Pitching strongly for the protection of minorities in Kashmir which has witnessed targeted killings, a leading cleric said during Friday congregational prayers in Anantnag that Islam does not give permission for jihad to commit atrocities on the minority community. The cleric, Maulana Fayaz Amjadi, was addressing a congregation in Jamia Masjid Anantnag. His exhortation for the protection of minority community was strongly supported by the locals present in the mosque. According to a video of the address, he said they are willing to give their lands but minorities in Jammu and Kashmir should be given protection. Maulana Fayaz Amjadi said if any Muslim is committing atrocities or killing against minorities thinking it is jihad, “we condemn it”. “If any Muslim is doing this thinking it is jihad, we condemn this jihad. Islam has not given permission for jihad to commit atrocities on minority or any other person or to kill the person,” he said. Maulana Fayaz Amjadi said the atmosphere should not be spoilt in Kashmir. “The minorities should be taken care of. We urge the administration, we urge the government we are with the minority here. We condemn those attacking minorities. We request that minorities are given protection in Kashmir. You need our lands take them, but provide security to minorities. As you provide security to minorities here, do the same to us in the entire country,” he added. A clip of the video was also posted on social media. There have been targeted killings of innocent civilians in Kashmir and the victims include members of the Kashmir Pandit community, civilians and people in government. Last month, two civilians – including Kashmiri Pandit employee Rahul Bhat — and three off-duty policemen were killed in Kashmir by terrorists. In October last year, prominent chemist M L Bindroo was killed in his shop. The minority community members have been protesting against targeted killings and some of them have spoken about migrating out of Valley. A bank manager, identified as Vijay Kumar, was shot dead outside his office by terrorists in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. Earlier this week 36-year-old Hindu woman teacher Rajni Bala, hailing from Jammu’s Samba district, was shot dead by terrorists at a government school in Gopalpora, Kulgam. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday held a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and other top officials on security in Jammu and Kashmir. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh also participated in the meeting. Source: Zee5.com/ANI  

Indian Army organised a Volleyball tournament cum career counselling programme in South Kashmir's Anantnag with an aim to provide a suitable platform and opportunity to the youths in pursuing their passion. The programme was held under the theme of "Play hard, study harder". Many teams participated from the different parts of Kashmir and demonstrated great zeal towards the programme. Participants appreciated and demanded such an initiative to uplift the youth in the Valley. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Sameer Ahmad Magray, a Participant said, "Due to Covid pandemic, we were locked up in homes, our education was also suffering. We are very happy that the Indian army organised this tournament. I felt refreshed after participating in the game. It should continue further."      Ishfaq Rather, another participant said along with participating in the game, career counselling was also given. This kind of tournament should take place in the valley so that youth can showcase their talent. "We really enjoyed the tournament. During the pandemic, we all were frustrated and many youths were engaged in wrong activities. The Indian army did a great job, this will help youth to showcase their talent as well motivate them for their career in future," Ishfaq said. Aquib Ahmad, a local resident said, "This is a really good initiative. We have been seeing that for a few years the Indian army is conducting this kind of tournament and helping the youth in making their career opportunities better." Source: ANI

  Mushtaq Ahmed Dar, a grassroots innovator from the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, has brought out a series of innovations for making the processing of walnuts easier and more efficient, as well as a device for climbing poles.   According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the innovations for walnut processing include a Walnut Cracking Machine' and also the Walnut peeler, washer, and sorter to streamline walnut production and help reduce the drudgery of people involved in walnut processing, a niche occupation primarily in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and also observed in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.   "These have also empowered the people involved in the occupation by giving them the capability to supply fresh kernels to domestic and world markets by cracking walnut of varied types like paper-shelled, thin-shelled, medium-shelled, and hard-shelled, efficiently and effectively," the ministry said in a statement.   It further said that this helps them grow their business by even exporting and marketing the edible fruit inside and not the shelled walnut, thereby making the final product more attractive (effortless consumption).   Besides, it has reduced the risk of the shells cracking and flying during processing, thereby posing a danger to the eyes. The technology has also evinced interest from international markets, particularly from Afghanistan, during India - Afghanistan Trade and Investment Show in the year 2017, it said.   It said that the genesis of his other innovation - Pole-Pro, is rooted in the complex geography of Kashmir Valley, where carrying bulky ladders for routine repairs delayed the outcome every time. The Pole-Pro solution eliminated the need for bulky ladders in most situations. It helped first-hand diagnosis of problems in electricity, telecom, and other poles with safety protocols.   "Today, the technology is available in the market through Anventa Gadgetix Pvt Ltd, a start-up recognized by the Government of India (DIPP25154) and incubated by NIFientreC (NIF Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council), a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) hosted by NIF and supported by DST," the ministry said.   These innovations and many more in which Mushtaq collaborated with other innovators have led to two start-ups recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).   Supported by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) - India, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, Mushtaq's serial innovations were mentioned by Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha in December 2021's "Awaam ki Awaaz".   Walnut Cracker has remained the most notable innovation, which is today the foundation of another start-up recognized by the Government of India called Rafiq Innovations Pvt Ltd (DIPP8028), based in Anantnag. It is being incubated by NIFientreC.   Mushtaq Ahmed Dar is continuing to explore and come up with more innovations. NIF has supported him with Value Addition and Validation, Product Development, IP protection, Technology Transfer, and also a Community Workshop so that several innovators like him in the region could leverage the facility and create possibilities for an "it-situ" incubation in forthcoming years.   Additionally, the enterprises taking forward Mushtaq's innovations were supported with entity incorporation, start-up registration and also provided various Business Development opportunities, it added. Source: ANI