January 2023

Srinagar, Jan 21 : Jammu and Kashmir’s security grid has been put on a high alert in the wake of upcoming Republic Day and the ensuing Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) while as frisking has been intensified in Srinagar, Jammu, highways, and sensitive areas of the Union Territory (UT).

A senior police official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that for the R-Day, security grid has been tightened and forces including police and CRPF have been deployed across the UT and all sorts of arrangements are in place to ensure smooth passage of all official functions of January 26.

“This time around, we have a double challenge—one of R-Day and another of BJY. Extra deployments have been made wherever necessary and all security agencies have been directed to maintain a highest level of alertness to foil the evil designs,” the official said, wishing not to be named.

BJY led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has already entered Jammu and is scheduled to reach Srinagar on January 30

He said that all vigil is being maintained on the highways, sensitive areas and in all major cities and towns. “In Jammu city, deployment has been made for both R-day and the BJY while similar arrangements have been put in place in Srinagar district,” the officer said.

Eye-witnesses told KNO that in Jammu city, police and paramilitary CRPF men have launched massive frisking operations while a close watch is being maintained on the suspects. In Srinagar, police including the women police and CRPF have started intense frisking operations with commuters travelling on four-wheelers and two-wheelers being frisked thoroughly. “I was travelling from Pantha Chowk to Sonwar and was stopped by CRPF men. I was asked to show the I-D card. The CRPF men also took my photograph and when I asked why he took the snap, he replied that he had to show it to his superior,” said Showkat Ahmed, a resident of Pantha Chowk.

Police sources said that as part of the heightened security grid for peaceful conduct of R-Day and BJY, all the CCTVs have been made functional in Srinagar and in all districts of Kashmir and movement of vehicles, pedestrians is being closely watched from the respective control rooms of police. A police source said that it was likely to go for aerial surveillance through drones in Srinagar and Jammu on January 26 to maintain aerial vigil. “We may use drones a day ahead of R-Day,” he said. “Night patrolling is also being conducted in several areas of Kashmir and Jammu.”

Many other commuters and auto-drivers said that they were stopped at multiple points from Dalgate to Lal Chowk and thoroughly frisked. The main R-Day function will be held at Jammu where LG Manoj Sinha will unfurl the tri-colour. In Srinagar, LG’s advisor, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar will take the salute of the parade and also hoist the national flag. Pertinently, LG Sinha told reporters at Zewan, Srinagar on January 20, that elaborate security arrangements have been made to facilitate BJY. Earlier, DGP Dilbagh Singh had stated that all security measures were in place for the smooth conduct of all official functions on R-Day eve across the UT—(KNO)

Srinagar, January 21 : Atleast five persons were injured in twin mysterious blast in Narwal area of Jammu on Saturday.

A senior police officer told GNS that the blasts were reported from two vehicles, leading to injuries to five persons.

The injured have been evacuated to nearby hospital.

“The area has been cordoned off and senior police officer along with other police personnel are at the spot and further investigations are underway,”.(GNS)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 20 : 25 -year-old Nadia Shameem of Adoora Baramulla has proved that no financial crisis, hardship and adversity can stop you from achieving your goal. Nadia, who cleared the prestigious Jammu & Kashmir Combined Competitive Examination, quit regular studies at very young age and took up a lowly-paid government job to support her family financially, but didn’t give up her dream of making it big in life.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Nadia said she did her schooling from Kekashan School, Handwara.

“I have done my initial schooling from Kehkashan School Handwara. After passing my 10th class examination, I got admission in the Saint Joseph Baramulla for higher secondary education. I secured 3rd position in the entrance examination conducted by the institution for admission,” she said.

Nadia said she got admission in SKUAST Kashmir, but had to quit her studies after she was selected for a job of in the civil secretariat.

“I had to quit my studies due to financial constraints. I joined as an orderly in the civil secretariat to support my family ,” she said.

Nadia said she continued her studies through distance mode after taking up the job.

“I completed my B.A (Hons) in Sociology from IGNOU because I wanted Sociology to be my optional,” she said, adding that she simultaneously started preparing for civil services.

“After getting into service, I got more insights and inspirations to be part of the service,” she added.

Nadia, who cracked the prestigious civil service examination in her maiden attempt, said her mother and her teachers were an inspiration for her.

“The motivation behind my journey was my mother, my teachers and my colleagues who had faith in me. Everybody would feel that I have the potential to do the best against all odds. This thing kept the fire alive in me,” she said.

She said it was a bit difficult to balance between job and studies, but she managed.

“I would get up early to study and off days on Saturday and Sunday really helped me in preparation for the examination. I took earned leave right before Prelims, Mains and Interview,” she said.

Her mother Shameema, a housewife, says her daughter excelled in studies right from childhood.

“My daughter has been an amazing student. She bagged state-level positions in 10th as well as 12th class. She was loved by all her teachers and relatives for being extraordinary,” she said.

Shameema says her daughter was adamant to be financially independent.

“It was her decision to quit studies at SKUAST as she is a very responsible daughter. After taking up the job, she took up another challenge to clear the civil services examination. She qualified the examination. I am proud of my daughter,” she said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 20 : In the past five years, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a hike of five percent in taking paid private tuitions by the students of classes 1st to 8th standard.

The figures released by the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)-2022 states that, “In JK, the proportion of children in Classes 1st to 8th taking paid private tuition classes have increased from 8.8 percent in 2018 to 13.8 percent in 2022.”

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has also leant that the survey has also revealed that the proportion of children in 3rd standard in government or private schools who can read at least 2nd standard level text dropped from 22.1 percent in 2018 to 19.0 percent in 2022.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, the proportion of all children enrolled in Class-V in government or private schools who can at least read a Std II level text fell from 42 percent in 2018 to 35.2 percent in 2022,” ASER said.

The national survey further states that the proportion of children in Class-III in Jammu and Kashmir who are able to do at least do subtraction increased from 36.1 percent in 2018 to 38.7 percent in 2022.

“The proportion of children in Class-V who can do division has fallen slightly, from 25.1 percent in 2018 to 22.4 percent in 2022,” it reads.

It also states that the proportion of students in 5th standard who are able to read simple English sentences has fallen from 48.6 percent in 2016 to 45.6 percent in 2022. “Slight decrease is also visible for children in Class-VIII from 74.9 percent in 2016 to 71.1 percent in 2022.”—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 20 : The parts of Jammu and Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Friday even as the weather department has also forecast more rain and snowfall during the next few days.

As per details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir experienced moderate to heavy snowfall, while plains received light to moderate snowfall.

With fresh snowfall, the night temperature slightly increased in many parts with Srinagar recording a 0.1 degrees Celsius last night, Pahalgam recorded minus 2.9 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg recorded minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara recorded Minus 1.5 and Jammu recorded 8.7 degree Celsius.

The weatherman has also predicted cloudy weather conditions with light to moderate sow and rains in plains of Jammu over scattered to fairly widespread places from tomorrow till January 23.

Furthermore, the officials in the Meteorological department (MeT) said that with 60 per cent chances, there is a possibility of moderate snow/(rain in Jmu) and moderate to heavy snow over middle & higher reaches

Meanwhile, the fresh snowfall in Srinagar also delayed several morning flights at the Srinagar International Airport due to low visibility.

Director Srinagar Airport Kuldeep Singh told KNO that since early morning all flights were delayed due to poor visibility. “The flight operation started around 10: 30 now following improvement in the weather,” he said.

He said flights from Srinagar airport were delayed due to NOTAM not due to bad weather.

“So far no flight has been cancelled due to weather. All flights scheduled for today have been delayed,” he added.

With fresh snowfall and rain in some parts, the traffic movement was also halted on Srinagar-Jammu highway today morning, while several border roads already remain closed.

An official said that the traffic movement remained disrupted for three hours and 20 minutes due to shooting stones at Panthyal.

“Subject to fair weather and road clearance, LMVs Passenger/Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa tomorrow. TCU Jammu/Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic,” officials said.

He said that Sonamarg-Leh, Mughal and Gurez roads are already closed due to accumulation of snowfall—(KNO)

Jammu, Jan 20 : The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that entered Jammu and Kashmir in its last leg, resumed on Friday from Hatli Morh in Kathua district.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), amidst chill and inclement weather conditions, Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed after a delay of more than one hour in this border district of Jammu and Kashmir.

As per details available with KNO, the Yatra was scheduled to start at 7.00 am but was delayed by an hour and fifteen minutes apparently due to the winter rains.

Donning a jacket over his famous White T-Shirt due to chilled waves in the morning, Rahul started the yatra flanked by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

Rahul removed the jacket with some improvement in the weather after walking for over the first two hours from Hatli Morh towards Chadwal, a 21-km stretch along the Jammu-Pathankot highway which was virtually sealed as part of the stringent security arrangements.

Speaking to reporters, Raut said “I had come all the way to join yatra because Rahul Gandhi is a leader of masses and he is on the right path to raise voice against unemployment, inflation and other issues bothering people in the country.”

“Only Rahul Gandhi could challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024 and end the BJP’s “dictatorial regime”, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut who joined the last leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu told reporters.

He added that an Opposition front without the Congress would be meaningless.

Several gallantry award winners, including Param Vir Chakra recipient Captain Bana Singh, too joined the Yatra and walked with Gandhi for more than 40 minutes.

“Whenever there is talk of protecting India and its ideals, the names of brave sons of the country like Bana Singh are taken. Captain Bana Singh, a Paramveer Chakra winner who hoisted the tricolor on the icy heights of Siachen, is an inspiration to me and every patriot,’ senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Several Congress leaders, including the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit president Vikar Rasool Wani and his predecessor G A Mir, former MP Chief Minister Divijay Singh, Congress spokesperson Jai Ram Ramesh, firebrand student leader Kanhaiya Kumar accompanied Gandhi during the final leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The yatra covered 25 km and halted at Chadwal in the Kathua district for the night. There will be no march on Saturday.

The yatra will resume on Sunday from Hiranagar in Kathua and will reach Jammu on January 23. It will have another break on January 26 (Republic Day) before commencing in Kashmir valley.

The march, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, entered Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab on Thursday evening and is scheduled to end in Srinagar on January 30. A tight security ring, composed of police and CRPF personnel, was thrown around Gandhi.

Entering Jammu and Kashmir in the last leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday invoked his connection with the land, saying his ancestors had moved from Kashmir to Uttar Pradesh and he felt he was “returning home”.

He said he had come here to share the pain and agony of the people of J&K. “I know how much pain the people of Jammu and Kashmir have faced. I understand it… Everybody has got hurt, everybody has suffered,” he said while addressing a crowd that had gathered in huge numbers at the entry point to J&K from Pathankot-Punjab to receive him.

The march entered Kashmir on Thursday and will culminate with a rally in Srinagar on January 30—(KNO)

“Continuing with its reformative agenda initiated under the leadership of Chairperson, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, J&K Waqf Board has started an exhaustive Valuation exercise of its hundreds of commercial assets spread across the UT of Jammu & Kashmir,” a statement issued in this regard to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said.

Interestingly, despite being the second largest asset-rich organisation in the UT after the Govt itself, no significant efforts have been made till date for assessment of Commercial Properties by the previous authorities at the helm of affairs in Waqf over the last several decades, revealed the sources in Waqf, it said.

In an order issued by Executive Magistrate, Tehsildar J&K Waqf Board, it has been revealed that, in absence of proper valuation, “random assessment values have been used to insure commercial properties in the past and that has also created difficulties in settlement of claims with insurers”.

The move is also expected to “result in creation of a permanent data base for smooth rent assessment of structures in future”.

The Administrators and other Waqf Supervisory staff have been directed to facilitate and provide all necessary support & manpower for smooth conduct of the exercise, the order said—(KNO)

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Srinagar, Jan 20 : Three siblings from far-off area of Doda in Jammu division have qualified J&K Administrative Service (JKAS), the results of which were declared on Thursday evening.

Three siblings have been identified as Huma Anjum Wani, Ifra Anjum Wani and Suhail Ahmad Wani from village Kahi Trankhal in Bhaleesa area of Doda and are now settled in Jammu.

As per details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Suhail who is younger to sisters has secured 111th rank and obtained 1055 points followed by Huma Anjum Wani having 117th rank with 1050.5 points and Ifra Anjum Wani having 143rd rank with 1034.5 points.

Their father Manir Ahmad Wani, who was working as labourer in Baglihar project and now a contractor while talking to KNO said that it is a very proud moment for him and all people of J&K as his children have qualified JKAS without any coaching.

He said that since their childhood, their aim was to qualify IAS/JKAS and finally after working hard for years together, they have qualified JKAS.

Suhail and Huma Anjum have pursued masters in Political Science while Ifra has pursued MSC physics and all started preparing for JKAS/IAS when they were in Class 12th, he said.

Everyday they used to study for about 12 hours since last several years, he said.

If focus and goal of any person will be one, he/she can achieve any dream even after facing difficulties, he said, adding that whenever any person tries, the way comes itself and parents must support their children well.

He claimed that their children don’t have mobile phones as of now and whenever they were in need of the internet, they used to connect phone of their mother with their laptops.

Their maternal uncle Sadiq Wani while talking to KNO also said that the trio has worked hard for years together and it is really a proud moment for all—(KNO)

Qazigund, Jan 20 : The traffic movement on Srinagar-Jammu national highway was stopped on Friday after snowfall and shooting stones on the route.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that traffic movement was stopped in view of snowfall in Ramban sector and Qazigund.

“There were shooting stones at Ramban-Banihal sector as well,” he said.

He said men and machinery has been pressed into services for restoration of the highway.

The official said vehicular traffic will resume as and when snowfall stops and road gets cleared—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 19 : Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district – once known as the ‘Chotta London’ plunges into darkness soon after the sun sets, as the local municipality has failed to repair the defunct streetlights for years.

The locals said despite tall claims of the authorities of developing the town, it is still without streetlights. Many areas including that of the old town and colonies have either no lights or defunct lights, they said.

The people of the town while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said they are facing immense hardships in the absence of lights. “As soon as dusk sets in, the entire area plunges into darkness,” said Mohammed Azhar, a local.

Azhar said most of the streetlights became defunct soon after installation and have not been repaired since then. “We can’t walk in darkness, especially during winter, as the road is full of potholes,” he said.

“We have been continuously requesting before the officials of the Municipal Council, Sopore to repair these streetlights but our pleas fall on deaf ears,” a resident of Krankshivan Colony, said.

Similarly, the residents of several other areas said the streetlights in their localities are lying defunct for the last many months.

The people of Sopore town have requested the Lieutenant Governor-led administration and the concerned department to repair the defunct streetlights and install in the areas where these are required.

President Municipal Council Sopore, Musarrat Kar told KNO that they have taken up the matter with higher-ups. “We have a provision for repairing the installed lights and we are working on it,” she said. Musarrat, however, added that there is currently no provision for installation of the streetlights—(KNO)