Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: A group of Kashmiri Pandit employees, who were given jobs under a prime minister’s package for the community, Wednesday began preparations for “mass migration” out of Kashmir, protesting against a series of targeted killings of non-Muslim employees by militants.
The group said they were meeting truck-owners Wednesday to negotiate a rate for transporting their goods.
Hours after a female teacher was shot dead by militants in Kulgam district, an organisation of KP employees had threatened to leave the Valley if the government did not relocate them to safer places in 24 hours.
“We have come to fix the rate with truck-owners. Let’s see if any decision comes from the government by this evening. If not, then we will migrate from here tomorrow,” one of their representatives said here Wednesday.
“We have decided that if the government did not take any concrete step for us (safety) within 24 hours, there will be mass migration again,” one of the employees said here.
He said the target killing of Kashmiri Pandits is continuing and the community is now tired of making appeals with the government.
“We should be relocated so that we can be saved. Our delegation had met the LG earlier and we had asked him to save us. We are asking for temporary relocation for two to three years till the situation in the valley returns to normal. It is the same time frame put by IGP Kashmir for making Kashmir terrorism-free,” he added.
Rajni Bala, hailing from Samba district in Jammu division, was shot dead by militants Tuesday inside the government school in Kulgam where she was posted.
Before her, Rahul Bhat, a clerk in the office of Tehsildar Chadoora in Budgam district, was shot dead inside his office on May 12.
Umesh Talashi, a National Conference leader from south Kashmir, hit out at the BJP for the present situation.
“Back to 1990, #KashmiriPandits out fixing the rates with truck drivers for shifting their base to Jammu after back to back target killings in #Kashmir. Another exodus on cards. #BJP missed to mention this while showcasing their 8 years of achievements yesterday!!” Talashi tweeted. PTI

Srinagar, Jun 01: The survey conducted by GMC Srinagar has found that 65 percent parents in Jammu and Kashmir don’t prefer online applications for education of their children, while 20 percent parents do.

“An online survey was conducted to study the screen time in children during COVID-19. The online Google Forms were shared through various social media sites and parents were asked to fill out the forms. A total of 307 responses were received and analysed,” the survey document states, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

“The age of the children ranged from 0 to 18 years. The maximum number of children belonged to the age group of 6-10 years (37.5%), followed by age group of 10-18 years (31.6%), followed by 0-5 years (18.3%). The use of devices or any other electronic gadgets increased with increasing age group and thus increasing the screen-time. The parents also allow the children to use mobile phones or other devices to keep them occupied and calm when they are doing household chores or shopping. With an increase in age, the increase of screen time can be due to lesser parental control over children as they grow up and children become more independent and take over major decision-making in their life,” the survey says.

“Approximately 56.1% of the children were males and 43.9% were females. The majority of the children used phones (68.7%), followed by tablets (11.4%), laptop (9.4%), television (8.5%), desktop (1.3%), and others (0.7%),” it said.

“Approximately 45% of children in the study had personal phones/devices and 54.3% of children did not possess a personal phone/device, whereas 0.7% of children may/ may not have personal devices/phones. The possession of a personal phone or device has a positive association with the increased screen-time among children. This can be due to no continuous watch over these children by their parents, easy access to their phones at any part of the day and night, no one to limit or restrict them from using their own phones. The children with personal devices or phones were more skillful and had the liberty to use the phone as per their convenience or time and preference and even during the odd hours at night or before going to bed, whereas the phone use limited if one has to ask for the phone/ device from an elder one or either of the parents,” it says.

“So far, 62.9% children reported to be addicted/glued to the devices/phones, whereas 25.4% of children were reported not to be glued/addicted and 11.7% were not sure about the addiction. The more the child was glued/ addicted to the devices/phones, the more the screen time of the children. The children once addicted to the use of these devices or phones would lead to more use of these and thus the increased screen-time. Use of electronic media acts like a digital drug for our brain and this releases dopamine in our brain which have a negative effect on impulse control,” it adds.

“The study concludes that the increased screen-time has ill effects both on the physical as well as mental health of the children. The present scenario in wake of COVID-19 has brought to the forefront the need to revisit the concept of screen time from a health perspective. This is important given the exclusive reliance on time spent looking at the screen as a measure to ensure healthy use of the Internet and Internet-enabled devices,” the survey says—(KNO)

Srinagar, May 31: 91 militants have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) this year so far including 26 foreigners.

As per the data available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), 91 militants were killed in J&K this year so far and among them two were killed in Jammu division and 89 in Kashmir division.

Among 91 militants killed 26 were foreigners and 65 were locals and most of them 53 we’re affiliated with LeT, 24 with Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), 11 with Hizb, two with Al-Badr and affiliation of one wasn’t known.

In the month of May alone, Kashmir valley reported 17 encounters in the month of May in which 27 militants and two security personnel were killed.

Of the 17 encounters, 10 were reported in South Kashmir, six in North Kashmir and one in Central Kashmir.

On May 06, Three Hizb militants including longest surviving commander Ashraf Molvi of Kokernag, Roshan Zameer of Aswara kanelwan in Bijbehara and Muhammad Rafiq Drangay of Hayar Bijbehara were killed in an encounter in Sirchan Top area of Pahalgam.

On May 08, Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants identified as Haider, a Pakistani, and Shahbaz Shah, a local from Kulgam were killed in an encounter in Cheyan Devsar area of Kulgam.

On May 09, militants managed to give slip to forces, however, one civilian namely Shahid Ahmad was killed during cross fire at Pandushan area of Shopian.

On May 10, two LeT militants identified as Arif Hussain Bhat resident of Halsidar Dooru & Suhail Ahmad Lone resident of Awgam Kulgam were killed in an encounter in Kreeri Anantnag.

On May 11, a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant identified as Gulzar Ganaie of Baramulla who was a part of a newly infiltrated militant group, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Srinder forest area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora.

On May 13, two non-local LeT militants were killed in an encounter in the Brar Argam area of Bandipora district. On the same day, militants managed to give slip to forces after a brief exchange of fire in Marhama Bijbehara area of Anantnag district.

On May 16, a youth namely Shoaib Ahmad Ganaie was killed in cross fire in a brief exchange of fire in Turkwangam area of Shopian district.

On May 20, a foreign militant identified as Mohammad Muneer son of Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Jura BandiBandi (POK), was killed in an encounter in Tangdhar area of Kupwara.

On May 25, three non-local militants affiliated with JeM and a cop were killed in a chance encounter in the Kreeri area of Baramulla.

On May 26, three non-local LeT militants and an army porter were killed in an encounter in Kupwara district.

Two newly recruited local militants affiliated with LeT namely Shahid Mushtaq Bhat from Hafroo Chadoora and Farhan Habib from Hakripora Pulwama who according to police killed TV artist Amreen Bhat were killed in an encounter in  Aganhanzipora Awantipora on May 27.

On the same day, two newly recruited LeT militants namely Shakir Ahmed Waza and Afreen Aftab Bhat, both residents of Trenz Shopian, were killed in an encounter in Soura, Srinagar.

On the same day militants managed to give slip to forces after a brief exchange of fire in the Gundpora Rampora area of Bandipora.  On 28 May, two HM militants namely Ishfaq Ahmad Ganaie resident of Chakwangund Anantnag and Yawar Ayoub Dar resident of Dogripora Awantipora were killed in an encounter in Sheetipora Bijbehara.

On 30 May, two local JeM militants identified as Abid Shah of Monghama Pulwama and Saqib Azad Sofi of Amshipora Shopian were killed in an encounter in Gundipora Pulwama.

On May 31, two Jaish militants identified as Shahid Rather of Larow Tral and Umar from Shopian were killed in an encounter in Rajpora Awantipora area of Pulwama district.

Srinagar, May 31: A Migrant teacher was shot dead by unknowns gunmen suspected to be militants in Gopalpora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Tuesday.

A top police officer told GNS that a migrant woman by profession teacher was fired upon by militants in Gopalpora.

A senior doctor at DH Kulgam told GNS that the woman was brought dead to the facility.

Soon after the attack whole area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.(GNS)

Srinagar, May 31: Twenty-seven militants including four infiltrators were killed in May this year.

Joint Forces neutralized these militants in 15 gunfights across Kashmir Valley.

The data available with the news agency Kashmir News Trust reveals that 36 persons lost their lives in militancy-related incidents in May. These include 27 militants, 5 civilians, 3 policemen, and an army porter.

Among the five slain civilians, one Shahid Gani Dar of Pandoshan Shopian was killed in Pandoshan encounter when militants escaped from the spot while the killing of other civilian Shoib Ahmed Ganaie of Turkwangam Shopian sparked protest prompting authorities to order a magisterial inquiry.

The killing of 27 militants is the largest number in a month in the current year. In April this number was 24 followed by 20 in January, 13 in March, and 7 in February.

Among the 27 slain militants, 17 were local Kashmiris and 10 as per police were nationals of Pakistan.

Except Budgam and Ganderbal, gunfights between militants and joint forces raged in all the districts of Kashmir Valley. South Kashmir’s Anantnag witnessed 4 encounters followed by three in Pulwama, two each in Kupwara and Bandipora while the district of Kulgam, Shopian, Baramulla, and Srinagar reported solitary gunfights. (KNT)

Srinagar, May 30: A 16-year-old boy died after receiving a high-voltage electric shock in Wadder Payeen area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Reports reaching GNS said that one Furkan Ahmad Mir son of Aashiq Ahmed Mir, resident of Wadder Payeen received a jolt at his home this evening.

The boy was soon after removed to PHC Zachaldara where the doctors declared him as brought dead on arrival.

A police official in the meantime also confirmed to GNS about the death of the boy due to electrocution. (GNS)

Kupwara, May 30: Parvaiz Ahmad’s interest in getting an education has not been diminishing despite having to walk to school on just one leg, leaving everybody surprised by his indomitable spirit.

Son of Gulam Ahmad, a resident of Nowgam Mawer in Handwara Tehsil, Parvaiz is a Class 9 student who lost a leg during a fire incident at his home. But since then he has continued to go to school, walking to it on one leg. 

Parvaiz did get a wheelchair to help in movement, but due to the bad road conditions in his village, it did not help him in going to school.

Parvaiz told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that he was very interested in getting an education from his childhood and he is still pursuing it. “So what if I have one leg? I have never considered myself weak,” he said, adding that he goes to school about a kilometer away and gets very tired in walking to it.

“I play in school and take part in sports activities. I never feel weak and discouraged,” he said.

His father Gulam Ahmad is a labourer by profession. He said that he cannot bear to see his son having difficulty in walking. “I want my son to be treated and it is my request to the government to help us,” he said.

In a video shared on social media, the boy can be seen struggling and hopping on one leg in order to reach school. As soon as the video went online, it reached thousands of people and touched their hearts—(KNO)

Srinagar, May 30 : Ten aspirants from J&K and Ladakh have made to the civil service examination 2021, results of which were announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Monday.

As many as 685 candidates have qualified the prestigious examination. Among those from J&K, all eight are from Jammu division while two are from Ladakh– Tenzin Chonzom and Anwar Hussain. However as per preliminary reports, none from Kashmir Valley has made it to the examination. Those selected from Jammu include Partha Gupta, Pankaj Yadav, Asrar Ahmad Kichloo (Kishtwar), Namneet Singh, Shivani Jerengal, Mohd Shabir (Poonch) and Anjeet Singh.

Of the total successful candidates, 244 are from general category, 73 from Economically Weaker Sections , 203 of Other Backward Classes, 105 Scheduled Caste and 60 from the Scheduled Tribes, the Commission said.

The civil services examination is conducted annually by the UPSC in three stages preliminary, main and interview to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. (GNS)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday arrested 19 persons accused of arson, stone-pelting, and sloganeering outside the house of Yasin Malik on May 25, informed the police on Sunday.

Earlier, 10 persons were arrested on Thursday in the same case, where the police officials had stated that the others accused in the matter were being identified and will be arrested soon.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday awarded life imprisonment to Yasin Malik, a separatist leader from Jammu and Kashmir, in a terror funding case.

The NIA court while sentencing life imprisonment to Malik also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment twice (one for waging war against the nation and one in UAPA sec 17 raising fund for terror act).

Srinagar 29 May: The kinds of decrees issued from Delhi after the 5^th August 2019 are pointer to the fact that our land, employment, resources and all other things are being put on a sale, said People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday.

On the sideline of a function at her Gupkar residence Mufti, as per news agency Kashmir Dot Com, hinted that the outsiders have been holding sway on the lands, jobs and resources here and said, “the Centre would wipe out our existence if we would not act together, resist and condemn such things.”

Replying to a reporter’s query regarding the jailing of youth, PDP Chief said that she had apprised the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha about the matter during a recent meeting and told him that the situation in Kashmir would not change if such things are not stopped immediately.

While pointing out the restrictions being put on her movement, she said that they (regional parties) now need to find a space in the prevailing atmosphere to defeat the Centre’s sinister designs.

“The centre is afraid of political activities and they have left no stone unturned to defame us,” she said.

The situation which has been created by BJP in Kashmir has forced the youth to join militancy, she said, adding that the bloodshed and repression in Kashmir seem to be used by BJP to secure votes in other states but such policy would not yield anything.      

Regarding the remarks made over Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) by BJP’s National Spokesperson Nupur Sharma, Mehbooba Mufti said that the judiciary should take a suo moto action against such acts. (KDC)