Srinagar, June 11 : The Income Tax (I-T) department on Tuesday raided the office and other business locations linked to Deputy Mayor of Srinagar, Sheikh Imran in connection with bank case and undisclosed properties at Sonmarg, Pahalgam and Bangalore

“The Income Tax Department conducted search and seizure operations on Tuesday on a prominent business group based in Srinagar, covering eight premises in Srinagar and one each at Bangalore and Delhi,” reads a statement issued by the IT department to news agency.

The assessee group is engaged in the business of transportation, manufacturing of silk yarn, hospitality, retail trading of Kashmir Arts and Crafts etc, it said without naming Sheikh Imran or any member of the group.

“None of the members of the group is regular in filing their Income Tax Returns. As a onetime settlement, the group has got their loans of Rs.170 crore with J&K Bank restructured for a sum of Rs.77 crore, out of which, payment of only Rs.50.34 crore to the J&K Bank has been made so far and balance of Rs.27.66 crore is yet to be paid.”

 During the search, it said, evidence has been detected indicating that the one-time settlement of the loan from J&K Bank has been done through the active connivance of a senior J&K Bank officer who was receiving several out of turn promotions. “Furthermore, evidence has also been unearthed indicating that the repayment of Rs.50.34 crore pertaining to the said loan has been green fielded by the J&K Bank by granting a loan of similar amount to an associate who has confessed to his role in layering the entire transaction.”

During the search, “incriminating evidence” has also been found relating to sale of undisclosed property amounting to Rs.22 crore; agreement to sell Transport business for Rs.9.10 crore and undisclosed profit of Rs.15-20 crore on account of sale of Cold Storage plant at Lassipora.

“The cost of this project was found to have been inflated to Rs.47 crore instead of the actual cost of Rs.17 crore, for claiming more subsidy from the government by raising inflated and bogus bills. The loan for this project was taken from J&K Bank,” it said.

It said that there are undisclosed properties at Sonmarg (Rs.2.68 crore), Pahalgam (Rs.3.55 crore) and Bangalore (Rs.1.00 crore).

“One shop has been purchased in partnership in Delhi for Rs.1.02 crore,” the statement said, adding, “During the search, digital evidence found has been seized, analysis of which is in progress. ‘ (GNS)

Abrogating Article 370, 35-A will annul Maharaja’s accession with union of India: Sagar

Srinagar, Jun 11 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Tuesday said the party will not allow BJP, RSS and their proxies succeed in nefarious plans to abrogate the special status of the state, saying any stride on the state’s identity is analogous with playing fire.

Lashing out at rants of BJP and its state functionaries about removing the special status of J&K, party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar said, “I warn the fascist and communal forces against any such misadventure to fiddle with the special constitutional status of the state. Any such misadventure aimed at abridging the special status of the state will have far reaching consequences; the move will put the state to flames.

Abrogating Article 370 will nullify Maharaja’s accession with the union of India. It is the Art 370 that sanctify the bond between New Delhi and Srinagar. Any stride on the special status of the state will put a question mark on the connection of the state with the union of India.”

Sagar said that BJP, RSS should stop parroting the impish demand of abrogating the special status of the state. “Such reckless rants will inadvertently brew anger in the state. The need of the hour is to bridge the gaps of mistrust between the center and the state, unfortunately nothing significant is being done towards removing the cobwebs of mistrust between the center and the state.

As far as our party is concerned, we would not be deterred in our mission in protecting the state’s special status by the continuous ranting of the BJP and RSS. The people of the state have already defeated the machinations of the BJP, RSS and their servile henchmen in the state. People have explicitly and considerately reposed their faith in our party to carry forward the mission of protecting the identity of the state. We in our party will continue to strive for safe guarding the special position of our state.

However our prime agenda is to strive for the restoration of autonomy to the state,” he said.

Meanwhile party functionaries led by party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar offered fatheha at the grave yard of party veteran Khwaja Ghulam Mohi Ud Din Shah at the shrine of Syed Muhammad Mantaqi (RA) at Chatabal Srinagar. Addressing the functionaries on the occasion party general secretary said that the role played by the late Shah sb towards the protection of the special status of the state was immense.

“His painstaking endeavour in the formulation of State Autonomy committee report will be remembered for all the times to come. As a Young Turk of the party he withstood trials and tribulations; he never compromised on the political ideals of Sher e Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.

He withstood all political shenanigans and always worked tirelessly for strengthening the party. He faced persecution and confinement for idealizing and following Sheikh Sahib during latter’s struggle for securing the rights of the people of the state,” adding that the need of the hour called for imbuing ourselves with the courage and steadfastness that the late leader’s personality epitomized. 

Party’s senior leaders while paying tributes to the late leaders highlighted his service and sacrifice for the protection of the special status of the state, his political acumen and faithfulness towards the party in the most trying times.

Party’s provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani while addressing the gathering said the need of the hour requires us to remain vigilant and not allow RSS, BJP and their Trojan horses in the state divide us. “There is no scope of complacency; the state is facing onslaughts on its identity and integrity. The need of the hour calls of forging unity and continue with the momentum of parliament elections. People have plainly rejected RSS, BJP and its proxies during the recently concluded parliamentary elections.

People are the best judge of the situation the state is facing; keeping in view the challenges the state is facing they have made it a point to put NC back into power. Ours is the only party that can rescue the state to safe shores,” he said.

On the occasion senior leaders including Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Muhammad Dar, Mubarak Gul, Ghulam Rasool Naz, Muhammad Yasin Shah, Showkat Mir, Pir Afaq, Ghulam Nabi Bhat, Salman Ali Sagar also spoke to the gathering and paid glowing tributes to the late veteran leader.
Party central secretary Irfan Shah, son of the late leader expressed gratitude to the party leaders, functionaries for making it a point to visit the grave yard to pay their tributes to the veteran leader on his anniversary. He vowed to take forward the legacy of his illustrious father by cherishing his ideals and values.

Meanwhile in south Kashmir party Zonal president Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri, District president Anantnag Altaf Kaloo, district president Kulgam Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi, Reyaz khan, Advocate Abbas Dar visited Sarnal, Anantnag where they paid glowing floral tributes on the grave of Party veteran Late Mirza Muhammad Afzal Beg on his death anniversary. The leaders also offered Fatiha Khwani on the occasion.

Srinagar, Jun 11 : Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Deputy Mayor Sheikh Imran whose offices were raided by the income tax department Tuesday said that he will cooperate with the department in its investigation.

“I am fully supportive of all investigations to ensure transparency and adherence to income tax laws. I extend my full cooperation to the INCOME TAX Department. I’m a law abiding businessman and will continue to ensure the laws are upheld,” Imran said.

Imran’s private offices in Sangarmal Shopping, Bohri Kadal in downtown and Nowgam were raided by the income tax department sleuths today and confiscated some documents. 

Srinagar, Jun 11 : On the directions of Governor Satya Pal Malik, Umang Narula Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, took a meeting today to review the arrangements to be made for providing rescue facilities in case of any emergent situation during the forthcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2019.

Narula, informed Governor that a total of 27 Rescue Teams will be deployed during the forthcoming Yatra. These teams would be drawn from the personnel of J&K Armed Police, SDRF and the NDRF and equipped with all rescue equipment including Oxygen Cylinders.

11 Mountain Rescue Teams (02 more than last year) from the J&K Armed Police will be deployed to help women and sick Yatris in negotiating difficult stretches on the Yatra routes.

It was informed in the meeting that a total of 12 Avalanche Rescue Teams viz 11 teams of the State Disaster Response Force and 01 team of CRPFwould be deployed along both the routes. Of these, 07 teams would be deployed along the Pahalgam route at Chandanwari, Pissu Top, Zojibal-Nagakoti; Sheshnag, M.G.Top, Panjtarni, Holy Cave and 05 teams along the Baltal route at Baltal, Domel, Railpatri, Brarimarg and Sangam Top.

Besides, 4 Search and Rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are also being deployed at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panjtarni and Baltal. The rescue teams equipped with necessary paraphernalia shall be deployed at critical stretches, particularly between Railpathri and Brarimarg , forewarning Yatris about shooting stones and landslides. It was decided that effective strength of the rescue teams would be increased from 10 to 15 and SSPs of Ganderbal and Anantnag districts shall fix RD wise jurisdiction of rescue teams. It was also decided to introduce Common Access Protocol (CAP) in the Yatra area, linked with Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) at Sonamarg and Chandanwari to enable all Yatris and others present in that grid to receive SMSs in case of emergent situations on any network. This would be in addition to Priority Call Routing (PCR) portal which will help to prioritize the calls of officers associated with Disaster Management, even if there is congestion in the communication network.

Narula expressed on behalf of Governor and Chairman of the SASB high appreciation of the valuable contribution made by the Rescue Teams in saving many precious lives during the previous Yatras by providing timely assistance and effecting quick evacuation of pilgrims in distress.

The meeting was attended by V.K.Birdi, Deputy Inspector General of Police, CKR; Shailendra P. Singh, Deputy Inspector General, CRPF; B.K.Jha, Deputy Inspector General, BSF; Anup Kumar Soni, Additional Chief Execuive Officer, SASB; Aamir Ali, Director, Disaster Management, J&K; Col Kulbir Singh, Deputy CDR, HQ, 3SECT RR; Col R R Laddha, CO 8 Kumaon; Col Sanjiv, Deputy CDR, HQ 1 Sector RR.. Khalid Jehangir, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag; Shri Altaf Ahmed Khan, SSP Anantnag; Hashmat Ali, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal and Khalil Ahmed Paswal, SSP Ganderbal attended the meeting through video conferencing.

Srinagar, Jun 11 : Ridiculing the media reports that the party was disgruntled over the recent court verdict in Rasana case, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said it welcomes the court judgement and wants stern punishment to the culprits. 

Ashok Koul who is BJP’s state General Secretary trashed the media reports about BJP upping an ante against the Rasana court verdict and told that they party wants culprits to be punished and demands justice to the victim child. 

However, Koul was quick to add that the accused convicted by the court recently have every right to approach the higher court and seek justice if they deem they have been denied the same in any way. “We have heard convicts saying that they have not been given justice. In such a case, they are free to approach the higher court- this is their constitutional right,” said Koul.

On January 10 last year, Eight-year-old girl belonging to Bakarwal tribe went missing in Rasana village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district while grazing cattle. A week later, her body was found in nearby woods. Post mortem confirmed gang rape and murder.

Court on Monday convicted six of the seven defendants were found guilty, and one was acquitted. Three were sentenced to life imprisonment and three to five years. (KNS)