The Bar Association Sopore continued its strike for the sixth consecutive day on Monday, protesting alleged misconduct by a Tehsildar during an incident involving an advocate at the Tehsil office.

According to a spokesperson for the Bar Association, the incident took place on August 19 when Advocate Mohammad Waseem visited the Tehsil office in connection with a case involving his clients and to attend proceedings before the Tehsildar.

The spokesperson alleged that the concerned official used highly objectionable and abusive language against the advocate during the interaction.

The Bar further alleged that the official questioned the advocate’s presence in the office and made derogatory remarks against him as well as the legal fraternity.

The association also alleged that the official threatened to send the advocate to the lock-up and warned him of “dire consequences”.

The Bar Association has termed the alleged conduct a serious affront to the dignity of the legal profession and an interference with the professional independence of advocates.

“The use of abusive, threatening and derogatory language against an advocate while discharging professional duties is condemned in the strongest terms,” a Bar representative said.

The association has urged the competent authorities to inquire into the matter and take appropriate action in accordance with law.

It also called for measures to ensure the dignity, safety and professional independence of advocates are protected while they discharge their duties.

Sopore, Aug 24: Security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during a joint search operation in Manzseer area of Sopore in North Kashmir on Monday.

Senior Police official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the operation was conducted by the SOG Sopore in coordination with 52 Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF 177 Battalion and CRPF 179 Battalion, in the jurisdiction of Police Station Tarzoo.

“During the search, the forces recovered one AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 72 rounds of ammunition, four hand grenades and one improvised explosive device from an abandoned house,” the officer added.

Srinagar, Aug 24: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday hit back at party MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi over his recent statements, asking him to resign from the Lok Sabha and return to the electorate if he believes his victory was secured on the strength of his personal support.

Reacting to Ruhullah’s public positions, Abdullah said the Srinagar MP was free to raise issues such as restoration of Article 370 in Parliament, but questioned his approach to the matter.

“If he thinks Article 370 can be restored, he should take up the issue in Parliament,” Abdullah said.

The NC chief also challenged Ruhullah to test his claim of having secured the Lok Sabha mandate through his own political standing.

“If you think people voted for you, resign and go back to them. We will see how many votes you get,” he said.

Abdullah said party members were expected to stand by decisions taken by the organisation, particularly during elections, and cited the Budgam poll to underline the importance of party discipline.

He said NC workers could not reasonably have been expected to campaign against a candidate officially nominated by the party.

On speculation about differences within the NC, Abdullah said disagreements were common in political organisations and should not automatically be construed as a revolt against the leadership.

He also maintained that the party and the government have separate roles, saying that as NC president he did not want to unnecessarily interfere in the administration.

Abdullah recalled the sacrifices made by generations of NC leaders and workers, saying the organisation had endured because of the commitment of its grassroots cadre.

Asked about Ruhullah’s political direction, Abdullah advised the MP to seek guidance from the Quran, while reiterating his assessment that he was presently taking the “wrong path”. (KNS)

Ganderbal, Aug 24: Amid the rising incidents of drowning in Nallah Sindh the Ganderbal administration on Monday issued advisory, urging youth and tourists to exercise extreme caution near fast-flowing water bodies like Nallah Sindh, especially during summer months when water levels and currents remain unpredictable.

The district administration issued a public advisory asking people to remain alert. “In view of the risks associated with bathing/swimming in Nallah Sindh and other nallahs and water bodies across District Ganderbal, resulting in the loss of precious human lives in the recent past, people living in nearby areas are advised to avoid bathing in the stream and remain extra vigilant.

As per the advisory, the parents and guardians are advised strictly prevent children from entering or bathing in Nallah Sindh and other nallahs/water bodies. Keep children under close supervision, particularly during holidays and leisure hours and explain to children the dangers of deep, fast-flowing and unpredictable water bodies. Discourage children from swimming or bathing at unprotected and unsafe locations. Ensure that children do not go near water bodies without responsible adult supervision, reads an advisory.

Srinagar, Aug 24: Peoples’ Conference chairman and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Monday slammed chief minister Omar Abdullah over his remark on recent power tariff hike in which the latter stated that “he never promised that rates wouldn’t increase”.

Lone highlighted that chief minister didn’t make such comparisons during elections when he sought votes from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

On Monday, chief minister Omar Abdullah while replying to the queries of reporters said that his government had never promised that power rates would not rise. CM Omar reiterated that the government’s commitment was to provide 200 units of free electricity to the poorest households. “I repeatedly explained in the Assembly that under the free electricity scheme, we would use solar panels to deliver this benefit to people,” he said.

Taking on CM Omar heavily for his remarks, MLA Handwara Sajad Lone wrote on X: “Power tariffs in J&K cannot be suddenly compared to tariffs in other states at the pleasure of CM sahib. Power tariffs in J&K will be compared with tariffs in J&K in the past. What is this selective comparison. You didn’t make these comparisons during elections.

And CM sahib has made a statement that he never said that he will not increase tariffs. To rejig CM sahib’s memory I am attaching the relevant page from NC election manifesto.

The increase of 6.8% translates into an increase of more than 500 crores. This money has to be borne by the consumers.

And these unsuspecting consumers were waiting for free 200 units of power per month, as promised by CM sahib in his Party’s election manifesto.

This is not the first increase. In the non-metered areas, electric load per household was increased, thereby increasing the bill by about 10%.

We did not hear a word about tariffs in other states during elections. And all we heard was the free 200 units of power per month.

You had promised this free power for all. Once in power you said only AAY ration card holders will get it. That should be 200000 families approximately.

CM sahib you have been in power for 22 months. You owe each consumer ( 22*200) 4400 units of power. That’s equal to 11000 rupees. And for 200000 AAY households that is equivalent to 2200000000, which is 2200 crores.

CM sahib owes 2200 crores to the people and has the audacity to put a burden of 500 crores.
Have some shame.  Pay up. These are the poorest of the poor souls in J&K. You lied to them through your teeth. And on the basis of those lies rode to power”.