Precious Kashmir

Pak intruder killed in Samba sector: BSF

Front

08/02/2021

Jammu: The Border Security Force on Monday shot dead a Pakistani intruder along international border in Samba sector in Jammu and Kashmir, a BSF spokesman said.

“At about 9.40 am, the BSF troops observed a Pak Intruder heading towards a fence in the area of Border Outpost Chak Faquira, Sector Samba, Jammu,” the spokesman said.

Despite repeated warnings, he said that the intruder kept moving under suspicious circumstances and approached fencing in an aggressive manner towards the BSF fence and was fired upon by BSF troops.

In the firing the intruder was shot dead.

The spokesman said a tunnel was also detected in this area recently.

Physical classes up to class 8 resumed in all summer zone schools of Jammu Div

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

08/02/2021

DSEJ inspects various schools in Jammu, Samba districts

JAMMU: A week after reopening of schools for 9th to 12th classes, the physical class work was today resumed for the students up to class 8th in all summertime zone schools of Jammu Division .

The schools have reopened for the first time for physical classes since March 2020 and the students after these were closed in wake of Covid Pandemic. The students were welcomed with flowers, balloons, sweets and chocolates by the teachers and staff members.

Director School Education Jammu, Anuradha Gupta, in her message congratulated all the stakeholders including students, their parents and staff members for the reopening up of schools and at the same time cautioned everyone to follow all the safety measures properly.

The DSEJ also visited various schools of Jammu district in the morning and then followed it up with a whirlwind tour of District Samba where she inspected Government Middle School Datta Talab, Govt Girls High School Birpur and Govt Higher secondary school Birpur among other institutions. She interacted with the students and other stakeholders, collected feedback to ensure smooth and hassle free continuation of classwork and gave on spot directions where ever necessary.

Similar inspections were carried out by CEOs, DIET Principals, ZEOs and HOIs to ensure smooth opening up of schools and class work.

Anuradha Gupta said that all the SOPs and guidelines were being followed and every care was being taken to ensure safety and security of the students and staff members.

“Every crisis comes with an opportunity. While we missed on lot many things, a lot could have been achieved in this year that was lost to Covid, we did manage to take advantage of closed school buildings certain things which otherwise would not have been and uplifted them, beatified the campuses and made them vibrant and student friendly”, she said.

It is pertinent to mention here that, Directorate of School Education Jammu had taken up various developmental works in schools during these covid induced vacations in schools like upliftment and renovation of school buildings, refurbishing by providing furniture and other equipments, starting herbal and nutritional gardens, augmenting libraries, laboratories and computer labs. etc.

Trio including a Govt employee arrested, rusty revolver recovered

City

Precious Kashmir

08/02/2021

Budgam: Joint Forces have arrested a government employee along with his two relatives and recovered a rusty pistol from their possession in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Police sources told News Agency Kashmir News Trust that soldiers from 53 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir arrested three persons during the intervening night of Feb 7 and 8.

Sources identified them as a former militant Bashir Ahmad Shah of Arigam, khansahab, Faisal Farooq and Inam-ul-Haq, both residents of Chatabal Srinagar.

Sources added that Shah is a government employee working in the Education Department.

All have been detained at Police Station Khansahab area of Budgam.

Sources said that on their disclosure, a rusty revolver and an AK-47 magazine were recovered. (KNT)

Pick pocket gang busted, three held in North Kashmir’s Sopore

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

08/02/2021

Sopore: Sopore Police in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district Monday claimed to have arrested a three-member gang of pick pockets.

The trio whom police identified as Nisar Ahmad Mathanji, son of Abdul Subhan Mathanji of Ashtangoo Bandipora, Danish Manzoor Ganie, son of Manzoor Ahmad Ganie of Putkha Muqam Sopore and Waseem Ahmad Sofi son of Abdul Gani Sofi of Seer Jagir Sopore were picked up for questioning following continuous reports of pick pocketing and theft at crowded places of main town Sopore for the past couple of days, a police statement said.

During sustained interrogation, the trio confessed to the crime which led to the recovery of stolen property.

Earlier, Police Station Sopore had registered two different FIRs into the matter. (KNT)

Div Com reviews progress on Manasbal Lake

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

08/02/2021

Stresses on work expedition on Island, other projects

SRINAGAR: The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today chaired a meeting of officers to take stock of the progress made in the execution of Manasbal Lake development project under PMDP.

The meeting, among others was attended by Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal (through videoconferencing), CE I&FC, Director RDD, CEO WMDA, ACD Ganderbal, Tehsildar Lar and other concerned.

At the outset, the Div Com instructed concerned to pace up the work process on the development of the island inside the lake along with construction of a wooden bridge.

He emphasized on work completion of pending pathway construction and related works adjacent to Manasbal Lake.

Instructions were issued to the concerned Revenue officers to conduct a demarcation drive, mutation and acquiring of land for the pathway construction.

The Div Com said that flow of sewerage should be stopped into the lake by locals and impressed upon the concerned to provide toilets, septic tanks and waste management pits to all households living within the 100 meters periphery of the lake. He instructed concerned to take up the works under SBM and MGNREGA schemes on priority.

He further emphasized on identifying the land for rehabilitation of Manasbal dwellers to relocate affected families on war footing.

CUK starting B.A LLB Honours, PG Diploma in Cyber Security and Cyber Forensics progs

City

Precious Kashmir

08/02/2021

VC chairs PMB, UBC meetings

Ganderbal: Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Monday said the varsity is starting new programmes including B.A LLB Honours, PG Diploma in Cyber Security and Cyber Forensics, Diploma in Urdu Journalism and is also establishing the Department of Hindi and Centre for PIL and Legal Aid.

Pertinent to mention that the admission to other newly started post-graduate programmes in Botany and Chemistry has been done and Kashmiri is in progress.

“These programmes have already been approved by the Academic Council and would be started from current academic session,” Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir said while chairing and addressing the joint meeting of the 7^th Planning and Monitoring Board (PMB) and 28^th University Building Committee (UBC) at Green Campus here.

Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Controller of Examinations, Prof. Parveen Pandit, Director Research and Development, Prof. G M Bhat, Finance Officer, Prof. Fayaz A Nikka, Director, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) Prof. Farooq A Shah, Deans of Schools, experts from diverse fields administrative officers were present both offline and online. Prof. Mehraj ud Din said the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has provided an additional 94.6 Kanals of Land to the university at Watlar Ganderbal. “The university has taken the possession of the land and the Geo-technical investigation and topographical survey of the newly allotted chunk of land would be taken up immediately,” he said adding the land would be utilized for construction of townships including hostels for boys and girls, residential quarters for the staff, both teaching and administrative and VC lodge. Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir thanked the Honorable Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Manoj Sinha, worthy Advisors, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, District Development Commissioner, Ganderbal, and the District Administration for their full support and cooperation in this regard. He said the varsity is continuously pursuing to get the additional land as assured by the former Chief Minister, Late Mr. Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. Vice Chancellor also discussed the adoption of the New Education Policy 2021, implementation of the e-governance project, and the progress made on the Design and Innovation Centre (DIC) project.

Earlier, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, welcomed the guests and apprised them about the functioning of the university post Covid-19 pandemic outbreak and harsh winter conditions. He said the teaching learning process continued during the lockdown and also in winter through the online mode and the university was successful in conducting the End Semester Examinations of the students, despite several constraints. Prof. Zargar, who also took up the agenda items, said the teachers worked from home during the winter period, conducted online classes and completed around two units of the syllabi as per the record. He said all the teachers have reported physically to the university today.

Finance Officer and Project Director, DIC, Prof. Fayaz A Nikka also spoke on the occasion and gave a detailed account about the project. He said the objective of the centre was to bridge the gap between the innovators and the society through research in diverse fields, adding, the DIC has developed several prototypes which would be evaluated by an evaluation committee. Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah presented the vote of thanks.

Police trace 2 missing siblings

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

08/02/2021

Sopore: Baramulla Police on Monday traced two missing minors of Sopore, North Kashmir from Baramulla. The two brothers went missing from their village of Nowpora, Sopore.

Faizan Ahmed and Rizwan Ahmed, son of Mohammad Ashraf, residents of Nowpora aged 14 and 12 years old went missing on Saturday, after which their parents lodged a missing report in the local police station.

Immediately after the lodgement of the complaint, Police began searching for the missing duo and found them in Baramulla last evening.

According to the police, as soon as the report of the disappearance was lodged, they became active and searched for the two brothers.

At last the police succeeded in tracing both of the missing brothers from the Baramulla town.

Won’t allow business over hunger in country: Tikait reacts to PM’s speech

National

United News Of India

08/02/2021

New Delhi: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday reiterated farmers’ demand for a law on MSP for crops along with the repeal of the three agri-marketing laws and said that business over hunger will not be allowed in the country.
“Desh mein bhook pe vyaapaar nahi hoga. Bhook kitni lagegi anaaj ki keemat utni hogi. Desh mein bhook se vyaapaar karne walon ko baahar nikaala jaaega (There will not be business over hunger in the country. If hunger goes up, price of crops will be decided accordingly. Those wanting business over hunger will be driven out of the country),” Mr Tikait told media.

His comment came in reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Rajya Sabha address today, wherein he has assured farmers that Minimum Support Price will last forever. “MSP tha, MSP hai aur MSP rahega (MSP was there, MSP is there, MSP will continue,” said Mr Modi while requesting farmer unions to call off the agitation which has been going on for the last 75 days.

The farmers’ protest leader further said that the price of crops will not be decided the way the rates of a flight ticket fluctuate several times a day. “The way rates of a flight ticket fluctuate three to four times a day, the price of crops will not be decided the same way,” he said.

In response to Mr Modi’s statement on the emergence of a new community from the protest, Mr Tikait said, “This time it is the farmers’ community which has emerged and people are also supporting the farmers.”

“This movement was first portrayed as Punjab’s issue, then Sikhs” then Jats, so on and so forth. The farmers of the country are united. There is no small farmer or a big farmer. The movement belongs to all farmers,” he added.

Climate change

Edit

Precious Kashmir

08/02/2021

Climate change has hastened glacial melting, home to some of the world’s tallest peaks, including Mount Everest, according to a latest study. It says the melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled since the start of the 21st century due to rising temperatures, losing over a vertical foot and half of ice each year and potentially threatening water supply for hundreds.

The analysis, spanning 40 years of satellite observations across India, China, Nepal and Bhutan, indicates that climate change is eating the Himalayan glaciers

Among others, the phenomena associated with retreating glaciers threaten regional water security. Dark debris cover, as per a survey, absorbs solar radiation rather than deflecting it and therefore often increases a glacier’s rate of retreat. In a recent study on the state of more than 250 glaciers in the Suru River basin in northern India, scientists found an increase in debris cover of almost 62% from 1971 to 2017.

Even environmental experts have attributed the Nanda Devi glacial in Uttarkhand melt to global warming. Glacier retreat and permafrost thaw are projected to decrease the stability of mountain slopes and increase the number and area of glacier lakes, according to the latest assessment reports of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Based on the studies, it is almost an inevitable conclusion that glacier melt is set to accelerate in the Himalayas as a result of climate change in times ahead. It has severe consequences for the livelihood of those populations living downstream.

According to the researches, air temperatures will continue to increase and precipitation will become unpredictable. The consequences of glacier melt are enormous, and one can only make assumptions about the disastrous it will bring about to the region. One such tragedy has just unfolded in Uttarkhand.

There is a need to mitigate the impact of climate change and subsequent glacier melt on the lives of the people of the region including Jammu and Kashmir. There is no alternative and for the people to adapt to the climate change and its ramifications. The governments—centre and the local— must start planning now about the measures needed and not wait for the natural hazard to take place. There is also need to improving forest cover and other means to absorb the carbon dioxide emissions which leads to increase in the temperatures. The consequences of failures are grave and as such all measures should be taken to save lives.

4G rejuvenates hope about revival of online businesses in Kashmir

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

08/02/2021

4G rejuvenates hope about revival of online businesses in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 7: Restoration of high speed internet services in Jammu and Kashmir has rejuvenated the hopes about online businesses getting revived in the Valley.
The internet services in Kashmir were snapped on August5, 2019, when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&K’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories.
The 2G and the fixed line internet services were restored in January 2020, but the ban on high speed internet remained in force till February 5, 2021.
“Soon after the internet services were snapped in the valley, many online companies had to either wind up their businesses or had to shift their bases outside J&K,” said an entrepreneur.
He said that the internet ban had hit everyone. “As the 4G has been restored we are hoping that we will be once again able to pick the threads where we had left them on August 5, 2019,” he added.
A travel agent said, “Restoration of 4G services means we can interact with our prospective clients in a much faster way and we will be able to generate more business. During 2G times we were unable to send the pictures and videos to our clients promptly due to which people used to lose interest in our proposals and holiday packages we were offering.”
A businessman said, “Internet has revolutionized the world. The ban on 4G had pushed us back into the primitive ages. We are hopeful about our things working out faster now and the e-commerce which has taken a hit will get revived.”
He said, “During the past few years most of the businesses have moved to the online platforms. But during the past one and half year we were out of competition. Now we are hoping that we will be able to make our presence felt again. The business terms have changed. It’s all about how prompt one is. The internet platforms provide multiple choices to the customers and in absence of 4G services we were almost out of business for so long.”
It’s in place to mention here that high speed internet services were restored in J&K on February 5, 2021. These services remained suspended for 550 days.
The 4G facility was restored on a trial basis in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal and Jammu region’s Udhampur districts on August 16 last year after the Supreme Court’s intervention. In the rest of 18 J&K districts, the internet speed remained to be restricted to 2G only.

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