Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has slapped the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar, officials said on Saturday.
Akhtar became the sixth mainstream leader in Kashmir to be booked under the controversial PSA, which was enacted in 1978 to deal with rampant timber smuggling.
Srinagar, Feb 8: The police have registered a case against banned JKLF for allegedly attempting to incite violence and disturb law and order situation in Kashmir.
“Police has taken cognizance of the activities of banned organisation JKLF for their attempts to incite violence and disturb law and order situation in the Valley,” a police spokesman said.
He said the affiliates of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) in the Valley have circulated statements calling for violence in the forthcoming days and are propagating the messages and activities of an unlawful organisation.
“Such activities deteriorate the law and order situation and lead to violence. Accordingly, police have registered a case under relevant sections at Kothibagh Police Station,” he added.
Jammu: A soldier was killed and three others were injured on Saturday as the Pakistani army violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing of small arms and mortar shelling along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said.
The soldier, manning a forward post, was killed and three others were injured in Degwar sector, they said.
Srinagar, Feb 08: Former Jammu and Kashmir finance minister Altaf Bukhari on Saturday said invoking the Public Safety Act (PSA) against former chief ministers — Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti was “most unfortunate”.
The former PDP leader demanded a “level playing field” for all political parties for the revival of democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bukhari said putting mainstream leaders and workers behind bars in and outside Jammu and Kashmir does not serve any purpose and rather raises a question on the country”s democratic set-up.
“Not only the top leadership of political mainstream is behind bars but over a thousand workers who have sacrificed a lot for strengthening the political process in Jammu and Kashmir are still under detention,” Bukhari said in a statement.
“Releasing them all at the earliest will not only provide much needed succour to their families but will indisputably grant a lease of life to the stalled democratic process in J&K,” Bukhari added.
He said the use of PSA against mainstream political leaders is not justifiable and should be revoked without any further delay.
“Booking former chief ministers and other mainstream leaders under PSA dents the efforts for renewing a mired political process. This untenable action is not only discouraging but dispiriting for all assiduous political workers who want a level playing field for all shades of political opinion in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Bukhari said that the union government must not allow the notion of helplessness to prevail among the people of Jammu and Kashmir and take all measures to restore the lost trust and confidence mandatory for resumption of a meaningful political outreach.
“There is no substitute to sincere and meaningful political outreach and that can commence with the release of the three former chief ministers and all other mainstream leaders and activists irrespective of their political affiliations,” he said.
SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 08: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today chaired a meeting to review the progress of prestigious road projects which are executed by BEACON agency across the valley.
The meeting discussed threadbare Land acquisition process of Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri (NH-1), Mohura-Baaz, NS Bridge-Rustum and Red Bridge-Dherian roads of Baramullah district, Handwara-Lach-Naugaam, Payarpora-Guthamdori and Hazibal-ZGali-Machhal roads of Kupwara district, Dawar-Niru-Baruab-Chakerwali-KoabalGali and Bandipora-Gurez roads of Bandipora district and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri roads of Ganderbal district.
The Divisional Commissioner directed concerned district administrations to hand over the pending Mutation documents of some road projects to the BEACON authorities in a time bound manner so that the construction work is started on theseroad projects.
The meeting was informed that permission for stone and sand extraction from the local quarries for improvement and development of road infrastructure, for which the land is identified by the BEACON, is still awaited due to forest clearance approval.
Chief Engineer, (Project Beacon), Brig. Ravi Navetwas directed to put the request directly on Parvesh portal for approval by the Forest Department.
Div Com directed concerned departments to provide support to the BEACON authorities for extraction of minor minerals from the identified sites.
He directed the concerned departments to expedite the Environmental Clearance for Stone Crusher & installation of Hot Mix Plants at Salamatbari, Teepee and Naugam in Kupwara and Gund Ganderbal districts.
The meeting also discussed preparation of DPR for widening of NH 701 Rafiabad-Kupwara-Tangdhar road and Tangmarg-JamianwaliGali road (48 Kms) which connects strategically important districts of Uri and Poonch.
BEACON authorities were exhorted to maintain close coordination with civil administration for hassle free infrastructure development across Kashmir Division.
Chief Engineer (Project BEACON), Brig. Ravi Navet, Chief Engineers R&B & I&FC, Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Joint Director Geology & Mining, Assistant Commissioner (central) with Div Com Kashmir, Superintending Engineer PDD, DFO Forests, Executive Engineer PHE and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.
While the Deputy Commissioners of Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Budgam, Anantnag and Baramullah participated the meeting via video conferencing.
JAMMU, FEBRUARY 08: Jewan Lal Lalhal, ex-MLA Bani today called on the Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu here at the Raj Bhavan and apprised him about various issues related to the welfare of Koli-Sippi and Gaddi communities.
The former Legislator also raised various development issues of Bani Constituency including construction of tourist huts at various religious places, commencing of helicopter services for pilgrims of Jodian Mata and Doullah Mata Shrines during Navratra festivals, construction of Bus Stand at Bani ,besides strengthening of road network and education sector in the said constituency. Parveen Zerial, President All J&K Gaddi-Sippi ST Association and Hukum Chand, President, J&K Sippi-Koli Association also accompanied the ex-MLA.
A delegation of Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) led by its President, KK Khosa submitted a memorandum of demands to the Lt Governor related to various welfare issues of the migrant Kashmiri Pandits including implementation of Prime Minister’s employment package for migrant Kashimri Pandits and other employment issues, protection of shrines, encroachment of properties belonging to the migrant Kashmiri Pandits etc.
A delegation of Pharmaceutical manufacturers also called on the Lt Governor and projected the issues pertaining to the growth and strengthening of the pharmaceutical industry in J&K.
The Lt Governor interacted with the members of the delegations and assured them to review the genuine issues and demands projected by them for their early redressal.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Hondoo, National Chief Coach, WUSHU along with Bilquis Mir, National Chief Coach, Water Sports apprised the Lt Governor about the issues related to development of sports in J&K, adoption of Sports Policy and categorization of sports, implementation of schemes under Khelo India and NSDF, promotion of water sports in the UT etc.
While interacting with them, the Lt Governor observed that the government is working towards the development of sports in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and also assured them to address the genuine issues projected by them.
JAMMU, FEBRUARY 08: Commissioner Secretary, PHE and Irrigation & Flood Control, Ajit Kumar Sahu today held a meeting here to review the status of languishing projects in Kashmir division through Video Conferencing.
Chief Engineer PHE (Kashmir) Abdul Wahid, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control ( Kashmir ) Mir Mohammad Shahnawaz, Superintending Engineers, PHE, I&FC (Kashmir) and all Executive Engineers of PHE and I&FC attended the meeting via video conferencing besides Director Finance PHE and I&FC Imtiyaz Ahmed, Director Planning PHE I&FC Mohammad Yusuf were also present.
During the meeting, the Commissioner Secretary was informed by the officials about the division-wise percentage completion of various languishing projects, besides status of major schemes amounting to Rs 5 crore and above was also discussed. He was also briefed about the status of the schemes which have been physically completed and have yet no claim for payment on JKIMS portal.
On the occasion, Commissioner Secretary directed the officers to complete the work on all languishing projects within the stipulated time frame. He also urged them to ensure that the targets are completed on set quality parameters and transparency is maintained in the execution of the projects.
Emphasizing upon all the officers to work with added zeal and zest, Sahu urged them to gear up men and machinery to provide clean drinking water and better irrigation facilities to the people through these projects at an earliest.
He said that the administration is committed to ensure that all the households especially in remote and hilly areas get access to potable drinking water.
JAMMU, FEBRUARY 08: The Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) has condoled the demise of Zahoor Ahmad Trambu, an employee of Field Publicity Unit, Srinagar who passed away today due to a massive cardiac arrest.
A condolence meeting of officers and officials of Information Department was held here today with Joint Director Information, Namrita Dogra in chair. During the meeting, all the officers and officials recalled the services of Trambu, expressed their solidarity with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
Later, a delegation of officials of the Department visited Lal Bazaar residence of the deceased employee to convey their heartfelt condolences and sympathies with the bereaved family.
Meanwhile, the DIPR has also expressed deep sympathies with senior journalist, Tarun Upadhayay over the demise of his wife who passed away yesterday after a brief illness.
The DIPR has also sympathized with Farzana Mumtaz, Editor, News Kashmir whose mother also passed away.
In separate condolence meetings, the officers and officials prayed for peace to the departed souls and courage to the bereaved to bear with the loss of their loved ones.
Bandipora, Feb 08: Jammu and Kashmir police Saturday said that four teenage boys from Bandipora district, who were missing from last three days have been traced in Udhampur district on Saturday. The police said that four boys were handed over to their family members.
According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bandipora, Rahul Malik said four teenage boys identified as Kamran Fayaz, son of Fayaz Ahmad 13, Amir Mushtaq, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh 14, Fayaz Khan, son of Muhammad Maqbool Khan 14, residents of Kaloosa Bandipora and Abid Sulaimani, son of Mohd Kalwa 16, resident of Bejnor U.P went missing on February 05.
“Police Station Bandipora received a written compliant regarding missing of four teenagers on 05 February,” he said, adding that an investigation team was formed and manhunt was launched to trace the missing teenagers.
He further stated that the team yesterday succeeded in tracing the boys from Udhampur district of Jammu region, saying that the boys were handed over to their relatives and further investigation in this regard is going on.
Srinagar: Five overground workers (OGWs) of militants were arrested by security forces in two separate operations in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.
“Acting on a specific information, police busted a module of Hizbul Mujahideen, which was active in the Chadoora area of Budgam district,” they said.
Three OGWs Amir Shafi Dar, Shabir Ahmed Ganie and Mudasir Ahmed Khan were arrested from the district, the officials said.
“These individuals were active in the area for the last few months and were involved in various subversive activities and providing shelter and logistic support to terrorists,” they said.
In another operation, security forces apprehended two OGWs from the Hajin area of Bandipora district, the officials said.
Irfan Aziz Bhat and Mohammad Asif Parray were allegedly associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), they said.
“They were behind posting of threatening posters in Hajin and adjacent areas,” the officials said, adding a laptop and a printer used for printing the posters were seized.
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