Srinagar, June 24 : Two boys, one of them held after falling off a bike last week after government forces fired in air and other detained later, in Anantnag district of south Kashmir have been found to be innocent and released.

A police officer told  that while one youth (17-year-old) who was riding pillion was apprehended soon after the incident, another was detained later. “It was found that they were not carrying documents and that is why tried to flee from the spot,” he said. The bike which was also seized at that time was also released, the officer added.  

The incident occurred when the motorcyclist was coming from Mattan towards Anantnag town.

Meanwhile a caller called  and said that bike number (JK03D-3964) mentioned in previous story has been wrongly mentioned and that was not the one which the youths were riding. “There was helter-skelter after the firing and my bike also fell and was later seized by police and subsequently released,” he added.    

Off late, there have been some instances when motorcyclists or vehicle drivers who ignore signal were fired upon by the forces and in one such incident three boys were injured on Eid day when security forces fired at them in Pulwama district. (GNS)

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, June 24:  An official of the forest department was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 7000 in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

A written complaint was lodged in police station ACB and it was alleged that Junior Assistant posted in Divisional Forest Officer’s office Awantipora, demanded the bribe, an ACB official told .

He said on the basis of the complaint a case was registered in the matter and investigation taken up.

During the course of investigation, a team was constituted which laid a trap, the official said.

The Junior Assistant was caught red-handed in his office while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs 7000 from the complainant, he said.

A case under FIR No. 05/2019 under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered and further investigations taken up. (GNS)

Srinagar, June 24 : A strike called by drivers at Food Corporation of India (FCI) depot in Bumhama Kupwara continued for fourth day to press for their demand of releasing due payment to them.

The drivers transporting the rice from the depot to different ration stores in the district said that they are without payment for three months now. Alleging the contractors- Qureshi Motors and Iqbal Motors- of promoting ‘commission culture’, the drivers said that agents of these contractors take a huge chunk from their payment against the realisation of their due payment challans.

“We are facing financial crisis back at home whilst having to pay bank installments,” they said.

According to the agitated drivers’ an agent to the contractors’ at Kralpora pays only 3500 rupees against a genuine bill of 7000 while for Karnah only 5000 are paid for 11500. “To oppose this practice we haven’t realised any bill for last three months,” they said.

The drivers have demanded governor-led administration to look into the matter and mitigate their sufferings. “We demand honorable governor to look into the concern to mitigate our sufferings”, they said. (GNS)

Srinagar, June 24 : National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar on Monday said that “it was astonishing” that BJP got more votes than other parties from Tral assembly segment in recently concluded parliamentary elections, the native places of top militants commanders— Burhan Wani and  Zakir Musa— whom he described as “martyrs”.

“From Tral, the native place of the martyr Burhan Wani and martyr Zakir Musa, BJP got lead in the parliamentary election which is astonishing no matter migrant votes were cast. Don’t you think it’s astonishing?” Sagar said while addressing conventions of party workers belonging to Pulwama and Rajpura assembly segments.

He said denying people of the state to choose their government amounts to disenfranchising them from their basic right, saying the whole process has been subjected to unwarranted politicking.

“The whole process of conducting assembly elections is being subjected to undue politicking which unfortunately is taking its toll on the development of the state. Having an elected government is the unassailable right of the people in a thriving democracy, but here right to make a choice is being denied to people,” he said, adding, “The increasing public support in favor of NC has unnerved forces as are inimical to the interests of our state that is precisely why they are not persistent on having election at an earliest. However people of our state have understood the game plan of the forces as are striving hard to obliterate our identity. With the help of Almighty and the unflinching support of people of our state, NC will trounce all the political machinations as are being contrived to divide the voice of the people of state.”

Sagar said that repeated undertakings of the incumbent state governor on ensuring sense of security to the people stand “debunked” in wake of the unrelenting intimidation, frisking of vehicles on Srinagar- Jammu highway. “It does not behoove a democratic set up like that of ours to have public and private vehicles stranded for hours on national highway. The reports of harassing are also coming forth, this has to stop. Such actions will inadvertently hit the already aggrieved and aggravated people to wall. Measures like these will add to the alienation in the people especially the youth. We don’t see people stopped on highways and subjected to undue harassment elsewhere in the world.”

While underscoring the need of healing the wounds of the youth of Kashmiri, he said that the youth of Kashmir have never felt as dejected as they are feeling during and after BJP-PDP government.

Censuring the governor administration for its failure to ensure sense of security to the people, Sagar said: “The governor administration hasn’t proved any better. The unemployment rate in our state is higher as compared to the other parts of the country. The compass of business activities and other economic activities has also come to a grinding halt due the uncertainty which is looming large in the valley. There is no vital sector of the state that hasn’t received a blow due to the imprudent policies of the former BJP-PDP government, and it is the youth of our state in particular the valley that has been at the receiving end of all this.”

He added: “We didn’t see the centre government come up with a positive initiative concerning youth. The catch words like “wining the hearts of the people”, “hugging the people” didn’t see any practical implementation. Today the youth of our state are feeling disconsolate in wake of continuous arrests, unemployment, and intimidation. The governor administration too has miserably failed to provide safe spaces to the youth of Kashmir to pursue their vocations. Moreover in no way can few advisors of honorable governor replace the functional vitality of a legislative assembly and the institution of Cabinet. It is only a representative government that can put the state back on the path of development and prosperity.” (GNS)

Centre to provide all possible support to State in implementing connectivity project: Secretary DoT 

SRINAGAR, JUNE 24: Advisor to Governor, K Skandan, today chaired the concluding session of a workshop here to discuss recommendations over the implementation of hi-Speed internet connectivity to Gram Panchayats in the state.

While chairing the valedictory session of the two-day workshop on ‘Extension of Broadband and Internet Connectivity to all Gram Panchayats’ of the State under BharatNet here, the Advisor suggested a hybrid model having both constituents of Bandwidth hiring (OPEX Model) and Fiber Laying and Owning (CAPEX Model).

He said that J&K for being a strategic State can start with the service delivery and move on to the infrastructure thing and then move on the model of owning the infrastructure and subsequently it would be beneficial for the State in the long run.

The Advisor informed the workshop that the State Government would send its proposal to Department of Telecommunications (DoT) at the earliest for approval.

He said the State will also take in consideration the experiences from other states while finalizing the project for Panchayat Internet Connectivity.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary DoT, Aruna Sundararajan said the Government of India would support whatever model the state government chooses, adding the two options (OPEX and CAPEX) presented during a presentation were with a realistic estimation and also highlighted the pros and cons of the project.

“We are committed to fully supporting the Govt of J&K on whatever model they take. The State Govt will have to make that evaluation, but in case of J&K, we are willing to support whatever is the best in the interest of the state Govt and whatever they decide we will support that. And we will also support it in terms of funding, technical capabilities among other things,” she added.

The panel discussion session was attended by Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce (Additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Information Technology Department/CEO JaKeGA), Navin Kumar Choudhary, Secretary Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Sheetal Nanda, MD, JKIT Infrastructure Corporation and MD SIDCO, Ravinder Kumar, Director Operational BBNL, VP Singh, DDG (Special Projects) Department of Telecom, GoI, Deepak Chanduka, Senior DDG, Department of Technology, Rakesh Kumar Dubey,  CMD BBNL, Survesh Singh, Chief Engineer PDD, Qazi Hashmat, Project Manager, JaKeGA, IT Department, Irfan Rather, representatives of telecom operators and other concerned.

Earlier, Project Manager, JaKeGA, IT Department, Irfan Rather gave a detailed presentation about different aspects of the project like Phase-I and Phase-II, besides costs and models to implement the project in the State.

He said that the project will pave way for rolling out of any kind of bandwidth intense e-governance services at the Panchayat level.

DC Pulwama to monitor daily status of National Highway

SRINAGAR, JUNE 24: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today directed concerned Deputy Commissioners and officers to gear-up men and machinery for the hassle-free conduct of Amarnath Yatra-2019 so that pilgrims do not face any inconvenience.

The Divisional Commissioner made these directions while reviewing the arrangements put in place for the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Yatra-2019 through Pahalgam and Baltal routes which will commence from July 01 to August 15, 2019.

Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Ganderbal briefed the meeting regarding the fool proof Amarnath Yatra arrangements made by them in their respective districts.

The Divisional Commissioner took detailed review of issuance of bar & colour coded passes to employees, erection of signages on National Highway and Yatra track, additional accommodation, medical camps with doctors, para-medic  staff & Medicines, oxygen booths, recovery vans, additional chopper service in a fleet, Bio-Toilets, pitching of tents, mobile & internet connectivity, storage of essential commodities, drinking water and electricity services with back up facilities, erection of shelter sheds, disaster management, Traffic plan and other necessary facilities for yatra pilgrims.

The Divisional Commissioner asked concerned officers to conduct safety audit of all yatra accommodations and essential commodities on priority basis.

Deputy Commissioner Pulwama was directed to monitor the status of National Highway on daily basis, right from Jawahar Tunnel to Baltal point, till the completion of the Amarnath Yatra-2019.

Further, Khan directed DC Pulwama to constitute teams which would ascertain and report the road condition and the facilities along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and the trekking routes leading up to the Holy Cave.

Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal were directed to monitor the condition of yatra track round the clock and send the report to the Divisional Commissioners office.

The Divisional Commissioner stressed upon the officers to make sure that all necessary arrangements are made well before in time besides the need for close coordination among different agencies for the successful conduct of Amarnath Yatra-2019.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Additional Commissioner Kashmir Tasaduq Hussain Mir, Chief Engineers of R&B and Mughal Road, RTO Kashmir, Manager NHAI, Director FCS&CA, Divisional Manager FCI, Deputy Director Tourism, Deputy Manager RAMKY and other concerned officers were present in the meeting whereas Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag, Ganderbal and Kulgam participated the meeting through video conferencing.

In order to ensure free movement of Amarnath Yatra vehicles on the National Highway, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today issued directions to all concerned officers that the toll tax which is collected at Chachikoot Toll Plaza, shall be exempted for all kinds of vehicles during the Yatra period (from July 01 up to August 15, 2019).

Concerned Deputy Commissioners and other concerned agencies were asked to follow the direction in letter and spirit and ensure hassle-free movement of Amarnath Yatra vehicles on the National Highway.

Srinagar, Jun 24 : Ahsan pardesi Vice president Kashmir Youth National Conference said youth of Kashmir feeling despondent in wake of continuous arrests, unemployment and intimidation.

“Inflicting wounds on Kashmiris will boomerang and will have severe repercussions in future. We need to engage youth rather than confronting them youth of state is simmering in anger due to failure of PDP BJP government failure to rise upto the expectations of people coupled with centres in different attitude towards Kashmir. Its time some CBM’s are taken up which will re assure youth and give them peace of mind. Kashmir have not seen any positive initiative since 2015 and are continuously on receiving end. Confidence building measure (CBM) have been replaced by muscular policy. We are yet to see any political initiative from the centre and systematically political and economic hegemony of Kashmir is being shattered,” said Ahsan Pardesi.

“People are feeling choked in absence of a popular government and delaying assembly elections amounts to keeping people at bay from democratic set up and centre is deliberately trying to sabotage political and democratic process in J&K and delaying assembly elections on one pretext and other is deliberate move of centre who want to rule the state directly from the centre particularly seeing the graph of National Conference going up by each passing day. National Conference is determined to safe guard interest of the state and will thrat any move which can prove to be detrimental to statem,” Pardesi said. (KNS) 

Sagar, Nasir addresses series of worker’s conventions in Pulwama, Rajpura

Pulwama, Jun 24: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Monday said denying people of the state to choose their government amounts to disenfranchising them from their basic right, saying the whole process has been subjected to unwarranted politicking.

Addressing a series of worker’s conventions of Pulwama and Rajpura assembly segments at Pulwama, party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar said, “The whole process of conducting assembly elections is being subjected to undue politicking which unfortunately is taking its toll on the development of the state. Having an elected government is the unassailable right of the people in a thriving democracy, but here right to make a choice is being denied to people. The increasing public support in favor of NC has unnerved forces as are inimical to the interests of our state that is precisely why they are not persistent on having election at an earliest. However people of our state have understood the game plan of the forces as are striving hard to obliterate our identity. With the help of Almighty and the unflinching support of people of our state, NC will trounce all the political machinations as are being contrived to divide the voice of the people of state.”

Party general secretary said that repeated undertakings of the incumbent state governor on ensuring sense of security to the people stand debunked in wake of the unrelenting intimidation, frisking of vehicles on Srinagar- Jammu highway. “It does not behoove a democratic set up like that of ours to have public and private vehicles stranded for hours on national highway. The reports of harassing are also coming forth, this has to stop. Such actions will inadvertently hit the already aggrieved and aggravated people to wall. Measures like these will add to the alienation in the people especially the youth. We don’t see people stopped on highways and subjected to undue harassment elsewhere in the world.”

While underscoring the need of healing the wounds of the youth of Kashmiri he said that the youth of Kashmir have never felt as dejected as they are feeling ever since BJP-PDP had their hands on the reins of power in the state.

Censuring the governor administration for its failure to ensure sense of security to the people Sagar said, “The governor administration hasn’t proved any better. The unemployment rate in our state is higher as compared to the other parts of the country. The compass of business activities and other economic activities has also come to a grinding halt due the uncertainty which is looming large in the valley. There is no vital sector of the state that hasn’t received a blow due to the imprudent policies of the former BJP-PDP government, and it is the youth of our state in particular the valley that has been at the receiving end of all this. We didn’t see the centre government come up with a positive initiative concerning youth,” he said adding, “The catch words like “wining the hearts of the people”, “hugging the people” didn’t see any practical implementation. Today the youth of our state are feeling disconsolate in wake of continuous arrests, unemployment, and intimidation. The governor administration too has miserably failed to provide safe spaces to the youth of Kashmir to pursue their vocations. Moreover in no way can few advisors of honorable governor replace the functional vitality of a legislative assembly and the institution of Cabinet. It is only a representative government that can put the state back on the path of development and prosperity.”

Among others provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, Dr Bashir Veeri, Mohi Ud din Mir, GN Ratanpuri, Muhammad Shafi Shah also addressed the workers and impressed upon them to take the party programme to every single door. (KNS)