Srinagar: In its first major operation, the newly constituted State Intelligence Agency (SIA) carried out raids at 16 locations in different parts of Kashmir Valley as part of the investigation in the land grab by “Jamiat-us-sualihaat in Marhama area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Sources said that the officers of State Investigation Agency today conducted searches at 16 different locations in Anantnag and Pulwama districts of south Kashmir, and Bagh-e- Mehtab of Srinagar of Central Kashmir.

“The houses of the suspects / other locations were searched in compliance to the search warrant obtained from Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Designated under NIA, Act Srinagar,” officials disclosed.

They said that search of the main premises of the seminary was also undertaken.

According to officials, 16 special teams were constituted for conducting searches simultaneously at these locations.  “The searches started at the first light of the day and were completed only in the late afternoon,” they said, adding that incriminating material such as documents, records, electronic gadgets were seized in the presence of the executive magistrates and other independent witnesses.

According to officials, police station Counter Intelligence Kashmir, Srinagar has registered the case on receipt of information through reliable sources that the suspected persons have made illegal and fraudulent entries in the revenue records for transferring Kahcharie land to Jamiat-us-Saulihat Marhama illegally and fraudulently.

The officials claimed  that  searches were conducted under the authority of warrants issued by the court of law based on prima facie allegations that under a criminal conspiracy with the officials of the revenue department ,some Jamaat-e-islami members using the direct and indirect influence managed to deviously manipulate and forge revenue records where under a patch of common community  Kahchariae land measuring 35 Kanals under Survey No.4683- Min, situated at Marhama,Tehsil Bijbehara was illegally and fraudulently transferred to “Jamaiat-us-Saulihat” in Marhama with the dishonest intention of bestowing proprietary rights to the institution in complete violation of the law on the subject which expressly prohibits transfer ownership of any community land to a private entity.

They said investigation is also looking into the allegations that funds have been raised by the said institute by different ways for furtherance of militant activities. (KNO)

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Shopian: General officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps D P Pandey on Wednesday asked militants to drop weapons and return home to become pillars for their families and the country.

Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of Chilla-e-Kalan festival at Batapora Shopian, Pandey said that his message to the militants would be to return home and become responsible citizens of the country.

“Look towards your parents not towards the white collar militants who are asking children of other people to become militants but themselves are living a comfortable life with their families.  You must stay away from such things as you are pillars of your family and country,” Pandey said.

Pandey urged the parents of militants to play a part in bringing their children back from the path of violence and join the mainstream and said that the “police and army would facilitate smooth return of boys.”

He said that teenage youth is easily brainwashed and easily falls prey to the people “who only want if one will be killed, how the other will be activated.”

“If you (youth) have any issue, discuss them with parents if they aren’t able to provide any solution, knock our doors, we will always be available for your help,” Pandey said.

The GoC said that joining militant ranks and killing them “is a cycle” but “we all should make efforts to break this cycle as militancy will lead us to nowhere.”

He said that white collar militancy is a factory in J&K who are only after to lure more and more youth towards militancy.

“The life of a militant is just a few days to months and families must ask white collar militants about it so that we can save our generation from picking up guns,” Pandey said.

Pandey said the graph of local militant recruitment has gone down in J&K this year and in the coming time the graph will go further down.

In August this year, Pandey and IGP Kashmir in a first direct interaction with families of active militants urged them to bring their children back into the mainstream. (KNO)

Jammu: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh Wednesday visited the Armed Police Complex, Parhaspora in north Kashmir’s Barmaulla District where he interacted with Jawans and officers at a Darbar.

ADGP armed S.J.M. Gillani, IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, DIG North Kashmir, Udaybhaskar Billa, SSP Baramulla Rayees Mohammad Bhat, CO-IR 20th BN Bakar Samoon, CO IR 9th BN, Abdul Qayoom, CO IR 21st BN Shabir Nowab, CO IR 3rd Bn Hakeem Munshi and other senior officers posted in the complex were present on the occasion.

Addressing the Darbar, the DGP said that Armed police has emerged as a strong force after facing different challenges professionally, adding that this force has been working with utmost zeal and zest on varied assignments given to it.

Citing the various examples of working of armed police, the DGP said that this force has made name for itself. This is a force which inspired confidence, even in tough and challenging situations, he added. The officers and cops of this wing alongside Executive police have brought laurels by their gallant acts across UT while fighting terrorism for the last three decades.

Referring to the Zewan militant incident, the DGP said that the militants involved would be brought to justice. He said that war against militancy is an honours duty to our county and its people and the responsibility lies on our shoulders to fight it with utmost courage and valour.

He said that war against militancy would continue and every challenge would be faced with fortitude to protect the integrity and sovereignty of our county and ensure a peaceful environment for the people.

He said that Jammu and Kashmir Police is a brave force which has emerged victorious in different situations. “Fully aware that there is always an element of risk to our lives while doing our duties, we march ahead to protect our people,” the DGP said. He said that we have to work with commitment to ensure long lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

He paid rich tributes to the J&K police martyrs and said that Jammu and Kashmir Police would provide all possible help and assistance to the families of our fallen heroes. Two minutes of silence was also observed to pay homage to the police martyrs who sacrificed their lives in Zewan.

Earlier in his address, the ADGP Armed/IR S.J.M Gillani said that it is our responsibility to work against the militancy collectively to protect the interests of our country and people.

He said that our working environment demands that we must use protective gears. He stressed for remaining alert and vigilant during duties to avoid any unpleasant incident. He assured that Armed police would continue to work with full commitment for peace and stability of J&K.

Directs Revenue deptt to ensure ease of access to public

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta directed the Revenue Department to roll out trilingual land passbooks as a measure to fill the information vacuum and promote people’s ease of access to the revenue record.

The first-of-its-kind land passbook will be issued to the legal owners of land in Jammu and Kashmir in Urdu, English, and Hindi languages.

Under the Digital India Land Record Modernization Programme (DILRMP), the Revenue Department has scanned voluminous revenue records and placed them in the public domain under the ‘Apni Zameen Apni Nigrani’ for people’s scrutiny. Over three lakh and twenty-five thousand visitors have already visited the site in the last 6 weeks.

As a reform to further boost transparency in the public dealings of the Revenue Department, the Chief Secretary has directed the Department to evolve a mechanism of issuing revenue passbooks to the people, containing information on all their legal land possessions within one month for formal issuance by 26th January 2022. The process will be completed in the districts of Jammu and Srinagar by 31st March 2022 and in all other districts by 15th August 2022.

As a further measure to improve service delivery, all processes will be digitized, including applications made by the public which will enhance transparency and accountability.

New Delhi: Durga Puja in Kolkata was on Wednesday inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage (IH) list—a development that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said is a matter of great pride and joy for every Indian.

In a tweet, he said that “Durga Puja highlights the best of our traditions and ethos. And, Kolkata’s Durga Puja is an experience everyone must have.” “A matter of great pride and joy for every Indian!

Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In a statement, the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO said: “Durga Puja is an annual festival celebrated in September or October, most notably in Kolkata, in West Bengal of India, but also in other parts of India and amongst the Bengali diaspora.

It marks the ten-day worship of the Hindu mother-goddess Durga.

In the months preceding the festival, small artisanal workshops sculpt images of Durga and her family using unfired clay pulled from the Ganga River.

The worship of the goddess then begins on the inaugural day of Mahalaya, when eyes are painted onto the clay images to bring the goddess to life.

It ends on the tenth day, when the images are immersed in the river from where the clay came. Thus, the festival has also come to signify ‘home-coming’ or a seasonal return to one’s roots.

Durga Puja is seen as the best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and as a thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers.

The festival is characterized by large-scale installations and pavilions in urban areas, as well as by traditional Bengali drumming and veneration of the goddess.

During the event, the divides of class, religion and ethnicities collapse as crowds of spectators walk around to admire the installations. (UNI)

Chairperson WDC, former Minister, others call on Sinha

Jammu: Several delegations including Waqf Development Committee Chairperson; DDC member and former Minister called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan and apprised him of their concerning issues.

Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson, Waqf Development Committee (Union Ministry of Minority Affairs) met the Lt Governor and discussed about several measures to be taken for the revival of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and Cultural Units of various departments.

She also discussed the functioning of Mission Youth in J&K and suggested the measures to make it more vibrant and transparent in future.

The Lt Governor assured her that her concerns regarding the cultural sector would be considered and action will be taken accordingly.

Similarly, Sham Lal Choudhary, former Minister also called on Lt Governor and discussed the issues being faced by farmers of Village Gharana due to the development of Gharana Wetland and other issues related to public importance.

Er. Aijaz Hussain, DDC member submitted a memorandum to the Lt Governor apprising him of the issues pertaining to regularization of paramedical staff working in GMCs & associated hospitals in Srinagar/Jammu; regularization of Rehbar-e-Khel teachers besides concerning issues of Stone quarries of Zewan Bala & Zewan Payeen.

Meanwhile, M.S Katoch, President of Association of Recognized Colleges of Health Sciences (J&K) handed over a representation of unaided private Nursing and Paramedical Colleges regarding filling up of vacant posts.

Anil Sharma President All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) also handed over a memorandum to Lt Governor regarding their demands to make Panchayats financially empowered. He demanded Panchayat Development Fund and a separate Financial Commission for the development of Panchayats.

Later, Atul Sharma President J&K Brahmin Sabha demanded suitable land for the construction of Bhagwan Parshuram temple besides holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday and renaming of Jammu University after Paramveer Chakra Pt. Somnath Pandit.

The Lt Governor, while interacting with the members of delegations observed that the Government is working with an agenda of equitable and balanced development. He assured the delegations that all their suggestions would be considered on merit and forwarded to concerned departments for the redressal of the same.

Reviews functioning of Skill Development Department

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Wednesday chaired a meeting to review the functioning of Skill development Department.

Principal Secretary, Skill Development, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon; MD, NHM and other senior officers of the department attended the meeting.

Principal Secretary informed that around 21000 candidates have been skilled by the various ITIs/polytechnics during the year and that efforts are going on to integrate with industry to impart industry specific skills to enhance the employability of the trainees.

Stating that various vocational institutes in J&K are imparting quality training, Dr Samoon stated that students even from IIT, Jammu and NIIT, Srinagar have been/ are being skilled/trained by these technical institutes.

Dr Samoon informed that 2 centres of excellence at Kathua and Budgam have been established, which will help make the youth of the UT future ready for a range of jobs in the UT and beyond.

Giving details of the polytechnics operating in the UT, it was informed that out of 22 polytechnics in J&K, 18 polytechnics are operating out of their own buildings while the remaining polytechnics are housed in the rented buildings.

It was further informed that 32 ITIs have been upgraded through PPP and that they have performed well by all accounts in comparison to the other government run ITIs.

Dr Samoon asked for funds for completion of the ongoing construction of 4 polytechnics, besides seeking fast track recruitment of faculty members in these polytechnics.

It was informed that 720 posts of different categories are vacant in the newly established polytechnics

It was informed that under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0, against a target of 2500 allocated by MSDE, GoI, 1568 candidates have been given class room training and their on job training is presently underway.

It was further informed that National Health Mission has been empanelled as a training partner and its affiliated hospitals/AMT schools/Nursing colleges are the training centres for imparting training.

While stating that polytechnics in J&K have to work through convergent actions for better utilization of available resources, the Chief Secretary asked the department to initiate time table and course content convergence of various polytechnics to impart training through virtual means.

Dr Mehta asked the department to examine whether credits earned by the candidates in various polytechnics/ITIs in J&K are acknowledged by the institutes where these candidates may enrol for higher courses.

He asked the department to examine the UGC/AICTE guidelines in this regard and advised them that in case there is no provision for credit acknowledgement/consideration by the institutes teaching higher courses, the same should be examined for suitable action on the part of the government.

While stating that there are around 60000 SHGs in the UT, Dr Mehta asked the department to explore the possibility of skilling/upskilling the members of these SHGs in these institutes through customized courses/apprenticeship trainings for enhancing their entrepreneurial skills for improved incomes.

On the issue of shortage of faculty in the polytechnics in J&K, the Chief Secretary advised the department to do networking of all the polytechnics so that services of the faculty in all the institutes are available to the trainees in these institutes in a mutually convenient way.

He advised the department to look for synergy with the school education and higher education departments to ensure that the services of the teachers in schools, colleges and universities on need basis are suitably utilized in the polytechnics as well.

Dr Mehta advised the department to explore the possibility of synergising with the school education department so that the option of vocational/technical training is available to all the students from 6th class to intermediate level.

He announced that ITIs have a pivotal role to play in skilling the able and willing youth for earning their livelihood in future.

The Chief Secretary asked the department to periodically revise the course content of various training courses/trades in line with the rapidly evolving needs of the industry to ensure that the ITIs/polytechnics churn out the trainees which have takers in the industry/private sector.

Laying stress on ensuring employability, he asked the department to involve industry and businesses in the process of updation of course content and, if necessary, in revision/upgradation of the whole training paradigm so that the institutes do not lose their relevance going forward.

Dr Mehta said that one of the ways in which employability can be ensured is by making sure that the certificates are handed out only after the candidates pass a certain accredited final test, which establishes minimum acceptable proficiency in that course/trade.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to do an assessment of the job placements from these institutes in the industry/businesses over the last two years to consider whether the institutes are delivering on their mandate.

Dr Mehta considered the performance of the department under PMKVY and asked the department to strive towards becoming a top ranker in the country.

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported three fresh fatalities due to covid-19 while 147 persons tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday.

40 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 107 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 339271.

There were three deaths reported in J&K—two from the Valley and one from Jammu—due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4503 persons—2191 in Jammu and 2312 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.

Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials said that Srinagar reported 47 cases, Baramulla 15, Budgam 14, Pulwama 4, Kupwara 13, Anantnag 2, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 6, Kulgam 5, Shopian 1, Jammu 20, Udhampur 1, Rajouri 2, Doda 7, Kathua 2, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 4, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.

Moreover, 125 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time, 17 from Jammu Division and 108 from Kashmir, they said.

So far 333322 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 1446—347 in Jammu and 1099 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 50 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said.

They also informed that 48006 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

Srinagar: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan has congratulated the Real Kashmir Football Club (RKFC) for winning the 124th IFA Shield for the second time in trot.

In his congratulatory message, Advisor Farooq Khan said that it is a glorious and proud moment for whole of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the players, football lovers and budding players. He remarked that the victory of RKFC is result of hard work of the players, coaches, management, associated staff and the owners of the club.

The Advisor further said that this victory will act as a catalyst to the flourishing of football across the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pertinent to mention, RKFC showed tremendous resilience in the final to pull off a stunning 2-1 win over a spirited Sreenidi Deccan FC to win successive IFA Shield title on Wednesday at Kolkata.

It was in the later half of the second half that RKFC with their perfect, spirited and clinical performance snatched the match from the opposite team.