April 2022

Srinagar, April 27: Authorities have decided not to allow Jumat-ul-Vida as well as Shab-e-Qadr prayers at historic Jamia Masjid heer, Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid said on Wednesday.

“Government and Police officials headed by a magistrate visited the Jama Masjid premises today after iftar and conveyed to the Auqaf members that authorities have decided not to allow Jumat-ul-vida congregational prayers to be held in Jamia Masjid on the last Friday of Ramzan as well as no prayers or shab to be allowed on shab-e-Qadr at the historic Jama Masjid,”Anjumam said in a statement to GNS and strongly “denounced this decision of the authorities.” (GNS)

Srinagar, Apr 27: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, today visited Dargah Hazratbal, Khanqah-e-Moula and Jamia Masjid Nowhatta in Srinagar city to review arrangements put in place for the visiting devotees there.

Chief Secretary was accompanied by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz, Commissioner, SMC Athar Aamir Khan, Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr GN Itoo, SSP Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal and other senior officers.

Chief Secretary exhorted upon the concerned departments to ensure all their respective tasks are accomplished with highest degree of responsibility so that devotees visiting the shrines don’t face any hardship on this account.

He interacted with Auqaf members at the shrines and enquired from them about the arrangements that have been put in place for convenience of the devotees.

During his visit to Dargah, Chief Secretary directed for upgradation of facilities there saying that all services should be put in place for convenience of devotees thronging the shrine during Laylat-ul-Qadr, Eid ul Fitr. He directed for completion of boundary wall and construction of gates in the premises.

Maintaining that collective approach is the way forward for better upkeep of shrines, Chief Secretary directed the officers to take feedback from Auqaf and locals regarding upgradation of facilities. He asked the officers to keep the stray dogs at bay by engaging dog catchers at the shrines to prevent any mishap.

He asked the SMC to ensure proper maintenance of cleanliness around the shrines especially during Ramadan as well as upcoming holy days.

Srinagar, April 24: Three LeT militants were killed in a gunfight in Pulwama district and one of them includes a 17-year-old Srinagar youth, who had gone missing from April 16, officials said.

The two other militants include Arif Hazar alias Rehan who according to the officials was deputy to the outfit’s top commander Basit while the third militant has been identified as ‘Haqqani’ of Pakistan.

Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar confirmed to GNS that the teenager Natish Shakeel Wani of Baba Demb (Khanyar) was among the killed militants. The teenager had left for afternoon (Zuhr) prayers on April 16 and had been missing since. While family had issued appeal to him to return, police said he had joined militant ranks.

The IGP also identified other militant as Arif Hazar and said that he was involved in the killing of inspector Parvez, Sub Inspector Arshid and mobile shop owner in Srinagar.

“Arif Hazar alias Rehan, deputy of LeT’s top cmdr (Basit) killed in PulwamaEncounter. (He was) involved in killings of Insp Parvez infront of mosque, SI Arshid & 1 mobile shop owner in downtown. Several FIRs against him in Sgr city,” IGP Kashmir said in a tweet.

Three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in the gunfight at Pahoo area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday.

“Three LeT militants have been killed in the gunfight,” police said.

The gunfight had ensued as a joint team of Police and army launched a cordon and search operation in the area amid reports about the presence of militants.

As the joint team of forces zeroed towards the suspected spot, the officials told GNS that the hiding militants fired on the joint team, which was retaliated triggering off the gunfight, the officials added.(GNS)

Srinagar, April 23:- Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashmir (CCIK) has appealed to the Prime Minister Narindar Singh Modi for announcing comprehensive package for Kashmir which has been hit since 2019.
In a statement, CCIK President Tariq Rashid Ghani said, the business sectors in Kashmir have been suffering since 2019 and have just started to revive as the pendamic has receded.
Ghani appealed for captial infusion to economic sectors of the Valley by providing the cash assistance to business units for their revival and development.

He said many business units have huge financial burdens due to repeated lockdowns since 2019.
“GoI should announce general amnesty of interest on loans besides new loans on low interest rates may be announced to the business units to generate economic activities.”
The Chamber further demanded many units which turned Non Performing Assests during the past many years due various reasons may be rejuvenated through special interventions.
CCIK also sought industrial benefits to the tourism sector which has been declared as an industry way back in 1996.
“Even through tourism was declared as an industry but it is denied the industrial benefits. The power tariff and other cherges should be levied as per SSI units.”
Ghani further demanded power tariff amnesty to commercial and domestic users from the year 2019 to 2022 during which Kashmir witnessed downfall in business.
CCIK President said Kashmir lacks proper infrastructure of roads, in education and health sector.
He demanded that all weather road may be developed across Kashmir especially Srinagar Jammu highway.
“Besides, local investors may be encouraged with financial assistance for the development of infrastructure in health and education,” he said.
The CCIK also reiterated the long pending demand of the hoteliers granting them permission for repairs and renovations of the existing properties at Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgalm and Sonmarg so that the facilities are upgraded as per the current standards in the hospitality sector.
The CCIK said Kashmir handicrafts and horticulture sector which are one the mainstays of the economy needs promotion at government of India level at national and international markets.
To encourage youth for new startups, the CCIK President demanded that special schemes should be announced for them and cleared through single window system on fast track basis.

Srinagar, Apr 23: Valley-based public representatives have left for Samba to attend Panchayati Raj Diwas meeting on eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on Sunday.

Sources in the knowhow of things told GNS that all the public representatives (Sarpanches, Panchs, DDCs and BDCs) are being taken to the venue amid fool-proof security.

The public representatives, they said, will interact and attend the Panchayati Raj Diwas meeting, aimed to evaluate the different developmental works, under the aegis of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The PM is also scheduled to participate in ground-breaking ceremony of multi-crore industrial projects and will launch industrial investments, and inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various public welfare schemes.

The administration has made elaborate arrangements at border village Palli in Samba district, where the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public gathering.

Notably, this is the first visit of Prime Minister to the Union Territory of J&K since the abrogation of Article 370. (GNS)

Srinagar, April 22: Unknown gunmen suspected to be militants fired upon two non-locals in Nowgam area of Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district on Friday evening.

A top police officer told that two non-local labourers were fired upon by militants this evening at Srinagar-Budgam- Pulwama Border.

Both have been shifted to SMHS hospital for treatment. Meanwhile whole area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.(GNS)

Army on Friday said to have rescued 16 people stranded in heavy snowfall at Sinthan Pass of Kishtwar district yesterday.

A statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reads that on 21 Apr 2022, at around 3 PM, an information was received from Civil administration about 16 civilians having stranded on NH 244 somewhere near Sinthan Pass amidst heavy snowfall.

“A rescue team of Army personnel from Sinthan Maidan moved to rescue the civilians. The team walked for around 15 KM on NH 244 during continuous snowfall and zero visibility conditions and reached the civilians near Sinthan pass at around 6:15PM,” the statement added.

It said that the rescued people were brought down to Sinthan Maidan where they were provided with Medicine, Food and Shelter.

Prompt action of troops of Army in the rescue operation saved the precious lives, the statement added—(KNO)

Srinagar, Apr 21: Chairperson Jammu and Kashmir Waqaf Board and BJP leader, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi on Thursday had a narrow escape when her vehicle met with an accident in New Delhi.

Reports reaching *Kashmir News Service (KNS)*, said that Darakhdan Andrabi’s vehicle was hit by another car from behind in News Delhi today, during which she received minor injuries.

They said that the accident took place when she was on way back after attending a party’s high level meeting in New Delhi.

Notably, Dr Darakhshan was recently granted the status equivalent to Minister of State (MoS).

Many people including Waqaf Board members, officials and employees prayed for good health and speedy recovery to her. (KNS)

Jammu, Apr 22: Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Friday said that two militants killed in Sunjwan, Jammu encounter were wearing fidayeen vests and were tasked to carry out major suicide strike to sabotage the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendera Modi.

He said both the slain belong to Jaish-e-Muhammad outfit and were part of fresh infiltration bid. Talking to reporters at the site of encounter, the DGP Singh, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that late last night, acting on an information about the presence of militants in Sunjwan area of Jammu, a cordon was laid by the police and CISF personnel. “The militants fired indiscriminately at the security forces in which one ASI of CISF succumbed while four others sustained injuries. The slain ASI of CISF has been identified as S P Patil,” he said.

The DGP Singh said that both the slain fidayeen are foreigners and they were wearing “fidayeen vests”. “Both were tasked to either target a security camp or to engage large number of security forces to inflict maximum causalities,” he said.

The DGP as per KNO said that it seems that the major aim of the two slain fidayeen was to sabotage the PM’s upcoming rally at Samba on April 24. “But timely action by our alert forces have foiled the bid,” he said.

The said that from the possession of slain duo, three AK-47 rifles, grenades, magazines, eatables, medicines, energy drinks etc were recovered, which are normally found in fidayeen. He said as of now there are no inputs to suggest that the slain were planning to attack the PM’s upcoming rally at Samba on April 24. Asked whether there was possibility of any other militant in the area, the DGP said that as of now it seems that only two militants were present in the area. “Since they had no old history, it seems they had infiltrated recently just to carry out a big strike,” he said.

Meanwhile, BJP J&K chief Ravinder Raina while speaking to reporters praised the J&K police and CISF for killing the two fidayeen. “The PM’s rally will be held and there will be more participation of people than expected,” he said—(KNO)