Monday, December 22Latest news and updates from Kashmir

REGIONAL

Rs. 176 Cr project approved to boost fish production across JK

Rs. 176 Cr project approved to boost fish production across JK

REGIONAL
Jammu  Kashmir has abundant water resources and great potential for fish and fisheries development. However, due to some challenges like outdated infrastructure, inbreeding depression, limited variety of aquaculture species, fragile aquatic ecosystems, and lack of modern aquaculture technologies, Fish farming was not progressing. Now, to overcome these challenges and make Fish farming a prosperous sector, the administration has approved a Rs. 176 crore project to boost fish production. The project involves importing genetically improved fish seed, upgrading existing hatcheries and fish rearing units, introducing species diversity in aquaculture through R&D, and commercializing trout and carp fish production using modern technologies such as RAS and Biofloc. Additional Chief Secre...
Non-availability of electricity sparks protest against PDD in Qalamabad

Non-availability of electricity sparks protest against PDD in Qalamabad

REGIONAL
Shah Basit Residents of several villages in Kupwara district in north Kashmir hit the streets against the PDD department alleging that the Department was not providing electricity to several areas as per the winter schedule. Eyewitnesses told The Kashmiriyat that on Wednesday morning, residents of Qalamabad, Adura, Warpora Drangsoo, Prangroo and its adjacent villages hit the streets demanding stoppage of unscheduled curtailment in power supply. During the protest, the angry protesters chanting slogans against the PDD department alleged that they are suffering due to the non-availability of proper electricity but ironically the concerned department is in deep slumber. Meanwhile, DDC member Mawer Khurshid Ahmad Dar assured them to bring their grievance to the notice of higher aut...
Kupwara teenage girl’s body retrieved from Jhelum at Sonwar, Srinagar

Kupwara teenage girl’s body retrieved from Jhelum at Sonwar, Srinagar

REGIONAL
The body of a teenage girl from Kupwara, who had allegedly jumped into river Jhelum in Sonwar area of Srinagar on February 12 evening, was retrieved on Wednesday afternoon. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Indian Navy, River Police and SDRF jointly launched a massive search operation and fished out the body of a teenage girl in river Jhelum at Aramwari Sonwar here today. They said that the body has been taken by the police for legal medical formalities after which it would be handed over to the family for last rites—(KNO)
Shooting stones halt traffic on Jammu-Srinagar Highway

Shooting stones halt traffic on Jammu-Srinagar Highway

REGIONAL
Traffic on Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world, has been stopped due to shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria area in Ramban district, officials said on Wednesday. “Both side traffic stopped due to continuous shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria on Jammu -Srinagar highway,” the traffic department official told GNS. While authorities had decided to allow traffic on both sides, subject to fair weather and road clearance, intermittent shooting stones continued at Mehar-Cafeteria this morning also. The authorities had also advised people to undertake the journey only after confirming the status of the thoroughfare from the Traffic Control Units. (GNS)
Scores of protesting Kashmiri Pandit employees detained in Jammu

Scores of protesting Kashmiri Pandit employees detained in Jammu

REGIONAL
Scores of migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees demanding a transfer from the Valley and release of salary dues were detained on Wednesday, shortly after they assembled here for a protest to press for their demands, officials said. The employees were supposed to stage a protest outside the Press Club but were not allowed by the police. As the employees assembled in the nearby chowk and started to raise slogans in support of their demands, the police detained nearly 50 protesters. They were shifted to the Police Lines in a bus. "We tried to persuade them to disperse but since they were adamant about continuing the protest, we took them into preventive custody," a government official said. When asked if prohibitory orders had been implemented outside the Press Club -– the scene of fr...
Kashmiris were called anti nationals earlier, now we are called encroachers: Mehbooba Mufti

Kashmiris were called anti nationals earlier, now we are called encroachers: Mehbooba Mufti

POLITICS, REGIONAL
Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti said that during the coalition government of PDP and BJP, she didn’t allow BJP agenda to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir and that she doesn’t take statements of Home Minister Amit Shah seriously as those are “Jumlas” only. Addressing a news conference, Mehbooba, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) appealed to the people to take control of their land as it belongs to them and in absence of the government, people including Mohalla Committees, Panchayats and others should take control of their land in respective areas. “People were earlier being called anti-national and now they are being called encroachers,” she said while replying to a query. She added people are being suppressed by one way or ...
Srinagar records minus 0.2, Dry weather to continue for next 24 hours

Srinagar records minus 0.2, Dry weather to continue for next 24 hours

REGIONAL
Weather remained dry in J&K during the last 24 hours. The MeT office said on Wednesday that same conditions would continue in the next 24 hours. “Dry weather is likely to continue in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said. Srinagar had minus 0.2, Pahalgam minus 3.6 and Gulmarg minus 4.2 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature today. In Ladakh region, Drass town had minus 14.8, Kargil minus 13.4 and Leh minus 10.4 as the minimum temperature. Jammu had 9.8, Katra 10.6, Batote 6, Banihal 2 and Bhaderwah 3.4 as the minimum temperature. (IANS)
Kashmir parts shut down against ongoing state land eviction drive: Report

Kashmir parts shut down against ongoing state land eviction drive: Report

REGIONAL
Several parts of the Kashmir valley are observing a shutdown on Wednesday against the ongoing eviction drive in Jammu Kashmir, Press Trust of India reported. Parts of Kashmir on Wednesday, including the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, observed a shutdown against the demolition drive launched by the Jammu Kashmir administration to retrieve state land. Although it was not immediately clear who had called for the strike, unofficial reports from Anantnag said posters purportedly issued by the Hurriyat Conference had appeared at some places in this regard, PTI report said. They said that the shutdown is being observed against the ongoing eviction drive in Jammu Kashmir. Meanwhile, business establishments in parts of Sopore town, and Baramulla towns of north Kashmir observed a shutdown,...
India trying to prevent declassification of ‘sensitive’ 1947 documents related to Kashmir: Report

India trying to prevent declassification of ‘sensitive’ 1947 documents related to Kashmir: Report

REGIONAL
India may prevent the declassification of papers from 1947 related to Kashmir as it fears the “sensitive” letters could affect foreign relations, reported Guardian stating internal government documents. In a recent report, the Guardian said that the letters, known as the Bucher papers, are believed to include political and military arguments for why India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, called for a ceasefire with Pakistan and provided special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Bucher papers refer to communications between Gen Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher, who served as second commander-in-chief of the Indian army between 1948 and 1949, and government officials, including Nehru. Over the years, several attempts have been made by activists to declassify the pa...
25-Year-Old doctor becomes first female formula car racer from JK

25-Year-Old doctor becomes first female formula car racer from JK

REGIONAL, SPORTS
Humaira Mushtaq became the first female formula car racer from Jammu Kashmir to a podium finish in the MRF Indian National Racing Championship in Chennai. Humaira Mushtaq, 25, a doctor by profession, has always been passionate about toy cars and was given a custom-made go-kart by her father at the age of five, who discovered her love for cars. She has fond memories of karting weekends with her father. This prestigious championship has thrust her into the limelight as the first female Formula car racer from Jammu and Kashmir and the first from the union territory to achieve a podium finish in the first round of the championship. Humaira’s journey to success has not been easy but her passion for toy cars as a child has driven her to follow her dreams in the racing arena. She is a tr...