, Commander of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, had termed local recruitment in militancy as one of primary concerns for the army.

“Our efforts are aimed at weaning the youth away from terror. Proactive steps are being taken to identify and counsel vulnerable youth. We are working to, first, prevent local youth from joining terror and, second, to facilitate surrender from those who have joined terror organizations,” he had said.

With inputs from the Deccan Herald

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

PTI

Jammu: Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire for nearly 30 minutes after the Border Security Force (BSF) picked up suspicious movement along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

No one was injured in the firing which started around 11.45 pm on Saturday in Mangu Chak Border Outpost (BOP) area of Ghagwal sector, the officials said.

They said BSF troops deployed at BOP Mangu Chak observed movement of three to four persons near Pakistani post Pir Bunker and opened fire after they were seen moving towards this side under the cover of darkness.

Pakistani Rangers retaliated and the exchange of small arms firing between the two sides continued for about half-an-hour, the officials said, adding the suspiciously moving persons returned to Pakistani side amid the firing.

A BSF official confirmed the incident and said a massive search operation was launched early this morning to sanitise the area.

The search operation is on but no incriminating material has been recovered so far, the official said.

There has been spurt in airdropping of weapons by drones and smuggling of narcotics along the IB and Line of Control (LoC) amid frequent ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir over the past few weeks.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Pulwama: One more militant has been killed while as an armysolider has received an injuries in an encounter that raged between government forces and militants in Samboora village of Pampore belt in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday taking toll of Killed militants to two

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that two unidentified militants have been killed while as army solider has received injuries in Samboora encounter so far while as operation is on in the area.

He further added that injured solider has been shifted to 92 base hospital srinagar whose condition is said to be stable.

Earlier an official said that a joint team of Police, army’s 50 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the joint teams of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure internet services have been snapped in Police district Awantipora—(KNO)

PTI

Srinagar: A militant was on Saturday arrested by security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir and incriminating material, including weapons, was seized from his possession, police said.

In a joint operation in the Kapran area of Dooru in the south Kashmir district, security forces arrested a categorised active militant, Talib Bhat, a resident of Dehruna, a police official said.

He said weapons and other incriminating material were seized from his possession.

A case has been registered and investigation taken up, the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

I observed many graves with crestfallen and every second grave was telling the same tale

Srinagar: In what could be described as ‘lackadaisical’ approach of the authorities to deal with the evil practices, Malkhah, the major Muslim cemetery of Kashmir has turned out to be a safe haven for gamblers and boozers while black magicians perform evil practices with impunity.

Sources informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Malkhah graveyard has become a safe haven for drunkards, gamblers and black magicians who regardless of moral and religious values have been carrying out evil practices without any fear or intimidation.

They claimed that the historic Muslim cemetery is being used for boozing and gambling while as the incidents of the desecration of graves is also done for black magic practice.

Malkhah graveyard literally known as (field of grave diggers) has been reduced from 1300 to 700 kanals owing to the illegal structures erected upon by some blue eyed persons on it. The land was actually purchased and donated by known Muslim Sufi saint Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) for common cause.

“This graveyard is being used as a nightclub for illegal activities like gambling and boozing while black magic practicing is also being done to harm people,” sources said.

Residents living around the graveyard said the authorities despite being well aware of the issue have maintained a criminal silence.

“We cannot blame gamblers and drunkards alone for desecration of Malkhah as the authorities despite being well aware of the issue have maintained an unjustifiable hush. This is a grave issue and the government must wake up from slumbers before it is too late,” Tahir Hussain, a Malkhah resident told KNO.

“I had gone to offer Fateha to my grandmother, the moment I reached near the grave, I found many of graves empty, initially when few graves in similar condition caught my attention, I did not paid much heed, as old graves sometimes look like that,” he said, adding when I moved further into the graveyard, I observed many graves with crestfallen and every second grave was telling the same tale, forcing me to think ‘all is not well’.

The residents appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar to take serious cognizance of the issue and those involved in evil practices be dealt with iron hands—(KNO)

PTI

Srinagar: A medium-intensity earthquake hit Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, but there were no reports of any damage or loss of life, officials said.

The earthquake of 4.5 magnitude occurred at 12:02 pm at a depth of 120 km.

There were no reports of any damage to property or injury or loss of life, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

PTI

Jammu: Police arrested an alleged drug peddler and seized nearly 1kg cannabis from him in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Friday, officials said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Chandan Kohli said the man was moving suspiciously near Darhali bridge in Aitti area and tried to escape when asked to stop but was nabbed.

During a search, 924 grams of cannabis was recovered from him and he was arrested. The man has been identified as Mohammad Alyas Mir of Palangarh village of Thanamandi, Kohli said.

A case has been registered at Rajouri police station and further investigation is underway.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

PTI

Jammu: Pakistani troops on Saturday violated ceasefire by resorting to firing and shelling on forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.

The shelling and firing from across the border in Nowshera sector was “unprovoked” and drew a befitting retaliation by the Indian Army, the spokesman said.

“At about 11.15 am, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along LoC in Nowshera,” the spokesman said.

The cross-border shelling between the two sides was going on when last reports were received.

However, there was no immediate report of any casualty on the Indian side, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)