Precious Kashmir

ACB files chargesheet against ex PDP MLA, ex- SE Rural Engineering Wing

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07/08/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 6: Anti Corruption Bureau, J&K has filed chargesheet against former PDP MLA Abdul Rahim Rather and ex-Superintending Engineer Rural Engineer Wing Kashmir in case FIR no. 26/2011 of Police Station Vigilance Organization, Kashmir (now Police Station, Anti Corruption Bureau, Srinagar), in the court of Special Judge, Anti Corruption, Anantnag.

A spokesman of ACB said the Bureau filed charges of criminal conspiracy, forging documents and using them to commit cheating/fraud and corruption against four persons: a) Abdul Rahim Rather (former PDP MLA) S/O Mohammad Ahsan Rather R/O Nagam, Kokernag presently R/O Gulshanabad, tehsil and District Anantnag; b) Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar (retired as Superintendent Engineer from Rural Engineering Wing Kashmir of PWD R&B J&K) S/O Late Mohammad Yousuf Zargar R/O Opposite Beeco Gallery, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar; c) Bashir Ahmad Bhat (Draftsman, JKPCC Unit 2nd Srinagar) S/O Ghulam Mohammad Bhat R/O Herpora, Rathsuna tehsil Tral and d) Mohammad Yousuf Dar (Senior Assistant, JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam) S/O Abdul Rehman Dar R/O Kavpora, Marhama tehsil Bijbehara.

He said the matter pertains to period of 2008-2010, during which J&K Projects Construction Corporation Limited was mandated with execution of the jobs of construction of several buildings for various government offices in district Kulgam, including one for Mini Secretariat cum D.C office Kulgam. Abdul Rahim Rather ,who owns many brick kilns, entered into a criminal conspiracy with Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar, the then Deputy General Manager JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, the then Draftsman JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam and Mohammad Yousuf Dar, the then Camp Clerk JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam- with an object to secure for himself bulk orders for supply of bricks required for construction of buildings to house various government offices in district Kulgam, by corrupt and illegal means from JKPCC.

“To pursue object of the conspiracy, these four persons in connivance with each other, forged documents. They misused these forged documents to ensure exclusion of all other bidders from participation in fair competition and to keep bidders away from winning tenders for supply of bricks to JKPCC unit Kulgam. The said DGM, Ishfaq Ahmad intentionally gave limited publicity to notices inviting tenders for supply of bricks, by publishing NIT’s in a newspaper sparingly circulated in district Kulgam. All this was done to issue orders for supply of bricks to said Abdul Rahim Rather (beneficiary) at rates exorbitantly higher than even the highest selling rates inclusive of carriage charges of the bricks prevalent at that time in the area. Orders for supply of 918833 bricks @ Rs. 4.44 per brick were issued in favour of the blue eyed boy in contrast to the highest sale rate of Rs. 3.76 per brick inclusive of carriage charges prevalent at the time,” the spokesman said.

He said as a result, wrongful loss of Rs. 62,4,806 was caused to the public exchequer. The Vigilance Organisation (now Anti Corruption Bureau) had registered FIR no. 26/2011 under various sections of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Ranbir Penal Code. Evidence was collected and case of corruption and other crimes was established during investigation against the four accused persons. Accordingly, accused in the case, were produced in police custody before the court today for further judicial determination.

10 BJP members, independent sarpanch resign in south Kashmir

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Precious Kashmir

07/08/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Kokernag, August 6: After the twin attacks on BJP Panch and Sarpanch in Kulgam, at least ten party members and an independent Sarpanch have resigned in south Kashmir.

After the killing of BJP sarpanch Sajjad Ahmad on today morning, three BJP workers of Kulgam resigned.

They have been identified as Sabzar Ahmed Paddar, who was BJP Vice-President for Devsar, Nisar Ahmed Wani who was President Waripora Kund and worker Aashiq Hussain Pala.

Three more BJP workers resigned in Kokernag constituency of Anantnag district.

The trio have been identified as Shabir Ahmad Khan son of Ghulam Rasool Khan, Reyaz Ahmad Rather son of Abdul Aziz Rather and Abdul Khaliq Sheikh son of Mohammad Subhan Sheikh. They belong to Narupora Watnard Tehsil of Kokernag.

In a joint statement, the trio said, “We are resigning from the party and in future we have no concern with any political party. We all seek forgiveness from the people and if we have committed any mistake or any other wrongful act in the past, we ask the people to kindly forgive us.”

In the late afternoon, four more BJP members from Kulgam resigned from the party.

Among the four include BJP’s District Secretary for Kulgam Nisar Ahmed Mir, District General Secretary Shahzad Ahmad Bhat, party workers Mohammad Ayoub Ganai and Gul Mohammad Ganai.

Besides, an independent Sarpanch, Mohammd Iqbal Dar of Chandien Kulgam also resigned from the post of Sarpanch as according to him it didn’t fetch him anything being a Sarpanch since more than a year now and he was more concerned about the safety of his family.

All the four BJP members and independent Sarpanch sought forgiveness from public for their past and claimed complete dissociation from the party or the posts they were holding. (CNS)

Advisor Baseer visits G’bal, assures people of resolution of genuine demands

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

07/08/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Ganderbal, AUG 06: The Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Baseer Ahmad Khan Thursday visited Ganderbal where various delegations apprised him of issues and grievances of people pertaining to development and public service delivery, here at Conference Hall Mini secretariat Ganderbal.

During the visit, around 26 delegations from different walks of life of the district Ganderbal including District Traders Association Ganderbal, Pharari Speaking People, Transporters, Fruit Growers, Auqaf, BDCs, ULBs, Sarpanch Association Ganderbal, BJP Delegation, Development Forum Ganderbal, Shia Welfare Front Ganderbal, Gujjar Association Ganderbal, Civil Society, SHG of Engineers, etc. called on the Advisor who apprised him of their grievances and sought his intervention in ensuring outcome-based redressal of the same in time-bound manner.

Advisor gave them a patient hearing and said that their grievances would be examined and the concerned departments will be asked to redress all of their genuine concerns.

Delegation of Fruit Growers raised the demand for bringing C-grade fruit produce under Market Intervention Scheme, augmentation of marketing ventures, cold storage facility at Zazna Mandi, transportation policy, pricing policy, lift irrigation facility for higher reaches, Dry Fruit Mandi at Kangan, special development scheme for grape and cherry fruit.

Delegation of District Traders Association Ganderbal raised the issue of Pandach-Beehama road widening, rehabilitation of shopkeepers whose shops came under road widening, operationalization of Buss Yard and street lights in the town.

Responding to the demand of macadamization of roads, the Advisor said that funds are already approved for the macadamization of roads and asked the DC to ensure main and important roads including inner and link roads are macadamized on priority.

A delegation of BJP led by its District President, apprised the Advisor about the dearth of staff in District Hospital, functioning of Blood Bank, District Library, establishment of Juice Plant, flood protection bunds along Nallah Sindh, issue of illegal mineral extraction from Sindh, widening and macadamization of Safapoora-Ganderbal road besides Job opportunity to the local educated youth of the area on priority in Z-Morh tunnel.

Regarding encroachment and illegal extraction of minerals from the Nallah Sindh, the Advisor directed the DC to take stern action against such unscrupulous persons and asked the SSP Ganderbal to maintain law and order during such drive if needed.

The Advisor also met with various PRIs, BDCs and ULBs and took stock of their issues and concerns.

Stressing for responsive administration in the district to bring reforms in the Ganderbal town, the Advisor asked the district administration to take keen interest with respect to sanitation, beautification of town, conservation of environment and embankments of Nallah Sindh and make optimum use of available resources.

Many other deputations from the district Ganderbal and several individuals also projected their demands and developmental issues of their areas.

The Advisor assured the delegations of early resolution of all the issues brought into his notice along with quick response and appropriate action from the concerned departments.

Less than 30 per cent students attend virtual classes in Bandipora

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

07/08/2020

Riyaz Bhat

Srinagar, Aug 6: In north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, less than thirty per cent students of government-run-schools are attending virtual classes following the closure of Schools in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

In the district, out of a total number of 520 schools, only 414 are linked to virtual setup.

The official figures available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) revealed that nearly 70 per cent of students in the district were relying on onscreen classes, community schooling and home based assignments.

The district has a total enrolment of 46,337 students from 1st standard to 12th standard out of which only 14,000 students are getting the education through virtual classes in the ongoing pandemic.

According to the official figures, there are 3456 teachers, lecturers and masters in the district out of which nearly 2300 have been involved in the virtual class setup.

The official figures revealed that on Wednesday, a total of 23 percent students in the district attended virtual classes while the top officials said that most of the students lack online gadgets and tools and rely on community schooling or onscreen classes.

Of the 23 per cent students who attended virtual classes a day before include 4882 students attended the classes’ via online platform, 3167 via video conferencing and 2989 students attended the class via voice conference calls.

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Bandipora, Javid Iqbal told KNO that the figures of those students don’t remain static on a daily basis.

“Yesterday more than 11,000 students attended virtual classes and on Thursday more than 14,000 students attended the classes. The number of students attending the virtual classes keeps on changing on a daily basis,” he said.

“There are only two spots in the Gurez zone wherein internet connectivity is available and for those areas, we are focusing on community classes. We don’t have any option there except holding community classes,” Iqbal said.

“In Tulail area of Gurez, almost every area is cut off from the internet. In this area, we have nearly 80 schools and in the zone we have a total of nearly 99 schools,” he said—(KNO)

DPS Srinagar students bag 4 prestigious scholarships in top universities

City

Precious Kashmir

07/08/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 6: The recently announced results of Class XII (CBSE) brought much-needed cheer as the school attained a 100% result. However, besides proving their mettle in the board exams, several students did the school and valley proud by securing prestigious scholarships in top-ranked universities of the world. Asma Shakeel who scored 98.2 % has been offered a 100% scholarship worth a whopping Rupees Two Crore at Georgetown University at Qatar. She also bagged the prestigious South Asia Excellence Award in University of Nottingham worth 6500 Euros. Speaking on her achievement Asma said “I prepared for the admission process from Class IX. The school helped me in burnishing my resume by allowing me the opportunity to participate in several events like debates that helped me tailor my resume according to the requirements of the universities.”

Mohamad Ali who scored 97% has been accepted at the University of Manchester, University of Edinburgh. He has been offered scholarship worth 5000 Pounds by Glasgow University. However, he has decided to accept admission in Stockholm School of Economics, where he has been offered a 50% tuition fee scholarship. Mohamad Ali dedicated his success to his teachers and said, “I studied for a fixed number of hours every day to get good grades. However, extracurricular activities are equally important and integral to your application. It is important to show you have a strong all round profile to impress the selection team”

Syed Huda who scored 96% has been offered admission in the University of Central Florida, University of Illinois, Auburn University and the University of South Carolina, USA. She has also bagged a 95% scholarship worth Rupees 1 crore 90 Lacs at Georgetown University, Qatar campus. Speaking on her achievement Syed Huda said “I tried to tailor my application according to the needs of the universities I applied to. It is important to be clear about your strengths and goals when you write your Statement of Purpose. I spent considerable time researching it, and editing my SOP.”

Moreover, Asra Zakeeyah – a student of Class X, has been selected for one-year scholarship programme in USA under the prestigious KL-YES Programme. She will attend her one-year of high school at Sky line High School Arizona USA. Speaking on her selection Asra said “I am so excited about the prospect of studying in the US. It will allow me to closely observe and replicate the best teaching practices, and refine my personality by learning about a foreign culture. I can barely wait for the year to start.”

The award of scholarships is a direct result of the opportunities the school offers for students to explore their mettle. Students are encouraged to participate in various activities like debates, MUNs, symposiums and social work so as to develop both self-confidence and shore their CVs in accordance with the requirements of top universities.

Congratulating the students, the Principal Alistair R A Freese said, “It is so heartening to see our students are not bound by just local competition, but keen to prove themselves on the global stage as well.”

Chairman Vijay Dhar also congratulated the students.

“The success of the students is the success of the school. As we continue to produce trailblazers, the day is not far when Kashmiri scholarship will get its due place in the world,” he said.

CB books fraudsters for duping unemployed youth

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

07/08/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Aug 6: Crime Branch Jammu registered a formal case against the accused Hasudden Chand Bhi Sheikh alias A.T Sheikh S/O H.E Sheikh R/O Walika Tehsil Ahmed Nagar District Ahmed Nagar Maharashtra C/O 3C No.-35139, 485 Coy 107 Engineer Regiment (2) Hav. Jasbir Singh No.15562366 of Coy. 107 Engineering Regiment and Rajinder Parshad S/O Amar Nath R/O Fata Tehsil Nowshera Distt. Rajouri J&K, punishable U/S 420,465,467,468,471,120-B IPC for hatching criminal conspiracy and duping the complainants to the tune of Rs. 20 lacs on the pretext of providing them job in defense Border Roads wing, thereby causing huge losses to the complainant and wrongful gain for themselves.

“A written complaint was lodged by complainant – Mandeep Singh S/O Rajinder Singh R/O Vill. Sohal Thesil Akhnoor Distt Jammu and others, alleging therein that the accused No.(1) Sh. A.T Sheikh who was posted at Mumbai Eng. Records as Sub HC Coy. 107 Engr Regd C/O 56 APO had cheated the complainant’s by luring for their appointment in the defense Border roads wings organization. The complainant among others was induced to apply for the post of Pioneer for which he went to Pune for physical test in the army recruitment rally. The accused demanded money from the complainants for their appointment for the above mentioned posts and induced to transfer Rs 20.00 lacs to the accused through bank transactions. The complainant transferred the money in his bank accounts just to be defrauded only. The complainants immediately approached the concerned department where they came to know the fact that such call letters have not been issued by the concerned authorities etc,” a Crime branch spokesman said.

He said taking cognizance into the matter Crime Branch Jammu initiated a preliminary verification in light of the contents of the complaint and during the course of enquiry the allegations are prima facie established against the accused persons for cheating and duping the complainant and others of their hard earned money on the pretext of a Govt. Job.

The investigation of the criminal case has been set in motion for in-depth of probe.

1-year after change in J&K’s status-quo, mainstream parties try hard to remain relevant

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Front

Afaq Bhat

06/08/2020

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 5: Exactly after one year of the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A, political parties in Kashmir are making an attempt to dispel the notion that political formations in the Valley have lost relevance.
National Conference has taken a lead by breaking its silence over Centre’s last year decision to revoke J&K’s special status and its subsequent bifurcation into two union territories. NC vice-president and former J&K chief minister, Omar Abdullah, has gone into damage control mode after writing an Oped in a national daily in which he had stated that he won’t contest the assembly elections till J&K’s statehood is restored.
An analyst said that resignation of the NC chief spokesman, Aga Ruhullah, made Omar “eat his words” and since then he has been reiterating that his party wants statehood and special status back. “Many of us are aware of the fact that New Delhi granting special status back to J&K at present looks a very difficult ask, may be statehood and 4G internet services could be restored,” the analyst added.
It may be recalled soon after Omar demanded restoration of the statehood, senior BJP leader, Ashok Kaul told Precious Kashmir said that statehood won’t be restored till the normalcy returns and gun culture is over.
An observer said, “It won’t be easy for the regional parties to make a comeback as the situation has changed drastically. Centre’s move has left the local politicians with only a few options. They are in a tight spot and in a very difficult situation.”
He said, “The developments which have taken place during the past one year are a clear indication that New Delhi is in no mood to listen to the leaders of regional parties and it wants to handle J&K in its own way.”
The observer said that Kashmir based parties are trying to put their act together but the emerging situation is a clear hint that the road ahead is bumpy. “The only political party which is active at present in J&K is Bharatiya Janata Party. Other parties are finding it very hard to make a new beginning,” he added.
Another analyst said, “If National Conference continues to demand J&K’s special status and statehood back then it has to prepare itself for a long drawn battle. Even the Congress party seems to have acknowledged the change in J&K’s status-quo. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad during his recent meeting with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, maintained silence over the abrogation of J&K’s special status and just talked about statehood.”

‘We are hopeful’

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Precious Kashmir

06/08/2020

Abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories has completed the first anniversary. The dictionary meaning of the anniversary is the date on which an event took place and as such it need not be a joyous occasion always. It can also be a time of solemn reflection. The actions preceding the August 5 event remain engraved in the memory of every single individual in Jammu and Kashmir. There is no point mentioning them one by one like snapping of all the means of communication including high-speed internet services about which hope was raised when Lieutenant Governor underlined that his administration has no objection to restoring it while emphasizing that it will not be a security concern. However, the centre recently told the Supreme Court that it will ‘verify media report quoting LG’. Previously the centre submitted that a special committee, constituted as per the Court’s May 11 order to review internet restrictions in J&K, has decided against affording any relaxation to such curbs for the time being.

Hope remains important in Jammu and Kashmir context and it is hoped that the government’s approach towards J&K changes from a security-centric to one of political engagement that takes stock of the existing grievances and seeks to meaningfully address these.

One hopes that violence and suffering come to end once and for all. Hopefully, all political prisoners are released especially when covid-19 has already permeated through high-security walls of prisons.

The recent observations by the Top Court before parting with matter pertaining to the release of J&K High Court Bar Association President Mian Qayoom are also apt to be reproduced here.

“We must say that Kashmir has been a troubled area. Nature has been very kind to the place. It is the human race which has been unkind,” the court said underlining that it is time for all wounds to be healed. “We are sure that the Government will consider how to bring complete normalcy at the earliest, the court observed, adding, “Hope is something which creates the future and we are hopeful.”

It is hoped that the Government takes note of spirit and essence underlying the observations and take immediate steps in line with them.

J&K LG resigns, Rajiv Mehrishi likely to replace Girish Chander Murmu

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Precious Kashmir

06/08/2020

Precious Kashmir Desk
Srinagar, Aug 5: Girish Chander Murmu, the first Lieutenant-Governor (LG) of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir tendered his resignation on Wednesday, government run All India Radio reported.

The LG resigned exactly one year after J&K was turned into the Union Territory.
Sources said that Murmu is likely to be appointed as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

They said that Murmu will replace Rajive Mehrishi as CAG and his appointment notification is likely be issued on a day or two.

Murmu is a 1985 batch Gujarat cadre IAS Officer who worked closely with PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in Gandhinagar as well as in Delhi. He was Secretary-Expenditure when he was appointed as the first L-G of the UT, after the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories — J&K and Ladakh.
Meanwhile, a local news agency KINS reported that the incumbent CAG, Rajiv Mehrishi, who is set to complete his term in coming days, is likely to be appointed as the new LG of Jammu and Kashmir UT.

The KINS said that Mehrishi’s name for the post is in circulation as he is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also has in-depth knowledge of Kashmir affairs as he held the post of home secretary at the Centre for nearly two years after the NDA government came to power.

Mehrishi belongs to the Rajasthan cadre and was chief secretary before the Modi government brought him to New Delhi as finance secretary. However, after his retirement in 2015, he was given charge of home secretary for a period of two years and thereafter was appointed Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

COVID-19 kills 11 more, J&K toll 428

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Nadeem Nadu

06/08/2020

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, Aug 5: Eleven more persons, including a paramilitary CRPF man died due to COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, taking the fatality count due to the virus to 428 in the Union Territory.
Among them, three deaths were reported from Srinagar, two each from Anantnag and Budgam including a CRPF man besides one each from Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla and Jammu division’s Udhampur district. With these deaths, the toll due to the virus in Kashmir stands at—397 and 31 in Jammu.

Official sources told GNS a 43-year-old woman from Ramnagar Udhampur died at ASCOMS (Batra) hospital.

“She was a cancer patient and tested positive for the novel coronavirus subsequently.”

Regarding the CRPF trooper, they said, he belonged to 176 battalion. He had tested covid-19 negative on July 25 but his X-ray showed bilateral lower pneumonia. He was shifted first to BSF hospital and later to SKIMS Soura where his Covid-19 test was found positive. “He succumbed due to cardiac arrest.”

They said that a 50-year-old woman from Kupwara died this morning at CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 patients. Admitted on July 28, the woman was suffering from pneumonia with hypertension and hypothyroidism, they said. “She was on ventilator and had a sudden cardiopulmonary arrest,” they added.

Among others, the fatalities include a 70-year-old from Serhama Bijbehara, a 55-year-old man from Pattan Baramulla, a 65-year-old man from S K Colony Anantnag and a 50-year-old from Srinagar, the officials said.

The woman from Sirhama Bijbehara, a surgical patient was admitted on July 25, died at SKIMS today while the 65-year-old resident from SK Colony area of the south Kashmir district, admitted on August 2, died last night at the tertiary care hospital.

Regarding the 55-year-old from Pattan, officials said that he was a resident of Goshbugh area and was suffering from bilateral pneumonia. He was admitted to SMHS hospital on July 27 and died on today.

Also, sample of a 50-year-old man from Srinagar’s Bemina area who also died at SMHS hospital has returned positive posthumously.

Srinagar district with 141 deaths tops the list followed by Baramulla (74), Budgam (33), Kulgam (29), Anantnag (28), Shopian (23), Pulwama (24), Kupwara (22), Jammu (21), Bandipora (16), Ganderbal (7), two each in Rajouri, Doda and Udhampur besides one each in Ramban, Samba, Poonch, and Kathua.

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