SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is exhibiting a better GST growth in comparison to the rest of the country, officials said.
“GST revenue collections from J&K (SGST) have shown 33.20 per cent growth, surpassing the National average of 15 per cent for the current financial year,” Commissioner State Taxes, J&K, Dr Rashmi Singh was quoted as having told the media. “Upto the end of October 2023, a total GST revenue (SGST and IGST) of 4811.09 crore has been realised, showing an overall growth of 20.31 percent”.
Over the years, the tax payers base in Jammu and Kashmir has increased. In 2017-18, the number of commercial tax payers were at 72000 under GST which is has now increased to more than 1.42 lakhs. The commercial tax department which used to collect Rs 300 crore a month is now averaging at Rs 683 crore. Even the return filing percentage has touched 97 percent.
SRINAGAR: Police Tuesday arrested the man, accused of killing his mother and three-month-old daughter with a sharp-edged weapon in Bishnah, within three hours of the commission of the offence.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu Dr Vinod Kumar confirmed the arrest and said that legal proceedings were initiated into the matter.
“Bishnah double murder case put everyone in a state of shock as the accused brutally murdered his mother and three-month old daughter and the matter was taken on priority. The accused has been arrested within three hours and the investigation, legal proceedings into the matter are going on,” SSP Jammu said.
He said that the accused after committing the offence fled away from the spot on his motorcycle bearing registration number JK02CN-0372. ” On getting the information, teams immediately reached the spot and secured the scene of crime. All the police nakas in the entire area were put on high alert while multiple police teams were constituted and all sources were activated and accused was arrested.”
SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) officials have confirmed that the region is currently facing a crippling electricity deficit of nearly 1000 MW. This power crisis has forced authorities to implement prolonged power cuts across the valley, leaving residents frustrated and inconvenienced.
The primary cause of this power shortage has been identified as an unprecedented dry spell that has significantly impacted power generation in the region. The dry spell has led to a drastic reduction in water flow in rivers across Jammu and Kashmir, which, in turn, has severely curtailed the capacity of the power projects.
One of the most affected power projects is the 900-MW Baglihar power project, which typically contributes a significant portion of the region’s electricity supply. At the beginning of September, this power station used to generate around 1050 MW. However, by the end of the month, its capacity had plummeted to a mere 700 MW. As of the most recent update, officials said, the power station’s generation capacity has dwindled to a range of 200 MW to 250MW marking a sharp decline in power output.
The severe drop in electricity generation has had a direct and immediate impact on power supply in Kashmir. Consumers across the region are left without electricity for extended hours, with some areas experiencing unexpected and unannounced power cuts, contrary to the official schedule released by the department a few days ago.
The situation has sparked outrage among the people of Kashmir who have expressed their frustration and helplessness over the ongoing power crisis. Residents have taken to social media to vent their concerns, highlighting the inconveniences they face due to the prolonged power cuts.
As the authorities grapple with this challenging situation, citizens are hopeful that measures will be taken to address the power deficit and provide timely relief to the affected areas. The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited, along with other relevant authorities are working to find solutions to mitigate the power crisis and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the people.
SRINAGAR: The President of India, Draupadi Murmu, is set to embark on a two-day visit to Ladakh on Tuesday, officials said.
On the first day of her visit, on October 31, the President will grace the Foundation Day celebrations of the Union Territory of Ladakh in Leh.
Quoting an official from Ladakh, KNO reported that on November 1, the President will visit the Siachen Base Camp, where she will interact with the soldiers safeguarding the nation’s highest battlefield.
“A civic reception will be organised in her honour at Leh on the same day,” the official said, adding that the President’s itinerary includes interactions with members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and the local tribal population.
SRINAGAR: JK Yateem Foundation was awarded for its outstanding contribution in the social service sector, at the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Help Poor Voluntary Trust (HPVT) on Sunday.
During the event, the Chairman of JK Yateem Foundation, Mohammad Rafiq Lone, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. “This distinguished honor serves as a testament to the unwavering dedication and remarkable efforts of the foundation in serving the marginalized and underprivileged members of society,” he said.
“The recognition bestowed upon J&K Yateem Foundation at this momentous occasion serves as a reminder of the invaluable role played by organizations in supporting and uplifting the marginalized sections of society. It serves as inspiration for others to join the noble cause and work towards building a more compassionate and inclusive world,” reads a statement issued by JKYF.
The function was presided over by DrShafa A .W.Deva, Medical superintendent Bemina. HPVT founders MolanaSunaullah, Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Nissar Ahmad Katju were also present among various dignitaries.
SRINAGAR: In a joint operation conducted by the Army and police in the Jumagund sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials reported the successful thwarting of an infiltration attempt on Sunday.
During the operation, one militant was killed.
As per information shared by the police on their social media channels, the encounter with security forces resulted in the demise of one militant.
SRINAGAR: Various job opportunities are available across the Kashmir Valley, including positions for teachers, air ticketing executives, tour package executives, accountants, chefs, and administrative/finance roles.
Hilltop Educational Institute is hiring female applicants for the position of teacher.
To be eligible, candidates must have a qualified BA and BEd with a minimum of two to three years of Urdu teaching experience and good communication skills. The candidate will have to teach Urdu from class 1st to 5th.
Interested candidates can send their applications to hilltopgirlsgbl@gmail.com or contact 9797700171 or 7006959278 before October 30th, 2023.
Swift Travels, located in Srinagar, is hiring female air ticketing executives and tour package executives.
For further information, please contact 9906990617.
Inco Foods, located in Nowhatta, is hiring a male accountant. To be eligible, candidates must have a BCOM qualification with a minimum of three years of experience in the accounting field and knowledge of Tally.
Interested candidates can send their CV and cover letter to hr@incofoods.in
For further information, contact 7006901370 or 9622401075.
New Hungry Point Cafe and Restaurant, located on Gulmarg Road, Budgam, is hiring a chef.
Interested candidates can contact 9541664190.
Himalayan Products, located in Nishat, Srinagar, is hiring for administrative/finance roles.
To be eligible, candidates must have knowledge of computers, spreadsheets, and finance, along with good communication skills.
Note: All the jobs are posted as received through various sources. Kashmir Life does not endorse any company. Readers are requested to verify on their own before applying.
SRINAGAR: In a bittersweet development that is expected to send ripples of sorrow through the picturesque Kashmir, the administration has executed the transfer of Sonam Lotus, the popular weatherman to Leh, his town, reports appearing in media said.
For nearly a decade, Lotus wielded his meteorological prowess over the Valley. With uncanny precision, he conjured predictions that seemed to command rain or sunshine at will, transforming himself into sort of a mortal “weather god”.
Over time, his name became an indelible part of everyday conversation, even humour, whenever the topic of weather arose. Lotus evolved into someone whose daily weather bulletins were religiously followed and whose predictions were held in high regard, akin to a hallmark of authenticity. If a forecast was “Lotus certified,” it was almost assured to come to fruition.
Lotus assumed his position at a time when technology was advancing, but antiquated weather reports from the official broadcasters – Radio Kashmir Srinagar and Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar, still prevailed. He ushered in a meteorological renaissance, introducing state-of-the-art tools and techniques to furnish precise and timely weather intelligence to the people of Kashmir. His popularity is owed to hyperactive media and social media. He was so popular in Kashmir that the last time he was admitted to a hospital, it became news.
His relocation signifies the conclusion of an era where the name ‘Sonam Lotus’ was synonymous with dependable weather forecasts, leaving Kashmiris nostalgic for the times when his predictions were as sure as the sun rising.
The media reporting about Kashmir having tens of thousands of female drug addicts is unfairly fancy and fake. But that never means a small section of Kashmir women are not into drug abuse, peddling and exploitation, reportsBabra Wani
Women, drug abuse, peddling – an artwork by Malik Kaisar
The memory of that fateful night remains etched in Sadaf’s mind as if it were yesterday, back in 2013. She was a blushing new bride in her mid-twenties, her heart brimming with hopes and dreams, believing that marriage would be eternal bliss.
However, one evening, her husband stumbled home, his movements erratic, his eyes glazed over. Instantly, Sadaf sensed that something was wrong. “He seemed like a stranger, not in control of his senses,” she recalled.
As days passed, his bizarre behaviour became the new normal. Desperate for answers, Sadaf implored him to open up to her, but he remained withdrawn and mute.
Left with no other recourse, she secretly contacted his friends, who shattered her world with their response: “He is addicted to drugs.”
Sadaf’s picture-perfect life had crumbled. Still, she clung to the hope that their love could conquer all, that she could rescue her husband from the abyss of addiction. But he had descended too far into the darkness, refusing even to listen to her pleas to quit.
Then, driven to desperation, she uttered the words that would alter the course of her life irreversibly: “If you don’t stop, I will start too.” He did not stop. And slowly, she descended into the abyss alongside him, the daily ritual of drug use enveloping them both in its cruel embrace.
It was not until a year later that her family noticed the tell-tale signs and intervened. They broke through the fog and compelled Sadaf to seek treatment. It saved her life.
Soon after, her husband also entered rehab. Their journey to recovery was challenging, but together, they found their way back to the light.
“Our families pulled us back from the brink,” Sadaf said. Without them, she shuddered to think where they would be today. All she knew was that she would never take her life for granted again.
The Numbers
The insidious tentacles of drug addiction have cruelly ensnared women from all walks of life. Victims apart, as mothers, sisters, daughters, or wives, women agonise as they helplessly watch their loved ones descend into darkness. They shed endless tears as drugs twist the souls of the people they once knew, making them strangers. Yet, they hope against hope that their loved ones will break free, even as addiction tears their hearts and homes apart.
Women are also inflicted by drugs and there are many women addicts in Kashmir.
Despite reports suggesting that drug abuse among women is high, medical facilities and practitioners hold a different perspective.
A woman caught for peddling drugs.
A 2022 study by the Psychiatry Department of the Government Medical College, put the number of female addicts at significantly lower than males. It revealed that Kashmir had the highest number of overall drug addicts, surpassing Punjab, which had previously held the top spot.
The study further disclosed that 67,468 individuals were dependent on psychoactive drugs, with heroin being the most commonly used substance.
“According to the survey and daily OPD records, the number of females grappling with substance use is lower than that of males. This year, I may have encountered around 20-25 females with substance use disorders,” IMHANS professor, Dr Yasir Rather, who also led the study, remarked. “Even if they are involved in drug use, it is primarily limited to cannabis and soft drugs. Women also tend to overdose on painkillers or various medications to cope with their emotional turmoil.”
Fall from the ‘High’
One early morning, Zikra found herself waiting outside a pharmacy near the Jammu and Kashmir Police-run Drug De-addiction Centre (DDC) in Srinagar’s downtown. She nervously rubbed her hands, acutely aware of the judgmental glances from those around her. As she waited for her turn, she contemplated her life. Being the eldest in her family of four, it fell upon her to bear the weight of those judgmental stares, because it was the only way to save her family.
As she waited for her turn, a woman visibly distressed and out of breath, bumped into Zikra. An annoyed Zikra attempted to confront the woman, leading to a heartfelt conversation between the two. It was a conversation born of shared pain, agony, and heart-wrenching stories.
The other woman, likely in her forties, had come to purchase medication for her daughter, also an addict. “I lied to my husband, saying I was going to buy oil. Please, allow me to use your turn to buy the medicines so I can get home quickly,” the woman, who was clutching a jute bag and a bottle, pleaded. “I have locked my daughter in her room, and my husband is unaware of her addiction. I want to save my daughter, and that’s why I need these medicines.”
Tears welled up in the woman’s eyes as she shared her story with Zikra. “If my husband finds out about our daughter, he will throw both of us out of the house. I am getting my daughter treated without his knowledge.”
Zikra was at the pharmacy to buy medication for her younger brother, also a drug addict. It was a heartbreaking coincidence that connected these two women in their desperate pursuit of hope.
With the hospitals getting an unprecedented number of addicts, some with overdose, a new pandemic is in progress in Kashmir. KL Illustraition: Malik Kaisar
The woman had journeyed several kilometres from her residence to access the pharmacy since no local shops stock the medications she required. “My daughter has been battling addiction for some time now,” the middle-aged woman told Zikra. “I recently discovered it, and I will do everything within my power to free her from its grip. I fear that if people find out, no one will marry her.”
Upon hearing the woman’s plight, Zikra contemplated her own life, which bore a striking resemblance. “I am also endeavouring, like you, to rescue my brother, in whatever capacity, large or small,” she lamented, struggling to find the right words. “I must care for him and his well-being, even if it means sacrificing my own. I will do it.”
Recklessly Carefree
Unlike Zikra who also is the eldest in her family, Amna, 25, another eldest in her family, had led a “reckless” and “carefree” life. She began smoking marijuana at the age of 17. “I just wanted to fit in with my friends. So, I adopted almost all the bad habits you can think of, including marijuana. We called it a joint and I used to smoke two to three joints a day. But I remember the first time I tried it; I was having a very bad day,” Amna recalled. “A friend of mine, upon seeing my mood, invited me to join him, and he offered me this cigarette-like thing, and that too for free. I, along with my friend and two others, sat in a park, and I started smoking that cigarette. I felt on top of the world, and I still remember that feeling.”
However, her friends also advised Amna to drink water or consume something sour to counteract the effects of the cigarette. “It was high-quality marijuana, and I smoked the whole thing. But then, I ate tamarind to counter the influence.” That marked the beginning of her association with marijuana. “The circle quickly turned into an addiction for me, and I stopped caring about everything else.”
As time passed, Amna’s health deteriorated. She began experiencing constant tremors, often mistaken for other health issues. She assumed her parents were oblivious to her life’s developments, but she was mistaken. Her friends had taken pictures of her smoking and using substances, which had already reached her parents. Initially, they remained in denial.
One day, Amna clashed with her parents, particularly her father, and the argument escalated to physical violence and Amna ended up receiving a slap from her father. “I know what you are doing. I have pictures of you smoking and using drugs. Do you realise you are losing yourself?” her father confronted her.
“I was 20 at the time,” Amna recalled an inconspicuous tear rolling down her cheek. “That was a moment of realisation. I had always been their favourite, the pampered child. But I had let them down. This realisation led to another: I needed to be saved. I had only one option, to turn back, to seek help from my parents. I remember a week later; I mustered the courage and went to my father, asking for his help.”
Amna’s parents wasted no time in getting her the help she needed. Visits to psychiatrists and doctors became routine for Amna and her family, with both parents accompanying her to appointments with medical professionals and counsellors.
Like Zikra, Amna and her family also had to endure judgmental stares, a price they were willing to pay for their daughter’s sake. “It was for our daughter, so I didn’t care much,” Amna’s determined father stated. “A parent’s love knows no bounds. Being a parent is not easy, and no parent can bear to see their child in pain.”
It is pertinent to mention that with proper medical treatment, love, care, and family support, Amna’s seemingly hopeless journey was gradually infused with new hope. “It has been nearly five years since I have used drugs. While I have regrets that will linger, Alhamdulillah, I am on a better path now,” she affirmed.
Amna’s story, however, is an exception, as many individuals battling addiction do not experience such positive outcomes. While drug abuse is more prevalent among males, the existence of female abusers cannot be disregarded.
Availabilityand Peer Pressure
Although many reports and research studies highlight drug abuse among Kashmiri youth, particularly males, it is often overlooked that some females have also fallen prey to drug addiction. Factors responsible for drug addiction among females are diverse and in a way completely different.
“My parents used to fight incessantly, and it often made me feel very uncomfortable. I wanted a normal family, but mine was anything but normal,” Seema, 16, confessed, her gaze fixed on her hands.
She vividly recalled the day that turned her life upside down. Her parents’ shouts reverberated through the house as their argument once again escalated into violence. Seema felt a heavy weight on her chest. “I felt so terrible that I decided to leave my home,” she said.
As dusk settled over Srinagar streets, Seema wandered, with no specific destination in mind. She only knew that she needed to escape the toxicity at home. Exhausted, she found herself in a park, where a group of boys huddled together, passing something between them.
Hardened by her circumstances, Seema approached them. “I asked if I could join them,” she recalled.
The boys wordlessly motioned for her to sit, and as tears welled up in her eyes, one of them handed her a pouch of powder. “It will make you feel better,” he assured her. Seema hesitated only for a moment before bringing the substance to her nose. She coughed as the acrid smell filled her senses.
Initially, a soothing numbness washed over her, but as she stumbled home later, her head spun and her stomach churned. “My health began to deteriorate,” she remembered. Her frantic parents rushed her to a clinic, where tests confirmed that she had overdosed.
Seema confronted the harsh reality. She was just another young victim ensnared in the web of substance abuse that tightened its grip on Kashmir. A psychiatrist urged her family to cease their constant arguments for Seema’s mental well-being.
Now, an uneasy silence blankets their home. Seema’s past mistakes haunt her. “At least it gave me solace for a couple of moments,” she said. For girls like Seema, the line between solace and ruin grows thinner with each passing day. Once an innocent child, she discovered a darker side of herself in her pursuit of peace.
Dr Anoosha, Incharge Medical Officer at DDC Srinagar, listed peer pressure, relationship issues, family conflicts, parental disputes, bullying, and mental health problems as contributors to young women’s vulnerability and subsequent drug addiction.
“Family and relationship issues, as well as peer pressure, are common factors we often see in female drug victims who seek our help,” concurred the officials at the PCR centre while echoing Dr Anoosha’s thoughts.
According to the majority of patients with a history of drug abuse, the availability of drugs in the market is a pervasive issue. “My patients have informed me that even street vendors are now selling drugs,” noted one counsellor. “Drugs are readily available in shops, and drug peddling is alarmingly common.”
“Most of the heroin comes from certain areas in North Kashmir, such as Kupwara, and is supplied to be sold in the South,” revealed a former drug addict currently undergoing treatment. “Drugs are also procured from parts of South Kashmir, especially Sangam in Anantnag.”
Another patient mentioned procuring drugs from over twenty female peddlers on various occasions. “Some of them were quite young, and some were married. Some even joined us in using the substances, while others focused solely on selling,” the patient admitted.
In recent months, numerous women have been arrested for drug peddling. Besides, police have busted several drug rings, involving both men and women.
Impact of Drugs
Dr Yasir emphasised the detrimental impact of substance use on a person’s overall health: “Substance use is a path to destruction, affecting a person’s cognitive, emotional, physical, and social well-being.”
Apart from financial debts, drug abuse can cause serious health problems, including damage to the liver, kidneys, and reproductive system. Abusers and addicts run the risk of contracting chronic infections like Hepatitis C or even HIV. Moreover, drug use can lead to sexual exploitation and involvement in drug trafficking, and, in some tragic cases, it can even result in death.
“I have used heroin with more than ten different girls on various occasions,” admitted a patient at a Srinagar medical facility specialising in heroin addiction treatment. “I remember once going with friends to a place where I saw a beautiful college girl who started injecting heroin with us. Most of the girls were teens and some were in their twenties from Rajbagh. I have also done drugs with girls from Anantnag who were also into selling drugs.”
Soaring Numbers
Dr Sarah Khalid, a Medical Officer at IMHANS Drug De-addiction Centre (DDC), shared that currently, 8-12 women seek follow-up addiction treatment from her. She indicated that the age group most commonly affected by female drug addiction usually falls within the 18-30 age bracket. “It is not limited to single women; even married women are often ensnared. In some cases, their partners are also involved,” she said.
“We have also encountered addicted women with children. I recall a young woman who married at a very young age and was betrayed by her husband,” a counsellor at DDC Srinagar revealed. “She turned to drugs and became an addict, despite having two kids.”
Not Many Women
Dr Arjuman Fayaz, a postgraduate resident at IMHANS researching female drug addiction in Kashmir, remarked, “Over the past year of my research, I have come to realise that the number of female patients seeking treatment is not as high as reported. Last year, only about 35 addicted women sought help at de-addiction centres, hospitals, and Addiction Treatment Facilities across Kashmir. While drug abuse may be common among women in society, many do not seek treatment.”
According to Dr Arjuman, the situation is even rarer in rural areas and other districts, as very few women opt for treatment at district-level ATFs. Patients from different districts often avoid seeking treatment at local ATFs to avoid recognition. Since women keep their addiction a secret from their families, they typically enter treatment only after their families become aware of the abuse.
Some females become victims of sexual abuse or get involved in drug trafficking due to their substance use. “We have seen cases of this,” Dr Arjuman added.
Regarding addiction treatment, Dr Yasir emphasised, “Addiction is a disease that requires pharmacological interventions like medication, opioid substitution therapy, and psychotherapies.”
Dr Yasir Rather pointed out that the main drivers of drug addiction are easy access and peer pressure. “However, women become more vulnerable if their partners or family members are substance users. Mental health conditions like mania, personality disorders, childhood ADHD, or conduct disorders also increase vulnerability in women.”
Many addicted patients have a history of sexual abuse, which makes them susceptible to exploitation for drugs once they become addicted. “Disinhibition caused by substances can also lead to inappropriate sexual behaviour.”
They noted that heroin prices vary across Kashmir, and drug use forms a complex web of connections. “A chain develops as users connect with dealers. Heroin is expensive but the most common drug, while marijuana is cheaper but still widespread.”
TheHarsh Reality
Regarding women procuring drugs, Dr Yasir said they often rely on addicted partners or friends. “Women also get involved in trafficking because they are less likely to be suspected by the police, making peddling easier.”
“Most women who tread this path do so due to peer pressure or relationship issues. However, in all the stories I have heard, these women, regardless of age or background, have a back story,” lamented Dr Arjuman. “Another pattern I have noticed over the past year is that drug abuse among women is more common in urban areas, but we certainly can’t deny that it also affects those from rural backgrounds.”
The substances most commonly abused by women include heroin, other opioids, marijuana, alcohol, sedatives, cocaine, and more.
“Most patients seeking treatment are addicted to heroin and injection drugs,” stated Dr Arjuman. “While there are other drugs as well, they don’t cause severe symptoms like heroin, so people usually don’t seek treatment for those.”
Officials at the Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre run by the Police in Srinagar reported that they see far fewer female addicts compared to males. “Overall, we have assisted around 30-40 women, which is a small number. Females don’t come as often,” said an official. “These women rarely seek help, and they don’t come regularly. Our centre conducts awareness programmes about drugs, but as you know, female victims don’t come forward as readily as men. Moreover, we lack an inpatient facility for women.”
Besides the government-run centres, several private rehab and de-addiction facilities operate in Kashmir. Some of these facilities claimed to have no female patients. “We mostly receive male victims,” was a common refrain.
Judgement and stigma
“I have seen female addicts discontinue treatment or fail to return for follow-ups. I believe stigma is the primary reason,” one psychologist who counsels at a drug rehab centre, said, wishing to remain anonymous. “I remember a teenage girl who came for heroin treatment but stopped after a couple of visits. Many women are in similar situations.”
Sharing an instance, a female psychologist recounted, “Once, during my internship, a middle-aged man yelled at me and my friend while we were waiting in line outside a counselling room, saying, ‘What are you doing here? This is for drug addicts!’ It demonstrated the stigma and made me realise how challenging it must be for addicted women seeking help.”
Dr Arjuman echoed the counsellor’s sentiments, stating that fewer women come forward due to the stigma associated with addiction and concerns about how they will be perceived and treated if their addiction becomes known. These fears act as significant barriers to seeking help.
SRINAGAR: A wing commander-commandant level flag meeting was held between BSF and Pakistan Rangers at Border Out Post (BOP) Octroi in the Suchetgharh sector of Jammu on Saturday following the unprovoked firing and mortar shelling from across the border.
The meeting ended in a cordial atmosphere, emphasizing the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the International border.
Earlier on October 26 and 27 Pakistan Ranger targeted several BSF posts and civilian areas in Arnia and Suchetgharh sector. Pak rangers exchanged fire, small arms fire, and mortar shelling at frequent intervals. Two BSF troopers and some civilians were injured in the firing.
A spokesperson said that during the meeting, officers of both the border guarding forces, inter alia, discussed various issues including incidents of firing on International Border, presence of suspects in border areas and other routine issues related to border management.
Meanwhile, the unprovoked ceasefire violation, which comes after nearly two and a half years, forced many locals to leave their houses and migrate to safer places though the paddy crop in the region is ready for harvest. Agricultural labourers who had come from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for harvesting work also fled following the shelling from across the border.
SRINAGAR: Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, has been appointed as Additional Director to the Board of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, by the government of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Bhandari has become 12th Director on the Board of Jammu and Kashmir Bank.
Those who are already on the Board include Baldev Prakash, MD & CEO, Santosh Datttatraya Vaidya, RK Chhibber, Rajeev Lochan Bishnoi, Naba Kishore Sahoo, Umesh Chandra Pandey, Anil Kumar Goel, Anand Kumar, Sudhir Gupta and Shahla Ayoub.
SRINAGAR: A special police officer (SPO) who had gone missing from his home in the north Kashmir’s Sopore village has been traced and brought back to his hometown, officials on Saturday said.
Tahir Ahmed Dar, son of Mohammad Akbar Dar, a resident of Dooru Sopore, had gone missing from his home two days ago, on Tuesday.
“The cop was traced in Srinagar last evening and was brought back to his hometown. After legal formalities, he will be handed over to his family,” official said—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Friday flagged off Amrit Kalash Yatra under “Meri Mati Mera Desh” (Mitti Ko Naman Veeron Ko Vandan) to New Delhi at Conventional Centre Jammu here.
Those who were present included Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home, R K Goel; Commissioner Secretary GAD, Sanjeev Verma; Secretary Culture, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, other Administrative Secretaries, IGP Jammu, Div Com Jammu, DC Jammu and senior officers of civil and police administration besides a large number of members of PRIs across the UT.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Secretary said that 83 lakh people from Jammu and Kashmir participated in Meri Maati Mera Desh that is highest participation on the basis of population ratio of the States/UTs of the country. He called this achievement remarkable and appreciated all who took make this a reality.
Chief Secretary maintained that the UT has attained top most status in various fields by virtue of the commitment of both people and administration together. He made out that each household of J&K should feel proud of this brisk pace of development which the UT has made during the past couple of years.
Dr Mehta observed that the UT has now made it an attribute to figure among top most performers in the country in almost all of the programs carried out at national level.
Earlier, Secretary Culture, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah also highlighted the activities carried out during the first phase of this event at panchayat and block level.
Meanwhile Chief Secretary held a comprehensive review of the functioning of the Revenue Department.
At the outset, Chief Secretary was briefed by Secretary, Revenue Department, Dr Piyush Singla about the status of online services of Revenue Department, steps taken for demystification of Revenue records, progress on developing the module for online Girdawari, various key parameters under DILRMP, digitisation and geo-referencing of Cadastral Maps, AGRISTACK, SVAMITVA, ULPIN, utilisation of land for public projects/ purpose among other things.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary stressed on full implementation of Auto Appeal System for all the online services of the Department to ensure timely delivery of services to common masses. He said that the data regarding pendency under Public Service Guarantee Act, 2011, in delivery of services should be analysed to identify the officers with highest pendency beyond stipulated timelines under the act and taking of strict disciplinary action against them during the vigilance week.
Chief Secretary said that under no circumstances will Patwaris summon / solicit unnecessary physical presence of applicants for online services and in exceptional circumstances, formal notices outlining the cause for which their physical presence is required should be issued.
Chief Secretary emphasized that pendency in delivery of online services should be cleared in mission mode. He said that regular feedback of services must be solicited from field functionaries and the applicants to ensure smooth service delivery to the citizens.
Chief Secretary also reviewed progress made in demystification of revenue records so that it is understandable to general public in easy to understand language. He enquired about the GoI sponsored programs like AGRISTACK, SVAMITVA, ULPIN, etc. He made out that the progress in the implementation of these programs should be further fast tracked for the benefit of public at the earliest.
SRINAGAR: Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and some civilians were injured on Thursday night in the intermittent exchange of fire and motor shelling in the Arnia sector along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.
Several houses were hit by the mortar shells after Pakistani troops targeted five Indian posts along the border, media reports said.
The unprovoked firing from across the border triggered panic among the residents, and people moved to safer locations, and took shelter in Bunkers and temples.
Reports suggest that two BSF Jawans and four civilians sustained injuries in the unprovoked firing by Pakistan Rangers. The injured are receiving medical aid at a local hospital.
Notably, this is the second ceasefire incident this month in the same area. Earlier, on October 17 two BSF jawans were injured in firing by Pakistan Rangers.
India and Pakistan had signed a ceasefire agreement pact in February 2021, to observe strict ceasefire along the Line of Control.
SRINAGAR: Pakistan Rangers on Thursday violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing along the International Border in R S Pura area of Jammu’s Arnia sector, officials said here.
A Border Security Force spokesperson told the news agency KNO that firing started at around 8 pm when Pak rangers targeted some Indian posts without any provocation.
He said that the firing was effectively retaliated to by the BSF troops.
The unprovoked firing from across the border triggered panic among the residents and people moved to safes locations.
“A large number of people living in villages near zero line were seen moving towards areas of R S Pura , Bishnah and Jammu, which is considered as out of firing range. The local administration also rushed to assist the people with opening schools and Panchant Ghars as shelters for them,” said an official.
This is the second ceasefire incident this month in the same area. Earlier, on October 17 two BSF jawans were injured in firing by Pakistan Rangers.
Notably, this is the first major incident of ceasefire violation after the February 2021 pact between the Indian troops and the Pakistan Army—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: At least six people were injured in a road mishap in the Doda district of the Jammu region on Thursday.
Quoting an official, Kashmir Scroll reported that a matador (Mini-Bus) bearing registration number JK06 A 8310 met with an accident at Pul Doda, resulting in injuries to six passengers on board.
The officer said that all the injured were immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors shifted them to GMC Doda for advanced treatment.
A doctor at GMC Doda said that all the injured persons are being tested and are stable.
SRINAGAR: The higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir are likely to experience light snowfall on Saturday while the weather will remain mostly cloudy for the next eight days.
According to the forecast details shared by a local Meteorological department (MeT), the weather would remain mainly clear to partly cloudy till October 28.
Rain in Kashmir (KLImage- Bilal Bahadur)
On October 29, there is a possibility of light rain and snowfall over isolated higher reaches.
The MeT department further predicted partly cloudy weather conditions on October 30 and 31st while on November 01-02, partly to generally cloudy weather conditions are expected in J&K.
“There is no forecast of any major rain, snowfall till November 02 in Jammu & Kashmir,” Deputy Director MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said.
The MeT department has also issued an advisory in which it stated that the weather is favourable for harvesting and safe storage of crops and all outdoor activities.
J&K has recorded a large excess rainfall of 79.7 mm against a normal precipitation of 29.1 mm from October 01-October 25.
Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K has recorded a precipitation of 43.6 mm against a normal rainfall of 23.5 mm during the period.
The highest precipitation during the period has been recorded at Samba, Doda, Ramban and Rajouri.
The large excess rainfall has been recorded in J&K this month after the two-month-long dry spell in Jammu & Kashmir.
Pertinently in the month of September, J&K parts recorded a hot and humid weather conditions, breaking the decades-old highest temperature records at several places—(KNO)
Prof Abdul Qaiyum Rafiqi, one of Kashmir’s top historians has published the translation of a late sixteenth-century history chronicle, Sayyid Ali’sTarikh-i-Kashmir.Prof Ashraf Waniread the book and was impressed by the fascinating conversion of the Persian chronicle into English
Khanqah-e-Muala is the oldest piece of Islamic architecture in Srinagar. This photograph is dated 1880
Like other regions of the sub-continent, the heritage of Kashmir is mainly preserved in Sanskrit and Persian texts besides the word fund and different genres of regional language—Kashmiri. This is the reason that sections of Kashmiri scholars have the anxiety to preserve and popularise the Kashmiri language and to see that the treasure in Sanskrit and Persian is translated into English and other languages to democratise access.
One of these concerned scholars is Prof Abdul Qaiyum Rafiqi, a former Professor of History, at the University of Kashmir, and the author of well-known work, Sufism in Kashmir. The reason that prompted the Professor to undertake the present work is therefore understandable. The choice for Tarikh-i-Kashmir of Sayid Ali for the purpose is also obvious as it is the earliest extant Persian chronicle of Kashmir written in the sixteenth century CE plus this is the solitary copy available to the best of the knowledge of Kashmiri scholars including Prof Rafiqi.
Exhaustive Introduction
Prof Rafiqi, however, does not believe that the details contained in the texts are irrefutable facts, and they speak for themselves. Instead, he is a firm believer that the texts require the historian to verify their authenticity and to reconstruct them as an object of knowledge. This is why there is an exhaustive introduction containing the history of Kashmir based on the critical study of different categories of sources. This is also the reason that wherever the chronicler of the Tarikh appeared subjective or erroneous, Prof Rafiqi sets the records straight by giving end notes to the targeted text. It is in this context that the significance of the three segments of the book—reproduction of the Persian text, its translation into English with end notes, and the introduction—becomes intelligible.
History of Kashmir by Prof Abdul Qaiyum Rafiqi
The reproduction of the text helps the reader to learn about the actual terms used in the original and to check the balance struck by the translator between the “foreignness” and the “domestication” of the target language. The immaculate translation exhibited in trying to retain linguistic flavour, literary sensibility and lexical and cultural equivalence enables the scholarship. Researchers with language problems but otherwise better equipped with current trends of historiography to revisit the sources can invoke new meanings from them. This ultimately infuses a new life to history writing and makes it relevant to the demands of the fast-changing understanding of social and natural sciences. For an adequate understanding of the text, the translated text carries elaborate notes that either correct the original author’s information or provide additional information not communicated by the source text itself.
Twin Purposes
The exhaustive introduction to the book delineates the history of the Sultans. It has twin purposes. First, it provides a context to the contents of the target text, and second, the translator gives his own opinion on some issues considered incontrovertible facts by historians. Both the introduction and the end notes demonstrate the author’s remarkable command over a variety of sources as well as his own reading of sources which substantiates the fact that a text is no longer like a stable vessel containing a fixed meaning.
It is rather a dynamic entity providing and sustaining a range of meanings. Contrary to the generally held opinion that Rinchna accepted Islam at the hands of Saiyid Sharaf al-Din Bulbul Shah, Prof Rafiqi, drawing on Abul Fazl, attributes the conversion to Rinchna’s association with Shah Mir. Revisiting many other important developments of the period, namely the background of Sultan Zain al Abidin’s liberal policy towards non-Muslims and the ‘anti-Shii’ policy of Mirza Haider Dughlat is rewarding. Equally scholarly is the rejection of the supposed meeting between Mir Muhammad Hamadani and Sheikh Nūr al-Din Rishi (pp. 82-83); and the encounter between Shaikh Nūr al-Din and Bhum Sād. (p. 87)
Newer Revelations
The entire episode of Mir Muhammad’s spiritual encounter with Shaikh Nuru’ d-Din appears to be a figment [of imagination] of medieval scholars in order to bring the Rishi saints of Kashmir within the orbit of the Kubravi order. But the very anecdote on which the store of the Kubravi saint’s association with the founder of the Rishi order is based does not stand historical scrutiny. First, the irreconcilable discrepancies in the matter of fact and the unexplained lacunas in the narrative of the sources raise serious doubts about the authenticity of the anecdote (so-called “historical meeting” between the two saints). Secondly, and more importantly, the chronology of the events as described in the historical literature clearly shows that the meeting between the two spiritual luminaries could not have taken place (pp. 83).
As is true of many other eminent medievalists, Rafiqi considers that the stories narrated by the author of the Tarikh about the supernatural powers of the saints are, like other hagiologists, mainly spun out of his mind to meet the needs of the collective mentality of the time
By the time Saiyid ‘Ali compiled his Tarikh, the corpus of apocryphal tales about famous Sufis had grown to a great volume. Our author seems to have been highly impressed by the elements of marvellous and supernatural in these tales. This is quite visible in the stories he describes regarding the conversion of two prominent disciples of Shaikh Nuru ‘d-Din – the story of Shaikh Nuru ‘d-Din approaching Bhum Sadh dressed in a cow skin is quite incompatible with the known character of the Shaikh.
The book is a must-read not only for research scholars curious to pose new questions and look for new answers but also for general readers interested in the political and religious history of the Sultanate period. What has impressed me personally is Prof Rafiqi’s handling of untranslatability- the difficulty of achieving perfect translation which makes translations in themselves great works of philosophy.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday and extended Vijayadashmi greetings to him.
“Met Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji today and wished him a blissful Vijayadashmi”, Lieutenant Governor said on X.
He also presented ‘Kong Posh’ (Saffron Flowers) to the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of J&K UT.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha presenting a Saffron tray in full bloom to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on November 13, 2022.
Lieutenant Governor Sinha also held discussions with Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Communications, and Electronics & Information Technology.
In a tweet the LG said: “Met Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw. We discussed a wide range of issues related to IT sector, especially implementation of Bharat Net Phase-III to provide digital connectivity to remote and difficult areas.”
“Their conversation encompassed a wide range of topics related to the information technology sector, with a particular focus on the implementation of Bharat Net Phase-III. This initiative aims to extend digital connectivity to remote and challenging terrains, ensuring that even the most isolated areas benefit from the advantages of digital communication and technology,” said the officials.
SRINAGAR: In Jammu and Kashmir, the Gender Parity Index (GPI) in higher educational institutes for 18-23-year-old students surpasses the national average, as per official data.
The national average GPI for this age group is 1.05 across all categories, while Jammu and Kashmir boasts a higher GPI of 1.18 across all categories.
GPI is a metric used to gauge gender equality in education access and is monitored by government and international organizations like UNESCO and the United Nations to identify areas requiring intervention to address gender disparities.
Among scheduled caste students, Jammu and Kashmir’s GPI stands at 1.27, surpassing the national average of 1.7. Similarly, for Scheduled Tribe students in higher education, the GPI is 0.92 in Jammu and Kashmir compared to the national average of 1.02. A GPI below 1 indicates that girls face greater disadvantages in learning opportunities, while a GPI above 1 indicates the opposite. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: The weather in Kashmir is expected to remain predominantly dry until the end of October. However, a weak Western Disturbance is anticipated to sweep through the region around Friday-Saturday, bringing with it the possibility of light rain or snow in higher-altitude areas.
Across most of the region, Saturday is likely to be characterised by mostly cloudy conditions.
For the Kashmir Plains, the maximum daytime temperatures are forecasted to range from 18 to 21 degree C, while nighttime temperatures will dip to a minimum of 3 to 6 degree C.
Within less than 50 years of its operations, SKIMS – the tertiary care teaching hospital and a deemed university that sits over the healthcare pyramid in Kashmir, is showing serious stress within the institution. Whether or not it is the outcome of post-2019 decision-making, the mess is seriously impacting patient care, reportsMasood Hussain
The State Cancer Centre at SKIMS in Srinagar. KL Image: Masood Hussain
A Srinagar resident, Irfan spent three days in SKIMS after his aunt was operated upon and put on life support. “She was not put on a ventilator but I was asked to pump oxygen manually using the (ambu) bag,” Irfan said, showing his pink-red fingertips. The staff gave him absolutely no reason for why a machine was not employed instead of an ambu bag. “The doctors were apparently not sure of her condition well before the surgery. They said there are two options – one, let her die normally or we will operate upon her and there is a possibility of her death on the operation table. Thank God, she survived for three days after the operation but she was not treated well.”
Over the last few months, the small talk about the “worst situation” prevailing in the SKIMS, the major tertiary care hospital in Srinagar, is constantly making rounds. There are interesting anecdotes explaining the deterioration. “In cancer radiology, anybody who requires therapy is first marked on a machine and for this very purpose, the patients were sent to SMHS Hospital because the SKIMS machine stopped working,” one hospital insider said. “Once, they were marked there; the patient would start receiving therapies.”
Most of the MRIs are now being carried out in privately run facilities outside the 1200-bed hospital. It was after a hiatus of many weeks that the hospital managed to procure cancer markers, a vital diagnostic chemical the staff was desperate for. “I observed there are two activities with huge priority,” Irfan said. “The security of the hospital is taken care of and used almost everywhere and the hospital is adding to the parking space.”
“Not everything that you say may be correct but one thing is sure – we are in a whirlpool,” one senior doctor admitted. “We have problems almost everywhere – we have staff problems, we have infrastructure issues and off late, we are facing faculty problems as well.”
The doctor said the entire situation is the outcome of meddling by the bureaucracy that started with the undoing of institutional autonomy at the far end of Dr Ahangar’s leadership. “We are not desperate for autonomy but the administration must address the issues that are cropping up,” the doctor said. “Right now, SKIMS does not seem to be a priority for the administration and sometimes we feel as if the situation is deliberately created.” The authority to make purchases and appoint the staff has been taken away from the Director SKIMS. While a Committee is overseeing the purchases, all issues related to jobs are to be tackled by the SSB and J&KPSC.
Staff Deficit
Manpower is the biggest issue the SKIMS is facing right now. “The last recruitment of the nursing staff was done in 2013,” one senior doctor said. “The hospital administration was asked to get the staff appointed through the Subordinate Services Board (SSB). More than a year has passed since around 300 nursing positions were referred to the recruiter and they are yet to advertise these positions.” The gazetted staff has to be recruited by the JKPSC (since June 11, 2023) and the non-gazetted and class-IV by the SSB (since January 15, 2021).
SKIMS Launch: In the sitting row are the Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the Late Dr Ali Jan and Dr Ajit Kumar Nagpal (the first director of SKIMS)
In between, a number of technical staff superannuated thus adding to the staff deficit in the hospital. The hospital had hired around 70 nurses on a contractual basis. What was interesting these nurses were disengaged and sent home at a time when the hospital lacked nurses. This, insiders said was done despite repeated requests by hospital administration that they should not be disengaged. Some of these nurses have gone to the court.
“We lack nursing staff, nursing aids, dressers, laboratory technicians and a number of technologists,” one insider said. “Right now the formal SKIMS bed capacity is 1015 beds, we stretch it routinely to 1200 beds but given the staff position, it has to be 600 beds right now.”
Hospital administration insiders said they cannot go with our problem to the patients who come with their last hope of treatment. “By an average, around 1500 patients are registered in SKIMS emergency every day, 5000 patients visit are managed in the OPD on a daily basis as 250-300 patients are admitted every 24 hours,” one doctor said. “We avoid talking because it will extinguish the hope that the hospital lacks the capacity to treat the sick, which we do not want.”
The shortage of staff is impacting patient care, the doctors said. In ICU, it has to be three nurses to one bed in three shifts and a ward must have five nurses at any point in time. “We do not have staff to manage ventilators which we have and do not operate and our wards are managed by two nurses at the most,” one doctor added.
Everything is hanging because of staff issues. Immunology had 21 professionals and all retired except four. Pathology was managed by 35 staffers and now it has only seven. People in MRD, X-ray, ECG and many others are actually casual labourers who have been elevated to the status simply because there are no trained paramedics. “Engineering wing is hanging as they have been told they will be going back to the PWD department and in the confusion they have their own issues,” one official said.
There is a process underway to engage 125 Nursing Aid Grade III nurses on an academic arrangement basis for six months and it is likely to happen in a week or so, officials in the SKIMS administration said.
No Machines
Insiders admit that the radio-diagnosis department is severely hit as only one CT machine is functional right now. It is catering to a huge load and it often stops functioning in between. “The big institution like SKIMS having only one CT is a shame,” one middle-aged doctor, speaking anonymously said. “We have an old MRI machine also.” Most of the machines have outlived their life span and their replacement is part of the institutional routine.
A patient lays on the machine under a gamma camera at the Nuclear medicine department, SKIMS. KL Image: Syed Ahmad Rufai
SKIMS’s radio diagnosis and imaging department is vital to almost all departments.Its emergency section has a 16-slice CT scan and a colour Doppler ultrasound. While part of the machinery it shares with the RCC, it has a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, which is vital for diagnosing a number of diseases including brain, spine, joint, heart, blood vessels, liver biliary channels, gastrointestinal system, obstetric and gynaecological issues.
Since April 2007, the SKIMS’s Radiation Oncology Department-run Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) became the State Cancer Institute (SCI), making it eligible for certain funds for infrastructure. It has raised a 5-level building but it has not procured all the machines that it requires.
The department had 3D CRT and IMRT in addition to having equipment for conventional radiotherapy. Using four treatment units, almost 150 patients get therapies in the department on a daily basis. The department’s CT Simulator was not working forcing the doctors to send patients to SMHS for radiation planning for high-precision radiotherapy. For many years now, the department has been trying to acquire high-end LINAC with IGRT, SRS and SRT capabilities as well as a 4D-CT simulator for improving the standard of cancer treatment. These machines are yet to come.
“We had set the process for procuring a new CT machine (128-slice) some years back but there is no progress,” an informed officer said. “X-ray plants and ABG machines need to be procured but the extremely slow process of procurement has dealt a severe blow to the system at SKIMS.” Insiders said that the laboratory equipment has not been procured after the contract with the supplier expired in December 2022 tenders are floated and the pace is slow. However, insiders in management said the X-ray issues will be over this week as two plants have landed and are in the process of being installed.
A senior faculty at the SKIMS said that the institute, being a deemed university, has historically remained at the top of Kashmir’s healthcare pyramid. It would acquire the best equipment always. “The situation is changed now, all the new institutions that have come up in the last few years have the modern equipment as nobody decides on the pleas we have submitted,” one doctor said. “This deficit is now playing with the reputation of the SKIMS in health care.”
Faculty Issues
Off late, some members of the SKIMS faculty have started moving to other places. Surgical oncology, for instance, was being managed by four doctors and two of them – Dr Sheikh Zahoor and Azhar Jan Battoo, resigned and joined the privately run Paras Hospital in Srinagar. In Neurology, Dr Hilal A Ganai has submitted his papers and joined the private sector. A senior faculty from the Medicine department has taken the CRS route and superannuated prematurely.
SKIMS Celebrates 38th Annual Day
The surgical Oncology department has been suffering ever since it was created by a Kashmiri specialist working in Britain. SKIMS doctors said he encouraged a number of surgeons working elsewhere and brought them to SKIMS. However, when they found an adverse work culture in which there was mudslinging and discouragement, they gradually gave up. Those who did not resign then have resigned now.
“If the administration was keen that they should not leave, they could have rejected their resignation but the fact is that it was accepted,” one doctor said. At SKIMS, the patients requiring surgery have a long waiting list that will now get delayed further.
“I think there is some kind of conspiracy. In 2024, when the AIIMS will start working in Kashmir, I have apprehensions that fifty per cent of our faculty will move there,” one concerned doctor said. “At SKIMS, doctors retire at 62 and in AIIMS they retire at 65. There are better increments.” A number of doctors admitted that the internal politics within the institute is playing a role in not offering an ideal work culture to the new talent.
The hospital has more than 115 faculty positions – of a sanctioned 295, vacant, right now.
Post-2019 Crisis
The SKIMS crisis is being seen as an essential outcome of a series of decisions that were taken after August 5, 2019. These decisions included taking away the autonomy of the major institution, preventing it from appointing its staff and even making material purchases part of a complex web. In fact, the committee that is supposed to oversee the institution has not met even once since it was constituted. Including SKIMS with the hospitals managed by GMC in Srinagar and Jammu reduced one key step that was keeping the institution ahead.
Health workers extracting plasma from an individual who survived Covid-19 infection. The special camp in which cops donated their plasma was organised by SKIMS in Srinagar on July 22, 2020. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
Top doctors managing the institution said they are aware of the issues and the deficits are being addressed. “We are getting a 128-slice CT from JKMSC and the process for getting an MRI and Linear Accelerator has started,” a top officer said. “We have sent all the vacant positions to the recruiting agencies for making selections. Till they make the appointments, we have started some ad hoc arrangements to hire paramedics and the list will be out within a few days.”
Asked about the faculty resigning and joining other organisations, the top doctor said everybody has a right to go to places they think are better. “They were here for 10 years and why now, all of a sudden, have they started tracing disabling things,” he said. “It is a matter of right, some people fly abroad and some find better venues here as well. What is so new to it?”
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief Dilbagh Singh Tuesday said that the routes that were opened in the late 1980s and early 1990s for weapon smuggling are now being used for narco-trade and narco smuggling.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, the Police chief said, “These routes are now being used for narco smuggling. THE growing challenge of narcotics needs to be countered by the people of Kupwara. Border areas used for such activities need to be closed,” he said, adding that “Those involved will have to face stern action in times to come. People of Kupwara have to come together to stop use of border routes for trade of narcotics.”
DGP Singh further said that all the misguided youth should shun the path of violence and join mainstream and be part of peace. “We want all of them to come back and start working normally like everyone else.”
Comparing the militancy recruitment figures, the DGP said that only 10 local youth joined militancy ranks in the ensuing year and 110 had joined in the previous year. “It would have been ideal that those 10 didn’t join militancy ranks. Among 10 a total of 6 have already been killed in different operations. The remaining 4 will also be killed. We don’t want to kill rather give them a chance to live normal lives. We are with peace, not violence, and urging all misguided youth to come back,” the Police chief said
In view of the Dussehra celebration, Director General of Police (DGP) Singh visited Badherkali Mandir at Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district along with other officers including SSP Handwara Yougal Manhas.
He said that Dussehra celebrations are happening across the region and Kashmir Valley. “People have yet again started to live and celebrate different important occasions together. Love, affection, and brotherly relations with each other are growing. I desire this relationship to get deeply rooted and continue to strengthen further,” the DGP said.
Stating that the security situation in the region has improved in the last 5 years, the J&K police chief said that militancy is coming down significantly. “Militancy structure almost stands wiped out of the region now. Very few are left and we are committed to eliminating them as well. With peace, people can roam free everywhere at their will. We want youth to work towards their future and career-building.”
About active militant figures, the police chief said that in north Kashmir there are no militants. “No resident militant is active or alive in north Kashmir. There may be some floating militants and they continue to be here and there. They will also be eliminated soon.”
DGP said that all the misguided youth should shun the path of violence and join mainstream and be part of peace. “We want all of them to come back and start working normally like everyone else.”
Comparing the militancy recruitment figures, the DGP said that only 10 local youth joined militancy ranks in the ensuing year and 110 had joined in the previous year. “It would have been ideal that those 10 didn’t join militancy ranks. Among 10 a total of 6 have already been killed in different operations. The remaining 4 will also be killed. We don’t want to kill rather give them a chance to live normal lives. We are with peace, not violence, and urging all misguided youth to come back,” the Police chief said
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SRINAGAR: The Government of India has constituted a tribunal headed by a sitting judge of Delhi High Court to decide whether there is sufficient cause for declaring the Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) as an unlawful association.
In a notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) said that they have set-up a tribunal headed by Justice Sachin Datta, Judge, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for banning JKDFP headed by jailed Kashmiri separatist Shabir Shah.
The constitution of the tribunal is a legal requirement under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-1967.
The move comes 15 days after the MHA declared Shabir Shah’s JKDFP as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
On October 5, the Government of India banned JKDFP for five years, citing “anti-India” and “Pro-Pakistan” activities of the party.
The MHA said the members of the JKDFP have been at the forefront of secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and want to create a separate Islamic State. “The leader of members of the JKDFP have been involved in raising funds through various sources including Pakistan and its proxy organizations for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities, sustained stone-pelting on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir,” reads a notification issued by MHA on October 5, 2023.. (KNO)
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SRINAGAR: At least five policemen were injured after a police vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road in Kurigam area of Qazigund in South Kashmir’a Kulgam district.
Quoting an official, KNO reported that a police 407 van skidded off the road at Kurigam, Qazigund, resulting in injuries to five police personnel. “All the injured policemen were rushed to the emergency hospital in Qazigund for immediate medical attention, where two among them have shifted to GMC Anantnag.”
The injured have been identified as Head Constable Mushtaq Ahmad, Constable Waseem Ahmad, Constable Murtaza Ahmad, Constable Amir Suhail and Special Police Officer (SPO) Driver Sajad Ahmad.
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In the demise of poet and scribe, Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Kashmir lost a witness to the history of a crucial era. His 32 books and countless pieces of reportage, however, shall remain a vital source to the new generation, reportsSyed Shadab Ali Gillani
Ghulam Nabi Khayal with Rehman Rahi – the two doyens of Kashmir literature
A profound sense of loss engulfed Kashmir’s literary community as they took Ghulam Nabi Khanyal (born Mir), a luminous for his eternal rest. With 32 published books to his name, Khayal left an indelible mark on the world of letters. He was one of the few Kashmir scribes who would be a political activist and a poet at the same time.
Khayal’s literary journey began in his mother tongue, a humble yet promising start that would later propel him to unimaginable heights. He ventured far beyond the horizon of expectations, crafting exquisite poetry in Urdu, Kashmiri, and English, leaving admirers in awe of his versatility and poetic mastery.
Ancestry
Khayal was born in Hawal, a city locality, where tradition and heritage have long thrived. It was there where his grandfather, Ghulam Muhammad Mir, nurtured a thriving Shawl-making business. He had established a Shawl factory within the confines of his home. It was in this rich tapestry of history, culture, and familial unity that Khayal’s poetic journey began, taking him on an odyssey of literary brilliance.
Khayal was born on March 4, 1939, to Jalaluddin Mir and Talja Begum. His early life was shaped by the modesty of his parents. Although his father lacked formal education, his skill in the craft of carpet engraving was nothing short of remarkable. He devoted his life to his profession. It was, however, Khayal’s mother who left indelible imprints on his upbringing. Her teachings encompassed the virtues of politeness, gentleness, sociability, and realism, becoming the guiding principles of his life.
Khayal’s poetic journey began during his childhood, a period characterised by the aroma of liberty and a relentless quest for knowledge. He took his first steps in education at the historic Islamia High School in Rajouri Kadal, situated just a stone’s throw from his home. In the milieu of Kashmir, this institution was one of the three major schools, alongside Biscoe School and National Public School in Srinagar.
Khayal, displaying an insatiable appetite for learning, earned distinction in his matriculation examination. His education at Islamia High School was under the tutelage of remarkable teachers, including Pandit Raghunath, Maulana Nooruddin, and Maulana Ghulam Nabi Mubarki, who imparted the wisdom of Arabic. The influence of his teachers in moulding his intellectual prowess was profound, instilling in him a deep appreciation for learning.
Literary Awakening
Khayal shared the spark of his literary career ignited during his ninth standard when Mubarki posed a simple question: “Is anyone interested in poetry?” Khayal’s emphatic “Yes” marked the inception of his poetic journey. Reading the works of Haali and other poets, he found inspiration and a kindred spirit in the world of verse.
Mubarki told Khayal to write his own verses and gave him a poetic meter to follow. In response, the young Khayal penned these lines, Jawani mujhe hai bohathi Azeez, which left Mubarki impressed, thus beginning the ascent of a literary luminary in the making.
GN Khayal with his Sahitya Akademi Award. (Photo: Bilal Bahadur/KL)
Post-matriculation, Khayaal started working at Radio Kashmir Srinagar as a news reader. He stood out among 19 applicants, thanks to his voice and diction. He refined his news reading skills, drawing inspiration from the renowned newsreaders on the other side of the divide, Shakeel Ahmed and Anwar Bazad.
While in Radio for around four or five years, Khayal found himself irresistibly drawn back to his first love – poetry.
Khayal’s early literary journey began with Delhi’s weekly film magazine Chitra during his time at Islamia High School. This magazine ignited a profound passion for literature within Khayal, ultimately serving as a guiding light throughout his life.
In an interview, he acknowledged that he started his literary quest after writing a short story (afsana), and “not many people are even aware that I used to write afsanas.” He sent his stories to the magazine under an anonymous pen name. “I used to change my pen name very often, the way people are changing political parties these days,” he added with a smile.
Besides these, he also started writing in Kashmiri language for different magazines. He also translated various works like poetry and stories as he believed that translating literary works connects cultures and makes them more comprehensible to the locals of various places. He has also translated the famous The Valley of Kashmir by Walter Lawrence from English to Urdu which was a well-received book.
During his lifetime Khayal Sahib went on to meet some legendary poets of the Urdu language like Firaq Gorukhpuri, Jigar Muradabadi, and others.
Khayal’s student years coincided with a burgeoning literary movement that significantly influenced Khayal’s trajectory. In 1954, he became a part of the progressive writers’ movement. Initially, Khayal began honing his craft in the Kashmiri language, later branching out to explore Urdu and English literature as well.
Setbacks
On February 23, 1958, Khayal found himself thrust into Kashmir history as he aligned himself with a political movement determined to usher in transformative change within the then state of Jammu and Kashmir. Khayal’s commitment led to his subsequent arrest and swift transfer to Central Jail in Srinagar, where he would spend the following two years. Little did he anticipate that this pivotal chapter of his life would set the stage for a remarkable journey marked by unwavering resilience and extraordinary accomplishments. Khayal had described it as “a moment of profound gratitude”.
“My ability to produce a translation of Omar Khayyam’s work would not have been possible without my time in incarceration,” he has said, in an apparently self-recorded interview. “Though I possessed only rudimentary knowledge of Persian, my time in jail introduced me to two Persian teachers, Maulana Mohammad Sayed Masoodi and Hisamuddin Banday.”
It was Masoodi who brought him the Khayyam book, which eventually became the foundation of his translation work. He fondly remembered Maulana Masoodi’s pride in his translation efforts, and the resulting book gained widespread acclaim. “It was an incredible feeling when respected figures like Mir Ghulam Rasool Nazki and Ghulam Nabi acknowledged that, in many instances, my translations surpassed the original works of Khayyam,” Khayal recorded.
“In Kashmir’s literary ecosystem, his works have been of great influence, especially his translation of Khayyam’s poetry,” Manzoor Unjum, editor of Uqaab newspaper, said. “He has translated Persian into Kashmiri beautifully. He was a very successful writer and poet, and his body of work is very rich. He has translated Khayyam’s over 200 rubaiyaat from Persian to Kashmiri which is considered one of his biggest achievements.”
Reasons for Arrest
On his detention, Khayal has written and left recorded conversations as well. “From a legal perspective, I was implicated in a murder case. The story of this murder case was a long and convoluted one. After Sheikh Abdullah’s speech at Dargah Hazratbal, a dispute erupted between two opposing parties – whose names I prefer not to mention. Unfortunately, during this altercation, a man named Mohuiddin, who was a servant of Bakshi Sahib’s brother, lost his life. Many individuals, including those from, political conferences, and myself and many others, were apprehended and incarcerated on murder charges,” Khayal has stated.
After Khayal came out of the prison, he later said, “Bakshi personally extended his apologies to me” and later “assisted me in securing a position within the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.” He added: “It is quite remarkable that Bakshi, who had once considered me a murderer, facilitated my employment. In this regard, I hold Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad in the highest esteem. I would also like to express my gratitude to Mirza Kamaluddin Shaida, the first secretary of the academy, who recognised my potential.”
Into Journalism
Later Khayal set his sights on a new path – journalism. Along with Abdul Aziz Baharoon and Noor Muhammad Roshan, he revived the publication of Kong Posh magazine first published around 1949 by a group of progressive writers. In 1964, Khayal assumed the editorship of the Urdu weekly Mahaaz, an official organ of Plebiscite Front. By the end of 1964, a ban was imposed on the magazine, as its content was deemed contrary to the Qur’an.
Then, Kashmir was experiencing political and social upheaval, and literacy was limited. Consequently, Khayal’s newspaper Watan, also launched in April 1964, was closed in 1968. Later, Khayal established his Urdu weekly Iqbal in 1968, which later transformed into a daily publication. Its operations stopped in 1977. In 1977 he joined India Today magazine.
Besides, he served as a visiting faculty to the University of Kashmir’s journalism department for two years.
In the 1990s, when the militancy broke out and Kashmir reportage was in demand everywhere, Khayal wrote for the British newspaper The Guardian, Time magazine, The Association Press and United Press International (UPI). He was also reporting for various publications in Pakistan. In 2003, he launched Voice of Kashmir, a weekly newspaper.
The Family
In 1970, Khayal married Rafiqa, the daughter of Fateh Kadal businessman, Ghulam Hassan Wani. She was a teacher.
They have two sons and a daughter. Kamran, their elder son, pursued a career in computer engineering and now holds a senior position in a renowned software company. Saba, their daughter, is a medical doctor and is settled in the USA. Irfan, the youngest of the three is also computer engineering and is currently working in Dubai.
Contributions
Khayal was an artist, poet, and writer whose contribution was immense. He has 32 books to his credit, which include prose, poetry, literary criticism and translations. His books include The Burning of a Paradise, Chinar Rang, Fikr-e-Khayal, Karvaan-e-Khayal, Khayalat, Khayal-e-Qalam, Pragaash, and Gaashir Munaar.
Khayal credits Will Durant’s book The Story of Civilization for inspiring him and igniting his imagination. “I wrote articles on the greatest poets of the world. Poets from different languages, whose remarkable verses I had encountered within the pages of Durant’s book,” he has said. He delved into the realms of great poets from various cultures, such as Homer in Greek, Virgil in Latin, Dante in Italian, Imr-ul-Qais in Arabic, Hafiz in Persian, Tagore in Bengali, Iqbal in Urdu, Pushkin in Russian, and Goethe in German.
The remarkable aspect of Khayal’s endeavour was his mastery of the languages. This feat was a testament to his unwavering commitment to bringing the world’s literary treasures to the people of Kashmir. Perhaps even more awe-inspiring was the sheer magnitude of this work which spanned 11 volumes, which were published in 11 years.
In recognition of his extraordinary contribution, this collection was bestowed with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975, an accolade that solidified his place in the pantheon of literary greats. Later in 2015, he relinquished his award in protest of the ill-treatment of minorities in India.
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