Precious Kashmir

Army resuscitates grave of a Pakistani major killed in 1972

Front

16/10/2020

Tasaduq Hussain

Kupwara, Oct 15 : In a humanitarian gesture, the army Thursday resuscitated a damaged grave of a Pakistani major killed way back in 1972 close to the fence in an action at Nowgam sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Defence sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a grave of slain army major belonging to Pakistan was resuscitated in Nowgam sector in Handwara killed in an action close to the line of control (LoC) over four decades back.

They identified the slain Pakistani major as Mohd Shabir Khan, “Sitara-e-jurat was killed in an action along the fence in Nowgam sector on May 05, 1972 and was buried there since then.

Meanwhile, Indian army in a tweet also informed about the resuscitation of the slain major’s grave in Nowgam sector with respect and honour.

Army said that “keeping with the tradition and ethos of the Indian army resuscitated a damaged grave of major Mohd Shabir Khan, Sitara-e-jurat, Pakistan army, who was killed in action (KIA) at a forward location along LC in Nowgam sector on 05 may 1972.”

It said that “A fallen soldier, irrespective to the country he belongs to, deserves respect and honour in death. Indian army stands with this belief.” “This is #Indianarmy for the world”, it said.

Effective coordination mandatory for revival of tourism: Tourism Minister

Front

Precious Kashmir

16/10/2020

Baseer says policy put in place for revival, survival of tourism in JK
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (IC) Prahlad Singh Patel Thursday held a virtual meeting with the State Tourism Ministers and Administrators of Union Territories for revival of tourism activities across the country.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan and Secretary Tourism, Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez participated in the meeting on behalf of J&K Government.
In his address, the Union minister said that COVID-19 pandemic has affected the tourism activities across the world and with the easing of restrictions through Unlock 5.0, the tourism activities will be revived in India. He added that effective coordination between centre, states and UTs is mandatory for successful revival of the tourism industry.
The Minister further asked the participants to facilitate ease of travel between states and UTs for promotion of domestic tourism. He impressed upon them to explore possibilities of providing incentives to Tourism and Hospitality sectors of their respective places as they have been worst affected due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Prahlad impressed upon the ministers and representatives of states/UTs to maintain all public utilities, hotels and other places along their respective National Highways under proper COVID protocols so that tourists feel at ease while travelling and staying along these places.
Speaking during the meeting, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan informed the minister that J&K is a potential tourist place receiving tourists from all across the world in large numbers.
He informed the minister that the J&K Administration has already put in place a proper policy for revival and survival of tourism sector besides a mechanism for facilitation of tourists intending to visit J&K. He added that the policy of System for Assessment, Awareness and Training for Hospitality Industry (SAATHI) has been effectively rolled out here for hassle free facilitation of tourists.
Khan informed the minister that the pilgrimage tourism is also going on smoothly in J&K and a circuit from Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to Kashmir will be made operational soon for increasing the tourist influx.

10th, 12th class exams likely in first week of Nov

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Precious Kashmir

16/10/2020

Class XI students protest in Sopore, demand mass promotion
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: The government is likely to conduct the class 10th and class 12th examinations in the first week of November.
The decision to this effect has been taken in view of the panchayat and urban local body elections, which is likely to be held in the last week of November.
Highly placed sources said it was decided in a meeting called by the administrative secretary School Education to review the conduct of annual examinations in Kashmir Division and winter zone of Jammu Division.
The meeting was attended by officials of JKBOSE, Deputy Commissioners, joint director school education Kashmir and CEOs participated through video conferencing.
Chairperson JKBOSE, secretary JKBOSE and Director school education Jammu also participated from Jammu through video conferencing.
Meanwhile, scores of Class 11th students from Boys Higher Secondary School and Girls Higher Secondary School Sopore on Monday staged a protest at Iqbal Market in north Kashmir’s Sopore town and demanded their promotion to the next class.
The protesting students said that the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) must consider their mass promotion demand at an earliest or else it will have a huge impact on their academics.
The protesting students marched from their institutions to Bus Stand and raised slogans. They said they are not ready for the examinations. “It has been almost a year now and are now asked to appear in the annual exams without having proper preparation for it,” said a student.
The students said that JKBOSE is playing with the career of students by forcing them to appear in the examinations without attending a single lecture for so many months now.
“There is no proper internet and many of the students failed to attend the online classes due to unavailability of high speed internet,” protesting students said and appealed to the concerned JKBOSE to fulfill their demands.
Meanwhile, the traffic was also disrupted due to the protest by the students. (Inputs from KNS/KNO)

SC closes case filed by Iltija against detention of Mehbooba

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Precious Kashmir

16/10/2020

New Delhi, Oct 15: The Supreme Court on Thursday closed the case filed by Iltija Mufti against the detention of her mother and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after taking note of her release two days ago.
“Okay. Good,” a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said when the counsel of Union Territory administration and Iltija informed it about the release of Mufti, who is the president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
She was released on Tuesday night as the Union Territory administration revoked the Public Safety Act charges against her, more than a year after she was detained following the abrogation of special status of the erstwhile state.

Lokpal has no power to review its order

National

Agencies

16/10/2020

New Delhi, Oct 15: Anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal has held that review petitions regarding an order passed by its bench cannot be entertained due to the absence of related provisions in the law governing it, according to an official order.
The move comes after the Lokpal witnessed an increasing number of complainants desirous of a “reconsideration” or “review” of the orders passed by it.
A committee comprising three Lokpal members — Justices Abhilasha Kumari, D K Jain and I P Gautam — was constituted to look into the aspect of recommending a policy regarding requests for a review of an order passed by the bench.
The committee, which was formed by Lokpal chairperson Pinaki Chandra Ghose, submitted its reports on October 6, 2020.
“The committee has opined that in the absence of any express and substantive power of review in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, a request for review of an order passed by a bench of the Lokpal of India cannot be entertained,” said the order issued on Monday.
Hence, it is notified that review petitions regarding an order passed by the bench of Lokpal of India will not be entertained, it said.
The committee, in its report, said that the central government may be requested to consider the inclusion of power of review in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act.
In view of the fact that a large number of complainants are filing applications for review of an order, the lack of an express power of review in the Act may act as a deterrent to the dispensation of justice, it said.
“Therefore, in order to ensure that no injustice has occurred to the complainant and in the interest of justice, it may be in the fitness of things to request the government of India, at an appropriate stage, to consider the inclusion of the power of review on appropriate grounds, in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013,” the report said.
The institution of Lokpal and Lokayuktas has been established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 to enquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries.
The three-member committee, in its report, said that it is a settled position of law, that the power of review cannot be exercised by a statutory body unless the statute specifically confers such power.
“The Act, as it stands, does not confer the power of review. In the absence of any statutory provision in the Act empowering the Lokpal of India to entertain an application for review, any such exercise under the garb of reconsideration/ clarification/ modification/correction of the order, would not be permissible in law,” it said.

GMC Sgr commissions Virtulive ‘Everything in a Box’ Smart class system

City

Precious Kashmir

16/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: In a first in J&K, and to cope with the dynamic challenges occurring in the environment, Government Medical College Srinagar, Monday announced the installation and commissioning of Virtulive “Everything in a Box” Smart class system here.
The Principal Govt. Medical College, Srinagar, Dr Samia Rashid said that they have implemented one of its kind solutions in the Radio Diagnosis and Imaging Department of the GMC.
She said that new concept offered by M/S Electronic Concepts and their innovative product has passed successfully in the demonstration session.
The Principal said that there is a great need for such innovative portable smart class systems in every organization and the key attributes that attract towards this new solution are, it has an in-build Public address system allowing organisations to save cost in purchasing extra speakers.
The other best attribute of this unique solution is that of Smart Capture where both teacher and student is captured while lecture is going on along with lecture recording allowing students to go through the lecture whenever there is a need. In the cases of Lockdown etc the system helps us to have online classes, she added.

Police book notorious drug peddler in Srinagar under PSA

City

Precious Kashmir

16/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: Police has booked a notorious drug peddler arrested in Srinagar under Public safety Act.
“Officers in Srinagar had earlier seized huge quantity of contraband substance from the possession of a notorious drug peddler identified as Shakeel Ahmad Bhat alias Vover R/o Matti Mohalla Shalimer. A Case FIR No 05/2019 under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Harwan in this regard,” a police spokesman said.
Accordingly the case was duly processed and the arrested drug peddler was detained under Public Safety Act after obtaining sanctions from the concerned authorities and shifted to Kotbilwal Jail Jammu.
“Community members are requested to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood. Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt as per law,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, police arrested two drug peddlers in Srinagar and recovered contraband substance from their possession.
“Officers at a checkpoint established at Dhood Ganga bund Kakasarai Karanagar intercepted a Chassis passenger Auto with two persons on board. They have been identified as Umer Irshad Khan resident of Naid Kadal Srinagar and Adil Ameen Kanth resident of Zonimar Srinagar. During checking, officers were able to recover contraband substance from their possession. They have been arrested,” the police spokesman said.

Azad’s absence may make things difficult for new J&K Cong incharge

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

15/10/2020

Azad’s absence may make things difficult for new J&K Cong incharge

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 14: Senior leader of the Congress Party Rajni Patil, who was recently appointed as J&K incharge, while winding up her 4-day maiden visit to the union territory batted for restoration of J&K’s statehood and expressed dismay over revocation of Article 370.
It’s in place to mention here that Patil replaced Ambika Soni as J&K incharge. Soni and former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad were dropped from the list of national office bearers of the Congress after they signed a letter seeking change in party’s leadership.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “It seems that the Congress Party is confused. When Azad met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi a few months ago he didn’t talk about the abrogation of Article 370. Top Congress leaders too have maintained silence over this issue. But the new J&K incharge of the Congress Party Rajni Patil termed the Centre’s move as unilateral.”
He said, “The Congress, which ruled the country for so many years, stands at crossroads today. The old horses, who remained loyal to Nehru-Gandhi family throughout their lives, stand sidelined and it seems that the ones who have donned their mantles will take time to understand the politics of the regions they have been assigned.”
An observer said, “When the revocation of Article 370 was discussed in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, in August last year the Congress leaders had opposed the move, but after that they went in a silent mode. Patil by talking about Article 370 while addressing a press conference in Srinagar has tried to send a message that her party doesn’t support the Centre’s August 5, 2019 decision, but the Congress leaders maintaining silence over this issue in other parts of the country has revealed it all.”
The observer said, “The Congress Party, which shared power with PDP and National Conference for 12 consecutive years in J&K, as on date stands decimated in Jammu, its erstwhile bastion. The influential leaders, including former ministers have deserted the Congress in Jammu. In Kashmir party has got just few faces, who too are struggling to make their presence felt on the ground.”
He said, “The grand old party will have to look for different ways and means for re-entering into Jammu and Kashmir’s political arena. If Ghulam Nabi Azad stays aloof it will make the revival of the Congress Party in J&K very difficult. Since the day he has been dropped from the list of national office bearers of the party his loyalists have turned silent. Azad getting sidelined could prove to be a big setback for the party. The new J&K incharge will have to work very hard to revive the Congress in J&K. Mere statements won’t work.”

2 militants killed in Shopian gunfight

Front

Precious Kashmir

15/10/2020

Srinagar, Oct 14: Two militants were killed in a brief encounter, which ensued after security forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday.

Official sources said that following specific information about presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), CRPF and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in orchards at Chakura, Shopian.

However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the orchards after sealing all exit points, militants hiding there, opened fire. “Security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter, ‘ he said.

Officials said that two militants were killed in brief exchange of fire when they tried to break the security cordon and flee. “The identity of the militants is being ascertained,” they said.

Officials said security forces have been deployed in strength in adjoining areas to prevent any law and order problem.

Troops foil BAT action in Kupwara: Army

Front

Precious Kashmir

15/10/2020

Srinagar, Oct 14: Troops on Wednesday foiled suspect Pakistan Border Action Team (BAT) action and infiltration bid by militants at Line of Control (LoC) in the frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir, a Defence Ministry spokesman said this afternoon.
He said troops guarding the LoC noticed suspected BAT action in Tangdhar sector early this morning. Troops immediately swung into action and foiled BAT action, he said.

Early this morning, troops observed suspicious activity of three to four intruders near a forward post along the LoC. However, timely action by alert troops averted infiltration bid, he said adding a massive search operation has been launched and entire area is under surveillance.
He said operation is under progress. However, no contact was established with the militants.

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