Umar Rashid

Srinagar, June 03: One more body has been found after brief exchange of firing took place between Militants and army in Moolu Chitragam area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday wee hours.

Reports reaching GNS said that second body has been also recovered after militants fired upon the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of CO 44RR party in Moolu chitragam after they were passing through the area.

Earlier A police officer also confirmed to GNS about the exchange of firing between militants and army in the area.

As per the sources searches in the area are going on to see if any more militant body is present there. (GNS)

SRINAGAR, JUNE 02: Advisor to Governor, K. K. Sharma, today hailed the valour displayed by tourist guide Rouf Dar, who sacrificed his life while rescuing tourists, after a boat capsized near Rafting Point in Pahalgam yesterday.

In a statement, the Advisor said that the courage, bravery, and self-sacrifice of Dar is exemplary and would be remembered for long. 

Meanwhile, the Advisor also extended his condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul. 

Srinagar, Jun 02 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice President Abdul Rahman Veeri on Saturday hailed the courage and sacrifice of Tourist Guide Rouf Ahmad Dar terming him an emblem of Kashmir’s hospitality and helpfulness.

In a statement issued, Veeri expressed grief and sorrow over Dar’s sad demise. However, he said that the entire state is proud of him and his valour. “He will continue to live in people’s hearts and minds and he has shown to the world the hospitality and generously Kashmir is known for centuries,” Veeri said.

The PDP Vice President also condoled with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to departed soul. 

Srinagar, Jun 02 :  CPI-M leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Sunday urged the Governor administration to release the pending wages of casual/season/need-based labourers, daily-wagers, Aganwari workers, helpers, ASHA and mid-day-meal workers and other scheme workers before Eid festival.

In a statement issued, Tarigami said, “The insensitive approach of the state government towards the long pending legitimate grievances these poor workers is unfortunate. They work with dedication but have been pushed to the wall and the government seems to be insensitive towards their well-being. They are working on meagre wages since long and that too are not being released forcing them to come on roads.”

“The weaker and poorer sections of the society have been totally neglected by the government which has severely hit their means of livelihood. Most of these workers are the sole breadwinners of their respective families and how will they manage their day-to-day expenditure if government doesn’t pay them their wages?,” he said.

CPI (M) leader said, “They are being paid peanuts after putting up lot of hard work and that too is being denied to them on time which is gross injustice. The government makes tall claims when it comes to the welfare of poor, but the reality is that injustice is being done with them.”

He demanded release of wages in favour of all those workers pending for several months without any further delay, in view of Eid festival. Besides, hike in honorarium and release of pending salaries, the government must implement the pension scheme and gratuity of Rs two lakh for workers and Rs one lakh for helpers on retirement.

“MGNREGA employees, Contractuals, Need Based, Seasonal, Casual Labouers, Daily Wagers are neglected and their long pending demands are not met. Daily wagers/casual labourers are awaiting their regularization although government had issued SRO two years back, which is quite disappointing,” he added.

Srinagar, Jun 02 : Laylat-al-Qadr (The Night of Power) was observed across the entire subcontinent and South Asia including Kashmir with religious gaiety and fervor.

In this regard, the biggest religious gathering in Kashmir was held at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar in which tens of thousands of devotees from across the Valley including a large number of women participated in all night prayers and Zikr seeking forgiveness of Almighty and acceptance of their supplications and praying for world peace and resolution of the grave problems that Muslims across the world are caught in.

The spiritually uplifting Majlis Waz-o-tableeg is unique to the valley in its rendition instructiveness and collective style of prayer.

On the occasion, Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq while addressing the religious and spiritual gathering at Jamia Masjid shed light on the significance of Laylat al-Qadr, the revolutionary revelation of the Holy Quran, and the message of Holy Quran and urged Muslims to adopt the Islamic way of life.

Terming the challenges and problems that the Muslim Ummah was caught in today as greatly being a result of deviation from the teachings of Holy Quran, he said a flawed understanding of the message of Islam and following Islam as per convenience and sectarian leanings rather than in its spirit was responsible for the mess Muslims were entangled in worldwide.

Stressing that the message of Quran and teachings of Islam will have be incorporated in our lives, the Mirwaiz said Muslims could not witness prosperity and peace unless we do not do so. He said introspection into our individual and collective life and interactions is needed on a regular basis to see where we stand and where we need to improve.

Referring to the ongoing situation in Kashmir, the Mirwaiz appealed the people of Kashmir to observe Eid al-Fitr with simplicity and urged people to think of the underprivileged the poor the orphans and the needy and share our celebration and happiness of the festival with them.

He said the message of Ramadan of being sympathetic and concerned toward each other maintaining brotherhood and sacrificing for one another should be followed during the entire year so that reforms in society are brought in the real sense.

On the occasion, the Mirwaiz while terming unity among Muslims as a must for the supremacy of Islam prayed for Jannat-ul-Firdous for all the martyrs of Kashmir and for the just struggle of Kashmiris to reach its goal. 

Srinagar, Jun 02 : Facing huge defeat in the parliament polls in Jammu against BJP, the state Congress party is holding a “review” meeting here in Srinagar under the leadership of Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The meeting is being held at Nigeen Club in Srinagar and will be attended by senior leaders of the state.

Sources in Congress said that the meeting has been organised to review the party’s functioning post-election defeat in Jammu and Kashmir seats in the parliament elections.

Though named as ‘Iftaar party’, sources in Congress said the meeting has been called to review party’s position after elections debacle and discuss the way out to successfully contest coming assembly elections against BJP.

Besides Azad, senior Congress leaders who are participating in the meeting include G A Mir, Saif-u-Din Soz, Tariq Hamid Karra, Vikramadatya Singh, Madan Lal Sharma, Mula Ram and others.

Srinagar, Jun 02 : Weatherman in Kashmir, Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus has forecast light spell of rain in Kashmir from Monday afternoon.

Talking to news agency, Lotus said that temperature touched 30 degress in Kashmir in the last few days, while Jammu is reeling under heat wave.

He said that people in Kashmir will have a relief from rising temperature from Monday afternoon as light spell of rain will occur along with thunderstorm at some places. (KNS)

Exam ends at 4.p.m. and far-flung students unlikely to reach home to celebrate Eid with loved ones

Srinagar, June 02 : The 2^nd semester students of 1st year, who are scheduled to write their examination on June 4, again urged authorities to reschedule it in wake of the Arfa (a day before Eid).

“The authorities should take a realistic view and consider the difficulties faced by students from far flung areas,” a group of students said and reiterated it would be difficult for them to reach examination venue and back home given the fact traffic gridlocks have been order of the day in run up to Eid celebrations.

 “Our EVS paper is scheduled on June 4 which is Arfa (day before Eid).  I’m to appear in the examination at Rainawari and the examination is scheduled to end late in the afternoon. How could I reach home at Kupwara given the fact that there would be huge rush and probability of finding a sumo vehicle is also very meager,” said a student who studies at Vishwa Bharti educational Institute. The students said normally she stays at rented accommodation here but celebrating Eid with the family would be difficult and as such University authorities should defer it post Eid-ul-fitr. “The Eid is the most cherished festival and the one which allows family togetherness but if examination is held as per the schedule, many students would not be able to reach home and celebrate the festival with their respective families,” she added.  

The examination is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. The sumo services have already stopped plying from Srinagar to Kupwara as they have to cater to inter district rush. Presently mini vehicles that ply and they take more than a double time than a sumo vehicle.  “How could somebody reach far off places like Kupwara while we may reach Lal Chowk by 6 p.m.,” the student said.

A number of students who belong to south Kashmir districts also shared same views and urged the university authorities to reschedule the examination.

 “There would be one-way traffic on most of the roads and reaching the examination centre would be very difficult. If the examination is held on time, we will have to stay at rented accommodation and cannot go home and celebrate the Eid with family,” they said and urged authorities to reschedule the examination keeping in view the importance of celebrating the festival with the family.  “We request the authorities to consider our genuine demand and reschedule it. Some family members are also stuck with us here,” they said and urged the authorities to reschedule the examination. (GNS)