REGIONAL

Gurez, Sep 03 (KNO): Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr G N Itoo, on Saturday said that foreign tourists who have been banned by the government from visiting Gurez valley will be allowed very soon. The move is aimed to bring the place on the world tourism map. Dr G N Itoo, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), on the sidelines of the culmination ceremony of Gurez festival said that the Gurez valley will be brought on world tourism map very soon as it has everything to offer for tourists of all types. This includes site seeing, adventure tourism, sports tourism etc. "We have written to the higher authorities about the entry of foreign tourists to Gurez valley. The first priority of the LG led administration is to promote the tourism of J&K. I believe that in the coming days...

Jammu  Kashmir reported 137 fresh covid-19 cases while there was no death due to the virus during the last 24 hours, officials said on Saturday. They said that 28 cases were reported from Jammu division and 109 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally to 478220. Among the cases, 173765 are from Jammu division and 304455 from Kashmir Valley. Providing district wise details of the cases, they said, Jammu reported 10 cases, Udhampur 1, Rajouri 1, Doda 2, Kathua 0, Samba 9, Kishtwar 4, Poonch 2, Ramban 0, Reasi 0, Srinagar 39, Baramulla 18, Budgam 22, Pulwama 7, Kupwara 4, Anantnag 1, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 2, Kulgam 14 and Shopian 0. There was no death due to the virus during the time. So far 4782 people have succumbed to the virus and among them include 2350 from Jammu division...

A non-local cook lost his hand after it came under a chapati mixer-grinder at AIIMS Awantipora in Pulwama district on Saturday. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the man identified as Hamatun from Nepal working as cook with a firm at AIIMS Awantipora lost his hand when it came under chapati mixer-grinder when he was making rotis for labourers. He said that he was shifted to Bone and Joint hospital in Srinagar for further treatment—(KNO)

The annual Gangbal Yatra organised by Harmukh Ganga Gangbal Trust was flagged off on Saturday from Narannag base camp in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the Yatra was flagged off by deputy commissioner Ganaderbal, who was accompanied by SSP Ganderbal. He said that special puja was held at the base camp before the pilgrim headed towards Gangbal Lake. Deputy commissioner Ganderbal, Shyambir Singh on the sidelines of the ceremony told reporters that this year around 47 Yatris are taking part in the pilgrimage. He said that all arrangements have been put in place to make this yatra safe and successful. He added that the arrangements have been made in collaboration with the civil society members and he hoped that this...

Jammu Kashmir police along with security forces on Saturday arrested a man working as agent for Pakistan based intelligence agency in Kishtwar district. In a statement, issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said that based on a joint input generated by Kishtwar Police ,11 RR and MI, Kishtwar Police along with 11 RR arrested one person namely Abdul Wahid of Chergi Doo. The statement reads that Wahid was working as an agent for Pakistan based intelligence agency and was providing secret information of various police establishment & security forces to Pakistan based handler through various social media platforms. It reads that on this information a case FIR No 211/2022 U/sec. 03 EAO Act has been registered at PS Kishtwar and investigation has been ...

The body of a labourer from Banihal who had drowned in river Jhelum while extracting sand two days ago, was retrieved on Saturday in Rajbagh area of Srinagar. Jaffar Wani, 22, drowned into the river Jhelum while extracting sand in Sonwar area of Srinagar, news agency KDC reported. Soon, a rescue operation was launched by Srinagar River Police and SDRF to retrieve his body, which was finally recovered today morning, an official said. Police have taken cognizance of the incident and the body has been sent to hospital for medico-legal formalities, he added.

The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has ordered the government to file a compliance report regarding compensation to the family of a student from Pampore Pulwama about whom nothing was heard after 16 June 1996. While the presumption of law is that a person missing for more than seven years is presumed to be dead, a bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal directed the government through Additional Advocate General Asifa Padroo to file compliance report within two weeks “in pursuance to the finding recorded by the Principal District Judge, Pulwama and also in the light of the findings recorded by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, being the Chairman of the Committee constituted in this regard.” “While filing the compliance report, the respondents (government) shall also keep in view the...

A video showing some students pulling a cooking cylinder, tied with rope, atop a hill where their school is situated in this district, is doing rounds on social media with calls for actions against the concerned staff. Purportedly, the LPG cylinder was meant for cooking midday meals for the students at Government Middle School Upper Bhatidhar Zone Mendhar. It was not immediately known as to when the video was filmed but appears to be very recent. Moreover what appears to be lucid is that one among the students suffers injury and there was likelihood of an untoward incident had the rope got snapped midway or atop the hill. Meanwhile parents of students of the school appealed Deputy Commission Poonch to take “strict actions” against those involved. Also a video is circulating on soc...

Police on Friday claimed to have arrested a hybrid militant of Lashkar-i-Toiba outfit in north Kashmir’s Sopore. As per local news agency Global News Service (GNS), the police said that today at about 09:15 pm, a joint naka was established by PC Sopore along with 22 RR, 179/BN CRPF at Shangergund crossing in the jurisdiction of police station Sopore. During checking, at about 9:40 pm suspicious movement of a person coming from village Check Brath link road towards Sopore-Kupwara general road was noticed and was subsequently asked to stop, but he tried to flee from the spot, however was tactfully apprehended by the government forces. The Police spokesman further stated that “upon his personal search 01 pistol, 01 magazine and 08 pistol rounds were recovered from his possession. Dur...

Many passengers, travelling in an auto rickshaw, were injured in a road accident in Poonch district on Friday morning. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the auto was plying on Poonch-Degwar road when it skidded off and fell into roadside fields. He said that several passengers travelling in the auto were injured and have been hospitalized—(KNO)