An 18-year old youth was abducted and later shot dead by unknown gunmen at Niklora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on late Thursday evening.

Reports reaching GNS said that the unknown gunmen abducted the youth, Nadeem Manzoor Dar (18), from his home at Safanagri village in Shopian. Nadeem’s body was later found at Niklora village in neighbouring Pulwama district, they said.

Confirming the incident, SSP Pulwama Chandan Kohli said that the Bullet-ridden body of the slain Manzoor was recovered from the area and taken to nearby by hospital for conducting medico legal formalities, he said.

Soon after the incident government forces launched massive searches in the area to nab the suspected militants, he said.

Another police officer said that a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in concerned police station and further investigations taken up in this regard.

Meanwhile, reports said that one more civilian shahid Ahmad Dar (25)son of Abdul Rahim Dar of Safnagri village went missing and his whereabouts were unknown when this report was filed.

People of Tanghdar village in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have called clerics to perform rituals to ward off the ghosts which they believe are behind the sudden fires in the vicinity.

Sudden fires since past several days in Sheikh Mohalla of Khandi area in Tandghar have also left the administration perplexed.

According to reports, fires started all of a sudden in at least four heaps of grass kept by the villagers in open. There have been sudden fires in rooftops of some houses too. Besides, some cowsheds have been completely gutted.

The houses which have suffered partial damage include that of Abdul Gafoor, Abdul Hameed Sheikh, Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh and Khursheed Sheikh, the locals said.

Locals said they invited several clerics for a special ceremonial ritual in the village.

“We have been told that there are numerous ghosts in the village who are behind these fires,” a local said.

“We have conducted an elaborate religious ritual in this regard,” he added.

Faced with the situation, the administration has kept fire tenders in the village to douse off the flames as and when they emerge.

“We are puzzled. Despite putting best efforts, we are not able to figure out how these fires take place,” SDM Mohammad Ilyas told GNS.

A scooty rider died while as his pillion injured in a road mishap at Hamadar area of Hayhama in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Thursday evening.

A police officer told that the scooty rider Nadeem Ahmad Khan (25) son of Nayeem Ahmad Khan of Manzhar and his pillion Waheed Ahmad Khan (26) son of Mohd Akbar Khan of Hamadar were injured after a load carrier vehicle (JK09A- 5091) hit the scooty (JK09A- 8613) at Hamadar, Hayhama.

Both the injured were taken to Sub-district hospital Kupwara where Nadeem succumbed to injuries.

The condition of the Waheed is said to be stable, he said.

In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigations taken up, the officer added.

SDM Bijbehara administers oath of office to the president Municipal Committee Bijbehera, Shaheena Nida and vice president Avtar Krishnan Raina in the office chambers of Municipal Committee Bijbehara, today.

While talking to media, president Municipal Committee Bijbehara, Shaheena Nida said she will work for the development of Bijbehara being historical town.

Vice President Municipal Committee Bijebhera, Avtar Krishnan said we will support president in all developmental programs.

Present on the occasion were Ex.off Municipal Committee Bijbehara Ab.Rashid Teeli, senior Congress leader Mohd Abdullah Nadaf, Iqbal Ahamed and others.

Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir Ameer Dr Abdul Hamid Fayaz on Thursday met Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani at his residence at Hyderpora Srinagar.

The Ameer-e-Jamaat also accompanied by other members of the organization expressed sympathy with the octogenarian leader over the demise of his son-in-law.

A spokesperson of Jamaat in a statement said that the delegation met the veteran leader and expressed condolences on the death of his son-in-law Ghulam Hassan Makhdoomi, who died in SKIMS on Tuesday night.

He said that the delegation comprised of Faheem Mohammad Ramzan (Secretary General), Nazir Ahmad Rana (Guidance Bureau head), Advocate Zahid Ali (Political Bureau head) and Reyaz Ahmad Nadvi (Secretary to Amir-e-Jama’at).

The delegation also enquired about the health condition of the veteran leader and prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased Makhdoomi.

MLA Shopian Adv. Mohd Yousuf Bhat has expressed anguish over the pesky power supply in Shopian. The power scenario in Shopian has worsened since last snowfall and has taken the toll on the entire population of the district.
In a statement issued to KNS, Adv Mohd Yousuf Bhat said “it is surprising to see that few inches of snow has snapped the power supply to this district and since then is playing hide and seek with the people. The entire district is facing erratic power supply and administration is invisible on ground”.

“The frequency of power cuts in entire district has increased and has rendered the whole population of the district in darkness, with no indication of improvement in the near future. The power cuts are more frequent and extended during the evening hours. The situation in the rural areas is far worse and most of the villages don’t get electricity for days together,” MLA said.

He said that the power supply is under tremendous stress and common consumers including the students and traders are bearing the brunt of unscheduled power cuts and Irked by the frequent power cuts, the people from all walks of life have started taking to streets to protest against the power shortage.
“People of Shopian are paying electricity dues properly and in time, and yet are reeling under darkness. Administration had promised it would supply uninterrupted electricity in few days but the same has proved to be a hoax,” Bhat added.

He warned that if Power Development Department fails to supply uninterrupted electricity to the people, then the business community will be forced to come on roads. While extending his full support to the bandh call called by Traders federation Shopian, MLA impressed upon the governor administration to intervene and get the power supply restored to this hill district as unscheduled power cuts are adding to the miseries of the local population in this chilly winter.

The Annual examination of Class 10th and 11th concluded today across Kashmir Division.
The students expressed satisfaction over the various arrangements like heating, lighting etc. put in place by the Department of School Education during the examination.

For the smooth conduct of examination and heating and lighting facilities to be provided to the students during the examination, Director School Education Kashmir, Dr. G.N. Itoo had passed strict directions and activated the whole Department particularly concerned examination staff.

To check the ground level implementation of the directions DSEK today visited many examination centres and interacted with the students directly and asked them about the facilities provided by the concerned examination centres.

During the interaction students expressed satisfaction over all the arrangements put in place by the Department during the examination after the strong directions from DSEK. DSEK visited Pulwama and Shopian Districts of South Kashmir along with the concerned District Development Commissioners today.

DSEK visited examination centers at Govt Girls Higher Secondary School Pulwama and Govt Higher Secondary Institute Rajpora in Pulwama along with DDC Pulwama G.M. Dar.

Dr. Itoo also visited many examination centres in Shopian along with DDC Shopian Dr. Owais Ahmad.

On the occasion, DDCs of both the Districts reiterated that District administration had already made sufficient arrangements for the smooth conduct of Board examinations in the District and today have achieved desired results in conducting these exams in the transparent and fair manner.

Meanwhile DSEK said that due to unprecedented weather conditions students of the valley face lot of problems in some areas, but Department of School Education tried its best to provide all relevant facilities to the students in exam centres to ensure fair examination.
He thanked District administration for coordination and expressed satisfaction over the smooth conduct of the examination and proper heating, seating and lighting arrangements made in all exam centres.