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Kulgam, June 03: Clashes erupted between the protesters and the security forces after the latter launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) at Tarigam village in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday.

Reports said that youth took to streets and pelted the forces with stones as soon as the CASO was launched.

They said that the forces responded by firing tear gas, triggering further clashes.

An official said the CASO was launched following “specific inputs” about the presence of militants there.(PTK)

Shopian, June 03: Two bodies which were recoverd from the spot after brief exchange of fire in Molu chitragam area of Shopian have been identified.

An official while talking to KNO identified the slain as Firdous Ahmad bhat S/o Mohammad Jamal bhat R/o Ponewa kulgam.

“Firdous was missing from 1st week of April this year,” he told KNO. He identified the second slain as Sajad Ahmad dar S/o Gulam Hasan dar R/o Wampora kulgam, a driver of Tavera.

Earlier two dead bodies were recoverd from the site of shootout between militants and government forces in Molu Chitragam on Sunday late night.

An official told KNO that militants who were traveling in a vehicle bearing registration No (JK03E0397) jumped a check post set up by party of 44 RR in the area and opened fire.

“Forces retaliated, triggering a brief shootout after which two dead bodies were recovered from the site,” he said.

He told KNO that Firdous was missing since April 05 and had later joined militant ranks while as sajad was working as OGW. “Further investigation about him is going on,” he said(KNO)

JERUSALEM: Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Muslims converged on East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque to mark Laylat-ul-Qadr, the night of the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, according to Palestinian officials.
Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, head of Muslim Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs, told Anadolu Agency that some 400,000 Muslims worshipers marked the observance at the holy mosque.
Men over 40, children under 12, and women of all ages were allowed by Israeli authorities to enter occupied East Jerusalem without permits for the occasion.
According to al-Khatib, worshipers arrived at the iconic site despite Israeli security measures and hundreds of police officers deployed at the entrance of Jerusalem’s old city.
Israel has illegally occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
In a move never recognized by the international community, Israel annexed the entire city in 1980, claiming it as the self-proclaimed Jewish state’s “eternal and undivided” capital.
For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world’s third-holiest site after Mecca and Medina. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the “Temple Mount,” claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
International law continues to view both the West Bank and East Jerusalem as occupied territory. —Agencies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has reiterated that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in Pakistan on June 5, Express News reported.
The minister, in an interview, said the public “should not be confused” about the moon-sighting process and expressed confidence that the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee would also declare June 5 as the first day of Eid in Pakistan.
“The moon can now be sighted from within the comfort of our houses. We no longer have to climb up on rooftops for that,” said the minister.
On May 26, Fawad launched the country’s first moon-sighting website and spoke about how Pakistan could do away with the traditional moon-sighting methods of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to end the controversy around dates of important Islamic festivals.
However, the ministry’s efforts to modernise the moon-sighting process have not been well received by all clerics and a last-minute change in the date for Eidul Fitr cannot still be ruled out.
Separately, Chaudhry also expressed his views on other party and government-related matters.
In a series of tweets, he clarified that there were no disagreements within the ruling party. The minister said all PTI members agreed that Imran Khan’s success as prime minister was essential for the success of democracy in Pakistan.
Chaudhry said Pakistan was at a point where its civil institutions had been destroyed due to nepotism and failure to ensure merit-based recruitments.
He said PM Imran had inherited a “broken system” and was trying his best to rebuild it.
—Agencies

Shopian, June 03: Two militant killed after brief shootout of firing took place between Militants and army in Moolu Chitragam area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday wee hours.

Reports reaching KNO said that militants fired upon the army’s 44RR party in Moolu chitragam after they were passing through the area. The army retaliated triggering an brief shootout firing in which two militants killed.

An police officer also confirmed to KNO about the exchange of firing between militants and army in the area.

As per sources to KNO one more militant is believed to be trapped in the area. (KNO)

Srinagar, June 02 : In what turned out to be the first evenly-contested match of the ICC World Cup 2019, Bangladesh defeated South Africa by 21 runs at the Oval in London, on Sunday, 2 June.

South Africa have now lost their second match on the trot, while Bangladesh picked up points from their campaign opener.

After posting a handsome 330/6 in their stipulated 50 overs, Bangladesh restricted the Proteas, as the South African batsmen failed to gather any real momentum during their reply.

Bangladesh bowlers, led by Mustafizur Rehman(67/3), were disciplined in their efforts.

Mohammed Saifuddin(57/2) also picked up two important wickets.

A number of South African batsmen got off to good starts but could not convert them to a contribution enough to get them over the line. Openers Quinton de Kock(23) and Aiden Markram(45) got the team off to a decent start, adding 49 runs for the first partnership, before Kock got run out.

Captain du Plessis(62) looked fluent before off spinner Mehidy Hasan bowled him at a crucial juncture.

Miller(38), van der Dussen(41) and Duminy(45), all raised hopes but the South Africans kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Earlier, led by half centuries by Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim and assisted by some explosive batting by the lower middle order, Bangladesh got to 330, their highest ever score in One Day Internationals.

Sakib ul hassan was declared man of the match.

Srinagar, June 02 : The month of Ramadan is also known as the month of dates for the Shopkeepers in Kashmir as every variety of dates remains available in bulk quantity on their shops despite high rates.

People thronged to shops from the very first day to get the dates to break their long day fast, despite the increase in the prices in valley, people still prefer to buying them during this month.

The dates, considered auspicious by the Muslims to break their day-long fast, dominate the market places during the Ramadan month.

“There are many varieties of dates available in the market, ranging from Rupees 70 per kilogram to Rupees 800 per kg. Certain varieties of dates cost as high as Rupees 1800 to 6000 per kg but that does not prevent people from purchasing this fruit,” said Mohammad Imtiyaz, a wholesaler at Maharaja Bazar to Asiannewshub.

In the past, dry dates from Pakistan and wet dates from Iran were imported in Kashmir but now many high quality date varieties originating from Arabian countries and Middle East are sought by the customers, dealers say.

They added that earlier there were only a few varieties available in the market but now there is a high increase in the varieties, around dozens of them.

“Dates are mostly imported from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Muscat, Oman and Kuwait, on an average we sell 20 boxes of dates daily,” they added.

Farooq Ahmad owner of Sabar Foods told Asiannewshub, that dates like Fard, Ajwa, and Safawi are in more demand during the month of Ramadan as their rates remain below 500 rupees.

“Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommended us to breakfast with dates. We prefer Ajwa because they are tasty and thickly swollen like honey. It gives good taste while breaking the fast with them,” said Bisma, a local of Karan Nagar to Asiannewshub.

Those in the dates’ trade say their sales increase during the month of Ramadan and people purchase in bulks. “Dates are used by customers throughout the year, but during the month of Ramdhan, shopkeepers do brisk business as the demand and the sales increase by 90 percent,” said a dealer Bashir Ahmad of Koker Bazar to Asiannewshub.

I have kept a low margin as I know I can triple the routine sale, “I hardly kept 20 rupees margin on a box costing 1000 rupees, but routinely I sell only two to three in a day, now a days I am selling around 10 boxes of one variety which compensates my profit,” he added.

Srinagar, June 02: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is all set to arrive in Kashmir on Monday to visit Siachen and to chair a crucial security meet in Srinagar.

Sources told KNO that Rajnath will first visit Siachen and meet soldiers at the LoC and later meet top army officials at the Badami Bagh cantonment where GoC KJS Dhillon will receive him.

“Yes defence minister will visit BB Cantonment and take a detailed review,” a top official told KNO.” It will be the first meet to be chaired by Rajnath as the defence minister.”

Soon after taking charge as Defence minister Saturday noon, Singh held a meeting with the top military brass, including Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and newly-appointed Navy chief Karambir Singh.

During the meeting, Singh asked the Defence Ministry officers to prepare detailed presentations on all divisions and departments under him and set time-bound targets to achieve the desired outcome. “Assumed charge as the Raksha Mantri today.

The MoD officials gave a presentation on the functioning of the Ministry. I have instructed the officers to prepare detailed presentations on all Divisions and set time-bound targets to achieve the desired outcome,” he had tweeted.

Defence is a new domain for Rajnath, and his political heft will be required to guide his ministry, which requires close coordination with Home, Finance and Foreign ministries as well as the office of the National Security Advisor.

With political heavyweight Amit Shah as Home Minister and the well-respected S Jaishankar as External Affairs Minister, Rajnath would have to establish working equations with them.(KNO)

Srinagar, June 02: Laylat-al-Qadr (The Night of Power) was observed across the entire subcontinent and South Asia including Kashmir with religious gaiety and fervor.
In this regard, the biggest religious gathering in Kashmir was held at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar in which tens of thousands of devotees from across the Valley including a large number of women participated in all night prayers and Zikr seeking forgiveness of Almighty and acceptance of their supplications and praying for world peace and resolution of the grave problems that Muslims across the world are caught in.
The spiritually uplifting Majlis Waz-o-tableeg is unique to the valley in its rendition instructiveness and collective style of prayer.
On the occasion, Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq while addressing the religious and spiritual gathering at Jamia Masjid shed light on the significance of Laylat al-Qadr, the revolutionary revelation of the Holy Quran, and the message of Holy Quran and urged Muslims to adopt the Islamic way of life.
Terming the challenges and problems that the Muslim Ummah was caught in today as greatly being a result of deviation from the teachings of Holy Quran, he said a flawed understanding of the message of Islam and following Islam as per convenience and sectarian leanings rather than in its spirit was responsible for the mess Muslims were entangled in worldwide.
Stressing that the message of Quran and teachings of Islam will have be incorporated in our lives, the Mirwaiz said Muslims could not witness prosperity and peace unless we do not do so. He said introspection into our individual and collective life and interactions is needed on a regular basis to see where we stand and where we need to improve.
Referring to the ongoing situation in Kashmir, the Mirwaiz appealed the people of Kashmir to observe Eid al-Fitr with simplicity and urged people to think of the underprivileged the poor the orphans and the needy and share our celebration and happiness of the festival with them.
He said the message of Ramadan of being sympathetic and concerned toward each other maintaining brotherhood and sacrificing for one another should be followed during the entire year so that reforms in society are brought in the real sense.
On the occasion, the Mirwaiz while terming unity among Muslims as a must for the supremacy of Islam prayed for Jannat-ul-Firdous for all the martyrs of Kashmir and for the just struggle of Kashmiris to reach its goal.

Exam ends at 4.p.m. and far-flung students unlikely to reach home to celebrate Eid with loved ones

Srinagar, June 02: The 2nd semester students of 1st year, who are scheduled to write their examination on June 4, again urged authorities to reschedule it in wake of the Arfa (a day before Eid).

“The authorities should take a realistic view and consider the difficulties faced by students from far flung areas,” a group of students said and reiterated it would be difficult for them to reach examination venue and back home given the fact traffic gridlocks have been order of the day in run up to Eid celebrations.

“Our EVS paper is scheduled on June 4 which is Arfa (day before Eid). I’m to appear in the examination at Rainawari and the examination is scheduled to end late in the afternoon. How could I reach home at Kupwara given the fact that there would be huge rush and probability of finding a sumo vehicle is also very meager,” said a student who studies at Vishwa Bharti educational Institute. The students said normally she stays at rented accommodation here but celebrating Eid with the family would be difficult and as such University authorities should defer it post Eid-ul-fitr. “The Eid is the most cherished festival and the one which allows family togetherness but if examination is held as per the schedule, many students would not be able to reach home and celebrate the festival with their respective families,” she added.

The examination is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. The sumo services have already stopped plying from Srinagar to Kupwara as they have to cater to inter district rush. Presently mini vehicles that ply and they take more than a double time than a sumo vehicle. “How could somebody reach far off places like Kupwara while we may reach Lal Chowk by 6 p.m.,” the student said.

A number of students who belong to south Kashmir districts also shared same views and urged the university authorities to reschedule the examination.

“There would be one-way traffic on most of the roads and reaching the examination centre would be very difficult. If the examination is held on time, we will have to stay at rented accommodation and cannot go home and celebrate the Eid with family,” they said and urged authorities to reschedule the examination keeping in view the importance of celebrating the festival with the family. “We request the authorities to consider our genuine demand and reschedule it. Some family members are also stuck with us here,” they said and urged the authorities to reschedule the examination. (GNS)