News - NEWS Of KASHMIR

National Sports Awards 2024 Announced: Winners to Receive Awards from President on January 17

January 3, 2025January 3, 2025 by NOK Desk

Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2024 today. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th January, 2025 (Friday) at 1100 hours.
Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, Government has decided to confer awards upon the following sportspersons, coaches, university and entity:
National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.
‘Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award’ is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over the period of the previous four years.
‘Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games’ is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.
Arjuna Award (Lifetime) is given to honour and motivate those sportspersons who have contributed to sports by their performance and continue to contribute to promotion of sports even after their retirement from active sporting career.
‘Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games’ is given to coaches for doing outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and for enabling sportspersons to excel in International events.
The overall top performing university in Khelo India University Games is given the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.
The applications were invited online and sportspersons/coaches/entities were permitted to self-apply through a dedicated Online Portal. A large number of applications were received for these awards this year, which were considered by the Selection Committee headed by Justice (Retd.) V. Ramasubramanian, Supreme Court of India and consisting members from eminent sportspersons, persons having experience in sports journalism and sports administrators.(KNS)

Dense Fog Disrupts Flight Operations at Srinagar Airport, Delays Expected to Continue

January 3, 2025January 3, 2025 by NOK Desk

Flight operations at Srinagar International Airport were disrupted on Friday morning due to poor visibility amid dense fog in the Kashmir Valley, officials said.

Director Srinagar Airport, Javed Anjum said that the visibility was very low due to dense fog, resulting in disruption of flight operations and all the flights were put on hold.

He said that all flights have been delayed. “Flight operations will resume once visibility improves, and we are hopeful that in the afternoon or after a few hours, flights may be allowed to land and depart,” he said.

Dense fog engulfed the Kashmir Valley since early morning with people facing difficulties to commute due to low visibility—(KNO)

Security Forces Neutralize IED Detected on Mahore-Gulabgarh Road Near Angrala in Reasi Jammu

January 3, 2025January 3, 2025 by NOK Desk

Security forces have detected an improvised explosive device IED on the Mahore-Gulabgarh road near Angrala here.

The Indian Army said that the IED was neutralized and the area was secured.“Alert troops of Rashtriya Rifles detected an #IED on the Mahore-Gulabgarh road near #Angrala, #Reasi.

The area was secured, in conjunction with @JmuKmrPolice and the IED was neutralized, ensuring the safety of civilians and troops,” the army said in a post on X.More information is awaited. (ANI)

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Reviews Progress on Major Road Projects Across Jammu and Kashmir

January 2, 2025 by NOK Desk

Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today convened a meeting with NHAI, NHIDCL, Beacon and Project SAMPARK to review progress on construction of different highways across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, APD, Commissioner Secretary, Forest Department, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir, Secretary, R&B, Deputy Commissioners, Chief Engineers of PWD besides other concerned officers.

The Chief Secretary impressed upon the project implementing agencies to expedite progress on the ongoing works so that the fixed deadlines are met without any fail. He observed that the repeated slippage in timelines for completion of these projects should be avoided as it questions the professional standards of the organisation.

The Chief Secretary directed the Secretary PWD and concerned divisional administrations to take monthly assessment of these projects besides visiting the sites to remove any bottlenecks hampering their progress. He also urged them to extend full cooperation to the concerned executing agencies for speedy completion of these projects.

Dulloo also had a project wise appraisal of progress achieved, so far, in each of the work. He enquired about the expected date of completion of work on each phase of these projects along with the current status of physical progress registered in each of them.

Some of the significant projects of NHAI reviewed during the meeting included different phases of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, remaining work on the tunnel on Ring Road Jammu, tunnels and viaducts on Udhampur-Ramban section including Dalwas and Cafeteria Morh.

The Chief Secretary also assessed progress on Marog to Digdol tunnel and Digdol to Khuni-Nallah tunnels under the Ramban-Banihal section of NH-44. In addition, opening of Banihal Bypass besides ongoing work on different phases of Ring Road Srinagar were discussed in detail. The concerned divisional and district administrations were asked to assist the construction company in extending the working hours so that the work on this prestigious projects progresses on expected lines.

The road projects of NHIDCL, reviewed during the meeting, included progress on completion of Zojila Tunnel, Z-Morh Tunnel, Jammu-Akhnoor Road, Chenani- Sudhmahadev Road, Goha-Khellani, Khellani-Khanabal Highways and Singhpoora-Vailoo tunnel which is part of this project.

The projects being executed by BRO under project Beacon and Sampark which came up for discussion included Akhnoor-PoonchHighway, Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri Highway, Sangrama flyover, Pattanand Baramulla Bypass, Rafiabad-Kupwara-Trehgam Highway, Khanabal-Pahalgam Road, Rajouri-Thanamandi-Surankot Roads besides others. Various projects of R&B including construction of Flyovers at Bemina and Sanat Nagar, Rehabilitation of Chanapora and Tengpora bridges Srinagar-Budgam-Pulwama-Shopian-Kulgam-Qazigund Highway (NH-444), construction of by-passes for three main towns of Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian besides other road safety and strengthening works currently going on in different parts of the UT were also reviewed in the meeting.

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Amit Shah Reaffirms Kashmir’s Inseparable Bond with India, Highlights Modi Government’s Efforts Post Article 370 Abrogation

January 2, 2025 by NOK Desk

Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong resolve led to the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the BJP-led government not only “controlled terrorism but also demolished the terror eco-system from the Valley”.

Amit Shah, who was speaking at the book launch of ‘J&K and Ladakh Through the Ages’ said that Kashmir is and has always been an inseparable part of India.

Modi government abrogated Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.

Home Minister said that Articles 370 and 35A came in the way of full unison of Kashmir with the rest of the country.

“PM Modi’s strong resolve abrogated Article 370, this began the development of Kashmir along with the rest of the country… Article 370 sowed the seeds of separatism in the valley which later turned into terrorism. Article 370 spread a myth that the connection between Kashmir and India is temporary. There was terrorism for decades and the country kept watching. After the abrogation of Article 370, terrorism has been reduced by 70 per cent. Congress can accuse us of whatever they want… PM Modi released a package of Rs 80,000 crore… We not only controlled the terrorism, but PM Modi government also demolished the terror eco-system from the valley,” he said.

“To understand Bharat, the facts connecting our country need to be understood. To analyse where Kashmir and Ladakh were by twisting the facts on the basis of who ruled it, who lived here, and what agreements were signed, is pointless…and only historians with a distorted sense, lacking proper sense of history can do this,” he added.

The Union Minister said the book proves that the culture, languages, scripts, spiritual thoughts, artwork at pilgrim places, trade and commerce that was spread across the country was present in Kashmir for at least 10000 years and spread from there to several other parts of the country.

“When 8000-year-old books mention Kashmir and Jhelum, then no one can comment on to whom Kashmir belongs. Kashmir is and has always been an inseparable part of India. No one can separate it using sections of law. Attempts were made to separate it using law but those sections were abrogated in the flow of time and all obstacles were removed,” he said.

He said India is the only country in the world whose geo-culture and boundaries have been shaped by its culture. India’s geopolitical outlook can only be understood only through the country’s viewpoint, he noted.

Amit Shah said time has come to get rid of history written to please rulers. “It is time to present the country’s history through facts and proofs and presenting it to the world…” he said.

He expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for giving a new life to the languages of Kashmir.

“PM Modi insisted that every language spoken in Kashmir should be given importance and has to be included… This proves how a PM of any country can be sensitive towards the languages of the country,” he said.

“The historians did what they did but now who can stop us? The nation is free and there is a government that is running according to the country’s views… It is our work now to represent the nation with facts and proof and from our point of view,” he added.

Amit Shah said Kashmir is also known as the land of Kashyap and it is possible that it is named after the sage.

He said Kashmir is also part of the Buddhist journey with the religion making its way to many countries of the region including Nepal and Afghanistan.

“This book presents all factors in detail. The art in the ruins of old temples proves that Kashmir has been a part of India. Kashmir is also an integral part of the Buddhist journey…the history from Buddhism, to demolished temples, to the use of Sanskrit, to the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, to Dogra reign, to the mistakes made after 1947 and to their rectification, all the 8000 years of history are included in this book,” he said. (ANI)

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Locals Carry Woman and Newborn After Snow Blocks Road in Yamlar Bala, Rajwar, Handwara

January 2, 2025 by NOK Desk

In a heart-wrenching incident, residents of Yamlar Bala in Rajwar, Handwara, were forced to carry a woman and her newborn on shoulders to her home after being discharged from the hospital. The 500-meter stretch of road leading to the village remained blocked due to snow, leaving no other option for the locals.

According to officials, 3.5 kilometers of the road had been cleared using snow-clearing machines. However, the final 500 meters remained inaccessible due to the narrowness of the road, making it impossible for the machinery to proceed.

Residents expressed their anger, stating that such hardships are a recurring issue every winter. “We struggle every time snow accumulates in the area. The administration must ensure better facilities for snow clearance in remote areas like ours,” a local said.

The administration acknowledged the problem and assured immediate action. “We have already cleared most of the road, and manual labor will be deployed to clear the remaining stretch. By tomorrow, the road will be fully accessible,” an official stated.

Tehsildar Basharat Ahmed confirmed to Rising Kashmir that he had taken note of the incident and instructed officials to expedite the clearance of the blocked section.

Locals urged the administration to provide better snow-clearing facilities. “We live far from Handwara town, and such situations cause immense hardship. The administration must deploy machinists in our area to address these challenges promptly,” they said.

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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Reaffirms Demand for Jammu and Kashmir Statehood, Criticizes Delay in Restoring Special Status

January 2, 2025 by NOK Desk

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reiterated the right to statehood for J-K and said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party is worried about the Jammu and Kashmir then they should talk about the statehood.

“The BJP should talk about the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir if they are so worried about the state. Let’s not expect them to do anything else. This is our special status, which is our constitutional guarantee, whatever they contested in the Assembly and opposed it. When the resolution came, the Assembly passed it.,” Omar Abdullah said.

In November last year, the Legislative Assembly passed a resolution demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370. The resolution was opposed by the BJP, which holds 29 seats in the assembly.

Earlier today, Omar Abdullah Mentioning that the Supreme Court has said to restore the statehood “as soon as possible,” CM Abdullah stated that one year is enough for this “as soon as possible.”

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said, “We have been in power for more than 2 months now. It took us some time to understand the functioning of a government in a UT… It was easier than anticipated… We stand by the promises we made before the elections because of which people gave us the mandate to form the government… It will be important to us to change the status of J&K. I hope that the status of UT is a temporary phase for J&K.”

“The people of J&K participated in the assembly elections in good numbers and they should get something. The central government had promised to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and we hope it will not take much time. One year ago, even the Supreme Court in its verdict had said that statehood of Jammu and Kashmir should be restored as soon as possible. Now that a year has been completed so we believe that 1 year is enough for this ‘as soon as possible’. We are here to serve people and fulfil their expectations of development and governance….” he added.

Notably, the restoration of Article 370, the reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, and the implementation of the autonomy resolution were key promises in the National Conference’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir elections.

The first session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which concluded on November 8, also witnessed uproar over the issue of Article 370. (ANI)

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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Inaugurates Winter Carnival in Pahalgam, Showcasing J&K’s Cultural Heritage

January 2, 2025 by NOK Desk

In a grand celebration of Jammu and Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated Winter Carnival at Pahalgam this evening.
The event, which draws attention to the picturesque beauty of the region and its vibrant cultural landscape, was held in the presence of several dignitaries, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Chowdhary, former J&K Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Wani and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Pahalgam Altaf Ahmad Wani. The evening’s proceedings began with an electrifying musical performance by the renowned artist Abha Hanjura, whose mesmerizing tunes and captivating stage presence brought the crowd to life.
The musical acts, combined with traditional cultural performances, set the tone for an unforgettable carnival experience.
The vibrant atmosphere of the event, coupled with the awe-inspiring surroundings of Pahalgam, created a magical experience for both the large gathering of tourists and locals who had gathered to witness the festivities.
The Winter Carnival is not only a celebration of the region’s natural beauty but also a vital platform for showcasing the talent of local artists and performers.
This year’s edition promises to highlight the region’s unique cultural heritage, including traditional music, dance, handicrafts, and culinary delights.
By offering a stage for local talent, the carnival aims to promote Jammu and Kashmir’s rich cultural fabric to a wider audience, while also giving local artisans the chance to showcase their work and foster economic growth in the region.
Speaking at the inauguration, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized the importance of such events in bolstering the tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pahalgam is a treasure trove of natural beauty, and through events like the Winter Carnival, we aim to position it as a key tourist destination that not only attracts visitors for its scenic landscapes but also provides them with an authentic cultural experience,” he said.
The Winter Carnival’s timing is perfect for the ongoing winter season, which attracts tourists from across the country and abroad. The event has been designed to enhance the appeal of Pahalgam, showcasing its capabilities as a year-round tourist hub.
As more visitors flock to the region, local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops, are likely to experience a boost, contributing to the local economy.
“We are committed to ensuring that Pahalgam and other tourist spots in the region continue to grow as world-class destinations. The Winter Carnival not only provides entertainment and cultural enrichment but also plays an important role in positioning our region as a major player on the global tourism map,” added Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Chowdhary.
With its successful inauguration, the Winter Carnival is expected to attract an even larger turnout in the coming days.
The carnival promises to be a key event on the calendar for both local residents and tourists alike, creating a festive environment in Pahalgam that will run through the winter season.
The anticipated influx of visitors will contribute significantly to the region’s tourism potential, especially as the festival provides a unique opportunity to experience Jammu and Kashmir’s winter charm in full display.
In addition to the ongoing musical performances, the event will feature a variety of other attractions, including winter sports activities, food stalls offering traditional Kashmiri cuisine, and craft exhibitions that highlight the region’s artisanal excellence.
The carnival is set to continue over the next several days, and visitors from all over the world are encouraged to experience the festivities and explore the beauty of Pahalgam and its surroundings.(KNS)

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Sajad Lone Files PIL Against Misuse of Police Verification Process in J&K

January 2, 2025 by NOK Desk

J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone files PIL a Public Interest Litigation before the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in Srinagar, challenging the misuse of the police verification process.
The PIL, submitted through Advocate Syed Sajad Geelani, seeks to address the growing misuse of police verifications as a tool of collective punishment, targeting individuals based on the actions or affiliations of their family members.
Lone’s move comes in response to his earlier commitment to protect the rights of citizens, emphasizing that the police verification process should not penalize individuals for factors outside their control, particularly the conduct of their relatives.
“The current system has been used to deny citizens their basic rights, such as employment, access to passports and other essential opportunities. It is imperative that the verification process remains transparent, fair and aligned with legal standards,” he said.
PC President added that the petition calls for the strict enforcement of the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services (Validation of Character and Antecedents) Instructions, 1997, along with amendments introduced through Government Order No. 528-JK(GAD) of 2021 and Circular No. 05-JK(GAD) of 2024, which mandate clear timelines for police verifications.
“These guidelines, which focus solely on an individual’s criminal record, are often overlooked, causing unnecessary difficulties. We are committed to ensuring their proper enforcement so no citizen is unfairly punished for the actions of others,” Lone asserted.
He said the PIL also highlights violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality, the freedom to pursue any profession and the right to live with dignity.
“When police verifications are based on irrelevant factors, such as the actions of a person’s relatives, it not only violates their rights but subjects them to undue hardships which remains ethically and constitutionally unjustified,” Lone stated.
Citing the Supreme Court’s “Bulldozer Judgment,” which strongly opposed collective punishment, PC President said the petition stresses that police verifications should focus solely on the individual in question.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling reinforces the principle that no individual should suffer because of others’ actions,” Lone noted. “We seek to ensure that every citizen is treated fairly and in accordance with the law.”
He further clarified that this PIL is not driven by politics, but by a commitment to justice, equality and the protection of constitutional rights.
“The petition includes real-life cases that illustrate the severe economic, social and emotional hardships caused by arbitrary police verification practices. This is about safeguarding the dignity and rights of the people. We will continue to fight for justice for the citizens of Jammu & Kashmir,” he affirmed.
The PIL has been submitted to the court registry and is under procedural review. It will be listed for hearing once cleared by the registry.(KNS)

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Kashmiri Actor Imtiaz Butt Makes Bollywood Debut in Pyar Mein Qurban with Son Ibadat Butt

January 2, 2025 by NOK Desk

Kashmiri actor Imtiaz Butt’s debut in Bollywood is a significant milestone, as he will be seen playing the role of Bhawani in the film Pyar Mein Qurban, which releases on January 3, 2025.
This film marks his successful entry into Bollywood, and his performance has received immense praise from critics. In the film, Imtiaz portrays a villainous character, showcasing both his physical prowess and emotional depth.
His son, Ibadat Butt, also plays an important role in the film, which adds to the significance of this project, as it is the first time a father and son duo from Kashmir is working together in Bollywood.
Pyar Mein Qurban has been produced by Imtiaz Butt and his friend Mohammad Tasleem.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe film offers a captivating blend of action and romance, with a storyline centered around love and sacrifice. Directed by the renowned Bollywood actor Zuber K Khan, the film’s narrative revolves around themes of love and sacrifice.
Imtiaz Butt’s film comes at an interesting time for Bollywood, as several new actors are making their debut in the industry, such as Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan, Gujarati cinema star Janki Bodiwala, and many others. Their inclusion brings a fresh wave to Bollywood, and Pyar Mein Qurban stands as a prime example of this new trend. (KNS)