Srinagar: President Ram Nath Kovid was given a detailed briefing about the internal security situation in the Union Territory (UT) Jammu and Kashmir and along the borders, official sources said on Tuesday.

Kovid, who could not travel to Drass-Kargil to pay homage to soldiers who laid down their lives in 1999 Kargil on Monday due to bad weather, interacted with the members of the Unified Headquarters (UHQs) at Raj Bhavan here.

The meeting was also attended by Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat, Northern Army Commander, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Chief Secretary A K Mehta, Principal Secretary Home Shaleen Kabra, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, heads of CRPF, BSF and various intelligence agencies in Kashmir.

The members briefed the president about the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), especially in the wake of fresh ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan since February this year.

Sources said President was also briefed about the measures put in place to foil any drone attack, particularly in Jammu region, where a drone, fitted with a mine, was shot down recently.

The Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces was during the 90-minute meeting also briefed about the successful counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, where over 85 militants, including top commanders of several organizations, were killed so far this year in different encounters. (UNI)

Srinagar: A youth was shot dead at Nawakadal area of Srinagar in an act of ‘gang rivalry’, police said on Tuesday.

The youth Mehran Ali Sheikh son of Shabir Ahmad was fired upon outside his home at Bulbul Lanker Nawakadal, officials said.

In this incident, Mehran sustained grievous bullet injuries and was shifted to SMHS hospital for the treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries.

“Primary investigation into killing of a youth in a firing incident at Nawa Kadal area of Srinagar has revealed that the incident is an act of Gang rivalry,” a police spokesman said in a statement this evening.

“The Preliminary investigations conducted into the matter revealed that the killed youth was a part of 16 Gujjar Gang and was killed following a rivalry between two local gangs in the area,” he said, adding, “There was rivalry between two local gangs –Downtown Itehad and Gujjar Gang in the area and Mehran was part of Gujjar Gang. Further investigation into the matter is in progress.”

Earlier, police said that militants had fired upon the civilian outside his home. (GNS)

Transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrant employees 

Srinagar: The Administrative Council (AC), which met here on 24th July, under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the transfer of 278 kanal land in five districts to the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction for construction of 2600 flats as transit accommodation for Kashmiri Migrant employees under the Prime Minister’s Development Package, 2015.

The Administrative Council also conveyed its approval for construction of 2744 flats at an estimated cost of Rs. 356 crore; as transit accommodation on the G+3 and G+5 models at seven locations in Kashmir division.

The project is expected to be completed in 18 months and will provide employment to approximately 413 skilled and unskilled workers on a daily basis during its life cycle.

On completion, the residential buildings will provide Government accommodation with basic services to the Kashmiri migrant employees engaged under the Prime Minister’s Relief Package.

Earlier in 2015 under the Prime Minister’s Development Package, the Government of India approved the construction of 6000 additional transit accommodation units in Kashmir valley for employees appointed under the package, with the sanctioned cost of Rs. 920 crore.

Srinagar: Weatherman on Tuesday forecast “good monsoon shower” in J&K especially in morning hours with heavy downpour in Jammu region from July 28-30.

“Today, weather will be mainly hot and humid. Brief spell of light rain is likely towards late afternoon/evening at some places of Jammu and Kashmir,” Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus said.

“Expect good monsoon shower especially in morning hours from July 28-30th with heavy downpour in Jammu region,” he said, adding, “We expect significant rise in water Levels in all rivers especially of Jammu region.”

Meanwhile, a meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded minimum temperature of 24.6 degree Celsius against 18.7 degree Celsius normal for this time of the year.

Jammu recorded 4.6mm of rain during the last 24 hours till 8:30 a.m., even as the winter capital of J&K recorded a low of 26.4 degree Celsius against the normal of 25.2 degree Celsius for this time of the year.

He said Pahalgam recorded 19.3 degrees Celsius while Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir was the coldest place in J&K as it recorded a low temperature of 17.0 degree Celsius against 12.4 degree Celsius normal for the area during this time of the season, he said.

Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 22.6 degree Celsius while Kokernag had a low of 21.1 degree Celsius, he said.

Kupwara town recorded a low of 22.2 9 degrees Celsius, the official added. (GNS)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hit out at the Congress for not allowing the parliament to function properly and causing repeated disruptions in both Houses. The Prime Minister was speaking at the BJP’s Parliamentary Party meeting here on Tuesday.

Sources said, “The Prime Minister told the party MPs that the Congress party is deliberately disturbing the parliament. They are neither interested in debate nor are allowing the parliament to function smoothly.”

The Prime Minister also hit out at the Congress for not participating in the meeting of floor leaders of all parties on Covid. On July 20, the Prime Minister interacted with floor leaders of all parties of both Houses of the Parliament to inform them of the trajectory of Covid-19 and the public health response to the pandemic.

“The Prime Minister said that the on one side, the Congress stops the functioning of the House and on the other hand, they did not turn up to attend the all-party meeting called on Covid. Their behaviour is against the humanity. He asked MPs to expose the Congress among the people of India,” sources said.

It is learnt that the Prime Minister asked the BJP MPs to celebrate the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ with public participation to mark 75 years of Independence so that it does not look like a government event.

Sources said that Prime Minister Modi also asked the BJP MPs to celebrate ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ in a big way with public participation. It is also learnt that the Prime Minister asked the BJP MPs to appeal to people to suggest ideas for the next 25 years. “He asked people to suggest their ideas and vision for the next 25 years when the country will celebrate 100 years of Independence in 2047,” another MP who was present in the meeting said.

The Prime Minister also asked MPs to organise various activities to create awareness and increase public participation in ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. (IANS)

Srinagar: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the functioning of the Public Works (R&B) Department and take stock of progress made under the flagship programme, ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’ (PMGSY).

Principal Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department along with concerned officers of the Department and Director-General, Budget were present in the meeting.

It was informed that presently, the Department is maintaining 41,584 km road length across Jammu and Kashmir which includes National Highways, PMGSY, and R&B roads, and 1343 bridges.

During the previous financial year, it was further informed that the department completed 1289 schemes associated with R&B, MED, DIQC sectors, and Mughal Road project by incurring an expenditure of Rs. 1,638 crore.

Under PMGSY, the department registered an achievement of completing 3,167 km of rural roads under 272 schemes, thereby providing safe and secure all-weather connectivity to 119 habitations at an estimated cost of Rs. 2,072 crore.

Chief Secretary directed the department to complete 4,200 km road length under PMGSY I & II this fiscal which includes 800 km and 3400 km rural road in Kashmir and Jammu province, respectively. This will thus conclude the first two phases of PMGSY in J&K, paving the way for initiation of phase III for which 1,750 km roads have been identified and submitted for approval.

The department was also asked to keep a check on the quality standards of new constructions and ensure the creation of high-quality infrastructure, besides undertaking routine inspections through mobile maintenance teams with focussed attention on maintenance work.

The Department was further asked to evolve a mechanism to ensure regular monitoring of the quality of roads especially around all tourist places and public facilities.

Moreover, the Department was asked to prioritize blacktopping of roads towards developing and maintaining pothole-free roads in Jammu and Kashmir. The Department will be macadamizing 8,000 km of road length during 2021-22, out of which 2,007 km has already been completed so far.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed issues related to un-awarded works, forest clearances, land acquisition, quality standards, and utility shifting.

Srinagar: Unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the 19th Convocation of Kashmir University at S K International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the bank of famed Dal Lake.

President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the convocation as Chief Guest. The convocation was presided over by Lt Governor of Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha who is also Chancellor of the KU.

All the roads, including Boulvard and Foreshore on the bank of Dal Lake and high security Gupkar road, leading to Raj Bhavan and SKICC remained closed since the President Kovind arrived here on Saturday on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Similarly road from Nishat, including foreshore to SKICC has also been closed for any traffic or pedestrian movement. The traffic department had already announced traffic diversion during the stay of president in the city.

A correspondent, who visited at Badyari crossing at Dalgate, saw large number of security forces deployed there and nobody was being allowed to move towards Lake. The main road has been blocked with barbed wire and by parking bullet proof vehicles. Similar scene was witnessed on Gupkar, where security forces have closed the main road and people were being turned back. Gupkar is a high security zone where the residence of former Chief Ministers Dr Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti (official residence) besides top officers of intelligence agencies are located.

Even if anyone will manage to reach Nehru Park through interior areas, the main road towards the SKICC has been closed for any pedestrian or traffic movement. Large number of security forces were seen deployed on both sides of the Boulvard road to prevent any law and order problem.

Similarly, security forces were seen patrolling on boats in the Dal Lake keeping a close watch. Security forces have also been deployed in the houseboats in the Lake near SKICC.

Kovid has arrived here on Saturday on a four-day visit to UTs of Ladakh and J&K. However, he could not visit Drass-Kargil on Monday to pay homage to soldiers who made supreme sacrifice during 1999 Kargil war due to bad weather. He instead paid homage at War Memorial at Baramulla in north Kashmir, where traffic diversion was made. Later, he visited world famous ski resort of Gulmarg. (UNI)