KD Desk
Ganderbal, Jan 20 : A resident of Srinagar on Sunday died in a road accident in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Reports said an elderly man died on spot after a two wheeler which he was driving hit with four wheeler private vehicle at Khruma area of Ganderbal this afternoon.
The deceased identified as Ghulam Nabi Tantary son of Abdul Razak Tantary resident of NawaBagh Srinagar.
Meanwhile police took cognizance of this accident.
Suhail Rather
Bandipora, 21 Jan: An employee working with Hindustan Constructions Company (HCC) died due to asphyxiation at Sonerwani village in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Sunday morning.
An official said Ramesh Singh resident of Himachal Pradesh died due to suffocation as he has kept gas heater on during last night at his rented room.
“He was working as storekeeper in HCC and was living in a rented accommodation in Sonerwani,” said the official.
His body was shifted to SDH Bandipora for postmortem, he said.
Srinagar recorded minus 0.3 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature on Sunday compared to Saturday’s minus 3.0.
Similarly the minimum temperature improved to minus 3.0 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam compared to Saturday’s minus 4.4. Gulmarg recorded minus 4.6 degrees.
The valley is passing through the 40-day long period of harsh winter cold that started on December 21 and will end on January 30.
Leh town had minus 9.7 degrees Celsius while Drass town of the Ladakh region recorded minus 12.8 degrees as the night’s lowest temperatures.
Jammu city recorded 9.5 degrees Celsius, Katra town 10.6, Batote 4.3, Bannihal 2.2 and Bhaderwah 2.0 degrees asc the minimum temperatures.(IANS)
Tehmeena Bukhari
On June 14 last year, the Kashmiri journalist was shot dead by terrorists. And with that, a voice of peace has forever been silenced, writes his wife
It is hard to write about a person who means everything to you. It is hard to put into words the irreparable loss and suffering that his death brings. It has been more than five months since Shujaat Bukhari, my husband, was killed in Srinagar. Since his murder — unsolved to this day — we have been dying a little everyday, slowly and bitterly. His murder and then his absence have filled us with a deep and profound sense of loss.
What did the killers of Shujaat Bukhari achieve?
Shujaat was a journalist above all else, a reporter for The Hindu and Frontline and the editor of Kashmir Rising. He loved Kashmir and wrote of it with feeling. He was devoted to peace, which was the ethical foundation of his journalism. Did his murderers celebrate his assassination? Did it provide them with something, the something that they took away from us? Are they at peace knowing that they have killed a man of peace? The murder of Shujaat Bukhari has silenced a voice of peace and damaged the cause of peace.
Elusive peace
Violence troubled Shujaat. It went against his personality. He valued peace and justice — from peace in the house to peace in the streets. Any episode of violence, particularly when people died, disturbed him. He would be troubled for days afterwards. It was difficult, therefore, for this man, to have lived and worked in a world where peace has been elusive. Shujaat began his career as a reporter in the 1980s, when the struggles inside and around Kashmir escalated. From his first days on the job, he had to navigate the reality of violence and his own longing for peace.
Shujaat was not a naive man. He believed that when social interaction between people increased, then the reasons for their rancour decreased. I remember well the days when he threw himself into the Confidence Building Measures dynamic. This was one of those brief openings when the governments of India and Pakistan decided to shake hands. Shujaat believed that open trade and open travel across the Line of Control that divides Kashmir would bring people closer. As these connections developed, he would say, bitterness between people would decrease. We, his family, did not understand most of it but we knew he was sincere. We knew that he would obsessively follow events on both sides of the border, that he looked for openings towards peace everywhere.
Shujaat loved Kashmir. He believed that we should remain in our home and that he should write stories that explained the situation in the Valley for people around the world and within Kashmir. In 2008, Shujaat founded Rising Kashmir, a newspaper that had a major impact in the State. It was Rising Kashmir that modelled honest and truthful reporting of events that are fast-moving and difficult to understand.
Hard life
Shujaat believed that a newspaper should create a place for nuance and for dialogue. Many people spoke harshly against him. He engaged everyone in dialogue and defended the right to hold different opinions till his death. He was murdered for opinions that someone did not like, even as he defended the right of others to hold opinions different from his own.
In his column, ‘On The Record’ Shujaat wrote with feeling about the hardness of life. He never missed a column. The paper now republishes his old columns. I am told that this column is reprinted to remind people of what he said, to remind us how little changes and how much remains the same. Many youngsters who worked at Rising Kashmir developed their craft in the newspaper and now work as leaders in so many important publications in India.
Part of his love for Kashmir was his love for the Kashmiri language. Shujaat was an advocate of the vernacular press. It was because of him that the Kashmir Media House added in Sangarmal (in Kashmiri) and Buland Kashmir (in Urdu) to their list of publications. In his columns, Shujaat championed Kashmiri and other vernacular languages. It was his love for Kashmir that moved his agenda of peace.
Last year, we visited the offices of The Hindu and Frontline in Chennai. It was a chance for me to see him with journalists of publications outside Kashmir for which he wrote. He was in his element. It was clear that he was happiest when around reporters. Right after Shujaat’s death, Kashmir Media House and its publications faltered. But we now realise that these institutions are Shujaat’s legacy. Journalism geared to peace was his life and we are committed to continue the institutions that he helped create.
The writer is a doctor in Srinagar.
The Article First Appeared On The Hindu
The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau filed charge sheet against two officials of the consumer affairs and public distribution (CAPD) department in a bribery case on Saturday.
The charge sheet against then tehsil supply officer Nazir Ahmad Wani and then storekeeper Farooq Ahmad Mir was filed in the court of the special judge (anti-corruption) in Doda, a spokesman said.
The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed on February 11.
Giving details of the case, the spokesman said Wani and Mir were booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code in 2017, on a complaint filed by a rational dealer.
According to the complainant, the duo used to harass him and seek bribe at the time of disbursement of carriage charges.
The complainant alleged that in November 2017 an amount of Rs 1.50 lakh was transferred to his account on account of carriage charges.
The dealer alleged that he had paid a bribe of Rs 10,000 to the then tehsil supply officer, Ramban, but the official demanded another Rs 90,000 and threatened to cancel his licence, the spokesman said. However, after negotiations the bribe amount was brought down to Rs 40,000.
Following which, the dealer filed a complaint with the Anti Corruption Bureau.
“On receipt of the complaint, a formal case under relevant sections of laws was registered and investigation taken up. During the investigation, a successful trap was laid Mir (storekeeper) was caught red-handed by the sleuths while demanding and accepting Rs 40,000 from the complainant in the presence of independent witnesses on the behalf of the accused tehsil supply officer,” the spokesman said.
(Press Release)
Karachi: Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez hit half-centuries as Pakistan cruised to a five-wicket win over Soutpouth Africa in the first of five matches against Pakistan atTeeorge’s Park on Saturday.
Opener Imam hit 86 while Hafeez finished on an unbeaten 71 as Pakistan chased down their 267-run target with five balls to spare.
Earlier, Hashim Amla hit his 27th one-day international century as South Africa made 266 for the loss of two wickets.
Amla (108 not out) shared a second-wicket partnership of 155 with debutant Rassie van der Dussen (93) but the pair were unable to dominate against steady bowling on a slow pitch.
“It was a tough wicket,” Amla told SuperSport television as he left the field at the end of the innings.
“You have to bide your time. I think it’s a good total.” Although Pakistan were only able to claim two wickets, they bowled well on a windy day, with captain Sarfraz Ahmed juggling his bowlers in short spells.
Scoring was slow during the middle overs with seamer Hasan Ali and leg-spinner Shadab Khan bowling particularly well. They took one for 42 and one for 41 respectively in their ten overs.
Amla and Reeza Hendricks (45) put on 82 off 105 balls for the first wicket before Van der Dussen made a slow start in his first one-day international, taking ten balls to score his first run.
But the scoring rate picked up and Van der Dussen hit six fours and three sixes in a 101-ball innings. Amla made his runs off 120 balls with seven fours and a six.
South Africa won the toss and decided to bat in the first one-day international against Pakistan on Saturday.
The pitch at St George’s Park looked good for batting, while a strong wind seemed likely to pose a challenge to bowlers and fielders.
“It looks [like] a good wicket and there may be a bit more spin in the second innings,” said South African captain Faf du Plessis.
South Africa fielded two new caps in batsman Rassie van der Dussen and fast bowler Duanne Olivier, who was man of the series in a recent Test series between the two countries.
“We are used to playing in wind because we have played in Wellington (New Zealand),” said Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed.
Ahmed said he was determined to make a good start to the series on a ground where Pakistan are unbeaten in three previous matches against South Africa, with two wins and a no-result.
#Teams:
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Duanne Olivier
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain, wkt), Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Usman Shinwari.
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Jan 19 : The major reshuffle in administration which was scheduled to take place this week has been deferred post-January 26, officials said.
Sources told news agency that all the transfer list with most of the deputy commissioners and several directors is almost ready but has been put on hold for R-Day celebrations.
Sources said that the transfers are now expected any day after January and those Deputy Commissioners who are posted in home districts are also in the transfer list and their transfer was on priority before Lok Sabha polls.
The decision to withhold the transfers as of now has been taken by the Chief Secretary in view of R-Day celebrations as the deputy commissioners have to make the arrangements and to hoist the national flag in their respective districts, sources said. (GNS)
Leh Avalanche: 2 more bodies found, 3 porters still missing
Srinagar, Jan 19 : Two more bodies were recovered on Saturday at Khardungla Top area of the Ladakh’s Leh district where two tippers came under an avalanche yesterday morning.
While as five bodies were recovered yesterday, two bodies were retrieved by the joint rescue teams on Saturday afternoon.
“Two more bodies have been recovered at Khardungla avalanche site. In total, seven bodies have been recovered so far,” an official of the State’s Disaster Management Department said. He said the search was in progress for the remaining three persons.
The incident occurred at around 7 a.m. yesterday when two tippers carrying 10 army porters came under the avalanche and were swept by the snow mass at Khardungla Top.
Soon after the incident, a rescue operation was launched by the joint teams of Police, SDRF, Army, and GREF.
“The rescue teams have stopped the search operation to retrieve the remaining three in the evening in wake of darkness and will be resumed tomorrow morning,” the official said.
Troops deployed at South Pullu & North Pullu were also moved to the incident site, an army spokesman had said. “Simultaneously, the Army Aviation helicopters were pressed into action to move the highly trained avalanche rescue teams of the Army called “Avalanche Panthers Teams” from Siachen Base camp and North Pullu.”
He said these teams are equipped with specialized avalanche rescue equipment, medical equipment and avalanche rescue dogs, which are being utilized in the search and rescue operations.
“Army Aviation helicopters were also used to move the Deep Search Radars which can detect human beings through the snow.” (GNS)
Srinagar, Jan 19, : Peoples Democratic Party is likely to expel a couple of senior leaders from party, insiders informed local News Agency this evening.
A leader from PDP said that Syed Altaf Bukhari was expelled as he didn’t clear the air. He added that there are some more senior leaders who are on the radar of the party. “If these leaders will not clear their position either before party or through media, they will be shown door,” he said.
Another party leader confirmed that there are few more leaders inside the party which are virtually disloyal and are resorting to anti-party activities. He said these leaders will either be expelled or will leave the party.
Insiders revealed that members loyal to the party welcomed the decision of party president Mehbooba Mufti for expelling Syed Altaf Bukhari. Party loyals from every district including Srinagar, Pulwama and Budgam called on Mehbooba Mufti and extended their support to her.
Insiders informed that a senior leader from Srinagar and another from Pulwama are likely to quit the party in coming days.
Meanwhile, Syed Altaf Bukhari while reacting over PDP decision said that he is thankful to party for freeing them from prison. He said he will inform everyone about his future course of action.
For anti party activities , Altaf Bukhari expelled from PDP Party has been watching with concern the activities of one of its leaders Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari for quite some time. Ever since the passing away of our founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed he has been perusing his personal political ambition at the cost of the Party and state interest.(CNS)
SRINAGAR, Jan 19: Former finance minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has said: “It has been a long association with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) especially with its founder Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Sahib. My association with this party has been enriching in many ways. It not only gave me a chance to work for my constituency but provided me an opportunity to contribute my bit in the development across the nook and corner of the state.
While I am happy over the party’s decision but the reasons given for my expulsion are debatable. During my journey of active politics I have witnessed agreements and disagreements, gratification and obstructions, brewing resentment and misguided notions. Power and position have never been an allurement for me as the history bears a testimony to that fact. During this brief stint of my active politics I also got a chance to witness the downfall of so called popular leaders and rise of those who were hitherto unknown in the arena of politics. I am also equally happy for this decision of the party as my conscience is clean and I never compromised on my principles. I wish the J&K PDP all the very best!”
A detailed press briefing will be convened very soon.