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Srinagar: 17 Dec, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar expressed deep regret over the continuous closure of the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, the spiritual centre and the largest place of worship of Jammu and Kashmir, for the 19th consecutive Friday.

Condemning this ‘oppressive’ move, the Anjuman Auqaf in a statement said that like previous Fridays, the authorities and police once again today morning stopped the Auqaf employees from opening the doors of the grand mosque. “As a result, the people having come from parts of the city as well as remote areas were deprived of praying Friday prayers at the Jama Masjid, thereby preventing them from performing their religious obligations and hurting their religious sentiments.”

The Anjuman has also expressed strong resentment against the continuous incarceration of its head Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq who continues to be under ‘illegal and arbitrary house arrest since 5 August 2021 saying it is extremely unfortunate for all sections of people that their topmost religious leader is being forcibly detained and disallowed from delivering majlis e waz on Fridays at Jamia mosque .’

The Anjuman said that on 13 December, 2021, the leading religious, social and civil society organisations of Kashmir, from the platform of Jammu and Kashmir Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, unanimously appealed for reopening the Jama Masjid for Friday prayers and releasing the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, but unfortunately the administration is reluctant to do so and listen to anyone .

According to reports, on the occasion of Friday prayers in most of the mosques, khanqahs and imambarahs in the Valley today, the imams and khateebs protested against disallowing Friday prayers in the Jama Masjid Srinagar and raised their voice against it, the statement concluded.“`

Srinagar, Dec 17: The Domestic-Help that allegedly murdered an elderly woman in Lal Bazar area of Srinagar city was supplied to the house owner by an Agency without asking concerned police station to verify his credentials.

The men who run the Agency with regard to offering services of domestic-help (servant) to different house owners in Srinagar are being questioned by police and as of now, it has come to fore that the concerned Agency had not bothered to contact concerned police station and get the credentials of murder accused servant verified.

Non-local servant identified as Omprakash Sah, son of Gopal Sah of village Tatuli Gormadn of Uttarakhand State was hired by a Lal Bazar family from an Agency as domestic helper. The servant yesterday murdered 80-year-old woman Mala Foff, wife of late Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh of Behrar Lal Bazar in the house and decamped with the jewelry. But thanks to swift action from the police, the accused was arrested while on way to Jammu at Tikri with the help of concerned police station and full facilitation provided step by step in person by incumbent SDPO Zadibal Mr Shafat.

While talking to news agency Kashmir News Trust, SDPO Zadibal Mr Shafat said that from day one Jammu and Kashmir Police have advised tenants and agencies to get the credentials of occupants and servants verified from the concerned police station.

“Its very important that you get the character and record of any domestic-help or a tenant verified from local police station before you avail his or her service or allow him or her to occupy your house,” he said.

Mr Shafat in response to a question said that the agency that had supplied the accused servant to the family had not verified his credentials from local police station. “We have been questioning men from the Agency and investigation is underway,” he said and reiterated to get the credentials of the servants verified before you avail their services. (KNT)

Internet addiction a disorder, stimulates brain reward pathway, gradual withdrawal a solution: HOD Psychiatry GMC

Srinagar, Dec 16: Mobile phones, which were originally designed for communication purposes are currently being abused for a variety of ways. Playing internet games has become a frequent tendency among the kids in this digital era.

Experts believe that rather than seeing technological advancements as a blessing for improving one’s intellectual ability, young people have come to regard cell phones as nothing more than a game play gadget.

They said youth in Kashmir are spending most of their time on phones playing PUBG games which they regard as mood lifters but spending more time on social media is becoming internet addiction which is causing more harm than the momentary respite.

Dr Rizwan a social activist from south Kashmir told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Kashmiri kids are addicted to online games like PUBG besides spending time on fantasy sports manager application Dream 11 and in last two years on excuse of online classes they spend more time on phones.

“I have seen young kids on daily basis asking their parents to provide them Rs 50 to 100 for internet pack for online classes. But they spent the money on online games,” he said.

Rizwan said that internet addiction mainly includes playing online games which has become a threat to our society and it might damage our young generation if not addressed quickly.

Parents from different areas of Kashmir also told KNO that their children were good at studies and were using their spare time in playing outdoor games but after Covid-19 restrictions, online classes have made our children smartphone addicts.

“My son hardly goes out for outdoor games since Covid-19 lockdown last year and he spends most of his time on the phone on excuse of giving online classes and sometimes downloading material,” Haseena, a parent from Anantnag said.

“Since he started spending more time on smartphone, he has become lazy and of violent behavior, besides that he sleeps for just a few hours at night,” She said. “I always pray for the opening of schools so that offline classes will start so that the phone addiction habit will go away.”

Dr Mohammed Maqbool Head of Department (Psychiatry) at GMC Srinagar while talking with KNO said that internet addiction causes psychiatric problems as internet addiction is a disorder itself.

“There is a pathway in the brain known as the reward pathway and if we give any drug to any person, it stimulates the reward pathway and the same is the case with internet addiction,” Maqbool said.

“It is the same like if anyone wants to leave drugs there are withdrawal symptoms. Anyone who wants to leave internet addiction can suffer from symptoms like palpitation, anxiety, depression and less sleep,” he said.

“If a person is spending 10 hours on the phone, they should decrease it by 30 minutes after every two or three days, it will help the person in leaving the addiction and symptoms will be less,” Maqbool said.

Experts believe that persistent counseling, making youth aware about the ill effects of internet addiction and asking them to spend time in outdoor games can help them in leaving this addiction—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 16: Weatherman on Thursday forecast widespread “moderate to heavy” snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from December 23 to 25.

There are currently reports about light snowfall in Gurez, Sonmarg, Zojila-Drass axis, said an official of the MeT office here.

“As on date, widespread moderate to heavy snowfall (at some places) is most likely during 23-25th December. We are in for a White X-Mas (Christmas ) in both J&K and Ladakh,” he said.

Meanwhile, intense cold conditions continued across J&K and Ladakh with world famous Gulmarg recording a low of minus 10.0°C.

The mercury in the world famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was down by nearly two degrees Celsius from minus 8.6°C the previous night, the official told GNS.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, settled at minus 2.1°C and against previous night’s minus 3.9°C which was the lowest temperature recorded this season.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of minus 3.0°C against minus 4.2°C on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.9°C against minus 6.4°C on previous night.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against minus 3.9°C on previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 4.5°C against minus 3.8°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a low of 5.9°C which is minus 3.3°C below normal, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 15.0°C against last night’s minus 11.6°C while automatic Kargil station recorded minimum of minus 12.5°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 19.2°C, the official said. (GNS)

InPicture| Militants killed in Redwani Kulgam overnight gunfight identified as Amir Bashir resident of Yaripora and Adil Yousuf resident of Hatipora.

Kulgam, Dec 16: Two militants have been killed in an overnight encounter that broke out between security forces and militants at Redwani Bala area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two unidentified militants were killed in the gunfight, whose identification is being ascertained.

The search operation is still on in the area, they said.

The encounter started between security forces and militants at Redwani Bala area of Kulgam at around 10: 40 pm yesterday (Wednesday).

Officials said that the militants were repeatedly asked to surrender, which they turned down and fired upon forces, triggering an encounter—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 15: A top militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was killed in an overnight encounter with police, army and CRPF in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said on Wednesday.   
“During the intervening night of 14/15 December, acting on a specific input regarding the presence of a (militant) in village Uzrampathri area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, (army’s) 44RR and 182 batallion CRPF in the area,” a police spokesman said in a statement to GNS.

“During the search operation, as the presence of (militant) got ascertained, he was given repeated opportunities to surrender; however he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter.”

In the ensuing encounter, the militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Feroz Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Khaliq of Heff-Shrimal Shopian.

“As per police records, the killed (militant) was A+ categorized (militant) and was part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on security forces and civilian.”

Pertinently, he said, the killed militant was active since 2017 and involved in several cases including attack on the Minority Guard in December 2018 at Zainapora, resulting in killing of four Police personnel and looting their service rifles. “He was also involved in killing of a girl namely Ishrat Muneer daughter of Muneer Ahmad Bhat resident of Dangerpora Pulwama in February 2019,” the spokesperson said, “He was involved in killing of a non local labour namely Charnajeet  son of Hans Raj resident of Fazila Punjab and injuring other in October 2019 when they were loading Apple boxes in a vehicle in Zainapora area of Shopian.” Besides he was also instrumental in luring the gullible youth to join militant ranks, the spokesman said.

“Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK rifle along with three magazines were also recovered from his possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.” (GNS)

Srinagar, Dec 15: Several former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders are seeking re-induction in the party as the party president Mehbooba Mufti’s is gaining popularity due to her criticism of New Delhi’s unpopular policies.

Sources in political circles reveal to the Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that several political leaders who left the PDP after the abrogation of Article 370 and joined other local political outfits are again approaching Mehbooba Mufti for re-induction.

For the past one week, several leaders who switched from the PDP to other local political parties are now pushing for their return to their parent party.

“If anyone wants to come back to the PDP, our doors are open for them but the final decision of re-induction will be with the party President,” said a PDP source adding that some rebel leaders even approached Mehbooba Mufti. However, there is opposition from some PDP leaders to welcome back them as their migration to political parties seen close to the BJP was to avoid investigations for their large scale of corruption in the past, he said.

For the past three weeks, political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are holding rallies seen as a preparation for the Assembly elections likely to be held in April next year.

The Delimitation Commission is also likely to submit its final proposal for reorganization of the Assembly constituencies next month.

Both Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah are drawing huge crowds during their rallies in Kashmir and Jammu regions.

National Conference and the PDP are assuring people they will fight for the restoration of Article 370, its corollary Article 35-A, and statehood.

“Since abrogation of special Status Mehbooba strongly stood up for the restoration of pre-August 5th position of Jammu and Kashmir and that is the reason for her popularity as well as attempts of former leaders to return back to parent party,” a senior PDP leader told Kashmir Dot Com. (KDC)

Slain was A+ category militant active since 2017, wanted in several cases; one Ak-47 rifle, 3 magazines recovered: Police

Pulwama, Dec 15 : A top commander of militant outfit Hizb ul Mujahideen was killed in an overnight encounter at Usgam Pathri area of Rajpora hamlet in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said on Wednesday.

A senior police officer told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a militant has been killed who has been identified as Feroz Ahmad Dar of Heff Shopian.

Feroz was district commander of Hizb who had joined militant ranks in 2017 and was the lone surviving militant in Zainapora hamlet of Shopian which was known as the hot bed of militancy.

Earlier on Tuesday late night, 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 the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which retaliated, triggering an encounter.

A police spokesman in a statement to KNO said that Police and Security forces neutralized ‘A+’ categorized militant outfit HM involved in several crimes including attack on Minority Guard in year 2018 at Zainapora, Shopian, in which four Police personnel were killed.

“During the intervening night of 14/15 December, acting on a specific input regarding the presence of a militant in village Uzrampathri area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44RR and 182Bn CRPF in the area,” he said. “During the search operation, as the presence of militant got ascertained, he was given repeated opportunities to surrender; however he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter.”

The spokesman said that in the ensuing encounter, one militant of HM was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter. “He has been identified as Feroz Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Khaliq resident of Heff-Shrimal Shopian,” he said. “As per police records, the killed militant was A+ categorized militant and was part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities.”

The spokesman said that the killed militant was active since 2017 and involved in several cases.

“Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including one AK rifle along with three magazines were also recovered from his possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” the police spokesman said. “Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with Police till the area at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.”—(KNO)