The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Putting an end to speculations, former MLA Kokernag Abdul Rahim Rather on Friday announced his resignation from the basic membership of the Apni Party.

As per the news agency CNS, Rather announced his resignation from the party during a press conference and cited the justification of his discomfort with the Apni party's manifesto.

After parting his way with the Apni Party, former MLA Abdul Rahim Rather said that he is currently weighing options as to which party he will join.

"The decision to join any other political party will be taken after consulting my workers and supporters," Rather said.

Rather's resignation from the Apni party came amid the ongoing spree of political leaders' defections across J&K ahead of the Assembly polls.

SRINAGAR — Authorities in south Kashmir's Anantnag district were alerted to a distressing incident on Tuesday evening, as a young girl was found lifeless in the Kokernag area, according to officials.

Sources with knowledge of the matter said that the deceased, whose identity has been withheld, was found unconscious at her residence in Loharsanzi Gadol Kokernag.

Prompt action was taken by her relatives, who rushed her to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kokernag for medical assistance. However, despite their efforts, medical professionals at the hospital declared her deceased upon arrival.

Following the necessary medico-legal procedures, the girl's body was entrusted to her legal heirs. Concurrently, authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her untimely demise.

SRINAGAR — Tragedy struck in the southern region of Kashmir on Sunday as a 35-year-old man lost his life after being struck by Chinar branches.

According to sources cited by a local news agency, the victim, identified as Showkat Ahmad Mir, son of Nazir Ahmad Mir of Zalangam Kokernag, was struck by the branches of a Chinar tree at Lokbawa.

Despite swift efforts to save him, Mir succumbed to his injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel declared him dead upon arrival.

A police officer confirmed that a case has been registered in connection with the incident.

Mir, who worked as a woodcutter, met his untimely demise due to the accident.

The officer further stated that the body has been shifted to the District Hospital Anantnag. Once the necessary legal procedures are completed, the body will be released to the family for the final rites.

SRINAGAR — A police officer passed away due to a suspected cardiac arrest in Anantnag on Saturday morning, according to an official statement.

An unnamed official quoted by a local news agency said that Head Constable Mohammad Jabar Dar, originally from Sagam Kokernag and currently stationed at the District Court Anantnag, was found unconscious at his residence.

After being found unconscious, the officer was swiftly shifted to a nearby hospital. Tragically, medical professionals pronounced him dead, attributing the cause of his demise to a suspected cardiac arrest.

SRINAGAR — A scooty driver was killed while a pillion rider was injured in a road accident in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Sunday.

An official said that an accident took place at Pazalpora Bijbehara in Anantnag district between scooty bearing registration number JK01L-5188 and Wagon-R bearing registration number JK03D-7114.

"In the incident, scooty driver Ali Mohd Bhat (55) son of Gh Hassan Bhat, resident of Pangzam Kokernag died on the spot while pillion rider Rouf Ahmad Malik (32) son of Mohd Maqbool Malik, resident of Panzgam received critical injuries, who has been referred to GMC Anantnag for further treatment," he said.

In this regard, a case FIR No. 128/2023 u/s 279, 337 IPC has been registered and an investigation has been taken up by the concerned police station.

SRINAGAR — Police on Thursday said that its Special Investigation Unit attached under construction residential house of a militant associate in Danwathpora Kokernag area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district after obtaining necessary sanctions from the competent authority.

In a handout to the news agency GNS, the police said that during the course of investigation in case FIR No. 103/2022 of Police Station Kokernag under UA(P) Act, an under-construction residential house belonging to a militant associate, namely Mohammad Ishaq Malik son of Mohammad Saifullah Malik, resident of Danwathpora Kokernag, has been found used by militants of proscribed militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.

"Accordingly, the process for attachment of property belonging to the above accused falling within the ambit proceeds of militancy was initiated by SIU Anantnag under section 25 of UA(P) Act & the conformation related to the attachment of property was accorded by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir," the spokesperson said.

He said, "The general public is once again advised not to harbour or provide shelter or extend logistics to militants/militant associates in their houses, failing which strict legal action will be taken against anyone doing so."

"SIU shall continue identification and initiation of attachment/confiscation of properties falling under the ambit of proceeds of militancy to shake the ecosystem of terrorism in UT of J&K," reads the statement.

SRINAGAR — A court here on Wednesday awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment to a 42-year-old man convicted of raping a minor girl here in 2012.

The Court of 2nd Additional Sessions Judge Srinagar, Renu Dogra Gupta, also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 to the convict, Irshad Ahmad Malik of Kokernag Anantnag (presently at Anchar Soura) for the commission of the offence under section 376 RPC.

“In case of default in payment of fine, the accused shall further undergo simple imprisonment for a period of six months,” the court said as per the verdict and ordered him to be lodged in Central Jail Srinagar to serve the sentence. However, the court said, the custody undergone by the convict during the investigation, inquiry and trial of the case, shall be set off against the sentence of imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, police received a complaint from the father of the victim that he took his daughter for a check-up after she complained of abdominal pain and upon tests by the doctors, she was declared to be having a child in her womb.

The complainant said that upon enquiry by him and his wife, the minor disclosed that the person who resides in their neighborhood as a tenant, Irshad Ahmad Malik, raped her several times.

Subsequently, a case (FIR No. 33/2012) under Section 376 RPC was registered in Police Station Soura and the investigation culminated in the filing of the chargesheet under Section 376 RPC on June 23, 2012. Subsequently, the trial ensued and culminated in the conviction of the accused.

SRINAGAR — A court in Srinagar has convicted a man for raping a 14-year-old girl in Soura area of Srinagar in 2012 and termed it a “crime against society”.

According to the prosecution, police received a complaint from the father of the victim that he took his daughter for a check-up after she complained of abdominal pain and upon tests by the doctors, she was declared to be having a child in her womb.

The complainant said that upon inquiry by him and his wife, the minor disclosed that the person who resides in their neighborhood as a tenant, namely Irshad Ahmad Malik of Kokernag, raped her several times.

Subsequently, a case (FIR No. 33/2012) under Section 376 RPC was registered in Police Station Soura and the investigation culminated in the filing of the chargesheet under Section 376 RPC on June 23, 2012. Subsequently, the trial ensued and culminated in the conviction of the accused, Irshad Ahmad of Malik of Ahlan Gadwak Kokernag, presently at Anchar Soura.

“It is established that the accused at the time of committing the heinous crime of rape with a minor girl who was studying in 4th class, was a major married person living with his wife in a rented room in the neighborhood of the victim who used to go there for playing with the younger brother of the accused who was also putting up with them there,” presiding officer of 2nd Additional Session Judge Srinagar, Renu Dogra Gupta said after hearing the counsel for accused and additional Public Prosecutor Farooq Ahmad Malik.

“The accused had gagged her mouth and committed the heinous and barbaric crime of rape with her there and also threatened her not to disclose the same to anyone,” the court said and convicted him for the offence under 376 RPC (rape).

The accused being a major and married person, the court said, was fully aware of the consequences of his “barbaric act”. The crime of this nature against the child girl, the court said, is definitely a crime against society.

“This court is of the considered opinion that the prosecution has successfully proved the guilt of the accused beyond any reasonable doubt. Therefore, the accused is liable to be convicted for the offence punishable under Sections 376 of RPC,” the court said and convicted him, as per the verdict.

Subsequently, the court ordered him to be taken to judicial custody in Central Jail Srinagar and ordered the listing of the case for the quantum of punishment on Wednesday.

SRINAGAR — An encounter broke out between militants and government forces in Sagam Kokernag area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Sunday.

Reports reaching the news agency GNS said that a joint team of J&K Police and the army launched a cordon and search operation in Sagam Kokernag.

As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight.

A senior police officer also confirmed about the exchange of firing between militants and security forces.

Later in the day, a hideout was unearthed near the encounter site, officials said.

A top police officer said that during the firefight, a hideout was also found by the security forces.

However, recovery from the hideout spot was not available at the time of filing this story.

Meanwhile, operation in Sagam area of Anantnag will be prolonged since it is a huge forest area, the officer added.

SRINAGAR — State Investigation Unit (SIU) on Monday attached the house of a person accused of his alleged involvement in militant activities in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.

"The Investigation Unit attached the house of one Mohammad Ishaq Malik son of Mohammad Saifullah Malik, resident of Dhanwetehpora Kokernag, under Section 25 of UA(P)A, for his alleged involvement in militant activities," an SIU spokesperson said in a statement, according to the news agency GNS.

The accused, the statement reads, is involved in case FIR number 103/2022 under Section 307 IPC, 7/27 Arms Act 18, 20, 23, 38 UAP Act of Police Station Kokernag and is presently lodged in District Jail Anantnag.

"SIU went to the specific location under a posse of security men and pasted the notice on the house in the presence of Local Sarpanches, Panches and Chowkidars," the statement said.

According to the notice, the owner of the house has been restrained to "transfer, lease out, dispose off, change its nature or deal with the said property in any manner without the permission of designated authority," reads the statement further.

ANANTNAG — A man was charred to death after his vehicle caught fire in the Panzgam area of Kokernag in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Monday, officials said.

An unnamed official was quoted by the news agency KNO as having said that a vehicle suddenly caught fire while the driver was charred to death in the incident.

The deceased was identified as Shabir Ahmad Rather, son of Mohammad Ashan Rather of Panzgam. "He was a baker by profession," he said.

“The body was taken by the police for the medico-legal formalities,” he said.

SRINAGAR — The longest-surviving Hizbul Mujahideen commander Ashraf Molvi was killed along with two other militants in the woods of Batkoot area of Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday.

Inspector-General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar confirmed to GNS that Ashraf Molvi along with two other militants have been killed in Pahalgam.

Mohd Ashraf Khan alias Ashraf Molvi, a resident of Tengpawa Kokernag, had joined Hizb in 2013 and soon became the most wanted militant in the valley. 'He was instrumental in recruiting locals into the outfit," the top cop said.

Earlier, a joint team of Police and 19 RR of the Army launched a cordon and search operation in the Batkoot forest.

As the joint team of the forces intensified their search towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the search party, leading to an encounter.

SRINAGAR — A soldier was killed in an encounter at Watnar, Kokernag area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district Saturday, officials said.

An official told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a joint team of police and the Army launched a cordon and search operation in Kokernag.

As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight, he said.

He said that during the initial exchange of fire, one soldier of 19 RR identified as Sepoy Neshan Singh received critical injuries and was shifted to hospital for treatment where he succumbed.

Meanwhile, officials told KNO that after the initial exchange of fire, no fresh contact has been established with the hiding militants.

More reinforcement has been rushed to the spot and cordon layers have been tightened in the whole area and a search operation is underway in the area, they said.

SRINAGAR — A youth from South Kashmir has gone missing in Jammu, relatives of the youth said on Friday.

The youth hails from Gudwali Larnoo village of Kokernag in Anantnag district and was working as a ‘Cleaner’ at a garage in Talab Tillo area of Jammu.

The brother-in-law of the missing youth told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that Wahid Ahmed Khan was working at Talab Tiloo Jammu in a garage.

“He spent the whole winter in Jammu. A week ago, we called him but his phone was switched off. Subsequently, his boss informed us that Wahid left for home a week ago after taking Rs 500 from him,” he said.

He said Wahid is untraceable for the past one week. “We have lodged a missing report at the concerned police station and appeal general public to help us in locating him,” the brother-in-law of the missing youth said.

SRINAGAR — Much to the expectations of people, the tracer studies by NIT Srinagar have observed that the sinkhole that emerged in the middle of the river bed at Wandevalgam, Kokernag on February 11 this year that disrupted the entire flow of the stream, has an outlet at Achabal.

Achabal is around 16 kilometres away from the sinkhole. Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Dr Piyush Singla, said that there could be other outlets in nearby areas.

"#KokernagSinkhole at Wandevalgam - Tracer studies by NIT Sgr observed-‘Sinkhole has an outlet at Achabal at a distance of 16 km from sinkhole. There could be other outlets in nearby areas’. Interesting inference from interesting phenomenon!" Singla tweeted.

As per the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in the second week of March, the water level in the springs of the famous Achabal Botanical Garden suddenly swelled, triggering panic among the locals.

Locals had apprehensions that sudden water rise in springs might be the water of the sinkhole, however, officials maintained that only expert opinion in this regard can give clear information about it.

Locals had said that they witnessed such a phenomenon in 1995 when there was a sinkhole in the same Brengi stream and its discharge was found at Achabal which, according to locals, was later filled with sand and boulders.

Around 27 years, the same phenomenon has repeated on 11 February this year another sinkhole emerged in the middle of the stream at Wandevalgam in Kokernag, just a few meters away from the earlier hole disrupting the entire flow of the stream.

It took around one month for the disrupted flow of the stream to reach Achabal springs as the water level rose suddenly in Achabal springs in the second week of March.

It is pertinent to mention here that soon after the sinkhole emerged, experts from the Department of the Earth Sciences, the University of Kashmir and the Geology and Mining department had visited the spot and had suggested measures in this regard.

Experts from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar were also called in to conduct advanced tracer studies and to find the underground water flow who have found now that the sinkhole has an outlet in Achabal.

SRINAGAR — A 23-year-old youth from the Kokernag belt of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district has been missing for the past three days creating panic among his family members.

Mohammed Ashraf, his cousin said that Showkat Ahmed Gorsi son of Lal din Gorse was working as a labour in Anantnag town for the past two months and went missing on Friday.

“He called home on Thursday night and the next day we got a call from his colleagues to enquire if Showkat had reached home,” he said, adding, “they said Showkat had left his rented room early on Friday morning.”

He said that Showkat’s phone has been switched off since then. “The family members have been searching him intensely, but there is no trace of him as of yet,” Ashraf said.

He said that Showkat is the sole bread earner to his family comprising of an old-age father and an ailing brother. “The family has filed a missing report at the concerned Police station, but they also have no clue of him as of yet.”

The family has appealed to the district admin of Anantnag to help the family find the missing youth.