Manmohan Singh led delegation to arrive in Kashmir on Saturday
Srinagar, Sep 15, CNS: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) Policy and Planning Group led by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is arriving Kashmir capital Srinagar on two day visit starting from Saturday (Sep 16).
The group will meet various delegations from Kashmir Valley including Opposition Parties as per the programme.
The Group comprises former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Gulam Nabi Azad, Congress General Secretary Ambika Soni and others.
Apart from meeting various delegations former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address PCC Executive and Congress Legislative Party (CLP).
LeT Commanders killing aftermath:
Restriction cripple life in old Srinagar city
Srinagar, Sep 15, CNS: Authorities on Friday imposed strict restrictions in Srinagar parts after the killing of two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants including top commander Abu Ismail.
The duo was killed in a brief gunfight in Aribagh Nowgam area of city outskirts last night.
“Prohibitory orders have been clamped in areas coming under the police stations of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj and Safa Kadal following the killing of two LeT militants,” official sources said.
Local sources told CNS that increased number of men in uniform had been deployed and barricades of barbed wires were installed at various points of the city.
Authorities had also closed all educational institutions in Srinagar district and other areas of the Valley to prevent protests.
No Friday prayers were allowed at historical Jamia Masjid while Mirwaiz Umar Farooq remained under house detention.
Reports said that due to heavy presence of security personnel on the roads in old parts of Srinagar city, normal life was disrupted. Schools and Colleges even remained closed in upper parts of the city, owing to the government order.
Train service remained suspended across Kashmir Valley. Train service remained suspended between Srinagar-Budgam in the Central Kashmir and Baramulla in North. Similarly, no train operated on Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region.
Scores of people staged a protest against NIA raids, killings of Rohingya Muslims in Burma, detention of pro-freedom leaders and killing of militants at Maisuma locality of Srinagar city. The protesters were carrying placards and banners seeking release of political prisoners and halt to NIA raids in Kashmir.
A police official said that situation remained peaceful across Valley. (CNS)
Protests in South Kashmir after army allegedly vandalizes property, thrashes residents
Anantnag, Sep 15, CNS: During a cordon and search operation, Army allegedly thrashed locals and vandalized private property including dozens of vehicles in Mattan area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
The incident sparked massive protest on Friday. Locals informed that Government Forces headed by Army launched a search operation during night hours at Tikibagh Kralpora area of the district.
They said that during the operation, Army targeted people without any provocation. “Army men resorted to ransacking of houses and damaged vehicles. They thrashed people irrespective of age and gender. Search operation was just an excuse while their real motive was to target the people. Kids were so scared that they started weeping while witnessing their family members getting thrashed by the armed forces,” the protesters said while blocking the Khanabal-Pahalgam (KP) road.
The protesters raised pro-freedom and anti-army slogans. “The authorities must curb these unbridled forces who on the pretext of search operations even don’t spare womenfolk,” said a protesters to news agency CNS.
A district official said that matter will be looked into while an official from police department denied the allegations saying the search operation culminated peacefully. (CNS)
Migrant Pandit family accuses land broker of land grabbing with the help of Revenue officials
Srinagar, Sep 15, CNS: A Pandit migrant family from Kashmir Valley, presently residing in Jammu has alleged that a land broker in connivance with the officials of Revenue Department has grabbed their ancestral land located at Umarheer Ahmednagar area of Srinagar city.
“Before our migration from Kashmir Valley in 1989, we sold 6 kanals 4 marlas out of 16 kanals of our ancestral land to a land broker who hails from Saraf Kadal Srinagar. The land broker in connivance with some officials from the State Revenue Department grabbed rest of our land after they preparing forged documents. We were extremely shocked to hear this,” the siblings Nansi and Shakuntala Jalai told news agency CNS.
The Jalali family was residing in Habakadal before their migration to Bota Nagar Jammu.
The two daughters of Shambu Nath Jalali thanked local Muslim population for their support. They said that locals have been very supportive as they know the reality. “We were totally dependent on this land but Revenue officials have cheated us. We have brought the issue into the notice of Crime Branch and are hopeful that it will provide us justice,” they said. (CNS)
UJC pays tribute to Abu Ismayil and Abu Qasim
Srinagar, Sep 15, CNS: Conglomerate of militant outfits, United Jehad Council Friday paid rich tribute to Abu Ismayil and Abu Qasim who were killed in a brief encounter in the outskirts of Kashmir capital Srinagar on Thursday.
Syed Salahuddin, the UJC Chief while addressing a high level meeting said that the blood of these martyrs will not go waste.
“The militants have chosen the path of martyrdom and freedom and they will never fail. Sooner or later their blood will show color,” he said and reiterated freedom struggle will continue despite the conspiracies hatched by internal and external sources. (CNS)
SDM recommends suspension of 15 teachers including Principal at a day when class work was suspended
Baramulla, Sep 15, CNS: At a day when District Magistrate Baramulla had ordered for the closure of all the schools and colleges in the district, a team led by SDM Pattan along with some other officials visited Government Higher Secondary School Pattan and recommended for the suspension of that teaching staff including the Principal who were not present in the institution.
A group of teachers wishing anonymity told news agency CNS that due to suspension of class work on Friday, they preferred not to report in the institution in time. “To our shock, a team led by SDM Pattan Sarfaraz Ahmed and Tehsildar Syed Faheem visited our institution and while taking strong note of absence of at least 2 dozen teaching staff, recommended the higher authorities for their suspension. This is sheer injustice. The inspection was done at a day when class work was supposed to remain suspended in the institution,” the teachers said.
These teachers termed the action of the officials as a mere publicity stunt. “This is horrible that you recommend the suspension of the head of Institution to Deputy Commissioner at a day when government had ordered the closure of all the educational institutions in the district,” they said.
SDM Pattan Sarfaraz Ahmad confirmed that he has recommended action against all the absent employees to District Magistrate Baramulla (CNS)
Payment of advertisement bills to be made within 10 days of receipt of bills: Govt
Srinagar, Sep 15, CNS: The Government has ordered that the payment of advertisement bills of the newspapers shall be madewithin 10 days after the receipt of bills.
According to an order issued by the Commissioner Secretary Information, Mr M H Malik, the payments to the newspapers shall be made online by the respective Joint Directors of Information, Kashmir/Jammu who have been already designated independent controlling authority for the release of government advertisements and the payments thereof.
The decision to decentralize advertisement distribution was recently taken on the initiative of Minister for Information, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, and accordingly by virtue of Govt Order No: 32-ID of 2017 dated: 08-09-2017, the provincial Joint Directors of Information in Jammu/Kashmir divisions were vested with the controlling and regulatory powers in this regard.
Pertinently, 467 newspapers and periodicals including 271 in Jammu and 196 in Kashmir division are presently empanelled with DIPR for release of government advertisements.
The DIPR released a payment of around Rs 31 crore to the newspapers and periodicals on account of advertisements during the fiscal 2016-17, including past liabilities, while for the current financial year the advertisement budget is to the tune of Rs 30 crore.
To ensure judicious distr ibution of the government advertisements in light of the Advertisement Policy 2016, the Government has recently constituted a Committee headed by Joint Director Information (Headquarters) for categorization of the approved newspapers and periodicals on the basis of their circulation and other parameters including institutional framework and professional standards.
The Government is also in the process of formulating a separate advertisement policy for the electronic and the digital media. (CNS)
Categorization of Newspapers: DIPR seeks update, objections from stakeholders
Srinagar, Sep 15, CNS: To ensure judicious and transparent distribution of advertisements to the newspapers and periodicals in the State, the Government is in the process of categorization of the approved publications in light of the guidelines laid down in Advertisement Policy-2016.
The Government has already constituted an official panel headed by Joint Director Information (Headquarters) for categorization of the newspapers as per the parameters laid down in Govt Order No: ID/A/22/2017 dated: 13-03-2017.
As a first step the newspapers and periodicals empanelled by the Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) for release of government advertisements were asked to submit various details like circulation, reach, periodicity, language, infrastructure including professional human resource and other similar parameters to facilitate the DIPR to categorize each publication on the basis of its merits.
After repeated reminders, while most of the approved newspapers have submitted the requisite information in bits and pieces some publications are yet to submit the full details.
The details, as provided by various publications in this regard, to the respective Joint Directors of Information, Kashmir/Jammu, have been uploaded in the Notifications section of the official website of the DIPR at http://www.jkdirinf.in/ to seek updation/objections, if any, from the stakeholders.
The updations/objections can be mailed at advt@jkinformation.co.in &jdinformationjk@gmail.com by 7th October, 2017. No objections would be entertained after the stipulated date and the DIPR would proceed ahead with the categorization of the publications on the basis of the data provided by the newspapers as also on the basis of the data collected by DIPR through various official/independent mechanisms.
The newspapers which fail to submit the requisite information within the prescribed time limit would be treated as de-listed from the list of empanelled newspapers.
Pertinently, 467 newspapers and periodicals including 271 in Jammu and 196 in Kashmir division are presently empanelled with DIPR for release of government advertisements.
The Government has also constituted two separate sub-committees for Kashmir and Jammu divisions to review whether the newspapers and periodicals empanelled by DIPR meet the norms set out in the Advertisement Policy-2016 and recommend delisting of any approved newspaper violating the said Policy.
The sub-committees have been vested with powers to recommend delisting of the approved newspapers and periodicals in light of the Provision 6.1 of the Advertisement Policy-2016, if these publications violate the said policy in any respect.
MP Nazir Laway launches 'Swachhata Hi Sewa' drive
Kulgam, Sep 15, CNS: As part of the nation-wide cleanliness drive, the Member of Parliament, Mr. Nazir Ahmad Laway today launched the cleanliness drive - “Swachhata Hi Sewa” from Mini Secretariat Kulgam. He was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, Mr. Talat Parvez Rohella and other district officers.
This cleanliness drive is a fortnight programme starting from 15th of September to 2nd of October, 2017 under which a variety of activities shall be adopted for sanitation and educating the people about the significance of cleanliness.
On the occasion, the MP said that Kashmir is bestowed with serene and beautiful environment and it is our responsibility to preserve the nature and natural resources. He said that Kulgam district has valuable water resources and their preservation and conservation is our utmost duty. He said that constitution has guaranteed right to clean environment and we are duty-bound to ensure that every individual lives in clean environment.
He sought the cooperation of the people in making this drive a successful one and appealed them to discourage the use of polythene and set an example to make the district polythene-free district.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC said that during these 15 days, the departments will adopt innovative strategies in ensuring the best possible cleanliness in the district and said that cleanliness of water sources particularly Veshow and other Nallahs shall be prioritised.
Meanwhile, the DC constituted 5 teams headed by ADDC, ADC, ACR, ACD and Exen PDD who undertook sanitation drives in different areas via District Hospital, Laroo Adda, Simnanai School, Rest House and District Police Lines.
Besides, a schedule of activities for cleanliness and sanitation has also been devised to make the district neat and clean.
The Superintendent, District Hospital Kulgam also launched the drive of cleanliness in the hospital premises. Besides, all the offices lying outside the Mini Secretariat have also launched the sanitation drives from their offices.
As part of the programme, nukkad shows, roadshows, seminars, debates, painting and essay competitions shall be held throughout the district.
Similar functions were also held at Sub Division DH Pora and other Tehsil levels. (CNS)
Rehabilitation:
Batamaloo shopkeepers protest outside CM residence
Srinagar, Sep 15, CNS: The Shopkeepers, transporters and road vendors Friday staged a protest outside Chief Ministers officials residence seeking their rehabilitation prior to the shifting of Batamaloo Bus Stand to Parimpora.
Scores of protesters including shopkeepers, transporters and road vendors operating from Batamaloo Bus Stand assembled outside Gupkar based Chief Ministers residence.
They were trying to attract the attention of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti when police swung into action and detained some of the protesters. Reports said that Chief Minister who was present at her residence called the protesting traders inside and assured them of every possible help.
The protesting traders thanked Chief Minister for her kind support and assurance and hoped that Mehbooba Mufti will keep her word and will rehabilitate them without any delay. (CNS)