Jammu & Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 03 : National Conference president and Member of Parliament, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said that Omar Abdullah would not contest assembly elections till J&K’s statehood is restored.

Talking to reporters, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Farooq Abdullah said the list of constituency heads has been prepared to reach out to the people and strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

On being asked about whether Omar Abdullah would contest assembly elections, Farooq said Omar has already clarified that he will not contest elections till statehood of J&K is statehood.

He said that PAGD will always be there and the list of constituency heads prepared by the party was no indication that NC will contest polls alone.

On being asked about ST status for Pahari community, Farooq said that he himself stood for ST status for the community—(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 has been shifted to GMC Anantnag for treatment.

Medical Superintendent GMC Anantnag, Dr Iqbal told KNO that both are being treated and further details will be shared later.

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—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 02 : The Government Fee Fixation Committee (GFFC) on Wednesday barred the private schools from charging and collecting annual fee for four months from November-2022.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), GFFC while reviewing the one of the cases of the private schools said, “After having interaction with the school management authorities of the private school, it was made clear to them that academic session of the educational institutions comprises of 12 months.”

GFFC said that it was also made clear to them that in view of the governments issued previously, the government has made it clear that new admissions will commence form the month of March of the calendar year and annual examinations shall be conducted in March-April session in all the government and recognized private schools.

“It was thus impressed upon these authorities that the school management’s notice to the students to pay annual fee for the months November 2022 to March 2023 is legally not sustainable and the authorities in these circumstances should withdraw the notice,” reads the communiqué.

GFFC said that the authorities assured that they would put on hold the notice which asks students to pay annual fees for the period November-2022 to March-2023.

It also reads, “It was made clear to the authorities of the school management that academic session cannot be stretched beyond the 12 months period, which now starts from April-01 and ends on March-31 of the calendar year.”

GFFC further said that the period of five months commencing from November 2022 to March-2023 being not part of the academic session, the students cannot be asked to pay annual fee for the period.

“All the school management of private schools are restrained from charging and collecting annual fees for the period November-2022 to March-2023,” GFFC said.

It also said that any breach of this order will result in initiating action according to law—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Bandipora, Nov 02 : A 45-year-old man died while other two were rescued after they were drowned in Wullar Lake in Laharwalpora area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the man identified as Javeed Ahmed Dar son of Ghulam Mohammad Dar of Baniyari area of Bandipora drowned to death while two others were rescued by the locals and police.

He said that the trio were carrying willow twigs when the boat they were riding suddenly sank near Neechyeeir Nallah in Banyari village of the district.

According to family sources, Javeed is the father of eight children, including six daughters and two sons. “One of the Javeed’s daughters was all set to marry next week”, they said.

As the news spread in the area, a wave of grief and sorrow spread in the entire area and hundreds of people reached the house of the deceased man to express their condolence.

Pertinent to mention here that three persons drowned in Wular Lake after their boat capsized where two persons were rescued immediately, while the third one was missing following which a rescue operation was launched to trace him. However, the missing one’s body was later on retrieved from the lake—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 02 : In a significant political development, National Conference on Wednesday announced constituency in-charges for 46 out of 47 assembly segments of Kashmir.

According to an order issued by National Conference general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah has approved the appointment of party leaders as “constituency in-charges” for their respective constituencies. “They shall have regular connect with the public /party workers and office bearers and ensure strengthening of the party at grassroots level,” reads the order.

The announcement of the constituency in-charges clearly indicates that National Conference would not have any alliance with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), CPI (M) and other constituents of PAGD. The list also indicates that NC wouldn’t have any poll arrangement with Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Azad Party, whose leaders were claiming that they would have an electoral arrangement with NC apparently to blunt criticism from Congress and other parties of being BJP’s proxy.

The list indicates that National Conference would field Ali Muhammad Sagar and his son Salman Sagar in assembly polls from Srinagar district.

Ali Muhammad Sagar and his son Salman Sagar has been made constituency in-charges of Khanyar and Hazratbal assembly segments, respectively.

Former MLA Ganderbal Ishfaq Jabbar, who has maintained distance from the party after August 5, 2019, is missing in the list. The party has nominated Ghulam Nabi Rather as constituency in-charge of Ganderbal.

Ishfaq’s father-in-law, Muhammad Sayeed Akhoon, who had contested assembly elections in the past on NC ticket from Hazrtabal, is also not figuring in the list.

In Beerwah assembly segment which was represented by Omar Abdullah in the last assembly of erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir, the party has appointed Dr. Muhammad Shafi Bhat as constituency in-charge. Bhat had finished third in 2014 assembly polls from Beerwah.

In north Kashmir, the party has nominated Nasir Aslam Wani as constituency in-charge of Kupwara assembly segment which comprises Kupwara block and Hyhama and Kalaroos blocks of the erstwhile Lolab segment. Sogam, which is native area of Nasir Aslam Wani, is part of Lolab assembly segment. On expected lines, NC has nominated Qaiser Jamsheed Lone as constituency in-charge of Lolab.

Interestingly, the party has nominated its sitting MP Justice (retd.) Hasnain Masoodi as constituency in-charge of Pampore assembly segment.

The lone constituency of Kashmir Valley where the party has not announced name of constituency in-charge is Kokernag seat- the lone assembly seat reserved for scheduled tribes in south Kashmir—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Bandipora, Nov 02 : The body of a man, who had drowned in the Wular Lake after a boat capsized in Baniyari village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday morning, was retrieved after hectic efforts.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) three men had drowned in the Lake after the boat they were in capsized today morning.

He said that two persons were immediately rescued, while third one went missing and a rescue operation was launched to retrieve his body.

He added that after hectic efforts, his body was retrieved in the afternoon

The deceased has been identified as Javeed Ahmed Dar son of Ghulam Mohammad Dar of Baniyari—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Bandipora, Nov 02 : One person went missing after a boat capsized in Wular Lake in Banyari village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that three persons drowned in Wular Lake after their boat capsized in Banyari village today morning.

He said that two persons were rescued immediately, while the third one was still missing and rescue operation was launched to trace him.

The official identified the missing person as Javed Ahmed—(KNO)

Gurez, Nov 01 : The school education department has been unable to fill posts of five principals, six headmasters and 30 lecturers in Gurez, hitting the smooth functioning of several schools.

Official data gathered by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) revealed that six high schools of the region are without headmasters while similarly five posts of school principals are vacant for years now.

The data also suggested that of 82 lectures, 52 are working in the valley while 30 are vacant for the last several years. “The headless schools include Chrowan, Achoora, Kanzalwan, Journal, Bulingder and Malingam area of the Gurez valley,” it said.

According to local residents, absence of staff at schools is forcing a number of students from economically weaker sections of society to either drop out of schools or to get admitted in private schools.

Many parents said that there were no subject specific teachers in the several schools. “Our wards enrolled in a school are facing immense hardships, “said Mushtaq Ahmad, a parent, adding that many parents have so far decided to enroll their wards in private schools.

“We appeal to the director school education Kashmir to look into this genuine issue and direct the concerned authorities to redress the issue at the earliest,” they said.

An official said that they have already written to higher officials about the vacant posts and efforts are being made to fill the vacancies—(KNO)

Anantnag, Nov 01 : Three militants including a foreign mlitant were killed in an encounter at Khandipora area of Awantipora area of Pulwama district while as an unidentified militant was killed in an ongoing encounter at Semthan village of Bijbhera in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, police said Tuesday.

“01 #terrorist killed in #Bijbehara encounter. Operation going on,” the J&K police tweeted as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). A police official said that the identity and affiliation of the slain was being ascertained.

Earlier, an official had said that a joint team of police, Army and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants launched a search operation in the area.

He had said that as the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the suspected spot, hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated to, triggering an encounter.

He had said that the exchange of fire was going on and two to three militants are believed to be trapped in the area.

Police said that another encounter broke out in Khandipora village of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday evening. ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar tweeted that “03 terrorists killed in Awantipora encounter. Identification being ascertained. As per our source, 1 is FT & 1 local terrorist of LeT namely Mukhtiyar Bhat, involved in several terror crimes including killing of 01 ASI of CRPF & 2 RPF personnel. A big success for us.” As per the police both operations were on—(KNO)