High Court issues notice to Centre, J&K Govt

Aqib Ahmad

Srinagar, July 2: Jammu and Kashmir High Court On Thursday issued notice to Union and J&K Government Besides JKB, the lead bank in the J&K, on a Public Interest Litigation, challenging charging of interest on loan during the period of moratorium.

The PIL filed by local businessmen Sheikh Feroz Ahmad Sidiq— President, Restaurant and Cafe Association, Kashmir, and Mohammad Muzamil Bacha –jPresident, Industrial Revival and Development Forum, Kashmir) also seeking directions for waiving of interest charged by the banks on the term loans during the period when moratorium was granted by the banks on account of special rehabilitation and revival package for the persons affected by natural calamity-floods in the erstwhile State; rehabilitation package to borrowers hit by the disturbances that occurred in 2016 and 2019.

Issuing the notice, a division bench of Justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Rajnesh Oswal issued notice to the central Finance and Home Ministry besides the J&K government, the Reserve Bank of India and the J&K Bank Ltd.

“Notice shall be issued to respondent Nos. 1 to 3 (union ministries and RBI) by ordinary as well as virtual mode, returnable by or before the next date of hearing,” the court said and posted the matter on July 20. The notice to J&K government and JKB was waived by senior AAG B A Dar and senior advocate Z A Shah respectively.

The petitioners through senior advocate Jahangir Iqbal Ganai along with advocate Sheikh Umar Farooq pleaded that the relief sought for in the instant petition is for the benefit of the persons who have suffered on account of natural calamity, disturbances of 2016 and 2019 and of the present COVID-19 pandemic. “They are not been in a position to strictly comply with the conditions of the term loan agreements,” the petitioners said.

The sought directions  to declare the notification dated 27.03.2020, Circular No.40-619 dated January 3, 2020, circular No.62-528 dated December 15, 2016 and circular bearing No.55-398 dated October 24, 2014,  as “ultra vires the Constitution of India to the extent same directs charging of interest of loan amounts during the period of moratorium.”

They have also sought directions to the authorities to waive of the interest component on the loan amounts for the period of moratorium was declared.

“In the petition, it is contended that the same is being filed for the benefit of persons belonging to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, who have availed loan facilities from different banks, but, on account of the prevailing lockdown announced by the Government in view of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, are not in a position to pay the due instalments, including the interest charged on the loan amounts,” the court observed. (GNS)

Jahangir Lolabi

Kupwara, July 2: Two siblings were among four persons who died after a well they were working on collapsed here in Warsun Dardpora area of Kralpora on Thursday, reports and officials said.

Reports reaching GNS said that the persons were working on an under-construction well at Singhdan area of Krusan Wavura.

In the meantime, it collapsed and the four persons fell inside the well, reports said.

After hectic efforts by the rescue teams including police and other allied departments alongside locals, the persons were retrieved from the well and evacuated to nearby health facility. However the doctors declared all of them as brought dead, reports said.

Confirming it, a police official identified the deceased persons as Altaf Ahmad Shiekh (35) son of Ghulam Mohuddin Shiekh, Showket Ahmad Khan (30) son of Ghulam Hassan Khan, Mumtaz Ahmad Khan (25)  and his brother Altaf Ahmad Khan (35) sons of Ghulam Mohuddin Khan, all residents of Dard Hari Sangdan.

“The persons have probably died of asphyxiation after remaining trapped inside the well for few hours”, the official said. (GNS)

Srinagar, July 2: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) man and a militant were killed in an ongoing encounter that raged between security forces and militants in Malbagh area of Srinagar on Thursday evening.

Officials told KNO that the gunfight broke out in the evening at Malbagh area of Srinagar outskirts.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar told KNO that a CRPF man and a militant were killed in the gunfight.

The operation, as per the officials is going on in Malbagh area of Srinagar outskirts.

IGP CRPF, Pramod Kumar Pandey said that the firing has been stopped while the search has been launched in the area. Moreover, the identification of the slain militant was being ascertained, they said

Srinagar, July 2: Maintaining that civilian was killed due to firing by militants in Sopore, Special DG of CRPF Zulfiqar Hassan on Thursday claimed the 3-year-old was rescued by a paramilitary man.

“The CRPF had gone for duty at one particular crossing in that district and when we reached the spot the militants had already taken position inside the Masjid and they started firing at the CRPF party from inside the Masjid,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the wreath-laying ceremony of a CRPF personnel killed in the incident on July 1.

“The CRPF retaliated the fire very bravely and the role of the boy (killed CRPF trooper) was very significant. The retaliation was effective,” he said, adding, “While this retaliation and firing, a private person came in a car and he got into the melee. Unfortunately, when he was getting down and I think we are still to reconsider properly, we assume that when he was trying to get the child out of the car, he was shot on the back by the militant fire from the Masjid.”

He further said: “All of us have gone to the spot and seen the angle of the fire and we are very clear technically that this is the bullet of the militant that killed the man.”

“The child obviously was very scared and he was rescued by the boy of the CRPF who was there close by and he took care of the child till the firing by the militants continued. The militants were forced to flee away.”

The officer said the militant went back and from rear side of the mosque they fled away. “The retaliation by the CRPF was effective. Inside the mosque we found more than sixty empties (cartridges) plus two magazines. This shows that the militants had taken position well in time and they were waiting inside the masjid for the CRPF party to arrive. I find this use of the mosque for such activities highly reprehensible,” he said. “I think so far we have, from all the forces, highest respect for all the religions. We do not ever enter into a religious place knowing the sentiments of the citizen of the place. However this use, repeated use as this is not for the first time they have done it, I think and I appeal to the masjid committees of the Valley as well as the citizens that at least secure the religious places and not allow them to be hijacked.”

Terming the civilians killing as very unfortunate incident, he reiterated: “Obviously that road is the busy road and he got caught in the firing by the militants.”

He said some people are “trying to give it a spin by saying that CRPF took him out of the vehicle and shot him”.

“This is totally untrue. I would say with full responsibility after visiting the place and after talking to everyone and after examining a lot of technical details and including cameras, we are very confident of what has happened,” he said, adding, “The unfortunate civilian who died has been killed by the militants firing from the mosque and there is no question of CRPF being involved. In fact CRPF was restrained so that mosque does not suffer damage.”

Asked about the annual Amarnathji Yatra, the police officer said: “We are still waiting for details about yatra and as and when we are all prepared and we will be making all the due arrangements.”  (GNS)

Srinagar, July 1:  Police have sufficient evidence to “refute all rumours and videos circulated on social media” regarding the civilian’s killing at Model Town Sopore, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar said on Thursday..

“We have sufficient evidence to refute all rumours and videos being circulated in social media,” the top police officer of Kashmir told GNS. “The CCTV footage refutes these claims,” he added.

The police, he said, will take action against those spreading “rumours and videos.”

Police in a statement said that at about 0740 hours on Wednesday, militants fired indiscriminately upon joint party of Police and CRPF from attic of a nearby mosque near Nowpora crossing Model Town Sopore.

“In this attack four CRPF personnel and a civilian got injured. Among injured, one CRPF Personnel and the civilian succumbed to their injuries,” a police spokesperson said.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the (militants) were hiding in a mosque and as the joint party were de-boarding the vehicles for naka duty, they were fired upon indiscriminately by the hiding (militants),” he said, adding, “Pertinent to mention that the killed civilian who was accompanied by his 3 year grandchild were passing through the area when the (militants) fired indiscriminately.”

He said four CRPF men and the civilian were hit by bullets “fired indiscriminately by militants.”

“The civilian and CRPF personnel received bullet of (militants) initially before our retaliation. Hiding (militants) escaped from the mosque and our parties followed them and retaliated. However, the minor boy was rescued by the Police/CRPF,” he said, adding, “Credible input indicates that two LeT (militants), Osman, a foreigner and Nasir are involved in the attack on the joint party.”

In a video statement that was shared on social media, slain man’s son Suhail Ahmad alleged his father, Bashir Ahmad Khan, was killed by the CRPF personnel. “The CRPF personnel dragged him from his car and shot him dead”.

Khan, who was a contractor, had taken his grandson from Srinagar to Sopore to oversee the progress of a construction work. (GNS)

Over 1000 beneficiaries provided services in first week

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, July 2: Over 1000 patients have availed services of tele-radiology in Jammu and Kashmir in the first week after its launch on 24^th June 2020 by Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu.  The patients who visited the identified centres in remote and far-flung areas of Doda, Reasi, Ramban, Poonch, Kupwara and Bandipora got their X-Ray & CT Scan reports in time bound manner under this initiative.

The services for tele-radiology are provided under National Free Diagnostics Initiative of National Health Mission at identified Healthcare Facilities in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir focusing rural & far-flung areas in the initial phase.

The initiative has brought lot of respite to the people living in these areas by providing them with accurate diagnosis without compromising quality, with use of high-end technology & equipment; improved consultation and better management of patient care in rural/remote areas.

The service has brought lot of respite and augmentation to existing manpower in providing better healthcare services to the people at their doorsteps who otherwise had to face difficulties due to shortage of Radiologists in these areas.

In the first phase, 53 Health-care facilities including 06 District Hospitals have been identified to offer free X-ray services.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, July 2: Industries & Commerce Department is coming up with two IT Parks in Jammu and Kashmir for which land has already been identified.

This was revealed by Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce Department, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi during his inspection of a site for Integrated IT Park at Nagrota here today.

The IT Parks would be established one each in Jammu and Srinagar.

The Commissioner Secretary was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Sushma Chauhan and Director Industries and Commerce Jammu, Anoo Malhotra and other concerned officers

On the occasion, Dwivedi divulged that the IT Park would be having an IT Tower/ BPOs/ Extended IT Infrastructure and also residential quarters for the employees.

He said that this would fulfil a long pending commitment made by the department and shall encourage entrepreneurship among the technically qualified youth.

“The project is expected to give a boost to employment opportunities in J&K, both to locals as well as to youth from other parts of the country, he added.

Takes stock of traffic decongestion measures

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, July 2: To ensure better traffic management and further enhance parking space in the summer capital, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today conducted an extensive tour of Srinagar City.

During the tour, the Div Com visited Boulevard, Shalimar, Durganag, Sonwar, G.B.Panth Hospital, PanthaChowk, Lasjan bypass, Natipora and other areas to take stock of the measures to improve the traffic flow and steps that can be taken to ensure sustainable decongestion of the city centre.

The Div Com directed the concerned authorities to take all required steps for creating additional car parking facilities along the Boulevard from Kralsangi to Dalgate to overcome traffic jams.

At Shalimar, concerned officers were directed to check the feasibility and status of land so that additional parking facility is created opposite the Shalimar garden to cater to the demand.

While reviewing the road widening process near Nehru Park along Boulevard road, the Div Com directed the concerned to expedite the work and complete the same within the stipulated time and simultaneously ensure better traffic flow in the area.

At Durganag Dalgate, Panthachowk, Athwajan and Lasjan bypass, the Div Com directed for removal of encroachments and also instructed to take action against the violators so that developmental works are not hampered, he also stressed for land demarcation along highways.

At Natipora crossing, the Div Com inspected the site plan of Rambagh to Natipora junction that is to be carried out for road widening which otherwise witnesses huge gridlocks.

He directed the officers to take concrete measures for the smooth flow of traffic in the area and asked officers to ensure bottlenecks, if any, are immediately cleared for the traffic de-congestion in the Srinagar city and devise ways for better traffic regulation and adequate parking facilities.

P.K Pole directed the concerned officers to explore the possibilities for additional parking space across the city for public convenience.

VC SDA, Chief Engineer R&B, SSP Traffic, SSP Srinagar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, besides officers of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Irrigation & Flood Control, RTO, Beacon Kashmir, Ramkay and other concerned departments accompanied the Div Com during the tour.

Irfan A Mir

Srinagar, July 2: A 22-year old ace footballer from north Kashmir’s Sopore town of Baramulla district has gone missing.

Reports reaching KNS said that a 22-year old Amir Sartaj is missing from June 24 from his maternal uncle’s home in Adipora hamlet of Sopore town when he left his home to play football.

Family of the missing youth said that soon after their son didn’t return home, they tried to reach every corner but to no avail. The shattered family members have urged their missing son to return home and also appealed police administration to help them in bringing back of his son.

The youth as per family members has also kept his mobile phone at home which heightened the concern of family. They said on June 24 around 5:00 in the evening, Amir left home to play football, however he didn’t return home since then.

They said they searched for him in the neighborhood, but all in vain. “Next day, we called our relatives and friends, but nobody had any clue of his whereabouts,” family said.

The missing youth has left the family traumatized, who are requesting their son to come back at an earliest.

“For the sake of God, please don’t leave us like this and return home as soon as possible, we cannot live without you,” appealed family.

They further said, “If he is with any militant outfit, we request them to please send him back to his home. We don’t have any support except him”.

Meanwhile, family of missing youth has also lodged a missing report in Police Station Sopore.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Javaid Iqbal told media that they are investigating the matter. “We cannot reach to any conclusion whether he has joined militancy or not,” he said.

He added, “The investigation has been taken up and soon we will crack the matter”. (KNS)

New Delhi: An international tribunal dealing with the killing of two Indian fishermen in 2012 by two Italian marines has upheld the conduct of the Indian authorities over the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the tribunal upheld the conduct of the Indian authorities under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

India had accused the two Italian marines on board the MV Enrica Lexie, an Italian flagged oil tanker, of shooting dead two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.

The Arbitral Tribunal was constituted under Annex VII of the UNCLOS on June 26, 2015 on the request of Italy over the dispute.

Srivastava said the tribunal held that the actions of the Italian military officers and, consequently, Italy breached India’s freedom of navigation under UNCLOS Article 87(1)(a) and 90.

“The Tribunal observed that India and Italy had concurrent jurisdiction over the incident and a valid legal basis to institute criminal proceedings against the marines,” Srivastava said at an online media briefing.

“The Tribunal rejected Italy’s claim of compensation for the detention of the marines. However, it found that the immunities enjoyed by the marines as State officials operate as an exception to the jurisdiction of the Indian courts and, hence, preclude them to judge the marines,” he added.