The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The three bodies found in Dal Lake near Shalimar Ghat on Saturday have been identified, shedding light on possible circumstances.

The woman has been identified as Zahida Begum, wife of Hussain Shaikh, a resident of Rambam. The identities of the two minors have been withheld.

According to the police, the incident appears to be a case of drowning. However, forensic experts have been consulted, and the exact cause of death remains undetermined.

“We are working to determine the cause of death and gather more details about this tragic incident,” an official said.

SRINAGAR — The dead bodies of a woman and two children were found in Dal Lake Srinagar near Shalimar Ghat on Saturday.

According to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, the grim recovery was made at Foreshore Road near Shalimar Ghat.

However, the identities of the victims have not been confirmed as of now.

Meanwhile, police is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

"We are working to determine the cause of death and gather more details about this tragic incident," an official said.

SRINAGAR — Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday called upon Kashmiri Pandits to return to Kashmir, saying that their motherland is awaiting them.

During his sermon from the pulpit of the historic Jamia Masjid during Friday prayers, Mirwaiz extended greetings to the Kashmiri Pandit community on the occasion of Mela Kheer Bhawani.

"I would also once again ask them to return to their motherland which awaits them, and live here as they did in the past, in our common and shared heritage. It’s time to reconcile and rebuild the broken bonds. We owe it to our next generation," he added.

Mirwaiz also addressed a recent incident in Dal Lake where a group of people were found drinking publicly in a Shikara. He expressed relief that authorities had taken action but stressed that the responsibility of preventing such incidents lies with the community.

"Being a tourist place, all kinds of visitors will come here. It is for us to ensure that the ethos of Kashmir, based on the values and principles of Islam, stays intact. We have to be aware of it all the time and consciously work towards preserving it, especially those people who are directly or indirectly associated with tourism," he said.

Mirwaiz expressed hope that the community would continue to play an active role in preserving its moral and religious character.

"Our prosperity in the real sense—which will stand us in good stead in this life and in the hereafter—lies only in following the righteous path shown by Islam in all affairs of life and dealings with others, and not in immoral acts, corrupt practices, and cheating as a shortcut to flourish," he said.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz announced that if authorities permit, Eid-ul-Adha prayers will be offered collectively at the historic Eidgah Srinagar at 9 am. Otherwise, Eid prayers will be offered at the same time in Jamia Masjid Srinagar.

SRINAGAR — Police on Tuesday booked two people for offensive behaviour in a Shikara in Dal Lake in an inebriated state after a video went viral across social media platforms in central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

Informing via social media platform X, the police wrote, "Srinagar Police has taken cognizance after a video of unidentified individuals indulging in offensive behaviour in a Shikara in Dal Lake in an inebriated state went viral across social media platforms."

A case FIR number 83/2024 under sections 295-A IPC stands registered in Police Station Ram Munshibagh, the police spokesman said.

"Two accused persons have been arrested while more suspects are being questioned. Further investigation into the matter is going on," police said.

SRINAGAR — Muttahida Majlise-e-Ulama (MMU), which includes all the heads of religious sects and educational institutions of Jammu and Kashmir and led by Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, on Saturday expressed serious concern over a viral video on social media in which a group of outsiders are openly drinking alcohol on a Shikara in Dal Lake.

In a statement issued to the news agency KNO, MMU strongly condemned this act and the fact that it has been allowed to take place in Kashmir.

While public consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited under the law, why and how it has been allowed is a matter of worry, the MMU said.

The Majlis-e-Ulama said, "The people of Kashmir are hospitable and respect tourists visiting the Valley as guests. However, such un-Islamic and unethical practices will not be tolerated in the Muslim-majority valley which is the land of saints and Sufis. Consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited in Islam for its disastrous ill effects and deprivation of society cannot be allowed to go unchecked.”

MMU appealed to hotel owners, houseboat owners and Shikara operators to keep an eye on such wrongdoings and totally stay away from indulging in this un-Islamic and immoral practice for profit. It also appealed to the tourists to respect the moral and religious ethos of Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Council reiterated its demand for the immediate arrest and appropriate punishment of the student involved in the blasphemy against the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) at GMC Srinagar, despite the police having registered an FIR.

It is noteworthy that the United Council of Scholars of Jammu and Kashmir includes the following organizations: Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Darul Uloom Raheemiya Bandipora, Mufti Azam's Muslim Personal Law Board, Anjuman Shari Shian, Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Karwan-e-Islami, Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen, Anjuman Himayat-ul-Islam, Anjuman Tabligh-ul-Islam and Jamiat Hamdania.

Anjuman Ulema-e-Ahnaf, Darul Uloom Qasmiya, Darul Uloom Bilaliya, Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam, Anjuman Mazhar-ul-Haq, Jamiat-ul-Aimma wal Ulema, Anjuman Aimma wa Mashaikh Kashmir, Darul Uloom Naqshbandiya, Darul Uloom Rashidiya, Ahl-e-Bait Foundation, Madrasa Kanz-ul-Uloom, Pirwan-e-Wilayat, Auqaf Islamia Khiram Sirhama, Bazm-e-Tauheed Ahl-e-Hadith Trust and Anjuman Tanzeem-ul-Makatib are also part of the council.

Besides, Muhammadi Yateem Trust, Anjuman Anwar-ul-Islam, Karwan Khatm-e-Nabuwat, Darul Uloom Syed-ul-Mursaleen, Anjuman Ulema wa Aimma Masajid, Falah Darain Trust Welfare Society Islamabad, Ashraf-ul-Uloom Hyderpora, Darul Uloom Dawoodiya Batamaloo, Darul Uloom Farqaniya Nowshera, Darul Uloom Dawoodiya Khanyar, Jamiat-ul-Ulama Kashmir, Siraj-ul-Uloom are also part of the religious organisation.

The scholar council also includes Idara Wahdat-ul-Makatib Jammu and Kashmir, Darul Uloom Imdadiya Natipora, Darul Uloom Jamia-tur-Rashad Awantipora, Khanqah Muradiya Jamia Masjid Kreeri, Darul Uloom Saut-ul-Quran Gulshan Abad Srinagar and other contemporary religious, national, social, and educational organisations.

SRINAGAR — The unidentified dead body found in Dal Lake in Srinagar today early morning was identified as a West Bengal resident, officials said.

An official told the news agency KNO that the body was found in Dal Lake near Ghat No. 1 early morning today.

He said that the body was later identified as that of Raja Singha Roy of West Bengal.

Police have taken cognisance of the matter and initiated further investigation into the incident.

SRINAGAR — An unidentified dead body was recovered in Dal Lake near Ghat No. 1 area of central Kashmir's Srinagar district on Thursday morning.

An official quoted by the local news agency Kashmir Scroll said that a dead body was spotted by some locals in Dal Lake Ghat No. 1.

He said that they accordingly called the police who reached the spot and took the body into their custody.

They said that identification is being ascertained while further investigation has been taken up.