Saturday, December 20Latest news and updates from Kashmir

From B.D.S. Palestine to Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, Netizens Worldwide Demand Khurram Parvez’s Release

From B.D.S. Palestine to Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, Netizens Worldwide Demand Khurram Parvez’s Release

REGIONAL
On Friday, solidarity was expressed towards the incarcerated Kashmiri Human Rights defender Khurram Parvez from the official twitter handle of the B.D.S movement. The tweet, demanding release of Khurram Parvez, reads, "From Palestine in solidarity with incarcerated Kashmiri human rights activist #Khurram Parvez." It also said that the Indian government and "apartheid Israel" were accomplices in the criminalization of human rights defenders. It is pertinent to mention that the B.D.S. (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions) is a movement led by the Palestinians, which promotes boycotts, divestments and economic sanctions against Israel. Earlier on Thursday, the English Rock musician Roger Waters from one of the most popular rock bands Pink Floyd, too, took to twitter and demanded his ...
Rajwara Massacre, 1994: Nine Civilians shot dead on Christmas eve, Curfew imposed

Rajwara Massacre, 1994: Nine Civilians shot dead on Christmas eve, Curfew imposed

WRITE-UPS
On December 25, 1994, when the world was celebrating Christmas, a village in north Kashmir was preparing for the funeral of their dead killed at the hands of government forces. Nine civilians fell to the bullets of Border Security Forces in the frontier town after being made to stand in a line in the village during a cordon and search operation. Recounting the horrors of the day, locals said that on December 21, 1994, the forces laid a cordon and search operation in the village, which was lifted after a few hours. "They frisked the entire locality and during the freezing cold of the night, the locals were made to stand in a ground and searched, but the forces could find nothing," a newspaper reported. After the cordon was lifted, the forces came back on the morning of Decem...

JK Reports 141 Covid-19 Cases, 1 Death

REGIONAL
Jammu Kashmir reported 141 fresh covid-19 cases while one person died due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Friday. 23 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 118 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 340434. There was one deaths reported from Kashmir division due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4519 persons—2196 in Jammu and 2323 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said. Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 58 cases, Baramulla 7, Budgam 8, Pulwama 6, Kupwara 10, Anantnag 9, Bandipora 8, Ganderbal 10, Kulgam 1, Shopian 1, Jammu 14, Udhampur 0, Rajouri 1, Doda 5, Kathua 1, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 1, Ramban 1 and Reasi 0. A number of these cases w...
Srinagar Jamia Mosque closed for Friday prayers for the 20th week

Srinagar Jamia Mosque closed for Friday prayers for the 20th week

REGIONAL
Authorities on Friday stopped congregational Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar for the 20th consecutive week. Jamia Masjid, the 14th century building, is the only major place of worship in the valley closed for congregational prayers by the authorities. The officials did not give any reason for the continuous closure of the mosque, which was shut down initially in August 2019 in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 by the Centre. The mosque was briefly opened in December 2019 but closed again in April as part of the government curbs on large gatherings to combat the COVID wave. Prayers were allowed on first Friday of August this year but since then the mosque has been closed. Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, which manages the affairs of the mosque, exp...
Militant killed in Arwani encounter identified; was involved in killing of BJP Sarpanchs: Police

Militant killed in Arwani encounter identified; was involved in killing of BJP Sarpanchs: Police

SOUTH KASHMIR
Police on Friday said that a militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who was also involved in several killings was killed in a gunfight at Arwani area of Bijbhera in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. In a statement to GNS, the Police said that based on a specific input provided by police regarding presence of a militant in village Mominhall Aarwani area of Bijbehara Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army's 01RR and 90Bn CRPF in the said area. According to police during the search operation, as the presence of the trapped militant got ascertained, he was given ample opportunities to surrender. However, he denied the surrender opportunities and instead fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ...
Body of Handwara Man Retrieved from Pohru River

Body of Handwara Man Retrieved from Pohru River

REGIONAL
A 38-year-old man fallen into a river on Thursday morning in Heripora Pohru area in Handwara was retrieved dead by a joint team of police, army and SDRF this afternoon. As reported one Farooq Ahmad Rather son-in-law of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat slipped and fell into Pohru river on Thursday morning, following which locals made frantic efforts to rescue the person. However after failing to find any trace; police, army and SDRF personnel were called in which launched a formal rescue operation and traced out the person this afternoon. A police official confirming the retrieval of the body from the river told GNS that the body was being handed over the family after conduct of necessary medico-legal formalities. (GNS)
NC to approach Supreme Court against Delimitation Commission’s recommendations

NC to approach Supreme Court against Delimitation Commission’s recommendations

REGIONAL
National Conference president and former Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said on Friday that his party is preparing to approach the Supreme Court against the Delimitation Commission's recommendations as it believes that the very basis of the exercise is "illegal". The veteran politician, who has been Chief Minister of the erstwhile State three times as well as Union Minister, also said the time has come for the Opposition parties to come together and fight the forces who are bent on destroying the secular fabric of the country. Giving a detailed account of his interactions during the Delimitation Commission meeting earlier this week, Mr. Abdullah told PTI that the very first point raised "by us at the meeting was that the commission was illegal" as the party's petition c...
R&B takes hold of Chapargund-Gotli Bagh road repair project abandoned by JKPDC since eight years

R&B takes hold of Chapargund-Gotli Bagh road repair project abandoned by JKPDC since eight years

REGIONAL
Rayees Shah The R&B department, Ganderbal has started work on the Chapargund-Gotli Bagh road after nearly 8 years. It may finally meet the long standing demand of the residents of Chapargund and adjoining areas. The locals told The Kashmiriyat that the road has been in a state of despair for the past eight years, causing inconvenience to commuters. The road is part of the 93 MW Ganderbal Power Project which leads to the proposed water tunnel for the power project. The locals also said that the Power Development Corporation (PDC) had started the work nearly 8 years ago for widening and upgrading the road. The locals say that the department had ignored the work. "It is sad that JKPDC failed to repair the road and our vehicles have been damaged due to the dilapidated road,"...
‘More fragile than Kashmir’- Intel Agencies warn of more attacks in Panjab

‘More fragile than Kashmir’- Intel Agencies warn of more attacks in Panjab

INDIA
In a dire warning, Intelligence Agencies have anticipated more terror attacks in poll-bound Punjab. As per a report by Hindustan Times, the intel agencies have said that the state is 'more fragile than Kashmir'. The Authorities are on their toes to hunt down Pakistan's drones carrying arms and explosives, the report added. A series of security advisories have been issued and Central Agencies are coordinating with Panjab Police to avert these attacks. "Khalistani Militants are suspected to be involved in the Ludhiana court blast," the report added.