www.snskashmir.com

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 09 :

Upper reaches of Kashmir Valley including Gulmarg received fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains, officials said on Tuesday.

A meteorological department official told GNS that Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort, received 37 centimetres fresh snowfall in last 24 hours till 0830 hours. In past 48 hours, the tourist destination in north Kashmir received 50cm (1.65ft) of snow and recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.2°C against minus 3.5°C on the previous night, the official said.

Srinagar, the official said, received 14.9mm of rain during 24 hours even as it recorded a low of 5.2°C against 5.8°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.9°C above normal for this time of the year in this summer capital, the official said.
Qazigund recorded a low of 2.8°C against 4.8°C on the previous night and received 33.2mm of rain during the time.

The mercury settled at 2.1°C against minus 1.4°C on the earlier night at Pahalgam while the famous resort received 6.9mm rain.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 1.1°C against 3.9°C on the previous night while it received 19.7mm of rain.

The minimum temperature settled at 3.7°C in Kupwara against 3.9°C on the previous night while the north Kashmir district received 2.4mm rain, the official said.

Leh received 2 centimetres of snow while it recorded a low of minus 4.3°C, the official nsaid.

The MeT has predicted improvement in the weather for now.
For March 11 and 12, the weatherman has issued a “yellow warning” for “isolated rain, thundershowers with lightning, hail and gusty winds” in Kashmir as well as Jammu divisions.

There are four types colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched), amber –government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies. (GNS)

SNS KASHMIR

KUPWARA, MARCH 09 :

Authorities closed Tehsil office Drugmulla Kupwara for two days after one of the employees working there tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday.

The authorities have shifted the working in a nearby ‘Niayabat (Lower part of tehsil), some half a kilometre from the main Tehsil office, so as to ensure that people do not suffer. “We have decided to close down the office for two days so that spraying etc is done.

In the meantime, we have started the work from Nayabat so that working is not affected and the people don’t suffer,” Tehsildar concerned told GNS. He said that the 37-year-old employee who tested positive has been hospitalized. (GNS)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 9 :

The weatherman on Tuesday forecast erratic weather as intermittent rain with thunderstorm in plains and snow over higher reaches in Kashmir Valley is expected till March 15.

“Weather is going to remain erratic till March 15. Expect intermittent rain with thunderstorm and snow over higher reaches mainly during March 11-13th,” said Sonam Lotus, Director Meteorological department of J&K and Ladakh.

He said that the weather may affect Banihal-Ramban, Zojila Highways due to Landslide, snow slides etc.
“Farmers are advised to avoid spraying of orchards n other farm operations till 15th March,” he said.
For March 11 and 12, the weatherman has also issued a “yellow warning” for “isolated heavy rain/snow, thundershowers with lightning, hail and gusty winds” in Kashmir as well as Jammu divisions.

There are four types colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched), amber –government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies.

Earlier upper reaches of the Valley including Gulmarg received fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains.

A meteorological department official told GNS that Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort, received 37 centimetres fresh snowfall in last 24 hours till 0830 hours. In past 48 hours, the tourist destination in north Kashmir received 50cm (1.65ft) of snow and recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.2°C against minus 3.5°C on the previous night, the official said.

Srinagar, the official said, received 14.9mm of rain during 24 hours even as it recorded a low of 5.2°C against 5.8°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.9°C above normal for this time of the year in this summer capital, the official said.
Qazigund recorded a low of 2.8°C against 4.8°C on the previous night and received 33.2mm of rain during the time.

The mercury settled at 2.1°C against minus 1.4°C on the earlier night at Pahalgam while the famous resort received 6.9mm rain.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 1.1°C against 3.9°C on the previous night while it received 19.7mm of rain.

The minimum temperature settled at 3.7°C in Kupwara against 3.9°C on the previous night while the north Kashmir district received 2.4mm rain, the official said.Leh received 2 centimetres of snow while it recorded a low of minus 4.3°C, the official said. (GNS)

BJP, NC, PDP, Congress, PC members protest against govt at venue of training programme

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU, MARCH 09 : 

Cutting across the party lines, members of district development councils in Jammu & Kashmir  Union Territory on Tuesday staged protests against the government’s orders about their honorarium and protocol at Jammu where they all had gathered to attend a training programme organized by the Rural Development Department.

All elected DDC members from BJP, NC, PDP, Congress, PC and other parties staged protests outside the convention centre over their honorarium and protocol, saying it was humiliation to them. They are refusing to attend the training programme.

“This is our insult and humiliation,” Shabir Ahmad Lone, DDC member from Rohama Rafiabad said.

He said that they will en-masse resign if government will not revoke the orders. Muzaffar Ahmad Dar, DDC member from Tujjar Sharief said that all the DDC members have gathered outside the Jammu convention Centre to protest against the  government’s  orders about  their protocol and honorarium.

“We were told that DDC members will be given powers at par with the MLAs, but the bureaucrats don’t want it to happen. They have issued orders without consulting us,” he said. The protests were going on when this report was last filed.

Meanwhile, officials are trying to pacify the protesting DDC members.(KNO)

SNS KASHMIR

DODA, MAR 09 :

An empty bus plunged into Chenab river near Pul Doda in Doda district on Tuesday morning, officials said here.

Officials told the news agency—KNO, that the bus plying on Assar-Kishtwar road skidded off road and fell into deep gorge and got submerged in the Chenab river.

“So far we have information that one only driver was present in the bus who also jumped out of vehicle and is safe,” they said, adding that an operation is going on in the area to ensure that no more passenger was present in the vehicle.

SSP Traffic JS Johar said that no passenger was present in the vehicle and driver too jumped out of the vehicle—KNO

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU MARCH 08 :

A day after the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit adopted a resolution to form the next government in the Union Territory, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday pooh-poohed the resolve and said “I will see how it is going to happen”.

He also criticised the BJP for allegedly dubbing him and other leaders as “Pakistani” during election time and urged the people to stay away from the “politics of religion and hatred”.

“They (BJP) are making noises that we are coming (to power). They will never come,” the former chief minister said addressing a function to mark the International Women’s Day at the NC headquarters here.

At a two-day working committee meeting at Katra in Reasi district, the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit adopted a resolution on Sunday to form the next government in the union territory of its own whenever the Assembly elections are held.

They say we will form the (next) government. I will see how it is going to happen. Will they come from the sky? We are standing in their way and how you will remove us. The National Conference has a history of sacrifice and lives in the hearts of the people,” Abdullah said.

Without identifying anyone but apparently referring to the BJP, he said “they are creating hatred” among the people to win the elections.

“When the elections come, we are dubbed as Pakistanis despite the fact that we have spent ourselves to keep the Indian flag high and thousands of our workers and leaders have sacrificed their lives. However, when the elections are over, we become Indians…I am surprised,” he said.

Advising the party workers to keep away from the politics of hatred and religion, he said all religions are equal and no religion is bad.

“It is a man who is bad and not the religion. Had we known our religion in real sense, we would not criticise any other religion…We have to teach our children the right knowledge of the religion,” he said.

He asked the National Conference (NC) workers to identify and reach out to the women who have the urge to serve the society as “we have to think how we can build our future and make J&K a prosperous state.”

“You have to speak to the people and educate them about the false propaganda. Tomorrow they will come chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and you line up and vote for them without taking into consideration what they have been doing.

“We forewarned you about the happenings but nobody paid any heed at that time. This is just a beginning, you will see what is going to happen next…the farmers are on the roads, prices have skyrocketed, unemployment is on the rise. they have ruined everything,” he said.

Abdullah asked District Development Council (DDC) members, especially women, to work with the administration for the benefit of all.

“You have been voted by people, both men and women. You have to work for all including those who have voted against you,” he said. (PTI)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 8 :

Jammu and Kashmir High Court Monday heard and listed on Macrh 18 again a petition filed by National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s against an Enforcement Directorate’s order attaching his properties in a case of alleged money laundering.

A bench of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thankur heard the plea and ordered its continuation next week after briefly hearing the parties.

Last week, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey had recused from hearing the plea and had posted it for today before a separate bench.

The ED has alleged that Abdullah misused his position as president of the J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) from 2001-2011 and made appointments in the sports body so the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sponsored funds could be laundered.

The former three-time Chief minister said the list of properties, valued around almost Rs 12 crore, attached by the ED in Kashmir and in Jammu were unrelated to the alleged activity mentioned in the Final Report/FIR.

The 83-year-old parliamentarian has said his ancestral and family properties in Jammu and Kashmir have been illegally attached by ED despite the fact that it had “no jurisdiction to do the same.”

“The illegal, excessive and arbitrary attachment of properties has resulted in grave injustice to the Petitioner, and is a continuing violation of his fundamental rights under Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution,” he says in the plea as per GNS.

In 2012, he submits that certain allegations regarding the siphoning off of JKCA funds emerged.

“As per the Final Report, these discrepancies were noticed by the then Treasurer, Manzoor Ahmed Wazir who brought it to the notice of the President (Farooq) who convened an immediate meeting of the Office Bearers of JKCA and subsequently an FIR No. 27/2012 dated 10.03.2012 under Sections 409, 406, 120B RPC was registered in PS Ram Munshi Bagh naming the erstwhile General Secretary and Treasurer namely Saleem Khan and Ahsan Ahmad Mirza as accused persons.”

He said along with initiating a police investigation regarding these allegations, Farooq submits that he constituted an In-House Probe Committee comprising of independent members of the Working Committee. “This Probe Committee submitted its interim report on 13.05.2012 and confirmed the embezzlement of funds by certain office bearers of the JKCA.”

He said ED’s 18 December 2020 action, attaching his properties, was illegal and arbitrary.

“A bare perusal makes it amply clear that the ED has simply adopted the case of the CBI and the resulting Final Report filed against the Petitioner (Farooq). Barring the recording of a handful of statements under Section 50 PMLA, no independent inquiry has been conducted into the present case, rendering it inherently biased,” he said, adding, “Nowhere has the ED satisfactorily offered reasons to believe the (Farooq) is in possession of proceeds of crime, or that such proceeds are likely to be concealed, transferred or dealt with in any manner which may result in frustrating any proceedings under the PMLA, as is required under Section 5 PMLA. Admittedly, the properties attached have no relation to the present case.”

He said that all properties attached by the ED are either ancestral or acquired by him prior to the date of the alleged offences. “The allegations against (Farooq) pertain to the period 2004 to 2009.The attached properties were acquired prior to the alleged commission of the offences, and hence were not involved in any alleged money-laundering or related criminal activity,” he said and sought directions to stay the proceedings pending before the Adjudicating Authority in relation to the “Original Complaint No. 1387 of 2021 during the pendency of the present petition.” (GNS)

Says Police Not Barred To ‘Expedite Verification’ While Petition Is Pending Before It

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 8 :

Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday issued notice retuable by two weeks on a petition filed by former Chief Minister and PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti, regarding issuance of passport allegedly denied to her for want for police verification.

While issuing the notice to MEA, Regional Passport Officer and Additional Director General Police among others, a bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey made it clear the pendency of plea “shall not form any impediment for the police agency to expedite the verification.”

In her plea, Mehbooba Mufti submits that the passport issued to her was valid till 31st May 2019.

Subsequently, she applied for issuance of a passport before the Regional Passport Officer on 11 December last year.

Former Advocate General and senior lawyer Jahangir Iqbal Ganai, representing her, submitted that as per circular instructions issued Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the passport of an individual is to be issued within 30 days.

However, he said, in the instant case, despite lapse of three months, passport has not been issued to Mehbooba.

The senior counsel further submitted that Mehbooba while availing the tracking facility on the Passport Officer’s website, came to know about the status of the passport as “pending for physical verification at respective Thana under SP office, District Srinagar.”

He submitted that Mehbooba approached Senior Superintendent of Police on February 13 this year with the request to forward the police report to the passport office but till date, there is no change in the status of the passport on the portal of the passport office . Therefore, he said, Mehbooba had no option but to approach the Court for the reliefs.

She has also sought directions declaring the action of officials concerned in not allowing her to travel abroad as illegal and unconstitutional violating her fundamental right to travel abroad as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution or India.

T.M. Shamsi, ASGI waived notice on behalf of MEA 1 and Passport Officer while B.A. Dar, Senior Additional Advocate General waived the notice on behalf of local government and police.

“It is made clear the pendency of writ petition shall not form any impediment for the police agency to expedite the verification,” the court said as per GNS.

Meanwhile, the high court while hearing a plea by Mehbooba’s mother, issued notice to the concerned on the plea for passport to her as well. (GNS)

Directs for speeding up pace of works undertaken to provide mitigation of public related issues

Remove all bottlenecks that impede timely completion of augmentation and restoration works of various projects: Commissioner Secretary

Directs Presidents to fix responsibility & take strict action for non-compliances

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU, MARCH 08:

Commissioner Secretary, Dheeraj Gupta today chaired the third High Level review meeting with the team of presidents from Local Bodies, senior officials from Jammu and Kashmir Administration.

The Commissioner Secretary directed the concerned officers to increase the pace of works undertaken to ensure mitigation of public-related issues to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He passed strict instructions to remove all bottlenecks and hurdles that impede the timely completion of augmentation and works of various projects.

While taking a strong note of the delays in tendering and awarding of projects, the commissioner Secretary asked the concerned officers to fix responsibility and take strict action for the non-compliances.

He also directed for initiating an inquiry in the erring matters and submit the report at the earliest.

In order to speed up the works on different projects, the Commissioner Secretary directed the concerned to come up with a policy framework for procurement of spares and inventory, and directed them to conduct an auction of the scrap and discarded items.

Pertinently, Commissioner Secretary has been emphasizing on the need to mitigate the shortage of funds in kashmir during summers, and in jammu region during winters. It is in this context that regular meetings are being chaired by him to closely monitor the progress on Developmental works and reducing Transmission & Distribution losses in J&K.

The Commissioner Secretary asked the Presidents to complete the digitization work in the Local Bodies sector on priority for its smooth functioning.

The Commissioner Secretary was also informed that several site visits were carried out by the officers to get first-hand review of the projects taken up to revamp Local Bodies sector in the region.

The meeting discussed the creation of new jobs through outsourcing particularly for sweepers and drivers, Centrally Sponsored Schemes like IHHL, PMAY-U and other schemes undertaken in Local Bodies sector.

The meeting was led by Sh.Iqbal Ahanger, President Mc Dooru-Verinag and other Presidents including Sh Omar Kakroo President Mc Baramulla, Sh.AltafAhmad, President Mc Ganderbal; Sh. Masroor Banday, President Mc Handwara; Sh.Ab karim ,President Mc Kunzer ,Sh Zahid jan President Chahre sharief , Sh Jehangir President Sumbal , Sh Yaqoob Ahmad President Mc Pampore, Sh. Gulzar Ahmad President Mc Watergam and other Presidents of Urban Local Bodies kashmir.

Violation of Covid-19 pendemic SOPs during “Umeed Ki Sehar” event organized by Army in Uri 

SNS Kashmir

Baramulla Mar 8: A day after Bollywood celebrities, top Army officials and huge crowd of people were seen bluntly violating the COVID-19 protocols and social distancing norms during “Umeed Ki Sehar” event organized by Army in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Sub-district Magistrate Uri has expressed his anguish over a gathering  witnessed on arrival of Bollywood actors – Vicky Kaushal and Sonali Chauhan – to this frontier town amid prevailing COVID pandemic crisis. 

The officer has made seeking of NOCs and permissions necessary for the conduct of any event or programme henceforth. 

In a circular made to civil administration officials, a copy also forwarded to Brigade Commander 12 Infantry (in care of 56 APO Uri), the officer has maintained that his office has received reports about “officers of line departments engaging in organising of events and programmes, initiating huge gatherings without any intimation to the office.” 
“As such it is impressed upon all the officers to desist from such practices for future and seek necessary NOCs and permission from this office with prior intimation regarding the nature of such programmes”, reads the circular, a copy of which lies with SNS Kashmir.
Pertinently, SNS Kashmir reported about the gross violation of Covid-19 pendemic protocol in the event organised by Army.
The circular also remarks that “NOCs are furnished to NGOs/establishments etc. without any intimation to this office, flouting laws in vogue in this account, which shall be dispensed forthwith.”
The SDM has asked SDPO ‘to coordinate in the matter’ even as all the officers working in sub-division Uri having been asked to comply with the directions passed in this regard.
Pertinent to mention here that a sizeable number of locals, mostly youth, had assembled during an army event held under ‘Umeed Ki Sehar’ banner here in this frontier town yesterday, on arrival of few Bollywood actors.