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Srinagar, December 15: In view of the shutdown called by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against the Pulwama killings, the district administration Srinagar on Saturday decided to impose restrictions in Srinagar areas on Sunday to prevent any possible protests.

Officials told KNO that the restrictions will be imposed in Srinagar areas falling under the jurisdiction of Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safa Kadal, Maharaj Gunj and Maisuma police stations especially in old city areas to thwart any possible protests called by JRL.

“The restrictions will be imposed as a precautionary measure,” they said. Earlier, the JRL had called for three-day shutdown against the killing of seven civilians today in post gunfight clashes at Pulwama. Three militants and an Army man were also killed in the gunfight that raged in the wee hours of this morning in Sirnoo village.

Meanwhile, Following the killing eleven persons including seven civilians, three militants and an Army man, the district Magistrate Pulwama today imposed restrictions under section 144 of Cr PC in the district in view of the apprehension of breach of peace. As per an official handout issued here, the restriction shall stand till further orders. Bonafide medical and other emergencies, however, shall be exempted from the restrictions (KNO)

Srinagar, December 15: Three militants were killed and two armymen injured after a encounter broke out between militants and goverment forces in Kharpora, Sirnoo area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday morning.

A senior Police official told GNS that three militants were killed in Brief exchange of firing however their identification is yet to be ascertained.

As per the sources all the three slain militants are from local and belong to Hizb.

Reportedly one among slain militants is said to be deserted Armyman Zahoor Thoker however official confirmation is awaited.(GNS)

Srinagar: Reacting to Amit Shah’s comment that his party will get a majority in the assembly elections as the people of the state have full faith in them, National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah dared the BJP president to announce the polls and put this assertion to test.
“If you are so confident of the support BJP enjoys why not announce the elections & let’s put this assertion to test?” Mr Abdullah, who is the former chief minister of the state, wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

Mr Shah on Friday had said the people of the state have full faith in BJP and the party will get majority in the upcoming assembly elections.
“People have full faith in the BJP, which was evident from the party’s resounding victory in Urban Local Bodies and Panchayat elections. The BJP will get majority in the upcoming assembly elections also and form its Government in the State,” Mr Shah had reportedly said while reviewing affairs of Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi on Friday.
Jammu and Kashmir is currently under Governor’s rule since June this year, which was imposed after BJP pulled out support by the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government with the PDP though the assembly was kept in suspended state.

Srinagar: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) state spokesman Altaf Thakur while mocking at the former JK chief minister Omar Abdullah’s recent assertions that BJP and the Prime Minister Narendera Modi were losing ground in the country in the backdrop of recent victory of Congress in three states during assembly polls Friday said that Modi is a global leader and his prominence has been accepted by the world community.

In a statement issued here, Thakur said that the defeat of BJP in just three states should not be misconstrued as the downfall of BJP as the former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah must do some ground work to see the vote share BJP has got in these three states and also see how PM Modi accepted people’s verdict with ultimate humility.

Thakur said that BJP has got huge vote share and it must have lost in the three states because of the fact that the party leaders and ministers would not have come up to the expectations of people there. He said that Prime Minister Modi’s policies, vision and the development mantra has been globally accepted and lauded while as people of India have full faith in the PM’s leadership quality.

Thakur said that given the fact that J&K is heading towards elections in the new few months, it seems that Omar wants to revive his old bond with Rahul Gandhi who claims to be heading a party where there is nothing beyond dynasty. He said that Omar too has been banking on the dynasty rule in J&K and both seem to be once again making a bid to strengthen the dynasty rule in India and J&K which BJP won’t allow.

Thakur said that Congress is a party where there is a deep division within the leadership as party stand’s divided due to the family politics where mother has one vision and son another. The BJP state spokesman said that under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi, the party will win more than 300 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as people of India believe in PM as a leader and BJP as a organization not the family party.

He said ever since BJP took the reins of the country, massive schemes for poor, farmers and downtrodden were launched and that the people of India are living a dignified life under the leadership of PM Modi that will continue in the next five years as well.

Historic food supplies dept’s efficacy shrunk further

Srinagar: Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, previously CAPD, is one of the historic departments of Jammu and Kashmir. Created in 1931 by Maharaja Hari Singh, the department was meant to ensure that the people of the state get ration and other amenities at the affordable price, and also to control food prices.

This historical department would distribute tin for house trusses, charcoal, cement, pulses (dals), and salt besides rice, flour, sugar and kerosene.

Over the years, the supplies assigned to the department have been reduced drastically, leaving it with the task of distributing rice, sugar, atta (flour) and kerosene oil.

Now the department’s role has been further shrunk as the government has decided not to purchase sugar, and distribute the same among the consumers from next year.

Presently, only two categories – BPL and AAY – would get sugar from the ration depots set up by the department.

Sources told GNS that the decision to do away with the purchase and distribution of sugar was taken on December 5 during the planning committee’s meeting of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. The meeting held under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary Finance, Navin K Choudhary took the decision, observing that the sugar was now available in open market, sources said.

“The sugar was distributed by the department among consumers belonging to BPL and AAY. Both categories comprised a poor population of the state and this decision will severely impact them,” they added.

The kerosene distribution has been markedly reduced and in the last five years, and no atta (flour) was distributed in Srinagar and some other districts in last six months as same was dumped for distribution to the border areas.

If sources are to be believed, the government has also decided to close Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme. “All these decisions will have a telling impact on the people of the state,” sources said.

A senior official of the department, wishing not to be named, said that the importance attached to the department has been severally impacted and the government needs to rethink about it.

“Poor people may not be able to have their favorite mid-day sugar tea,” the official added.

Commissioner/Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Dr Abdul Rashid obliquely admitted the stoppage of sugar distribution from next year even as he said: “all lies on the budget” on Saturday.

“The sugar is not an essential commodity and the state used to give extra subsidy over it. I think there are some financial constraints. However, no final decision has been taken. Whether or not any funds are kept for it would be known when the budget is revealed,” Dr Rashid told GNS.

Regarding kerosene, he said the quota is decided by the Government of India’s Ministry of Petroleum and it has decreased it by 30-40%. “The kerosene is being supplied to the particular category of people and purposes are only cooking and illumination,” he said, adding, “If we look in our state, there is technically almost cent percent electrification and LPG is in almost every household now.”

Regarding atta (flour), Dr Rashid said there is no issue as regards its supply and it is being supplied to the consumers as usual. “There is no plan to do away with the distribution of the atta,” the officer added. (GNS)

Jammu, Dec 14: To give a big push to the tourism sector in particular besides further improving the connectivity with other parts of the country, the Government has decided to extend the timing of evening flights at Jammu and Srinagar airports from 1 January 2019.
“The Air Force authorities have been asked to extend watch hours from 8 am to 9 pm at Jammu Airport and 8 am to 8 pm at Srinagar airport to facilitate operation of flights during late hours,” Principal Secretary Civil Aviation Rohit Kansal said at a high-level meeting convened here today.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner Civil Aviation, J&K, Capt S Katoch, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, Air Officer Commanding Jammu, Directors of Jammu and Srinagar Airports, Chief Engineer R&B Jammu, SSPs (Anti-hijacking) Jammu and Srinagar, besides Chief Managing Director Pawan Hans Ltd.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan, Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Kupwara, Bandipora, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Doda, Leh and Kargil also attended the meeting through video conferencing.
Kansal asked the Srinagar and Jammu airport directors to direct the airlines to start early morning and late evening flights on Srinagar and Jammu sectors.
To ease the connectivity to different regions of the state affected by the weather vagaries, Principal Secretary Civil Aviation reviewed helicopter services of all approved 10 routes besides directing restoration of services for Ladakh within a week.
While reviewing the helicopter service, the meeting called for giving wide publicity to the helicopter route schedules besides publicizing the contact numbers of nodal officers of all helipads in print and electronic media.
The concerned deputy commissioners were asked to ensure toilet, water and other basic facilities at helipads.
Pawan Hans Ltd authorities were also asked to adhere to the already publicized schedule in operation of services to avoid inconvenience to passengers.
The meeting also asked Pawan Hans to construct hanger at earliest so that helicopters can be stationed at designated helipads.
Meanwhile, Air force authorities were asked to facilitate hanger facility for helicopters till the completion of ongoing works of their own facility.
Regarding the runway extension of Jammu airport, boundary wall, the meeting was informed that works are going on in full swing and will be completed within stipulated time.
The meeting also discussed other issues related to acquisition of land at various places for extension of airports.
Regarding the operation of service under Regional Connectivity service from Kargil, the Deputy Commissioner Kargil and Director Airport informed that all the arrangements have been made to start the RCS flights.
The meeting also discussed the project for development of civil terminal and a new green filed at Jammu airport.

Bandipora: Saqib Bilal ,17, belonged to rich family in Hajin’s Parray Mohalla in Bandipora district. He had played in Bollywood blockbuster Haider as a chocolate boy. His family says they would have never thought Saqib will pick up arms as he was fond of being first choice of Bollywood directors.

In Haider, Saqib played a role of a spot boy and was rewarded also. The Bollywood director Vishaal Bhardwaj had promised more roles to Saqib and his family was sure that Saqib will never think of picking up arms.

On August 31 , this year Saqib along with his friend Mudasir, 14, went to play football where they left the game midway to ride a bike that was waiting for them. From the very day they didn’t return and neither did call their families.

While Saqib belongs to rich family, Mudasir’s family is poorest of poor. They don’t even have a proper kitchen to cook food. Saqib’s family visited every place in search of their son but to no avail and were sure that he had eloped with some girl for having an affair.

“We were 100 percent sure that he has fled with some girl. Until Mudasir released his photo with a gun four days before Mujgund fight, we thought Saqib is with some girl. But after the photograph we came to KNO that he has joined militancy,” said Saqib’s uncle Aijaz Ahmed told KNO. Saqib’s line was totally different and “we are in a shock over the step he chose.”(KNO)

Anantnag: Bar Association Anantnag on Friday levelled allegations against the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohd Younis Malik on his performance from last two years in the district.

The members of Bar Association Anantnag while addressing a press conference alleged that the concerned DC has totally failed to reach and maintain the work culture standards interns of both quantity and quality. “In order to conceal his incompetence, the official has developed an arrogant behaviour,” they said.

Bar Association president, Fayaz Sodagar as per KNO correspondent said that the inhabitants of district Anantnag including the members of Bar are day in and day out hearing from the corridors of DC’s office that the DC is either in meeting or is not feeling well as a result of which he is not able to deliver goods for which he was posted.

However after revolving glance to the credentials of the official, it has come to the light of Association that DC has remained all along in his service tenure a mere piece of ‘Dead wood’ and his name is included as an alleged accused of ‘big scams’ of state of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Fayaz Sodagar president of Bar Association Anantnag further said that presently the Association feels suffocation are in other words, the life of a common man has become a deadly sin here in his office. One of the first feeling, what a common man has developed is that of mental shock the realization that he is wasting his time in the corridors of Deputy Commissioner’s Office.

A decent life includes justice, freedom, dignity, fair play but unfortunately all these words are missing the district Anantnag at present, he added. Fayaz said that the district Bar Association Anantnag demands the transfer of district Commissioner Anantnag Mohd Younis Malik with an immediate effect to some other place till the tendency of the said enquiry at the same would be in consonance of law and justice.(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 14: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday termed her party’s alliance with BJP a suicide with Modi not proving Vajpayee, SAARC not used for peace in Kashmir and Pakistan becoming an election issue in India.
Taking part in “Kashmir-The Way Forward”, Mehbooba said, “There is total distrust and disconnect between people of Kashmir and Delhi (Central Government). They look inwards or outwards (outside the border) for support.”
On Vajpayee’s support to late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed from 2002-05, Mehbooba said, “Between 2002-05, it was the golden period of Kashmir, since for the first time the CM of Kashmir and PM of India were on the same page.”
On her party’s alliance with BJP after 2014 elections PDP president said, “After the 2014 elections, we joined hands with the BJP. It was suicide, but we put everything on the line because we hoped that Modi will pick up where Vajpayee ji left. Unfortunately, Modi ji could not rise to the occasion.”
When asked about peace through governance, the former CM said, “Governance is only possible if you have peace. Kashmiris are the sufferers. Till when will our people keep witnessing this farce of people getting killed?”
On the role of SAARC for peace in Kashmir, Mehbooba said, “Personally, I feel that #SAARC countries are being held hostage to the animosity between India and Pakistan. For example, why can’t we have a SAARC Handicrafts University in Kashmir?”
On elections, she said, “Thank God we are living in a democracy where people are allowed to vote and not cows.”
On PaK administered Kashmir and resolution of Kashmir issue within the Indian constitution, the PDP chief said, “We need to replace the idea of ‘Azad Kashmir’ with a better idea within the framework of the Indian Constitution. We cannot go back to 1947, we have to move forward.”
On political realignments in the current political scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba said, “The alliance between Congress, NC and PDP is the need of the hour.”
When asked about Pakistan coming in focus during elections in India, PDP chief said, “India is never an issue during #Pakistan elections. However, that is not the case in India.”
When asked about resolution of Kashmir issue keeping in view the present scenario in Indian subcontinent, she said, “It is for the country to rise up, reach the Kashmiris and find a solution. All the SAARC nations must come together and make Jammu & Kashmir a model of cooperation.” (KNS)

JAMMU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah today lauded the people of Jammu and Kashmir for braving threats…

JAMMU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah today lauded the people of Jammu and Kashmir for braving threats and boycott calls to turn up in large number to exercise their right to franchise in Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections in the State, which were conducted successfully under the Governor’s rule after a gap of several years.

Shah said this in a meeting while reviewing affairs of Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi today.

BJP general secretary and party’s pointman on Jammu and Kashmir, Ram Madhav, Avinash Rai Khanna, State BJP chief Ravinder Raina and State general secretary (organizations) Ashok Koul attended the meeting.

Shah had appreciated successful conduct of Municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir after more than eight years and Panchayat polls after over two years and victory of maximum BJP candidates in both the bodies.

“People have full faith in the BJP, which was evident from the party’s resounding victory in Urban Local Bodies and Panchayat elections. The BJP will get majority in the upcoming Assembly elections also and form its Government in the State,” insiders quoted Shah as saying in the meeting.
Shah said despite threats by the militants and separatists and boycott calls by two mainstream political parties including National Conference and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the people participate in large numbers in the elections for Panchayats and Municipalities, which showed their immense faith in democratic system of the country.

“People ignored the boycott calls and openly participated in the elections, which was evident from good turnout in the elections to civic bodies across the State,” Shah said and lauded State leadership of the BJP for party’s victory in maximum numbers of Municipalities and Panchayats.

The BJP national president called upon the State leaders and Incharge of Jammu and Kashmir to gear up for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State immediately to ensure party’s victory on maximum seats. He reviewed preparations for both the elections.

The BJP had won three Lok Sabha seats including Jammu-Poonch, Doda-Udhampur and Ladakh in 2014 Parliamentary polls out of total of six seats in the State. It had captured 25 Assembly seats in 2014 Assembly elections and became coalition partner in the State for the first time with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

While Lok Sabha elections were scheduled to be held in April-May, the Election Commission was yet to take call on when to hold the Assembly elections in the State. The Legislative Assembly was dissolved by Governor Satya Pal Malik on November 21 and the elections had to be held within six months of the dissolution.

Meanwhile, the BJP national council, the party’s largest organizational body, will meet in New Delhi on January 11-12, while its key wings will hold meetings across the country in the coming weeks as it steps up its campaign for the Lok Sabha polls in 2019.

The dates were finalised at a meeting, which was chaired by Amit Shah, of the party’s office bearers and key leaders from States.

Dates of the meeting of the seven ‘morchas’, party’s key wings focused on different demographic groups, were also finalised.

The youth, women, scheduled castes, and minorities’ wings will be meeting respectively on December 15-16, December 21-22, January 19-20 and January 31-February 1 in Delhi, Ahmdabad, Nagpur and Delhi.

The Scheduled Tribes, other backward communities and farmers’ wings will hold their respective meetings on February 2-3, February 15-16 and February 21-22 in Bhubaneswar, Patna and Uttar Pradesh.

Top party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari besides Shah, will be addressing these meetings.

The meetings of different party wings will highlight the BJP’s efforts to reach out to different sections of society ahead of the Lok Sabha polls as it works to retain power at the Centre.