State

Admin allows 8th Muharram procession after over 3 decades; Sgr streets reverberate with praises for Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS)

Published

2 months ago

July 27, 2023

Procession starts at Guru Bazar, passes through MA road to Dalgate; Took decision in security review meet, deployed officers, men at 2 am, procession passed off peacefully, 3-tier security in place: ADGP Kashmir; It’s a peace dividend: DC Sgr; Great enthusiasm among mourners: Div Com Kashmir; decision historic: Masroor Abbas; Hope Admin lifts curbs on Ashura too: SMC Mayor; Div Com Kashmir thanks people for peaceful procession

For the first time after three decades, thousands of Shia mourners hit the traditional routes of Srinagar to take out 8th Muharram procession.

Amid praises for Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), thumping their chests and recitation of praises for Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), the historic procession started from Guru Bazar area of city that passed through Budshah Chowk to M A Road and then Dalgate peacefully.

It was after more than three decades that the LG Manoj Sinha led administration decided to allow the Shia mourners to take out 8th Muharram procession through traditional routes. The administration has fixed 6 am to 8 am timing for the mourners to pass through the traditional routes. Shia leaders and clerics have welcomed the move and hailed the administration for this historic decision.

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Thousands of mourners from different parts of Kashmir while walking peacefully through the streets of Srinagar were seen beating chests, holding tall flags (Alams) of Hazrat Imam Hussain(AS) and chanting of praises and Nouhas in favour of grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“We are grateful to LG administration for allowing us to take out procession after such a long gap. This is indeed a pleasure and a great moment for us,” said a mourner Altaf Hussain. He said Muharram gives a reminder to every Muslim to follow the footsteps of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and to follow into his footsteps

Itehadul Muslimeen leader Masroor Abbas Ansari said that UT’s decision to allow the 8th Muharram procession is a historic decision. “The mourners followed proper discipline and the procession passed off in a very peaceful manner. Earlier, mourners were cane charged and even put behind the bars as well. Peaceful conduct of today’s procession indicates that disallowing the same procession in the past many years was based on lame excuses,” he said.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) said a security review meeting was held in Srinagar yesterday in which it was decided to allow the 8th Muharram procession through traditional routes. “Officers and men were deployed on roads at 2 am to ensure peaceful conduct of the procession. And so far, the procession is going on peacefully,” he said. “We had put three-tier security system in place.”

Present on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Muhammad Aijaz Asad said that it was after over three decades that Muharram procession was allowed. “I would say this is one of the peace dividends,” he said, adding that mourners have cooperated and so has the administration.

SMC Mayor Junaid Azim Matoo said that it’s a display of faith after a long time on the streets of Srinagar and he thanked the LG administration for the historic decision. “Mourners are walking peacefully and I hope restrictions will be lifted on Muharram 10th also known as Ashura,” he said.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bhiduri told, he was happy to see the great enthusiasm among the mourners. “Everything happened peacefully. Mourners cooperated with us on all fronts and reciprocated the same. As far the arrangements, we did whatever was possible within the shortest possible time,” he said. KNO

State

High-valued narcotics worth Rs 100 crore seized in Ramban, two arrested: Police

Published

2 hours ago

October 1, 2023

Asian News Hub Webdesk

Police on Sunday said they seized high-valued narcotics worth Rs 100 crore in Banihal area of Ramban district and arrested two persons in this regard.

Also Read: 17 residential sheds gutted in Parimpora blaze

A police official told that Ramban police intercepted an Innova vehicle at the railway chowk in Banihal, apprehending two individuals associated with large-scale narcotics.

The vehicle, travelling from Kashmir towards Jammu, was found to be concealing a substantial quantity of high-valued narcotics, he said.

During a thorough search, the police made a startling discovery, saying they recovered approximately 30 kilograms of a heroin-like substance from hidden compartments within the vehicle.

The international market value of the seized drugs is estimated to be around Rs 100 crores, according to the official.

The arrested persons are currently in police custody, and further investigations are underway to ascertain the source and destination of this illicit substance, the official said.

He added that authorities are also actively pursuing leads to identify potential links to larger drug trafficking networks. KNO

State

17 residential sheds gutted in Parimpora blaze

Published

3 hours ago

October 1, 2023

Asian News Hub Webdesk

At least seventeen residential tin sheds were gutted in a devastating fire incident on Jhelum banks in Parimpora area of Srinagar on Sunday.

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Reports reaching Asian News Hub (ANH) said that a fire broke out from a residential shed at around 04:30 am on Sunday morning which spread to other residential sheds within no time.

They said, fire tenders reached the spot on time however, upon their arrival nearly 17 sheds had suffered damages and the fire was brought into control within no time.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and the cause of fire was not known immediately.

State

As smart meters shine, darkness persists: People seek answers to ongoing electricity woes

Published

17 hours ago

September 30, 2023

Asian News Hub Webdesk

Despite the augmentation of power infrastructure and the installation of much-hyped smart meters, the electricity woes continue to torment the valley residents ahead of the winter as since past one week, consumers are facing pesky power cuts across the Valley.

The situation is equivalent in towns, cities and villages as the consumers have accused the concerned Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) of supplying inadequate electricity to them.

“Despite the installation of smart meters, which were aimed to ensure better power supply, we are getting nearly 4-5 hours of electricity supply on a regular basis, which has added to the misery of consumers here,” said Jahangir Ahmad, a local from the Natipora area.

“Crores of rupees have been spent on the power infrastructure augmentations in the last couple of years, which were giving a hope of round-the-clock electricity to the people, but all in vein as seemingly the winter power schedule has been started in the valley during the Autumn season, thus pushing the people to the wall,” the residents said.

Such unscheduled power cuts are being witnessed everywhere nowadays as the complaints are being received from several other areas also.

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The consumers said that the electricity is being snatched for hours together and is being supplied for only a few hours in a day.

“The electricity supply was snatched multiple times today, which began from 6am to 8:30 am in the morning, 1 am to 2:30 pm in the afternoon and then 6pm to 8:30 pm in the evening,” one of the residents from Pampore said.

The frequent electricity cuts have irked the people, who demand authorities to take immediate steps to ensure adequate power supply to them.

Pertinently, Kashmir’s power generation has got badly affected as according to the KPDCL Chief Engineer, Javed Yousuf Dar, the reduction in water level in river Jhelum, Chenab has lessened the power generation at the power houses of Kashmir.

“We are presently looking for an option to get the additional electricity to ensure adequate power supply to the people. We are on it and hopefully, the issue will be resolved in next few days,” Chief Engineer, KPDCL had said. KNO