Srinagar, July 24 : The number of pilgrims paying obeisance at the 3,880-metre high cave shrine of Shri Amarnath on Wednesday crossed the three-lakh mark, first time in four years and then it was 59-day long.

According to officials, on the 24th day of the ongoing Yatra, 7,778 Yatris paid obeisance at the Cave shrine and cumulatively since the beginning of the pilgrimage on July 1, 3,01,818 Yatris had darshan at the shrine.

Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board informed Governor Satya Pal Malik that the Yatra had crossed the three lakh mark four years ago in 2015 which was a 59 day long Yatra.

“Governor expressed satisfaction over increased flow of Yatris this year and recorded high appreciation of the coordinated effort made by the various concerned State Government departments and agencies, Army, Central Armed Police Forces, J&K Police, Shrine Board, all local stakeholders, and the Civil and Police officers of the State Government deployed as Camp Officers for the smooth conduct of Yatra,” an official statement said.

“He also appreciated the people of the Valley, particularly of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts, for their strong support and wholehearted participation in this annual pilgrimage” the statement said further, adding, “He wished the Yatris who are registered for pilgrimage in the coming dates, a safe and a satisfactory pilgrimage.”

Suhail Khan

Srinagar, July 25 : The commuters in Baramulla district have slammed the traffic regulating authorities for inaction to check the overloading of passenger vehicles plying on different routes in the north Kashmir district.

Locals while talking to news agency said that the claims of the Traffic Police Department to streamline the movement of traffic are hollow. “No action is being taken against any vehicle even in Baramulla and Sopore towns.”

Expressing concern over the issue, the locals said that the unchecked overloading of vehicles was posing a serious threat to the passengers and commuters alike.

A college going student from Sopore town, Saika Jan lamented the experience she has to go through each day to reach her college. “Overloading of mini buses is a common scene in the area. It becomes more problematic for females as they face inconvenience in public buses. Due to scarcity of passenger buses, we have no option but to board these crowded buses especially during morning hour to hurry to our college.”

Another local Mohammad Harris, an employee by profession said that the rash driving, overloading adds up to reasons for accidents “we see on a daily basis.”

Narrating her experience, a female private tutor, Ishrat Jhan said that as a regular traveler to Baramulla town, she has to witness overcrowding of passenger vehicles on a daily basis particularly during the morning time.

Ishrat said that females are seen standing in these overloaded minibuses especially coming from Uri. “It becomes really difficult to board these jam packed buses in the morning while everyone is in hurry to reach their work places”.

When contacted, ARTO Baramulla Jamshed Chowdary told news agency that a regular check is maintained on the offenders of traffic norms and those violating it are challaned. “We will ensure that more effective measures are taken to stop this practice,” he added. (GNS)

Picture Courtesy : Arawat Mehraj

Masoodi says the proposed amendment was in gross conflict with the fundamental right of life and personal liberty

New Delhi, Jul 24 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Wednesday opposed the Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment Bill 2019, saying the proposed amendment is in gross conflict with the fundamental right of life and personal liberty guaranteed under the Constitution of India.

Member of Parliament Hasnain Masoodi while speaking in the Parliament said, “The bill provides for investigation of offence under the Act by NIA to be conducted by an officer of the rank of Inspector. It also permits seizure/ attachment of property believed to be connected with terrorism. The Amendment gives power to the Central Government to designate a person as terrorist and include such person in Fourth Schedule of the Act. Till now only an organisation could be designated as terrorist organisation.”

Participating in the debate, Hasnain Masoodi said that the Parliament was under a Constitutional obligation to enact a law that is in consonance with the spirit and mandate of the Constitution. “The proposed amendment was in gross conflict with the fundamental right of life and personal liberty guaranteed under the Constitution,” he said.

He insisted that the law to be in tune with the Constitutional mandate must be just, fair and reasonable and that the Amendment didn’t have any of these attributes. He maintained that power to declare a person as terrorist and bring on Fourth Schedule was open ended and amenable to misuse; that the power given was wide, unbridled, unguided and therefore with likelihood of arbitrarily used.

Maintaining that the Act didn’t displace the presumption of innocence, Masoodi said that the proposed Amendment envisaged pre trial penal consequences and therefore left room for punishment before trial.

Masoodi also took exception to entrustment of investigation to an Inspector when NIA investigated the matter as against DySP provided under the Act. “As investigation involved harsh steps like seizure and attachment of the property on the suspicion of being connected with terrorism, it was part of the constitutional obligation to have investigation conducted in an objective and dispassionate manner and to ensure fair investigation it was thought necessary to have it done by a senior officer, the requirement now done away with. The Amendment, it was argued was bound to affect the right to life and liberty as onus was put on the suspect to prove that whatever was alleged against the suspect to designate as terrorist was without substance. Though in a criminal case onus is always on the prosecution and would never shift to a suspect,” he implored. 

Ishtiyaq Ahmed

Srinagar, Jul 24 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi to take stock of the prevailing situation in Kashmir especially the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and prevailing peaceful situation in the Valley.

The Home Minister, according to reliable source, in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) lauded the role of security forces in managing the Yatra in a peaceful manner. They said Shah chaired meeting at his office with his deputy and in-charge Kashmir affairs, G K Reddy and other important dignitaries.

“Home Minister expressed his gratitude to the security agencies including Jammu and Kashmir police for maintaining peace and managing the annual pilgrimage in a professional and efficient manner. The Home Minister directed the security agencies in Kashmir to continue the momentum and to ensure forces inimical to peace are kept at a bay,” an MHA official, who was present in the meeting told.

The annual pilgrimage started in Kashmir on July 1 and so far over three lakh yatries have performed the pilgrimage. So-far, no untoward incident has occurred anywhere in Kashmir.

Sources said that the Union Minister also hailed the police and other agencies for an overall peaceful situation in Kashmir. “The Home Minister expressed satisfaction over the change in law and order situation and overall peaceful scenario prevailing in the state, especially in Kashmir,” they said.

The sources added that the Home Minister asked the security forces to keep the momentum going and to ensure that situation remains under control for the rest of the year. “Strict directions were passed for dealing with the militants as the Home Minister reiterated his policy of zero tolerance for militancy in Kashmir,” he said and called for maintaining synergy among all the security agencies while tackling militancy. (KNS)

Srinagar, Jul 24 : Advisor to Governor Farooq Khan on Wednesday dispelled the rumours about the extension of summer vacations in schools saying all the educational institutions will reopen as per scheduled from Thursday.

“We should not give ear to rumours. There is no justification to extend the summer vacations,” he told news agency.

Several parents had on Wednesday made calls to the news agency appealing authorities to extend the summer break at least till Monday in view of prevailing heat wave.

Private Schools’ Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) had also demanded extension of summer holidays for schools in Kashmir division in view of the continuing hot weather. (KNS) 

Baramulla, July 24: District Development Commissioner Baramulla Dr.G.N.Itoo today inaugurated the Provisional level Inter District Football Championship at Khushal Sports Stadium Sopore Baramulla. The Championship will run up to 29th of this month during which 27 teams, comprising of 486 boys from all the districts of Kashmir division in the age group under 14, under 17 and under 19 will participate in various matches.

The innaugural match was played between Baramulla and Gandarbal teams which was won by Baramulla team.

Speaking on the occasion, the DDC welcomed the guest officials and players for participating in the event. He wished the players best and hoped that they will show complete discipline and ensure conclusion of the championship on a happy note. Highlighting the importance of the sports activities, the DDC said that sports play vital role to keep the youth fit both mentally and physically. He laid emphasis on the illl effects of drugs and advised the youth to keep themselves engaged with academics and sports to avoid social evils. He also directed the concerned to ensure complete ban on use of polythene bags and plastic items at such events to maintain the environment, for which he also sought the cooperation of people.

Regarding development of sports fields, the DDC said that various playing fields have been constructed and upgraded, while as work on a good number of sports fields is in progress in the district. He said that sports activities are being carried out on a big way across the district and for this purpose, all the required facility is being provided to the players playing the games like football, volleyball, cricket, hockey and other games. The DDC on the occasion announced free tour to Tourist destination Gulmarg for all the players by the administration on a phased manner.

Earlier, two minute silence was held in remembrance of the cricketer Jahangir War who was died during a sports event at Anantnag recently.

The opening ceremony was started with a number of variety programmes presented by the students of various schools.