Srinagar, June 02: Despite an unprecedented crackdown on the leadership and workers of Awami Itihaad Party (AIP), thousands of emotional supporters gathered from different parts of North Kashmir to bid a tearful farewell to Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Engineer Rashid, as he left for Delhi.

The administration have placed several AIP leaders and workers under restrictions in an attempt to prevent public gatherings. However, emotions overflowed across the entire route from Er Rashid’s native village till Srinagar, where people from all walks of life assembled in large numbers to express solidarity and affection towards the incarcerated MP.

Reports said people broke police barriers and restrictions at several places to catch a glimpse of Er Rashid and bid him goodbye. Hundreds of supporters were allegedly locked by police inside Middle School Kargama, Gund Kohru and the Rural Development Complex Langate in an attempt to prevent them from joining the farewell gatherings. A curfew-like situation was visible across entire Mawar and adjoining areas of Handwara since early morning, with heavy police deployment and continuous movement restrictions reported from various locations.

According to reports, AIP General Secretary Prince Parveez and several senior leaders including Firdouse Baba, Adv Dawood, Prof Naseer, Adv Shahnawaz Abdullah, former DDC Muzaffar Dar, Mohammad Akbar Rather, Dr Aadil Nazir and Anayat Ahmad Bhat, besides dozens of party workers and activists, were either summoned to police stations or kept under close surveillance to prevent public mobilization. Sources said even after taking a written bond from AIP Pattan Incharge, police detained him again this morning.

Before leaving his residence, Er Rashid visited the graveyard of his late father, Khazir Mohammad Sheikh. Witnesses said the MP broke down emotionally while offering prayers at his father’s grave, creating a heart-rending atmosphere as supporters struggled to hold back tears.

Soon after, men, women, elders and youth started accompanying Er Rashid’s cavalcade amid emotional scenes and slogans of support. Women in particular were seen weeping openly while praying for his safety and early return.

Hundreds of people gathered at various locations including Watergam, Azad Gunj Baramulla, Delina, Sangrama, Potkha, Hygam, Palhallan, Pattan, Hanwara, Singpora, Narbal and Lawaypora, where emotional supporters lined the roadsides to bid him goodbye. Many waved from rooftops and shopfronts while others showered prayers and tears upon seeing the MP’s vehicle pass through their areas.

Supporters said the emotional public response reflected the deep bond Er Rashid shares with the masses despite prolonged incarceration and repeated attempts to politically isolate him. Several people were heard saying that “jails can imprison a person but not the love people carry in their hearts.”

The scenes along the route resembled an emotional farewell procession as people continued following the MP’s convoy till the airport, many unable to control their emotions while saying goodbye to a leader they described as “the voice of the oppressed and downtrodden.”

A leopard strayed into an abandoned house in Nambla village of Uri on Tuesday and became trapped inside, prompting wildlife authorities to launch a rescue operation.

Residents told news agency GNS that the wild animal was spotted inside the old structure, following which the Wildlife Department and Police were informed. Soon after, teams from both departments reached the area and initiated efforts to safely rescue the leopard.

As a precautionary measure, authorities cordoned off the area around the house and advised residents to stay away from the site to avoid any untoward incident.

Officials said the leopard is believed to have wandered into the village from nearby forest areas before becoming trapped inside the vacant building.

Efforts were underway to tranquilise the animal and safely relocate it from the locality. Further details were awaited.

Sopore, June 02: Scores of sweepers working with the Municipal Council (MC) Sopore on Tuesday staged a protest, at municipal council office here in Sopore, demanding the regularisation of their services and urging the government to address their long-pending issues.

The protesting sanitation workers gathered and raised slogans in support of their demands, stating that they have been serving the Municipal Council for years but continue to work under uncertain conditions without job security. They said the lack of regularisation has left them struggling to support their families amid rising living costs.

The sweepers alleged that despite rendering essential services and maintaining cleanliness in the town under all weather conditions, their concerns have not received adequate attention from the authorities. They stressed that sanitation workers form the backbone of municipal services and deserve recognition through regular employment and better service benefits.

Speaking during the protest, several workers said they have dedicated a significant part of their lives to public service and are now seeking a secure future for themselves and their dependents. They urged the government to frame a comprehensive policy for their regularisation and ensure that their rights and welfare are protected.

The protesters further appealed to the administration and elected representatives to intervene in the matter and take concrete steps towards resolving their grievances. They maintained that regularisation would not only provide them financial stability but also improve the efficiency and morale of the workforce.

The protesting employees warned that if their genuine demands remain unaddressed, they may be compelled to intensify their agitation in the coming days. Meanwhile, they expressed hope that the government would take a sympathetic view of their plight and act swiftly in the interest of hundreds of affected families.

The protest concluded peacefully, with workers reiterating their commitment to continue serving the public while seeking justice and job security from the authorities.

Srinagar, Jun 02: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has reached out to a wide spectrum of political and civil society leaders across Jammu and Kashmir, urging them to set aside differences and jointly engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for initiating a sustained dialogue process on Jammu and Kashmir.

According to details, Mehbooba Mufti has written letters to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, People’s Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone, MP Engineer Rashid, AAP leader Mehraj Malik, PDF Chairman Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Panthers Party President Harsh Dev Singh, Shiv Sena (J&K) President Manish Sahni, Kashmiri Pandit leader Sanjay Tickoo and Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Chairman Jaspal Singh.

In her communication to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mufti wrote, “I had sought an appointment with you but due to your preoccupation it has not been possible. Therefore I am taking the liberty of writing to you since time is running out and we cannot afford to delay things any further. Recent breakthroughs achieved by the Leh Apex Body & Kargil Democratic Alliancewith the Centre offer an important lesson – only dialogue can deliver meaningful outcomes.”

“Jammu & Kashmir finds itself yet again at a crossroads in its history where the pervasive feeling of despair & disillusionment has gripped the state,” letter addressed to CM wrote.

It necessitates a broad consensus above & across party & partisan lines to pull J&K out of the current debilitating stalemate. If we want to restore the dignity & security of our people, a constructive dialogue with Government of India is a much needed imperative. The time has come to make a united outreach to the Hon’ble Prime Minister & Hon’ble Home Minister and prevail upon them to initiate a sustained dialogue with the people of Jammu & Kashmir, it reads.

We have to keep our disagreements & contrarian views on the back-burner to unite for the common good & collective welfare. This cannot become a matter of appropriating political credit or point scoring. Rather it must become a moment of unification in the largest interest of people we all claim to represent, letter reads.

I therefore urge you as head of state to initiate the much needed process of bringing all parties together through an official meeting. This will set the ball rolling for us to formally reach out to the Central Government. Given the fact that disagreements & squabbling between regional parties have been detrimental to the collective interests of J&K a reasonable consensus especially post 2019 is the only solution. If Ladakh could do it so can we, it reads.

However your support is a prerequisite for the success of this political platform. Genuine unity in these difficult unprecedented times can lead us towards restoring our rights and dignity of our people guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. Since your busy schedule did not permit us to meet in person I thought it’s best to bring your urgent attention to this matter. I do hope & sincerely request you to immediately call a formal meeting that includes political parties across Jammu & Kashmir. We simply cannot drag our feet any longer, it reads.

I am also attaching, for your reference, the list of parties I have reached out to. Kindly feel free to include any additional parties that you believe should be part of this initiative, letter reads. (JKNS)

Srinagar, June 02: In a significant judgment under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the Court of the 2nd Additional Munsiff/Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Srinagar, presided over by Vikas Bhardwaj, has convicted a Rajbagh resident in a cheque dishonour case and sentenced him to one year of simple imprisonment besides directing payment of ₹8.2 lakh as compensation to the complainant.

The complainant was represented by Advocate Aijaz Ahmad Bhat and Associates, while the defence was represented by Advocate Razia Shafi and Associates. 

The complaint arose from the dishonour of a cheque amounting to ₹6 lakh, which was returned unpaid by the bank with the remark “Funds Insufficient”. Despite issuance of a statutory demand notice, the liability remained unpaid, leading to initiation of criminal proceedings under the Negotiable Instruments Act. 

During the trial, the accused admitted issuance of the cheque and acknowledged the liability. The Court observed that the admission attracted the statutory presumptions under the law and that the accused failed to rebut the same despite being granted sufficient opportunities. 

Relying upon the settled principles laid down by the Supreme Court regarding cheque dishonour cases, the Court held that the ingredients of the offence stood proved and that the plea of guilt was voluntary and unequivocal. Consequently, the accused was convicted and sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment. The Court further imposed a fine of ₹8.20 lakh, payable to the complainant as compensation, after adjusting the amount already paid during the proceedings. 

The Court also directed that in case of failure to pay the compensation amount, the authorities shall proceed against the movable and immovable properties of the convict in accordance with law for recovery of the amount. 

The judgment is being seen as a reaffirmation of the legal consequences attached to cheque dishonour and the judiciary’s commitment to preserving confidence in commercial and financial transactions.