Jammu & Kashmir

Waris Fayaz

Kupwara, Jan 10 : Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Kupwara on Tuesday warned of strict action against private institutions for taking tuitions during winter period.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that those institutions (private) imparting the winter tuition would be dealt with strictly for violating the government orders.

Directing the institutions not to impart the winter tuitions at their premises said, that in concurrence with the government orders already published by the School education department, schools violating the orders shall be strictly dealt with as per the standing norms of the government.

An order copy in this regard, a copy of which lies with the KNO reads, that All the Registered Private Institutions of the Zone are hereby strictly directed not to impart any type of Winter Tuition in their premises.

“Schools violating the orders shall be dealt with seriously as per the standing norms of the Govt,” it said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Handwara, Jan 10 : A 30-year-old man from north Kashmir’s Handwara who claims to be Kashmir’s lone food carving artist insists skill is key to career growth in the hospitality and tourism sector.

Javeed Ahmed Malik of Panditpora in Handwara did his master’s degree in tourism and travel management and a diploma in food production from Institute of hotel management in Srinagar. Besides he has done a diploma in ice-carving from Chennai and a short term course of a fruit and vegetable carving from Thailand.

Currently a faculty member at food craft Institute Jammu, he has been a chef at well-known reputed hotels in the Valley for eight years.

Malik told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that he was inspired by a professional executive chef at Pahalgam hotel, where he used to be a trainee.

“Initially, my family was reluctant but I managed to convince them and the outcome is in front of all now. I am earning a minimum of Rs 20000 for a day for food display at five-star hotels while 10000 to 15000 for pre-plating garnish,” he said.

Malik said he receives calls, texts to teach the art almost on a daily basis. “I am now conducting workshops to impart training and so far I have successfully conducted a few workshops in Sopore. There is an acute need for food presentation in Kashmir hotels as there must be a difference between a Kashmiri cook (Waza) and a professional chef,” he said.

Malik said that people especially unemployed should go for skill based courses as it can open opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sector—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 10 :Police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested one militant associate affliated with Lashkar-i-Toiba oufit along with herione and cash in central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

In a tweet Srinagar police wrote, “One militant associate of LeT namely Farzan Farooz S/o Farooz Mir R/o Pampore arrested on a naka. Proceeds of terror worth Rs 9,95,000, 450 grams of Heroine, letter pads of LeT, Matrix sheets, Bike etc recovered. FIR 02/23 in sections of UAPA & NDPS act registered in kothibagh PS,”.(GNS)

Srinagar, Jan 10 : The Kashmir University (KU) authorities on Tuesday advertised several administrative positions including the post of Registrar and Director IT. The advertisement comes days after KNO reported how temporary arrangement to these posts was promoting favouritism and monopoly.

Sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the decision to advertise these posts was taken after the Vice Chancellor Dr Neelofar Khan passed instructions to immediately advertise these posts so that the same are filled up through proper channel.

“Some officers were trying to sabotage the advertisement and get it delayed to continue with the temporary arrangement but the VC pulled up the officers and ordered the advertisement be issued without any delay,” they said.

The advertised posts (all tenure positions) include Registrar Main Campus, Librarian Allama Iqbal Library, Director Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, Director Information Technology and Support System, Director North Campus Baramulla and Director Institute of Technology, Zakura.

“The appointment to the post of Registrar shall be tenure based for a period of three years and to other tenure posts for a period of five years,” as per the Brief Advertisement Notice No.1 of 2023 Dated 10/01/2023.

It also mentions the age of applicants should preferably be not more than 57 years for the post of Registrar and Librarian, while it will be 55 years for other posts.

The date for submission of online form and hard copy starts from January 16.

Notably, KNO has reported several times in the last seven months that the University authorities were allegedly promoting favouritism on important administrative positions by not putting these positions to proper advertizement.

The three year tenure of In-Charge Registrar Dr Nisar had ended last year in January 2022 and was awaiting proper advertisement since then. Academicians of the University had alleged that the Registrar was continuing without any formal orders on continuation.

The post of Director IT is being held for the last more than six years by one Scientist allegedly owing to his proximity with the administration. The In-Charge Director has not been rotated for six years, which is in total violation of the University’s own three year rotation policy for all HOD’s and Directors.

Meanwhile, the academicians of KU have welcomed the move to advertise these posts and demanded the process of recruitment be fast-tracked.

“We appreciate the VC for opposing the forces who were opposing the advertisement for the last six months,” said an academician wishing anonymity.

The academicians have, however, demanded the VC should immediately remove incumbent officials holding theses posts so that there is no favouritism in the recruitment process.

“If any of these officials happens to be an applicant for any of the posts, then the whole process will be doubtful from the beginning,” they said, adding if these officials do not intend to apply, then they should furnish an undertaking before the VC that they will not apply for any of the positions—(KNO)

Kupwara, Jan 10 : Two persons were killed while two others were injured in road accident in Hayan area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the accident took place near Hayan Trehgam after an Army vehicle collided with a car, resulting in on spot death to two persons and injuries to two others.

He said the injured persons were rushed to district hospital Kupwara for treatment. “The identify of the deceased was being ascertained,” he said.

The official said a case has been registered in the regard and further investigation has been taken up.

Meanwhile, chief medical officer Kupwara Dr Bashir Ahmad also confirmed to KNO that two persons were brought dead to the hospital—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Jan 09 : Residents of Hudpora and Wahdatpora villages in Baramulla district alleged that the recently issued electoral roll has come out as a shocker for them as the polling station has been set up far away in an inaccessible place.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the resident moved a representation to the deputy commissioner Baramulla who is also the district election officer, seeking relocation of the polling station.

The station as per the electoral roll has been set up at government middle school Frustdub Gujjar, some 5 kilometers away from the residential area.

“Polling station, apart from being remote for the voters of main village Wahdatpora and Sher Colony is also inaccessible to them – given the tough terrain and steep nallah that separates the polling station from rest of the village,” reads the application.

It also highlighted that the only road leading to the polling station meanders through two villages making the total distance five kilometres to the polling station.

“Setting up a polling station at a faraway and inaccessible place has posed a direct threat to the rights of the residents, particularly to the rights of senior citizens and PWDs, to exercise their franchise,” it added.

The residents, however, have requested the Baramulla deputy commissioner to relocate the polling station from government middle school Frasdub, Gujjar to government secondary school Hudpora, Wahadtpora in the interest of the general public.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner, Baramulla despite repeated attempts could not be contacted for the comment—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 09 : The parts of Jammu & Kashmir are all set to receive another wet spell from January 11 as a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) would likely affect the Union Territory and adjacent areas from Wednesday afternoon.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Deputy Director Meteorological department (MeT), Mukhtar Ahmad said that a fresh active WD would likely affect J&K and adjoining areas from 11th January afternoon.

He said that under the influence of WD, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain/snow (Rain in plains & light snow over higher reaches of Jammu division) most likely at most places of J&K.

As per the forecast, he said that the moderate snowfall intensity will be over higher reaches (isolated heavy over higher reaches of Kashmir especially Keran, Machil, Gurez, Tulail, Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Pahlgam, higher reaches of Budgam, Higher reaches of Shopian and Kulgam) with main activity during late 11th night to 12th late night and gradual decrease thereafter.

He said that the surface transportation over higher reaches would get affected during 12th January—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 09 : The fire incidents across ten districts of Kashmir have claimed the lives of 112 persons while 35 others have received injuries in the last two years—2021 and 2022, an official data accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) revealed.

The data said that a total of 4786 fire incidents have been reported during 2021 and 2022 including 2242 in 2021 and 2544 in 2022, which indicates the rise of 302 blaze incidents in Kashmir.

“A total of 1711 structures got damaged in 2021 while 1699 structures suffered damage in 2022,” the data, available with KNO reveals.

In 2021, 75 persons lost their lives in which Pulwama recorded highest casualties at 24 followed by Shopian 22 and Kulgam 12. Five people were also charred to death in Srinagar. The data said that Srinagar and Kupwara have recorded 5 deaths each in the fire incidents. It said that the highest fire incidents have been reported from Srinagar where 448 fire calls have been received by Fire and Emergency Services while Baramulla has recorded 324 fire incidents in the year 2021.

In 2022, 37 people got charred to death including 9 from Kulgam, 6 from Pulwama, 5 from Srinagar, 4 each from Baramulla, Shopian & Kupwara, 3 from Anantnag and one each from Ganderbal and Bandipora. “Of total 2544 incidents, Srinagar has recorded the highest at 547 followed by 402 in Baramulla, 323 in Kupwara and 270 in Anantnag,” the data said.

It added that a total of 57 and 55 vehicles have been damaged in the fire incidents in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

The data, compiled by Joint Director, Fire & Emergency Services, Kashmir Range, further reads that the property worth Rs 7061.60 lakhs and Rs 8523.07 lakhs has got damaged in the year 2021 and 2022 respectively while the property worth Rs 105679.50 lakhs and Rs 85065.53 lakhs were saved in 2021 and 2022 respectively—(KNO)