THE KASHMIRIYAT

“The grief of Ashura transcends cultural and national boundaries,” said Mehdi Ali, from Afghanistan, who has come to Sopore in north Kashmir to observe the 10th Muharram procession here – a significant event in the Islamic history. The 25-year-old Mehdi hails from the Ghazni province of Afghanistan and presently studying civil engineering at Guru Nanak University in Amritsar, Punjab. Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Ali said he has been in Sopore for the last three days. “I came to Sopore with my Professor who teaches me at the university,” Ali said. “He is a good friend of mine.” At the Saidpura village here, Mehdi joined the locals in decorating the streets with colorful banners and vibrant symbols of devotion to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussai...

Police in north Kashmir's Sopore on Saturday claimed to have arrested a man on the charge of provoking his wife to take an extreme step. A senior police officer told the news agency Kashmir Scroll that recently a suicide case of a lady was reported in the model town of Sopore, for which a case was registered, and accordingly, an investigation was set into motion. The officer said that during the course of the investigation, it was learned that the husband of the deceased lady had provoked her to commit suicide. The officer further added that the husband of the deceased lady has been arrested under section 306 IPC and is currently behind bars. (KS)

A minor girl drowned in the nallah on Friday evening in the Sopore area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district. An official told news agency Kashmir Scroll that a 5-year-old girl (name withheld) drowned to death while slipping into Nallah Kurd at Heb Dangerpora. The officer, however, said that the body of the girl was fished out of the nallah by the locals and police. Meanwhile, local reports reaching Kashmir Scroll said that emotional scenes were seen in the whole village soon after this shocking news was spread. A police officer told Kashmir Scroll that a case in this regard has been registered. (KS)

A middle-aged woman was injured after being attacked by a black bear in Ajas area in north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Saturday afternoon. Reports reaching GNS said that a woman identified as Aisha Begum, 50, wife of Bashir Ahmad Rather, a resident of Kawpora Ajas, was injured after attacked by a black bear, while she was working in a kitchen-garden at Nagaiwaan Ajas. The woman suffered injuries in her left eye and was evacuated from the site to a nearby health facility from where she has been referred to a Srinagar hospital for preferential treatment. When contacted, a Wildlife Department official told GNS that soon after receiving intimation, a team was rushed to the spot to keep a track on the movements of bear to capture it at an earliest. (GNS)

Several residential houses, a school, and a mosque were damaged after a cloudburst hit the Gujar Pati Prang area in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district in the wee hours on Saturday. Quoting an official, KNO reported that following heavy rainfall in the area, a cloudburst hit Gujar Pati Prang triggering flash floods. In the incident, several residential houses, a government school, and a mosque were damaged. Meanwhile, SDM and Tehsildar Kangan, along with other officials have reached the spot to assess the situation.

Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Saturday visited the Bota Kadal area of Srinagar’s downtown to participate in the main Zuljinah procession that is taken out on 10th Muharram—Ashoora. He also distributed refreshments among the Shia mourners. Witnesses told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), LG Sinha reached Bota Kadal area of Srinagar and took part in the Zuljinah procession. “He offered chaddar to Zuljinah and paid rich tributes to Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) on the occasion. He also distributed refreshments among the mourners and extended full support to them,” they said. LG reached Bota Kadal area of Srinagar amid tight security cover at around 11 am. He was accompanied by ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bhiduri, SSP Srin...

A team of Food Safety department (FSD) Anantnag today sealed "White Chilli Restaurant" on receipt of a complaint against White Chilli Restaurant. The Food Safety team Anantnag under the chairmanship of Assistant Commissioner, Zamer conducted inspection of the restaurant premises and observed deviations against different provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006/Rules which include Food preparation area/kitchen of the restaurant completely in dilapidated condition with lack of maintenance and in insanitary condition. During the inspection utensils were found untidy, messy, damaged and some were non-food grade. There was direct entry of birds and pests into the Food preparation area, dust & dirt was found everywhere within the premises of Kitchen. Utensils and tools were ...

A bill to allow the private sector to mine six atomic minerals, including lithium, and deep-seated minerals like gold and silver was approved by the Lok Sabha today. The Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was passed by the Lok Sabha through a voice vote, amid continuous sloganeering by Opposition members over the Manipur issue. The bill seeks to allow the private sector to mine six out of 12 atomic minerals. Under the existing act, all 12 atomic minerals are reserved for mining and exploration by state-owned entities. The atomic minerals which will be opened for private sector exploration are lithium (used in the manufacture of batteries in electric vehicles, and other energy storage devices), beryllium, niobium, titanium, tantalum, and zirconium. ...

Soon after a case of chickenpox was detected in a Puthwari Nawgam in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district a team of doctors was constituted to monitor the ground situation. Block Medical Officer Langate Dr. Muhammad Hafeez said that initially there were reports that those cases of chickenpox were concentrated in Puthwari Nawgam. In that area, a 9-month-old baby has been detected with chickenpox and has been isolated. Dr Hafeez said that all precautionary measures have been taken up in this regard and the said baby has been kept in isolation at his home. He added that the situation is under control and different teams of doctors have been constituted to check up on children and school-going students. “Close vigil is being kept on the situation and all measures are being taken to avo...

Amid the historic eight Muharram procession taken out in Srinagar, locals as well as religious leaders carried along the copies of Quran with them to express their love and send out message against the burning of the holy book in Sweden. Younis Bashir, a Shia mourner who came to participate in the historical Muharram procession, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) condemned the unholy act saying the Quran teaches tolerance and brotherhood. “We have to have respect for every religious book, be it ‘Taurat, Injeel, Zuboor or Quran’, but in the case of Sweden I fail to understand what they are doing,” he said. A religious leader, Aga Syed Abid Hussain, said burring of Quran is condemnable, and Muslims should raise their voices against the act. “We should come to the foref...