The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A 23-year-old youth hanged himself to death in a mosque in Shamsabad Bemina area of central Kashmir's Srinagar district on Monday.

An official quoted by the local news agency Kashmir Scroll said that a youth from Bijbehara town made an attempt to hang himself in a Masjid in Batamaloo Srinagar. However, soon after the incident, he was shifted to a hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The reason behind taking this extreme step in a religious place like a mosque wasn't immediately known.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and started an investigation in this connection.

SRINAGAR — A scuffle between two youth groups in the Bemina area of central Kashmir's Srinagar district left two individuals injured late Wednesday night.

According to a police officer quoted by a local news agency, the altercation occurred at Hamza Colony. As a result, two individuals sustained injuries.

The injured have been identified as Faizan Rasheed Bhat, son of Abdul Rasheed Bhat, residing in Usmania Colony, Bemina, and Riyaan Amin Lone, son of Mohammad Amin Lone, also a resident of Usmania Colony.

Both individuals have been shifted to JVC Hospital for treatment, where their condition is reported to be stable.

Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident, with police confirming that they are looking into the matter.

SRINAGAR — The Regional Transport Office (RTO) Kashmir has announced to shift its main office to a new building in Bemina on Tuesday.

The move, aimed at enhancing efficiency and accessibility, may cause temporary disruptions in routine services for a few days.

The RTO Kashmir Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari, while speaking to the news agency KNO, said that the transition to the new location is being meticulously planned to minimize inconvenience to the public.

“Efforts are underway to ensure a smooth shift while maintaining essential services as much as possible during the transition period,” he added.

He added that in light of the relocation, people are advised to anticipate possible delays in accessing RTO services during the transition phase.

However, to facilitate the public, the RTO has announced that the new office in Bemina will be open for visitors from Thursday.

SRINAGAR — Late last night, two distinct fire incidents wreaked havoc in Srinagar, resulting in the destruction of at least seven shops and a residential house, officials said on Thursday.

According to an official's statement quoted by a local news agency, a fire erupted in the Fruit Mandi at Parimpora, causing extensive damage to seven shops.

Simultaneously, another fire incident unfolded in the Bemina area, leading to the destruction of a residential house.

Details surrounding the cause of the fires are currently under investigation, as authorities work to ascertain the origin and circumstances of the incidents.

SRINAGAR — In an unfortunate incident, a teenage boy drowned to death in Dal Lake Srinagar on Sunday.

As per the reports reaching here, a teenage boy identified as Wahid Fayaz, a resident of Bemina, drowned in Dal Lake while he was having a bath.

Sources said that his body was later retrieved by locals along with the help of River Police Srinagar from Dal Lake near Ghat number 16.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and the body was handed over to the family after medico-legal formalities.

SRINAGAR — Two persons were killed after being hit by an ambulance near Children's Hospital in Bemina area of summer capital Srinagar.

An official told the news agency KDC that two persons identified as Ali Mohammad Dar, a resident of Nowpora, Baramulla and Fayaz Ahmad Chopan, a resident of Hadipora, Rafiabad were critically injured after they were hit by a speedy ambulance near Children Hospital Bemina in wee hours on Wednesday.

"Both the injured were shifted to JVC Hospital for treatment, where doctors declared them dead on arrival," he said.

"The driver of the ambulance has been arrested while the vehicle was seized under relevant sections of law and further investigation of the incident is going on," he added.

SRINAGAR — A non-local and a resident from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district were found dead in mysterious circumstances in Bemina and Batamaloo area of summer capital Srinagar on Tuesday morning.

An unnamed official was quoted by the news agency KDC as having said that a non-local labourer identified as Babu Ali (65) son of Hussain, a resident of Jalalpur area of Uttar Pradesh state, was found dead in a rented accommodation at SD Colony here. Ali’s body was shifted to SMHS Hospital for further medico-legal formalities.

In another incident, the body of local resident identified as Naseer Ahmad Lone, son of Habibullah, a resident of Baramulla, was found in a vehicle (Tata Mobile) bearing registration number JK13G-0150 near Tengpora area of Batamaloo by CRPF jawans of 73 Battalion this morning.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of both incidents and further investigations are going on.

SRINAGAR — At least seven residential houses were damaged in twin fire incidents in Srinagar district on Friday evening, an official said here.

An official told news agency KNS that fire emanated from one of the residential houses in Gadood Bagh area of Habba Kadal and later engulfed the nearby houses.

He said in the incident, six houses were partially damaged even as the fire was put off by fire tenders after hectic efforts. He added a firefighter was also injured while dousing off the flames.

In an another fire incident, one residential house was also damaged in Bemina area on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, Srinagar Police advised citizens to keep basic fire safety equipments handy as several fire indents have been rported in the city.

“There are many incidents of fire being reported in Srinagar distt daily. Citizens are advised to keep basic fire safety equipments handy & also to only use authentic heating appliances. Legal action will be taken as per law against shopkeepers selling fake & duplicate equipments,” Srinagar Police tweeted.

SRINAGAR — After missing several deadlines, the much-awaited 500-bed Children's Hospital Bemina, Srinagar has been made functional from Monday, officials said.

A Health official told the news agency KNO that all machinery and other equipment were already shifted to the hospital last week and today, it was made functional. He said that machinery and all equipment have been already installed at the hospital so that the patients won't suffer at any cost.

He said that from 10:00 AM on Monday, the OPD and admissions at GB Panth were closed and at the same time, the admission of patients started at the 500-bedded paediatric hospital in Bemina.

The official added that while taking no risk, all patients who are severe and in ICU and on oxygen were not shifted from GB Pant and they will be discharged from there while the rest of the less sick patients have been shifted to the new paediatric hospital.

He added that 240 beds were available at GB Panth and around 450-475 patients on daily basis were remaining admitted and there was no other option other than keeping two or three patients on a bed. "Now, 500 beds are available here and patients will get all facilities."

Asked about infrastructure set up there, he said that whatever was required has been fulfilled and if anything more will be required, it will be done.

Notably, just a few days back, Health and Medical Education Department had given a nod to the shifting of GB Panth Hospital to the 500-bedded paediatric hospital in Bemina.

It is pertinent to mention here that the work on the hospital was initially started in 2013 but the then chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, in October 2015, gave it an extension and laid the foundation stone for a 500-bedded Mother-Child Hospital.

In 2019, the government accorded sanction to the conversion of the 200-bedded maternity hospital and the 300-bedded paediatric hospital at Bemina, Srinagar into a full-fledged 500-bedded children's hospital.

After missing several deadlines, the 500-bedded hospital was completed and OPD services started functioning in the hospital in October last year. The hospital is now fully functional as all the paediatric patients are admitted in the hospital instead of GB Panth Hospital Sonwar.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested five persons including the husband and in-laws in a murder case of a lady in Bemina area of Srinagar.

“On 27-06-2022, Police Station Batamaloo Srinagar received information through reliable sources to the effect that at Nundresh Colony-B Bemina, one lady namely Tasleema Bano (aged 38 years), wife of Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar of Nundresh Colony-B Bemina Srinagar has died at her in-laws house in suspicious condition and was taken to SMHS Srinagar where doctors brought her dead,” a police spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency KNO.

Upon reception of this information, a report has been entered into the daily dairy of Police Station Batamaloo vide GD No. 30; dated 27-06-2022 and proceedings under section 174 CrPC initiated, police said.

“During questioning, some suspects particularly her in-laws were brought to this P/S for questioning. However, a report from the Pathology department received and has been submitted that after the perusal of complete postmortem examination, the doctors' team are of the opinion that the findings are consistent with death due to Asphyxia (Smothering),” the statement added.

Upon this, police said that a case under FIR number 109/ 2022 under Section 302 stands registered and an investigation was set into motion.

Five suspected persons including three females and two males identified as Hafeeza Begum wife of Ghulam Qadir Dar, Sumiyaa wife of Parvaiz Ahmad Dar, Siaqa wife of Yasir Ahmad Dar, Parvaiz Ahmad Dar son of Gh Qadir Dar and Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar son of Gh Qadir Dar—all residents of NR Colony Bemina were arrested in the instant case and further investigation in the instant case is still going on.

Meanwhile, police appealed to people to come forward if they have any information about this case and thereby cooperating and fulfilling their civic duty, this will greatly help in the investigation of this heinous crime against women.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal said that police didn't come under any pressure and proceeded as per the law. “Justice will be done,” he said.

SRINAGAR — In yet another shocking incident, a Polytechnic student was allegedly raped in Bemina area of Srinagar on Friday, Police said and added that the accused has been arrested.

According to the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), police said that the accused identified as Zahid Majeed Sheikh, son of Abdul Majeed of Shalteng Srinagar, who has allegedly raped a student of Government Polytechnic, was arrested by Bemina Police.

However, police said that the victim is undergoing treatment and her condition is stated to be stable.

Meanwhile, a case under FIR number 55/2022 under Section 376 of IPC has been registered at Bemina Police Station while the investigation is underway.

"One accused namely Zahid Majeed Sheikh S/o Abdul Majeed R/o Shalteng arrested for raping a student of Govt Polytechnic, Bemina today. Case was registered under FIR no 55/2022 u/s 376 of IPC at PS Bemina today afternoon. Victim is undergoing treatment at a hospital & is stable," Srinagar Police tweeted.

SRINAGAR — Two militants including a national from Pakistan were killed in a gunfight in Srinagar on Tuesday. During the encounter, three cops also suffered minor injuries.

Divulging information about the encounter, police through a series of tweets informed that the slain militants were affiliated with the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Police said that two militants were killed in the swift action in Bemina area of Srinagar city, adding that a cop also sustained injuries during the encounter.

J&K Police identified the Pakistani militant as Abdullah Goujri from Faisalabad, Pakistan, terming his killing as a big success. Another slain militant, who is local from Anantnag, was identified as Adil Hussain Mir.

A police spokesman said that the duo killed in the encounter were part of the same group that had escaped from the encounter site in north Kashmir’s Sopore. “We have been tracking their movement,” police added.

Meanwhile, sources told news agency Kashmir News Trust that three cops with minor injuries were brought to PCR Hospital from the encounter site. Sources added that after receiving first aid, all the cops were discharged from the hospital.

SRINAGAR — Police on Friday claimed to have arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) hybrid militant in Bemina area of central Kashmir's Srinagar district.

In a statement issued to GNS, the police said that acting on a specific tip-off about the movement of militants in the general area of Bemina, a joint Naka was laid by Srinagar Police, valley QAT of CRPF and 2 RR at Bemina Crossing.

"One individual suspiciously approaching the Naka was challenged by the Naka personnel on which he tried to flee. However, he was apprehended by the Naka party," police said.

"The apprehended individual identified himself as Nasir Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Ahad Dar, resident of Gund Brath Sopore," the statement said, adding that on his frisking, a Pistol, magazine and five live rounds were recovered from his possession.

"On basis of his initial questioning, the individual accepted that he was working as a hybrid militant of LeT outfit and was involved in delivering pistols in Srinagar city to carry out targeted killings," he said.

The statement further reads, "A case under the relevant provisions of law has been registered at Police Station Bemina and further investigation has been taken up."

SRINAGAR — Three young girls (name withheld) were injured after the Scooty, which they were riding, met with an accident near Security Line in Srinagar uptown on Thursday.

Two among them are the residents of Bemina Srinagar and one is from Lawaypora area.

Hospital sources told news agency Kashmir News Trust that three girls aged 14 and 15 respectively were brought to the SMHS Hospital after they had sustained injuries in a road accident.

A relative of one of the three girls said that the trio are stable and will be discharged from the hospital shortly.