Author: snskashmir

Water is a Valuable Resource, Need to Conserve it: DDC Chairperson Safeena Beigh

_Scientific and Modern Methods should be used to Ensure its Productive

Utilisation: DC Bhupinder Kumar_

SNS KASHMIR

BARAMULLA, MARCH 22:

In connection world water day being observed throughout the world on 22nd March every year, a grand function was today organised at Indoor Sports Stadium which marked an overwhelming participation of various stakeholders of the society.

DDC Chairperson Safeena Beigh, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Bhupinder Kumar,  Officers from several departments, DDC members, President MCB,BDC Chairperson, PRIs, school children and other prominent citizens participated in the programme.

On the occasion, an array of lectures were delivered by several resource persons who highlighted the need and importance of preserving and conserving water more especially for the coming future generations.

Several theme based cultural programmes were also organised by the students wherein the best performing students were felicitated by the dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, DDC chairperson underlined the objectives of celebrating the programme and said that water is a valuable but a scarce resource and every effort should be made to ensure its productive utilisation. She complimented the participants and said that various stakeholders more especially the women should play their active part in water conservation as every form of life is dependent directly or indirectly on water.

DC in his address,  highlighted the theme of the programme and said that several techniques and methods should be adopted for water conservation with special focus on rainwater harvesting. He reiterated its commitment of providing potable drinking water to every household under the centrally sponsored Jal Jeevan Mission within the set timeline. Moreover, DC added  that administration is mobilising several types of means and measures to educate people about its importance besides urged upon various stakeholders to play their role in this regard.

Meanwhile, an oath was administered during which the participants pledged to conserve water and use it in our daily lives productively.

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU MARCH 22 :

Jammu :The disproportionate assets case against Manhar Gupta S/o Atma Ram Vaid R/o H. No. 168 Sector-D, Sainik Colony, Jammu, Chief Engineer (Projects), PDD (JPDCL), Jammu has been registered by Anti Corruption Bureau.

The instant case has been registered on the outcome of a Preliminary Enquiry conducted to look into allegations that Manhar Gupta S/o Atma Ram Vaid R/o H. No. 168 Sector-D, Sainik Colony, Jammu, Chief Engineer (Projects), PDD (JPDCL), Jammu had amassed huge assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

During course of Preliminary Enquiry, Manhar Gupta was found to have acquired numerous immovable as well as movable assets in his name as well in the name of his family members. Besides this, huge deposits in bank accounts, investment in Insurance Companies, gold/silver in bank locker belonging to him and his family members were also discovered. He has been found to have incurred huge expenditure on education of daughter.

The assets acquired as well as possessed and expenditure incurred by Manhar Gupta and his family were found disproportionate to his known source of income which constitute offences punishable u/s 5 (1) (e) r/w section 5 (2) of JK PC Act Svt. 2006. Accordingly, case FIR No. 09/2021 was registered in PS ACB Jammu.

The investigation of the case is going on.

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 22 :

Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world, has been closed and shall remain shut on Tuesday, officials said on Monday.

They said that the thoroughfare was blocked for traffic movement at Panthayal and no vehicular movement allowed shall be allowed on March 23 in view of the forecast by the weatherman.

“Tomorrow (23-03-2021), no vehicular movement shall be allowed from either side on Jammu-Srinagar highway in view of inclement weather prediction issued by MeT department for next few days,” a traffic department official said. He said that there was possibility of landslides and shooting stones at several places amid continuous rainfall along the highway.

The official said that Mughal road, connecting Poonch and Shopian districts continue to remain closed due to snow accumulation. (GNS)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 22 :

National Investigation Agency on Monday filed a supplementary chargesheet against two Gun Runners and One Financier of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in Devender Singh Case here in Special NIA court in Jammu.

In a statement to GNS, the NIA said that it filed a supplementary chargesheet against three accused persons namely Shaheen Ahmad Lone, Tafazul Hussain Parimoo and Waheed-ur-Rahman Para under section 120B of the IPC, sections 17, 18, 38, 39 & 40 of the UA (P) Act, and section 25 (1AA) of Arms Act and section 6 of the Explosive Substances Act in NIA Special Court Jammu in Devender Singh Case.

This case arose out of Police station Qazigund, Kulgam under FIR no. 05/2020 dated 11.01.2020 after apprehension of two militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) namely Syed Naveed Mushtaq, the then District Commander of HM for the district Shopian and Ganderbal and Rafi Ahmad Rather along with one serving DSP of J&K Police.

The statement further states that, Devender Singh and Advocate Irfan Shafi Mir, near Al-Stop Naka, Qazigund while they were travelling from Srinagar to Jammu in the I20 car owned and driven by accused Advocate Irfan Shafi Mir. NIA had re-registered the case as RC-01/2020/NIA/JMU and had taken over the investigation. NIA had earlier filed chargesheet against eight accused in this case.

Investigation has revealed that chargesheeted accused Shaheen Ahmad Lone and Tafazul Hussain Parimoo were involved in gun running from across the LoC for the militants of banned militant organisations Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and Lashkar e Taiba (LeT) and were also channelizing funds to the militants for sustaining militant activities in J&K at the behest of handlers located in Pakistan.

Investigation has also revealed that chargesheeted accused Waheed-ur-Rahman Para was part of the conspiracy for raising and transferring of militant funds to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militants for procurement of terrorist hardware and was also a crucial player in sustaining political-separatist-militant nexus in J&K.

Further investigation in the case continues, reads the statement.

SNS KASHMIR

AWANTIPORA, MARCH 22 :

Mohammad Yousuf-JKPS assumed the charge as Senior Superintendent of Police, Awantipora. On his arrival at District Police Office Awantipora, the new SSP Awantipora was received by SDPO Awantipora,Dy.SP PC Awantipora, DY.SP DAR Awantipora among other officers.

The new SSP was presented guard of honor by the contingent of Jammu & Kashmir Police of Police District Awantipora.

After assuming the Charge, SSP Awantipora convened an introductory meeting with Police Officers of Police District Awantipora and impressed upon the officers to work with dedication and zeal to fulfill the aspirations of the people.

Later SSP Awantipora visited all the branches of District Police Office Awantipora and emphasized upon the staff members to work with dedication and devotion towards their assigned duties.

‘We have a summer strategy in place, won’t allow stone pelters to disrupt peace; will ensure Colleges, schools work properly, tourists arrive in large numbers’

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 22:

Stating that stone pelting is a larger issue than militancy, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that anyone who indulges in stone throwing will be slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA) and nobody will be allowed to disrupt peace in summers.

“Stone pelting is a larger issue than militancy. It creates a negative impact and if stone pelting takes place, that keeps tourists away. Anybody who indulges in stone pelting will be slapped with PSA,” he said in reply to a query whether those who throw stones will be booked under PSA.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), IGP Kashmir said that a wrong impression is being created that stone pelting takes place at the encounter sites. “No youth from adjoining villages comes to pelt stones at the encounter site. The fact is that when we ask the civilian population to come out after it is proved that militants are hiding in a particular house, some miscreants resort to stone pelting at times,” he said. “To deal with them, PSA will be slapped.”

He said that summer strategy is already in place that includes setting up of fresh naka points, frisking, and deployment of extra men. “Our priority apart from the peaceful Amarnath pilgrimage is to ensure schools, colleges remain open and tourists arrive in large numbers,” the IGP said.

He said drugs are a big issue and that it has been proven that the neighbouring country is sending narcotics through LoC, International Border and even through Nepal border. “We appeal parents to keep a close watch on their children and if they spot their wards indulging in drugs, they should take them to the police drug de-addiction centre for treatment and counselling,” the IGP said. “This is a social evil and we all must put our heads together to stop it.

Even media men should help us in dealing with this menace. We don’t want media men to become our informers, but they should help us in eradicating drug abuse from Kashmir as it is eating our young generation.”—(KNO)

Says Militants refused repeated surrender offers; All four slain are locals; 19 militants including two top commanders killed since January this year, 18 youth joined militancy this year, 5 were killed, 3 arrested, rest still active; House catch fire in congested localities, at times militants torch houses

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR,  MARCH 22 :

Inspector General of Police Kashmir range Vijay Kumar Monday said that four Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed in a nocturnal encounter at Imamsahib area of Shopian in South Kashmir’s Shopian district and with the killing of four militants, 19 militants including two top commanders were killed since January this year.

Addressing a press conference at police control room here, the IGP Kashmir said that acting on a tip off, joint teams of army, police and the CRPF laid a siege at Imam Sahib area of Shopian. “When the suspected house was zeroed in, the militants fired indiscriminately triggering a gunfight. We brought family members of the trapped militants and even at 2 am, repeated surrender offers were made. The militants turned down the offer and fired at forces in which one soldier sustained bullet injury,” the Kashmir police chief said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

He said that in the ensuing gunfight, four militants were killed. “Some reports suggested that they belong to TRF, but for us TRF and Lashkar-e-Mustafa the fake names and are off shoots of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad. All four slain militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba and have been identified as Rayeed Ahmed, who was active since October last year, Amir Mir who joined militancy in February this year, Raqib Malik who picked up arms in December last year and Aftab Wani, who joined militancy in November last year,” the IGP said.

He said this year so far nine encounter have taken place of which only one was witnessed in north Kashmir. “In nine encounter, 19 militants were killed of which nine were killed in Shopian district alone. Among the slain were two top commanders that include Gani Khawja from north Kashmir and Sajad Afghani from South Kashmir,” the IGP said.

He said that this year so far 18 youth joined militancy of which five were killed and three arrested and rest are active. “Those active are being reached out and are being urged to return to mainstream,” the IGP Kashmir said.

He said that Standard operating Procedure (SoP) is being followed that entails offering surrender to local militants even during live encounters. “Security Forces are dealing with the anti-militancy operations professionally,” the IGP said. “In all these encounters, no civilian was killed. We lost four security forces personnel including a solider, a cop in Budgam, and two policemen in Barzulla, Srinagar.” He said that in today’s encounter a soldier was injured, who is stable.

Present on the occasion, General officer commanding (GoC) Victor Force Rashim Bali said that army’s 44 RR reached out to the parents and even to the wife and 4-year-old son of a militant Raqib. “But they refused to surrender. This is why the operation got delayed, otherwise it wouldn’t have last even for half an hour,” the GoC said. “We even brought brother in law of Raqib to the encounter site, but still he didn’t surrender.” The GoC reiterated that the army is ready to facilitate the surrender by local boys holding guns even at the last minute. “Our one soldier received bullet injury in a bid to try whether the militants may surrender,” he said.

Replying to a query that residential houses are getting damaged in encounters, he said that the security forces are working professional and at times houses where militants are hiding, catch fire due to the congested localities. “Recently, militants were caught in a concrete house, that was connected with two more houses. They shifted from one house to another. In some cases, militants themselves torch the houses in a bid to flee,” the GoC said—(KNO)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 22:

Rains continued in plains of Kashmir Valley while upper reaches received snow, officials said on Monday.

The Meteorological department has predicted more widespread rain in plains and snow in upper reaches till tomorrow and also urged people to be alert and cautious against thunderstorms and lightning, urging them not to sit under trees or iron poles besides warning about avalanches and flash floods or mudslides.

“Widespread moderate rain /snow is most likely to continue till tomorrow (March 24). Heavy to very heavy rain /snow is most likely at scattered places of JK,” Director Meteorological department Sonam Lotus said.
He urged people to remain alert and cautious against “possible” thunderstorms and lightning.
“Please don’t sit under trees, iron poles etc,” he said and also urged people to be wary of avalanches and flash floods or mudslides. Lotus also said there could be waterlogging in low lying areas.

A meteorological department official told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of 7.4°C same as on the previous night while the summer capital of J&K received 9.4mm of rain in the last 24 hours till 0830 hours.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, received 6.1mm of rain and recorded a low of 7.3°C against 5.7°C on the previous night while mercury settled at 4.3°C against 0.1°C on the earlier night at Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir which received 12.4mm of rain during the time.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 5.7°C against previous night’s 6.0°C while it received 8.8mm of rain, the official said.

The minimum temperature settled at 4.8°C in Kupwara against 5.3°C on the previous night, the official told GNS. The north Kashmir district received highest rainfall of 20.6mm during the time, the official said.
Gulmarg recorded minimum temperature of minus 0.5°C against 2.0°C on the previous night, the official said. It received rain or snow equivalent to 16mm. (GNS)

SHOPIAN, MARCH 22:

Burglars decamped with cash from an ATM of State bank of India near 4-Way in Shopian district of south Kashmir, officials said on Monday.

They said that the unidentified thieves also looted six shops—two at Old Bus Stand, adjacent to 4-Way; two near Batho Chowk and three others at Gole Chakri area.

A police officer confirming the burglaries told GNS that unidentified persons broke open the machine of SBI at 4-Way during the night. He said details are awaited as regards the cash contained in the ATM.

Regarding burglary in shops and cost of the property looted, he said that “details are being collected.” “A case has been registered and further investigations are underway.” (GNS)

SHOPIAN, MAR 22 :

Four militant have been killed in an encounter between government forces and militants in Manihal village of Imamsahib belt in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday

A senior police officer told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that four unidentified militants have been killed whose identification is being ascertained while as search operation is on in the area.

He said that militants turned down repeated surrender offers of government forces

Earlier an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 34 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, internet services have been snapped in Shopian district—(KNO)