Sunday, February 23News and updates from Kashmir

THE KASHMIRIYAT

JK forest highly vulnerable to climate change

JK forest highly vulnerable to climate change

REGIONAL
The forests of Jammu and Kashmir which comprise around fifty percent of its geographical area are highly vulnerable to climate change, the fast-track development projects on infrastructure that is causing a stress on ecology is one of the major threats to it. The official documents available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) also state that the unregulated grazing and fragile ecosystems of Himalayas were also some of the major threats to the ecology and forests of Jammu and Kashmir. The officials have mentioned some of the threats to forests of Jammu and Kashmir which reads, “UT of J&K is highly vulnerable to Climate Change and fast track development projects on infrastructure are causing stress on ecology.” It also said that the unregulated grazing and fragile ...

A decade on, maternity hospital Kangan awaits completion

REGIONAL
Almost a decade later, the Maternity Hospital at Kangan in Ganderbal is still incomplete causing inconvenience to people. The residents of Kangan have been waiting for the completion of the Maternity-cum-Child Care Hospital for the last eight years. The project, which is being executed by the J&K Housing Board at a cost of INR 27.66 crore, has missed multiple deadlines for completion since the construction began in 2014. The building has been completed but the hospital lacks necessary medical equipment and other infrastructure. According to details, the land for the hospital was identified in 2005 when Ghulam Nabi Azad was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Jammu Kashmir Housing Board was directed to execute the work on the hospital that was supposed to come up at an ...

Gaza’s child recites Quran for strength during surgery without Anesthesia

REGIONAL
In the Gaza Strip, a young Palestinian child recently underwent a surgical procedure without the use of anesthesia, reciting verses from the Quran for comfort while a doctor operated on the child's leg. This poignant scene unfolded against the backdrop of a strict Israeli-imposed siege, which has left medical facilities in the region struggling with a shortage of vital supplies, including anesthesia. The ongoing conflict in the region has posed numerous challenges for the Palestinian people. The blockade of Gaza has placed immense pressure on the healthcare system, resulting in a scarcity of crucial medical resources. One of the repercussions of this dire situation is the shortage of anesthesia, essential for alleviating pain and discomfort during surgical procedures. In this remarka...

NIA arrests Rohingya man in Jammu for suspected militant links

REGIONAL
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested a Rohingya man in J&K’s Jammu city for suspected terror links. Official sources said that NIA sleuths on Wednesday arrested the Rohingya refugee, identified as Zafar Alam in Jammu city. He has been arrested for suspected terror links in connection with the Manipur improvised explosive device (IED) blast. Sources said further details will be shared later.--IANS

Statue of Chatrapati Shivaji unveiled in Kupwara

REGIONAL
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde unveiled a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Jammu Kashmir Kupwara district on Tuesday. Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar was also present during the function. “I congratulate ‘Amhi Punekar’ and 41RR of the Indian Army for their historic initiative. Great Shivaji’s statue will be a source of inspiration for people & army’s Bravehearts”, LG said on X. ” The great warrior and founder of Swarajya, Shivaji was also the fountainhead of high standard of morality, right conduct and respect of all religions and sects. He was a born leader, who scripted a new history of India through his mesmerizing victory against the enemy, ” he said. “By unleashing his military geni...

Mobile internet suspended in parts of Pulwama

REGIONAL
Mobile internet has been suspended in parts of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir for security reasons, officials said on Tuesday. Directions to the Telecom Service Providers to suspend mobile data services in Wampora and Hunipora areas of the south Kashmir district were issued by Vijay Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir Zone, the officials said. The ADGP'S order mentions the possibility of mobile data services being misused by anti-national elements, which may cause deterioration in public order, the officials added. The Telecom Service Providers were directed to suspend mobile data within three km radius of these areas from 7 pm on November 5 till 7 pm on November 8, the officials said.–(PTI)

VK Bidri is the new IG of Jammu Kashmir Police

REGIONAL
Jammu Kashmir Home Department on Tuesday ordered transfer and posting of two senior IPS officers with Vidhi Kumar Birde posted as new Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone. According to an order, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has been transferred and posted as ADGP Law and Order J&K. "Vijay Kumar, IPS (AGMUT: 1997), ADGP Kashmir, is transferred and posted as ADGP (Law & Order), J&K. A post in the rank of ADGP viz. ADGP (Law & Order), J&K, is temporarily added to the J&K Segment of AGMUT Cadre, in terms of 2nd proviso to sub-rule (2) of Rule 4 of the Indian Police Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, for a period of two years or till the post is held by said officer, whichever is earlier," reads the ...

Fake CBI officer arrested by police in Kunzer Tangmarg

REGIONAL
A fake CBI officer was arrested by police in Kunzer Tangmarg area of North Kashmir Baramulla district. Reliable sources told News Agency Kashmir Scroll that he complaint was lodged by Farooq Ah Wani, a resident of Wassun Bangil, revealing a complex web of deceit involving several individuals – Javeed Ahmed Rather, Anjuman Afreen, Aaqib Ah Wani, and Rafeeq Ah Wani. They said that Javeed Ahmed Rather, who purportedly presented himself as a CBI officer, displaying what was later discovered to be a falsified CBI identification card. Leveraging this deceitful persona, Javeed allegedly claimed high-ranking connections within esteemed organizations such as the NDA (National Defence Academy) and Bharat Petroleum. Assurances were made to the complainant, promising a secure placement for their...

Srinagar’s new E-Buses: Routes, timings and everything you need to know

REGIONAL
LG Manoj Sinha recently introduced a fleet of e-buses in Srinagar, aiming to revolutionize the city's public transportation. These electric buses will initially operate on 14 predefined routes with a fixed schedule until the charging infrastructure is fully established. At present, 49 out of 75 e-buses are operational, relying on the existing charging station in Batwara, which can accommodate 32 buses. Additional charging facilities are in the works at Batamaloo and Humhama, and more may follow through outsourced implementation. The e-bus fleet is set to transform the long-neglected mass transport system in Srinagar, connecting the city with Budgam, with potential future expansion to Ganderbal. These state-of-the-art red e-buses, part of the Smart City project, come equipped with ...

Relocation of Budgam Court Complex: Civil Society urges Govt to reconsider decision

REGIONAL
People from different walks of life have expressed displeasure over the government’s proposal to shift the Budgam Court Complex to the Ichgam area of the district. Ichgam is over 11 kilometers away from the district headquarters. A meeting in this regard was held under the aegis of Anjuman Shari Shian President Aga Syed Hasan Almosvi Alsafvi at his Budgam based residence in which members from civil society, minority community and Auqaf Committees participated. An fervent appeal was made to LG Manoj Sinha and Chief Justice of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh to reconsider their decision. The participants as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust the proposed relocation of the Budgam Court Complex will not only hit the lawyers' community but the litigants as well. It was agreed upon t...