Jammu & Kashmir

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 05 : A day after news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reported on “illegal” garbage dumping site at Sofi Akbar road at Ningli in Sopore town, the authorities swung into action, with Director Urban Local Bodies (ULB) visiting the area on Saturday.

Director ULB Kashmir, Mathoora Masoom visited the Ningli waste dumping site and directed the council to take immediate steps for adequate cleaning of the municipal waste of the town. She also assured that the garbage dumped at the site will be cleared within a week.

Talking to KNO, Masoom said the garbage shall no more be thrown at the site and that the solid waste material from Sopore town would be now taken to Jetty Baramulla for dumping where an integrated facility is in process, for which a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared.

“The garbage present here will be cleared, and within a week, it will either be put in a legacy waste or taken to Jetty Baramulla site,” she said.

When asked who was behind the frequent burning of garbage, the officer said they have lodged two FIRs in this regard. “I also request the media to help us in identifying the miscreants. We will definitely take strict action against them,” she stressed. “From now onwards, we will put extra vigil in the area.”

On the losses incurred due to waste dumping which also includes damage to trees due to frequent fires, the Director ULB said nothing as such has been brought to her notice. “If there is any such case, it will definitely be looked into,” she said.

As per official sources, the high court has directed the municipal authorities to inform about the measures taken for management of municipal waste from Sopore town and directed for personal appearance of the Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir on the next date of hearing before the court—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Nov 05 : A family in Kreeri village of Baramulla on Saturday claimed burglars looted cash and gold worth lakhs from their residential house.

Police filed a case in the incident.

Ghulam Hassan Rather, owner of the house claimed that during night hours burglars struck his house at Check-Pasnak village of Kreeri and took away cash, gold approximately worth lakhs.

“We were locked in a room, burglars had barged through a window”, he said, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

Apart from cash and gold ornaments, the miscreants took away some household items and other valuables from the house, he claimed.

Hassan, who heads a local Auqaf Committee said that the theft incident is not the first but earlier too thieves stole a wood cutter from orchards and a cattle.

Station House Officer (SHO) Kreeri said that a case has been registered and investigation taken up.

He denied earlier incidents of burglary saying no such incident was reported before—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 05 : On the recommendations of Departmental Promotion Committee constituted vide ZPHQ Kashmir order No. 4203 of 2022 dated 24-09-2022 for assessing the suitability of Head Constables and Constables for their elevation to the next ranks, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar Saturday approved the promotions of 206 HCs and 419 Constables to the rank of ASI and SgCt respectively having their lien and seniority with Kashmir Zone.

Subsequently, formal promotion orders of 419 Constables to the rank of SgCts have been issued. Out of 206 HCs, 50 HCs have been formally promoted to the rank of ASI. The formal promotion orders in respect of 156 HCs shall be issued after qualifying their pre-promotion course, a police spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

ADGP Kashmir has felicitated the promoted officials and their families and has expressed hope that they will strive to work hard for the interests of general public in maintenance of peace and tranquility in the Union Territory of J&K—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 05 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested two active hybrid militants along with arms and ammunition in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a joint team of Police, Army’s 22 RR and CRPF 179 BN during a cordon and search operation arrested an active hybrid militant from Shah Faisal market of Sopore town.

He said that during questioning, the arestee revealed his identity as Rizwan Mushtaq Wani son of Mushtaq Ahmed Wani of Hamray Pattan and accomplice of another hybrid militant, who was arrested during late night hours.

The militant was identified as Jameel Ahmed Parra son of Habibullah Parra of Tappar Pattan.

The official said that they recovered incriminating material including a Pistol, Pistol magazine, some pistol rounds and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from their possession.

He said that a case FIR No. 250/2022 under relevant sections of law in this regard has been registered in Police Station Sopore and further investigation was going on—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 04 : The weatherman here has issued yellow warning, predicting light to moderate rain and snow in middle and higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the light wet spell is also expected in the plains of the Union Territory from November 05-07.

“There is a possibility of light rains and snow in the plains of Kashmir while the moderate rain or snow is expected in the middle and higher reaches of the Valley from November 05-07,” Deputy Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that the yellow warning has been issued by the department as the wet spell could lead to the slippery condition of the roads and other related issues.

Ahmad further said that the weather conditions would start gradually improving from November 07 late afternoon. However, he said that as per the forecast another two-day light wet spell is expected on November 09-10, adding that there is no forecast of heavy snowfall in the coming days.

MeT Deputy Director also said that the maximum temperature would go down by some degrees while there is a possibility of a rise in the minimum temperature from tomorrow.

The advisory issued by the MeT has said that the snowfall and the low temperature may lead to the temporary disruption of the surface transport, mainly over Zojilla, Sinthan Top, Mughal Road and other areas.

Pertinently, the weatherman had predicted frequent wet spells from November 01 in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that back to back Western Disturbances are affecting the Union Territory from the first week of November—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 04 : The Municipal Council Sopore seems least bothered to address the issue of the “illegal” waste dumping site at Ningli area on Sofi Akbar Road which is being set ablaze by unknown people almost every day.

This has been taking place for a year since the municipality authorities began dumping garbage at the place. Locals rue that no action has been taken yet to nab the culprits.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the locals said there is not a single day when the garbage at the site is being set on fire. “We fail to understand who sets fire to garbage. Over a dozen trees have been damaged,” a lady said.

The locals complain that garbage heaps have become breeding grounds for dogs and eagles, which poses a threat to the health of residents.

“Heaps of garbage are lying scattered along the stretch, and a strong stench is emanating from the place,” said a local resident Ghulam Qadir.

According to the Sarpanch of the area, the land on which the waste is being dumped is forest land on which the local population has certain rights under the Forest Rights Act, also known as Community Forest Right (CFR).

“The community holding forest rights have certain duties as per Section 5 of Forest Rights Act 2006 which includes protection of wildlife, forests, and biodiversity of the area,” the Sarpanch said.

An official from the Fire & Emergency department said they have been continuously dousing off the flames at the dumping site for the past month. “It seems as if we have been posted for the Ningli dumping site only,” he said.

“This month we have visited the site at least 15 times. We receive calls from residents, municipality, and panchayat officials regarding the fire incident,” the official said, adding that the municipal council should resolve the issue at the earliest.

As per official sources, the site for the garbage dump was illegally established by a local municipal councillor on a panchayat land of which a case is pending in the high court. However, they said, that the court so far has not allowed them the site for dumping the garbage.

In 2021, the Gram Sabhas of some village panchayats in Sopore passed a resolution asking the Municipal Council Sopore to stop the “illegal” dumping of garbage on the village land which is an ecologically-sensitive area in close proximity to the forest.

Meanwhile, an official from the panchayat block told KNO that they had earlier sent a loss assessment to the municipal council which has not been compensated yet. “We sent an estimate of damage to at least 70 trees,” he said.

When contacted, President Municipal Council Sopore Musarat Rasool Kar said, “The land in question is a state land under the possession of forest.” He said the municipality had already stopped dumping on the site, adding that it was an “approach road to the proposed dumping site”.

“It seems some miscreants or land mafia are trying to defame the municipality just to grab state land in and around the area. Presently, the MC is dumping its waste at Baramulla,” Musarat said.

When asked about the losses as claimed by the panchayat block, Musarat said the land belongs to the state not to Panchayat.

The MC Sopore president also said that they have already approached for FIRs in this regard.

“In fact, we have registered a complaint for the third FIR at Police station Tarzoo/Amargrah,” he said.

However, the SHO concerned denied it and told KNO that “from the last 3 months, there has been no FIR in this regard”.

Meanwhile, complaints have poured in from several areas of Sopore, including the main market, where garbage is seen lying on the roadside every 50 metres.

“The administration has failed to put in place effective measures for solid waste management,” said Farhat, a shopkeeper in Sopore town—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 04 : Miscreants under the nose of administration continue to lift and transport the soil in North Kashmir’s Sopore area while authorities have failed to stop the illegal excavation from the canal with officials saying that they have ordered to stop the work a week ago.

Residents told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that soil excavation and its smuggling from the Lalad Amargrah (Khrusi Nallah) have been resumed again in gloominess of nights which otherwise was stopped by the Block, Sangrama after a notice was served to them by Irrigation department, Sopore following the fact that the canal bed have been disturbed to great extent.

They said that the illegal smuggling of soil from the canal has restarted again in the darkness of night’s right under the nose of the administration. “The soil lifters are a hand in glove of the government officials”, they alleged.

Illegal excavation is going unchecked as hundreds of tractors laden with soil are being smuggled every passing day. “Soil excavation has posed a threat to the canal bed and a road parallel to it”, they added.

Soil excavation has created a death bed ‘Dead Storage’ and there are concerns of a wall and a road being damaged by it, said a local Abdul Hameed. “Dead storage created can be dangerous for both the livestock as well as for children passing through the road parallel to the canal”, Hameed added.

An official at the irrigation and flood control department, Sopore told KNO that there was a de-silting of Lalad Amargrah Khul and after observing that the contractor is working in night hours, they felt that the continuous extraction of soil it can lead to damage of the canal bed and a road parallel to it. “So we have asked the executing agency to stop its silting,” he said.

Contractor, Nazir Ahmed alias Setha Wani who was given a task of de-silting said that he has stopped the work but will do it again and no one can stop him. “I will resume the work soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, when contacted the concerned BDO Jaleel Ahmed said that he had already asked the contractor to stop the work a week. “I have called him to the office and warned him of refraining from doing so”, the BDO said “If the contractor continues to lift soil, funds won’t be released in favour of him.”—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 04 : The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached the house of Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that ED has provisionally attached an immovable property situated at Botshah Colony, Sanat Nagar, Srinagar in the name of Shabir Ahmad Shah S/o Gulam Mohd. Shah under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

He said that the ED had initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of a FIR dated 30.05.2017 against Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and others under various sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

“During the course of investigation, it was revealed that Shabir Ahmad Shah was actively involved in the activities of fuelling unrest in Kashmir valley by way of stone pelting, processions, protests, bandhs, hartals and other subversive activities,” he added.

He said that investigation under PMLA revealed that Shabir Ahmad Shah was involved in receiving funds Hizbul Mujahideen and other militant outfits based in Pakistan.

The official also said that during the course of investigation, an immovable property worth Rs. 21.80 lakhs owned by Shabir Ahmad Shah was identified and the same has been provisionally attached under PMLA.

He added that further investigation in the case was going on—(KNO)

Anantnag, Nov 03 : Two non-local labourers working in a private school were shot at and injured in Wanihama area of Anantnag district on Thursday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two labourers working in Sabir Abdullah Public School (SAPS) in Wanihama were shot at and injured inside the school by militants.

He said that the duo were been shifted to GMC Anantnag for treatment.

An official of GMC told KNO that both identified as Vikram from Bihar and Badahur from Nepal are being treated at the hospital.

Principal GMC Anantnag Dr Tariq Qureshi told KNO that condition of one is stable while as condition of other is critical and both are being treated.

Meanwhile, Kashmir police on its official Twitter handle also confirmed that two persons were injured.

“Terrorist fired upon two outside labourers (01 from Bihar & second from Nepal), who were working at a private SAPS school at #Bondialgam in #Anantnag district. Both of them are being shifted to hospital. Further details shall follow,” police tweeted. Meanwhile, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar tweeted: “This is a #cowardice & inhumane act of #terrorism. The victims were called by terrorist to come out to engage in a work. Once both came out, #terrorist fired upon them with pistol. We are investigating on top priority. Culprit would be brought to justice soon.”—(KNO)