New Delhi, Oct 1: Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said that it has filed prosecution complaint against chief of Jamat-ul-Dawa Hafiz Sayeed and his deputy Shahid Mehmood, Mohammad Kamran and a Delhi based hawala operator Mohammad Salim under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the ongoing investigations in militant financing case in India.
ED initiated investigation under PMLA based on charge sheet filed by National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Salim and Mohammad Kamran under Section 120B, 121 of IPC, 1860 read with Section 17, 18, 21, 38 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
Accused Mohammad Salman has been found to be involved in receiving funds, from a proscribed organisation Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) operators and his associates, through illegally operated hawala channel here in India.
Investigation under PMLA revealed that funds were re-routed from Pakistan to Dubai and further to India through Hawala channels and Mohammad Salman was the recipient of funds sent by Mohammad Kamran and his associates Abdul Aziz Behlim and Arif Gulambashir Dharampuria, in Dubai, the ED officials said.
“Incriminating documents seized from the house of Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Salim and Mohammad Arif Gulambashir Dharampuria during the searches conducted by NIA and email correspondence reflect these hawala transactions by Mohammad Uzair to Mohammad Kamran, on the instructions of Mohammad Salman” the officials further said.
With respect to the inflow of funds from Dubai being received by Mohammad Salman from Mohammad Kamran and his associates in Dubai through Hawala channels, has been quantified on the basis of emails, receipts and registers maintained by accused whereas Mohammad Salman used the funds received from abroad for construction of Masjid at Uttawar in Palwal district in Haryana and marriages of poor girls of in and around area of village Uttawar, the probe agency official added.
The central financial probe resulted in quantification of ‘Proceeds of Crime’ to the tune of Rs 4.69 crore and three immovable property of accused Mohammad Salman, located in New Delhi, having a value of Rs 73.12 Lakh is attached provisionally under PMLA, the officials said adding that Mohammad Salman and Mohammad Salim are under Judicial Custody.

Demise widely condoled
Srinagar, Oct 1: Journalist Javid Ahmad, 31, who was working as a correspondent with daily Rising Kashmir, died of heart attack while on way to Srinagar from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday. The demise has been widely condoled.
A resident of Watergam Rafiabad, the journalist was on his way to Srinagar in a passenger vehicle when he suddenly fell unconscious after suffering a heart attack in Pattan. He was scheduled to attend meeting of the newspaper.
Precious Kashmir team condoles the demise of young soul and expresses solidarity with the bereaved family. May Allah rest his soul in peace.
Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG) also expressed shock over the sudden demise of the young reporter.
“The incident is not only tragic and shocking for the family of the young journalist but the entire media fraternity in Kashmir is pained at his sudden demise”, KEG said in a condolence message.
Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) also condoled the sudden demise of Javid.
In this connection, a condolence meeting was convened in DIPR complex Srinagar under the chairpersonship of Director, Information & PR, Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar wherein deep sorrow and grief was expressed over the demise.
The Director said that his death is a great loss to the media fraternity as the deceased played a leading role in highlighting the local public issues through his work.
She also offered her deepest condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and courage for the bereaved family to bear the huge loss.
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari expressed deep shock and grief over the demise of Javid.
In a condolence message issued here, Bukhari expressed solidarity with the bereaved family, Rising Kashmir management and its editorial staff and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. “I am shocked beyond words. The death of a young journalist is not an irreparable loss for the family or the press/media house in which he or she works but for the society as a whole,” Bukhari observed.
National Conference expressed profound grief over the sudden demise of Javaid Ibn Nazir.

The Party Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani while expressing condolences over the demise, prayed for peace to the deceased and fortitude to the grief stricken family to bear the irreparable loss. “I am pained to hear about the sudden demise of a talented and budding journalist Javaid Ibn Nazir. I pray to Almighty to grant him the highest stations in Jannah. I also express my solidarity with grief stricken family, associates and friends of his,” he said.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 1: In a significant decision, the Public Investment Board (PIB), in the   Ministry of Finance, Government of India has recommended that the 850 MW Ratle HEP be developed through a Joint Venture company (JVC) between the JK Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).

The PIB has also recommended an investment approval for Rs 5281.94 crore for the project including an  Infusion of Equity of Rs. 808.14 crore by NHPC in the Joint venture company. The equity contribution of JKPDC in the company pegged at  Rs. 776.44 crore will be provided as grant from the Government of India.

The recommendations of the PIB will pave the way for final approval of the project and an early beginning of work on the project. It may be recalled that 850 MW Ratle HEP was the first project in India which was awarded through tariff-based bidding. However, the project was stalled due to the unilateral withdrawal by the erstwhile developer from the Project. All the clearances for the project are already in place and the project is expected to be completed within 36 months of the start of work.  The initiation of the project will be yet another step in adding to the revenues of the UT from its abundant hydro resources.

It may be recalled that although a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed among J&K Power Development Department, J&K State Power Development Corporation Limited and NHPC Limited on 3rd Feb, 2019, regarding the execution of the project in JV mode, yet the matter had remained pending for want of a final decsion on the mode of execution. The government of J&K had been consistently arguing for exceution of the work in the JV mode as agreed in the Feb 2019 MoU.

J&K has over 20,000 MW of hydro power potential, out of which 16000 MW has been identified. With the PIB decision, J&K would have moved another step closer to harnessing nearly 2500 MW of this potential. While the 1000 MW Pakaldul project  and 624 MW Kiru are already under exceution by Chenab Valley Power Project Private Limited (CVPPL), a Joint Venture of JKSPDC, NHPC and PTC India limited, the 540 MW Kawar is likely to be taken up shortly.

Now that the decks have been cleared for the 850 MW Ratle project too to come up after incorporation of Joint Venture company i.e Jammu Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited, an additional 3000 MW will be available to supplement the demand-supply position in J&K and boost the overall economy of the UT.

Nasir Azam

Srinagar, Oct 1:  The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has questioned poor performance of Jammu & Kashmir authorities under the National Afforestation Programme.

A performance audit of the NAP for the period between 2011-12 to 2016-17 has brought to fore that programme implementation had suffered in J&K due to non-observance of guidelines and deviation from the objectives during execution of various activities and there was shortfall in achievement of targets under plantation.

“The overall forest cover to geographical area in the State decreased from 16.09 per cent in 2009 to 15.78 per cent in 2015. Against target of 66 per cent of geographical area in hills of the State to be covered under forest and tree cover as per National Forest Policy 1988, only 24.02 per cent was under forest and tree cover, leaving a shortfall of 41.98 per cent of the envisaged goal,” reads the report which was tabled in the Parliament last week, a copy of which is with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The NAP was formulated in the 10th Five Year Plan by merging four Centrally Sponsored Afforestation Schemes of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Its objectives include sustainable development and management of forest resources, increase and/ or improvement of Forest and Tree Cover (FTC).

According to the CAG report, seven Forest Development Agencies could not be brought under the ambit of the programme by the State Forest Development Agency during 2010-17, despite the fact that five of them had formulated and submitted their plans costing Rs 37.59 crore to the State Forest Development Agency which was not forwarded to the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board.

It also states that Receipt of funds from the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board by the State Forest Development Agency were allocated disproportionately to Forest Development Agencies.

“Against release of Rs 4.44 crore by the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board to the State Forest Development Agency for 15 Forest Development Agencies, only Rs 1.80 crore were released (2013-14), whereas against release of Rs 5.46 crore for nine Forest Development Agencies, Rs 9.23 crore were released,” it states.

According to the report, funds to the tune of Rs 24.46 crore were retained by the State Forest Development Agency up to 265 days and further there was delay in release of Rs 6.30 crore up to 681 days by the Forest Development Agencies to Village Forest Committees.

“Neither five-year perspective plans nor annual plan of operations were prepared by the Forest Development Agencies. Only Annual Works Programme of the forest territorial area were prepared and Forest Committees/ potential village members,” it reads. (KNO)

‘No adverse fallout in Ganderbal, Udhampur’

Srinagar, Oct 1:  Demanding restoration of 4G internet service in entire Jammu and Kashmir, former  Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said there was no adverse fallout in Udhampur and Ganderbal where the service was resumed on August 16,2020.

The government extended the ban on high speed 4G internet service in the Jammu and Kashmir till October 21. However, the 4G service will remain available in Udhampur and Ganderbal districts.

Reacting to extension of ban on the high speed internet till October 21, Omar tweeted, “ Has there been any adverse fallout in Udhampur or Ganderbal after 4G connectivity was restored? If the security parameters have remained the same & not worsened then 4G should be restored across entire J&K. 4G was alleged to be linked to increased anti-India propaganda”.

On August 16, 4G high speed internet service was restored in Udhampur in Jammu and Ganderbal in Kashmir.

Principal Secretary Home department Shaleen Kabra in an order issued on Wednesday evening extending the ban on 4G internet said that inputs from the law enforcement agencies suggest that concerted efforts continue to be made by Pakistan, with the help of separatists and anti-national elements within the J&K to facilitate infiltration of militants, which depends heavily on high speed internet. It will also be used to propagate militancy by misuse of social media through circulation of provocative audio and video content, fake news, and coordination of militant activities, which too rely upon high speed mobile connectivity, the order said.

All communication network, including landlines, of all cellular companies, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), were suspended on August 5, 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated and J&K split into two Union Territories.

Later landline and 2 G internet service was resumed in a phased manner in Kashmir after a number of petitions were filed in the Supreme Court.

Tasaduq Hussain
Leh, Oct 1: With LAHDC election nearing, seven BJP core party members along with 400 workers from three panchayat Halkas in Leh Thursday resigned from the party citing no mandate to sitting executive councilor and the current functioning.
With this mass resignation, a total number of 10 core members including Sayeeda Ladakhi and a sitting councilor, Tsering Wangdus have resigned from the BJP within a week citing various issues with the party and blaming the party for working with personal agenda.
About 10 core members including a sitting councilor have resigned from BJP blaming the party people for working with their personal agenda and not giving the mandate to executive councilor having a good record in their respective constituency.
Addressing a joint press conference, Kanchok Stanzin, along with other members said, “That we are the BJP core members from the last seven years. We have not been given due respect in the party particularly in selecting the mandate, the party cannot deny the contribution of these workers in past many elections.”
“We have not been taken in the confidence in deciding the party mandate, which is totally Injustice for the sting executive councilor of LADHC. It is really disheartening to see bypassing the Mandal decision which is not acceptable for all of us. This party has completely ignored the Mandal recommendation and given the mandate without consulting a senior worker from Chusal mandal,” he said.
“We don’t get justification behind not giving party mandate to a sitting councilor, If not, at least it should be given to a party worker as the mandal president has already given in the list,” the members said in a statement.
In the statement the members said, “We have decided to submit our resignation from three panchayat halka, kargyam,mann pangong A and pangong B. And unanimously resolved to dissolve mandal chusul for this decision.”
Sonam Punchok wangle, vice president BJP Leh district who also resigned from the party separately stated that he have been finding it difficult to reconcile either with the current functioning of the party. (KNO)

Srinagar, Oct 1: The fast-unto-death started by Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) president and youth leader in support of their demands ended after 248 hours last night after District Magistrate (DM) Srinagar handed over a written assurance that their demands will be addressed.
A spokesman of the Samiti said today that KPSS president Sanjay K Tickoo and youth leader Sandeep Koul have started fast-unto-death in support of their demands, including recruitment of over 500 unemployed youths of non-migrant Kashmiri pandit community who did not migrated from here when majority members of the community migrated to different parts of the country in early 90s due to eruption of militancy.
He said at around 8.30 pm on Wednesday, Deputy Commission Srinagar, Shahid Choudry visited Tickoo at Sidhi Vinayak Ganesh mandir Ganpathyar Habba Kadal in the old city and handed over a written assurance that the demands projected by KPSS will be addressed and taken to logical conclusion.
He said earlier emissaries of the Chief Secretary as well as the Additional Deputy Commissioner visited the venue a number of times to negotiate with the KPSS President in the last two days.
The fast has ended after 248 hours, he said and thanked all political parties and individuals who supported the KPSS demands.
The KPSS has alleged sabotage by Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) Department for the past two years despite orders by High Court, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the appointment of 500 unemployed youth of the community.
Other demands were easy and stress free process of providing bonafide certificates to all Pandits, monthly financial aid to 808 non-migrant Pandit families living in Valley, providing accommodation to all deserving Pandits as per recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs and extension of benefits of Migrant Welfare Fund to the non-migrant Pandits living in the Valley.

Baramulla, Oct 1:  Concerned over deaths due to drowning in river Jehlum after release of water from reservoirs without blowing siren, police has taken up the matter with National Hydroelectric Power Company (NHPC) and Lower Jhelum Hydro Project (LJHP) in border town of Uri to install sirens and take other measures to prevent such accidents in future.

Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Uri Junaid Wali has written a letter to General Manager of NHPC and Executive Engineering (EE) LJHP on Thursday that sirens installed are not being regularly blown before the water is released from reservoirs into the river leading to drowning accidents in Gantamullah and Uri.

The letter further said that in order to make the siren more effective to warn people while taking bath, security guards be deployed near the siren or alarm lighting installation. However, the letter further said that there are some area where no siren has been installed.

Wali in the letter said the people of the adjacent villages living on both sides of the dams and river are complaining that they have lost various human lives due to release of water from reservoirs without siren. Residents are demanding installation of the siren on both sides of the river on a priority basis so that such incidents can be avoided.

The letter said that non-installation of siren and fencing accounts for negligence from the concerned agencies since it is the primary responsibility of these agencies managing the hydel projects to take preventive measures.

Wali further said it is such requested that the above-mentioned demands with respect to dam sites on river Jhelum and LJHP canal be kindly fixed.

The letter also mentioned the names of youth who died due to drowning while taking bath in the river in the recent past due to release of water without blowing siren.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Oct 1:  Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo Thursday chaired a meeting to review the status of COVID-19 across Jammu and Kashmir at Civil Secretariat here.

The meeting was attended by  Director National Health Mission (NHM), Bhupinder Kumar, Deputy Commissioners, CMOs of all the districts through video conferencing while as Director Health Services Kashmir, Samir Mattoo and other senior officials of health department attended the meeting in person.

Speaking during the meeting, Atal Dulloo impressed upon the officers to make public adopt the COVID appropriate behaviour strictly   besides increasing the frequency of daily testing.

The Financial Commissioner further stressed upon the Deputy Commissioners and other officials  to keep themselves prepared for the forthcoming winter season and festive season and ensure that the unlock 5.0 guidelines are strictly implemented.

Dulloo directed the officers for constant monitoring of home isolation patients besides regular monitoring of health through phone in facility. He exhorted upon the officers to increase the frequency of calls to home isolation patients.

Underlining the need for effective strategy for containing the spread of virus, the Financial Commissioner asked the DCs to follow the strategy of constant surveillance, proper clinical management besides adopting other SOPs strictly.

Dulloo directed the DCs to constantly attend the training sessions with National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) teams regarding containment of virus and other strategies. He asked them to increase the contact tracing by forming teams at lower levels besides uploading the reports of tests conducted on ICMR portal.

The Financial Commissioner further asked the DCs that Govt. of India is starting Information Education and Communication (IEC) campaign regarding COVID-19 from 7th October, 2020 for sensitising the people regarding developing COVID appropriate behaviour. He impressed on the DCs that the campaign will mainly focus on informing people regarding use of wearing masks, maintaing social distance, hand hygiene and other measures for containing the virus.

Dulloo exhorted upon the DCs to utilise the services of PRI representatives, teachers, Asha Workers, Anganwadi workers and other frontline workers besides religious leaders  for reaching out to the masses during IEC campaign.

During the course of meeting, Director NHM gave a detailed presentation regarding status of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Baramulla, Oct 1: A woman allegedly attempted to commit suicide by setting herself on fire on Thursday in apple township of Sopore in this north Kashmir, official sources said.
They said a 32-year-old women allegedly set herself ablaze after pouring kerosene oil over her body at her Sadiq Colony residence in Sopore this morning.
However, she was immediately rushed to Sub District Hopsital (SDH) Sopore from where she was referred to Srinagar in a critical condition.
It was not immediately known why she tried to took this extreme step, they said adding police has registered a case and initiated proceedings.