Month: May 2024

A 65-year-old man was killed after allegedly being run over by a casspir (vehicle) in Hawal area of central Kashmir’s Srinagar district, eyewitnesses said. They informed GNS that one Abdul Salam (65) came under a police vehicle near Firdous Cinema Hawal, and left with critical injuries. It has been, in the meantime, learnt that the person was removed to SKIMS Soura by a police team, where the doctors declared him as dead on arrival. Confirming it, a senior police officer told GNS that, 'it is an RTA (Road Traffic Accident).' More details awaited. (GNS)

The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Shopian in collaboration with Health, education departments and Government Degree College Shopian today organized a series of programmes to observe ‘World No Tobacco Day’. In this connection, an awareness program with the theme of ‘Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference’ was held at IM Govt. Degree College Shopian in which the participants took pledge for quitting smoking and supporting the anti-tobacco campaign. The main aim of the program was to raise the awareness among students about the health risks caused by the use of tobacco and its impact on the environment. The program was attended by Deputy LADC, Assistant LADC, DLSA Staff, College faculty, PLVs, and Students & NSS Volunteers. Rafia Hassan Khaki, Chairm...

The Jammu Kashmir administration has paced the preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra, which will run from June 29 to August 19. Officials said that along with the Jammu Kashmir administration, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has nearly completed snow removal on the Baltal-Dumel track, with ongoing work progressing rapidly. Numerous laborers and large snow cutters are actively clearing the route. Areas with lingering snow are being cleared, and paths blocked by stones are being reopened, they said. As per officials, currently, there is about 5 to 7 feet of snow on both paths leading to the cave. "Online helicopter bookings for the yatra will open on June 1, with the rates to be announced shortly by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board." Project Beacon officers of the BRO have...

Justice Atul Sreedharan of the Jammu Kashmir High Court criticized the use of "copy-paste" arguments by the government in opposing bail for individuals accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA),reported Bar and Bench. In a ruling on April 19, Justice Sreedharan observed that general claims about national security, radical Islamism, and allegiance to Pakistan are often used instead of specific evidence against the accused. These broad arguments, he noted, are frequently made to influence the court psychologically rather than provide concrete evidence. Justice Sreedharan emphasized that such generalized allegations cannot be the sole basis for denying bail when no specific material implicates the accused. In this particular case, the accused, initially arrested i...

With soaring temperatures disrupting life in the plains, Kashmir is experiencing an unprecedented surge in tourism, marked by a notable increase in foreign arrivals. Hotels, houseboats, and homestays are fully booked, highlighting Kashmir’s growing popularity among travelers. A senior tourism official reported that over a million tourists had arrived by mid-May, surpassing 2023’s numbers and setting the stage for a record-breaking year. Media reports indicate that over 12.5 lakh tourists have visited Kashmir so far, and if the current trend continues, 2024 is likely to break all previous records. In addition to traditional spots, offbeat destinations such as Daksum, Doodhpathri, and Keran are attracting significant numbers of visitors. The region is currently receiving a high volume ...

The Screening Committee reconstituted by J-K administration for provisionally registered Kashmiri Migrants should initiate the process for their registration regularly without any further delay, Senior Kashmiri leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami has said. In a press release, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said, these families whose number is stated to be 1400 have been facing severe hardships for almost a year since their relief and ration were stopped. A delegation of these migrants recently met MY Tarigami and narrated the pathetic condition they have undergone during this period and are even unable to feed their families in absence of payment of relief. "Even violence hit and victim families included under provisionally registered migrants have also been denied the payment ...

A bomb threat call targeting Vistara flight UK611, arriving from New Delhi, prompted immediate action by airport authorities at Srinagar International Airport. The incident unfolded when Air Traffic Control (ATC) Srinagar received a threatening call, sparking a swift and coordinated response from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). A top official told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com that following established safety protocols, the CISF quickly evacuated the aircraft and conducted a thorough search of the plane and its surroundings. Passengers and crew members were escorted to a secure area while the investigation was underway. Bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs were deployed to meticulously inspect the aircraft for any suspicious items. After an exhaustive ...

The government forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Jammu Kashmir’s Poonch district on Friday following reports of suspected militant movement, officials said. They reported intelligence inputs indicating suspicious activity in the Dera Ki Gali-Bafliaz area of the district. Sources revealed that around three armed men were spotted in the area, leading to a brief exchange of fire between the suspected militants and government force personnel. A senior police officer confirmed that the entire region around the identified location has been cordoned off and the search operation is underway.

The Northern Railway has issued a letter to all Principal Heads of Departments (PHODs), asking them to appoint junior administrative officers in the Kashmir Valley in another ten days for a smooth takeover from a construction firm that is done building a key railway section. “Train service in Sangaldan-Srinagar-Baramulla section is functional and shortly section between Sangaldan-SVDK (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra) is likely to be commissioned thereby connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country,” a letter dated May 29, 2024 of the General Manager of the Northern Railways, said. It added, “As such, it is very essential that competent officers are posted at Srinagar/Budgam to look after the operation and maintenance of the section and ensure smooth taking over of the section...