Srinagar, May 12 (GNS): South Kashmir Transporters Association has called for a complete shutdown on Tuesday (May 14) against levying of toll tax by National Highways Authority of India on Srinagar-Jammu highway.

The toll is being collected by NHAI at toll post Kachkoot Sangam in Bijbhara area of Anantnag district.

Bilal Ahmad Dar, President Sumo and Temp owners Union said that a meeting of south Kashmir transporters association was held in which members of all the associations participated.

“It was unanimously decided to call for a one day shutdown oin May 14 keeping in view the holy month of Ramazan,” he said.

“We called for only day’s strike in wake of the holy month of Ramazan. Otherwise if government fail to do away with levying toll tax on locals across Jammu and Kashmir and not only those living within 20 kilometers from the toll post, we will go for an indefinite strike,” he said.

The association said that transporters and other related business community earn their livelihood under difficult situation from last 30 years and levying toll tax is unacceptable to people of entire Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that administration should ensure that the assurance given by Governor Satya Pal Malik that no toll will be imposed on people across Jammu and Kashmir is translated on ground.

Presently the toll is being collected which has resulted in tremendous hardship to the people especially the transport community. The transporters under the banner South Kashmir Transporters Association also staged a protest on Sunday afternoon against levying of toll despite assurance by State’s head that no toll shall be collected from locals. (GNS)

Naveed ul Haq

Budgam, May 12 : Scores of people on Sunday hit the streets in Magam town of Budgam and staged a protest against the gruesome rape incident with a three year old girl in Malikpora Bandipora.

Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said scores of people mostly youths assembled at Main Chowk of Magam and demanded exemplary punishment on fast track basis to the accused who allegedly raped the minor in Sumbal Bandipora.

The protestors were holding placards with the messages like “Girls are not toys”, “Hang the rapist Tahir Ahmad” and “We want Justice”.

Reports said that massive protest turned into clashes later and forces deployed in the area fired tear smoke shells to disperse them.

Clashes in the area was on when last reports came in.

Pertinently, An FIR number 81/2019, under section 363/342/376 RPC has been registered in Sumbal police station and further investigation has been initiated.

Srinagar, May 12 : A body of a 3-year old girl was recovered from river Jehlum near Khanabal area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Sunday afternoon.

Reports reaching said that the some locals spotted the body floating inside the river near Khanabal and accordingly informed police about it.

Soon after being informed a police team rushed to the spot and retrieved the body from the Jehlum, they said.

A police officer also confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Nusrat Jan (3) daughter of Abdul Wahid Bajad, a resident of Mir Danter village.

The officer said that the girl was missing since May 3. The body has been taken to District Hospital Anantnag for medico-legal formalities including the postmortem.

The girl died apparently due to drowning, however, the actual cause of death will be ascertained once the postmortem report will come, he said. (GNS)

Srinagar: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the horrific rape incident of 3-year old girl from Bandipora and said that the accused should be stoned to death.

Taking to micro blogging site Twitter, Ms. Mufti said that in such cases, Sharia laws seems apt in the society so that such pedophiles can be stoned to death.

Ms. Mufti Twitted, “Mortified to hear about the rape of a 3 yr old girl in Sumbal. What kind of a sick pervert would do this?Society often blames women for inviting unwanted attention but what was this child’s fault?Times like these, Shariah law seems apt so that such paedophiles are stoned to death.”

Suhail Khan

Srinagar, May 12 : At least twenty sheep were killed and others were injured late last night in Upper reaches of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Shepherds alleged that a group of people attacked them while police has taken samples to ascertain nature of the injuries to ascertain whether the injuries were inflicted by wild animals or claims of shepherds are true.

A police officer told GNS that a shepherd Waseem Ahmad Mir, a resident of Adipora Sopore has lodged a complaint with police station Sopore alleging therein that a group of at least 15 people carried the attack killing 20 sheep and injuring 20 others.

The officer said that the based on the complaint a case has been registered and further investigations taken up.

He said that a team of doctors have taken samples to ascertain nature of the injuries on sheep.

“We are assertaing whether the animals were attacked by wild beasts or the contents of the complaint or true or otherwise,” the officer said. (GNS)

Umer Rashid

Srinagar, May 11 : Two militants of LeT were killed in an encounter with government forces at Satipora area of Shopian district in south Kashmir on Sunday wee hours.

A senior Police officer told GNS that the encounter broke out at Hend Satipora village today wee hours after joint team of army’s 34 RR, SOG and CRPF cordoned off the area.

The cordon was laid following the credible inputs about the presence of some militants in the area, the officer said.

He said that during the course of gunfight both the militants hiding in the area were killed.

The bodies of the slain were recovered along with as many weapons and other war like stores, the officer said.

He said that the duo were wanted in several militant related attacks.

Sources identified the slain as Basharat Ahmad of Nikloora and Tariq Ahmad of Khasipora.

Tariq, an SPO turned militant, they said, adding that Tariq had decamped with his service rifle on 26th April last year from Police Post Pakherpora where he was posted.

Sources said that both the militants were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba militant outfit.

Meanwhile, in wake of the encounter the authorities has snapped the internet services in the southern district. (GNS)