Srinagar Feb 11: Srinagar Police on. Tuesday said that it formally opened 53 history sheets against habitual drug peddlers across various police stations in the district.
The move comes as the Police intensified crackdown on drug trafficking in the district.
The Police handout reads that the action was sanctioned by the District Police Headquarters, Srinagar, marking an important move to monitor and dismantle organised drug networks operating in the region.
"The individuals identified in these History Sheets have a well-documented criminal history, with repeated involvement in drug-related offenses, particularly under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act," the Police handout reads.
It reads that their activities have primarily revolved around the illicit trade and distribution of narcotics, with a concerning impact on the youth of Srinagar.
"Despite multiple arrests and legal actions, these offenders have continued their illegal operations, posing a persistent threat to public safety and order," it reads .
Srinagar Police said many of them who were still behind bars are also implicated in a range of other criminal activities, including fraud, assault, and organized drug trafficking, underscoring their status as repeat offenders.
"This initiative is part of intensified anti-drug operations by Srinagar Police, aimed at eliminating the drug menace from society," the handout reads.
It said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police remains committed to its mission of ensuring a drug-free environment and urges the public to support these efforts by reporting any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking.
"For any information related to drug dealers and peddlers in Srinagar, citizens are encouraged to contact the police through official helpline number 9596770550," the handout reads, adding that "together, we can build a safer and healthier Srinagar."
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). “About a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,” he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.“If we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,” he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeeb’s research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. “In this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,” he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. “It is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,” he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,” he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. “My parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,” he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. “Just as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.” “Young people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,” he further added.
Srinagar, Jan 8: The University of Kashmir (KU) has made the biometric attendance mandatory for the students of its affiliated colleges from Academic session 2026-27. The development comes in wake of the complaints about the thin attendance of the students in various private B.Ed colleges affiliated with the Kashmir University. A circular in this regard has been issued by the Assistant Registrar Dean Colleges Development Council (DCDC) of the University. "All the Chairpersons and Principals of private affiliated colleges of the University of Kashmir are hereby informed that biometric attendance for all the enrolled students and staff has been made mandatory from the year 2026-27," the KU circular reads. The Principals of all the affiliated colleges have been directed to install biometric attendance machines in their respective institutions on or before the commencement of the Academic year 2026-27 under intimation to the Dean College Development Council of the University. "The college shall also ensure proper upkeep, maintenance, and systematic preservation of all biometric attendance records for future reference and verification," it reads. The Colleges have been directed to comply with this directive "without fail." The move comes in wake of the inspections conducted last year by the DCDC of KU in various B.Ed colleges where most of the students were found absent. An official said that there were complaints about the poor attendance of the students in B.Ed colleges. "The students do not attend their B.Ed classes regularly which defeats the purpose of the course," the official said. Earlier, DCDC of KU earlier barred the B.Ed students to appear in teh semester exams for falling short of attendance. The decision was taken in wake of the surprise inspection conducted by Dean College Development Council (DCDC) in various B.Ed colleges of Kashmir in June-July month of 2025 and several students were found absent from the classes. Following this, the students were directed to attend supplementary classes to complete the recommended attendance for appearing in their exams. Also, the exam of these students was deferred by few months.
Baramulla, Jan 9: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla on Thursday said that the situation caused by the landslides on Ur-Baramulla was temporary and would be resolved once the excavation process of the road is completed. The statement comes amid the concerns over recurring landslides on the Uri–Baramulla road due to ongoing road widening project being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Talking to Kashmir Square, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa said that such issues are common during the construction of hill roads and should not be viewed as an unusual development. “There is no major issue. Whenever a hill road is constructed or widened, such problems are recurrent,” he said. He further said that the slopes usually take time to stabilise after excavation. "The excavation process affects the natural stability of the hillside and it generally takes one to two years for slopes to fully stabilise," he said. Minga Sherpa said several slope stabilisation measures are already in place to minimise risks. “Grouting has been done and protective walling has also been constructed at several points,” DC Baramulla told Kashmir Square. He further said that around 200 metres of excavation work is still pending on the stretch and the remaining cutting work is expected to be completed within a month. “Once the excavation is finished, the BRO and concerned agencies will carry out full-fledged slope stabilisation measures. After that, such incidents will not occur again,” he said. Over the past few weeks, the Uri–Baramulla road, a vital link connecting the border town of Uri with Baramulla district witnessed intermittent traffic disruptions due to landslides triggered by excavation work, raising safety concerns among commuters. The Baramulla–Uri National Highway remained closed on Thursday after another landslide struck the stretch - the third such incident reported in the last 20 days, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. A fresh landslide hit the highway on Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to immediately halt traffic movement on the route as a precautionary measure. It was the third such incident in just 20 days on the Baramulla–Uri National Highway, following two earlier slides that also triggered full traffic halts and diversions through alternate routes. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass, while all routine traffic was stopped to avoid any untoward incident. An official said the road clearance operations were launched soon after the incident, with personnel and machinery mobilised to remove debris and stabilise the affected area. "The highway was made motorable again from the evening hours," he said. The closure of the main Baramulla–Uri National Highway compelled authorities to divert vehicles through the dilapidated Khadniyar–Gantamulla road.
Srinagar, Jan 9: Chairman J&K Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) Abdul Qayoom Wani on Friday came down heavily on the Jammu and Kashmir government over its failure in appointing a permanent chairman of the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE). Wani condemned the continued failure of the government to appoint a permanent Chairman of JKBOSE. He termed the delay as a blatant act of administrative apathy and political callousness, ruining the careers of lacs of students. "Keeping JKBOSE headless at a crucial time has paralysed the institution and delayed the declaration of results. The situation has pushed the students and their families into unbearable stress and uncertainty," Wani said. Notably, the two-year tenure of the former chairman of the JKBOSE expired on January 25 of last year following which the key institution has been rendered without a permanent head. Amid the delay by the government in appointing a permanent chairman for the Board, the post was manned by the former Financial Commissioner of J&K Higher Education Department (HED) for around one year, as an interim arrangement, till he attained superannuation on December 31 of 2025. For the last 10 days, the JKBOSE is without a permanent head while no arrangement was made by the government to give additional charge of the post to any officer. The delay has led to the deferment in the announcement of the class 10th results by the JKBOSE which was otherwise scheduled to be announced in the first week of January. Qayoom Wani said the students who completed their examinations months ago are waiting for results that will decide their academic future. "Unfortunately the government continues to dither over appointments. This is not a procedural lapse but a serious injustice to the youth of J&K," Qayoom Wani said. He said playing politics over the appointment of the JKBOSE Chairman and keeping such a vital institution headless is nothing short of playing with the future of our children. "Unfortunately, putting students’ careers at risk has become a norm in Kashmir, and this culture of irresponsibility must end immediately,” Wani said. He said the delay has disrupted academic schedules, admissions, and career planning besides causing immense mental pressure on students. "Education cannot be held hostage to bureaucratic delays or political interests. Every day of inaction steals time, confidence, and opportunity from our youth," he said. He appealed to the J&K Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister to rise above politics and appoint a competent full-time Chairman of JKBOSE. "The government must ensure the prompt announcement of pending results so that students can finally breathe a sigh of relief," he said. He said the government must understand that silence and delay are also decisions. "And in this case, the decisions are against students. Accountability must be fixed, and such negligence must never be repeated,” Wani added.
Srinagar, Jan 12: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi on Monday referred to the letter written by MP Baramulla Er Rashid to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh seeking compensation and rehabilitation for the families of two porters who lost their lives in Baramulla. Quoting the letter, Inam Un Nabi said Er Rashid has drawn the Defence Minister’s attention to the “tragic demise of two porters Lyakat Ahmad Deedar and Riyaz Ahmad Khattana residents of Chandosa, Baramulla, who lost their lives after slipping down from a high-altitude mountain while performing duties in Gujjar sectors.” Inam Un Nabi said the MP Er Rashid has clearly stated that the Defence Ministry “should frame a reasonable policy to provide job security to porters” and that those who lose their lives while working with forces in “tough terrain, high altitude and harsh conditions must be treated at par with Agniveer soldiers.” Quoting further, Inam Un Nabi said Er Rashid has emphasized that “the families of the deceased porters need full and concrete financial support,” and that it is the duty of the ministry to ensure proper rehabilitation of such families. The MP has also requested that the bereaved families be provided “the same legal financial assistance which an Agniveer soldier is entitled to if he loses his life in the line of duty,” along with a government job to at least one family member of each deceased porter. Inam Un Nabi said the letter reflects Er Rashid’s consistent stand for the rights and dignity of porters working in extreme conditions and urged the Defence Ministry to respond with immediate and tangible relief.
Srinagar, Jan 11: Once celebrated as the face of Kashmir’s environmental conscience, Bilal Ahmad Dar the young man who became synonymous with the cleaning of Wular Lake today lies confined to a bed, battling neglect, disability, and broken promises. Bilal, a resident of Laharwalpora village in Bandipora district, rose to national attention in 2017 when a video of him single-handedly collecting plastic waste from the ecologically fragile Wular Lake went viral. A teenager then, earning a living as a ragpicker, Bilal’s selfless act of cleaning Asia’s second-largest freshwater lake caught the attention of authorities and environmentalists alike. His story was later documented in the film Saving the Saviour. Impressed by his dedication, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) appointed Bilal as the brand ambassador for Wular Lake and SMC Srinagar, projecting him as a symbol of cleanliness and environmental responsibility. Official records confirm that Bilal was formally engaged by the civic body in 2017, with verbal assurances that he would be given a permanent job once he attained the age of 18. Eight years later, that promise remains unfulfilled. Despite years of service, Bilal continues to work without regularisation. His monthly honorarium has remained stagnant at ₹8,000 since his initial engagement, with no written assurance, no increment, and no concrete steps towards permanent employment. His plight worsened dramatically last year when he met with a devastating accident that resulted in the loss of almost one leg. He underwent prolonged treatment and multiple medical procedures, spending nearly ₹14 lakh. Even today, Bilal is unable to move independently and remains largely bedridden. “I served SMC honestly for years. I cleaned Wular Lake, the Jhelum, and several streams flowing into the lake. I carried out awareness drives across Srinagar,” Bilal said. “I was promised a permanent job after I turned 18, but nothing changed. After my accident, no one came forward to help me.” He said the sense of abandonment weighs heavily on him. “Even after four years of turning 18, no official listens to me. I fear that one day SMC will also throw me out,” he said, adding that he still wishes to contribute towards keeping Wular Lake clean, if only he is given dignity and support. Bilal is now demanding that the Srinagar Municipal Corporation honour its commitment by granting him permanent employment, which he says was crucial for his survival and continued medical care.(KNS)
Srinagar, Jan 9: Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib on Friday reviewed the progress of the under-construction non-motorable Wullar Walkway (Phase-I) during a site visit undertaken in view of the slow pace of execution. The project, being executed by the R&B Department Bandipora, has an allotted cost of ₹18.76 crore and has achieved about 40 percent physical progress so far. On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner assured that all feasible assistance from the District Administration Bandipora would be extended to expedite the project. Later, the Deputy Commissioner also visited the Nature Eco-Tourism Park (Delta Park) being developed by the Wular Conservation and Management Authority. The progress of works at the park was reviewed, and it was informed that the project is expected to be completed by the end of the next financial year. The Deputy Commissioner was accompanied by Coordinator, WUCMA, Altaf Hussain; Executive Engineer, R&B; Tehsildar Hajin; and other concerned officers. DC Bandipora also visited Hajin Tehsil and inspected the progress of digitisation of revenue records. During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner carried out a comprehensive review of the digitisation process being undertaken in the Tehsil. She assessed the progress achieved so far and examined the status of digitisation of revenue records. The DC observed that digitisation of land records is a vital reform aimed at ensuring greater transparency, accuracy, and efficiency in land records management. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that complete and error-free digitisation is essential for creating a reliable and accessible digital land database. The DC directed the concerned officers to expedite the remaining digitisation work in a time-bound manner and ensure that proper verification and validation mechanisms are strictly followed before finalisation of records. The Deputy Commissioner further emphasized strengthening coordination among field functionaries and technical teams to address challenges arising during the digitisation process.
