Top Stories

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Dec 22 : As the body of Sopore teenager continues to remain untraced for 11th straight day, with rescue teams another expert from Ganderbal with his extraordinary skills has started to try his luck.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the search operation to trace the body of a teenage girl, who jumped in the river Jhelum in Sopore town, entered 11th day on Thursday.

The expert swimmer from Kangan area of Ganderbal, Bashir Ahmed Mir (39) travelled 40 kilometres to reach Sopore to join the rescue and search operation team.

Mir, who possesses extraordinary swimming skills to rescue people from drowning and retrieving missing bodies from the rivers and streams is also a political activist affiliated with the People’s Democratic party (PDP) for the years.

“I’m doing this social work in the name of Allah,” Mir told KNO and claimed that he has saved almost 100 of the people who drowned.

Mir said the Jhelum has been polluted to the larger extent. “I used my techniques but the current temperature due to the Chill e Kalan makes it more hectic to go deeper”, he said.

Meanwhile, local fishermen communities who were part of the rescue and search operations have decided to call off the operation. While as, an official from the SDRF said, they will continue the operation till any orders from the higher ups.

Earlier, an expert of Pulwama – Abdul Salaam, a 64-year-old man from Kakapora area, who claims to have saved 18 lives and have fished out at least 40 bodies from the various water bodies across the Kashmir Valley joined the operation, but Salaam’s expertise didn’t pave anything, citing the flow of Jhelum near the spot—(KNO)

Sumbal, Dec 22 : A 35-year old man killed in a road accident in Sumbal area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a speedy truck hit the man near Sumo stand Sumbal, resulting in serious injuries to him.

He said the injured was rushed to CHC Sumbal, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

He identified him as Aijaz Ahmad Khan, a driver by profession, of Markundal Hajin and said the body was handed over to family after completing all legal formalities.

Meanwhile, a case under relevant sections of laws has been registered by the concerned police station and investigation has been taken up—KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 22: Mercury continued its free fall in Kashmir division with most places recording this season’s lowest minimum temperature on Thursday, the second day of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day severe period of winter.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.5°C against 4.2°C on the previous night. Besides being the coldest lowest temperature this season, the mercury was 3.5°C below normal during this time of the year, the official said.

Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.4°C against minus 4.2°C on the previous night. The temperature was 2.4°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.

Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 6.8°C against minus 6.2°C on the previous night. Apart from being below normal by 1.8°C, it was also the coldest night this season in the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Kokernag also hit the season’s coldest temperature, recording a low of minus 3.3°C against minus 2.4°C on the previous night, he said. It was 1.2°C below normal for the place, he said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.2°C against minus 4.6°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 0.6°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.

In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 5.1°C against minus 4.4°C on the previous night, the official said. While being 2.5°C below normal, it was also the coldest temperature recorded so far in the north Kashmir area, he said.

Jammu recorded a low of 7.5°C against 6.3°C on the previous night. It was 0.7°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of minus 1.2°C against last night’s 2.0°C (overall below normal by 2.1°C), Batote 1.1°C (2.1°C below normal), Katra 5.6°C (1.3°C below normal) and Bhadarwah minus 0.9°C (0.4°C below normal).

In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 12.0°C and 12.8 °C respectively, the official said.

While Chillai-Kalan is in its infancy, it does not mean an end to the winter. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.

“Mainly dry weather till December 25. From 26-30th generally cloudy sky with intermittent light to moderate snow is expected at scattered places of Kashmir, higher reaches of Jammu and light rain in plains of Jammu (60℅chance),” the MeT official said, “Snowfall and below freezing temperature may lead to temporary disruption of surface transportation on places like Mughal road, Zojila, Karna, Sadna top etc during 26-27th, although there’s no forecast of any Major snow spell.” (GNS)

Baramulla, Dec 21: A 17-year-old girl died while at least ten others sustained injuries in a major road accident in Rafiabad area of Baramulla district on Wednesday afternoon, officials said here.

An official told, that three vehicles collided and plunged into a Nallah in Rafiabad area today afternoon.

He said soon after the incident, a rescue operation was launched and the 11 injured were taken to the district hospital Baramulla, where one girl identified as Mehak Mohidin resident of Handwara succumbed to her injuries.

He said among ten injured persons, the condition of four is said to be critical.

The official said the police team has reached the spot and is ascertaining the details

Pulwama, Dec 21: Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police, Dilbag Singh on Wednesday said infiltration to a large extent has been stopped and almost all cases of target killings have been solved.

Talking to reporters in Pulwama, DGP, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said security arrangements on border so as to foil any attempt of infiltration are very effective and to a large extent infiltration has been checked and some attempts were made but infiltrators were killed.

He also said that almost all cases of target killing have been solved and just one or two cases are pending in which involved persons have been identified and very soon pending cases will be closed too.

The DGP also said a large number of cases have been registered against drug peddlers and more than 2000 persons have been arrested.

He said among them many were slapped with PSA and strict action against is being taken so as to curb this menace.

He said earlier people were killed with bullet but now people are being killed with drugs here as whosoever uses it once searches for it again and again.

“Attempts are being to drop drugs through drones especially in Jammu region, however, every effort is being made to curb this menace,” the DGP said.

Meanwhile, while talking to reporters in Tral area, he said that he would like to congratulate the people and youth in particular for not opting the path of terror and choosing peace and prosperity.

He said that Tral is almost militancy free now and has become an abode of peace. “Youth must continue this path as those who chose the wrong path never came back,” he said—(KNO)

Sopore, Dec 21: Senior superintendent (SSP) SDRF Kashmir, Firdous Iqbal on Wednesday said they have been putting every possible effort to retrieve the body of a teenage girl, who had jumped into the river Jhelum in Sopore around 10 days ago.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), after taking first hand report of the search and rescue operation in Sopore today, he said the department will come up with all the resources available to retrieve the body of the girl.

He said they have identified different spots from Jamai and Chankhan bridge and based on the experience and inputs, searches are being carried at different spots.

“The water near the bridge is a bit speedy, above all there there is a depth, which is making it difficult to trace out the body. However, I have advised the team to locally purchase whatever is needed for the operation,” he said.

He also said Sopore town as well as the Wular Lake will get SDRF component as the area is already a high level flood division and the approval for the same has already been forwarded to higher ups.

Notably, the search operation to trace the missing girl entered 10th day today—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 21: ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day severe period of winter, started on a harsh note on Wednesday with minimum temperature plummeting to the season’s lowest in several places in Kashmir Valley including Srinagar which recorded a low of minus 4.2°C.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that the minimum temperature in Srinagar was 1.1°C below the previous night’s minus 3.1°C. Overall, he said, the mercury was 2.7°C below normal during this time of the year and surpassed this season’s previous lowest of minus 3.6°C that was recorded in the summer capital on Friday last, the official said.

Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.2°C against minus 3.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 2.6°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.

Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 6.2°C against minus 5.4°C on the previous night. Besides being below normal by 1.8°C, it was also the coldest night this season in the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.4°C against minus 1.8°C on the previous night and it was 0.7°C below normal for the place, he said.

Gulaarg recorded a low of minus 4.6°C against minus 4.0°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 0.2°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official told GNS.

In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 4.4°C against minus 3.9°C on the previous night, the official said. While being 2.0°C below normal, it was also the coldest temperature recorded so far in the north Kashmir place, he said.

Jammu recorded a low of 6.3°C against 6.7°C on the previous night. It was 2.6°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of minus 2.0°C (below normal by 3.5°C and this season’s coldest), Batote 1.2°C (2.2°C below normal), Katra 6.8°C (0.8°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 0.6°C (1.0°C below normal).

In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 11.8°C and 12.1°C respectively, the official said.

Chillai-Kalan does not mean an end to the winter. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.

“The weather is expected to be dry till December 25,” the official GNS, adding, “The weather is mostly likely to be cloudy with chances of light to moderate rain/snow over isolated places of Jammu to scattered places of Kashmir specifically over middle and higher reaches during the last few days of 2022.” (GNS)

Jammu, Dec 20: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, accorded its approval for winding up the Jammu and Kashmir Social Welfare Board.

Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K attended the meeting.

The Jammu and Kashmir Social Welfare Board was constituted in the year 1955and over the period, the functioning of the Social Welfare Board became limited to the implementation of National crèche Scheme, and Swahdar Greh Scheme, both Centrally Sponsored Schemes being funded by Ministry of Women and Child Development through the Central Social Welfare Board.

These schemes are now being implemented through the other Directorates of the Department namely Mission Poshan and Mission Shakti respectively.

Central Social Welfare Board has since been wound up by the Government of India and on its analogy, the J&K Social Welfare Board has also been wound up.

A committee to be chaired by Commissioner/Secretary, Social Welfare Department has been constituted for recommending the roadmap for utilization of services of existing employees/temporary staff already working in the said Board as also for utilization of assets and liabilities of the Social Welfare Board—(KNO)

Srinagar, December 20: “Police and security forces with the support of people will smash every tactic being adopted by the Pak sponsored terror groups to generate fear, and we will foil every evil attempt of anti-peace elements”. This was stated by Director General of Police, J&K Dilbag Singh during his day-long visit to Central Kashmir districts of Ganderbal and Srinagar.

Accompanied by ADGP Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar, DIG Central Kashmir Range, Sujit Kumar and AIG Building, Javid Iqbal Matoo, the DGP during his visit to Ganderbal inaugurated Police Post Nagbal Shuhama, Contingency Response Transit Camp at Sonamarg and also laid foundation stone of Police Station Sonamarg and Kangan. He later laid foundation stone of Police Station Zakoora, Srinagar.

The DGP after laying the foundations of these buildings sought details of the buildings being constructed and the plans of construction and other allied facilities. He directed for finishing the construction and all allied works within stipulated time and also impressed upon providing better work and living facilities to the police personnel. He directed for modification wherever needed and for optimum use of land and resources with due care of landscaping. After the inauguration of Police post Nagbal Shuhama and Contingency Response Transit Camp at Sonamarg, he inspected both the structures to know the facilities created in these structures.The engineers briefed the DGP J&K and other officers regarding the buildings and the plans of construction. He also inspected the Police station and interacted with jurisdictional officers.

While interacting with the jawans and officers at these places, the DGP enquired about the available facilities. He impressed upon the personnel to be more dedicated towards professional duties and continue to work for safety, security of the people. He directed for quick disposal of public grievances.

During the visit to Ganderbal the SSP Ganderbal and other jurisdictional officers also briefed the DGP regarding the measures taken for maintaining the peace and tranquility in the district. He was also briefed regarding the methods adopted to keep the anti-peace elements under check.

DGP, J&K while speaking to the media said that during over last three decades terrorism has disrupted the peace, education of children, career of youth and developmental activities. He said that it has been our effort to provide better and secure environment to the people of J&K for which he said that anti-terror operation would continue so as to track down the remaining terrorists. He said that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is improving very fast and hoped for further improvement in the coming months. He said that despite chilly weather conditions, a large number of tourists are visiting the valley.

With regard to the Shopian encounter, the DGP said that killed terrorists were involved in innocent civilian killings in Shopian and added that the number of active terrorists both local and foreign has come down to the record low. He said that people are living here in coexistence and brotherhood and added that “we will not allow the sponsored groups to harm this bond”. He said that irrespective of weather conditions intensified anti-terror operation would continue.

The DGP said that the infiltration graph has seen decline and those attempted to infiltrate were either killed at the time of infiltration or shortly after the infiltration. He said that the ISI sponsored TRF and Kashmirfight are both mouth pieces of terror outfits aimed to keep terror groups alive. He said that with the support of the people forces would defeat every evil attempt of anti-peace elements.

ADGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar while speaking to reporters about Shopian operation said that the killed terrorists were involved in the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit and a labourer from Nepal. He said that barring one, all modules of terrorists involved in the civilian killings in the last three years have been neutralized. “Lateef Lone, one of the killed terrorists was involved in the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit,” he said, adding that another militant Umer Nazir was involved in the killing of a labourer from Nepal.

The DGP also visited Police Station Zakoora where he was received by SSP Srinagar, Shri Rakesh Balwal and other officers. He took round of the police station and inspected the facilities available for Jawans and officers. He then laid the foundation stone of New Building for the Police Station. He also interacted with the SHO and the personnel deployed there. On the occasion, the DGP was briefed by engineers regarding the plan and outlay of the police station.

Sopore, Dec 20 : The attempts to trace out the body of a teenage girl who jumped in the River Jhelum at Jamia bridge in North Kashmir’s Sopore town continued on ninth straight day on Tuesday while as the deputy commissioner Baramulla Dr Sehrish Asghar visited the family of the teenage girl late this evening after facing multiple public taunts.

Local fishermen community, who have been tracing the girl from day one, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the search to fish out the body was on and that there was no success.

Navigating the whole operation they said that dozens of divers including a team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), local fishermen, Navy and Sopore police were continuously putting their efforts to retrieve the body of the missing teenage girl.

“We had pressed at least 150 men, 80 boats into the service to retrieve the body of a 17-year-old girl from the day first, but the efforts failed and we have decided to call off the search operation”, said Farooq Ahmed, who heads the fishermen community.

He said, that not only of Sopore, but the fishermen from Bandipora and adjoining villages too joined us in the search operations. Farooq said that whatever they were using was of their own and nothing from the administration side.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar during the late evening hours visited the family of the girl and expressed condolences to the family.

She, however, refused to talk to media persons at the spot.

Earlier, locals were expressing their anger against the administration – local as well as district for failing to felicitate the search operation team. “Deputy Commissioner Baramulla and local Municipality head didn’t visit the spot, it’s very shameful and unfortunate on their part”, locals earlier in the day said.

“We saw the SDRF team for just 2 or 3 days and Marcos of the Indian Navy for a day hardly. It was the local fishermen community only who were putting their hectic efforts to trace out the girl”, they added.

They, however, said that there should have a SDRF team situated in Sopore township also to act swiftly soon after such incidents occur in the vicinity. It is seen from the past that a number of such incidents were reported from the town at different spots, be it Jamia Bridge, Chankhan or Bypass one.

“The timely action of SDRF would save the lives of drowned ones”, they said.

Locals also have appealed to the administration to fence the bridges in order to stop the practice of jumping in the river Jehlum.

On day six, locals as well as the police sought the help from an expert of Pulwama – Abdul Salaam, a 64-year-old man from Kakapora area, some 70 km away from the Sopore, who claims to have saved 18 lives and have fished out at least 40 bodies from the various water bodies across the Kashmir Valley. But Salaam’s expertise too didn’t pave anything, citing the flow of Jhelum near the spot.

“It is better to call off the operation and people should make an absentia prayer”, Salaam said while coming out from the Jhelum after due searches.

Pertinently, Salaam’s name came into the limelight after people were commenting on the stories of search operation of a teenage girl on various social media platforms, after which the said expert was contacted and joined the search party at Sopore.

Meanwhile, Muzzafar Shah, a political leader associated with Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference (JKANC) while reacting to the Sopore search operation said that if we have the SDRF teams, why did they fail to fish out the body, is this why they are less equipped ? Shah questions the government.

He said that the government should have involved the army, paramilitary forces as they have enough equipment to deal with such incidents. “I wonder why the local administration failed to put them in service”, Shah said.

While lashing out at the district administration, Shah said that it has come to the media that the administration has not been there even if nine days have passed, he said.

Official versions:

An official from the WUCMA said that soon after they received a call, they without taking much time reached Sopore. “We used a special marine boat, a team of six men for 3 days. We also provided life saving jackets and a wooden boat to the volunteers involved in the rescue operation”, said Reyaz Ahmed, block in charge.

“Our team utilized their personal and financial services to retrieve the body, however yet to avail”, he said. Similarly, an official from the SDRF said, that they carried out the searches, however said that it’s difficult to retrieve the body citing many reasons as to why they failed to retrieve the body.

“The water near the bridge is a bit speedy which is making it difficult for us. Due to damage in the old bridge the planks, stones and residue are stuck in the river bed”, he said.

The meshes of concertina wire that was used during the militancy era is stuck at the river bed which makes it difficult for us to locate the body, the official added—(KNO)