A massive fire has broken out in SDPO office in Tangmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Reports reaching GNS said that the double-storied building, also housing office of DySP Operations, was caught in flames of some unascertained cause some time before.
A Fire and Emergency Department official told GNS that men and machinery from at least two stations are currently on job to douse off the flames.
More details are awaited. (GNS)
A pregnant lady was among three persons injured in a road mishap in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday.
Reports reaching GNS said that an Alto car bearing registration number JK09A-5332 skidded off the road at Lolab bypass and fell into a gorge, resulting in injuries to three persons.
The injured trio was evacuated from the site and taken to Sub-district hospital Kupwara for treatment from where they were referred to a Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment.
The injured persons have been identified as Driver Showkat Ahmad Lone of Cherkoot, Rubeena wife of Tariq Ahmad Majnoo of Shumriyaal and Tariq Ahmad Majnoo son of Wali Mohammad Majnoo of Shumriyaal.
A police official confirming the incident told GNS that a case has been registered in this regard for further investigations. (GNS)
Police in Anantnag have busted two militant modules of outfit JeM by arresting 11 accused persons including three hybrid.
In a statement issued to GNS, the police said that based on credible inputs about outfit JeM is planning to carry out attacks on Police, security forces in Srigufwara/Bijbehara areas of Anantnag, multiple nakas/checkpoints were established at various locations.
According to police spokesman, meanwhile during checking at one of such checkpoints at Sakhras crossing Srigufwara, a bike rider with 2 pillion riders was intercepted, the said persons tried to flee but were apprehended tactfully by the alert police party. Upon their personal search 02 Pistols (Chinese) alongwith magazine and ammunition was recovered. During preliminary questioning they revealed their identity as Abbas Ah Khan son of Nazir Ah Khan resident of Liver, Zahoor Ah Gowgujri son of Ab Rashid Gowgujri resident of Vidday and Hidayatullah Kutay son of Ab Razak Kutay resident of Liver Pahalgam. They also disclosed that they are the associates of outfit JeM and are in direct contact with Pak based handlers and at their behest they were going to attack Police and security forces in Srigufwara area and then formally join militant outfit KFF (an offshoot of JeM).
Upon their further disclosure 2 more militant associates namely Shakir Ahmad Gowgojri son of Fayaz Ahmad resident of Viday Srigufwara and Musharaf Amin Shah son of Mohammad Amin resident of Katsoo Srigufwara were arrested, he said.
Incriminating materials including arms/ammunition were also recovered from their possession. In this regard, a Case vide FIR No 04/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered in police station Srigufwara and further investigation is in progress, he said.
Similarly, Anantnag Police busted another militant module in Bijbehara area by arresting 6 militant associates of KFF (an offshoot of JeM) and recovered Incriminating materials including ammunition from their possession. They have been identified as Fayaz Ah Khan son of Gh Hassan Khan resident of Liver Pahilgam, Muntazir Rashid Mir son of Ab Rashid resident of Yanner Pahalgam, Mohd Arif Khan son of Farooq Ah Khan resident of Mandar Gund Sakhras, Adil Ah Tarray son of Ghulam Nabi tarray resident of Hatigam, Zahid Ahmad Najar son of Nazir Ahmad Najar resident of Liver Pahalgam and the sixth one is a juvenile (identity withheld), he said.
In this regard, a case has been registered under relevant sections of law in police station Bijbehara. Further investigation into the matter is in progress,reads the statement.(GNS)
The Director General of Police J&K Dilbag Singh today afternoon visited Budgam where he inaugurated the newly constructed Joint Interrogation Center. He also interacted with the officers and jawans during his tour.
The DGP was accompanied by Spl. DG CID J&K R. R. Swain, and IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar. He was received by SSP Budgam Tahir Salim Khan and was presented guard of honour on his arrival.
The new JIC has state-of-art interrogation system and will be equipped with the latest gadgets and technology to achieve better results in our investigative and operational work.
After inspecting the newly constructed building, the DGP interacted with the officers. He directed them to be more vigilant and keep pressure on the anti national elements and their supporters. He stressed upon officers to identify the people and OGWs who support these anti national elements and help sustain the terror eco- system. He appreciated the recent successes of J&K Police and other security forces against terrorism in different encounters. He said that synergy between the forces have always been useful in our CT Grid. Communication at the grass root level of all forces should be clear to achieve success against anti national elements.
The DGP emphasized upon the officers that while dealing with any anti-militancy activities and law and order scenario, civilian convenience and security should be always kept in mind to the best possible extent . He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have stood firm with the J&K Police against the war on terrorism.
SSP Budgam and other officers present on the occasion briefed the DGP on the security measures taken for ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in the district.
Girls dominated overall percentage as well as top positions in all four streams as 75 percent students passed 12th class examinations, the results of which were declared by the J&K Board of School Education on Tuesday.
In all 54075 out of 72180 students who appeared in the examination have been declared successful, a top J&K BOSE official told GNS.
Among the total students who appeared included 37301 boys and 34879 girls. Of these, 26971 boys and 27104 girls passed the examinations. “72 percent boys and 78 percent girls passed the examination,” the official said.
In all 293 students have secured top ten positions in all fours streams—Science, Commerce, Arts and Home Science and most of them have been bagged by the girls.
The results of the examinations held last year amid covid-19 pandemic were declared by the Board this evening. However, this year’s result is less by over 5 percent than previous area.
The first 10 positions in Science stream were shared by 248 students. In Commerce, the first 10 positions were shared by 33 students. 61 students shared the first 10 positions in Arts stream. In Home Science, 12 students shared the first 10 positions, the officials said.
In science stream, the first positions was bagged by Arusa Parvaiz of Kashmir Harvard Educational Institute Naseem Bagh Srinagar by securing 499 (99.8 percent) marks out of 500. Simrah Hafeez of
Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Soura Srinagar got second position by securing 498 (99.6%) while five students got 497 marks (99.4%) to bag third position. They include Faiza Zahoor Tantry (Govt.Girls Hr.Sec.School, Raj Bagh, Sgr), Hadiya Rashid(Govt.Girls Hr.Sec.School, Kothibagh) Sakib Bashir Lone(st. Joseph ‘s hr. Sec. School, Baramulla) Shah Ribka(Dream Land Hr. Sec. Instt, Ganderbal) and Zainab Muneer(islamia Hr.Sec. School, Rajouri Kadal, Sgr.)
In commerce stream Tabinda Jan of Kashmir Harvard Edu Instt Naseem Bagh Sgr bagged first position by securing 497 marks (99.4%) while two students—Rutba Bashir (Govt Girls Hr.Sec School, Amira Kadal) and Saliq Ashraf Pushoo(Govt. Boys Hr.Sec.School, Anantnag ) bagged second position by achieving (99%) and third was shared by four students—Bareen Altaf (Govt.Girls Hr.Sec.School, Nawa Kadal, Sgr), Haliya Anees (Govt. Girls Hr.Sec.School, Budgam ), Iqra Bashir Shah (Green Valley Hss Ellahi Bagh Srinagar) and Numan Javaid (Govt M. P. M.L Hr. Sec. School, Baghi Delawar Khan) by scoring 98.8 percent marks.
In Home Science, Sahila Nabi (Govt.Girls Hr.Sec.School, Kothibagh Sgr) bagged first position by scoring 495 mar (99%), Masrat Mushtaq (Govt. Girls hr. Sec. School, Baramulla) with 493 marks (98.6%) got second position while Bisma Yousuf (Govt. Girls Hr. Sec. School, Baramulla) got third position with 492 (98.4%) marks.
In Arts Stream, three students— Adeebah Muzamil (Govt.Girls Hr.Sec.School, Kothibagh ), Hafsa Yousuf (Govt. Girls hr. Sec School, Verinag) and Suhail Ahmad Dar (govt. Boys hr. Sec. School, Pulwama) got first position by achieving 496 (99.2%) marks.
Two students—Afeefah Bashir Wani (Govt.Girls Hr.Sec.School, Kothibagh) and Sheema Yousuf (Govt. Hr. Sec. School, Kadipora, Anantnag ) got second position with 495 (99.0%) marks while four students—Bazlah Firdous(Green Valley HSS Ellahi Bagh Srinagar), Ridda Qadri (Govt.Girls Hr.Sec.School, Soura, Sgr), Saddaf Farooq (Al Banat Educational Institute Baba Darya- Ud-Din Ganderbal) and Sadiqa Rehman (Green Valley HSS Ellahi Bagh Srinagar) got third position by scoring 494 (98.8%) marks.
Of the total students, 23573 got distinction while 20716, 9277 and 509 secured first, second and third divisions respectively, the official said. Also 32 out of 34 students at Welfare Educational Institute (Orphanage) Bemina passed the examination. (GNS)
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Tuesday informed the parliament that at present there is no registered body by the name of ‘Kashmir Press Club’ or its elected managing body since Kashmir Press Club, as a registered body, has ceased to exist and has failed to register itself under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
MHA also said that Estates Department has taken over the government building on 17.1.2022.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Tuesday responded to the queries raised in the house of parliament during the ongoing session.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a series of queries were raised in the parliament which includes whether Government is aware that on 15 January 2022, members of Kashmir Police & CRPF entered the premises of Kashmir Press Club without due warrant or documentation and aided a hostile takeover, if so, the details there of and reasons therefore.
The query includes whether the journalists in Kashmir and whole of India are frequently penalized by State agencies under Indian Penal Code, UAPA, and other penal laws, if so, the details thereof.
It includes whether due to such abhorrent coercion, India holds a poor 142nd position on the World Press Freedom Index.
Also the details of number of cases registered, persons arrested, acquitted & convicted under UAPA. Besides whether it is a fact that there are thousands of persons all over India arrested under UAPA and have not yet been convicted of any charges brought against them, if so, the details thereof.
Minister of State (MoS) Nityanand Rai in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) responded to the queries in Lok Sabha.
The Union Minister as per KNO informed the parliament that “Presently, there is no registered body by the name of ‘Kashmir Press Club’ or its elected managing body since Kashmir Press Club, as a registered body, has ceased to exist and has failed to register itself under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. “The Estates Department has taken over the government building on 17.1.2022 in the presence of Executive Magistrate, Srinagar. The government building has deployment of static guard for its protection,” the Union Minister informed the parliament.
Rai said that the Government is committed to ensure the right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined under the Article 19 of the Constitution of India. “Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory autonomous body, has been set up under the Press Council Act, 1978 mainly to preserve the freedom of the Press and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in the country,” he said. “PCI considers complaints filed ‘by the Press’ concerning curtailment of press freedom, physical assault/ attack on journalists etc under Section 13 of the Press Council Act 1978.”
“PCI is also empowered to take suo-motu cognizance in matters on the pressing issues concerning freedom of Press and safeguarding of its high standards,” the union minister said. “Such complaints are processed under Section 13 of the Press Council Act, 1978 and provisions of the Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulations, 1979.”
About the rankings, the MoS said that the World Press Freedom Index is published by a foreign Non-Government-Organisation, “Reporters Without Borders”. “The Government does not subscribe to its views and country rankings and does not agree to the conclusions drawn by this organisation for various reasons including very low sample size, little or no weightage to fundamentals of democracy, adoption of a methodology which is questionable and non-transparent, lack of clear definition of press freedom etc,” the Union Minister said in the reply.
Regarding the cases registered and arrests, the Union minister said that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles the data on crime as reported to it by States and Union Territories and publishes the same in its annual publication ‘Crime in India’. “As per the latest published report, the number of cases registered is 796, persons arrested is 1321, persons acquitted is 116 and persons convicted is 80 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the country during the year 2020,” the Union Minister said—(KNO)
Jammu and Kashmir reported 771 fresh covid-19 cases while seven persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.
Regarding the fresh cases, the officials told GNS that 408 were reported from Jammu Division and 363 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall count to 448105.
Five of the fresh deaths due to the virus were from Jammu Division and two from Kashmir Valley, taking the toll to 4728. 2316 of the deaths so far has been reported from Jammu and 2412 in Kashmir Valley.
Giving district wise details, they said, Srinagar reported 172 cases, Baramulla 22, Budgam 62, Pulwama 12, Kupwara 20, Anantnag 24, Bandipora 4, Ganderbal 28, Kulgam 16, Shopian 3, Jammu 238, Udhampur 20, Rajouri 18, Doda 58, Kathua 18, Samba 5, Kishtwar 4, Poonch 4, Ramban 36 and Reasi 7.
A number of the cases were confirmed from GMC Anantnag and include male (38) from Pampore, male (45) from SK Colony Ang, male (58) from Pulwama, male (50) from Nanil Ang, two males (26, 60) from Anantnag, female (20) from Kokagund Verinag, female (55) from Nowgam Verinag, male (19) from Kapran Verinag, female (40) from Wachkoo Mohalla, male (28) from Heerpora, male (42) from Keegam, male (40) from Bachkuchan, male (28) from Mazhama, male (35) from Gatipora, male (45) from Reban, two females (13, 45) from Kashiwa, female (29) from Dooru, male (70) and female (25) from Hengipora Kapran, male (50) from Verinag, female (23) from Omoh Verinag, female (22) from Rein Chowgund, male (33) from Jaibhal DH Pora, male (30) from Nillow Kulgam, male (60) from Gansargam Kulgam, male (55) from Karwatt Kulgam, male (60) from Khandipora Kulgam, male (32) from Pombay Kulgam.
Besides, they said, 3330 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time— 1297 from Jammu Division and 2033 from Kashmir. So far 431019 people have recovered, leaving the active case tally at 12358—4074 in Jammu and 8284 in Kashmir.
They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 51 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said. They also informed that 56021 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)
Ganderbal: A 17-year-old girl died by suicide after consuming poisonous substance at her home in Ganiwan Kangan area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the girl (name withheld) consumed some poisonous substance at her home.
“She was immediately rushed to nearby hospital wherefrom she was referred to SKIMS Soura in a critical condition where she succumbed.”
The official said that “it was not immediately known as to why she took this extreme step”.—(KNO)
75% students have passed the Class XII examinations, the result of which were declared by J&K Board of School Education on Tuesday.
J&K BOSE Officials told GNS that 72180 students appeared in the examination and 54075 passed the examinations.
Among the successful candidates, 72% are boys and 78% are girls, they added. (GNS)
Joint Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will meet here on February 9 to take up promotion of 17 Indian Police Services (IPS) officers including two in the rank of Director Generals of Police (DGPs), four Additional DGPs and five Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) among others.
The DPC meeting will be chaired by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta and will be held at 4 pm on February 9 to take up the promotions which have become due, official sources told the Excelsior.
Members of the Committee, which has been constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs, include Umang Narula, Advisor to Lt Governor of Ladakh, Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary Home Department J&K, Secretary Home Department Ladakh, Director General of Police (DGP) J&K Dilbag Singh and Additional Director General of Police (Head of the Police Force), Ladakh S S Khandarey.
Sources said that two Additional DGPs, whose names have been proposed for promotion as DGPs in the proposal finalized by the Police Headquarters, are Hemant Kumar Lohia and Pankaj Saxena.
Both of them are IPS officers of 1992 batch of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre. Only today the Central Government extended deputation of Lohia up to Nov 29, 2023.
While Lohia is presently on deputation to the Border Security Force (BSF), Saxena is on Central deputation.
Four Inspector Generals of Police, whose promotion to the rank of Additional DGP has been mooted, include Viplav Kumar Choudhary, presently on deputation with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Garib Dass, IGP Headquarters, Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir Zone and Alok Kumar, IGP Crime Investigation Vigilance (CIV) Police Headquarters.
All of them are Direct Recruits of 1997 batch of the IPS.
The Police Headquarters has also proposed promotion of five DIGs as IGPs.
They include Uttam Chand, who is on deputation with the Government of India where he is posted as Deputy Secretary Cabinet Secretariat, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, who is on deputation to the NIA, Keshav Ram, who too is on deputation and posted in the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI), Atul Kumar Goel, DlG CID and State Investigation Agency (SIA) Jammu and Bhim Sen Tuti, who is on Study Leave to United Kingdom.
Uttam Chand is Regular Recruit of 2002 batch, Birdi and Keshav Ram are Direct Recruits of 2003 batch while Goel and Tuti, also Direct Recruits, belonged to 2004 batch of IPS cadre.
Three IPS officers of 2008 batch are tipped for promotion as DIGs though they are already officiating in the same rank in view of shortage of police officers.
They are Tejinder Singh, who is on deputation with the NlA, Abdul Jabbar, DIG South Kashmir Range Anantnag and Udaybhaskar Billa, DIG North Kashmir Range Baramulla.
Selection Grade of IPS has been proposed in favour of three IPS officers of 2009 batch on completion of 13 years of qualifying service.
They include lmtiaz Ismail Parray, SSP Crime Branch Kashmir, Shailendra Rajesh Mishra and Rahul Malik, both of whom are on Central deputation and posted in the NIA and MHA respectively.
Sources said there are four sanctioned posts of DGPs (two cadre and two ex-cadre) but against them, six officers are already in position though two on Central deputation. Now, two officers in the rank of Additional DGPs are proposed for promotion as DGPs.
As far as the promotion of four IGPs as Additional DGPs is concerned, sources said there are eight sanctioned posts of ADGPs but against them, 13 officers are working in the same rank though four of them are on deputation.
Regarding the promotion of five DIGs as IGPs , sources pointed out that there are 21 sanctioned posts of IGPs (12 cadre and nine ex-cadre) but only eight officers are in position while four others are on deputation.
However, the Police Department has 11 vacancies in the rank of DIGs and has proposed confirmation/promotion of three officers of 2008 batch as DIGs as they have completed 14 years of qualifying service.
Sources said the Police Department has obtained Vigilance clearance in favour of all officers tipped for promotion.
