The Kashmir Pulse

KISHTWAR — Following the killing of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Kishtwar, Police have issued wanted posters of three wanted militants and announced a collective cash reward of Rs 30 lakh for information leading to their arrest.

The three wanted individuals have been identified as Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir, Riyaz Ahmed alias Hazari and Mudasir Hussain.

The posters, issued by District Police Kishtwar, carry photographs of the three men and appeal to the public to share any information regarding their whereabouts or movements.

Police have provided two contact numbers, 1995357494 and 9797900958, for sharing information, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.

The announcement comes amid intensified security operations in Kishtwar following the killing of two SPOs, Rashpal and Babbi Chand, whose bullet-riddled bodies were recovered from the forest area of Marwah.

Security agencies have stepped up efforts to trace those involved in the killings, while the reward announcement is aimed at securing public assistance in locating the three wanted men.

KULGAM — Security forces have launched a massive search operation across multiple villages in southern Kashmir's Kulgam district following the attack on CRPF personnel, with security teams conducting searches in residential houses, orchards and adjoining areas.

A heavy deployment of security personnel has been reported in several villages, including Matalhama, Chadar, Bhan, Mah, Akhran, Nowpora, Zangalpora and Kelam Gund, besides adjoining hamlets.

Search teams are moving through residential localities and orchard areas as part of the extensive operation to trace those involved in the attack. Sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service to assist the search teams.

The operation involves coordinated efforts by police and other security forces, with personnel carrying out searches at multiple locations across the district.

The heightened security presence has drawn attention across the affected villages, where searches are being conducted in houses, orchards and surrounding areas.

The operation follows the firing incident near Mir Bazar, in which three CRPF personnel were injured after suspected militants opened fire on a security deployment.

Security forces are continuing the searches to establish the movement of those involved and gather further evidence related to the attack.

SRINAGAR — Newly appointed lecturers in 15 subjects are awaiting their posting orders despite the issuance of appointment orders between July and October, leaving the selected candidates in uncertainty and causing hardship to them and their families.

The affected lecturers said that despite completing the selection process through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and receiving formal appointment orders, they have yet to be assigned their respective schools in Government Higher Secondary Schools across Jammu and Kashmir.

They said that appointment orders in several subjects were issued on different dates, but the corresponding posting orders remain pending.

The subjects and dates of appointment orders include Economics, Education, Sociology and Statistics on July 8; Urdu on August 19; Political Science on August 24; Sanskrit, English and Psychology on August 31; Zoology on September 3; Botany on September 17; Mathematics on September 25; Physics and Chemistry on October 17; and Environmental Science on October 19.

The affected lecturers said they have been regularly visiting the Directorate of School Education to mark their attendance but are unable to begin their teaching assignments as their places of posting have not been communicated.

"We are regularly going to the Directorate of School Education for marking attendance and spending the entire day without being assigned our places of posting. We have been facing this situation for nearly two months," said the father of one of the appointed lecturers to the news agency KNT.

He said the delay was creating additional financial and personal difficulties for families, particularly those whose children have to travel long distances without any clarity about their postings.

"My daughter has been appointed as a lecturer, but she has to travel to Srinagar every day because her posting has not yet been issued. This is causing unnecessary financial and mental stress," he said.

One of the selected lecturers questioned the delay, saying their selection had been completed through JKPSC and that issuing posting orders should not require such a prolonged wait.

"Our selection has been done through JKPSC. What is the point of wasting our time like this? It would take just a day to sign our files and issue posting orders for Government Higher Secondary Schools across Jammu and Kashmir," the lecturer said.

The affected lecturers and their families said the files related to their postings were reportedly pending in the Secretariat and urged the authorities to clear them without further delay.

They have appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Education Minister Sakina Itoo and Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, to intervene personally and ensure that the pending orders are issued at the earliest.

The newly appointed lecturers said the prolonged delay was not only causing avoidable hardship to selected candidates but was also keeping their teaching services from being utilised in schools where they are expected to discharge their duties.