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  • Three sextortion gang members arrested in Srinagar

    Srinagar Police on Wednesday said to have arrested three persons including a woman who were allegedly involved with Sextortion.

    They said that the Sextortion gang extorted huge money from many gullible preys(victims), adding that more arrests are expected in the case.

    “Three members of a Sextortion gang arrested namely 1. Shaista Bashir @ Saba R/o Narkara Budgam 2. Jahangir Ahmad Dar R/o Pethpohru Handwara 3. Aijaz Ahmad Ganaie R/o Narkara. They extorted huge money from many gullible preys(victims). More arrests are expected in the case,” tweeted Srinagar Police.

    In a statement, issued here, a Police spokesperson said that one Nazir Ahmad Rather of Budgam lodged a written complaint in Police Station Shergarhi that some days back, he received a call from one lady identified as Saba and she insisted him to meet for some work.

    The statement reads that accordingly, he met her near Bakshi Stadium Srinagar and the lady took him to her room at Reck Chowk Batamaloo and started levelling false allegations against him inside the room.

    “In the meantime, 03 other men (associates of the lady) forcibly entered the room and started making video. Then she along with her accomplices started blackmailing him and he fell prey to a well-planned conspiracy of sextortion,” it reads.

    It added that a case FIR No. 76/2022 U/S 34, 384, 120-B, 506 IPC was registered in Police Station Shergarhi and investigation was set into motion.

    “The accused identified as Shaista Bashir alias Saba W/O Aijaz Ahmad Ganaie of Galwanpora, Jahangir Ahmad Dar S/o Khazer Muhammad Dar of Handwara and Aijaz Ahmad Ganaie S/O Ghulam Muhammad R/O of Hyderpora have been arrested in the instant case,” it reads.

    It further reads that there are some other victims of this gang and more arrests are also expected in the instant case, while investigation is going on.

  • Big Change in Saudi Arabia: Muhammad bin Salman has been appointed as Prime Minster of Saudi Arabia

    The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness The Prime Minister and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman pictured today

  • Imran Khan accuses Maryam Nawaz of hatching plot to kill him through ‘religious fanatic’

    LAHORE: Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Imran Khan on Monday accused senior politician Maryam Nawaz of propagating “sectarianism and religious hatred” against him and hatching a plot to kill him through a “religious fanatic”.
    Khan also said Maryam, the daughter of former premier Nawaz Sharif, is so desperate that she is also making sure that he is disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the Toshakhana case for not disclosing the information regarding the gifts received from the state depository in his assets declaration.
    “Maryam Nawaz along with her accomplices propagated sectarianism and religious hatred against me to make a ground that any religious fanatic gets motivated and kill me,” Khan, 69, said during his address with businessmen here.
    “I am not afraid of death as it will be decided by Allah (God) and none else,” the 69-year-old cricketer-turned-politician said.
    In a rally in Rahim Yar Khan, some 400 kms from Lahore, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman last Saturday had also talked about the conspiracy to kill him.
    “Four people had decided behind ‘closed doors’ to get me killed,” he claimed.
    Earlier, Maryam, a senior Pakistan Muslim League leader, had uploaded two purported statements of Imran Khan and as many verses of the Quran on her Twitter account to draw a comparison between them.
    “This man (Imran) is using religion for his politics and promoting his false narrative. Save your faith and the country from this Satan,” she said.
    Last week, the Punjab Police booked two federal ministers, as well as two senior officials of state-run PTV on terrorism charges for allegedly fanning religious hatred against Khan and endangering his life.
    The FIR was filed against Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Federal Minister Mian Javed Latif, PTV Managing Director Sohail Khan, as well as the broadcaster’s Controller Programmes, Rashid Baig, on the complaint of a local leader.
    They were booked under Section 9 (punishment for acts intended or likely to stir up sectarian hatred) and Section 11X(3) (responsibility for creating civil commotion) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.
    Latif had declared Khan a “non-Muslim and “supporter of minority Ahmadi community.”
    Pakistan’s Parliament in 1974 declared the Ahmadi community as non-Muslims. A decade later, they were banned from calling themselves Muslims. They are banned from preaching and from travelling to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. —PTI

  • Saudi Authorities Announce ‘Saudi Idol’ Talent Show

    The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and MBC Group announced the ‘Saudi Idol’ talent show.

    GEA’s Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh said on Twitter that the authority and MBC have engaged in a partnership to launch the first season of “Saudi Idol,” which will kick off in December 2022.

    MBC said the filming is scheduled to start in October, with a four-member jury that constitutes of Saudi singer Aseel Abu Bakr, Emirati singer Ahlam, Syrian singer Asala, and Iraqi-Saudi singer and composer Majed Al Mohandis.

    With inputs from Saudi Gazette

    (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Two local JeM militants killed in Kulgam encounter

    ‘7 militants killed in 5 gunfights in South Kashmir this month’

    Kulgam, Sep 27: Two local Jaish-e-Muhammad militants were killed in an encounter in Ahwatoo village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Tuesday evening.

    An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that earlier, an encounter broke out in Ahwatoo village, in which two militants were trapped.

    He said that in the ensuing encounter both the militants, who belonged to JeM outfit, were killed and operation was over.

    Meanwhile, Kashmir zone police on its official Twitter handle identified the slain militants as Mohammad Shafi and Mohammad Asif—both residents of Kulgam distirct.

    “The killed 02 categorised JeM #terrorists have been identified as Mohammad Shafi Ganie of Batpora, #Kulgam & Mohammad Asif Wani @ Yawar of Takia Gopalpora, Kulgam. 02 AK 47 rifles, ammunition recovered,” police tweeted.

    Notably, this was the second such encounter in the last 24 hours in Kulgam district.

    On Monday evening, a Pakistani militant identified as Hurairah, was killed in an encounter at Batpora area of Kulgam district. A soldier and two civilians were also injured in the encounter.

    Official figures available with the KNO suggest that seven militants were killed in the ensuing month so far in Southern districts of Kashmir in five encounters.

    Data suggests that this year 142 militants have been killed so far of which 34 were foreigners—(KNO)

  • Meet Chichi, a 10-yr-old rapper with mesmerizing voice from Ganderbal

    Ganderbal, Sep 27: With his mesmerizing and enthusiastic voice, a youngster from Anderwan—a remote village in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district is getting popular with each passing day by singing rap songs.

    A class 5th student, who is just 10-year-old, is singing Sidhu Moose wala’s and RCR’s songs on the themes of mother’s greatness.

    Jameel Ahmad Chichi told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that he didn’t have the opportunity yet to work on a big platform to demonstrate his skills. Unlike other artists, Jameel is not connected himself with social media, but despite having no social media to make his reach among the people, he is becoming a face of rappers in central Kashmir.

    “I was a student of 3rd standard when I listened to hip hop and got interested in it. It was the time when I decided to choose this field,” he said and appealed to the government to provide support and facilities.

    I am not writing songs but I just listen to Sidhu Moose Wala’s and RCP’s songs on YouTube and later perform on it, he said. He said that he wants to represent Kashmir on a big platform.

    “I am getting enough support from my Parents. I want people across Kashmir to support me,” he said.

    Jameel’s brother, Javaid Ahmad said: “My brother was fond of Rapping since childhood; he used to steal my phone to listen to songs on YouTube. We have supported him a lot.”

    He said that youth must follow their dreams with determination and one day they will definitely achieve their goal—(KNO)

  • J&K Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said BJP is adopting Israel policy of Palestine in Kashmir.

    J&K Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said BJP is adopting Israel policy of Palestine in Kashmir.

  • Use of Illegal White Headlights Rampant, Authorities Careless

    Although Supreme Court has banned any alterations, however the practice of altering vehicles is rampant and more than 90% of the modifications are done on headlights.

    The original lamps fixed by the manufacturer are replaced with illegal ‘extra powerful’ white lights. Though this is done in an attempt to increase the visibility, it is causing inconvenience to commuters, thereby resulting in accidents.

    A professor from the Institute of Road and Transport Technology, Erode, said that on an average it takes 1-1.5 seconds for a driver to react to something they see ahead.

    “So for a person travelling at 60 km per hour, a 700-lumen headlight (1,200 lumen in case of a high-beam) is more than enough to identify potential obstacles on road and react. But the white LED lights that available in local market range from 2,000 to 3,000 lumen,” the professor added.

    “Bright lights also distract drivers travelling in front of the vehicle as high-beams fall on their rear-view mirrors. One can hardly see what is 10-20 feet ahead in a two-way road,” said a driver, who regularly drives regularly across the city.

    Speaking with Kashmir Today, group citizens appealed authorities to look into the matter and take action against this curb.

    With input from TOI

  • Forcing Kashmiri students to sing Bhajans, do Surya Namaskar direct interference in religion; move unacceptable: MMU

    Srinagar, Sep 24: Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a conglomerate of Kashmir’s religious clerics, Saturday said forcing students in educational institutions of valley to sing Bhajas and to do Surya Namaskar was direct interference in religions and the move was totally unacceptable.

    The MMU also sought release of Kashmir’s head priest Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, ahead of the sacred month of Rabi-ul-Awal, that marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Mirwaiz is under continuous house detention since August 5, 2019, when Government of India scrapped article 370 and sliced J&K into two UTs.

    Talking to reporters after holding an important meeting over several issues here, key members of MMU, Moulana Rehmatullah Qasmi, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) stated that the MMU expresses its concern over the fact that Kashmiri students are being forced to sing Bhajas and to do Suraya Namaskar at various educational institutions of the Valley. “This is a direct interference into the religious affairs and the move is totally unacceptable,” he said.

    He said that MMU, during the meeting, took note of several issues including that of students being forced to sing Hindu hymns in their schools in the name of extra co-curricular activities. “This was an attempt to weaken the Muslim identify of Kashmir,” he said.

    Moulana Rehmatuallah said that if such things in schools continue and authorities did not budge, MMU will be forced to ask parents to admit their wards in such schools, where such activities are not done.

    “We also urge Ulemas, religious scholars and heads of respective sects to make people aware, through their respective social media platform, about what is religious and what is not, so that people do not commit sins and become aware about several things that are being forced on them,” he added.

    The MMU also passed a resolution that reads that the amalgam censures attempts to weaken Muslim identity of Kashmir

    “The Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir expresses deep and serious concern over attempts being made to weaken the Muslim identity of this ‘Valley of Saints’ and strongly regrets activities being implemented through schools and educational institutions aimed at furthering the Hindutva agenda in Kashmir,” the resolution reads, adding that “this meeting expresses serious resentment against imposing acts in the name of yoga and morning prayers in educational institutions wherein Muslim students are made to chant Bhajans and at times asked to perform Surya Namaskar. This is against the fundamentals of our religious practices.”

    The resolution reads that the meeting notifies the Government, Education Department and concerned agencies that such activities will not be tolerated by the Muslims in Kashmir as it is a direct challenge to their religious and Islamic beliefs.

    “As such MMU appeals to the Government and concerned authorities to immediately withdraw its orders and stop these practices in schools and educational institutions, which deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and cause them grief,” the resolution states further, adding that the meeting urges the parents that if their children are forced to participate in un Islamic activities in government schools, they should withdraw their children from these schools and enrol them in private schools. This meeting urges Muslim teachers to avoid promoting such un-Islamic activities and give preference to their faith.

    The resolution also stated that MMU expresses satisfaction that Friday prayers and Five daily prayers are now being allowed by the authorities at central Jama Masjid Srinagar and people are not being stopped from assembling at the mosque as such it appeals to authorities to now release its Patron and Mirwaiz Kashmir Molvi Umar Farooq and end his illegal house arrest since Auf 2019 , in wake of the coming holy month of Rabiul Awwal so that the Mirwaiz can pursue his religious obligations and duties.(KNO)

  • Budgam Police arrested one person after video of Kneading Nader Mounji with feet emerges on social Media

    Srinagar: Budgam police today arrested a lotus stem fritters/tea stall vendor at Ompora Budgam after a video went viral showing him making unhealthy food items (Nadur Munji) by kneading the flour dough with feet. Budgam Police swung into action and  the unit was sealed soon after the video surfaced on social media.The  arrested  person involved in the act has been identified as Imran Hussain Halwayi son of Mehboob Hussain Halwayi resident of Rehadu Uttar Pradesh, at present Imran Hotel Ompora Budgam.

    In this regard Case FIR number 334/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Budgam and investigation into the matter is going on.

    Community members have applauded the efforts made by the Police to nab such persons for unhygienic way of kneading the dough and to sell the contaminated food items to general public. Our consistent actions shall assure community members that Police has resolved to act tough against individuals involved in any kind of criminal activities.