Author: snskashmir

SNS NEWS DESK

New Delhi, January 01, 2021:Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Light House projects (LHPs) under Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)- at six sites across six States on Friday through video conference.

He announced the winners under Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators – India (ASHA-India) and gave away annual awards for excellence in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) Mission.

He also released a certification course on innovative construction technologies named NAVARITIH (New, Affordable, Validated, Research Innovation Technologies for Indian Housing). Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said today is the day to move forward with new energy, to prove new resolutions and today the country is getting new technology to build houses for the poor, middle class. He said the houses are called light house projects in technical language but these 6 projects are really like lighthouses showing a new direction to the housing sector in the country.
The Prime Minister cited these light house projects as an example of the approach of the present Government. He said at one time housing schemes were not as much as
the priority of the central government and did not go into the nuances and quality of
home construction. Today, the country has chosen a different approach, adopting a
different route and a better technology, to complete the projects faster. He stressed
on the importance for the Government ministries not to have large and sluggish
structures, but to be fit like startups. He expressed happiness on the active
participation of more than 50 Innovative Construction Companies from around the
world. He said this global challenge has given us a scope to innovate and incubate
with new technology.
The Prime Minister said in the next phase of the same process, the work of 6 light
house projects at different sites is starting from today. These light house projects will
be made up of modern technology and innovative processes and reduce the
construction time and make a more resilient, affordable and comfortable house for

the poor. He further explained that these light houses have innovations in
construction technology. For example the project in Indore will not have brick and
mortar walls, instead they will use the prefabricated Sandwich Panel system. The
light houses in Rajkot will be built using french technology and have monolithic
concrete construction technology using tunnel and the house will be more capable of
withstanding disasters. In Chennai, US and Finland technologies will use the Precast
Concrete system, which will construct the house faster and cheaper. In Ranchi
houses will be built using Germany’s 3D construction system. Each room will be
made separately and then the entire structure will be added in the same way as
Lego Blocks toys. He said Houses are being built in Agartala with the steel frames
using New Zealand’s technology which can withstand major earthquake risk.
Canada’s technology is being used in Lucknow, which will not require plaster and
paint and will use the entire walls already prepared to build houses faster. He further
said that thousands of houses will be built in 12 months at every location which will
act as incubation centers through which our planners, architects, engineers and
students will be able to learn and experiment with new technology. He announced
that along with this, a certificate course will be started to upgrade the skills related to
new technology to the people in the construction sector, so that the people can get
the best technology and material in the world in house construction.
The Prime Minister remarked that the ASHA-India program is being run to promote
research and startups related to modern housing technology within the country.
Through this, new and affordable technology for building 21st century houses will be
developed in India itself. He said Five best techniques have also been selected
under this campaign. He said that the biggest dream of poor or middle class people
living in the city is owning their house. But over the years, people were losing their
trust in their house. He said even after earning the trust, the demand has gone down
due to high prices. People have lost trust whether they would have legal standing in
case of any issue. High interest rates of the bank and the difficulties in getting loans,
have further dampened the interest on owning a house. He expressed satisfaction
on the efforts taken in the last 6 years to restore the confidence of a common man
that he too can have his own house. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, lakhs
of houses have been built in a very short time in cities.
The Prime Minister said that in PM Awas Yojna construction’s focus is both on
innovation and implementation as per the local needs and expectations of the home-
owners. It is a complete package as every unit is equipped with electricity-water-gas
connection. Transparency is being ensured through the technologies like geo-
tagging and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the beneficiaries.
Talking about the benefits for the middle classes, Shri Modi said they are getting
rebates on home loan interest. A special fund of Rs 25 thousand crore, created for
incomplete housing projects, will also help the middle class. Measures like RERA
have brought back the trust of the home owners and given them confidence that they

will not be cheated out of their hard earned money. There are 60 thousand projects
registered under RERA and thousands of grievances have been redressed under the
law.
The Prime Minister said that getting the key of a house is not just getting possession
of a dwelling unit but it opens doors of dignity, confidence, safe future, new identity
and expanding possibilities. All round work that is being done for ‘Housing for All’ is
bringing positive change in the lives of crores of poor and middle class families.
The Prime Minister also mention new scheme that was taken up during the Corona
pandemic i.e. Affordable Renting Housing Complex Schemes. Government is
working with industry and other investors to provide housing with fair rents to the
workers who come to work from various states to different states. Their housing
conditions are often unhygienic and undignified. Effort is to provide them fair rent
dwellings in the vicinity of their workplace. This is our responsibility that our worker
friends should live with dignity, Shri Modi added.
The Prime Minister also recounted the measures taken recently to help the real
estate sector. Measures like reduction of tax on cheap houses from 8 to 1 percent,
GST reduction from 12 to 5 per cent, recognizing the sector as infrastructure for
making it eligible for cheap loans have taken our ranking for construction permit from
185 to 27. Procedure for construction permissions have been taken online in more
than 2000 towns, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also informed that more than 2 crore housing units have been
constructed in rural India. Effort will be on to accelerate the speed of rural housing
this year.
DS/GA/MP/AAN/MW

PM lays foundation stone of Light House projects (LHPs) across six states

New Delhi, January 01, 2021
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Light House projects
(LHPs) under Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)- at six sites across six
States, today through video conference. He announced the winners under Affordable
Sustainable Housing Accelerators – India (ASHA-India) and gave away annual
awards for excellence in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban
(PMAY-U) Mission. He also released a certification course on innovative construction
technologies named NAVARITIH (New, Affordable, Validated, Research Innovation
Technologies for Indian Housing). Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Chief
Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said today is the day to move forward
with new energy, to prove new resolutions and today the country is getting new
technology to build houses for the poor, middle class. He said the houses are called
light house projects in technical language but these 6 projects are really like
lighthouses showing a new direction to the housing sector in the country.
The Prime Minister cited these light house projects as an example of the approach of
the present Government. He said at one time housing schemes were not as much as
the priority of the central government and did not go into the nuances and quality of
home construction. Today, the country has chosen a different approach, adopting a
different route and a better technology, to complete the projects faster. He stressed
on the importance for the Government ministries not to have large and sluggish
structures, but to be fit like startups. He expressed happiness on the active
participation of more than 50 Innovative Construction Companies from around the
world. He said this global challenge has given us a scope to innovate and incubate
with new technology.
The Prime Minister said in the next phase of the same process, the work of 6 light
house projects at different sites is starting from today. These light house projects will
be made up of modern technology and innovative processes and reduce the
construction time and make a more resilient, affordable and comfortable house for

the poor. He further explained that these light houses have innovations in
construction technology. For example the project in Indore will not have brick and
mortar walls, instead they will use the prefabricated Sandwich Panel system. The
light houses in Rajkot will be built using french technology and have monolithic
concrete construction technology using tunnel and the house will be more capable of
withstanding disasters. In Chennai, US and Finland technologies will use the Precast
Concrete system, which will construct the house faster and cheaper. In Ranchi
houses will be built using Germany’s 3D construction system. Each room will be
made separately and then the entire structure will be added in the same way as
Lego Blocks toys. He said Houses are being built in Agartala with the steel frames
using New Zealand’s technology which can withstand major earthquake risk.
Canada’s technology is being used in Lucknow, which will not require plaster and
paint and will use the entire walls already prepared to build houses faster. He further
said that thousands of houses will be built in 12 months at every location which will
act as incubation centers through which our planners, architects, engineers and
students will be able to learn and experiment with new technology. He announced
that along with this, a certificate course will be started to upgrade the skills related to
new technology to the people in the construction sector, so that the people can get
the best technology and material in the world in house construction.
The Prime Minister remarked that the ASHA-India program is being run to promote
research and startups related to modern housing technology within the country.
Through this, new and affordable technology for building 21st century houses will be
developed in India itself. He said Five best techniques have also been selected
under this campaign. He said that the biggest dream of poor or middle class people
living in the city is owning their house. But over the years, people were losing their
trust in their house. He said even after earning the trust, the demand has gone down
due to high prices. People have lost trust whether they would have legal standing in
case of any issue. High interest rates of the bank and the difficulties in getting loans,
have further dampened the interest on owning a house. He expressed satisfaction
on the efforts taken in the last 6 years to restore the confidence of a common man
that he too can have his own house. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, lakhs
of houses have been built in a very short time in cities.
The Prime Minister said that in PM Awas Yojna construction’s focus is both on
innovation and implementation as per the local needs and expectations of the home-
owners. It is a complete package as every unit is equipped with electricity-water-gas
connection. Transparency is being ensured through the technologies like geo-
tagging and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the beneficiaries.
Talking about the benefits for the middle classes, Shri Modi said they are getting
rebates on home loan interest. A special fund of Rs 25 thousand crore, created for
incomplete housing projects, will also help the middle class. Measures like RERA
have brought back the trust of the home owners and given them confidence that they

will not be cheated out of their hard earned money. There are 60 thousand projects
registered under RERA and thousands of grievances have been redressed under the
law.
The Prime Minister said that getting the key of a house is not just getting possession
of a dwelling unit but it opens doors of dignity, confidence, safe future, new identity
and expanding possibilities. All round work that is being done for ‘Housing for All’ is
bringing positive change in the lives of crores of poor and middle class families.
The Prime Minister also mention new scheme that was taken up during the Corona
pandemic i.e. Affordable Renting Housing Complex Schemes. Government is
working with industry and other investors to provide housing with fair rents to the
workers who come to work from various states to different states. Their housing
conditions are often unhygienic and undignified. Effort is to provide them fair rent
dwellings in the vicinity of their workplace. This is our responsibility that our worker
friends should live with dignity, Shri Modi added.
The Prime Minister also recounted the measures taken recently to help the real
estate sector. Measures like reduction of tax on cheap houses from 8 to 1 percent,
GST reduction from 12 to 5 per cent, recognizing the sector as infrastructure for
making it eligible for cheap loans have taken our ranking for construction permit from
185 to 27. Procedure for construction permissions have been taken online in more
than 2000 towns, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also informed that more than 2 crore housing units have been
constructed in rural India. Effort will be on to accelerate the speed of rural housing
this year. (PIB)

SNS Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 01 : The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Government Friday said that ‘due process of law will be followed’ into the encounter at Hokersar in which three “militants” were killed.
While police and Army claim that three youth killed were militants, their families have contested it, saying that trio was ‘innocent’.
“We are collecting all the details of the encounter. As per the law, everything will be done. In every encounter, the case is registered. I assure you that in this case the due process of law will be followed,” Advisor to J&K Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar  told news agency KINS over phone.
However Bhatnagar said that it was not the encounter which was held in the forests or in the night. “The encounter was in the city and that too in presence of the people,” he maintained.
It is to mention here that soon after the encounter the families of three youths killed in an encounter protested outside the Srinagar police control room (PCR) and claimed they were not militants.
However at a press conference, the Army had said they had tracked these militants on the basis of intelligence inputs, adding that the latter “fired indiscriminately” and even lobbed grenades at the security forces.
“For past many days, intelligence inputs were pouring in continuously about the movement of militants on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. Yesterday (Tuesday), we developed leads and came to know that militants are hiding in a house right opposite to Noora hospital at Lawaypora in HMT area,” General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the counter-insurgency Kilo Force, H.S. Sahi had said.

In a statement issued Wednesday evening, J&K Police had also said, “On 29-12-2020, at about 05:30 pm, troops of 02RR launched a cordon-and-search operation on a specific input near Hokersar where the militants hurled grenade on the searching party and fired indiscriminately on troops while laying cordon.
“On receipt of this information, Srinagar police immediately along with Police Component Srinagar and Valley QAT (Quick Action Team) CRPF rushed to the spot.”
The three men were identified as Ajaz Ahmed Ganai and Athar Mushtaq Wani of Pulwama and Zubair Ahmed Lone of Shopian.
Director General of Police (DGP), Dilbagh Singh in a press conference had said that he had no reason to dispute what a senior army official has stated about the Lawaypora encounter, but had added that police will “still investigate the claims made by families of the slain trio.”
Meanwhile, the National Conference on Friday said that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha assured an impartial enquiry will be conducted in the Srinagar encounter in which three ‘militants’ were killed.
In a brief statement, the party said that NC leader and Member of Parliament Hasnain Masoodi spoke to LG about the encounter.
“MP Anantnag @masoodi_hasnain spoke to J&K LG @manojsinha_ yesterday evening and expressed his anguish over the reports surrounding Wednesday’s encounter around HMT area in Srinagar.
“Mr. Manoj Sinha assured an impartial enquiry into the matter,” the party said.
PDP president and former J&K chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that she also wrote a letter to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha seeking an impartial and swift probe into the killing of three youths in Lawaypora encounter on the outskirts of Srinagar city and also demanded that their bodies be returned to the families.
It is to mention here that the police on Friday in another statement refuted the claim of parents of one of the slain that he went to University to fill up form on the day of Lawaypora encounter which broke out in Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.
In a fresh statement issued to the media on Friday, the police said that the Lawaypora Srinagar encounter started with army inputs and eventually fructified into a joint operation of Army, CRPF and Police. After the cordon was laid, militants lobbed grenade from inside and fired upon search party.
Although as per SOP militants were repeatedly appealed by the troops to surrender in the evening and again in the morning. However,instead of surrendering, they fired upon troops and eventually got neutralised in a fire-fight.
In so far as claims of the parents that Aijaz Maqbool Ganai went to the University to fill up form is concerned. The same was verified and cross checked through the modern techniques including records of telecom department. Contrary to the claims, the verified digital evidence revealed and corroborated that Aijaz and Ather had gone to Hyderpora and from there to the place of occurrence only.
Similarly, Zubair had gone first to Pulwama, then Anantnag, then Shopian to Pulwama and finally came to place of occurrence.
Background check also reveals that Aijaz and Ather Mustaq, both OGWs variously provided logistic support to militants.
Antecedents and verifications too shows that both were radically inclined and had aided militants of LeT (now so-called TRF) outfit.
One of OGW presently under police custody has also corroborated Aijaz’s association with LeT militant Faisal Mustaq Baba who was killed in Meej (Pampore) encounter in June last year. Pertinently, Ather was relative and OGW of HM top commander Rayees Kachroo who got killed in year 2017.
Nevertheless police is investigating into the case from all possible angles, reads the statement ((KINS)

Frequent internet suspension irks students, businessmen

SNS Kashmir

Pulwama, Jan 01: The first day of 2021 has started with internet blockade and complete shutdown in Pulwama and Shopian district against the killing of three youth in Srinagar.

Three youths, two from Pulwama and one from Shopian, were killed in an encounter at Lawaypora after which police said that the slain were militants.

The Pulwama and Shopian districts are said to be the epicenter of new-age militancy as most of the top commanders of different militant groups belonging to the twin districts.

After the killing of  Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Muzzafar Wani in 2016, whenever a militant belonging to Pulwama and Shopian districts are killed in an encounter with government forces, the authorities snap-down Internet services for many days to avoid law and order problem, while the districts observe complete shutdown.

Traders from twin districts said they have suffered huge losses since 2016 due to shutdowns but now frequent internet suspension has made things even more worse for them. “The frequent shutdowns and Internet gags have made the business system in Pulwama and Shopian miserable,” they said.

The frequent internet suspension in South Kashmir has also been irking the students who in absence of class work is directly dependent on online classes.

Sources said that since last week of November, internet services were suspended 12 times in South Kashmir due to which business and student community is suffering a lot.

Aabid Hussain, a student of Central University said that due to frequent internet blockade he has missed all-important classes.

“This internet blockade creates a lot of impediments among the students who are enrolled in different colleges and universities in and outside J&K,” he said.

“When the world is about to get 5G services, why are we being even deprived of 2G services,” said Mudasir Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama.  “If the government claims that everything is normal here, then why internet services are snapped so frequently.”

“We request authorities that think about the suffering of student and business community before snapping down internet services,” locals said-KNO

Srinagar, Jan 01 : The Jammu & Kashmir government has pulled up different departments for laxity in completion of languishing projects to be funded from the loan raised by the Jammu & Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation Limited (JKIDFC).

A record note of a meeting chaired by Financial Commissioner, Finance department, Arun Kumar Mehta on December 18 reveals that performance of Industries & Commerce Department & Jal Shakti department was found unsatisfactory in execution of works cleared for funding from JKIDFC.

During the meeting, according to the note, a copy of which is lying with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mehta, who is also chairman & Managing Director JKIDFC, pointed out that the performance of I & C department was unsatisfactory and directed it to clarify the same on the file.

The performance Jal Shakti/ Irrigation and Flood Control department also was found below satisfactory by FC Finance, reads the record note.

The chairman also took serious note of non-tendering of projects by Tribal Affairs department and directed it to furnish a proposal for dropping the projects approved by a high-powered committee.

The minutes of the meeting also reveals that departments have identified 57 projects to dropped for funding from JKIDFC.

According to the record note, the Skill Development also submitted that projects approved for funding during 11th meeting of high-powered committee needs to be dropped due to cost escalation in balance cost of the projects.

In 2018, the State Administrative Council (SAC) approved the Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC).

The JKIDFC has been authorized to raise a loan not exceeding Rs 8000 crores from various financial Institutions including state/ nationalized banks for completion of these unfunded, languishing projects. KNO

We are thankful to police and media for support: family

Reyaz Rashid

 Baramulla: The MCA student in Kashmir University from Fatehgarh Baramulla who went missing under mysterious circumstances in Srinagar ten days ago has returned home.

Family sources said that missing student has contacted them on phone that he was in Srinagar and wants to return home, family members rushed to Srinagar and brought him back.

“We have handed him over to police and his with police  from yesterday evening,” a family inmate said.

The family members in a video message had appealed their son to return home and had lodged a missing report in police station Sheeri.

“We could hardly believe our son is safe and returned home. We are highly thankful to media and police for their support,” said another family member.

A police official confirmed that the missing student has returned and police is investigating the matter.

SNS KASHMIR

SYEED IMTIYAZ

HANDWARA JANUARY 01. 2021 .

Handwara Police continued its efforts to reach out the needy and poor families living below poverty line who were affected badly due to pandemic Covid-19. In this regard, Handwara Police in a helpful gesture distributed COVID-19 protection kits under civic action programme of J&k Police among poor and needy families in its jurisdictional Police Stations and Police Posts,residing in the jurisdiction of PD Handwara who cannot afford to purchase such protection/ Safety kits. Each kit consists of masks, Sanitizers, Oximeter, Inhalers, Thermometer, Soaps, Shields and other essential items for virus protection.

In Police Station Vilgam SHO PS Vilgam Inspector Mohd Suliman distributed the Covid19 Protection Kits, in Langate Sub Inspector Shahid Nazir while in Zachaldara Incharge Police Post and Incharge PC jointly distributed the same. Similarly in Magam IC Police Post Magam SI Irshad Ahmad distributed the Covid19 protection kits.The officers also gave a detailed demo about how to use these items provided to them.

The distribution function was held in the premises of Police Station Vilgam and Police Post Zachaldara,Magam,Chogal and Langate.

People in general have appreciated the role of Handwara Police while tackling pandemic COVID-19 from initial stage till now.

Minus 5.9 Night Temperature in Srinagar

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR JANUARY 1:

The severity of cold during night is increasing in the valley.

Last night, night temperature in Srinagar further recorded a drop of -5.9.

The Meteorological Department has already forecasted extreme cold in December and January this year. The upper surface of Dal Lake and its shores were frozen on Thursday while other reservoirs and taps froze were also frozen.

The meteorological department said that westerly winds will re-enter the valley on January 3, followed by another phase of moderate to heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on January 4 and 5, said Sonam Lotus, director of the meteorological department.

The weather will remain dry in the valley till January 3, during which the minimum temperatures will continue to drop. He added that the weather is likely to be dry again from January 5 to January 10.

The Kashmir Valley, Leh and Kargil are experiencing severe cold wave. According to a spokesman of the Meteorological Department, the dry night weather in Kashmir Valley has resulted in a continuous drop in night temperature. Last night was the coldest night in Srinagar city as the temperature dropped to minus 5.9 degrees Celsius. Qazigund recorded minus 6.2 degrees, Pahalgam minus 9.6 degrees Celsius, Kupwara 5.8 degrees Celsius, Kokernag minus 7.8 degrees Celsius and Gulmarg minus 10.4 degrees Celsius.

Along with the valley, the Ladakh region is also in the grip of severe cold. The spokesman said that last night the temperature in Leh was minus 15.8 degrees Celsius and in Kargil minus 18.5 degrees Celsius.

SNS KASHMIR

PATTAN , JANUARY 1 :

A race between two cab drivers to overtake each other proved fatal for a pedestrian, who was crushed under the wheels in Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.

Reports said that the pedestrian identified as Bashir Ahmad Lone son of Ghulam Ahmad Lone of Khargam Kreeri was hit by one of the two overtaking (Sumo) cabs. Lone was taken to hospital where he was declared brought dead on arrival, they said.

A police official told GNS that police have taken the cognizance and further investigations have been initiated. (GNS)

‘Patients across valley are suffering in absence of medical attention’

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 01 :

Dozens of MBBS students including male and female Friday staged a protest outside the SKIMS medical college against the administration for not holding classes and converting the premises into a Covid designated hospital.

Joined by PG students this morning, they assembled outside the OPD of Sher Kashmir Medical College (SKIMS) Medical College, Srinagar against authorities for failing to resume the normal classes and patient care.

The protesting students while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the SKIMS Medical College authorities have immensely failed to resume normal functioning despite directions from the National Medical Council (NMC), forcing students to suffer.

A protesting MBBS student said that the administration of SKIMS medical college has immensely failed to commence the classes for the students and patient care due to which people are facing difficult times in absence of timely care and surgeries.

A Post Graduate (PG) student part of the protest said that the administration for more than 10 Covid positive patients, has turned the entire hospital into a designated Covid-19 facility, which is entirely unfair.

SR, PG, and UG students have joined the protest today against the administration here to ensure the Covid facility is converted into a non-Covid hospital immediately, he said.

The PG student said that no surgeries were conducted for the past months and people across the Valley are suffering only because not more than 10 Covid patients are enrolled, which is sheer injustice.

Besides Valley people, he said PG, SR, and UG students are suffering equally since there is no IPD, emergency with closed hostels, and no classes.

Citing an example, a PG student said that how can orthopedic and ophthalmology students complete the studies since they’ve not attended a single patient for months now and it’s entirely impossible for them to treat the Covid patients.

He claimed that normally 100 surgeries at the different departments would be undertaken in a month.

He also said that recently (Last Year) the National Medical College (NMC), issued the guidelines to all the medical colleges to start Non-Covid beds but the guildies have been violated by the administration itself.

The protesting students have sought the direct intervention of higher authorities and requested them to resume normal functioning and commence the classwork for students especially the clinical classes—(KNO)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 01:

Police on Friday refuted the claim of parents of one of the slain that he went to University to fill up form on the day of Lawaypora encounter which broke out in Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

In a statement to GNS, the police said that Lawaypora Srinagar encounter started with army inputs and eventually fructified into a joint operation of Army, CRPF and Police. After the cordon was laid, militants lobbed grenade from inside and fired upon search party.

Although as per SOP militants were repeatedly appealed by the troops to surrender in the evening and again in the morning. However,instead of surrendering, they fired upon troops and eventually got neutralised in a fire-fight.

In so far as claims of the parents that Aijaz Maqbool Ganai went to the University to fill up form is concerned. The same was verified and cross checked through the modern techniques including records of telecom department. Contrary to the claims, the verified digital evidence revealed and corroborated that Aijaz and Ather had gone to Hyderpora and from there to the place of occurrence only.

Similarly, Zubair had gone first to Pulwama, then Anantnag, then Shopian to Pulwama and finally came to place of occurrence.

Background check also reveals that Aijaz and Ather Mustaq, both OGWs variously provided logistic support to militants.

Antecedents and verifications too shows that both were radically inclined and had aided militants of LeT (now so-called TRF) outfit.

One of OGW presently under police custody has also corroborated Aijaz’s association with LeT militant Faisal Mustaq Baba who was killed in Meej (Pampore) encounter in June last year. Pertinently, Ather was relative and OGW of HM top commander Rayees Kachroo who got killed in year 2017.
Nevertheless police is investigating into the case from all possible angles, reads the statement.(GNS)