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SNS KASHMIR

NEW DELHI, MARCH 14:

The Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan will meet here on March 23 and 24 to discuss a host of issues, including Islamabad’s concerns to the design of Indian hydropower projects on the Chenab River, a top official said on Sunday.

This will be the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission. Under the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty, both the commissioners are required to meet at least once a year alternately in India and Pakistan.

‘The meeting will take place in New Delhi on March 23-24,’ P K Saxena, India’s Indus Commissioner, told PTI. This will also be the first meeting between the two commissioners after the nullification of special provisions under Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The state was later carved into two union territories — Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Since then, India has cleared several hydropower projects in Ladakh.

They are Durbuk Shyok (19 MW), Shankoo (18.5 MW), Nimu Chilling (24 MW), Rongdo (12 MW), Ratan Nag (10.5 MW) for Leh, while Mangdum Sangra (19 MW), Kargil Hunderman (25 MW) and Tamasha (12 MW) have been cleared for Kargil.

India had conveyed the projects to Pakistan and the issue is expected to come for discussion during the meeting. Saxena said that Pakistan’s concerns to the design of Indian hydropower projects on the Chenab river will also be discussed. The last year’s meeting, which was earlier scheduled to be held in New Delhi in March 2020, was cancelled for the first time since the signing of the Treaty, in view of the pandemic situation.

India in July 2020 had proposed to Pakistan that the meeting to discuss pending issues pertaining to the Indus Water Treaty be held virtually in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but Pakistan insisted on holding the talks at the Attari check post.

However, India said it was not conducive to hold the meeting at the Attari Joint Check Post due to the pandemic. With the improvement in the situation, this mandatory meeting is being held. All COVID-related protocols will be followed, Saxena said.

The meeting will take place after a gap of nearly two-and-half years. The last meeting took place in Lahore in August 2018.

The Indian delegation will be led by Saxena with his advisors from the Central Water Commission, Central Electricity Authority and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

The Pakistani delegation will be led by Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah, Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters and his eight advisors. Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the eastern rivers — the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — amounting to around 33 million acre-feet annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use and the waters of western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — amounting to around 135 MAF annually largely for Pakistan.

Under the Treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through a run of the river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation. It also gives the right to Pakistan to raise concerns on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on western rivers. ‘India is committed towards full utilisation of its rights under the Treaty and believes in an amicable solution of issues through discussion,’ Saxena said. PTI

SNS KASHMIR

SOPORE, 14 MARCH :

Protests against blasphemy remarks by a former Shia Wakf Board Chairman, Waseem Rizvi were held on Sunday in Sopore parts , with people demanding exemplary punishment to Rizvi, for hurting religious sentiments of billions of Muslims across the globe.

Reports reaching Inside Kashmir said, multiple protests were held in Sopore parts against the Shia leader’s controversial remarks against the holy book of Muslims.

People holding placards reading “hang evil Rizvi, dismiss petition” assembled at Main town Sopore and Choora in outskirts to lodge their protest against Rizvi’s move to challenge the authenticity of the holy book of Muslims.

Rizvi has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court of India seeking deletion of 26 verses of the holy Quran, who he alleged incites terrorism and promote violence among Muslims.

Pertinently, Several political and religious leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have condemned the actions of Rizvi and demanded police action against him. The BJP’s J-K unit has also filed a criminal complaint against Rizvi in Srinagar on Saturday.

KABUL [AFGANISTAN] MARCH 14 :

Five security personnel were killed in an attack on the Kabul-Jalalabad Road while escorting a United Nation’s convoy, the deceased has been confirmed belonging to the Directorate of Protection Services (DPS), Tolo News reported citing sources.

The attack and the incident have been reported by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Thursday night.

“The UN family in Afghanistan mourns the loss of five Afghan Directorate of Protection Service personnel in an incident today in Surobi District of Kabul. No UN personnel were hurt or vehicle affected in an attack that hit a DPS vehicle that was escorting a UN convoy,” tweeted UNAMA.

Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Secretary General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims on a social media platform, “Violence in Afghanistan must end,” tweeted Ramiz.

According to the security sources, the incident reportedly occurred in the Tangi Abreshum area of Surobi district around 10 am on Thursday.

The United Nation Security Council has condemned the alarming number of attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Afghanistan, that has been happening since the start of the Afganistan peace negotiations, September 2020. The council called for an immediate end to these attacks and stressed an urgent need to bring the perpetrators to justice. (Agency)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 14 :

Weatherman has predicted light to moderate rains in plains and snow over higher reaches in Kashmir Valley in next 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.

“Weather to remain overcast with light to moderate rain in plains and snow over higher reaches of Kashmir towards afternoon and generally cloudy in Jammu region,” Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus said.

Meanwhile, a meteorological department official told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of 5.8°C against 3.8°C °C on the previous night.

The temperature was 2.1°C above normal for this time of the year in this summer capital, the official said.

Qazigund recorded a low of 5.5°C against 3.7°C on the previous night while the mercury settled at 0.6 °C against minus 0.7 °C on the earlier night at the famous south Kashmir resort.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 4.1°C against 2.1°C on the previous night, the official said.

The minimum temperature settled at minus 2.4°C in Kupwara against 0.3°C on the previous night, the official said.

Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort which received 105.1cm of fresh snow earlier this week, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.2°C against minus 4.4°C on the previous night, the official said. (GNS)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 14 :

The security forces Sunday said that they have recovered a US-made M-4 carbine and 36 Armour piercing rounds from the one slain militant killed in Rawalpora, Shopian encounter.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the army on its official Twitter handle wrote that they have recovered US made M4 Carbine, 3, Magazines, 36 Armour piercing rounds and Rs 9600. Pertinently, a top police officer had told KNO yesterday that a Jaish-e-Muhammad commander Sajad Afgani was believed to be trapped in the Rawalpora encounter.

However, final official confirmation whether the slain militant is Sajad, is yet to come as police is ascertaining the identity.

An official told KNO that search operation is still on in the area and may take a while. It may be recalled that M-4 US made carbines have been recovered from Jaish militants only in the past during gunfights across the valley—(KNO)

SHOPIAN MARCH 14 :

A militant has been killed in an encounter between government forces and militants in Rawalpora area in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday.

A senior police officer told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that one unidentified militant has been killed so far while as operation is on in the area.

Earlier, on saturday evening, 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.

He said that due to darkness operation was suspended on Saturday evening and resumed on Sunday morning.

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

Antilia Case: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had demanded Sachin Vaze’s arrest for his suspected link to Mansukh Hiran’s death.

SNS KASHMIR

MUMBAI MARCH 13 :

Maharashtra Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze, who has been under probe for the mysterious death of businessman Mansukh Hiran, has been arrested after he was summoned on Saturday by the National Investigating Agency (NIA).

The police had traced an explosive-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence last month to the auto parts dealer, Mansukh Hiran, whose body was later found in a Thane creek this month. His wife alleged that the vehicle was lent out to the cop for four months till February 5, a few days after which it was reported stolen. While the NIA is on the case of the threat to Mr Ambani, the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is looking into the trader’s death and the car’s theft.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and leader of the opposition, Devendra Fadnavis, had on Tuesday demanded Mr Vaze’s arrest for his suspected link to Mr Hiran’s death.

Mr Vaze filed his anticipatory bail plea on Friday at the Thane district sessions court. He termed the case filed against him “baseless and without any motive” and a “witch-hunt”. He further claimed that at the time when Mr Hiran went missing and was allegedly killed, he was at Dongri in South Mumbai.

“It is trite law that a bald suspicion of the first informant regarding the commission of a crime cannot justify arrest of a citizen,” his plea said, according to a PTI report.

The court, however, refused him any interim relief on Saturday, observing that Mr Hiran was found to have spent time with the Mr Vaze on February 27 and February 28. The body was discovered on March 4.

“The custodial interrogation of applicant is necessary,” the court said, adding that the ATS investigating officer’s say in the matter is required, for which the hearing will now take place on March 19.

The NIA summoned him on Saturday to its office to question him in connection to the case involving the threat to the Ambani family. Later in the day, the ATS, too, reached NIA office.

On February 25, the Scorpio was found near Mr Ambani’s south Mumbai residence with explosives and a threat letter inside. The police traced the vehicle back to Mr Hiran, but he claimed it had been stolen a week earlier. The case got murkier when he himself was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5. His wife then accused Mr Vaze of being involved in his death.

On Wednesday, the officer, who had earlier joined the Shiv Sena during a period of suspension from service, was moved out of the Mumbai crime branch to the Citizen Facilitation Centre (CFC) at the police headquarters.

5CommentsThe ATS has recorded Mr Vaze’s statement earlier this week, in which he has denied using the SUV.(Courtesy NDTV )

SNS KASHMIR

GANDARBAL, MARCH 13 :

A female District Development Council (DDC) member from Kangan, who had resigned last month from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Saturday, rejoined the party.

Tasleema Aadil rejoined the PDP in presence of party’s district president, Bashir Ahmad Mir, who also confirmed the development to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

“We welcomed her once again in the party fold,” he said.

Notably, Tasleema Adil emerged victorious in the recently held maiden DDC polls from Kangan A constituency on PDP’s ticket.

On February 09, she sent a letter to PDP’s District President Ganderbal wherein she announced her resignation from the primary membership of the party.

However, after a month today, Tasleema rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today.

Notably, Kangan A constituency was reserved seat for woman where six women candidates had filed nomination papers while Tasleema from PDP bagged 1644 votes and was subsequently declared winner.

The candidates in the fray in the constituency include three independents and one each from BJP, Apni party and PDP—(KNO)

Mishra in Police, DC Sgr in Civil admin, Dr Suneem in health makes it to ‘Excellent People’ to be awarded next week

SRINAGAR, MARCH 13 :

Senior Superintendent of Police Kathua Shailendra Mishra has made it to the list of “excellent people” to be honoured by the Parliamentarians next week in Srinagar while in the civil administration category Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary will also be honoured.

The award ceremony will be held in SKICC on March 21.

Reliable sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the in the event titled “Real Hero Awards” the Members of Parliament (MPs) will present awards to youth icons, media persons, social activists, medicos, para-medicals, sports persons, COVID warriors and others.

Sources said that Dr Suneem, Medical Officer of 28 Battalion CRPF has been selected in the category of Health Care as frontline COVID19 warrior for his outstanding performance in the field.

Dr Mohammad Ayub Dar, Dean and Head of Department of School of Law, Kashmir University has also been selected by the jury in the field of Education for his excellent work in the education field.

An official informed that the Members of Parliament would arrive on March 20, a day before the scheduled mega award event.

Sources said that members of the delegation were free to meet “anyone and interact with common people at the place they like and choose.” The Parliamentarian Delegation will meet various public delegations on 20 March in Srinagar.

He informed that the event is being organized under the banner of South Asia Peace Movement—(KNO)

SRINAGAR, MARCH 13 :

The government has decided that the employees of the School Education Department retiring in coming two years shall not be transferred.

The comments were made by the officials in a meeting regarding the mass transfers of teaching officials currently going in the department in all ten districts of Kashmir valley.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that the administrative secretary to the government for School Education Department, B K Singh said this in a meeting held earlier in last week of February.

Singh said, “The employee having only two years remaining for retirement should not be disturbed.”

He also urged the concerned officials of the department that the applicants who have a mature stay of more than seven years or more be considered in the first instance and the employees having stay of more than four years should be considered later on.

In the meeting Singh also said, “In case of a demand for transfer on grounds of disability, spouse, extreme serious health conditions, security grounds, posting in hard or very hard zones and marriage grounds, such cases should be examined based on facts and necessary certificates issued by designated competent authority and subject to availability of equivalent cadre vacancies in institution identified by the applicant.”

Singh directed CEOs and directors of both Jammu and Kashmir regions that “In case of applications on grounds of extreme health conditions or serious illness, disability, the respective Chief Education Officers (CEOs) shall endorse the claims of the applicant with designated medical board for necessary certification; however their request place should be kept vacant for their claims on medical grounds.”—(KNO)