SRINAGAR: Two militants killed in a gunfight with the counter-insurgent forces at Bomai area in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district were affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, an official said.
An official said that all the slain militants were identified as Mohammad Rafi of Sopore and Kaiser Ashraf of Pulwama.
He said that they were involved in several crime cases and Danish was involved in the recruitment of youth into militant ranks in Shopian.
He said that Rafi was earlier booked under PSA twice and both were involved in several crime cases.
He added that as per input they were planning to attack civilians in Sopore area.
Earlier, police had said that two militants were killed and a civilian was injured in the encounter at Bomai area of Sopore town.
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SRINAGAR: A gunfight broke out between militants and counterinsurgent forces in Bomai area in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday.
Reports said that a joint team of Army, CRPF and Police launched a cordon and search operation in Bomai area after having credible inputs about the presence of some militants in the area.
As the joint team of Army, Police and CRPF approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon forces triggering an encounter.
When last reports came intermittent firing was going on.
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SRINAGAR: The Indian Air Force rescued an Israeli national who was stuck at a height of more than 16,000 feet near Markha Valley in Ladakh on Wednesday.
A Srinagar-based defence spokesman in a statement said that on August 31, 2022, 114 Helicopter Unit received a call for casualty evacuation from Nimaling Camp near Markha Valley. The Israeli national, Atar Kahana, was suffering from high-altitude sickness, including vomiting and low oxygen saturation.
The spokesman said that wing Commander Ashish Kapoor and Flt Lt Rhythm Mehra as aircrew number 1 and Squadron Leader Neha Singh and Squadron leader Ajinkya Kher as aircrew number 2, got airborne within minutes, for this time-critical mission.
“Following the shortest route, the aircraft reached the spot within 20 minutes of flying time and spotted the casualty on the Gongmaru La pass at an elevation of 16,800 feet,” he said.
He added that the aircrew number 1 carried out a thorough recce and landed at the mountain pass with the assistance of aircrew number 2 and picked up Kahana from the pass in the turbulent weather conditions.
“The casualty was recovered expeditiously within the limited time of one hour at Air Force Station Leh,” said the spokesman.
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SRINAGAR: The Meteorological (MeT) department on Wednesday forecast mainly clear to partly cloudy weather in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
The weather was mainly clear in the union territory on Tuesday.
“Mainly clear to partly cloudy weather is likely in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded 16.6 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 10.4 and Gulmarg 9.5 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature this morning.
Drass town in Ladakh had 7.3 degrees, Leh 10.1 and Kargil 16 as the minimum temperature.
Jammu had 25.8 degrees, Katra 23.2, Batote 18.1, Banihal and Bhaderwah registered 15 and 17 degrees respectively. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: Former minister and ex-Congress Jammu and Kashmir President Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday resigned from the party to join former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Sayeed will join former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is likely to announce his own party.
Azad, 73, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, ended his five-decade association with the Congress on Friday, terming the party “comprehensively destroyed” and lashing out at Rahul Gandhi for “demolishing” its entire consultative mechanism.
Since his resignation, a number of prominent leaders have joined Azad, including a former member of parliament, a deputy chief minister, 15 former legislators including seven former ministers, besides a large number of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members, municipal corporators and grass-root level workers from across Jammu and Kashmir.
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SRINAGAR: A 16-year-old girl was killed and three others injured in a road accident in Tulail area of Bandipora district on Tuesday, officials informed this morning.
Quoting officials news agency GNS reported that a Maruti car bearing registration number JK05G 2093 turned turtle at Neeru Tulail, resulting in injuries to four persons. The injured persons were shifted to SDH Gurez, where a girl namely Insha Parveen daughter of Mohammad Munnawar, a class 10 student at Higher Secondary School Rajouri Kadal Srinagar, succumbed shortly after, they said.
The other three persons after receiving treatment at SDH Gurez were then referred to SKIMS Soura for preferential treatment, they said.
A police official has in the meantime also confirmed the incident saying cognizance has been taken for further investigations.
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SRINAGAR: A 22-year-old youth, who was injured due to an electric shock in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday evening, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Soura
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the youth namely Danish Nisar (22) son of Nisar Ah Rather of Gangarhama was injured due to electric shock, while unloading a truck at Bamloora.
He said that soon after the incident, he was shifted to district hospital Ganderbal, where from he was referred to SKIM Soura.
The official said that he, however, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at SKIMS Soura.
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SRINAGAR: The weather department on Tuesday predicted mainly dry weather with the possibility of “isolated light and thunder” in next 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir.
Quoting a meteorological department official news agency GNS reported that there was no large change expected in the weather at least till weekend.
Regarding the rainfall in last 24 hours till 0830 hours today, the official said that Katra received 40.8mm, Bhaderwah 17.6mm, Kukernag 3.2mm, Batote 2.8mm, Gulmarg 0.8mm, Banihal and Pahalgam 0.6mm each while other observatory stations had no or traces of it.
Regarding minimum temperature, the official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 16.6°C against 16.2°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.9°C above normal for the summer capital during this time of the year, he said.
Qazigund recorded a low of 14.6°C against 14.8°C on the previous night. However, the temperature was 0.9°C above normal there, he said.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 12.1°C against 11.3°C on the previous night and it was 1.1°C above normal for the south Kashmir resort.
Kokernag recorded a low of 13.8°C against 13.5°C the previous night and it was 0.3°C below normal for the place, he said.
World famous Gulmarg resort recorded a low of 9.2°C against 9.2°C on the previous night. It was 1.5°C below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Mercury settled at normal level at Kupwara town at 14.1°C against 17.1°C on the previous night, the official said.
Jammu recorded a low of 24.6°C against 24.9°C on the previous night. It was 0.3°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 16.6°C, Batote 17.0°C, Katra 22.0°C and Bhadarwah 17.1°C.
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SRINAGAR: India on Tuesday witnessed a decline in Covid cases with 5,439 fresh infections reported in the last 24 hours, against previous day’s 7,591 count, the Union Health Ministry said.
Meanwhile, the active caseload has come down to 65,732 cases, accounting for 0.15 per cent of the total positive cases.
As per the health ministry report, the nationwide Covid-related deaths toll stands at 5,27,799.
The recovery of 22,031 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,38,25,024. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.66 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Daily Positivity rate has marginally dropped to 1.70 per cent, while the Weekly Positivity Rate stands at 2.64 per cent.
Also in the same period, a total of 3,20,418 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 88.55 crore.
As of Tuesday morning, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 212.17 crore, achieved via 2,82,59,616 sessions.
Over 4.02 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order on a father’s plea to perform last rites, at the burial site, of his son, who was killed in the Hyderpora ‘encounter’ in Srinagar in November last year.
Senior advocate Anand Grover, representing Mohammad Latief Magrey, submitted before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala that there is no threat to security or security concerns and the father wants to exhume the body to perform the last rites at his ancestral village.
He stressed that the father has the right to perform the rites and these are religious rites and pointed out that his client had supported the government and the army from the beginning.
Grover emphasised that religious rites cannot be usurped by the state and cited religious texts of Muslims to impress upon the need for performing the last rites. He added that he has given up the need for community participation in the process as it may have led to security concerns.
Advocate Ardhendumauli Prasad, representing the Jammu and Kashmir administration, submitted that it was not in dispute that the victim was a militant and the CD submitted to the high court showed that all Islamic last rites were performed.
As Grover insisted that his client want to perform the last rites, Prasad contended: “We all saw what happened when the body was given a few years back…”.
He added that large number of militants are killed in encounters and buried, and if this petition is entertained by the apex court, then the high court will be filled with such petitions seeking to perform last rites.
Prasad said 8 months have passed, the body would have decomposed and now exhuming the body will only lead to law and order problems, and Magrey has lost his son but he was a militant.
After hearing arguments in the matter, the top court reserved its order.
Jammu and Kashmir administration was also represented by standing counsel Taruna Ardhendumauli Prasad.
Magrey moved the apex court challenging the Jammu and Kashmir High Court order, which did not allow exhumation of his son’s body.
Four people, including Aamir Magrey, were killed in the “encounter” on the outskirts of Srinagar on November 15 last year. The petition was filed through advocate Nupur Kumar. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir for two days by the end of September to boost political activities of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by addressing three rallies including two in Jammu division and one in Kashmir valley, newspaper Daily Excelsior reported.
According to report, the political rallies will be in addition to official itinerary of the Home Minister which will include security review of Jammu and Kashmir.
Quoting senior BJP leaders newspaper Daily Excelsior reported that exact dates of Shah’s visit will be worked out in next few days but the visit is scheduled to take place in the end of September.
“The Home Minister is understood to have given his consent for the visit. Now, the dates and tour itinerary will be worked out by J&K unit of the BJP and Shah’s office. The dates are expected to be announced shortly,” they said.
They added that Shah will be addressing three large political rallies in Jammu and Kashmir, two of them in Jammu region including one in the City and another in one of the other districts to be finalized by the party. One rally has been reserved for Kashmir division.
“The rallies will be aimed at giving boost to political activities of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir though the Union Territory is unlikely to go to Assembly elections this year. However, with final electoral rolls due to be published on November 25, the polls can be held in April-May next year,” the report quoted sources as having said.
Besides the three rallies, Shah could also meet senior BJP leaders during an hour-long meeting to discuss political activities of the party and emerging scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.
These activities will be apart from official schedule of the Home Minister which could include security review meetings with top officials of security agencies including the Unified Command and visit to certain border areas.
The Home Minister is likely to spend one day each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions during the visit.
This will be second visit of Amit Shah to Jammu and Kashmir this year. He visited the Union Territory on March 18 and 19 during which he attended Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Raising Day.
He undertook 4-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from October 23-26 last year, which was his first post abrogation of special status of erstwhile State of J&K on August 5, 2019.
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SRINAGAR: A day after Apni Party chief lashed out at former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad,the newly appointed Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief, Vikar Rasool Wani on Monday said that “A” and “B” teams of BJP have started pulling legs of each other.
“Anyone who wants to leave Congress can go and those who want to stay are welcome and they will be the pearl for the party,” Wani said while talking to media persons here at the party’s Srinagar headquarters.
Quoting Wani news agency KNO reported that there is no doubt that he was the loyalist of Ghulam Nabi Azad and has always raised Azad’s slogans for the past many years. “But, as it was already planned, Azad has never disclosed anything to me about leaving the party, rather he always taught me how to strength the party ?” he said.
“In my political career, I have never seen such immoral politics from anyone,” he said, terming Azad’s resignation after 50 years of affiliation with the party as “disheartening”.
Asked about the allegations levelled by Apni Party president Syed Altaf Bukhari against former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad, Wani said the BJP has trying to form new parties in Jammu and Kashmir and every single party is affiliated with them either directly or indirectly. “You will continue to see such fights between A and B teams of BJP from now onwards as they have been following their (BJP) directions,” he said. Bukhari had accused Azad of being in cahoots with BJP and held him responsible for abrogation of Article 370.
“I appeal to the people to stay away from these parties. It is only Congress that can never be part of BJP,” he said.
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SRINAGAR: Weather was partly cloudy in J&K is the last 24 hours, and the MeT office said on Monday that partly cloudy weather with light rain at isolated places is likely to occur during the next 24 hours.
“Partly cloudy sky with light rain at isolated places is likely to occur in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT department said.
Jammu had 24.9, Katra 23.4, Batote 18.1, Banihal 16 and Bhaderwah 17.5 as the minimum temperature.
Srinagar had 16.2, Pahalgam 11.3 and Gulmarg 9 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature today.
Drass in Ladakh region had 7.3, Leh 12 and Kargil 15.5 as the minimum temperature. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: India reported 7,591 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, against the previous day’s 9,436 count, as per the Union Health Ministry data on Monday.
In the same period, 45 more fatalities took the nationwide death toll to 5,27,799.
Meanwhile, the active caseload has come down to 84,931 cases, accounting for 0.19 per cent of the total positive cases.
The recovery of 9,206 patients took the cumulative tally to 4,38,02,993. Consequently, the recovery rate stands at 98.62 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Daily Positivity rate has marginally risen to 4.58 per cent, while the Weekly Positivity Rate stands at 2.69 per cent.
Also in the same period, a total of 1,65,751 tests were conducted increasing the overall tally to over 88.52 crore.
As of this morning, the Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 211.91 crore, achieved via 2,82,08,570 sessions.
Over 4.02 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: A 37-year-old man was found dead under mysterious conditions near a bridge in Changoo area of Dooru in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday morning.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that some people saw body of a man identified as Mohammad Saleem Kully son of Gull Mohammad of Changoo lying near Changoo bridge, following which they informed the police.
He said that soon after getting the information, a team of police reached to the spot and took possession of the body.
The official added that Saleem was a tailor by profession and was working in his native village, while police have started investigation into the matter.
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It never has been a single crisis because tragedies come together. Ayesha Begum is one instance. An old lady, she should have been at home taking rest. Instead, she rows a boat into Wular lake and harvests the water chestnuts for the whole day, sometimes without food and mostly in fear of getting drowned. She had no option because she has to feed the paralysed daughters of her slain son, Javid Ahmad Dar, a fisherman, who in the last Panchayat Raj elections became the Sarpanch in Zurimanz, a village located on the banks of Wular.
On October 12, 2020, Dar was founded hanging at his home. Initially, police mistook it for suicide but the subsequent investigation proved it to be a murder. Police found Dar’s wife had an extra-marital affair with a local, Shahzad Ahmad Dar, a Panch. They had administered some sedatives to Dar and later strangulated him to death. Police arrested both of them are they are in jail.
For Ayesha, Dar’s aged and ailing mother, however, another tragedy started. First, she had to manage Dar’s debts. Then, she had to bring up, Dar’s two mute and paralysed daughters, Bisma 10 and Tanzeela 4. The old lady requested her daughter – living in another village, to take care of the younger girl. To manage the elder one, she works as a water-nut harvester in Wullar lake. Ayesha said she, is unable to manage her life. The girl requires more than Rs 3000 for diapers alone. She is seeking help from the government and society.
Almost 73 per cent of children in the 6month-5 year age group in Jammu and Kashmir are anaemic.
POONCH
A youth from Kotli on the other side of the LoC, arrested and repatriated in 2017, crossed the line again on August 21. While he was allegedly busy cutting the fence in Jhangar sector of the Nowshera sector, he was fired upon and captured alive. Identified as Tabarak Hussain, a resident of village Sabzkot (Kotli) on the other side of Poonch, soldiers donated blood to save him. Interestingly, Tabarak had barged into this side of the LoC and was arrested on April 25, 2016, along with his brother Haroon Ali. On humanitarian grounds, they were repatriated in November 2017. The other aspect of the ‘border’ drama is that he told his interrogators that Colonel Yunus Chaudhry of the Pakistan intelligence agency had given him (Pakistani) Rs 30,000 “for an attack on an Indian post.” The army, reports said, believes that Tabarak was “part of a squad that carried out recces of Indian forward, and got the final go-ahead on August 21”.
“We were four-five people. We had come to die. We were sent by Pak Army’s Colonel Choudhary Yunus. He gave us money to attack Indian posts,” Hussain was quoted saying on camera. “We were asked to attack the Indian Army. I had come in 2016. This time we could not attack. The others ran away…After I was hit by a bullet, the Indian Army saved me.”
Terming Tabarak a Fidayeen, the army said he has been working for Pakistani Intelligence for about two years and had undergone six weeks of training at a Lashkar-e-Toiba training camp. There are videos in circulation on social media about Tabarak, uploaded from across the LoC, suggesting he was “mentally deranged”. The veracity of these videos can not be ascertained.
Rs 166 crore is the net profit that JK Bank pocketed in the Q1 of the current fiscal ending June 2022.
GUPKAR
Last week, after the NC’s top leaders, spent a few hours in a huddle at Nawai Subh, the discussions indicated that the PAGD is on a ventilator. In a formal statement, Kashmir’s grand old party announced that it will contest all the 90 Assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir if and when the polls are announced. It indicated that elections will not be contested jointly by PAGD. It almost coincided with a series of tweets in which the party expressed dismay over the speeches made by some PAGD constituents against the NC. Even the statement talked about the party being treated unfairly. As it signalled the possibility of PAGD’s Sajjad Lone moment, Dr Farooq Abdullah was out to defend, asserting that the alliance will never wind up. Abdullah said party leaders should learn to take criticism. “If you don’t, you can’t do anything for your people,” he said.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the other, rather the most vocal of PAGD grouping, was sulking. “PAGD was conceived for a much larger cause than just an electoral alliance. If some constituent of the alliance has reservations for any kind of electoral alliance that will not impact our unity.” This was the situation before Ghulam Nabi Azad was in Congress. Now the situation will change again. If Azad decides to launch his own party, NC may require a meeting again.
Jammu and Kashmir has a tobacco use rate of 23.7 per cent, a smoking rate of 20.8 per cent and a smokeless tobacco use rate of 4.3 per cent
NIGHEEN
It was a high-pitch drama when Mirwaiz Umer Farooq moved in his SUV and crossed the main gate only to be stopped by the police. He wanted to join the Friday prayers for the first time in three years when he was restricted to his home on August 5, 2019. He might not have moved, had not a foreign reporter asked him why he is unable to use video to tell his story even when he is inside his home. After an argument, Mirwaiz went in. However, it proved beyond a point that Mirwaiz is actually not permitted to move out, a fact that everybody in Kashmir knew. The tension over his continued house arrest had started after Lt Governor Manoj Sinha categorically told a foreign media outlet that Mirwaiz is free to go anywhere and he is not under detention. The police and the security deployment around his home, he said were for his protection because his father was assassinated in 1990. As the media outlet followed the textbook journalism and opted for a follow-up, it proved the claim was not right. What is interesting is that Jamia Masjid, where the Mirwaiz delivers Friday sermons, is also not open every Friday. The Auqaf that takes care of the historic mosque said the prayers at the mosque were banned on 30 Fridays in 2016, 18 in 2017, 16 in 2018, 26 in 2019, 21 in 2020, 42 in 2021 and 14 in 2022. The ban was exercised by Kashmir’s elected government earlier as well.
In the last 20 months, JK Police in Budgam arrested 196 persons in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) cases, sent 10 to jail under the Public Safety Act and filed 108 cases.
BARAMULLA
Safina Beigh
District Development Council Baramulla Chairperson Safina Baig was elected as head of the Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee after her name was proposed and seconded by two other members of the panel who are affiliated with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) – Choudhary Talib Hussain and Muhammad Rafiq Chishti. Though NC MP Hasnain Masoodi’s name was proposed by Molvi Muhammad Ashraf, there was nobody to second it. This makes Safina Beg – wife of Muzaffar Hussain Baig, the first woman ever who could head the Haj Committee.
ANANTNAG
Municipal Committee Anantnag has issued a show cause notice to its Executive Officer after he demolished the second storey of a residential house of a doctor holding proper permission. Dr Sheikh Mushtaq’s under-construction house was demolished at SK Colony Azadpora locality. He is a paediatrician at Maternity and Child Care Hospital Anantnag. He has spent 18 months getting permission and once it was readying, the demolition squad undid it. The demolition took place at a time when the family was out at a funeral.
HIRANAGAR
The JK Police in Kathua have constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the mystery surrounding the mysterious murder of a hardcore BJP worker in Hiranagar. Som Raj was missing for three days and later he was found hanging on a tree. Bhawana Bharti, daughter of a deceased BJP man, alleged her father was “killed” by a fellow party man, the Mandal president. Insisting that her father was killed because of “political rivalry”, she identified the accused as Rajinder Bakhshi. Now the SIT will probe the case registered against Bakshi under FIR Number 121 of 2022 under sections 452, 504 and 506 of IPC and an investigation under 174CrPC.
KATHUA
In an incident sending shivers down the spine, a cop murdered his wife while she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. A resident of Dharalta village in the Billawar area, Asha Devi, mother of two daughters, was killed by her SPO husband, Mohan Lal. Posted at DPL Kathua, Mohan had gone on leave for three days during which he killed her over some argument. What makes the tragedy severe is that Asha was barely a month away from becoming a mother again. The baby in her womb also died in the scuffle between her parents. An agitated mob had torched the house of the SPO before the situation was brought under control by the police. He was finally arrested by the police within a day after the heinous crime.
CHENAB VALLEY
For the last few days, most of the people living in the Chenab Valley region and the peripheries of Jammu have been spending sleepless nights because the tremors have gone so frequent. With epicentre within the region, this is for the second time in a few years that the region is witnessing earthquakes of mild magnitude with such a massive frequency. Experts said that this clearly indicates some tectonic developments taking place within the earth. Most of Jammu and Kashmir falls in seismic zone IV and V. Avoiding panic; experts say the people must stay alert. An earthquake is something that cannot be predicted.
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SRINAGAR: Former Minister Taj Mohiuddin and former MLA Shoiab Nabi Lone are likely to join yet-to-be launched political party of former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Quoting sources news agency KNO reported that Taj, who had represented Uri assembly segment twice, would unveil his future plans today. “He will address a press conference today at 4:30 pm at his Gupkar residence,” they said.
Taj won 2002 and 2008 election from Uri assembly segment and was minister in both the PDP-Congress and NC-Congress coalitions.
In the last assembly election, he stood at third position from Uri segment with Muhammad Shafi Uri defeating Raja Aijaz Ali.
According to sources, former MLA Shoiab Nabi Lone is also in talks with loyalists of Ghulam Nabi Azad.
“He may also join Azad-led camp,” they said.
Banking on sympathy wave after assassination of his father, Shoiab won 2006 by-election from Sangrama assembly segment but lost 2008 and 2014 elections to Syed Basharat Bukhari.
In 2020, he lost the DDC election to Irfan Hafiz Lone from his native area.
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SRINAGAR: India on Sunday reported 9,436 fresh Covid cases in the past 24 hours, against previous day’s count of 9,520, Union Health Ministry said.
In the same period, 30 fatalities took the nationwide death toll to 5,27,754.
Meanwhile, the active caseload has come down to 86,591 cases, accounting for 0.19 per cent of the total positive cases.
Recovery of 9,999 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,37,93,787. Consequently, the recovery rate stands at 98.62 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Daily Positivity rate has marginally risen to 2.93 per cent, while the Weekly Positivity Rate stands at 2.70 per cent.
Also in the same period, a total of 3,22,551 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 88.50 crore.
As of Sunday morning, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 211.67 crore, achieved via 2,82,08,570 sessions.
Over 4.02 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: A 22-year-old youth from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Gujarat, even as his family members smell foul play and demanded an investigation into the matter on Sunday.
Sameer Ahmad Thokar
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that a student identified as Sameer Ahmad Thokar (22) son of Mohammad Shafi Thokar of Nanibugh village Kulgam, who was pursuing M.Sc Zoology at Sardar Patel University in Gujarat was found hanging inside his room.
Meanwhile, the family members of Sameer alleged that their son has been murdered and demanded investigation into the matter.
Muhammad Shafi Thokar, father of deceased said that his son was pursuing M.Sc Zoology at Sardar Patel University in Anand.
“My son was very intelligent and before 3 days he called me and informed that his book is going to be publish soon. We were shocked when we received a call today morning that your son has been found hanging with a fan,” he said.
Thokar said that his son was studying there for the last one and half month and was pursuing M. Sc in Zoology.
“My son was not a coward and he can’t commit suicide. This is murder as he was intelligent in every field, besides he was captain of the volley ball team in the university,” he said.
The family members appealed to the higher authorities to look into the matter and investigate the case thoroughly, as they smell some foul play into the death of their son.
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SRINAGAR: A woman was killed, while her husband was critically injured in a road accident near Shadipora on Srinagar-Bandipora highway on Sunday morning.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that an oil tanker had a head-on collision with a scooty near Higher Secondary School Shadipora today morning.
He said that in the incident scooty rider namely Syed Mohammad Shah (42) from Ganderbal was critically injured, while his wife namely Gowhara (35) died on the spot.
He added that the injured was immediately taken to CHC Wakura for treatment.
Meanwhile, a police official said that driver of the oil tanker has been arrested and a case has also been registered in this regard.
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SRINAGAR: Weather was partly cloudy in Jammu and Kashmir during the last 24 hours as the Meteorological (MeT) office said on Sunday that partly cloudy sky with rain at isolated places is likely during the 24 hours in the union territory.
“Partly cloudy sky with light to moderate rain at isolated places is likely in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said.
Jammu had 25.3, Katra 23, Batote 17.9, Banihal 16.5 and Bhaderwah 19.1 as the minimum temperature.
Srinagar had 16.4, Pahalgam 11.5 and Gulmarg 9 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature today.
Drass in Ladakh region had 8.1, Leh 11.7 and Kargil 15.5 as the minimum temperature.
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A significant component of weight control is to avoid sleep deprivation because lack of sleep disturbs our body and upsets the balance between appetite and satiety.
Obesity: Causes and Consequences
Obesity is one of the most important healthcare concerns of the twenty-first century. It is one of today’s most blatantly visible yet neglected public health problems. Obesity is not merely a cosmetic concern but a medical problem of gigantic proportions. Being overweight costs you, both literally and figuratively. Often, the damage to health and well-being can be irreversible.
People with obesity have an increased prevalence of diseases like cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, certain types of cancers, and a significant degree of endothelial dysfunction. Obesity considerably reduces the quality of life and is one of the leading causes of death, worldwide. Obese subjects have a relatively weak immune system and therefore, are vulnerable to infectious diseases as well.
Indeed, Obesity has emerged as a strong risk factor for worse outcomes in the current pandemic disease, Covid19. Several independent studies have observed that people with obesity are at a greater risk of severe disease and death due to Covid19. During the 2009 HIN1 pandemic, patients with severe obesity were more likely to require hospitalization, ICU admission, and death due to the disease. Data over the years have indicated that obesity negatively affects host immune defence making it vulnerable to infectious diseases. Excess fat is associated with significant changes in the resident immune cell composition of adipose tissue, which leads to a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. Thus, obese subjects provide a unique microenvironment for disease pathogenesis, resulting in severe infection, increased rates of hospitalization and relatively poor survival.
Kashmiri Wazwan being prepared by Kashmiri Cooks (Waze)
What turns the balance towards weight gain?
To comprehend how the obesity epidemic got out of hand, we first need to understand the regulation of body weight and energy balance. Energy balance is determined by the number of calories ingested and the amount of energy consumed in metabolic and physical activity. Weight gain is largely a result of positive energy balance, a consequence of increased calorie intake and reduced energy expenditure.
Before the advent of the modern era, humans had to work hard for food by hunting and farming. This labouring process consumed a substantial amount of energy and so did the making and maintaining of short-term shelters. Food was inconsistently available and calorie-rich diets, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods were non-existent. The main diet is comprised of natural nourishments both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. There was always a scarcity of food and over a long period of time, the human body adapted and evolved to survive on very little food. The biggest challenges of humankind were those of malnutrition and undernutrition, and obesity was essentially non-existent.
To overcome this shortage and scarcity of energy, human bodies transformed into extremely proficient and adept machines that could utilize energy very efficiently allowing us to live on a lesser number of calories. Accordingly, our present-day sedentary way of life represents an alien and unnatural practice from the standpoint of our inherited physiologic requirements. Therefore, in this modern world, every single human being is at an increased risk of gaining weight and becoming obese. However, the genetic makeup of every human being is unique and therefore, the degree of predisposition varies considerably from person to person.
Possible way out
Two critical components define whether we gain weight or not: genetic makeup and our lifestyle. To put it in simple words external factors combine with a biological predisposition to determine our body weight. Genetic makeup plays a massive role and puts people at an increased risk but external factors like diet and physical activity finally decide if we get obese or not.
Lt Governor interacts with Members of J&K’s First Women Cycling Club
Since we have no control over our genetic makeup; lifestyle remains the lone factor that can be modified in order to bring about a positive change. Several independent scientific studies have demonstrated that a healthy lifestyle that includes diet control and exercise can reverse weight gain and ameliorate metabolic abnormalities that are associated with excess adiposity.
So, how does one define a “healthy lifestyle”? There is no single definition of a “healthy lifestyle”, if you ask 10 people, you will most likely get 10 different answers. In simple terms, a healthy lifestyle means eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and indulging in activities that can reduce stress like getting enough rest and sleep. Adopting a healthy lifestyle can be tough, particularly if you plan to do it alone. People who are used to longstanding unhealthy practices, find it extremely challenging to start a healthy lifestyle.
Dr Sameer Mohammad (Scientist)
One of the best ways to adopt a healthy lifestyle is, to begin with, easy and achievable goals and gradually add new ones. It is easier to sustain your healthy lifestyle if you make it entertaining and enjoyable. In addition, sharing your lifestyle goals with a friend, a parent, or a sibling can make all the difference in keeping up healthy habits. Another significant component of weight control is to avoid sleep deprivation because lack of sleep disturbs our body and upsets the balance between appetite and satiety. Multiple lines of evidence have indicated that “night shift works” are at an increased risk of developing abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome independent of age and gender. In short, five basic pillars of a healthy lifestyle include 1) Eating a balanced diet 2) Being physically active and doing regular exercise 3) Reducing sitting and screen time 4) Sleeping well and on time and, 5) doing away with smoking and alcohol.
Dr Sameer is a Research Scientist in the King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Riyadh. He graduated from the School of Life Sciences, JNU and received postdoctoral training at Cornell University, New York. Currently, he is working to evaluate molecular mechanism(s) underlying obesity-induced metabolic dysregulation and cardiac dysfunction.
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SRINAGAR: In the last 24 hours, India reported 9,520 fresh Covid cases and 41 deaths, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.
The overall nationwide death toll now stands at 5,27,597.
The active caseload has dipped to 87,311, accounting for 0.20 per cent of the country’s total positive cases.
The recovery of 12,875 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,37,83,788. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.62 per cent.
While the daily positivity rate rose to 2.50 per cent, the weekly positivity rate stood at 2.80 per cent.
Also in the same period, a total of 3,81,205 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 88.47 crore.
As of Saturday morning, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 211.39 crore, achieved via 2,81,63,153 sessions
Over 4.02 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: Border Security Force (BSF) troops nabbed an intruder at the international border (IB) on Saturday in Jammu district.
BSF sources said that alert troops noticed suspicious movement in Arnia sector of the IB in Jammu district today.
“Warning shots were fired by the troops after which the intruder was nabbed. He has been identified as 45-year old Muhammad Shabad, resident of Sialkot Pakistan,” they said.
“Incriminating material has been recovered from his possession,” they added.
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SRINAGAR: A minor earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale jolted Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, increasing the number of temblors to strike the union territory to 12 in the last five days, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).
The NCS said the quake occurred at 4.32 a.m. on Saturday with latitude 32.87 degrees north and longitude 75.46 degrees east.
The epicentre was 26 km southwest of Bhaderwah town in Jammu division and its depth was 10 km inside the earth’s crust.
In the last five days, tremors were reported in Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of Jammu division.
Some local earth scientists have cautioned that these small tremors could be the precursor of a major seismic event in the offing.
Others have said that these were beneficial because through these small occurrences the built-up pressure inside the earth is released that can avoid a major seismic event. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: Generally cloudy sky with possibility of light rain is likely in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours, the Meteorological (MeT) department said on Saturday.
“Generally cloudy sky with possibility of light rain is likely in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT office said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar registered 17.6 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 11.2 and Gulmarg 9 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature this morning.
Drass town in Ladakh had 6.6 degrees, Leh 12.8 and Kargil 16 as the minimum temperature.
Jammu recorded 25.8 degrees, Katra 23.6, Batote 17.7, Banihal 16 and Bhaderwah 17.2 as the minimum temperature. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: Senior Congress leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday resigned from all posts of the party, including the primary membership.
The resignation comes days after he resigned from the position of chairman of the campaign committee and from the political affairs committee of Jammu and Kashmir Congress hours after his appointment.
In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Azad wrote that the party has lost the will and the ability under the tutelage of what he called the coterie.
“Unfortunately, after the entry of Rahul Gandhi into politics and particularly after January 2013, when he was appointed Vice President by you (Sonia Gandhi), the entire consultative mechanism which existed earlier was demolished by him,” he said.
“One of the most glaring examples of his (Rahul Gandhi) immaturity was the tearing up of the government ordnance in the full glare of the media,” he added.
“This childish behaviour completely subverted the authority of the Prime Minister and the government of India. This one single action more than anything else contributed significantly to the defeat of the UPA government in 2014 that was at the receiving end of a campaign of calumny and insinuation from a combination of forces of the right wing and certain unscrupulous corporate interests,” Azad wrote.
“Under your stewardship since 2014 and subsequently that of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress has lost two Lok Sabha elections in a humiliating manner. It has lost 39 out of the 49 assembly elections held between 2014 – 2022. The party only won four state elections and was able to get into a coalition situation in six instances. Unfortunately, today, the Congress is ruling in only two states and is a very marginal coalition partner in two other states,” he said.
“After Rahul Gandhi stepped down in a ‘huff’ and not before insulting all the senior party functionaries who have given their lives to the party in a meeting of the extended working committee, you took over as interim president. A position that you have continued to hold even today for the past three years. Worse still the ‘remote control model’ that demolished the institutional integrity of the UPA government now got applied to the Indian National Congress. While you are just a nominal figurehead all the important decisions were being taken by Shri Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs (personal assistants),” said Azad in his letter to Sonia Gandhi.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s planned nationwide political campaign, he said the party must carry out the Congress Jodo exercise (fix Congress) rather than Bharath Jodo Yatra (Unite India campaign).
“The Indian National Congress has lost both the will and the ability under the tutelage of the Coterie that runs the AICC to fight for what is right for India. In fact, before starting Bharath Jodo Yatra the leadership should have undertaken a Congress Jodo exercise across the country. It is therefore with great regret and an extremely laden heart that I have decided to sever my half-a-century-old association with the Indian National Congress,” Azad in his letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
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SRINAGAR: High Court on Friday reopened the case of Nadimarg massacre of 24 Kashmiri Pandits that was closed a decade ago, reported Daily Excelsior.
Justice Sanjay Dhar was hearing the application filed by the prosecution seeking recall of order dated 21.12.2011 whereby the criminal revision petition was dismissed.
The massacres of 24 persons belonging to the minority community was carried at Nadimarg village in Shopian district in 2003.
A case (FIR No.24/2003 for offences under Sections 302, 450, 395, 307, 120-B, 326, 427 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act and Section 30 Police Act) was registered in Police Station, Zainapora in connection with massacre and investigations were taken up.
After investigation of the case, the challan was filed against seven accused persons initially before the Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Pulwama, that was later transferred to the Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Shopian, upon the creation of the said court.
During the pendency of the trial of the case, the prosecution moved an application before the trial court seeking permission to examine material prosecution witnesses on commission, as according to the prosecution, these witnesses had migrated out of Kashmir valley and they were reluctant to depose before the trial court at Shopian in view of the threat perception.
The application was dismissed by the Principal Sessions Judge, Shopian in 2011 and the said dismissal order was challenged by the prosecution by way of Criminal Revision Petition before the High Court.
On 21.12.2011, the revision petition was dismissed by the High Court which the prosecution sought to be recalled by way of the instant application.
“For the foregoing reasons, the application of prosecution is allowed and order dated 21.12.2011 passed by this Court is recalled. The Registry is directed to post the revision petition for rehearing on 15.09.2022,” Justice Dhar directed.
The prosecution counsel contended before the court that the impugned order sought to be recalled has been passed without hearing the prosecution and without adverting to the merits of the case which he said is non-est in the eyes of law as a criminal revision petition cannot be dismissed for non-prosecution.
It is noted that the petitioner-State filed a petition seeking Special Leave to Appeal against the judgment and order dated 26.02.2014 passed by the High Court. The petition was filed by the petitioner-State before the High Court to challenge the proceedings from the date of framing of charge by the trial court and a direction was sought for fresh trial of the case or in the alternative to transfer the case to any court of competent jurisdiction at Jammu so that statements of all the migrated witnesses available at Jammu are recorded in the said case without any fear.
The said petition came to be dismissed by this Court in terms of order dated 26.02.2014 and the said order was challenged by the State before the Supreme Court by way of a Special Leave to Appeal. The Supreme Court had granted liberty to prosecution to approach the High Court for recalling of the order impugned.
“As is clear from the afore-quoted order of the Supreme Court, the petitioner-State has been given liberty to file a recall application before this Court so that order dated 21.12.2011 may be recalled”,
newspaper Daily Excelsior quoted Court as having said the criminal revision petition against the impugned order passed by the Sessions Judge, Shopian, has been dismissed by this Court without hearing the petitioner-prosecution and without giving reasons for its dismissal.
“Therefore, the same can be recalled by this Court by treating the said order as a nullity being against the settled law that a criminal revision petition cannot be dismissed for non-prosecution. Even otherwise, the observations of the Supreme Court in the order dated 16.07.2015, clearly indicate that the order dismissing the revision petition deserves to be recalled so that the legality of the impugned order passed by the Principal Sessions Judge, Shopian, are determined after hearing both the parties,” Justice Dhar recorded according to report.
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SRINAGAR: A PDD lineman died after he was electrocuted while repairing a live wire in Ashmuqam area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag on Friday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the lineman received an electric shock when he was repairing a wire in Manzigam area of Ashmuqam.
He said that he was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he was declared dead on arrival.
The official identified the deceased as Mohammad Maqbool Khadim son of Assad Khadim of Ashmuqam.
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SRINAGAR: Chairperson of district development council Baramulla Safina Baig was Thursday elected as head of Jammu & Kashmir Haj Committee after her name was proposed and seconded by two other members of the panel who are affiliated with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).
Safina Beigh
Quoting sources news agency KNO reported that Safina Baig was elected as chairperson of the Haj committee after her name was proposed by former MP Choudhary Talib Hussain. “Her name was seconded by Muhammad Rafiq Chashti (district president BJP Poonch),” they said.
During the meeting, according to sources, the name of member parliament Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi was proposed by Molvi Muhammad Ashraf, but it was seconded none.
“Syed Mohd Rafiq, who is also a member of the panel, was not present during the proceedings,” they said.
It is worthwhile to mention that Safina Baig had started her political career from the Peoples Democratic Party. She had joined the Peoples Conference in 2021 but later she maintained that she was independent and would remain as an independent candidate.
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NEW DELHI: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday inaugurated the 8th India International MSME Start-up Expo & Summit at New Delhi.
The Expo provides a much needed platform to SMEs, startups, trade, industry, service providers to explore new opportunities, buyers-sellers meet, sharing knowledge about central/state’s/UTs schemes etc.
Expressing gratitude towards Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing a revolution in MSME sector, the Lt Governor said that in the last 8 years the MSME sector has undergone very rapid change. New strength, resilience and global competitiveness of MSMEs will make India a preferred destination for manufacturing for the world, he added.
The Lt Governor said that the Indian MSME sector today can be described as Magical, Steadfast, Magnificent Enterprises, which is contributing nearly 45% of overall India’s exports. The number of initiatives under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is driving economic progress and social development, he added.
MSME is the nerve center of the country’s business. Our focus is to rejuvenate traditional MSME’s with greater access to credit and market linkage to ensure a higher growth trajectory for MSMEs, the Lt Governor observed.
Productivity, Connectivity & Standardization, is in fact, three important factors for MSME’s sustained growth. Vocal for local, District Export hubs, GeM portal, market linkage of domestic & global value chains, all these interventions are results of Hon’ble Prime Minister’s efforts to ensure that MSMEs contribute to realize the vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat & Aatma Nirbhar Jammu Kashmir, the Lt Governor further added.
The industry centric policies, provisions of financial assistance, handholding to new and existing enterprises have encouraged MSMEs and other industries in J&K. The business ecosystem is exuding the confidence,” he added.
After August 2019, J&K’s economy has been living up to the expectation. In FY 2021-22, MSMEs export registered 54% growth and importer-exporter registration has gone up by 173%. Strategic focus on food processing, handicraft & organic products has stimulated the economic growth, the Lt Governor said.
J&K has one of the fastest growing horticulture markets in the country. Our strengths in natural resources & skilled workforce, best in class incentives through new Industrial development Scheme are well known and makes J&K an ideal MSME destination, the Lt Governor further added.
Highlighting the government’s endeavours to empower MSMEs, the Lt Governor said that JKTPO is continuously organizing Buyers-Sellers Meetings, Exhibitions, Capacity Building programs to provide entrepreneurs with requisite support for their businesses.
In the last financial year, J&K Bank was given a target to provide credit facility to the accounts of 60,000 entrepreneurs and we have ensured credit of Rs 3579 crore to 81,238 accounts, very well exceeding the target, the Lt Governor noted.
The Lt Governor informed that MSMEs from the manufacturing and service sectors contribute 8% to the GSDP of Jammu and Kashmir. Our GDP in this financial year is estimated to reach Rs 2,03,716 crore which will be 7.5% higher than last financial year, he further observed.
J&K is making rapid strides in both manufacturing as well as the service sector. Setting up a biotech park at Kathua will help us to exploit the opportunities in sunrise areas and further open up opportunities in the knowledge economy, the Lt Governor noted.
Highlighting the need to adopt holistic approach to tackle fast-moving global business scenario, the Lt Governor advised all stakeholders to pay special attention to three priorities- Sustainability in business, Brand-building with focus on market & customer research and Quality, time bound service & value addition.
The Lt Governor also visited the stalls of MSMEs & other stakeholders from J&K displaying the local products.
Vivek Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department J&K ; Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary to the Government, Tourism Department J&K; Rajnish Goenka , Chairman, MSME Development Forum, besides foreign and domestic business delegates, investors, entrepreneurs and members of MSMEs were present on the occasion.
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SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered transfers and postings in the administration.
According to Government Order No.966-JK(GAD) of 2022, issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), Anand, Commissioner Revenue, Samba, is transferred and Ravinder Kumar JKAS, Assistant posted as General Manager, DIC, Ramban, against an available vacancy.
Sanna Khan, JKAS, Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu, is transferred and posted as Deputy Director, Rural Sanitation, Jammu.
Manu Hansa, JKAS, Deputy Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, is transferred and posted as Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Samba.
Piyush Dhotra, JKAS, General Manager, JKRTC, Jammu, is transferred and posted as Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Jammu, vice Mr. Vijay Kumar, JKAS, who shall await further orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department.
Maxiumn Gorkie, JKAS, Deputy Director, Rural Sanitation, Jammu, is transferred and posted as Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu.
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SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta on Thursday launched here the web portal (e-Market) for sale of mining material in the UT of J&K.
On the occasion the Chief Secretary enjoined upon the officers of the Geology &Mining Department to ensure that the construction material is readily available to the customers on the already approved rates. He asked the Department to make this process hassle free so that the customers finds it easy and reliable to use.
Dr Mehta maintained that the step is highly appreciable for it would help in checking the illegal mining besides allowing the customers to find material on competitive rates with access to vast market from the comforts of their homes. He asked the Department to make the portal the best way to fetch the mined material for different developmental purposes.
The Chief Secretary also directed the Deputy Commissioners to monitor the process and see that there is no overcharging or scarcity of such materials in the market. He asked them to submit daily reports in this regard. He also asked for carrying out third party checking of rates and availability of these materials in the market for gauging the ground reality.
The Chief Secretary was informed that there are more than 200 registered miners in the UT dealing with extraction of different minerals. It was further revealed that all of them are onboard on the web portal that can be accessed by logging into https://ift.tt/mw0LaSk.
The meeting was further appraised that the both the vendors and customers have to register on the portal. The customers can then directly order the material like sand, bajri, nallah muck, stones, crushed bajri, etc from the portal. They can do cost comparison besides the items are available at approved rates, as was informed by the department.
The payment can be made securely online through payment gateway. The collection of duties and taxes would also be done online without the scope for evasion of same. An e-challan would thereafter be generated after authentication by the concerned DMO and sent both to vendor and customer. The end to end features like placing of order, follow-up and tracking can be done by the end user, as was given out on this occasion.
The Department also intends to integrate the system with weigh bridges at sites for accuracy and install PTZ cameras/Drone surveillance at vulnerable illegal mining points across all the districts in future for the better serving the people of J&K.
Those who were present on the occasion includes Principal Secretary H&UDD, Secretary, Mining; Director General, Mining, representatives of J&K Bank and other concerned officers and officials of the department.
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SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district will become North India’s major power hub generating nearly 6,000 MWs of power after the completion of the ongoing power projects.
The surplus power from Kishtwar will not only be utilised for other parts of the UT, but will also be sold to other States
Pertinent to mention that 1000 MW Pakal Dul Project, 624 MW Kiru Project, 540 MW Kwar Project and 930 MW Kirthai Project are all located in close vicinity of each other, along with 850 MW Ratle Project which has been revived as a Joint venture between the Centre and the UT.
It is pertinent to mention that CMD (Chairman & Managing Director), National Hydro Project Corporation(NHPC), A K Singh called on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and briefed him about the status of the ongoing power projects in Kishtwar, which when completed will turn Kishtwar into a major power hub generating nearly 6000 MV of power.
Pakal Dul HE Project (1000MW) is under active construction after river diversion was carried out. The project will generate 3230 MWs annually and expected to be completed by July 2025. Kiru HE Project (624 MW) is also under active construction. The river diversion was carried out recently and after completion it will generate 2272 MWs annually. The project is expected to be completed by July 2025.
The work on Kwar Hydro Electric Project (40MW) started in 2022 and the project will generate 1975 MUs annually and scheduled completion is in November 2026.
Similarly, Ratle HE Project (850 MW) is under construction and work started by awarding EPC Contract in January 2022.
The scheduled date of commissioning of the project is 10th Feb 2026 and once commissioned, project will generate 3136 MUs annually. Kirthai-II HE Project (930 MW) is under investigation and will generate 3329.52MUs annually on commissioning.
With the commissioning of all these projects, the power requirement of Jammu and Kashmir will be improved drastically and will help in achieving the goal of zero carbon emission.
Recently, PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Rattle (850 MW) and Kwar (540MW) hydroelectric projects, to be constructed on Chenab river in Kishtwar at a cost of around Rs 5,300 crore and Rs 4,500 crore respectively.
Similarly, in Gurez area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Kishanganga hydro power- 330 megawatt (MW) project on the river Kishanganga, a tributary of Jhelum project is a success story.
This project added a new dimension in the growth journey of Jammu and Kashmir. The project in Bandipora district provides 13% free power to the J&K including 1% for local area development fund. The Power project comprising three turbines is spread over 750 kanals in Karalpora Matrigam and 4200 kanals in Gurez area where from the water comes through a tunnel measuring 23.5 kilometers.
J&K administration has initiated various reforms to overhaul the power sector in the UT. The government is working on a mission mode for developing new power infrastructure and improving the existing one to meet the power demands of the people.
Unprecedented milestones have been achieved to ensure last mile connectivity and 100% saturation of Central Sector Scheme of Universal Household Electrification. More than 6500 new distribution transformers have been installed and reliability of power distribution has been ensured in both rural and urban areas.
Transmission and distribution capacity has been increased. More power has been supplied even during peak days. Important power projects which were hanging in balance for decades are now being executed. In next three years, J&K is set to generate the capacity equivalent to what was achieved in 70 years.
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SRINAGAR: Border Security Force on Thursday claimed to have foiled a major smuggling bid by recovering narcotics and injuring an intruder along the International Border in Samba district.
Quoting a statement issued by BSF spokesperson news agency KNO reported that today, alert BSF troops foiled a smuggling bid through IB in Samba area and a Pakistani intruder was shot, while around 8 packets of heroin were also recovered.
The statement reads that BSF troops noticed a suspicious movement of one person near IB from Pakistan side carrying a bag.
It reads that the troops immediately fired upon the intruder and injured him and on search of the area 08 packets of narcotics, likely to be heroin were recovered.
It added that injured smuggler managed to crawl back to Pakistan side, while blood stains of injured smuggler were found.
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Abundant with nutrient-rich fodder and not far away from Srinagar, the major Kashmir market, a cluster of villages in Pulwama have emerged as key milk suppliers. Offering financial stability, and a better socio-economic profile, the cattle breeders, however, have a challenging and hectic lifestyle, reportsRafeeq Ul Islam
In Pulwama, one of Kashmir’s main milk-producing belts, the farmers are seen destroying their production by dumping the milk in drains. This photograph was taken in Lassipora where they used to supply a milk packaging unit that has now reduced its milk purchase by more than half. Corona curfew is being implemented in such a way that basic consumption has gone down. A 2021 photograph
For the people associated with the dairy sector, the day starts with the Muazin’s call for Fajr prayers, in certain cases slightly ahead of that. By the time, the prayers are over, these people have their tankers stuffed with milk and they start their day. They have to reach the city slightly ahead of the Srinagar housewives to start preparations for breakfast.
“In summers, we have to be fast,” one milkman explains. “Unlike winters, there is a strong possibility of the milk quality compromising fast and getting waste.”
For the milkmen in a vast cluster of Pulwama villages, the few morning hours are very hectic. The first job is going from door to door and collecting the surplus milk. The next is to store them in perfectly cleaned containers. In certain cases, they have to use lactometers to check the purity of the milk they purchase. Then the containers are loaded in trucks or in certain cases the major tankers that buyers send. Then the travel starts towards Srinagar, the main consumer of the bulk of milk that Kashmir periphery produces.
They had to make extra efforts during the days when Kashmir used to witness grave law and order issues and during Covid19 lockdowns. “We used to leave our homes in the dead of the night so that nobody sees us,” one young milk supplier to the city explained. “There would be issues on our way back home but we would manage.” Initially, they had stopped supply but the milk producers started reporting massive losses and the demand in Srinagar was not managed.
This is just the routine of hundreds of people from Pulwama’s milk-producing cluster. The area has already been declared as ‘Anand of Kashmir’ as it is the biggest producer of milk-producing an estimated 7.5 lakh litres of milk per day.
An early morning visit to the area offers an idea about the extent and spread of the milk supply sector. Almost everywhere there are tankers and can-carrying people. In almost every village in and around Pinglena, there are men, women and children busy with different processes.
The Area Advantage
Experts at the Animal Husbandry Department said the South Kashmir districts Pulwama and Shopian lie in the good topographic zone and have orchards full of nutritious fodder grasses rich in Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous and very low oxalate content. This makes it easier for the people to rear livestock.
Milk processing plant in Srinagar
Unlike Pulwama, the Shopian periphery does not find it attractive to get into dairy. “It is correct that the orchards lands are hugely fertile and produce grasses that we need to harvest at least thrice in a year,” Waseem Ahmad, in a Shopian village, said. “The problem is the fodder is so huge that there are no takers. It costs us to get it harvested and destroyed.”
Ahmad said at one point in time, the families had started rearing sheep within the orchards. “The crisis was that the population of dogs has gone so up that they attack these small flocks and kill,” Ahmad said. “This discouraged people from getting into the backyard sheep raring. Even people have stopped having a cow at home. Now, you will see, one in 10 households must have a cow.”
Feeding a cow is not that easy. It takes almost one person to manage the fodder and other things and then milking the cow is another major issue. Most of the cow breeds being reared in the region are very costly and offer a lot of milk. “I have only one cow and I sell almost 30 kgs a day.”
The department of Animal husbandry has come up with a milk ATM in Pulwama town.
This is slightly different in Pulwama village, which ideally suits the dairy and is literally less than half the distance away from Srinagar in comparison to Shopian. Off late, the authorities have encouraged start-ups to experiment with various milk-linked products including curd, creams, confectionaries and sweets. The major failure of the policymakers, however, is their inability to convince the grass-abundant Shopian periphery to get into the sheep and dairy sector.
Animal Husbandry Department managers in Pulwama said they estimate almost 40000 families have enough milk that they sell the surplus. However, the registered number of dairy farms is 89.
Financial Stability
“Livestock raring has always been key to financial stability,” Rayees Ahmad Wani, whose family has been rearing cows and sheep since his childhood. “It was always there but the commercial aspect has added to the scale.”
Lt Governor visiting AMUL Plant at Anand, Gujarat
Given the milk-growth story, some well-read youth have also started investing in the sector. Some have set up Milk ATMs and few are on dairy farms and many others run collection centres.
Since the dairy sector is directly linked with transport, hundreds of young men stand adjusted within the industry in operating the minivans and trucks used to carry the milk products and ferry the milkmen. Now major milk suppliers have their own carriages.
The Economy
Officials at Animal Husbandry Kashmir say the overall revenue generated from the dairy industry stood at Rs 2.62 crore per day. “The dairy industry of the district is indeed booming,” Dr Mohsin, who recently assumed the charge of Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Pulwama, said. “This has emerged as a no-frills and regular source of income for the households involved in the farming.”
The Talangaum belt in Pulwama district produces about 20,000 litres of milk besides 1000 Kilograms of cheese every day.
However, the other sources suggest it is too huge a sector. In his recent meeting with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul India) Managing Director Rupinder Singh Sodhi sought a suitable piece of land to set up a new dairy plant in Srinagar. Insisting that the implementation of the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme has resulted in registering a three-time increase in the milk procurement of JKMPCL in three years, Sodhi said they are eyeing to achieve Rs 325 crore turnover in 2022. In the last two years, Amul India alone procured milk worth Rs 350 crore in Kashmir.
Amul India, it may be recalled here, is just one stakeholder in milk procurement. There are at least a dozen odd players including Khyber, who seek supplies and in certain cases, they source their requirements from Jammu.
Cattle-rearing is a huge stress-busting occupation that fetches sustainable incomes. “A study has shown that the suicide rate in the farmers with no involvement in the livestock was much higher as compared to those involved in the sector”, Dr Zahid Bashir, a veterinary surgeon said. “It helps people stay better and healthy.”
Ghulam Ahmad Dar, 65, a villager said that cattle-raring is a subsidiary occupation for most people and not the primary one. “Our involvement ends with the sector during wee hours when the milk is given to the collector,” he said, “The rest is managing fodder, which is just a routine in villages.”
The Breeds
The larger reality is that the number of cows must be historically down right now in Kashmir. At the same time, however, milk production must be the highest. The game-changer is the introduction of high-yielding bovine varieties.
With the ploughing over, there is no requirement for bulls. Now the families get the high-yielding cows artificially inseminated at the veterinary. Now people are choosy about the variety they wish to take home. Right now, Holstein Friesian (HF) and Jersey are the most preferred breeds.
Riyaz Ahmad Hurrah, a bovine trader says that the HF breed is the most preferred breed because of its capabilities and other characteristics. “People obviously prefer the cross breeds particularly HF because of their enhanced milk production potential”, says Riyaz. These cows, however, are delicate and very complicated and require 24 x 7 care, unlike the traditional cows.
A group of herdsmen with sheep, milk storage and other accessories. An undated photograph from British archives.
The Market
In the last few years, the milk price per litre has increased substantially. Certain services that deliver the farm fresh milk at home cost a fortune. Bashir Ahmad Wani, a milkman for the last 20 years said the price is based on purity and quality.
“We decide the rates on the basis of the quantity of fat in the milk, for instance, Holstein Friesian breed produces milk which is rich in fat and draws the highest rate of Rs 35 a litre”, says Bashir. “The rates keep fluctuating and therefore the rates differ in urban and rural areas. Transportation is a major addition to the costs.” The rates set up by the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution department is Rs 45 per litre.
The Flip Side
Dairy farmers rue the apathy of the government towards the sector. They allege that the sponsorships and subsidies are no help. Instead, they suggest schemes aimed at improving the infrastructure and adequate affordable feeds and fodder.
Zeeshan Danish did his MBA and set up a dairy farm in 2013. He understands the problems the sector is facing clearly. “The rising prices of feed and fodder, buying the raw material from outside Kashmir make it difficult for a farmer to sustain,” Danish said. “The government must back up the entrepreneurs not only by providing the subsidies for buying the animals but reducing the costs of raring them.”
A milkman carries supplies on his bicycle through snow-covered road.
However, Dr Zahid said there are numerous schemes launched by the Animal Husbandry Department to support the entrepreneurs.
“Integrated dairy development scheme (IDDS) is a scheme which not only focuses on providing financial assistance but also supports the dairy producer by providing milking machine, bulk milk cooling unit at half the cost,” Dr Zahid said. “The scheme also provides paneer making machine, khoya making systems, dahi making, cream separator, and ice cream making machine, butter and ghee making machine, milk van, milk ATM as well.”
Besides, Dr Zahid said there is Dairy Development Scheme (DDS), Feed and Fodder Development Scheme (F&FDS) and Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund and it is open to every dairy farmer.
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SRINAGAR: The Jammu-Srinagar National highway has been closed for vehicular traffic due to shooting stones and landslides at Ramban, officials said on Wednesday.
“Mughal road and SSG road through for vehicular movement. However, Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) blocked at Ramban due to mudslide and shooting stones,” Jammu and Kashmir Traffic police said.
The highway is the lifeline of Kashmir and the main road link connecting the valley with the rest of the country.
Kashmir-bound trucks laden with essential supplies and other vehicles pass through the highway and fruit carrying trucks from Kashmir head for the rest of the country through this road. (IANS)
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SRINAGAR: A 55-year-old woman was injured in a bear attack in Sangrama Tral area of Pulwama district on Wednesday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the bear attacked Rehmati Begum wife of Ghulam Muhammad Malik near her house, leaving her injured.
He said that she was immediately shifted to SDH Tral where from she was referred to SMHS Srinagar for advanced treatment.
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SRINAGAR: The missing BJP leader was found hanging from a tree in Hiranagar area of Kathua district on Tuesday.
Though the exact reason behind his hanging and the details of the incident are not known yet, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the exact cause of the death, as per ANI reports.
As per police sources, a villager saw the body of BJP leader Som Raj hanging from a tree at some distance from his house in Hiranagar town in the morning and informed the police. The body was found with blood marks and was sent for post-mortem at a nearby hospital.
According to sources, BJP leader Somi Raj was missing yesterday and was found hanging from a tree on Tuesday under mysterious circumstances. Inquest proceedings under section 174 CrPC have been initiated by Hiranagar Police in this regard.
The family members and many BJP leaders demanded a probe into his death. After completing medical and legal formalities, the body of the deceased was handed over to legal heirs for last rites.
Quoting Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua RC Kotwal reports said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by SDPO Border has been constituted to investigate the matter. “Questioning of the leaders on whom the family has levelled allegation will also be conducted and whosoever will be found guilty will be dealt with iron hands,” SSP asserted.
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SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police are conducting searches in the Babar Qadri murder case. The searches are in progress at the residences of former Bar Association president, Mian Qayoom, and two other members – Manzoor Dar and Muzzaffar Mohammad.
Babar Qadri, the Kashmiri lawyer who was killed in Hawal on September 24, 2020, in Srinagar. Pic: Facebook
Qadri, a young and outspoken lawyer, was killed Qadri was killed at his Hawal residence on September 24, 2020. A group of armed persons had gone to his home to discuss an accident-related case and one of them pulled out his pistol and shot him dead. Qadri succumbed to his injuries in SKIMS.
The Kashmir Police Zone tweeted, “Srinagar police conducting searches at the residence of Adv Miyan Qayoom, Adv Manzoor Dar and Adv Muzzaffar Mohd in connection with further investigation of the murder of Adv Babar Qadri, FIR No 62/2020 of PS Lal Bazar: ADGP Kashmir”.
ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has confirmed the searches. Not many details are immediately known.
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