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Waris Fayaz

Srinagar, Jan 12 : Fuel stations along Srinagar-Jammu highway are shutting their establishments in evenings, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Commuters told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they are facing a lot of inconveniences due to the non-availability of the petrol/diesel at the fuel stations along the national highway.

“We were short of fuel a few days ago on way to Jammu from Kashmir. On reaching Banihal, we had to stop our vehicle for hours for want of fuel as not a single station was open,” said Tameem of Baramulla.

Another commuter Bilal Ahmed said that some staffers at fuel stations refused to fill the tank while many misbehaved.

“I was in a situation where I could not go back or move beyond the point in search of the fuel station as I had already left the 3 stations past, who refused to fill the tank. Staffers at the fuel stations resorted to the foul language and misbehaved on request to fill fuel,” he added.

A staffer at fuel station in Banihal said there is a constant fear of dacoits and robbery during the night hours which is why they shut their outlets during night.

Meanwhile, similar reports have been poured in from the other areas across the Kashmir valley.

Divisional commissioner P K Pole when contacted told KNO he will look into the issue—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Jan 12 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday arrested a man for allegedly pasting the threat posters to create the atmosphere of fear and hatred against the country, from Pattan village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a man identified as Altaf Ahmad Rather, son of Ghulam Mohammed Rather of Tantraypora Palhallan was arrested for pasting the threat posters in the village.

“Lone was working with a lesser known militant outfit ‘Lone Wolf Warriors’ and had given threat to the outsiders and condemned the opening of a wine shop at Pahalgam through the posters,” he said.

The arrested person was held and during the interrogation, he confessed the crime and further revealed that he got in touch with Pak based militant handlers on social media and was working with them, who instructed him to paste posters in order to create an atmosphere of fear among the public and hatred against India.

Subsequently, a raid was conducted at his house wherefrom the posters and mobile phone were seized, the official added.

Meanwhile, a case in this regard is already registered at Police Station Pattan while further investigation in this regard has been taken up—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 12 : As the weather improved in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley, the weatherman here on Thursday said that another Western Disturbance would affect Jammu & Kashmir on January 19 and predicted dry weather conditions from January 14-18 in the Union Territory.

Deputy Director of Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad while sharing the details of forecast, said that there is a possibility of light snowfall and rains at many places across Jammu & Kashmir on January 13 (tomorrow).

He, however, said that the weather would remain mainly dry between January 14-January 18.

Furthermore, he said that a fresh Western disturbance would affect J&K on January 19-20 and predicted a fall in the night temperature from January 14 again.

Pertinently, several areas of Kashmir continued to receive fresh snowfall today. The areas include Machil, Sadhna Top and other places—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 12 : The street vendors continue to hamper the pedestrian and vehicular movement here in North Kashmir’s Sopore town of Baramulla district, even as the local administration has directed them from time to time not to occupy the roads.

The repeated directions from the administration are being thrown to walls and orders are proving hoax as town gets chocked due to huge traffic mess during peak hours, making pedestrian movement very difficult.

Locals comprising commuters, employees and students told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have to face immense hardships due to the presence of vendors on roadsides and footpaths. “There is no room for pedestrians as most of the space on footpaths is taken by vendors and shopkeepers and are forced to walk on the roads increasing the risk of accidents”, they said.

Ghulam Nabi, a local resident said: “Despite the fact that people are facing hardships, authorities seem non-serious about the plan of removing the street vendors”, said Ghulam Nabi, a local resident. “It seems there’s something fishy about the issue of accommodating the vendors as one day the vendors are removed but the next day they again occupy their spaces.”

Locals allege that “Removal of street vendors is mere an eye wash. It seems both the authorities as well as the vendors are hand-in-glove.”

Junaid Peer, another local said: “Traffic jams can prove detrimental for patients in case of any medical emergency. Ironically, the concerned authorities are acting as mute spectators. The main market is fully occupied by the street vendors and even pedestrians do not find it safe to walk from here when traffic gets stuck.”

Locals appealed to the concerned authorities and the district administration to look into the matter at an earliest so that they could have a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, executive officer Municipal Council Sopore, Tariq Ahmed Reshi told KNO, that they are on it and the issue would be redressed soon. “We have identified the spots where the vendors would be accommodated, it may take a week to streamline the things”, official added—(KNO)

Jammu, Jan 12 : Amid multi-layer security cover, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Rajouri tomorrow (Friday) and meet the families of slain in the recent attacks at Dhangri area of the district. Shah will also chair a security review meet and likely announce measures to strengthen the Village Defence Committees of the district.

Reliable sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Shah will reach Dhangri village of Rajouri in the morning at around 11 am. “Security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth arrival of the Home Minister,” sources said, adding that “A high alert has been sounded on highways, Rajouri district and also in parts of Jammu. All security agencies have been put on high alert.”

“The Home Minister will meet members of all three families who have lost their family members in January 1 attack in Dhangri,” a source privy to Home Minister’s itinerary, said. Sources said that the Home Minister may hand over job letters to next of kin of slain Dhangri attack victims. BJP General Secretary (Org) Ashok Koul confirmed that the Home Minister is visiting Rajouri tomorrow. “He will fly back to Delhi after chairing a security meet in Jammu,” Koul said.

The Home Minister after meeting the family members of the slain will chair a high level security meeting in Jammu where top officials of police, army, CRPF, BSF and other security agencies will participate. Sources in the security establishment said that the Home Minister will get the feedback from the security officials on the recent attack on the civilians in Dhangri village and the progress achieved so far in the investigations of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the police top brass.

Sources said that Home Minister may likely announce some security measures that include further strengthening of Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in Rajouri district as demanded by the locals there in the wake of January 1 attack in which seven civilians including two minors lost their lives. The locals of Dhangri, Rajouri in their memorandum submitted to LG Manoj Sinha had demanded strengthening of VDCs on the lines of Doda district and covering the entire district under strict CCTV surveillance. The locals had also demanded patrolling of Army on vital roads and protection of temples in the district—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 11 : Sopore Police on Wednesday arrested a drug peddler along with heroin-like substance during a Naka at Wagub crossing in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a drug peddler was arrested along with 15 grams of Heroin-like substance during a checkpoint at Wagub crossing by the party of PP Putkha under the jurisdiction of Police Station Amargrah/Tarzoo.

The arrested drug peddler as per the officials disclosed his identity as Ashiq Elaahi Parray, son of Abdul Razaq Parray of Lawaypora Zainkote in Srinagar.

Meanwhile, a case under FIR number 03/2023 under section 8/21, 29 of NDPS Act has been lodged at Police Station Amargrah and further investigation has been taken up—(KNO)

Ganderbal, Jan 11 : The Department of Wildlife Protection J&K has warned of strict action as per law involving imprisonment as well as a fine against anyone involved in capturing owls or any kind of hunting activity.

The notice in this regard came following the reports of several incidents of alleged capturing of owls from some parts of the valley over the past month.

After a few photographs of the owl species, especially the Barn Owl and Tawny Owl, being captured surfaced on social media, the wildlife department issued a notice warning that capturing, coursing, snaring, trapping, driving or baiting of any wild animal, including wild birds, comes under the definition of “hunting” which is a punishable wildlife offence under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

“A person committing such an offence “shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to 20,000 rupees or both”, the department warned.

Anyone coming across a wild bird which has been accidentally injured or seems to be in distress should not attempt to handle or rescue the bird on his/her own but immediately contact the wildlife department on the phone number 9796171787 or through email rwlwkashmir@gmail.com, the notice reads.

Why do people catch owls?

Dr Bilal Nasir Zargar, a wildlife biologist, while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said “There is a myth in Kashmir that keeping an owl’s nails wards off evil. People catch them and cut their nails off and they eventually die, due to which the population of owls has declined drastically.”

Owls play a very important role in controlling the rodent population. They are phenomenal in pest control and help maintain the food chain. Owls also get rid of diseased rodents and stop the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Dr Bilal said the warning by the wildlife protection department is not enough because there are some species of owls out there that are threatened at this point in time and they may not be able to survive for much longer due to hunting or their habitat being destroyed.

“As a result of this, they are struggling to be able to survive out there in the wild. It isn’t too late though to help these owl species to have a future. However, in order to happen, we need to acknowledge what the problems really are, then we can be a part of the solution and not the problem,” he said.

What can be done to save them?

The wildlife botanist said that critical conservation of habitat with prior research and social awareness by educating the public about an owl’s role in the environment can save them. “Building social awareness against superstition will help implement stringent legal action against poaching and trading. There is no place for them to nest and breed due to rapid urbanisation. Their habitat must be protected, and their nesting places saved. We need to study them to learn such details,” he suggests.

Dr Bilal Nasir, who holds a doctorate degree in Botany, was the first to record a long-eared owl in 2019 at Manasbal. He has been observing the behaviour of owls for the last five years and is one of the most famous and passionate nature photographers in Kashmir.

“I enjoy taking photos of birds and animals in jungles and forests. I have travelled extensively to many national and international sanctuaries,” he told KNO.

Dr Bilal has educated and inspired thousands of people towards the conservation of nature and has received many awards.

Another expert while talking to KNO said it is a myth that owls can rotate their heads 360 degrees. “They can actually turn their necks 135 degrees in either direction which gives them 270 degrees of the total movement,” he said, adding, “Not all species of owls are nocturnal. Many times you might just spot an owl in the day peeping out from its home on the tree. When there is a shortage of food, owls may hunt at any time during the day. They are carnivorous and eat rodents, small and medium-sized mammals, insects, fish, and other birds. Sometimes they even eat smaller owls.”

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Wildlife Department Ifshana said owls are a kind of scheduled species and capturing these birds breaches the Wildlife Protection Act. “The recent reports suggest that only two owl-capturing incidents took place following which an advisory was issued for their protection,” she told KNO, adding, “Capturing owls is a severe crime. Anybody involved in it will be held under the relevant sections of law and a case will also be filed against such a person.”—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Jan 11 : Residents have urged authorities to reconstruct a retaining wall damaged 4 years ago at Qazi Hamam in Baramulla’s old town.

Residents told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the wall was constructed for the safety of people alongside Bagh e Islam road in old town Baramulla which connects Drangbal and other areas to avert any mishap due to landslides or shooting stones.

The area is prone to landslides and shooting stones. But the wall was damaged some 4 years ago and the authorities concerned have been failing to reconstruct it.

“Knowing the sensitivity of the area very well, the officials in the department cite excuses including tendering issue,” said Ali Mohammed of Qazi Hamam.

A board installed at the site by the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department reads, ‘the area is prone to shooting stones & rock sliding. The inhabitants & people passing this road are advised to take self-protection accordingly’.

Meanwhile, an official of the R & B department in Baramulla denied they have received any representation from locals in this regard. But he assured them they will look into the issue—(KNO)