Srinagar, Mar 15 : The Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh arrived at Srinagar today to review the prevailing security situation.
The Army Commander visited units/ formations along the Line of Control and hinterland in North Kashmir. 

He was briefed by the commanders about the prevailing security situation. 
The Army Commander complimented the troops for their relentless efforts in thwarting the adversary’s designs. 

The Army Commander also lauded the exemplary synergy among all the forces, appreciated the actions taken by the units/ formations in ensuring safety and well being of people residing in vicinity of the Line of Control.

Srinagar, Mar 15,: After the restrictions for two consecutive weeks, the Friday prayers were offered in historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar today.

  Reports said that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led the prayers. The sermon started on 12: 30 and the prayers were offered around 2:00 pm.

“After two weeks of restrictions Friday prayers to be offered at #JamaMasjid Srinagar while @MirwaizKashmir will start Friday sermon from 12:30 pm onwards InShaAllah,” Mirwaiz wrote on his twitter handle.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz expressed a deep shock over the attack at twin mosques in Christchurch New Zealand.

“Shocked and deeply grieved by the barbaric attack at twin mosques in #Christchurch New Zealand. Multiple fatalities feared. Once again Humanity becomes a casualty. Condemnation beyond words. prayers for the victims,” Mirwaiz tweeted.

Srinagar, Mar 15, : Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone Friday said that a leader in Kashmir is without nation. He said people have no interest in elections.

   “Ironic mismatch. Political leaders clamour for elections while People show total indifference to elections. This is something the political class in Kashmir needs to understand. We had heard nation without a leader. Now it is leader without a nation,” Sajad Lone tweeted.

  He also condemned the targeting of political workers in two separate incidents in South Kashmir and urged the administration to ensure that perpetrators of these attacks don’t go scot-free.

“Yet again political workers are being targeted. The targeting of NC worker in Bijbehara is not only is it condemnable but also an appeal for introspection. Nothing has been achieved by killing political workers in the last three decades but adding to the army of orphans and widows”, Sajad Gani Lone said while expressing anguish over the recent attacks on political workers in a function organized to welcome new entrants to the party.

He said that increasing number of political workers are joining Peoples Conference is a clear indication of party’s growing popularity among the masses. “PC is the sole political alternative that could deliver the people of the State from the clutches of misrule, lies and betrayals. We committed to channelize power of the common masses to bring about a change in the coming Parliament and Assembly elections”, he added.

Srinagar, Mar 15, : Anganwari workers and Helpers affiliated with Centre of Indian Trade Union Friday held a protest demonstration in Srinagar demanding increase in their honorarium.

  The protesters assembled in Partap Park and raised slogans against the government for not fulfilling their demands which are pending from a very long period of time. They protesters expressed dismay over allegedly given no heed by the authorities.

The protesters demanded their honorarium to be increased amid not less than rupees 20,000 per month, besides job security and other benefits.

“Our honorarium must be with immediate effect like the rest of states,” said President Mehbooba Shaheen.

Vice President Lateefa Ganai said, “We are more than 60000 workers and helpers in the state working in the different Anganwadi centres in Jammu and Kashmir”.

Moreover she added that “All the workers and helpers are facing financial problems as they too have to support their families”.

In the recent past our honorarium was increased by Governor and the former Social Welfare Minister Sajad Lone that was however meagre.

The protesters threatened of launching an agitation till their demands are met. (CNS)

It has been observed by the department, that some motorists park their vehicles underneath the Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh Flyover, which is presently under construction.

All such motorists are advised to desist from such acts to avert any untoward incident/accident. Strict action under M.V. Act will be taken against violators

The special observers appointed by the Election Commission of India who arrived in Kashmir held high level meeting with the top brass of security agencies to evolve consensus on holding crucial Assembly polls in the State.

Three observers’ former civil servants, Amar Jeet Singh Gill, former DG CRPF Noor Muhamamd, and Vinod Zutshi an IAS officer were appointed by the ECI to assess the ground situation in Kashmir and that they also were given a mandate to meet the political parties, heads of security agencies, and also the local people.

The police, army, and the CRPF have been asked to frame a security plan for ensuring the smooth Lok Sabha polls. “We are at it and exercises have been started on various fronts to frame a fool-proof security plan,” said a top police official. “We will ensure that all the polling booths are secured and guarded in a proper manner.”

In this regard, a high-level meeting was held at Nehru Guest house on Thursday that remained on till 9 pm. Police said that it was also waiting for the political parties to finalize their candidates so that proper security cover is provided to them. “Though we expect politicians contesting upcoming Lok Sabha polls to hold rallies, we will be securing the areas in advance to that hassle-free rallies are conducted in the places where the candidates wish to address people,” the officer said.

A top CRPF official said that forces have started night patrolling, area domination, and identification of polling booths in advance to ensure a conducive atmosphere is created for the polls. “There will be a proper security plan as far how many people would guard the polling booth and how many would remain deployed for the area domination,” he said.

Police sources said that a proper advisory will soon be issued to political parties for holding poll rallies. “As far as South Kashmir, the political parties have to seek proper security clearance before addressing people,” said sources.

“South Kashmir continues to pose security challenges and that’s why ECI announced polls for South Kashmir LoK Sabha polls in three phases.

The ECI decided to hold Lok Sabha polls in the trouble-ravaged state and to defer the assembly polls due for the State citing security situation and huge need of additional forces for securing the contesting candidates. In J&K, there are six Lok Sabha constituencies and 87 Assembly seats.

The number of contesting candidates for six Parliamentary polls is not more than 15 while for the Assembly polls the number of contesting candidates is expected to be between 400 to 500.

If a single contesting candidate is provided five to ten forces personnel, that means there is a need of 50,000 additional forces which is not possible at this juncture as majority of central forces are presently busy country-wide given the seven-phased Lok Sabha polls set to commence from March 11 across India. (KNS)