SRINAGAR, : The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the winding up of J&K Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (JAKFED).

SAC directed that the Winding up of JAKFED shall be concluded by 31.08.2019. Further, the Cooperative Department will propose constitution of an appropriate Committee to the General Administration Department which will coordinate the winding up of the Federation.

The Department will obtain prior concurrence of the Finance Department to the design and implementation of a VRS for the employees of JAKFED.

All the movable/immovable assets of JAKFED shall be taken over by the State Government and financial commitments, if any, shall be met by the Cooperative department through sale of these assets and the State Government shall not bear any financial liability whatsoever on this account.

It is noteworthy to mention that JAKFED is registered under the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989 and is an apex level institution in the Cooperative Sector. The major activities of the federation included procurement and distribution of Fertilizer, building material, domestic gas etc.

JAKFED was a profit earning organization, however, it could not sustain the same on account of malpractices which were probed by a High Level Committee (Pillai Committee) and, thereafter, by the Joint House Committee of Legislative Council. The matter has been referred to CBI for further investigation.

The employees of JAKFED filed a Writ Petition before the High Court with the prayer to redress their grievances, including those related to release of gratuity, leave encashment, salary etc on eve of their retirement. The High Court in its order dated 20.02.2018 directed the State Government to suggest ways and means by which the employees of JAKFED can be paid their dues.

Pursuant to the Court directions, the matter was examined at various levels of the Government. The financial position of JAKFED, liabilities of the organization; future prospects of the organization and many other aspects were examined critically in order to arrive at a decision whether to go for revival or winding up, if necessary, of JAKFED, while protecting the interests of the employees on the rolls of the federation.

It was observed that Federation has strength of 224 employees. The Federation is suffering annual recurring loss of around Rs 2.75 Crore and is having statutory liabilities of Rs 24 Crore including payment of CPF and Pensionary benefits besides liabilities on account of payments to suppliers is around Rs 25 Crore. Outstanding against the goods supplied is Rs.19 Crore and outstanding to be recovered from the officers/officials against whom impressed advance has already been paid is Rs.1.24 Crore. The overall liabilities of JAKFED are to the tune of Rs 67 Crore.

After careful analyses of all the pros and cons and in view of the very limited scope for revival, decision to wind up JAKFED has been taken.

Srinagar, June 14 : The state government has accorded sanction to prosecute four persons under unlawful activities (Prevention) Act for “identification of guard posts and Nakas” in order to “snatch the weapon easily” from government forces. 

According to a government order, on 7 June last year, Police Station Kulgam “reliably came to know” that a “self-styled” commander of LeT –Shakoor Ahmad Dar alias Abu Bakar was active in Kulgam and is planning to snatch the weapons from government forces.

“The commander has orgnised a group of members with a task to make discreet identification of the guard posts/Naka’s in order to snatch the weapon easily from security force/Police etc,” reads the order, a copy of which lies with news agency. Subsequently, it said, a case FIR No.98/2018 U/S 13(2) 18,39 UAP Act, 1967 was registered at Police Station Kulgam and investigation set into motion.

“During the course of investigation and as per the evidences collected, it has been found that the accused persons namely Ajaz Ahmad Bhat of Chennigam Frisal, Sheeraz Ahmad Shargojri of Mohd Shaban Shergojri of Chambgund Pahloo, Adil Nazir Wagay of Chambgund Pahloo, Zahid Ahmad Shargojri of Chamgund Phaloo and Shakoor Ahmad Dar alias Abu bakar of Sopat have been found involved for the commission of offences U/S 13 (2) 18, 39 UAPA.”

Shakoor Ahmad Dar was killed in an encounter with government forces at Chidder Kulgam on 24 June 2018, it says.  

“The Authority appointed by the State Government under sub-section (2) of section 45 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, has independently scrutinized the Case Diary file and all the other relevant documents relating to the case and has come to a definite conclusion that this is a fit case for accord of prosecution sanction against the said accused persons,” the order said and announced accord of sanction for launching prosecution against the our accused persons for commission of offences punishable U/S 13(2), 18 & 39 ULA(P)Act, 1967   in case FIR No. 98/2018 of Police Station Kulgam. (GNS)

Pir Zubair

Srinagar, June 14 : A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was injured critically in an accidental fire near Line of Control (LoC) in Tanghdar area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday.

A police officer told that the BSF constable namely Noor Ali of 124 bn was injured critically after being hit by a bullet while he was cleaning his service rifle inside a post at Semari Teetwal along the LoC.

Ali was immediately taken to nearby army’s health facility where from he was referred to army’s 92 base hospital Badamibagh Srinagar for advanced treatment, the officer said.

He said that police have taken cognizance of the incident and initiated further investigations in this regard. (GNS)

Suhail Khan

Srinagar, June 14 : A 52-year-old nomad drowned in river Kishenganga after he slipped into it while he was grazing sheep in Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Friday.

Official sources told that the nomad namely Liyaqat Ali (52) son of Munshi Ali of Rajouri district slipped into fast flowing river Kishenganga near Ramnalla in Gurez today in the morning.

Soon after the incident, local volunteers, police and army launched operation to trace out the nomad and when this report was filed the searches were going on. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jun 14 : The PDP meeting scheduled on June 16 has been postponed by the party leadership citing engagement of several leaders.

However, reports say that leaders from north Kashmir have not shown interest to attend the meeting, which compelled the party to postpone it.

Refuting the reports of north Kashmir leaders not attending the meeting, PDP chief spokesman said that several leaders are busy in party and personal activities and they requested to reschedule the meeting.

According to PDP leaders, the meeting was scheduled on June 16 where further party strategy was to be discussed and future course of the party activities was among scheduled debate.

“Leaders of Jammu region are busy in party activities as Party president Mehbooba Mufti is holding party meetings with Jammu leaders. Several leaders from Kashmir valley are busy with agriculture and horticulture activities and on their request, the meeting has been postponed,” PDP chief spokesman Rafi Mir told.