REGIONAL

Light rain lashed plains while upper reaches including Gulmarg received fresh snowfall, meteorological department here said on Saturday. It also forecast generally cloudy weather with light rain and snow at scattered places mainly over higher reaches during the next 24 hours and mainly dry weather from December 11-20 in Jammu Kashmir. An official of the department told GNS that Gulmarg received 11cm of snowfall and Leh 0.1cm in the last 24 hours till 8:30 a.m. today. There were reports of snowfall in Gurez valley of Bandipora, Sonamarg in Ganderbal and some upper reaches of the Valley. Also, the MeT official said that Srinagar received 0.9mm of rain, Qazigund 2.6mm, Pahalgam 2.3mm, Kupwara 5.5mm, Kokernag 5.6mm, Jammu 1.0mm, Banihal 9.4mm, Batote 13.8mm, Katra 2.6mm and Bhaderwah ...

In a shocking revelation, Kashmir has left behind Punjab in drug abuse and is at second slot after North East as the overall prevalence of substance abuse has reached 2.87 with Heroin becoming most commonly used drug by the addicts, a study conducted by the Government Medial College’s Psychiatry department, revealed Friday. The study, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that Kashmir was at number two slot as far as drug abuse was concerned as the region has left behind Punjab that was considered as the drug hub till recently. “Kashmir is just behind North East as of now,” the study states. It states that the substance use is predominant in young males with mean age of 28.15 years. “Substance use was seen largely in unemployed population at 25.2...

In one of the premier institutions of Valley at University of Kashmir (KU), the officials are being availed with all types of heating facilities amid the bone-chilling winters while its more than 900 female boarders of the hostels ‘sans’ the facilities. The boarders of hostels of the University said that the four hostels for females are functioning with only two transformers that cause them to stay without heating arrangement for majority of the time. They said that instead of fixing the issue, the concerned wardens of all the hostels and the concerned higher ups are threatening the boarders not to report the issue to the Vice-chancellor. One of the boarders of Qurat-Ul-Ain hostel wishing anonymity told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), “Besides having the issues of hea...

Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar has expressed anguish over the fact that the mimbar-o-mihrab (pulpit) of the largest and historical place of worship in Kashmir–the Central Jama Masjid Srinagar –have been silent for the past three and a half years because its chief and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq due to his more than three years long detention is neither able to perform the important religious obligation like Friday prayers nor is able to deliver sermons for which lakhs of Muslims and his followers are eagerly waiting. A statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that for the last 172 Fridays, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, who is also the topmost religious leader of Jammu and Kashmir, has been facing the government restrictions and curbs with great ...

In a shocking revelation, Kashmir has left behind Punjab in drug abuse and is at second slot after North East as the overall prevalence of substance abuse has reached 2.87 with Heroin becoming most commonly used drug by the addicts, a study conducted by the Government Medial College’s Psychiatry department, revealed Friday. The study, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that Kashmir was at number two slot as far as drug abuse was concerned as the region has left behind Punjab that was considered as the drug hub till recently. “Kashmir is just behind North East as of now,” the study states. It states that the substance use is predominant in young males with mean age of 28.15 years. “Substance use was seen largely in unemployed population at 25.2...

The Jammu Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has rescheduled Computer Based Test for Sub Inspector (Home) on December 20. However, the JKSSB said that admit cards issued earlier will not be entertained and shall be issued afresh. “It is hereby notified for the information of all such candidates whose Computer Based Written Test (CBT) examinations for the post of Sub Inspector Home Department advertised vide Notification no. 06 of 2021 which was scheduled on 09.12.2022 and was postponed vide Notice no. JKSSB-COE0EXAM (UT)/54/2022-03 (7057013) Dated: - 08.12.2022 shall now be held on 20.12.2022,” JKSSB said in a notification, a day after postponing the examination. “However, Admit cards downloaded previously by the candidates shall not be valid for 20-12-2022 examination and the ...

Police on friday said that it produced chargesheet against a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant in a court. In a handout to GNS, the police said that on 20th January this year, upon specific information, Budgam Police arrested an active militant of proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba in Chadoora area of the district alongwith arms and ammunition including 01 Pistol. The Police spokesman further stated that the arrested militant was identified as Jahangir Ahmad Naikoo son of Gh.Mohd Naikoo resident of Memander Shopian (Categorised militant of LeT). During the course of the investigation, offenses under section 20, 23,38 UA(P) Act were established against the said arrested militant, he said. Today, the chargesheet against the said militant was produced by police before the Hon'ble Court afte...

The JK and Ladakh High Court on Friday stayed its single Bench's judgment regarding cancelling selection process for the post of JE ( Jalshakti department) and SI (Home). A Division Bench of justices Vinod Chatterji Koul and Sindhu Sharma also issued notice to other side to be returned within four weeks. "Meanwhile, appellant (JKSSB) shall proceed with the selection process of Junior Engineer (Jal Shakti Department) and Sub-Inspector (Home Department), however, result of the same shall await further orders from this Court," the court said as per an order, a copy of which lies with GNS. Subsequent to the judgment by the court's Single Bench, JKSSB postponed computer based examination for Sub Inspector till further notification. (GNS)

Shabir Khan A teenage Kashmiri student has gone missing from the Aligarh Muslim University, causing panic among his family members. Speaking to The Kashmiriyat over the phone, his family said that Masroor Abbas Mir aged 16, who is a resident of Sopore's Bohripora area in north Kashmir has been missing since December 08. "He left for school from the hostel early at 8 AM. But did not reach his school. We tried to call his friends and the school authorities, but nobody has been able to trace him as of now," they said. The family is worried about Masroor's whereabouts and have been using every possible way to trace him, but so far no major success has been achieved in this regard. "He had withdrawn money near Ramgath road and it is not possible for him to have reached the spot. ...

A pharmaceutical godown was gutted while a residential house and hotel were partially damaged in a fire incident in Rajbagh area of Srinagar on Friday afternoon. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two fire-fighters were also injured during fire-fighting operations. He said both the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The official said fire broke out inside a house that was being used for commercial purposes to store pharmaceutical products. He said in the incident the godown was gutted, while two nearby houses and a hotel were also damaged. The official said fire has been put off while the reason of the fire was likely due to the explosion of LPG cylinders—(KNO)