Jammu: IAS officers Wives Association, (IASOWA), J&K, Tuesday celebrated International Women’s Day’s Day 2022 cum Holi Milan.

The function was organised by IASOWA under supervision of President IASOWA, Dr. Amita Mehta, an environmentalist, wife of Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta.

Manu Bhatnagar, wife of Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, RR Bhatnagar, members of IASOWA were also present on the occasion.

On the occasion, Dr Amita Mehta felicitated two IAS lady officers Mandeep Kaur (2004 IAS) and Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar (2013 IAS) and said that these two officers have inspired hundreds of other women to achieve their dreams like they did. She said that these lady officers discharge their duties with sheer professionalism and have balanced their professional and domestic life beautifully.

Speaking about the event, Dr Amita Mehta highlighted the importance of celebrating International Women’s Day and observed that women are playing vital role in society whether she is doctor, engineer, painter, politicians or homemakers. “They are all doing well in every field. Today we have come together to celebrate achievements of women and we are all achievers in our own field,” she remarked.

While extending her felicitations to women on the occasion, she said that she salute all women and called upon women to come together and become vocal for IWD 2022 campaign # Break The Bias, and UN given theme ” Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.

She also recited her own written poem ” Dharti ka Dil ” for the protection of environment. She impressed upon the attendees and other women to collectively promote gender equality, raise awareness against bias and celebrate women achievements.

Speaking about IASOWA, Dr. Amita Mehta informed that the motto of the organization is to empower women, children and to protect environment ‘therefore we all have come to celebrate IWD 2022 to recall the achievement of great women personalities.’

Dr. Manu Bhatnagar among others also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of the event meant to celebrate womanhood and her contributions towards society.

Srinagar: Police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested two youth involved in throwing grenade at Amira Kadal area of Srinagar on Sunday, which left two persons including an elderly man and a girl dead.

Addressing a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Rakesh Bhalwal said that on May 06, information was received about a grenade attack that took place near Amira Kadal bridge at about 4:20 PM.

“On receipt of this information, a case under FIR number 18/2022 under section 307 of IPC , sections 7/27 of Indian arms act, sections 16, 23 of Unlawful activities Prevention Act was registered at Shaheed Gunj Police Station. It came to fore that the hand grenade was thrown towards a security forces vehicle and this blast caused injuries to a total of 38 persons including 36 civilians and 2 police personnel namely Reyaz Ahmed and Jan Muhamamd.  Later, two of the injured among the civilians succumbed.”

The SIT employed modern means of investigation and based on the technical evidence like frame by frame analysis of the CCTV footages of scene of crime, footages of CCTVs of the whole City, tower dump analysis, IP dump analysis, some eye witnesses accounts and crime scene recreation, SSP said.

Based on these, the SIT was able to identify two accused who used a two-wheeler without number–plate to commit this militant act and fled on the same vehicle after committing the act.

“During the intense analysis of the CCTV trail in Srinagar city, the route adopted by both accused was located back to a neighbourhood in Khanyar area. The first accused namely Muhammad Bariq was arrested from Khanyar, Srinagar. His initial examination led to arrest to second accused namely Fazil Nabi. Both are residents of Koolipora, Khanyar Srinagar.”

The two-wheeler used in this grenade attack was also seized by SIT. It further came to the fore that these two accused had committed the militant act on the directions of active militants in Kashmir.

Police said that the plan was to attack the parked security vehicle but due to grenade lobbing from a moving two-wheeler, the target was missed and the grenade exploded in an adjacent crowded area where many roadside vendors and buyers were busy in routine work.

Further, it was also found that this particular area was chosen due to being abuzz with people and traffic.

There have been two other recent grenade attacks in this area on 10th Aug 2021 and on 25th January 2022.

Further investigation is underway and is in full swing in this case, police said, adding that this act of grenade throwing had created panic and anguish among the masses in the whole of Srinagar city.

Meanwhile, Srinagar Police urged all commercial establishments, shops to install CCTV cameras inside and outside of their shops, commercial establishments as per the advisory issued by DC Srinagar. “This will act as a strong deterrence to all the anti-social elements.”

SP South Lakshay Sharma, who headed the SIT on the directions of SSP Srinagar readout police statement for the reporters during the press conference.

Srinagar: Lieutenant General D.P. Pandey, General officer commanding (GoC) of Army’s Srinagar headquarters 15 corps said on Tuesday that youths are being lured to hurl grenades at busy places as militants have failed to carry out big strikes against the security forces.

The GOC said that the women of Kashmir have started coming on the forefront who otherwise were pushed to the wall in the past and this development will help prevent boys from treading the wrong path.

He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function organised on the eve of International Women’s Day.

He said since militants are not able to carry out big strikes against the security forces now, young men are being lured to lob grenades at busy public places as seen the other day in the city where an elderly man and a young girl lost their lives.

“We believe society has a great role to play in preventing such incidents. Women were pushed to the wall and kept confined to four walls of the house. Now that they are out, we are sure they will help prevent young boys from choosing the wrong path,” he said.

About the situation on the Line of Control (LoC), Lt. General Pandey said since past one year there is peace along the LoC as children are going to school and the people are carrying out agricultural activities without fear. (IANS)

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh on Tuesday said that women police officers of all ranks had played a key role in combating militancy across the Union Territory.

“In early 90s when the Special Operation Group (SOG) was formed with male and female officers and the cops jointly fought against militancy leading to the situation witnessing a drastic change,” Singh told reporters at the sidelines of a function organised to celebrate International Women’s Day here.

“Though ups and downs were there, but in the present scenario, our women cops, battalions, officers have been playing a major role in the department besides in fighting against militancy,” said the Police Chief, adding that whether it is intelligence wing, traffic department, crime wing or executive wings, the women officers have always been engaged in all the departments of the J&K Police Department, every time making us proud.

“In future, women will be provided more opportunities and we will be engaging them for more exposure in different wings of the department,” said Singh. He also ensured that more women recruitments are on the cards with the constitution of the border and other women battalions.

On the recent grenade blast in Srinagar in which two persons including a teenager were killed, the police chief stated that the police have rounded up a few suspects and had also found a major lead, which will be helpful in cracking the case and catching the mastermind.

On the recent recovery along the international border in Arnia sector of Jammu airdropped by the drone, he said, “We are happy that the ADGP Jammu Zone and his team are regularly monitoring the situation and in the last year 85 militant modules were busted and this year, so far, around six such modules have been busted in Jammu, Kishtwar, Awantipora, Baramulla and other parts of the UT.” (UNI)

Pulwama: Police in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district Tuesday said that it busted a militant module of banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Police soldiers from 55 Rashtriya Rifles and 182 Battalion CRPF in a joint operation arrested three militant associates identified as Amir Nazir Hazar, a resident of Wagam, Suhail Ahmad Bhat and Nasir Hussain Ganie both residents of Chinar Bagh Pulwama.

Police said that trio was acting as associates of militant Arif Hazar alias Rehan.

It said that a granade and 13 rounds of aAK- 47 rifle & other incriminating material were recovered from their possession.

“In this regard, an FIR vide number 47/2022 under the relevant section of law has been registered in Police Station Pulwama.” (KNT)

Militant aide held in Rafiabad: Police

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested a militant associate and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession in Nadihal area of Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

In a statement, a police spokesman said that on the basis of specific information regarding the movement of ANEs yesterday, Sopore police along with 32 RR and 92 BN CRPF launched a joint CASO in Nadihal area of sub division Rafiabad.

“During search operation, one militant associate was intercepted,” police said, adding that the apprehended person on preliminary questioning disclosed his identity as Firdous Ahmad Wani, son of Ghulam Muhammad of Check Seri Pattan and on his personal search, one AK 56 alongwith magazine and 30 live rounds were recovered.

“In this context, a case under FIR number 16/2022 under section 7/25 Indian Arms Act, 13, 18, 38 UA(P) Act stands registered in Police Station Panzalla and investigation has been taken up,” police said.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called upon women to encourage people to use local products saying ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign is “deeply connected with women empowerment.”

“Vocal for Local has become a big topic for the economy, but it has a very deep connection with women’s empowerment. The power of most local products lies in the hands of women. So in your addresses, in your awareness campaigns, you must encourage people to use local products,” he said. The PM was virtually addressing a Seminar on International Women’s Day in Kutch.

He said that when he talks about ‘vocal for local’, people feel buying Deepawali diyas is enough. The ambit of Vocal for Local goes well beyond buying diyas on Deepawali, he emphasized. The Prime Minister explained the steps taken by the government to empower women.

“There was a time when women did not own their own property, it was usually in the name of their husbands or sons. But today, because of the PM Awas Yojana, women have been given the rights to their own property,” he said. “There was a time when many women did not have a bank account but today more than 23 crore women have Jan Dhan accounts,” the PM added. He said that more than nine crore Ujjwala gas connections rescued women in the country from smoke.

“The government is also trying to increase the age of marriage of daughters to 21 years. This provision is for consideration before the Parliament,” he said. He said that the country is promoting bigger roles to daughters in the Army also and the admission of daughters in Sainik Schools has also begun. The Prime Minister said that the progress of women empowers the nation.

“The government is providing financial help to our sisters and daughters to progress and fulfill their dreams. More than 80 per cent of loans under ‘Standup India’ are in the name of women. Nearly 70 per cent of loans under Mudra scheme have been given to our sisters and daughters,” the PM said. The PM said that the government increased maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.

“We have enacted strict laws for the safety of women at work places. It also has the provision of capital punishment for heinous crimes like rape,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that the priority of the country is complete participation of women in India’s development journey. More than 550 Sadhvis from Gujarat were present in the meeting at Dhordo of Kutch district.

Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, MoS Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar etc. were also present on the occasion. (UNI)

Srinagar: To ensure strong health surveillance/ monitoring amongst students and staff at schools and colleges, the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K.Pole Tuesday directed the Covid Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) monitoring teams to start CAB surveillance in Educational Institutions across Kashmir.

The Covid Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) monitoring teams were framed on 05 March, 2022 on the directions of Div Com and comprises of various levels of officers from DCCRK viz. SSO Kashmir, Community Medicine Specialists besides Medical Officers from health department

As per an official statement issued by Divisional Covid-19 Control Room Kashmir (DCCRK) these monitoring teams have started carrying out comprehensive school/college visits across all the districts of Kashmir division.

These teams were directed by the Incharge DCCRK; Tahir Ahmad Magray to keep a strong Public health surveillance system mechanism in place so that a risk assessment of Covid-19 infection is done in these schools on routine basis till the disease enters an endemic stage of this current pandemic.

These teams shall be visiting public as well as private schools in their monitoring districts and will submit first hand reports from these educational institutions regarding the implementation of CAB and SOPs to the Divisional Administration.

The statement read that all the district administrators were also directed by the Divisional Administration to keep strong robust surveillance mechanisms intact in their districts so that these institutions function in a hassle free manner as they have been reopened after a gap of two years.

It was given out that the Divisional Administration has also directed  school authorities to follow CAB all the time within their schools so that the administration is able to continue its decision regarding reopening of schools in a very smooth way.

Meanwhile, any school showing derailment in following the set SOPs, CAB shall warrant strict action from the administration.

Srinagar: The government on Tuesday sanctioned Rs 40 lakh to next of kin of 17 families in militancy-related incidents in Srinagar, official said.

District Magistrate Srinagar,  Aijaz Asad on Tuesday chaired a meeting of District-Level Screening-cum- Coordination Committee (DLSCC)  during which, Rs 40 lakh were released in favour of 17 cases of victims of militancy-related incidents, officials said.

They said, 17 cases of victims of militancy-hit incidents came up for discussion and after threadbare deliberations, the Deputy Commissioner sanctioned an amount of Rs 40 lakh in favour of the Next of Kins (NoKs) of Militancy victims under Death, Missing, Injured, Damaged cases of District Srinagar.

DC said District Administration Srinagar shall ensure that there is no such case pending who requires immediate relief.

He also stressed on the concerned Officers to ensure speedy disposal of all cases for timely clearance of the cases.