THE KASHMIRIYAT

Meer Irfan A  cowshed was gutted in a fire incident in the Zainapora area in south Kashmir's Shopian district. Confirming it, an official told The Kashmiriyat that on Saturday afternoon, flames erupted from a cowshed in the shopian area after which fire tenders rushed to the spot. He said that the firefighters are on the job to douse the flames, however, as of now the fire has not been brought under control. The exact cause of the fire is being ascertained, he said.

In what could be termed as punitive action against the local population for resisting the installation of smart meters, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has snapped the power supply to the Rainawari areas of Srinagar city. The move triggered a protest on Thursday. Dozens of ladies hit the road and blocked the traffic at the main chowk Rainawari here in old Srinagar city. Amid slogans against the KPDCL and the administration, the protesters said that for the last two days, parts of Rainawari have been reeling under darkness. They alleged that KPDCL snapped the power supply to punish them for resisting the installation of smart meters. “KPDCL is acting as a dictator, seeking help from law enforcement agencies to suppress people. We won’t be able to pay hefty po...

Responding to the arrest of Kashmiri journalist, Irfan Mehraj, in Srinagar by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a “terror funding case”, Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India, said: “The arrest of Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj under terror charges is a travesty. The arrest is yet another instance of the long-drawn repression of human rights and the crackdown on media freedoms and civil society in the region of Jammu and Kashmir. The stifling of the rights to freedom of expression and association continue unabated in Kashmir. “Human rights defenders such as Irfan Mehraj should be encouraged and protected, not persecuted. He must be immediately released. The repression must stop. Criminalization of legitimate human rights work is extreme...

No terrorist was given government jobs by the previous Jammu and Kashmir dispensation, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said Monday, asserting that his party would not support any policy to punish relatives of terrorists as it is against natural justice. Interacting with reporters after addressing a public rally — his first in the city after the abrogation of Article 370 — Omar Abdullah also raised the issue of “misuse of police against the civilian population”. “No terrorist was given a (government) job but we did not punish people because they were relatives of terrorists. Is it fair for me to punish you for the crime committed by your father or a son? Tomorrow, if God forbid a close relative of (Lt Governor) Manoj Sinha Sahab commits a crime, should he be sent to j...

Despite being penalized from time to time, the brick kiln owners across Kashmir Valley have been looting customers at will while the government is acting as a mute spectator. The rate fixed by the government doesn’t mean anything to brick kiln owners. People busy with construction work are being left with no option but to pay what is being demanded from them. A tipper loaded with bricks should cost Rs 21,000 – the rate fixed by the government, however, brick kiln owners demand Rs 31,000 per tipper and the amount reaches up to Rs 33,000 when labor is added to it. From time to time, the administration penalizes the brick kiln owners and yet they don’t mend their ways and openly loot the customers. Firdous Ahmed who is busy with the construction work of his house needed bricks. Every...

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday said Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing tourism boom as in just the first two months of the year 2023, 4.70 lakh tourists have visited the UT as the administration expects another record number of tourist arrivals in the ensuing year. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating Asia's largest Tulip garden, situated in the foothills of Zabarwan mountain range, overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar, the LG said that tourism is picking up and tourists are visiting in large numbers to J&K. “In just January and February months, 4.70 lakh tourists visited J&K and the figure excludes Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims,” the LG said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), adding that the figure is highest ever so far compared to past. He said that in 20...

Fourteen people including six girl and seven male students were injured when an “overloaded” eco-vehicle skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in this mountainous district on Sunday, officials said. They said the accident took place near Keri Kangra in Mendhar Poonch when the driver of the Eco Van (JK12C-O613) lost control over it and the vehicle rolled down many feet into a gorge, leading to the injuries to 14 people— six of them females and eight males. The injured, 13 of them being minors and one major, were immediately rushed to the local hospital by the rescuers including local volunteers and police. BMO Mendhar Dr P A Khan confirmed to GNS that 14 injured people were received at the Sub District Hospital. He said two of them have been shifted to GMC Rajouri for advanc...

Amid predictions of rains in parts of Jammu and Kashmir for next few days, the Agrometeorological division of the meteorological department has issued advisories for farmers. The meteorological department has forecast moderate rainfall in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh from March 17 to 22 March. “There are chances of light rainfall for the next 5 days. Sky may remain cloudy during the day,” weather advisory reads, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). Following the predictions, the Agrometeorological Research Centre, which is based in SKUAST, Jammu and working on specific needs of agriculturists and farmers has issued an advisory. The Agro division asked farmers to make elaborate arrangements for darning out excess water. “Due to the possibility of rains in the nex...

Two residential houses were damaged in a nocturnal fire incident at Narbal area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district. An official while confirming the incident said that during night hours fire broke out due to electric short circuit in two residential double storied houses of Ali Mohammad Kaloo, son of Mohammad Sultan Kaloo and Mushtaq Ahmad Handroo, son of Abdul Wahaab Handroo both residents of Kali Mohallah Narbal. Soon after noticing the flames, locals and police reached to the spot and informed the Fire and Emergency Services department following which the fire tenders reached the spot and doused the flames. He said, in the incident, no loss of life was reported, but upper stories of both the houses got damaged. Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident. (KDC...

A strong earthquake of Magnitude 5.0 on the Richter scale jolts Kargil, Ladakh on Friday night, National Center for Seismology said. Reports reaching said that the tremors were felt in the parts of Kashmir valley also. “Earthquake of Magnitude:5.0, Occurred on 17-03-2023, 23:49:21 IST, Lat: 37.36 & Long: 75.72, Depth: 250 Km ,Location: 314km N of Kargil, Laddakh, India,” NCS said in a tweet.