Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Rights activists and relatives of the three men killed in the Hyderpora encounter last month have asked the administration to make public the report of a magisterial probe into the incident.
“It has been more than a month since the government had ordered a magisterial probe into the fake encounter killings. We have a right to know about the outcome,” brother of Mohammad Altaf Bhat, one of the three slain men, said on Monday.
Bhat, Mudasir Gul and his office boy — Amir Magray — were killed on November 15 in what the police called an encounter with militants. The relatives of the slain men term it “cold blooded murder”.
The trio were buried in Handwara area of Kupwara district by police but the bodies of Bhat and Gul were returned to their families three days later following a public outcry.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on November 18 ordered a magisterial probe into the killings.
District Magistrate Ajaz Assad promptly appointed additional district magistrate Khurshid Ahmad Shah as the inquiry officer with the direction to submit a report within 15 days.
Calls and messages to Assad and Shah, seeking their response on the status of the report, went unanswered.
RTI activist Raja Muzaffar sought to know from the government about the fate of the report.
“Itz (sic) now more than a Month. Where is the Magisterial Inquiry Report?” Bhat asked in a tweet.
The activist also posted a screenshot of the tweet of Lieutenant Governor Sinha in which he had ordered the inquiry.
“A magisterial inquiry by an officer of ADM rank has been ordered in the Hyderpora encounter. The Government will take suitable action as soon as report is submitted in a time-bound manner. JK admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians & it will ensure there is no injustice,” Sinha had tweeted. PTI

Srinagar, Dec 20: Police on Monday apprehended five persons for questioning regarding the death of an elderly sand dealer in Bijbehara Anantnag on Sunday evening.

A police official told GNS that a sand dealer identified as Mohammad Amin Thokroo, 53, son of Mohammad Jabbar was ‘stoned to death’ by a mob in Gadiseer Bijbehara while excavating sand from river Jhelum on the evening of December 19.

“An application was moved by the son of deceased person, Riyaz Ahmad Thoker wherein the applicant alleged involvement of several persons in the death of his father”, the official said.

“An FIR vide number 296/2021 under sections 147, 148, 149, 336, 307 IPC was registered against the accused at Police Station Bijbehara.

“Five persons have been apprehended for questioning”, the official said. (GNS)

I want to tell 1.25 crore citizens of Jammu and Kashmir that I understand your pain caused by the disruption in electricity supply due to strike by the power department employees. The well-being of each and every citizen is our top priority.

Many Generations of J&K have spent their life dreaming about getting an uninterrupted 24 hours supply of electricity and we have taken the bold initiative of reforms in the power sector to realize that dream.

Unfortunately, the people who were at the helm of affairs for many decades did nothing; they didn’t want the system to get better to bring qualitative change in people’s lives.

Talks have been held with those who were on strike and as on date no dues/salary are pending on part of the government.

I do not want to name them, but some people have criticized that the army has been called to restore electricity. Personnel from REC, NTPC NHPC, and officers from the army engineering corps have also come. This only shows our commitment that we restored 60% electricity yesterday and by tomorrow we will achieve 100% restoration.

There can be no compromise on the issue of ensuring access to the basic amenities to our people.

Tremendous work has been done across the Power sector in the whole country; rural areas are now getting electricity for 20-22 hours. Unfortunately, J&K is still deprived of that. We have made efforts in that direction. Most of you know our cumulative generation capacity is around 3500MW even though the UT has the potential to generate 20000 MW. In the last 6-8 months, the MoUs we have signed with NHPC, under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister, will pave way for generating 3500MW additional power in the next 4-5 years, assuredly.

There is no dearth of electricity in the country but the UT’s transmission and distribution systems have a limited capacity of carrying electricity from outside. We have worked in that direction and have been able to achieve 40% of that specific capacity building plan.

And I want to assure that the Hon’ble Prime Minister has always extended his support to us and in the last 14 months, we have completed 236 projects to improve transmission and distribution infrastructure and the rest will also be completed, well within timelines. It pains me that despite massive progress in other parts of the country, people of J&K were deprived of minimum requirements to live a civilized life.

If some people think that the system will work as per their whims and fancies, it cannot be allowed. The system will work for 1.25 crore citizens without any discrimination. Every step of the UT administration is meant for the betterment of 1.25 crore citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.

Srinagar, Dec 20: Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday claimed the arrest of two Jaish militant associates in South Kashmir Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said.

A police official told news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that “On specific information about the movements associates Pulwama Police with assistance of 55 RR and 182 Bn CRPF arrested two militant associate of proscribed outfit Jaish -i- Mohmmad involved in providing shelter, logistics and other support to the militants as well as in transporting of arms/ ammunition and explosive material for the militants in Awantipora and Tral areas.

He said arrested militant associates were in touch with JeM commanders and were involved in transportation of arms/ammunition & were providing other logistic support to strengthen ‘terror’ network.

“The arrested militant associates were identified as Umer Ramzan S/o M Ramzan Wani R/o Brabandina and Javid Ah Mala S/o Ali Mohd R/o Khelan” he said, adding that indiscriminate material of proscribed outfit Jem has been recovered from them.

A Case under relevant sections of law stands registered against them in Police Station litter and further investigation is on, he added. (KDC)

Srinagar, Dec 20 : The Delimitation Commission on Monday proposed six additional seats for Jammu region and one for Kashmir division.

The panel in its draft presented before the associate members, has proposed nine seats for Scheduled Tribe and seven for Scheduled Caste as well.

Sources privy to the development told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that all the associate members were present for the first time in the meeting as National Conference (NC) Members of Parliament attended the meeting first time since the formation of the commission.

The meeting was held today at Ashok Hotel in New Delhi, they said, adding that the panel has proposed seven additional assembly seats for Jammu and Kashmir. “Six seats have been proposed for Jammu region while one has been proposed for Kashmir,” they said.

The total number of assembly seats after this addition will be 43 in Jammu and 47 in Kashmir.

The panel has also proposed nine seats for Scheduled Tribe and seven for Scheduled Caste.

The commission has asked its associate members to submit their suggestions by Dec 31, 2021.

Meanwhile, NC MP, Hasnain Masoodi while talking to KNO from New Delhi, said that the proposal in unacceptable, saying that it is a matter of concern.

“We will submit our report in detail very soon as the proposal is not acceptable at all,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 20: A day ahead of Chillai-e-Kalan— the 40-day long chilliest part of the winter season—J&K and Ladakh continued to reel under intense cold conditions with Srinagar recording a low of minus 5.8°C on Monday.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that the mercury in the summer capital was two notches up from previous two night’s minus 6.0°C. However, he said, overall it was below minus 4.3°C than the normal for this time of the year.

While as the 40-day long ‘Chillai Kalan starts on December 21, it is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Meanwhile, the mercury in the world famous resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district settled at minus 5.5°C against minus 7.5°C on the previous night, the official said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of minus 6.0°C against minus 6.0°C on the previous night, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 7.4°C against minus 8.7°C on previous night.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 5.9°C against minus 6.0°C on previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 5.2°C against minus 6.1°C on the previous night, the official said.
Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a low of 3.2°C which is minus 5.7°C below normal, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 13.9°C against last night’s minus 16.0°C while automatic Kargil station recorded minimum of minus 11.5°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 19.0°C, the official said.

“Mostly dry and cold weather is likely to continue till December 22 forenoon in both J&K and Ladakh,” the official said, adding, “There’s a modifications in early forecast of snowfall. Now, there’s no forecast of any major snowfall in both J&K and Ladakh.”

However, he said, light to moderate snowfall is expected at many places of J&K and at scattered places of Ladakh especially along Sonmarg-Drass, Parkachik-Padum axis during evening of December 22 to 25. He said that due to mainly clear sky, night temperature Is most likely to fall further during next three days.

“Thereafter, due to the approaching Western Disturbance, we expect gradual fall in day temperature and slight rise in night temperature from December 21 to 26.” (GNS)

Jammu, Dec 19 (KNO): The divisional administration Jammu has requested the Army to assist the government in restoration of electricity after a dialogue with the agitating Power Development Department (PDD) employees has reportedly failed to break ice.

The agitation by the PDD employees has left hundreds of consumers across Jammu and Kashmir to reel under darkness as the employees have decided to suspend all the works till their demands are fulfilled.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Divisional Commissioner Jammu has shot a letter to General Officer in Commanding (GoC) of Yol based 9 Corps, which is responsible for Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts and GOC of Nagrota based 16 Corps, which have jurisdiction over rest seven districts of Jammu division including Chenab Belt and Pir Panchal region, to assist the administration to man electric installations/supplies in Jammu division.

“It is brought to your notice that due to a strike by Electricity Department personnel in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, essential services have been severely affected in the Jammu region. We would like to hereby requisition the Indian army to assist in restoration of said essential services by provisioning manpower to man critical electricity stations and water supply sources,” the letter by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Raghav Langer reads.

Later in the evening, Dr Raghav Langer addressed a press conference and clarified the government’s stand on the issues. He said that the government’s decisions regarding the power sector are progressive to bring reforms.

Divisional Commissioner claimed that the government’s intent is to ensure 24X7 quality power supply in Jammu and Kashmir. “I ensure that the government is here to work with sincerity to protect public interests. As far as the concern of agitating employees union, it has been already clarified that none of the service conditions, the pay structures, the salaries and the pensionary benefits, would be altered to the disadvantage for any employee of PDD. From the last 24 months, all employees get timely salaries and other benefits.”

Mukesh Singh, ADGP said that several rounds of talks were held and many grievances have been addressed on spot while many policy issues have been taken for discussions with higher ups.

“We appealed to the striking employees to call off strike and in the meantime we are also taking help from the army and other agencies for restoration of power. If anyone tries to hurdle the power restoration, they will not be spared,” Singh said.

MD JKPSL said that 55 percent of power has been restored in Jammu division and the department is working to restore the remaining 45 percent.

“The technical groups of our partner are working with us and also provide training to manpower of the army to restore all feeders,” the MD said.

Army Takes over

Government has now deployed specialized teams of Military Engineering Services (MES) on a number of power receiving stations across Jammu zone with both Army and Police have also been deployed on these stations to resist any kind of protest by the employees of Power Development Department of Jammu and Kashmir government.

On Divisional Commissioner Jammu’s request late evening hours, teams of the Engineering Wing of Army referred to as Military Engineering Services have been taken to power stations in protection of Army and Police. The wing of Army has started their efforts to restore electricity.

In Jammu, a number of receiving stations are presently under the control of Military Engineering services.’

Quick reaction teams of both army and police have also been deployed at power stations and grid stations.

Negotiations

Earlier in the day, the discussions with the representatives of the striking employees failed to persuade them to return to their duties.

Officials said that the employees of the department are on protest in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir with the main protest dharna being staged at Jammu.

A team of Government headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr. Raghav Langer, ADGP Jammu zone Mukesh Singh alongwith MD JPDCL held hours long talk with protesting employees but the talks have so far remained result-less.

Fresh rounds of talks have once again started between protesting employees and Jammu and Kashmir government.

The Crisis

Over twenty thousand employees of Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department are protesting against the government move to merge J&K Power Development Department into the Power Grid Corporation of India and the handing over of the assets to private companies.

Meanwhile, due to ongoing protest, worst ever crisis of power has hit Jammu region while the majority of urban areas including most parts of Jammu city, Rajouri-Poonch and Chenab valley remain under darkness while the rural areas are worst affected.

The striking employees refused to repair the faults and also refused to man duties until the government reverses its decision to privatise the power sector in the UT.

The Cause

The employees went on strike from Friday midnight and want a reversal of government decision to privatise assets, regularisation of daily wage power employees, and the release of salaries.

The employees say the assets built over decades by successive governments in J&K are now up for sale under Union territory administration.

“It’s a systematic transfer of assets which we are opposing. They are selling the assets of the transmission sector. They want to give 50% shareholding to the power grid which is against the interests of Jammu and Kashmir” said Sachin Tickoo, general Secretary of power employee union.

“It’s the issue of our existence. It’s the fight of the people we are fighting. we will be left with nothing if we lose the transmission sector. It’s the backbone of the power department” said Tickoo.

He said the talks with the government have been taking place at a lower level and no top government functionary has come forward to resolve the crisis and assurance that the power sector will not be sold to private companies—(KNO)

Awantipora, Dec 19: Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST) Awantipora is scaling new heights in the field of Research & Development and has recently bagged 20 innovative research projects from the J&K Science, Technology & Innovation Council (JKSTIC), highest for any institution in JKUT.

The projects would boost innovation and entrepreneurship in areas of scientific and societal importance as the research funding has been made to the IUST keeping in view the specific objectives and requirements of the Government for overall socio-economic development of the UT. The awarded research projects are in the fields of engineering, technology, computer science, food technology, mathematical sciences and other allied disciplines.

While complimenting the faculty members, Vice Chancellor IUST Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo, noted the significance of these projects for IUST in improving the innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the University in addition to other initiatives. “We have recently rolled out a strategy that envisions achieving a high standard of quality research, innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups in the IUST. The University has established the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED) with six verticals to promote the use of Science and Technology for providing innovative solutions to various societal problems in the UT,” VC IUST said.

He also added, “In response to the call for Expression of Interest, CIED has recently received about 100 innovative proposals and ideas related to the development of various products, processes and services from the students and individuals of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and also beyond for the development of potential start-ups. The University intends to financially support 30 of these innovative ideas with a seed grant of about Rs. 5.00 lakhs per idea/proposal and incubate them at the University so that these can reach up to the start-up level viably.”

Additionally, considering IUST’s highly recognized innovative work during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Design Innovation Centre (DIC), one of the six verticals of the CIED has been granted another innovative project by J&K DST for the development of prototype for low-cost Frugal, Bag Valve bagged mechanical ventilator. It is pertinent to mention that during the pandemic, IUST successfully deployed a fully functional modular and low-cost negative pressure chamber for isolation of COVID-19 patients at the Chest Diseases Hospital Srinagar, and developed a frugal ventilator prototype RUHDAAR and face shields for medical practitioners as part of its continuing Institutional Social Responsibility (ISR).

Srinagar, Dec 19: A police follower was shot at and injured by militants in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday evening.

A police officer told GNS that the follower identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Wagay son of Ghulam Mohammad was fired upon by the militants near his native village—Bandzoo. The follower with bullet injuries in legs was shifted to District Hospital Pulwama where his condition is stated to be “stable”.

A police officer confirmed to GNS the attack on the police follower and said that a case has been registered. (GNS)

Srinagar, Dec 19: The “work boycott” by Power Development Department employees in Jammu and Kashmir has left hundreds of COVID patients who need oxygen concentrators at home on death bed.

Complaints and distress calls were received across the parts of the Valley against the PDD employees for switching off the grid stations and disrupting power supply to people who are paying bills.

In Pulwama village of Ratnipora, locals told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) 10 COVID-19 patients are on oxygen concentrators since last week but are fighting for their life.

The locals said that the PDD employee posted at Receiving Station Narwa, which supplies power to dozens of villages, has switched off the electric supply and deprived the consumers of electricity.

Locals said they are pleading with the employees and concerned officials including Executive Engineer Nazir Malik, Junior Engineer Naveed and other concerned employees to restore the electric supply.

“Our pleas are being ignored by the Exen, JE and the employees posted at the Receiving Station Narwa. We are urging them to restore the supply for the life of the patients, but they are not listening,” Muhammad Yaqoob, a local told KDC.

He said when they talked to the Executive Engineer and JE about the patients, their replies were shocking.

“Executive Engineer told us that ‘when doctors strike work in hospitals why don’t people complaint then. We can’t help patients as we are on strike’,” the locals quoted the Executive Engineer as having said.

The residents of Pulwama have urged the District Commissioner and Divisional Commissioner to intervene.

Vinod Pandit, a resident of Jammu, said that their area is reeling under darkness from Saturday morning but no official is bothered.

Similar complaints poured in from Bandipora, Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Shopian and other different parts of Kashmir and Jammu. (KDC)