SRINAGAR: Weather department here on Monday forecasted more rain and thunderstorm at many places of Jammu and Kashmir.
While “gradual improvement” has been predicted from today afternoon onwards, the meteorological department here forecasted widespread light to moderate rain (snow over upper reaches) and thunderstorm with hail storm and gusty winds at a few places on May 2-3.
From May 4-7, a MeT official here said that there was possibility of “brief spell of rain/thunderstorm at scattered places towards evening.” Overall, he said, the weather is likely to be erratic.
Regarding rainfall during the last 24 hours till 0830 hours today, he said, Srinagar received 0.4mm, Gulmarg 0.4mm, Jammu 4.3mm, Batote 0.4mm, Katra 19.4mm and Bhaderwah 4.6mm.
Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 11.3°C against 10.5°C on the previous night and it was 1.6°C above normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 7.8°C same as on the previous night and it was below normal by 0.7°C for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 4.7°C against 2.2°C on previous night and it was 0.2°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of 7.7°C against 8.8°C on the previous night and it was 0.7°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 4.0°C against 1.0°C on previous night and it was 0.3°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 8.7°C against 8.8°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 18.7°C against 19.6°C on the previous night. It was 3.9°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 10.3°C (0.2°C above normal), Batote 13.1°C (0.6°C above normal), Katra 16.1°C (3.1°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 10.8°C (1.6°C above normal). Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of 2.2°C, the official added. (GNS)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/EWBzd8M
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Seventeen-year-old Tejas Singh, a Sikh boy from Jammu and Kashmir, has achieved the top position in JEE (Mains) with a percentile of 99.91, The Hindustan Times reported.
Tejas secured an all-India rank of 1123 when the JEE Mains results were announced on Saturday. Tejas is the son of Sukhpal Singh, Additional Secretary in the Public Health Engineering Department (Jal Shakti), and government teacher Sonia Singh. He aims to crack JEE (Advanced) on June 4.
Tejas attended Delhi Public School and achieved 93% in his matriculation. “My father had told me about JEE exams. Since I also liked mathematics, I opted for the non-medical stream and started preparing for it. Though I joined the coaching centre in Class 10. The Covid-19 pandemic hampered my preparation in 2020 and 2021,” Tejas said.
“I started serious preparations in 2022. I studied eight to nine hours with breaks in a day but remained consistent. Consistency is very important. It holds the key to one’s success,” he said. Tejas attributed his success to regular mock tests, and expressed his gratitude to God, his teachers, and his parents.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/LTdu9Up
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: A father-son duo from Pakistan-administered Kashmir was apprehended by the army near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.
Sardar Abdul Hamid and his son Abbas of Polas village in PAK were nabbed by the troops in Gulpur sector shortly after they crossed over from across the border, according to officials.
The questioning of the duo is in progress, and it is not immediately clear whether they crossed the border inadvertently or with some intention.
However, no incriminating material was found in their possession.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/5qAevm0
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Meteorological department on Sunday forecast “erratic” weather in Jammu and Kashmir for the first week of May.
“A brief spell of rain may occur in the evening at some places today, although chances are less,” a MeT official said.
On May 1, he said, mainly clear weather is expected while a brief spell of rain/thunderstorm may occur at a few places towards late afternoon or evening (60% chance) .
From May 2- 3, he said widespread light to moderate rain (light snow over higher reaches)//thunderstorm with hailstorm and gusty winds at few places during the period.
Overall weather is very likely to remain erratic between May 2 to May 7.
Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 10.5°C against 7.4°C on the previous night and it was 1.2°C above normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 7.8°C against 7.2°C on the previous night and it was normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 2.2°C against 3.8°C on previous night and it was 2.2°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of 8.8°C against 6.4°C on the previous night and it was 0.8°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 1.0°C against minus 0.5°C on previous night and it was 3.2°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 8.8°C against 6.4°C on the previous night and it was 1.0°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 19.6°C against 19.7°C on the previous night. It was 2.3°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 8.9°C (0.8°C below normal), Batote 10.2°C (1.8°C below normal), Katra 17.3°C (1.6°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 8.4°C (0.5°C below normal). Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 0.3°C and 3.8°C respectfully, the official said. (GNS)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/2pWQ0uR
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the marathon organised by Hindustan Scouts and Guides, Dogra Kranti Dal and Kashmir Road Safety Foundation on the eve of 100th episode of PM Narendra Modi’s monologue ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
100 marathons were organised today across JK to celebrate 100th episode of PM Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat radio programme, and raise awareness and strengthen action and cooperation against drug abuse and drug trafficking.
The Lt Governor expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inspiring the youth of the country through Mann Ki Baat to overcome challenges and set the ambitious goal in life. Prime Minister has brought together youth from different backgrounds with a single dream of nation building, he added.
“India’s greatest strength is its unity in diversity. Through Mann Ki Baat programme Prime Minister has inspired the people to take pride in their heritage and acknowledged remarkable contribution of scientists, teachers, litterateurs, artistes in raising India’s stature in the world,” Sinha said.
Addressing the youth on the occasion, the Lt Governor said, people from different walks of life have joined the fight against drug menace.
“Today, the youth of Jammu Kashmir have stood up against drug abuse. I am confident that our collective efforts will eliminate the narco-terrorism unleashed by neighboring country and lead the way for realising the goals of building a drug free Jammu Kashmir, observed the Lt Governor.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/k7vel2L
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: The School Education Department Friday proposed for conducting a survey on implementation of National School Bag Policy 2020 and Rule 8A of J&K School Education Act, 2002.
Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in a communique to Director of Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Education Research and Trainings (JKSCERT) has requested to conduct of survey on the implementation of Rule 8A of JK School Education Act, 2002, Rules & National School Bag Policy 2020 for reduction of school bag weight and homework burden.
“As the School Bag weight and homework burden beyond the recommendations of Rule 8A of JK School Education Act, 2002 Rules and National School Bag Policy 2020 is depriving the children of their happy childhood and impede their different developmental domains to a greater extent,” reads the official communique.
The director said that in this regard, a survey needs to be conducted as desired by School Education Department, as to whether the guidelines in Rule 8A of JK School Education Act, Rules 2002 and National School Bag Policy 2020 are being followed in the schools or not.
DSEK has requested that a survey may be conducted in six schools including two government and four private institutions in each district and 12 Schools in Srinagar district that includes four government and eight Private schools.
“The survey shall be involving DIETs of the Kashmir division in collaboration with Chief Education Officers so that the findings are shared with Administrative Department,” DSEK said. (KNO)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/vnQhNfy
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: In view of rising instances of unregistered vehicles plying on the roads, the Regional Transport Officer Kashmir has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to address the same.
According to the SOPs, the first offence of an unregistered vehicle being found on roads will be met with a ₹5,000 penalty under the Motor Vehicles Act, while the second offence will result in a ₹10,000 fine or a prison sentence for the owner which may extend to one year, or both.
Additionally, non-display of registration mark on High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs) will be similarly punishable.
“The showrooms must adhere to the rule of releasing vehicles with registration numbers on HSRP without fail. In case it is found that dealers have violated this norm, not only will the face penalty under MVA, but they will be held liable for any crimes committed using such vehicles”, an RTO official said.
To ensure uniform implementation of laws, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been put in place. These SOPs require enforcement teams to record and preserve evidence of vehicles without registration numbers by taking photos or videos.
Furthermore, enforcement teams must also prepare a daily report of vehicles fined or impounded and send it to the control room.
Additionally, a fortnightly report of all vehicle challans/impounds, along with their respective Supplier Dealers, shall be presented to RTO/ARTO. This report can then be used to take action against the dealers, which may include forfeiture of their security deposits. (GNS)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/KZ0XSjg
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: University of Miami is offering a fully funded scholarship for the academic year 2023 for undergraduate programs.
The courses offered include Accounting, Business Studies, Art, Biology, Marine Science, Sports Science, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Health and Fitness, and Marine Engineering.
All national and international students can apply, and architecture applicants must submit test scores or a portfolio. The candidate must be academically exceptional. Additionally, candidates whose native language is not English must have an English proficiency test such as TOEFL or IELTS.
The required documents include Official Transcripts, Official English Test Scores, and Letter of Recommendation.
The selected candidates will receive full tuition fees and on-campus housing facilities. Students will also be provided with an enrichment fund of $12,000 (INR 9,80,947.80) to study abroad, for undergraduate research, an unpaid internship, or other educational pursuits.
SRINAGAR: Officials reported that a tourist from West Bengal died of a heart attack in a Srinagar hospital on Saturday morning.
The tourist, who was staying in a hotel in Srinagar with his family, had complained of chest pain. He was then taken to the SKIMS Hospital in Srinagar Soura, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The deceased has been identified as Suhash Chandra, an 80-year-old resident of Deshbandhu Nagar, West Bengal. (KS)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/BIKzTRY
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
With 60000 specimens, the 51-year-old Kashmir University Herbarium (KASH) is the only address for studying the diverse plant basket of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. In near future, it is planning to get digitized, reportsInsha Shirazi
Mrs and Mr Dr Ralph R Stewart, the last major botanist who immensely contributed to the taxonomy in Kashmir.
It has been a phenomenal growth. The Kashmir University Herbarium, founded in 1972 by AR Naqshi with a meagre collection of 500 species in a single room, has now blossomed into a haven of Himalayan plant specimens with a staggering 60,000 plant specimens. Known globally for its unique and endemic plant diversity, the herbarium is a magnet for plant enthusiasts and researchers. As early as 1980, the Herbarium was recognised by the International Bureau for Plant Taxonomy and Nomenclature based in New York, under the acronym KASH. Housed in the University’s Centre for Biodiversity and Taxonomy (CBT), it had only 12,000 plant specimens, then. In the last four decades, the collects have gone up five times.
Index Herbarium puts this herbarium and rank three in the North-Western Himalayas of India. Although Central National Herbarium, Kolkata is home to more than 200000 plant specimens and Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, and IIIM of Jammu have more than 12000 plant specimens each, none of these major herbariums has a collection as diverse and unique as that of the Kashmir University Herbarium.
Professionals associated with the herbarium have collected the plant species from diverse habitats across Jammu and Kashmir. It has plants that grow in Guraze, Tulail, Karnah, Keran, Badherwah, Doda, Kishtwar, Warwun, Marwah, Dachin, Padder, Rajouri, Poonch, Drass, Kargil, Zanskar, and Nubra. Part of the collection was sent to renowned herbaria including the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew, besides various others within India.
The Preservation
“Herbarium is a dried plant specimen collected through different techniques. We go to the field and collect them, dry them in newspapers or blotting paper, depending on the moisture content,” Akhtar H Malik, Junior Scientist and Curator for Biodiversity and Taxonomy (CBT) at the Kashmir University Herbarium (KASH), said while explaining the process of collecting and preserving plant specimens. “After drying, we paste these specimens on specialized sheets called herbarium sheets, which have an international standard size of 29×41.5 cm. On the bottom side of the plant specimen, we paste a special label known as the herbarium label that has data like the spot where it was collected, location, date, habitat, etc. After that, we transfer these plant specimens to the herbarium and arrange them according to the Bentham and Hooker systems. Nowadays, we arrange them in herbarium compactors according to the family of the plant specimens.”
However, preserving these plant specimens for long-term storage requires more care. “We use chemicals to preserve these plant specimens at the time of pasting on specialized Herbarium sheet. Then, the second step is to use a small amount of mercuric chloride with glue because plants that we collect from different places, such as aquatic bodies, can be contaminated by pests. After that, we keep them in fumigation chambers with chemicals like Para dichlorobenzene and naphthalene for 10 days until these chemicals are exposed. Finally, we transfer them to herbarium compactors.” Malik added.
These plant specimens last for a long time. “We have species that are more than 100 years old, collected by British botanists from Kashmir,” Malik said. “They collected a lot of specimens from the Himalayas of Kashmir and kept those specimens in Dehradun. We obtained 10 specimens from them and kept them in our Herbarium.”
These plant specimens are not only important for scientific research but also for education and cultural heritage. “Every year we get students from schools, colleges, and Universities. If this herbarium would not be there a researcher or student might have to go to another place to submit their specimen,” Malik said.
The Importance
KASH (Kashmir University Herbarium) holds a huge collection and has emerged as a valuable resource for identifying unknown and rare plant species.
“We have specimens of Kuth (Saussurea costus) and Kahzaban (Arnebia benthamii) that identify the genuine from similar plants, said Malik. “These specimens are not only useful for researchers and scholars but also for students who visit our herbarium to learn about plant diversity.”
The curator at KASH Herbarium at the University of Kashmir explains things to visitors. KL Image Special Arrangement
Herbariums are crucial for documenting plant diversity. “We can create a flora or inventory of plant species based on herbarium data. We can also determine the location of a particular plant species with the help of herbarium specimens,” added Malik.
Off late, KASH has also become a popular destination for students, scholars, and researchers from different colleges, schools, and universities. Besides, Herbariums represent Kashmir’s natural heritage of plants.
Climate Change
The herbarium can be used as a tool to determine how the phenology of plants changes due to climate change. Now, some plants flower in February. “We can take historical data from the Herbarium of these plants whose flowering was preponing, by one month,” Malik said. “The collectors collected these plants for the herbarium when the flowering was seen in March but now it is February. It clearly explains the climate change impact.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared at least six medicinal and aromatic plant species on the red list of extinction in Jammu and Kashmir. “We can do mapping of extinct plants. We write the herbaria data of the plant specimens, location, its geo coordinates and make a map about their distribution range then and now,” Malik said. “Suppose we have 50 locations in herbarium specimens but on the ground, we can locate 10 or 15 locations and we go for their In-situ conservation.”
The data on medicinal plants in the herbarium is collected by scholars from different locations of Kashmir like Gulmarg, Kokernag, and Daksum.. When they go to collect the specimens after 30 years and fail to locate the particular specimen, it reflects a shift in climate change, land use patterns, population expansion, habitat fragmentation or any other reason.
A Rich Collection
“I have visited the KASH 8-10 times. In comparison to established herbaria, it is an active herbarium of northwestern Himalaya and houses a rich collection of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. This has a collection of very remote areas which are not found in any other herbariums,” Dr Priyanka, Principal Scientist CSIR, National Botanical Researcher Institute Lucknow (NBRI) said. “If we want to study plant diversity of Jammu and Kashmir and Himalayan you can sit in Kashmir University herbarium and compile a lot of data on plant diversity.”
Priyanka is working on the Himalayas. Though the Herbarium of Kolkata has an almost 200 years old collection, the specimens are not in good condition.
“My 20 students have visited KASH because it is mandatory. It is important for Kashmir and Ladakh flora as they are representing a good amount of plant diversity in India,” Priyanka said. “The main collectors of the KASH are well-renowned taxonomists. The specimens are well-identified and well-researched and represent the Standard reference diversity.”
With technology shifts in knowledge management, KASH is also changing. “We will go for digitization of all the specimens and we have submitted the proposal also,” Malik said. “We can use a high-end digital scanner and can scan the specimens and we can keep all those scanned images of all the plant specimens on the website by which the student and scholars across the world can asses those scanned images of plant specimens at home. It will take 3-4 years to execute this plan.”
The Financial Assistance for Science and Technology (FIST) grants the Kashmir University herbarium 10 lakh rupees for the herbarium compactors.
“Many herbariums in India and outside India have digitized their herbariums. If the herbarium of Kashmir gets digitized it would be the very fantastic job and it will be very useful for the researcher from outside Kashmir to assess the plant specimens sitting at the home. It will save time and money,” Dr Priyanka said.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/hwYSQKC
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: After a gap of 32 years, Kashmiri Pandits from different parts of the country on Friday thronged the Regenya Mata Asthapan temple at the Badipora area of Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district and performed Maha Yagye (Hawan).
They expressed joy over returning to their native village after a long time and celebrating the festival. They said the event was a “symbol of hope and reconciliation” for all the communities in the valley.
Setting an example of communal harmony and brotherhood, the local Muslims came together to extend best wishes to Pandits and helped the devotees in the smooth celebration of the religious event.
‘’This event was held after 32 years and we received a lot of love from the local residents,” a local devotee, Bhushan Lal Koul said, adding that the love and warmth they received from the muslim brethren made us all emotional.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam S F Hamid also paid a visit to the temple and participated in the Hawan.
“Seeing Muslims and Pandits attending each other’s functions after a 32-year break is a testament to our community’s brotherhood and solidarity,” the DC said, adding, “This event showcased the changing ground realities in the region where Kashmiri Pandits are gradually returning to their homes and rebuilding their lives.” (KNO)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/mCE1nH6
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Friday said that the April 21 attack in Bhata Durian area of Poonch in which five soldiers were killed was carried out with active local support and militants had used steel-coated armour-piercing bullets and IEDs to target army vehicle to inflict maximum damage.
He said intense search to track the natural hide-outs used by militants is being launched and initial investigations suggest that nine to 12 foreign militants may be active in Rajouri-Poonch area, who may have infiltrated recently.
Talking to reporters after taking stock of the ongoing search operations in Darhal area of Rajouri district, DGP Singh said that the Poonch attack was carried out with active support of locals.
“Such attacks can’t be carried out without local support. The militants were provided shelter at one place and then provided transport to carry out the attack at another place. They had done proper recee of the area and despite rain they succeeded to target the army vehicle that was plying with almost zero speed due to blind turn,” the DGP said, adding that “the attackers knew the spot and speed of the vehicle.”
The DGP said that the terrorist used steel-coated armour-piercing bullets and IEDs to blow the army vehicle in a bid to inflict maximum damage. “Same bullets were used in the Dhangri, Rajouri attack. The Poonch attack was carried out near a forest area. Initial investigations suggest that the terrorists may have used natural hideouts. We are identifying the natural hide-outs that may have been used by the attackers before the attack and intense search operation is on to nab the attackers,” he said.
Replying to a query, he said that the group of terrorists involved in the recent attack may be divided into two and their number seems to be between nine to twelve.
About the local support, he said that the local Nisar Ahmed, a resident of Gursai village, was already in the suspect list of police. “He has been an active OGW of terrorists since 1990. He was questioned several times in the past. This time, after corroborating the evidence, he was found involved in providing logistic and other support to terrorists who carried out the Poonch attack,” the DGP said, adding that Nisar’s family is also involved in providing support to terrorists.
On whether terrorists had got weapons through drones, the DGP said that weapons, grenades and cash was air-dropped by drone and the same was collected by Nisar and his family members.
“We are identifying the spot where the drone had dropped the weapons and cash,” he said. He said so far, 200 people were questioned and 12 suspects have been detained. He said with the arrest of Nisar, the investigation has got a direction and vital leads have been received so far. (KNO)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/G2jUSEN
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: The High Court of JK and Ladakh High while taking serious note of the deaths caused due to electrocution and injuries due to electric shocks, ordered for the constitution of a committee to ensure the implementation of statutory safety measures and regulations enshrined in the Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010, in letter and spirit.
The three member panel will be headed by the Commissioner Secretary, State’s Power Development Department (PDD) and will comprise of the Chief Engineers of the Department.
The court has also directed District Magistrates of all districts in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to ensure compliance with Regulation 58 of Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010 on a war footing, which provides for clearance above ground level of conductors of overhead lines, including electricity service lines.
While awarding compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of Jatinder Kumar, a casual labourer, who died while carrying out restoration work on a transformer in Jammu, a bench comprising Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal observed that that the accident occurred due to non-adherence to safety measures such as local earthings, hand insulating gloves, proper isolation, and other safety measures by the maintenance staff. “The deceased worker’s mother, wife, and daughter will receive the compensation within two months of the court order,” the bench concluded.
“It appears that deaths due to electrocution as well as bodily injuries due to electric shocks are ignored as mere accidents. The colossal loss of human lives and especially children is totally unacceptable, grim and heart rending. Such unfortunate deaths continue to occur flouting statutory measures,” bench observed.
“Article 21 of constitution ensures fundamental rights to each citizen of the country which are inalienable in nature and guarantees citizens right to live and to be treated as an individual of worth,” it added.
Justice Nargal further emphasized that, “any omission in preventing the discharge of high voltage electric energy by anyone engaged in the activity of supplying such electric energy is liable to compensate for the damage caused to a human life because of such energy.”
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/c9YfBN8
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Authorities have closed Srinagar-Kargil highway due to fresh snowfall while vehicular movement has been badly affected due to breakdown of a big trailer truck on Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Dalwas, officials said Friday.
An official said that “up HMVs tail has been delayed due to the breakdown of a big trailer at Dalwas.”
He advised commuters to cooperate with the traffic officials manning the highway.
On Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gomri (SSG) road, which connects Ladakh with Kashmir valley, he said that the route has been closed for traffic due to fresh snowfall. Pertinently, the road was partially opened for traffic on Thursday after remaining closed for 11 days due to snow avalanches at Zojila Pass.
The closure has affected traffic in the area, with commuters advised to find alternative routes. Authorities are working hard to clear the snow and reopen the road as soon as possible, but the process is expected to take some time.
Meanwhile, the Mughal road continues to remain closed for traffic. The road, which connects Kashmir valley with Rajouri and Poonch regions, remains shut in winters due to heavy snowfall. The road is expected to open for traffic soon as authorities are clearing the snow from the historic road.
Traffic update @ 0730 hrs
Up HMVs tail delayed due 2 breakdown of big trailer at Dalwas. People r advised 2 co-operate plz. SSG road closed due 2 snowing. Mughal road is closed.@ddnewsladakh@ddnews_jammu@ddnewsSrinagar
University of Washington professor of seismology and geohazards Harold Tobin who also heads the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, explains the differences between predicting and forecasting earthquakes
An aerial view of the devastation by the February 2023 earthquake in Hatay, Turkey.
In short, no. Science has not yet found a way to make actionable earthquake predictions. A useful prediction would specify a time, a place and a magnitude – and all of these would need to be fairly specific, with enough advance notice to be worthwhile.
For example, if I predict that California will have an earthquake in 2023, that would certainly come true, but it’s not useful because California has many small earthquakes every day. Or imagine I predict a magnitude 8 or greater earthquake will strike in the Pacific Northwest. That is almost certainly true but doesn’t specify when, so it’s not helpful new information.
Earthquakes happen because the slow and steady motions of tectonic plates cause stresses to build up along faults in the Earth’s crust. Faults are not really lines, but planes extending down miles into the ground. Friction due to the enormous pressure from the weight of all the overlying rock holds these cracks together.
An earthquake starts in some small spot on the fault where the stress overcomes the friction. The two sides slip past each other, with the rupture spreading out at a mile or two per second. The grinding of the two sides against each other on the fault plane sends out waves of motion of the rock in every direction. Like the ripples in a pond after you drop in a stone, it’s those waves that make the ground shake and cause damage.
Most earthquakes strike without warning because the faults are stuck – locked up and stationary despite the strain of the moving plates around them, and therefore silent until that rupture begins. Seismologists have not yet found any reliable signal to measure before that initial break.
What about the likelihood of a quake in one area?
On the other hand, earthquake science today has come a long way in what I’ll call forecasting as opposed to prediction.
Seismologists can measure the movement of the plates with millimetre-scale precision using GPS technology and other means, and detect the places where stress is building up. Scientists know about the recorded history of past earthquakes and can even infer farther back in time using the methods of paleo-seismology: the geologically preserved evidence of past quakes.
Putting all this information together allows us to recognize areas where conditions are ripe for a fault to break. These forecasts are expressed as the likelihood of an earthquake of a given size or greater in a region over a period of decades into the future. For example, the US Geological Survey estimates the odds of a magnitude 6.7 or greater quake in the San Francisco Bay Area over the next 30 years is 72 per cent.
Are there any hints a quake could be coming?
A meme that somebody set on social media after the September 22, 2020 evening tremors and it moved faster than the earthquake.
Only about 1 in 20 damaging earthquakes have foreshocks – smaller quakes that precede a larger one in the same place. By definition, they aren’t foreshocks, though, until a bigger one follows. The inability to recognize whether an earthquake in isolation is a foreshock is a big part of why useful prediction still eludes us.
However, in the past decade or so, there have been a number of massive earthquakes of magnitude 8 or more, including the 2011 magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan and a 2014 magnitude 8.1 in Chile. Interestingly, a larger fraction of those very biggest earthquakes seem to have exhibited some precursory events, either in the form of a series of foreshocks detected by seismometers or sped-up movements of the nearby Earth’s crust detected by GPS stations, called “slow slip events” by earthquake scientists.
These observations suggest that perhaps there really are precursory signals for at least some huge quakes. Maybe the sheer size of the ensuing quake made otherwise imperceptible changes in the region of the fault prior to the main event more detectable. We don’t know, because so few of these greater-than-magnitude-8 earthquakes happen. Scientists don’t have a lot of examples to go on that would let us test hypotheses with statistical methods.
In fact, while earthquake scientists all agree that we can’t predict quakes today, there are now essentially two camps: In one view, earthquakes are the result of complex cascades of tiny effects – a sensitive chain reaction of sorts that starts with the proverbial butterfly wing flapping deep within a fault – so they’re inherently unpredictable and will always remain so. On the other hand, some geophysicists believe we may one day unlock the key to prediction if we can just find the right signals to measure and gain enough experience.
How do early warning systems work?
One real breakthrough today is that scientists have developed earthquake early warning systems like the USGS ShakeAlert now operating in California, Oregon and Washington State. These systems can send out an alert to residents’ mobile devices and to operators of critical machinery, including utilities, hospitals, trains and so on, providing warning of anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute before shaking begins.
This sounds like an earthquake prediction, but it is not. Earthquake early-warning relies on networks of seismometers that detect the very beginning of an earthquake on a fault and automatically calculate its location and magnitude before the damaging waves have spread very far. The sensing, calculating and data transfer all happen near the speed of light, while the seismic waves move more slowly. That time difference is what allows early warning.
For example, if an earthquake begins off the coast of Washington state beneath the ocean, coastal stations can detect it, and cities like Portland and Seattle could get tens of seconds of warning time. People may well get enough time to take a life safety action like “Drop, Cover and Hold On” – as long as they are sufficiently far away from the fault itself.
What complications would predicting bring?
While earthquake prediction has often been referred to as the “holy grail” of seismology, it actually would present some real dilemmas if ever developed.
First of all, earthquakes are so infrequent that any early methods will inevitably be of uncertain accuracy. In the face of that uncertainty, who will make the call to take a major action, such as evacuating an entire city or region? How long should people stay away if a quake doesn’t materialize? How many times before it’s a boy-who-cried-wolf situation and the public stops heeding the orders? How do officials balance the known risks from the chaos of mass evacuation against the risk from the shaking itself? The idea that prediction technology will emerge fully formed and reliable is a mirage.
It is often said in the field of seismology that earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do. Scientists are already good enough today at forecasting earthquake hazards that the best course of action is to redouble efforts to construct or retrofit buildings, bridges and other infrastructure so they’re safe and resilient in the event of ground shaking in any area known to be at risk from large future quakes. These precautions will pay off in lives and property saved far more than a hoped-for means of earthquake prediction, at least for the foreseeable future.
(The author is Professor of Seismology and Geohazards, University of Washington. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/FiczTa4
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: The transport authorities in Kashmir ordered the suspension and cancellation of two more Registration Certificates (RCs) on Wednesday for “involved vehicles” in response to a case involving alleged harassment. The case pertains to allegations made by a family from the Srinagar outskirts that a group of boys riding two-wheelers harassed them.
By exercising powers under Section 54 of the MVA, 1988, the office of the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir issued two separate orders calling for the suspension of the registration certificate of vehicle number JK01AS-1158 with immediate effect and the cancellation of the RC of vehicle number JK01AR-1634 for one year.
Meanwhile, the RTO Kashmir exercised powers under Section 180 of MVA, 1988, and imposed a penalty of Rs 5,000 upon Mehraj Din Ganaie, the present owner and possessor of the vehicle used in the “offence,” for allowing his vehicle to be driven by a person who did not possess a valid driving licence.
The order stated that “Hial Mehraj is complicit in the offence and has acted irresponsibly, not only allowing his vehicle No: JK01AS-1158 to be used in contravention of the provisions of this MVA, 1988, but also allowing his son Mr Hazik Mehraj, a juvenile to drive his vehicle.”
Last month, a video went viral on social media in which a family traveling in a car was seen seeking help while a group of youths on scooters chased and allegedly attacked them in the Parimpora area of Srinagar. Following the incident, Srinagar Police arrested the group of youths. (KNO)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/1quKRtJ
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: A 19-year-old teenager was killed and another youth escaped unhurt after a massive boulder came crashing onto his house following a landslide in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday, officials said.
The boulder rolled down from the hills due to the landslide triggered by rains in Thakuria area. A residential house and two cow sheds have been damaged in the landslide.
The teenager who died was identified as Mohd Arshad and his body has been retrieved while rescue operation is on in the area.
Arshad’s house was extensively damaged by the landslide, but the rest of his family members were reportedly safe, officials added.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/nIPOmHK
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: The central government has notified the transfer of Justice Atul Sreedharan from Madhya Pradesh High Court to Jammu & Kashmir High Court.
Union Minister for Law & Justice Kiren Rijju announced the development through a tweet. With this development, the number of High Court judges in J&K High Court has reached 16.
On March28, 2023, the Supreme Court collegium has recommended that Justice Atul Sreedharan be transferred from MP High Court to J&K. Justice Atul Sreedharan has sought his transfer on the grounds that his elder daughter would enter practice next year and would be appearing before the District Court and the Indore Bench of the High Court.
“Justice Atul Sreedharan has stated that he does not desire to continue in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh when his daughter enters practice,” reads the collegium resolution.
“The collegium has resolved to accept the request of Mr Justice Atul Sreedharan and to recommend that he be transferred, in the interest of better administration of justice, to the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh,” it further states.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/qnSXheE
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Intermittent rains lashed Jammu and Kashmir since last afternoon, mostly during the night, while night temperature stayed below normal on Thursday, officials said. Also, “erratic weather” has been forecast in J&K till May 4.
Quoting a meteorological department official GNS reported that in last 24 hours till 8:30 a.m. this morning, Srinagar recorded 39.7mm of rain, Qazigund 20.8mm, Pahalgam 19.3mm, Kupwara 21.0mm, Kokernag 31.6mm, Gulmarg 43.6mmJammu 3.8mm, Banihal 21.8mm, Batote 32.6mm, Katra 16.2mm, Bhaderwah 43.2mm and Kathua 3.8mm.
Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 7.0°C against 7.9°C on the previous night and it was 2.3°C below normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 6.6°C against 5.2°C on the previous night and it was 1.2°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 3.5°C against 2.6°C on previous night and it was 0.9°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of 5.2°C against 3.0°C on the previous night and it was 2.9°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 0.5°C against 3.2°C on previous night and it was 4.7°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 3.4°C against 5.2°C on the previous night and it was 4.4°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 19.1°C against 18.5°C on the previous night. It was 2.8°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 7.2°C (2.5°C below normal), Batote 7.0°C (5.0°C below normal), Katra 14.5°C (4.4°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 6.8°C (2.3°C below normal). Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of 2.6°C and minus 3.5°C respectively, the official said.
The MeT department has predicted that weather was likely to remain “erratic” till May 4.
From April 27-28, the official said, intermittent rain, thunderstorm and snowfall (over higher reaches) was very likely at most places of J&K. However, he said, there is no forecast of major snowfall.
From April 29-3, he said, weather is likely to be partly to generally cloudy with possibility of intermittent rain, thunderstorm at scattered places.
“Overall, weather is very likely to remain erratic from April 27-May 4 in J&K,” he said. Also, the department has urged farmers to postpone spraying of orchards till May 4.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/Jd0P7tU
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: The traffic movement on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway resumed on Thursday morning after remaining suspended during night due to landslides triggered by rains in Ramban district.
Traffic movement was stopped from both sides of the highway last night after landslides blocked the road near Shalgari, Banihal, an official said.
“Around 300 vehicles remained stranded on the highway during the night halt,” he said.
He said traffic has been restored now and stranded vehicle are being cleared on priority.
The official advised vehicle operators and people to travel with caution on the highway. (KNO)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/S6wBvoq
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the National Conference on ‘India@G20’, today at the Convention Centre.
The Conference was organized by IIM Jammu, IIT Jammu, AIIMS Jammu, in collaboration with Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DICCI) to deliberate upon priorities, prospects and way forward for creating an inclusive & sustainable society.
“The aspirations of humanity can be fulfilled only in the conditions of peace. And, I strongly believe, ‘Ahimsa’ deeply rooted in our great civilization, is making the world realize the futility of conflict and utility of dialogue,” said the Lt Governor.
During India’s G20 presidency, green, accelerated, inclusive & sustainable growth are top priorities and the world is looking at us with a hope to deal with the challenges of Covid, Climate Change and Conflict, observed the Lt Governor.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a new vision to the world that climate change cannot be fought from conference tables alone but It has to be fought from the dinner tables in every home. This will pave the way for sustainable & inclusive development,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor stressed upon synergy between developmental activities and environment conservation to ensure global prosperity and better quality of life for all. He further observed that Ecological security will lead to economic security and strengthen our social development initiatives.
“India will play the most important & constructive role for climate future and shape the action plan for mitigation, adaptation and environmental management systems. India will guide the world towards achieving the goal of environmentally sustainable development,” he said.
The Lt Governor said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, India has given a new social model to the world for equitable development.
Atma-Nirbhar Bharat, Make In India and Digital India have provided a robust framework for rapid and sustainable growth, he added.
The Lt Governor also underscored the important role of premier institutions like IIM, IIT & AIIMS and the youth to provide future solutions to humanity.
He further emphasized on exchange of best practices and increased cooperation between the countries for Digitally Empowered Society and Knowledge-based Economy.
G20 represents 60% of the world population, accounts 85% of global GDP and 75% of global trade. I am confident that India’s G20 presidency will give new impetus to global relations and strengthen the spirit of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, he added.
Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary also shared his views and highlighted the efforts to fulfil India’s G20 goals.
Dr Milind Kamble Chairman, BoG, IIM Jammu; Dr Sharad Saraf, Chairman, BoG, IIT Jammu; Prof YK Gupta, President AIIMs Jammu; Prof BS Sahay, Director IIM Jammu; Prof Shakti Gupta, Executive Director, AIIMS Jammu; Prof Manoj Singh Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu, besides delegates from across the country, prominent citizens and students were present.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/VWGvgCJ
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta expressed confidence that India is more than capable of achieving its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2070 and said that it is high time we shifted away from fossil fuels and made alternate sources our main energy providers.
He was speaking at a workshop organised by the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee here at the Convention Centre.
The interactive workshop on ‘Climate Change Mitigation and Green Financing for a Climate Resilient and Carbon Neutral J&K’ was attended by Dr.Mohit Gera, PCCF (HoFF), J&K Forest Department and Chairman, J&K Pollution Control Committee; Dr. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Vice Chancellor, Islamic University, Kashmir; HoDs of Forest Department, Dr. Ravindranath, renowned IPCC Author, and resource persons from MoEFCC, TERI, Earnest and Young Climate, World Resources Institute of India besides other eminent guests and environment experts.
Dr Mehta appreciated the efforts of the Pollution Control Committee and Jammu & Kashmir Forest Department for organizing deliberations on Net Zero Carbon by 2070. He informed that J&K has already made a model by developing a climate resilient and carbon neutral Panchayat of village Palliin District Samba which is first of its kind in the country.
According to Dr Mehta, Jammu & Kashmir has always been at the forefront of adopting flagship developmental schemes of the government.
‘The distinction of implementing the 75 Amrit Sarovars in each district amongst first in the entire country is a good example of how well J&K can adapt to the needs of the times with cooperation from its citizens. Similarly, schemes like “Har Gaon Hariyali”, “One Beat Guard, One village Program”, “Van Se Jal, Jal Se Jeevan” have been very effective in building in resilience and adaptation at village level.
J&K has been a leader in adopting transformative steps in the overhaul of sports, agriculture, and tourism sectors in recent years. The Chief Secretary stated that we are planting more trees every year than ever before and this year over one and half crore trees are going to be planted again all over J&K.
In terms of health infrastructure, Jammu & Kashmir ranks among the leading states of India. The Har Ghar Nal Se Jal scheme will also be fully implemented by the end of this financial year, he continued. The scheme aims to mitigate water supply challenges for the coming 50 years at least, in view of climate change.
The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of communicating climate change adaptation measures to the masses in a way that creates a genuine connection with them. To achieve this goal, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need to communicate with the public at all levels, including panchayats, in ways that creates public ownership.
The CS stressed that what is good for the environment is invariably good for the economy and society and underlined that infrastructure development of the states should not hamper our climate change mitigation steps.
Also, the Chief Secretary urged the environmental experts present to work out environmental plans for Jammu & Kashmir for timely intervention on behalf of the UT administration. The Chief Secretary expressed hope that J&K will continue taking a lead in India’s fight against climate change even in the years ahead.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/5GTnF8d
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday raided an NGO office of jailed Khurram Parvaiz in central Kashmir’s Budgam
A team of NIA conducted searches at an NGO office at Dandoosa area in Budgam. The office is of Khurram Parvaiz, they said.
An official confirmed and said “Yes, the NIA team conducted searches at the NGO office at Dandoosa Budgam, some documents have been seized during searches”.
The searches were conducted in an NGO terror funding case. Parvaz is already in jail in a terror-funding case and was chargesheeted in May last year. “Following the first arrest made in the NGO terror funding case on March 20, 2023, the National Investigation Agency arrested Khurram Parvez, the program coordinator of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS) and chairperson of Philippines-based NGO Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). (KDC)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/RbzLsAJ
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: A whopping 6,875 bite victims, mostly of dog bites, were reported to the Anti-Rabies Clinic at Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital in last one year
The presence of dogs in every nook and corner has led to man-dog confrontation due to which the number of cases of dog bites has increased in the region, doctors say.
Quoting an official from anti rabies clinic SMHS, KNO reported that from April Ist 2022 till 3Ist March 2023 as many as 6,875 bite cases were reported to ARC SMHS and most of them were from Srinagar.
Giving details, he said that among animal bites in last one year 4,912 animal bite cases were reported from Srinagar at ARC SMHS, 317 from Budgam, 201 from Baramulla, 134 from Kupwara, 168 from Bandipora, 301 from Ganderbal, 221 from Pulwama, 138 from Shopian, 147 from Kulgam, 85 from Anantnag and 231 from other areas.
Giving yearly data of bite cases, the official said that from April 1 2015 to March 2016, 7, 061 bite cases were reported to ARC SMHS, followed by 5,832 cases from April 2016 to March 2017, 6,802 cases from April 2017 to March 2018, 6,397 cases from April 2018 to March 2019, 6139 cases from April 2019 to March 2020, 4,808 from April 2020 to March 2021, 5,469 from April 2021 to March 2022 and 6,785 from April 2022 to March 2023.
He said that 49,383 cases have been registered in Anti rabies clinic from April 2015 to March 2023.
In Kashmir, dog bite is an important public health problem. Thousands of people become victims of animal bites, especially dog bites, and some of them develop rabies.
Rabies is an invariably fatal viral disease resulting in approximately 59,000 human deaths per year globally, with 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia.
The only way to prevent a rabies death is vaccination of an animal bite victim. In Kashmir, the burden and characteristics of dog bites are not routinely captured by the health system in place.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/Jb8nI3E
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Around 50,000 pilgrims are expected to visit Kheer Bhawani and other places across Jammu and Kashmir this year, as announced by the Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra Welfare Society on Tuesday.
During a news conference, the Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra Welfare Society stated that arrangements are being made for the pilgrims at Kheer Bhawani and other places ahead of the Mela.
They further said that the administration has geared up to take adequate measures and ensure elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims, as they do every year.
Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra Welfare Society expects at least 40,000-50,000 pilgrims to visit and do darshan this year. However, there is a need to restore both ladies and gents toilets at Kheer Bhawani, which have been defunct for the past two years, and some other renovations need to be done at Kheer Bhawani.
“The district administration has been directed to restore the facilities. We are expecting speedy work in this regard and hope that the work will be completed ahead of the Mela,” said Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra Welfare Society . (KNO).
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/6xWqPTS
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR:National Investigation Agency Court Pulwama on Tuesday issued Proclamation order under section 82 CRPC in respect of a designated militant and an active militant in various militant activities.
In a handout, the police said that proclamation has been issued in respect of designated militant Ashiq Ah Negroo, who is involved in various terrorist activities including Case FIR No. 42/2022 under section 20, 38 UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) of Police Station Rajpora and in respect of active militant Reyaz Ah Dar involved in case FIR No 239/2022 under section 307 IPC, 16, 18, 20, 23, 38 UAPA of Police Station Pulwama. Court has given them 30 days to surrender before the competent authority.
According to police spokesman, before issuing proclamation, NIA Court has already issued NBW (Non-Bailable warrant) open ended warrant. Proclamation order was pasted in their native places and also on the conspicuous places of the villages along with the concerned police, reads the statement.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/08zToRt
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: SIU-I Srinagar presented charge sheet before the Court of NIA Srinagar in case FIR No. 69/2022 of Police Station Chanapora against five accused persons including two militants and three associates.
In a statement SIU spokesperson said that in November 1st 2022, a case FIR No. 69/2022 under section 7/25 A Act, 13, 18, & 23 UA(P) Act stands registered in Police Station Chanapora Srinagar on receipt of a docket received from In-charge naka party (SHO P/S Chanapora) and the investigation was taken up by the then SDPO Sadder which was subsequently transferred to SIU-I Srinagar by the orders of PHQ J&K Jammu.
Pertinently, two grenades were recovered from the two suspects namely Amir Mushtaq Dar son of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar resident of Sozeith Lawaypora and Kabil Rashid Dar son of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar resident of HMT Srinagar who were intercepted by the Naka party at a checkpoint established at Harnambal near Sports Stadium Natipora Chanapora. Besides, their personal mobile phones with inbuilt SIM cards were also seized. Accordingly, a case was registered and investigation was initiated, he said.
During the course of investigation, another co-accused namely Aqib Jamal Bhat son of Mohd Jamal Bhat resident of Sozeith was apprehended and on his disclosure, one IED which was kept hidden by him in a pit at Rangreth near Railway track was recovered in presence of concerned Executive Magistrate. The said IED was got destroyed/blasted on spot by the Bomb Disposal Squad.
During further course of investigation, it established that the three arrested accused persons Amir Mushtaq Dar, Kabil Rashid Dar & Aqib Jamal Bhat working as terrorist associates for the terrorists viz, Momin Gulzar Mir and Basit Ahmad Dar under a well-knit criminal conspiracy were providing logistic support to them and procured hand grenades and IED for carrying out the terrorist activities.
On the strength of evidence collected (material/documentary & oral), the three arrested accused persons were found to be involved in the commission of offences punishable in terms of provision of Arms Act and UA(P) Act under sections 7/25 Arms Act, 13, 18, 23 & 39 UA(P) Act and the accused terrorists viz Momin Gulzar Mir and Basit Ahmad Dar are found to be involved in the commission of offences under sections 13, 18, 20 & 38 UA(P) Act, who are absconding and the proceedings under section 299 CrPC have been proposed to be initiated against them.
Accordingly, the sanction for launching prosecution against the accused persons was obtained from the Home Department and the charge sheet is presented before the Hon’ble Court of NIA Srinagar today in the instant case.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/cvFIar7
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: A driver from Ganderbal died due to heart attack in Udhampur district of Jammu district on Monday late night.
An official said that driver identified as Adil Rashid wani son of Abdul Rashid wani resident of Kujjar Ganderbal fell unconscious at Udhampur. Wani was shifted to hospital where doctors declared him dead and apparent cause of death is said to be cardiac arrest, he said.
Meanwhile further proceedings in this regard have been started and body is being brought back to Ganderbal. (KS)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/Zmzi2dA
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar on Monday said that it is shifting the office to Saida Kadal area of Srinagar for the benefit of learners and other stakeholders.
In a statement, the spokesperson said that the shifting is being made in the interest of the learners and other stakeholders.
“The new office is located on the Dalgate-Kashmir University Road and is very well connected. We are confident that this change will allow us to enhance our Student Support Services and meet the expectations of our Learners,” reads the statement.
It reads all the IGNOU learners and other stakeholders are informed that the shifting of the office of IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar will start from tomorrow so that the office will remain closed for routine work from tomorrow and all the communication from April25 to 28 may be done on the official email of IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar only.
It added that the IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar will start normal functioning from the new office from May 1 onwards.
“The learners are informed not to visit the office of the IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar from April 25 to 28. All stakeholders are informed to update their office records and make necessary changes in the office address of IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar so as to ensure that all future correspondence is directed/send to our new office address,” it added. (KNO)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/iMj4pJL
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: A Cordon & Search Operation (CASO) which was launched in the Padshahi Bagh area of Srinagar outskirts has concluded peacefully on Monday late afternoon.
Local sources said that joint forces cordoned off Naikpora area of Padshahi Bagh and conducted door-to-door searches.
“A large number of troops and cops arrived in dozens of vehicles and cordoned off our locality. They went from house to house and conducted searches and checked the identity cards of locals. Even drones were pressed into service during the search operation,” said a local.
The cordon was lifted after over 3 hours of the search operation, he added.
Police sources also confirmed saying that information about the suspicious movement had been received from the area. They said no arrests were made during the search operation. [KNT]
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/dEMIWva
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
Remains of the ill-fated army truck that went up in flames after suspected militants attacked it in Bhata Dhurian area in Mendhar (Poonch) on April 20, 2023. Six soldiers were killed and one survived injured.
In anticipation of preparations for the G20 meeting in Kashmir, suspected militants targeted an army vehicle killing five of the six soldiers. The surviving soldier is battling for his life in the hospital. The attack occurred at Bhatta Durrian (Mendhar), where four soldiers were killed in a gun battle with the militants in October 2021. Army statement said militants hiding behind bushes and a cluster of trees opened firing on the Army truck moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch at Bhatta Durrian on April 20, 2023, at 3 pm taking advantage of rains and thunderstorms. While one militant used grenades to stop the truck, another opened calibrated fire towards its fuel tank, triggering a massive blaze as yet another militant opened fire at onboard soldiers. Four of five Rashtriya Rifles soldiers are from Punjab.
In order to hunt down the assailants, authorities have suspended civil traffic in the Bata-Doriya area. An NIA team is visiting the area for investigations.
How will the attack impact the cold relations between India and Pakistan remains to be seen. Interestingly, Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to lead a delegation to India for a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on May 5 that Goa hosts. It would be the first visit by any Pakistani Foreign Minister since Hina Rabbani Khar’s in 2011.
LG Manoj Sinha says Kashmir will produce Mustard oil worth Rs 800 crore in 2023.
PUNJAB
State Investigation Agency
In a first of its kind, Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) has attached a Punjab resident’s property for “his links with militants”. Identified as Amarbhir Singh of Baba Darshan Singh Enclave at Ram Tirath Mahal in Amritsar, he is living in Dubai but is wanted in many cases in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The SIA seizure with the help of Punjab Police was in a case of recovery of Rs 15 lakh hawala money at Nagrota from two alleged JeM associates Parvez and Farooq, who were arrested in 2021. This is the first action taken by the SIA outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Formally opened on November 4, 2022, the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) has received 10000 calls from people in distress. Women callers constitute 70 per cent.
SRINAGAR
High Court of Jammu and Kashmir
The High Court has quashed a series of detention orders under the Public Safety Act, including the one against journalist Fahad Shah. In the case of Srinagar resident Peerzada Mohammed Waseem, the court said the prosecution accused him of rioting and stone pelting in 2020 when the person was in jail since 2017. “How can a detenue already in jail and facing trial participate in rioting and stone pelting during that intervening period?” Judge Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal asked.
Wildlife officials said the direct sightings during the biennial census reveal improved numbers of Hangul within Dachigam National Park. In 2021, 261 Hangul were counted.
KASHMIR
Ramzan 2023 was the most peaceful month of fasting in the last more than three decades. In Kashmir, there were no killings of militants or by militants. There was one encounter but the militants managed to flee. In Ramzan 2022, 19 militants, two civilians and two security personnel forces also lost their lives in militant violence. More than 20 militants were killed in Ramzan 2021.
Peace, however, did not help markets that remained struggling to earn. The inclement weather added to their crisis. Even though the month of fasting was extended to 30 days, the last days did not help the market revive. Lal Chowk remained deserted unlike in the past and part of the credit goes to the ongoing smart city works.
However, Ramzan 2023 would be remembered for the mess that Kashmir’s so-called grand Mufti, Nasirul Islam landed in. He was in a controversy at the beginning of the month when he declared that his “moon-sighting committee” could not locate the Ramzan crescent. People defied his claim and started fasting as Shia ulema had moon-sighting evidence. On April 19, a brief recording came on social media in which he was saying that his committee could not locate the crescent of Shawaal month on April 20, so Eid is being celebrated on Saturday, This triggered a serious controversy leading Nasir to send a formal request to Jammu and Kashmir Police to investigate the issue. He said he had been recorded for Doordarshan in advance. DD insider confirmed it saying this is the tradition. “We keep two versions recorded and then run the one that he permits at the appropriate time,” an insider said. The question, however, remains – how can anybody record something in advance when he or she lacks knowledge of it? On the flip side of it, police have investigated the issue and have answers. Will they ever reveal? Wait.
Against Rs 217.43 crore, the Government generated Rs 260.94 crore with the e-auction of 257 retail liquor vends for the year 2023-24. Some more vends are auctioned soon.
KISHTWAR
A youth was killed and his brother survived injured in a mysterious blast in their own kitchen at Chitran village in Kishtwar’s Simbol area. The dead young man was identified as Shabir Ahmad, 20, and the one struggling to survive as Mohammad Yaseen, 18. Gucchi mushroom hunters, the two brothers had located something in the hospital and were heating it when it exploded. In another interesting incident, Ghulam Hassan, an ex-serviceman, from Angloe area opened fire on his wife, Rubeena, and Yasmeena, his minor daughter and rendered them injured. He used a 12-bore rifle. He lost his cool when his wife and daughter pleaded with the drunkard not to have liquor. Now, he is being tried for an attempt to murder.
Kashmir’s mutton requirements are expected to go up post-Eid from the prevailing 35 truckloads of sheep a day to 160.
DELHI
Jammu and Kashmir’s erstwhile foot-in-mouth governor, Satya Pal Malik has landed in yet another controversy for accusing Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and NSA, Ajit Doval, of making him silent on February 2019 Pulwama attack. The tragedy pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of a war in which the US had to intervene.
“CRPF personnel had requested aircraft to transport their personnel because such a large convoy does not normally travel by road. They had made the request to the Home Ministry, then held by Rajnath Singh, who refused. If they had asked me, I would have provided the aircraft. They had requested five aircraft,” Malik told Karan Thapar. “I told the Prime Minister the same evening (after the incident) that it happened due to our mistake. If we had provided them with aircraft, it could have been averted. He (PM) told me, ‘You keep quiet for the time being.’ I had already told one or two TV channels about it. He (PM) said, ‘Don’t talk about it. This is something else…’. Ajit Doval (NSA) also told me the same thing, ‘Satpalbhai (brother), you don’t talk about it. Please stay silent on this’.” Malik said, it took him a bit of time to realize “that the blame will now be shifted towards Pakistan, so I better keep quiet.”
Though Malik made several claims and told some very interesting stories about the politics in Delhi, it was the Pulwama attack that people have focused on. Congress is seeking a white paper on the Pulwama attack that killed nearly 40 CRPF personnel, days ahead of the national election. “Satya Pal Malik has brought out the explosive satya (‘truth’) which is more explosive than the Pulwama explosion itself…but this is nothing new. People were aware at the time that some Indo-Pakistan incident would be manufactured for political gain. Was the terror attack staged with the aim of winning elections?” Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanhjay Rauat has said. “Was there a plot to get 40 jawans killed for political gain? We [Opposition] had repeatedly tried to ask such questions at the time but were silenced by the ruling party and branded as ‘traitors’.”
The anti-climax of the controversy is that even Pakistan is using Malik’s statement. “His [Malik’s] disclosures demonstrate how the Indian leadership has habitually used the bogey of terrorism from Pakistan to advance its sham victimhood narrative and the Hindutva agenda, clearly for domestic political gains,” a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
Nearly four lakh people have visited Tulip Garden in the last month.
KATHUA
Kathua
An embarrassed Jammu and Kashmir government had no option but to admit that little Seerat Naaz’s video clip about the condition of the government high school in Lohai-Malhar is “not far from truth”. Naaz addressed the Prime Minister in the 5-minute video that she shot and commented on. After introducing herself as a student of the particular school, she goes on a virtual tour of her school. “Modi-ji, mujhe na aap se ek baat kehni hain (Modi-ji, there is something I need to tell you.)” Seerat then pans the phone camera towards an uncovered concrete surface, right in front of two closed doors which she identifies as the “principal’s office and the staff room” and comments: “Dekho humara farsh kitna ganda ho chuka hain. Humein yahan niche bithate hain (Look how dirty the floor is. They make us sit here).”
“Chalo mein aap ko bari si building dikhati hoon aapne school ki (let me show you the big building where our school is),” she goes on, “Yeh dekho, pichle 5 saalon se, dekho kitni gandi building hain yahan pe. Chalo mein aap ko andar se dikhati hoon (Look how unclean the building has been for the last 5 years. Let me take you on a tour of the inside of the building)”.
It was againt this backdrop, she makes a reqiest: “Please, aap se na request karti hoon, aap na achha sa school bana do. Humein niche baithna parta hain aur hamari uniform gandi ho jati hain aur phir humein Mamma marti hain. Humare pas bench bhi nahin hain (I request you to build us a nice school. We have to sit on the floor because of which our uniforms get dirty. My mother often scolds me for this. We don’t even have benches to sit on).” She adds: “Please Modi-ji, mein aap se request karti hoon ki achha sa bana de yeh school. Meri bhi baat sun lo (Please Modi-ji, I am requesting you to make my school better. Please grant my wish)”. She even films the toilet: “Dekho, humara kitna ganda toilet aur tut gaya hain (Look how filthy and broken our toilet is).” She then directs her lens towards a pit where the students go to relieve themselves. “Humein iss naali mein jana parta hain (We need to head to this pit to relieve ourselves.)”
The Government will now offer an ex-gratia relief of Rs 25 lakh (Rs 20 lakh out of UT Budget and Rs 5 lakh out of SRE) to the families of personnel who die in the line of duty and are from Jammu and Kashmir.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/DWq2bct
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: A man was injured after he was attacked by a bear in Boniyar area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday evening.
An official said that a man was injured after he was attacked by a bear in Hundi Nowhera area of Baramulla district.
He said that the man was identified as Habibullah Awan son of Mohammad Usman Awan, resident of Hundi Noweshra. He also stated that the injurer was taken to GMC Baramulla by his legal heirs from where he was refered to SKIMS Soura Srinagar for specialized treatment. (KS)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/5prm8EO
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: A non-local labourer died due to electrocution in main town Kulgam area in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday, officials said.
An official said that a labourer identified as Mosaud Alam, a resident of Bihar was plastering a wall at GDC Kulgam when he came in contact with an electric line that was close to the building and received a fatal shock.
“He was immediately rushed to nearby DH Kulgam facility where doctors declared him dead on arrival,” he added.
Meanwhile police have taken cognizance of the incident and started investigation.(KS)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/3UNsEI0
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: A minor girl was injured in a road accident in Padpawan area of South Kashmir Shopian district on Sunday.
An official said that an accident took place at Padpawan Shopian when one motor cycle bearing registation no JK01l /1676 hit a four year girl who was critically injured.
He identified her as Rameesa daughter of Showkat Ahmad Thoker resident of Padpawan. Rameesa was shifted to district hospital Shopian from where she was referred to Srinagar for advanced treatment, he said.
Meanwhile people blocked Herpora-Shopian road and demand action against the drivers who over speed. (KS)
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/LzhqVYC
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
SRINAGAR: Police in Baramulla district of North Kashmir launched a crackdown on stunt bikers, with fines and motorcycle seizures carried out on Sunday.
According to official sources, the police acted on information that dozens of bikers were performing stunts on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway during Eid-ul-Fitr.
Police stopped dozens of bikers, checked their documents, and found most of them were without helmets.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy against two-wheeler drivers performing stunts, which can frighten drivers and pedestrians,” said a senior police officer. [KNT]
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/4eb8Ouq
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
In Kashmir tehreek against the despotic Dogra rule, one of the major characters was businessman, Khawaja Sauddin Shawl, whose contribution is least known and hardly acknowledged.MJ Aslamoffers the text and context to Shawl’s rise, contributions and eventual silence
Saududin Shawl in a group photograph with his family members
Khawaja Sanaullah Shawl was the most prominent merchant of nineteenth-century Kashmir. He had three sons, Ghulam Hassan, Noor ud Din and Saududdin. Among the three, Khawaja Saududdin Shawl, born at Mohalla Mir e Masjid (Khanyar) in 1873 AD, rose to prominence during the second quarter of the twentieth century. His contributions to the politics of Kashmir are least known and hardly acknowledged. He was the pioneer of Kashmir’s movement against despotic Dogra rule.
Shawl had a dream of seeing his people living with dignity and honour, free of intimation and fear, in a decolonised democratic world that the subcontinent was gradually shaping to be after a few decades. He was the leading political figure during the initial political awakenings among Kashmiri Muslims.
Shawls were an influential family. Living at Mir Masjid, they had a huge garden that locals called Shawl-e-Bagh. It was a miniature Badamwari.
They had a beautiful Dewankhana, where guests, local and non-local, would come, sit and discuss matters of general interest for hours together. It was open to State officers, leaders, clergy, foreign tourists and traders also. It played host to several political meetings of “budding” Muslim leaders as well.
Businessman Sanaullah was a generous giver, according to Mohammad Yousuf Shawl, grandson of Saududdin Shawl, who inherited this quality. “My grandfather Khawja Saududdin Shawl with his domestic help, Qadir Kak, would remain busy round the year in distributing ration items like rice, salt, sugar, tea, charcoal, and clothes among the needy visitors to Shawl Family,” he said. A leading philanthropist, he is credited for the renovations and refurbishment of some of Kashmir’s major shrines and some masjids.
One historical masjid, known as Thong e Masjid at Thong e Mohalla, Victory Crossing near Hotel Burj, Khanyar, Srinagar was built under the benefaction of Aqil Mir, a God-fearing Muslim and Commandant of ration supplies, Darogha i Rasd, of Kashmir during Shah Jahan’s reign (1628-1658). The masjid fell in ruins in the nineteenth century pushing Shawl to rebuild it. By 1869, he had added a grand Hammam and a Khanqah to it. “My grandfather donated 14 kanals of ancestral vegetable-growing land to Thong e Masjid for its maintenance,” Mohammad Yousuf said. “The land is to date used by the masjid for its maintenance.”
Worth mentioning here, Aqil Mir built another mosque that retained his name. It is still known as Masjid e Aqilmir and the Mohalla is also Aqilmir.
Saududdin was born at a time when modern education barely existed in Kashmir. He received his initial education in traditional Maktab schools. To enable him to learn Urdu, Persian and Arabic, the family sources said they had hired a teacher, Behram Ji, who was a resident of Bombay. He gave him private tuition in the English language also.
The Year of Turmoil
For the first time in his life, Shawl rose to prominence during the consequential developments of 1924. The Muslim “labourers” of Silk Factory Solina Srinagar had long pending grievances against the Dogra administration. On March 20, 1920, they formally demanded the removal of some communal and corrupt Pandit officers from the factory. Besides, they demanded an increase in their wages. As the administration avoided looking into the labourer’s petition, the workers suspended their work in the factory in July 1924.
The British Resident also threw his weight behind the worker’s demand that some Muslim employees be elevated to the posts of responsibility but it did not help. Instead, the District Magistrate misrepresented the facts to the higher authorities at Gupkar, which worsened the situation. Some of the protesting labourers were arrested and put behind bars at Shergadi Police Station, Srinagar. When people assembled outside the police station on July 20, 1924, demanding the release of the arrested employees, the Dogra cavalry, that was deployed there at the gates, opened fire killing ten civilians and labourers on spot, leaving many injured as many others were rounded up. In a quick follow-up, the entire city was handed over to the military.
It was a year of turmoil. The same year, Tazia procession was denied in the city by the administration which caused deep anger among the Muslims. Lahore newspaper Akhbar i Aam published an article that angered Kashmiri Pandits. They took out a procession at Khanqahi Moula Srinagar and entered the shrine sanctorium without removing their shoes. It was bitterly resented by Muslims.
a vast stretch of land valuing crores of rupees was donated by Saududdin Shawl to the local masjid.
Viceroy’s Visit
In the aftermath of these developments and the subsequent strong-arm tactics of the administration, various Muslim organisations sent a number of telegrams to Lord Reading, the Viceroy of India. On July 22, 1924, a fact-based letter was sent drawing his attention towards the pitiable plight of the Muslim subjects. There was a response. Lord Reading visited Kashmir between October 14 and October 28.
The Viceroy was taken in a river boat procession by the Dogra administration but the “Muslim crowds exhibited black flags bearing inscriptions such as “our mosques desecrated” and “how long will Muslims be trodden down by Hindus in this country”. A memorandum was drafted and signed at the residence of Khanyar’s Abdul Aziz Zaildar by prominent Muslim leaders.
Agha Haidar, an advocate from Lucknow who later became a judge of the Lahore High Court, who was staying in a houseboat at Nigeen, was helpful in shaping the final draft of the memorandum. It was how Khawja Saududdin Shawl came in contact with Agha Haidar.
History has recorded that Shawl was the main person behind bringing together all prominent Muslims, including Khawaja Hassan Shah Naqashbandi, Mirwaizi Kashmir Molvi Ahmedullah of Jamia Masjid, Molvi Hamdani, Agha Syed Hussain Shah Jalali, Mufti Sharief ud Din, Molvi Attiqullah and Haji Jaffar Khan, for a common cause of Muslims. The unanimous decision was to highlight and submit a formal memorandum to the Viceroy of India, the Paramount Guest. As the government disallowed Muslim leaders from meeting with Viceroy, Shawl took the memorandum and presented it to him when he visited a local handicraft shop. This was the act that made Shawl the “father of the modern political movement of Kashmir”.
The memorandum flagged demands including a due share in jobs to be given to Muslims and proprietary rights of the peasants in the land to be recognised. The memorandum did not get fetch anything to the majority but it gave a fillip to their demands and grievances first time “in an organised manner”. Some of the prominent originators of the memorandum met with punishment by the Dogra monarch. A Muslim Tehsildar, Noor Shah Naqshbandi, was dismissed from service; Khawaja Hassan Shah Naqashbandi’s Jagir which fetched him Rs 4000 annually was confiscated; Syed Hussain Shah Jalali was dismissed from the office of Zaildar and Mirwaizi Kashmir Molvi Ahmedullah of Jamia Masjid and Molvi Hamdani of Khaqah i Moula Srinagar were let off with a stern warning. Many demonstrators were summarily dealt with and punished.
ShawlBanished
On March 15, 1925, the house of Khawaja Saaduddin Shawl was surrounded by a contingent of 150 constables, one inspector and two sub-inspectors. He was shown an order of banishment from the State and taken in a police lorry to Kohala where he was dropped in British Punjab territory.
Khawaja’s expulsion caused considerable reaction and resentment among the Muslims. The Youngmen Muslim Association of Jammu in their meetings on March 7-9, 1925, condemned the action. These meetings were attended by Hasan Nizami of Delhi, Azmatullah of Lahore, and Molvi Mohammad Abdullah of Lahore.
On March 16, Mirwaiz e Kashmir, Molvi Ahmadullah of Jamia Masjid in a powerful and emotional speech highlighted that the people must be alive to the treatment that the State meted out to the Muslim subjects. It made the whole gathering burst into wails loudly. The atmosphere was filled with gloom of shrieks and sighs. Kashmir Muslim Conference, Akhbar i Kashmir Lahore and Anjuman i Kashmiri Musalman, Gujranwala, condemned the State action against the signatories to the memorandum.
Khawaja Saududdin Shawl (left), Ghulam Ahmad Ashai and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at Shawl House in Khanyar, somewhere before 1947.
In exile, Shawl stayed at the residence of Mian Nizamuddin of Lahore who was known as Rais e Azam of the walled city. Shawls had friendly and business ties with the Mian family of Lahore. The two families used to visit each other whenever time permitted. Shawl also stayed for some time with some Sethi family of Peshawar. Dr Sir Mohammad Iqbal, an eminent poet, theologian and thinker, often used to come to the house of Mian Nizamuddin where he also met Shawl.
One day, in a gathering of literary persons at Mian Nizamuddin’s residence, Iqbal was impressed with Shawl’s understanding of Shikwa and Jawab e Shikwa, two master poems of Iqbal. Shawl remained a great Iqbal follower. His banishment boomeranged as Shawl developed a close association with several prominent organisations of United Punjab and at a number of meetings the State action was condemned.
Following the Raj Tilak of Maharaja Hari Singh in February 1926, the ban on Shawl was lifted. However, Shawl did not give up his desperation to get some justice for his people.
Reading Room Party
By 1930, a group of young Muslim students after completing their academic courses at Aligarh and Punjab Universities floated a Muslim Reading Room Party at Fateh Kadal, Srinagar to discuss the issues pertaining to Muslims. These young men included Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah also. This Party held public meetings. It coincided with Unjuman-e-Nusratul Islam Rajouri Kadal Srinagar, Khanqashis of Khanqah-e-Moala, Srinagar and even Ahmadiyas organising themselves for pressing forth the demands of the majority community before the Maharaja who had asked them for nominating their representatives.
On June 21, 1931, Ghulam Ahmad Ashai announced the names of seven Muslim representatives who were tasked to bring the grievances of the Muslim community before the Maharaja. They included Molvi Mohammad Yousuf Shah, Molvi Mohammad Hamdani, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, Syed Hassan Shah Jalali, Munshi Shahabuddin and Khawja Sauduuddin Shawl.
Historian Bazaz terms the meeting “the most important meeting in the history of the movement” which had brought two Mirwaizs together and all Muslims across sectarian barriers, “had joined hands and the whole community was unanimous in its demands”. Shias and Sunni Muslims had after four hundred years of bloody sectarian feuds first time mended the fences with each other for a common cause.
New Leadership
The senior Muslim representatives did their best to build the community’s young leaders. “Mirwaiz had introduced me to the audience at Jamia Masjid as “my leader”. He asked them to deem anything I said as his own utterance,” Sheikh Abdullah later wrote of these days.
This “opportunity” was “grabbed” by Sheikh “with both hands”, as Saraf and Gulzar wrote. Such a broad declaration and opportunity given by Mirwaiz, to “a simple man” (according to Taffazul Hussain, Sheikh’s biographer) and “an honest man of simple thinking” (as Saraf wrote) evinces the trust Mirwaiz and other leaders had reposed in young Sheikh, the leader of the new generation.
In his memoir, Choudhary Ghulam Abbas writes that the Mirwaiz family of Rajouri Kadal Srinagar was the most influential family of religious preachers of Kashmir and that Molvi Mohammad Yousuf Shah’s introduction of Sheikh Abdullah to the public helped him build his stature considerably. Saraf writes that some elders, Saaduddin Shawl, Molvi Mohammad Abdullah and Munshi Shabuddin, during the 1931 political awakening of Kashmiri Muslims, helped Sheikh build his image among the masses.
Key Hub
Shawl’s residence became the hub of political activities before and after July 13, 1931, the Martyrs Day, when 22 Muslim civilians were massacred outside Central Jail, Srinagar. Personally, Shawl remained actively involved with political developments and was part of the deputations that called on the Maharaja after July 1931 seeking his intervention and redressal to the long pending grievances of Muslim subjects.
In September 1934, Shawl joined the Azad Muslim Conference of Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Yousuf Shah, which is clearly borne out by the fact that he was fielded as a candidate for Amira Kadal Constituency by the party in the first electoral process of the State, for Praja Sabha, against G M Sadiq. He lost to Sadiq of the Muslim Conference. A staunch communist, Sadiq had based himself on the popular political movement.
Mirwaiz Ally?
A question arises – why Shawl separated himself from the mainstream Muslim Conference? No exact answer is known. “It seems from circumstantial evidence that the gradual independent working of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was not to his liking,” writes Saraf. “It also seems that he was psychologically more inclined towards Mir Waiz.”
During his brief Pakistan tour in 1964, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah is seen (from L to R) with Mirwaiz Mohammad Yousuf Shah, Choudhary M Afzal Cheema (the then Deputy Speaker of Pakistan assembly), Choudhary Ghulam Abas and Pakistan President General Ayub Khan.
Subsequent developments might have vindicated Shawl in making a decision early.
On the flip side of it, it needs a mention that Shawl was closely related to the Mirwaizs. A prominent religious preacher and political activist of the 1930s, Molvi Nooruddin of the Mirwaiz Party was the son-in-law (damad) of Shawl. Interestingly Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Yousuf Shah was the brother-in-law (Behnoyi) of Nooruddin.
Besides, Shawls have close familial relations with Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq too.
For most of his life, Shawl remained away from the so-called “nationalists”, “neo-merchants” and “educated-elite” of that era.
The Demise
Khawaja Saaduddin Shawl passed away on October 25, 1955 (10 Rabi-ul-Awal, 1375 AH) at the age of 82. He was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard adjoining Thong e Masjid. He was the first among the dead of the Shawl family who was buried in the ancestral graveyard that was carved out of a large land property by Sanaullah Shawl personally.
On the gravestone of Saududdin Shawl, the words “Bani Tahreeki Azadi Kashmir” were inscribed. These four words have interesting detail.
It was Ghulam Jeelani Shawl, son of Khawaja Saaduddin Shawl, who, in a condolence gathering at their Khanyar residence publicly announced that he had received a message from Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah from jail suggesting that on the tombstone of the deceased the words “Bani Tahreeki Azadi Kashmir” should be inscribed.
Shawl was survived by two sons, Ghulam Jeelani Shawl (died in 1982] and Innayatullah Shawl [1988] and five daughters.
from Kashmir Life https://ift.tt/nBuPjyN
via IFTTThttps://kashmirlife.net
