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Kupwara, Feb 16: An unidentified infiltrator was killed on Thursday in Saidpora area along Line of Control in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), J&K police said during the preceding night, based on a specific input generated by Kupwara police, a joint team of Army and Police intercepted an infiltrating group in Saidpora forward area.

Police said that the joint team has neutralised one infiltrator while the search is still going on in the area—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Feb 15: A suspension footbridge constructed years ago at a local picnic spot Eco Park in Baramulla has got damaged badly, posing risk to pedestrians.

Locals told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the suspension footbridge over River Jhelum constructed more a decade ago connects Sheeri to Khadinyar area. They alleged the bridge got damaged but the department concerned is doing nothing to repair it.

“It’s a matter of concern as the bridge is posing a threat to the lives of pedestrians and needs to be repaired at the earliest. The bridge witnesses 60% flow of visitors to Eco Park,” they added.

They said that it seems the authorities are waiting for mishap to happen.

Executive Engineer at roads and buildings (R&B) department Baramulla told KNO that the matter will be looked into and the necessary repairs will be carried out—(KNO)

Bandipora, Feb 15 : Non-availability of public transport in evening hours has caused immense hardships to the people of several villages in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, commuters complained here on Wednesday.

Commuters from several villages including TA-Shah, Arin, Gundpora-Rampora, CA-Khan and Gamroo told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they are facing immense problems due to lack of public transport service in the evening hours for the last four months.

They said many commuters in the absence of public transport are forced to hire auto-rickshaws that charge exorbitant rates in the evening hours.

“Administration has failed to ensure availability of public transport during evening hours, thus leaving working people to lurch at large,” Ishfaq Ahmad, a local said.

He said majority of people, who are working in the market cannot afford their own vehicles, they have to rely on public transport every day. “Despite repeated requests, the authorities have turned blind eye towards the matter,” he added.

Meanwhile, the commuters appealed to the higher authorities to look into the matter so that they could heave a sigh of relief—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 15 : Hundreds of vehicles continued to remain stranded for the second straight day on Wednesday as the Srinagar-Jammu highway continues to remain closed for the traffic due to shooting stones in Ramban while the administration said that the men and machinery has been pressed into service to restore the highway at earliest.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed for the second consecutive day today due to shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria in Ramban district.

He said due to the disruption of traffic on Mehar-Cafeteria stretch, the traffic congestion was also witnessed at different places on the stretch. “Hundreds of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) are stranded at various places along the highway. The work is on to clear the highway,” the official said, adding that they are expecting the partial restoration of vehicular movement on the highway within the next few hours.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic National Highway, Ramban, Mohita Sharma told KNO that the highway is blocked so far. “Unrelenting shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria have halted traffic on both sides. It will resume after clearance,” she said.

Speaking exclusively to KNO, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said that massive efforts are underway to restore the highway. “Machines have been pressed into service and heavy manpower is at work to help in the process of restoration of Srinagar- Jammu highway,” he said.

He said they are monitoring the regulation of traffic on the highway, adding that the highway shall be restored at an earliest.

The Divisional Commissioner further said that there was no shortage of essentials in Kashmir. “Stock including gas cylinders, ration is available in abundance in the Valley and there is no shortage of essentials,” he added—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Feb 13: Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla, Amod Nagpure Monday said that Pakistan based handlers under well hatched conspiracy are using smugglers to push drugs inside Jammu and Kashmir to spread drug addiction among youth.

Addressing a press conference in Baramulla, SSP Baramulla, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said the Police have arrested four such drug suppliers along with contraband material and cash.

He said on a specific information regarding smuggling of narcotics in Kamalkote area of Uri in Baramulla, a Naka was established at Sultan Daki area and during checking, a vehicle was signaled to stop but it tried to flee and was tactfully stopped.

“Later, four people were arrested along with 1.17 Kgs of Brown Sugar and a cash of Rs.25.39 Lacs. They have been idetified as Naseer Ahmad Bhatti son of Nazar Din Bhatti, Mohd Pazeer son of Abdul Majeed Khanday, Reyaz Ahmad Khanday and Fayaz Ahmad Khanday son’s of Mohammed Sharief Khanday–all residents of Uri.”

The SSP, while terming the arrest of four smugglers a big catch, said they have got more leads and more such modules are expected to be busted soon.

He also said their network is so strong and they are making every possible efforts to stop drugs entering Jammu and Kashmir. “It’s all due to the people’s support and cooperation, such modules are being busted”, he said.

“We have identified the hotspots and will be using technical as well as human intelligence for such operations in future”, he said.

On being asked why drug peddlers are seen free after remaining in lockups, he said, that they get out on bail and police are using a method that whoever will get bail is booked under PSA so that he would remain in the preventive custody—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Feb 12 : Locals in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have voluntarily handed over at least 81 Kanals of state land to the authorities, officials said here on Saturday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the locals have handed over at least 81 Kanals of state land to the government in Humlina locality.

He said the land has now been handed over to Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Feb 11 : The road dividers across north Kashmir’s Sopore town have turned out to be a reason of accidents during evening hours as the authorities have failed to ensure proper reflectors on the dividers with the locals demanding the concerned higher ups to take immediate steps in this regard.

The locals while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the road dividers without reflectors have caused at least five accidents within a week and hundreds of such incidents have been witnessed in the past as well.

The road dividers across the town, as per the officials, were built to ease and streamline the vehicular traffic; however, the locals alleged the dividers are not less than a death trap as these dividers without reflectors are leading to the frequent accidents during evening hours.

While urging the administration to ensure the reflectors over dividers, the locals said that most of these accidents occurred as the vehicles ram over it due to low visibility or the absence of streetlights. They said that scores of people have also suffered injuries in the accidents.

“The installation of reflectors is the need of the hour as it would help drivers to notice the road dividers from a distance and help in preventing road accidents,” the residents said.

The people coming from other parts of Kashmir to the Apple town often become a victim of the administration’s apathy, as they are not well-versed with such issues, said Mudasir Ahmed, a local resident.

Pertinent to mention here, that in the year 2021 – Wular Foundation, a Sopore based Non-Profit organizations and Sopore Media Fraternity took the initiative and installed reflectors on streets, dividers and turning points across the town to prevent road accidents, but the reflectors got either damaged or were stolen by the unknown persons.

The residents as well as the transports urged the administration for their immediate intervention in this regard to avoid the accidents. They added that the authorities must identify the accident prone spots across the town and take necessary measures—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 11 : The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) Saturday reopened links for submission of online forms for annual regular examination 2023 for classes 10th to 12th standard.

The online links for submission of the forms will be opened from February-14 to February-15 with a late fee Rs 6000 in addition to last prescribe Fee.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Director Academic BOSE in a communique said, “It is notified for the information of all concerned students who have not so far, submitted their examination forms can now submit their examination forms for Classes 10th, 11th and 12th Annual Regular Examination 2023, online with a late fee Rs 6000in addition to last prescribe Fee.”

“The link for submission of online examination forms shall be made available on official website of JKBOSE with immediate effect from February-14 to February-15,” BOSE said—(KNO)

Kupwara, Feb 11: Amid continuous road blockage due to snow, bodies of three residents of far-flung Karnah are lying in the mortuary of district hospital Handwara with the bereaved families urging administration to take immediate measures for the return of the bodies.

The identity of the deceased include Shabir Ahmed of Bhatpora, Sadiq Jan of Amrohi and Sayeed Qureshi of Ghbara.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), locals have been continuously protesting for the last four days, demanding construction of a tunnel at the Sadhna pass on the Kupwara – Tangdhar highway.

Saying that their lives become hell during the winter season, people of Karnah in Kupwara urged the government to facilitate evacuation of the dead bodies to their destinations for the last rites.

“A few days ago, the weather was fine but the administration did not make any effort for the evacuation of the bodies. We have put our demand for construction of a tunnel at Sadhna Top but none is paying attention to our pleas,” said Mohammad Ashraf of Karnah.

Another local said the government is making claims in the summers about development of border areas as tourist destinations but the lack of arrangements for ferrying the bodies to their native places reflect the government’s callousness towards them.

“It is so miserable to see what the families of the deceased, whose bodies lie at the mortuary in Handwara from the past few days might be going through”, said National Conference youth worker Waqar Khan.

He demanded immediate assistance from the administration for ferrying the bodies to their respective villages.

“Respecting and thinking about the residents who have sacrificed their lives and people who in this harsh weather are still protesting and trying to raise their voices, the government should immediately take action”, he said.

They appealed to the government to airlift the bodies to native places as soon as possible so that their families can get a sigh of relief.

An official said that they are on it to send the bodies to their respective villages as soon as possible—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 11: Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee chairperson Safeena Baig Saturday said that this year Haj 2023 will be cheaper by almost Rs 80,000 and that each pilgrim is supposed to pay Rs 350,000 to 3,70,000 maximum for performing Haj this year.

Addressing a press conference here, Baig said after hectic deliberations between Haj Committee of India (HCoI) and the Saudi Government, Haj has been made cheaper this year. “As per our estimates, Haj 2023 will be cheaper by Rs 80,000. Each pilgrim who would otherwise pay Rs 4.50 lakh will have to pay between Rs 3,50,000 to Rs 3,70,000,” she said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

She said that this year, over 10,000 pilgrims from J&K will perform the holy journey of Haj. “Haj office in Srinagar will facilitate every pilgrim including those who are having issues related to passport,” Baig said, adding that the Haj applications are already up on the official website of Haj Committee of India: www.hajcommittee.gov.in free of cost. “Earlier, every pilgrim had to pay Rs 300 for the form. Now, the form can be downloaded and filled with ease,” she said.

The J&K Haj Committee chairperson said that in case of need of conducting the RTPCR test, the government will bear the expenses and take samples of the pilgrims free of cost. She said that the pilgrims above 70-years of age will be prioritised for the Haj while women aged 45 years, without Mehram, can perform the pilgrimage in the groups. “A group of four women without mahram can perform the Haj 2023,” she said, adding that the Saudi Government has given a relaxation to the women who are not having any mahram but yearn to perform Haj.

She also said that from Azizia to Haram, pilgrims are likely to get direct bus services. “This has been the demand of pilgrims who performed the Haj in 2022,” she said. Asked whether there was any plan to address the issues of pilgrims in Makah and Madina as last year, many pilgrims complained of ill treatment by the hotels there, Baig said: “This year, Haj officers will create different groups on Whatsapp and stay in touch with pilgrims. In case of any issue or grievances, immediate redressal would be done.” Pertinently, there will be 25 embankment points across the country for the pilgrims this year. HCoI has maintained that the pilgrimage this year will be much smoother than previous pilgrimages—(KNO)