Srinagar, May 28 : In absence of any check, ‘substandard’ ration is being distributed among the consumers in the Valley, allege locals. However, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department here refuted the allegations.

The consumers from different parts of the Valley said that the department was distributing substandard ration among them. “We demand authorities to check the quality before distributing it to the public for the well being of consumers,” consumers said.

Sources privy to the development said that the ration sent by FCI was rejected by the department and was later kept at Private Entrepreneurs Godown (PEG) in Budgam district where that is allegedly being mixed with the new ration following and is being distributed among the people.

They said three trucks bearing registration number JK01B-5947, JK05G-5151 and JK09B-4782 were in Drugmulla area of Kupwara with substandard ration.

Many of the residents in southern, northern and central Kashmir have been demanding intervention of local administration to ensure standard ration is distributed among the consumers.

However, Director CA&PD, Mohammad Qasim Wani refuted the allegations, saying that he has already directed Deputy Director CA&PD to ensure standard ration is distributed among the people.

He said that any bag with substandard ration will be rejected and send back.

Regarding ration at PEG, he said the ration was earlier rejected and now has been kept aside.

Asked about delay in returning the rejected ration, Wani said that it is up to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to take it back.

Srinagar, May 28 : The state Congress Tuesday said that assembly elections in case delayed in Jammu and Kashmir after Amarnath yatra will point out the desires of the present government.

Talking to news agency, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that state elections should be held at an earliest so that people can get an elected government.

“This government conducted Panchayat polls, Municipal polls and now Lok Sabha polls and the assembly elections should also be conducted at an earliest,” he said, adding that assembly polls connects the people here with the mainstream.

He added that Congress was always ready for the polls. “The government should issue a notification regarding the polls during yatra and should conduct it after the end of yatra. Winning or losing is part of the process but Congress was always ready for the polls and in case the assembly polls will be delayed any further after Amarnath Yatra then it will indicate the desires of the present regime vis-à-vis Kashmir issue,” he said. (KNS) 

Srinagar, May 28 : After facing defeat in the parliamentary elections, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today held a political affairs meeting and appealed to all the regional parties in Kashmir “to work together on a pro-Kashmir agenda to defeat divisive forces”.

The meeting which lasted for three hours was held at the residence of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar and all senior leaders of Political Affairs Committee including Muzaffar Hussai Baig participated in the meeting.

Talking to news agency after the meeting, PDP chief spokesman Rafi Mir said that the meeting was “an introspection” into what went wrong during the alliance with the BJP and why people were angry with the party which culminated into less voting for the party in parliament polls.

“It was an introspective meeting and the leaders discussed all the factors which led to our loss in elections. We have decided to fan out in the Kashmir valley and hold massive reach out programes in all constituencies to mobilise out cadre and workers,” Mir said.

Mir said that the meeting also discussed that an appeal should be sent to all regional political parties to work out a common “pro-Kashmir agenda” together and defeat divisive forces who divide our votes.

“As against some united force from other areas, Kashmir parties’ vote get divided and very week into. So we appealed all political parties to jointly work on a common pro-Kashmir agenda so that these divisive forces don’t succeed over our vote. We can sit together and shun our differences and work together. We can iron out our differences,” Mir said.

The meeting also decided that those leaders parted ways from PDP should join back to strengthen the party. (KNS) 

SRINAGAR, MAY 28: Police on Tuesday issued the following statement regarding Kokernag gunfight saying that on a credible input, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Nilphan and Andoo (Kachwan) forest area of Kokernag in District Anantnag.

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

“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identities and affiliation of the killed militants is being ascertained. The search in the area continues,” he said.

“Incriminating material including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter,” he added.

“Pertinently, with the efforts of police and security forces, it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the exchange of fire,” said the spokesman.

“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,” said the police spokesman.

 Shopian 28 May :Deputy Commissioner Shopian Dr Owais Ahmed today  convened a meeting with district officers to review the arrangements for Jumat -ul- Vida ,Shab-e-Qadar and  Eid-Ul-Fitr here today at Mini Secretariat Arhama Shopian.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Revenue and the officers of CA&PD, PDD, PHE, R&B, Municipal Committee, Police, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Health, and Transport Departments besides Tehsildar Shopian and other concerned officers.
 
          During the meeting threadbare discussion was held regarding availability of essential commodities, transport arrangements, Sanitation, Ambulance services, traffic management, uninterrupted power, water supply, repair and renovation of roads.

          Deputy Commissioner stressed upon the officers of PDD and PHE to provide uninterrupted power supply and drinking water supply to the people.  He instructed Executive Officer of municipality to ensure proper cleanliness, sanitation and illumination around the Jamia Masjid, Eid Gahs and Ziyarat Shareefs besides ensuring cleanliness at the places of congregation. Emergency services department were asked to keep fire tenders ready at vulnerable places especially in town to face any eventuality.

          Chief Animal Husbandry Officer was directed to establish poultry stalls at Chief Animal Husbandry office Shopian, JamiaMasjid and Bus stand Batpora on discount rates. Further AD Fisheries was also directed to keep trout fish available at same spots.
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          Exen R&B was directed to complete all the patching work, repairment and renovation of main and inner roads before the Eid in the town and adjacent areas. CA&PD department was asked to ensure availability and distribution of essential commodities well before Eid

          Further,DC directed the Tehsildar, AD FCS&CA, EO Municipal Committee and Legal Metrology go for  market checking to keep check on profiteering, hoarding, and black marketing and ensure that products are sold strictly in accordance with the government notified rates.

Need for clear roadmap to resolve Kashmir dispute

Srinagar, May 28: Deputy Mayor Srinagar Sheikh Mohammad Imran on Tuesday said politics on the name of Kashmiri’s will not be allowed anymore as people are being exploited for vested interests since decades.

Imran said Kashmiri youth are losing their lives and dozens are getting injured on daily basis. We have lost almost  252 youth this year that is a alarming figure, he said.

“I am convinced by views of Hurriat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who said few months ago that, ‘there is need for re-stragedy among Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) programs, but things remain unchanged.

He said few years back slain commander Zakir Musa was criticized and was declared as Indian agent and now same people had given strike call over his killing,” he said.

Imran said although there might have been confusions but those things could have been avoided as there is no clear road map to resolve Kashmir dispute.

Mainstream parties also played negative propaganda to gain the vote bank, he said adding that when Kashmir was burning our leaders were dancing in Jammu and Srinagar over elections victory.

He said by getting 2-3% vote share, criminals are getting power and deserving candidates are being left out. There is a need to new stragedy in Hurriyat programs and work for resolving the Kashmir dispute, he said.

“We are losing our youth which are key assets of our society. Around 252 killings have witnessed in Kashmir so far which is the alarming figure, those who are feeding themselves with ‘Golden Spoons’ should understand the consequences of deceiving people,” Imran said.

In Palestine, Pakistan, Hamas, Azad Kashmir elections are held and people participate in the elections but here we are doing opposite. We need honest politicians which will both work for the people and also represent aspirations of the people.

“Those candidates would represent both the aspirations  of Kashmiri people and at ground local they will solve the local issues,” Imran said adding that time has come where youth have to play their role.

He appealed, India Pakistan and Kashmiri leadership to initiate fresh dialogue as people of Kashmir valley are continuously suffering.

“Some people sitting in London and USA and are running Kashmir movement on social media platforms. Our youth should awake now as they are falling prey to these people.”

“Government of India should look on the ground as Kashmiri people are alienated. As there has been tough approach towards Kashmir and that needs should be tackled,” Imran said.  

Imran said in the holy month of Ramadhan there should have been ceasefire between India and Pakistan, but no one is caring about the future of our youth in Kashmir.

“I appeal people that there is need for peaceful struggle and which is only way to forward,” he said adding that youth should come forward and discuss fresh stragedy,” he said.

Srinagar, May 28 : Two militants have been killed in an encounter with government forces in forest area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir on Tuesday.

A senior Police officer told GNS that two militants were killed in the gunfight.

He said that bodies of the slain duo was recovered along with as many weapons from the site of the encounter.

Earlier, army’s 19 RR, CRPF and SOG cordoned off the forest area which is situated between the two villages of Kharpora and Kashwan in Kokernag.

The officer said that the cordon-and-search operation was launched in the forest area following specific information about the presence of the militants.

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

Srinagar, May 28 : A driver died after a tractor turned turtle at Sarmarg area of Rajwar, Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday.

Reports reaching GNS said that the tractor skidded off the road and over turned at Check Sarmarg area of Rajwar Handwara.

In the mishap, the tractor driver identified as Tanveer Ahmed Mir son of Ghulam Hussain Mir of Sarmarg Rajwar died on the spot.

A police officer also confirmed the incident and said that a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigations taken up. (GNS)