9thyear of publication SRINAGAR OBSERVER PM Inaugurates ‘Ekta Mall’, Visits J&K, North-east Stalls Kashmiri Pandits Oppose New Land Laws ‘Absolutely no chance’ - Steve Smith Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated ‘Ekta Mall’, a special Terming the introduction of new land law in JK as betrayal, Kashmiri opts out of BBL store constructed near the Statue of Unity here where tourists can buy Pandits on Friday demanded roll back of news land laws in J&K introduced Steven Smith has ruled out turning up for the Sydney Sixers in the handloom and handicraft products belonging to different states under by the centre government. The centre government on Tuesday had Big Bash League over growing concerns of players’ burnout inside one roof. After inaugurating the outlet, Modi spent a considerable notified new land laws for Jammu and Kashmir that pave the way for prolonged biosecure bubbles. In an interview with News Corp as part of amount of time at stalls selling traditional items from Jammu and any citizen of India to buy land in J&K. | Page 03 a promotional campaign with Lifebouy for the Rajasthan Royals, Smith Kashmir and the north-east region. | Page 05 said from his Dubai bubble, “It’s still early days with the | Page 08 SATURDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2020 13, Rab-ul-Awal 1442 Hijri Published from Srinagar RNI No:JKENG/2012/43267 Vol:9 Issue No: 250 Pages:8 Rs.5.00 epaper: www.srinagarobserver.com Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) 3 LeT Men Celebrated With Religious Fervor Involved In Killing Devotees Throng Dargah Hazratbal, Other Shrines, Attend Special Prayers of BJP Workers: IGP SO News Desk SRINAGAR: Amid ongoing Farooq Abdullah Barred COVID-19 pandemic, Eid-e-Milad- From Offering Prayers un-Nabi (SAW) was on Friday celebrated with full reverence, de- At Hazratbal: NC votion and religious fervor across Jammu and Kashmir while the ational Conference on Friday denounced the incumbent government for barring Party biggest congregations were held NPresident, Member of Parliament from Srinagar at Dargah Hazratbal where the Dr. Farooq Abdullah from offering Friday prayers holy relic of Prophet Muhammad at Asar-e-Sharief Hazratbal following Eid-e-Milad (SAW) was displayed for the devo- Observance. Party General Secretary Ali Mohammad tees after every prayer of the day. Sagar in a statement issued here strongly denounced The day marks the birth anni- the administration move for restraining Dr. Farooq to Agencies militants” seems preplanned. versary of Prophet Muhammad his house and disallowing him from offering Friday “Involvement of local militants congregational prayers at Dargah Sharif, terming the (SAW) and is being observed on the measure as blatant interference in one's fundamen- SRINAGAR: A day after three like Nissar Ahmad Khanday, 12th day of Rabi-ul-Awal-the third tal rights and religious affairs. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lead- Abass Sheikh of Khudwani is month of the Islamic calendar. the glimpse of the holy relic. played to the people including He said such tactics besides going against the ers were killed, the Kashmir police coming to the fore. There is possi- Witnesses said that hundreds Biggest gathering took place at women, children and elderly. freedom of religion enshrined in the country's consti- chief on Friday said that the vehi- bility of involvement of a (foreign of devotees thronged the Hazrat- the Friday congregational prayers Emotional scenes were also tution are also unheard of in the emancipated world. cles used by the militants while militant also,” he said. bal shrine today where they had after which the holy relic was dis- witnessed as people | More on P2 “The administration blocked the residence of the carrying out the attack was seized. Giving further details about the party president on Friday morning and stopped him According to a local news gath- incident, he said, “The militants from offering prayers at Dargah Hazratbal. The party condemns this infringement of fundamental right to ering agency, Inspector General came in an alto car belonging to pray, especially on the occasion of Milad –Un- Nabi of Police (IGP) Kashmir zone, Altaf, a local, and came close to the SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WERE PUT in place for the (SAW) observance. It is the one of the steepest Vijay Kumar while talking to re- vehicle and fired indiscriminate- devotees to celebrate the day and special attention was paid to developments in Kashmir post unilateral, unconsti- porters said that the attack “car- ly, injuring them and later suc- tutional and undemocratic abrogation of Article 370, ried by three Lashkar-e-Toiba cumbed | More on P2 COVID-19 protocols to ensure social distancing and other SOPs at various 35-A to not allow people to offer prayers,” he said. shrines including Hazratbal and other revered shrines across Jammu and Kashmir. 9 BJP leaders, Workers Killed In Last 4 Months Ensure Uninterrupted Drinking Water, Jahangeer Ganaie COVID Claims he killing of three BJP workers in Qazigund belt of Kulgam district of South Kashmir on Thursday has taken the number of total BJP workers/leaders Five Lives, 566 Test Power Supply To People: LG to Officers T killed by militants in four months to nine. Yesterday evening, three BJP workers namely Fida Hussain, who was a BJP’s Yuva Morcha General Secretary, Positive in J&K Reviews Winter Preparedness, Sets Deadlines For Replacement Of Transformers BJP worker Umar Ramzan, both residents of Y K Pora, | More on P2 Jahangeer Ganaie SO News Desk LG, Abdullahs, Others Condemn SRINAGAR: At least five patients who were SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor, tested positive for COVID-19, died on Friday Manoj Sinha Friday directed the he Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and mainstream political party leaders in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday condemned the killing of three BharatiyaJanata taking the death toll up to 1,471 in the Union officers to put committed efforts to T Party (BJP) workers in South Kashmir’s Qazigund area last evening. Lt Governor Territory while 566 positive cases were re- ensure uninterrupted drinking wa- strongly condemned the killing of political workers. Expressing his anguish over the ported across Jammu and Kashmir, thus ter and power supply & timely resto- killings, the Lt Governor said that the perpetrators of violence are the enemies of humani- pushing the tally of cases to 94,330 so far. ration, availability of public utilities ty and such cowardly acts cannot be justified. Law shall take its course and the guilty shall be Of the total 93,330 cases, 56,702 are from like firewood, ration, medicines and dealt with sternly, he added. The Lt Governor assured all the possible | More on P2 Kashmir and 37,628 from Jammu division. other basic amenities and essential Officials told a local news gather- supplies during the winter. ing agency that among 566 new Sinha while reviewing the cases, 347 belong to Kashmir di- winter preparedness and logistic officers to adopt a proactive ap- snow bound areas. vision while as 219 are from arrangements of various depart- proach to address the needs and He asked them to be responsive Jammu division, adding ments in a meeting here at Raj requirements of the people; espe- and take comprehensive measures Security Of Political that the total number of Bhavan, directed the concerned cially those living in far-flung and to minimize the | More on P2 positive cases in Kashmir Leaders Our Priority: Govt division have reached to 56,702 including Two LeT Junaid Shah to ensure to provide all security to po- 50,877 recoveries and litical workers here,” Advisor to Lieu- 978 deaths while as total K K Sharma Appointed Associates Arrested SRINAGAR: The government on Fri- tenant Governor R R Bhatnagar told a number of positive cases day said the security of political work- local news gathering agency. in Jammu division have State Election Commissioner in Handwara ers was its top priority, saying that it On Thursday evening three BJP reached to 37,628 including Agencies SO News Desk is ascertaining the facts as to what led workers were shot dead by unidentified 35,147 recoveries and 493 deaths. to the killing of three BJP workers. gunmen in Y K Pora area of Qazigund The officials said that total SRINAGAR: Kewal Ku- SRINAGAR: Police, army’s 21RR “The administration is providing in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. number of active cases in Jammu mar Sharma on Friday re- and 92 battalion of CRPF arrested security to political workers in Kash- DC Kulgam Showkat Aijaz and Kashmir are 6,835 including 4,847 from signed as Jammu and Kash- two militant associates of Lash- mir. But we are still collecting the de- claimed that the incident did not Kashmir division and 1,988 from Jammu divi- mir Lieutenant Governor kar-e-Toiba in Handwara area of tails of what led to the killings of three take place in his jurisdiction. “I re- sion. With 654 more recoveries, the tally of total Manoj Sinha’s Advisor as north Kashmir Kupwara district, BJP workers. The government wants fused allegations that | More on P2 recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached he was appointed the State According to a local news officials said on Friday. to 86,024 which is 91.19 percent of the total cases. Election Commissioner. gathering | More on P2 “On specific inputs, checkpoints “Cases tested positive in J&K include 141 were established at different loca- eacting to the killing of three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Srinagar, 26 from Budgam, 66 from Bara- tions in town Handwara. During Sacrifices workers in Kulgam, the party chief of the Union Territory of mulla, 20 from Pulwama, 25 from Kupwara, LG Administers Oath to Sharma checking at Chinar Park Handwara RJammu and Kashmir Friday said that sacrifices of the par- ty workers would not go in vain.