The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A tragic accident occurred in Pampore town on the old National Highway (NHW) early this morning when a passenger bus overturned, resulting in the death of one individual and injuries to 15 others.

An official quoted by the local news agency KNO said that Pampore Police and local residents were quick to respond and are currently managing the situation.

According to a police statement, the vehicle, which was travelling from Jammu to Srinagar, overturned near Drangbal, Pampore. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Thirteen of the injured passengers were shifted from the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Pampore to the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar for further treatment. Their conditions vary, with most reported as stable, though one passenger remains in critical condition.

The identities and conditions of the injured are as follows: Waseem Ahmad, son of Mohammad Afzal Malik, resident of Banihal with multiple injuries but stable condition; Ranjeet Ram, son of Hari Ram, resident of Bihar's Matheri district with multiple injuries but stable condition; Vinod Ram, son of Mohan Ram, resident of Bihar's Mathri district with multiple injuries but stable condition; Abno Mishra, son of Sosil Mishra, resident of Gorokhpur, UP with multiple injuries but stable condition.

Among those injured also include Shariq Ahmad Dar, son of Mohammad Dar, resident of Darpora Dugle Banihal with multiple injuries and critical condition; Gasia, son of Mugrisa, resident of Beihar Bitya Zillaha with multiple injuries but stable condition; Bangeli Puswha, son of Maniger Puswha, resident of Bihir Bitya Zillaha with multiple injuries but stable condition; Chater Bad Kotwal, son of Jeet Bahadder, resident of Nepal with multiple injuries but stable condition.

Prince Kumar Patle, son of Umash Patle, resident of Ajowa Bihar with multiple injuries but stable condition; Ram Kant Shah, son of Banda Shah, resident of Ajowa Bihar with multiple injuries but stable condition; Mohammad Ali, son of Abdul Kareem, resident of Kargil with multiple injuries but stable condition; Bacho Patel, son of Maqsoodan Patal, resident of Mathri Bihar with multiple injuries but stable condition; Tee Mohan Sharma, son of Chander Goe, resident of Bihar with multiple injuries but stable condition are also among the injured persons.

SRINAGAR — A civilian was shot dead by the suspected militants in Bijbehara area of southern Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday evening, officials said.

An official told the news agency KNO that a civilian hailing from Bihar, identified as Raja Shah, son of Shankar Shah, presently living at Jablipora, Bilal Colony, was fired upon by the militants in Bijbehara.

The official said that the civilian received bullet injuries in neck and abdomen, leaving him in a pool of blood. He was immediately taken to the hospital where he was declared dead.

Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.

SRINAGAR — A fast-track court in Srinagar on Wednesday handed down an eight-year rigorous imprisonment term and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on a resident of Bihar in connection with the kidnapping and rape of a 15-year-old girl in Habba Kadal area of Srinagar back in 2016.

Renu Dogra Gupta, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge overseeing cases of sexual assault, pronounced the sentence for the convict, Santosh Kumar Paswan, son of Saider Paswan, hailing from Lalpora Bhim Nagar in Bihar. The judgment was delivered four days after Paswan's conviction.

The court found Paswan guilty under Section 363 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) pertaining to kidnapping. It ruled that both sentences would run concurrently and ordered that the time already served by Paswan would be deducted from the total sentence.

Prosecution in the case was represented by APP Farooq Ahmad Malik.

Paswan was charged by the police for the abduction and sexual assault of the minor girl (identity withheld) in 2016.

According to the prosecution, on September 1, 2016, the girl's father filed a complaint at Kralkhud Police Station, alleging that Paswan, who was working as a mason at their house, had frequently visited their residence.

The complainant stated that his daughter had gone missing from their home and suspected that she had been lured away. During the subsequent search, the girl and the kidnapper were intercepted while riding a motorcycle near Humhama, heading suspiciously towards the airport, the prosecution detailed.

Following their apprehension, the police seized the motorcycle and air tickets from Srinagar to Delhi belonging to the accused and the victim, the prosecution added.

Medical examination of the victim revealed the presence of a fetus approximately 10 weeks and 6 days old, indicating pregnancy.

The prosecution further revealed that the accused had exploited the minor's vulnerability and immaturity by establishing illegal relations with her after frequent visits to her home.

SRINAGAR — A fast-track court in Srinagar has found a resident of Bihar guilty of kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old girl in the Habba Kadal area of Srinagar nearly eight years ago.

Renu Dogra Gupta, the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge presiding over rape cases in the fast-track court, delivered the verdict on Saturday. The court ruled that the prosecution had convincingly established its case with substantial evidence, leaving no room for doubt regarding the guilt of the accused.

The convicted individual, identified as Santosh Kumar Paswan, son of Saider Paswan and resident of Lalpora Bhim Nagar, Bihar, was found guilty of offenses punishable under Sections 363 and 376 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). The court's judgment stated that Paswan is liable to be convicted for these offenses.

The quantum of punishment for Paswan is expected to be announced by the court next week.

The case against Paswan was filed by the police following allegations of kidnapping and rape of the minor girl, whose identity has been withheld, in 2016.

According to the prosecution, the girl's father filed a complaint with the Kralkhud Police Station on September 1, 2016, stating that Santosh Kumar Paswan, who had been working as a mason at their residence, had frequently visited their house. The complainant reported that his daughter had gone missing, leading him to suspect that she had been lured away.

During the search operation, the girl and the kidnapper were intercepted while riding a motorcycle near Humhama, heading towards the airport in suspicious circumstances. They were subsequently apprehended and brought to the Police post at Humhama, where the accused's motorcycle and air tickets from Srinagar to Delhi were seized.

Medical examination of the victim revealed the presence of a fetus of approximately 10 weeks and 6 days in her womb, indicating sexual assault.

The prosecution asserted that Paswan took advantage of the girl's minority and immaturity, establishing illegal relations with her during his visits to her home.

BIHAR — A local youth from central Kashmir’s Budgam district has been arrested by police in Bihar for his suspicious movement in Shaheed Chowk of Katihar. The arrested youth has been identified as Nasir Yusuf Waza.

Reports said that Muhammad Yousuf, the father of the arrested youth, had been killed in an encounter in Kashmir valley.

Media reports said after reaching Katihar from Nepal, the youth was going to Kolkata by train, but he missed the train. Therefore, he checked into a hotel at Shaheed Chowk in Nagar Police Station area. Locals informed police after they spotted him roaming.

Katihar SP Jitendra Kumar said, “A youth has been arrested under suspicious circumstances. In the interrogation, it has been found that he is from Kashmir. Something can be clearly said in this matter only after interrogation.”

Reports said that Nasir is married to a girl in Finland where he has been staying. Reports added that he couldn’t go back to Finland due to a Visa problem.

SRINAGAR — The death toll in Awantipora road accident has reached five as one more migrant worker from Bihar succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital Srinagar on Sunday morning.

Four migrant workers died while over two dozen sustained injuries in an accident in Goripora, Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Saleem, son of Allawudin; Raj Kumar, son of Shiv Das; Kaisar Alam, son of Mazharul Haq and Naseer-ud-Din, son of Aslam Ansari, all residents of Bihar.

Hospital sources at SMHS Hospital told the news agency KNT that 26-year-old Muhammad Gulzar son of Muhammad Nafs, also a resident of Bihar, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning, taking the death toll to five. They said the condition of one more injured person is critical.

PULWAMA — Four labourers from Bihar were killed while 11 others suffered injuries in a road accident on the Srinagar-Anantnag highway on Saturday morning. The incident occurred near the Goripora Barsu area of Awantipora here in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Police sources told the news agency KNT that a passenger bus (JK02BA-1881) on its way from Jammu bus stand to Srinagar met with an accident when the driver lost control of it.

Three passengers died on the spot, another succumbed in the hospital while 11 others have been shifted to SMHS Hospital for advanced treatment. The condition of two injured passengers is stated to be critical.

“The ill-fated bus carried non-local labourers to Srinagar. All four labourers who died in the accident are from Bihar,” said an official.

Police sources identified the deceased as Nasrudin Ansari son of Islam Ansari of Champaran, Bihar; Raj Karan Das son of Shivu Das of Khatia Pichhia, Bihar; Kaiser Alam son of Mazharhaq and Salim Ali son of Muhammad Alauddin, both residents of Katihar, Bihar.

Police in this regard has registered a case under relevant sections of law.

ANANTNAG — Two non-local labourers working in a private school were shot at and injured in Wanihama area of Anantnag district on Thursday.

An official told the news agency KNO that two labourers working in Sabir Abdullah Public School (SAPS) in Wanihama were shot at and injured inside the school by militants. He said that the duo were shifted to GMC Anantnag for treatment.

An official of GMC told KNO that both of them, identified as Vikram from Bihar and Badahur from Nepal, are being treated at the hospital.

Principal GMC Anantnag Dr Tariq Qureshi told KNO that condition of one is stable while as the other is critical and both are being treated.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Police on its official Twitter handle also confirmed that two persons were injured.

“Terrorist fired upon two outside labourers (one from Bihar and another from Nepal), who were working at a private SAPS school at Bondialgam in Anantnag district. Both of them are being shifted to hospital. Further details shall follow,” a police spokesman tweeted.

Meanwhile, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar tweeted, “This is a cowardice and inhumane act of terrorism. The victims were called by terrorist to come out to engage in a work. Once the both came out, terrorist fired upon them with a pistol. We are investigating on top priority. Culprit would be brought to justice soon.”

SRINAGAR — Two non-local labourers were injured in a blast, possibly after an unattended explosive device, left at the place where an encounter had taken place in the past, went off while they were digging the earth at Tahab area of the south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday.

A senior police officer, as per news agency GNS, said that investigations were underway if the blast was due to some unattended shell or any other explosive device “possibly left at the place where an encounter had taken place two or three years ago.”

“While labourers were engaged in digging the earth, some kind of the blast took place and whether it was an old shell or some else explosive is being investigated,” the officer said. He said that both the labourers are out of danger as one suffered an injury in the hand and the other in his foot.

Sources said that the injured were identified as Muhammad Ishtiaq son of Mohammad Kareem-ud-din and Ranjeet Kumar Ram son of Mahinder Ram, both residents of Bihar. They were shifted to PHC Tahab from where the duo was referred to Barzulla Srinagar for advanced treatment.