Month: November 2023

In a significant development, the administration of the Union Territory has decided to abolish 15 percent electricity duty on consumers to nullify the impact of tariff hike on them. Addressing a news conference here, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, H Rajesh Prasad, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the government has decided to withdraw 15 percent electricity duty on consumers to nullify the impact of tariff hike on them. “The JERC today approved a 15 percent tariff hike, which will come into effect from December 01, 2023. However, to ensure that the tariff hike does not impact the electricity bill of the consumers, the government of J&K has taken a considerate decision to withdraw the Electricity Duty (ED), which was previously being le...

The State Investigation Agency has arrested a woman from south Kashmir over involvement in a 'terror funding case'. "State Investigation Agency (SIA) has arrested one lady namely Shabroza Bano wife of Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Barkati of South Kashmir. She, along with her husband has been found involved in terror financing by raising money through crowd funding", reads a statement issued to Kashmir Scroll. "A case FIR No 02/2023 U/S 13,17,18,21,39,40 UA(P) Act, 120-B IPC of police station, SIA pertains to the involvement of Barkati family in orchestrating an extensive fund-raising campaign through crowd funding, resulting in the generation of funds amounting to crores. These funds were subsequently misused, involving money laundering and acquisition of undisclosed assets for propagati...

The prevalence of opioid use in Jammu Kashmir is on the rise, with heroin being the most commonly abused drug, according to doctors. Dr Aadil, a Medical Officer at the Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF) in District Hospital Shopian, informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an increasing number of patients seeking treatment are opioid users, with heroin being the most commonly abused opioid in J-K. “Approximately 90-95 percent of patients visiting the facility for treatment are opioid users,” he said, adding that heroin is the predominant opioid in use across the districts. A psychiatrist at GMC Anantnag expressed similar concerns, saying that 90 percent of drug abusers attending the ATF facility in the district are heroin users. “About 65 percent of these heroin a...

A social organization facilitated the wedding ceremonies of at least 40 couples coming from marginalized families from different parts of Kashmir Valley. The marriage ceremony was organized by Jammu and Kashmir Jaafria Council J&K at Amar Singh Club Srinagar The relatives and friends of the couples were also present on the occasion. “There were 40 couples in today’s ceremony. Females were from underprivileged sections of society whose families were unable to bear the expenses of the marriages of their loved ones. By the grace of the Almighty, the function was held smoothly and we hope these couples will now lead a respectable life,” Chairman Jaffria Council, Haji Musadiq Hussain told Kashmir News Trust He said since 2015, the Council has arranged marriages of hundreds of ma...

A central reserve police force (CRPF) trooper allegedly committed suicide in Kishtwar district sources said. Reliable sources told News Agency Kashmir Scroll that a CRPF constable identified as Mansh Ranjan Dass, son of Harihar Dass of Odisha, who was posted at Kishtwar, ended his life by allegedly committing suicide inside the unit. Sources further said that the cause of this extreme step was not known immediately. Meanwhile, police took cognizance of this incident. (KS)