Jammu & Kashmir

Zojila pass, Mar 16: The strategic 434 km long Srinagar-Leh highway was thrown open by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in a record 68 days, officials said Thursday.

Talking to reporters after throwing the highway open for traffic officially, Director General Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lt General Rajeev Chaudhary, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), it is always a toughest challenge to throw open Zojila pass. “It was due to the hardwork of BRO officials and men that we were able to throw the pass open in a record number of 68 days. For the past three years, we have been breaking our own records,” he said, adding that first the road was thrown open in 110 days, then in 78 days and now in just 68 days.

“Our efforts will be make the road through in just 60 days (two months),” he said. “BRO officials and men are fully acclimatized and familiar with the area. No equipment was damaged during the road opening process.”

He said the locals who work with the BRO are being provided with adequate wages, shelter and food besides warm clothes. “Some people are with us since 25 years. We are like a family,” the DG BRO said.

He said that early opening of this road helps save RS 7 Crore a day for the government. “This road helps to send defence equipment including guns, bullets and tanks besides troops to Ladakh. Similarly, the early road opening helps give an economic push to the Ladakh region who remain cut-off from the rest of the world for six months,” the DG said, adding that “people of Ladakh can come to Srinagar through this road and carry out their economic activities—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 15: Former chief minister of erstwhile J&K state and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) president, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that his party, if voted to power, will undo all the anti-people decisions taken by the incumbent BJP government.

Addressing a gathering at Zaloora area in Sopore, Azad, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the restoration of Statehood, land rights and the security of government jobs for the local youth is the priority and if voted to power, he will ensure all these rights again to J&K people through the assembly.

He added that the youth from outside J&K are not enemies, but the fact is the children here (in J&K) cannot compete with them given the ability. “The children, hailing from outside, use to speak in English soon after they take birth, but here our children start learning basics after the age of 6 years, when they are being enrolled in the schools. Therefore, the government jobs here should be ensured for the locals only,” he said.

Azad further said that the recent demolition drive by the government would have made 70 lakh people across J&K homeless. “It is the time for J&K people to decide about their future and extend their support to BJP or their own people,” he said.

He added that the people are not being even allowed to utter anything, but this situation will be changed shortly if they are elected to power—(KNO)

Srinagar March 15: Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested a militant associate of Lashkar-i-Toiba oufit along with ammunition in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

In a handout to GNS, the police spokesman said that a joint forces of Baramulla Police, Army 29 RR and 2 Bn SSB during naka checking at Singhpora Pattan noticed a person wearing Pheran (Gown) coming from Matipora side on seeing the naka party he tried to flee from the spot but the alert party chased him and was apprehended tactfully.

During his personal search, 71 live rounds of AK-47 were recovered, and he was taken into custody immediately, he said.

During questioning, he revealed his name as Ali Mohammad Bhat S/O Gh Rasool Bhat R/O Bonichakal Arampora Pattan and is working as a militant Associate with banned militant organisation LeT outfit, he said.

Case under sections of Arms and ULA (P) Act stands registered in Police station Pattan and investigation set into motion, reads the statement.(GNS)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 14 : The Government Degree College for Women in Sopore is facing scarcity of teaching staff affecting the overall functioning of the college.

The college with about 2000 students has only 11 teachers. As per student ratio and sanctioned strength, it should be close to 30.

The students told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that many teaching posts have been vacant for the past several years and it affects their studies.

“There is a lack of teaching staff for core subjects like Political Science, History, Tourism, Home Science, Disaster Management, Urdu and others for the last nearly three years,” they alleged. Adding that lack of faculty is only adding to the miseries of students and they are able to attend merely one or two classes in a day.

“We have been approaching the college administration for a long time, but nothing has been done in this regard,” said a student of semester 3rd.

She said that they have already suffered academic losses during the past several years and there is a need to ensure every possible support to students at this juncture so that the losses can be compensated.

“We feel as if we have come to a picnic. We spend all day on the lawn and nobody seems to be interested in resolving our issue,” said Qurat, a 2nd semester student.

Principal of the College, when contacted, admitted to KNO that there is a shortage of teaching staff and said that they have already forwarded the same to the higher ups. “We have been assured that their staff shortage issue will be resolved within days”, he added.

Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla directed the principal GDCW to take immediate necessary action in the matter, and asked the authorities to share the action taken in this regard to her office.

Pertinently, the degree colleges across the valley reopened on 15 February, 2023 following a fifty days of winter break—(KNO)

BARAMULLA, MARCH 14: In a bid to create awareness among youth about the Apprenticeship Scheme and to promote apprenticeship training among them, the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar today inaugurated National Apprenticeship Awareness Workshop” at Dak Bungalow here.

The Workshop was organized by Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, J&K, (GoI) in collaboration with District Administration Baramulla.

At the outset, Dr Sehrish Asgar highlighted the objective of the training and said that the workshop aims to create awareness among establishments on apprenticeship training, benefits under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). She hailed for organizing the workshop and advised to conduct more such orientation programs to encourage skill up-gradation to meet the requirement of a qualified workforce for Industries.

Elaborating further, the DC said that the industry provides training to the beneficiaries under the said scheme and recognize their skills by providing certificate recognized at National and Internationally level thereby enabling the youth to get a job at any organization.

She urged the dropout school students in general and the unemployed youth in particular to get themselves registered with the industry and avail the benefits under the scheme.

The Apprenticeship Scheme aims to provide a mechanism that will ensure availability of qualified skilled workers based on industry requirements and also can address the unemployment issue among educated youth” Dr Sehrish Asgar added. The DC welcomed the support provided by the Government of India to the Industries.

Meanwhile, the senior functionaries of Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the benefits of apprenticeship schemes and opportunities by the Govt. of India. They said that the workshop focuses on the registration of establishments in the J&K UT and advised the representatives of industries to accommodate ITI pass-outs /trainees under the Apprenticeship Act.

2 Drug Peddlers arrested; 135 grams of contraband Charas like substance recovered at Saloosa Kreeri; Case registered
Police under the supervision of Sh Khalid Ashraf-JKPS, SDPO Kreeri assisted by Inspr. Arif Hamid, SHO PS Kreeri arrested 2 Drug Peddlers namely Amir Subhan Malla S/O Subhan Malla & Farooq Ahmad Chopan S/O Gh Hassan Chopan both residents of Watergam Kreeri during naka checking atSaloosa Kreeri

During their personal search 135 grams of contraband Charas like substance was recovered from them and were taken into custody immediately.
Cases under NDPS Act registered in Police Station Kreeri and investigations set in motion.
General People of the area hailed the efforts of Baramulla Police and showed their willingness to support police to eradicate menace of drugs from the society which is the real sign of Police Public relationship.

March 14: Police and security forces have arrested an active terrorist in Sopore and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession.

Based on specific input regarding presence of terrorist in Madina Bagh Moh, Dangerpura area, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Sopore Police and Army (22RR) in the said area. As the initial cordon was being laid, a terrorist was spotted trying to run away and attempting to break the cordon, taking cover of narrow lanes by-lanes and congested area. The movement was passed to all the troops and depending on information the mission leader re-organised the inner cordon.

Assessing the situation the vigilant troops displayed situational awareness, extreme restraint and exceptional fire control in not opening the fire. The alert troops of the joint team managed to nab the terrorist alive thereby displaying great synergy. He has been identified as Owais Ahmad Mir son of Nazir Ahmad Mir resident of War Mohalla Gund Brat. During search, incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a 9mm Pistol, 08 (9mm) rounds, a Pistol Magazine and a Chinese Grenade were recovered.

It is pertinent to mention here that by the apprehension of the said terrorist, police and security forces have averted a major tragedy and prevented planned target killings in the area thereby spoiled the nefarious designs of Pakistan terrorist handlers who are always hellbent towards disrupting peace in the valley.

Srinagar, Mar 14 : The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday carried out searches at several locations in the Kashmir Valley in a case related to militant conspiracy.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the NIA raids were underway at 6 locations in the Kashmir Valley.

He said the case was filed last year alleging criminal conspiracy for carrying out militant and subversive activities hatched by the cadres and OGWs of various proscribed organisations and their affiliates and off-shoots, operating under various pseudo names, at the behest of their Pakistani handlers.

The officials said the suspects are involved in carrying out attacks by using cyber-space in J&K, targeting of minorities, security personnel and spreading communal disharmony.

“Initial searches carried out last year had led to seizure of digital devices which were analysed forensically. Current searches are based on those leads,” he said.

Searches were underway at different locations in Srinagar, Kulgam, Pulwama, Anantnag and Shopian—(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 13 : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday unveiled Rs 1,18,500 crore budget for Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory for the next financial year.

As per documents laid in the Parliament today, the total budget estimates for the fiscal is Rs. 1,18,500 crore, of which developmental expenditure is of the order of Rs. 41,491 crore.

“The capital component of the budget has increased substantially. The expected revenue receipts are Rs 1,06,061 crore whereas Revenue expenditure is expected to be Rs 77,009 crore, thereby making available revenue surplus for capital expenditure to the tune of Rs 29,052 crore,” reads the budget document, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

This was the fourth consecutive budget of Jammu and Kashmir to be presented in the Parliament. The budgets of 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 were also presented in the Parliament in absence of an elected government in the Union Territory—(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 13: Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday said it busted a LeT militant hideout and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition in Rakh Momin area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

In a statement, issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said on the intervening night of 12th and 13th of March on the basis of a specific input developed over a period of time by Anantnag Police, a joint CASO along with army’s 1RR was launched in Rakh Momin Dangi area Bijbehara.

The statement reads search in the area led to busting of a LET hideout and subsequent recovery of huge cache of arms, ammunition and other war like stores.

It reads the recovery includes IED’s (05 No’s) PTD’s programmed timer devices and RCIEDs, Detonators (06 No’s), Pistols (03 No’s), Pistol Magazines (05 No’s), Ammunition (09mm rounds = 124 No’s), Remote controls (04 No’s) and Batteries (13 No’s).

“In this regard, Case FIR No. 58/2023 stands registered in PS Bijbehara under relevant sections of law and investigation set into motion,” it reads—(KNO)