Srinagar, Feb 03: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today informed the House that there are 199 Brick Kilns in the district Budgam out of which 128 Brick kilns have deposited the royalty in District Mineral officer Budgam on account of Consumption of Brick earth during the current financial year.

The Deputy Chief Minister said this while replying to a question regarding Brick Kilns, raised by Legislator Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani in the Legislative Assembly.

He informed the house that the Geology and Mining Department is entrusted to monitor the raw material procured by the unit holders for processing and its transportation comes from legitimate sources only.

The Deputy CM added that as per records provided by DMO, Budgam, 107 Crusher unit holders and 44 Hot wet mix plants are registered on the departmental web portal, geologyminingjk.gov.in with updation of legal quantity and its sale/transportation through proper e- challans/ e-permits only.

Replying to supplementary question, raised by Legislator Ali Mohammad Dar, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Government will examine the recent demolition of brick kilns in Budgam district.

Srinagar, Feb 3: Night temperatures across Kashmir rose marginally, with Srinagar recording a minimum of 2.8 degrees Celsius, over three degrees above the seasonal average, officials said on Tuesday.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar city has been rising slowly but steadily since the end of ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day harshest winter period in Kashmir.

The ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 5.3 degrees Celsius, which was two degrees above the seasonal average of minus 7.4 degrees Celsius.

The mercury in Pahalgam, a tourist resort in south Kashmir which serves as base camp for the Amarnath yatra, rose more than four degrees to settle at minus 0.4 degrees Celsius.

Among other places, Qazigund’s minimum temperature settled at 0.4 degrees, Kokernag recorded a low of zero degrees Celsius, and Kupwara’s minimum temperature settled at minus 0.5 degrees Celsius.

A 20-day ‘Chillai Khurd’ (small cold) began on Saturday, after the culmination of the 40-day harshest winter period, ‘Chillai-Kalan’.

Chillai Khurd will be followed by the 10-day ‘Chillai Bachha’ (baby cold).

Srinagar, Feb 03: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said issues related to the alleged victimisation and harassment of Kashmiris would be discussed inside the Legislative Assembly.

“We are going to have a discussion on the issue of victimising and harassing Kashmiris,” Abdullah told reporters outside the Assembly.

Asked about his views on the presentation of the Union Budget, the Chief Minister declined to comment, saying he would speak on the matter only inside the House. “I will say everything regarding the budget in the Assembly,” he said.

Abdullah also refused to respond to questions on remarks reportedly made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying matters related to parliamentary privilege should be addressed within Parliament.

“It is the privilege of the Speaker to decide. In the same way, it is not appropriate to discuss the Assembly in Parliament or Parliament matters here,” he said, adding that he was not aware of the details of the remarks.

On the Congress demand for the formation of a coordination committee, Abdullah said the issue should be taken up with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.

“I am the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He is the president of the National Conference. You should speak to him on that,” Abdullah said. (KNS)

Srinagar, Feb 03: Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday voiced strong concern over what she described as a disturbing pattern of attacks and harassment targeting Kashmiris and minorities in different parts of the country.

Reacting to recent incidents, Mehbooba Mufti said that what began with the alleged assault on a young Kashmiri, Tabish, in Uttarakhand had now extended to the harassment of an elderly Kashmiri, while perpetrators continued to move freely. She termed the situation alarming and questioned the silence of Members of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir.

“Where are the MPs of J&K who should be raising their voices as such attacks become routine,” she said, expressing anguish over the lack of political intervention in such cases.

Mehbooba Mufti further alleged that instead of upholding Raj Dharma, state governments appeared to be granting silent patronage to mob violence. She said hatred was being used as a shortcut to political success, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity for minorities.

“The rule of law has been replaced by politics of fear,” she remarked, warning that continued inaction would further erode public trust in democratic institutions and constitutional safeguards.

Her remarks come amid growing political debate over the safety and dignity of Kashmiris and minority communities outside Jammu and Kashmir, with several leaders demanding accountability and firm action against those involved in such incidents. [KNT]

Srinagar, Feb 03: The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday carried out searches at the residence of a suspect in Rainawari area here as part of a probe into the terror ecosystem in Kashmir Valley, officials said.

The searches were carried out at a residential house in Hazari Bazar locality in the early hours, they said.

The NIA on Monday raided six locations across three districts of Kashmir at Rafiabad, Sopore and Bomai in Baramulla district, Bandipora, and the Parimpora area of Srinagar, officials said.

The NIA officers carried out the raids at the residential premises of former Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh and former militant Iqbal Sheikh at Bomai.

Raids were also carried out at the residences of former government employees Mohammad Munwar Mir at Rafiabad and Farooq Ahmad Peer at Model Town in Sopore.

The other premises included the residence of a retired teacher, Mohammad Maqbool Mir, in Bandipora town, and the residence of Zahoor-ul-Raheem in Parimpora, officials said.