The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — An encounter broke out between militants and government forces in Parigam area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday.

Reports reaching the news agency GNS said that a joint team of Police and Army launched a cordon and search operation in Parigam area.

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 the exchange of firing between militants and security forces.

PULWAMA — In south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, where apples and other fruits are cultivated on a large scale, there are thousands of canals in the district where only almonds are cultivated. The people of these areas are associated with almond cultivation for centuries. But due to the lack of attention by the Horticulture department, almond cultivation is on the verge of decline.

Locals from the district said that nobody from the authorities is willing to accept the contribution of this industry. As a result, the almond industry is vanishing from the map of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Wild animals have created havoc, damaged all these almond trees, but nobody cares and comes forward,” said a local from Trichal village of the south Kashmir district. "Instead of focusing on this industry, different types of plants are introduced."

The local residents from Newa, Parigam, Zadoora and Rahmoo said that wild animals have completely damaged their almond trees. “This land is good for almond cultivation and a little bit of attention from the government can flourish this industry,” said Abdul Gagar.

The locals accused the Horticulture department of negligence, saying not a single officer visited these villages where the almond industry can flourish.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police in Pulwama have arrested 10 'absconders' who were evading their arrest for the last two decades.

“Police in Pulwama constituted a special team to nab the absconders who were evading their arrest. After strenuous efforts, the special team was able to arrest 10 absconders who were evading their arrest for the last two decades,” police said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.

These absconders, police said, are involved in “heinous cases” registered at the police stations of Rajpora and Pulwama.

The accused have been identified as Manzoor Ganai son of Abdullah Ganai, Bashir Ganai son of Abdul Ahad, Aziz Bakshi son of Nabir Bakshi, Gulzar Sheikh son of Mohda Sheikh, Mushtaq Ah Lone son of Abdullah Lone, all residents of Drabgam Rajpora; Javied Ahmad Shah son of Gh Mohammad Shah, resident of Bagat Barzullah at present Dangerpora Nowgam; Abdul Hamid Parray son of Gh Ahmad Parray, resident of Pandit Pora Ballah Tangmarg; Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat son of Gh Mohammad Bhat, resident of Jagir Parigam; Ab Hamid Bhat son of Wali Mohammad Bhat, resident of Tenpuna Pulwama and Mohd Afzal Malik son of Abdul Rahim Malik, resident of Ugergund Newa.

“All the arrested absconders have been produced before Court for further disposal,” he said, adding, “Our consistent actions against anti-social elements should reassure the community members that we are making every effort to keep our society free of crime. Police have resolved to act as per law against those who indulge in criminal activities,” the statement added.

PULWAMA — Immediately after the snowfall on Monday, the residents of Rajab Colony in Parigam village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district have been suffering due to waterlogging on a key road, locally called as Rebtar road. The road starts from Hamzapora in the village and connects the area to Budgam district.

After the snowfall, the accumulated snow on the roadside melted completely, causing the water from melting snow to trickle down on the roads and lead to waterlogging. The road has almost turned into a pond with waterlogging creating problems for vehicular traffic movement as well as for pedestrian movement.

The waterlogging problem is not confined to this particular area only but to a large number of other areas in the district. However, the severity of the problem is comparatively noticeable in Parigam's Rajab Colony. Not only the people residing in the area but others who have to move through this area to reach other places faced difficulties.

On Thursday, the concerned authorities sent a bulldozer to de-water the road by digging a temporary drain. "However, this is not a solution to the problem as the road is already small. It needs a proper filling at the spot where waterlogging occurs," a local, Abdul Rashid Wani, said while talking to The Kashmir Pulse.

He added that the concerned Junior Engineer (JE) who built a bridge near the spot of waterlogging kept the height of the bridge quite above the road, which ultimately led to waterlogging in the area. "When we think of going to the mosque for prayers or students wish to go to their tuition centres they have to face a lot of problems. Most of the times, their clothes become dirty due to the muddy water on the road."

Abdul Rashid went on to say that Deputy Commissioner Pulwama did a lot for the Parigam village. "However, the waterlogging problem has been ignored and the road has been left as it is by the concerned JEE."

Another resident said that they went to the concerned JE, Asif Ahmad, multiple times but to no avail. "We only got mere assurances from him but the problem was never resolved," he added.

The residents said that they also demand the widening of the road as two vehicles from opposite sides can hardly pass through the road. "One vehilcle has to make way for the other, only then the traffic can ply smoothly," they said.

The road is in a dilapidated condition from the last 20 years, the residents claimed and demanded the immediate repairing of this road as well as widening of the same. The residents appealed the district authorities, especially Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, to take up the repairs of this road within the shortest possibal time.

Meanwhile, when The Kashmir Pulse spoke to the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Baseer-Ul-Haq Choudhary, he said that the work on this road is scheduled to be taken up in the new financial year i.e, 2023-24. He assured that the administration will redress all the grievances.

PULWAMA — A little girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district has been diagnosed with a tumour in her right leg, prompting her parents to appeal for donations for her treatment.

The girl, named Humaira Jan, complained about persistent pain in her right leg on June 23 after which her parents went to District Hospital Pulwama to seek medical advice. "Doctors prescribed some tests, which revealed the ominous development," Humaira's father, Nazir Ahmad Ganaie told The Kashmir Pulse.

On the advice of the doctors in the local hospital, the poor family sought treatment of the girl in SKIMS Soura but their hopes were dashed soon. Humaira's mother says, "We took our daughter to SKIMS Soura, but the authorities there told us that no doctor was available in the institute who would do the surgery, which is the only way to get rid of the tumour."

It is in place to mention here that the girl is just six years old and is enrolled in a local government school in her native Parigam village. After the tumour caused intense pain in her right leg, she couldn't continue her studies and stayed at home.

Unfortunately, Humaira's father is not able to work and also stays at home as he has a clot in his brain which causes headaches, speech problems and weakness while her mother is fighting severe kidney disease. Besides her father and mother, Humaira has a younger brother in the family.

Given the poor financial condition of the family, the parents of Humaira have appealed to the general public to donate generously to help them take her to a private hospital outside J&K and get her operated upon sooner to avoid the tumour from spreading further.

Donations can be made in Nazir Ahmad Ganie's J&K Bank Account: 0307040100008098, with IFSC Code: JAKA0DECENT.