Jammu & Kashmir

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Nov 15 : The Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited has warned of strict action against defaulters for not paying pending electricity dues in Old Town area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the KPDCL has issued a circular asking defaulters in Old Town area to pay pending electricity bills or case will be lodged against them in the police station.

“It is to inform all Mohalla presidents that to advise the defaulter consumers of your Mohalla to pay your pending electricity bills immediately, otherwise FIR in the police station Baramulla will be lodged against the defaulters”, reads the circular.

The official said that there are hundreds of consumers in the Old Town area of the district who have not paid any power dues for the last several years in old town.

He said that the defaulters include those who have not deposited electricity dues for 6 months to 10 years despite several notices.

The official added that at least 697 consumers have not paid their dues for the last several years, while around 130 consumers have availed an amnesty scheme till date—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 14 : The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Monday issued a fresh power curtailment schedule for Srinagar in winter period with effect from November 15.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the KPDCL in a fresh curtailment schedule stated that the metered areas will face 4 ½ hours curtailment every day.

As per the new schedule, the metered areas will face curtailment of electricity for one and a half hours in morning, afternoon and evening each.

However, the non-metered areas will face curtailment for the period eight hours in a day.

The non-metered areas in Srinagar will face two hour curtailment in morning while there will be three hour curtailment each in day and evening—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 12 : Two migrant labourer were injured after being shot at by militants in Rakh Momin area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday late evening, police said here.

Kashmir zone police in a Tweet, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that two outside labourers were attacked by militants in Rakh Momin area.

Police said that both the injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment, while area has been cordoned off.

“Terrorists fired upon & injured two outside labourers in Rakh-Momin area of #Anantnag. Both the injured are being shifted to hospital for treatment. Area being #cordoned off. Further details shall follow,” police tweeted—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 12 : The Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday said that it registered a case against Lashkar-e-Toiba handlers and its offshoot TRF for issuing threats to journalist and reporters based in Kashmir.

Srinagar police in a Tweet, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) informed that a case has been registered under UAPA and IPC at Shergari police station.

“Case registered against handlers, active terrorists & OGWs of terror outfit LeT & its offshoot TRF for online publication & dissemination of a direct threat letter to Journalists & reporters based in Kashmir. FIR No. 82/2022 U/S 13 UAPA, 505, 153B, 124A & 506 IPC in shergari PS,” police tweeted—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 12 : Stating that the Article 370 can’t be restored through elections or other things, Apni Party President Syed Altaf Bukhari on Saturday said that his party will spend crores of rupees on lawyers and other things to fight the case tooth and nail for the revocation of the August 05, 2019 decision by Centre.

He also said that the party will constitute a team of leaders to visit the youth languishing in jails across India to collect their details and seek a chance for them.

Addressing a gathering at Apni Party convention at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium here, Bukhari appealed to the government to restore the Statehood as it existed on August 04, 2019.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), he said that the politics of betrayal being played by the leaders here have always pushed the people to the wall, but Apni Party will never indulge in such tactics and would always speak truth before the people.

“I want to tell you people that Apni Party can’t bring Article 370 back after forming the government, but it can only be restored through the Supreme Court (SC), where the case is subjudice at present. The decision taken on August 05, 2019 cannot be revoked through the elections, but I assure you that Apni Party will spend crores of rupees on lawyers and other things to fight the case tooth and nail and ensure that the special provision to Jammu and Kashmir is given back,” he said.

“Our destiny is with India only, but whatever our sufferings are, is because of India itself. However, these issues can only be resolved by India only,” he said and appealed to people not to fall into the trap of other leaders, who claim high and tall.

“I urge all to come forward and start a new politics, where no violence, no fight will exist, and only the betterment of the people will be focused,” he said.

About the youth languishing in different jails in and outside the Valley, he said that the youth here are being put in jails for cricket matches, August 15 and other occasions. “Our party has decided to constitute a team, which will visit the jails across India including J&K and collect their details in jails and from their parents. We will meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to seek a chance for them. We will feel no shame in it,” he said.

Promising employment to the jobless youth, he said that the party after assuming the power in Jammu and Kashmir will come up with the jobs and other measures that will help the youth to earn their livelihood.

He also announced that the party will take a decision within seven days of power with regard to over 1.5 lakh daily wagers, whose fate is hanging in balance for a long time now.

“Electricity is being generated here and unfortunately the people don’t get benefits from it. So, we have decided that after assuming the power, Apni Party government will supply free 500 units of electricity to Jammu residents in summers and 500 units to Kashmir residents in winters,” he said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Uri, Nov 11 : A minor boy was injured after being attacked by a leopard in Zamboor Pattan village of Uri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday evening.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the boy identified as Tawseef Ahmed son of Mohammad Sadiq Tass of Zamboor Pattan was attacked by the leopard when he was playing outside his home.

He said that soon after the attack, family members and other people rescued the boy.

He added that the boy was immediately rushed to a nearby health facility for necessary treatment, where from he was referred to GMC Baramulla for advanced treatment.

The official said that the condition of the injured was said to be stable—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Handwara, Nov 11 : Scores of residents in the Langate area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday held a protest demanding the immediate quashing of FIR against Municipal Committee Chairman Langate, Adv Shahnawaz Abdullah.

An eyewitness told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the local residents assembled at a middle school here and demanded that authorities quash the FIR against Adv Shahnawaz at the earliest. They also held placards reading ‘Revoke FIR against Adv Shahnawaz Abdullah’.

The protesters said since Shanawaz became the Municipal Committee Chairman, the town witnessed a “big change” which, according to them, “didn’t go down well with some people who are leveling false allegations against him”.

“The development of the town is visible. What others failed to do in the last five years, this young man did it in such a short span of time, which is a great achievement,” Abdul Ahmad Mir, one of the protesters, said.

Mir said that recently the MC Chairman at the request of locals and school authorities excavated soil to provide major relief to students. “Some residents in this area have started leveling false allegations against the chairman,” he said.

The protesters claimed that the recent action by the MC Chairman “saved hundreds of students at the Middle School Langate which was posing a threat to them”. “The removal of soil from this location was requested by the residents of the area to provide relief to hundreds of students enrolled in this school,” another protestor said.

They urged the authorities to revoke the FIR against Adv Shahnazwaz, terming it “a political conspiracy against the young Chairman”.

Police on Wednesday filed a case against Municipal Committee Chairman Langate for “illegally excavating soil from the premises of a government school”.—(KNO)