Shopian, Mar 10: A temple was gutted in a fire caused by an electric short circuit in Zainapora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday , officials said .
Official sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Rajona temple in South Kashmir’s Shopian district was gutted due to short circuit in the intervening night.
They said that police officials have reached the spot and are enquiring into the matter—(KNO)
Srinagar: Since the Covid 19 pandemic occurred in Jammu and Kashmir regions, all the entrepreneurs are suffering to survive and majority of them are facing huge hardships for repayment of bank loans which they utilized for the establishment of their business units.
Babar Chowdhary, President Kashmir Youth Entrepreneurs Federation (KYEF) strongly appeals to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for his intervention for providing a helping hand to all the young entrepreneurs to announce special soft loans for all the young entrepreneurs for the survival of all their business units.
“The special initiative of soft loans should be kept with minimum interest rates and will become a strong backbone for all the young entrepreneurs to run their business smoothly and will make loan payments on time to their lending banks and moratorium period should be kept at five years,” Babar Chowdhary said.
He said that the initiative of Mission Youth of Jammu and Kashmir government launched recently has made a groundbreaking objective to act as a conduit for aspirations and concerns of youth of J&K as the mission is intended to provide a platform for unparalleled transformation of the youth into ambassadors of hope, peace and socio-economic growth through systematic interventions across various domains but it is not so beneficial for young entrepreneurs on ground.
Babar welcomed the establishment of a special grievance desk by Jammu and Kashmir Bank at Zonal Office Srinagar for swift settlement of all bank related grievances of young entrepreneurs on time as it got success only as Kashmir Youth Entrepreneurs Federation had already discussed the matter with all the higher management of the bank earlier.
He further said, “During the last three years of Covid 19 pandemic, the business entrepreneurs of union territory of Jammu and Kashmir are facing huge hardships to manage the business operations in terms of bank loans, staff salaries, day to day expenses without getting any stability of business operations day by day.”
He further said that for setting up a new business venture in Jammu and Kashmir, the new business entrepreneur has to take all kinds of permission from the concerned departments to get it successfully done but in the last three years nothing new has happened to the survival of the businesses in Jammu and Kashmir.
Babar said that there has been a considerable rise in the number of registered entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir and central and state governments should devise new beneficial plans and initiatives for young entrepreneurs of Jammu and Kashmir so that the business units will flourish and the economy will reach new heights.
Srinagar, March 06:Ten people were injured after suspected militants on Sunday attacked security forces by hurling Grenade at Amira Kadal area of Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.
A top police officer told GNS that militants attacked a joint team of Police and securiy forces with a grenade. In this incident ten people recieved splinter wounds who have been shifted to hospital.
Their condition is said to be stable, the officer added.
Meanwhile area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers. Details emerging.(GNS)
Srinagar, Mar 5 : A court in Srinagar on Saturday rejected bail to a man accused of raping a 21-year-old young woman last year.
As per the prosecution on 8 May last year, a man lodged a written report with police station Shergari Srinagar that his daughter 21-year-old was abducted by the accused identified as Suhail Ahmad Sofi from Iqbal complex, Srinagar where she had gone for treatment. Subsequently a case (FIR No.41/2021) for offences punishable under IPC Sections of 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman), 342 (wrongful confinement) and investigation ensued, the prosecution said.
“During investigation the prosecutrix was recovered from Alochibagh from a rented house who was kept confined there by the accused,” prosecution said. Later 376 (rape) of Indian Penal Code was added to the FIR.
“The accused had taken Rs.50,000 from the prosecutrix and when she demanded the said amount back, the accused refused and threatened her that he will sprinkle acid upon her and under this threat raped her,” the prosecution said as per the statement made by the women.
On the other hand, the counsel for the accused said that the accusations made against his client are fabricated, frolicsome, vexatious and lack in the material substance as he has nothing to do with the alleged offences.
After hearing both the sides, the court of 2nd Additional Sessions Judge Srinagar Mohammad Ashraf Bhat rejected the bail plea, observing that offence of rape was crime against the entire society.
“Rape is a heinous crime which cannot be viewed with a leniency. Rape victim is left with a feeling of degradation, humiliation and guilt for the rest of her life,” the court said, underling that the society cannot look upon a woman with derision, depravity, contempt and as an object of desire.
“She is forced to live in indignation throughout her life,” the court said, adding, “The narrative of violence against women in India continues unhindered.”
Sexual violence apart from being a de-humanizing act is an unlawful intrusion on the right of privacy and sanctity of a female, the court said.
“It is a serious blow to her supreme honour and offends her self-esteem and dignity, it degrades and humiliates the victim, it leaves behind a traumatic experience,” the court said, adding, “A rapist not only causes physical injuries but more indelibly leaves a scar on the most cherished possession of a woman i.e her dignity, honour, reputation and not the least her chastity.”
Rape is not only a crime against the person of a woman, it is a crime against the entire society, the court reiterated. “It destroys the entire psychology of a woman and pushes her into deep emotional crisis. It is a crime against basic human rights, and is also violative of the victim’s most cherished fundamental right, namely, the right to life contained in Article 21 of the Constitution,” the court said, adding, “The courts are, therefore, expected to deal with cases of sexual crime against women with utmost sensitivity. Such cases need to be dealt with sternly and severely.”
The court said law was well settled that in non bailable offences bail cannot be claimed as a matter of right.
“Thus, on an overall view of the case, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the statement of prosecutrix recorded before this court, as also the gravity of offence coupled with other circumstances attending the matter and possibility of hampering and tampering with the prosecution evidence by the accused cannot be ruled out,” the court said as per Global News Service, adding, “Therefore at this stage, in view of what has been stated here in above, case for grant of bail is not made out in favour of the petitioner/accused. Resultantly, application for bail merits rejection and is accordingly rejected.” (GNS)
Ganderbal, Mar 05: A youth, who set himself ablaze during a demolition drive in Ganderbal on February 22 Saturday, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS, Soura.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the youth, namely Amir Ahmad Shah, 27, son of Abdul Hamid of Harn Ganderbal, who set himself ablaze during demolition at Harn, succumbed at SKIMS, Soura.
On February 22, during the demolition of a complex at Gundrahman, Amir while trying to prevent the demolition drive, set himself ablaze and sustained severe burn injuries. He was referred to SKIMS Soura for treatment where he succumbed to his today—(KNO)
Ganderbal, Mar 5: The death of a young man in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district has raised serious questions over the functioning of certain government departments that keep a check on the ‘illegal’ constructions.
Pertinently, the young man Amir Hamid Shah son of Nazir Ahmad Shah of Haran Ganderbal died today in the hospital after setting himself on fire during a demolition drive in the Gundrehmani area of Ganderbal district on 22 February last month.
The demolition drive had been carried out by Irrigation and Flood Control Department over the banks of Nalla Sindh and it was alleged that the said young man had constructed a complex illegally.
As the dead body of the young man arrived in the native village, the relatives and other villagers demanded action against the officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
“Let us assume the structure raised at Gundrehmani was illegal but why the officials were in slumber and didn’t stop the construction on day one. Why the officials first give free hand to alleged encroachers and then suddenly lead a demolition drive when the structure is complete,” they questioned.
An elderly person told news agency Kashmir News Trust that 70% of structures raised on the banks of Nallah Sindh and around are illegal. “The Department doesn’t touch influential and target the vulnerable only.”
Another man alleged that its corruption everywhere. “You grease the palm of concerned employees, you will be given free hand but once you stop the practice, you will see a demolition squad in the premises.”
“It took over five months to raise the structure in question. The simple question is why the concerned department was silent for five months and appeared on the scene when the structure was complete,” he said.
This ‘wait and watch and then threaten to act’ is a documented formula being adopted by some officials at the helm of affairs everywhere when it comes to allowing and then dismantling illegal structures.
“Let us believe the structure was illegal. Why the family of the deceased was not informed and why it was allowed to spend a hefty amount to carry on the construction work. What kind of regulation it is? These government employees are being paid and they are supposed to carry out their duties honestly. There are a number of questions that Irrigation & Flood Control Department has to answer,” the locals said.
The incident of self-immolation was captured on cell-phone and had gone viral prompting police to request people not to share or upload the sensitive video.
Divulging information about the incident, police in a statement had said that during a demolition drive undertaken by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department over the banks of Nalla Sindh, one person identified as Amir Hamid Shah son of Nazir Ahmad Shah of Haran Ganderbal suddenly appeared from behind the illegal structure and self-immolated on its roof in protest against the demolition of illegal structure raised on the banks of Nalla Sindh.
“The said person was, however, rescued by SHO Ganderbal and locals on the spot however he received burn injuries before flames were doused and were shifted to hospital.”
Police had said that a deep trench was dug by the owners of the structure to prevent any ingress into the premises which prevented a prompt rescue.
Police had added that it has rendered all help and support in the hospitalization of the victim and assured family members of the best medical treatment.
Divisional Commissioner after taking cognizance of the media reports about the incident appointed Additional District Development Commissioner Ganderbal, Khurshid Ahmed Shah as Inquiry Officer to enquire into the whole gamut of the episode and furnish his findings along with his definite comments and recommendations within a period of time.
Ganderbal: The Central University of Kashmir located in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district has increased the bus fare by Rs 600 at one go, leaving students high and dry.
This is the second hike in the span of 7 months.
In August last year, the CUK increased the bus fare by Rs 150 and now in March Rs 600 have further been increased. A student availing the bus service of the University has to pay Rs 2250 on monthly basis.
“This is injustice towards us. Already people have suffered badly due to the Covid-19 and now this huge hike in one go has added to our woes,” said a group of students.
“Distance is not a parameter. For every route the fare is the same,” they added.
The Central University of Kashmir offers bus services to students living in far-off places. Earlier the bus fare as per students was reasonable but now it is a burden.
The buses ply on the routes like Lal Bazar, Khanyar, Nowgam, Hyderpora, Soura etc.
Transport In-charge CUK Mr Sakib said that the decision to increase the bus fare came from the top. “There is nothing I can do in this regard,” he added.
However, Registrar CUK, Ganderbal Mr Muhammad Afzal Zargar told news agency KNT that he understands the problem of the students and he will try to resolve the issue.
“Bus fare was low as we had local funds. Due to paucity of funds, we have increased the fare but this fare is not permanent. You have to understand that the buses we provide do not come from any Ministry or UGC. We charge for fuel consumption only. As the number of students will increase, we will decrease the bus fare,” the Registrar said. (KNT)
Jammu, Mar 03: Stating that the improvement in the overall security situation in J&K was a welcome step but nevertheless militancy was still a challenge as it was not over even though it has come down significantly.
Talking to media men on the sidelines of a sports event in Jammu, the DGP said that situation indeed has improved in J&K but militancy was still a challenge as it wasn’t over yet.
“After a long time and after hectic efforts, such a peaceful situation is being seen in Jammu and Kashmir. But militancy was still a challenge as it was down but not over,” the DGP said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “We are acting against people who are running machinery of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and such people have been dealt with to a larger extent and efforts will continue further to corner them.”
Replying to a query about revamping of Village Defence Committees in Jammu and Kashmir as Village Defence Groups, DGP Singh said that talks of strengthening and revamping VDCs are going on since long and matter is before the Home Ministry.
“Agencies from Pakistan are trying to spread militancy in regions having peaceful situation. Police and security forces are foiling such designs and the efforts to foil such designs from across border will remain continue,” he said, adding that “the decision on VDCs is part of efforts under which we are trying to make best use of our resources on ground and to keep them well motivated so that nefarious designs on ground are foiled.”
He, however, said that any decision by Home Ministry will be for strengthening VDCs and for betterment of its members.
About the sports tournament organised in Jammu, Singh said that situation was not much favourable in past due to COVID as well as due to security situation but things have improved now and police are taking best possible steps to channelise the talent of youth in Jammu and Kashmir who are having immense talent.
“JKP in a mission called Civic Action Programme sponsored by Government of India is providing a platform to youth to showcase their talent.” JKP chief further said.
To a question regarding killing of a panch yesterday at Kulgam district the DGP said that the victim was a contractor and a public representative and has been shot dead for no fault—(KNO)
Srinagar, Mar 02: Senior superintendent of police CID wing, Tahir Ashraf has cautioned people of cyber scammers, using his name and image to threaten the people.
While talking (KNS), Tahir said that these scammers are now using the names of influential officers and doing cyber crimes.
He said that in one such case, the scammers have used his name and image to threaten the people in his name, as he has cracked major cases during his tenure as SSP Cyber Police Kashmir.
“These people use the name of influential officers and are doing cyber crimes and scams to rob people of their genuine earnings for silly mistakes. Now these scammers are using my name, image and previous designation to threaten people,” he said.
He also asked people to report such cases to the nearest police station.
Srinagar, Mar 02 : The schools of winter zones in Kashmir division reopened today for physical academic activities amid jubiliations and emotions among students, parents and teachers.
The officials of the School Education Department told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that there was a good footfall of students in almost all schools of the valley.
Jubilant scenes were seen outside almost in all schools that reopened today and students were excited to attend the classes physically. At all schools, Covid Appropriate Behaviour(CAB) was followed in spirit while aa first day of reopening was marked by general introudction, prayers and playing of sports etc.
Teachers and parents of students were also excited about school reopening—(KNO)