Jammu & Kashmir

Authorities on Sunday arrested a few retired revenue officials and property dealers and recovered ‘unaccounted’ cash worth Rs 26 lakh as well as the revenue records during the raids at 21 locations of Jammu and Samba district in connection with a case registered regarding missing revenue records of Chowadi and Sunjuwan of Tehsil Bahu.

Official spokesperson told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that as part of the ongoing investigation, a case under FIR number 182/2021 lodged on 07-11-2021 in Police Station Channi Himmat regarding missing revenue records viz. Lathas, Masavis etc. of village Chowadi and Sunjuwan of Tehsil Bahu, joint raids by Jammu Police and Revenue authorities at multiple locations were carried out in the wee hours today, which are still continuing at few places.

The spokesperson added that searches were conducted at 21 locations of ‘known’ land grabbers, property dealers and serving and retired revenue officials who had been on the radar of the authorities.

“The locations include Sunjwan, Chowadhi, Greater Kailash, Sanjay Nagar, Janipur, Gujjar Nagar, Bahu, Sidhra, Trikuta Nagar Extension and Satwari area in Jammu and Sarore in Samba District.”

“Three serving revenue officials, five retired revenue officials and eight private persons, who had been allegedly involved in murky land deals, forgery and destruction of revenue records, land grabbing and encroachments over state land based on the inputs received from various sources were raided by the joint teams,” he added.

“Further, searches were carried out as per laid down procedures consisting of 21 separate teams and comprising of Executive Magistrates, Police Officers and other officials including lady constables and independent witnesses,” the statement reads.

It further reads that the areas were segregated into sectors, each being supervised by SP and DySP rank gazetted police officers.

“The whole process was closely supervised by senior officers of police and revenue administration, maintaining full confidentiality,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further added that revenue records in various forms and in huge quantities have been recovered during searches including various incriminating documents, papers pertaining to land deals, bank locker keys—the contents of which will be verified in due course of investigation.

“Unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 26.63 lakhs has also been seized during searches. The agencies are also looking into the aspects of money laundering, dis-proportionate assets, invoking provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, PMLA Act, etc,” it reads.

The statement reads that many persons raided today already have cases registered against them in the past under various penal sections.

“It pertinent to mention that the seized documents include original Jamabandis, Roznamcha Registers, Lathas, Mussavis and trace maps especially of revenue villages Sunjwan and Chowadhi. Arrests of a few retired revenue officials and property dealers have also been made. Scrutiny of the seized documents is going on minutely and further arrests are likely.”

It further reads that the government is committed in its resolve to eradicate any kind of corruption from the Revenue Department.

“Simultaneously, the revenue functioning is also being made more transparent and accountable with various people friendly initiatives like issuance of land passbooks in three languages, Aapki Zameen Aapki Nigraani Program, SVAMITVA Scheme for rural abadi deh lands survey, digitization of Jamabandies/ Girdawari Registers/ RoR and issuance of online fards in a phased manner, together with making various revenue related services online,” it reads—(KNO)

State hood must before elections, Delimitation Draft full of anomalies

Srinagar Janta Dal (United) J&K State President, G.M Shaheen on Thursday urged that restoration of Statehood must precede the proposed elections in J&K so as to facilitate the smooth running of the government.

Shaheen said JDU has strong historical roots in the political fabric of J&K and the party fully resonates with genuine demands and aspirations of the local populace without resorting to any regional biases.

Replying to a question about the abrogation of Article 370, the Party State President asserted that MP’s of JDU walked out of the parliament session whence this law was passed which showed their strong resentment towards the proposition.“Currently, JDU has a strategic alliance with BJP in different states of the country & such alliances have occurred even before in the past.

There is no denying about it but the stand & ideology of our party is still intact & will continue to remain uncompromised. We have unequivocally termed the abrogation of Article-370 unconstitutional & even exhibited our firm resolve in the Parliament,” he said.
Shaheen also expressed anguish over the Delimitation Commission’s report labelling it to be unrealistic & distant from factual situation on ground. “The uneven addition of electoral seats & arbitrary demarcation of the Assembly Constituencies has raised serious questions over the whole exercise. Uri should have been given at least two constituencies due to its high population density but we find such imperative changes missing in the draft report. It defies the very basic norms ordained by the election commission. Keeping in view the current population size of J&K, the maximum number of seats should have been added to the both provinces of the region,” he said.The JDU State President reiterated his demand for holding elections after the statehood is restored to J&K so that local representatives can effectively serve the people & address their pressing woes. “I highly commend numerous measures taken by the Lt. Governor led administration but it can never prove to be a lasting substitute to the elected form of government. People are feeling disconnected & dejected in absence of their representation in the authority & it is crucial that this lost trust is reinstated as soon as possible,” he said.While responding to a query about roadmap of the party for J&K.

Shaheen said a comprehensive manifesto is about to be launched in the coming days wherein Party has echoed the public demands including return of electricity power projects to the J&K government, immediate restoration of statehood and ramping up of developmental works across all the regions of the erstwhile state

Editor JK Revolution Condoles the Demise of Mohammad Yousuf Bakshi S/O Mohammad Ibrahim Bakshi of Wagoora, Baramulla, at Present PDD Colony Rangwar, Baramulla.

Editor JK Revolution Expresses Shock and Sorrow Shows Solidarity with Bakshi Family on the death of Mohd Yousuf Bakshi of Wagoora Baramulla after brief illness at Wagoora, Baramulla on 19 February 2022.

A statement of JK Revolution issued here quoted Editor, JK Revolution in a condolence message as saying that the deceased was a noble Soul known for her pious and hospitable nature.

Editor JK Revolution prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul and forbearance to the bereaved family.

“We pray that Almighty Allah grants peace to the deceased and courage to the bereaved family to bear this huge loss,” the Editor JK Revolution said.

Bereaved:- Bakshi Family of Wagoora, Baramulla 193103.

Jammu and Kashmir home department on Sunday ordered transfer and postings of eight SSPs and SPs and assigned additional charge to another SSP in the interest of administration with immediate effect.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shridhar Patil, AIG Technical will hold additional charge of Director Police Telecommunication. Shailender Singh, SSP Reasi has been transferred and posted as SSP Security Workshop.

Randeep Kumar, awaiting posting in PHQ was adjusted as Commandant IRP 2nd Batallion. Pawan Kumar Parihar, awaiting posting in PHQ, was posted as Commandant IRP 16th Batallion. Amit Gupta, Commandant IRP 16th Batallion, is transferred and posted as SSP Reasi.

Mohammad Aftab Mir, awaiting orders of adjustment, has been posted as Additional SP Bhaderwah. Mamta Sharma, Additional SP Crime Jammu, was transferred and posted as SP south Jammu.

Mushim Ahmed, SP Security Workshop, has been transferred and posted as Additional SP Poonch against a vacancy. Deepak Digra, SP South Jammu, was transferred and posted as Deputy Commandant IRP 24th Batallion—(KNO)

Three residential houses collapsed in Ghani mohalla area of Nowhatta, Srinagar on Saturday late night.

Official sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that three residential houses belonging to Mohammad Altaf Bhat, Azad Ahmad Bhat and Bashir Ahmad Shah collapsed in Ghani mohalla Nowhatta.

Officials said that in the incident there was no loss of life or injury to anyone, however, one scooty and motorcycle got damaged.

Meanwhile local police has reached the spot and are ascertaining the incident—(KNO)

Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Imam Din today visited Sirajpora Vilgam and visited the family of Mushtaq Ahmad Mir who was reportedly killed in Ferozpor area of Punjab yesterday.

SP Handwara, Sandeep Gupta, DDC Ramhall, DDC Nutnussa and Tehsildar Handwara accompanied the Deputy Commissioner.

On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner expressed sympathy with the bereaved family and assured for every possible support from the administration. He also provided a cheque of Rs.10,000 to the family under District Red Cross Fund.

Two army soldiers and a newly recruited militant were killed in an overnight gunfight in south Kashmir’s Shopioan district, officials said on Saturday.

“Based on a specific input provided by Police, a joint operation was launched at Chermarg, Shopian by Army and Police during in the intervening night of 18 and 19 February,” Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar told GNS.

Following the drill, he said, a cluster of houses were taken into cordon and the process of evacuating the civilians started.

“During the process, when search party reached one of the houses belonging to Gowhar Ahmd Bhat, the house-owner intentionally misled the search party and denied sheltering the (militant) in his house,” he said, adding, “While he was being questioned, a (militant) sheltered in the house opened fire on the search party, causing grievous injuries to two of the soldiers.”

In the retaliatory action, he said, one militant of LeT outfit namely Abdul Qayoom Dar of Laroo Kakpora Pulwama was killed. “Arms and ammunitions including one AK rifle and a pistol were recovered,” he said.

Later on both the injured soldiers succumbed to the wounds. Army has identified them as Sepoy Santosh Yadav and Sepoy Chavan Romit Tanaji, both from army’s 1st RR.

The police officer said that a case has been registered and house owner has been arrested under anti-militancy laws. “The killed militant had a history of being a militant associate. In April 2020 an encounter took place in his house,” he said, adding, “Dar was arrested and booked under PSA.

He was released in August 2021 but kept silently working for (militants). He said SSP Pulwama officially intimated some days earlier that Dar had left house and joined as an active militant of LeT outfit.

“Consequently he has been categorised as C category militant,” he added. (GNS)

Baramulla Police in collaboration with Anti-Narcotics Task Force J&K organized one day work shop on NDPS Act at conference hall DPL Baramulla.

The workshop was inaugurated by DySP DAR DPL Baramulla besides team from ANTF and investigating officers from Baramulla Police participated in the workshop.

The workshop has been organized to aware the investigating officers with latest techniques and standard practices to expedite the investigation and improve and ensure convictions in NDPS cases.

At the beginning, DySP DAR DPL Baramulla briefed the participants about drug abuse, it’s sources both natural as well as synthetic and made aware the participants about the identification of NDPS substances. He impressed upon the officers that progress of various heinous crime cases must be disposed-off properly and on timely basis. He also stressed upon them to adopt latest techniques and standard practices which would bring improvement in investigation of the cases. He directed the officers to conduct investigations efficiently so the ratio of this menace could be lowered.

Addressing the participants, officers from Anti Narcotic Task-force advised for close supervision of Gazetted Officers in NDPS cases in order to improve the conviction rate and disposal of sensational crime cases.

Presentations were also given by officers of ANTF on various aspects of NDPS Act and related laws and procedures. The resource person of ANTF delivered detailed briefing over NDPS Act, PITNDPS and Financial Investigations etc. The main objective of the workshop was to enhance the investigative skills and to achieve higher conviction rates in NDPS cases.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) is carrying out raids at multiple locations in Kashmir Valley, officials said on Saturday.

Official sources told GNS that NIA sleuths with the assistance of police and CRPF is carrying raids in Kupwara, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Baramulla district’s Sopore area.

It could not be immediately ascertained in which case (s) these raids are being carried out. Earlier this week, NIA had carried raids at several places in connection with two cases including one related to recovery of IED from Bhatindi area of Jammu in June last year and another regarding “radicalising, motivating and recruiting youth of j&K by LeT”. (GNS)

A militant and a Army trooper were killed in a gunfight in Chermarg, Zainapora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday.

A senior police to GNS said that a militant as well as an army trooper of 1RR were killed in a gunfight in Chermarg. However the identity of the militant is yet to be ascertained.

Earlier, A joint team of Police, army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on the input generated by JK Police in the area.

As the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the target spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces triggering off a gunfight.(GNS)