Battle lines drawn, Junaid, Imran set to lock-horns

Ishtiyaq Ahmad

Srinagar, July 5: Battle lines have been drawn for the crucial post of Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) as Commissioner of the Corporation Gazanfar Ali is set to propose dates for election and filing of nomination papers before the deputy mayor within a day or two.

According to KINS, as per the SMC (Elections for Mayor), a new mayor has to be elected within 30 days of the ouster/resignation of the previous one. On June 15, Junaid Matoo, the former Mayor of SMC couldn’t prove his major and had to step down from the post.

Congress corporators followed the party whip and abstained from the voting but two NC Corporators in violation of the party whip voted against Junaid, who, however, announced that he accepts the verdict.

However, since June 15, hectic lobbyism is going on among corporators of all the political parties.

What created ripples in the political circles recently was the call recording of the female corporator from Dalgate, who claimed that one of the political parties was backing Imran and would ensure he gets the Mayor’s post. She was, however, reprimanded by the party high command for her comments. Later Imran too denied any links with any political party.

Sheikh Imran had also clarified that he was not behind the ouster of Junaid Matoo from post of Mayor.He had also said that new elected Mayor will provide justice and will maintain dignity of Corporators,

“The SMC was turning a hub of corruption, and failed to provide justice to people; cooperators have no other option but to ask for a no confidence motion against the mayor. This is in the constitution that we can have ‘no confidence motion after every six months, it’s a routine process. It has happened earlier, even in the time, When Salman Sagar was Mayor of SMC. We should welcome the voices against corruption,” he had said.

Sources claimed that the majority of the corporators are in favour of Imran for the hot seat. On the other hand, Peoples Conference leader and the former Mayor, Junaid, too is set to fight the battle again. So, sources said it will be a direct contest between Junaid and Imran, who would lock horns for the prime post of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

SMC Commissioner Gazanfar Ali said that as per the SMC act, a new Mayor has to be elected within a month of the previous one’s ouster or resignation. “As per the set rules, I have to propose election dates to the deputy mayor, which I will be doing in a day or two. It’s up to the deputy mayor to choose the date. I believe elections for the Mayor’s post would be held anytime between July 12 to 15,” Ali said.

Raouf Dar

Srinagar, July 5: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was injured in a low-intensity Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday.

A Police officer told KINS that the blast took place at the Gongoo area of Pulwama in South Kashmir on Sunday morning as security forces were passing through the area. He said it was a low-intensity IED blast in which one CRPF man suffered injuries.

Meanwhile, after the blast, Bomb Disposal Squad recovered another Improvised Explosive Device (IED) about 10 feet away in the same area.

Srinagar, July 5: Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Sunday performed “Pratham Aarti” at holy Amarnath cave in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district which was telecasted live by Prasar Bharti.

According to KNS, Murmu was accompanied by Principal Secretary, CEO Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Bipul Pathak, Additional CEO AK Soni, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole, besides other senior functionaries of civil and police administration.

SASB officials said that LG Murmu along with senior officials reached the cave early morning and performed Pratham Aarti. The event was telecasted live by Prasar Barti and as per officials it will do so till the culmination of Yatra August 3.

Yesterday Prasar Bharti CEO Shahshi Shekhar had tweetd, “Happy to share that the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board in association with Prasar Bharati will bring the live telecast of Aarti from the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnathji on various Doordarshan channels”. The aarti will be shown live at 3 am and 7 pm.

On Saturday, Chief Secretary BVR Subhramanym had said that this year’s Amarnath Yatra would have to be undertaken in a restricted manner, so that the SOPs for Covid-19 are strictly adhered to.

The limited Yatra is likely to be held from July 23 to August 3 this year from Baltal track.

Notably in 2019, the Yatra was curtailed following intelligence inputs of militant strikes ahead of Centre scrapping Article 370 in J&K. However in 2018, it was held for two months.

Jammu, July 5:  Jammu and Kashmir Home Department has ordered deployment of six police officers as Deputy Camp Directors of the various camps en route this year’s Shri Amarnath Yatra.

As per order, official sources here said that deputation has been accorded to the deputation of six police officers to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board on short term basis for their further deployment as Deputy Camp Directors of the various Camps en route the Yatra.

The officers deployed are Sahil Sharma (SKPA Udhampur), Abid Rashid Mir (JKAP 14 Battalion), Nikhil Rasgotra (IR 17 Battalion), Suresh Kumar Sharma (PTS Kathua), Qazi Shamas-ul-Muzaffer (IR4 Battalion) and Kulwant Singh (IR 3 Battalion).

Srinagar, July 5: Over 6,600 applicants have got the document that allows them to buy property and apply for jobs in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) since the Union Territory administration started issuing domicile certificates to non-locals, reports said.

The applicants include majority of retired soldiers and officers from the Gorkha community, a reputed national newspaper reported.

The report states that about 700 certificates have been issued in Kashmir, many of them are former Gorkha soldiers and officers.

“In my tehsil alone, there are nearly 2,500 from the Gorkha community who had served in the Indian Army and their families who got domicile (about 3,500 have applied). There are quite a few from the Valmiki community also,” Dr Rohit Sharma, tehsildar of Bahu in Jammu, was quoted saying.

The J-K administration had notified the domicile rules on May 18 with a stern warning to issuing officers who did not provide certificates in 15 days would be penalized Rs. 50,000. Non- locals who became eligible for the domicile certificate are who had lived in J&K for 15 years, their children, officers with central government and central institutions and anyone who has studied in J&K for seven years and appeared in the Class X or XII exams.

“We get an average of 200 applications per day,” an official said. The administration started issuing domicile certificates last week, when an IAS officer from Bihar, Navin Kumar Choudhary, became the first senior non-local officer to get a domicile certificate.

The J&K administration said that they are doing their best despite the slow internet. “We have notified rules to act against any tehsildar who delays offering domicile. We will not allow the wait to be prolonged any further,” said Rohit Kansal, spokesperson of the J&K administration. (KNS)

Srinagar, July 5: The headless body that was fished out by Sumbal Police from River Jehlum has not been identified yet.
A police official told news agency KNT that the body is headless and without lower limbs, and has been kept in GMC Mortuary.

He said so for two families have approached Police staking claim for the dead body. “One family is from Ganderbal while another family is of missing Phd Scholar from Bemina area of Srinagar city.”

He said both these families were advised to come on Monday for DNA sampling exercise.

Kangan, July 5: Two youth from Srinagar drowned in Nallah Sindh in Kangan area on Sunday afternoon.
Sources told news agency KNT that three youth from Noorbagh area of Srinagar had gone to picnic and were bathing in Nallah Sindh near Kij Park Kangan.

They said that gushing waters pushed two youth from bank of nallah into the middle while third one came out with the help of locals from the stream.

Police, locals and other rescue teams are on job and were searching for the two missing youth till the filing of this report.

The missing youth who are feared to be dead have been identified as Zahid Umar and Faisal Ahamd-both residents of Noorbagh Palpora Srinagar.

Srinagar July 5: Advisor to  Lt Governor R.R Bhatnagar and the Director General Police, J&K Dilbag Singh today visited  Amarnath Cave shrine and Baltal to review the security  arrangements for the upcoming pilgrimage

The advisor and the DGP first visited the holy cave where they offered prayers and on their return chaired joint officers meeting at  Baltal. ADGP CID R.R Swain, DIG CKR, Suleiman Choudhary, Poice Yatra Officer SSP Yougal Kumar Manhas SSP Anantnag Sandeep Chowdhary, SSP Ganderbal Khalil Ahmad Poswal, Incharge Joint Police Control Room SSP Gh Jeelani Wani ,CO CRPF Ved Prakash Tripathi DySP Traffic  Faheem Punjabi,SDPO Kangan Tahir Amin and other  officers attended the meeting.

Advisor Bhatnagar stressed for enhanced coordination among the forces for smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage. He emphasized for identifying the sensitive places and strengthening the security grid. The Advisor urged the officers to work with synergy to ensure successful and smooth conduct of Yatra 2020. Bhatnagar complimented the police and Special Forces for an outstanding performance. He emphasized the  to  for creating conducive  environment to make the Yatra a success.

Addressing the meeting , the DGP directed the officers that fine tuned plans should be put in action in such a way that required timelines as per Amarnath Yatra schedule are met well in time and adequate arrangements are provided for the Yatra. He said that whatever support in the shape of logistics and manpower is required have been placed at their disposal for smooth conduct of the yatra.

He said that all busy places, including langars, should be brought under security cover and intelligence gathering accelerated and shared for making preventive measures. Round the clock functioning of joint control rooms and supervision of arrangements by the senior officers should be put in place, DGP added. The DGP also asked for strengthening the communication network and maintain liaison about the arrival and departure of pilgrims.

He said that all necessary arrangements be placed to facilitate for the pilgrimage keeping in view the challenges of COVID-19. Singh said that quick response teams should be put on high alert so that necessary help and assistance be provided to the pilgrims as and when required. He said that sufficient manpower from different security agencies is being put on the pilgrimage duty to strengthen the deployment grid. The DGP also interacted with the Jawans and appreciated their commitment and dedication for safeguarding the interests of people and the country.

SSP Anantnag, SSP Ganderbal, officers from CRPF and other jurisdictional officer apprised about the security arrangements put in place in the areas under their command for smooth and peaceful conduct of the yatra.