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  • Pakistan: 21 die in cars stranded in snow near Murree town

    The authorities have declared the area as a disaster zone and calamity hit. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar imposed a state of emergency.

    At least 21 people died after they were trapped in their vehicle due to heavy snow near the hilltop town of Murree in northern Pakistan, Dawn reported on Saturday. The deceased include nine children.

    The police said at least six people had frozen to death in their cars, reported BBC. However, it was not yet clear how the others had died.

    The military and the police are trying to clear the roads and rescue those still trapped. Over 1,000 vehicles are trapped, said Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid.

    Tourists started getting stranded on a highway during a blizzard since Friday. Over 1 lakh cars had entered Murree, a mountain resort town north of Islamabad, in last few days to see the unusually heavy snowfall. The weather department had predicted heavy snowfall in Murree and Galiyat from January 6 to 9.

    “God willing, we will rescue 1,000 cars by evening today,” said Ahmed. “We have decided to stop people [travelling] on foot as well. It is no time for [pedestrian] tourists to visit.”

    The authorities have declared the area as a disaster zone and calamity hit. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar imposed a state of emergency in hospitals, police stations, administration offices and rescue services.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed sorrow and regret over the deaths in Murree and ordered an inquiry. He added that the district administration was “caught unprepared” due to “unprecedented snowfall and rush of people proceeding without checking weather conditions”.

    Entry of cars into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Galiyat has been banned too, according to the province’s Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. He added that stranded tourists were rescued and shifted to rest houses and hotels.

    “Galiyat Development Authority, Rescue 1122 and local administration have been put on high alert to deal with any untoward situation,” he said.

  • Police Files Case Under UAPA Against Muzammil Ayub For Anti-India Activities

    Srinagar, Jan 08: Police on Saturday said that a case been registered against one person namely Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur under Section 13 UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act besides under IPC sections including for promoting enmity between different groups and statements conducing to public mischief.

    “On 06/01/2022, Police Station Kothibagh reliably learnt that Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur through his social media account and other platforms is indulging in the activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and unity of India besides, he is creating fear and alarm among the general masses and inciting them to commit offences which are likely to disturb the public order,” a police spokesman said in a statement issued here to GNS. “This apart, a proper complaint was lodged by Adv. Syed Zeeshan before Srinagar Police against Muzzamil Ayyub Thakur & others.”

    In the complaint, police said, it is alleged by him that Muzzamil Ayyub “at the behest of ISI and ISPR is threatening, harassing, making criminal intimidation besides involved in cyber crimes against (him)”.

    “The complaint further reads that Muzzammil Ayyob has left no stone unturned to malign his image and also threatened him not only in public but also on social media platforms,” the police said, adding, “After trying to verify his whereabouts & for his safety and security, the complainant was constrained to file the complaint before the police.”

    Accordingly, police said, cognizance into the matter was taken and a case FIR number 01/2022 U/S 13 UAPA, 153-A(b), 505 (1) (b) IPC has been registered and investigation initiated.(GNS)

  • Bribery case at L D hospital: Police arrests two security guards

    An infant died at the hospital a few days ago when the two private security guards did not allow the attendants to meet the doctor, asking them to pay a bribe prior to meeting the doctor.

    Srinagar, Jan 08: Two private security guards, presently deputed at L.D hospital in Srinagar, have been arrested for allegedly taking bribes from the attendants.

    Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two private security guards who have allegedly taken bribes from the attendants at L.D Hospital, a video of which has also gone viral on social media platforms, have been arrested.

    Officials said a case under F.I.R no. 01/22 under section 304 IPC has been registered at police station Rajbagh, following which the two private security guards involved in the act have been arrested—(KNO)

  • Get united or no land will be left for our youth: Mehbooba Mufti to people

    ‘Will continue peaceful struggle till centre returns what was snatched, will follow footprints of Mufti Sayeed for resolution of K-issue’

    Srinagar, Jan 07: It is time for all of us to join hands against the government move to provide land of Jammu and Kashmir to outsiders, otherwise, there will be no land left for the local youth, Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said outside the grave of his father in Bijbehara.

    “Kashmiris, Dogras, Bakerwalas and all others must get united at this stage and if they won’t unite now, local youth will find it difficult to step out as no land will be left for them, ” she said, adding that there is need not to lose hope but to fight.

    “The Government of India wants us to pick up guns and stones so that they can kill us but we will neither pick up stones nor guns but will continue our peaceful struggle till the government returns all what was snatched from us along with interest,” she said, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

    She said that they will follow the footprints of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue which has already taken the toll of thousands of youth and left thousands of women widows and children orphans.

    Meanwhile, thousands of PDP workers had thronged to the Daro Shiko Bagh in Bijbehara to pay tribute to the founder of the party on his sixth death anniversary.

    Eyewitnesses said that Mehbooba Mufti along with workers had first blocked Bijbehara-Pahalgam after they were allegedly not allowed to enter into the garden.

    However, later they were allowed to offer Fatehi Khawani at the grave of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

    “On Mufti Sahab’s sixth death anniversary, Id like to thank everybody who paid rich tributes to him. We continue to believe & strive for his vision of a dignified & empowered J&K,” Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.

    “Meanwhile J&K police is hounding my party workers who dared to offer fatiha at his grave today. Outlawing & criminalising even a simple act of paying respect & tribute to one’s leader shows state administration’s deep paranoia & intolerance. @JmuKmrPolice @manojsinha_ @HMOIndia,” she tweeted later—(KNO)

  • Negligence of Biscoe School puts students, families in COVID risk 

    Srinagar, Jan 07: Srinagar’s private institute Tyndale Biscoe and Mallinson School Sheikhbagh has put hundreds of students and their families in trouble, as three students on tour to Gulmarg turned COVID-19 positive forcing the school authorities to cancel the visit midway, but the school turned negligent by not informing families of the students

     Many parents told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that the school did a major negligence by not informing the families about the covid positives nor did they do the mandatory tests while returning the students. 

     “The school has risked hundreds of persons including parents and students by not informing them about covid positive cases. Neither the school tested the students while bringing them home,” parents said. 

     The parents said that after the students told them about their three colleagues turning COVID positive, they carried their tests themselves. 

     “Why didn’t the school management inform us about the students turning positive while on tour? Who knows how many may have got infected with virus while coming back or how many parents may be infected,” they parents alleged. 

     The parents said the management played with the lives of students and parents by concealing the information about three COVID students. 

     “It is a major negligence by the school management. The administration in Srinagar must take the school to task for hiding information about COVID positive students and not informing the parents,” parents added.

    Despite repeated attempts school management couldn’t be contacted; however their version will be updated once available(KDC)

     

     

  • ‘Heavy-Very Heavy Snowfall’: Weatherman Issues Red Alert in J&K

    Srinagar: Weatherman on Friday issued red alert for heavy-very heavy in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “IMD issues Red Colour (be vigilant) weather warning for J&K for January 7,” an official of the MeT said.

    Currently, it is snowing at most places of Kashmir and hilly areas of Jammu while raining at a few places of Jammu region.

    “Expect further increase in rain/snow intensity as the day progresses with main intensity of heavy to Very heavy rain/snow during 7th (night) and January 8th,” he said in a statement to GNS. “There would be gradual improvement from January 9th Morning onwards in J&K.

    There are four types of colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched), amber –government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies.

    The MeT Official said the weather system may affect surface and air transportation, mainly on Saturday. “It may cause avalanche/landslide in vulnerable spots.”

    The MeT office has urged people not to venture in avalanche prone areas, follow traffic advisory seriously as well as maintain proper ventilation of their rooms.

    Meanwhile, the MeT official told GNS that Srinagar recorded rainfall of 3.1mm in last 24 hours till 0830 hours today.

    The summer capital of J&K, he said, recorded a low of 2.6°C against previous night’s 0.3°C. It was 4.5°C above normal for this time of the year in Srinagar, he said.

    Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

    Gulmarg, recorded a low of minus 5.5°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night at the world famous resort, he said.

    Qazigund received 4.6mm of rain in the last 24 hours while the gateway town of Kashmir recorded a low of 0.4°C, same as witnessed on the previous night, he said.

    Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir which had 0.4cms of fresh snowfall recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against minus 0.8°C on previous night, he said.

    Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 0.2°C against minus 0.7°C on previous night, the official said.

    Kupwara town in north Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 0.8°C against 0.0°C as on the previous night, the official said.

    Jammu, with 4.6mm of rain, recorded a low of 11.1°C, up eight notches from the previous night and normal of 7.3°C for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

    Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of 1.5°C against last night’s minus 7.6°C while Kargil automatic station recorded a minimum of minus 9.8°C while Drass recorded minus 12.4°C, the official said. (GNS)

  • Celebrity hairstylist Jawed Habib booked for spitting on woman’s head; apologizes after video goes viral

    Celebrity hairstylist Jawed Habib is under fire for using his spit to hairdo a woman during a workshop in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzzaffarnagar.

    Screengrab from the video

    Police have registered a case against Jawed Habib under section 355 (assault) and 504 (causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Epidemic Act.

    This followed National Commission for Women (NCW’s) letter to UP DGP to take appropriate action.

    “@NCWIndia has taken cognizance of the incident. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to @dgpup to immediately investigate the veracity of this viral video and take appropriate action. The action taken must be apprised to the Commission at the earliest,” NCW tweeted.

    This video is too disgusting to post. But I think this should reach everyone! Shame on you #JavedHabib pic.twitter.com/aP9HJjYiJ9

    Under fire, Jawed Habib went into damage control mode and apologized for the act.

    In the video which has now gone viral, Jawed Habib can be seen spitting on a woman’s hair to demonstrate how to style when water is not available.

    “Why is hair dirty? Because there was no shampoo….There is a shortage of water…this spit has life,” Jawed can be heard saying as the audience clapped loudly.

    View this post on Instagram
    A post shared by Jawed Habib (@jh_hairexpert)
    Later Pooja Gupta, an owner of a beauty parlor, who was used as a prop during the workshop broke her silence in the video. ” I attended the workshop of Jawed Habib sir. He invited me on the stage to give me a haircut. He said if there is no water in your parlor, you can use spit. I did not get my haircut. It’s better I will go to my streetside barber and get a hair cut, but won’t go to Habib’s,” Pooja Gupta said.

    Talking to TV channels, the woman said she went to the workshop to learn new things. “He called me to the stage to teach hair cutting. He pushed my head, I objected and said I have cervical issues. Then he spat twice on my hair and said that if you don’t have water in your parlor then you can spit. My husband was making the video. Later Habib’s assistant said he was just joking,” she said.

  • IAS Officer Shahid Choudhary bags National Award for Covid management

    New Delhi, Jan 07: Senior IAS officer from Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Shahid Choudhary has got a national award for outstanding efforts in Covid pandemic management during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar.

    Currently Administrative Secretary to Jammu and Kashmir Government in the Department of Tribal Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of Mission Youth, Dr Choudhary received the National Award 2020-21 conferred by Department of Administry Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Government of India, for outstanding efforts in Covid-19 management as Deputy Commissioner,

    The National Award carries a Gold Medal, Citation and Rs 2.00 Lakh cash. The award recognises use of Information and Communication Technology in efforts aimed at Covid-19 management and containment.

    These included Covid Call Centre and Management System, Mobile and Web Apps for contact tracing and symptom tracking, Real-Time Integrated Covid-19 Management System, Quarantine management, House to House survey, Public outreach through social media communication and Audio-Visual messaging, Home delivery of ration, essentials and medicines, Helpline for women and children, special arrangements for pregnant women, diabetics, cancer patients and other non-covid emergencies, and various other efforts. NGOs, Volunteers and Civil Society organisations roped in for Covid-19 response system played a key role.

    The award was presented by Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO and Ministry of Personnel in presence of K T Rama Rao, Minister for Urban Development, Industries & IT, Ajay Praskash, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Govt of India, Somesh Prakash, Chief Secretary, Telangana and V Srinivas, Secretary DARPG, Govt of India, at the 24th National Conference on e-Governance inaugurated at Hyderabad today, reported Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com.

    The year-long multi-stage selection process included nominations, screening, field verifications, data scrutiny, inspections, independent public feedback, audit, interactions and third-party evaluation. A total of 231 nominations finalised from across the country were shortlisted for presentation by the selected models.

    Pertinently, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary is also recipient of country’s highest civil services award, the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2014, National Award 2014 by ECI, National Award for e-Governance 2015 by Ministry of Personnel, Govt of India, National Award for Women Empowerment in 2017-18, National Award for Girl Child Education in 2019, Excellence in Governance Award 2019, Election Award 2016, Red Cross Awards 2015, 2017, Governance Award 2015 and several other accolades for his outstanding contribution as Deputy Commissioner of various districts including Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri, Bandipora and Srinagar. He was also deputed to Singapore, Kingdom of Lesotho, South Africa and Republic of Georgia by the Govt of India and Election Commission of India. (KDC)

  • Pakistan PM Imran to visit China for bilateral talks, investments

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan plans to visit China early next month to further strengthen the all-weather bilateral ties and seek more investments in various projects under the ambitious CPEC, according to a top official.
    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Khalid Mansoor said this on Wednesday while addressing the launch of the annual Chinese enterprises report.
    The annual ‘APCEA Sustainable Development Report 2021’ was unveiled by the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) and the All-Pakistan Chinese Enterprises Association (APCEA) at a ceremony at the Chinese Embassy here.
    Mansoor, who is also the chief of the CPEC authority, said that the Prime Minister, ahead of his China visit, wants to remove all bottlenecks for investors.
    The authority was working to remove any bottlenecks which may emerge during the execution of CPEC projects as the “Prime Minister had ordered the removal of 37 regulations for a one-window operation for foreign investors”, according to an official statement. Khan would be taking briefings on the CPEC projects progress every 15 days, according to Mansoor.
    The USD 60 billion CPEC connecting China’s resource-rich Xinjiang province with Pakistan’s strategic Gwadar port in Balochistan is regarded as the flagship project of the multi-billion Belt and Road initiative, the pet scheme of Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at furthering China’s influence globally with Chinese funded infrastructure projects.
    The CPEC authority said that Khan has seen the difference being created by the work of Chinese enterprises in Pakistan and the dream of Thar coal energy became a reality due to the CPEC.
    —PTI

  • Two militants killed in Budgam gunfight

    Budgam, Jan 06: Two militants have been killed in an ongoing gunfight between government forces and militants in Zalowa area of Chadoora in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday morning

    A senior police officer told the news agency— (KNO) that two unidentified militant have been killed whose identification is being ascertained while as the operation is on in the area.

    Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

    He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering a gunfight—(KNO)