News - NEWS Of KASHMIR

Dr. Audil Farooq Mir Criticizes Government for Failure To Establish Direct Train Link Between Delhi and Srinagar

January 11, 2025 by NOK Desk

Congress leader and Media Coordinator Kashmir Dr. Audil Farooq Mir has criticised the government’s failure to establish a direct train link between Delhi and Srinagar, branding it a deliberate act of “economic strangulation” against the people of Kashmir.

Dr. Audil accused the authorities of betraying their much-publicized promises to bring Delhi closer to Kashmir, saying the region’s fractured infrastructure remains a glaring symbol of neglect and apathy.

He said that the newly introduced rail route between Delhi, Katra and Srinagar has become a lightning rod for criticism.

“Instead of ensuring seamless connectivity, passengers are forced to endure a humiliating and frustrating ordeal at Katra station. The railway officials have mandated that travelers disembark, re-scan their luggage and re-board another train to reach Srinagar,” he said.

He added that Katra has religious tourism potential which too shall be hampered with extra rush at the station thus no good intent is seen in the entire decision.

“On the other hand, we do not want Jammu, the city of temples, to see a decline in its relevance for travelers,” he commented.

Dr. Audil condemned this practice as nothing short of harassment, calling it an insult to the people of Jammu and Kashmir under the guise of security.

“This policy is another example of tone-deaf decision-making from a government that has repeatedly failed to deliver on its promises to the region,” he said.

Dr. Audil Farooq Mir called on the government to end its “anti-Kashmir policies” and deliver on its commitments to the region.

“This is not just about infrastructure; it’s about a systematic attempt to choke the economic and social lifelines of the people of Kashmir,” he said

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Srinagar Implements SMILE Scheme, Opens Rehabilitation Home for Marginalized Individuals

January 11, 2025 by NOK Desk

In a positive step towards social welfare and rehabilitation, Srinagar has become the first district in Jammu and Kashmir to implement the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme under GOMODAF India.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohiuddin, said the initiative while inaugurating a full-fledged rehabilitation home for marginalized individuals.

“This is the first time in J&K that this scheme is being implemented, and Srinagar is leading the way. It is a comprehensive scheme where we are actively involved in addressing the issue of begging,” said Dr. Bilal

The newly established rehabilitation home has an initial capacity of 50 people, with plans to expand. “Some people here complain about the lack of space in their homes. Now we have a proper rehabilitation center for them,” he added.

Dr. Bilal highlighted that earlier, the J&K Provincial Baggery Act of 1960, with its rules framed in 1964, criminalized begging. “We used to issue arrest orders for people involved in begging. However, the High Court later struck down the Act in a 196-page judgment, emphasizing the role of the welfare state in addressing the issue rather than criminalizing it.”

The SMILE scheme, launched by the Government of India, aligns with human rights guidelines provided by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Supreme Court.

It has two components, comprehensive rehabilitation for transgender individuals and rehabilitation for those engaged in begging. The initiative will be executed by the District Social Welfare Officer (DSW) in collaboration with the NGO Inpallant Paryas.

DC Srinagar outlined the comprehensive rehabilitation plan, which includes providing shelter, food, and skill development opportunities.

“This is not just a place to sit, but a full-fledged rehabilitation home. We will focus on skill empowerment, engaging individuals in trades like boutique work, tailoring, cutting, and bulb-making to integrate them into employment or enterprise.”

Additionally, the initiative ensures that children previously involved in begging are enrolled in schools. “We have also connected these children with schools. There is no better definition of a welfare state than the implementation of the SMILE scheme in Srinagar,” he stated.

Expressing satisfaction with the efforts of the team, Dr. Bilal emphasized that this milestone marks a new beginning for the marginalized community. “Many media persons used to point out that we were only arresting them. Now, we have an alternative—rehabilitation.

This is our job as a welfare state. We cannot criminalize a community for their circumstances. The court has also reinforced this stance.”

With everything in place, the district administration will now begin rehabilitating individuals under the scheme. “This is an important milestone for Srinagar. From today, we will bring them here and rehabilitate them. This effort will yield significant benefits for the community,” he concluded.

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Punjab Police official Confirmed, AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi Accidentally Shoots Himself, Declared Dead

January 11, 2025 by NOK Desk

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Gurpreet Gogi was found dead with bullet injuries late on Sunday night after he accidentally shot himself, a Punjab Police official confirmed.

The incident reportedly occurred around 12 am Gogi was rushed to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMC), where he was declared dead.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jaskaran Singh Teja said, “As per the family members, he shot himself accidentally and sustained bullet injuries to his head. Gurpreet Gogi was declared dead at the hospital, his body has been kept at the mortuary in the DMC hospital.”

Additionally, the DCP mentioned that the cause of death would be determined once the post-mortem report is received.

“Cause of the death will be clear once the post-mortem reports come..” the DCP further added.
The incident occurred around midnight, and the MLA was declared dead upon arrival at DMC hospital, according to officials.

“The incident happened around midnight, and he was declared dead when he was brought to the DMC hospital…” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jaskaran Singh.

Further investigations are underway.

Gogi joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2022 and defeated two-time former Congress MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu during the Ludhiana assembly elections. (ANI)

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Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Two Brothers Yasir Imtyaz Khan and Danish Imtiyaz Khan on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway

January 10, 2025 by NOK Desk

Two young brothers from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district lost their lives after their truck plunged into a deep gorge at Battery Chasma, an accident-prone stretch on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The accident occurred late Thursday night when the truck, reportedly out of the driver’s control, veered off the road and plummeted into a deep gorge near Monkey Morh.

A rescue operation was launched by Police, SDRF, Traffic Police, and Civil QRT Ramban, but due to the dangerous terrain, the operation was suspended till morning. The rescue operation resumed in the morning, and both truck passengers were found dead deep in the gorge. The truck was on its way to Kashmir valley loaded with iron bars.

The deceased have been identified as Yasir Imtyaz Khan and Danish Imtiyaz Khan, aged between 16-22, sons of Imtiyaz Ahmed Khan, residents of Chijhama, Rafiabad of Baramulla district.

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Chairperson J&K KVIB Dr. Hina Shafi Bhat Reviews Employment Generation Programmes in Jammu Division

January 10, 2025 by NOK Desk

In a bid to further enhance the successful implementation of employment generation programmes in Jammu division, Chairperson J&K KVIB, Dr. Hina Shafi Bhat, convened a review meeting with district officers at the Civil Secretariat. Present in the meeting were Secretary/CEO J&K KVIB, Dr. Jagdish Chander, senior officials from the Board, and district officers from Jammu division.

During the meeting, it was informed that a total of 2027 cases involving a margin money of Rs. 42.83 crore have been sanctioned by the banks during the current financial year. Dr. Hina Shafi Bhat reaffirmed the commitment towards fostering employment opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and unemployed youth in J&K. She emphasized the importance of programmes such as PMEGP and JKREGP in promoting entrepreneurship and contributing to the region’s economic development.

Dr. Bhat urged the officers to prioritize applications of women and marginalized sections of society, ensuring these groups receive the preferential treatment they deserve. She highlighted the importance of working together to ensure that the benefits of PMEGP and JKREGP reach the intended beneficiaries, ultimately empowering communities and strengthening the regional economy.

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National Aerobic Gymnastics Championship 2024-25 Inaugurated in Jammu

January 10, 2025 by NOK Desk

Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, along with Advisor to CM, Nasir Aslam Wani, inaugurated the National Aerobic Gymnastics Championship 2024-25 at the New Indoor Stadium, M.A. Stadium, Jammu.

Being organized by the J&K Sports Council in collaboration with the Gymnastics Federation of India and the Gymnastics Association of Jammu & Kashmir, the event featured more than 500 athletes and officials from 20 states, union territories and boards. Scheduled from January 10 to 13, the championship aims to promote youth engagement in sports and provide a platform for talent to shine at national and international levels. This initiative is part of the ‘My Youth My Pride’ and ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ campaigns which is being organised for the third time in J&K.

While complimenting the organisers for hosting the championship, the Deputy Chief Minister expressed pride in hosting a national level sports event in J&K. He emphasized the importance of channeling youth energy into sports to combat societal issues such as drug abuse. “The future of our region lies in our youth. By offering opportunities in sports, we can shape promising careers and inspire aspirations,” he remarked. He commended the organizers and extended his best wishes to all participants.

“Government is committed towards upgrading the sports infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, besides we are also actively taking initiatives to hone the talent of athletes, sports persons so that they can compete at national and international levels “, the Deputy Chief Minister maintained.

Advisor to CM, underscored the immense talent in Olympic sports within J&K, including gymnastics, water sports and martial arts. He expressed optimism that local athletes would excel in Asian and Olympic competitions. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to prioritizing Olympic sports by enhancing infrastructure, training, and coaching to establish J&K as a sports hub.

Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, while speaking on the occasion, lauded the achievements of J&K gymnasts and assured full support for making the event a success.

Sudhir Mittal, President of the Gymnastics Federation of India, appreciated the J&K government’s unwavering support and commended the region’s infrastructure and talent development in gymnastics

The function was also attended by Director General Youth Services and Sports, Rajinder Singh Tara, Secretary Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul, Secretary, Kiran Wattal, Vice President, GFI and President, Gymnastics Association of J&K, and other senior officers.

The championship continues until January 13, promising a spectacular showcase of talent and athleticism.

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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Launches J&K RTI Online Portal to Enhance Transparency

January 10, 2025 by NOK Desk

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today launched the Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information (RTI) Online Portal at the Civil Secretariat, marking a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.

The launch event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Cabinet Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, and Javed Ahmad Dar. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, administrative secretaries and senior officers were also present.

In his address, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated the officers involved in developing the portal, emphasizing its transformative potential in simplifying the RTI application process for citizens.

“This initiative will provide easy access to government information under the RTI Act, empowering citizens with a faster, more transparent, and cost-efficient mechanism,” he stated.

The Chief Minister also urged the concerned authorities to ensure widespread publicity of the initiative so that citizens across Jammu & Kashmir become aware of its benefits.

Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Jammu and Kashmir, the portal introduces a shift from manual to online RTI applications. This transition enables citizens to submit RTI requests, track their status, and receive responses electronically, eliminating the need for physical visits to government offices.

Earlier, Secretary General Administration Department (GAD), M. Raju, delivered a presentation on the portal’s features, highlighting its accessibility, convenience, speed of processing, cost efficiency and role in promoting accountability.

He outlined the portal’s key functionalities, including its user-friendly interface, streamlined RTI workflow, and robust documentation features.
A unique feature of the portal is the issuance of a registration number to applicants via SMS and email for future reference, enabling easy tracking of RTI applications.

The portal integrates 61 government departments, 272 nodal officers/public authorities, 720 First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and 3,419 Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and Public Information Officers (PIOs), ensuring comprehensive coverage and making the citizens informed about the activities of the Government.

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Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Registers Case Against SSCL Employees for Disproportionate Assets

January 10, 2025 by NOK Desk

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday said to have registered cases against two Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) employees for alleged disproportionate assets.

Addressing a press conference, ACB officials said that the duo including Sajid Yousuf Bhat, Chief Financial Officer and Zahoor Ahmad Dar, Executive Engineer SSCL have been booked under cases related to disproportionate assets.

“The case has been registered while searches are underway at 7 locations in this regard,” ACB said without divulging in details.

The ACB said the duo has managed to get assets much higher than their lawful income. “We have registered a case and further details can be shared only after the searches and investigation is completed,” ACB said when asked about involvement of more officials—(KNO)

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Traffic Suspension on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Road from January 11 to 13, 2025

January 10, 2025 by NOK Desk

Authorities have announced that vehicular traffic on the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) road, from Kangan onwards, will remain suspended from January 11 to January 13, 2025. The decision has been taken in view of inclement weather, icy road conditions, and ongoing maintenance work.

According to an order by Traffic Rural Kashmir All Ladakh/Sonamarg bound motorists/tourists/ commuters are informed that the movement of vehicular traffic on SSG road from Kangan onwards shall remain suspended from 11″ January to 13″ of January-2025, due to inclement weather, icy roads and maintenance work thereof. As such, motorists/ tourists/ commuters are advised.

That they should avoid travel on SSG road (from Kangan onwards) during above said period ill green signal in this regard is given by the concerned authorities.

That the vehicular movement along SSG road shall be resumed from 14″ of January, 2025 onwards, subject to favorable weather/road conditions.

That they only should plan/start their journey on SSG road after confirming the road status from TPCR Kashmir on below telephone numbers.

Furthermore, in order to avoid inconvenience to local populace/ roadway emergencies, local residents, after proper identification check shall be allowed in strategic/cut off manner. The vehicular traffic from Ladakh towards Sonamarg/Srinagar shall only be allowed after green signal from BEACON authorities, the order reads.

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Altaf Bukhari Urges Direct Srinagar-Delhi Train Service Without Midway Transfers

January 10, 2025 by NOK Desk

Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday said that the upcoming Srinagar-Delhi train service should operate directly without requiring passengers to switch trains at Katra Railway Station

In his statement, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I came across some disturbing news reports suggesting that the authorities have decided passengers on the proposed Srinagar-Delhi train will have to stop at the Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station in Katra to change trains and continue their journey.”

“All passengers traveling to New Delhi from Srinagar or vice versa will have to get off at Katra station, leave the station, re-enter, and rescan their luggage at the departure lounge before boarding another train to continue their journey. This arrangement would be troubling and humiliating for the passengers,” he added.

Apni Party president said that the rail authorities must employ alternative measures to ensure safety and security.

He said, “To address security concerns, the railway authorities should use other measures to ensure complete security, instead of making passengers suffer by forcing them to change trains at Katra station.”

Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that “Amid much hype, people believed that the first-ever Srinagar-Delhi train service would be fast, seamless, and comfortable, and, above all, a direct train service. However, this is now being turned into a hectic and uncomfortable journey for passengers by requiring them to change trains midway.”

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