Category: Union Territory

15k to be installed in Feb 2022, Consumers to get power usage info on mobile app, Move will help reduce pressure on linemen: Says officials

Srinagar, Feb 08: Under the much-hyped smart metering project, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) is all set to install almost 58,000 smart meters in the first phase across Srinagar.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that 15000 smart meters will be installed in Srinagar in the ongoing month (February).

Sources within the department said that over 11400 smart meters have already been installed in Srinagar, adding that 57,750 smart meters will be installed across Srinagar in the first phase.

They said that officials concerned have been directed by the department as well as the administration to speed up the pace of installation and ensure that the phase-I target is achieved at a shortest possible time.

The card erected in the smart meter will help in providing rating of the electricity load by the consumers, the officials said, adding that “the consumer will be able to identify when and how the electricity was used. It will make the consumer aware about the use of electricity and he will be able to get the details through the mobile application, which can be installed by the consumers.”

Besides, the officials said that the smart meters are set to reduce human efforts and give relief to linemen who otherwise have to climb poles to record power usage of consumers.

On complaints about resistance by the consumers, the officials said that police and administration has already been directed by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir P K Pole to tackle resistance by any person in the process of installation of smart meters amicably. Strict action will be taken against those who will try to create hindrances or damages public property, the officials said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 8: Facebook and Instagram have blocked the handles of Chinar Corps, the Indian Army’s strategically located formation in the Kashmir valley, for over a week now and have not responded to the official communication in this regard, officials said on Tuesday.

The pages on Facebook and Instagram were created to negate the lies and propaganda flowing from across the border and also to apprise people of the real situation in the Kashmir valley, an official said.

A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the matter had been taken up with the authorities concerned in Facebook, but so far there has been no response from their side.

“A link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed,” read the messages on both Facebook as well as Instagram pages of the Chinar Corps, a popular name of XV Corps of the Army in Kashmir.

There was no immediate response from Facebook and Instagram, which are a part of the same company.

The two social media websites remove a page if it does not follow the rules and regulations laid by the company or if people report about it.–(PTI)

Srinagar, Feb 07: Dastgeero, a sufi devotional poem, Manqabat is written by Mir Syed Tabish Bukhari, a Kashmiri sufi poet from Zakura Srinagar. He only writes Sufi qalams in easy Kashmiri language so that new generations can easily understand them.

The Sufi Manqabat is sung by singer Saif Nazir (28), a full time musician from Umerhaer area Buchpora Srinagar. Bukhari is currently in Delhi working in KAYCOMM technologies PVT as computer engineer. He has done B.Tech and MTech in CSE.

While interacting with the team of Dastgeero, they told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that this is a sufi devotional poem Manqabat, written for Syed Abdul Qadir R.A popularly known as Dastgeer.

“Story starts from a painter who is analyzing world differently, he moves out , comes across a pious person having smile on face going for prayers, next moment he finds some people in squabble , they said. “In disturbance, he comes across the shrine of Dastgeer, where he finds peace and contentment. Spiritual forces engulf his nerves and he sprints back to home.”

At this turning point of his life he discovers calligraphy within himself to please his master, the Dastgeer. Love for Dastgeer makes him follow his teachings like Salah and Zikr. Now he goes to the shrine of Dastgeer to improve his spirituality, where he meets an elderly person and helps him out, he said.

They said in return he gets a Sufi bead (tasbih) from the old man (Faqeer) and the man disappears, then he gets an inner feeling that he has been accepted as a disciple. He better understands life, balances it and continues the journey of the love for his master through calligraphy.

“We have shot this song in Khanyar area of Srinagar city, with our team Izaband production. The song was always special to us. Its lyrics touched our soul. Whenever we think of this song we always feel relaxed,” they said.

“Playing such a challenging character was not easy for us, but with the grace of Almighty Allah, and Hazrat Sultan Ul Arfeen (Dasheer Sahab) we did our best.”

“We shoot this Sufi qalam for 10 days. This project is very special to us, and also with Saif’s melodious voice it became a masterpiece,” they said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 07: Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday claimed to have recovered a kidnapped girl (minor) from Udhampur and said that the accused involved in kidnapping has also been arrested.

A police spokesman in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that on 5th of February, Police station Sadder recieved an information that a minor girl (name withheld) has been kidnapped from Rambagh area.

“A case was registered under FIR number 21/2022 under section 363 of IPC and investigation was started.”

The statement said that today a police team from Police Station Sadder was sent to rescue the minor girl, which safely recovered the minor girl from Udhampur.

“The accused person namely Arif Ahmad, son of Rehman Ahmad of Adarsh Colony Udhampur has also been arrested by the police team.”

Meanwhile, police said that an investigation of the case is going on—(KNO)

Pulwama, Feb 07: A local militant was killed in an encounter between the forces and militants in Nambal area of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said on Monday.

A senior police officer told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an unidentified militant was killed while as search is on in the area.

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. “In the ensuing gunfight, one militant was killed,” the official said, adding that the slain has been identified as Irfan Ahmed Sheikh son of Abdur Rashid Sheikh, a resident of Karimabad, Pulwama. “He has been missing since January 17, 2022,” the official said.

It is pertinent to mention here that 23 militants have been killed in 14 encounters in Kashmir valley this year so far—(KNO)

Srinagar February 07: A militant was killed in a chance encounter which took place between militants and security forces in Nambal area of South Kashmir’s Awantipora on Monday evening.

A top police officer told GNS that a militant was killed in a chance encounter at nambal area. However identity of the slain militant is yet to be ascertained.

More details will follow soon.(GNS)

Srinagar: Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party President, Mehbooba Mufti Monday said that democracy is dead and nobody is allowed to speak his heart in Jammu and Kashmir.

While reacting to the arrest of Journalists in Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti said that Government doesn’t want anybody should speak the truth in Valley. “Fahad has been arrested. Earlier Sajad Gul was arrested and now I have heard that more Journalists are being summoned,” she said.

She said nobody is allowed to speak up in Jammu and Kashmir. “Our district president for Ganderbal was arrested after he spoke against the Delimitation Commission. He was taken to the police station, and somehow, we managed his release,” she said.

In response to a question, Mehbooba Mufti as per news agency Kashmir News Trust said that ‘hijab’ row is nothing but an attempt and conspiracy to keep Muslim children away from education.

Mehbooba Mufti told reporters that BJP led government wants to change the narrative and is trying to give an impression that all is well in Jammu and Kashmir.

To a question, Mehbooba Mufti said that there is a conspiracy to disempower the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “What outside investment will mean to people when they are not being allowed to talk and are disempowered,” she said adding that Kashmir is boiling. (KNT)

Srinagar, Feb 06: The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to shift the acid attack survivor to Chennai hospital tomorrow for eye treatment and four tickets have already been provided to the victim’s family on Sunday.

Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the administration on the advice of doctors has decided to shift the acid attack victim to Chennai hospital for specialized eye treatment.

They said the government has provided four tickets to the family and they are scheduled to leave for Chennai hospital at 09:00 AM from Srinagar Airport.

The official sources said that a doctor will be accompanying the victim to Chennai hospital.

It is worth mentioning that Apni Party led by Syed Altaf Bukhari has also provided one ticket to the victim family.

It has been learnt that besides the victim, her parents, younger sister and paternal cousin will leave for Chennai hospital tomorrow.

Pertinently, a 24-year-old acid attack survivor has suffered severe burn injuries while the doctors have said that she is unlikely to regain her eyesight as the cornea of her eye has got damaged—(KNO)

New Delhi, February 06: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of Parliament Justice (retd.) Hasnain Masoodi on Sunday expressed discontent over the withdrawing of vacancies referred to J&K Public Service Commission and (JKPSC) J&K Service Selection Board (JKSSB) for recruitment before October 31, 2019, saying the circular has dashed the job hopes of thousands of youth across Jammu and Kashmir.

Far from coming up with a bail out for the educated and unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir, Masoodi said the government was making unrestrained assaults on the future of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

Expressing grave concern over the circular withdrawing the vacancies referred to JKSSB and JKPSC before 31 October 2019, Masoodi said the circular aims to  smoothen the path for non-domiciles to apply for government jobs in J&K. “At a time when the unemployment rate is causing a swell of discontent in our educated and skilled youth in the face of disengagements of employees, mergers of government departments and snail’s pace recruitments resulting in the resulting in the figuring of J&K among the States facing the highest unemployment rates- the circular of withdrawing the already advertised posts has further pushed our youth into the quicksand of misfortunes and hardships,” he said adding the circular should not be seen in isolation but part of concerted efforts to disenfranchise and deprive  K youth from employment opportunities.

Seeking a roll back in the decision, Masoodi contended, “This decision has made the government’s promise on job creation ring hollow.”

Describing the incumbent administration’s style of functioning as anti-youth, Masoodi said the circular also reeks of the failure of the incumbent  administration to create jobs. “All the promises on job creation and employment extravaganza have ringed hollow. Getting a job in government service is a pipe dream for our educated youth,” he added.

He also criticized the government of playing roughshod with the JKAS civil servant aspirants by not allowing a number of  them to participate in mains examinations on the pretext of their failure to submit domicile certificates. “The said candidates have submitted their PRCs instead. There is no compelling need to refurbish such certificates, as the aspirants have submitted PRCs. It seems that the incumbent  administration is at war with our youth. How justified is it to stop these aspirants midway during the selection process,” he added, demanding that the candidates be allowed in the next tier of examinations for the coveted posts. (KNS)

Srinagar- Adding another feather to the cap of Urdu Journalism in Kashmir, the weekly ‘Takhleeq Times’ has completed its ten years.

The sixteen-page newspaper provides its readers weekly dose on politics, religion, sports, culture, business, science and technology.

Owner, Editor and Publisher Nadeem Bashir Tosha, expressing his satisfaction at the public response, said that with a good share of readers, Urdu journalism is firmly positioned in the Valley. “We are getting a good response from people all over the valley and we owe a debt of gratitude to the esteemed readers and Urdu lovers in the contemporary times”, he said.

Pertinent to mention here that ‘Takhleeq Times’ also started its multimedia venture in March 2020 on all social networking sites, where grievances of the general public are taken to the authorities concerned for due redressal.