Srinagar, May 30 : In view of arrangements for ensuing celebration of Jamat-ul-Vida, Shab-e-Qadr and Eid-ul-Fitr, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today convened a joint meeting of senior officers of Divisional administration.

The Deputy Commissioners of the valley informed the meeting that adequate stock of essential commodities is available in the valley, besides quota of sugar is provided to the consumers within days

The Divisional Commissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners to ensure the smooth distribution of essential commodities across the Kashmir Division and ensure that all shopkeepers should display rate list in their shops.

In order to curb black marketing, profiteering and hoarding, he asked all Deputy Commissioners to intensify the market checking in the city, besides other districts and take strict legal action against the erring traders. He also urged them to involve all members of Municipal Committees, Sarpanchs and Panchs in market checking drive.

The meeting was informed that more three lakh poultry birds and 28, 800 sheep are available across the Kashmir Division for festive days.

The Divisional Commissioner asked Animal and Sheep Husbandry to conduct health audit of the animals before sale and also deploy mobile vans for sale of chicken at various places in the valley and publicize the rates in the media for the benefit of consumers.

Khan exhorted upon the SMC authorities to provide better sanitation arrangements besides installation and repair of street lights in the city and other important religious places where big congregation will be held. PDD and PHE will supply uninterrupted power and water supply during festival days, the meeting was informed.

Div Com stressed for better transport facilities to the devotees visiting religious.

He asked all Deputy Commissioners of the valley to prepare adequate route plan with traffic department, besides creating temporary additional parking slots so that better transport facility will be provided to the people during these auspicious days and traffic department will publicize this route-plan to the media so that people coming to Eidgah or other religious places do not face any inconvenience.

For quick redressal of grievances regarding festive days, he asked all DCs to constitute a 24×7 joint control room at all DC offices in coordination with concerned departments and publicize the contact numbers in media. They will also deploy magistracy at the big congregation places with concerned SHOs.

Khan directed the Health Department to install medical camp with paramedical staff, critical care ambulance and medicines at big congregation places and major shrines.

Fire and Emergency department was directed to provide 24×7 services across the valley in case of any eventuality.

The Divisional Commissioner directed R&B to construct stage as per the specification provided by the J&K Wakaf Board at Eid Gah Srinagar. Wakaf officials will install tents and public address system well before the commencement of Eid Nimaaz. PDD will ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, the meeting was informed.

The Divisional Commissioner directed the SMC authorities to ensure proper cleanliness and sanitation measures in and around the Eidgah venue. Volunteers will also deploy at big congregation places.

He stressed all concerned officers to work with added zeal, energy and close coordination for the successful and hassle-free culmination of big congregations of Jamat-ul-Vida, Shab-e-Qadr and Eid-ul-Fitr across the valley.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shaid Iqbal, GM JKSRTC, Director FCS&CA, Chief Engineers R&B, PHE, Regional Transport Officer Kashmir, Additional Commissioner SMC, Directors of FCS&CA, Urban Local Bodies, Animal &  Husbandry, DNO Health Services, Deputy Director Fire & Emergency Services, SSP Traffic, SP Traffic (Rural), SSP Security, Assistant Commissioner (central), Officers of J&K Muslim Wakf Board, besides senior officers of different departments are present in the meeting where as all Deputy Commissioners of the valley participated in the meeting through video conferencing.

Srinagar, May 30 : Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Thursday visited Dargah Hazratbal to review the arrangements made there for Juma’atul-Wida and Laylat-ul-Qadr.

The DC while emphasising the great reverence of the two occasions impressed upon all the concerned departments to ensure all their respective tasks are covered with highest degrees of responsibility.

He directed the PDD and the PHE to ensure uninterrupted power and water to the shrine on the revered occasions. He instructed for provision of standby transformers and generators and mobile water tankers as a backup at the shrine.

The Regional Transport Office and the SRTC were asked to ensure there is adequate availability of transport facilities at the shrine. The Traffic department was asked to ensure hassle-free and violations-free to-and-fro movement of vehicles on the shrine routes.

The SMC was asked to ensure thorough maintenance of cleanliness around the Dargah all through the remaining Ramadan as well as during the Eid festival.

Dr Shahid said that a control room has been set up at the DC Office for the convenience of the general public.

Senior officers from all concerned departments accompanied the DC on the occasion.

Shopian, May 30, : A complete shutdown was observed in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday to commemorate the 10th death anniversary of Asiya and Neelofar.

    All the shops, business establishments and educational institutes remained shut in the area while traffic also remained off the roads.

  Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for the shut down in the area.

On this day in 2009, the dead bodies of  Asiya (17)and her sister-in-law Neelofar (22) were recovered from Rambi Ara stream.

The women were allegedly raped and then murdered after they had gone to tend their orchard located across the stream.

The incident had spelled strong protests across the Kashmir.

The villagers alleged that both were raped and murdered by the government forces. Curfew remained in vogue for over 47 days.

   Following widespread protest across the state, JK police finally filed FIR of rape and murder on June 7, 2009.

After passing through twists and turns, finally a CBI investigation report into the case came up—that apparently proved a last nail in the coffin. It said: the duo died due to drowning in Rambi canal—much to the dismay of the family members of the victims, who still fail to understand: “How could our daughters ‘died due to drowning’ in an ankle-deep water body!”

Suhail Khan

Sopore, May 30 : Police on Thursday evening identified the militants who were killed in an encounter in Sopore village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

SSP Sopore Javeed Iqbal told GNS that the slain militants have been identified as Nasser Ahmed Mir son of Mohammad Yousuf Mir resident of Brath and Asif Ahmed War son of Ghulam Mohammad War resident of Warpora Sopore. He said that 2 AK 47 and 6 Magazines were recovered from their procession.

According to official sources Naseer Ahmed Mir was active since 17/11/2017 while Asif was missing from his home since 2/02/2019.

The encounter broke out after army’s 22 RR and SOG have launched a cordon-and-search operation at Dangerpora village following specific information about the presence of militants inside a residential house.

Meanwhile, authorities suspended internet services in Sopore town as a precautionary measure in wake of this search operation. (GNS)

Police in a statement today said that On a credible input, a cordon & search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Dangerpora area of Sopore

During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter.

In the ensuing encounter, 02 militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identities and affiliation of the killed militants is being ascertained.

Incriminating material including arms & ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter.

Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.

Suhail Khan

Sopore, May 30 : One militant has been killed in an ongoing gunfight with government forces in Sopore village of Baramulla district in north Kashmir on Thursday.

A senior police officer told GNS that one militant has been killed during the ongoing operation.

As per the sources two LeT militants are believed to be under trap.

Earlier, reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of army’s 22 RR, CRPF and SOG cordoned off the Bunpora Mohalla of Dangerpora Sopore area this morning.

After several hours long siege, the joint team intensified the searches and fired some gunshots towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants opened fire leading to an encounter, they said.

Meanwhile, authorities suspended internet services in Sopore town as a precautionary measure in wake of the operation.

In order to prevent any law and order problem, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore Ashiq Hussain Lily in a statement issued to GNS ordered closure of all colleges, Higher secondary in Sopore and all higher secondaries in Zaingeer belt. (GNS)

Suhail Khan

Sopore, May 30 (GNS): A gunfight broke out between militants and government forces in Sopore village of Baramulla district in north Kashmir on Thursday.

Reports reaching GNS said that that army’s 22 RR, CRPF and SOG cordoned off the Bunpora Mohalla of Dangerpora Sopore area this morning.

Soon after the joint team of forces intensified the searches and fired some gunshots amid the cordon leading to an encounter, they said.

A police officer also confirmed that the gunfight broke out between the militants and the government forces in the area and said that two militants are believed to be trapped.

He said that earlier the cordon-and-search operation was launched in the area following specific information about the presence of some militants.

When reports last came in the firefight was going on.

Meanwhile authorities suspended internet services in Sopore town as a precautionary measure in wake of this operation.

While to prevent any law and order problem Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore Ashiq Hussain Lily in a statement issued to GNS ordered closure of all colleges, Higher secondary in Sopore and all higher secondaries in Zaingeer belt. (GNS)

Srinagar, May 30 : In a very significant development, Senior Congress leader Shoiab Nabi Lone has resigned from the post of District President, Pradesh Congress for District Baramulla.

The development has come just a day after when local news gathering agency carried a story that Lone was being approached by People’s Conference and other parties and it was likely that he may desert the grand old National Party. 

Shoiab Lone also confirmed to news agency that he has step down from the district President Post of the party but added that he was still part of the party. Lone however, did not give reasons for his sudden decision. The only thing Lone said that he has sent his resignation to the State Party Chief G.A Mir.

(Courtesy RNA)

Srinagar, May 30: Governor Satya Pal Malik has conveyed his warm greetings to the people on the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida.

Governor observed that Jumat-ul-Vida is an auspicious time to offer special prayers and seek blessings of the Almighty. He prayed for the well-being and happiness of the people of the State.