Jammu & Kashmir

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Oct 25 : A residential house and a Masjid were gutted in a midnight blaze in Sopore village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, leaving three families homeless.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a massive fire damaged a double-storey residential house while partial damage was reported to a local Masjid at Izzat Shah Colony in Sopore’s Tarzoo village.

He said two firemen identified as Ali Mohammad Reshi and Wajad Ahmad Dar also received minor injuries while dousing the flames.

The cause of fire is being ascertained, however, preliminary investigation reveals that the fire broke out due to a short circuit.

Meanwhile, the locals urged the government to provide assistance to the fire affected families so that they could heave a sigh of relief—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Oct 25 : An official was allegedly assaulted by some people during duty hours in his office on Tuesday with police saying they arrested four persons in the case so far.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Sheikh Tariq, who is Assistant Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Baramulla was assaulted by a few goons at his office.

Following the incident, employees staged a protest demanding action against the accused.

They said that some persons barged inside the office premises and assaulted the assistant director while a few employees were also beaten.

An employee said that the incident took place when a delegation from Khushalpora Chinnad was pleading for the ration to be supplied through a sale centre instead of a fair price shop at the location, where they resorted to verbal duels with the employees.

He said, that the matter is already in court and the department is just adhering to the Court orders in letter and spirit. “There are clear directions from the honourable court, that only one fair price shop would run at the location but some vested interested persons are instigating and provoking the villagers, resulting into these assaults”, he added.

The employees threatened to strike if the culprits are not put behind the bars. “There will be no food distribution in any of the stores in Baramulla district if action is not initiated against the culprits”, they said.

They also alleged that the violent incident had been carried out at the behest of a so-called journalist who owns a shop in Sopore and is a resident of Chinnad Sangrama.

The employees alleged that the so-called journalist instigated people against the department officials in various areas of Baramulla district in order to fulfil his ulterior motives.

Repeated attempts to contact Assistant Director Sheikh Tariq could not materialise.

A Police official when contacted told the KNO, that they have registered the case in this regard and further investigations have been taken up.

“We have arrested four people so far and hunt to nab the other culprits,” the official added—(KNO)

Srinagar, Oct 24 : The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has braced up to stay prepared ahead of winters with officials saying that the works like upgradation of transmission lines, branch cutting and others are going on to ensure better power scenario in the chilly weather.

Ahead of the winters, Chief Engineer, KPDCL, Er Javed Yousuf Dar told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that there has been no new power schedule, but would likely be issued after November 10 onwards.

He, however, said that some mandatory works ahead of the winters have been started like upgradation of transmission lines, branch cuttings and other line works. “These works would be completed before November 15 and the new power schedule will be announced accordingly,” he said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Oct 24 : With Hindus across the world celebrating Diwali, Kashmiri Pandits in Baramulla observed the festival of lights as ‘Black Day’ in solidarity with slain Puran Krishna Bhat.

The slain was shot dead allegedly by militants in Shopian last week.

“We are not going to celebrate Diwali, as it has been just days ago when our beloved Puran was killed by the militants. How can we celebrate it? We are celebrating the day as a Black day,” a Kashmiri Pandit, Triloki Nath Pandita, told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

“It seems the administration is upset with us. It has been like a do or die situation for we people. We have been suffering for the last 30 years, we feel as if we are not Kashmiris,” Pandita added.

The Pandits expressed their anger against the administration for not releasing their pending salaries and have demanded that their withheld salaries be released so that they can feed their families.

President Pandit Colony Baramulla Avtar Bhat told KNO that their salary from September has been withheld by the government. About 30-40 percent employees have not received salaries from the last four months, he said.

“We don’t have money to buy sweets and crackers for the festival,” he said and urged the government to release their pending salaries so that they can celebrate the festival of lights with their families.

Deputy Commissioner Baramulla had earlier assured and directed the concerned departments to release the salaries ahead of Diwali. But the DDO’s didn’t as they hadn’t received any written order from the DC, Avtar added—(KNO)

Srinagar, Oct 24 : With conservation efforts for Asia’s second largest freshwater lake in northern Kashmir in full-swing, the people residing around the Wular lake hope for a better future as their entire business depends directly on the lake.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), interviewed people residing around the lake and observed that since last two years there has been a hope among the people that the lake is being restored on ground which may prove beneficial for them in the future and stated that tourism can change their lives for the better.

Manzoor Ahmad, a local fisherman of Dar-Mohalla Guroora said that a few years ago the people here gave up their fishing business as it was not very profitable. “Due to the filth spread across the lake, the people here did not have the courage to do this business and they didn’t even consider it appropriate to depend on this lake,” he said. “Everyone was desperate because no one thought that the condition of the wular would change again. However, the government has changed its status a lot in a few years by the restoration process.”

Similarly, at Kulhama, Mohammad Sultan another fisherman said that their family have been dependent on the Lake for generations, However, due to the pollution in it, everyone was worried about the future of our next generations and everyone was looking for the answer to the same question whether they will be able to carry on this business or not. “However, the government is claiming that the lake is being restored on a large scale and I wish I could see it again as it was two decades ago,” he said.

A group of fishermen told KNO, “We say with confidence that there is no political interference in the work of restoration. I’m sure Wular will not only get a new life, but will also give livelihood support to far more people than it currently does.”

Muhammad Hussan Panchoo, another local said that the widespread pollution has stunted the fishing community, exacerbating poverty to the fisherman community. “Although we used to drink its water some years back which may not be the case now,” he said, adding that by undertaking its restoration, “we now hope that it should be left as it was and further developed.”

A top government official while giving a detailed developmental report on the lake said that the net area of the Lake at present is 130 square kilometer with an encroachment of 380 Kanals and 11 Marlas.

He said that the area under encroachment is 0.001%. Eviction of 20 Kanals and 11 Marlas have been achieved and eviction of balance encroachment is going on while all efforts are made to retrieve the balance encroachments from Lake in which officials of Revenue, Forest & WUCMA departments are working with synergy to remove encroachments from the lake.

He also said that the encroachments under plantations and cultivations which form the major chunk of encroachments shall be cleared by the end of this financial year while the water holding capacity through the Wular Action Plan of Lake is likely to be completed in 2022–23 at a cost of Rs. 200 Crore.

“For the restoration of the Lake, 4.35 Sq kms area has been cleaned so far while work for a pedestrian (non-motorable) pathway being built around Wular Lake is ongoing. The Lake, he said, is also at the top of the list of places where bird watchers go. “Here, bird lovers can see rare species like the alpine swift and the Himalayan woodpecker,” he added—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Oct 24 : A teenage girl on Monday allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself to death in Kreeri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the girl, 14, hanged herself to death at his residence in Vizer locality of Kreeri today.

He said that she was rushed to SDH Kreeri where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Notably, this is the second incident in the district in a day, as earlier an elderly man committed suicide at his home in Khanpura area.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of both the incidents and have initiated further investigations—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Oct 23 : An elderly woman was killed in a road accident that took place in Sangrama area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday even as the driver of the vehicle has been arrested.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the woman was killed after being hit by a speedy bus in Sangrama area.

He identified the deceased as Saja Begum (75) wife of Abdul Kabeer of Pethseer village of Sopore.

“After completion of legal medical formalities, the body was handed over to the family while a case in this regard has been registered,” the official said.

He added that the driver of the vehicle has been arrested while vehicle has also been seized—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Oct 22 : Jammu and Kashmir government Saturday warned the doctors of strict action in case they were found doing private practice during duty hours.

Bhupinder Kumar, Administrative Secretary Health and Medical Education, during an inaugural awareness programme on ‘Benefits of Golden Card at Boniyar in Baramulla, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, that those who are withdrawing Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) and are indulging in private practicing will be dealt strictly as per the law.

He said, that doctors who are skipping their duties and doing private practices in other places are also being viewed very seriously.

Earlier this year, in the month of October, the government issued clear directions, asking doctors and paramedical staff to restrain private practice during duty hours in health institutions.

Besides, monthly basis reports were also sought from HoDs with the direction not to allow any doctor borne on the establishment of Health and Medical Education Department to indulge into malpractices.

“Strict vigilance shall be kept and such cases will be recommended for strict action by the Regulatory Authorities”, reads a government order.

Pertinently, the move comes after it was observed that certain Doctors borne on the establishment of Health and Medical Education Department are indulging into private practices during official hours as well as while they are on duty rosters in the Government Health Institutions—(KNO)