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Srinagar, Dec 23 : The National Investigation Agency on Friday filed a chargesheet against three accused persons in a case related to cross border trade and militancy funding.

According to a statement, issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), chargesheet was filed under sections 120B of IPC and sections 17, 20, 21, 39 and 40 of UA(P) Act against Tanveer Ahmad Wani of Pulwama, Peer Arshad and and Bashir Ahmad Sofi-both residents of Baramulla.

The statement reads the case pertains to profiteering and generation of funds through cross LoC trade between J&K and PoK and using of those funds for promotion of militant activities in Jammu & Kashmir.

“Cross-LoC trade was launched in 2008 via two Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) located at Salamabad, Uri in Baramulla and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch. As per the SOP of the trade mechanism put in place, 21 articles were allowed to be imported from PoK and exported from J&K. It was based on barter system and no transaction of money was involved,” it reads.

It reads after scrutinising several documents, it has come to notice that extraordinary profits were generated by excess import and under-invoicing of imported almonds by the traders.

“It has also been found that some of the cross LoC traders of PoK are crossed over militants and were backed by Hizb-Ul-Muzahideen (HM). The trade was suspended in April 2019.”

It added investigation revealed that accused persons Tanveer Ahmad Wani & Peer Arshad Iqbal were Cross LoC traders and were handling several Cross LoC trade firms, registered in the names of themselves and their friends, relatives, employees etc.

“Both of them raised militant funds by excess import than the export and by under-invoicing of imported Almonds from PoK based cross LoC traders. Investigation has established that both of the accused were also in a trading relationship with PoK based cross border Hizb-Ul-Muzahideen militants.”

It further reads after raising the militantd funds, accused Tanveer Ahmad Wani had provided funds in cash to different militants of HM, JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammad) etc.

“Accused Peer Arshad Iqbal used to provide funds to accused Bashir Ahmad Sofi, an ex-militant of HM. Further investigations in the case are in progress,” it reads—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 23 : The University of Kashmir (KU) Friday announced winter vacations from January-02 to February-15

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has leant that the Assistant Registrar of KU in a notification has said “It is notified for the information of all concerned that the teaching faculty of the main and satellite campuses shall observe winter vacation from January-02 February-15.”

The notification further reads that “However, the Heads of the Departments shall ensure that the examinations and implementation of extramunraly funded research projects etc. does not get affected.”

“The remedial classes, if any, shall be conducted in offline or online mode during vacations,” the Assistant Registrar said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 23 : The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Dilbag Singh on Friday said they will deal with the challenge of drug menace the way they dealt with the challenge of militancy here.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, the DGP, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said they will deal with the challenge of drug menace firmly and with steadfastness.

“The way police is dealing with the challenge of drugs trade in Jammu and Kashmir is beneficial for the society and people should also stand with them so that this menace is dealt with firmly and steadfastness,” he said.

He said they will deal with the challenge of drug menace the way they have been dealing with the challenge of militancy here.

The DGP also said it is shame for those who are issuing threat letters to citizens here and want to create wedge among communities, thereby derail the peaceful environment here.

“Some people are not happy with the peace and development here, but I believe people of Jammu and Kashmir will give a befitting reply to them,” he said—(KNO)

JK Revolution, Kup, Dec, 23:- One of its biggest success against drug smuggling and peddling in the district, Police has arrested 17 persons including five policemen, a political activist, a Contractor and a shopkeeper from different areas of district Kupwara and Baramulla unearthing another narcotics smuggling module originating from Pakistan. Working relentlessly to identify and act against the drug peddlers active in the district Kupwara, police zeroed in on some drug peddlers active in Kupwara town and its adjoining areas. On a tip-off one Mohd Waseem Najar-a poultry shop owner son of Ghulam Mohd Najar, resident of Darzipura, Kupwara was arrested with some quantity of narcotics from his residential house. After preliminary investigations, Waseem admitted to be a part of a big group of drug peddlers and disclosed names of some of his associates belonging to this district as well as Uri area of district Baramulla involved in this illegal trade. Subsequent raids were conducted at various places across the district and 16 more persons namely:

Haroon Rasheed Bhat (SPO) son of Ab Rasheed Bhat resident of Halmatpora, Irshad Ahmed Khan (SPO) son of Anayat ullah Khan resident of Batpora Hyama, Ishfaq Habib Khan – a political activist son of Habibulla Khan Gonipora Hyama, Tahir Ahmed Malik son of Ab Ahad Malik resident of Rigipora, Kupwara, Khursheed Ahmed Khan – dry fruits Shopkeeper and his son Imtiyaz Khan residents of Halmatpora, Tamheed Ahmed Khan son of Shakir Ali Khan ( originally hailing from Keran and now a Pakistan/POK based terrorist handler) resident of Keran , Roman Mushtaq Bhat son of Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat resident of Uri, Baramulla, Asif Rashid Hajam son of Abdul Rashid Hajam resident of Batergam, Kupwara, Sajad Ahmad Bhat (SPO) son of Ghulam Mohd Bhat resident of Gonipora Hyama, Ab Majeed Bhat ( Police Constable) son of Wali Mohd Bhat resident of Kunan Poshpora, Trehgam, Zahid Maqbool Dar (SPO) son of Mohd Maqbool Dar resident of Kunan Poshpora Trehgam, Abid Ali Bhat son of Haji Ali Mohd Bhat resident of Bohipora Kupwara, Tanveer Ahmad Wani – a contractor, son of Mohd Issaq Wani resident of Gulgam Kupwara, Nadeem Javed son of Javed Iqbal Naik of Uri Baramulla, and Tahir Ahmad Khan son of Amir Zaman Khan resident of Boniyar, Baramulla were arrested by different teams of Police Station Kupwara headed by SHO Mohd Rafiq Lone and DySP (Prob) Khadim Hussain under the supervision of DySP Hqrs Rashid Younis. The busting of this drug smuggling and peddling module has yet again exposed the direct involvement of Pakistan-based terrorist handlers in pumping into Kashmir Valley narcotics aimed to destroy Kashmiri youth. In this particular case, one Shakir Ali Khan, a Pakistan-based terrorist handler originally hailing from Keran has surfaced to be the main supplier of narcotics to his son Tahmeed Khan on this side of LoC. On Tahmeed’s confession and disclosure, two packets weighing close to 2.0 Kg of Heroin like narcotics substance have also been recovered from his house. Tahmeed used to transport it to Kupwara to sell it among his other arrested associates to earn huge money. Tahmeed’s father Shakir Ali Khan firstly crossed LoC in early 1990s to join terrorist ranks. After obtaining training in illegal arms and ammunition, Shakir infiltrated back and remained one of the top active terrorists of HM for quite some time in Keran – Kupwara sector. Feeling the heat from security forces, Shakir again crossed over LoC and exfiltrated to POK and is now a top terrorist handler also involved in pushing into Kashmir Valley, arms, ammunition and narcotics.

In this case FIR No.283/2022 of police Station Kupwara being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DySP (Prob) Khadim Hussain, it has surfaced during investigation that a quantity of about 5.0 Kg valued at rupees 5.0 Crores in the market has been smuggled in from Pakistan by the head of this module Tahmeed Khan during the last three months. Out of this 5.0 Kg narcotics, about 2.0 Kg has been recovered in the instant case, about 1.0 kg has been peddled among drug peddlers and addicts and about 2.0 Kg remains to be traced.

Pertinent to mention here that during the current year 85 cases have been registered against 161 persons in the district. 33 people involved in narcotics smuggling have been detained and lodged in different jails under PSA ( PIT-NDPS Act).

Srinagar, Dec 23 : The National Investigation Agency on Friday morning raided several locations in the Kashmir Valley in a case related to militancy funding.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the NIA raids were underway at 13 locations across Kashmir.

He the the raids were being conducted in case related to militancy funding—(KNO)

*More details are awaited*

Srinagar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) appointed Dr Umair Mir from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) as its new head for Jammu and Kashmir.

He would now be holding charge of ED’s Joint Director of J&K.

The ED has its two offices – zonal office at Srinagar and sub-zonal office at Jammu.

Mir was initially appointed as ED’s Deputy Director of Jammu zone in May 2019 and now he has been promoted to the rank of Joint Director.

Besides J&K, he would also head Chandigarh union territory and Himachal Pradesh state and thus will be head-in-charge of one state and 2 union territories of north India.

He would be supervising some important and sensitive cases in J&K.

Mir is an IRS officer of 2010 batch and has served in the premier intelligence and investigations agency Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Mumbai for three years.

He has also served in the Special Branch of Mumbai Customs, Service Tax and Central Excise.

Mir is a medical graduate from Mumbai University.

Anantnag, Dec 23 : Two people were killed while several others were injured after being attacked by a mentally challenged person in Aishmuqam area of Anantnag district on Friday morning.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a mentally challenged man Javed Hassan Rather attacked several persons including his parents in Aishmuqam area today morning.

He said in the incident two persons identified as Mohammad Amin Shah and Ghulam Nadi Khadim were killed, while several others were injured including his parents.

The official said he first attacked his family members in which his parents were injured and later came out and attacked several people outside.

He said the injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 22 : Jammu and Kashmir Police in Baramulla Thursday claimed to have arrested a drug peddler and recovered psychotropic substances from his possession.

“A Police party of Police Post Wagoora during patrolling at Mirangund Kreeri intercepted a vehicle (alto car) bearing registration number JK05G-0401 driven by Jatinder Singh son of Rajinder Singh resident of Mirangund Kreeri. During the search, officers recovered psychotropic substance including 1000 tablets of Spasmoproxyvon plus, 480 tablets of Alprazolam and 10 bottles of Daslin CD from his possession. He has been arrested and the vehicle used in the commission of crime has also been seized,” a police spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

Subsequently, police said that a case under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Kreeri and investigation has been initiated.

Meanwhile, police urged people to come forward with any information regarding drug peddling in their neighbourhood. “Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt with as per law. Our consistent actions against drug peddlers should reassure the community members that we are making efforts to keep our society free from the scourge of drug menace,” police said—(KNO)

Kupwara, Dec 22: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara Yougal Manhas Thursday said that a youth Abdul Rashid Dar of Kunan Poshpora was picked up for questioning in connection with a militancy case and he managed to give a slip to forces while on way to a hideout.

Talking to reporters as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the SSP Kupwara said that the youth Abdul Rashid Dar son of Muhammed Sidique Dar of Kunan Poshpora, was picked up for questioning related to a militancy case.

“On his revelation about the hideout, he gave a slip to the forces. We are investigating in which circumstances he managed to flee. We are in touch with his family also,” he said.

Notably, Dar’s family had protested in Srinagar’s press enclave on Wednesday, alleging that their kin had ‘disappeared’ after he was taken in custody by the army.

The family members requested Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration and the police—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Dec 22 : Unscheduled power cuts in Sopore and its adjacent areas in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are giving a tough time to the residents who are up in arms against the administration.

The people said their lives and businesses have been severely affected due to pesky power cuts which have made their life “hell”.

“There is nothing true to the claims of the administration which has assured of a better power supply this winter,” Furqan Kanna, a local of Krankshivan Colony, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

Locals said it is “very unfortunate that despite this bone-chilling cold, the Power Development Department (PDD) has completely failed to provide a timely electricity supply”.

The affected areas include Krankshivan Colony, Jamia Qadeem, Neherpora, Noorbagh, Batapora and Chinkipora.

“These frequent power cuts have become a daily affair. To demand 24×7 electricity is a dream; we just demand regular and scheduled power supply,” said a youth Javid Ahmad of the Jamia Qadeem area.

“Every year, the PDD comes up with an excuse of less generation and more demand. Despite power tariff being raised so many times in the past few years, the department has nothing to offer to its consumers,” he added.

The residents of other areas mentioned above have similar complaints. The locals of some of these areas said they have been facing regular power cuts for the last more than a week despite being metered.

“Despite the department minting huge amounts through electricity bills, we are witnessing just 7 to 8 hours of power supply,” they said.

“In today’s era, there should be an uninterrupted power supply given the cold weather conditions. Now, if the power department wants to curtail, there should be a proper schedule and it should be minimum so that people don’t suffer,” a local from Batapora said.

The local administration had assured of a better power supply with fewer power cuts this winter in the Sopore sub-division.

XEN PDD Sopore, Javeed Ahmed did not respond to repeated calls made by this reporter—(KNO)