The Kashmir Pulse

KARGIL — In preparation for Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024 and the scheduled visit of VVIPs to Drass on July 25 and 26, District Magistrate Shrikant Balasaheb Suse has imposed a ban on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) within the Drass sub-division and Kargil tehsil. As per the officer, this order aims to mitigate any potential security risks to high-profile visitors.

The decision, formalized under Order No. 11 of 2024 and dated July 23, 2024, declares the aforementioned areas as "No Flying Zones" and "Red Zones" under the Drone Rules 2021. The directive comes as a response to a request from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kargil, who cited security concerns associated with drone usage during the important commemorative event.

Effective from July 24 through July 26, 2024, the order explicitly prohibits the operation of drones by the general public. Exceptions are made for security agencies, including police, paramilitary forces, the Special Protection Group (SPG), and defence forces.

District Magistrate Suse said that it has been enacted ex-parte due to the emergent nature of the situation and the limited timeframe.

Meanwhile, SSP Kargil will oversee the enforcement of this directive, with violations subject to prosecution and penalties as prescribed by law.

DRASS — A massive protest erupted in Drass Sub-Division of Kargil on Thursday against the absence of any fire station.

Notably, ‘Qadeem Hanfia Jamia Masjid’ was gutted in a fire incident yesterday late evening. Locals alleged that the fire could have been doused in time if there would have been any fire station in the Sub-Division Drass.

Sources told the news agency KNT that a large population of Drass hit the road on Thursday morning and demanded that a fire station should be established in the area. The protesters alleged that authorities didn’t learn any lesson from the past fire incidents and ignored the repeated requests of people.

In order to pacify the protesters, Deputy Commissioner Kargil Santosh Sukhdev along with SP Kargil Inayat Ali reached the spot. Deputy Commissioner assured protesters that a fire station will be set up in the Sub-Division. He assured all possible help to re-construct the fire-hit mosque.

Senior political leaders including Chairman Ladakh Hill Development Council Feroz Ahmed Khan also visited the area to take stock of the situation.

DRASS — A massive protest erupted in Drass Sub-Division of Kargil on Thursday against the absence of any fire station.

Notably, ‘Qadeem Hanfia Jamia Masjid’ was gutted in a fire incident yesterday late evening. Locals alleged that the fire could have been doused in time if there would have been any fire station in the Sub-Division Drass.

Sources told the news agency KNT that a large population of Drass hit the road on Thursday morning and demanded that a fire station should be established in the area. The protesters alleged that authorities didn’t learn any lesson from the past fire incidents and ignored the repeated requests of people.

In order to pacify the protesters, Deputy Commissioner Kargil Santosh Sukhdev along with SP Kargil Inayat Ali reached the spot. Deputy Commissioner assured protesters that a fire station will be set up in the Sub-Division. He assured all possible help to re-construct the fire-hit mosque.

Senior political leaders including Chairman Ladakh Hill Development Council Feroz Ahmed Khan also visited the area to take stock of the situation.