www.snskashmir.com

In its charge sheet, the NIA also accused PDP leader Waheed Parra of being involved with banned terrorist groups like Hizbul Mujahideen & Lashkar-e-Taiba.

SNS KASHMIR

NEW DELHI MARCH 27 ::

The NIA has alleged that PDP youth leader Waheed-ur-Rahman Parra paid Rs 5 crore to the son-in-law of hard-line Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for keeping Kashmir in turmoil after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen’s poster boy Burhan Wani in 2016.

In an exhaustive charge sheet recently filed in a special court in Jammu, the National Investigation Agency accused Parra, who was arrested last November, of being involved with banned militant groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashker-e-Taiba.

The NIA alleged that after the death of Wani, who was killed in an encounter with the Army in July 2016, Parra got in touch with Altaf Ahmad Shah, alias Altaf Fantoosh, and asked him to ensure that the Valley was kept on the boil with widespread unrest and stone pelting.

Parra, through his lawyer, has been denying these charges and claimed he was arrested for political reasons.

He was granted bail by the NIA court, which said there was no reference to him in the original, as well as the supplementary charge sheets presented in July and October last year respectively.

The court said ‘there was not even whisper’ regarding Parra’s involvement in the original charge sheet, adding that there was a statement in February 2020 of an accused that allegedly implicated him.

However, he was arrested by the counter intelligence wing of the CID in Kashmir in a case related to nexus between mainstream politicians and secessionists, and continues to be in jail since then. His bail was rejected by the NIA court in Srinagar.

The PDP had earlier claimed that the Centre was adopting pressure tactics for ensuring that their leaders switched sides and joined outfits enjoying patronage of the BJP.

The NIA charge sheet alleged that Parra had paid Rs 5 crore to Shah, who was also considered a close aide of Geelani.

The money was handed over to Shah, who was part of the hard-line faction of Hurriyat Conference, to ‘keep the situation boiling in the Kashmir valley after the killing of Burhan Wani’, it claimed.

The amount was given by Parra on behalf of the PDP to Hurriyat Conference and during the turmoil, Shah was in close touch with the party’s youth leader, it claimed.

Parra was considered a close confidant of Peoples Democratic Party chief and then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who was having an alliance government with the BJP in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmir witnessed the longest spell of unrest post the death of Wani in 2016 with curfew and hartal for around 53 days, during which around 100 people lost their lives and thousands, including 4,000 security personnel, injured.

Shah is already in judicial custody after he was arrested by the NIA in July 2017 for allegedly being involved in racket of providing funds to separatists and militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir. PTI

Will be given a chance to return, if he has joined militancy: Police

AWANTIPORA MARCH 26 :

A youth from Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district is missing since last one week and there are no traces of him since then.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Kashif Mir (16) son of Bashir Ahmad Mir resident of Dadsara village of Awantipora and an 11th class student in locality according to family members went missing before one week and since then there are no whereabouts of him.

“We searched for Kashif everywhere and contacted every relative, friends and others but couldn’t get any clue.

They added that they have already filed his missing report on March 20 at concerned police station.

Official sources said that Kashif’s two elder brothers namely Nayeem Bashir and Aadil Bashir were also militants affiliated to Hizb-ul-Mujhaideen, who were killed in year 2010 and 2014 respectively.

A police officer while confirming that Kashif’s missing report has been filed, told KNO that efforts are on to trace him. “He will be given a proper chance to return even if he has joined any militant outfit,” he said, wishing not to be quoted by him. Kashif has two brothers, one sister besides parents at his home—(KNO)

SNS KASHMIR

NEW DELHI 26 :

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against an officer of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and a private firm in connection with a tender worth over Rs 9 crore for improvement and maintenance of a section of a road in Jammu.
The FIR has been filed against Hem Raj, a regional officer of NHAI (regional office), Jammu, Rakesh Kumar Chaudhary, and his firm owner Rakesh Kumar Chaudhary.

The federal probe agency lodged the FIR on the basis of a preliminary Inquiry conducted by the CBI.

It was alleged in the preliminary Inquiry (PE) that the accused firm illegally got a tender dated January 10, 2018 for improvement and routine maintenance of Lakhanpur-Jammu section. The deal, worth Rs 9.34 crore, was in violations of terms and conditions of the tender.

“While cash more than Rs 65 lakh was recovered from the contractor’s house, Rs 2 lakh was recovered from the regional officer’s premises,” said CBI spokesperson RC Joshi.0

Chairman, Vice chairman lead the way by taking Covid vaccine shots

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, 26 MARCH 2021:

An interactive session was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shri Mohammad Aijaz Asad today with DDC, BDC members and Sarpanchs of Srinagar district. Chairman District Development Council Srinagar Altaf Malik and Vice chairman Bilal Ahmed Bhat were also present in the meeting.
After introduction a threadbare discussion took place on various Covid and developmental issues.

The meeting was attended by ADDC Srinagar/Nodal Officer Covid 19/Nodal Officer Vaccination/ ISM/BMOs/ZMOS/DPO and other concerned officers. During the meet CMO briefed about importance of vaccination among paarticipants in the meeting. Dy Commissoner Sgr Aijaz Asad exhorted upon the Panchayat body representatives to start awareness programmes in their areas in order to motivate people for getting Covid vaccination.
Aijaz Asad also deliberated upon formulation of District Plan and asked DDCs and other officers to prioritize the works and accordingly frame a Plan for next Financial Year so that works are executed well in time.
After the meeting Chairmain and Vice chairman took Covid Vaccine shots and pledged to launched massive drive at Panchayat level for vaccination programme for age group above 45 years which starts from beginning April.

SNS KASHMIR

DHAKA (Bangladesh) MARCH 26 :

At least four people were killed and dozens were injured when activists of a non-political Islamic group clashed with police in Bangladesh’s largest port city on Friday afternoon, according to local police.

Several hundreds of Hefazat-e-Islam activists gathered after Friday prayers in Chittagong to protest the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The police, on the other hand, erected barricades and blocked the roads, infuriating the activists.

The protesters attempted to dismantle the barricades, which sparked the clash. To disperse the demonstrators, police used tear gas shells and live bullets, as well as beating them with batons, according to eyewitnesses.

“Four are dead and their bodies have been taken to the morgue for autopsy,” Alauddin Talukder, assistant sub-inspector of the Chittagong Medical College Police Outpost, told Anadolu Agency.

Modi landed in Dhaka on Friday morning along with his entourage members on a two-day visit to join Bangladesh’s golden jubilee of independence and the 100th birth anniversary of its founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Earlier, in Dhaka, dozens of people were wounded, including three journalists, when police used tear gas shells to disperse demonstrators who were planning to march on a major road against the visit of India’s prime minister.

After the weekly Friday prayers, the protesters planned to begin a rally from the northern gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque in Dhaka. However, the police refused to let them allow. The area quickly became a battleground as some people pelted the police with stones, prompting them to retaliate with tear gas shelling.

Hundreds of plainclothes men carrying sticks targeted the protesters as well. Police were also seen sitting in riot shielded vehicles firing on the demonstrators.

Protesters set fire to many vehicles, including a motorcycle. After nearly two hours, the police were able to get the situation under control. (Agency)

SNS KASHMIR

. BARAMULLA MARCH26 :

Today on March 26, a delegation of Traders Federation Baramulla had a meeting with new SSP Baramulla, Mr Mohammed Rayees Bhat (IPS). The delegation was led by Federation president Mohammad Ashraf Ganai and general secretary, Er Tariq Ahmad Mugloo. In the meeting, delegation welcomed new SSP Baramulla and apprised him about the problems of Baramulla town, especially traffic related issues and menace of the growing drug addiction in the town and its adjoining areas, besides other issues. SSP Baramulla assured every sort of help to mitigate the problems faced by the people in the town. Federation also assured him full cooperation.

SNS KASHMIR

GANDERBAL, MARCH 26

SACHNEWS// Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal Suhail Munawar Mir held a detailed interaction with media fraternity of District Ganderbal.

While highlighting the role of media as a 4th pillar of democracy,SSP Ganderbal pinned hopes on the media fraternity in bringing out positivity to the masses and help Police eradicate social evils/ crimes and stressed on mutual cooperation for the betterment of the society.

During meeting various issues having direct bearing on the society were discussed. The media fraternity extending wholehearted cooperation with District Police Ganderbal in this regard. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks.

Locals allege leakage in Kishanganga dam; Admin says hiring experts to ascertain cause behind frequent landslides

BANDIPORA MARCH . 26 :

Authorities in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district Friday evacuated 30 families to safer places after the continuous landslides in Chak-Mantrigam area of the district, officials said.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that 30 families were shifted to safe places, including government quarters and other places during an evacuation process conducted under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora.

He said Deputy Commissioner also visited Chak-Mantrigam area and took stock of the evacuation of the people in the landslide hit area.

Meanwhile, locals have alleged that there is leakage in Kishanganga Hydroelectric power project, adding that days after the power project was commissioned, a similar situation took.place in the area following which they staged a protest to ensure redressal of their grievances.

The locals also said that the landslides, which are causing the threat to the whole village are occuring due to Kishanganga hydroelectric project dam.

They said that the excessive water leakage and persistent landslides has threatened the nearby orchards and left the houses vulnerable to collapse.

Moreover, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora said that they are callng experts from outside to verify the cause behind frequent landslides. “We are monitoring the situation closely,” he said.

He, however, appealed the people not to worry as there is no threat as of now—(KNO)

SNS KASHMIR

. SRINAGAR, MARCH 26 :

Anti-Corruption Bureau on Friday filed a charge sheeted against Managing Director, Aman Hospitality Private Ltd., two former Managers of J&K Bank’s Ansal Plaza Branch, New Delhi, and others in connection with 270 Crore J&K Bank loan fraud case.

The ACB has registered a the case (FIR No. 15/2019) on 24 July 2019 at police station ACB Srinagar on the basis of an information which was the outcome of a verification conducted into the allegations of financial irregularities in the loans availed by M/s Aman Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi from the Ansal Plaza Branch of the J&K Bank New Delhi, ACB said in a statement issued here to GNS.

“It was alleged that the officers of J&K Bank Ansal Plaza Branch had given loan worth crores of rupees to this firm and in connivance with the firm the loan amounts so sanctioned were declared as NPA to facilitate the firm to have a One Time Settlement to its advantage.”

The firm had apparently availed Rs 227 crores as term Loan alongwith Bank guarantee of Rs. 15 crores for the construction of a five star hotel in Delhi with a project cost estimated at Rs. 866.89 crores, the ACB said.

“The rest of the loans were availed from other banks by the firm as part of consortium loan for construction of the five-star hotel,” it said.

The firm had pledged mortgaged land including the building of five-star hotel and rentals which would accrue on the commercial area which was proposed to be leased out, hypothecation of all other current assets and personal guarantee of Raj Singh Gehlot who was the Managing Director of M/s AHPL worth Rs. 41 crores favouring a consortium of banks including J&K Bank as the lead bank as part of mortgaged properties, it said.

“However, while looking into the allegations mentioned in the FIR investigation revealed that instead of using the loans sanctioned for the purpose of construction of hotel it was diverted / siphoned out for various other purposes and misappropriated by the borrower Raj Singh Gehlot.”

Investigation, the ACB said, also established that out of the Rs. 100 crores sanctioned as Term Loan in the first phase to M/s AHPL an amount of Rs. 35 crores has been diverted by Raj Singh Gehlot Managing Director Of M/s AHPL in connivance with the Bank officials and other co-accused and through fictitious firms which were created for the purpose and also by layering the funds through other banks in a complex maze of transactions. “In this manner they cheated the J&K Bank Ansal Plaza Branch to the tune of Rs. 35 crores.

Further investigation into the remaining diversions is in progress apart from the allegations of illegally entering into an OTS to the firm advantage by J&K Bank officials.”

A charge sheet has been filed by the Anti Corruption Bureau in the concerned court in Srinagar u/s 120-B, 409, 420 RPC and section 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) of the JK PC Act against Raj Singh Gehlot Managing Director of M/s AHPL and co-accused Mohan Singh, Sheela Gehlot and Madhu Bakshi (private persons) and public servants Rakesh Kumar Kharyal and Kuldeep Gupta who were the erstwhile Managers of J&K Bank Ansal Plaza Branch, New Delhi besides the firms M/s Ambience limited, NGR Consultant Pvt. Ltd. and Raj Commercial & Agencies. “Further investigation in the case is in progress.” (GNS)

Says One weapon missing, arrested duo have confessed to crime; conducted raids on two hideouts but attackers had fled; Will catch militants involved before commencement of Amarnath Pilgrimage; Such attacks are like dance with the devil; Its upto people of Kashmir to choose between violence and peace: IG CRPF Charu Sinha

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 25 :

Inspector General of Police Kashmir range Vijay Kumar said that Lawaypora, Srinagar attack in which two CRPF men were killed and two others injured yesterday, stands solved as police have arrested two over ground workers (OGWs) and the Lashkar-e-Toiba militant involved in the act has also been identified. The IGP said that vehicle used in the attack has also been seized.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of wreath laying ceremony of two slain CRPF men at RTC Humhama here, the IGP said that Srinagar police and Bandipora police worked tirelessly soon after the attack and identified the three men who took part in the Lawaypora attack.

“Two OGWs who were idenetified as Muzaffar Ahmed Mir and Javaid Ahmed Sheikh provided logistic support to one Lashkar militant Nadeem Abrar Bhat alias Abu Brar, a resident of Narbal, Budgam. Nadeem is close relative of OGW Muzaffar,” the IGP said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). He said that trio had conducted a recee of the area on March 24 after which they chose the target on Thursday afternoon.

The IGP said that acting on a lead, police arrested Javaid Sheikh first along with the Maruti car bearing number HR 10 Q-6583 in which some empty cartridges were also recovered. “After his questioning and interrogation, we also arrested Muzaffar. Raids were conducted on two hideouts, but LeT militant Nadeem and two foreign militants had fled after coming to know about the arrest of Muzaffar and Javaid,” the IGP said.

He said both the arrested OGWs have confessed to the crime. Asked whether any weapon was missing from the incident spot, the IGP said: “Yes, one weapon is missing.” He, however, said that police area working on leads and very soon the remaining attackers that includes Let militant Nadeem and two foreigners will either be arrested or killed in encounter.

Asked about spurt in militant attacks in Srinagar and its outskirts, the Kashmir police chief said that there is a militant movement on the national highway on city outskirts as it connects Srinagar with rest of the Kashmir districts. “We will see if there is any loophole and ensure that the same is plugged,” the IGP Kumar said.

About the rise in bank robbery cases in Srinagar and outskirts, he said in the past 12 days, three incidents have taken place and one person has been arrested. “More arrests are on cards. We will soon share details with the press,” he said. On whether attacks like Lawayore may cast a shadow on the upcoming Amarnath Yatra commencing from June 28, the Kashmir police chief said that those involved in yesterday’s attack will be killed before the Yatra starts.

Speaking on the occasion, IG CRPF Srinagar Sector Charu Sinha while referring to the Lawaypora incident said: “Such incidents are like dancing with the devil, and it’s the devil who calls the tune. I leave it to the people of Kashmir to choose between peace, harmony and violence.”—(KNO)