Srinagar, June 17,: Director General of Police, Prisons J&K, V K Singh on Monday paid his maiden visit to Central Jail Srinagar to review the security arrangements and evaluate the reformatory programmes running in the jail.

He was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General, Prisons Dr M.S.Lone, Technical Officer, Shabir Ahmed, SP North Sajad Ahmed and SDPO Rainawari Raja Zubair. Superintendent Jail Mukesh Kakkar and other officers of the jail and CRPF were also present during his visit.

“Director-General took a round of the premises and inspected the infrastructure and barracks. He interacted with the inmates regarding facilities available to them in jail. He also visited the Jail Hospital, Carpentry Unit, Skill Training Center and other sections of the prison and asked the Jail Superintendent to take measures for further upgradation of the reformatory programmes running in the jail,” an official statement said.

“The Director-General took a Darbar of the Prisons Staff and listened to their grievances patiently. He emphasized that prison is an integral part of the criminal justice system as such the staff is required to put in their best efforts to strengthen the security system and play their role in the reformation of inmates,” it said.

“He said the staff must work together as a team and remain alert to thwart any nefarious designs of anti-social elements. He also reviewed the ongoing construction works and urged upon the concerned to ensure speedy completion of the works,” an official statement said.

Srinagar, June 17 : The blast at Aarihal in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district was triggered by militants using a car laden with explosives, initial investigations by police have revealed.

A police officer told that the explosives were fitted inside a car and investigators are probing the owner of the vehicle.

Asked, which type of vehicle was used, the officer said that it is a matter of investigation.

“Samples have been collected and further probe is underway,” the officer said.

Pertinently, nine soldiers and a civilian Abdul Ahad Mir were injured in the blast and they have been removed to army’s 92 base hospital at Badamibagh, Srinagar for treatment. Three of them who were travelling in the cabin of the vehicle are stated to be serious.

The blast comes days after Pakistan had reportedly shared information with India and America regarding the possibility of major militant attack in the south Kashmir district. (GNS)

Srinagar: Army on Monday evening denied that its vehicle was attcked with an Improvised Explosive Device in Arihal area or Pulwama.

Srnagar based Defence Spokesperson said that a “failed attempt” was made to attack a mobile vehicle patrol of 44 RR with a Vehicle Based IED while the Army patrol was moving in the general area Arihal in district Pulwama today evening.

He said that all the troops are safe while a few minor injuries were reported.

The spokesperson said that the reports of attack are unfounded and baseless. “Area cordoned and search operations in progress.”

Pahalgam Jun 17 : The 3-day Rouf Memorial State Rafting Championship began here on Monday in which 12 teams from all the three regions of the State are participating.

Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Khalid Jahangir flagged off the championship in presence of Director Tourism Kashmir Nisar Ahmad Wani and Ghulam Rasool Dar whose son and a tourist guide Rouf Ahmad Dar lost his life while saving tourists from drowning at Yenner Pahalgam.

To pay tributes to the brave heart for his selfless services, the department of tourism Kashmir in collaboration with White Water Rafting Association of J&K organized the championship on his name.

Speaking on the occasion, DDC Anantnag said Pahalgam is one of the prime tourist destinations having huge potential in both leisure and adventure tourism.

He urged the travellers to visit the place and enjoy the unmatched beauty.

Khalid Jehangir also paid tributes to Rouf Ahmad Dar for saving lives of a tourist couple when they were having a joy ride in the raft at river Lidder.

Director Tourism Kashmir said the department is making all-out efforts to promote both known and lesser-known destinations.

He said the championship was organised to promote tourism in the State besides engage locals as well as tourists in adventure tourism activities.

The championship, which has representations from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions, also features teams from Sports Council, J&K Police, SDRF. Three women teams also participated in the championship.

Deputy Director Publicity Riyaz Ahmad, Deputy Director Recreation Sarfaraz Mohammad were also present on the occasion. 

Pulwama: An Army vehicle of 44 Rashtriya Rifle (RR) was targeted with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Arihal village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Reports said that a vehicle of 44 RR was targeted with IED that was planted beneath the bridge in Arihal area, causing damage to the vehicle.

The loud bang of the IED followed by firing created panic in the area, reports added.

An official while confirming the attack on an Army vehicle said that no injury or casualty was reported in the incident.

More to follow. (KNO)

Bandipora, Jun 17 : A 18-year-old girl was killed when cloudburst struck her in north Kashmir’s Bandipora village this evening.

Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said that a 18 year old girl died after cloudburst struck her outside her home in Najan Sumbal in Bandipora district on Monday evening.

A police officer also confirmed the incident to this newspaper and identified deceased as Fatima Bano daughter of Mohammad Sakinder Malla resident of Najan Sumbal.

Pertainally, a man identified as Mohammed Yousuf Mir son of Aziz Mir resident of Bakura, Ganderbal was struck by lightening when he was working in his field and died on spot.

Ishtiyaq Ahmed 

Srinagar, Jun 17 : With rainfall in June bringing down temperatures across Kashmir, the unusual weather pattern is turning into a cause of worry for farmers and fruit growers.

Farmers are already feeling the heat due to freaky weather. “Our apple crop is almost 50 percent damaged while other fruits and vegetables have been completely wiped off as rains and hailstorm lashed Kashmir right from the time of flowering,” Kursheed Ahmad, a farmer from North Kashmir.

“Secondly, the plunging temperature and wet weather makes our fruit plants susceptible to diseases like scab and we have to spend extra amount to spray them with fungicides and insecticides more frequently. For 50 percent less crop we have to spend 200 percent more.”

Officials at Horticulture department also present a gloomy picture. “We won’t say fruits and vegetables are completely destroyed, but it has been hit badly,” one of the Horticulture officials told Kashmir News Service (KNS). “On one hand we are assessing the damage and on the other trying to help farmers by expert counseling and compensation.”

May and June are crucial for paddy cultivation in Kashmir since rice saplings are transplanted from nurseries to the fields. However, frequent rain has not only affected the transplantation operations, but also hampered the normal growth of saplings in the nurseries. “Our fodder crop did not grow to the right length this spring. Now, frequent rains are affecting rice transplantation, even as chilly weather caused stunted growth of the saplings in the nurseries,” said a visibly worried Javaid Ahmad, 44, a farmer in north Kashmir Kupwara.

Fruit growers too are worried about moisture in their orchards, which acts as a catalyst for fungal and parasitic diseases in trees, besides causing an explosion in pests’ numbers. “Fungal diseases explode in orchards in wet weather conditions since moisture remains on leaves and trunks of apple trees for longer periods,” said one of the, professors at the Srinagar agricultural university.

“Pests like hairy caterpillar – also called gypsy moth – grow better in rainy conditions.” “These pests devour leaves and other fleshy parts of the tree, destroying both the fruit and the plant,” he added.

What is adding to the growing worries of farmers and fruit growers alike is the fact that local weather forecasts do not hold good news for them in the near future as well. 

Anti Corruption Bureau (North Kashmir) on Monday arrested Naib Tehsiladar Sopore while demanding and accepting bribe for recording mutataion of land in the revenue records.

Officials said that on Monday a written complaint was lodged in Police Station Anti-Corruption Bureau (North Kashmir), wherein it was alleged that Naib Tehsildar Sopore, namely Fayaz Ahmad Wani was demanding bribe for recording the mutation of the land in the revenue records.

On this complaint, a Case FIR No. 01/2019 under section 5(2) J&K P.C Act Svt; 2006, 4-A Amendment Act- 2014 was registered and investigation taken up, officials said.

“During the course of investigation, a successful trap team was constituted that laid a successful trap. The said Naib Tehsildar was caught red handed in his office while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs. 12000 from the complainant, ” officials said adding that further investigation into the case is going on.