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Kupwara, Mar 29 : Throat-slit body of a 9-year-old girl was found in Zab village of Khurhama area in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district this evening, reports and officials said.

Reports reached GNS said that panic gripped Zab village as the body of a minor girl (name withheld) was found under suspicious circumstances adjacent to her home. The gruesome incident has taken the area by shock as more and more have been pouring in at the site – when this report was being drafted.

Confirming the incident, a senior police officer told GNS that a police team is at the site to collect relevant details.

More details awaited. (GNS)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 29 : A footbridge constructed two decades ago in Tarzoo village of north Kashmir’s Sopore has been severely damaged and poses a risk to commuters and pedestrians, even as the officials say the matter was “never” brought to their notice.

The residents of Tanki Mohalla of Tarzoo village told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the footbridge constructed by the Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) Department some twenty years ago connects the village with the rest of its peripheral areas.

“We brought the issue to the notice of the concerned authorities several times, but our pleas were not responded and nothing has been done to repair or reconstruct the footbridge,” Sarpanch, Nazir Ahmed, told KNO.

He termed it a “matter of serious concern”, saying the bridge poses threat to the lives of people and needs to be repaired at the earliest.

The residents urged the Lieutenant Governor-led administration and Deputy Commissioner Baramulla to look into the matter.

When contacted, Executive Engineer, I&FC Department, Sopore told KNO that the matter will be looked into and the necessary repairing process will be taken up. The official however said the matter was “never brought to our notice”—(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 29: A head constable of Central Reserve Police Force died of a cardiac arrest in Srigufwara area of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said here on Wednesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the CRPF personnel deployed at minority guard post at Mehand viage complained of chest pain and soon after he was rushed to PHC Srigufwara where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

He was identified as Suneel Surain son of Shiv lal Surain of Jharkhand.

The official said further proceedings in this regard have been taken up—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 28 : An attendant was injured after scuffle with a security guard in sub0-district hospital Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that scuffle between a security guard and an attendant took place around 2 pm after a heated argument.

He said in the incident the attendant identified as Ishfaq Ahmed of Behrampora Sopore was injured.

Meanwhile, the attendant alleged that he was taken to guard room where at least 6 security men beat him mercilessly.

When contacted Block Medical Officer Sopore, Dr Zulfiqar Sofi told KNO that police have intervened into the matter and investigation is underway—(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 28 : Jammu and Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Tuesday said that Shab-e-Qadr will be observed on April 17 while as Eid moon will be sighted on April 20 and in case moon is sighted on April 20, people will have to offer Qaza fasting of a day.

Talking to reporters after marathon meeting of Ulema that include Moulana Rahmatullah Qasmi, Ghulam Rasool Hami and Prof Muhammad Tayib Kamili, Moulana Aga Syed Al Hassan Mousivi, Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, Moulana Fayaz Ahmed Rizivi, Masroor Abbas Ansari and others, the Grand Mufti as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said: “Shab-e-Qadr will be observed on April 17. Moon sighting will be done on April 20 and if moon is sighted, people will have to offer one day Qaza fasting after Eid.”

He said any decision regarding Eid will be made public after thorough consultation with Ulema. “MeT department will also be consulted before any announcement,” he said.

Pertinently, earlier, there was a controversy over fasting as Grand Mufti had stated that the people should fast from Friday while the majority of the people in Kashmir had started fasting from Thursday. Grand Mufti had stated he had received no witness about sighting of Ramadhan crescent on Wednesday night. Grand Mufti also demanded release of Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, Moulana Abdur Rashid Dawodi and other Ulema who are serving detention in various jails—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 27 : Illegal sand mining alongside River Jehlum in north Kashmir’s Sopore is going on unabated even as the authorities has miserably failed to act over the matter with the locals allege field and supervisory staff of the concerned department nexus with the dealers.

Locals while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that sand extraction violations are rampant even as due to the illegal mining they are now facing the threat of their orchards while adding that the excessive mining has already damaged the embankments along the Jhelum, they alleged.

They said that the illegal mining is not confined to the Chakrode Khan, Ningli areas but the same is going on in various places while the administration has so far failed in taking any concrete action aiming at halting the violations.

The residents also said that the illegal extraction of sand is going unabated and in broad daylight with the tacit support of officials who failed to take any concrete action so far. They alleged hand-in-the glove of the department with the maafia.

“We fail to understand why authorities are shying to curb this illegal trade in the area. He said the illegal extraction is mostly being carried out during early hours but for a couple of months it is going unabated during the broad daylight”, said Ali Muhammad, a local who owns orchards at Charode Khan.

They, however, appealed to the lieutenant governor led government to direct the district administration to rein the elements involved in the illegal extraction of sand and bring the involved to the task.

Meanwhile, official at Irrigation and Flood control department when contacted told KNO that they are time and again taking action against them. “We have lodged a number of FIR’s against the involved, besides, equipment was seized,” the official said.

“We have been continuously informing the Police department for necessary action, however, yet to see any concrete,” the official said.

He, however, added that the geology and mining department plays an important role in curbing the menace. “The royalty procedure too has been stopped as of now,” the official said—(KNO)

Handwara March 26 : A student of class 12 died of a cardiac arrest in Bakihakra village of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara soon after she returned from exams.

An official told Kashmir News Service (KNS) said that the girl (18) identified as Ulfat died of cardiac arrest after she returned from class 12th exams today afternoon.

He said the girl was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, a pale of gloom descended on the village as news of her death spread in the area. (KNS)

Srinagar, Mar 27: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday said to have arrested a group of youths alleged of harrassing and attacking a family on road in central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

Taking to microblogging site Twitter, District Police Srinagar wrote; “…Police took cognisance of a video wherein a group of youths on bikes are seen harassing & attacking a family on road. Midnight raids were conducted by teams led by SDPO West & SHO Parimpora.”

“All 9 accused are arrested & 4 Bikes seized. FIR registered in Parimpora PS”, the tweet reads further. (GNS)

Baramulla, March 26: Aarifeen School of Excellence in Baramulla, in collaboration with its curriculum partner NatureNurture from Delhi,organized a day-long parent orientation program on Sunday.

The event focused on new pedagogical practices and domains with futuristic approaches to prepare learners for the challenges of the 21st century and make them future ready.

Ms. Shivani Verma, Vice President of Curriculum Facilitation, and Ms. Anubha Banerjee, Vice President of Content and Educational Philosophy at NatureNurture, were the keynote speakers at the event.

Ms. Verma spoke about the insights gained during the pandemic and the need to prepare learners for an uncertain future. She emphasized the importance of a child’s foundational years, responsible and happy parenting, and the use of a transdisciplinary approach to education.

Ms. Banerjee informed parents about the futuristic domains added to the NatureNurture curriculum, including financial literacy, digital citizenship, global dimension, gender equality, character building, design and technology, and many more.

The trainers provided hands-on training to parents on how educators will teach their children at the school and the pedagogies they will apply in the classroom.

The session involved various teaching-learning processes and activities, engaging the parents in the event.

During her speech, Ms. Verma emphasized that being a happy parent is more important than being a perfect parent. The event concluded with a vote of thanks and positive feedback from the parents about the informative and engaging program.

At the end of the program, around 30 learners from Aarifeen School of Excellence, who secured top positions in International Olympiad 2022, were felicitated with gold medals and certificates of appreciation for their exemplary achievement in front of the audience.

The learners were bestowed with felicitation from their respective parents, signifying a robust home-school connection that emphasizes the equitable participation of both educators and parents in the developmental voyage of young learners.

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 26 : A non-local girl died by suicide just after 20 days of her marriage at a rented accommodation in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said here in Sunday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the girl from Bangladesh was married to a Kupwara man around 20 days ago and last evening she hanged herself to death.

She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival, he said.

He said she was living with her husband at a rented accommodation in Badam Bagh area of Sopore.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and started investigation—(KNO)