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Shopian: Massive clashes erupted in Kulgam after Army blocked all the entry points for people trying to have last glimpse and participate in the funeral prayers of top militant commander Zeenat ul Islam.

Locals told KNO that the government forces have laid barricades on roads and even movement through orchards is halted.”Clashes erupted between people and government forces as the latter did not allow people to go to zeenat’s funeral, ” they said.

Reports reaching KNO that forces opened aerial gunfire to disperse marching people. “Injuries are being reported from various places were clashes were happening,” they said.A Bachelor in Science, Zeenat-ul-Islam had joined militant ranks in 2008 and was associated with Al-Badr.

On Saturday, Zeenat-ul-Islam alias Dr Usman and his associate were killed in a shootout in the Kathpora village in Yaripora. Zeenat-ul-Islam (30), listed in police records as category A++ militant and carried a bounty of Rs 12.5 lakh on his head.(KNO)

Srinagar: Al Badr commander Zeenat ul Islam was killed along with an associate in a gunfight with the government forces in Kathora area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district last evening.
Here is the police version on the gunfight:

“Apropos our earlier press release regarding the encounter at Kathpora, it is further informed that the killed miitants have been identified as Zeenat-ul-Islam alias Zeenat alais Usman son of Ghulam Hassan Shah resident of Shopian and Shakeel Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Rasheed Dar resident of Chillipora Shopian,” said a spokesman, in a statement.
He said both the slain militants were affiliated with proscribed outfit Al-Badr and were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of crimes including attack on security establishments and ‘civilian atrocities’.
Zeenat-ul-Islam, according to police records, had a long history of crime records since 2006 when he got affiliated with Al-Badr and was later arrested, said the spokesman.
However after he was released, he again got recycled in 2016 and subsequently got affiliated with proscribed outfit HM and recently he joined Al-Badr outfit in Shopian District. Consequently he became the chief of the said outfit.
Several cases were registered against him including FIR No17/2016 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 I A act of PS Zainapora, FIR No 45/2016 under section 147,148,149,307,336,332,188,427 RPC, 7/27 I A act, 3 PPD Act at PS Zainpora, FIR No 02/2017 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 I A act at PS Zainpora, FIR No 10/2017 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 I A act at PS Zainpora, FIR No 26/2017 under section 447,427,506 RPC, 16 ULA (P) Act ,7/25 I A act at PS Zainpora and FIR No 50/2017 under section 7/27 I A act , 16 ULA (P) act at PS Zainpora.
“He was also involved in a weapon snatching case at Tukroo Shopian and case FIR No 319/2016 under section 380 RPC, 7/25 IA Act, 30 Police Act, 3 PEPO is registered at PS Shopian in this regard,” said the spokesman.
Similarly, he said, Shakeel Ahmad Dar was also involved in militancy related crimes as well.
Incriminating material such as arms & ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for the purpose of investigation.
Pertinently, no collateral damage took place during the encounter. Bodies of the killed militants were handed over to their families after completion of medico-legal formalities.

Anantnag: Two militants, including top Al-Badr commander Zeenat-ul-Islam, have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The two militants killed in the Katpora encounter have been identified as Zeenat-ul-Islam and Shakeel Dar. Both were involved in several terror crimes,” a police official said.

The encounter erupted in the Katpora locality of Yaripora in Kulgam district around 5.15 pm on Saturday

Islam, a category A++ militant, had switched over to the Al-Badr from the Hizbul Mujahideen in November last year following agreement between the two outfits to strengthen the Al-Badr.

Islam was active since 2015, the police official said.

He said security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Katpora area of Yaripora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday evening after receiving specific information about the presence of militants there.

As the forces were conducting the searches, the militants fired on them, he said.

As per policy, the militants were given an opportunity to surrender, but they continued to fire, the official said.

The forces retaliated, ensuing an encounter in which the two militants were killed, he said.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, the official said, adding, no collateral damage has been reported during the encounter. With PTI inputs

Srinagar, Jan 12: Nuzhat Shah, the wife of jailed leader of the Hurriyat Conference (M) Shahid-ul-Islam, survived heart stroke as she was immediately rushed to hospital for immediate treatment.
Reports said Nuzhat Shah complained of heart ailment and her condition turned unstable minutes before reaching the hospital following which all her relations were panicked about her life. However doctors attended her well at the hospital and she was under the close supervision of doctors. She was discharged from the hospital later.
It may be mentioned here that Shahid-ul-Islam arrested by the NIA last year in connection with the allegations against him in the funding case is lodged in Tihar jail for the last one year. (KNS)

R The fresh snowfall across the Kashmir Valley led to drop in mercury on Saturday even as air traffic at the Srinagar airport was disrupted while the Srinagar-Jammu highway was closed for vehicular movement.

A meteorological department official told GNS said the mercury dipped to 4.1 degree Celsius in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state. He said night temperature rose and settled at minus 0.8 degree Celsius in the capital city last night and it has a snowfall of 2mm.

The official said Qazigund the gateway town to the Valley recorded a maximum of 3.0 degrees Celsius (below 3 degrees from normal) and low of minus 0.8 degrees Celsius, while the nearby Kokernag registered a low of minus 2.4 and maximum of 2.7 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature in Pahalgam, also in south Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 7.1 degrees Celsius while it had a maximum of 1.2 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded the minimum temperature of minus 3.3 degrees Celsius while as day temperature dropped to minus 3.3 degrees Celsius, he said.

Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of 0.2 degrees Celsius while it had a maximum of 1.8 degrees Celsius, he said.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).

Regarding the forecast for the next 24 hours, the weatherman said that there was the possibility of light to moderate rain and snow at most places over the state with heavy snow at isolated places.

Officials at Srinagar International Airport said due to poor visibility, all morning and afternoon flights to and from the airport were canceled.

The Traffic department officials said due to fresh snowfall and keeping the safety of travelers in mind, traffic on the highway, the only surface link connecting Valley with the rest of the world was suspended.

Meanwhile, authorities have decided not to allow on Sunday any fresh traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway on Sunday

“In view of inclement weather conditions as well as weather forecast made by Meteorological Department. No, any fresh vehicle shall be allowed to ply on Srinagar-Jammu (highway) on 13.01.2019,” said a traffic department official said. However, he said only stranded vehicles shall be allowed to move.

Mughal road, which connects Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region, also remained closed. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jan 12: With two persons infected with swine flu virus dying at SMHS hospital here, the death toll so far this season due to H1N1 has reached to 11. There is also one patient admitted to the hospital with the H2N3 virus. Of the death, two occurred at SMHS while others at SKIMS Soura.

Confirming the deaths, Dr Saleem Tak, MS SMHS told GNS that three patients were admitted with H1N1 infection last week and two among them died and one was undergoing treatment. He is stable, the medical superintendent said. He said one patient is admitted with H2N3.

Confirming the details, Dr Farooq Jan Medical Superintendent SKIMS said that so far nine people have died due to H1N1 since September at the only tertiary care hospital.

“Total 50 patients were admitted and 42 were discharged and presently 8 are undergoing treatment,” he said.

The Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) has already advised people to take precautions to protect themselves from the flu.

“Simple precautions would help prevent the spread of flu,” said DAK President and flu expert Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan.

He said covering your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing and washing your hands with soap and water will keep you and people around you healthy and well.

“People should avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands,” he added.

“If you are down with flu, stay home for at least 24 hours after you’re symptom-free (unless you need to receive care),” Dr Nisar said.

He said wearing a mask will prevent transmission of flu virus from infected person to others as well as protect caregiver from picking up an infection.

Dr Nisar said people should drink plenty of fluids and take adequate sleep and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

“Swine flu, also known as H1N1 virus is a contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract that spreads from person to person through the inhalation of respiratory droplets. Symptoms of flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and body aches,” he said.

“Elderly, children under the age of five years, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions are prone to develop serious complications from flu,” he added. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jan 12 : Two militants of Al Badr including outfit’s top commander were killed in an encounter with government forces at Katpora area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir on Saturday.

Reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of army’s 34 RR, SOG and CRPF laid a siege at Katpora area of Yaripora at around 5:30 p.m.

An army officer also confirmed it and said that soon after the joint team approached the suspected spot, a group of militants believed to be three in number, who were coming out from the residential area while trying to break the cordon and opened fire upon them, triggering off a brief gunfight.

“In the gunfight which lasted for some time in an open field, two militants were killed and the operation has been suspended as of now in wake of darkness, “the officer said.

He said that the bodies are visible, lying on the ground near the encounter site and are yet to be recovered.

“The operation was launched in the area following the specific inputs about the presence of the group of militants led by Zeenat ul Islam Shah alias Dr Usman,” the officer said, adding that so far it seems that Zeenat has been “gunned down.”

Official sources also confirmed the death of Zeent-ul Islam Shah of Chilipora, Shopian. The second militants have been identified as Shakeel Ahmad Dar alias Faisal of Chilipora, Shopian. Zeenat was earlier affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and later he joined Al Badr militant outfit. Following the gunfight, authorities snapped internet services in the Kulgam district. (GNS)

‘Fundamental truth of Kashmir tragedy is politics of National Conference’

Srinagar, Jan 12: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday termed the demand of National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah for truth and reconciliation commission as surprising and said that it is irony that the party which is responsible for all the mess state has witnessed since independence is demanding the commission.
In a statement issued, PDP senior leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar said that the duplicity of National Conference could be gauged by the fact that what Farooq Abdullah is demanding at present was demanded with the same words and phrases by his son Omar Abdullah in the year 2011 when he was state’s Chief Minister.
“At present, when elections are near, Farooq Abdullah is reincarnating the same old demand with a sole objective to hoodwink people. As autonomy slogan has outlived its shelf-life, NC, out of frustration is sometimes demanding construction of Ram Temple and sometimes making other bizarre claims. The demand for truth and reconciliation commission is in actual the newest rabbit out of Farooq sahib’s cap,” Akhtar said.
He added that the fundamental truth of Kashmir tragedy is the politics of national conference and it is better that instead of having a commission, Abdullah family should come out with truth and share it with people.