November 2022

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 29 : A non-local died while another one was hospitalised due to suffocation caused by gas leak in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the non-local died while his colleague was hospitalised after suffocation caused by gas leak when they were sleeping in a truck in Fruit Mandi Sopore.

The deceased has been identified as Rakesh Kumar and another one, who has been shifted to SDH Sopore has been identified as Anwesh Kumar. “They were residents of Gurdaspur locality of Punjab.”

The official said they were ascertaining further details regarding the same—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 27 : Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 2.2 degree Celsius.

The minimum temperature continued to settle below freezing point in the Valley as majority of stations recorded sub-zero temperature.

Details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the minimum temperature at world famous ski-resort, Gulmarg recorded minus 1.5 degree Celsius in the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday while Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a temperature of minus 2.4 degree Celsius.

The mercury in Kokernag in South Kashmir settled at minus 0.1 degree Celsius while in Qazigund the minimum temperature was recorded a low of minus 1.8 degree Celsius.

Pertinently, the weatherman has predicted dry spell till December 07, stating that there is no forecast of any wet spell during next over one week—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 28 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday claimed to have busted Ansaar Gazwatul Hind (AGuH’s) module by arresting its four militant associates along with arms and ammunition in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, says major tragedy averted.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have arrested the four over ground workers (OGW’s) of Ansar Gazwatul Hind (AGuH) militant outfit from Sopore town in a joint operation of Sopore police along with Army’s 22 RR.

He said, that the incriminating materials, huge cache of arms and ammunition have been recovered from their possession, thereby giving a huge setback to the organisation operatives and thus averting a major tragedy.

“During MVCP two individuals identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, said to be main handler of Chanapora, Srinagar and Ishfaq Ahmed Shah resident of Budgam were arrested along with incriminating material, arms and ammunition including 01 Pistol, 01 Magazine, 10 rounds and 3 Grenades,” the official said.

“On further interrogation and development of the information, two more militant associates identified as Abdul Majeed Kumar resident of Bernate, Boniyar and Abdul Rashid Kumar resident of Pattan were also arrested. Adding that, 01 Pistol, 01 Magazine, 10 rounds and 11 Grenades were also recovered from their possession,” the official said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the busted terrorist module of AGuH was being handled by Ahsaan Dar and Chaudhary from across the border (PoK), police said.

It said that the module was instructed to ensure continuous supply of arms & ammunition in Kashmir Valley for conducting attacks on outsiders, civilians and Security Forces to instill fear in the minds of the general public. “The timely and effective action by Sopore police and 22RR by busting the terrorist module have resulted in averting a possible major tragedy,” official added.

Meanwhile, in Awantipora, Police along with 42 RR and CRPF recovered arms & ammunition including 202 AK rounds, 03 detonators, 7.62 mm 26 rounds, 02 rounds of Insas wrapped in Polyethene hidden under boulders at Bund Lalgam area of Awantipora—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 28 : Once known as Maharaja Protected Wetland is losing its sheen as illegal encroachment, unabated pollution and lack of conservation measures have affected the ecosystem of the wetland at Haritar Hygam in Sopore.

The Hygam-Wetland, a natural aquifer, spread over 7.25 kilometers is one of the known wetlands of Kashmir. The wetland is embedded with springs. It has 1400 hectares of land with the area is dominated by extensive reed beds and home to many migratory birds include White Heeled Duck, Shoveller, Red-Crested Pochard, White-Eyed Pochard, Pintail, Mallard, Gadwall, Coot and Graylag.

Aijaz Rasool, wetland technical expert and a senior executive member of Environmental Policy Group (EPG) told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that due to largescale illegal encroachments, unabated pollution and insensitivity of authorities to keep check on human interference in the wetland, it has reduced to a big pond, forcing migratory birds to find an alternative habitat as their winter home.

“The wetland is ill maintained. Authorities must restore and conserve the wetland for future generations as there is a water siltation of 10 ft which deteriorates its condition,” he said.

Similarly, Patron central Auqaf committee Tarzoo in Sopore Aijaz Ahmed Dar said that the wetland has been encroached at many places including Haritar, Hygam, Lolpora, Gohul, Goshbug etc.

“Scores of structures have come up over the past several years while hundreds of kanals of land were being used by encroachers illegally for cultivating paddy,” he said.

Dar, who is also a member of EPG said that the authorities earlier had identified the encroached land of at least 2300 Kanals and have not been retrieved yet. In addition to this, approximately 1200 kanals of land have been converted for crop cultivation.

“The official inability to act in time has encouraged more and more people to grab the land. Hundreds of trees were uprooted during the snow but they were not removed. An auction may have fetched money to conserve the wetland but nothing was done,” he added.

Mohammad Shafi Bacha, a retired senior official of the Wildlife department and was at Hygam wetland said that he used to count the migratory birds in lakhs. “But we hardly witness any now because the water level capacity of this wetland has been minimised to 1 sq km from 7.2 sq kms due to siltation,” he said.

“In the year 2000, we had marked the wetland and decided to remove the trees which were planted by the various agencies including social forestry, panchayats and even the wildlife department as well. It has been 20 years since then and nothing has been done till now,” Bacha added.

Similarly, locals too demanded attention of the authorities to save the wetland from further deterioration.

Wildlife warden North Kashmir could not be contacted despite repeated phone calls—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 28 : Former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehboob Mufti vacated from her Gupkar residence on Monday and shifted to a private house.

PDP spokesperson, Najam-Us-Saqib while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said Mehbooba Mufti has vacated from Gupkar residence today and has shifted to a private residence in Khimber locality.

Jammu and Kashmir administration had asked Mehbooba Mufti to vacate her official residence on the high profile Gupkar road in Srinagar and had stated it was willing to provide an alternative accommodation.

The Estates Department of Kashmir had sent a notice to PDP chief on October 15 asking her to vacate the official residence now known as “Fair View Guest House”.—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, 28 Nov : The body of a man, who had jumped in the river Jhelum in Chankhan area of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district was fished out on Saturday afternoon.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the 45-year-old man identified as Ali Mohammed Wani son of Atta Mohammed Wani of Dedwana village of Kupwara had jumped in the river Jhelum today afternoon.

He said following the incident, a team was immediately rushed to the spot for rescue operation.

“After hectic efforts the body was fished out. The body will be handed over to the family after completing medico-legal formalities,“ he said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 28 : A 25-year-old youth was critically injured in a road accident in Ashpeer area of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the youth identified as Imran Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammed Bhat of Krankshivan Colony was critically injured when he was hit by a four-wheeler.

“Soon after the incident, he was rushed to a nearby health facility where doctors referred him to Srinagar hospital for specialised treatment,” he said.

He adder a case has been registered in local police station in this regard—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 28 : A 45-year-old man on Wednesday jumped into the river Jhelum in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district even as search and rescue operation has been launched.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Ali Mohammed Wani son of Atta Mohammed of Kupwara jumped into the river near Chakhan area of Sopore.

He said following the incident, a team was immediately rushed to the spot to launch search and rescue operation

He added search operation was going on to trace man’s body and further details will be shared accordingly—(KNO)