REGIONAL

The Ustul plant, scientifically known as Taxus wallichiana and a crucial component in cancer treatment, is facing the looming threat of extinction in the Kashmir Himalayas. Dr Akhtar Malik, a scientist from the University of Kashmir's Department of Botany, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the plant belongs to the gymnosperms group and is locally known as Ustul, Birmi, or thunner among tribal communities. He explained that its sister species, Taxus Bacata, initially found in Europe, was discovered to have cancer-treating properties. Taxol, extracted from both Taxus Bacata and Taxus wallichiana, serves as an anti-cancer drug administered to patients. The Ustul plant, also known as Himalayan yew, came into the limelight after it was found that it is useful for th...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday seized land property in villages in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. An official told GNS that a land property measuring 1 Kanal and 10.5 Marlas under Survey Number 176 out of total area of 8 Kanals and 6 Marlas at Begum Bagh, village Kralpora, District Pulwama, belonging to one Mohammad Tika Khan (under custody since 2018), son of Abdul Ahad Khan, a resident of Singoo Narbal Pulwama (presently possessed by co-sharers) was attached by an NIA team today. "The property has been attached under the provisions of UA(P)A by the order of NIA Special Court vide order dated 30.09.2023", the officials said. "The particular seizure of the property has been ordered in a case related to the escape of LeT militant Mohammad Naveed Jatt (now killed)...

Jammu Kashmir Police on Monday claimed to have arrested four drug peddlers in Anantnag and recovered contraband substance from their possession. A police party of Police Station Srigufwara at a checkpoint established at Hospital crossing Srigufwara intercepted a motorcycle bearing registration number JK03H-8664 ridden by one person namely Ubaid Amin Bhat, a resident of Kanelwan Bijbehara. During search, 11 codeine phosphate bottles were recovered from his possession, a police spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). Meanwhile in another action, a police party of Police Station Mattan at a checkpoint established at Detho-Brah road, intercepted a Bike bearing registration number JK03G-3225 ridden by one person namely Aqib Bakshi, a residen...

A somber atmosphere enveloped three families in Rajouri district, Jammu  Kashmir, as the Army Tribunal granted conditional bail to Captain Bhoopendra Singh, suspending his sentence in the Amshipora fake encounter. The case revolves around the deaths of Imtiyaz Hussain, Ibrar Hussain, and Mohammad Abrar, who were reported as terrorists and killed under Captain Singh's command on July 18, 2020. In March, the Army officer faced a court-martial and received a life sentence following a Court of Inquiry. The subsequent summary of evidence revealed that troops under Captain Singh's command had exceeded their powers under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, however, Bhoopendra Singh, the accused army officer had filed an appeal before the Armed Forces Tribunal stating that there were f...

A landless beneficiary who was recently provided land by the government was given the first installment of PMAY (G) for the construction of the house in North Kashmir’s Pattan town during the ongoing Back to Village (5) program. The program was inaugurated by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pattan Syed Faheem in the presence of top officials including Tehsildar and Block Development Officer Pattan. During the mega camp under BTV-5, common people were made aware of different government schemes and the achievements made during previous BTV programs. An official said that people were made aware of some important schemes like PMEGP, PM Vishwakarma, Ujwala and how they can reap benefits under these schemes. People were also made aware of the generation of employment under these schemes. The ...

The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the detention of a Central Kashmir man under the Public Safety Act and ordered his immediate release from the jail. The detenue Muhammad Saleem Dar son of Ali Muhammad Dar, a resident of Aripanthan Budgam as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust had been arrested in April 2022 and currently has been lodged at Kot Bhalwal Jail Jammu. The Counsel for the detenue Advocate Bashir Ahmed Tak submitted that Dar had been implicated in a case registered against him in 2003 on the grounds that he was a threat to the security of the state. The Counsel for the petitioner stated that on a number of occasions, the State machinery tried to implicate the petitioner in false and frivolous cases, even one of the detention orders bearing no. DH...

The Kashmir Valley's Air Quality Index (AQI) has slightly improved in the past two days due to snowfall in higher elevations and rain in the plains. Initially classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups," the air quality has now shifted to the "Moderate" category. On Thursday, Srinagar's PM2.5 concentration exceeded the WHO annual air quality guideline by 9.2 times, resulting in an AQI of 127, surpassing the healthy threshold of 50. However, after Friday's rainfall, the valley's air quality improved significantly, shifting from "Unhealthy" to "Moderate" with an AQI of 74. By Saturday, the AQI further decreased to 65, with Srinagar's PM2.5 concentration at 3.8. It's worth noting that during the winter season, the valley experiences a noticeable decline in air quality, reaching an...

On World Pneumonia Day, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Sunday said the pneumococcal vaccine reduces the risk of dying from pneumonia. “Pneumococcal vaccine prevents pneumonia deaths,” said influenza expert and DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan. Quoting a study, Dr Hassan said the pneumococcal vaccine was found to reduce the risk of death from pneumonia by 59% among elderly people. “The study also revealed that vaccine reduces the risk of getting pneumonia by 45%,” he said. The benefits of the pneumococcal vaccine are impressive in children too. The vaccine has been found to decrease the mortality among young children by up to 30%,” DAK President quoted another study. He said pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death. It is especially fatal in elderly, young childr...

The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Shopian carried out a search in Rawalpora Shopian in connection with the case pertaining to the militant's attack on non-local labourers at Gagren Shopian. The search was carried out in the non-residential house of active militants Hanzal Yaqoob Shah son of Mohammad Yaqoob Shah linked with the proscribed militant outfit LeT for his involvement in case FIR No. 126/2023 under section 307 IPC, 7/27 IAA, 16, 18, 20, 23, 38, 39 UAP Act of P/S Shopian, a police spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). It is pertinent to mention here that on 13/07/2023, militants equipped with illicit weapons aimed at 03 non-local-labourers and left them injured at Gagren Shopian, police said. The search was conducted as per...