Sunday, February 23News and updates from Kashmir

Month: December 2024

CIK conducts raids at Central Jail Srinagar

CIK conducts raids at Central Jail Srinagar

REGIONAL
The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing of the Jammu Kashmir Police launched a massive search operation at Central Jail Srinagar on Tuesday morning as part of an ongoing probe into suspected ties between inmates and anti-national elements. The operation aims to uncover crucial evidence, curb illicit activities, and prevent the misuse of communication devices, such as mobile phones, within the high-security prison. A team from CIK, assisted by jail authorities, searched multiple barracks, recovering several mobile phones used for unauthorized communication. The jail authorities are collaborating closely with CIK to ensure a thorough investigation. (CNS)

Grenade attack by militants on Army post in J-K’s Poonch; no casualties

REGIONAL
Militants hurled two grenades at an Army post in Poonch district of Jammu Kashmir early Wednesday, officials said. Only one of the grenades exploded. There were no casualties in the attack. Security forces have launched a search operation to trace the militants, the officials said. Terrorists lobbed two grenades at an Army post behind an Army camp in the Surankote area. While one of them exploded, the other did not and was subsequently defused by experts during the search operation, they said. (PTI)

Aspirants decry reduction of Open Merit seats to 29% in NEET-PG counseling in Jammu Kashmir

REGIONAL
The recently revised reservation policy for postgraduate medical seats in Jammu Kashmir has sparked widespread criticism for drastically reducing the open merit quota to mere 29 per cent. Medical aspirants have expressed concern that this decision could undermine meritocracy and adversely impact healthcare delivery in the region. In a press release to The Kashmiriyat, the aspirants highlighted challenges posed by the All-India Quota (AIQ) system, under which half of J-K’s postgraduate medical seats are pooled. "Over the past three years, this has resulted in nearly 300 seats annually being filled by non-domicile students, many of whom leave the state after completing their degrees," the statement added. The students called for introducing a mandatory service bond for MD and MS ...

Anantnag shivers at -3.9°C, Srinagar records -2.0°C as cold wave grips Kashmir

REGIONAL
Jammu  Kashmir experienced a sharp dip in temperatures today as the cold wave continued to tighten its grip across the region. In the Kashmir Valley, the mercury plummeted to sub-zero levels in most areas, with Zojila recording the lowest temperature at a bone-chilling -17.0°C. In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at -2.0°C, while tourist hotspots such as Gulmarg and Pahalgam witnessed -3.5°C and -4.8°C, respectively. Sonamarg followed closely at -3.7°C, and Anantnag shivered at -3.9°C. Kupwara, Bandipora, and Pulwama also reported biting cold conditions with temperatures dipping to -1.2°C, -2.3°C, and -4.7°C, respectively. Meanwhile, Kokernag stayed slightly above freezing at 0.4°C, providing a rare respite in the valley. ...

‘Temple lies beneath’: Hindu Sena seeks ASI survey of Delhi’s Jama Masjid

INDIA
The National President of Hindu Sena, Vishnu Gupta, has formally written to the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), urging a detailed survey of the Jama Masjid in Delhi. He alleges that the mosque was constructed on the remains of temples from Jodhpur and Udaipur, reportedly destroyed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. In his letter, Gupta claims that idols of Hindu deities were used in the construction of the mosque, with some allegedly buried beneath its stairs to insult Hindu religious sentiments. Gupta emphasized the need for an ASI investigation, asserting that historical evidence points to Aurangzeb’s actions being intended to demean Hindus. He argued that the survey could uncover remnants of temples that might have once existed at the site. He furt...

Two lakh consumers enrolled in prepaid metering system: KPDCL

REGIONAL
The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has said it achieved a significant milestone by enrolling over two lakh consumers into its prepaid metering system. "This system empowers consumers with better control over electricity consumption by allowing them to recharge their meters as needed and pay only for the power they use," an official statement of the corporation read. In a press statement, Shabir A. Khan, Chief Executive Officer of IT&C at KPDCL, outlined the benefits of prepaid billing. “Prepaid meters enable users to monitor daily consumption through the Bill Sahuliyat app and manage their expenses effectively, avoiding unexpected high bills. This is a step forward in improving consumer satisfaction,” Khan said while appreciating his team’s efforts. KPD...

Beebrada’s forgotten students: Two years under open skies with no school building

REGIONAL
Meer Irfan The Government Primary School in Beebrada, located in the Yaripora belt of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, has been operating under dire conditions for years. The school, which was established in 1984, originally functioned in a rented mud building. Over time, the building became unsafe and was dismantled by its owners. For the past two years, the school has been forced to operate under the open sky. A student shared their plight with The Kashmiriyat, saying, "I’ve been studying outside for years. We hope we finally get a proper building soon." The lack of basic facilities has left both students and teachers struggling. "Without a toilet, the students and teachers both have to rely on neighbors for access to washrooms," a parent explained. Inhabitants of Beebr...

Winter vacation for primary classes in Kashmir likely to start from December 9

EDUCATION
School Education Department is likely to announce winter vacation in a phased manner in Kashmir division from December 09, official sources said on Tuesday. Sources told that the directorate has sent a proposal to government, seeking permission to announce the vacation from December 09 to February 28, 2025. They said that for the secondary and senior secondary classes, DSEK has proposed to announce the vacation a week after the primary level. For the past couple of weeks, Kashmir is reeling under intense cold weather conditions—(KNO)

LeT Militant involved to Gagangeer attack killed in Srinagar encounter

REGIONAL
A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant, allegedly involved in the October attack near a tunnel construction site in Gagangir, Jammu and Kashmir, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Dachigam forest area on Tuesday, officials said. According to police, the militant, identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat, was a category “A” operative of the group. He was wanted for his alleged involvement in the October 20 attack that claimed the lives of a local doctor and six non-local laborers in Ganderbal. Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the upper reaches of Dachigam late Monday night based on specific intelligence inputs. The operation escalated into a gunfight when militants opened fire at the search party. In the ensuing exchange of fire early Tuesday, Bhat was...

Two female militant associates booked under PSA in Jammu: Police

REGIONAL
Jammu Kashmir Police has detained two female militant associates (OGWs) under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Police identified the duo as Maryama Begum wife of  Mohammed Shafeeq, resident of  Loudhara, Basantgarh and Arshad Begum wife of  Late Jamal Din, a resident of Rai Chak, Basantgarh. "They were assessed to be posing a significant threat to the safety and security of the state," Police said. These militants associates were found to be involved in providing logistics support to terrorist groups and working as guide/facilitator for militant organisations. Their continuous actions posed a serious risk to public safety and tranquility. To prevent further criminal activities detrimental to the security of the state and keeping in view their activities both were ordered to be d...