Blog

Srinagar: Police on Monday claimed to have cracked October 6 attack on BJP leader from Nunar Ganderbal in which a militant and a policeman were killed.

“On October 6, (militants) carried out an attack on the District Vice President BJP Ghulam Qadir at Nunner Ganderbal in which one (militant) involved in the attack namely Shabir Ahmad Shah of Tral was neutralised on the spot in retaliatory fire,” a police spokesperson said.

He said during the exchange of fire one constable namely Mohammad Altaf also got killed due to a gunshot wound.

Accordingly, the police spokesperson, that a case (FIR No 209 of 2020) under section 302 IPC ,13,16,18 UA(P)A and 7/27 IA Act was registered at police station Ganderbal and investigation set into motion.

“During investigation involvement of one Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh (Hospital Security Guard) of Serch Ganderbal was unraveled. However, he upon questioning tried to dodge the investigation agency. Technical details sought through ESU revealed some startling facts and (his) sustained questioning on October 30 revealed that he was an active member of (Hizb-ul-Mujahideen) and had been instrumental in the attack.”

Accordingly he was arrested and on his disclosure one pistol, a magazine with 3 rounds of ammunition and some Pak flags were recovered, the official said.

“During sustained questioning the (militant) associate disclosed two other associates namely Hilal Ahmad Mir of Bernbugh Kangan, working as ATM Guard at SKIMS, and Asif Ahmad Mir of Serch Ganderbal (Private Security Guard at SMHS) who were also arrested and one more Chinese pistol and ammunition, two detonators ,Pakistan flags and other incriminating material was recovered at their instance.”

The police spokesperson said that all the three had come in contact with militant operatives in South Kashmir and were tasked to prepare a “kill list of local political workers and attack them.”

He added that further investigation has been taken up and more arrests are expected in the case. (KNS)

Srinagar: The Forest Department has started supply of firewood to the registered mosques, artisans and other agencies at P. C. Depot, Qamerwari for the ongoing winter season.

As per the targets, about 60000 qtls of firewood has been dumped at P. C. Depot for this purpose.

The Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir directed the Divisional Forest Officer, Urban Forestry Division, and Srinagar to accelerate the process of distribution so that the supply of firewood to registered agencies including 1397 is completed well before the onset of harsh winter (Chillai Kalaan).

Accordingly all the registered Mosques of Srinagar City and other units are hereby informed to approach the Range Officer, Timber Transport Range, P. C. Depot, Qamerwari with their indent through Proper Channel.

The representatives of the mosques are also advised to book their indents by or before 20th December, 2020 positively after which no indent shall be issued/ accepted by the department.(KINS)

Srinagar: Family of a youth who was among three people killed by suspected militants on Thursday evening has denied their son’s association with the BJP.

On Thursday evening three youth who the BJP claimed were associated with the party, were shot dead by suspected militants at Y K Pora Qazigun in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

They were identified as Fida Hussain, Umer Rehman, both residents of Y K Pora Qazigund and Haroon Rashid of Sopat area of Qazigund. After their killing, the BJP claimed that the trio was associated with the BJP and many leaders also visited their residences.

However, the family of Umer denied their son’s association with the BJP.

“My son was studying in the last semester of his graduation. He was not affiliated with the BJP. I totally deny his association with any party,” Abdul Rehman Hajam, father of Umar, told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

Umar is survived by his parents and two sisters. “My son had gone outside to buy something. One the way he met Hussain and were then travelling in his car,” he claimed.

He said his son wanted to study and look after the family.

Umar’s sister who was crying said, “Please give us justice. We need nothing but justice for my brother. It is the responsibility of the media to unveil the truth.” 

However, Fida Hussain’s father Ghulam Mohammad admitted that his son’s affiliation with the BJP. “I told him a number of times to leave BJP but he did not concede,” he told news agency KINS.

While father of Haroon Rashid neither admitted his son’s association with BJP nor denied it. He refused to talk on this issue.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) Vijay Kumar has said that the deadly attack on the “three BJP workers in Kulgam was the handiwork of militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba”.

Their killings have created a fresh fear among political workers.

There have been many attacks on political workers and panchayat members in the last few months.

On Friday several BJP leaders including party J&K President Ravendra Raina, senior leader Sofi Yusuf visited the bereaved families.

While seeking strict action against killers, Raina said, “Pakistan is a threat to world peace and humanity. These young boys sacrificed their lives for the nation which will be remembered forever. They were true nationalist and always raised national flag.”

Senior BJP leader Sofi Yusuf said that attacks on BJP workers showed frustration of Pakistan. “These attacks won’t weaken us. The militancy is going to end here soon,” he said. (KINS)

Srinagar: Chief Engineer Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Monday said they would announce the new power curtailment schedule for the coming winter in a week.

“We did not curtail power this year till now. However the load has increased. We are framing a power curtailment schedule which will be issued within one week,” Chief Engineer Ajaz Ahmad told news agency KINS over the phone.

On chances of any improvement in power supply this year, he said the department will ensure sufficient power supply to the people.

He however said that it also depends on the people. “If they use electricity judiciously, then there will be improvement in power supply. We have to optimize things from available resources.”

The chief engineer believed that this year’s curtailment schedule will have a lot of respite for the Valley consumers. “Various reformatory measures have been taken by the power department in this regard,” he maintained.

However people believe that the curtailment in metered areas is against the norms where the department is bound to provide round-the-clock power supply. “ Over the years the Department has been violating its own schedule by resorting to unscheduled power cuts in metered areas,” said one of the residents of Bemina Srinagar.

He said that the extended power cuts surface soon after the Durbar (seat of governance) shifts to Jammu as a bi-annual practice.
It is to mention here that from the last two weeks KINS has received many complaints from almost all the districts of the valley including Srinagar city about the power curtailment.

One of the officials of the power development department said that they provide on an average 1300 MWs of electricity to consumers in Kashmir.

“During winters the demand reaches 1800 MWs.,” the official said.

Another senior official said that if the consumers make judicious use of electricity, there is no need for long power curtailment in the coming months.

“We have seen that power thefts and use of heaters and boilers by the consumers cause the overloading. People should use electricity judiciously so there will be less curtailment,” the official said.

The Centre has been allotting additional 700 MWs of power to Jammu and Kashmir in view of higher demand in winters. But there has been no improvement in Union Territory as authorities have failed to augment the existing infrastructure to receive additional electricity from the central grids.

“Additional allocation of power will overcome power crisis only when required infrastructure is in place. How will we handle additional power when there is no infrastructure available? There will be improvement in power supply only when new girds are commissioned,” the official said.(KINS)

Srinagar: Government of J&K Monday refuted the rumors of outsourcing Pahalgam Club and Convention Centre to some private party.

Taking to micro-blogging site twitter, DIPR tweets “The Govt. refutes the social media posts on giving Pahalgam Club and Convention Centre at Pahalgam to a private party as no such action has been taken. It is clarified that the social media post should be ignored as being baseless, bereft of any fact and somebody’s imagination”.

Earlier Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Kuldeep Krishan Sidha in a presser in his office chamber clarified about the Pahalgam club that it is the property of tourism department and will be so in future too.

He said some elements have tweeted wrongly about this and Govt. is going to take serious action about these elements who want to disturb peace here. He also requested people not to pay heed to this wrong information. (KNS)

Srinagar: Chairperson Central Waqf Development Committee and senior BJP leader Dr Darkhshan Andrabi Monday admitted “massive” misuse of donations that devotees contributing to holy Shrines in Kashmir valley.

Talking exclusively to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Andrabi said that reports about the brazen misappropriation of donations in Waqf led Shrines is not ‘unfounded’. “Those who have taken the reins of Waqf in Kashmir valley have looted this sacred institution for personal benefits”, she said.

“In Jammu region there are less number of Muslim Shrines as compare to Kashmir but unfortunately there is a massive misuse of donations that devotees contributing to holy Shrines in valley”, she added.

She told KNS that “since I took the charge of Waqf in J&K, I visited several Shrines and inspected affairs related to it but what I observed the elements who have occupied chairs got frustrated from my visit and inspection. I found no accountability there. They afraid of my visits and questions I raked up”.

She added they are somehow managing to hoodwink people in this world but what about hereafter where these people have to stick before Almighty Allah.

When asked why Waqf has failed to raise a structure like hospital or university from its countless donations?, Dr Andrabi said that properties like VaishnoDevi Trust and others are directly under the control of J&K Government where there are least chances of corruption and loot, however when it comes to Waqf there are elements who have burgled this institution for personal benefits.

“We are getting countless donations from devotees. Where these are going? We didn’t raise any structure, neither hospital nor university. We are not marrying orphan girls from these donations. People of Kashmir should awaken at this juncture to stop this loot”, Andrabi said.

Taking a dig to those who cheat people on the name of faith, Dr Andrabi said those taken windows in sacred Shrines are endeavoring to snatch even clothes of devotees if not argued boldly.

“Not only donations these people are taken away, they are also trying to snatch clothes of devotees. If not argued boldly at the occasion, one has to come outside naked”, she added.
Terming “accountability” and “transparency” imperative to clean the system within the Waqf, Dr Andrabi said Waqf employees are first target who have to explain how they got employment into the Waqf.

“These people have no faith on ‘Awliyaye-e-Deen’ as they are just earning their livelihood in these sacred Shrines. Their appointments into the Waqf need to be investigated”, Dr Andrabi said. (KNS)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) Sunday rescheduled the first paper of 12th standard annual examinations following the clash with Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) exams.

Earlier, the first examination paper for the 12th standard was scheduled to be held on November 10, however, the examinations would commence from November-12 now.

BOSE Joint secretary examination Aijaz Ahmad Hakak told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the examination was postponed because it clashed with the SSRB exams that are scheduled on the same date (November-10).

He said that there was no change in the examination venue, “However, the first paper that was slated on November-10 will be held on November-12.”—(KNO)

Srinagar: Every one of us is responsible to make this world beautiful. This was stated by the Director General of Police J&K Shri Dilbag Singh who was Chief Guest at a cultural programme titled “Tawazun-2020” organized by Lehar Foundation an NGO of Jammu and Kashmir in Pahalgam today.

Speaking on the occasion, the DGP Complemented the organizers for organizing such a wonderful event. The DGP said that the most valuable humans in this world are the children and more the opportunities we provide for the children especially the children of Kashmir,the more we need. He said that children of Kashmir have seen very difficult times and added that together we can provide them with a better place and better future. He thanked the Lehar Foundation team and other partners involved in the conduct of the programme.

The DGP said that every life is precious and we have to take care of it by working in the right direction. He said that besides ones own life, the lives of others are precious too and taking care of each other’s lives is very important. He said that every one of us is responsible to make this world beautiful. Right thinking, right approach and working with positive thoughts are the basic things to make our life meaningful, he added. He said that the world is when we are,and when we are good the world is good.

The DGP advised the participating children to take little steps to reach goals and keep a good balance of day to day activities. He said positive thinking and positive approach in life is the key to a successful life. He said that no one can do miracles alone but together we can.(GNS)

Srinagar: Director General of Police Dr Dilbagh Singh on Sunday claimed that Chief Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Dr Saifullah, killed in gunfight with joint team of Police and CRPF at Rangreth, was involved in the killing of three BJP militants earlier this week.

“Congratulations. Chief HM commander Saifullah who took over after Riyaz Naikoo’s killing is eliminated in police operation in Srinagar city on a hard intelligence generated by police,” the top police officer of J&K said.

“He was the person behind the killing of three BJP workers two days back. A very big success,” he added. (PTK)