REGIONAL

A residential house was damaged in a fire incident in Ompura area in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Saturday. Official sources told news agency Kashmir Dot Com that a house belonging to Mohammad Sultan Najar, a resident of Ompura was gutted after fire broke out, which engulfed the whole structure. The reason, as per the initial details, behind the fire was said to be a purported gas leakage. In the fire incident, two other residential houses also incurred minor damages, they said. A police officer confirmed to KDC and said that the cognizance of the fire incident has been taken and further investigation is on. (KDC)

Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Saturday decided to meet Lieutenant Governor Jammu Kashmir, Manoj Sinha to raise demands of Kashmiri Pandits with regard to their safety and security in the Valley. Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the spokesman of conglomerate, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, said that a group of Kashmiri Pandits met the constituents of PAGD including Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Tarigami and Muzaffar Ahmad Shah today at the Gupkar residence of National Conference (NC) president. The KPs discussed the security-related concerns with the conglomerate and even appraised them of leaving Kashmir, he said, adding that the PAGD members however told the delegation that Kashmir belongs to them also and leaving the home place is not a ...

Jammu Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday said that militants and their supporters involved in the act of killing of a Kashmiri Pandit employee Rahul Bhat “will have to pay a very heavy price for the heinous act.” He also said that the government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe all aspects of the attack. As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the J&K LG met the relatives of slain Rahul Bhat in Jammu and assured them justice. In a tweet, the LG said: “Met the relatives of Rahul Bhat and assured justice to the family. In this hour of grief, the government stands firmly with Rahul's family. Militants and their supporters will have to pay a very heavy price for their heinous act.” He also said that a decision has been taken to constit...

On Saturday morning, visuals emerging from Sheikhpora Migrant Colony, Budgam housing Kashmiri Pandits suggested that due to heavy deployment of forces outside the colony and locking down of the locality by authorities, the school children were unable to attend school. In the video, school children can be seen ready for school in their uniforms inside the colony. However, given the heavy deployment of security outside the colony since Friday evening after the Kashmiri Pandit community staged massive protests against the killing of Rahul Bhat, a government employee, rehabilitated under the Prime Minister’s Special Rehabilitation Package was shot dead by suspected militants on Thursday evening. https://twitter.com/Rydanshi/status/1525344427417346048 The residents allege that they wer...

A man was killed on Friday late evening after hit by a vehicle in Chadoora area of Central Kashmir's Budgam district. However, family members of the deceased held protest and alleged that he was murdered. Family members told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that, yesterday about 8. 30 pm he was at home when someone called him to come out. "But however he didn't return to home instead he was found in pool of blood by locals on nearby road," they said. Identified as Farooq Ah Sheikh son of Gh Nabi Sheikh a resident of Kheerigund Chadoora was immediately shifted to Sub district hospital Nagam where he succumbed to his injuries. Family members further said that those who brought deceased to the hospital have found screw driver marks on his face and head. They have appealed admi...

The Border Security Forces on Saturday morning fired upon a Pakistani drone that was seen in Arnia area of International Border in Jammu district. In an official statement issued to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that BSF informed that in the morning hours on Saturday, the BSF troops observed a blinking light and immediately fired on it in Arnia area. "Resultantly the Pakistani flying object returned back." BSF said. A combined search ops with BSF and police is being carried out in Arnia area, BSF added—(KNO)

A soldier ended his life by shooting himself dead In Ramban district, officials said on Saturday. They said that the soldier with army’s 12 RR, Ravi Kumar son of Rattan Singh of Rohtak Haryana, committed suicide with his AK-47 service rifle at around 1715 hours at Neel top in Ramban district. Confirming it, a police official told GNS that the soldier taking such an extreme step could not be known immediately and “is is matter of investigation.” (GNS)

The Kashmiri Pandit community on Friday lashed out at the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Jammu Kashmir President, Ravinder Raina and former Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta at the cremation ground in Jammu, where Sunil Bhatt was cremated. Videos from the incident show Kashmiri Pandits confronting the BJP leaders over the targeted killing of Sunil Bhatt, a Kashmiri Pandit who was posted at the Tehsil office in Budgam's Chadoora area. Angry Pandits accused the Bhartiya Janta Party of not doing anything for the Kashmiri Pandits. "You have done nothing for Kashmiri Pandits. It was the last Government that has done whatever has been done so far. Count us one single thing that you have done for Kashmiri Pandits," a member of the protesting Pandits can be heard asking the BJP le...

Says Admin to ensure safe, secure accommodation of migrant employees soon; participates in candlelight march at Lal Chowk Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole Friday said that the government will resolve all issues related to transfers, postings, and security of Kashmiri Pandits within a week’s time while compensation to the slain Rahul Bhat’s family will be provided as per the set rules. He also said that the mass protests held across Kashmir signify that in Kashmir as a collective society innocent killings have been strongly condemned. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a candle-light protest at clock-tower Lal Chowk, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir said that the administration strongly condemns the innocent killings by all means. “Be it a policeman, minority community ...

On Friday evening, protestors at Sheikhpora Migrant Colony, Budgam alleged that they had been locked by the police inside their locality. It is pertinent to mention that the residents of the locality are the Kashmiri Pandit residents who have been employed under the Prime Minister's Special Rehabilitation Package. An agitated protestor alleged that the protesters were assured by the DIG that the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu Kashmir, i.e., Manoj Sinha would visit them and address them. He said that the DIG did not live up to his words and moreover, had imprisoned the protestors within the confines of the locality. In a video, the protestors can be seen locked in the premises of the locality, amid heavy Police presence outside the locked gate of the locality. "How long will you l...