Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Aug 24: A 28-year-old shopkeeper and son of ex-deputy director fire services was killed in a blast while refilling fire extinguisher at his shop near Ganjiwara in Anantnag town.

Official sources told GNS that the shopkeeper, Hazik Wani son of Abdul Rahman Wani of Bidder Kokernag was critical injured in the blast and was shifted to Government Medical College. However he succumbed to his injuries, they said.

A police officer confirmed the incident to GNS and said that a case has been registered. (GNS)

Srinagar, August 24: Saying that  National Conference (NC) was meeted out unfair treatment in PAGD, party demanded course correction and  hinted out going for assembly polls seperately.
“The participants of the Provincial Committee denounced the unfair treatment meted out to JKNC in PAGD. The participants demanded immediate course correction from PAGD constituents,.” Tweet by National Conference reads.
The tweet by National Conference also says Provincial Committee members unanimously resolved that JKNC should prepare and fight all 90 seats. 
“Only way to protect J&Ks identity is to first register, and cast your vote in huge numbers: @OmarAbdullah to people.Provincial Committee members unanimously resolved that JKNC should prepare and fight all 90 seats,” he said.
Another tweet also said that “The participants present in the meeting expressed dismay over the recent statements, audio jingles & speeches made by some of the constituents of the PAGD targeting JKNC. They felt that it does not contribute to the overall unity of the amalgam.” Speaking exclusively to Kashmir News Service (KNS), NC MP Justice Hasnain Masoodi said PAGD was never an electoral alliance.” We have come together on basis of ideology, it was never an electoral alliance. Every party in PAGD wants restoration of August 5 position, restoration of our constitutional guarantees. Yes incase when assembly elections are announced, parties can then decide whether to go together or seperately.”(KNS)

Srinagar: Police along with security forces on Tuesday claimed to have arrested one hybrid LeT militants and one OGW besides that arms and ammunition has been recovered from their possession.

In a statement the police said that at around 1900 hrs on Tuesday,bon the basis of specific information regarding movement of 2 suspected militants, joint parties of Police Component Rafiabad, 22 Rashtriya Rifles and 92 CRPF were conducting nakas/checking on multiple simultaneous MVCP Grid at Nowpora Six Way Junction, MRF Chowk, Bahrampora Bridge, Sonawani Bridge, and at Behrampora Seeloo Bridge.

“During the checking of vehicles at around 1930 hrs the naka party at Behrampora Seeloo bridge observed a suspecious movement of a vehicle towards Seelo in which 02 persons were boarded rushed and asked to stop, but they tried to flee from the spot.” The statement adds.

“The party assessed the situation and displayed extreme restraint and fire control in not opening fire. The individuals were tactfully apprehended by the Naka party.” It added.

“On carrying out spot interrogation the individuals disclosed that they were tasked to deliver a weapon and a hand grenade at Seelu which was planned to be used for targetted killing.” It adds further.

They identified them as Muzaffar Ah Dar son of Ghulam Nabi Dar resident of Pazalpura, Dangiwacha Soporeb and Sofi Ishaq Ahmad son of Mohammad Sultan Sofi resident of Amberpora, Tarzoo, Sopore.

“During the search 01 Pistol, 01 Pistol Magazine 8 Rounds and 1 hand grenade were recovered from the possession of Muzaffar Ahmed Dar and 01 Chinese Hand Grenade was recovered from Sofi Ishaq Ahmad, statement adds.

In this regard Case FIR 97/2022 U/S 7/25 I.A Act , 13,18,23 & 38 ULA (P) Act registered in Police Station Dangiwacha, Rafiabad and investigation is going on, it adds further.

Srinagar, August 23: Board of Directors, Jammu & Kashmir Bank today met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhawan here.

The directors- Sh R K Chhibber, Dr Rajeev Lochan Bishnoi, Sh Anil Goel, Sh Umesh Pandey apprised the Lt Governor about the functioning and progress achieved by the J&K Bank in the recent quarter.

It was informed that J&K bank achieved a profit of Rs 165.97 crores in the quarter ending June as against Rs 104.32 crores for the same quarter previous year

It was informed that J&K bank achieved a profit of Rs 165.97 crores in the quarter ending June as against Rs 104.32 crores for the same quarter previous year.

The Lt Governor while interacting with the directors appreciated the progress achieved by J&K Bank. He impressed upon them to ensure that maximum population of the UT is covered under the ambit of banking services and financial literacy.

The Lt Governor further asked them to continue their sustained endeavours of being the major contributor in providing financial assistance to the people of Jammu Kashmir, especially the enterprising youth.

Srinagar Aug 22: Amid rising unemployment, a 55-year-old woman from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district has been providing employment to over 1000 girls.

Her name is Zamruda Bano, who has set up over 200 centres where around 1000 women work and make their earnings. In these centres, these women do crewel embroidery, chain stitching with a special hooked needle locally called Ari on the fabric, making cushion covers, curtains, and bed sheets.

Zamrudu is an illiterate woman from Kulgam and is mother of two children. However, that has not deterred her from setting up these centres and providing employment to over 1000 women.

“I also provide training to girls to learn these skills. Once they get trained, they start doing works of crewel embroidery, chain stitching, making cushion covers, bed sheets and curtains. We then sell these things in and outside Kashmir,” she told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

She has been earning over Rs 10 lakh monthly and provides remuneration to these girls.

She has been associated with this art since childhood. Everyday many women come to her to learn about the crafts. Even doing Covid restrictions, her works were going smoothly.

“My main aim is to provide employment to girls. There are thousands of girls sitting idle at homes. I started setting up centres since 1990 and thousands of girls have been trained in them over the years,” Zamruda said.

In each centre 10-15 girls work jointly. “Each girl earns Rs 4000-7000 monthly based on the work they do,” she said.

One of the girls working in one of Zamruda’s centres said she was sitting idle after passing 10th class. “My family could not afford to send me for higher studies due to financial constraints. Then I got to know about the centre in 2017. I learned how to make crewel cushions for a few months. Now I earn over Rs 5000 per month,” she said, who is from Kulgam district.

Like other parts of the country, there is rising unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir. The Government of India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation published its latest Periodic Labour Force Survey stating that unemployment figures among educated youth in J&K has reached 46.3 percent, second highest in India. (KINS)

Today afternoon an incident came to notice wherein Some army personnel in uniform reportedly beat one civilian while other personnel present also got involved in minor fight at nowgam chowk.

On receipt of this information, cognisance of incident was taken and a case under FIR number 116/2022 under sections 323,341 of IPC was registered in nowgam PS. Investigation has been taken up.

Srinagar Police

Srinagar, Aug 22 : The All Party meeting began here at National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s Gupkar residence to discuss the future course of action with regard to inclusion of non-locals into electoral rolls of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports reaching to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that leaders from all the parties except Peoples Conference and Apni Party have reached to the residence of Dr Farooq, where the meeting was scheduled.

Notably, for the first time, Shiv Sena has also joined hands with the Kashmir based parties and attended the meeting to discuss the issue

Earlier, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone in a presser said that they will not attend the all party meeting called by NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah—(KNO)

More details awaited

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his desire for peaceful relations with India based on the principles of “equity, justice and mutual respect” and the resolution of the Kashmir issue, according to a media report on Friday.
Sharif also urged the international community to play a “facilitative role” to ensure durable peace and stability in South Asia, it said, amidst a chill in Indo-Pak bilateral ties over the Kashmir issue and cross border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
Sharif expressed these views during a meeting with the newly-appointed Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Neil Hawkins, on Thursday, the Dawn Newspaper quoted the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as saying.
Pakistan desires peaceful ties with India, based on the principles of equity, justice and mutual respect. In this context, a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, was indispensable, Sharif said.
The international community has to play a facilitative role in this regard, as it was essential for durable peace and stability in South Asia, he said.
India has repeatedly told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.
Sharif’s remarks came days after India decided to allow non-locals who are living ordinarily in Jammu and Kashmir to be able to register their names in the voting list and cast their ballot in the elections in the union territory.
Before the abrogation of Article 370, only the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir as defined by the state subject law were entitled to get voting rights.
In a related development, the Foreign Office on Friday said it categorically rejects India’s announcement of permitting even temporary residents, including outside workforce and security personnel, to register as voters’ in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is an “Indian design to influence the outcome of so-called’ elections” in Jammu and Kashmir and deliberate attempts “of pre-poll rigging and overt manipulation”, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
It also asked the international community to take immediate cognisance of the Indian attempts at effecting illegal demographic changes in Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar on Wednesday had announced that the union territory is likely to get around 25 lakh additional voters, including outsiders, after the special summary revision of electoral rolls being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370.
The bilateral ties between the two neighbours deteriorated further after India announced withdrawing the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August 2019.
India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of the country. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda. PTI

It said that if the authorities have now decided to release Mirwaiz, let him be allowed to deliver the Friday sermon at Jama Masjid this Friday.

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference on Friday expressed amazement at the video statement given to a media agency by the LG Manoj Sinha, where he refuted that APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is under house detention for the past three years (since August 2019) and said that the armed forces’ vehicles and personnel stationed outside his house are there for his safety!
In a statement, Hurriyat said that such blatant misrepresentation of facts and denial of Mirwaiz’s incarceration is unbelievable. “The Mirwaiz for the last three years has forcibly not been allowed to come out of his house despite repeated appeals and implorations from all sections of people to the authorities, including religious ulemas across the state. Newspaper and electronic media reports bear witness to it. Being the Mirwaiz he is even stopped from going to Jamia Masjid on Fridays to deliver religious sermons from its pulpit which is the centuries-old tradition in J&K, or to visit other religious places on important religious occasions. Except close relatives no one is allowed to enter the house. How can these facts be negated and claims of his not being under house arrest made!” the amalgam asked.
Hurriyat said that it also wants to clear the air on LG’s other statement in that interview that APHC leadership has been playing both sides. APHC said that its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, like his forefathers, has always believed in and supported the fundamental tenet of democracy: people’s right to make a choice in their future through non-violent means, without fear or favour; and the subsequent belief that this is the road to lasting peace and prosperity for the entire subcontinent.
“Mirwaiz and his forefathers represented and defended this basic interest of people of J&K in their engagements with both India and Pakistan and in the course suffered exile, Shahadat and incarcerations. It is the belief in these ideals that helped APHC chairman to bear the harshness and loneliness of house incarceration for past three years. There has never been any personal ambition of acquiring power to rule, or material gain that would tempt this leadership to play to or appease both or any side. Talks held with both India and Pakistan were only to find a resolution and get the people of Kashmir out of the vicious cycle of violence,” it said.
It said that if the authorities have now decided to release Mirwaiz, let him be allowed to deliver the Friday sermon at Jama Masjid this Friday.

“Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is not under house arrest ..We have kept cops around him for his safety. He should decide what he wants,” J&K L-G , Manoj Sinha