Jammu and Kashmir Police have booked Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP’s) District President Bandipora and his Sarpanch associate for allegedly collecting Rs one lakh from a woman in place of getting her incarcerated brother released. The Police have also seized the money, official sources said.

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They said that BJP’s District President for Bandipora, Abdul Rehman Tikri, and his “accomplice”, a Sarpanch identified as Mushtaq Ahmad of Darmahama, had demanded and accepted Rs 1 lakh from the woman Miss Anjum Khursheed instead of releasing her incarcerated brother Aqib Khursheed from Jail.

Meanwhile, a police official, while confirming the incident, said that a case (FIR No. 64) under Section 420 IPC (cheating) stands registered against the accused, and investigations are underway.

He said that the money was also seized from the accused duo, and both were later released after thorough questioning as they produced an anticipatory bail.

A car fell down from a bridge on the road near Veer Bhoomi Park. After the accident, the local people present there came forward to help. He took out the injured person from the car and took him to Samba District Hospital, where the injured died during treatment.

Also Read: CBI Raids Residence Of Serving IAS Officer In J&K, Others

The dead car driver was an army man and had come home on leave. He was coming towards Samba from Rajbhag for some work that suddenly an accident happened near Veer Bhumi. The deceased jawan Manpreet Singh’s son Sujan Singh has been reported as a resident of Hardo Muththi, Rajbagh, District Kathua.

According to official statistics from the Union Ministry of Rural Development, Jammu and Kashmir rank third in developing their rural road network under the Prime Minister’s Village Road Scheme (PMGSY) after Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Between 2001 and 2022, at least 3,139 km of roads were constructed in the Union Territory, connecting 114 settlements, while six J&K districts out of 30 districts under this program achieved maximum length of road construction in the same period.

PMGSY was launched at J&K in 2001-02 to provide all-weather connectivity to uninhabited housing in rural areas with a population of over 250, according to the 2001 census.

The Ministry of Rural Development approved 3,347 projects under PMGSY-I to construct 18,432.79 km of roads at the cost of Rs. Under PMGYS-II, 107 projects with a length of 704.55 km were approved at Rs.790.49 crore.

The six rural districts of the Jammu region – Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Riyasi, Kathua and Rajouri – have shown rapid development. Among them, Udhampur was the top-performing district with the completion of a 644.05 km road network in 2021-22, followed by Doda (362.5 km), Kishtwar (302.88 km), Reasi (299 km), Kathua (275.88 km) and Rajouri. (215.98 km), according to official figures.

From 2001 to 2015, the J&K government completed 1,024 PMGSY schemes connecting 993 dwellings by constructing a 3,641.82 km road network at Rs 2,232.71 crore.

In 2015-16, 163 schemes (707.2 km) were completed at Rs 305.23 crore, providing connectivity to 85 housing units in the Union Territory. According to official data, in 2016-17, 89 schemes (1,785.16 km) were completed, which connected 238 dwellings at Rs 428.3 crore.

In 2017-18, 151 schemes (1,804.54 km) were completed at Rs 827.37 crore, providing connections to 153 dwellings. In 2018-19, 226 schemes (1,622.2 km) had been completed, and 221 dwellings were connected at Rs 910.72 crore. In 2019-20, 214 schemes (1,325.67 km) were completed at Rs 1,324.12 crore, connecting 148 dwellings in J&K.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit on April 24 to Palli village of Vijaypur in Samba district, security agencies have arrested five suspects from the Hiranagar sector on the India-Pakistan International Border. After preliminary interrogation, two of these people have been sent to Jammu for investigation.

Also Read: J&K: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists Gundown in Ongoing Encounter

Based on inputs, the police detained the suspects with a bag and some documents after raiding the villages adjoining the Dabish border in the early hours of Wednesday. SSP Kathua Ramesh Chandra Kotwal said some suspects had been caught and questioned. Out of these, one resident of Udhampur and one resident of Kathua have been sent to Jammu for investigation.

People are called for investigation based on inputs, this process is part of that. However, intelligence sources said that the police had recovered bags and incriminating documents from the suspects. The police launched a search operation at 5 am on Wednesday in Lachhipur, Gyal Bund, Maheshe Chak, and Mandala villages adjacent to IB based on information about suspicious activities.

During the Special Team (SOG) search of CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police, five suspects from Mandala and Gyal Bund were detained by the police and interrogated at Rajbagh police station.

J&K Police requests all internet users not to provide WiFi and hot spots to strangers and criminals. Legal action will be taken against internet providers if anyone is involved in such matters.

In the past, it is known that the terrorists and their helpers talked to each other using the facility of other hot spots in mutual conversation to avoid the radar of security forces. Also, they are using those mobiles. Those who are less likely to be suspected by the police. This new modus operandi was revealed during the investigation of security agencies.

Amish Mahajan

Central Bureau of Investigation carries out raids at the residences of senior IAS officer Navin Choudhary (Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare), former officers of Chenab Valley Projects Construction Limited, and a construction company in Jammu, New Delhi, Bihar and Mumbai.

Also Read: DC Jammu among other DCs get PM’s Awards for Excellence in civil services

Official sources said that the raids connected with a corruption case registered by the CBI on the asking of the J&K government.

Further details are awaited.

An encounter is going on between security forces and terrorists in Baramulla of Kashmir division in the early hours of Thursday. So far, three jawans and one civilian have been injured. The injured were immediately admitted to the nearest hospital for treatment. Firing continues from both sides. Meanwhile, two other terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba’s dreaded terrorist Yusuf Katanru were killed in the encounter. The slain LeT terrorist Kantru was also involved in the killing of a police SPO and his brother in Budgam last month.

According to the information, security forces and local police received information about the hiding of terrorists in the Malwa area of ​​Baramulla district of North Kashmir late last night. Soon after, the search operation started late in the night, the terrorists hiding in one place, taking advantage of the darkness, suddenly started firing on the security forces. The security forces immediately took the front and opened fire on the hideout of the terrorists. So far, three jawans and one civilian have been injured during the ongoing firing from both sides. Security forces have succeeded in neutralizing three LeT terrorists. Firing is still going on from the terrorists at the encounter site.

Kashmir’s IG Vijay Kumar said that the encounter between security forces and terrorists is going on in the Malwa area of ​​Baramulla. He admitted that three jawans and a civilian suffered minor injuries in the ongoing firing from both sides. He continues to be treated in the hospital. Soon the terrorists will be eliminated. Other details are awaited.

Keeping in view the upcoming Baba Amarnath Yatra, the terrorists had threatened to disturb the Yatra a few days back. However, for the safety of lakhs of devotees coming from the country and abroad, better security arrangements have been made across the state. Since the number of terrorists in Kashmir is now negligible and to register their presence and boost morale, terrorists carry out nefarious designs to target security forces and civilians. There has been a sudden increase in terrorist incidents in Kashmir in the last few days. This is because the terrorist masters sitting across the border have pressure on the terrorists operating in Kashmir, but now the youth of Kashmir do not want to follow the path of terrorism. Due to this, the number of terrorists is now counted.

Amish Mahajan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will confer the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration tomorrow on the occasion of Civil Services Day, including an Administrative Secretary and three Deputy Commissioners posted in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Departments of Jammu and Kashmir will get the award for the successful conduct of Panchayat elections in the Union Territory.

Sheetal Nanda, a senior IAS officer, Administrative Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj when the elections were held, will receive the award on behalf of the Department.

Presently, she is posted in the Social Welfare Department.

Three Deputy Commissioners, who will get the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration, are Anshul Garg, Deputy Commissioner Jammu (awarded for his posting as Kupwara DC in 2020), Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary, DC Pulwama, who will be awarded for his tenure as DC Kargil in 2020 and Dr Piyush Singla, DC Anantnag, who will get the award for the year 2021 as the DC in the same district.

Dr Singla has been awarded to implement the PM-SVANidhi Scheme in Municipal Council Anantnag.

The Scheme facilitated working capital loans up to Rs 10,000 to street vendors to resume their business hit by the COVID pandemic, incentives in regular payment and digital reward transactions. The Scheme helped formalise the street vendors and opened up new opportunities.

The award for the year 2021 will be received physically by the Civil Services officers.

The Prime Minister will also address Civil Servants during the event, the PMO said, noting that the award has been instituted to recognise “extraordinary and innovative” work done by districts and other implementing units besides Central and State organisations for the welfare of common citizens.

They are also honoured to implement identified priority programmes and innovation effectively.

Exemplary work done in five identified priority programmes will be given awards, including promoting people’s participation in ‘Poshan Abhiyan’, promoting excellence in sports and wellness through the ‘Khelo India’ scheme, digital payments and good governance in ‘PM SVANidhi Yojana’, holistic development through ‘One District One Product’ scheme and seamless, end-to-end delivery of services without human intervention.

The PMO said a total of 16 awards would be given this year.

Asserting that the mercury may rise to 47 degrees Celsius this summer, Jammu Municipal Corporation Commissioner Avny Lavasa appealed to the people to keep water bowls for stray animals to help them beat the heat.

Lavasa said the scorching heat takes a toll on humans and affects stray animals, cattle, and birds.

Every year, several animals and birds die of heatstroke, and one major reason behind their untimely death is a lack of access to drinking water.

“We can save these animals and birds from the plight of summer months by putting a bowl of water outside our homes at prominent places and offices,” the JMC commissioner said.

Lavasa further pointed out that lack of water induces aggressive behaviour in animals, and putting water bowls outside homes and offices can keep them in check.

She appealed to the people to let humanity prevail in these tough times by caring for these voiceless creatures.

The winter capital Jammu recorded the season’s hottest day on April 11 at 39.6 degrees Celsius, 7.5 notches above normal.

The J&K government on Wednesday announced a 3 per cent hike in Dearness Allowance to pensioners and family pensioners from January 2, 2022.

As per an order issued to this effect by the General Administration Department, the new DA rate will be 34 per cent of basic pension/ family pension against the existing 32 per cent.

On account of the revised DA, the arrears shall be paid in cash to employees and form part of the pension after April.

Besides, DA involving fractions of 50 paise shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee and fractions below 50 paise shall be ignored.

Chief education officer Kishtwar Sudarshan Kumar Sharma has suspended a government female teacher with a teacher on contract in her place and attached it to the Inderwal Education Zone office. Along with this, orders for investigation have been issued by forming a team of three officers.

In Jansiri Primary School, a remote village falling under the Inderwal Education Zone of Kishtwar district, for a long time, a government female teacher had hired a young man from the village to teach children in her place. However, she did not go to school. On receiving the complaint, Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Inderwal Sunil Rana and Zonal Education Planning Officer (ZEPO) Shahnawaz Hussain conducted a surprise inspection, in which they found the complaint to be correct.

Instead of the said female teacher, a 12th pass youth was found teaching children. The ZEO gave a report to the Chief Education Officer, on which the female teacher Nusrat Bano was suspended. Nusrat has been attached to Inderwal Education Zone Office Chhatu. Apart from ZEPO Inderwal, two higher secondary schools’ principals have constituted a team of principals, and orders have been given for investigation. This team will submit the report within ten days.

Chief Education Officer Sudarshan Kumar Sharma said that many such schools in remote areas where government teachers do not give duty. He works by sending youths to his place. He said we had received much such information, and they are on the radar now. Strict action will be taken against them also. He also said that this action would alert him, but if the department has taken the lead in reforming the education sector, then it will improve, in which we are engaged.

Amish Mahajan