Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday dedicated this month’s episode of the ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ programme to the martyrs of 1971 War. He said that the government is moving ahead to provide equal opportunities to all.

“I pay homage to the brave hearts of Armed Forces whose tales of valor etched the saga of December 16 as a glorious chapter in the rich legacy of our nation”, said the Lt Governor.

During the radio programme, the Lt Governor voiced valuable insights received from the various corners for drafting development policies as per the needs of the people and passed directions to the concerned departments in this regard, thus making the governance process more inclusive, participatory and people-centric.

Addressing the people, the Lt Governor also shared a slew of measures recently taken by the UT Government for the growth and prosperity of J&K. He called upon the people to discharge their social & moral responsibilities and complement government’s efforts in taking J&K to new heights of development.

Following the ideals of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, we are moving ahead to bring about meaningful and lasting change in the life of the people by connecting every citizen with the mainstream of development, observed the Lt Governor.

In the last two years, under the guidance of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, we have tried to create a system that serves everyone with equal opportunities, the Lt Governor said.

It is our endeavor to mobilize all the resources to improve the standard of living in the areas which have been deprived of progress for decades, he added.

With innovations like the Walnut Cracking Machine, Thresher for Maize Extraction and Gas Cylinder Lifting Machine under his belt, people like Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of Dooru Anantnag are emerging as shining examples of innate ingenuity, dedication and doggedness, said the Lt Governor,

The Lt Governor mentioned about the young innovator Harmanjot Singh of Jammu and the first female hockey coach of the valley, Reebu Hassan who defied odds and emerged victorious.

Tangmarg-based skier Arif Khan will represent the country in the Beijing Winter Olympics to be held in February. The whole nation is proud of him, the Lt Governor said.

Responding to the suggestion received from Bandipore’s Aadil Naseer pertaining to a detailed roadmap for the development of Gurez, the Lt Governor said that the administration is fully committed to the cause of Gurez and has taken some path-breaking decisions in the last one year to promote its geographic and demographic potential.

While mentioning a suggestion of Risheesh Khajuria of Jammu that discusses the need for the establishment of a Centralized Control Room in the capital municipalities, the Lt Governor observed that the administration has been instructed to work on replicating the Ahmedabad model of Integrated Command & Control Centre for our two capital cities.

Responding to the insight received from Chandra Bhushan, a resident of Udhampur, pertaining to maximising the use of tools of knowledge-technology era to bridge the gap between towns & villages and promoting the concept of Cillage, the Lt Governor said that the government has set the goal of empowering rural areas by making a science & technology-based and environment-friendly action plan for sustainable techno-economic development of the villages of J&K.

Referring to Amir Basher Wani’s letter on the state of horticulture graduates, the Lt Governor asserted that regardless of the legacy of the logjams that the present dispensation has inherited, “we are committed to the overall development of the sector and fast and transparent recruitment drives.”

On Mahreen Altaf’s suggestion on the need to introduce an e-office module in the field and district offices, the Lt Governor said that the valuable suggestion bodes well with the government’s commitment to the practices of good governance.

While responding to a suggestion, the Lt Governor highlighted various measures being undertaken by the government for improving the standard of living of common citizens in Jammu city. As many as 39 important projects have been completed under Smart City at a cost of Rs. 673 crore and work on 45 other projects are going on at a fast pace, he informed.

The Lt Governor extended his heartfelt tributes to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and all the officers and jawans who lost their lives in a tragic Chopper crash.

He also paid homage to the brave hearts of the Police Force who were martyred in the militant attack on J&K Police bus in Srinagar. I want to assure the fellow countrymen that the sacrifice of our brave police personnel will not go in vain, added the Lt Governor.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday said that a Lashker-e-Toiba militant was killed in an encounter in the outskirts of Srinagar on Sunday.

“Based on specific input generated by Srinagar Police regarding presence of a (militant) in Theed Harwan area of Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, CRPF and Army in the area,” a police spokesman said.

During the search operation, he said, as the presence of the trapped militant was ascertained, he was given ample opportunities to surrender. However, he denied the surrender opportunities and fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter, he said.

In the ensuing encounter, the militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Safiulla alias Abu Khalid alias Shawaz resident of Karachi Pakistan, he said.

“As per police records, Saifulla was a categorized militant linked with LeT. He had infiltrated in year 2016 via Bandipora Sector and later on sneaked into District Srinagar on the directions of Pak based Commanders of LeT outfit for intensifying (militant) related activities in District Pulwama/Srinagar/Ganderbal/Budgam. It is pertinent to mention that the killed terrorist Saifulla was working as Group Commander of proscribed terror outfit LeT in District Srinagar as he was operating earlier in District Srinagar and was familiar with the topography of District Srinagar/Pulwama and its outskirts.” He has also been involved in receiving new groups of foreign militants after infiltration, the spokesman said.

“As per police records, the killed (militant) had a history of cases and was wanted by law for his complicity in cases which include attacks on Police/SFs and civilian killings.”

He along with his associates was involved in attack on Army Convoy on NHW Bemina Bye-pass Srinagar near JVC Hospital Srinagar on 01/04/2017, resulting in injuries to 03 Army Jawans, the spokesman said. “He was also mastermind behind the attack carried out by his associates at Lawaypora Srinagar in which 02 SF personnel were killed and 01 AK-47 rifle was also snatched. He was involved in an attack on police party of PS Bandipora at Gulshan Chowk Bandipora in which 02 police personnel were killed. Besides, attacks on Police/SF he was also involved in civilian killings which include killing of BJP President Waseem Bari, his brother and father on 08 July 2020.”

“Moreover, he was also mastermind behind the revival of militant folds by luring the gullible youth and a number of fresh recruitment of local youth into militant ranks,” the spokesman said, adding, “ He was also instrumental in reactivation of hard core (militant) associates of LeT outfit in the areas of District Srinagar and District Pulwama/police district Awantipora.”

“IGP Kashmir congratulated the joint team for conducting successful operation without any collateral damage. He further said that with the elimination of Saifulla, 03 Pakistani militants have been killed so far in Srinagar City within almost a month who were involved in several cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian killings which clearly shows that Pakistan is hell-bent to disturb the peace in Kashmir valley especially in Srinagar City.”

Meanwhile, Police and 1 RR arrested a militant associate identified as Feroz Ahmad Zargar alias Kamraan of Gratbal Quimoh Kulgam and recovered one Chinese Pistol alongwith Magazine and other ammunition from his possession, the spokesman said.

“Police have registered cases under relevant sections of law regarding both the incidents and investigations have been initiated. However, people are requested to cooperate with Police till the area at encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.”

Srinagar: A police follower was shot at and injured by militants in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday evening.

A police officer said that the follower identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Wagay son of Ghulam Mohammad was fired upon by the militants near his native village—Bandzoo. The follower with bullet injuries in legs was shifted to District Hospital Pulwama where his condition is stated to be “stable”.

A police officer confirmed the attack on the police follower and said that a case has been registered.

“Police has registered a case in this regard under relevant sections of law,” a police spokesman said, “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the circumstances which lead to this incident. Area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on.” (Agencies)

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with the Army, have jointly busted espionage racket by arresting two persons, including an Army porter, in Rajouri District.

Police on Sunday said that two persons have been arrested for allegedly sharing secret information of vital security establishments.

“The arrested persons are from the same family and residents of Nowshera,” they said, adding that one of them is a porter with the Army.

The accused have been identified as Nazir Hussain, resident of Darhal, Nowshera and Mohd Mukhtar, resident of Lam, Nowshera.

Police said the joint team of the Army and police acted on specific inputs and intercepted them.

“It was found that they were in touch with some handlers sitting across the border and were sharing videos and other information of security establishments of the bordering belt area,” the police said.

The police, in a statement, said the accused had shot a video on their mobile inside the premises of Army area (erstwhile Tactical Headquarters of Rashtriya Rifles).

“We have registered a case and started investigation because more arrests in this regard cannot be ruled out,” police added. (UNI)