Jammu & Kashmir

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Apr 03 : With the addition of 14 new hoopers to the already existing seven in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, the sanitation woes across the town may end soon.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir on Monday distributed 14 new hoopers to Sopore municipality, citing the need and sanitation woes across the town. Municipal Council Baramulla have got 10 while Anantnag 20 hoopers, reads an official document.

It is pertinent to mention here, that the Sopore township had only 7 hoopers for 21 wards and out of 7, only 6 were functional.

Earlier, the residents were accusing the Municipal Council Sopore of ignoring their plights, saying that the heaps of garbage could be seen piling up in the town, causing immense hardships to them. “Throwing garbage at many spots, emanating foul smell from it”, they said.

Meanwhile, President Municipal Council Sopore, Musarat Kar told KNO, that the town may not witness any sanitation crisis now as it has 14 more hoopers now.

While urging people to cooperate with the council in order to make the town neat and clean, Musarat said, the collective efforts will help to make Sopore beautiful, developed and prosperous.

“User charges would be now compulsory,” she added—(KNO)

Kupwara 03 Apr : Police on Monday detained a 36-year-old man in connection with the murder of his minor daughter in Zab-Khurhama area of Kupwara, whose body was found with the throat slit in a nearby shed on Wednesday.

As per the family, “On Wednesday evening, their beloved daughter ventured out from her home to go to a shop to buy something.”
However, till late in the evening, she couldn’t reach home, following which the family members have launched widespread searches to find her.

They said that after some time, the mother of the deceased found her throat slit near a shed at her home and was subsequently taken to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have arrested her father in this connection, and further investigation is going on.

Srinagar, Mar 31 : The month of fast along with blessings bring health benefits for people, experts said.

Doctors said that fasting helps in weight loss, improves blood sugar control and decreases inflammation.

Dr Fayaz Ahmad Bhat Assistant Professor Department of General Medicine at SKIMS Soura told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that fasting gives discipline and patience besides decreasing chances of developing diabetes and other metabolic syndrome disorders.

He said there remains less chances of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver and other diseases in people who fast as compared to people who don’t.

Recent studies suggest that fasting lowers chances of neurological diseases and cancer, he said, adding that it has been also found that people who eat less have good memory besides good overall neurological status and their lifespan is more as compared to those who eat more.

“Fasting helps in regeneration of stem cells that helps in making of any tissue or organ in the body besides that mental stability and it can help you in getting rid of dementia,” he said.

“Stem cells play an important role in regeneration because they can develop into many different cell types in the body and renew themselves millions of times,” he said.

He said that fasting promotes blood sugar control by reducing insulin resistance, promotes better health by fighting inflammation, may enhance heart health by improving blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol levels, may boost brain function and prevent neurodegenerative disorders and aids weight loss by limiting calorie intake and boosting metabolism.

Dr Fayaz said that fasting helps in cancer prevention and increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy besides fasting helps in the detoxification process of body and reboots the immune system of individuals.

Noted doctor S M Qadri told KNO that studies suggest that fasting helps in reduction of weight mainly among men besides that it helps in reduction of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, sometimes called “bad” cholesterol that increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Dr Owais from GMC Anantnag said that fasting has several health benefits as it helps in decreasing chronic inflammations that may be involved in the development of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis.

It also helps in weight loss by limiting calorie intake and boosting metabolism and may also help in better brain functioning, he said.

He said that fasting increases growth hormone secretion, which is vital for growth, metabolism, weight loss, and muscle strength—(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 31 : A close to 10,000 people from Jammu and Kashmir will perform the sacred pilgrimage of Haj as the draw of lots were held Friday, officials said Friday.

They said that 1320 people, above 70-years of age and 132 women who had applied without mahram, will also perform the Haj 2023.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Haj Executive Officer, Abdul Salam Mir said that a total of 14271 applications had been received for Hajj-2023.

“For the first time, women without Mahram have been allowed to go for the pilgrimage. 132 female applicants without mahram have been selected this year. 1320 people who are above 70 years of age have also been selected under Reserved Category,” Mir said. He said that 14,000 applications were received for Haj 2023 from the people of J&K. Earlier, Saudi government had barred the intending pilgrims above 70 years age in view of the Covid pandemic in year 2020 and 2021. However, the Saudi government recently announced that pilgrims above 70 years of age will be given priority and for the first time the Saudi government also allowed female pilgrims without mahram to perform the holy pilgrimage of Haj.

“The draw of lots through random digital selection was held on Friday after 3:00 pm,” he said. “The list of successful Intending Haj Pilgrims shall be published next day (Saturday) besides uploading the same on the official website of J&K Haj Committee www.jkshc.org,” said an official communique from the Haj house J&K.

This year, there will be 25 embankment points for the pilgrims across J&K. The J&K House has been helpful to many pilgrims in getting their passport verification one at the earliest. Haj house officials will facilitate the pilgrims from J&K by all means. Pertinently, in February this year, the Saudi government announced to bar children below 12 years of for performing the Haj 2023. Haj Committee of India (HCoI) in its official communique had stated that Saudi Government has decided to disallow the children below 12 years of age in a bid to ensure their safety. This year, HCoI after holding deliberations with the Saudi government, had made Haj application forms available online free of cost. The HCoI had also announced that this year Haj will be cheaper by Rs 80,000 and each pilgrim will have to pay Rs 3.70 to Rs 3.80 lakh for performing the Haj pilgrimage—(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 3 : A 20-year-old youth died after two motorcycles collide on Boulevard road in Nishat area of Srinagar on Friday, officials said.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two bikes collided on Boulevard road, resulting in critical injuries two bikers.

He said soon after the incident, both the injured were rushed to SKIMS Soura, where one of them was declared dead on arrival.

The official identified the deceased as Momin Bhat of Hyderpora, while injured as identified as Jibran Ahmad Bhat of Hyderpora—(KNO)

A son has allegedly killed his mother in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police station sopore headed by SHO Khalid Fayaz arrested the accused within hours of crime, reports said.

Reports reaching Asian News Hub (ANH) said that a man allegedly kills her mother in Dangepora area of Sopore.

They said that after the incident, Sopore police station registered the case and arrested the accused within hours.

Meanwhile the body of lady has been shifted to Sub-district hospital sopore for medico-legal formalities.
More details awaited..

Kupwara, Mar 29 : Throat-slit body of a 9-year-old girl was found in Zab village of Khurhama area in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district this evening, reports and officials said.

Reports reached GNS said that panic gripped Zab village as the body of a minor girl (name withheld) was found under suspicious circumstances adjacent to her home. The gruesome incident has taken the area by shock as more and more have been pouring in at the site – when this report was being drafted.

Confirming the incident, a senior police officer told GNS that a police team is at the site to collect relevant details.

More details awaited. (GNS)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 29 : A footbridge constructed two decades ago in Tarzoo village of north Kashmir’s Sopore has been severely damaged and poses a risk to commuters and pedestrians, even as the officials say the matter was “never” brought to their notice.

The residents of Tanki Mohalla of Tarzoo village told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the footbridge constructed by the Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) Department some twenty years ago connects the village with the rest of its peripheral areas.

“We brought the issue to the notice of the concerned authorities several times, but our pleas were not responded and nothing has been done to repair or reconstruct the footbridge,” Sarpanch, Nazir Ahmed, told KNO.

He termed it a “matter of serious concern”, saying the bridge poses threat to the lives of people and needs to be repaired at the earliest.

The residents urged the Lieutenant Governor-led administration and Deputy Commissioner Baramulla to look into the matter.

When contacted, Executive Engineer, I&FC Department, Sopore told KNO that the matter will be looked into and the necessary repairing process will be taken up. The official however said the matter was “never brought to our notice”—(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 29: A head constable of Central Reserve Police Force died of a cardiac arrest in Srigufwara area of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said here on Wednesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the CRPF personnel deployed at minority guard post at Mehand viage complained of chest pain and soon after he was rushed to PHC Srigufwara where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

He was identified as Suneel Surain son of Shiv lal Surain of Jharkhand.

The official said further proceedings in this regard have been taken up—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 28 : An attendant was injured after scuffle with a security guard in sub0-district hospital Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that scuffle between a security guard and an attendant took place around 2 pm after a heated argument.

He said in the incident the attendant identified as Ishfaq Ahmed of Behrampora Sopore was injured.

Meanwhile, the attendant alleged that he was taken to guard room where at least 6 security men beat him mercilessly.

When contacted Block Medical Officer Sopore, Dr Zulfiqar Sofi told KNO that police have intervened into the matter and investigation is underway—(KNO)