Jammu & Kashmir

Kupwara, Feb 17 : A 26-year old youth died while three others were rescued after a snow avalanche hit Machil area of Kupwara district on Friday, officials said.

Official sources told the news agency–Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a snow avalanche hit Chontiwari area of Machil area due to which several people got stuck.

They said following the incident, a rescue operation was launched by the authorities during which one body identified as Ajaz Ahmad was recovered while three others were rescued safely—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Feb 17: The residents of Krankshivan Colony in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday complained of receiving exorbitant bills for the month of January.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the residents alleged that they were shocked after receiving bills ranging over Rs 5,000 for the month of January as against the Rs 1,000, which they used to pay.

They alleged the bills generated by the concerned department were not as per meter readings and that the matter be looked into at an earliest.

They said despite repeated requests to the concerned officials, the issue has not been resolved.

When contacted Executive Engineer PDD Sopore Javeed Ahmed told KNO that these bills are generated in Srinagar and there may be some error in the system.

He assured the issue would be looked into and be resolved as soon as possible—(KNO)

Srinagar, February 16: Police on thursday claimed to have arrested three self styled leaders, who were threatening media persons and gave anti national statement in Srinagar district.

Informing via its official twitter handle, the Srinagar police wrote, “3 Miscreants namely Suhail Khan, Nadeem Shafi Rather & Umar Majeed Wani arrested. They were self styled leaders and had threatened & intimidated media persons, gave anti-national byte yesterday in a press conference. FIR no 05/2023 in relevant sections registered in Kothibagh PS”.(GNS)

Kupwara, Feb 16: An unidentified infiltrator was killed on Thursday in Saidpora area along Line of Control in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), J&K police said during the preceding night, based on a specific input generated by Kupwara police, a joint team of Army and Police intercepted an infiltrating group in Saidpora forward area.

Police said that the joint team has neutralised one infiltrator while the search is still going on in the area—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Feb 15: A suspension footbridge constructed years ago at a local picnic spot Eco Park in Baramulla has got damaged badly, posing risk to pedestrians.

Locals told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the suspension footbridge over River Jhelum constructed more a decade ago connects Sheeri to Khadinyar area. They alleged the bridge got damaged but the department concerned is doing nothing to repair it.

“It’s a matter of concern as the bridge is posing a threat to the lives of pedestrians and needs to be repaired at the earliest. The bridge witnesses 60% flow of visitors to Eco Park,” they added.

They said that it seems the authorities are waiting for mishap to happen.

Executive Engineer at roads and buildings (R&B) department Baramulla told KNO that the matter will be looked into and the necessary repairs will be carried out—(KNO)

Bandipora, Feb 15 : Non-availability of public transport in evening hours has caused immense hardships to the people of several villages in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, commuters complained here on Wednesday.

Commuters from several villages including TA-Shah, Arin, Gundpora-Rampora, CA-Khan and Gamroo told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they are facing immense problems due to lack of public transport service in the evening hours for the last four months.

They said many commuters in the absence of public transport are forced to hire auto-rickshaws that charge exorbitant rates in the evening hours.

“Administration has failed to ensure availability of public transport during evening hours, thus leaving working people to lurch at large,” Ishfaq Ahmad, a local said.

He said majority of people, who are working in the market cannot afford their own vehicles, they have to rely on public transport every day. “Despite repeated requests, the authorities have turned blind eye towards the matter,” he added.

Meanwhile, the commuters appealed to the higher authorities to look into the matter so that they could heave a sigh of relief—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 15 : Hundreds of vehicles continued to remain stranded for the second straight day on Wednesday as the Srinagar-Jammu highway continues to remain closed for the traffic due to shooting stones in Ramban while the administration said that the men and machinery has been pressed into service to restore the highway at earliest.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed for the second consecutive day today due to shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria in Ramban district.

He said due to the disruption of traffic on Mehar-Cafeteria stretch, the traffic congestion was also witnessed at different places on the stretch. “Hundreds of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) are stranded at various places along the highway. The work is on to clear the highway,” the official said, adding that they are expecting the partial restoration of vehicular movement on the highway within the next few hours.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic National Highway, Ramban, Mohita Sharma told KNO that the highway is blocked so far. “Unrelenting shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria have halted traffic on both sides. It will resume after clearance,” she said.

Speaking exclusively to KNO, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said that massive efforts are underway to restore the highway. “Machines have been pressed into service and heavy manpower is at work to help in the process of restoration of Srinagar- Jammu highway,” he said.

He said they are monitoring the regulation of traffic on the highway, adding that the highway shall be restored at an earliest.

The Divisional Commissioner further said that there was no shortage of essentials in Kashmir. “Stock including gas cylinders, ration is available in abundance in the Valley and there is no shortage of essentials,” he added—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Feb 13: Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla, Amod Nagpure Monday said that Pakistan based handlers under well hatched conspiracy are using smugglers to push drugs inside Jammu and Kashmir to spread drug addiction among youth.

Addressing a press conference in Baramulla, SSP Baramulla, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said the Police have arrested four such drug suppliers along with contraband material and cash.

He said on a specific information regarding smuggling of narcotics in Kamalkote area of Uri in Baramulla, a Naka was established at Sultan Daki area and during checking, a vehicle was signaled to stop but it tried to flee and was tactfully stopped.

“Later, four people were arrested along with 1.17 Kgs of Brown Sugar and a cash of Rs.25.39 Lacs. They have been idetified as Naseer Ahmad Bhatti son of Nazar Din Bhatti, Mohd Pazeer son of Abdul Majeed Khanday, Reyaz Ahmad Khanday and Fayaz Ahmad Khanday son’s of Mohammed Sharief Khanday–all residents of Uri.”

The SSP, while terming the arrest of four smugglers a big catch, said they have got more leads and more such modules are expected to be busted soon.

He also said their network is so strong and they are making every possible efforts to stop drugs entering Jammu and Kashmir. “It’s all due to the people’s support and cooperation, such modules are being busted”, he said.

“We have identified the hotspots and will be using technical as well as human intelligence for such operations in future”, he said.

On being asked why drug peddlers are seen free after remaining in lockups, he said, that they get out on bail and police are using a method that whoever will get bail is booked under PSA so that he would remain in the preventive custody—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Feb 12 : Locals in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have voluntarily handed over at least 81 Kanals of state land to the authorities, officials said here on Saturday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the locals have handed over at least 81 Kanals of state land to the government in Humlina locality.

He said the land has now been handed over to Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Feb 11 : The road dividers across north Kashmir’s Sopore town have turned out to be a reason of accidents during evening hours as the authorities have failed to ensure proper reflectors on the dividers with the locals demanding the concerned higher ups to take immediate steps in this regard.

The locals while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the road dividers without reflectors have caused at least five accidents within a week and hundreds of such incidents have been witnessed in the past as well.

The road dividers across the town, as per the officials, were built to ease and streamline the vehicular traffic; however, the locals alleged the dividers are not less than a death trap as these dividers without reflectors are leading to the frequent accidents during evening hours.

While urging the administration to ensure the reflectors over dividers, the locals said that most of these accidents occurred as the vehicles ram over it due to low visibility or the absence of streetlights. They said that scores of people have also suffered injuries in the accidents.

“The installation of reflectors is the need of the hour as it would help drivers to notice the road dividers from a distance and help in preventing road accidents,” the residents said.

The people coming from other parts of Kashmir to the Apple town often become a victim of the administration’s apathy, as they are not well-versed with such issues, said Mudasir Ahmed, a local resident.

Pertinent to mention here, that in the year 2021 – Wular Foundation, a Sopore based Non-Profit organizations and Sopore Media Fraternity took the initiative and installed reflectors on streets, dividers and turning points across the town to prevent road accidents, but the reflectors got either damaged or were stolen by the unknown persons.

The residents as well as the transports urged the administration for their immediate intervention in this regard to avoid the accidents. They added that the authorities must identify the accident prone spots across the town and take necessary measures—(KNO)