Srinagar police chief Dr Haseeb Mughal on Monday said that the order directing the five zonal superintendents of police to provide the list of mosques in the city and its management committees was a “routine policing exercise”.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, SSP Srinagar, Dr. Mughal said the exercise is being carried out to update the data for policing. “We have the details of gurduwars, masajids and other religious institutions. It is part of normal policing,” he said.

The order has added to the speculation about some major decision in the offing regarding Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

“Please provide details of mosques and their managements falling without your respective jurisdictions as per enclosed proforma to this office immediately for onward submission to higher authorities,” read an order issued by the Srinagar senior superintendent of police to the zonal SPs on Sunday night.

The order, which is being widely circulated on social media, has added to the speculation that the Centre might have plans to do away with Article 35A, which gives exclusive rights to the state’s residents in government jobs and land.These speculations have dominated the discourse in Kashmir over the past few days after the Centre decided to rush an additional 100 companies of central armed paramilitary forces to the valley. The mainstream political parties have vowed to resist any such move to tinker with the special status.

Srinagar, Jul 29 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday claimed to have arrested a drug peddler at a checkpoint in central Kashmir’s Budgam district and seized contraband substance from his possession.

A police spokesman in a statement said that officers at a checkpoint established at Chahr-e-Sharif arrested a drug peddler identified as Mohammad Ayoub Mir son of Abdul Gani Mir resident of Trachbal Chrar-e-Sharif.

“He has been shifted to Police Station Chrar-e-Sharif where he remains in custody. Contraband substance Charas weighing 700gms have been seized from his possession by the officers,” said the spokesman.

“Case FIR No. 53/2019 under relevant sections of law has been registered and initiated investigation in the matter,” he said.

“Community members are requested to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighborhood. Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt as per law,” he added.

“Our consistent actions against drug peddlers should reassure the community members that we are making efforts to keep our society free from the scourge of drug menace,” said police spokesman in a statement.

‘Omar Abdullah’s statement on 35-A removal dangerous, smacks of party’s hidden motives’

Srinagar, Jul 29 : Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday reacted sharply to the statement issued by the NC General Secretary Ali Mohd Sagar, terming his claims as fabricated, farce and an outright lie.

In a statement issued, PDP General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura termed it unfortunate that NC leadership in order to score browny points within the party is busy spreading lies and hoodwinking people.  According to Hanjura, Mr Sagar should recall the speech of NC Founder Sheikh Abdullah on the floor of the state legislative assembly on March 2, 1981 in which he declared Jammu and Kashmir’s special status as a major road block in state’s prosperity and development and stated that Article 370 was not a Quranic verse that cannot be amended. “The minutes of this session are very much available in the records of state legislature and cannot be accessed any time,” said Hanjura. 

He added that history bears testimony to the fact that it was national conference that has bulldozed the institutions of democracy and justice in the state and the emergence of the PDP on state’s political landscape was only to thwart NC’s nefarious deigns. 

He said that Sagar and his ilk must rack their brains to recall that the PDP government engaged the top lawyers of the country to defend the state’s special status in country’s top court and has been declaring it incontestable  and irrevocable at all podiums and platforms.

Hanjura said unlike what Omar Abdullah did to Shopian rape and murder case in the year 2009, Mehbooba Mufti put her government on stake for the justice of Rasana rape victim.

He said that one must ask NC why  in spite of being the Prime Minister did the NC founder accept the post of the Chief Minster in 1975 and why on 5 July 1975, plebiscite front  for which people rendered immense sacrifices was formally dissolved by him. “During the elections of 1977, in order to hoodwink the people of the state particularly those of Kashmir Valley NC sought to raise false issues to obtain support for his party. The party talked of Kashmir and told audiences that they are a separate nation. What it didn’t tell the people of Jammu and Kashmir is the fact that it itself has rendered article 370 in effective by accepting it as a temporary and transitional provisions of Indian constitution in 1947 and by striking a deal with the union of India in 1975,” said Hanjura. 

He added that when NC came to power in 1996 with a brute majority  and its autonomy resolution was thrown into the dustbin by central Government, why Farooq Abdullah didn’t leave his chair? “In fact, he kept lobbying for the post of Vice President of India and  his that demand was rejected, he pleaded for a junior ministerial berth for his son. To do that, he bartered all the resources of the state and sold precious power projects to centre,” Hanjura said. 

He added that the government led by Omar then unleashed terror to the extent that a 12 class student namely Burhan Wani left home and became face of militancy.  According to Hanjura, the cricket scam, Haji Yousuf’s murder ,killing of 120 teenagers and denial of justice to them is still fresh in peoples memory.  He added that at present NC is ready to help in scarping 35-A on the condition that it will be made part of next government in JK.

“The recent statement of Omar Abdullah is the clear indication that NC will not object to scraping of 35-A. However, PDP will never allow this to happen and can go to any extent in safeguarding JK’s unique position and core interests,” said Hanjura. 

Kargil, July 29 : During the first day of his 4 day extensive tour of Zanskar Sub Division Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan along with the Executive Councillor for Fisheries Aga Syed Abbass Razvi and Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil Baseer ul Haq Choudhary on Sunday inaugurated a mini hatchery house at Fish Farm of the Department of Fisheries at Damsna Tai Suru.

The hatchery house has been developed at cost of Rs 39.99 lacs and would provide fish seeds to local fisheries entrepreneurs on reasonable rates which earlier involved a lot of cost on seeds procurement from Kashmir valley and would also lead to seed mortality.

The CEC also went round the fish farm and inquired from the officers about its overall functioning.

The CEC was informed that 12 to 15 thousand seeds have been produced at the farm this year which is expected to turn out rich fish production. Moreover, 22 farmers have been registered under RKVY and Blue Revolution schemes in the district who have been running their fishery units successfully.

Assistant Director Fisheries Kargil Murtaza Ali besides other concerned officers were present on the occasion.

Later en route Padum, the CEC and DC Kargil met a number of public delegations at Shakma Karpo, Juldoo, Tashi Stongday, Abran, Akshow, Kushul, Himiling, Skyagam, Remala, Manda, Phay and adjoining villages who apprised them about their grievances and demands like construction of foot bridges, installation of mobile towers, repair and restoration of irrigation canals and water supply schemes, up gradation of schools and health centers, augmentation of drinking water and power supply, start of helicopter services at Rangdum during winter months, opening of tailoring centre for ladies, provision of solar power plants and other related issues.

Responding to the local needs and demands, the CEC said that the LAHDC Kargil is conscious of the difficulties faced by the people in these areas. He assured the delegations that all their genuine demands would be taken up on priority and steps for fulfillment of demands would be taken in a phased manner.

With regard to the demand for establishment of NTPHC for the villages from Akshow to Skyagam, the DC Kargil directed the SDM Zanskar and CMO Kargil to submit a report in this regard so that the case could be recommended at appropriate levels.

Meanwhile, the Executive Engineer PWD Division Zanskar was directed to prepare a comprehensive proposal for provision of irrigation and drinking water facilities in various villages from Abran onwards with focus on underground connections to ensure sustainability.
The CEC assured people that hand pumps would be installed in various villages as per need besides mobile towers would also be provided in a phased manner.

Highlighting several welfare programmes and schemes to bring a healthy change in the living condition of poor and needy, the CEC asked the officers to work with added zeal besides making concerted efforts in ensuring that the benefits of State and centrally sponsored schemes reach to the targeted population without fail.
Meanwhile, the local people welcomed the CEC and the DC and appreciated them for personally visiting their area to take first hand appraisal of their issues and grievances.

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that she had requested National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdulllah to convene an all party meet.

The PDP president said that the recent developments in the state have caused panic among people and that the need of the hour was to come together and forge a united response. “In light of recent developments that have caused a sense of panic amongst people in J&K, I’ve requested Dr Farooq Abdullah sahab to convene an all party meeting. Need of the hour is to come together & forge a united response. We the people of Kashmir need to stand up as one.

Earlier, Farooq Abdullah said that the special status of Jammu and Kashmir should not abrogated.

The former Chief Minister of the state said, “Article 35A & Article 370 should not be removed. It forms our foundation. There is no need to remove it. We are Hindustani but they (Article 35A & Article 370) are important for us.”

Kashmir Despatch News

Sopore, July 29 : The residents of Warpora village in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district staged a demonstration and accusing officials of the Public Health Engineering department of not paying concern towards the prevailing water crisis in the area.

Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said Scores of people of Raj Mohalla area of Wapora assembled on the Bandipora-Sopore highway and blocked it in the early morning hours and shouted slogans against the department.

The Public Health Engineering (PHE) department has failed to restore the water supply with the result our women flock have to go to other localities to fetch water said protesting residents.

The inhabitants alleged that the PHE employees have deliberately snapped the water from the locality which forced them to come to streets.

Agitating residents were demanding the immediate restoration of the problem in the area.

Meanwhile a police party reached the spot and assured locals of taking up their matter with authorities concerned.