SRINAGAR: The Administration on Monday ordered a magisterial enquiry into the “custodial death” of a rape accused in police lockup in Surankote area of this district, officials said.

District Magistrate Poonch Yasin M Choudhary (IAS) appointed Mohammad Jhangir Khan (JKAS), Sub Divisional Magistrate Mendhar (Executive Magistrate 1st Class), as the inquiry officer and asked him to conduct a “comprehensive magisterial enquiry" into the incident and the circumstances leading to the custodial death of Ulfat Hussain son of Lal Hussain of Marhote Surankote.

The inquiry order was passed by the District Magistrate ater a report from SDM Surankote, stating that Ulfat Hussain “attempted suicide by hanging inside the Surankote Police Station lockup on 16th October, 2023 (Monday).”

“The deceased was implicated in FIR No. 314/2023 U/S 376 and 366 of the IPC and was apprehended by the police based on a complaint filed by (a woman) on 9th October 2023,” the report was quoted in the DM's order, a copy of which lies with GNS reads, adding, “the family members of the deceased have requested a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ulfat Hussain.”

Considering the report, the District Magistrate ordered the magisterial enquiry into the death. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Thursday remarked that the next goal of the UT after ensuring basic amenities to all of its population is to provide employment to all the job seekers.

Dr Mehta was speaking in a meeting called to review the overall implementation of Employment Generation Schemes by different government departments in association with financial institutions in the UT.

Besides the Commissioner Secretary, Labour& Employment,  the meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Agriculture; Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce; Commissioner Secretary, RDD; Secretary, PD&MD; Secretary, Tribal Affairs; Mission Director, JKRLM; DG Planning besides other officers of the concerned departments.

During the meeting the Chief Secretary maintained that J&K has been successful in providing basic amenities like roads, drinking water and electricity to most of its population besides access to important services such as health and education. He said that the focus now on is to providing  employment to all those who are desirous to avail such opportunities.

The Chief Secretary reiterated that in spirit of implementing the commitments made by the Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha regarding empowerment of women and youth it is imperative that each of the concerned Departments should make these as their targets and work out plans to achieve them in a time bound manner.

He first stressed on having the relevant data of this population to make effective strategies accordingly. He called for creating a database on the lines of ‘India Stack' to promote the interests of women and youth.

He maintained that the gap between the demand and target of schemes should be properly studied and measures taken to bridge the same. He noted that the section of population desirous of taking any kind of should be catered to as per the aspirations of these people.

Dr Mehta further impressed upon all the concerned Departments to reposition their targets to saturate demands in their sectors. He called for creation of Panchayat level employment plans for reflecting the actual ambitions of youth regarding the kind of engagements they want for themselves as per their strengths and available opportunities that are viable.

On the occasion the Commissioner Secretary, Labour& Employment, RehanaBatul informed the meeting that this financial year under different Self Employment Schemes implemented by different Departments 19733 units stand established till date generating employment for more than 95000 persons. She further informed that in addition 36 job fairs were held during this time at different locations providing employment to 614 persons.

Moreover it was revealed that the Department has registered 251336 educated youth including 85540 women for giving counseling and other relevant assistance for securing employment. It was given out that till July this year a total of 15807 counseling sessions were held which were attended  by 44433 persons, besides 180 awareness camps attended by 13809 candidates.

The meeting was also apprised that under National Career Service project 17 District Employment & Counselling Centers were upgraded as model career centers. These Model Career Centers are expected to connect job seekers with all available job opportunities in addition to offering counselling and other related services to unemployed youth in the UT. (GNS)

SRINAGAR:Traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar highway will be allowed on Wednesday after closure of four days, officials said.

The highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world, was shut for traffic on Saturday following heavy rains overnight that triggered multiple landslides and also washed away a portion of nearly 40-metre road stretch near Panthiyal tunnel in Ramban district.

“With strenuous and synergetic efforts of administration and NHAI, over last two days, (highway) has been fully restored for vehicular traffic in record time,” a traffic department official told GNS. “Vehicles and passengers, who were left stranded due to sudden closure of the highway, are being cleared on priority.” He said normal traffic would be allowed from Wednesday morning. “All commuters are hereby advised to follow daily traffic advisory, issued by J&K Traffic Police Headquarters, for hassle free journey.”

He said HMVs operators and owners are requested to desist from overloading.

“It is further requested that vehicle owners must double check the fitness of their vehicles before undertaking journey on Jammu- Srinagar highway”.

Earlier, Director General of Police, J&K, Dilbag Singh visited Banihal-Ramban stretch to take the first hand report of the progress of maintenance and restoration work of the highway.  

The DGP inspected the restoration works of dilapidated roads at Lambar, Panthyal and Seri in Ramban, a police spokesperson said. “Project Director NHAI officer Parshotam Kumar briefed the DGP about the progress of the ongoing maintenance work. Measures being taken to address the issues were discussed and certain necessary directions were given on spot by the DGP for the smooth passage of the traffic on highway.”

Expressing his satisfaction over the maintenance work going on and measures taken for restoration of traffic, the DGP instructed the executing agency to ensure completion of work on war footing and directed to keep adequate machinery at all vulnerable places to clear roads. He directed all the concerned departments to expedite the work to ensure that all necessary measures are taken for the safe and smooth travel of the yatris, tourists and of locals, the spokesperson added. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: In a heart-wrenching ceremony today, Director Finance, Forest Department, RS Bali, his spouse, and their beloved son were consigned to flames amidst tears and profound grief.

The tragic demise of RS Bali has left a lasting impact as hundreds of mourners from all walks of life gathered at Chandoosa Village in Baramulla District to pay their respects and bid farewell.

Officers and officials from Finance Department, along with the Forest Department, School Education Department, and various other departments attended the last rites of the officer and his family.

The mournful cremation took place at Chandoosa Baramulla, where a multitude of officers, fellow relatives, neighbors, and individuals from all sections and religious communities gathered to pay their respects.

Sh. Bali, his spouse, and their son tragically lost their lives in a devastating accident while traveling on Mughal road on July 9, 2023.

The news of this heart-wrenching incident has left everyone present at the cremation site in deep grief, with tearful eyes, as they prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.

During the cremation ceremony, representatives from the J&K Finance Association and J&K Accounts Employees Association were also present to express their profound sorrow and offer their prayers for the well-being of the injured daughter, who is currently undergoing treatment and reported to be in stable condition.

The Finance Department, along with all those in attendance, extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Sh. Bali. His contribution and dedication to the department and the state will always be remembered, and his untimely demise has left a void that will be difficult to fill.(GNS)

SRINAGAR: Police arrest two students for assaulting their fellow student at KashmirUniversity on Tuesday.

Police identified the two accused as Muhammad Ali Aga of Raj Bagh and Burhan Hilal Bhat of Qazibagh Anantnag.

Police said that accused beat up a fellow LLB student injuring him grievously.

An FIR vide number 86/2023 has been registered under relevant sections of law at police station Nigeen in this regard. [KNT]

SRINAGAR: J&K Peoples’ Conference President Sajad Gani Lone today said that one of the biggest challenges facing the institution of judiciary is how they deal with Article 370 cases. He emphasized that the role of the apex court is not to pass judgment on whether the abrogation of Article 370 was beneficial or detrimental to J&K but the court’s duty lies in determining the legality of the abrogation.

"Per se the affidavit filed by the Central government focuses on issues post abrogation. What will eventually be discussed in the court is the legal pathway to abrogation, not the so-called perceived political or law and order benefits post-abrogation. Whether abrogation of Article 370 is good or bad for J and K is not what the Apex court has to decide. They have to decide whether it was good or bad in law”, Lone said in a statement.

Lone further said that Article 370, in essence, a form of federalism and a power-sharing arrangement, has been slandered and defamed beyond recognition. He however asserted that clamour for federalism will progressively gain momentum over time.

"Mark my words. Clamour for federalism will grow every passing day. The biggest threats facing the country today are the attacks on its federal structure—-Slow march of the central government and the trespass on to the power of the state governments. Loose Federalism is a reality and will be the most talked about political concept across the world in the coming decades”, he concluded. [KNT]

SRINAGAR: In view of arrival of Haj Flights from 18th July, 2023, the relatives of the pilgrims of Kashmir Division (except Srinagar) desiring of receiving the pilgrims at Srinagar International Airport can collect vehicle passes from the office of respective Deputy Commissioners from 13th July, 2023 onwards.

The relatives of pilgrims of UT Ladakh, Jammu Division and district Srinagar shall collect the same from Haj House, Bemina, Srinagar three days prior to the scheduled date of arrival.

The passes can be had against production of xerox copy of identity card of attendant/relative having cover number written on the same. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: On a day the Supreme Court decided to hold day-to-day hearings on a clutch of petitions challenging the scrapping of Article 370, political parties here on Tuesday sharply reacted to the arguments filed by the Centre in the apex judiciary in defence of abrogation of J&K special status.

SRINAGAR: Former Chief Minister and vice president of National Conference Omar Abdullah on Tuesday hoped that the Supreme court will do justice with the people of Jammu and Kashmir during the hearing of Article 370.

“We expect justice,” Omar told the media in Srinagar on Tuesday.

He said the injustice happened with the people of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019 when

the Article 370 was scrapped and the constitution and law was torn apart.

He said as soon as possible the hearing on it should be completed and the Supreme Court should put their decision on Article 370 before the public.

“We feel that our argument on Article 370 is right and our case in this regard is strong,” he said.

The NC vice president said now time should not be taken in announcing the date since there are so many things connected with Article 370.

He said the Panthers Party which had filed the petition regarding holding of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Supreme Court has also connected that with the Article 370 hearing.

“It should not happen that waiting for the hearing on Article 370 we had to wait for the elections too”, he added.

In another question regarding that BJP said that Article 370 was temporary as mentioned by then Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Omar said, “It is right, but in which circumstances

it was temporary that has to be understood…what was told to the people that time that it would be decided by holding the plebiscite to know the faith of Jammu and Kashmir”.

“We have been told since the past 70 years that Jammu and Kashmir is part of India. If that becomes permanent similarly Article 370 is also permanent,” he said, adding “you cannot take only one part of this argument for your own interest. You need to understand in what circumstances the Article was put in temporary shape”.

“If they have done that temporary in permanent…this (Article 370) is also transferring into permanent automatically”, he said.

In reply to a question that Centre claiming that peace, development is progressing in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, he said, that the road conditions here are not perfect, one hour rain causing threat of floods, inflations has touched to sky, electricity is worst and the conditions of schools and colleges are not also good.

The government which is taking credit of the present projects that had been started by the previous governments, Omar said

He said normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir was also before 1989 and that time the scrapping of article 370 could not happen.

“The situation was also good before the 2014 floods. Tourists were visiting in record numbers that time also. Development does take place during that period also. Panchayat elections were held and people participated overwhelmingly cast their franchises with 80-90 percent turnout,” he said.

Regarding Unified Civil Code (UCC), Omar said that there is no proposal yet. The Prime Minister of India had just said that there should be talk on the UCC and it should be implemented.

Let the proposal come and we will talk, he added.

In another question Omar said if BJP is talking that there would be exemptions for north east, Christians, Tribals and Dalits in the UCC, “Uniform code means that it should be implemented for every citizen of the country. If there could be exemptions for any sect..we as Muslim will also demand for the same,' he said. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday cracked down once again on the 'newly-floated offshoots of proscribed Pakistan-backed militant outfits operating in  Jammu and Kashmir'.

"NIA conducted raids at five locations in the three districts of Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama in the Kashmir valley, and seized several digital devices containing massive incriminating data", reads a statement issued to GNS. 
 
"The locations raided today were residential premises of hybrid militants and Overground Workers (OGWs) linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of several banned Kashmiri militant outfits. Premises of sympathisers and cadres of these organisations were also raided."
 
"All these cadres and workers are being investigated for activities relating to terror, violence and subversion in J&K. NIA suspects their involvement in the collection and distribution of sticky bombs/magnetic bombs, IEDs, funds, narcotic substances and arms/ammunitions", reads the statement. 
 
"The J&K terror conspiracy case (RC-05/2022/NIA/JMU) was registered suo moto by NIA  on 21st June 2022. It relates to a physical and online conspiracy by the banned terror organisations to launch a series of violent militant attacks in J&K with sticky bombs, IEDs and small arms etc. The Pakistan-backed outfits are also engaged in radicalizing local youth and mobilizing overground workers, to disturb peace and communal harmony in J&K."
 
"As per NIA investigations, Pak-based operatives behind the conspiracy were using various social media platforms to spread terror among the people. They were also using drones to deliver arms/ammunition, explosives, narcotics etc. to their agents and cadres in the Kashmir valley", reads the statement. 
 
"The newly floated militant outfits under investigation include The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULFJ&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF and others. These outfits are affiliated to major banned militant organisations like Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, Al-Qaeda, etc", reads the statement further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Kadri Mujtaba, a distinguished craft revivalist from Kashmir and founder of the luxury pashmina brand, Me&K, has received a prestigious invitation to the House of Lords in the UK Parliament. He will be participating in a roundtable discussion on ‘Gender Inclusivity in the UK-India Trade and Investment Relationship’, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 12th.

The roundtable event is being organized by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on India (Trade & Investment) in collaboration with Kings College London. The APPG on India Trade and Investment is a cross-party group consisting of Members of both houses, including Peers from the House of Lords and MPs from the House of Commons. This interest group holds a crucial and influential position within the UK Parliament.

The primary objective of the APPG is to foster trade and investment between India and the UK, with the aim of benefiting the citizens of both nations and nurturing a strong and inclusive relationship.

This roundtable discussion forms part of the comprehensive project titled "Enablers and Obstacles to UK-India Trade." The project, funded by the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) and ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research), spans three years and involves collaborative efforts from academics at King's College London, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, and the non-academic partner, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UK).

Kadri Mujtaba's participation in this roundtable discussion adds a unique perspective, leveraging his expertise as a craft revivalist in Kashmir and though his work in promoting women’s empowerment by encouraging more women back to the shawl industry, through the promotion of hand-spinning. His valuable insights will contribute to the dialogue on inclusive trade and gender considerations, strengthening the ties between India and the UK.

About Kadri Mujtaba: According to Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com, Kadri Mujtaba, a resident of Nishat Srinagar, is a highly regarded craft revivalist based in Kashmir. He is renowned for his efforts in preserving and promoting traditional crafts, especially hand-spinning, which hold immense cultural and economic significance. Through his work, Mujtaba has been instrumental in reviving age-old techniques and empowering local artisans.

About the All-Party Parliamentary Group on India (Trade & Investment): The All-Party Parliamentary Group on India (Trade & Investment) is a cross-party group within the UK Parliament, comprising Members from the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It aims to enhance trade and investment opportunities between India and the UK while fostering a strong and inclusive relationship between the two countries. (KDC)

SRINAGAR: Hearing a batch of plea challenging the abrogation of Article 370, the Supreme Court on Tuesday listed the matter for hearing on August 02 again and stated that hearing will take place on a day-to-day basis.

As per details available, a 5-judge constitutional bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud listed the matter again for hearing on August 02 after hearing arguments from the Centre.

CJI Chandrachud stated that the hearing of the petitions shall commence on 2 August at 10.30 am and shall thereafter continue on a day-to-day except miscellaneous days.

He also said that the nodal counsel shall ensure that the compilations are indexed to facilitate hearing. “The written submissions shall also be filed on or before 27 July. No further additions to the convenience compilation shall be permissible,” he said.

Meanwhile, IAS officer Shah Faesal and Shehla Rashid informed the Supreme Court through their lawyer that they don't want to be part of the petitions challenging the dilution of Article 370.

The Supreme Court deleted their names from the array of parties. The case has now been renamed as "In Re : Article 370".

The Supreme Court, for the first time, had listed a batch of pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 that gave Jammu and Kashmir special status.

The Article was abrogated by the Centre on 5 August 2019 , the day when erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories viz Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. (KNS)