The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The brother of Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh, who is the incarcerated founder and patron of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), is set to fight the upcoming Assembly elections from Langate constituency on AIP's ticket.

As per the local news agency KNS, the Jammu & Kashmir Government has approved the request of Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh (Er Rashid's brother) for voluntary retirement from service.

According to an order from the School Education department, Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh, who worked at a school in Mawar, has been granted voluntary retirement effective from September 1, 2024.

Khursheed is expected to be the candidate for the AIP from the Langate segment. He will compete directly with Peoples Conference candidate Irfan Panditpuri in this segment.

HANDWARA — The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Langate's suspension letter has ignited a debate over its purported casteist undertones, drawing criticism from rights activists and community members.

The suspension of a forest guard for attire resembling that of a shepherd, as stated in the letter, has raised concerns about discriminatory implications and cultural insensitivity.

While acknowledging the significance of appropriate attire for forest officials, critics have denounced the association with shepherds as unacceptable. Moreover, the disparagement of the traditional Pheran attire has incited outrage, prompting questions about its impact on Kashmiri culture and identity.

Advocate Mir Imran, a prominent rights activist, condemned the letter, denouncing it as casteist in a Facebook post. He questioned whether wearing a Pheran equated to backwardness or shepherd status, emphasizing the need for officials to uphold constitutional values and respect diverse cultural traditions.

Imran called for a thorough investigation into the incident and urged authorities to address the concerns raised by the community, stressing the importance of adherence to ethical standards.

Amidst the unfolding controversy, stakeholders are advocating for transparency and accountability in administrative actions, emphasizing the imperative of preserving dignity and inclusivity in official communications.

The suspension order, issued by the Divisional Forest Officer Langate, cited the forest guard's attire during a surprise inspection of the forest check-post Langate as the reason for suspension.

HANDWARA — A four-year-old boy was killed in a leopard attack at Monabal Haril area of Langate in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, officials said on Sunday evening.

Officials, as per news agency KNO, said that a minor boy was playing outside his home when a man-eater wild animal attacked him and left him critically injured.

They said that the injured was taken to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him dead. "After medico-legal formalities, the body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites," they said.

The officials identified the minor boy as Saqib-Din-Badana son of Baya Din Badana of Londa-Lohikot village of Monabal in Langate.

SRINAGAR — Police on Friday said that a newly recruited militant was arrested in an injured condition at Langate Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

A top police officer told GNS that the injured is presently admitted to the hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.

The injured militant has been identified as Abrar Hassan son of Ghulam Hassan Gojri, resident of Azad Gunj Baramulla, the officer said.

The top police further said that Abrar was earlier a stone pelter and there are two FIRs registered against him. Later on, he started working as an OGW.

He said that searches have been launched to trace another militant who was accompanying the injured.

He said there was a brief shootout as soon as the duo saw the joint party of Police and Army.