By: Waris Shah

Anantnag: IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Thursday claimed that the Jash-e-Mohammad militants group involved in attack on a police bus at Zewan Khrew area in city outskirts on Srinagar-Jammu highway fortnight ago has been neutralized in overnight encounters in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Three policemen were killed and 11 others injured when militants carried out the attack on a bus of armed police with 25 personnel on board it on the evening of December 13.

“On December 13, there was attack on our police bus and I had shared with you then that jash-e-Mohammad carried out the attack. Entire security forces establishment would be happy to know that this was the group which carried out the attack in which three of our policemen were killed,” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar told reporters here.

“Mufti Altaf and Pakistani militant Sultan alias Rayees alias Mavia, who was active in south Kashmir since 2017, along with another militant Suhail Rather were involved in the attack at Zewan Srinagar, in which 03 policemen were killed and 11 police personnel were injured.”

“We had pledged to neutralize this group before the end of this year,” he told reporters while being flanked by top army and police officers.

“As far as December month is concerned, 28 militants have been killed and include 5 Pakistani militants. Two M4 carbine and 15 Ak-47 rifles besides other war like store have been recovered,” he said, adding, “This proofs Pakistan wants to continue violence. Security forces have inflicted heavy damage to Jash (JeM) this year and outfit’s no 1 and no 2 Lambu and Gazi Yasir have been killed. JeM is still ready to carry attack and we are alert and we will give a befitting reply as security grid is completely ready.”

SSP Anantnag Ashish Mishra told reporters that based on specific information, police, army and CRPF launched search-and-cordon operation in Dooru Annatnag and contact with the militants was established who were hiding in a cowshed in one of the houses. “Due caution was exercised and operation was over this morning. One Of the militants was identified as recycled militant Nisar Ahmad Khanday and other as Mufti Altaf by the name of Peer Altaf Hussain who got active last year,” he said, adding, “Third militant was Pakistani. One M4 rifle along with its 7 magazines have been recovered along with 2 Ak rifles and as many magazines besides a pistol and three grenades.”

GoC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen D P Pandey said that 11 militants were killed in last five days in separate encounters in the Valley. “In fact six of them from JeM were killed since last night alone,” he said, adding, “We have lost brave soldier Sepoy Jasbir Singh. The operations were carried in heavy-built areas. Two soldiers and policemen suffered bullet injuries and as of now they are stable.” (GNS)

Srinagar: Weatherman on Thursday forecast widespread snow and rain spell of “moderate intensity” from January 4 to 6 in J&K and Ladakh.

“As of now, widespread snow/rain spell of moderate intensity is most likely during 4-6th January in both J&k and Ladakh,” an official of the meteorological department said. He said further fall in minimum temperature is expected till January 2.

Barring Gulmarg, the temperature across Kashmir Valley dropped today with Srinagar recording a low of minus 4.0°C.

The official said that the minimum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded a drop of 1.7°C than the previous night and was below minus 1.9°C below normal for this time of the year.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

The mercury settled at the world famous resort of Gulmarg at minus 9.6°C against minus 10.4°C on the previous night.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of minus 4.2°C against 0.6°C on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 8.9°C against minus 6.6°C on previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.6°C against minus 0.4°C on previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 4.4°C against minus 3.2°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a rise temperature by 9 notches from the precious night, recording a low of 5.9°C which is minus 1.5°C below normal for the place during this time of the year, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 16.0°C against last night’s minus 14.7°C while automatic Kargil station recorded a minimum of minus 14.2°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 21.9°C, the official said. (GNS)

By: Sayed Zahid

Jammu: Two persons, one of them a 12-year-old girl and another 21-year-old youth, were killed and 11 persons were injured when bus they were travelling in turned turtle in Rajouri district on Thursday.

Official sources said that bus (JKO2AE-3393) on way from Rajouri to Gambir Mughala met with the accident near Kakora mode, resulting in the on spot death of two persons and injuries to several others. The injured were removed in at least five ambulances rushed to the spot by authorities soon after getting information.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajouri Mohammad Aslam said that death of two persons and injuries to 11 persons.

Officials said the deceased as 12-yr-old girl Ruksana Kouser daughter of Mohammad Ishaq, a resident of Chowkian Palma village of Rajouri who got stuck under the bus and died on the spot. They said 21-year-old Mohammad Sheraz, son of Mohammad Din of Galhuti village of Manjakote succumbed to his injuries.

The injured have been identified as Mohammad Din, 75, of Gambhir Mughlan, Mohin Khan, 18, of Gambhir Mughlan, Hamide Begum, 55, of Gambhir Mughlan, Mohammad Din, 60, of Ghaluti Manjakote, Amir Ahmed, 18, of Ghaluti Manjakote, Aftab Ahmed, 30, of Gambhir Mughlan, Nazira Begum, 50, of Gambhir Mughlan, Shabina Akhter, 25, of Gahluti Manjakote, Danish, 28, of Chandimarh Poonch, Mohammad Ayoub, 35, of Gahluti Manjakote and Shahid Ahmed, 17, of Ghaluti Manjakote. Police said that a case has been registered and further investigations taken up.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s newly-created State Investigating Agency (SIA) produced a charge sheet against Salvation Movement chairman Zafar Akbar Bhat and seven others for allegedly procuring medical seats in Pakistan for Kashmiri students in lieu of money, which was “partly used to support and fund terrorism and separatism in different ways”.

The charge sheet was produced before the Court of Special Judge designated Court at Srinagar under the NIA Act.

Besides Srinagar-resident Bhat, the charge sheet was produced against Fatima Shah, hailing from Palhalan Baramulla in present Srinagar, Altaf Ahmad Bhat from present Pakistan, Qazi Yasir Reshi from Anantnag, Mohammad Abdullah Shah of Kupwara, Sabzar Ahmad Sheikh from Anantnag, Manzoor Ahmad Shah of Kupwara in present Pakistan and Mohammad Iqbal Mir of Anantnag.

Bhat, Fatima, Abdullah, Sabzar and Iqbal have been arrested for being part of the supply chain at one stage or the other, while the investigation with regard to other aspects/suspects (Co Conspirators) is in progress and the facts will be presented before the Court through a supplementary charge sheet, a statement by Police said here.

The three other accused are absconding and evading their arrest. A challan was produced against them under Section 299 CrPC to declare them absconders.

The case was registered in July, 2020 by the Police Station Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) on receipt of information through sources that several unscrupulous persons, including some Hurriyat leaders, were hands-in-glove with some educational consultancies and allegedly selling Pakistan-based MBBS seats and seats in other professional courses in various colleges and Universities.

The information on the basis of which criminal investigations were started into the matter, also suggested that the money collected from the parents of the aspiring or potential students was used, at least partly, to support and fund terrorism and separatism in different ways, the statement said.

“During investigation, oral, documentary and technical evidences were collected and on the analysis of collected evidences, it surfaced that MBBS and other professional degree-related seats were preferentially given to those students, who were close family members or relatives of killed militants. Evidence also came on record to show that money had been variously put into channels that ended up in supporting programmes and projects pertaining to militancy and separatism,” it added.

The statement cited an example, where money collected in disguise of providing medical and other technical courses in various institutions of Pakistan were used to fuel the unrest post elimination of militants, including Burhan Wani in 2016 and every effort was made to disturb the peace and tranquility post abrogation of Articles 35A and 370 of the Indian Constitution.

“The examination of witnesses corroborated by other circumstantial evidence indicated that many families approached Hurriyat leaders to avail the programme of Hurriyat on the behest of ISI that aimed at incentivising militancy by compensating the family of slain militants by way of providing free of cost MBBS and engineering seats as monetary consideration,” it added.

“By incentivising the next of kin of killed militants for militancy and related activities of their killed militant relatives, Pakistan is trying to keep the pot boiling and tends to radicalise the impressionable minds in the veil of technical education,” the statement said.

“As per investigation, on an average, the cost of a seat ranged between Rs 10 to 12 lakh and depending upon the political heft of a Hurriyat leader who intervened, concessions were extended to the aspiring student and his family. On the basis of available evidence, a conservative estimate indicated that the money involved could be around Rs four crore per annum, on the basis of the fact that allocation of seats for distribution by individual Hurriyat leaders was for around 40 seats for MBBS programme every year,” it added.

“The historical bonhomie between Hurriyat leaders and their masters in Pakistan has again been exposed through the investigations and has exposed their nefarious designs once more of being hands-in-glove with the militants based in Kashmir valley and Pakistan and the undercurrents of their close knit relationship is only to destabilise the UT of J&K and Union of India,” it added. (UNI)

Srinagar: A sarpanch was among three people booked under the stringent Public Safety Act for allegedly peddling narcotics in the frontier Kupwara district, officials said on Thursday.

The three have been identified by police as Sarpanch Darpora Lolab, Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Bilal Ahmad Ganie of Batpora Hayhama, Tariq Ahmad Bhat of Lalpora Kolav Kupwara.

A warrant under PSA against the trio was issued by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir after the dossier were submitted by Jammu and Kashmir police from Kupwara district, a police statement said.

“The trio were involved in narcotics peddling in rampant ways and were continuously indulging in this while also trying to lure local youth towards it and also had let loose a reign of terror and fear in the area with their narcotics syndicate,” it added.

The PSA allows detention without trial for a year.

Senior Superintendent of Police Kupwara, Yougal Manhas said that action over narcotic peddling is one of the top priority of Jammu and Kashmir police for which necessary action as well as preventive measures are being taken.

“Action against these three persons and their detention under PSA is a step forward to tighten the noose against the narcotic peddlers of the district,” he said.

He further appealed to the people of the area to share information of those indulging in this kind of crime so that necessary legal action could be taken against them. (UNI)

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met her counterparts from all states and Union Territories as part of the pre-Budget consultations.

Many of the participants gave suggestions for inclusion in the upcoming FY23 Budget, to be tabled in the Parliament on February 1, 2022.

“Most of the participants thanked the Union Finance Minister for financially supporting their states or Union Territories during the worst months of pandemic, by enhancing borrowing limits, providing back to back loans to states, and through Special assistance for capital expenditure,” a Ministry of Finance statement said.

“The participants also gave numerous suggestions to the Union Finance Minister for inclusion in the budget speech.”

Earlier in December, Sitharaman had chaired several pre-Budget meetings with several industry bodies and stakeholders.

The consultation with state Finance Ministers come a day ahead of the 46th GST Council meeting, which is to be held on Friday here from 11 a.m. (IANS)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 23 developmental projects worth Rs 17,500 crores in Uttarakhand, saying earlier regimes had always opposed development.

“It has been a trademark of those who were in the government earlier to delay development projects,” the Prime Minister said.

He said the Lakhwar Project which was started on Thursday was first conceived in 1976. “Our government has now laid the foundation stone for its work. This delay is nothing short of a crime.”

Modi said that “deprivation and hassles of the past are now being converted into facilities”.

Addressing a gathering in Haldwani, the Prime Minister said the ongoing decade belongs to Uttarakhand, which will see elections next year.

Modi slammed the Congress for delaying key infrastructural projects in Uttarakhand and for keeping the state deprived of development.

The Lakhwar project will enable irrigation of about 34,000 hectares of additional land, produce 300 MW hydro power and supply drinking water to Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

“People heading the governments earlier … These people looted Uttarakhand with both hands. Those who love Uttarakhand cannot think of doing so,” Modi said.

He said his “energies were involved in correcting the wrongs committed earlier. Now it is the work of the people of Uttarakhand to correct the opposition”.

The Haldwani visit is the fourth visit by Modi in past three months.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Rishikesh satellite centre at Udham Singh Nagar and the Jagjivan Ram Government Medical College at Pithoragarh. (UNI)

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday carried out a raid at the house of a ‘chronic stone pelter’ in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

Police sources said the sleuths of NIA accompanied by contingents of J&K Police raided the house of Arsalan Feroz, a resident of Zaldagar Maharaj Ganj in Srinagar’s old city area.

Police registers describe Arsalan Feroz as a ‘chronic stone pelter’

Arsalan, a mechanic by profession was arrested by the police on October 23, this year and was later handed over to the special operations group (SOG) Srinagar on October 27 for questioning. He was released on November 29.

The NIA arrested Feroz and took him to the agency’s headquarters in Srinagar for further questioning. (IANS)

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) has recently commissioned the first Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) in the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO), Lassipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama which has given relief to locals as well the industrialists working in the area.

The first GIS of Jammu and Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited (JKPTCL) in J-K has a capacity of 160 MVA and has been constructed at a cost of around 88 crores.

Gulzar Ahmad, in charge of the GIS in Lassipora said that “this is the latest generation of the grid stations and this kind of system needs less land as compared to the old type grid stations besides that it is just like a plug and play and is less susceptible to faults.”

He added that GIS has a load of just around 70 MVA which means more than half of its capacity remains unutilized and it has helped us in decreasing power curtailment hours in most parts of Pulwama, Shopian and a few parts of Kulgam district.

Ahmad added that GIS has several advantages as it has had zero maintenance for five years and it has made Pulwama and Shopian power sufficient for around the next two decades.

“A gas-insulated substation (GIS) uses a superior dielectric gas, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), at a moderate pressure for phase to phase and phase to ground insulation and a huge stock of this gas remains available with the department,” he added.

He said that the department is working to connect more and more areas on the GIS so that more and more people can get relief.

Ahmad added: “There might be some areas that won’t have witnessed any major change which is because of the overloaded receiving stations and the capacity of these receiving stations is being enhanced.”

He further said that such kinds of stations will be commissioned at three more places which include Khanyar, Tengpora and Batpora Harwan.

Meanwhile, locals as well as the industrialists working in the area have thanked the government for such facilities and said that unscheduled power cuts to a great extent have decreased in the area. (KNO)