February 2023 - Page 19 of 43

Feb152023 by News DeskNo Comments

Non-availability of electricity sparks protest against PDD in Qalamabad

REGIONAL

Shah Basit Residents of several villages in Kupwara district in north Kashmir hit the streets against the PDD department alleging that the Department was not providing electricity to several areas as per the winter schedule. Eyewitnesses told The Kashmiriyat that on Wednesday morning, residents of Qalamabad, Adura, Warpora Drangsoo, Prangroo and its adjacent villages hit the streets demanding stoppage of unscheduled curtailment in power supply. During the protest, the angry protesters chanting slogans against the PDD department alleged that they are suffering due to the non-availability of proper electricity but ironically the concerned department is in deep slumber. Meanwhile, DDC member Mawer Khurshid Ahmad Dar assured them to bring their grievance to the notice of higher aut...

Feb152023 by News DeskNo Comments

Two civilians, firefighter injured while dousing fire in south Kashmir

SOUTH KASHMIR

At least two civilians and a firefighter were injured while dousing off a blaze, triggered by a gas cylinder blast, ithe n Wanihama area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Reports said that a gas cylinder exploded resulting in fire in the house of Mohammad Ishaq Parry, son of Ghulam Mohiduin Parray at Watrigam Wanihama. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot to contain the spread of fire and in the course of action two civilians identified as Tawseef Ahmad and Waseem Ahmad Itoo and a firefighter received injuries . The injured trio was taken to a nearby hospital, where all of them are said to be stable. An F&ES official confirming the injury of the fireman, identified him as Manzoor Ahmad, working as MD in the department.

Feb152023 by News DeskNo Comments

Kupwara teenage girl’s body retrieved from Jhelum at Sonwar, Srinagar

REGIONAL

The body of a teenage girl from Kupwara, who had allegedly jumped into river Jhelum in Sonwar area of Srinagar on February 12 evening, was retrieved on Wednesday afternoon. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Indian Navy, River Police and SDRF jointly launched a massive search operation and fished out the body of a teenage girl in river Jhelum at Aramwari Sonwar here today. They said that the body has been taken by the police for legal medical formalities after which it would be handed over to the family for last rites—(KNO)

Feb152023 by News DeskNo Comments

Shooting stones halt traffic on Jammu-Srinagar Highway

REGIONAL

Traffic on Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world, has been stopped due to shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria area in Ramban district, officials said on Wednesday. “Both side traffic stopped due to continuous shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria on Jammu -Srinagar highway,” the traffic department official told GNS. While authorities had decided to allow traffic on both sides, subject to fair weather and road clearance, intermittent shooting stones continued at Mehar-Cafeteria this morning also. The authorities had also advised people to undertake the journey only after confirming the status of the thoroughfare from the Traffic Control Units. (GNS)

Feb152023 by News DeskNo Comments

Scores of protesting Kashmiri Pandit employees detained in Jammu

REGIONAL

Scores of migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees demanding a transfer from the Valley and release of salary dues were detained on Wednesday, shortly after they assembled here for a protest to press for their demands, officials said. The employees were supposed to stage a protest outside the Press Club but were not allowed by the police. As the employees assembled in the nearby chowk and started to raise slogans in support of their demands, the police detained nearly 50 protesters. They were shifted to the Police Lines in a bus. "We tried to persuade them to disperse but since they were adamant about continuing the protest, we took them into preventive custody," a government official said. When asked if prohibitory orders had been implemented outside the Press Club -– the scene of fr...

Feb152023 by News DeskNo Comments

Kashmiris were called anti nationals earlier, now we are called encroachers: Mehbooba Mufti

POLITICS, REGIONAL

Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti said that during the coalition government of PDP and BJP, she didn’t allow BJP agenda to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir and that she doesn’t take statements of Home Minister Amit Shah seriously as those are “Jumlas” only. Addressing a news conference, Mehbooba, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) appealed to the people to take control of their land as it belongs to them and in absence of the government, people including Mohalla Committees, Panchayats and others should take control of their land in respective areas. “People were earlier being called anti-national and now they are being called encroachers,” she said while replying to a query. She added people are being suppressed by one way or ...

Feb152023 by News DeskNo Comments

Srinagar records minus 0.2, Dry weather to continue for next 24 hours

REGIONAL

Weather remained dry in J&K during the last 24 hours. The MeT office said on Wednesday that same conditions would continue in the next 24 hours. “Dry weather is likely to continue in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said. Srinagar had minus 0.2, Pahalgam minus 3.6 and Gulmarg minus 4.2 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature today. In Ladakh region, Drass town had minus 14.8, Kargil minus 13.4 and Leh minus 10.4 as the minimum temperature. Jammu had 9.8, Katra 10.6, Batote 6, Banihal 2 and Bhaderwah 3.4 as the minimum temperature. (IANS)

Feb152023 by News DeskNo Comments

Kashmir parts shut down against ongoing state land eviction drive: Report

REGIONAL

Several parts of the Kashmir valley are observing a shutdown on Wednesday against the ongoing eviction drive in Jammu Kashmir, Press Trust of India reported. Parts of Kashmir on Wednesday, including the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, observed a shutdown against the demolition drive launched by the Jammu Kashmir administration to retrieve state land. Although it was not immediately clear who had called for the strike, unofficial reports from Anantnag said posters purportedly issued by the Hurriyat Conference had appeared at some places in this regard, PTI report said. They said that the shutdown is being observed against the ongoing eviction drive in Jammu Kashmir. Meanwhile, business establishments in parts of Sopore town, and Baramulla towns of north Kashmir observed a shutdown,...

Feb152023 by News DeskNo Comments

India trying to prevent declassification of ‘sensitive’ 1947 documents related to Kashmir: Report

REGIONAL

India may prevent the declassification of papers from 1947 related to Kashmir as it fears the “sensitive” letters could affect foreign relations, reported Guardian stating internal government documents. In a recent report, the Guardian said that the letters, known as the Bucher papers, are believed to include political and military arguments for why India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, called for a ceasefire with Pakistan and provided special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Bucher papers refer to communications between Gen Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher, who served as second commander-in-chief of the Indian army between 1948 and 1949, and government officials, including Nehru. Over the years, several attempts have been made by activists to declassify the pa...

Feb142023 by News DeskNo Comments

Gabba making, another Kashmiri craft on the verge of extinction

WRITE-UPS

Duwa Bisati Making of one of the notable handicrafts 'Gabba' (embroidered Kashmiri rug) has been carried out since the late 16th century, i.e., from the Mughal period. Gabbas are made up of wool blankets. The old blankets are dyed in vegetable colors and are attached together along with a cotton backing. Gabba making, one of the oldest surviving and popular handicrafts of Kashmir valley has its cropping clusters in many districts of the valley. By examining various historic sources, it is clear that there is no particular birthplace of Gabba making in the valley, but its roots touch the far-flung areas of the valley. In earlier times, Gabba was used as a source to keep warm during long and harsh winters. During the Mughal era, the Gabba was used by both the wealthy and the not-so-...