Srinagar, Sep 9: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah is looking for a suitable alternative house as he has decided to vacate official accommodation at high security Gupkar road by October end.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter Vice President of the National Conference (NC) on Wednesday said “  My letter to the J&K administration. I will be vacating my government accommodation in Srinagar before the end of October. The point to note is that contrary to stories planted in the media last year I received no notice to vacate & have chosen to do so of my own accord”.

In a letter to the Administrative Secretary, Estate Hospitality and Protocol Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar said he was allotted house Gupkar-1, in 2002 in his capacity as Member of Parliament (MP) Srinagar Constituency. Consequently to my election as Chief Minister in 2008, the adjoining house was renovated and the complex of G1 and G 5 were used as the official CM residence from October 2010 onwards. He said he continued to remain in occupation of this accommodation subsequent to his demitting the office as CM in January 2015. As the rules allowed for me to retain an accommodation in Srinagar or Jammu and I choose to retain an accommodation in Srinagar, the letter said.

Omar further said in the letter “consequent upon the change of entitlements for former chief ministers of J&K some months ago,I now find myself in unauthorized occupation of accommodation at Gupkar road as no attempt has been made to regularize the allotment to me on the security or other grounds. This is the situation that is unacceptable to me. I have never held on to any government property I was not entitled to and have no intention to start now,” the former CM said.

He further said he has begun the search for a suitable alternative accommodation. The process is taking long because of the constrains caused by COVID-19. I intend to complete the process in 8 to 10 weeks and should be in a position to hand over the Gupkar road accommodation accordingly, the letter dated July 31, 2020 said.

Srinagar, Sep 9: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought a report regarding unauthorized construction of religious nature on public streets, parks and public places in J&K and Ladakh.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta directed the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to obtain a report from all the Deputy Commissioners about all the encroachments including their location, area encroached upon and details of the encroacher.

“The above information shall be complied within six weeks,” the court said as per Global News Agency, adding, “The information shall be placed before the Chief Secretaries of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, who shall cause the matter to be considered by all the concerned and competent authorities and a policy decision taken.”.

The court was hearing regarding illegal religious structures which have come up by way of encroachment on public land –public streets, public parks and public places.

The matter actually engaged the attention of the Supreme Court and it passed orders with respect to the removal of such illegal religious structures on the public land.

“As an interim measure, we direct that henceforth no unauthorized construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of Temple, Church, Mosque or Gurudwara etc. on public streets, public parks or other public places etc,” the apex court had ordered.

In respect of the unauthorized construction of religious nature which has already taken place, the State Governments and the Union Territories shall review the same on case to case basis and take appropriate steps as expeditiously as possible, it had said.

“In order to ensure compliance of our directions, we direct all the District Collectors and Magistrates/Deputy Commissioners in charge of the Districts to ensure that there is total compliance of the order passed by us,” the top court had said, adding, “….The Chief Secretaries, in consultation with the respective Governments are directed to frame the policy in respect of existing unauthorized construction of religious nature, which had already taken place. This Court directed the respondents to review the same on case to case basis. Let the policies be formulated by all the States and the Union Territories.”

To ensure the implementation of directions, the top court had directed that the implementation of the order should be supervised by the concerned High Courts. “We, consequently, remit the above matters to the respective High Courts for ensuring implementation of the orders in effective manner,” the top court had said, adding, “The concerned records be transmitted to the respective High Courts. The interim orders wherever passed, shall continue, until the matters are considered by the High Court.’

In case any clarification was required, the top court said that it would be open to the parties to approach the Court. “The High Court will have the jurisdiction to proceed in the Contempt of any of the orders passed by this Court.” (GNS)

Srinagar, Sep 9: Two persons were arrested along with arms and ammunition including M4 US carbine and an AK rifle by joint forces near Jawahar tunnel in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district late last night, official sources said on Wednesday.

They said the joint forces intercepted a truck (JK22B-1737), coming from Samba district, near Jawahar Tunnel and recovered one AK rifle with 2 magazines, one M4 US Carbine with 3 magazines, six Chinese pistols with 12 magazines.

Confirming it, a senior police officer told GNS that two persons onboard the truck have been arrested and their interrogation was going on.

The officer identified the duo as Bilal Ahmad son of Ghulam Muhammad Kuttey and Shahnwaz Ahmad Mir son of Zahoor Ahmad Mir, both residents of Shopian.

Besides, the officer said at least three more persons were detained on the lead of Kashmir police from the Ramban district in connection with the incident. “The investigations are underway and further details would be shared later,” the officer added. (GNS)

Srinagar, Sep 9: Two CPRF men were injured as suspected militants’ lobbed grenade on a party of the paramilitary forces in Lal chowk area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday evening.

A senior police officer told GNS that militants lobbed a grenade on CRPF party which two personnel received minor splinter injuries. They were shifted to nearby hospital for treatment, they said.

Meanwhile whole area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.

Meets residents of Border Villages, takes stock of their issues

Hiranagar, Sep 9: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today visited Border Outpost of BSF in Hiranagar Sector, where he was briefed by the IG BSF, NS Jamwal about the security preparedness and steps taken to strengthen the security along the International Border (IB).

The Lt Governor also observed IB from BOP, Bobiya.

Later, the Lt Governor visited Border Village Bobiya of Hiranagar area and took stock of the issues of the residents of Border Villages.

The local residents of Bobiya and other Border Villages apprised the Lt Governor about their concerning issues and sought his intervention for their early redressal. They requested him to review the distance fixed for Border area reservation and demanded for rationalization of the same. They also raised the issue of cultivation of land beyond the fencing.

The Lt Governor gave a patient hearing to the issues of the border residents and assured them that all their genuine concerns and demands would be taken up for consideration. He asked them to cultivate their land beyond fencing and further assured them that the Government will extend all possible assistance to the farmers for extracting optimum benefits out of the land beyond fencing.

The Lt Governor asked the BSF to cooperate with the locals in resolving their issues and also passed onspot directions to the concerned officers of Civil Administration for resolving the crucial issues of border residents.

The Lt Governor was accompanied by Hirdesh Kumar, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Transport Department; Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Mukesh Singh, IGP Jammu; NS Jamwal, IG BSF; O.P. Bhagat , Deputy Commissioner, Kathua and other senior officers.

Clears 58 cases with total investment of Rs 224.26 crore; 1700 persons to get employment

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 9: Union Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatra, today chaired a meeting of Empowered Committee (EC) for consideration of registration of manufacturing and service sector Units under Industrial Development Scheme-2017.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Director Industries & Commerce, Jammu Anoo Malhotra and Director Industries & Commerce, Kashmir Mehmood Shah through video conferencing from Jammu and Srinagar respectively.

During the meeting, 36 cases from Jammu division and 25 cases from Kashmir division were placed before the Empowered Committee for consideration of registration under IDS-2017, of which, 35 cases from Jammu Division and 23 cases of Kashmir Division were cleared by the Empowered Committee.

It is pertinent to mention that the total investment in the cases cleared by Empowered Committee is to the tune of Rs 224.26 crore and these units shall be able to generate employment for about 1700 persons.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 9:: Haamid Bukhari, Officiating Registrar of Companies, J&K and Ladakh has issued an office order dated 8th Sep, 2020 in which extension upto 3 months is given for companies to hold their Annual General meetings other than First AGM for the Financial Year that ended on 31 March, 2020.

In compliance to the directives of the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Registrar has exercised special powers vested in him under Companies Act, 2013 to give an extension upto 3 months for special reasons.

As per office order, the companies within the jurisdiction of UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh no longer require to file individual applications for seeking extensions. The decision has been taken based on the representations received from companies, Industry bodies and professional institutions pointing out the difficulties to hold AGMs for the financial year that ended on 31st March, 2020 due to COVID 19 Pandemic.

It is pertinent to mention that field offices (ROCs) of Ministry of Corporate Affairs had been notified as offices rendering essential services during the COVID 19 lock down.

Barring BJP, all parties favour postponement of elections

Tasaduq Hussain

Ladakh, Sept 9:  Amid border tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh and ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, clouds of uncertainty continue to hover over Ladakh Autnomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) polls as barring BJP, all other political parties have advocated postponement of hill council elections.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of deputy commissioner/CEO LADHC (Election authority) Leh with the political parties that include, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), congress party, Bhujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regarding the 6th LADHC election.

Except BJP all the three political parties suggested for the postponement of the much awaited LADHC election in view of the border tensions with China in Eastern Ladakh and ongoing global pandemic.

According to a document, of the four parties only BJP has agreed for the timely elections scheduled to be held in October while the other parties have cited ongoing pandemic and the border tensions with china in eastern Ladakh as a reason for postponement of the much awaited election.

The BJP during the meet proposed for timely election with suggestions that include, permissible gathering of 20 to 50 people with laid SOPs for rallies, restrictions on number of vehicles as well as on number of people (There should not be more than two persons in each vehicle), EVM used should be sanitized after each vote cast and creation of sub polling booth within the polling booth.

The representatives of Congress demanded postponement of election in view of the increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases and prevailing border situation and said that the election should be held once the situation normalizes.

The Aam Aadmi Party , which would be contesting its maiden LADHC polls, too stressed that it wouldn’t be appropriate time to conduct election in view of Covid-19 pandemic and demanded postponement of elections.

The party said it ballot boxes were used, this might prove a potential source of contamination like EVM machines.

The AAP also said that due to the ongoing border tension campaigning in border villages might not be possible thereby resulting in lower electoral process.

The BSP representatives in the meeting said that keeping in view of the current COVID-19 and border situation, the election should be postponed

The chair informed that the suggestions have been recorded.

Pertinently, Ladakh has so far reported over 3000 COVID positive cases with over 800 active positive cases among which only 35 have died of Covid of which 22 belong to Kargil and 13 from Leh—(KNO)

Srinagar, Sept 9:  A youth died after he fell down from a walnut tree in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Wednesday, official sources said.

They said a youth identified as Irfan Ahmad Trag was plucking walnuts from a tree when he suddenly fell down. He was immediately rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Police has registered a case and initiated proceedings.

Srinagar, Sept 9: The customers continued to suffer due to closure of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) main collection office for the third day on Wednesday due to COVID-19 pandemic.

However, a private agent of the BSNL was seen providing SIM and depositing the bill of customers after charging them Rs 10 extra.

Meanwhile, all activities in the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) headquarters in Srinagar remained suspended in view of spike in the coronavirus cases in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir.

The BSNL office in Srinagar was closed on Monday after some employees tested positive for coronavirus. This was the second time the BSNL main office, at Exchange road, near here was closed after some employees tested positive last month.

Scores of customers, including women, who had come from different areas of the city to deposit their mobile, brandband and telephone bills had to return to their homes disappointed for the third day today. They were informed by security guards posted at main gate that BSNL office, including main collection centre, has been closed.

However, they said they donot know reasons behind the closure of the office.

Meanwhile, a private agent of the BSNL was seen issuing SIM cards to people at a distance from the BSNL office for the third day today. Besides issuing fresh SIM cards, he was also deposit bills after charging Rs 10 extra.

The agent said the BSNL office has been closed after some employees tested positive.

PCC office in Srinagar also remained closed. Few officials were seen attending the office. However, all activities in the office remained suspended.