Jammu & Kashmir

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Apr 10: The anti corruption bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested three employees at assistant regional transport office (ARTO) office in Sopore for accepting bribe, said an official.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that three employees (consolidated) at ARTO office Sopore were arrested for taking bribe from the public visiting the office for obtaining Driving License, NOC, Registration of vehicles.

There were a number of complaints pouring in from the public against these employees in connivance with various touts they were indulging in corrupt practices.

The arrested employees were identified as Aijaz Ahmed Mir, Farooq Ahmed Wagay and Mohammad Ashraf Dar.

Besides the arrest of three employees, documents were also seized.

The trio has been sent to custody and are scheduled to produce before the court of Anti Corruption tomorrow for remand, said an ACB official—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Apr 10 : The locals of Botingoo village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have accused the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department of using poor quality material for the road which was macadamized after 25 years. They have demanded an inquiry into the matter.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the locals alleged that the department macadamized some 10-kilometre stretch of Watlab-Chetkak road after 25 years but used substandard material due to which the road was damaged within a short span of time.

An inquiry must be initiated against the department and action must be taken against those involved for wasting public money, they said.

“Just a few months after the road was macadamized, it has developed cracks and potholes, which clearly indicated that poor quality material was used,” said Abdul Hameed Bhat, a local.

“We were happy that the work on this road was started after 25 years. However, we were surprised on seeing the road developing cracks and potholes just a few months after it was macadamized. It is obvious that substandard material was used in the construction,” Bhat added.

The locals have appealed to the district administration to order an inquiry to verify whether poor-quality material was used by the department.

Meanwhile, an official at the R&B Division Sopore told KNO that they will repair the road. He, however, said that if the substandard material is used, the contractor is responsible for that and not the department—(KNO)

Srinagar April 10 : State Council of Education Research and Trainings (SCERT) is all set to declare result of class 8th examination today.

According to an official communique, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), joint director SCERT has been directed to declare the result of class 8th, session 2022-23 after fulfillment of all the codal formalities

“A copy of the result details (gazette) of each DIET be shared with this Council for records,” it reads.

Earlier, School Education Department had decided to declare the results of the class 8th simultaneously for all schools in Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision was taken owing to adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar by School Education Department from the current academic session.

The Term II examination of class 8th was held between February 27 and March 10 of 2023 in soft zone areas of Kashmir and Jammu division followed by commencement of exam in hard zone areas from March 24 and were scheduled to culminate on April 8 of 2023—(KNO)

Ganderbal, Apr 9: The 6.5 km Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Kargil highway will be inaugurated tomorrow by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Official sources said that Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the tunnel near Shutkadi after which he will inspect the ongoing construction work at Asia’s longest Zojila Tunnel.

An official from executive agency Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) told news agency Kashmir News Trsut that the 6.5 km Z-Morh tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh highway will provide connectivity round-the-year. He said the tunnel has been equipped with all kinds of facilities.

The official added that the Minister will also have an interaction with the local officials and media after the inauguration process.

Meanwhile, police and civil administration officials visited the Z-Morh tunnel on Sunday to review the arrangements and preparedness. Police team led by DIG Central Kashmir Range Sujit Kumar held a security review ahead of the Union Minister’s visit. [KNT]

Bandipora, Apr 06: Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Thursday said that militancy is not over in the UT but “it is surely declining rapidly” and the security forces are working hard to eliminate the remaining militants in the months ahead. He also said that there has been no law and order issue from Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir but the final call about allowing Eid-ul-Fitr prayers will be taken by the Divisional Administration in the days ahead.

Talking to reporters on the side-lines of a function at Sonwari, Bandipora, DGP Singh, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that militancy has not ended in Kashmir but it was fast declining. “Police and security forces are working hard to eliminate the remaining militants wherever they are in the UT,” he said.

He said the youth who would otherwise fall prey to the false propaganda and get lured into militancy are now following their careers in competitive exams and sports. “The youth and the people have understood the false narrative that was being run from across to fuel militancy. The people of Kashmir have rejected that narrative and they are now contributing to the peace,” the DGP said.

On whether weapons and narcotics dropped by drones was still a challenge, the J&K police chief said that police have achieved a huge success in foiling the designs of enemies to air-drop cash, IEDs, weapons and narcotics through drones. “Though the activity is less than what we have been noticing in the past but air-dropping of weapons through drones still takes place in Kuwpara, Baramulla, Rajouri and Poonch area. We have seized huge quantities of weapons, money and narcotics and such bids are continuously being foiled,” the DGP said, adding that those involved in supplying drugs to other parts of UT and even Punjab are being tracked and strict action is being taken against them.

He said that police have launched a massive campaign to root-out drug menace in J&K. “We have opened drug de-addiction centers across UT and there are demands from many parts of Kashmir. It needs technical staff and other infrastructure but we are working on expanding the drug de-addiction centers wherever it is possible,” the DGP said.

About whether Eid-ul-Fitr prayers will be allowed at Eidgah Srinagar as stated by Waqf Board chairperson Darakshan Andrabi, the DGP said that final decision will be taken by the Divisional Administration Kashmir. “Srinagar has been peaceful and so are the other parts of Kashmir. There has been no law and order issue in Srinagar or elsewhere in Kashmir. Final decision about allowing Eid prayers at Eidgah will be taken by the divisional administration in the days ahead,” he said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Apr 05: Shabir Ahmed Raina – JKAS on Wednesday assumed the charge of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Sopore. He was serving as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tral earlier.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), soon after joining he held introductory meetings with various sections of his office and urged the employees to work with dedication and transparency for the welfare of the general public.

While interacting with the officials, Raina said that the focus shall remain on providing prompt and efficient public service by strengthening transparency and punctuality in offices.

Notably, the town was without ADC since 55 days after Parveez Sajad Ganai – the former ADC was transferred on February 09. However, Executive Officer, Municipal Council Sopore was asked to hold the additional charges, in addition to his own duties—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Apr 05: Two militants, who were involved in grenade throwing incident on a wine shop in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on May 17 last year, have fled from the police custody, officials said on Wednesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two LeT militants identified as Maroof Nazir and Shahid Showkat, who were arrested on May 19 last year, fled from Baramulla police station today morning.

He said that following the incident security forces have launched a massive search operation to nab them.

The official said the militants were lodged in police station Baramulla and escaped during Sehri time.

“A case has been registered in this regard and efforts are on to nab them,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Apr 04 : For the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the historic Eidgah is all set to witness Eid prayers in Srinagar where the authorities have started the process to make elaborate arrangements this year.

Talking to the reporters, the Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson, Dr Darakshan Andrabi, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that in case of favourable weather conditions, the Eid prayers will be offered at Eidgah here.

She said that this year the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers will be held at Eidgah, adding that the whole administration has visited the Eidgah to ensure that in the peaceful Kashmir, the people would offer the Eid prayers in a peaceful atmosphere here.

“Eidgah is the face of Srinagar and we will ensure that the place is developed in a well manner,” she said, adding that they have visited Eidgah today to begin a process of making elaborate arrangements for smooth Eid prayers.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad told reporters that the Waqf Board had raised several issues like drainage, encroachment, lighting and other things.

“A proper demarcation will be done to identify the encroached land of Waqf Board. A few works regarding the lighting, drainage and beautification of Eidgah will be started to restore all the utilities of the Eidgah,” he said.

Pertinently, the Eid prayers have not been allowed at Eidgah since the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir on August 05, 2019—(KNO)

Srinagar, Apr 04 : The State Investigation Agency on Tuesday morning conducted raids at the residences of two Hurriyat leaders in Srinagar.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the raids were conducted in a case related to militancy funding.

He said the raids were conducted in Rajbagh and Alochibagh localities of Srinagar.

“Residences of Hurriyat leaders Bilal Sidique and Bashir Molvi were raided early morning,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, April 3: Police on Monday evening claimed to have busted Prostitution racket in Bagh-e-Mehtab area of Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

In a tweet, Srinagar police wrote, “A prostitution racket in a rented accommodation at Bagh-e-Mehtab busted. 2 persons running this arrested, Irshad Ahmad Bhat of Pampore, Mohd Shafi Hajam of Karimabad Pulwama. 4 female sex workers (all locals of Srinagar) & 2 customers detained. FIR registered at chanpura PS,”.(JK Revolution)