Jammu: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Mahanpur belt of Kathua district during his two day visit to Jammu and Kashmir which starts on Friday evening.

Shah is arriving here to participate in the 83rd Raising Day ceremony of CRPF to be held here on Saturday at Maulana Azad Stadium.

Shah after attending the ceremony will hold a security review meeting and will also be briefed on developmental works underway across the Union Territory.

As per official sources, Shah will visit Mahanpur in Kathua district to review upcoming high security jail.

In order to prevent shifting of hardcore militants, hardliners and anti-national elements to the jails outside the state, the first ever high security prison is coming up in Kathua district.

Around 150 kanals of land has also been identified and transferred to the prison department, sources said.

They said that it will be the first high security jail in Jammu and Kashmir for imprisoning militants and separatists.

There are 14 jails in Jammu and Kashmir including Kot Bhalwal Central Jail, Hiranagar Jail in Kathua and Srinagar Central Jail.

“State-of-the-art jammers will be installed in the Mahanpur high security jail and there will be a transparent wall between the visitors and the prisoners lodged while special chambers will also be set up to communicate with relatives,” he said. (UNI)

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Friday extended his greetings to the people of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of Shab-e-Baraat.

In his message, the Lt Governor said that observance of the auspicious occasion endorses the spirit of forgiveness, benevolence, hope and good deeds.

“May the auspicious occasion further strengthen the foundation of syncretic culture and promote progress, peace and prosperity in J&K and well-being of all”, prayed the Lt Governor.

Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh has greeted the people of J&K, all ranks of JKP, security forces, their families and families of martyrs on the auspicious occasion of Shab-i-Barat.

In his message, the DGP J&K has expressed hope that on the auspicious occasion harmony and brotherhood among all the communities of J&K will further strengthen and be a harbinger of peace, progress and prosperity.

He has prayed for the joy, happiness, health and progress of all the people including forces on the auspicious occasion.

New Delhi: With an aim to prevent arms transportation in the Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is set to import vehicle scanning machines from the US, officials said.

The Multi-Mode Passive Detection System (MMPDS) is an advanced version of the scanning system which is not based on X-Ray and it can monitor all vehicles entering in the union territory.

The MMPDS is a safe, effective and reliable automated scanning system that quickly detects, locates and identifies explosives, weapons, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, humans, other contraband, as well as unshielded to heavily shielded radiological and nuclear threats.

The officials also said that this is a Muons-based static scanner technology for ‘Full Body Scanning of vehicles’ for concealed (or otherwise) contraband goods, all types of firearms (including un-assembled ones), ammunition, explosives, components used in fabrication of improvised explosive devices, gun silencers, various telescopic sights, night vision devices, radio equipments, fake currency, precious metals etc.

“At present after correspondence, presentations, and technical discussions with M/S SSBI Ltd and OEM, the dates for demonstration of MMPDS system at OEM’s R&D facility and Onsite installation at the US has been sought and awaited from the firm,” CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh said.

He also said that many other manufactures of vehicle scanning systems made presentations to the Force’s officials but they did not meet the requirements.

“Once the initial presentation is made before us, a team of CRPF officials will visit the manufacturer in the US to evaluate the actual performance of the system.”

Muons-based technology can help detect dangerous nuclear material and see into damaged nuclear power plants.

Scientists use muons for archeological purposes to peer inside large, dense objects such as the Pyramids in Egypt. (IANS)

New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has re-constituted the board and nominated eight members for three years.

The new members are Mahamandleshwar Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj of Mumbai; Neelam Sareen of Jammu; former IPS Ashok Bhan; former IAS Baleshwar Rai; K.K. Sharma of AIMIL Pharmaceuticals Ltd; former judge Suresh Kumar Sharma; Raghu K. Mehta of Jammu; and Kul Bushan Ahuja of New Delhi.

“We will initiate steps to make Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage more hassle-free and to ensure satisfaction of the devotees over the board arrangements,” Sharma said.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was set up in August 1986 under the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act of 1988, which came into force on August 30, 1986.

The board was created in 1986 and the model has been emulated for the management of shrines and temples across India.

One of the holiest Hindu temples, Vaishno Devi, is located at Katra town in Jammu district.

The temple is situated at an altitude of 5,200 feet, about 12 km from Katra.

The pilgrim footfall at the shrine was over 55.77 lakh in 2021, compared to 17 lakh the previous year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (IANS)

Srinagar: The Central Reserve police Force (CRPF) personnel celebrated Holi festival Friday in Srinagar.

Officials said that CRPF men were seen smearing colours on each other and dancing with drums and dholkas.

Commandment 117 Battalion CRPF Manoj Kumar said: “Holi festival is one of the biggest festival celebrated in India. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christians whether they are from poor family or rich background all should come under one platform and hug each other without having any grudges , this is what we learn from the festival of Holi.”

Mayoor Kumar, a CRPF man said: “This is festival of colours and we should celebrate it with brotherhood between Hindu, Muslims and keep this brotherhood forever. (KNO)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday claimed to have busted a militant module by arresting six militant associates of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in Pulwama.

A police spokesman said that Police in Pulwama have busted a militant module of LeT and arrested six militant associates.

The arrested persons have been identified as Rouf Ahmad Lone, @Amjid son of Abdul Majeed Lone of Lelhar Kakapora, Aqib Maqbool Bhat, son of Muhammad Maqbool Bhat of Alochibagh Pampore, Javaid Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar of Larve Kakapora, Arshid Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Rashid Mir of Parigam Pulwama, Rameez Raja son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat of Parigam Pulwama and Sajad Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Dar of Larve Kakapora.

During preliminary investigation, it was revealed that these arrested militant associates were involved in providing logistics, shelter, managing and transferring militant finance and motivating youth to act as hybrid militants, police said.

“The investigating team also learnt that they were working for militant commander Reyaz Ahmad Dar @ Khalid @ Sheeraz of LeT, resident of Sethergund Kakapora Pulwama and were in constant touch with him besides, on his directions were instrumental in perpetuating militancy in the district.”

Accordingly, police said that a case under FIR number 19/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Kakapora and investigation has been initiated.