Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday performed Shri Amarnathji Chhari Mubarak pujan on Shravan Shukal Panchami in presence of Deependra Giri ji, Mahant Chhari Mubarak Shri Amarnathji at Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhada here.

While performing the Chhari Mubarak pujan the Lt Governor prayed for sustained peace, prosperity in J&K, and well-being of its people.

The holy Mace will leave for its next destination and reach the holy Cave of Shri Amarnathji via Pahalgam route following the Chhari Mubarak Yatra tradition. The traditional Chhari pujan began on Vyas Purnima on 24th July at Pahalgam where Bhoomi Pujan and Dhwajarohan ceremonies were held.

Pertinently, keeping in view the pandemic this year arrangements were made for the virtual puja, hawan & online prasad booking through various online services of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. The Board has also arranged for a live telecast of morning and evening Aarti from the holy Cave of Lord Shiva both on TV and Digital platforms.

The online services can be booked through Amarnathji Shrine Board’s website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com by clicking Book Online Pooja/Hawan/Prasad link & through the Board’s Mobile application (which may be downloaded through the link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ncog.shriamarnath).

The Lt Governor has recently laid foundation stone of an Office cum Yatri Niwas of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, which would provide best-in-class facilities accommodating more than 3000 pilgrims. The UT Government is planning to construct Yatri Niwas in various parts of the UT.

Nitishwar Kumar, Chief Executive officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, and Anup Kumar Soni, Additional CEO SASB were present during the Chhari Mubarak poojan.

Srinagar: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Friday reaffirmed government’s resolve of zero tolerance towards corruption adding that technology is enabler for better and transparent functioning of administration.

Chief Secretary stated this during his visit to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) headquarters.

He was accompanied by Commissioner Secretary, GAD, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Director ACB, Anand Jain and other senior officers of the ACB.

Interacting with the officers, Dr. Mehta emphasized upon the officers to further speed up and enhance disposal of cases besides making use of modern and innovative technologies in ACB on the lines of premier investigating agencies of the country to bring added efficiency in working of the Bureau.

Chief Secretary asked the officers to fix timeline for disposal of cases as per their pending period ensuring that three months old cases should be disposed off in a month’s time.

Dr. Mehta further asked the officers to use ‘SATARAK NAGRIK’ effectively ensuring redressal of grievances received on the application on daily basis. He also directed the officers to improve the services of e-vigilance clearance portal for facilitation of employees.

Director ACB informed the Chief Secretary that this year 61 cases were registered by ACB and 32 charge-sheets have been produced in various courts of law against the accused public servants. He also informed that on the aspect of preventive vigilance, large number of alert notes and advisories were issued to various departments.

Regarding working of Satark Nagrik application, Director ACB informed that 385 corruption related complaints were received by bureau, of which, 64 were disposed off and remaining 321 matters were referred to Departmental Vigilance Officers and are under process towards their end.

Director ACB also apprised Chief Secretary that more than 2500 cases were referred to ACB by GAD for vigilance clearance through e-vigilance portal, of which, more than 90 per cent cases were reverted back to GAD.

Later, Chief Secretary inaugurated e-Office for J&K Anti Corruption Bureau.

Chief Secretary said that the objective of e-Office is to support governance by ushering in more effective and transparent inter and intra-government processes. ‘The vision of e-Office is to achieve a simplified, responsive, effective and transparent working of all government offices’, Dr. Mehta maintained.

He added that the e-office will enhance transparency, increase accountability, transform the government work culture and ethics besides promoting innovation by releasing staff energy and time from unproductive procedures.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Secretary GAD mentioned that use of technology has improved functioning of the Bureau. He reaffirmed that introduction of e-Office will help seamless connectivity between GAD and ACB besides monitoring matters will become faster and easier with ACB.

Srinagar: A Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was killed as Police and Army used rocket launcher during a gunfight along Srinagar-Jammu highway near Malpora crossing Kulgam last night, officials said on Friday. Two drones also were destroyed by militants during the gunfight, they said.

“Security forces were fully prepared. When BSF convoy passed (around 1430 hours), militants started indiscriminate firing from a huge building, there were no injuries. Security forces completely encircled the militants. Encounter ensued. I along with GOC Victor Force reached there. We used rocket launchers and neutralized the militant during the night,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said on the sidelines of a function here.

Police in a statement issued later said the decision to use rocket launcher was taken as target building was a huge and concrete structure. “Drones were used to keep updating situation inside building. During this process two drones were destroyed by the (militant). All precautions were followed to stop collateral damages.”

Meanwhile, the IGP said that it was difficult to carryout search during the night and in the morning, body of Usman Bhai, “a Pakistan (militant) who was active from last 6 months.” He said huge quantity of arms and ammunition including Ak-47 along with three magazines, RPG launcher and two grenades were recovered from his possession. “The recoveries indicates how big strike the militants were upto,” he said, adding, “After a long time RPG was used by militants.”

The top police officer of Kashmir said Police and security forces averted a major tragedy from happening. “I am proud of police and security forces,” he said.

Police said two security forces personnel received injuries during the encounter whereas two civilians were injured “far away from the site by stray projectiles.”

22 civilians including shopkeepers, elderly, women and children were also evacuated to safety by the security forces, police said.

“The preliminary investigations, recoveries and the manner of engagement by the (militant) suggest that attack was a pre-planned one and intended to inflict considerable damage to the security forces to disrupt schedules functions of 15th August and spread fear amongst general public,” police said, adding, “Joint teams of SFs were successful in averting a major tragedy before the Independence Day.”

IGP Kashmir and GoC Victor Force jointly termed it a “big success, appreciated the alertness and appreciate action which led to killing of hardcore Pakistani (militant) without collateral damage to our men and civilians.”

Earlier, the IGP while responding to a question said there were general input from last one that militants were planning to carry out attack on highway, whether on Baramulla-Srinagar road, or between Pathachowk and Qazigund.

“As such security forces were very much alert. See the response, the militants fired, it was retaliated and militants were not allowed to flee.”

He said security has been increased everywhere in view of the August 15 function. “People are being searched and frisked. Surveillance is done through drones. We are doing technical surveillance,” he said, adding, “There will be incident-free functions on August 15 and people are requested that there is nothing to fear. Pakistan continues instigating militants as in the past and now to carry militant incident. People need not to fear and participate in functions.” (GNS)

Poonch: An Improvised Explosive Device having “four sticky bombs” was recovered from possession of a man in Mendhar area on Friday, officials said.

“On tangible information of BSF a Joint naka was established at first Morh Kotan by police, 72 battalion BSF and army,” police said.

“During checking a suspicious person identified as Mehmood Hussain son of Mohammad Munshi of Kasbalari was apprehended and during his personal search an IED having four sticky bombs and an amount of rupees 10500 have been recovered from his possession,” police said, adding, “In this regard an FIR no.313/2021 u/s 23 ULAPA has been registered in police station Mendhar.” Police said further investigation is going on.

The police party was led by SHO Manzoor Kohli and operation was under the supervision SDPO Mendhar Z A Jaffri and direction of SSP Poonch Dr Vinod Kumar, officials said. (GNS)

Sopore: Two civilians and a CRPF man were injured when militants hurled a grenade towards the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp at Main Chowk in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.

Officials said that militants hurled a grenade at main chowk in Sopore injuring two civilians and a CRPF man of 179 battalion. The officials said that two civilians were identified as Abdur Rashid Dar and Ghulam Dar while CRPF man was injured P. Karthik.

“All three injured were taken to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Sopore for treatment where their condition is stable,” the officials said, adding that a massive hunt was launched to nab the attackers—(KNO)

Tral: Security forces recovered and defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Dadsara area of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

A police official said that an IED was detected by joint team of forces at Dadasara area of Tral on late Thursday night which was later destroyed by the bomb disposal squad.

He said that a major tragedy has been averted ahead of 15 August.

He further added that police has taken of the issue and further investigation has been taken up. (KNO)

Jammu: Days after two newly recruited militants of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit were arrested, the security forces on Friday held their accomplice from Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Police sources said that a Hizbul militant, identified as Mujammil, was arrested from his native village in Kishtwar.

He was also one of the companions of two Hizb militants arrested on August 9.

“The trio went missing on August 5, 2021 but Mujammil returned back on August 6,” sources said, adding that two others were arrested on August 9.

On August 7, it was reliably learnt that both the missing youth have joined a militant organisation of HM outfit with the intention to endanger the integrity and sovereignty of the Country following which a case was registered, they added.

On August 8, reliable information regarding their presence in the area of Tander Dachhan was received and subsequently, Police conducted a search operation.

During the search, various arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession, he said, adding that further search operations in the area are still going on.

As per reports, they had joined militancy way back but worked as over ground workers for Hizbul Mujahideen. (UNI)

Srinagar: In a significant development and addressing a long pending demand, the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has constituted a Quality Control Council under the Quality Control Act 1978.

The Director Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir has been nominated as the Chairman while Director Handicrafts & Handloom Jammu, Managing Director J&K Handloom & Handicrafts Corporation, Director Craft Development Institute, Director Indian Institute of Carpet Technology has been nominated as official members.

The notification assumes significance as for the first time President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, President Confederation of Chamber of Industry Jammu, President Tahfuz Society and President Meeras Society have been nominated as non official members.

The council is expected to take all measures to strengthen the GI.

Under the supervision of the council frequent market checking will be conducted and all those elements will be heavily penalized who will be found selling fake craft items or passing on the machine made items in place of the handmade ones.

As many as 27 Crafts that are practiced in the UT including Silver ware, willow wicker, copperware, Bamboo craft, Phoolkari, have been placed in the notified Handicrafts Category.

The constitution of the quality control council was a long pending demand of the stake holders as implementation of the same will safeguard their interests and will help in curbing the menace of passing on the fake craft items in place of the genuine ones. The council is expected to meet shortly.

By: Ahmad Shabir

Anantnag: After the Institute of Information Technology (IIT) Jammu expressed safety concerns and recommended that Rahmat-e-Alam hospital should not be used for hospital purposes, the authorities have decided to shift the Maternity and Child Hospital (MCH) Anantnag to the main campus of the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital.

Under construction Rahmat-e-Alam hospital owned by a private trust was taken over by the government four years ago along with liabilities and assets with the purpose to shift the space starved and unsafe MCH from congested Sherbagh locality.

Though two storeys of the hospitals had already been constructed by the trust, the government later allotted the contract for completion of the building including construction of two more storeys to JKPCC without going for any safety audit of the already constructed ground and first floors.

Later, when JKPCC completed the major part of the construction and spent crores of rupees on it, the government tasked the IIT Jammu to conduct safety audit of the building. It took the audit agency more than a year to come up with the report in which it suggested jacketing of beams and pillars of first two storeys.

Months later, the agency, according to officials, recently suggested that the building is not safe for neonatal and pediatric ICUs and recommended that the same should not be used for hospital purpose.

Following recommendations of the audit agency, the authorities have now decided to shift the maternity hospital to main GMC hospital in Janglat Mandi area of the town.

Though the shifting of the MCH to the old spacious building of GMC hospital was the growing demand of civil society members but the political intervention did never let that happen as the medicates running shops outside the existing MCH hospital opposed the move and used all their political connections to halt its shifting, sources said.

Principal GMC, Anantnag, Dr Tariq Qureshi said that they have decided to shift the MCH to main GMC hospital in a phased manner.

“Major five storey block of the GMC hospital is under construction. Once its ground and first floors are completed, we will shift the pediatric wing of MCH including neonatal ICU. And on the completion of the entire block, the maternity wing will also be shifted. We will do it in a phased manner,” Principal said.

The existing MCH building in Sherbagh area is not only space starved but even does not have an approach road, which cause agonies to the expecting women, who are visiting the hospital.

“Now that the recommendation against using Rahmate Alam building for hospital has come, we are left with no option but to shift the MCH to main GMC hospital campus. I want all the departments of the medical college at one place only,” Principal said.

He, however, said that they won’t abandon Rahmat-e-Alam building as crores of rupees have been spent on its construction.

“We may use the building for office or laboratory purposes. We can also use it for Gynae OPD,” Principal said.

Haris Handoo posted as Special Secy Jal Shakti Department

Srinagar: Government on Friday transferred five officers in the in the interest of administration with immediate effect.

Smita Sethi (JKAS), Director, Social Welfare, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, SIDCO. “She shall also hold the charge of the post of Managing Director, SICOP, in addition to her own duties, till further orders,” reads a government order.

Atul Sharma, Managing Director, SICOP, holding additional charge of Managing Director, SIDCO, has been transferred and posted as Secretary/CEO, KVIB, against an available vacancy.

As per separate order, Haris Ahmad Handoo (JKAS), awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Jal Shakti Department, with immediate effect.

Tej Krishan Bhat (JKAS), Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), J&K, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare.

Ashok Kumar Pandita (JKAS), Additional Secretary to the Government, Information Department, has been transferred and posted as Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), J&K. (GNS)