JAMMU, APRIL 19: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today revised the poll timings for Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency which is going to polls in three phases from 23rd April 2019.

In a notification issued from ECI, has fixed the polling time, in all the polling stations, for the Anantnag parliamentary Constituency from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. The earlier timings notified by the Commission on 28th March were from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The Commission has amended the timings after considering the reports of the State Government, District Administration and Police and taking into account all material circumstances including law and order situation.

Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency is going to polls in three phases with District Anantnag going to polls on 23rdApril, Kulgam on 29th April and Shopian and Pulwama Districts on 6th May, 2019.

Srinagar, Apr 19 : A day after cross LOC trade was suspended, the Ministry of home Affairs Department of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs Friday issued a detailed statement regarding the suspension, saying infiltration of third party goods, channeling funds for terror, clandestine trade of drugs, supply of Arms to support militants in the valley and pumping fake currency notes were the main reasons for suspending the trade.

“LoC trade across Chakan-Da-Bagh and Salamabad was intended as a confidence building measure for the population living in remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir and living across LoC in PoJK and J&K. However, third parties manipulated the trade and misused it for trading goods being produced from outside the State of Jammu and Kashmir. For example the almonds produced in California finding their way through LoC trade involving a large transport network spread in many countries,” a statement issued  reads.

“While charge sheeting businessman Zahoor Ahmed Watali who was the president of LoC traders association, he was found to be funneling money to militants, separatists and subversive elements in the valley. ED has already attached his property worth crores and further investigations are still on,” it added.

The statement reads that NIA has decoded the modus operandi of dubious hawala transactions for terror financing. “The inimical elements on Pakistan side identify a suitable Pakistani trader firm and hand over the money that is to be transferred to the anti national elements and militant organizations on the Indian side. Pakistani trader under invoices the product like California almonds to the extent of money received by him. On receipt of the consignment, trader on the Indian side sells California almonds at the prevailing market price and makes extra and undue profit to the extent of under invoicing. Extra money so generated is handed over by the trader to antinational elements and militant organizations in the valley to fuel anti India operations,” it said.

“It has also been revealed that a significant number of trading concerns engaging in cross LoC trade are being operated by persons closely associated with banned militant organizations, especially Hizbul Mujahideen. Some India nationals who have crossed over to Pakistan and joined militant organizations have opened trading firms in Pakistan. As a result, many trading firms under the control of militant organizations are doing LoC trade with Indian traders firms who are operated their own relatives in the Indian side,” the statement reads.

“Cross LoC trade is also being used as a regular channel of funneling of drugs such as cocaine, brown sugar and heroine into the valley adversely impacting the youth thereby converting many of them into addicts of such life threatening drugs. In a recent example, 66.5 Kg of heroine was seized from a valley-based consignee and the drugs came through the LoC trade,” statement added.

It further added that Cross LoC trade is being exploited for periodically smuggling arms and ammunition into the valley. “Numerous seizures have been made of pistols, grenades, spares and ammunition. Recently a large cache that was concealed in a consignment of bananas was seized from a cross LoC driver from Kulgam in the valley,” it reads.

“In different consignments passing through LoC trade, Rs 57 Lakhs, Rs 20 Lakhs, Rs 15 Lakhs and Rs 7.5 Lakhs of fake currency notes have also been seized and over a dozen of people have been arrested. In the light of such large-scale misuse and loopholes being exploited for illegal and anti national activities, Government of India has been compelled to suspend the LoC trade. The Government will revisit the issue of resuming the LoC trade after stricter measures and systems are put in place to address these issues. New measures are expected to restore benefit of LoC trade to local population only, rather than allowing terrorist organizations and unscrupulous traders based far away from these trading points to syphon off the benefits and fuel instability in the valley,” the statement reads.

Srinagar, Apr 19 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today termed the LoC cross trade ban a major setback to the Indo-Pak relations.

Terming it an “ironical and unfortunate” Mehbooba said Vajpayee had visited Kashmir on the same day when he was the Prime Minister and extended the hand of friendship with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue under the ambit of Insaniyat (humanity).

“Whatever Vajpayee has done Modi wants to demolish that. All the steps taken by Vajpayee Ji, whether it is cross LoC trade, cross LoC bus service, opening of other major routes and the related CBMs. It seems the NDA government is hell-bent to demolish all those CBMs,” she said while talking to reporters.

Mehbooba, who is very vocal against the policies of Modi led government, said these are the worst times for the country and those candidates are being fielded to contest elections who talk only negative to destabilize communal harmony, incite violence and destroy good relations with the neighboring country.

Earlier on Thursday, Ministry of Home Affairs, department of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs suspended the cross LoC trade at Salamabad and Chakan-da-Bagh.

“Government of India has been receiving reports that Cross LoC trade routes in Jammu and Kashmir are being misused by Pakistan based elements. This misuse involves illegal inflows of weapons, narcotics and currency,” an order copy reads.

“The cross LoC trade mechanism is therefore being suspended pending the putting into place of a stricter regulatory regime. This is to ensure that only bonafide trade takes place, for the benefit of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, through the mechanism,” the order added.  (KNS)

Amid charged political atmosphere for Lok Sabha elections, fourth death anniversary of Abdul Gani Veeri, a political stalwart from South Kashmir is being observed in his hometown in Bijbehara.

Veeri represented the Bijbehara constituency for three consecutive times and was closely associated with the Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah during the plebiscite movement. He is said to have played a pioneering role in the Quit Kashmir movement.

Veeri’s during his teenage was introduced to the idea of democratic rule in Kashmir and he associated himself with the local Kashmir brigade.
Along with the cadres of the National Conference, Veeri was incarcerated several times during plebiscite demand. From early on in his political career, Veeri was known to make unconventional moves.

His involvement for the Kashmir cause can be gauged from the fact that Mr. Veeri could not visit his home for 14 years from 1950. He was first jailed along with the Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah in early 1950s. Later he was released from the jail in late 1950 and then he joined the plebiscite front which was launched by Mirza Afzal Beg in 1958.

Veeri, according to the family members, were deeply attached to the core idea of National Conference that he declined several lucrative offers to change his political lineage. Offers such as big chunks of land and a huge amount of money were regularly made to change the political parties.
Members from the opposition groups tried so hard because Veeri was a mass leader. His radical political following made him defeat senior politicians like Mufti Mohammad Sayyed.

Veeri’s ground support was formed on the basis of the developmental work he carried in his home constituency. His vision of development has been so beneficial that a huge chunk of land has been bought under the irrigation and canal systems for agricultural practices.

Only for few leaders even the words of his rival political opponent aptly describes the character and honesty of mass leader like Veeri, when Mufti Sayeed said, “ Veeri Sahab was always connected at the grassroots level and worked tirelessly for the upliftment of downtrodden and weaker sections of the society”.

Srinagar, Apr 19 : Congress leader from South Kashmir’s Shangus Khalid Maqbool on Friday joined Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along with hundreds of his supporters, Panches and Sarpanchs.

Also, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and party’s incharge in Tral assembly segment, Manzoor Ahamed Ganie joined Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), terming party’s stand and resolve to safeguard JK’s unique position a prime reason for joining the party.

Welcoming both Khalid and Manzoor into PDP, party President Mehbooba Mufti termed their entry a welcome measure and expressed hope that duo will work earnestly to strengthen the party and democratize its mission of inclusivity, tolerance and safeguarding of people’s rights. 

Srinagar

Stating that People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has neglected the hardships of people during its three and half year misrule in the State, the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President and Party Candidate from Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency has said South Kashmir will give a befitting reply to PDP and teach a lesson to the party this time for the loss of precious lives and injuries to thousands of youth.

He also said that people will never forgive PDP for ensuring inroads to BJP-RSS in the valley for the sake of getting Chief Ministerial post, but they (People) will respond by defeating this opportunist party, the spokesman in a statement said.

Mir was addressing a series of public meetings in Shangus Assembly segment.

Mir said that mood of the people in south Kashmir was indicative of PDP’s defeat in the ensuing elections and victory of Congress party with a thumping majority, for the fact, south Kashmir has experienced worst due to the lust for power, betrayal and backstabbing on the part of PDP, which will continue to remain source behind anguish and anger among the people.

Taking the opportunity of ensuring election, Mir  referred to By-Elections to Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency and said it was the same PDP which  got the polls cancelled after sensing defeat, for the fact, PDP Leadership was well aware that they would lose this seat and tactfully ensured deferment of Polls and then got these cancelled under the garb of disturbing situation, rather than creating congenial atmosphere PDP played tricks and ensured cancellation of polls with the full support of Centre Govt, he said.

Srinagar : All Jammu and Kashmir Students Union -AJKSU on Friday in a press statement strongly condemned summon of Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a student Sama Shabir. Sama is the daughter of incarcerated leader Shabir Shah and she is the CBSE topper of 12th class.

Sama is a Student, and she has nothing to do with the politics of her father, issuing summon to her is an attempt to dilute her career. AJKSU is always in favour of a peaceful environment for students and this is an absolute example of disturbing the peaceful atmosphere of Valley students.

AJKSU President Mudasir Dar said that ED’s summon to a student like Sama is shocking and should be taken back. We reiterate our words time and again that, students have the right to express themselves and summon to Sama is contradictive in nature. “Issuing summon to her is nothing but muzzling the voice of political sentiment disrupting her future career,” the spokesman said.