KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, May 10: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has initiated tech-savvy initiatives using popular social network platforms and instant messaging services including twitter handle @JKACB and Facebook page J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau to combat corruption.

While launching the accounts of Anti-Corruption Bureau in Srinagar, Anand Jain, IPS, Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau, said that free flow of information from social media will not only help in getting information about corruption but it will also help to maintain efficiency in functioning of Anti-Corruption Bureau. ACB is also in the process of revamping its own website to make it more people friendly where complainants can lodge complaints in user friendly interface. Also toll free number and whatsApp number will be made available for free accessibility of general public shortly.

Advises not to spray agri lands till next one week

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, May 10: After three-day long dry spell, the Valley on Friday received light rainfall with local Meteorological department (MeT) predicting more rains till next four days intermittently.

The light showers this morning brought the temperature down in most parts of the Valley. Deputy Director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad said that there is possibility of light rainfall from today (Friday), which would continue till May 15 intermittently.

However, he informed that there was no chance of heavy rains during these days, saying rains accompanied by puny winds would likely be witnessed in Jammu and Srinagar areas during these days.

 “We are predicting a light rainfall today while it will improve in the night. There will improvement in weather till May 12 following which the light rains would once again lash valley till May 15,” he added.

Nonetheless, the MeT Deputy Director further advised farmers here not to spray their agri lands till next one week. “The farmers should not spray their agriculture lands till next one week,” he said.

Meanwhile, the traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway continued to remain closed for the second straight day today due to landslides in Digdol area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Thursday.

The officials told KNS that the highway was being cleared from the debris of landslides in Digdol, saying that the traffic will be allowed to ply soon after the road is cleared.

He added that the stranded vehicles on the road will be allowed to ply first after the road is cleared. The reports suggest that over 3,000 vehicles were stranded at various places on the highway.

Calls for strict action against profiteers, black marketers

Srinagar, May 10 : While taking a serious note of reports of price hike of essential commodities during the holy month of Ramzan, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today directed department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) and Legal Metrology to start intense market checking across the city on daily basis and take strict action against profiteers and black marketers who are selling meat on exorbitant rates.

He asked Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and other concerned officers to send daily report to the Divisional Commissioners office with details of market checking along with names of profiteers and black marketers and action taken against them.

The Divisional Commissioner made these directions while reviewing the progress of Market checking drive across the capital city.

The meeting was informed that FCS&CA department has checked 1330 establishments and shops in which they recovered Rs 3, 36,350 penalty besides Legal Metrology department booked 207 challans in which they recovered a fine of Rs 2,25, 550 from erring shopkeepers.

The Divisional Commissioner directed the officers to enforce all shopkeepers to display their rate list in their shops.

The meeting was further informed that with regards to redressal of grievances, people can log into department websites jkfcsca.gov.in, capdkashmir.nic.in and feastjk.gov.in/jkgrams. Department has also dedicated Toll Free Numbers for filing of complaints which are 1967 and 1800-180-7011. People can get more information on the social media by visiting Face book Page of Department of Food, Civil supplies and Consumer Affairs Kashmir and following Twitter Handle of the department which is Director_FCSCAK.

Srinagar, May 10 : As reported by a national news channel large scale bungling have surfaced in merit-cum-means scholarship on the website of Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, where scholarships have been reportedly sanctioned against hundreds of fake names in district Kulgam.

It is highly unfortunate and scandalous and government must take a serious note of it. A credible enquiry must be initiated and those officials responsible for the fraud must be identified and punished. Such incidents are shameful and the Governor Administration is duty bound to unearth this scam.

Corruption is one of the biggest issues in our state and it has spread its tentacles very deep and is at all levels affecting all spheres of life. The magnitude of corruption prevalent in the state is huge and rampant. The fatal diseases of corruption, bribery, nepotism and cronyism have plagued virtually most of the institutions.

Due to corruption, nepotism and favoritism, people, especially youth, have lost faith in the institutions. There has been lack of transparency in the recruitment and other processes in the state and need is to make these more transparent that may help in restoring some confidence among people, especially youth.

CPI (M) sees the fight against corruption as multi-dimensional. Only a strong and sustained mass movement can help in fighting the menace of corruption from the society. 

Srinagar, May 10 : J&K Civil Secretariat Employees Coordination Committee on Friday announced to hold protest from May 16 against delaying tactics by government to resolve employees’ issues and also against locking down of office of its sister concern.

Pervez Ahmad Khan, Publicity Secretary of the union told that a meeting of J&K Civil Secretariat Employees Coordination Committee was held here in Civil Secretariat wherein all representatives participated. 

“In the meeting the coordination committee condemned the locking of sister concern union of J&K Civil Secretariat Employees union.  The locking of union office is undemocratic and against the wishes of employees,” he said. 

It has been precedence that Unions continued till the elections are not held. “Now it is very unfortunate that government has locked the office which can also lead to contempt proceedings against the government,” he said. 

Previously, he said, unions continued in office and worked without elections for years. “Previously union continued for about 6 years and for 4 years without elections but office had never been locked.  The situation created by the government at this time is nothing but delay in resolving employees’ issues and division of employees in the highest seat of power,” he said.

The coordination committee also took serious note of the circular issued by the Finance Department regarding the biometric attendance on the basis of Adhar Card, underling that it was against the Supreme Court Judgment. “This will also lead contempt proceedings against Government.” 

The coordination committee also condemned the harsh attitude towards employees especially during Ramazan period. “In Andhra Pradesh the employees have been allowed to leave an hour before during Ramazan period.”   

The government, he said, has intentionally delayed the employees’ issues and started confrontation with employees. “This time Estates Department also failed to facilitate employees especially during Darbar even in hotel accommodation. Illegal allotments have also been encouraged by the Estates Department which were earlier stopped.  The Estates Department has created mess everywhere due to which employees are badly suffering,” he said, adding, “The Coordination Committee has decided that the employees will hold protest from May 16.” (GNS)

Srinagar, May 10 : A militant was killed in an encounter with government forces at Ram Nagri area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday.

A police spokesman in a statement issued said that a cordon and search operation (CASO) was launched today morning at Ram Nagri area of Herpora on the basis of credible input.

During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to a brief exchange of fire, the spokesman said.

“In the brief exchange of fire, one militant was killed and he has been identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi alias Umar son of Mushtaq Ahmad resident of Model Town-B, Sopore,” he said.

Incriminating material including arms and ammunition has been recovered from the slain, the spokesman said, adding that with the efforts of police and security forces, it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the exchange of fire.

According to the police records, Ishfaq had a long history of “crime records” and was initially affiliated with HuM militant outfit, the spokesman said.

“He along with his other militant associates was involved in a series of attacks including grenade attacks on CRPF bunker at Safa Kadal, Soura and Police Station Khanyar. He was also part of groups which had carried out attacks on security establishments in the area,” he said adding that Ishfaq was subsequently arrested and after his release on bail, he again got recycled and joined the militant ranks last year in 2018.

“Ishfaq, as per the police records, after getting recycled again got involved in planning and executing militant attacks. He was also involved in attacks on security establishments and many other ‘civilian atrocities’ in the area for which several crime cases were registered against him. As such he was wanted by law for his complicity in a series of crimes,” the spokesman said.

Police has urged people not to go inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.

Meanwhile, the body of the militant was shifted to PCR Srinagar by police.

After conducting all legal formalities, the body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites.

Reports said the body reached in his native village in Sopore at around 5:40 pm.

Following the killing, authorities snapped internet services and also ordered closure of all government and private educational institutions in the sub-division for Friday as a precautionary measure.

Amid a spontaneous shutdown in main town Sopore and its adjoining parts, clashes also broke out in model town Sopore. (GNS)

Education institutions, Internet services suspended as a precautionary measures : admin

Suhail Khan

Sopore, May 10 : A moderate shutdown is being witnessed in parts of Sopore to mourn the killing of local militant.

Reports reaching to Kashmir Despatch said a moderate shutdown is being observed in parts of Sopore to mourn the killing of local ISJK militant slain Ishfaq Ahmed Sofi who was killed in a gunfight with government forces at Amshipora area of Shopian district earlier this day.

Meanwhile as a precautionary measures following militant’s killing authorities closed all educational institutions including colleges and higher secondaries in sub division Sopore.

While inwake of the killing of local militant authorities suspended internet services also in parts of Sopore as a precautionary measures.

Pertinently, Slian Ishfaq Ahmed Sofi alias @Abdullah Bhai of Model Town Sopore was lone survivor of ISJK militant outfit in Kashmir.

According to official reports slian militant was earlier affiliated with Harkutul Mujhaideen and was active since 2012.

However local sources said that slian was active since 2005 and was slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA) more than 5 times. Sources further said that slain was also arrested in 2016 during naka at Sangrama when he was over ground worker (OGW) by joint team of forces including Army’s 52 RR and SOG Sopore.