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In operation, efforts were made to evacuate civilians first, slain was active since 2018: Police; six militants killed in district since Wednesday in 3 encounters

A top militant commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was killed in an encounter in the southern district of Kulgam on Saturday, police said.

A senior police officer told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a joint team of Police, Army’s 09 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the Ashmuji, Kulgam.

He said that as the presence of militants got ascertained, efforts were made to evacuate the civilians in the area and a message of surrender was passed to the hiding militant which he rejected.

The official said that as the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militant fired upon them, which retaliated, triggering an encounter.

In the ensuing gunfight, one militant identified as Mudasir Ahmad Wagay district commander HM was killed, he said.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement said that today at about 1 pm, based on credible input about the presence of militants in village Ashmuji area of district Kulgam, a cordon and search operation was launched by Kulgam Police, 9RR and 18Bn CRPF.

“During the search operation, after the presence of militant was ascertained, efforts were made to evacuate the civilians and a message was passed to hiding militant to surrender, however he denied and started firing indiscriminately upon the security forces, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” he said. ““In the ensuing encounter, one militant namely Mudasir Ahmad Wagay Son of Mohd Jamal Wagay a resident of Malwan, Devsar was killed. He was (A+) categorized as a militant and was presently District Commander outfit HM.”

The spokesman said that the slain has been active since 2018. In this connection, a case with FIR number 242/2021 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Kulgam and investigation has been initiated, the police spokesman said.

Pertinently, this was third encounter in the district in last four days as earlier five militants were killed in two separate encounters in Gopalpora and Pombay area of the district on Wednesday this week.

SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 20: Kashmir Alpine skier, Arif Khan, has qualified for the upcoming Winter Olympics 2022 to be held in Beijing.

Arif secured his place in the games during the qualifying alpine skiing event in Dubai.

Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan, has congratulated Arif Khan , Sports Council and Youth Services Sports department for the feat and hoped that his performance in Beijing Winter Olympics will be medal winning. He said that creation of world class sporting infrastructure with training and coaching facilities has started showing results and more and more players are getting selected for National and International sports events.

Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 is scheduled to be held from February 4 to 20.

Kupwara, Nov 20: Peoples Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti Saturday said the being the head of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha should take the responsibility of Hyderpora encounter in which 3 civilians were killed.
  
According to (KNS), talking to reporters in Kupwara, Mehbooba said that LG manages the entire Jammu and Kashmir and he is not the head of the administration but also is a representative of New Delhi in Kashmir.

“Keeping that in view he should take the responsibility of Hyderpora encounter, where three innocent civilians were killed,” she added.
  
She said it is the responsibility of LG to protect the lives of innocent people.

Mehbooba also said that body of another civilian Aamir Ahmed whose father has fought militancy has still not been returned.

“His body should be returned to his family. I think, such actions will have serious repercussions and will widen the gap between the people and New Delhi,” she said.

‘Most govt schemes only on paper, concrete steps required to revive it’

Pampore, Nov 19: Saffron, a costlier spice in the world with medicinal value cultivated in Pampore hamlet of Pulwama is witnessing decrease in the production with each passing year.

Talking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) growers from Pampore hamlet of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district which is popularly known as saffron town of Kashmir said that production is decreasing day by day as the schemes of government only exist on paper and are not being executed on ground.

Subzar Ahmad, a local resident, said that production is decreasing with each passing day as the government on ground has failed to take steps to revive this sector.

He said that uneven weather, pollution and other things have reduced production in the area besides that rates have also decreased.

Subzar said that the government must make the borewell facility functional so that growers can spray water whenever required without depending on rain water.

He said that rates are less, more and more land under saffron is being converted into apple orchards and other purposes.

Locals said that this year production as compared to last few years was good but if there would be artificial water supply available.

They said that the government must take steps to revive this sector at an earliest so that people associated with this sector earn their livelihood and the costliest spice won’t get extinct from the valley.

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a plant. The dried thread-like parts of the flower (stigmas) are used to make saffron spice, food coloring, and medicine.

As per experts Saffron contains chemicals that might alter mood, kill cancer cells, decrease swelling, and act like antioxidants. It can take 75,000 saffron blossoms to produce a single pound of saffron spice. Saffron is largely cultivated in Iran and harvested by hand. It’s one of the world’s most expensive spices.

People commonly use saffron for depression, anxiety, Alzheimer disease, menstrual cramps, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and many other conditions.

It has a medicinal value, costliest spice boosts immune system, anti oxidant, reduces labour pain, may improve mood and treat depressive symptoms, may have cancer-fighting properties., may reduce PMS symptoms., may act as an aphrodisiac, may reduce appetite and aid weight loss, easy to add to your diet and is used as coloring agent—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 18 : Amid outcry, authorities on Thursday exhumed bodies of two residents—Mohammad Altaf Bhat and Dr Mudassir Gul—from a graveyard at Wadder Zachaldara Handwara where they were buried along with two other persons who were killed in the ‘encounter’ at Hyderpora here on Monday.

Official sources told GNS bodies were exhumed under the supervision of Tehsildar Handwara in presence a team of doctors. They said the bodies are being sent to Srinagar for handing over same to the families.

Sources said that families have been asked to limit the funeral to few people only. Also restrictions have been imposed in the area to prevent “law and order”.

The families of the duo contested police claims and had been demanding their bodies for “proper” burial.

This morning Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced magisterial inquiry into the incident and soon Altaf Bhat’s brother Abdul Majeed welcomed it and said the family also demands that the killers of his sibling be brought to justice.

A controversy has erupted over Monday’s encounter in Hyderpora following conflicting claims about the two deceased as their family members contested the police’s charge that they were “terror associates”.

“I am thankful to LG for ordering an inquiry. I am thankful that my oppressed voice was heard by someone. I only have one request to the LG, I want the body of my brother returned to us and the killers of my innocent brother brought to justice,” he said.

He said that after the announcement of the inquiry, he was hopeful that the family will get justice. “I request the LG to please return the body quickly because his (Bhat’s) children want to see the face of their father one last time,” he said. (GNS)

Srinagar, Nov 18: Jammu and Kashmir police is likely to handover bodies to the three families whose relatives were killed in the Hyderpora encounter in Srinagar, sources said.

Following the pressure on the administration by the protest of the families and political parties, the top police today called the families and assured them they will hand-over the bodies by Friday.

 Police sources confirmed to Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that all the three bodies will be exhumed and will be handed over to families for last rites very soon after competing legal formalities. Hopefully if legal formalities are completed today, the bodies will be returned soon, they added.

 Police said that in the encounter one Pakistani militant and his two associates and a civilian were killed. However, the families contested the police claims saying that they were innocents and killed in cold blood.

 Locals said the Superintendent of Police, who was leading the police team at Hyderpora, could have saved the civilian lives if he acted professionally. (KDC)

Says my husband not OGW, but ‘innocent’, In a marriage party at Rawalpora, police officers, civil admin officers had lunch with Mudasir; Give us proof about his militant links, family stages protest in press enclave

Humaira Gul, the wife of Dr Mudasir Gul, who was killed in Hyderpora encounter, Wednesday staged a protest along with other family members at press colony and stated that her two-year-old daughter has been crying, baba, baba and she had no answers to her. She said police must come up with a proof that her husband was an OGW and the fact is that “my husband had no militant links and was earning his livelihood in a clean manner.”

“My year-old-daughter has been crying since yesterday looking for her father. She cries baba, baba, and I have no answers to her. I urge LG Manoj Sinha to allow my daughter to see her father for the last time,” Humaira told reporters at press enclave Srinagar, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

She said the police must give her proof about her husband being an OGW. “Police can kill me also if my husband is proven as an OGW,” said Humaira, while holding her daughter in her arms. “My husband wasn’t an OGW but a doctor by profession. He was earning his livelihood in a clean manner. In fact, in a marriage party at Rawalpora recently, police officers and the officers from the administration had lunch with Mudasir. How come the police label him as OGW,” she said.

Other family members of slain Dr Mudasir were also part of the protest who demanded return of Mudasir’s body back for proper burial. “We appeal LG Manoj Sinha and IGP Kashmir to return the body of Dr Mudasir so that his daughter can see him one last time and we all could bid him a final adieu,” the protesters said.

Mudasir was among four slain in the Hyderpora encounter. Police said Mudasir was living in a rented room in a building where the encounter took place and that he had allowed slain militant Haider to use his rented room as a hideout. Police also said that Mudasir had ferried Haider in a vehicle from Jamalata area of Srinagar where police was injured in militant firing and was an OGW.

Srinagar, Nov 17: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday said hospitals in Kashmir are once again witnessing a rise in number of severe Covid-19 cases.

“Hospitals are again seeing a surge in severe cases of Covid-19 infection,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“The number of Covid admissions has increased five times over the last few days,” he said.

Dr Hassan said at SMHS hospital, a weak ago we had 2-3 patients admitted in Covid wards. It has shot up to 15 now.

“Few weeks ago, there were days when we would not have single patient taking admission. But now we have 7-8 patients getting admitted every day. Most of them come with bilateral pneumonia requiring oxygen, some needing intensive care and the support of ventilators to help them survive the respiratory distress,” he said. 

The DAK President said not only the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, but young people are coming with severe disease and some of them are dying,” he said

“Most of these admitted patients are either unvaccinated or have received a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine,” he added.

General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said the rising number of cases over the past one week has now starting to reflect in rising number of hospitalizations.

“The number is expected to rise further in coming days as people have abandoned Covid-19 precautions. Many people don’t wear masks and they don’t care for physical distancing,” he said.

Spokesperson DAK Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga said we have a significant portion of the population who are susceptible to the virus as they are either unvaccinated or have received a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine,” he added.

“People must continue to adhere to the health guidelines to avoid a catastrophic slip-up. And, it is vitally important to vaccinate the unvaccinated people quickly to prevent further spread of the disease,” he said.