Slain commander was involved in killing of two teachers, says IGP Kashmir

By: Sheikh Danish

Srinagar: Three militants including a TRF (Lashkar-e-Toiba) commander were killed in a shoot-out at Rambagh area of Srinagar on Wednesday, police said.

A police official said that acting on a specific lead about the three militants travelling in a vehicle in Srinagar’s Rambagh area, a team of Srinagar police cornered the vehicle and killed three militants.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that among the slain trio, one has been identified as Mehran, a top TRF commander who was involved in the killing of two teachers and other civilians in the city.

“The militants were travelling in a car and they were signaled to stop but instead, they opened fire in a bid to flee from the spot but were cornered by the police party,” he said.

As per police records, Mehran Yaseen Shalla, a resident of Jamalatta area of old Srinagar, went missing on May 19, 2021 and joined TRF (LeT). The two other slain militants were identified as Arafat Ahmed Sheikh of Niklora, Pulwama and Manzoor Ahmed Mir of Babhar, Pulwama.

A police spokesman said that acting swiftly on “our own specific input” regarding movement of militants in Rambagh area of Srinagar, a small team from Srinagar Police signalled a suspected Santro vehicle to stop.

“However, the militants started firing indiscriminately on the police party from inside the car while trying to flee from the spot under the cover of firing. The fire was however effectively retaliated leading to gunfight,” the spokesman said, adding that “In the ensuing gunfight, three militants got killed and identified as militant commander of LeT (TRF) Mehran Yaseen Shalla, resident of Jamalatta, Srinagar, Manzoor Ahmad Mir resident of Babhar, Pulwama and Arafat Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Nikloora, Pulwama.

The spokesman said that as per police records, the killed militants were linked with LeT (TRF) and part of group involved in several  crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities.

“Mehran Yaseen had a long history of crimes and was wanted by law for his involvement in several crime cases including grenade attack at Barbar Shah Srinagar on 26/06/2021 in which one civilian namely Mudasir Ahmad Bhat resident of Hanjigund Beerwah got killed & three other civilians got critically injured, killing of  Meeran Ali Sheikh at Bulbul Lanker Nawa Kadal on 27/07/2021, Killing of PSI Arshad Ahmad at Khanyar on 12/09/2021, Killing of School Principal Supinder Kour and teacher Deepak Chand of Government Higher Secondary School, Khankah Noorbagh Sangam on 07/10/2021,” the police spokesman said adding that “Prior to joining militancy, several cases regarding his involvement in stone pelting incidents are also registered against him. Moreover, the other killed militant Arafat Ahmad was also involved in several cases including killing of a non-local labour at Litter area of Pulwama on 16/10/2021.”

IGP Kashmir said that this year so far 144 militants were killed while two civilians were also killed in cross firing during encounters.

“Last year, 207 militants were killed and only one civilian killed in encounters. So far only three civilians killed in cross firing during encounters in last two years that is lowest collateral damage in last three decades,” he said. (KNO)

Union Minister lays foundation stone of 25 NH projects worth Rs 11,721 cr

Doda: Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari; Union MoS (I/c), Ministry of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy & Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh; Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, in the presence of Member Parliament, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Wednesday laid the foundation of 25 National Highway projects in J&K, worth Rs 11,721 Crores, here at the Sports Stadium, Doda.

Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari, while speaking on the occasion said that the UT of J&K has a huge tourism potential which will finally reap the benefits of upcoming modern road infrastructure projects. These projects will prove as an important lifeline for the development of the industrial sector too, he added.

“The construction of these road projects will save time and fuel. New employment opportunities will be created in Jammu & Kashmir, tourism of the region will get a boost, and social & economic development of the people of the region will be accelerated”, he remarked.

Observing that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government is committed to the all round development of Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Minister assured that road network works worth Rs One lakh crore within next two years will give a boost to the socio-economic development of  J&K.

Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor expressed his gratitude to the  Union Minister for Road, Transport & Highways for laying the foundation of 25 new National Highway projects and taking keen interest in the continuous strengthening of road infrastructure across the region.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor also secured inclusion of 06 more road projects for Jammu and 01 project for Kashmir division under National Highways and Bharatmala category. The inclusion of 06 Road projects in Jammu division will give a massive push to the economic growth and industrial development, besides tapping the tourism potential in the region.

These newly included road projects are: Kathua-Basholi-Bani-Bhaderwah-Doda (170 KM); Doda-Bhaderwah-Chamba (Himachal) Road (132 KM); Dayalachak-Challan-Billawar-Mahanpur-Basohli Road(118 KM); Tawi Bridge-Jammu Airport-Miran Sahib-R.S.Pura Suchetgarh (Old Jammu-Sialkot Road) (29 KM); Surankote-Bafliaz-Shopian-Srinagar (Mughal Road) (145 KM); Atholi(Kishtwar)-Machail-Zanskar Road (Kargil); Narabal-Tangmarg-Gulmarg-Baramulla (70 KM).

Underscoring that robust road network and modern transportation is the key to economic growth, prosperity of the region and transformation in every sphere of life, the Lt Governor said that the foundations of Rs 11,721 crore National Highways projects laid by the Hon’ble Union Minister, besides 07 new projects will pave the way for sustainable development in J&K.

“The new mega road projects will open up new livelihood avenues for the local population and enhancing tourism & business activities, besides strengthening the strategic grid by ensuring all weather connectivity”, the Lt Governor added.

The Lt Governor said that the 25 National Highway projects will connect all the villages of Udhampur, Doda, Jammu, Kathua, uplifting thousands of small and big businesses.

“I am confident that these projects will prove to be an important economic lifeline and highways of progress and prosperity for Jammu division”, observed the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor said that after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the execution of new roads, tunnels and other basic infrastructure has gained huge push to ensure the overall development of the UT of J&K under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Lt Governor also noted that the progress of construction of new roads have been doubled across the J&K under the guidance of Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari.

Noting that roads are now being built at twice the speed as before, the Lt Governor said that there has been a radical change in its progress under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Last year, 2402 km of road was constructed under PMGSY in Jammu division. Since August 2019, taking into account the figures of October 2021, 3885 kms length of road has been built under PMGSY in Jammu division alone. 109 projects have been completed in Jammu division at a cost of Rs 455 crore, including 14 bridges. Apart from this, 9 bridges worth Rs 19 crores have been completed under various other schemes, he added.

The Lt Governor said that infrastructure development and raising the standard of living of the common man is an important part of the overall economic priorities of the GoI and the J&K UT government. Now macadamisation of the road is also taking place at double or triple times the speed as compared to earlier. In 2019, 2290 km of road was blacktopped, while last year, 5136 km of road was macadamized. This year a target of macadamisation of 8000 km of road has been set, he added.

Union MoS (I/c), Ministry of Science &Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh also addressed the gathering and said that this is the historic day for the Chenab region that 25 new NH projects are launched. He said that the central government has framed a separate road map for the development of the UT and to accelerate the developmental scenario, new bridges, roads, tunnels are being built on war footing involving thousands of crores.

He said that the Union government is giving special focus to the areas which were neglected in the last seven decades by the earlier political parties. He said the present dispensation has established a new political culture by executing projects as per the demands and requirements of the people to ensure equitable and inclusive development in Jammu & Kashmir.

Dhananter Singh, DDC Chairperson Doda; Pooja Thakur DDC Chairperson Kishtwar; Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department; Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Dr Raghav Langer, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, besides PRI members, former legislators, besides key officials of Police and Civil administration and a large number of people were present on the occasion.

Announces deployment of state helicopter for tribal population during medical emergencies

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Wednesday said that government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working relentlessly to usher in a new dawn of social equality.

Sinha inaugurated the closing ceremony of ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ here at the General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu.

A two-day Literary cum Cultural Tribal festival is being organized to mark the culmination of the celebrations of Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary. The festival will showcase the rich heritage, culture, art, craft, cuisine, and herbal medicines of  tribal  communities of Jammu & Kashmir.

Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor reiterated the Government’s commitment for ensuring the overall development of J&K tribal population.

“The UT administration has taken several initiatives to ensure livelihood support and empowerment of Tribals. New transit accommodations, Tribal health scheme, and Smart schools will certainly improve the quality of life,” he remarked.

The Lt Governor observed that the tribal-centric reforms and policies that the government is implementing on the ground for the socio-economic development of the tribal community will fulfill the dreams of this community, while keeping their unique culture, languages and traditions alive.

“Culture not only enriches individual’s life but also strengthens community. It is the need of the hour to preserve and promote rich tribal cultural heritage,” he added.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor announced that the state helicopter will be deployed for the tribal population during medical emergencies. “This will help in timely diagnosis and treatment for the needy patients,” he added.

While highlighting the reforms introduced by the government for the welfare and interest of the Tribal community, the Lt Governor said that comprehensive strategy has been developed for modernizing the requisite infrastructure and providing public services in tribal dominated areas.

Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the J&K Government is working relentlessly to usher in a new dawn of social equality by implementing the rights of this deprived section guaranteed by the Constitution and the Parliament of the country, he added.

The Lt Governor noted that through several interventions like Tribal Tourist Villages, clusters of Tribal Self Help Groups, Tribal model and milk villages, promoting Minor forest products and more such programs of Mission Youth, the UT Government is paving a strong foundation for progress and growth of the present and the future generations of the Tribal community by connecting them with the mainstream of development.

To provide institutional support to all scholars and thinkers working on tribal culture and civilization, Tribal Research Institute is being set up in the UT, he added.

The Lt Governor said that the government is establishing Transit Accommodation at 8 different places costing Rs 28 crore, for the convenience of the tribal population during their seasonal migration.

He also informed that more than 4,500 tribal community youth have been made entrepreneurs through mini sheep farms and dairy units within three months, exceeding the target of 3,000.

Farooq Khan, Advisor to Lt Governor, in his address, termed the occasion as one of its kind which brought together all the tribal communities on a single platform. He congratulated the Tribal Affairs Department for working day and night for implementation of schemes and policies on the ground.

Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, while speaking on the occasion, highlighted the ground-breaking decisions taken by the government for the welfare of the tribal communities. The UT administration will ensure that every facility including education, health, sports, banking, skill development reaches the tribal population across J&K, he added.

Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Administrative Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department delivered the welcome address and gave a detailed overview of the various activities organized to mark the ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’.

A documentary – “An introduction to Tribal groups of J&K” and Tribal music & dance performances were the main highlights of the occasion.

Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu; Anshul Garg, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; PRI representatives; Javaid Rahi, writer and Tribal Research scholar; senior officers and a large number of Tribal community members attended the ceremony.