Precious Kashmir News
Ramban, Oct 29: Two persons including a baby were killed and six others injuries in a road accident in Ramban district on Thursday.
Officials said an Ecco vehicle was moving on a road near Baglihar Hydel power project in Ramban when it skidded off the road.
“An infant and an unidentified person were killed in the accident and six passengers received injuries, they said.
The injured identified as Haleema Begum, Firdous Ahmed, Rustam Ali, Ramesh Kumar, Hafeeza Begum and Mushtaq Ahmed were evacuated to Ramban district hospital for treatment.
2 killed, six hurt in Ramban mishap
Srinivas, Mohanty promoted to DGP rank
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 29: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered promotion of two senior IPS officers of Jammu & Kashmir cadre to Director General of Police rank.
According to an order issued by MHA, Dr B. Srinivas (commandant general, Home Guards/ Civil Defence/ State Disaster Response Force) has been elevated to DGP rank with effect from 01.01.2020.
Similarly, Lalatendu Mohanty, who is on deputation, has also been promoted as DGP with effect from 01.01.2019.
Both had respectively completed their requisite service of 30 years for DGP rank on 01.01.2020 and 01.01.2019.
With these promotions, the number of DGP rank officers has gone upto six in Jammu and Kashmir.
Those holding DGP rank are Dilbagh Singh (Director General of Police), Navin Aggarwal (central deputation), SM Sahai (central deputation) and V.K. Singh (DG Prisons).
A 1990-batch IPS officer, Srinivas has held key positions in Jammu and Kashmir in the past 29 years. He has served as district police chief of Kargil, Anantnag, Budgam, Kupwara and Srinagar. He has also served as DIG north Kashmir, IG Operations north Kashmir and IGP Kashmir before serving as intelligence chief of J&K twice. He is also a recipient of Police Medal for Gallantry and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services.
Mohanty has also served at important positions in J&K before proceeding on central deputation. Presently, he is posted with Border Security Force (BSF).
India, China agree to maintain dialogue: MEA
New Delhi, Oct 29: India and China have agreed to maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels in a bid to disengage and de-escalate along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
Addressing the virtual weekly briefing here on Thursday, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said, “The last round of the Senior Commander talks held on October 12 enabled in-depth discussions between the two sides resulting in enhanced understanding of each other’s positions.”
“The two sides had agreed to maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and arrive at a mutually acceptable solution for disengagement as early as possible,” he said.
They had also agreed to implement the understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, not to turn differences into disputes, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas, the spokesperson said.
“Accordingly we have maintained communications with the Chinese side with a view to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh and restore full peace and tranquility,” he added.
On 2+2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue that held on October 27 here, Srivastava said, “… I remind you that EAM had stated that the Indo-Pacific region was a particular focus of our talks. We reiterated the importance of peace, stability and prosperity for all countries in this region. This is possible only by upholding the rules based international order, ensuring the freedom of navigation in the international seas, promoting open connectivity and respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states.”
Lt Governor, Advisors greet people on Eid-i-Milad
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 29: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and his advisors Thursday extended their greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the auspicious occasion of Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW).
In his message of felicitations, Lt Governor hoped that the auspicious occasion would spread the message of oneness, peace and universal brotherhood among all the sections of the society.
He prayed for sustained peace, progress and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir and well-being of its people.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor in his greetings said the birthday of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) provides us opportunity to pray and seek forgiveness and blessings from the Almighty for the entire mankind.
He said that this holy day marks the birth of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), whose life was an embodiment of love, equality and brotherhood.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, KK Sharma exuded hope that the auspicious occasion would usher in peace, prosperity besides spreading the message of compassion, mutual coexistence among every section of the society.
The Advisor also appealed the devotees and people to religiously follow the protocols set in place for COVID 19 while celebrating and also carrying out their religious obligations.
Fire outside Jammu Airport damages ticket counters
Jammu, Oct 29: Nearly five ticket counters were gutted in a devastating fire broke out at Jammu Airport here in the wee hours of Thursday.
Police said they received an information at around 0300 hours about the fire outside the Airport engulfed the ticket counters.
“The fire broke out at the ticket counters due to short circuit following which five fire tenders of the IAF and fire and emergency services department were immediately pressed into the service to extinguish it,” a police official said.
He said it took around one hour to control the inferno by the firefighters and extinguish the blaze.
Dr Pravat Ranjan, Director, Jammu Airport, told UNI, “Yes, there was a fire incident in Airlines Ticketing counters at city side away from Terminal building at 0300 Hrs.”
He said the cause seems to be short circuit adding, “the city fire and Airforce fire team was called immediately for fire fighting and the fire was suppressed. Aircraft operation was normal.”
“We have given an incident report to the police,” he added.
2 Jaish militants killed in Budgam encounter
Srinagar, Oct 28: Two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, including a Pakistani, were killed in an encounter in the central Kashmir district of Budgam, official sources said on Wednesday.
A soldier was also injured in the encounter which has now ended, sources said.
They said troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint CASO at Akbar colony Mouchwa in Badgam following a tip off about the presence of militants last night.
However, an encounter ensued after forces came under heavy fire from militants hiding there.
However, due to darkness operation was stopped late last night though the entire area remained under tight cordon, they said. They said this morning with the first light, forces launched all out offensive against the holed up militants, who were firing continuously.
The forces blasted the house from where militants were firing, they said, adding later bodies of both the militants were recovered.
One AK rifle and one pistol besides magazines and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain JeM militants.
The residents of the adjacent areas said they heard loud explosions and heavy firing last night and early this morning.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar said militants were given chance to surrender but they continued firing.
He identified the slain militants as a Pakistani militant Khalid Ilyas and Javaid Ahmed, a resident of Pulwama.
The IGP said role of Ilyas in highway attacks can’t be ruled out and police was investigating their involvement.
8 militants surrendered in encounters this year: IGP
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 28: Police Wednesday said this year eight militants have surrendered before troops during live encounters across Kashmir.
Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said one good thing has been happening this year that surrenders took place during live encounters as well.
“This year so far eight surrenders took place in live encounters in the Valley of which five militants surrendered this month so far,” he said.
Terming the surrender of militants as a “positive development”, IGP reiterated his appeal to the new militant recruits to return and join the mainstream.
On encounters taking place in Srinagar and city outskirts, he said it was because of the smooth flow of intelligence inputs and other technical information, police comes to know about the militant movement in the city.
“Police has a good network in the city,” he said. (KNO)
Lt Governor launches MIS-2020 for apple
‘It will facilitate stakeholders by providing valuable marketing platform to growers, ensuring optimum prices to growers’
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 28: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Wednesday launched Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)-2020 for Apple here at Horticulture Complex, Raj Bagh.
The Lt Governor said the objective of the newly launched MIS is to facilitate the stakeholders by providing optimum prices to the growers in the region during the peculiar situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic.
“MIS is a great relief for apple growers. It will provide a comprehensive insurance cover against any obstacle thus helping in stabilizing the income of the Apple farmers,” he said.
According to him, the scheme was launched for the first time in the history of J&K during September-2019 and was widely appreciated by the growers across J&K and therefore, the Government agreed to extend it to this year also.
This scheme will make way for procurement of 12 Lakh MT of apples which will not only ensure profitability to the apple growers but at the same time, it will also create rural employment through supplementary services such as packaging, transportation etc.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has also allowed NAFED to utilize Government Guarantee of Rs. 2,500 Crore.
“The losses, if any, to be incurred in this operation will be shared between the Central Government and UT administration of J&K on 50:50 basis,” said Sinha.
He said the MIS would provide a valuable marketing platform to the growers, besides ensuring remuneration prices of apples and protect the Apple growers from making distress sale.
“NAFED is going to collect the apples from the growers and make the payment directly into the accounts of the growers through DBT. It will also address all issues related to marketing and transportation, in addition to providing optimum returns to apple growers, which will go a long way in expanding the horizon of this sector in J&K,” Sinha said.
The Lt Governor asked the MD NAFED to increase their investment in Horticulture infrastructure from proposed Rs 100 cr to Rs 500 cr to give a substantial push to the development of horticulture sector in J&K.
He said Horticulture-Agriculture is a major industry in the UT and around 70 percent of J&K’s population is connected with the sector.
“We had released an excess of Rs 680 crore for augmentation of Agriculture and Horticulture sectors so that better marketing and innovative farming techniques are incorporated by the producers. All the government’s efforts are aimed at increasing the income of farmers and fruit growers,” he said.
The Lt Governor also called upon the farmers to set up Controlled Atmosphere Storage Plants with the help of 50% subsidy provided by the UT government.
He underlined the importance for linking the UT’s fruit and vegetable mandis to National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Platform.
The Lt Governor said that other policies for more investment in apple cultivation, expansion of satellite markets and provision of high density rootstock are also being framed.
“We have to become a market leader in the horticulture sector and the entire government machinery would ensure that the dream is fulfilled soon,” he said.
Promoting J&K’s Horticulture and Agriculture produce to the global platform; official stall of J&K will also be displayed in the upcoming Dubai Food festival, he added.
On the occasion Sinha also distributed certificates to the farmers for their achievements in Buyers-Sellers meet and other certificates under various departmental schemes.
No agriculture land in JK to be alienated to non-residents: LG
Srinagar, Oct 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday assured that no agricultural land would be alienated to any non-residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
The LG made these remarks while launching Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)-2020 for Apple here at Horticulture Complex, Raj Bagh.
“No agricultural land would be alienated to any non-residents of J&K. However, for industrial investment and employment opportunities, non-agricultural land will be optimally utilized,” he said.
He observed that Horticulture is one of the priority sectors of J&K due to its unique agro-climatic diversity, which makes it ideal for varied cultivation.
“The Horticulture sector, in particular, has an immense growth potential and the J&K Government is making all out efforts to tap the potential in order to give a fillip to the socio-economic condition of all those who are associated with the sector and contribute to the betterment of livelihood of Apple Growers,” Sinha added.
To fight corruption, Govt reaches out to people through mobile phones
Asks people not to pay bribe, contact concerned agencies if need arises
Gul Owais
Srinagar, Oct 28: In a bid to act tough against the corruption, the government is now reaching out to the people through mobile phones, asking them to contact the concerned agencies in case any government employee asks for a bribe.
The administration headed by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has claimed that there will be no place for corruption in Jammu and Kashmir and it will ensure that corruption is put to an end in the newly carved out Union Territory.
The government besides making verbal and written statements has now reached out to the people through mobile phones in this regard.
The customers of government-run-cellular company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have been receiving Short Message Service (SMS) wherein the government message is being sent to them.
In a message, the people are being asked not to pay bribe to any government employee of central or the State government. The government is also asking people to contact the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in case any employee is asking for a bribe.
“Do not pay bribe. If any government servant of Central or State Government, PSU, Bank, Defence, BRO, MES demands bribe for any official work in Kashmir or Ladakh region, contact Head of Branch, CBI, ACB Srinagar on Telephone Nos. 0194-2455514 or Mobile No. 9419900977,” the message reads.
These messages are being sent at time when the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said that corruption-free and transparent governance is the priority of the present dispensation.
Since the incumbent LG assumed the office, he has made several statements on corruption and has directed the officers concerned to be vigilant and ensure the corruption is put to an end.
