Srinagar, Jan 2: Authorities in Anantnag district on Friday imposed a temporary ban on trekking, hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities in several high-altitude and forested areas of Kokernag, citing heightened security concerns following recent inputs from the Police and intelligence agencies.

The prohibition was ordered after security agencies reported increased threats in remote and elevated regions falling under the jurisdiction of the Kokernag sub-division.

Officials said unrestricted civilian movement in these areas could pose serious risks to public safety and complicate ongoing security operations.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kokernag, Prince Kumar, issued the directive under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which empowers district authorities to impose restrictions in situations that may threaten public order or safety.

“In recent incidents, certain persons attempted to cross police checkpoints during late-night hours, thereby raising serious concerns regarding public safety,” the order said.

It noted that unchecked movement in high-altitude and forest areas could be exploited for unlawful activities, adversely affecting law and order.

As per the order, trekking, camping, hiking, and similar outdoor recreational activities have been strictly prohibited in the areas of Margan Top, Chauhar Nag, and Sinthan Pass, all of which are known for their rugged terrain, dense forests, and strategic location connecting different regions of south Kashmir.

The directive comes into force with immediate effect and will remain valid for two months, unless withdrawn earlier or extended in accordance with the law.

The order also assigned responsibility for enforcement to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Larnoo Police Station, directing him to ensure strict implementation of the restrictions and closely monitor movement at all checkpoints in the affected areas.

Authorities warned that any violation of the order would invite legal action under relevant provisions of law.

Officials urged the general public, tourists, and adventure enthusiasts to cooperate with the administration and adhere strictly to the restrictions in the interest of public safety.

Kokernag and its surrounding regions, including Margan Top and Sinthan Pass, are popular among trekkers and nature lovers, especially during the summer months.

However, officials said security considerations must take precedence, particularly in sensitive and remote areas where surveillance and access control are challenging.

The administration said the situation would be reviewed periodically, and further decisions would be taken based on security assessments and ground conditions.

Kulgam, Jan 2: Fishermen and residents living along the Vaishaw stream in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district came out carrying placards around the waterway to voice concern over what they described as unscientific and illegal mining that is degrading one of the region’s most vital rivers.

Placards reading ‘save Vaishaw Nallah,’ ‘save water bodies, ’ ‘stop illegal mining’, and ‘save fishermen’, were displayed as locals demanded an immediate halt to the use of heavy machinery for extracting sand and boulders from the stream.

“This river is a lifeline for Kashmir,” said a local environmental activist, Yasir Ahmad. “We are not opposed to legal mining, but unscientific extraction in violation of National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and Jammu and Kashmir mineral rules must stop.”

The Vaishaw stream, a major tributary of the Jhelum, originates from the Kausarnag-Aharbal area and joins the river at Sangam.

It carries the highest discharge among Jhelum’s tributaries and supplies nearly six million gallons of drinking water daily to more than 100 villages in south Kashmir.

The stream also supports agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries across Kulgam and parts of the Anantnag district.

Residents alleged that heavy machinery, including JCB excavators, LMTs, and cranes, is being used indiscriminately, often during the night and wee hours, to extract riverbed material.

“There is no objection to limited manual extraction at designated sites,” Ahmad said. “But deep mechanised mining has lowered groundwater levels and polluted the water.”

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in August 2024 took cognisance of a December 16, 2024, Greater Kashmir report, ‘Vaishaw stream gasps for breath amid mining, pollution.’

The report documented how unchecked mining, agricultural runoff, and waste discharge were rapidly degrading the stream.

The matter is pending before the tribunal.

The report warned that continued deterioration could threaten trout and other sensitive fish species, compromise drinking water supplies, and increase flood risks in downstream villages.

Licensed fishermen said their livelihoods have been severely affected.

“We depend entirely on trout fishing,” said fisherman Sajad Ahmad of Pahloo village. “Polluted water and damaged aquatic life have reduced our catch.”

Residents also raised concerns about garbage dumping along the streambanks.

“There isn’t a proper dumping yard or waste segregation system,” said Bashir Ahmad, a local. “People are forced to dump waste near the stream, worsening pollution.”

Locals warned that excessive mining had weakened river embankments, increasing the risk of flash floods.

“Deep mining makes embankments fragile,” said Sayar Ahmad. “Entire villages could be washed away, like what happened during the 2014 floods.”

Environmental experts cited in earlier reports cautioned that mining during the trout breeding season, combined with pesticide-laden runoff and illegal extraction, has sharply reduced fish populations, degraded water quality, and heightened long-term ecological and disaster risks.

Residents urged the authorities to strictly enforce environmental regulations and protect the Vaishaw stream before the damage becomes irreversible.

Srinagar, Jan 2: Senior Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) leader and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed on Friday termed the summoning of Kashmiri cricketer Furqan Bhat for wearing a Palestinian flag symbol during a cricket match as “unwarranted and discriminatory.”

In a statement, Sheikh Khursheed said expressing solidarity with Palestine cannot be criminalised, particularly when India officially supports the Palestinian cause and has consistently stood with Palestine at international forums.

He pointed out the double standards in public discourse, recalling that senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had carried a bag bearing a Palestine symbol inside Parliament, yet no action was taken. He further noted that even BJP leaders and Union ministers have publicly acknowledged meetings with Hamas leaders in the past. “If such expressions and engagements are acceptable for political leaders, targeting a sportsperson exposes selective outrage,” he said.