Jahangeer Ganaie
Anantnag, Nov 17: Even after eight months, train services are yet to resume in Kashmir leaving the travellers high and dry.
Locals from different areas of Kashmir questioned that if everything is functioning normally in Jammu and Kashmir after Covid-19 restrictions were eased down, then why train services continue to remain suspended.
Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Anantnag district of South Kashmir told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that as people have been economically hit hard by Covid-19 lockdown, there is need that government must resume train services at an earliest as it is a cheaper means of transport.
He said in absence of train, we are witnessing traffic jams at different locations on national highway as everyone is forced to use road transport in absence of train services.
M Ashraf, a resident of Budgam said: “I am posted in Kulgam district and half of my salary per month gets spend on fare only, however, when train services were on, my fare expenditure was just 5 percent of that what I have to spend today.”
Pertinently, train services in Jammu and Kashmir were suspended on March 19 after outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
Notably, Banihal-Baramulla Train services were resumed on Nov 11 after remaining suspended for around more than 3 months after abrogation of special status of J&K.
Railway suffered a loss of around Rs 2 crore for remaining suspended from August 05 to November 11 after abrogation of article 370.
An official of the railway when contacted said that if UT government wants to resume rail services, they need to write to northern railways authorities for permission, however, J&K Government hasn’t written so far in this regard.
Meanwhile, a top official in the administration told KNO that the services were halted due to Covid-19 pandemic and a review will be soon conducted to take a call on resuming the services.

Jammu, Nov 17: The claims of united contest in District Development Council elections by four main political parties under the banner of People’s Alliance of Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) seem to be made on papers only as “proxy candidates” are being fielded in a number of constituencies in many areas of Jammu.
Reliable sources told KNO that NC, PDP and Congress have fielded candidates against one another in women reserved Moughla constituency of Kalakote sub division in Rajouri district.

Pertinently, PAGD headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah as President and Mehbooba Mufti as Vice President recently announced to contest DDC polls jointly.
However, on ground, the government officials dealing with DDC polls said that “proxy candidates” of these parties are being fielded as independent candidates.
Citing example, they said that against an officially announced NC candidate from Mendhar, a senior Congress leader is in competition as an independent whereas in Loran, Bufliyaz, Surankote and other constituencies of Poonch district, “proxy candidates” of PAGD parties against one another are in the fray.
Furthermore, the officials said, the alliance balloon seem to be getting punctured badly in Rajouri district also where NC, Congress and PDP are fielding candidates against each other either in proxy manner whereas in Moughla, the fight between these parties has become official.
“Last date for submission of nomination forms in Moughla DDC constituency was Monday and total six candidates have filed their nomination papers,” officials said.

They added that surprisingly, in this women reserved seat, two candidates are independent while one is from BJP.
The other three candidates who are in the poll fray and have filed their nominations include Shamim Akhter from National Conference, Safina Akhter from Congress and Razia Sultana from People’s Democratic Party.
“Candidates of PDP, NC and Congress clearly state that PAGD alliance in assistance with Congress is confined on papers only,” these officials said.
They further said that condition is same from other constituencies also where PAGD alliance parties are fielding proxy candidates against each other.
Sources said that although Congress has announced that it will fight jointly with the PAGD but in Budhal Old (A) constituency which is known as Peeri constituency, Congress and NC both have fielded their candidates against each other whereas in Dhangri, PDP have fielded proxy candidate against NC.
Talking to KNO, Congress chief spokesman for J&K Ravinder Sharma said that the party has not endorsed PAGD candidates everywhere and has fielded its own candidates in some constituencies.

Srinagar, Nov 17: The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Tuesday finalized its seat-sharing for the third phase of the forthcoming District Development Council (DDC) polls, slated to be held in eight-phases from November 28.
According to KNOthe third list was made public by the alliance’s spokesperson and Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman SajadGani Lone.
As per the list, the candidates of 16 DDC constituencies were finalized for the third phase. The list stated that eight candidates finalized and approved by the alliance president Dr Farooq Abdullah belong to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while six candidates are associated with National Conference (NC).
It further mentioned that one each candidate in the fray for third phase of the polls belong to Peoples Conference and Awami National Conference (ANC).
Pertinently, the PAGD constituents decided to participate in the DDC polls unitedly and issued three lists of seat sharing so far for the three phases of the polls.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 17: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Tuesday reviewed the winter preparedness of different departments of Kashmir valley besides taking a detailed review of “Mechanized Snow Clearance Action Plan” for 2020-21 of Mechanical Engineering Department (MED), Kashmir prepared for proper maintenance and accelerated snow clearance of all the roads during winters.
Advisor Bhatnagar directed the Chief Engineer MED to ensure that adequate men and machinery is stationed near inter-district roads, connecting arteries and roads leading to hospitals and other emergency services so that they can be deployed timely in view of any exigency.
To avoid any eventuality in view of the inclement weather, Advisor directed the officials to establish 24X7 Joint Control Rooms (JCRs) to respond swiftly in times of any exigency besides maintaining constant coordination with MET department for regular weather updates. He asked the officials to establish proper grievance redressal mechanism at control rooms for facilitating the public and providing them timely information.
Advisor Bhatnagar asked the officials of MED to maintain constant coordination with other agencies like SMC, Urban Local Bodies, Tourism department besides R&B, Jal Shakti during snow clearance and other restoration works. He urged them to keep greater synergy besides maintaining regular coordination with district level teams for smooth flow of services.
Chief Engineer MED informed the meeting that the “Mechanized Snow Clearance Action Plan” for 2020-21 will cover almost all the routes covered in the last year’s Action Plan while as some additional roads have been incorporated in the instant Snow Clearance Action plan as per the demand received from the R&B/PMGSY Wings of Public Works Department.
Chief Engineer apprised the Advisor that the Snow Clearance Action Plan has been framed to include all the inter district highways, important district-town roads and roads leading to public utilities of high priority besides approach roads towards district and other major Hospitals. He also elaborately gave details about deployment of snow clearance equipments in various districts of the valley.
On enquiring about the clearance of roads during recent snowfall, the Advisor was informed that the roads in Kupwara, Gurez and other adjoining areas have been fully cleared besides the Mughal Road has also been made through.
Advisor Bhatnagar directed the concerned officials to make efforts for keeping Tangmarg-Gulmarg road clear throughout the winter season as the place attracts large number of tourists every year.
Regarding the functionality of oxygen plants across the hospitals of Kashmir division, Advisor directed the Chief Engineer MED for making oxygen plants fully functional in all hospitals as early as possible.
Later, Advisor Bhatnagar reviewed the functioning of R&B department Kashmir. He directed the officers to gear up their men and machinery in view of the winter season so that swift action can be taken in case of any eventuality.
The Advisor stressed upon the officials that action plan should be prepared in advance at all levels besides process of tendering the works of clearing all the roads including arteries should be completed timely to meet any eventuality in case of heavy snowfall.
He asked the officials of R&B department to maintain constant coordination with other line departments so that snow clearance and other restoration works are carried out smoothly.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 17: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday produced a supplementary charge sheet against Mohammad Mujib- Ur-Rehman-Ghassi S/o Ghulam MohdGhassi R/o Syedpora, Harwan near Syedpora Bridge Tehsil and District Srinagar the then Registrar of Cooperative Societies J&K and Ashiq Hussain Syed Zia-Ud-Din R/o Chewdara Tehsil Berwah District Budgam then Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies J&K in the Rs 223 Crore JKSTCB (J&K State Cooperative Bank) loan Scam. Both accused were arrested prior to production of chargesheet and produced in Court for production of chargesheet. Both accused were remanded to Judicial custody by Court.
“The Case FIR 04/ 2020 which was registered against Mohammad Shafi Dar R/o MajeedBaghBarzulla Srinagar Chairman J&K State Co-operative Bank Ltd and others u/s 5(1) (d) r/w Section 5(2) PC Act and sections 465,467,468,471,120-B/RPC in ACB Srinagar for allegedly sanctioning loan to the tune of Rs. 250.00 Crores in favour of a non-existent Society under the name and style River Jhelum Co-operative House Building Society MagarmalBagh, Srinagar for the purposes of construction of a satellite Township at Shiv Pora Srinagar bypassing the Credit Policy of the bank and on the basis of false and fabricated documents, ACB had already filed a Charge Sheet on 08.11.2020 against Mohammad Shafi Dar the then Chairman of J&K State Co-operative Bank, Hilal Ahmad Mir Chairman and Abdul Hamid Hajam Secretary of the said in non-existent Co-operative Society. Further investigation of the case was in progress,” a spokesman of ACB said.
He said investigation has further revealed that Mujib Ur RehmanGhassi the then Registrar Co-operative Societies &Ashaq Hussain Dy. Registrar of the office of Registrar Co-operative Societies had issued a letter to J&K State Co-operative Bank under the signature of the Registrar despite knowing fully well that such a society did not exist after checking all the relevant office records.
“On the receipt of said letter loan to the tune of Rs. 223 Crore was sanctioned in favour of the said non-existent Co-operative Society by J&K State Co-operative Bank headed by accused Mohammad Shafi Dar, Chairman of the Bank,” he said.
The spokesman said investigation has further established that the agenda items of non-existent society were also created on 23.01.2019 before the sanction and disbursement of loan to the tune of Rs. 223 Crores. The Bye Laws of the said Society were created on 21.11.2019 fictitiously by ex Chairman of J&K State Co-operative Bank.
The next date of hearing in Court has been fixed on 23.11.2020.

Our sons innocent, have no militant links: Families
Precious Kashmir News/Agencies
New Delhi, Nov 17: Delhi Police claimed to have arrested two suspected Kashmiri militants of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Delhi last night.
The two men were arrested by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell from southeast Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan at around 10 pm.
“On the basis of the information received, a trap was laid near Millennium Park, Sarai Kale Khan, and two suspected militants, who are residents of Jammu and Kashmir, were arrested around 10.15 pm,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said in a statement.
Abdul Latif Mir (22), a resident of Doru village in J&K’s Baramulla district and Mohammad Ashraf Khatana (20), a resident of Hat Mulla village of Kupwara district, have been arrested.
Two semi-automatic pistols along with 10 live cartridges have been recovered from them, the police officer said.
Meanwhile, family members of two Kashmiri youth rejected the charges levelled against the duo stating that their sons have no links with militancy and are innocent.
Bashir Ahmad Khatana, father of Muhammad Ashraf, one of the arrested youth, refuted the charges leveled against his son and said that his son has no militancy links and that he would lead prayers in a masjid.
“My son left home on November 4 for Srinagar from Delhi and contacted for the last time on November 5 from an unknown number and stated that he will reach next day,” said Khatana, adding that “My son had gone to buy some clothing and other personal material for his marriage that was fixed on 11 and 12 November but this arrest is a shocker for the entire family and his in-laws as well.”
He said that soon after he learned that the special cell in Delhi had claimed the arrest of his son as a Jaish-e-Muhammad associate. “I talked to local DySP and others and intimated them about the same and pleaded the innocence of my son,” Khatana said.
The family members of second arrested youth Abdul Latif, 20 of Duroo, Sopore, was arrested with his friend Ashraf.
Sanaullah Mir, the father of Abdul Latif said his son had gone to Delhi 4th November for some. “My son is Hafiz-e-Quran (one who memorisesquran). Barely after two days, we lost contact with him. Last time we spoke to our son was November 6,” he said. “I am to know about the arrest of my son through a news channel. I was shocked to see my son being arrested on the pretext of being a militant associate.”
The family members of both the youth appealed the Jammu and Kashmir LG, Manoj Sinha, and Director General of Police, Dilbagh Singh and sought their intervention into the arrest of their sons and demanded the early release of the duo. (KNO)

Bhat Imran
Srinagar, Nov 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Tuesday decided to conduct the 11th standard annual regular examination of Kashmir division and winter zone areas of Jammu division at their respective schools.
According to the BOSE order, the annual regular examination of 11th standard of Kashmir division and winter zone areas of Jammu division shall be conducted at their respective schools without creation of separate examination centres as a special case for this session only. The annual examinations include both theory and practical papers.
“The supervisory staff for the conduct of the examination shall be appointed by the concerned schools themselves and the action taking in appointing them shall be confirmed with the JKBOSE later,” BOSE said.
BOSE also said that the admit cards for the students shall be prepared by the Board itself.
“The confidential material, like answer books and other stationary items required for the conduct of the exam shall be provided by the JKBOSE as per the routine and the evaluation of the answer scripts shall be taken care of by the Board as per the routine,” the order reads.
BOSE further said that the procedure of deposition of question papers and sealed answer script packets at the concerned police stations and any other allied activities shall remain in vogue as per routine—(KNO)