Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • First time after Independence, 2 Crore tourists visit J&K up to November this year: Union Tourism Minister

    Says number of tourist arrivals highest after Article 370 roll back; 85 lakh foreign tourists visit India this year, G-20 meetings gave big push to tourism industry of country, PM Modi grand ambassador of India’s tourism, showcases India’s tourism potential in every foreign visit

    Srinagar, Dec 07: Union Tourism Minister G Kishen Reddy Thursday said that for the first time after Independence, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded the arrival of two crore tourists up to November this year.

    Replying to a query in the Parliament, Reddy, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that for the first time after India’s Independence, Jammu and Kashmir has seen two crore tourist arrivals including foreigners up to November this year. “The figure is set to go up further by December end,” he said.

    He said that there has been 155 per cent increase in the overall tourist arrivals in 2023 compared to 2021 and 2022. “85 lakh foreign tourists visited India this year so far,” he said.

    The Union Minister said that Prime Minister Narendear Modi has played a huge role in showcasing India’s tourism potential and tourism Industry. “PM Modi has been the brand ambassador of India’s tourism industry. In his (PM’s) every foreign visit, Modiji showcased India’s huge tourism potential that attracted lakhs of tourists to India,” he said.

    The Union Minister said G-20 meetings have played a great role in promoting India’s tourism. “The ambassadors rather than the representatives sent by over 30 countries were the cream of foreign countries. Almost 200 meetings of G-20 were held across India including one in J&K. The participants went back to their respective countries as ambassadors of tourism,” he said, adding that the Tourism Industry of India got a big push after a successful G-20 meeting this year.

    Interestingly, Tourism officials in J&K believe that the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting held in Srinagar in May this year helped lure a large number of foreign tourists to Kashmir. Official source said that this year upto November, almost 50,000 foreign guests visited Kashmir and the number went up after the successful G-20 summit in Srinagar.

    On Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, told the Parliament that J&K will surpass 2 Crore tourist arrivals this year and the previous record set by BJP will be broken by none other than BJP itself. A Tourism official told KNO that exploring offbeat destinations, reviving film and border tourism, promoting home stays were some major steps taken by the Tourism department to lure large number of tourists this year to Valley—(KNO)

  • No one in J&K happy with Art 370 abrogation: Omar Abdullah

    Says people will show ‘real sentiment’ through ballot, alleges fixed game by BJP, EC on elections in UT

    Pulwama, Dec 06: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said no one in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was happy with the decision to abrogate the special status of the erstwhile State.

    As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), speaking to the media after addressing party workers in Pulwama Town, the National Conference vice president said that the foundation of the relationship between J&K and India was based on the special status provided by Article 370 and 35A. With their abrogation, the BJP has harmed this relationship, he said.

    “They (BJP) have done it without considering the sentiments of lakhs of people in J&K. The promise made to the people here wasn’t made by a single leader; it was made by a country. It was a bond between a country and a State that has been damaged,” he remarked.

    Omar said the “real sentiment” of the people would be evident when elections would be conducted. “Let them conduct elections, people will show them whether they are happy with the decision or not, but the truth is that people of J&K and Ladakh aren’t happy with the decision. The people of Ladakh have already shown it; the people of J&K also showed it in DDC elections and will prove it again whenever assembly elections are held,” he said.

    Abdullah criticised the Central government and the Election Commission (EC), accusing them of playing a fixed game when it comes to elections. “Depriving people of their right to choose their representatives would lead to destruction, as people have been denied this right since 2014,” he said.

    “When you ask the government, they say the decision is to be taken by the EC. When the EC is asked about it, they say they need to consult the government first. It is evident both are hiding behind each other, while the people of J&K have to bear the consequences,” he added.

    Omar also mentioned the Prime Minister’s promises of removing distance from Delhi and the hearts of the people saying no such steps were taken on the ground.

    Regarding the remarks of a DMK leader about ‘Gaumutra States’, the former CM suggested that one should not hurt the sentiments of others. “We must respect each other’s religion,” he said.

    In his address to the workers, the NC leader said that the BJP has failed to fulfill promises made during the abrogation of Article 370. “They made promises for 24×7 power supply through various types of meters, which have proven ineffective on the ground, especially with frequent power cuts in both urban and rural areas,” he said.

    Abdullah also criticised the BJP for “failing to provide jobs to the youth and for not initiating new industries, hospitals, universities or colleges”—(KNO)
    [06/12, 8:41 pm] +91 90868 20334: *Maintain strict vigil on feeders vulnerable to power pilferage: MD KPDCL to EEs*

    *‘Minimise unscheduled power cuts, stick to curtailment schedule’*

    Srinagar, Dec 06 (KNO): Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Mussarat Islam, has emphasised upon the Superintending Engineers of all 06 O&M Circles of Kashmir Division to improve billing and collection efficiency which has a direct bearing on the revenue realisation and reduction in AT &C losses.

    He passed these directions during a meeting held today to review the functioning of the corporation with focus on inspections and disconnections, revenue realisation, DT damages and strict adherence to curtailment schedule.

    Chief Engineer, Distribution, Javed Yousuf Dar, Superintending Engineers of all O&M Circles, Executive Engineers of all Electric Divisions and SDOs attended the meeting.

    Laying emphasis on strict adherence to curtailment schedule, MD reiterated the earlier directions passed by the Principal Secretary Power and impressed upon all the officers to ensure that no unscheduled power cuts are undertaken. He also laid stress on maintaining strict vigil over feeders which are vulnerable to power pilferage by way of hooking, bypass of meters and exceeding agreed load.

    The meeting was informed that KPDCL has conducted 14,893 inspections during the month of November and imposed a fine of Rs.1.80 crore. As many as 995 illegal connections were regularised and a load of 2.9 MW added. The KPDCL went into overdrive in the last 10 days of November, following complaints of large-scale hooking and non-payment of dues by defaulting consumers.

    MD KPDCL and Chief Engineer (Distribution) appreciated the escalated drives of inspections and disconnections which are crucial to improvement in power scenario, especially in peak winter months.

    During the current financial year, KPDCL has conducted 78,673 inspections and regularised 31,706 connections in Kashmir Division, the meeting was informed. KPDCL has also disconnected 13229 consumers for want of non-payment of energy dues, for which Rs.4.83 crore arrears were collected from defaulting consumers in November alone.

    Appreciating the performance of all Electric Divisions in launching a massive drive against power pilferage, MD KPDCL advised all the Executive Engineers to improve billing and collection efficiency, which is at the core of bringing down AT&C losses. He fixed the responsibility of concerned SDOs to further improve revenue realisation, which will be continuously monitored.

    Expressing concern over slight increase in DT damage rate, MD KPDCL directed all AEEs to maintain log of damaged transformers and its replacement within the timelines fixed by keying in relevant details on the newly revised designated portal.

    MD KPDCL also directed SEs to prepare Circle-wise post-snow preparedness plans for real time restoration of power supply. He advised the SEs to also keep an eye on weather forecast which shall allow them mobilise men and machinery in advance—(KNO)

  • Kashmir Suffered For Years Due To Nehru’s Two Major Blunders: HM Amit Shah

    New Delhi- Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday blamed India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s “two major blunders” — declaring a ceasefire without winning the entire Kashmir and taking the issue to the United Nations — for the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, Shah said if Nehru had taken the right steps, a large chunk of territory would not have been ceded and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would have been part of India.

    “I support the word that was used here — Nehruvian blunder. Because of the blunder that was committed during the time of Nehru, Kashmir had to suffer. With responsibility, I want to say that the two big blunders that happened during the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru, happened due to his decisions, because of which Kashmir had to suffer for years,” Shah said.

    “Kashmir had to suffer due to Nehruvian blunders. One was that when our Army was winning and as soon as Punjab area was reached, ceasefire was declared and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was born. If the ceasefire would have been (declared) three days later, PoK would have been part of India,” the home minister said.

    The ceasefire made without winning the entire Kashmir was one “blunder” and the other was taking the issue to the UN.

    There was an uproar by the opposition benches over the remarks on Nehru and they staged a walkout but returned later.

    After their walkout, BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab said the home minister should also talk about the “Himalayan blunder”, a reference to Nehru’s actions leading up to the war with China in 1962. Shah quipped that his talking about two blunders had upset the opposition benches and if he had used the phrase “Himalayan blunder”, they would have resigned.

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said the remarks made were not an insult to anyone and were only made to put things in context.

    In his remarks, Shah also alleged that the Kashmir matter was taken to the UN in a hurry.

    “If at all it had to be taken to the UN, it should have been sent under Article 51 rather than Article 35 of the UN Charter,” he said, asserting that he of course believes that the issue should not have been taken to the UN in the first place.

    Shah also quoted Nehru as saying later that the ceasefire was a “mistake”. Shah added that it was not Nehru’s mistake but a blunder.

    “So much land of this country was lost, it was a historic blunder,” the home minister added.

    Talking about the abrogation of Article 370, Shah said it had nothing to do with going back on promise as it was a temporary article and had to go.

    “You did not have the courage, PM Narendra Modi showed courage and did away with it,” he said, referring to the opposition benches.

    Shah pointed out that the two bills on Jammu and Kashmir seek to nominate two Kashmiri Migrant community members, including a woman, to the assembly.

    One seat in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly will be set aside for people displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the home minister said.

    More than 45,000 people have lost their lives due to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir so far, he said.

    Shah said the government’s focus was on ending the terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

    He said a plan to have zero terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir is in force for three years and it will be successful by 2026.

    “I believe Modi government will return to power in 2024 and by 2026, I hope there will be no terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

    Shah said the two bills will give justice to those deprived of their rights for the last 70 years and asserted that reservation to the displaced people will give them a voice in the legislature.

    He said that had terrorism been tackled at the beginning without considering vote-bank politics, Kashmiri Pandits would not have had to leave Kashmir Valley.

    He said one of the bills seeks to give representation in the assembly to those who had to leave Kashmir due to terrorism.

    Shah also lashed out at the Congress for talking about backward classes, saying that if any party has harmed backward classes and come in the way of their growth, it is the Congress.

    He said Narendra Modi was born into a poor family and became the prime minister and he knows the pain of the backward classes and the poor.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill were passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

  • Salman Nizami meet Palestinian Ambassador, express solidarity 

    New Delhi Nov 06: Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief spokesperson Salman Nizami on Wednesday met the Palestinian Ambassador Adnan Mohammad Jaber Abualjayhee in New Delhi and extended his support to the Palestinian people following the brutal attacks by Israel over Gaza. Nizami said that DPAP supports the cause of Palestinian people and India has also maintained its position on Palestine while supporting the two state solution. “ Mahatma Gandhi also supported two state solution and India has since then maintained its position on same principles,” he said. Nizami said that DPAP and its chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad also condemned the attack on Gaza. He said Azad is against any war and the ongoing assault on Gaza by Israel. He said the relations between India and Palestine have always been friendly and have historic connections between the two countries which has over the time further strengthen the relations. “Azad has always wanted to improve the relations between Palestine and India. He even repeatedly appealed for peace and a dialogue to settle down the issues between Israel and Palestine,” he said.

    The post Salman Nizami meet Palestinian Ambassador, express solidarity  appeared first on The Kashmir Today.

  • Sgr among several places record coldest night of season

    Srinagar, Dec 06 : The minimum temperature has plummeted further in Kashmir while Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 2.0 degree Celsius.

    As per the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the night temperature has recorded further dip in Kashmir.

    Several places across Kashmir including Srinagar, Qazigund, Ganderbal, Pahalgam, Kupwara, Shopian, Bandipora and Baramulla recorded coldest night of season.

    In Qazigund, the mercury settled at minus 2.0 degree Celsius while in Gulmarg, a minimum temperature of minus 2.2 degree Celsius was recorded.

    Pahalgam, a famous tourist place, recorded a low of minus 5.1 degree Celsius while Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.7 degree Celsius—(KNO)

  • Delhi HC directs Tihar Jail Authority to produce Yasin Malik through Video Confrencing on Feb 14

    New Delhi, Dec 5: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday allowed Tihar Jail Authority to produce JKLF chief Yasin Malik through video conferencing (VC) due to security reasons.

    The Court direction came during the hearing National Investigation Agency (NIA) appeal seeking appeal for capital punishment or death penalty for Yasin Malik in a terror funding case.

    The bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna on Tuesday deferred the hearing on appeal for Febuary 14 noted that Yasin Malik was not produced through VC before the court today.

    On last date of hearing, Tihar Jail Authority sought modification of the court’s earlier order directing the physical presence of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik in the Delhi High Court.

    The predecessor bench while allowed Tihar’s plea, had noted that the President of India has in the excercise of powers conferred under CRPC and after carefully examining the material on the record and having regard to the kind of offences that Yasin Malik has been accused of, he shall not be moved from Tihar Jail and taken out of the NCT of Delhi for a period of one year or till the completion of trial.

    In that view of the matter the order is modified to the extent that the Jail Superintendent is directed to produce Yasin Malik in the present appeal through Video Conferencing, said the Court.

    The Delhi High Court in its earlier order, while hearing the NIA appeal for capital punishment or death penalty for Yasin Malik in the terror funding case, had issued a warrant for Yasin Malik to be present before the court on the next date of hearing.

    Tihar in its application stated that Yasin Malik has been lodged in the Tihar Jail, New Delhi under the category of very high-risk prisoners and thus, the present application is in relation to a heavy security issue.

    Therefore, it is imperative that Convict Yasin Malik is not physically produced before this Court in order to maintain public order and safety. He should be allowed to join the proceedings through Video Conferencing, the NIA said.

    The Delhi High Court on May 29, 2023, issued notice to Yasin Malik on an NIA appeal seeking capital/death penalty for him (Yasin Malik) in a terror funding case. NIA argued that it is a “rarest of rare” case.

    The Trial Court last year awarded life imprisonment to Yasin Malik in a terror funding case. The Division Bench of Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh after noting down the submissions made, issued notice to Yasin Malik through Jail superintendent as Yasin Malik is lodged in Tihar Jail. He is the sole respondent in the appeal, noted the court.

    Meanwhile, the bench had also issued a production warrant for Yasin Malik to be present before the Court.

    Appearing for NIA, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that Yasin Malik is responsible for killing four IAF personnel and kidnapping Rubaiya Sayeed. He also submitted that four terrorists, who were released after the kidnapping masterminded the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

    Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for NIA and submitted that the accused Malik crossed over to Pakistan in the 1980s to receive training in handling weapons. ISI helped him to become head of JKLF.

    NIA in its appeal submitted that if such dreaded terrorists are not given capital punishment only on the ground that they have pleaded guilty, then the same will result in complete erosion of the sentencing policy of the country and will result in the creation of a device, whereby, such dreaded terrorist after indulging, waging and spearheading an “act of war against the state”, in case caught, would have a way out to avoid capital punishment.

    NIA in its appeal also stated that the crime committed by such dreaded terrorists, where due to their ‘act of war’, the nation has lost its valuable soldiers and has perpetrated irreparable grief not only to the family members of the soldiers but to the entire nation.

    NIA stated that the respondent/accused over decades has been indulging and spearheading terrorist activities in the valley and with the help of dreaded foreign terrorist organisations, having interest inimical to India, has been masterminding, planning, engineering and executing armed rebellion in the valley in an attempt to usurp the sovereignty and integrity of a part of India.

    Earlier on May 25, 2022, the trial court Judge while sentencing life imprisonment to JKLF leader Yasin Malik in the terror funding case said, in my opinion, there was no reformation of this convict. It may be correct that the convict may have given up the gun in the year 1994, but he had never expressed any regret for the violence he had committed prior to the year 1994.

    The NIA charge sheet submitted in the case stated that the Central Government received credible information that Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Amir of Jammat-ud-Dawah and the secessionist and separatist leaders including the members of Hurriyat Conference have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organizations like HM, LeT etc. for raising, receiving and collecting funds domestically and abroad through various illegal channels including hawala.

    The NIA also stated before the court that this has been done for funding separatist and terrorist activities in J-K and as such, they have entered into a larger conspiracy for causing disruption in the valley by way of pelting stones at security forces, systematically burning schools, damage to public property and waging war against India.–(ANI)

  • Jammu And Kashmir | Supreme Court’s Judgment In #Article370 Case To Be Pronounced This Month

    NEW DELHI, Dec 4: The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict in the long-pending case challenging the Union Government’s 2019 decision to repeal the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution this month (December 2023). The Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and composed of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant, had presided over these hearings.
    The Apex Court had reserved the judgement in the matter on 5 September 2023 after hearing it for sixteen long days. It may be recalled that the petitioners in the matter had also challenged the J&K Reorganization Act which bifurcated the State into Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
    With Justice SK Kaul retiring from Supreme Court on December 25, 2023 and December 15, 2023 being the last working day for Supreme Court before winter vacations, it is likely that the judgement would come out soon.
    The hearing in the matter, which commenced on August 2, 2023, witnessed extensive arguments and discussions over a span of sixteen days. This landmark case had remained dormant for over three years, with its last listing dating back to March 2020.
    The petitioner counsels argued for the first nine days and stressed upon the unique nature of J&K’s relationship with India which got embodied in the Indian constitutional setup, highlighting that the Maharaja of J&K did not give up the internal sovereignty to the Dominion of India. Thus, while the power to make laws relating to foreign affairs, communication, and defence lied with the Union as per the Instrument of Accession (IoA), the internal sovereignty of J&K which provided it with powers to legislate on all other matters remained with the Maharaja. It was argued that Article 370 had assumed permanence and was no longer a ‘temporary’ provision post the dissolution of the J&K Constituent Assembly in 1957. The petitioners further contended that the Indian parliament, under the current constitutional framework, could not convert itself into a Constituent Assembly. They also stressed upon the misuse of Article 356, which imposes President’s Rule in a State. It was emphasised that the purpose of Article 356 was to restore state machinery and not destroy it but the President’s Rule in J&K was imposed to destroy the state legislature. It was added that President’s Rule under Article 356 was in its nature “temporary” and thus permanent actions could not be taken under it. The petitioners also argued that the amendment of Article 370 through Article 367 was invalid. Finally, it was stated that while Article 3 of the Indian Constitution granted the power to Union to alter the boundaries of states and even create smaller states through bifurcation, it had never before been used to convert an entire state into a Union Territory (UT). The negative impact of turning J&K into a UT on the constitutional structure was also underlined. A detailed summary on petitioners arguments can be found here.
    Per contra, the Union Government along with other respondents argued that the abrogation of Article 370 resolved the ‘psychological duality’ of the people of J&K and that there existed discrimination against the people of J&K before the abrogation as the Indian constitution was not fully applied to the state prior to 2019. It was underlined that it was very clear that the Constitution makers foresaw Article 370 as a ‘temporary’ provision and wanted it ‘to die’. Challenging the assertion of an exclusive special status for J&K, the respondents argued that during the late 1930s, a multitude of princely states were in the process of drafting their own constitutions. It was also submitted that the execution of a merger agreement was not necessary to become a part of the Indian nation. Further, internal sovereignty could not be confused with sovereignty. It was stated that J&K was only converted to a UT owing to it being a sensitive border state for a temporary time period and that its statehood would be restored. It was also argued that if Article 367 was not modified, it would have the effect on Article 370 becoming a permanent feature of the Indian Constitution, as sans the Constituent Assembly, Article 370 could never be modified. Finally, the respondents asserted that the J&K Constitution was subservient and subordinate to the Indian Constitution and the J&K Constitution never had original constituent powers. Thus, even if the Constituent Assembly had been in existence, it would have a limited role to play in abrogation of Article 370 as its decision would be only “recommendatory” in nature and the President could have taken any decision even if the Constituent Assembly did not agree to the same.
    Appearances
    For the petitioners- Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Gopal Subramanium, Zaffar Shah, Rajeev Dhavan, Dushyant Dave, Chander Uday Singh, Dinesh Dwivedi, Shekhar Naphade, Nitya Ramakrishnan, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Menaka Guruswamy, Prashanto Chandra Sen, Sanjay Parikh and Advocate Warisha Farasat argued.
    For the Union of India : Attorney General for India R Venkataramani, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, ASG Vikramjeet Banerjee and Advocate Kanu Agarwal.
    For the intervenors backing the Union – Senior Advocates Harish Salve, Rakesh Dwivedi, V Giri, Guru Krishnakumar; Advocates Archana Pathak Dave, VK Biju and Charu Mathur. (LiveLaw)

  • BJP District President Reveals Alleged Nexus: Apni Party, DPAP, and PC Tagged as BJP’s “Cousin Sisters”

    During a media interaction following the celebration of BJP’s election victories in three out of four states, Lone as per Srinagar based news gathering agency KDC claimed that these parties are intricately connected with the BJP.

    “People should be aware that Apni Party, Azad-led DPAP, and Peoples Conference are part of BJP. They are deceiving people, and at the end of the day, they’re with us,” asserted Naseer Lone.

    “Let me make people aware that they should not fall prey to them. If they (people) are joining them (DPAP, AP, and PC), then people should directly join BJP. These parties are like our cousin sisters. They’re with us,” he added.

    This revelation has sparked debates and speculations about the political affiliations and connections among these regional parties, with many questioning the dynamics of the alleged relationship between BJP and its “cousin sisters.”

    The leaders of Apni Party, DPAP, and Peoples Conference are yet to respond to these claims, leaving the public in suspense about the intricacies of these political connections. (KDC)

  • Dead Body of Horticulture Department Employee Found in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district

    Anantnag Dec 03 : The lifeless body of an employee of the Horticulture Department, was found in the Lihnwan Gowran area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag District official said on Sunday evening

    The official identified him as GH Mohdin Rather a dedicated employee of horticulture department about aged 50/51-year-old and a resident of Matihandoo was reportedly on duty at the Lihnwan Nursery.

    Police swiftly responded to the situation, and bringing Mr. Rathers body into their custody for necessary legal formalities. The circumstances surrounding his untimely demise are currently under investigation.

    Further Details Awaited

  • Sopore murder case: Wife killed husband with active support of her lover, says Police

    Both accused held, body of Reyaz found in Trench, Material involved in commission of crime recovered: SSP Shabir Nawab; Urges news portals to follow ethics, not to go for media trial of slain’s children, Media trials of affected children disturbing, warns of strict action

    Sopore, Dec 03 : Jammu and Kashmir police Sunday cracked the Zaloora, Sopore murder case by stating that wife with the active support of her lover had killed her husband and later dumped his body in the trench near his house.

    Addressing a presser at Police Station Bomai, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sopore, Shabir Nawab as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that on Friday morning, the family of Reyaz Ahmed Mir (48) of Zaloora village falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Bomai filed a missing report as Reyaz, according to them, had gone missing.

    “Following the complaint, a police party headed by SHO PS Bomai, Bilal Khanday searched for him following which his body was found under mysterious circumstances near his house. The body was recovered from a sewage trench which was covered with a cap and was taken to the Sub District Hospital Sopore for the necessary medical procedures,” the SSP said. “Soon after the incident, a case FIR No 46/2023 was registered in Police Station Bomai and investigation was taken up under the supervision of SDPO Zaingeer, Syed Gazanfer and following due course of investigation, it came to fore that Reyaz’s wife was having extra martial affairs with a local man who had planned a murder and confessed the crime. Material involved in the commission of crime have also been recovered. Both stands arrested and investigations are underway.”

    The SSP further said that there are few news portals who are involved in media trials of affected children’s besides are creating hindrances in investigations at the crime scene, they should desist from it.

    “There will be a strict action against such portals,” he added. Meanwhile, Chairperson Children Welfare Committee (CWC), Baramulla Adv Waseem Hassan said that the media trails of Zaloora Murder incident is quite disturbing and media should refrain from doing so. He said that it has been observed that few of the Facebook news portals have been doing the media trails of the affected children’s which is no way justified act. “We have taken the cognizance of the matter and have asked the police to act accordingly,” he said. “The children are quite safe and there’s no need to worry, however, it’s the moral responsibility of the professional media outlets not to do the act which hurts the sentiments.”

    Similarly, DIPR Baramulla has asked the media outlets/portals to delete the content to prevent further harm to the affected children. “The unethical reporting over the unfortunate incident in Zaloora (Sopore) murder case wherein the sentiments and statements of the children of deceased are mis-interpreted is deeply worrying. Media outlets should adhere to ethical conduct and standards keeping in view the integrity and rights of vulnerable individuals”, they said. It’s noteworthy, that a man – father of four children was found dead under mysterious conditions at Zaloora village in Sopore in north Kashmir on Friday morning, while his relatives and neighbours alleged the murder, urging the authorities to investigate the matter. The relatives as well as the locals at his residence claimed that Reyaz, a father of four children– three daughters and a son was so humble, pious and religious. “Riyaz would have never taken the extreme step (Suicide). It seems like a case of murder, which needs to be investigated thoroughly,” they earlier said—(KNO)