REGIONAL

Amid the ongoing electricity crisis in the Kashmir valley, the electricity department of the region has sought Police action against users showing their frustration against the department online. Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) in a tweet tagged the cyber police of Jammu Kashmir after posting a few screenshots of hateful comments against the department and asked the Police to initiate action against the users. In a tweet, the department, tagged the Police and it's cyber wing stating, "Pl take note of these abusive X handles using vituperative language against #KPDCL. Trace their ISPs/ IDs and initiate action." https://twitter.com/KPDCLOfficial/status/1728693109289030138?s=19 The Cyber wing of Police taking a notice of the tweet said that it had taken cogni...

Despite restrictions and severe cold conditions, hundreds activists of CITU and Jammu Kashmir Apple Farmers Federation assembled at Press Enclave Srinagar and held protest demonstrations against anti-people, anti-worker and anti-farmer policies of the government. The protesters were raising slogans against the government، read a press release issued to The Kashmiriyat۔ While addressing the demonstration, CITU President Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami expressed serious concern over problems being faced by the common people. Kashmir is facing its worst power crisis in the last two decades and is reeling under acute power shortage, with people facing extreme inconvenience due to long and unscheduled power cuts at a time when temperatures in the valley have dipped to sub-zero levels. Hospi...

A 75-year-old woman died while three other family members were critically injured after a gas cylinder blast occurred due to fire incident in Lal Bazar area of Srinagar on Sunday, officials said. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that fire broke out in a residential house in Lal Bazar area during which cylinder blast took place. He said that in the incident a woman, identified as Khatija Begum (75), died while three other family members sustained injuries. He said that the injured have been rushed to hospital for treatment, while fire has also been brought under control—(KNO)

A joint team of police from Jammu Kashmir and Nagpur on Saturday arrested two youths for allegedly abducting a 15-year-old girl from Jammu Kashmir and bringing her to Maharashtra, an official said. The minor, a Class 10 student, was apparently in a relationship with one of the accused, Mohd Muddasir Hussain (19), said the Sitabuldi police of Nagpur city. Muddasir allegedly promised to marry the girl and get her a job in Hyderabad. Muddasir, his cousin Mohd Yasir Hussain Shaheen (19) and the girl left J&K and first headed to Delhi. Yhey arrived in Nagpur on a train on Saturday, said the official. A team of J&K police and their Nagpur counterparts arrested the young men at the railway station, he said. While Muddasir hails from Kishtwar district in J&K, Yasir is a reside...

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)

Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has said that it further intensified its inspection drives across all district of Kashmir division to "check incidents of hooking and power theft", which are "primarily" responsible for power outages and distress cuts. A press release of the department said that as many as 566 drives were conducted across all 19 Electric Divisions and a penalty of Rs 7.84 lakh was imposed on those found hooking wires on bare conductor and bypassing the meters. Meanwhile, 64 Domestic Transformers (DTs) were also reported damaged on Wednesday due to overloading. Giving details about the inspections conducted, a KPDCL spokesperson today stated that 183 drives were conducted in Circle II Srinagar, 60 in Circle I Srinagar, 123 in Circle Ganderbal, 71 ...