Srinagar, May 06 : A felicitation function was organized by the J&K Bank Officers in Kashmir Region to express gratitude to the Chairman & CEO Parvez Ahmed for instilling best HR practices to groom future leaders in the bank by timely promotions and succession planning in the bank.

The Chairman and CEO Parvez Ahmed was felicitated in presence of Bank’s Executive Presidents P K Tickoo and R K Chhiber, Presidents G M Sadiq, Rakesh Gandotra, Arun Gandotra, G N Teli, Sunil Gupta, Rajini Saraf, M Maqbool Lone, M Younis Patoo and Ashraf Ali, Zonal Heads, Vice Presidents and all the officers who have been elevated in the bank’s succession planning exercise held in the recent past.

In what could be termed as a picture perfect fusion of energy, enthusiasm and festivity, the officers who had recently progressed up the career progression ladder felicitated the Chairman & CEO in an energetic musical event held in the serene expanse of the Nigeen Club, famous for its tranquil evenings.

The officers after felicitating the Chairman described him as a source of inspiration and admired his leadership skills that navigated the bank to script a fast turnaround of the bank with exemplary hard work and vision.

The Chairman while lauding the passionate and loyal workforce of the Bank described the promotions as well deserved and imperative to create a band of future leaders well in time.

While advising the elevated officers he said, “I am fortunate to lead one of the best human capital in the country and feel pleasure in admitting that each one of us is doing his best work but there is no room for complacency as the challenges still remain necessitating that all of you lead and help drive a cultural change which we are aiming to achieve by being a transparent growth focused organization wherein each one of us is working for upliftment of the economic profile of the people.

The JK Bank becomes the major beneficiary of the prosperity of people in the state being the banker of first choice with interweaving of the bank in lives of people. Once we grow aggressively by expanding our footprint in the state it also has the salubrious impact of generating direct and indirect employment opportunities in the state.”
“I assure you that your comfort and wellbeing is my priority and I am ready to do whatever is reasonably possible to improve your wellbeing. I will continue to work relentlessly to ensure that members of the Bank get the best quality of packages, work environment and a secure future. We all have together been on a rewarding transformational journey in the past two and a half years wherein we have retained the assets of our past and infused it with the best support structure. Rest assured, we are doing very well and in the coming year, our business growth will rise considerably with collective team effort” asserted the Chairman and CEO J&K Bank.

Speaking on the occasion, Executive President P K Tickoo hailed the leadership qualities of the Chairman and his prudent vision in taking the bank out of murky waters and putting it in on the track of progress, prosperity and profit.

Eulogizing the role of Chairman for recognizing the hard work and dedication of the employees, Executive President R K Chibber commended the elevated officers of the Bank and advised them to keep working with similar passion and dedication for the institution. The function which was marked by musical performances by Ajaz Sahir, Ajaz Rah and Shazia Bashir ended with a vote of thanks by Cluster Head Kashmir Central 1 Bashir Ahmad Sundroo. 

Srinagar, May 06 : Peaceful voting marked the fifth phase of polling for Anantnag and Ladakh Parliamentary constituencies (PCs) in Kashmir and Ladakh divisions of the State. An overall turnout of 18.02 percent was recorded in Pulwama and Shopian districts of Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency and Kargil and Leh districts of Ladakh Parliamentary Constituency, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K, Shailendra Kumar informed in a press conference here today.

The CEO informed that in today’s voting Pampore assembly segment recorded the highest polling of 5.26 percent while as lowest percentage of 0.76 was recorded in Pulwama segment of Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency. He said that for smooth polling 695 polling stations were set up across Pulwama and Shopian districts, out of which 20 were Model Polling Stations and two were All Women Polling Stations.

Similarly for Ladakh PC, 559 Polling stations were established including 21 Model Polling Stations and 57 All Women Polling Stations.

Divulging the details of the voter turnout in Pulwama and Shopian districts, the CEO informed that the total number of votes polled was 14,6,76. With the completion of the today’s phase, the overall poll percentage of Anantnag constituency has touched 8.76 percent. Similarly in Ladakh PC, the overall poll percentage has touched 63.70 per cent.

With the completion of all five phases of polling today the total percentage of voting in various parliamentary constituencies in the state including Baramulla, Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, Anantnag and Ladakh was recorded at 44.51%.

It may be recalled that over 5.22 lakh electors were scheduled to exercise their franchise in Pulwama and Shopian districts of south Kashmir, in the third leg of three-phased schedule for Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency.  The number of registered voters in Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh Parliamentary Constituency was 1,73,7,09.

The CEO complimented voters, political parties, contesting candidates, media, polling staff and security forces for smooth and peaceful conduct of polling under all the five Phases in the state.

It may be recalled that eighteen candidates including Hasnain Masoodi (NC), Sofi Yousuf (BJP), Ghulam Ahmad Mir (INC), Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), Nisar Ahmad Wani (NPP), Choudhary Zaffar Ali (PC), Sanjay Kumar Dhar (Manav Adhikar Party), Surinder Singh (Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia)) and Imtiyaz Ahmad Rather, Ridwana  Sanam, Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, Zubair Masoodi, Shams Khwaja, Ali Mohammad Wani, Gh Mohammad Wani, Kyasir Ahmed Sheikh, Manzoor Ahmad Khan and Mirza Sajad Hussain Beigh, all independents, are in the fray for Anantnag Parliamentary constituency

Similarly for Ladakh Parliamentary Constituency  four candidates including Rigzin Spalbar (INC), Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (BJP), Asgar Ali Karbalai and Sajjad Hussain, both independents are contesting the elections.

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, May 6: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kashmir unit has decided to stage a protest in Srinagar tomorrow against the killing of its workers in the parts of the state.

BJP State General Secretary organization Ashok Koul said: “it is unfortunate that our leaders and workers are being killed. We have decided to protest in press enclave Srinagar tomorrow to ask government for providing safety to BJP leaders and workers.”

He said that the killing of BP leader Gul Mohammad Mir in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has raised question mark over mechanism adopted in security of political leaders and workers in the State.

Koul added that Mir, the district vice-president of BJP for Anantnag, was associated with the BJP since past 20 years. Mir had unsuccessfully contested assembly elections for Dooru assembly segment in 2008 and 2014.

Meanwhile one of the leaders in BJP wishing anonymity told news agency that as a mark of protest, the BJP leaders in the state, including Ashok Koul will surrender their security tomorrow. “Our leadership had forwarded letter to the concerned SSP for security of Gul Mohammad Mir, killed in south Kashmir, but the security was not provided to him,” the leader claimed. A senior police officer however said that Mir was not provided security as he was “not categorized” for protection. “Security is given to those who are categorized by government,” he said.

Mir’s killing is fourth such killing since 2017.

Shabir Ahmad Bhat, BJP youth president for Pulwama district, was killed in August 2018; Ghulam Nabi Patail, BJP worker from Shadimarg area in Pulwama, was killed in April 2018 and Gowhar Bhat, party’s youth president for Shopian, was killed in November 2017. The Governor administration in February this year withdrew security cover of over 900 people, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles.

Those persons, whose security was withdrawn in the aftermath of Pulwama attack in February in which 40 CRPF were killed, included mainstream politicians and separatists.

However, the State Security Review Coordination Committee (SRCC) restored security cover of over 400 politicians after political parties complained to Election Commission of India that withdrawal of security was a “conspiracy to sabotage” the election process and jeopardise the safety of political workers in the conflict -hit State.

Meanwhile in the wake of killing of a BJP leader in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has directed the chief secretary to get an enquiry conducted into the killings of political people in the last few months.

Sources said that the governor has asked for identifying any lapses on the part of security agencies regarding ensuring the security of political people and has emphasized that from now onwards, all political people should be protected at every cost. (KNS)

Srinagar, May 6 : Lauding the resolve and commitment of the people for not participating in the elections, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani has said Indian military might has miserably failed to convince the people of the state to repose faith in its democratic institutions.

He termed the “exemplary election boycott” observed by the people of Kashmir as a “symbolic referendum against India”.

“It is highly ridiculous on part of India to make vain efforts to prove a military operation as a peaceful political exercise,” he said in a statement issued.

He strongly condemned the “barbaric” attitude of authorities to strangulate the “popular voice of right to self-determination” by banning the political and religious organizations including Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front.

Geelani also castigated the “imperialistic” approach adopted by GoI against Kashmiris.

The Hurriyat (G) chairman regretted that GoI “is trying to let loose a reign of terror in the nook and corner of the state by engaging its so-called investigative agencies like NIA and ED to malign the pious image of freedom movement.”

He also condemned repeated summons by NIA to his grandson Anees-ul-Islam, whose father is in Tihar jail for the last 2 years.

“Indian rulers have used its agencies as a war weapon to threaten and humiliate pro-freedom activists and their families. Delhi rulers have tarnished every fabric of decency, fair play and justice and to punish Kashmiris, they don’t even spare their innocent kids,” he added.

Stressing on the early resolution of the Kashmir dispute, Geelani expressed hope that India will “shun its rigid stand and show its willingness to resolve this dispute at the earliest.”

Governor accorded ceremonial reception on his arrival at Civil Secretariat

Srinagar, May 06 : The Darbar Move offices opened here today after their annual move from Jammu on April 26.

Governor, Satya Pal Malik arrived at Civil Secretariat where he was warmly received by the Advisors, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, K K Sharma, K Skandan, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, Administrative Secretaries and a large number of officers and employees of Civil Secretariat.

Governor inspected the ceremonial guard of honour by a contingent of J&K Police and interacted with Advisors, officers and employees and enquired about their well-being.

Later, interacting with media persons, the Governor reiterated the resolve of the government for tirelessly working towards ensuring responsive and good governance at all levels. 

Twin districts see 5 grenade, petrol bomb attacks during last phase of polling 

Umer Rashid / Qayoom Khan

Srinagar, May 6 : Around three dozen persons including polling staff and government forces personnel were injured in clashes in several parts of Pulwama and Shopian even as the twin districts observed complete shutdown on Monday. At least five polling booths were attacked with grenades and petrol bombs in southern districts. 

Reports of clashes were received from several areas of Shopian including Zawoora, Manloo, Pahnoo, Dangam, Wangam, Pinjura, Aliyalpora, Batmurran, Kellar, and main town Shopian.

Reports of clashes were also received from several parts of Pulwama which include Rahmoo, Zadoora, Loswani, Wahibugh, Parigam, Wurwan, Gudoora, Circle road, Kakapora, Samboora Pampore and Nownagri.

At least twenty youths suffered injuries due to pellets and tear smoke shells in these clashes, they said. Some of the injured youth include Danish Mir, Shahid Mir and Umer Jamshi received pellet injuries at Sharshali Pampore. One youth, Zahid of Parigam of Pulwama suffered serious pellet wounds all over his body and was hospitalized in SMHS Srinagar in serious conditions, they said. One youth, Majid Reyaz Magloo suffered pellet wounds at Batmurran area of Kellar and Irshad Salam Sofi received pellet injury at Arihal Pulwama, they said.

Meanwhile, thirteen CRPF and policemen besides 10 other employees of government departments who were part of polling duty were injured in the twin districts after youth pelted stones on them.

Head Constable of CRPF Samboshan and constable Ahsan were injured at Kathohalan Kellar, SgCt Khalid was injured at Patalbagh in Samboora Pamore, DSP Shafat (SDPO) Kulgam and Head Constable Ghulam Hassan were injured at Nadpora, Padbhawan Shopian, they said. SRTC bus driver Abdul Gani of Srinagar was injured at Narwaw Shopian, they said.

Meanwhile, suspected militants attacked four polling stations with grenades and petrol bombs in Tral and Pulwama areas of South Kashmir.

Reports said that unknown persons lobbed a grenade on a polling booth stationed at Girls Middle School Rahmoo. However, no one suffered injuries in the blast.

In another incident, unknown persons hurled a “bomb” on a polling booth stationed inside Government Higher secondary school Chatpora. The device exploded outside the wall of the school. However, no injury was reported in the blast.

An official confirmed the incident and said that a manhunt has been launched to nab persons involved in the attack.

Meanwhile suspected militants lobbed a grenade on a polling booth Tikan village in the southern district. However, the device didn’t explode. Police and bomb disposal squad later destroyed it without damage.

At Hergam, Behtnoor in Tral unknown persons hurled a petrol bomb on a polling booth. In another similar incident, unknown persons hurled a petrol bomb at a polling booth stationed at Boys Higher Secondary school Shopian. However, in both these incidents, no one suffered any casual. Meanwhile, shops and other business establishments remained closed in the twin districts while public transport was mainly off the roads.  (GNS)