Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • 2 Persons Die After Falling from Roof Top in Budgam Village

    Srinagar, Dec 17: Two persons, cousins to each other, tragically died after falling from a roof top in Daharmuna village in Soibugh Budgam district, officials said on Sunday evening.

    The officials informed news agency Kashmir Scroll that two persons Javid Ahmad and Abdul Majeed were working at a house, when they both fell to the ground.

    “The persons were removed to a nearby hospital, where the doctors declared both of them as dead on arrival”, the officials said.

    Meanwhile, the tragic incident has caught the whole in a palpable despondence. (KS)

  • No Jumm’a prayers at Jama Masjid for 10th consecutive Friday

    Srinagar, Dec 15: Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid in a statement informed that authorities once again disallowed Friday prayers at the central Jama Masjid Srinagar today for the 10 th consecutive Friday in a row and also put Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi who delivers the Friday sermon at Jama Masjid under house detention. The Anjuman said that no reason is provided by the authorities for these restrictions and curbs.

    Meanwhile Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly condemned the repeated closure of the Jama mosque on Fridays and his arbitrary on off detention , including on Fridays. He said that all claims of so called normalcy by rulers fall flat by such anti people measures. He said he fails to understand why the central Jama Masjid was being targeted again and again unless it is to cause grief to Muslims of the valley and show them their place in “Naya Kashmir “
    He said the in charge rulers should stop playing with the religious sentiments of the Muslims and let them offer prayers in their mosques without hindrance. People’s silence and endurance of brazen attacks on their religious rights should not be mistaken as their weakness to respond.

    The post No Jumm’a prayers at Jama Masjid for 10th consecutive Friday appeared first on The Kashmir Today.

  • Govt begins search for new SKIMS Director, invites applications

    Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has started the process for the appointment of director SKIMS Soura and has issued notification to invite applications for the post.

    According to a notification, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the appointment of the candidate shall be made on tenure basis up to a maximum period of five years or till the appointee attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

    “However, this will not have any effect on the retirement age of other faculty members or staff of the Institute,” reads the notification

    It states that the governing body of SKIMS shall be the appointing authority for the post of Director.

    Dr Parvaiz Ahmad Koul, who is currently holding the post was appointed director SKIMS on December 31, 2021. He will retire by February-end next year—(KNO)

  • J&K Bank digital payments continue to disappoint, UPI services affected from Dec 13

    Srinagar, Dec 14: The Jammu and Kashmir Bank continues to disappoint customers with its digital services.

    Even as the customers were informed by text messages that UPI services will remain affected between 12 to 6 am on 13 December but customers say the service is still down.

    The customer told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that none of the transactions were happening via UPI.

    Those with J&K Bank accounts and living outside the J&K, who mostly rely on online mode of payments using UPI services in multiple modes like PayTM, GPay and PhonePay were affected.

    We were able to make Mpay transfers for the same bank beneficiaries but transactions to other banks both from Mpay and UPTO services are not getting through,” they said.

    A Kashmiri student wrote on ‘X’ that the bank users outside Kashmir will have to wash dishes in some restaurant or soon will be thrashed because they are unable to make payments.

    “I suggest you take plenty of cash with yourself every time you go out,” he added.

    Another student told Kashmir News Observer-KNO, “I’ve been trying to send money through the Gpay app since yesterday but the app even fails to open”.

    In a statement, a J&K Bank official announced the bank’s UPI platform upgrade, necessitating a one-time reset of the UPI PIN/Passcode to ensure uninterrupted UPI services.

    “To change the PIN/Passcode, please utilize the Bank UP or NPCI registered apps such as Gpay, Paytm, PhonePe, etc., exclusively. It is advised for safety reasons not to click on any link for PIN change,” he said—(KNO)

  • Cases Involving JKLF Chief Yasin Malik: 3 Witnesses Fail To Appear Before TADA Court In Jammu

    JAMMU, Dec 14: Three witnesses, including former Kashmir Bar Association president Mian Abdul Qayoom, failed to appear in a special court here on Thursday in connection with the 1989 abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, while separatist leader Yasin Malik and his associate Rafiq Pahloo appeared before it via video-conferencing. Pahloo was given a final opportunity by the special TADA court to file objections to an application for the cancellation of his bail in a 1990 case in which four Indian Air Force (IAF) officers were killed case and the abduction case of Rubaiya Sayeed, the daughter of the then Union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
    “Four eyewitnesses were summoned to appear before the special court. Among them, Mian Qayoom did not appear and submitted a medical certificate that he is admitted in a hospital. It was said that another eyewitness (number 23) is dead. Both were witnesses in the Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case,” Senior Public Prosecutor S K Bhat said.
    In the case of the killing of the IAF personnel in a terror attack in Srinagar in 1990, the court had summoned two witnesses for identification, but they could not appear citing medical reasons, Bhat said, adding that both of them had to come from outside.
    Bhat said Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Malik and Pahloo appeared before the court via video-conferencing.
    The court would again hear the case of the killing of the IAF personnel on January 18 and the Rubaiya Sayeed case the next day.
    Bhat said Pahloo was given a last opportunity by the court for filing objections to an application for the cancellation of his bail. The court has agreed to summon eyewitnesses.
    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) moved an application in August for the cancellation of Pahloo’s bail in the two cases, informing the court that he had violated the bail conditions by allegedly indulging in separatist activities.
    Two witnesses — numbers 24 and 25 — were examined in November. They supported the prosecution’s case and identified accused Ali Mohammad Mir, Bhat said.
    Mir, who is the prime accused in the abduction case after Malik, had taken Rubaiya Sayeed in his vehicle to Sopore from Srinagar and kept her in a guesthouse.
    Malik, who is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail where he is serving a term in connection with a terror-financing case, was not produced in the court physically due to an order issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs restricting his movement.
    Pahloo is lodged in the Central Jail in Srinagar following his arrest for reviving the terrorist apparatus in the Kashmir valley, Bhat said.
    Pahloo alias “Nanaji” was among the 10 terrorists arrested in July from a hotel in a case related to a conspiracy to revive the banned JKLF and separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference in the valley.
    The special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act court has already framed charges separately against Malik and several others in both cases.
    The charges against Malik, Pahloo and eight others in the 1989 abduction case of Rubaiya Sayeed were framed by the court on January 11, 2021. (Agencies)

  • No govt jobs to those involved in stone pelting in J&K: Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha

    Srinagar, Dec 11: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said in that Rajya Sabha that announced the construction of a new prison for terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, costing Rs 105 crore, and stated that those engaged in stone pelting would be ineligible for government jobs

    “I want to ask the followers of Nehru, why was Article 370 was prefixed with the word “temporary” by him? SC upheld that challenging the Governor’s rule and President’s rule was not correct,” he said.
    “After facing such a defeat (in SC), I would have gone into depression and wouldn’t show up my face in Parliament for a month at least. But look at them (Opposition), they are doing a press conference that Article 370 was scrapped through wrong means,” the home minster said.
    “If you don’t mend your (Opposition) ways, you (seats) will reduce further in next elections and Modi ji will come back to power for a third term,” he added.
    “Who blocked the rights of my Gujjar Bakkarwal brothers for 75-years? It was these 3 families. I want to tell Digvijaya Singh that whenever he smiles there is a problem. So when he smiled and asked this question, I understood he wants to pit Gujjars against Bakkarwals. This will not disturb the reservation for Gujjars,” he said.
    “It was said that Kashmir is part of India due to Nehru. But I want to ask, there was a bigger problem in Hyderabad, did Nehru go there? Why did Digvijaya Singh not name Sardar Patel in context of Kashmir? The J&K integration was delayed as pressure was mounted on Maharaja to include one person- Sheikh Abdullah. You have to answer for the past,” he added.
    “New jail, only for terrorists at a cost of Rs 105 crore is being built in J&K. Anyone involved in stone pelting will not get government jobs,” he said and appeals to gun wielding youth of J&K to surrender weapons and join the mainstream.

  • Sad but not unexpected: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on SC verdict on Article 370

    Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday said the Supreme Court’s verdict on abrogation of Article 370 was ”sad but not unexpected”.

    The top court unanimously upheld the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and directed restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir ”at the earliest” and set a September 30, 2024 deadline for holding assembly elections there. ”It’s sad but the verdict was not unexpected particularly in the present circumstances,” the Mirwaiz told PTI.

    He said people who facilitated accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1947 must be feeling deeply betrayed.

    ”Those people who at the time of the Partition facilitated the accession of J&K and reposed their faith in the promises and assurances given to them by the Indian leadership must feel deeply betrayed.

    For the rest, the State as it existed in August 1947 remains divided on the ceasefire line, and hence continues to be a bleeding humanitarian and political issue, begging redressal,” he added.

    The Hurriyat chief was released from house arrest in September, four years after he was taken into detention in the wake of abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019.

  • Concerns mount as patients decry ‘excessive fees’ at some private clinics in Kashmir

    Srinagar: A surge in complaints from patients seeking medical care at private clinics in Kashmir has brought attention to issues ranging from steep fees to the absence of heating arrangements during the winter season.

    News agency KNS reported that patients have raised alarms about what they perceive as “excessive” fees charged by some private clinics in the Kashmir Valley.

    The costs associated with consultations, diagnostic tests, and prescribed medications have become a substantial financial burden for some.

    Shabir Ahmad, a patient, expressed shock at being charged Rs 600 for a routine visit to a Gastroenterologist, highlighting the growing disparity between healthcare costs and the financial capacity of a significant portion of the population.

    Patients, choosing to remain anonymous, shared stories of unexpected bills, advocating for greater transparency in pricing and a mechanism to address overcharging concerns.

    Another pressing issue raised by patients is the lack of heating arrangements in the majority of the private clinics, particularly during the harsh winter months in Kashmir. The cold climate poses additional challenges for patients, especially those with chronic illnesses or elderly individuals more susceptible to the cold.

    Complaints range from uncomfortably cold waiting areas to chilly examination rooms, prompting questions about the adequacy of facilities to provide essential warmth to patients.

    Some have reported avoiding necessary medical visits during winter due to the discomfort caused by the lack of heating infrastructure.

    In response to these concerns, calls for increased regulatory oversight of private clinics in Kashmir are gaining momentum.

    Advocates argue that regulations are necessary not only to address issues related to excessive fees but also to ensure healthcare facilities provide a comfortable environment for patients, regardless of weather conditions.

    Local activists and healthcare advocates are urging authorities to establish a mechanism for monitoring and regulating the pricing of medical services in private clinics. They emphasize the need for enforcing standards that guarantee the provision of basic amenities, including heating arrangements, to safeguard the well-being of patients.

    Healthcare providers respond by stating that the costs associated with running a medical facility contribute to the pricing structure, including infrastructure maintenance and operational expenses.

    However, they acknowledge the need for balance to ensure healthcare remains accessible to a broader segment of the population.

    Healthcare professionals express a commitment to addressing heating arrangement issues, pledging efforts to enhance patient comfort, particularly during the winter season.(KNS)

  • Fast track Court in Srinagar convicts a man for sexually assaulting her minor daughter  

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  • Dr Rukhsar From Kashmir Clinches Second Runner-Up Title in MasterChef India Season 8

    Dr Rukhsar Saeed, Kashmir food technologist has secured the second runner-up position in the latest season of MasterChef India.

    Dr Rukhsar became the first contestant from Kashmir to participate in India’s biggest food reality show.

    The grand finale of the show was telecasted on Friday in which Mohammad Ashiq of Manglore was declared winner of Master Chef India Season 8.

    Dr Rukhsar was declared as the second runner up of the show. She has won Rs 5 lakh for securing the second position in the show.
    The recently concluded season saw Dr. Rukhsar not only securing a coveted spot among the final 12 contestants but also got good remarks from the judges for taking Kashmiri cuisines to such a big platform.

    Out of 12 passionate chefs, only 4 reached the finale—Nambie Marak, Mohammed Aashiq, Dr Rukhsaar Sayeed and Suraj Thapa
    In a gruelling audition process held in June, she navigated through a series of challenges and tests, showcasing her exceptional skills and unwavering determination.

    Dr. Rukhsar, a native of Pampore, who has already stated that she is on a mission to introduce the world to the unique and delectable flavors of Kashmiri cuisine, said she learned the recipe of this ‘lost Kashmiri dish’ from her mother, who, in turn, had inherited it from her mother (Rukhsar’s grandmother).

    In her final culinary creation of the season, Ruksar curated a harmonious Brotherhood Platter, featuring a delightful fusion of flavors from both Muslim and Kashmiri Pandit traditions. The exquisite dish showcased a medley of Wazwan delicacies, including Rogan Josh, Dum Aloo, and Bata Haakh, symbolizing the rich culinary tapestry that unites diverse communities