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Srinagar, December 18: Police on Sunday trashed rumours about acid attack on a girl in old city of Srinagar.

In a handout to GNS, the police said that there is an unverified news doing rounds about an acid attack, it is clarified that around 4 pm at Nawa Bazar a minor girl (name withheld) who was accompanied by her aunt in the market area, felt a burning sensation in her hand prima facie due to some liquid, and accordingly she was taken to the hospital from where she was discharged after first aid as the doctors diagnosed her with only minor superficial rashes & blisters only on the hand .

The police spokesman further stated that the facts and circumstances leading to this incident are being investigated by MR Gunj Police station. The girl is absolutely fine and is at home. Prima facie it looks like some foul play which police is investigating, reads the statement.(GNS)

Jammu, Dec 18: Jammu woman Sargam Koushal, representing India, was on Sunday crowned the Mrs World at a gala event in Las Vegas, USA.

Mrs Koushal trumped contestants from 63 countries to bring the title back to India after 21 years.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), sharing the news on Instagram, the managing organisation of the Mrs India pageant said, “The long wait is over, it’s after 21 years we have the CROWN back!”

Sargam Koushal, who hails from Bahu Fort area of Jammu city, Jammu and Kashmir also shared a video describing how elated she was to win the title.

“We’ve got the crown back after 21-22 years. I’m so excited. Love you India, love you world,” the newly-crowned Mrs World said.

Daughter of a retired Chief Manager, Bank of India, Sargam Koushal did her schooling from Presentation Convent Senior Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar Jammu and graduated from Women College, Gandhi Nagar Jammu.

Thereafter, she did her Masters in English Literature from Jammu University and B Ed from Government B Ed College Jammu.

She has previously worked as a teacher in Vizag. A teacher by profession, content writer, model and painter, the 31-year old Sargam is married to Jammu guy Aditya Manohar Sharma, a Lieutenant Commander in Indian Navy, presently posted in Mumbai.

Speaking to KNO, father of Mrs World, G S Koushal that it’s a proud moment for entire country as Sargam won the title for nation. He said that from childhood Sargam is an outstanding child and always excelled in whatever she has done so far. The proud father said that daughters are blessing and he and entire family feel has shot of word to express the feelings on the achievement of Sargam.

Mrs World is the first beauty pageant for married women.

The pageant was conceived in 1984 and traces its roots to the Mrs America pageant. Initially, the pageant was named Miss Woman of the World. It came to be known as Mrs World only in 1988. Over the years, Miss World has seen entrants from over 80 countries with America having the most number of winners.

India has only won the Mrs World title once, in 2001 with Dr Aditi Govitrikar bagging the coveted crown. Dr Govitrikar has now served as a judge for Miss India Inc 2022-23.

Meanwhile, People throng to congratulate the parents of Mrs Kaushal, after her international recognition.

President Bahu Fort Development Authority (BFDA) Rajeev Charak along with other local residents congratulated the proud parents of Mrs Koushal.

Charak said that daughter Sargam not only won the crown but make Jammu and the entire country proud as she has established the country’s name on the world stage with hard work and dedication.

He said that the hard work that Sargam Kaushal has done to reach this place and his parents have done more hard work, so such parents should be respected.

He said that it is a matter of pride for us that the daughter of Bahu Fort Jammu has brought laurels to her region as well as the country due to her talent in world class message world.

He said she brought laurels for the entire country. He wishes her luck for the future—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 17: Authorities on Saturday attached eleven more properties of Jamat-e-Islami in Kashmir Valley at the recommendations of State Investigation Agency.

Providing the description of the properties, the SIA in a statement said that three properties were attached in Baramulla, two in Kupwara, one in Baramulla and five in Ganderbal.

“SIA has unearthed further assets of banned Jamat-e-Islami throughout UT of J&K worth hundreds of crores of INR. Today on 17.12.2022 in District Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Kupwara, properties at about a dozen locations worth INR hundred crores approximately after being notified by DM Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal & Kupwara on the recommendation of SIA J&K, have been barred with restrictions on usage and entry,” SIA said in the statement to GNS, adding, “To choke the availability of funds for secessionist activities and to dismantle the ecosystem of anti-national elements & (militant) networks hostile to India’s sovereignty, (eleven more properties) held by banned JeI J&K at (the four) districts have been notified by concerned District Magistrates in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 & Notification No. 14017/7/2019, dated 28- February- 2019 of Union Ministry of Home Affairs.”

The premises and structures have been barred and entry and usage has been prohibited reads the notification. Besides “Red entry” to this effect has been made in the relevant revenue records. During the seizure proceedings it was found that about two dozen business establishments in the towns of Kupwara and Kangan are currently running from out these JeI properties on rent basis.

After due diligence, it was decided that these would be allowed to continue so that private persons who may not have any connections with JeI and are only tenants paying rent to JeI are not penalised and their livelihood not impaired.

The Properties in District Baramulla include I. Land measuring 01-Kanal & 12-Marla under Survey No. 2228/2015/360 min II. Land measuring 01-Kanal under Survey No. 2259/405 min III. Land measuring 32-Kanal & 01 Marla under Survey No. 408; District Kupwara: I. Land measuring 03-Marla under Survey No. 1074 near Rehmat-Alam Public School II. JeI office Kupwara (Single Storey tin roofed building) adjacent to Masjid Quwatul-Islam Kupwara (20 business establishments) District Bandipora: I. Land measuring 13 Marla under Khasra No. 113 Min in village Bandipora District Ganderbal: I. Single storey building constructed over Land measuring 10-Marla under Survey No. 2425/1674/1458/315 in village Kangan. II. Three stories shop constructed over Land measuring 01-Marla and 7 Sirsai under Survey No. 2520/1482/496 min in village Kangan III. Land measuring 05-Kanal & 15 Marla under Survey No. 954-min, 955-min in village Gadoora Ganderbal. IV. Abandoned double storey building constructed over Land measuring 01-Kanal & 06 Marla under Survey No. 1488- min in village Safapora Lar V. Land measuring 18-Marla under Survey No. 722-min in village Kurhama.”

Pertinently, SIA has identified as many as 188 JeI properties across J&K which have either been notified or are under the process of being notified for further legal action. These are as a result of investigation of case FIR number 17 of 2019 U/S 10, 11 & 13 of Police Station Batmaloo being investigated by SIA. (GNS)

Baramulla, December 17: A day long workshop on implementation of ORGI software for Civil Registration System was today organised at Dak Bunglow Sopore which aims to sensitise the participants about the process and implementation of ORGI software system for civil registration of births and deaths.

Programme was organised by Joint Director Planning (DSEO) Bandipora & District Statistics & Evaluation Officer Baramulla in collaboration with Director Census Operations J&K.

On the occasion, JDP Bandipora & DSEO Baramulla highlighted about the salient features and informed that the Govt has notified the Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 2022 vide S.O No-494 Notification with the approval of the Govt of India on the basis of the model rules of registration of Births & Death Rules,1999 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Office of Registrar General of India.

They also briefed about the different S.O. Nos. issued by the Govt on the subject regarding Designation under Civil Registration System and highlighted the importance of the registration process. The Registrars were instructed to ensure implementation of the provisions of the Act, besides to coordinate and supervise the registration work in their respective registration units as the Birth & Death certificates being issued by the registration units are of prime importance for availing various Govt benefits and are important legal documents being required at various occasions in daily life.

They said the training of the officers/officials for successful implementation of ORGI software for Civil Registration is necessary for capacity building and to establish an error free simple mechanism so that the public can benefit and obtain these documents in a hassle free manner.

The Master Trainers Dr.Imtiyaz Ahmad Malik, Junaid Nissar and Sobia Jaan imparted training to the participants about the operational mechanism of Civil Registration System & explained the entire process besides discussed various provisions of the RBD Act in detail.

The training was attended by the CMOs/BDOs/CEOs/EOs and the technical staff of Health Department,Rural Development Department, Municipal Councils/Committees and the staff of DSEO of both the Districts .

Later,JDP Bandipora & DSEO Baramulla thanked the trainers for imparting the training to their best to all participants and hope that the Officers responsible for Civil Registration shall left no stone unturned for successful implementation of ORGI software for Civil Registration System.

Baramulla, December 17: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Baramulla in collaboration with Tehsil Legal Service Committees today organised Special Lok Adalats across the district.

The Adalats were conducted under the Chairmanship of Principal District & Sessions Judge Baramulla Mohammad Yousuf Wani and under supervision of Secretary, District Legal Services Authority Baramulla, Muzamil Ahmad Wani.

At District Court Baramulla, the Lok Adalat was inaugurated by the Principal District and Sessions Judge wherein benches were constituted for hearing the cases.

The Lok Adalat comprised a total of 11 benches constituted in the entire district wherein a total 945 different Cases/ matters were taken up in which 683 different Cases/matters were amicably settled. An amount of Rs. 11,95,200/- was realised in different cases amicably settled.

Similarly, special Lok Adalats were also organized at Tehsil Legal Service Committees of Pattan, Sopore, Tangmarg, Rafiabad and Uri where the concerned Sub judges presided over the benches for hearing the cases.

Srinagar, Dec 17: State Investigation Agency on Saturday started to seize more properties of Jamaat-e-Islami in Kashmir Valley including Ganderbal, Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla district on Saturday.

Official sources told that details of the property seized today will be shared after the completion of the process being done on the orders of the respective District Magistrates on the recommendations of the SIA.

Pertinently SIA has said to have identified as many as 188 JeI properties across J&K which are being seized/attached during the further course of action to be undertaken. “These are as a result of investigation of case FIR number 17 of 2019 U/S 10, 11 & 13 UPA of police station Batamaloo being investigated by SIA,” the SIA has said, adding, “Preliminarily numerous properties purchased or acquired by JeI worth hundreds of crores of rupees have been identified”. (GNS)

Addl security of GA Mir, SP Vaid, Munir Khan too taken back

JAMMU, Dec 16: The Security Headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir Police have withdrawn excess security from 177 prominent persons including IAS, IPS, JKAS, JKPS officers, both serving and retired, many more politicians, retired Judges and others after conducting a thorough audit of the Personal Security Officers (PSOs) deployed with them.
Few days back, excess security of 20 politicians was withdrawn
Significantly, PSOs of a number of police officers in the ranks of SSPs and SPs have also been taken back.
Two excess PSOs of former Director General of Police (DGP) Dr Shesh Pal Vaid and three extra PSOs with former Additional DGP Munir Ahmad Khan have been withdrawn. Three PSOs of IPS officer Sahil Sangral, working as SP East Srinagar, have been taken back.
Other retired police officers, who were holding excess PSOs with them who have now been recalled by the Security Department, include Mubarak Ahmad Ganie, Rouf-ul-Hassan, AS Bali, Mohammad Amin Anjum (Manhas), Ghulam Hassan Bhat, Mohammad Amin Shah, Jagjeet Kumar, Javid Ahmad Makhdoomi and Shamas Ahmad Khan, all of whom retired as IGPs. Makhdoomi had also served as PSC member.
Extra PSOs with BA Nazki, who retired as Chief Justice and served as Chairperson State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Muzaffar Hussain Attar, retired Judge High Court/Chairman of Committee for Fixation and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools and Bashir Ahmad Dar, former Senior Additional Advocate General, have also been taken back.
Serving and retired IAS officers, who have lost extra security cover, include Masood Samoon (former PSC member), Athar Amir Shafi, Commissioner SMC, Fazallul Haseeb, SDM Dharmari, Simrandeep Singh, on deputation to Centre, Rahul Yadav, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Ghulam Nabi Naik (retired IAS as well as former MLA NC) and Khurshid Ahmad Shah, retired Commissioner/ Secretary Public Works (R&B) Department.
More politicians of National Conference, Congress, PDP, BJP, Democratic Azad Party (DAP), People’s Conference etc have also lost additional security cover.

They include Ghulam Ahmad Mir, former PCC (I) chief, Nasir Aslam Wani alias Sogami, former Minister of State for Home, Kafeel-ur-Rehman, Nazir Gurezi, Javed Rana, all former MLAs from NC, Dr Sajad Shafi, Shafqat Watali, Hilal Akbar Lone, all NC, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, former Minister (now in DAP), Mohammad Iqbal Mir, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, both Congress and Mohammad Amin Bhat, former MLA (DAP).
Three BJP leaders, whose excess security cover has been taken back, are Ghulam Hassan Malik, Bilal Ahmad Parray and Mohammad Ashraf Reshi. Tariq Ahmad Veeri of Apni Party has also lost excess security with him. PDP leader Abdul Ahad Tantray’s additional protection has also been withdrawn.
Leaders of People’s Conference of Sajjad Ghani Lone, whose extra PSOs have been called back by the Security Department, are, Sakeena Ansari, Kumail Hussain Ansari, Dr Amjid Raza Ansari, Abdul Hussain Bhat, Nighat Gul, Adnan Ashraf Mir, Mohammad Yaseen Bhat and Habibullah Beigh.
The serving police officers/officials, whose excess security cover has gone, are Shabir Ahmad Malik, SP attached with Police Headquarters, Javed Ahmad Bhat, Staff Officer to IGP Kashmir, Zubair Ahmad Khan, SSP PCR Srinagar, Fayaz Ahmad Lone, SSP and Commandant IRP 10th battalion, Maqsood-ul-Zaman, SSP posted as SO to IGP Traffic, Mansoor Ahmad Mir, SSP Traffic Rural Kashmir, Nighat Aman, Deputy Commandant JKAP 11th, Ashiq Hussain Tak, Additional SP Bandipora, Imran Farooq, Additional SP CID SB Kashmir, Aftab Ahmad Mir, Additional SP Bhaderwah, Sheikh Adil Mushtaq, DySP Anti-Hijacking Srinagar, Afroz Ahmad, Additional SP Shopian, Aijaz Ahmad Malik, Deputy Commandant IRP 23rd, Atul Sharma, Commandant IRP 23rd, Raja Zuhaib Tanveer, SP North Srinagar, Rasiq Ahmad Mir, Deputy Commandant IRP 3rd and Sajad Ahmad Dar, Deputy Commandant JKAP 13th.

The Government officials, whose excess security cover has been taken back, include Dr Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Vice Chairman, J&K Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, Srinagar, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, Director Horticulture Kashmir, Mohammad Haneef Balki, Additional DC Srinagar, Rayaz Ahmad, Director SRLM, Galib Mohi-ud-Din, CEO Tourism Development Authority Shopian/Kulgam, Reyaz Ahmad Wani, ex Director Urban and Local Bodies, Sumaira Khan, J&K AIDS Prevention Control Society, Zaffar Hussain Shawl, Additional DC Awantipora and Sajad Qadir, General Manager DIC Srinagar/Budgam.
Dr Naseem Lanker, retired IAS, has also lost her additional security.
It may be mentioned here that the Security wing undertook manpower audit of security provided to different individuals including the politicians, officers, individuals etc in view of crunch of Personal Security Officers (PSOs). It was detected that many protectees were having excess security cover than their entitlement,” sources said, adding the excess security has been withdrawn.
“They will continue to keep security personnel to which they are entitled as per the category,”‘ sources said.
Official sources were, however, of the view that security cover of none of the politicians has been downgraded. Rather, it has been rationalized, they said.
Those falling in Y Security had been given security cover of Z category and those of Z category were enjoying the cover of Z Plus category and so on.
“We undertook extensive exercise and kept security with all individuals including politicians as per their entitlement under the Category. This was done after manpower audit as the authorities were facing acute shortage of security personnel,” the sources said.

Reported Daily Excelsior

Srinagar, Dec 16: At least six residential houses are caught in a massive fire at Gudood Bagh locality of Habba kadal in central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

Reports reaching GNS said that a fire broke out from a residential house this evening and soon after spread to several other houses in the vicinity. Even as the Fire & Emergency Department along with locals are on the spot to put out the fire, the flames have been raging and advancing to other houses in proximity.

Amid chaos, the Fire and Emergency Department has called in more men and machinery to contain the spread of fire at the site.

Notably, a residential house was also gutted in a fire incident earlier in the day at Shamasabad in Bemina.

Meanwhile, concerned over the steep spike in fire-related incidents, Srinagar police on Friday urged citizens to keep basic fire safety equipment handy and also advised them to only use authentic heating appliances.

“There are many incidents of fire being reported in Srinagar distt daily. Citizens are advised to keep basic fire safety equipment handy & also to only use authentic heating appliances”, reads a tweet by Srinagar Police, as per GNS.

“Legal action will be taken as per law against shopkeepers selling fake & duplicate equipments”, the tweet reads further. (GNS)