Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said the government is committed to establishing peace in Jammu and Kashmir instead of the “past practice of buying it”.

He said the security forces have gained the upper hand in countering terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and are working to destroy the terror ecosystem in the Union Territory.

“We will not buy peace. Instead, we will establish peace (in Jammu and Kashmir)”, Sinha told reporters at the Raj Bhawan.

Sinha, who was replying to a question about an environment of fear being created in Kashmir by selective killings by terrorists, said the “intention of our administration is very clear that not to buy peace but establish it”.

“The era had gone when peace was bought in Jammu and Kashmir.

We will establish it. We want to destroy the ecosystem of terrorism from its roots”, he added.

The LG further maintained that it might take time, but the government will destroy the terror ecosystem.

“The security forces have the upper hand (over terrorists). This is an accepted fact. As a result, our security forces have been able to break their (terrorists) backbone”, he said.

Sinha said terrorists are attacking soft targets out of frustration, but it is being taken care of.

He cautioned that such incidents could occur in future as well.

Anti Corruption Bureau received a complaint alleging that Layaqat Raheem Poswal S/o Abdul Raheem Poswal R/o Tangmarg, Aharbal, appointed as Class-IV employee and working as Clerk in the office of Naib Tehsildar, Tangmarg Aharbal, Kulgam, is demanding ₹7,000 from the complainant for issuance of Schedule Tribe Certificate. The complainant had already paid ₹3500 to the accused. However, the accused Clerk demanded the remaining money of ₹3,500 from him. On this, the complainant approached ACB for taking necessary legal action.

Upon receiving the instant complaint, prima facie offence U/S 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 was found. Consequently, a case FIR No. 06/2022 was registered in PS ACB Anantnag and an investigation was taken up.

During the investigation, a trap team was constituted. The team caught red-handed Layaqat Raheem Poswal S/o Abdul Raheem Poswal R/o Tangmarg, Aharbal, while demanding and accepting the bribe of ₹3,500/- from the complainant. He was arrested on the spot by the ACB team. The bribe money was also recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses.

Further investigation into the case is on.

A satellite phone was recovered during the baggage check of a Swiss citizen who arrived at the Jammu airport. Under the law, if anyone brings a satellite phone from abroad, he has to take permission from the Government of India for its use, which the woman did not take. SHO Satwari Sameer Jilani said that since the case was related to a foreign woman, the police completed the investigation of the case in two days and presented the challan in court. The court has ordered the woman to confiscate her satellite phone along with a fine of one thousand rupees. However, when the woman returns to the state, she will be given a phone.

He said that a case was registered against the woman under Section 20-21 of the Indian Telegraph Act. Checking of passengers’ luggage started in an aircraft that reached Jammu airport from Delhi. During this, the satellite phone was recovered during scanning a bag. The bag belonged to Ana Luigia, a resident of Switzerland.

ITBP officials posted in the security of Jammu airport informed the Satwari police, who confiscated the phone. The woman was asked to stay in a hotel outside the Jammu airport. He was instructed not to go out of Jammu. The woman told during interrogation that she had brought this phone with her from abroad.

Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir’s security situation is much better than before, DGP Dilbag Singh said militants are being “neutralised” within the shortest possible time of committing an act of terror. However, terror groups and their handlers in Pakistan are hurt by the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir, which is evident from the increased attempts to smuggle weapons from across the border and replace local stooges with Pakistani terrorists said.

“The security situation is far better than before, and counter-insurgency operations are being carried out daily. However, there is no doubt that terror elements are doing their actions, but those involved in such attacks are being identified and neutralised soon,” the director-general of police (DGP) told reporters at Palli village in Samba district.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and the police chief visited Palli panchayat, the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on National Panchayat Day on April 24, to oversee the arrangements.

Asked about the recent spurt in terror attacks, including the latest killing of a Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district and owning of the attack by two terror groups, he said they are all basically Lashar-e-Taiba (LeT) affiliates who are indulging in such activities on the directions from their handlers across the border.“It is like mushroom growth in the rainy season. Such groups have no existence on the ground, and four groups claim one action. So we are alive to the situation, and those involved are being identified, and we are hopefully neutralising them soon,” he said.

The DGP said police had got “solid clues” with regard to Monday’s attack on RPF personnel, and those involved in the incident will be brought to justice soon.

He referred to the recent killing of two Pakistani terrorists involved in an attack on a CRPF party in Srinagar and said, “When local stooges fail, they are replaced by Pakistani terrorists who are given fake Aadaar cards (to move freely). Both the terrorists were killed within seven days after they attacked the CRPF personnel in the city.” Singh said the terrorists are assigning the job of attacking a soft target to recruits.

“The recruit is allowed to join only after he acts to ensure that he does not come out of their net,” Singh said. He said police would give a befitting reply to any “cowardly act” being carried out by the terrorists. Asked whether the terrorists want to instil fear ahead of the Amarnath yatra, which is scheduled to begin on June 30, Singh said, “All necessary preparations are being made for the annual pilgrimage for its success.” “As I said, the situation is getting better with each passing day, much to the dislike of the terror groups and their handlers who do not want peace. Therefore, we are carrying out counter-terrorism operations to neutralise all such groups. They are being identified and neutralised within the shortest possible time,” he said. On the recovery of a consignment of arms and ammunition from the Kupwara district of north Kashmir on Tuesday morning, the DGP said Pakistan is trying to smuggle more weapons, but the security forces foiled several such attempts both in Jammu and Kashmir divisions.

“They are sending every type of weapons like AK, pistols and grenades. Pistol-bound terrorists mostly carry out attacks in the city, and our effort is to bust all terror modules and seize the smuggled weapons,” he said.
About a bomb hoax call leading to the search of a Delhi-bound flight at Srinagar airport on Monday, Singh said the investigation is on to know the motive and the purpose behind the call.

“The committee looking after Airport security investigated the matter yesterday. It was a non-specific call, but the security procedure was followed at the airport,” he said.

He added that the location from where the call was made had been identified, and further investigation is on.

Amish Mahajan

Army has given a big gift to the villagers by constructing a footbridge across the river under Operation Insaniyat in Jala village of Chhatru area in Kishtwar district of Jammu division. With this people will be able to cross the river easily. Now his life will not be in danger. The construction of this bridge will facilitate the movement of half a dozen more villages around. They will have to reduce the distance from four to five kilometres to reach the student.

Earlier, to cross this Nankoon river, the villagers had to pass through the two trees put in the river at the risk of their lives. Whether women, children, older people, or cattle, all faced difficulties crossing the river. None of the public representatives or administrative officials cared for the villagers and paid no attention to their problems. Recently, a boy from Jala village had fallen into the water while crossing it with the help of trees planted in the river, which was somehow saved. After that, the villagers demanded the construction of a bridge from the administration.

He also approached the 11 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army located in the Chhatru area for help. When the army came to know that the village people were able to cross the river with great difficulty and go out of the village and reach back to their homes, they took the initiative to build a footbridge there. Within a week, the army built an iron footbridge named Insaniyat Bridge in the village.

Army’s 11 Rashtriya Rifles have built a 45 feet long and three feet wide iron footbridge for the people. The bridge is strong enough to bear the load of five-six persons. It can also be used for the movement of cattle. This initiative of the army has further strengthened the relationship with the public. The footbridge was inaugurated on Monday by Brigadier Pranab Mishra, Commander, 9 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, in the presence of administrative officials, dignitaries, and people.

This iron footbridge dedicated to the people of the area has reduced the distance of this village, including half a dozen surrounding villages. Chhatru town is about seven kilometres away from these remote villages. With the construction of this bridge, the distance of students from these villages has been reduced by four to five kilometres. Smiles have come on people’s faces. They appreciate this work of the army.

Amish Mahajan

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is arriving in the Jammu region on Panchayati Raj Diwas, celebrated on April 24. He also said that PM Modi would inaugurate a series of hydel power projects.

“All the arrangements are in place to celebrate Panchayati Raj Diwas on April 24. PM Modi will be arriving in Jammu on this day to address Panchayati representatives. He will also inaugurate a series of projects. There will be a ground-breaking ceremony where he will inaugurate hydel power projects, besides other developmental projects,” the LG said to a news agency.

He said that he was satisfied with the arrangements being put in place for the smooth function of PM Modi on April 24.

A CRPF trooper has died, while almost twelve others have sustained injuries in a road accident during night hours in the Hyderpora bypass area of summer capital Srinagar.

Sources said that during night hours, one truck bearing registration No. JK05K 7200 hit one CRPF vehicle bearing registration No. HR55AC 5705 of B Coy 181 BN CRPF near IQ Mall Hyderpora resulted in the injuries of twelve troopers and a conductor of a civil truck.

All the injured CRPF personnel were shifted to Composite Hospital BSF STC Humhama, where one Constable identified as M.N Mani succumbed to his injuries, sources said, adding that two CRPF troopers identified as ASI Jasraj and constable Sushant Biswas have been referred to 92 Base Hospital and injured conductor of the civil truck has been shifted to SMHS hospital for treatment.

The injured persons were identified as Manjesh Kumar, Driver Hemraj Saini, Sushant Biswas, Ganga Ram, Inspector Ashish Mishra, ASI Jasraj Batti, Sushant Kumar Swain, Dilip Kumar, Shiv Kumar, Pramod Kiro, Gyan Prakash, and conductor of civil truck identified as Tanveer Hussain Dar, son of Ghulam Hussain Dar, a resident of Balhama Srinagar.

A police officer, while confirming the incident, said a case had been registered in this regard, and further investigation has been taken up.

Om Parkash Zonal President National Conference of samba distt and hundreds of his followers joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today.

Om Parkash and his supporters were welcomed by AAP’s senior leader and former minister Yashpal Kundal and President Jammu Punch Lokhsabha, Amit Kapoor.

Mohan Singh Bhatti, Mohan Lal, Darshan Lal, Sarpanches, and Panches, who all recently joined the AAP, were also present during the joining programme held at Ramgarh, wherein many people from adjoining areas remained present amid sweltering heat.

“AAP has emerged as a viable alternative in J&K to the time tested political outfits. Political leaders like me were looking for an option which could fulfil the aspirations of Jammu people who were feeling cheated by the BJP, Congress, National Conference and PDP,” said Om Parkash.

While addressing Yashpal, Kundal said that “AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has pledged to establish good governance in the country with people-friendly policies. I also joined the Aam Aadmi Party influenced by his work,” he added. Yashpal Kundal raised serious concern over the problems faced by J&K youth, especially at the front of employment.

He said that youth are in utter frustration on finding their future bleak due to the absence of any result-oriented employment policies by the UT Administration. He said that people have understood the befooling tactics of the BJP and will teach it a lesson in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has strongly condemned the police lathi-charge over the daily wage workers at Jammu, who were protesting for their genuine demands peacefully, seeking the promised regularization of the BJP but are betrayed.

In a statement JKPCC President Shri Ghulam Ahmed Mir, besides Working President Shri Raman Bhalla, Vice President Shri Mula Ram, Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, T.S. Bajwa (EX-MP), Th. Balwan Singh, Manmohan Singh and others have strongly condemned the action of the police in the direction of the Government in which the protesters were brutally lathi-charged who were protesting for the release of wages and regularization of their services. They said that this kind of action of the Government is highly objectionable, as the workers were protesting for their genuine demands, the BJP had promised them regularization before Assembly elections in 2014 but has betrayed them all.

PCC Chief demanded that the Govt. frame policy for the regularization of all daily wagers, need-based workers engaged in PHE, IFC and other departments by the Govt. time to time to provide necessary services to the public.

He said that the previous governments had already undertaken exercises for regularization of workers under various categories, however, he regretted that instead of considering their genuine claims for regularization, the present dispensation used force to curve the voice of these poor workers and other temporary employees, engaged temporarily in different departments for years together.

They urged the Govt. to immediately start the process of regularising these workers and other temporary employees in a phased manner and stop giving them inhuman treatment. The party extended full support to their peaceful struggle and protest.

The two newly opened wine shops at Sarwal Morh, New Plot, create traffic chaos on the busy Amphalla-Janipur Road.

In peak hours, huge traffic jam is usually witnessed on this busy and congested RoadRoad, but the two newly opened wine shops at Sarwal Morh (New Plot) has added to motorists’ woes by bringing traffic to a halt on the Amphalla-Tali Morh stretch of the RoadRoad.

Specifically, these wine shops swarmed with buyers who parked their vehicles on roads during evening hours, subjecting commuters to severe road stress. As a result, heavy traffic jams have become a daily affair at this stretch of the RoadRoad during peak hours. Throngs at wine shops dotting the stretch only worsen the situation.

“There is no parking space near these wine shops. All the vehicles are parked on the RoadRoad, leading to narrowing of the space,” said Vijay Kumar (a motorist). This has become a daily affair, but the traffic police department has shut its eyes. They remain active in the day, but they are found nowhere in the evening when the traffic increases.

Vishal Sharma, another commuter, said that the issue was highlighted even on social media platforms and brought to the notice of the Police Department, but the Police took no step to regulate the traffic. Moreover, he wondered how the Excise Department had permitted two wine shops in the same area on the main RoadRoad.

“As there is no wine shop in this area from Amphalla to Bantalab except these two at Newplot, a huge rush of buyers is witnessed in these wine shops in the evening. With no parking place nearby and no presence of Police outside these shops, the wine buyers parked their vehicles on the RoadRoad, leading to traffic snarls,” said Sandeep Singh, a motorist stuck in the traffic jam.