Jammu:  Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the release of CoBRA CRPF jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, who hails from Jammu, the family on Thursday said that it is the happiest moment of their life.

The jawan, who was held captive post ambush in Chhatisgarh’s Bastar on April 3, was released on Thursday.

“CoBRA jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas was abducted by Naxals during Bijapur attack on April 3, has been released by them,” said a family member, quoting police sources.

“Today is the happiest day of my life. I always remained hopeful of his return. I thank the government,” Meenu, wife of the CRPF jawan said.

Meanwhile, Union MoS in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh taking to micro-blogging site, said, “A huge relief for the family as well as the entire #Jammu region. Thanks PM Sh @narendramodi. Thanks HM Sh @amitshah.”

The jawan was brought to a CRPF camp in Bijapur after he was released.

Earlier, a photograph of Manhas sitting in a hut had surfaced.

On Tuesday, the outlawed CPI (Maoist) had issued a statement in Hindi saying its cadres had abducted the CoBRA commando from the site of the ambush and demanded that the Chhattisgarh government appoint interlocutors to ensure his safe release.

Wave of happiness gripped the native village of CRPF jawan after the news of his release went viral on social media.

Shouting “Prime Minister Zindabad”, “Amit Shah Zindabad”, the family members and relatives thanked to the Government.

Manhas will be taken to hospital for medical check up, a Chhattisgarh police official said, adding that he was released to the negotiation team in front of hundreds of the villagers in Tareem.

According to the sources in Bastar, the commando will be taken to Basaguda CRPF camp and later, will be flown to Raipur.

The Chhattisgarh Government had appointed two-member negotiation team to mediate hostage crisis.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to release nearly 150-170 Rohingya refugees held in a sub-jail in Jammu while ordering they should not be deported unless the procedure prescribed is followed.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, said: “Two serious allegations have been made in reply of the Union of India. They relate to (i) the threat to internal security of the country; and (ii) the agents and touts providing a safe passage into India for illegal immigrants, due to the porous nature of the landed borders.”

The top court noted a similar application in 2018 challenging the deportation of Rohingyas from Assam was dismissed by it on October 4, 2018.

“It is also true that the rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 are available to all persons who may or may not be citizens. But the right not to be deported, is ancillary or concomitant to the right to reside or settle in any part of the territory of India guaranteed under Article 19(1)(e),” it said.

According to the petitioners, Rohingyas were persecuted in Myanmar even when an elected government was in power and that now the elected government has been over thrown by a military coup, therefore the danger is imminent.

The petitioners also contend that India is a signatory to the Protection of All Persons against Enforced Disappearances, the Convention against Torture and other Cruel and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The top court, however, noted that there is no denial of the fact that India is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention, and serious objections are raised, whether Article 51(c) of the Constitution can be pressed into service, unless India is a party to or ratified a convention.

“But there is no doubt that the national courts can draw inspiration from international conventions/treaties, so long as they are not in conflict with the municipal law,” it observed.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted that India has open/porous land borders with many countries, there is a continuous threat of influx of illegal immigrants and such influx has posed serious national security ramifications. He added though the rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 may be available to non-citizens, the fundamental right to reside and settle in this country guaranteed under Article 19(1)(e) is available only to the citizens.

The top court said: “Therefore, it is not possible to grant the interim relief prayed for. However, it is made clear that the Rohingyas in Jammu, on whose behalf the present application is filed, shall not be deported unless the procedure prescribed for such deportation is followed.”

An application had been filed by Mohammad Salimullah and another petitioner, a Rohingya refugee, through advocate Prashant Bhushan, seeking direction from the top court to the government to refrain from implementing any orders on deporting the Rohingya refugees who have been detained in jail in Jammu. The petitioner had also sought their release.

Srinagar:  The government on Thursday approved creation of J&K Organic Products Certification Agency for both divisions, an official spokesman said this evening.

He said Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, Navin Kumar Choudhary on Wednesday chaired a meeting of State Seed Sub Committee at Civil Secretariat Srinagar regarding the formulation of nodal agency for certification of organic products in J&K.

After threadbare discussion over the need for creation of certification agency for organic products, Principal Secretary gave his approval for the creation of the agency. A notification to this end will be issued soon, he said.

While giving outline of the agency, Choudhary said that the agency is known as J&K Organic Products Certification Agency, Kashmir and J&K Organic Products Certification Agency Jammu. He said the agency will certify all the agriculture, horticulture and dairy organic products.

He further said that the agency will be headed by an Agro-Chemist, a Deputy Director rank officer, who will be assisted by at least one district level officer of Agriculture Department and one HDO with expertise in horticulture.

In this regard, he said, Government will issue a notification giving legal sanctity to the agency. The agency will utilize the infrastructure of agriculture department and agriculture universities of both Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

Choudhary also said that for effective analysis of products, an assistant professor will also be the member of the agency.

APEDA was nominated as central agency for building the capacity of newly created entities.

The Agency will adopt full process of organic certification as prescribed by National Programme for Organic Production.

It was given in the meeting that quarterly review of the functioning of the agency shall be held by Principal Secretary of AP&FWD.

It was also decided that both Directors of Agriculture department will identify at least six organic clusters each where these agencies will start working.

He directed that both Animal Husbandry Directors will nominate well qualified VAS to be included as members of their respective agencies.

Besides, Principal Secretary said that both directors of Agriculture department will contact a reputed agency of the country and organize 14 days training programme for the members of the newly created agencies.

Choudhary further directed both directors of agriculture for formulation of draft rules, training module and infrastructure requirements for these agencies.

The meeting was attended by members of State Seed Sub Committee including Dir Agriculture, Kashmir; Director Research, SKUAST; Joint Director Agriculture, Extension, Kashmir; Dir Agriculture Inputs, Kashmir; and other members from Kashmir Division.