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A fire broke out in a hotel in Sonamarg main market in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Saturday evening, officials said.
An official told said that fire broke out in hotel Sounsar in the Sonamarg market this evening.He said that soon after the incident, fire trucks rushed to the spot to douse off the flames—(KNO).
As the 10-year rule of Aam Aadmi Party is set to end in the national capital, former Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal accepted the mandate and congratulated the BJP on their victory, while urging them to fulfill the promises made during the campaign.
The former Chief Minister also highlighted the work done by AAP in the field of health, education, and infrastructure over the past decade, reaffirming that his party would play a “constructive role” in opposition while serving the people.
“We accept the mandate of the people with great humility. I congratulate the BJP for this victory and I hope they will fulfil all the promises for which people have voted for them,” Kejriwal said in a video address.
“We have done a lot of work in the field of health, education, infrastructure in the last 10 years. We will not only play the role of a constructive opposition but will also remain among the people and continue to serve them. We did not come into politics for the sake of power, we considered politics as a medium through which the people could be served,” he added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is poised to form the government in Delhi after 27 years.
According to the latest update from the Election Commission of India (ECI), BJP is ahead on 47 seats, having won 15 and leading on 32. While, AAP is ahead on 23, having won 11 and leading on 12.
Congress has failed to even open its account in the Delhi elections for the third straight time.
The BJP has won eight seats in the Delhi election results, it includes Shalimar Bagh, rajouri Garden, Tri Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, Sangam Vihar, Greater Kailash, Patparganj and Gandhi Nagar.
While, AAP has won seats of Kondli, Delhi Cantt, Sultanpur Majra, Sadar Bazar, Chandani Chowk, Ballimaran, Tilak Nagar, Tughlaqabad and Babarpur.
Polling for the 70-member Assembly was held on February 5, with a total voter turnout recorded at 60.54 per cent.
BJP workers and supporters have already started celebrating outside the party’s office in New Delhi foreseeing a comeback in the national capital government after a long wait.BJP workers were seen bursting firecrackers, dancing, and singing at the party office. (ANI)
The School Education Department (SED) Kashmir on Saturday said it has delivered nearly 60 per cent of free textbooks to government schools across the region.
Besides, the Director School Education Kashmir, G N Itoo said that the government was examining the infrastructure and academic gaps highlighted in the ASER-2025 survey.Speaking to the reporters, DSEK said, “The restoration of Nov-Dec academic session upto 9th standard was taken in a very shortest span of time.
JKBOSE did not got enough time for the ground work but as of now at least 60 per cent of free textbooks have reached the government schools and the distribution process is going simultaneously.”
Itoo assured that all the government schools will receive 100 per cent free textbooks prior to reopening of schools after the winter vacations.
“We have book bank in the schools wherein we store the sets of old books. As of now, we have nearly 200 winter tutorial centers in Kashmir division in which 33,000 are being taught. We have provided them all those old books,” he said.
The Director further said that the department was examining the recent gaps highlighted in the ASER survey.“DSEK have constituted a special teams in this regard. Besides, an administrative level meeting in this regard was also conducted,” he said.
Itoo further said that the directorate will soon submit a comprehensive roadmap to the government to overcome these challenges.“At certain levels we have done extremely well in comparison to national level,” he said—(KNO)
MP Ruhullah Mehdi on Friday pointed fingers at security review meeting and said that killings were reported in Kashmir a day after a high level security meeting.
Addressing media persons in Delhi, Ruhullah said that no one from the popular government was involved in the security meeting. “The J&K LG and the security forces were called here but immediately after that, the situation in Kashmir started to get worse,” he said.
Ruhullah said earlier there was a killing of an ex-serviceman and later a truck driver was killed in Army firing. “This society has fought against any innocent killing and any form of terrorism. We have sacrificed a lot, to counter those ideologies who believe in killing the innocent,” Ruhullah said.
He said that security forces arrested over 500 youth from different districts of south Kashmir post killing of former Armyman. “They were beaten up at night, their phones were confiscated, they were taken from their homes. Many boys were taken to unknown locations,” he said. He said in the name of investigation, a collective punishment was given to a very large population.
“The security forces label these boys as OGWs, a term which has no place in the law or in the constitution, and on the pretext of that, they get license to torture those individuals,” Ruhullah said.
Referring to the killing of Waseem Ahmed Mir, a truck driver from Sopore, Ruhullah said he was working hard in the evening to earn and feed his family.
“But suddenly, the news of his murder came out. Security forces say that the truck did not stop at a checkpoint. They say that the truck was followed from that check post for 23 km. After 23 km, to deflate the tires, to puncture the tires, to stop the truck, the Army says they fired,” Ruhullah said.
“But that fire, instead of hitting the tire, hit the driver who sits almost four feet above the tyres,” he said.
He asked the security forces to release the CCTV footage as the stretch where the incident took place, has a lot of bunkers placed and CCTV was installed everywhere,” he said
AIMIM chief MP Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly condemned the alleged torture of a man by Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kathua, which he claimed led to the victim’s suicide.
In a post on X, Owaisi stated, “In Jammu’s Kathua, a man was tortured by J&K police to such an extent that he died by suicide. Since J&K was made a Union Territory, it’s the responsibility of the Modi govt to prevent such brazen abuse of power.”
He demanded immediate suspension of the accused officers and their superiors, along with criminal proceedings under Article 311.On Thursday Police claimed that 25-year-Din, a resident of Billawar in Kathua, died by suicide at his home on Tuesday evening after consuming insecticide.
The Member of Parliament (MP) from North Kashmir’s Baramulla seat, Er Rashid’s health has deteriorated as his indefinite hunger strike has entered eighth consecutive day.
In view of his worsening condition, he has reportedly been shifted to RML Hospital in New Delhi for necessary medical care.Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, while expressing his concern, said, “The health situation of Er Rashid is deeply alarming. Despite his critical condition, his voice for justice remains unyielding”
He urged the authorities to prioritise his medical care and ensure that he receives immediate and comprehensive treatment.The AIP spokesman further emphasised that the continued incarceration and deteriorating health of Er Rashid is a matter of serious concern.
“We appeal to the government and relevant authorities to address this issue urgently. Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done,” he added.AIP continues to seek public and political solidarity in support of Er Rashid and has reiterated its unwavering belief in the judicial system, while calling for humane treatment and a swift resolution of his case.(KB)
Meghan Markle may have upset A-list celebrities with a surprising move.During the Palace Confidential royal experts suggest that Meghan’s latest post about helping a wildfire victim might have upset Adam Levine and Billie Eilish, according to DailyMail.
On Instagram, the Duchess of Sussex posted a video explaining how she helped a fan replace an Eilish T-shirt lost in the LA wildfires. She credited Levine and his wife Behati Prinsloo for helping her secure signed merchandise from the Grammy winner.
Now, experts have claimed that Meghan’s “name-dropping” may have been perceived as “showing off,” considering that “famous people don’t really like to celebrate these type of things if they do charitable work, they try to keep that quiet.”
Richard Eden noted, “Billie Eilish and Adam Levine, I don’t think they have posted anything on social media. So I wonder if Billie Eilish is actually very happy there is sort of Meghan boasting – ‘all you need to do is pester me’.”
“She is probably not very happy,” editor Charlotte Griffiths suggested.Richard suggested that while Meghan has made her return to Instagram she is just “looking for material to put on it.”Charlotte said, “I think Meghan’s biggest problem is her lack of self awareness. She just comes across like she is acting.”
Calling the video “TikTok style,” she noted that Meghan “was not wearing any makeup to create that kind of informal look, but of course her hair had been done and she was very careful not to show her house as we know she is very private about her house and the angle is very carefully managed.”However, Billie Eilish and Adam Levine have yet not responded to these speculations or Meghan Markle’s video.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday has expressed deep concern over the health of incarcerated politician Engineer Rashid, who was recently shifted to a hospital.
Taking to social media, Abdullah emphasized the need for authorities to ensure Rashid receives proper medical care and that his condition does not worsen while his bail plea is under judicial consideration.
In a post on X, Omar Abdullah wrote, “Very concerned to hear about Engineer Rashid having to be shifted to hospital. It is imperative that authorities take proper care & ensure that his condition does not deteriorate while the court arrives at a considered decision on his bail plea.”
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Friday convened a meeting of officers to review overall preparation for the successful conduct of 5th Edition of Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) to be held at Gulmarg later this month.
The mega event of national winter games phase 2nd of KIWG shall commence at winter wonderland Gulmarg from February 22 and shall conclude on February 25. Over one thousand athletes, coaches & officials will participate in the event of national importance.
Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Directer Urban Local Bodies, MD JKTDC, Director Health Services Kashmir, CEO Gulmarg Development Authority, SSP Budgam, SSP Baramulla, SSP Traffic, Secretary J&K Sports Council, officers from various departments including SMC, PHE, KPDCL, R&B, MED, Transport, Airport Authority, Cable Car Corporation, Information, Tourism, H&H, NHIDCL, SDRF, CISF, HAWS and other essential departments attended the meeting.
While chairing the meeting, Div Com reviewed multitude of arrangements & preparations including arrival of participants at Srinagar Airport, transportation of participants, accommodation facilities, essential services including electricity, drinking water, sanitation, Mobile Network, critical health services besides effective coordination among all departments.
Addressing the meeting, Div Com emphasized on close coordination & synergy among all the departments and the appointment of Nodal Officers for different roles, assignments and departments.
He instructed effective communication among the stakeholders departments & dissemination of relevant information & directed for strengthening of interdepartmental coordination.
Earlier, Secretary J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull presented a detailed Power Point Presentation to inform the meeting regarding comprehensive strategy for successful conduct of KIWG. PPT encompassed all the aspects & nitty-gritty of event including number of participants, officials, supporting staff, sports events, cultural events, accommodation, transportation, promotional activities and other aspects of the game.
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The office of Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has responded to a request from the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), which sought urgent intervention for the repatriation of a Kashmiri engineer languishing in a Saudi Arabian jail.
In a statement, JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said, “We have been informed by the External Affairs Minister’s office that our Embassy in Riyadh has conveyed details regarding Shri Abdul Rafi Baba, a resident of Srinagar district in Jammu & Kashmir. He has been imprisoned in Dammam Intelligence Jail since March 1, 2022, on charges related to cybercrimes concerning terror activities and for allegedly circulating objectionable videos on social media.”
Khuehami further said that Under Secretary Bibhuti Nath Pandey from the External Affairs Minister’s office briefed them about the legal proceedings in the case. Initially, Baba was sentenced to 11 years in prison. However, following an appeal filed by both Baba and the Public Prosecution, the appeal court revised the sentence to 31 years under the relevant laws. His case is currently pending before the Saudi Supreme Court.
The Under Secretary also confirmed that consular access has been granted multiple times, with visits conducted on May 3, 2021, September 6, 2022, February 20, 2023, September 5, 2023, and most recently on September 11, 2024.
During these visits, Baba informed officials that he remains in contact with his family in India, speaking with them once a week. He appears to be in good health and has not reported any issues related to food, shelter, or basic needs, the Under Secretary added.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has reiterated its demand and urged the Ministry of External Affairs to explore all possible diplomatic avenues to ensure a fair trial and facilitate Baba’s repatriation. The Association has requested the Union External Affairs Minister to take up the issue with the Saudi authorities.
Expressing hope for swift action, the Association stated that the MEA must act promptly to bring Baba back home. Khuehami added that Baba’s father has only one wish—to see his son free before his time runs out. The family’s prolonged suffering has now reached a breaking point.
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