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Jan122022 by News DeskNo Comments

Ladakh Admin removes Urdu as test language for various Government jobs

EDUCATION

The administration of Ladakh has removed Urdu as a test language for various posts in the Revenue department. According to the notification issued by Principal Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal, instead of ‘Knowledge of Urdu’, ‘Bachelor’s degree from any recognized university has been made mandatory. Urdu has been the language of land and revenue records. Courts (lower courts) and FIRs are also written in Urdu. Urdu is the medium of instruction taught in government schools, especially in Muslim-majority areas of Kashmir, Kargil, and Jammu. It is noteworthy that BJP MP from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal had written to Home Minister Amit Shah last year demanding changes in revenue rules (removal of Urdu) for reinstatement in posts like Patwari and Naib Tehsildar. He said that this is t...

Jan122022 by News DeskNo Comments

JK Bank closes down three branches in Kashmir after 19 employees test positive for Covid-19

REGIONAL

Authorities of Jammu Kashmir Bank closed down three branches in Kashmir after 19 employees tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday authorities in north Kashmir's Bandipora district closed two branches of Jammu Kashmir Bank for public dealing after 15 employees of the branches tested positive for COVID-19, officials said. The two JK Bank branches including TP and Main branch in the main market of the district were closed for public dealing after 15 employees tested positive for Covid-19. On Wednesday the Baghat branch of Jammu Kashmir Bank in Srinagar closed for the public after four employees posted there tested COVID-19 positive. "While contact tracing is on, some employees have been asked to undergo quarantine," an official said.

Jan122022 by News DeskNo Comments

Man found dead in Kulgam’s Buchroo

SOUTH KASHMIR

A 35-year-old man was found dead in mysterious conditions at Buchroo area in south Kashmir's Kulgam on Wednesday afternoon, an official said. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the body was spotted at around 12:30 pm this afternoon. "A police team recovered the body and shifted to hospital Kulgam for postmortem," an official said. The deceased has been identified Raouf Rather son of Abdul Gani Rather, a resident of Ashmiji Kapora Kulgam. "Preliminary investigations suggest that Raouf died due to overdose of drugs," an official said—(KNO)

Jan122022 by News DeskNo Comments

Covid spike: Impose self-restrictions, save economy from further shock: Div Com Kashmir tells People

REGIONAL

As Covid cases have shown a sudden spurt with Valley reporting five Omicron cases too, the Divisional Administration Kashmir Tuesday urged people to impose self-restrictions so that the region’s economy is saved from further shock. In an exclusive chat with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole said that his fervent appeal to people of Kashmir amid Covid case spike is that they should impose self-restrictions to prevent spread and further damage. “The best way to prevent further spread is that people should impose self-restrictions. Lockdowns shatter economies and we don’t want to go for lockdowns at a time when Kashmir economy has started to revive,” Pole told KNO. He said people must go for self-imposed restrictions and follow Covi...

Jan122022 by News DeskNo Comments

Kazakhstan: UN experts condemn lethal force against protesters, misuse of term ‘terrorists’

INTERNATIONAL

On Tuesday, the UN human rights experts called on the Kazakhstan authorities and security forces "to halt their unrestrained use of force, including lethal force, against protesters and ensure that an independent and human-rights based investigations of State use of force against protesters is undertaken." The experts said they were profoundly concerned that Kazakhstan's President reportedly gave orders to security forces and army to "open fire with lethal force" against protesters he described as "bandits and terrorists." The Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, who carried out an official visit to Kazakhstan in May 2019, including to Aktau and Almaty, areas where the protests emerged, said that Kazakhstan's overly broad use of the word "ter...

Jan122022 by News DeskNo Comments

Freezing cold continues in Kashmir; Pahalgam records Minus 11.6 degrees

REGIONAL

Intense cold conditions continued in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh as Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.6°C on Wednesday. A meteorological department official said that the minimum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of JK, dropped from the previous night’s 0.2°C and was 1.5°C below the normal for this time of the year. Gulmarg, the world-famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, recorded a drop of nearly 1°C as the mercury settled at minus 11.5°C against minus 10.6°C on the previous night, he said. Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 11.6°C against minus 10.4°C last night, he said. Kashmir is presently under the grip of a 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 2...

Jan122022 by News DeskNo Comments

‘Lost in the Pages of History’- 13 January 1989: When Right-Wing Mobs Murdered 14 Sikhs in Jammu

WRITE-UPS

On 13th January 1989, The Sikhs of Jammu arranged a procession Nagar Kirtan to commemorate Gurupurab. As the procession was passing through the streets of Jammu, a violent mob suddenly attacked the processions with deadly weapons. The attackers were affiliates of Hindu right-wing organization Shiv Sena. Fourteen Sikhs were murdered and hundreds injured, some of them seriously. After the attack, Several Gurdwaras were looted and many more were set on fire that day. The violent mob set ablaze Sikh-owned properties worth crores. Around 140 vehicles and hundreds of shops were also burnt down on the day. Relatives of several victims of the January 13, 1989, riots stated that the victims were mob lynched, with sticks, iron rods, and hockey sticks. Surinder Singh's mother, who was ...

Jan112022 by News DeskNo Comments

‘If they had a gun, they’d have shot me’- Journalist assaulted by Forces in Anantnag

FEATURED

Yasir Yousuf A Kashmir-based journalist was allegedly assaulted by Government force personnel in Anantnag town of South Kashmir on Tuesday morning. Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, Mudasir Reshi said that he was rounded by Force personnel on Tuesday morning when he was traveling towards his office located in the main town of Anantnag. Mudasir is the associate editor of Prime post- a Kashmir-based fortnightly news magazine. "I was stopped at a Naka in the Ashajipora area of Anantnag. The Force personnel rounded me up asking me to wear a mask. I was traveling alone in my car, so I told them it was no mandatory for me to wear a mask," Mudasir said. After which the Force personnel got angry and started misbehaving with him, he said. He told The Kashmiriyat that the forces abused ...

Jan112022 by News DeskNo Comments

Unknown persons cut down scores of ‘kikar’ trees from Handwara nursery

REGIONAL

Locals from different villages of North Kashmir’s Handwara Tuesday alleged that some vested interest elements from Soil and Water Conservation Department recently took full advantage of snowfall and chopped off scores of ‘kikar’ trees at a Nursery. There are hundreds of ‘kikar’ trees at a Nursery located at Ashipora village of Handwara. Comprising of over 15 kanals, Soil and Water Conservation Department had established this nursery in 2005. Locals from Ashipora , Kralgund Qaziabad said that they were aghast to see scores of ‘kikar’ trees being cutdown. “We asked employees of the department the reason behind the ‘loot’ and they feigned ignorance. We don’t think anybody could cut down these trees and then smuggle them without the involvement of employees,” locals said and added that t...

Jan112022 by News DeskNo Comments

Meet Shameem Ahmed, the Ambulance driver who transported pregnant woman to hospital amid heavy snowfall

FEATURED

Meer Irfan Since the initiation of Covid 19, ambulance drivers have massively contributed to healthcare. From sleepless nights to restless days, the drivers who have seen it all have remained the unsung frontline heroes constantly battling the covid 19 pandemic globally. Among hundreds of the underappreciated drivers is Shameem Ahmed Dar of South Kashmir's Shopian district. Shameem Ahmad Dar, an ambulance driver of the sub-district hospital, Zainapora, who works on a need basis has been massively appreciated by the locals, here, since he has been on the forefront to serve patients. "Shameem has served for more than twenty years as an ambulance driver in sub-district hospitals. He is among the most sincere, hardworking, and dedicated people who have not only served the departmen...