Jammu & Kashmir

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 28 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday claimed to have busted Ansaar Gazwatul Hind (AGuH’s) module by arresting its four militant associates along with arms and ammunition in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, says major tragedy averted.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have arrested the four over ground workers (OGW’s) of Ansar Gazwatul Hind (AGuH) militant outfit from Sopore town in a joint operation of Sopore police along with Army’s 22 RR.

He said, that the incriminating materials, huge cache of arms and ammunition have been recovered from their possession, thereby giving a huge setback to the organisation operatives and thus averting a major tragedy.

“During MVCP two individuals identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, said to be main handler of Chanapora, Srinagar and Ishfaq Ahmed Shah resident of Budgam were arrested along with incriminating material, arms and ammunition including 01 Pistol, 01 Magazine, 10 rounds and 3 Grenades,” the official said.

“On further interrogation and development of the information, two more militant associates identified as Abdul Majeed Kumar resident of Bernate, Boniyar and Abdul Rashid Kumar resident of Pattan were also arrested. Adding that, 01 Pistol, 01 Magazine, 10 rounds and 11 Grenades were also recovered from their possession,” the official said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the busted terrorist module of AGuH was being handled by Ahsaan Dar and Chaudhary from across the border (PoK), police said.

It said that the module was instructed to ensure continuous supply of arms & ammunition in Kashmir Valley for conducting attacks on outsiders, civilians and Security Forces to instill fear in the minds of the general public. “The timely and effective action by Sopore police and 22RR by busting the terrorist module have resulted in averting a possible major tragedy,” official added.

Meanwhile, in Awantipora, Police along with 42 RR and CRPF recovered arms & ammunition including 202 AK rounds, 03 detonators, 7.62 mm 26 rounds, 02 rounds of Insas wrapped in Polyethene hidden under boulders at Bund Lalgam area of Awantipora—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 28 : Once known as Maharaja Protected Wetland is losing its sheen as illegal encroachment, unabated pollution and lack of conservation measures have affected the ecosystem of the wetland at Haritar Hygam in Sopore.

The Hygam-Wetland, a natural aquifer, spread over 7.25 kilometers is one of the known wetlands of Kashmir. The wetland is embedded with springs. It has 1400 hectares of land with the area is dominated by extensive reed beds and home to many migratory birds include White Heeled Duck, Shoveller, Red-Crested Pochard, White-Eyed Pochard, Pintail, Mallard, Gadwall, Coot and Graylag.

Aijaz Rasool, wetland technical expert and a senior executive member of Environmental Policy Group (EPG) told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that due to largescale illegal encroachments, unabated pollution and insensitivity of authorities to keep check on human interference in the wetland, it has reduced to a big pond, forcing migratory birds to find an alternative habitat as their winter home.

“The wetland is ill maintained. Authorities must restore and conserve the wetland for future generations as there is a water siltation of 10 ft which deteriorates its condition,” he said.

Similarly, Patron central Auqaf committee Tarzoo in Sopore Aijaz Ahmed Dar said that the wetland has been encroached at many places including Haritar, Hygam, Lolpora, Gohul, Goshbug etc.

“Scores of structures have come up over the past several years while hundreds of kanals of land were being used by encroachers illegally for cultivating paddy,” he said.

Dar, who is also a member of EPG said that the authorities earlier had identified the encroached land of at least 2300 Kanals and have not been retrieved yet. In addition to this, approximately 1200 kanals of land have been converted for crop cultivation.

“The official inability to act in time has encouraged more and more people to grab the land. Hundreds of trees were uprooted during the snow but they were not removed. An auction may have fetched money to conserve the wetland but nothing was done,” he added.

Mohammad Shafi Bacha, a retired senior official of the Wildlife department and was at Hygam wetland said that he used to count the migratory birds in lakhs. “But we hardly witness any now because the water level capacity of this wetland has been minimised to 1 sq km from 7.2 sq kms due to siltation,” he said.

“In the year 2000, we had marked the wetland and decided to remove the trees which were planted by the various agencies including social forestry, panchayats and even the wildlife department as well. It has been 20 years since then and nothing has been done till now,” Bacha added.

Similarly, locals too demanded attention of the authorities to save the wetland from further deterioration.

Wildlife warden North Kashmir could not be contacted despite repeated phone calls—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 28 : Former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehboob Mufti vacated from her Gupkar residence on Monday and shifted to a private house.

PDP spokesperson, Najam-Us-Saqib while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said Mehbooba Mufti has vacated from Gupkar residence today and has shifted to a private residence in Khimber locality.

Jammu and Kashmir administration had asked Mehbooba Mufti to vacate her official residence on the high profile Gupkar road in Srinagar and had stated it was willing to provide an alternative accommodation.

The Estates Department of Kashmir had sent a notice to PDP chief on October 15 asking her to vacate the official residence now known as “Fair View Guest House”.—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, 28 Nov : The body of a man, who had jumped in the river Jhelum in Chankhan area of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district was fished out on Saturday afternoon.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the 45-year-old man identified as Ali Mohammed Wani son of Atta Mohammed Wani of Dedwana village of Kupwara had jumped in the river Jhelum today afternoon.

He said following the incident, a team was immediately rushed to the spot for rescue operation.

“After hectic efforts the body was fished out. The body will be handed over to the family after completing medico-legal formalities,“ he said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 28 : A 25-year-old youth was critically injured in a road accident in Ashpeer area of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the youth identified as Imran Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammed Bhat of Krankshivan Colony was critically injured when he was hit by a four-wheeler.

“Soon after the incident, he was rushed to a nearby health facility where doctors referred him to Srinagar hospital for specialised treatment,” he said.

He adder a case has been registered in local police station in this regard—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 28 : A 45-year-old man on Wednesday jumped into the river Jhelum in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district even as search and rescue operation has been launched.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Ali Mohammed Wani son of Atta Mohammed of Kupwara jumped into the river near Chakhan area of Sopore.

He said following the incident, a team was immediately rushed to the spot to launch search and rescue operation

He added search operation was going on to trace man’s body and further details will be shared accordingly—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 26 (KNO) : A girl student in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district has accused a college professor of sexually harassing her even as a committee has been constituted to probe the allegations.

Salma Ahad, principal of government degree college Sopore told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the student had Thursday lodged a complaint against a college professor for sexually harassing her.

She said a 15-member committee has been constituted to probe the allegations of the girl students so that true shall come to fore.

“The girl student had lodged the complaint before the college harassment protection cell, which has been created for the sole purpose. Following the complaint a committee of 15-members was constituted to look into the allegations,” she said.

She added before the case is referred to police for registration of FIR, the committee members have been asked to conduct a thorough probe on its own to know if the allegations were found to be true.

“The committee has been asked to submit its report by Monday,” the principal said—(KNO)

Ganderbal, Nov 26 : Eighty percent of work on the Wayil Bridge has been completed so far, the Roads & Building Department Ganderbal said while assuring that the bridge will be ready before January next year.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Executive Engineer R&B Department Tatheer Manzoor acknowledged that the locals face a lot of inconvenience due to traffic diversion near the Wayil Bridge. He has appealed to the people to cooperate with the district administration.

He said 80 percent of the work is done and the bridge will be ready before January 2023.

According to people, tourists and pilgrims use the route to visit several famous destinations like Sonamarg, Naranag, and Amarnath shrine and they face difficulty due to the ongoing work.

“Presently, the passage of the bridge is so narrow that even a pedestrian has to come back in case a heavy vehicle crosses,” a local said.

However, an official of the R&B Department said the bridge is for the people, especially those in Ganderbal. “I request to them to exhibit a little more patience for these two months,” he said.

The two-track bridge is approved at the cost of Rs 22 crore and financed by the World Bank. “The span of the bridge is 110 metres and the width is 10.50 metres by the way. The length of the approach roads is 330 metres,” the officials said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 26 : The State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday grilled senior Hurriyat leader Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat for nearly 8 hours after he was summoned by the probing agency at JIC Jammu in a case related to militant and Hawala funding.

A top official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Bhat was summoned related to a case of militant and Hawala funding in which former minister Jatendar Singh alias Babu Singh was earlier arrested.

He said Bhat was questioned for nearly eight hours till evening at JIC Jammu after he was summoned by the agency today.

The official added during questioning Bhat revealed many facts regarding the money received from across the border by different Hurriyat leaders in the Valley.

Prof. Bhat heads Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference and in the past he has also been the head of Hurriyat Conference.

Born in Botengo village of Sopore in North Kashmir, Bhat studied Persian, Economics and Political Science at Sri Pratap College in Srinagar and then pursued his post-graduation in Persian and Law at Aligarh Muslim University—(KNO)

Kulgam, Nov 26 : The Security forces detected two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at Frisal area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday while the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) have been called in for disposal, an official said.

A top official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two IEDs were detected by forces in Shirpora Frisal area of Kulgam.

He said a Bomb Disposal Squad has been called in for disposal of the explosive device—(KNO)