One of the leading banks of Jammu and Kashmir state in a ‘verbal dictation’ has allegedly asked its employees particularly the promoted to donate heartedly in one of the operational accounts of banks branch to ‘throw party’ for the top hierarchy.

Sources privy in the bank said that the officials especially, who have recently been promoted, have been “verbally” told to deposit their share in an account made functional at one of the branches of the bank as they have planned to ‘throw party’ for the top ranked officers.

“The promoted officials have been asked to deposit the amount in one of the branches so that the final arrangements can be made at the earliest,” sources said.
They added that the party venue is also almost final, which is located on city outskirts along bye-pass road and the event is likely to be organised in May first-week.

Sources further added, “the amount to be deposited has been fixed as per the promotion of an employee,” adding that those, who have been promoted from level 1 to 2, have to donate Rs 5,000, those from 2 to 3, have to donate Rs 7,000 and those who have been promoted from level 3 onwards, have to donate Rs 10,000.

Sources however, said, “there was no written direction issued or order circulated but the bank employees have been told ‘verbally’ to obey the ‘diktat’ and deposit the amount in another two days.”

“The directive was astonishing because timely promotion is our right and why to donate the fat amount and that too by all promoted employees,” a banker pleading anonymity said and alleged that the exercise is equivalent to corruption in the shape of ‘throwing lavish party’ for top officers with an aim to appease them.

The employees however, also appealed to the Governor Satya Pal Malik that such exercises should stop as it openly promotes ‘corruption’, adding, “it is also a loss to the state exchequer.”

“Why do not the bank on its own arrange entertainment funds and hold such functions/events for the senior officers instead of ‘harassing’ its own employees unnecessarily,” they rued.

However, the bank’s Public Relation Officers’ remained unavailable for their comments.(UNI)

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today said India should leave Kashmir, if its Prime Minister feels that Kashmir is a loss for them.

Mehbooba while talking to reporters said when Azad Sb was chief minister, he transferred thousands of kanals of land to shrine board. “Did not Azad sb then think and care about Article 370. They destroyed the special status of JK,” she said.

“Similarly, National Conference Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah himself surrendered the post and made himself chief minister in Indira-Sheikh accord,” Mehbooba said.

Police in a statement said that today a video surfaced on social media where in one police vehicle is being seen being utilised for distribution of food items in a political party rally in Anantnag.

The vehicle in question was deployed for ferrying escort personnel of a protected person. The vehicle has been withdrawn from said protected person and driver of the vehicle has been attached. Enquiry into the matter has been ordered under rules.

Property at the deputy commissioner’s office was damaged while governor Satya Pal Malik’s effigy was burnt in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to reports that hundreds of people marched from police chowk to the mini secretariat to register their protest against what they termed failure of the administration to nab the killers of RSS leader Chandrakant Sharma and Parihar brothers.

Greater Kashmir reported the protesters who were raising slogans against the governor and the administration hurled stones on the mini-secretariat, smashed windowpanes and doors of the building.

An official said that the columns of the police, CRPF and ITBP were rushed to the spot who dispersed the protesters.

The protest was held amid a shutdown called by the Sanathan Dharam. Pertinently, restrictions under 144 CrPC were put in place in the area three days ago.

RSS leader Chandrakant Sharma was killed inside the premises of District Hospital Kishtwar where he was working as a medical assistant at hospital’s out-patient (OPD) department. His PSO Rajinder Kumar was also killed while his service rifle was decamped by the gunmen.

Congress leader P C Chacko has said pro-freedom  leader Yasin Malik should be ‘appreciated’ for the ‘courage’ he has shown in front of the government.

Malik is in judicial custody till May 24 in connection with an alleged ‘terror funding case’.

“If Pragya Singh Thakur, a convicted person, an accused person, can contest an election, and in the name of separatism, Delhi is asking him (Yasin Malik) at gunpoint to surrender, anyone with self-respect will react the way.” Chacko was quoted as saying by ANI

The Delhi Congress chief also added, “The courage he has shown is something which should be appreciated because New Delhi cannot threaten anybody, India is a democracy.”

Earlier, this week Malik, who was allegedly arrested in connection with terror funding case, was sent  to judicial custody till May 24.

The Jail authorities have also moved an application seeking direction to produce Mr. Malik through video conferencing due to security concerns.

Earlier this month, Yasin Malik was brought to Delhi from Jammu and was later arrested by NIA in connection with a case related to the funding of terror and separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
He was produced in a special court which remanded him in NIA’s custody till April 22.
Former Chief Minister, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had also appealed to the Centre to immediately release Mr. Malik due to his ailing health. “Also other members of Jamaat-e-Islami should be released. Sadhvi Pragya on whom there are several serious accusations have been set free.”

Mr. Malik was shifted to Delhi’s Tihar Jail after NIA secured his production remand. The JKLF chief was taken into preventive custody in February by the J&K police and lodged in Jammu’s Kot Balwal jail.

Police has arrested four more youth from twin south Kashmir districts for their alleged involvement in Banihal car blast case while the investigation into the case is in the final stage, a senior Police officer said Friday.

With the arrest of four youth, the total number of the arrested ones in the case has reached six.

The four arrested youth were identified as Waseem Ahmad of Chakoora of Pulwama, Umar Shafi and Aqib Shafi of Behil, Shopian and Shahid Wani of Kanhama, Shopian.

“They were lodged in judicial custody,” a Police officer said.

On March 30, a windshield of a CRPF bus was damaged in a car blast on the Sriangar-Jammu highway near Banihal.

Police also claimed to have recovered an LPG cylinder, a jerry can filled with petrol, gelatin stick, urea and sulphur that is used for fabricating the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

Police had said that the suspect jumped out the car when it caught fire.
However, there was no loss of life in the blast.

Next day, Police arrested one alleged Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Owais Amin of Shopian for an abortive attempt to target a CRPF convoy.

On April 23, Police arrested a student Hilal Ahmad Mantoo of Chakura village in Pulwama in connection with the case.

Mantoo, who is studying at the Central University of Punjab, was arrested from the varsity campus by Bathinda Police.
A Police officer said Mantoo was arrested after J&K Police issued an arrest warrant against him.

He was put to intense questioning soon after he was brought to the State, the officer said.

“During his questioning, he revealed involvement of four other south Kashmir youth, who were subsequently arrested from their residences,” he said.

The officer said some of the accused were involved in “conducting reconnaissance” while some provided “motivational support” to the main accused, Owais and paid for his hotel stay.

Police in Banihal had registered an FIR 39 under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 120 (concealing design to commit offence), 120-A (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war or attempting to wage war against the government), 121-A (conspiracy to commit offences u/s 121), and under sections of the Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

However, later the NIA registered a case and took over the investigation.

“Most of the investigation into the case is complete. We are working at a few more links,” Senior Superintendent of Police Ramban, Anita Sharma said.

She said the findings of the investigations would be shared with the NIA shortly.

Medininagar: BJP president Amit on Saturday said that Article 370 will be withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir, if the saffron party is voted to power again.

“We will remove Article 370 if you make Narendra Modi the prime minister again,” Shah said at a public rally here in Palamau district in Jharkhand.

Shah said during the Congress-led UPA government, terror groups from Pakistan used to target India continuously.

Jawans were beheaded by terrorists also, he said.

“We cannot compromise with the security of the nation.

Pakistan wants to separate Kashmir from India. We will not allow it.

“Pakistan se goli aayegi to yahan se gola jayaga (if a bullet comes here, a shell lands there),” the BJP president said.

Launching a scathing attack on National conference leader Omar Abdullah for his remarks on having a separate prime minster for Kashmir, the BJP president said Kashmir is an inseparable part of India.

Should there be two prime ministers for one country?” Shah asked the people.

The BJP has given the nation Modi as prime minister and the security of the country has been strengthened ever since, he said.

“When the nation rejoiced with sweets following the February 26 Balakot air strike, a pall of gloom descended on the Congress and Pakistan,” Shah said.

He ridiculed Congress leader Sam Pitroda for saying that “some boys” had committed mistake and dropped bombs, and there should be talks.PTI

Srinagar: Amid shutdown, the traders associations in Tangmarg and Gulmarg area of Baramulla district Saturday staged a protest and blocked highway at Tangmarg against Gulmarg Gandola for starting online ticket selling process.

Protesters said that e-ticketing is direct attack on their livelihood as “we were earning our livelihood by helping the tourists in getting the tickets and accompanying them till Gandola.”

They said it was earlier 30% online then it was increased to 50% but now it’s totally online and time fixation is main hindrance in this.

Traders President asked why government was snatching their shelter, saying “this is sheer injustice with us.”

The protesters raised slogans against the concerned authorities.
Later, SDM Gulmarg and SDPO Tangmarg visited the spot to pacify the protesters.

SDM Gulmarg said that they will hold a meeting with all the officers and MD Cable car. (KNS)