Kashmir.Watch

Category: Union Territory

  • Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemns the blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH)

    Srinagar, Nov 29: Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama Jammu and Kashmir, a conglomerate of religious bodies headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has strongly condemned the blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) by a student at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, terming it totally unacceptable.

    In a statement, the leading members of the MMU said that the reverence and honour of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is dearer to a Muslim than his or her life and such blasphemous remarks will not be tolerated by the Muslims of valley .

    Taking serious note of this incident MMU demanded that a thorough investigation be conducted into how and why this incident occurred, and all those found involved be brought to book, the statement said.

    MMU said that they hope that this insolence will be taken seriously by the authorities and serious efforts will be made to prevent such incidents from happening in the future

    Constituents of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama Jammu and Kashmir include Muslim Personal Law Board of the Grand Mufti, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar, Darul Uloom Rahimiya Bandipora, Anjuman Shari’i an Shi’a, Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Karwaan-e-Islami, Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen, Anjuman HImayat-ul-Islam, Anjuman Tabligh-ul-Islam, Jamiat Hamdaniyyah, Anjaman Ulamai Ahnaf, Darul Uloom Qasimiyyah, Darul Uloom Bilaliya, Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam, Anjuman Mazharul Haq, Jamiat Al Aima Wal Ulama, Anjuman Aima Wa Mashaikh Kashmir, Darul Uloom Naqshbandiyya, Darul Uloom Rashidiyyah, Ahlbayt Foundation, Madrasa Kanzul Uloom, Peerwan-e-Wilayat, Auqaf Islamia Khurram Sirhama, Bazm-e-Tawheed Ahle Hadith Trust, Anjuman Tanzeem-ul-Makaatib, Muhammadi Yateem Trust, Anwar-ul-Islam, Karvaane Khatam-e-Nabuwat, Darul Uloom Syed Al Mursaleen, Anjuman Ulama Wa Aima Masajid, Falah Dareen Trust Welfare Society Islamabad, Ashraf Uloom Hyderpora, Darul Uloom Dawoodiya Batamallo, Darul Uloom Furqania Nowshera, Darul Uloom Dawoodiya Khanyar, Jamiat Ulama Kashmir, Siraj Uloom, Idarah Wahdatul Makaatib Jammu and Kashmir, Darul Uloom Imdadiya Natipora, Darul Uloom Jamiat Al Rashaad Awantipora, Khanqah Muraadia Jama Masjid Kreeri, Darul Uloom Sawt-ul-Qur’an Gulshanabad Srinagar, and other religious, milli, social and educational organisations.

  • NIT Student Booked for Hurting Religious Sentiments: IGP Kashmir V K Birdi

    Srinagar, Nov 28: A student enrolled at National Institute of Technology (NIT), Dargah Hazratbal Srinagar, has been booked for hurting religious sentiments after posting a video-clip on social-media, Inspector General of Police V K Birdi said on Tuesday evening.

    The top Police officer while talking to as per news agency Kashmir Scroll, said that they today evening received information that some students have been protesting in NIT Campus and upon knowing the facts it was found that a student has in his social media posted a video-clip ‘which wasn’t his own and instead posted by some Youtuber which has hurt sentiments of people especially the religious sentiments.’

    “There was immediate intervention by the Registrar who educated the student on the matter and in the meantime we had received a communiqué from the Registrar wherein the official urged for legal action”, the top police officer said.

    “We are in receipt of the communiqué and we have registered a case under relevant sections of law and due investigations is underway”, he said further. (KS)

  • Woman dies after delivering baby at DH Bla, family alleges murder

    MS assures thorough probe, says guilty ‘will not be spared’

    Baramulla, Nov 28 (KNO): A woman died after giving birth at District Hospital Baramulla in north Kashmir, with her family alleging medical negligence. However, the Medical Superintendent has assured a thorough investigation, saying that those responsible will not be spared.

    The family of the deceased woman, Dilshada Akhter (32), a resident of Khadniyar, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that she passed away after delivering a baby. They claim that despite repeated requests, doctors at the district hospital ignored Dilshada’s condition after she gave birth at 10:30 am on Monday.

    Alleging that she was not properly cared for, the family said that Dilshada fought for her life from 10:30 am until 1 o’clock midnight. They alleged that the hospital staff remained engrossed in their cell phones instead of attending to her.

    “It was a murder,” alleged the deceased woman’s sister, who witnessed the entire distressing incident. She urged authorities to investigate the matter to prevent further loss of lives.

    Expressing shock, she called on the authorities to address negligence issues and “prioritise the welfare of society”. Many people fear visiting government hospitals due to perceived safety concerns, she said.

    The Medical Superintendent of GMC Baramulla, Dr Parvaiz Masoodi said that a thorough investigation would be conducted. “If anyone is found responsible for any wrongdoing, they will face strict legal consequences,” he assured—(KNO)

  • 7 SKUAST Students Arrested For Celebrating India’s World Cup Loss

    Srinagar- Seven students of an agricultural university have been arrested here under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for allegedly raising objectionable slogans and celebrating the Indian cricket team’s loss in the World Cup final, officials said on Monday.

    All the seven arrested students are studying at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir, in Shuhama, Ganderbal.

    The students were arrested after police launched an investigation into a complaint by a non-local student who alleged his college mates had harassed him and raised objectionable slogans after India lost the final match and the cup to Australia.

    The police in Ganderbal district filed a case under Section 13 (unlawful activity punishable with imprisonment) of the UAPA, and Sections 505 (inciting to commit any offence against any other class or community) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

    Meanwhile, the J&K Students Association urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and J&K Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha to drop UAPA charges.

    “It is an unacceptably harsh punishment that could ruin their future. The UAPA charges will have serious consequences on the academic and future career of the students and should be immediately withdrawn. It may have serious repercussions both in the long term and short term,” Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the Association, said.

    He said the association also condemned the act and behaviour of the Kashmiri students “in the harshest of words”. “The issue should be resolved amicably, rather than taking it to the court and police station,” he added.

  • Night temp improves significantly, widespread rains, snow likely in J&K from Wednesday

    Srinagar, Nov 27: Under the influence of a weak Western Disturbance in Jammu & Kashmir, the widespread rains and snowfall is expected in the Union Territory on November 29 while the minimum temperature has improved across the valley.

    According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that the rains and snowfall is expected tomorrow at isolated places amidst the possibility of generally cloudy weather conditions.

    However, he said a two-day wet spell is expected on November 29 and 30, saying that the weather would remain generally cloudy while light to moderate rain and snowfall is expected at fairly widespread places with possibility of thunderstorm and lightning at few places as well.

    The two-day wet-spell as per Director MeT is expected under the influence of a weak western disturbance, which will affect J & K on November 29.

    For the first six days of December, Dr Mukhtar said the weather would remain partly to generally cloudy.

    Pertinently, the minimum temperatures have recorded a significant improvement today as the mercury settled above freezing point at multiple places across Kashmir.

    Gulmarg, a famous ski-resort and Konibal in Pulwama recorded sub-zero temperatures at minus 1.2 degree Celsius and minus 2.0 degree Celsius.

    The mercury in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, settled at 3.5 degree Celsius while in Qazigund, the mercury settled at 2.6 degree Celsius.

    In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 1.5 degree Celsius while in Kupwara and Kokernag, the mercury settled at 1.8 degree Celsius and 2.8 degree Celsius respectively.

    Moreover, the shallow to moderate fog conditions are expected to continue till tomorrow over many places of Kashmir division—(KNO)

  • War against terrorism is yet to be over: DGP Swain

    Srinagar, Nov 27: Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain Monday said that war against terrorism is not over yet in J&K and will be over only when one side accepts the defeat.

    According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Director General of Police J&K RR Swain while speaking to reporters at Gurudwara Chatipadshahi said that war against terrorism in not over yet in J&K. “It will be over only when one side accepts the defeat,” DGP said.
    He said till the fight is in our side we have to move forward despite suffering losses. He also said that we cannot retreat ourselves from this war but can ensure minimum damage to common masses with the help of our fighting forces. (KNS)

  • AC assents purchase of additional 500 MW of power to meet the winter demand

    JAMMU, NOVEMBER 26: Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, gave its approval for purchase of additional energy of 500 MW offirm power from Ministry of Power (MOP)to meetBase Load power requirement of the UT.
    Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretaryand Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari,Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor attended the meeting.
    The AC assents for allocation of additional 500 MW offirm power from MOP in B(v) mode(procurement being done by PFC)to meetBase Load power requirement essentiallyrequired to meet the winter demand.
    The availability inwinter reduces due to high proportion of hydropower in the UT. In order to bridge this gapbetween demand and availability of power during winter months AC approved signing of fresh Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)by J&K Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL) with NTPC regardingSingrauli-III run by NTPC.
    This will subside the energy demand in J&Kwhich is increasing at a CAGR of 10%. Singrauli-II being athermal power station is a must run station, due to which itspower supports J&K’s power requirement during winter whenthe generation from hydro generators of ISGSreduces to150-300 MW only i.e. a reduction of 70-90% of summergeneration.
    As such, it will increase its availability by signingnew Power Purchase Agreement of JKPCL with NTPCregarding Singrauli-III which would help the UT in tiding over the power shortage faced by it during the lean winter season.

  • DSEK Announces Winter Vacations for Classes Upto 8th Standard from Nov 28, for Classes 9 to 12th from Dec 11

    Srinagar, Nov 25: Directorate of School Education Kashmir has announced winter vacations in phase-wise manner for educational institutions in Kashmir Valley.

    For Classes upto 8th standard, the vacations will be observed from November 28, 2023 to February 29, 2024 and subsequently for classes 8th to 12th standard the vacations will be observed from December 11, 2023 to February 29, 2024.

    “The teaching staff shall report back to their respective schools on 21st February, 2024, so that they remain available for making arrangements regarding preparation of ensuing examinations”, reads the order, a copy of which lies with GNS. (GNS)

  • SIA Kashmir arrests Sarjan Barkati’s wife in ‘Terror’ funding case

    Case FIR No 02/2023 U/S 13,17,18,21,39,40 UA(P) Act, 120-B IPC of police station, SIA pertains to the involvement of Barkati family in orchestrating an extensive fund-raising campaign through crowd funding, resulting in the generation of funds amounting to crores, SIA said in a statement to Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com, adding that these funds were subsequently misused, involving money laundering and acquisition of undisclosed assets for propagation of radicalism within the Kashmir valley. While Sarjan Barkati was arrested in August this year, his wife Shabroza Bano has been evading arrest after her role surfaced in the case. During the investigation of SIA Shabroza Bano came out as one of the conspirators and was found hand in glove with her husband and Pak based terror handlers in the terror funding case. The investigation reveals that Shabroza Bano has remained in constant contact with Pakistani handlers through encrypted messaging platforms. Consequently, she was arrested today on 24.11.2023, they said.

    The agency said “Barkati and his family had managed to raise approximately Rs 1.74 crores through crowdfunding campaigns. These funds were raised for personal gains and a significant portion of the collected funds was allegedly misused for undisclosed purposes, including financing of secessionist and terrorist activities. A substantial portion of the acquired funds had been deposited in various Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) under the names of Barkati’s family members, raising questions about the legitimacy of the sources and utilization of the funds.”

    Pertinent to mention that the main accused in the case Sarjan Barkati was a prominent figure in organizing large-scale protests, rallies, and clashes with security forces in 2016 the agency said. During that period he was instrumental in abetting youth to storm security forces establishments for which more than 30 FIRs were registered against him in various police stations of the valley, they added. (KDC)

  • Jammu Muslim Front labels China a terrorist country after it shuts down 100’s of mosques

    Jammu, Nov 24: While dubbing China as an anti-Muslim and a terrorist country, Jammu Muslim Front Friday criticized the Chinese government’s efforts to shut down mosques and the persecution of Muslim minorities.

    Chairman Jammu Muslim Front, Shujah Zaffar in a statement to the news agency Kashmir News Trust said that in addition to closing mosques, China has been altering mosque architecture. He said these are the sheer examples of terrorism and Muslim world should take note of it.

    Quoting a news report, Shujah Zaffar said that around 1300 mosques in Ningxia, about a third of the total number registered, have been closed since 2020. This figure does not include mosques closed or demolished due
    to their unofficial status, most of which occurred before 2020.

    He criticized the government’s actions, stating that the closures and destruction of mosques represent a systematic effort to suppress Islam in China, contradicting
    the government’s claim of merely “consolidating” mosques.