Category: Union Territory

Baramulla: A 28-year-old, mother of two kids suffered head injuries and is battling for her life at a Srinagar hospital after she was allegedly beaten up by her in-laws in Keeri village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla.

Family members of the victim while talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that she was beaten by her husband and in-laws on Eid day due to which she has suffered critical injuries and is battling for her life in ICU at SKIMS Soura hospital.

“Soon after the incident, she was initially referred to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Kreeri from where she was shifted to SKIMS Soura hospital for special treatment,” they said, adding that she is undergoing treatment in the hospital as she received deep wounds on head and other body parts.

Narrating the incident, the brother of the victim said that her sister was being harassed continuously by her husband and in-laws ever since their marriage. “They try to kill her citing reasons of dowry,” he said and demanded immediate arrest of the accused and strong punishment to them.

The incident sparked massive protest, demanding strict action against the accused.

Meanwhile, a police official said that a case had been registered under relevant sections of laws.

The official said that the victim’s husband has been arrested and further investigation into the matter is going on—(KNO)

Srinagar, May 07: A police man, who was shot at by suspected militants at Ali Jan road in Srinagar, succumbed to his injuries at SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura.

Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that suspected militants fired upon an off-duty police man namely Ghulam Hassan, working as driver at PCR helpline 112.

The police man was rushed to SKIMS Soura, where he succumbed to his injuries, they said—(KNO)

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foriegn Ministry has summoned India’s Charge d’Affaires here and handed a demarche conveying Islamabad’s categorical rejection of the Delimitation Commission report. The Delimitation Commission has been tasked by the Indian government to redraw the boundaries of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. The three-member panel, headed by Justice (retd) Ranjana Desai, on Thursday signed the final order on redrawing the assembly constituencies of the Union Territory.
The Delimitation Commission on Jammu and Kashmir, formed in March 2020, on Thursday notified its final report giving six additional assembly seats to Jammu region and one to Kashmir Valley. Jammu division will now have 43 assembly seats and Kashmir 47 in the 90-member House.

On Thursday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office, which summoned the India’s Charge d’Affaires to the ministry, told the Indian diplomat that the Delimitation Commission was aimed at “disenfranchising and disempowering” the Muslim majority population of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan categorically rejects the report of the so-called Delimitation Commission’ for Jammu and Kashmir, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The Indian side was conveyed that the entire exercise was farcical and had already been rejected by the cross-section of political parties in Jammu and Kashmir because through this effort, India only wanted to lend legitimacy’ to its illegal actions of August 5, 2019, the statement said.

India’s decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 outraged Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 in 2019 by the country’s Parliament was its internal matter.

India has also 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.

The Foreign Office statement said that it was emphasised to India’s Charge d’Affaires that the ulterior motive of the Indian government was evident from the fact that under the garb of so-called delimitation, the representation of Muslims in the re-designated constituencies were reduced to their disadvantage.

It was underscored to the Indian diplomat that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was a long-standing item on the agenda of the UN Security Council.

Any illegal, unilateral and mischievous attempt by India to allow disproportionately higher electoral representation to the Hindu population to the detriment of the Muslims, is a mockery of all norms of democracy, morality and India’s obligations under the UN Security Council Resolutions and international law, it added.

It was also stressed that the Indian government must refrain from bringing about any illegal demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir.(PTI)

Doctors say pollen is invisible

Srinagar, May 06: People in Kashmir are complaining about respiratory illness because of cotton fluff of poplar trees.

They said that the pollen enters the body through the nose or mouth and it causes irritation or redness in eyes, persistent sneezing and breathing problems.

However, doctors said that it is a misconception among the public that cotton fluff of poplar is pollen but the truth is that pollen is invisible.

The cotton covered seeds can be seen in the air, on the ground and in water bodies. Around the same time, patients complaining about respiratory diseases swell many times. People have been blaming the seeds for the respiratory diseases.

DAK President and flu expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan while talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that spring is the key time for allergies and people are seen coughing, sneezing, wheezing and with skin eruptions and the main reason behind it is pollen.

He said that 90% of people in Kashmir are allergic to grass pollen, 70% to Kiker pollen, 60% to Soi pollen, and 18% to poplar pollen.

The most common cause of the allergy is house dust mite as it causes allergy in around 92 percent of people, he said, adding, cotton released by poplar trees and pollen is not visible.

Dr Gh Hassan an allergist and somnologist told KNO that when medical science evaluated cotton released by poplars, no allergic material was found in it and the fact is that pollen is invisible.

He said that seven out of ten allergy cases are because of dramun pollen which is found everywhere around in lawns.

He said that pollen not only comes from grass and poplars, it also comes from pine, deodar, chinar, almond apple and other trees.

Experts said that in order to save yourself from getting cotton fluff into your mouth or nose, people must use masks.

They said that other trees have more pollen than poplars and if people want poplars to be axed then we have to axe other trees as well which will lead to disaster.

There are around 30 different types of pollen, and their presence in the air will be dependent on the time of year. People can be allergic to different kinds of pollen, depending on their geographical location. An allergy test can help in the diagnosis of the type of pollen one is allergic to, they said—(KNO)

Srinagar, May 06: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Friday said sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination hold key to curb the menace of stray dogs in the valley.

“Sterilising and vaccinating the dogs would effectively control their population, prevent rabies and reduce canine attacks,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan

Dr Hassan said sterilisation is the only scientific birth control measure for bringing stray dog population under control.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has suggested that the dog sterilisation programme would be successful only when carried out on fast track mode,” he said adding “the WHO standards recommend that around 70 per cent of dogs should be sterilised within three months of start of the process.

The DAK President said mass vaccination of stray dogs would reduce the risk of human rabies.

“In order to prevent rabies transmission, 70 percent dog population need to be vaccinated,” he said adding “Prevention of the transmission of rabies at its source through dog vaccination is the most cost-effective strategy to save lives.”

“Sterilised and vaccinated dogs are non-aggressive and rabies free,” said Dr Nisar.

“They are infertile and their population gradually decreases in size over time,” he said.

General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said in absence of major sterilisation programme and vaccination, the menace of stray dogs is growing in the valley and is taking heavy toll on the people.

“Every day a large number of people are falling prey to dog bites. The canines are storming streets, chasing cars, pulling down bicycle riders and often attacking pedestrians and school children,” he said.

Spokesperson DAK Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga said there has been unprecedented increase in the number of dog bite cases over the years.

“In last 10 years, 58,000 people have been bitten by stray dogs in the valley. Every year 4 to 5 thousand dog bite cases are being reported in GMC Srinagar,” he said.

“Some of the victims have died of rabies as unvaccinated stray dogs are potential source for the fatal disease,” he added.

Says Ashraf Molvi was longest surviving Hizb commander, active since 2013 and was among ‘Top 10 Most wanted’ list

Srinagar, May 06: Longest surviving Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Ashraf Molvi was killed along with two other militants in woods of Batkoot area of Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday.

Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar while confirming to GNS that Ashraf Molvi along with two other militants have been killed in Pahalgam.

Mohd Ashraf Khan alias Ashraf Molvi a resident of Tengpawa Kokernag had joined Hizb in 2013 and soon became most wanted militant in the valley. He was instrumental in recruiting locals into the oufit, the top cop said.

Earlier, a joint team of Police and 19RR of Army launched a cordon and search operation in the Batkoot forest.

As the joint team of Police intensified their search towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the search party, leading to an encounter.(GNS)

Pahalgam, May 06: Three unidentified militants have been killed in an encounter between the government forces and militants at Sirchan Top of Pahalgam forest area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Friday.

A senior police officer told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that three unidentified militants have been killed, whose identification is being ascertained while the operation is still on in the area.
Official sources told that it is likely that top hizb militants are among those killed.

Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering a gunfight—(KNO)

Anantnag: An encounter broke out between militants and security forces at Sirchan Top, east of Batkoot area of Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday officials said.

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a joint team of Police, Army’s 3 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 team of forces approached the suspected spot, militants fired upon them which was retaliated triggering an encounter.

As per the sources two to four militants are believed to be trapped in the area—(KNO)

More details awaited

Srinagar 05 May: Former Chief Minister of J&K and Vice President of National Conference Omar Abdullah on Thursday apologised after posting a tweet, declaring National Conference’s Lok Sabha MP Akbar Lone dead.

Omar Abdullah in a tweet effectively said that National Conference’s Lok Sabha MP Akbar Lone died after a brief illness.

However, the tweet was deleted from Abdullah’s twitter handle and he apologised for the same later on, reported news agency Kashmir Dot Com.

“I owe a great apology to Lone Sb. He is recovering well. My father misunderstood the news & in turn I made a mistake with my tweet. My sincere apologies to Lone Sb & his family,” tweeted Omar Abdullah. (KDC) 

Budgam, May 05: A minor girl was injured on Thursday morning in a dog bite incident in Beerwah area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

A local told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a 4 year-old-girl was playing outside her house at Atina village when she was attacked by stray dog.

The minor was identified as Asifa Ali and was shifted to Sub district hospital Beerwah for treatment.

Pertinently more than two dozen people have been injured in dog bite incidents across Kashmir in couple of days.