PATTAN

A family of three lost their lives to the intense cold from which they were trying to manage their night. In Nihalpora village, Muhammad Maqbool Lone, his wife Haseena Begum, and their son Talib died in sleep in their bedroom that lacked adequate ventilation. Police said the trio was declared brought dead by doctors. The investigation revealed they had died of asphyxiation caused by the charcoal burning heater. This winter, so far, there were six such deaths.

SRINAGAR

Locals carry the dead body of goldsmith Satpal Nischal who was shot dead by unknown gunmen on December 31, 2020 at Sarai Bal area of Srinagar. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur

After running a jewellery shop successfully for almost four decades in the heart of Srinagar, Satpal Nischal, a man in his 70s was shot dead after taking three bullets to his chest. Originally from Punjab, the family had settled in Kashmir and were residing in Indra Nagar. Police said an unidentified motor-cycle borne person shot at him at his shop. Media reported a claim made by a little-known militant outfit for the killing, accusing him of “obtaining a domicile certificate”. However, the family rejected the claims, saying the killing was not linked to the certificate. His son, Rakesh Nischal said “militants have never harassed them” and claims “I don’t think militants will do it.” Regarding the incident, the Kashmir police chief said, “We are working on both aspects, i.e. business rivalry and the terrorist claim. We will share the details soon.”

JAMMU

Shaheer Sheikh and Ruchika Kapoor

After keeping their relationship under wraps for a long time, when Shaheer Sheikh and Ruchika Kapoor decided to marry, it was a hush-hush registry marriage. With limited participants owing to the pandemic, there was a small function in Sheikh’s hometown, Jammu. But finally, as the marriage took place between the best friends, the couple was open in the field to share their pictures while honeymooning in Kashmir. Sheikh is an actor, who made his small screen debut in 2009 with the Disney series Kya Mast Hai Life, while Kapoor is a studio executive. Besides this movie, Sheikh has starred in several shows including Navya..Naye Dhadkan Naye Sawaal, Mahabharat, Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi, and Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke. He will be seen playing a merchant named Veer Singh in the upcoming ALT Balaji series Paurashpur. The couple is all set to marry later this year.

KASHMIR

Ritika Raina is the Miss Jammu and Kashmir 2020.

Born in Kashmir and raised in Jammu, Ritika Raina is the VLCC Femina Miss India Jammu and Kashmir 2020. Daughter of a Kashmiri migrant cop, posted mostly in Kashmir, Ritika is interested in starting an NGO. A banker by profession, with a specialisation of being a financial analyst with a foreign bank in India, she is preparing for her master’s. A graduate from Symbiosis in Pune, she has never been part of any beauty or wellness sector before her photo-shoot that led her to become the Ms Jammu 2020. Hurt for being “homeless”, she in her post on Instagram has shared that her family was living in Kashmir and faced “forced” migration” in 1990.  Later the family sold their land and built a new house in Jammu. Claiming to be internally strong and externally independent, she said her participation was because of her father. Now retired, he is believed to be impressed by Sushmita Sen of 1994 and wants her daughter to redo it after 27 years.

HAZRATBAL

The 7th-semester student of Kashmir University, Sheikh Yamina has bagged the first position in the “J&K, Ladakh Youth Parliament” contest

While speaking about the threat of climate change, a 7th-semester student of Kashmir University, Sheikh Yamina has bagged the first position in the “J&K, Ladakh Youth Parliament” contest. A volunteer from University’s National Service Scheme (NSS), she has qualified to participate as a speaker in the upcoming National Youth Parliament (NYP) festival-2021. Held virtually, she as per the evaluators was judged best based on articulation, clarity of thought, content knowledge, and demeanour. The aim of NYP-2021, as conceived by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to encourage youth to engage with public issues, develop and enhance decision-making abilities and document their opinions on their “Vision of New India in 2022.”

DELHI

Kashmiri vendors selling “Kangris” or traditional firepots walk on a street on a cold morning on Thursday, November 24, 2016. Kashmiri people use Kangris to keep themselves warm during the winter. A Kangri fuelled with charcoal can release heat for six to eight hours.. PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR

Best to keep chill at bay, Kangir and Kashmir share an intricate bond for ages. Usually confined to the valley, this time Kangri stepped outside and was seen warming protesting farmers on Delhi border. Out on various border points of Delhi, an NGO brought Kangris from Kashmir to give respite to elderly farmers from the chilling cold. An earthen pot, woven around with wicker and filled with embers, it is a unique model to stay warm. Consistently competing with other high-end gadgets Kangri holds the fort and continues to be part of Kashmir homes. Off late, the prices have surged too high for this local brand of warmth.

BARAMULLA

Muslims Help Perform Last Rites Of Kashmiri Pandit Amid Snowfall

Communal harmony is another name of Kashmir. The latest explanation came from Baramulla district where the natural death of a young non-Muslim turned into mass mourning. As the news of the death of 27-year-old Lokesh spread in the area, there was gloom all around. Injured in a road accident almost six months ago, he could not survive. Soon after his death, locals thronged and took entire control of the process of his last rites. Some women were seen showering sweets on his body.

JAMMU

UPSC 2019 results (August 2020), three Jammuites managed to make it in the Reserve list of 89 candidates. Disha Gupta of Gandhi Nagar Jammu has got 21st rank. She is KAS probationer and presently

After four months of the declaration of UPSC 2019 results (August 2020), three Jammuites managed to make it in the Reserve list of 89 candidates. Disha Gupta of Gandhi Nagar Jammu has got 21st rank. She is KAS probationer and presently undergoing training at IMPA Jammu. She had secured 6th rank in the J&K Administrative Services 2018. Aditya Sangotra, son of Mastan Singh and Ganga Devi, resident of Pancheri, Udhampur, has secured 32nd rank in the UPSC Reserve list and he is presently serving as Inspector in J&K Excise and Taxation Department. Vivek Pathak, son of Vijay Pathak of Kathua, has secured 48th rank in the list. Presently, he is pursuing Ph D in Sociology from JNU. Sanjam, son of Dr Kuldeep Singh (Director ICAR) also figures in the list. He is the resident of Overigund in Tral.

Pertinently 829 candidates were selected in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2019, for the appointment to IAS, IFS, IPS and Central Services Group A and Group B against 927 vacancies. The Commission, in accordance with the rule 16(4) and (4) of the Civil Services Examination Rules, was also maintaining a consolidated Reserve List in order of merit below the last recommended candidate under respective categories. As sought by the Department of Personnel & Training, the Commission has now recommended 89 candidates to fill up the remaining posts based on the Civil Services Examination, 2019.

EUROPE

Kashmiri doctor, Arshad Malik, who is a consultant with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust,

In the bliss of joy for the medical field, a Kashmiri doctor, Arshad Malik, who is a consultant with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, has been named as one of the 75 most influential colorectal surgeons in European history in recognition of the contribution he has made to patient care.

Arshad, originally from Solina, Srinagar, was included in A History of the European Society of Coloproctology, has done his MBBS from Government Medical College,  Srinagar, and shifted to Europe after a brief stint at SKIMS. In recognition of his achievement, he became the first person ever to receive the Lars Påhlman medal after out-scoring more than 100 candidates who sat the European Board of Surgery Qualification (EBSQ) in coloproctology.

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