Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Feb 6 : The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared two days of state mourning as a mark of respect for singer Kumari Lata Mangeshkar – who passed away in Mumbai this morning.

“As a mark of respect to Kumari Lata Mangeshkar, who has passed away, the Government of India has decided that there shall be two days State Mourning on 06.02.2022 to 07.02.2022 throughout the country. It has been decided that: a) The National Flag shall fly at half-mast during the mourning on all buildings and places where it is flown regularly; and b) There shall be no official entertainment during the mourning”, reads a notification.

These decisions are brought into notice of all the concerned for information and necessary action, it reads further.

Pulwama, Feb 05: In yet another instance of communal harmony, the local Muslims in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district helped perform last rites of an 55-year-old Kashmiri Pandit lady, who died on Friday.

Setting an example of communal harmony and brotherhood, the local Muslims in Tahab village of Pulwama came together to help perform the last rites of their pandit neighbour.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Usha Devi (55), wife of Maharaj Pandit resident of Tahab village about 05 kilometers from Pulwama town was a housewife whose husband is a retired government employee.

As only a few of his family members were around, Devi’s local friends and neighbors from the Muslim community took it upon themselves to help perform his last rites.

The local Muslims organized and performed his last rites and mourned his death as one of their own. They shouldered his coffin and arranged wood for the cremation in the village.

“She was one of us. We never thought of him as a KP. We arranged everything needed for the cremation,” said Mohammad Jabbar a local resident.

She has been living here among them for many years. “We have lived alongside each other and done everything together,” said another local while participating in her last rites which were performed in local ground.

“We share a bond that goes back hundreds of years. When we heard about the sad news, all of us rushed to console the family members and arrange the last rites,” he added.

Devi is survived by husband besides one son and a daughter—both are married—(KNO)

Panel has gone by its own will, wish: NC MP Hasnain Masoodi; Detailed Response to follow: NC spokesman; Commission has proved itself as frontal Org of BJP, says PDP

Srinagar, Feb 05: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Saturday said that he and his party out rightly rejects the delimitation commission’s second draft proposal while as the party MP Justice (Rtd) Hasnain Masoodi said the panel has gone by its own wish and will.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), exclusively, Dr Farooq said: “National Conference rejects the delimitation commission’s second draft report.”

The NC MP Masoodi said that the Delimitation Panel has thrown the recommendations put-forth by the National Conference to the wind and the Commission has gone by their own will and wish.

He said despite explaining the Delimitation Commission that the exercise was against the constitution and any change in the existing step amounts to challenging the Indian constitution.

“Changes advocated by the Delimitation Panel as per their second draft proposal are totally unconstitutional. We have put forth some important suggestions and recommendations that have been completely ignored and thrown to the wind,” Masoodi told KNO.

He said that at some places, old constituencies have been removed and new added and there is total discrimination in the new seat sharing proposed by the delimitation panel, which is unjustified and unacceptable to NC.

National Conference (NC) spokesman while addressing a presser later in the afternoon rejected the second draft proposal of the Delimitation Commission.

“NC summarily rejects draft working paper made available by Delimitation Commission to associate members on 4th February 2022,” party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also rejected the panel’s second draft report. “The commission instead of a constitutional body has proved itself to be as a frontal organization of ruling Bhartiya Janta Party,” PDP spokesman in a statement said.

“From the media reports regarding the interim recommendations of the commission, it was clear that the sole objective of the body was to ensure backdoor entry of BJP and its shadow organizations to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir”, the PDP spokesman, adding that the apprehensions about the entire exercise expressed by the party have come true. “PDP believes that the entire exercise of the delimitation is a part of major ploy to disempower people of Jammu and Kashmir by division of secular and majority votes. It is unfortunate that all the constitutional apparatus was being put into action in order to achieve this sinister design of BJP”.

He said that the party ruling the country has taken ever step to disempower the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Delimitation was yet another exercise in furtherance of these designs.

The PDP spokesman said that the party has been from the beginning apprehensive of such outcome and the interim report only strengthens such belief. “The fascist and communal forces with the support of their shadow organizations are eyeing on gaining power by all means and in the process the erstwhile state has been plunged into chaos”, he said.

He said that the delimitation for Jammu and Kashmir was taken in contrary to the set principals of such process for the rest of the country, where the exercise is to be undertaken in 2026. “Even when the basic law, The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, was under challenge in Supreme Court the union government hastened to initiate the process in order to give legal backing to its unconstitutional decision to abrogate Article 370”.

“To ensure success of BJP and its shadow organizations the commission has thrown everything upside down. The redrawing of constitutional boundries has been done without taking into consideration the ground situations and areas have been divid

Jammu, Feb 5: A youth in his early 20s was shot dead inside his house in Budhal area of Rajouri district during the night, officials said on Saturday.

They said unknown gunman fired from window of his room while he was sleeping at around 4 a.m. today. The fire hit the head of the youth identified as Ikram Hussain Shah son of Ali Shah, leading to on the spot death.

Also, they said, bullet was fired at the house of another person, Nabu Shah, some 20 meters from the house of the youth in Targayi village of Budhal area.

Official sources said that a police party headed by SHO Budhal Mustaj Ahmed visited the spot immediately while area has been cordoned off.

SSP Rajouri Mohd Aslam Choudhary told GNS that investigations are underway. (GNS)

Says one slain identified as Ikhlaq Hajam was involved in killing of Police HC on Jan 29; Fahad Shah arrested in FIR lodged in Pulwama district; charged for glorifying militancy

Srinagar, Feb 05: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Saturday that two militants killed in Srinagar’s Zakura area belong to South Kashmir and one of them was involved in killing of police head constable at Bijbehara, Anantnag on January 29.

Talking to reporters here, the IGP Kashmir said that acting on a specific lead late evening yesterday about the presence of two militants in Zakura area of Srinagar, police laid a siege in the area and after zeroing in on the spot, the hiding militants opened fire that was retaliated. “In the ensuing encounter, two militants of LeT (TRF) were killed. They were identified as Ikhlaq Hajam of Kulgam and Adil from Pulwama district. Ikhlaq was involved in the killing of Police head constable at Bijbehera on January 29,” the IGP said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

He said since past few years, South Kashmir based militants keep travelling to Srinagar. “We track them on the basis of human and technical intelligence after which they are either arrested or killed,” the IGP said.

About the arrest of Fahad Shah, he said that there are three FIRs registered against him—one each in Srinagar, Pulwama and Shopian districts. “He has been arrested in connection with the FIR in Pulwama where he has been charged for glorifying militancy. He was time and again warned not to spread fake news and not to glorify militants and militancy as the move lures young boys towards militancy, but he didn’t stop,” the IGP said and urged journalists to crosscheck the news before circulating the same—(KNO)

Earthquake Mb 5.7 – 05/02 04:16 (UTC),

Depth: 200 Km

HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN.

SRINAGAR, 04 Feb 2022: Expressing serious concern over conversion of residential area of Maisuma into a commercial hub in violation of Srinagar Master Plan and Smart City plan, the Maisuma Behbood Committee (MBC) President, Ajaz Ahmad War in a statement hoped that the concerned authorities including LG Administration, SDA, SMC, Srinagar Administration etc. will rise to the occasion and stop further constructions in the aforesaid area and act against the corrupt officers, who allow these illegal constructions.

Mr. War expressed his deep anguish over the conversion of historic Maisuma area into a jungle of construction in the shape of commercialization. He termed the commercialization of Maisuma a heinous crime against inhabitants of the area.

He said commercial establishments in historical place like Maisuma and adjacent areas have given rise to many social problems in the area while every single road has been turned into parking place. He said with the emergence of massive commercialization, the crimes in different forms are being reported day in and day out.

Maisuma Behbood Committee makes it clear that Maisuma actually is the name of the entire area that is more or less an island which forms the center of present-day city of Srinagar, and is densely populated so demands proper attention.

One of the slain militant involved in recent killing of HC Ali Mohd: IGP Kashmir

Srinagar, February 05: Two militants affliated with The Resistance Front a shadow name of LeT were killed in a Predawn Gunfight in Zakura area of Srinagar district here on Saturday.Kashmir Zone Police in a tweet while quoting Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar wrote, “02 militants of militant outfit LeT/TRF neutralised by Srinagar Police.

One of the killed militants Ikhlaq Hajam was involved in recent killing of HC Ali Mohd at Hassanpora Anantnag. Incriminating materials including 02 pistols recovered,”.

#SrinagarEncounterUpdate: 02 #terrorists of terror outfit LeT/TRF #neutralised by Srinagar Police. One of the killed terrorists Ikhlaq Hajam was involved in recent killing of HC Ali Mohd at Hassanpora Anantnag. Incriminating materials including 02 pistols recovered: IGP Kashmir https://t.co/9vktIRpcJM

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) February 5, 2022

It’s Pertinent to mention that on 29th January a head constable Ali Mohammad Ganie was shot at by the militants near his residential house at Hasanpora Tabala area of Bijbehara Anantnag.(GNS)

Srinagar, Feb 04: The delimitation commission constituted by the Government of India to redraw J&K’s electoral map on Friday evening shared its second report with five members of parliament (MPs) from the Union Territory.

Sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the report defining boundaries of 90 assembly segments of Jammu & Kashmir, was shared with MPs at 7: 00 pm today. “The report has been sent to all MPs from J&K,” they said, adding that entire process of delimitation is likely to be completed in next one month.

According to sources, the delimitation commission has also asked MPs to submit their objections, if any, over the report. “After they will file objections, the commission will seek objections and suggestions from the general public and hold sittings at different places to consider these suggestions, “they said.

On December 20, the panel shared district—wise seat allocation with MPs from Jammu and Kashmir.

In its report, the panel proposed six new seats for Jammu division and one in Kashmir division—(KNO)

‘The igloo is 38 ft high, 44 ft in diameter, have applied for Guinness World Record’

Gulmarg, Feb 04: Gulmarg, the famous tourist spot of Jammu and Kashmir has become home to India’s first and biggest Igloo Cafe started by the Kolahoi Green Group of Hotels and Resorts in Gulmarg for the second consecutive year.

Employees of Kolahoi Green Group of Hotels and Resorts while talking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that like last year this year they have again built an igloo but a much bigger one.

“The concept of a snow cafe was new to Kashmir although it has been tested successfully in Finland, Canada, Switzerland and some other countries. When it was built last year, we saw a huge rush of tourists,” they said.

“We wanted to serve our guests in a unique way and in a very unique accommodation and the idea of doing something dramatic for our guests and patrons has worked as it has attracted a large number of tourists last year. We are hopeful that the same will happen this year as dozens of tourists are coming to just see this igloo this year which will be inaugurated on Friday evening,” they said.

This year igloo is 38 feet high and 44 feet in diameter and is enough to accommodate around three dozen guests while as last year the snow cafe measuring 22 feet in diameter and 12.5 feet in height, from inside was enough to accommodate four tables with sixteen guests at any point of time.

The task was accomplished with a team of around 20 members headed by Syed Waseem Shah and Kolahoi team working in shifts.

“The project was completed in two months and took around 1700 working days to complete it,” they said, adding that to make the seating comfortable, we used sheep hides to make a person sitting on snow feel warm and tables and benches are all made of snow and ice.

The igloo will be thrown open for the public on Friday evening and the response has been very good as dozens of people have already booked tables, they said, adding that hopefully the cafe would remain functional till the end of February.

“A guest can spend about one hour inside the igloo or till he/she feels cold and to give it a traditional touch, a Kashmiri art work with hand engraved Kashmir copper samovar has been placed there,” they said.

They claimed that this is the biggest igloo cafe in the whole World and they have applied for the Guinness World Record.

Pertinently, an Igloo is also known as a snow house or snow hut, is a type of shelter built of snow, typically built when the snow is suitable.

Moreover igloos are often associated with all Inuit and Eskimo peoples, they were traditionally used only by the people of Canada’s Central Arctic and Greenland’s Thule area.

Other Inuit tended to use snow to insulate their houses, which were constructed from whalebone and hides. Snow is used because the air pockets trapped in it make it an insulator—(KNO)