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  • Separatist leader Altaf Ahmad Shah dies At AIIMS

    Srinagar: Kashmiri separatist leader Altaf Ahmad Shah, the son-in-law of the late Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, died of cancer at the AIIMS here early Tuesday, days after he was taken to the hospital from the Tihar Jail on the orders of Delhi High Court. He was 66.

    “We were informed about Abu’s passing away late last night,” his daughter Ruwa Shah told PTI.

    In a tweet, she said Shah breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, “As a prisoner.” Shah, a resident of the Soura locality of Srinagar, was arrested on July 25, 2017, with six others, facing trial in an alleged terror funding case probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

    On October 5, the Delhi High court has ordered his shifting to the AIIMS Delhi for appropriate treatment after he was stated to have been diagnosed with cancer.

    Shah told the court he was receiving treatment for certain serious ailments at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML) but it was recently revealed he was suffering from the last stage renal cancer.

    While claiming the RML does not have the adequate facility to treat renal cancer, he prayed he be allowed to be shifted to the AIIMS or Apollo Hospital for urgent treatment.

  • Teenager injured after being allegedly beaten by Madrassa teacher in Kangan

    Gandarbal, Oct 10: A teenage boy was injured after being allegedly beaten by a Mullah (teacher) of a local Madrassa for not wearing Khan-dress in Kangan area of Central Kashmir’s district on Monday.

    Mother of the boy told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that her son, aged about 14, had gone to a local Madrassa to learn the Quran, where Mullah, who teaches them there, beat him up.

    She alleged that the teacher beat him up for not wearing Khan-dress, which according to him is the dress code of the Madrassa.

    She also alleged that her son received injuries in his left eye, as the teacher had beaten her son ruthlessly.

    Meanwhile, an official told KNO that police have taken cognisance of the matter and a formal complaint has been registered in this regard—(KNO)

  • Two Local LeT militants killed in Encounter Anantang : Police

    Srinagar, Oct 10: Two local militants affiliated with LeT have been killed in an encounter in Tangpawa area of South Kashmir Anantang district.

    In a statement issued to Kashmir News Apex- (KNA) the police said that yesterday evening, acting on specific information generated by police regarding the presence of militants in village Tangpawa area of Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (19RR) and CRPF (164Bn) in the said area.

    During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter.
    In the ensuing encounter, 02 local militants linked with proscribed militants outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Aasif Ahmad Reshi son of Mohd Yaseen Reshi resident of Sheikhpora Marhama Bijbehara and Wakeel Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Ahad Bhat resident of Naibasti Marhama, the statement said.

    As per police records, both the killed militants were categorized and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police and security forces & civilian atrocities.

    Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.

    In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress. 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. (KNA)

  • `Agli Zindagi Allah Ke Hukam Ke Mutabiq Guzarne Ka Irada Hain’: Another Muslim actress quit film industry to pursue path of Islam

    After Sana Khan and Zaira Wasim, another Muslim actor has bid goodbye to showbiz to pursue the path set by Almighty Allah.

    Popular Bhojpuri actress Sahar Afsha announced that she is quitting showbiz to follow Islam.

    In a long Instagram post, Sahar said she wanted to live her future life in accordance with Islamic teachings and with Allah’s blessings

    “Dear Brothers and Sisters, in the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, I want to let you know that I have chosen to leave Showbiz and will no longer be involved. I want to live my future life in accordance with Islamic teachings and with Allah’s blessings,” read the English translation of her post.

    “I’m grateful to my fans for bestowing upon me many blessings, including fame, honor, and fortune. I had not even pictured this life in my childhood. I stumbled into this industry just by chance and kept on growing. But now I have decided to renounce my Showbiz lifestyle, repent before Allah, and seek His forgiveness. I intend to live my next life according to the commands and preaching of Allah.”

    “Hence, I request everyone to pray that Allah accepts my repentance, blesses me with the strength to live in line with my resolve to spend my life upholding the laws of my Creator and serving mankind, and gives me the perseverance to do so. And I hope that I will be remembered not for my past life but for the life to come.”

    Sahar made her debut in 2018 with the Telugu film Karta-Karma-Kriya. Two years later she joined the Bhojpuri film industry. Her debut Bhojpuri film Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna 3 was opposite Khesari Yadav. Sahar Afsha also played a lead role in ‘Ghatak’ Vais To Teri Yaad.

    Earlier ‘Dangal’ actress Zaira Wasim quit the film industry to pursue the path of Islam in 2019. A year later. actress Sana Khan left showbiz to follow the path set by the creator. In February. Mehjabi Siddiqui, who participated in the 11th season of Salman Khan-hosted Bigg Boss, quit showbiz to ‘obey Allah’.

    Meanwhile, Sana Khan hailed Sahar’s decision to quit showbiz. “MashAllah my sister so happy for you. May Allah give u isteqamah in every step of your life. May you inspire everyone around you and become zariya e khair for mankind,” she commented on Sahar’s post.

  • Sweet poison: Use of colouring agents in food items

    Srinagar Oct 08: Sajjid Ahmad, a college student had Wazwaan last month at a restaurant in Srinagar. After an hour, he suffered severe digestive tract infection. He felt an irritation in his throat and burning sensation, followed by fever.

    According to news agency KINS, Sajjid, who lives in Srinagar’s Habak area, was rushed to the hospital. After the screening, doctors told him that he had food poisoning because of consumption of colouring agents with Wazwaan.

    “The colouring agents are being used in food items but why does the government allow their sale in markets,” he asked, who was discharged after three days from hospital.

    This is not an isolated case, but scores of such cases are getting reported everyday in Kashmir where people face food poisoning after consumption of Wazwaan or other food items like traditional snack Nadre Mounji, Biryani and pickle.

    Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Batamaloo, said that use of chemicals was being widely used in dishes like Wazwan and grilled chicken and meat, which gives it a reddish colour. “Government is not taking any measures to stop this practice.”

    Earlier the government had issued an advisory asking people not to allow chefs to use any artificial colorants while preparing the Wazwan.

    “Consumers are advised to encourage use of safe and natural colour extracts like cocks comb, sun-dried red chillies and pure spices both at home and during functions and festivals,” the advisory said.

    Ali Mohammad, a chef from old city Srinagar said that the government should completely ban the colourful food agents.

    In 2014, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court also banned the use of artificial colours Carmoisine, Tartazine and sunset yellow, after a report submitted by Shar-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura.

    The report had shown the presence of harmful colouring agents in samples collected from three food processing companies, and termed it “shocking and hazardous” for health.

    Subsequently, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) also warned the sellers of strict punishment under the FSS Act of 2006 if they used the banned colours in their products.

    However, seven years later, the unhealthy practice is going on with food items.

    The UK Food Standards Agency commissioned a study at Southampton University of the effect of six food dyes (Tartrazine, Allura Red, Ponceau 4R, Quinoline Yellow WS, Sunset Yellow and Carmoisine) on children. The study found “a possible link between the consumption of these artificial colours and a sodium benzoate preservative and increased hyperactivity”.

    Dr Bashir Ahmad, a physician, said that colouring agents were being widely used in Wazwaan and other food items. “They mostly cause liver cancer,” he said, who advises people to stop using colouring agents in food items.

    A senior official of the Food Safety Department said that several hotels, eateries and roadside vendors randomly add the colouring agents to foods including in Wazwaan without “knowing its consequences.

    “We have taken action in a number of cases against those who used these harmful coloring agents in food items,” the official added. (KINS)

  • SPO Dies, Another Person Injured in Road Mishap in Drugmulla Kupwara

    Kupwara, Oct 8: A Special Police Officer (SPO) succumbed to his injuries after hit by a vehicle at Drugmulla village in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday evening, official sources said.

    They told GNS that two persons were injured after hit by an unknown vehicle along Kupwara-Srinagar highway last evening.

    The injured duo, they said, was taken to a nearby hospital, from where one Mohammad Sarfaraz Kataria (28) son of Mohammad Misri Kataria, resident of Kanipora Kalaroos, with critical injuries was referred to SKIMS Srinagar.

    “After remaining there overnight, Kataria succumbed to his injuries early this morning”, they said adding he had been serving as SPO and was currently deployed at JIC Kupwara.

    Another person Irshad Ahmad Khari, son of Mohammad Abdullah Khari, resident of Chayalpatti Drugmulla is under treatment, they said.

    A police official confirming the incident told GNS that a case has been registered into the incident for investigations. (GNS)

  • Mob Enters Heritage Madrasa In Karnataka On Dussehra, Performs Puja

    The mob shouted “Jai Shri Ram” and “Hindu Dharam Jai” slogans, standing on the steps of the madrassa, before moving to a corner to perform a puja.

    Bengaluru: A mob that was part of a Dussehra procession in Karnataka’s Bidar allegedly broke into a heritage madrasa on Wednesday night, shouted slogans and performed a puja in a corner of the building. A police case has been registered against nine people and four have been arrested. Muslim organisations have threatened protests if no one is arrested by Friday.

    Built-in the 1460s, the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa in Bidar is a designated heritage site under the Archeological Survey of India. The structure is also listed among monuments of national importance.

    The mob broke the lock of the madrasa and entered it, the police said.

    They shouted “Jai Shri Ram” and “Hindu Dharam Jai” slogans, standing on the steps of the madrassa, before moving to a corner to perform a puja. Videos circulating online show a huge crowd on the steps, trying to get inside the building.

    Several Muslim organisations from Bidar have condemned the incident and held protests. They have threatened a massive protest after Friday prayers if all the accused are not arrested.

    Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, hit out at the state’s ruling BJP over the incident, accusing it of promoting such incidents to “demean Muslims”.

    Critics have accused the BJP of turning parts of the state into a crucible for communal experiments. The allegations started after the row over a hijab ban in educational institutions and spiked as Hindu groups insisted on banning Muslim traders from temple fairs.

    In August, Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated at Hubballi’s Idgah ground.

  • Around 1.62 crore tourists visited J&K this year

    Progressing J&K | Record number of tourist arrivals testifies change, development happening across J&K

  • Uncertainty on elementary class examination in Kashmir likely to end in next 2 days

    Srinagar, Oct 6: The prolonged uncertainty on whether elementary class examinations will be held in March next year or as per previous routine is expected to end in the next couple of days, officials said on Thursday.

    Director School Education Kashmir Dr Tassaduq Hussain told GNS that the decision will be announced in two days.

    Official sources told GNS that the government was likely to conduct the examinations in the ensuing March session.

    On early September this year, the authorities announced that the Classes 10 and 12 board examinations conducted by the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) in Kashmir from this academic session will now be conducted along with the Jammu division in March instead of October-November to have a “uniform academic calendar.” However there remains uncertainty on whether the elementary class examinations will be held in March or as per the past practice. (GNS)

  • 4 militants killed in twin encounters in Shopian: Police

    4 militants killed in twin encounters in Shopian: Police