Precious Kashmir

Naib Tehsildar suspended

Front

09/04/2022

ANANTNAG: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Dr Piyush Singla today placed Naib Tehsildar Ranbirbora, Tehsil Anantnag East (Mattan) under suspension for dereliction of duty.

The Naib Tehsildar has been placed under suspension for unauthorized absence from duty.

It is in place to mention that several guidelines have been issued from time to time directing public officials to attend duties on a regular basis.

The DC said that regular vigil is being maintained on attendance in various public offices and any employees found absent will face similar penal action.

NIA files charge sheet against 25 persons

Front

Precious Kashmir

09/04/2022

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Friday filed a charge sheet against 25 persons including a woman in the alleged case of hatching of conspiracy, both physical as well as cyberspace, for undertaking violent militant acts in J&K and other parts of India.

The charge sheet in case—RC 29/2021/NIA/DLI dated 10.10.2021—was filed in the Special NIA Court New Delhi, the investigation agency said in a statement.

The persons include Bashir Ahmed Peer alias Imtiyaz Alam son of Sikandar Pir of Punzgam, Kupwara, Imtiyaz Kundoo alias Fayaz Sopore son of Abdul Khaliq Kundoo of Krelteng Sopore, Bilal Ahmed Mir alias Bilal Fafoo son of Ghulam Mohammad Mir of Gulbagh Colony, Parimpora, Srinagar, Owais Ahmed Dar son of Abdul Khalid Dar of Gulbugh, Kakapora, Pulwama, Tariq Ahmed Dar son of Ghulam Qadir Dar of Solina Bala Srinagar, Tariq Ahmed Bafanda son of Ghulam Ahmed Bafanda of Gani Memorial Stadium, Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar, Mohammad Haneef Chairalu son of Ghulam Rasool Chairalu of Bagh Sunder Payeen, Karan Nagar, Hanan Gulzar Dar son of Gulzar Ahmad Dar of Firdausabad, Batmaloo, Srinagar, Mateen Ahmed Bhat son of Manzoor Ahmed Bhat of Pudsoo Shopian, Kamran Ashraf Reshi son of Mohammad Ashraf Reshi of Khimber, Reshipora Hazratbal, Rayid Bashir son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Tibetian Colony Safakadal, Eidgah Srinagar, Mohammad Manan Dar alias Manan son of Gulzar Ahmed Dar of Lane Firdausabad, Balmaloo, Srinagar, Zamin Adil Bhat son of Adil Ahmed Bhat of Munawarabad, Ikhwan Chowk, Srinagar, J&K, Hariis Nisar Langoo son of Nisar Ahmed Langoo of Khanyar, Near Sher-e-Khas gate, Gousia Colony, Rouf Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat of Lone Mohalla Bewora, Bijbehara Anantnag, Sobiya Aziz Mir alias Mariyam-Al-Kashmiri daughter of Abdul Aziz Mir of Parimpora, Srinagar, Amir Ahmad Gojree son of Mohammad Ramzan Gojree of Sammarbok New Colony of Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, Sadaat Amin Malik alias Syed Arhan son of Mohammad Amin Malik of Baba Raza Amargarh Sopore, Ishfaq Amin Wani alias Rehan Amin Wani son of Mohammad Amin Wani of Bemina, Hamdania Colony, Srinagar, Rashid Muzafar Ganai son of Muzaffar Ganai of Shalpora Sopore, Nashir Ahmad Mir son of Ghulam Nabi Mir of Model Town- B, Sopore, Irfan Tariq Antoo son of Tariq Ahmad Antoo of Kralteng, Sopore, Suhail Ahmad Thokar son of Abdul Rashid Thokar of Hadigam Kulgam, Adil Ahmad War son of Ghulam Mohammad War of Anchar, Soura, Srinagar and Arif Farooq Bhat son of Farooq Ahmad Bhat of Syedabad, Bemina, Srinagar.

“The case pertains to hatching of conspiracy both on physical as well as cyberspace for undertaking violent (militant) acts in J&K and other parts of the country, by cadres of (militant) organisations like Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr and their affiliates such as the Resistance Front (TRF), People Anti-Fascist Forces (PAFF) etc,” the NIA said in the statement.

It said Investigation has unearthed “a deep rooted conspiracy of Pakistan based (militant) organisations joining hands in form of a united group and shifting of their modus operandi by floating pseudo offshoot outfits portrayed as indigenous resistance groups, in whose name (militant) acts are being committed with an intention to claim deniability at the international level.”

“After the abrogation of article 370, this shift was discernible in claims of (militant) acts done in J&K. Many affiliate/offshoots outfits such as The Resistance Front (TRF), People Against Fascist Forces (PAFF), United Liberation Front J&K ULF J&K, Muslim Janbaaz Force (MJF), Kashmir Janbaaz Force (KJF), Kashmir Tigers, Kashmir Fight, Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind, Kashmir Gaznavi Force etc had suddenly mushroomed, laying claims to various (militant) acts,” the NIA said.

It said the investigation has established that all these “pseudo-outfits” are in fact offshoots or rechristened versions of militant organisations based in Pakistan and “have been floated under a deep-rooted conspiracy to portray (militancy) in J&K as home-grown insurgency.”

“A well-organized propaganda machinery operating in cyberspace through various websites, blogs, Social media handles, closed channels on encrypted communication platforms etc. wherein concocted and skewed narrative is presented to impressionable and Pak based nodes have been used to radicalize youth.” It said, adding, “Investigation has revealed that all this media propaganda of different (militant) outfits was epi centred around common nodes operating from Pakistan.”

The NIA said that “a key element of the conspiracy was inducting new cadres in form of ‘Hybrid terrorists’ belonging to various walks of life, who could use their cover to remain rooted in the society and simultaneously carry out instructions of their (militant) handlers,” the NIA said, adding, “While acting as an OGW, they were also found indulging in (militant) actions such as grenade lobbing, undertaking lone attacks on vulnerable targets, arson etc.”

He said the investigation has also revealed a clear shift in the strategy of militant organizations towards targeted killings of minorities, civilians, migrants, government officials and unguarded security personnel.

“Further investigation in the case continues,” the NIA added.

Hafiz Saeed sentenced to 31 years in prison

Front

United News Of India

09/04/2022

Islamabad: An Anti-Terrorism Court in Pakistan on Friday sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed to 31 years imprisonment in two separate cases.
He has also been fined a total of Rs 340,000. As per reports, the court further ordered confiscation of all his assets, including a Mosque and madrassa that Saeed had built.
In one case, Saeed has been sentenced to 16-and-a-half years, while in another, he has been sentenced to 15-and-a-half years of imprisonment.
Saeed has been under arrest since 2019 and so far, seven cases have been filed against him. The statements of witnesses were cross-examined by Naseeruddin Nayyar and Mohammad Imran Fazal Gul, Advocates of Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and others.
Earlier in two cases, Saeed was sentenced to 11 years in prison. A total of 41 cases have been registered in other cities.

US travel advisory for Pakistan

Front

Indo Asian News Service

09/04/2022

Washington: The US has issued a new level-3 travel advisory for Pakistan, informing its citizens that there might be terror attacks in the country and a conflict could erupt on the Line of Control (LOC).

A level-3 travel advisory means the US citizens are being asked to reconsider their plans if they are travelling to the country in question, Samaa TV reported.

The travel advisory issued on April 4 prohibits American nationals from travelling to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces “due to the risk of terrorism and kidnapping”.

It also tells them to avoid locations near the LoC which faces the risk of “terrorism and the potential for armed conflict”.

“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities,” the advisory statement said.

While it says that Balochistan and KP provinces have seen terror attacks in recent months, the advisory declares “terrorist attacks are rare in Islamabad” though threats exist, reports Samaa TV.

“The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Pakistan due to the security environment. Travel by US government personnel within Pakistan is restricted, and additional restrictions on movements by US government personnel outside of US diplomatic facilities may occur at any time, depending on local circumstances and security conditions, which can change suddenly,” the statement said, adding that the US Consulate General in Peshawar is unable to provide any consular services to American citizens.

Tax revenues in 2021-22 exceed Budget estimates by Rs 5 lakh crore

Front

Indo Asian News Service

09/04/2022

New Delhi: Tax revenue in the financial year ended March 31, 2022, rose to Rs 27.07 lakh crore, which is nearly Rs 5 lakh crore more than the budgetary estimate of Rs 22.17 lakh crore for the year, Union Finance Ministry said on Friday.

The tax revenue during 2021-22 is 34 per cent higher than Rs 20.27 lakh crore recorded in 2020-21. The tax revenue collection is led by 49 per cent jump in revenue from direct taxes. Collection from indirect taxes grew by 20 per cent year-on-year.

This revenue growth has been propelled by rapid economic recovery after successive waves of COVID, supported by one of the largest immunisation programme of the world run by the Government, Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj said at a media briefing here.

It also signifies a robust recovery in the economy. These were also supplemented with better compliance efforts in taxation. Various efforts were taken by tax administration on direct as well indirect taxes to nudge higher compliance through use of technology and artificial intelligence, he said.

2021-22 marks the highest tax-GDP ratio of 11.7 per cent, with direct tax to GDP ratio at 6.1 per cent and indirect tax to GDP ratio at 5.6 per cent.

Improve Credit Deposit Ratio: Chief Secy directs Banks

Anchor stories

Ibni Maqbool

09/04/2022

Improve Credit Deposit Ratio: Chief Secy directs Banks

‘J&K UTLBC to prepare bank-wise data on lending to the priority sector, submit report by April 15’

By: Ibni Maqbool

Srinagar: In a significant move, J&K’s chief secretary Arun Kumar Mehta has directed the Union Territory Level Bankers Committee (UTLBC) to submit data on credit deposit (CD) ratio by April 15 to Finance department.

Documents in possession of The Precious Kashmir lay bare that CS directed the UTLBC to prepare and furnish bank-wise data on prevailing CD ratio both in the rest of India and that within UT of J&K.

The J&K UTLBC was also directed to prepare the bank-wise data on lending to the priority sector vis-a-vis their aggregate lending in J&K.

The UTLBC was directed to submit the data to the Finance Department by April, 15, 2022.

These directions were passed by the CS during 6th UTLBC meeting held on March 30, 2022, which was attended by representatives of banks and top bureaucrats of J&K.

In the meeting, the chief secretary directed banks to further improve their credit deposit ratio especially the banks with CD ratio below 40 percent.

In the meeting, the directions were also passed that reasons underlying poor CD ratio in Jammu district (below 40%) need to be examined by the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) and a report along with its comments to be submitted to UTLBC within 15 days.

The directive was passed after participants were informed that all the districts in J&K have CD Ratio above 40% except Jammu where CD ratio was 32.38% as on December 31, 2021.

During the meeting, executive president, J&K UTLBC informed the House that as per the data received from the banks, the CD ratio in J&K has improved considerably from 51.75 percent as on 31.12.2020 to 56.57 percent as on 31.12.2021, reflecting growth of 9.41 percent year-over-year.

The UTLBC is the apex level forum of bankers / financial institutions operating in J&K. It reviews the performance of the banks/ developmental agencies under the annual credit plan and also sorts out issues and facilitates removal of difficulties being faced in the implementation of various employment generating/ poverty alleviation schemes of the government.

Centre allocates over Rs 9 cr towards Jal Jeevan Mission in J&K

Anchor stories

Indo Asian News Service

09/04/2022

Centre allocates over Rs 9 cr towards Jal Jeevan Mission in J&K

Srinagar: In a bid to provide necessary impetus to the Jal Jeevan Mission in Jammu and Kashmir, Centre allocated a whopping Rs 9,289.15 crore for the union territory under the mission for 2022-23.

Jammu and Kashmir envisages to become ‘Har Ghar Jal’ UT by 2022-23. Out of 18.35 lakh rural households there, 10.39 lakh have tap water connections.

The mission thus envisages to provide drinking water supply in rural areas, in an adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis at affordable service delivery charges for improvement in living standards of the rural community.

Realising the importance of water conservation, the Ministry of Jal Shakti was created in 2019. Its objective is to ensure better management of water and provide clean drinking water to every citizen of the country.

“In 2021-22, the Centre had allocated Rs 2,747 crore which was nearly four times more than the preceding year 2020-21. This year the government allocated a staggering amount which is nearly more than double to its previous year budget.

“This substantial increase in JJM budgets every year is reflective of the concern and seriousness of the government towards materialising its commitment of providing tap water connections to every household and capacity building of Water Quality Management through testing, monitoring and surveillance,” an official said.

As per a report, Srinagar and Ganderbal districts have achieved the target of having 100 per cent households with tap water connections. Now efforts are on to ensure tap water availability for drinking, cooking mid-day meals, hand washing and for usage in toilets across all schools and Anganwadi centres. As on date, 22,421 schools (100 per cent) and 23,926 (100 per cent) Anganwadi centres in the UT have been supplied with tap water.

The government is targeting to achieve accreditation of all 20 district water testing laboratories and register all sub-divisional laboratories during 2022-23 under National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

The government expects the balance portion of work on Tawi Barrage costing Rs 73.34 crore to be completed during 2022-23. The work on Ujh Multi-Purpose project, which is first of its kind in Jammu and Kashmir, is also expected to start during 2022-23. It envisages utilisation of water resource potential of River Ujh, a tributary of River Ravi.

Jal Jeevan Mission, is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India. The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rain water harvesting. The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information, Education and communication as a key component of the mission.

This mission also aims to facilitate states/UTs planning of participatory rural water supply strategy for ensuring potable drinking water security on long-term basis to every rural household and public institution, namely GP building, schools, anganwadi centres, health and wellness centres.

The Jal Jeevan Mission mobile app has been developed for ease of work for all the stakeholders. Sensor-based loT solution will be used for monitoring to ensure supply of water in sufficient quantity on a real-time basis across villages on regular basis.

According to data, there are about 19 crore 4 lakh rural households in the country. When the Prime Minister announced the launch of thsi mission, about 15 crore 80 lakh or 81 per cent of these households did not have drinking water facility. This was also the case in about 50 per cent of the households in urban areas.

The condition of other sources of water, including the groundwater level, was also becoming alarming in many areas. Women in the country had to spend four hours every day collecting water for the house. That is, 120 hours a month and 60 days a year were spent only on water collection. They have to travel two to five miles every day.

But the central government’s JJM has now proved to be a boon for rural women. Its coverage has now crossed 42 per cent in about two and a half years.

JJM has been transforming the face of Jammu and Kashmir for the last couple of years. Through an integrated service delivery approach, the mission focused on sustainable practices with community-led and community-managed schemes, and source sustainability weaved into the water supply schemes.

Pilot’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi in Delhi creates buzz

National

Indo Asian News Service

09/04/2022

Pilot’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi in Delhi creates buzz

New Delhi: Congress leader Sachin Pilot met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Friday triggering a political buzz. Sources say that Pilot apprised Gandhi of the situation in the state after the Karauli incident in Rajasthan and discussed other political issues with the former party president.

Pilot, who is eyeing a comeback in the state politics since he revolted against the Ashok Gehlot government, is likely to be entrusted an organisational role very soon.

The BJP has been on attacking mode since the clashes broke out between two groups in Karauli. The state government has claimed that it has taken strict action but the Opposition is continuing with its attacking stance.

The BJP on Friday said that it seems like “there is Taliban rule in the state”.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia said that due to the “appeasement politics of the Gehlot government it looks like there is Taliban rule in Rajasthan”.

“The appeasement policy of the Chief Minister clearly indicates that he himself has created a divide in the name of majority and minority. If you look at the track record of the last three years, you will find that the Rajasthan’s majority community are hesitant to celebrate their festivals, they are afraid,” Poonia added.

Pandya praises Gill’s role in victory over PBKS

Sports

Indo Asian News Service

09/04/2022

Pandya praises Gill’s role in victory over PBKS

Mumbai: Rahul Tewatia sealed a memorable victory for Gujarat Titans by hitting two sixes off the final two deliveries of the match against Punjab Kings in the IPL 2022 on Friday.

But skipper Hardik Pandya said opener Shubman Gill’s knock of 96 from 59 deliveries and his 100-run partnership with Sai Sudharsan (35) was crucial in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

“The kind of ups and downs happen, I think I have now become used to. It was Kings’ game; some sympathy for them losing this. Gill has been telling everybody that he is there. A lot of credit goes to Sai as well,” Pandya said during the post-match presentation.

Asked how he has been coping batting and bowling after a long time, Pandya said, “Body is coping all right; I am getting tired obviously. As the games come, I’ll be getting better.”

Gill, on his part, said it was important for him to bat till the end to ensure victory. He said the key to such a chase is to keep the scoreboard ticking.

“It’s important to keep the scoreboard ticking. The outfield is really rapid…It’s just about execution,” he said.

“It’s just one of those days when I was hitting the ball well. Trust me, I am hitting it very hard from my own power! It might not feel like that, but I am doing my level best. (For) Me as an opener is important to bat through the innings,” said Gill, who was adjudged the man of the match for his brilliant knock.

2022 to be the year of academic excellence: Kansal

City

Precious Kashmir

09/04/2022

2022 to be the year of academic excellence: Kansal

NEP to be implemented, NAAC accreditation to be ensured

SRINAGAR: The Higher education department should strive to make the current year the year of academic excellence. This was exhorted by the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Rohit Kansal. He was chairing a review meeting with principals of Degree Colleges of Kashmir division at Government College for Women, M A road, Srinagar.

Special Secretary Higher Education Department, Rakesh Badyal, Director Colleges, Professor Yasmeen Ashai, Nodal Principal, Kashmir division colleges, Dr. Khurshid Ahmad Khan and Principals of all degree colleges of Kashmir Division attended the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Secretary shared his vision of giving a fillip to higher education sector of J&K. He listed out the priority areas including academics, research, innovation and collaboration to improve quality of education in colleges.

Referring to relevance and importance of New Education Policy 2020, Principal Secretary instructed the principals to ensure its implementation in letter and spirit. He added that in the spirit of the NEP, the colleges should strive towards quality and employability. He also informed that while admissions for the current session would be shortly initiated by the universities and colleges, the academic calendar throughout J&K would be made uniform and synchronized with the national calendar.

Principal Secretary stressed on enhancing the employability of college pass outs in line with NEP-2020. He said colleges have to act as real agents of change and the success of NEP 2020 depends on how well they implement it at the ground level.

He said, as envisaged by NEP, the curriculum must include basic arts, humanities, languages, literature, culture and values in addition to science and mathematics to develop all aspects and capabilities of learners.

Principal Secretary said the main thrust of NEP is to end fragmentation of higher education by transforming higher education institutions into large multidisciplinary universities, colleges, and knowledge hubs.

He exhorted upon the college authorities to give equal emphasis on teaching and research. He said research ecosystem can be improved and enhanced through a holistic and multidisciplinary education approach. He added that the colleges need to enable and encourage high-quality multidisciplinary/cross-disciplinary research.

He referred to decision of the UT administration of ensuring that all higher education institutions move progressively towards greater autonomy. He said all the degree colleges would apply for accreditation or provisional registration (PAC) under the NAAC framework this year.

Principal Secretary said research and teaching collaborations and faculty and student exchanges with reputed foreign institutions will be facilitated through mutually beneficial and relevant MOUs.

He said student feedback shall be solicited online to ensure valuable input at regular intervals to ensure efficiency in working of the colleges.

He emphasized the need for revitalization of the career counselling cells of the colleges and directed that each college should ensure workshops and lectures by professionals to guide the students in the placement process. He also advised the colleges to encourage and guide the students to access higher learning and research opportunities not just in the rest of the country but reputed institutions overseas too.

Earlier, Principal, GCW M A Road, Professor Nasreen Aman, briefed the Principal Secretary about the rich legacy of the college besides ongoing research and skill enhancement projects.

Professor Nasreen presented a memento as a token of affection to Principal Secretary on his first visit to the college.

On the occasion, Principal Secretary also released latest edition of the college magazine ‘The Pamposh’.

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