Author: snskashmir

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU- JANUARY 27 :

The CBI has quizzed former Jammu and Kashmir minister Choudhary Lal Singh in connection with its probe into encroachment on a huge tract of government land, officials said on Wednesday.

Singh, when contacted, declined to comment.

The minister was called for questioning recently in connection with the probe in the land grab case, they said, adding that he is likely to be called again.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered the case against R B Educational Trust through its chairperson Singh and his wife Kanta Andotra, former deputy commissioner of Kathua Ajay Singh Jamwal and former tehsildar of Marheen Avatar Singh.

Besides them, then Naib Tehsildar Chann Rorian (Marheen Tehsil) Des Raj, then Girdawar Ram Pal, then Patwari Sudesh Kumar and other unidentified persons have been booked.

The trust runs a school, B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) and nursing colleges on the land, the officials said.

The CBI had in September last year conducted searches at the premises of the educational trust, its chairperson and residential premises of other accused in 10 locations, including Jammu and Kathua, which had led to the recovery of documents related to movable and immovable property, etc.

The probe agency had in June 2020 registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) on the allegations of encroachment on a huge tract of public/government/forest land in Kathua by certain persons in violation of the Jammu and Kashmir Agrarian Reforms Act in connivance with revenue and forest officials, the CBI had said in a statement issued earlier.

“It was further alleged that the accused were involved in the conspiracy with the said educational trust through its chairperson to allow the trust to retain the land beyond the permissible ceiling limit of 100 standard kanal fixed in the Agrarian Reforms Act by deliberately giving the wrong exemption of 32 kanals of grazing land as per said Act and showing the land as ‘orchard’ which was not an orchard as per revenue record,” it said.

It was also alleged that the educational trust, in connivance with the other accused, got done wrong calculation of standard kanal of the land measuring 316 Kanal and 17 Marlas to escape the ceiling imposed by the J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, the statement said. Kanal and Marlas are traditional land measurement units.(PTI)

“UT Government making administrative system transparent, responsible & accountable to the people”, says the Lt Governor

Grievance redressal system has been institutionalized for prompt & speedy disposal of public grievances: LG

Lt Governor takes people’s feedback on online Grievance Redressal System JK-IGRAMS; asks officers to be more sensitive & responsive to the issues of the public

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU, JANUARY 27 :

Continuing J&K Government’s initiative to bring reforms in public grievance redressal mechanism making it more robust and responsive, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today held the 4th run of LG’s Mulaqaat- Live Public Grievance Hearing here at Civil Secretariat.

During the two-hour long live interactive programme, the Lt Governor interacted with as many as 22 applicants, randomly selected from across the UT, through videoconferencing, and took firsthand appraisal of their issues and grievances.

Today’s interaction was the latest in the series of LG’s Mulaqaat programme under which, every month, the Lt Governor meets individuals from across the UT, listens to their issues/concerns for resolving them on the spot, thus making the grievance redressal mechanism robust, responsive and more efficient, besides monitoring the performance efficiency of online Grievance Redressal System JK-IGRAMS.

The interaction proved to be fruitful for some of the applicants as, with the intervention of Lt Governor, their issues got resolved on the spot, while timelines were set by the Lt Governor for redressal of the remaining issues being raised during the programme.

 “Grievance redressal system has been institutionalized for prompt and speedy disposal of public grievances. UT Government is making the administrative system transparent, responsible and accountable to the people”, observed the Lt Governor

The Lt Governor said that the objective behind holding the one-on-one interaction with the public is to reform the service delivery structure of the governmental processes, making it more efficient and responsive.

While taking the feedback from the people on online Grievance Redressal System JK-IGRAM, the Lt Governor asked the officers to be more sensitive and responsive to the issues of the public and take requisite measures to minimize the difficulties of common people.

The Lt Governor sought details of the status of the grievances put forth during the interaction from the concerned officers who, in turn briefed the Lt Governor on measures taken for the redressal of the grievances received and their present status.

Expressing satisfaction over the constant increase in the rate of disposal of grievances since the 1st session of LG’s Mulaqaat, the Lt Governor asked the officers to focus more on the quality of disposal of public issues. He further directed the officers to ensure quick disposal of files in Government departments treading the path of accountability and transparency.

The Lt Governor also assessed the implementation of directions passed during the previous interactions.

 In one case, an applicant apprised the Lt Governor about his grievance of facing shortage of raw material for making pottery and saving his ancestral trade, on which, the Lt Governor directed the concerned Deputy Commissioner to resolve the issue on priority and assured the potter that all necessary support would be given to him from the government.

Similarly, a Public Health entrepreneur who has established a hospital raised the issues of extension of benefits under related schemes. The Lt Governor, while lauding the efforts of the applicant, assured him all possible assistance under the UT Government’s initiatives like J&K Healthcare Investment Policy and New Industrial scheme.

In another case, the Lt Governor, on being apprised about the issue of allotment of land for establishing Composite Regional Centre by a social activist, directed the concerned Divisional Commissioner to identify the land for the same. He further assured the applicant that the matter would be taken up with the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for its early redressal.

Earlier, Secretary, Public Grievances, Simrandeep Singh briefed the Lt Governor on the status of grievances and measures taken to improve the efficiency of the grievance redressal system.

Sh. BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Sh. Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department;  Sh. Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor; Administrative Secretaries; Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, HoDs, and other senior officers also remained present during the interaction, in person and through virtual mode.(KNS)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 27:

A 15-year old girl died due to cardiac arrest in Budran Beerwah.

According to the KNS correspondent, the deceased was identified as Khushboo Jan daughter of Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat resident of Budran Beerwah; a student of Class 10th.

A pale of gloom decended in the area after the news broke out.

URI:27 January 2021, Grievance Redressal Programme held by Sub Divisional Magistrate Uri at Gowalta in Sub Division Uri.

During visit many issues were raised by locals including road connectivity of Uroosa, Down and upper uroosa, Gowalta Road connectivity, Beacon deptt related , towers 📡 related and pending MNERGA payment issued were discussed and out of which few were redressed on spot.

In order to consummate all such issues raised by people, meeting of officers were called at Office chamber of SDM Uri by tomorrow.

Such programmes will continue in future Reyaz Ahmad Malik added.

SNS Kashmir
Srinagar, Jan 27 : The crime branch Kashmir Wednesday said that they arrested a person from West Bengal who was involved with other accused persons in uploading fake application forms on National Scholarship Portal for Merit cum Means scholarship under minority quota for Jammu and Kashmir during 2018-19.
In a statement issued to SNS Kashmir “The accused in criminal conspiracy with the other accused persons uploaded fake application forms on National Scholarship Portal for Merit Cum Means Scholarship under Minority Quota for J&K students during the year 2018-19 for district Kulgam.” 
He said that subsequently, fake verifications were conducted from the institutes, which did not exist in the states mentioned in the application forms.
“The accused in connivance with other accused persons have shown the fake beneficiaries to be the residents of district Kulgam and got deceitfully verified by the district social welfare officer Kulgam and managed to transfer the amount of RS. 1.34 crores from the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt. of India into the Bank accounts of 463 fake beneficiaries of Malda in West Bengal.”
He said that these accounts were maintained in various branches of State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, United Bank of India (now PNB), Allahabad Bank, IDFC Bank and Bangiya Vikas Gramin Bank situated in different districts of West Bengal.
He further said that the arrested accused is being questioned for further investigation. (KINS)

SNS Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 27 (: Based on a considered and wide-ranging assessment of the prevailing situation, the government may restore 4G Internet services in more districts in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Highly placed sources told news agency KINS that the review by top authorities will be carried out and if there is an improvement in the security situation appropriate action will be taken accordingly.
“We are assessing the situation. We may open it (4G) in more districts as and when we deem it appropriate, given the level of peace we have in the province,” said a top source in the administration wishing not to be named.
One of the top officials said that as a measure of precaution, they are not opening 4G services even when they were aware that there is already peace in most of the districts.
Since the ban on 4G, the government has been maintaining that these security measures such as the internet ban were necessary to better integrate the region with India, foster greater economic development and stop threats from “anti-national elements”.
Interestingly Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, recently had  gave hints on restoration of high speed 4G internet services in the remaining eighteen districts of the Union Territory (UT) soon.
“I know 4G is working in just two districts of J&K. There is a committee examining the issue. Hopefully, there will be good news soon in the coming days,” he had said while replying a question at a press conference in winter capital Jammu.
Last week, the Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir representing 3,800 institutions, filed a fresh affidavit seeking the ease of restrictions on the internet. It said that children in J&K were losing academic years because it’s impossible to conduct online classes using video-conferencing tools such as Zoom or WebEx at 2G mobile Internet speed.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration recently extended the suspension of internet till February 6, saying the services will continue to be restricted to 2G. The ban was extended to all districts except Ganderbal and Udhampur districts.
In an order, the administration also said Internet connectivity shall be continued to be made available, with Mac-binding.
Principal Secretary to the Union Territory administration Shaleen Kabra had said that he was satisfied with the reports of law enforcement agencies that it was necessary to extend the ban “in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state and for maintaining public order.”
According to the order, the law enforcement agencies’ reports indicated that the suspension had helped thwart plans of militant organisations operating in the Union Territory to “misguide, incite and provoke the youth in furthering their anti-India agenda since regulation of high speed internet mobile internet prevents easy streaming/dissemination/downloading of such material/videos”.
Meanwhile sources told KINS that the administration is taking action against those who are spreading rumours.
“We have taken action against some people who have scripted wrong stories and rumours. Police have already been tasked to collect details of all such people who are participating in spreading wrong information, “said the source.
It is to mention here that the J&K administration restored 4G services in Udhampur and Ganderbal districts on a trial basis on August 16 last year, but refused to extend high-speed mobile internet beyond these precincts citing inputs from security agencies about “terror modules trying to lure youths into militant organizations.”
The services was restored in Ganderbal and Udhampur districts of the Union Territory and it was for the first time when high speed internet services returned to the region after restrictions were clamped following abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories last year on August 5.
The restoration of 4G services was done on the recommendation of a panel constituted by the Supreme Court of India to review the restrictions vis-à-vis the security situation in the Union Territory.
The decision was in line with Centre’s assurance to the Supreme Court that the 4G ban will be lifted in one district each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions from August 16 last year.(KINS)
 

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR JANUARY 27 :

The Crime Branch Kashmir today produced Challan against Mohammed Yousuf Malla S/O Abdul Gaffar Malla R/O Gund Dachina Arahgam Bandipora A/P Ward No. 06 Eidgah Bandipora then principal High school Alooso and Abdul Gani Wani S/O Ali Mohd Wani R/O Aloosa Bandipora then I/C Headmaster Government High School Nadihal Bandipora (Expired) in Case FIR No. 33/2016 U/S 420, 468,471,120-b r/w 5(2) PC Act before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Baramulla.

The case pertains to the appointment of Mohammed Yousuf Malla, on the Production of Fake and Forged Date of Birth Certificate in the Education Department.

Upon a written complaint, the investigation set into motion, and during the course of investigation it emerged that the DOB of Mohammed Yousuf Malla is actually 29.07.1953. This incorrect/ fake DOB has been recorded in the DOB Certificate issued by the JKBOSE Authorities in the year 1973 on the basis of Information Provided/ Submitted by the then Incharge Headmaster Government High School Nadihal Bandipora Abdul Gani Wani S/O Ali Mohd Wani R/O Aloosa Bandipora (Now Expired) Through the examination form of 10th class. The service book of Mohammed Yousuf Malla S/O Abdul Gaffar Malla seized in the instant case, that revealed the DOB of the accused has been reflected as 02.09.1957, as such the accused Mohammed Yousuf Malla remained in service illegally for a period of 04 years and 02 Months beyond his actual date of retirement, thus has put the state Exchequer to loss to the tune in lakhs.

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 27:

A driver from South Kashmir was arrested by Police in North Kashmir’s Pattan area for stealing blood samples which were going to be tested at GK Private Laboratory.

Police sources told news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that acting upon a complaint received from GK Private Laboratory about misappropriation of Blood samples, a driver was arrested by police and taken into custody. The vehicle bearing registration number JK01N- 6658, was also seized.

Sources identified the accused driver as Sajad Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Pampore area of Southern Kashmir.

“The police had been searching for Sajad for hours when he allegedly fled away along with 30 blood specimens which were supposed to get tested at GK Private Laboratory Srinagar,” they added.

Meanwhile, Police have registered a case under FIR number 10/2021 under section 407 IPC at Police Station Pattan and the accused driver has been sent for judicial remand till 30 January by a local court.

Station House Officer Pattan, Nissar Ahmad, refused to share the details pertaining to the incident. (KDC)

SNS KASHMIR

ISLAMABAD, JANUARY 27 :

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has dared India to come to the dialogue table with Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute, if it is so sure about its stance and standing on the matter.

Qureshi accused India of being ‘fearful of dialogue’ because of what he called, its ‘state-run brutalities in Jammu & Kashmir.’

‘India did not pay heed to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s offer for peace talks. The country instead took measures that further escalated the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir,’ he said.

Qureshi claimed that Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute, urging that use of force is not the solution to resolve the longstanding issue between Pakistan and India.

‘India has been suppressing the rights of Kashmiris and taking atrocious steps against them for decades,’ he alleged.’Kashmir has turned into a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed neighbours,’ he added.

Presenting Pakistan’s stance on the matter, Qureshi said that the country ‘demonstrated to the global community with its actions that Islamabad desires peace and stability in the region.’

‘Economic stability is linked with peace. Investment would only come to the region if it is peaceful,’ Qureshi said, adding that regional peace is based on resolution of the Kashmir dispute as per the ‘desires and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.’

Lashing out at India on the issue of protesting farmers, Qureshi said that the Modi government has not been able to suppress the voice of the protesting farmers.

‘The entire India is endorsing their voice,’ he claimed.

Experts believe that Pakistan’s reiteration of its stance on Kashmir and targeting India with accusations of human rights violations in Jammu & Kashmir, is linked with the new administration of President Joe Biden in the US and with India’s intentions to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Pakistan has urged the newly-elected US administration to deal with a ‘changed Pakistan’ and India. On the other hand, Pakistan has strongly opposed India’s attempt to become part of the UNSC, as it would weaken Islamabad’s position on Kashmir at the global platform of the United Nations going forward. (With IANS Inputs)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 27 :

One among the soldiers injured in the suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by militants in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district has died, sources said on Wednesday.

In a first militant attack this year, four soldiers were injured, one of them seriously, in Shamsipora area along the Srinagar-Jammu highway in the Kulgam district. The injured were removed to an army hospital in Srinagar and the critically injured soldier succumbed, the sources told GNS.

The blast took place near a school when the army was passing through the area, the sources said. They said that the school building also suffered substantial damage in the blast.

“It appears to be an IED blast but investigations are underway and details would be shared in due course of time,” a senior police officer told GNS.
Army’s initial assessment says it was a grenade blast in which four soldiers were injured.

“(Militants) lobbed grenade on Army’s Road Opening Party during the sanitisation drill at 1015 hours today in general area Shamshipura, Khanabal, Kulgam. Four soldiers sustained splinter injuries and were provided first aid and later evacuated to 92 Base Hospital,” Col Rajesh Kalia, the spokesman of the army said. “Details to follow,” he added. (GNS)