LG Sinha, Advisor Sharma congratulate winners
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 22: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today congratulated the teachers from Jammu and Kashmir who have been selected for the prestigious National Award to Teachers-2020, announced by the Union Ministry of Education.
In his message of felicitations, the Lt Governor said that Education is the cornerstone of development of any region, and Teachers are doing an outstanding service by paving a solid foundation for the students and guiding them towards a bright future.
Such appreciation of dedicated service by the teachers will serve as a great inspiration to many to take up the noble profession as a career, he added.
Pertinently, two teachers- Mr Sunil Kumar, GMS Jakhar, Udhampur and Roohi Sultana, BMS Kashipor Tailbal, Srinagar J&K have been selected for National Award for Teachers-2020.
Meanwhile, LG’s Advisor K K Sharma also felicitated the teachers saying these types of awards serve as a morale booster for others as well to strive for excellence and contribute their best in the educational field.
Director School Education Jammu Anuradha Gupta also congratulated the award winners.

New Delhi, Aug 22: The Supreme Court has set a new deadline and asked the trial court Judge in Lucknow to pronounce the verdict by September 30, in cases related to the demolition of Babri masjid against BJP leaders L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti.
“We give time till September 30, to trial court judge in Lucknow to pronounce the judgement in the Babri masjid demolition case,” a three-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman said, in its recent order.
The Apex Court had earlier given time till, August 31, to pronounce the judgement, but keeping in view the fact that as the trial court judge in Lucknow needed to see certain documents, thereby the top court extended the deadline till September 30.
The trial court CBI judge in Lucknow, S K Yadav, is hearing the case against Advani, Joshi and many other senior leaders for their alleged involvement in the criminal Conspiracy in the Babri masjid demolition case.

Peerzada Waseem
Baramulla, Aug 22: A top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander was killed in an encounter that broke out between militants and security forces at Check-e-Saloosa village of Kreeri area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said Saturday.
They said that acting on a specific input, joint teams of army, police and the CRPF launched a cordon in Check-e-Saloosa area of Kreeri in Baramulla at 11 am. “When joint teams zeroed in on a suspected spot where militants were hiding, they came under heavy volume of fire leading to a gunbattle,” the official told KNO.
“One unidentified militant was killed in the initial exchange of fire.”
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) north Kashmir range, Suleman Choudhary said that a joint operation was launched by army, police and CRPF after a specific inputs were received that militants were present in orchards. “When searches were intensified, the forces came under fire that was retaliated triggering an encounter. After exchange of fire, one militant was killed. It was a five hour long operation after which extensive search was conducted and there was no other militant found,” the DIG told reporters at the site of encounter, adding that one AK-47 rifle and five magazines were recovered from the slain militant.
The DIG while replying to a query that whether today’s encounter was linked to recently gunfight at Kreeri, Baramulla, said: “It’s subject to investigation and nothing can be said at this point of time.”
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that the slain militant was active since 2018 and was a resident of Pakistan. “He has been identified as Anees alias Chota Sultan,” he said, adding that the slain was top commanders of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit.
Pertinently, today’s encounter comes three days after a deadly encounter at Kreeri area of Baramulla where two top Lashkar-e-Toiba commanders among three militants and six security forces’ personnel including three soldiers were killed.

New Delhi, Aug 22: Reiterating Unlock 3.0 guidelines, the Centre on Saturday asked all States and Union Territories (UTs) not to restrict the movement of people and goods, as reports of such obstructions have been impacting supply chains resulting in disruption in economic activity and employment.
In a letter written to the Chief Secretaries of States and UTs on August 22 that such restrictions amount to violation of guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on July 27, under provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said there were reports that local level restrictions on movement were being imposed by various districts in the states.
He referred to the para 5 of the Unlock 3 guidelines which clearly says “that there shall be no restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods.
Drawing attention of the top authorities in the States and the UTs, the Home Secretary said such restrictions have been creating problems in inter-state movement of goods and services and “are impacting supply chains, resulting in disruption in economic activity and employment”.

The Unlock 3 guidelines also stated that no separate permission, approval or e-permit will be required for movement of persons and goods for cross land border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries, the Home Secretary reminded the State/UT authorities and said restrictions amount to “violation of guidelines issued by the MHA”.
The letter requested all states and UTs that no restrictions should be imposed on movement of goods and persons and the State administration needs to ensure the implementation of Unlock 3 guidelines must be followed in letter and spirit.
With an aim to combat COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had first announced a complete lockdown with effect from March 25 which was subsequently extended till May 31. Since June 1, the unlock process began with the opening up of industrial activities and offices across the country and more relaxation on economic activities gradually.

Srinagar, Aug 22: Traffic was restored on Saturday afternoon after remaining suspended due to landslides and shooting stones since Thursday on the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.
Meanwhile, the 86-km-long Mughal road, seen as an alternative to Srinagar-Jammu highway, and highway, linking Ladakh Union Territory (UT) with Kashmir were through for one-way traffic.

We have allowed traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway and vehicles, stranded since Thursday have been allowed to move towards their respective destinations, a traffic police official told UNI this afternoon.

He said the highway was closed for traffic movement on Thursday afternoon due to landslides and shooting stones, triggered by rain at several places between Banihal and Ramban. However, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) put into service sophisticated machines to clear the landslides and open the highway. But continued landslides and shooting stones were hampering the road clearance operation. Since last night the weather has improved and shooting stone has stopped, he said adding landslide clearance operation has been intensified.

He said Kashmir bound essential commodity vehicles which had left Jammu Thursday morning were stopped at several places, particularly in Udhampur. Similarly, some vehicles from this side, particularly private and passenger vehicles, having valid travel permit, have been stopped on this side of the Ramban.
The road is now through after landslides and shooting stones were cleared, he said adding stranded vehicles are moving towards their respective destinations. Fresh vehicles from Kashmir to Jammu will be allowed once the stranded vehicles are cleared, he said.

Meanwhile, stranded passengers and truckers had alleged that they could not get any food due to closure of all hotels and other restaurants since March due to COVID-19 pandemic. Elderly persons, women and children were the worst hit, passengers said adding in some cases truck drivers provided some food.

He said Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was through despite rain. However, only vehicles, carrying fresh fruit, will be allowed to ply from Shopian to Jammu between 1100 hrs 1600 hrs and on the vehicle will be allowed after the deadline.

Vehicles carrying essentials will also ply on Srinagar- Sonamarg in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal to Gumari on other side of the Zojila pass on the highway connecting Ladakh with Kashmir.

United News of India
New Delhi, Aug 22:  The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday said that a cache of arms and ammunition was recovered during a search operation conducted by the Force, after the BSF shot dead five Pakistani intruders, who violated the ‘International Border’ (IB) and tried to infiltrate near the Tarn Taran district in Punjab.

‘The alert BSF troops killed five Pak Armed intruders and successfully seized nine packets, suspected to be heroin, along with one AK 47, two magazines, 27 live rounds and four nine mm Berretta Pistols with magazines and 109 live rounds in the area of responsibility of 103 Battalion of the Force in Firozpur Sector.

‘Two mobile phones and Pakistani Rupees 610 were also recovered from the encounter site,’ they added.

On the wee hours of Saturday, alert BSF guards on duty noticed some suspicious movement ahead of the Border Security Fence.

Sensing the situation, the BSF sentry immediately launched a Special operation ahead of the Border Security Fence, cordoned the area and challenged the intruders to stop and surrender, but the Pakistani armed intruders did not pay any heed to the challenges and opened fire on troops.

Hence, to stop their further misadventure and in self-defence, the BSF guards retaliated with fire, killing all five armed intruders.

Orders seizure of properties of Dawood Ibrahim, Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, others
Agencies
New Delhi, Aug 22: Pakistan has imposed tough financial sanctions on 88 banned militant groups and their leaders.
Among those who face these sanction, according to a media report, is Dawood Ibrahim. Others include Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar. The government has ordered the seizure of all of their properties and freezing of bank accounts.
The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) put Pakistan on the grey list in June 2018 and asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action by the end of 2019, but the deadline was extended later due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The government issued two notifications on August 18 announcing sanctions on Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Saeed, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Azhar, and underworld don Ibrahim.
Ibrahim, who heads a vast and multifaceted illegal business, has emerged as India’s most wanted man after the 1993 Mumbai bombings.
The Pakistan government has proscribed 88 leaders and members of terrorist groups, in compliance with the new list issued by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recently, Pakistani daily The News reported.
The notifications announced sanctions on key figures of terror outfits such as the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), JeM, Taliban, Daesh, Haqqani Group, al-Qaeda, and others.
The government ordered the seizure of all movable and immovable properties of these outfits and individuals, and freezing of their bank accounts, the report said.
These militants have been barred from transferring money through financial institutions, purchasing of arms and travelling abroad, it said.

The notifications ratified a complete ban on all leaders and members of defunct Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hiding in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas.
The paper reported that Saeed, Azhar, Mullah Fazlullah (alias Mullah Radio), Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Muhammad Yahya Mujahid, Abdul Hakeem Murad, wanted by Interpol, Noor Wali Mehsud, Fazal Raheem Shah of Uzbekistan Liberation Movement, Taliban leaders Jalaluddin Haqqani, Khalil Ahmad Haqqani, Yahya Haqqani, and Ibrahim and his associates were on the list.
The notifications said that leadership of the defunct TTP, and other organisations including Lashkar-e-Taiba, JeM, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Tariq Geedar group of TTP, Harkatul Mujahideen, Al Rasheed Trust, Al Akhtar Trust, Tanzim Jaish-al Mohajireen Ansar, Jamaat-ul Ahrar, Tanzim Khutba Imam Bukhari, Rabita Trust Lahore, Revival of Islamic Heritage Society of Pakistan, Al-Haramain Foundation Islamabad, Harkat Jihad Al Islami, Islami Jihad Group, Uzbekistan Islami Tehreek, Daesh of Iraq, Emirates of Tanzim Qafqaz working against Russia, and Abdul Haq of Uyghurs of Islamic Freedom Movement of China have been banned.
Though various sanctions were in place against almost all of those listed by the UNSC, the government through the new notifications consolidated and documented the previously announced measures, the report said.
The UNSC Sanctions Committee deals with sanctions on entities and individuals declared as terrorists. All states, including Pakistan, are bound to implement the sanctions which include assets freeze, an arms embargo, and travel ban.
It is believed that the latest move by the Pakistan government is part of its efforts to wriggle out of the grey list of the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog FATF.
On August 12, Pakistan Parliament’s lower house passed four bills related to the tough conditions set by the FATF after the government and the Opposition reached a consensus.
The legislation was part of the efforts by Pakistan to move from the FATF’s grey list to the white list.
In its third and final plenary held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic in June, the FATF decided to keep Pakistan in the “grey list” as Islamabad failed to check the flow of money to militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The plenary was held under the Chinese Presidency of Xiangmin Liu.

With Pakistan’s continuation in the ‘grey list’, it will be difficult for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB, and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the nation which is in a precarious financial situation.

40 year old land dispute ended in compromise

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 22:  When entire citizenary including the litigants are in deep mental stress due to ill effects of COVID-19 Pandemic, J&K State Legal Services Authority, under the guidance of its patron-in-chief, Justice Gita Mittal, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and under instructions of Justice Rajesh Bindal, Judge, High Court of J&K & Executive Chairman of the J&K State Legal Services Authority, today organized 1st E-Lok Adalat/Video Conferencing Lok Adalat through different digital platform modes.

This first E-Lok Adalat was organized in all the Districts of UTs of J&K and Ladakh to achieve the goal of Access to Justice for all and to help the poor litigants tide over their financial problems and untold mental stress.

As per the information received from the districts, out of a total   5757 cases taken up by 110 Benches in the day long E-Lok Adalat at various courts across the twin UTs, 4273 Cases were disposed of and an amount of Rs. 11,49,45,449 was awarded as compensation/settlement amount in civil, criminal, labour disputes, Electricity and Water Bills cases, Land Acquisition, Family matters, cheque dishonor and Bank Recovery cases.

The disposed cases include a smart number of old cases including one 40 year old land dispute in Bhaderwah, which ended in compromise between the parties on the intervention of the bench.

1. K. Sharma, Member Secretary, J&K SLSA thanked all the participants including the Judicial Officers, Secretaries DLSAs, Advocates, representatives of insurance companies & banks, staff of the courts & Legal Services Institutions & litigants for their pragmatic approach in settlement of cases in such a large number.