Community Archives | Page 19 of 182

Elderly Kashmiris abandoned in old-age homes due to disease, distress, and desertion

August 20, 2023 Editor

Kashmiris have been known for their strong community bonds, but some of them now abandon their old ones at newly opened old-age homes. By: Shaista Altaf Coppersmith Bashir struggled throughout his life for family welfare. He never let his loved ones suffer despite the situational-crippled market and his limited means of income. They appreciated his selfless efforts until the octogenarian suffered a heart attack. His ailing state eventually sent him packing to an old-age home in Kashmir. The brutal shift took place shortly after the demise of his spouse. Alone…

Emergence of the Canine Civilization: The Rise of the Planet of the Dogs

August 19, 2023 Editor

For every 13 people, there is a dog in Srinagar meaning we have a personalised foe for nearly every household! Dr. Ambreen Hamadani They are everywhere, even in our nightmares. You should (or rather shouldn’t) see them after sunset. It is their reign. They run in packs and cast terrifying shadows under the streetlights. Their sight sends shivers down the spine of us humans, the weaker mortals. Needless to say, that the Gabbar Sighs who scare our toddlers into sleep are the hordes of these canines that howl under the…

Mirwaiz seeks clarity on detention status, to send legal notice

August 19, 2023 Editor

Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said that Mirwaiz e Kashmir Mohammed Umar Farooq was again disallowed from addressing and offering obligatory Friday prayers for the consecutive 208th Friday at Jama Masjid today. As per a statement, Anjuman said that the news was rife on social media since today morning that Mirwaiz might be allowed to come to Jama Masjid, after LG sahabs interview to a news channel where he said that “I have made up his mind … he ( Mirwaiz) will also offer Friday prayers at Jama Masjid“, people reached…

Kashmiri women use modern charkhas to breathe new life into spinning wheel craft

August 12, 2023 Editor

How a small shawl maker in Kashmir is helping women artisans revive the traditional spinning wheel craft. By: Irshad Hussain At a time when technology has replaced many traditional livelihoods, women in Kashmir are trying their best to preserve the spinning wheel craft with foot-operated charkhas. In the Eidgah area of Srinagar, a small, family-run shawl manufacturing company called Me and K has provided 300 modern table-top spinning wheels to local women and trained them to spin pashmina and silk threads. The women earn up to Rs. 5,000 a month,…

Ex-IPS Officer Basant Rath enrolls as BJP Activist Online; Party stresses Zero Tolerance for Indiscipline

August 11, 2023 Editor

His wish to contest election against Omar Abdullah of the National Conference or Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on a BJP ticket Days after the central government ordered his premature retirement, former IPS officer Basant Rath on Thursday registered himself as a BJP activist online and sought blessings of people for what he called an “uphill trek called politics”. The IGP-rank officer, who was under suspension for the past over three years for “repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehavior”, was given premature retirement by the government…

Kashmir Residents Alarmed by Rise in ‘Black Magic’ Rituals

August 11, 2023 Editor

Instances of Sihr or witchcraft have not been rare occurrences, but when ingredients of black magic and voodoo surfaced from the hallowed Eidgah graveyard, it numbed one and all. In the wee hours of a recent summer morning, some faithful returning home after dawn prayers saw something suspicious in Eidgah area of Srinagar. A couple was standing in the middle of the graveyard. Their untimely presence and uncanny behaviour in the resting place of the revered created curiosity in the group led by a cleric. But what they saw upon…

No Crash Helmet, No Ride: RTO Kashmir to Seize Two-Wheelers

August 10, 2023 Editor

The Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Kashmir, Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari on Tuesday said they have decided to seize the two-wheelers of those who are found riding their vehicles without crash helmets. He also said that checking squads will be constituted soon to check the bike stunt activities and immediate action in this regard. Talking to a selected group of reporters here, RTO Kashmir as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, they have observed that the people in Srinagar are riding two-wheelers without crash helmets. “In this regard, a specific…

Soaring Vegetable Prices Send Kashmir Market Costs Skyrocketing

August 9, 2023August 9, 2023 Editor

In an astonishing turn of events, the humble Kashmiri Haakh, also known as collard greens, has surpassed the price of chicken in the Kashmir region, spotlighting the distressing surge in vegetable prices that is squeezing the wallets of consumers. A recent market study conducted by Kashmir InFocus has shed light on a significant price differential between wholesale and retail rates, contributing to the steep escalation of vegetable costs in Srinagar’s bustling marketplaces. To put this into perspective, collard greens are being sold at Rs 120 per kg at the Soura…

Kashmir’s youth in the grip of drug addiction

August 7, 2023August 7, 2023 Editor

By: Javid Amin Drug addiction is a pervasive issue in Kashmir, with devastating consequences for individuals and society. The region’s turbulent history, high unemployment rates, and easy access to drugs have all contributed to this crisis. The consequences of drug addiction are far-reaching. In addition to the social and economic costs, drug addiction can also have a devastating impact on the physical and mental health of individuals. IV drug users, for example, are at an increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, heart disease, and TB. Children and young adults are particularly…

Mirwaiz Farooq completes 4 years under house arrest, Anjuman Auqaf calls for his release

August 5, 2023 Editor

Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Friday said that Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Muhammad Umar Farooq has completed four years under house detention. He completed four years of not being allowed as Mirwaiz to either propagate the centuries old tradition of Majlis-e waz-o- tableeg on Fridays at the Central Jama Masjid, nor offer obligatory Friday prayers, due to his continued house detention, which the Anjuman and Muslims of J&K strongly denounce, a statement issued here, said. While all other religious activities are permitted and infact facilitated by the authorities, it is openly discriminatory that the…