Nearly quarter J-K population owns personal car, third highest in India

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December 31, 2022

Around 24 percent of the population of Jammu and Kashmir owns a personal car, according to the statistics released by the union government.

According to the data released in the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021), 23.7 percent of people in J-K own a car. Goa tops the list where 45.2 percent of the population has cars followed by Kerala where 24.2 percent people owned cars.

Also Read ‘New Qualifications For Sarpanch In J&K’, Fake or Real

J-K, including Ladakh, ranks number one in north India followed by Himachal Pradesh where 22.1 percent owns a car. Similarly, in Punjab 21.9 percent owns private vehicles, while in Delhi and Haryana 19.4 and 15.3 percent population own personal cars.

According to the officials, the private owned vehicles in J-K have doubled in the last seven years. The data shows that private vehicles have increased from 12 lakh in 2015 to 24 lakh in 2022.

Sharing the data on his micro-blogging site Twitter, Chairman Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra said, “What are your conclusions when you see this map? I’m curious…(sic),”.

As per the details shared by the Union Finance Ministry, J-K’s per capita income has crossed Rs 1 lakh mark. The data reveals, J-K’s per capita income recorded in the financial year 2019-2020 was Rs 1,02,789.

In 2015-16, per capita income in J-K was Rs 73,215, it went up in 2016-17 to Rs 76,634, in 2017-18 per capita income was Rs 84,471, while in 2018-19 it was Rs 95,448.

However, many in Kashmir complain that the introduction of private vehicles have severely affected the public transport in the erstwhile state.

“In the past 8 years, the public transport in Kashmir has completely disappeared. After 7 pm people in Srinagar can’t think of finding any public vehicles on roads. Situation is worse in towns n villages. Efforts to revive public transport have failed becoz of Govt’s disinterest (sic),” Samaan Lateef, a senior journalist tweeted.

Sajad Ahmad, who lives in Chadoora Budgam, said that he has to leave around 5 pm from Srinagar to catch a cab to reach home.

“I work in Srinagar, and it is very difficult for me to commute, especially in the evening time as you hardly find public transport plying on the road,” he said. “Everybody seems to have their own private vehicles nowadays.”

The average population in India that owns a car has risen up to 7.5 percent compared to 6 percent in 2018.

‘Judiciary only ember of hope’: Mehbooba Mufti seeks SC intervention for justice in J&K

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December 31, 2022

Saying that the “only ember of hope in these bleak circumstances is the judiciary”, former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has written to the Chief Justice of India urging the apex court’s intervention for justice, dignity and human rights for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mufti, in her letter to Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, has said that while the “judiciary has not inspired much confidence”, she has not lost the “unflinching faith and respect for the courts of the country.”

Also Read: 37% decline in terrorist recruitments this year

“I write to you with a deep sense of concern and worry about the prevailing situation in the country especially J&K. Your recent observations on the inability of lower judiciary to grant bail in ordinary cases in a functioning democracy as ours should have been adopted as a directive rather than just being consigned to a single column story churned out in newspapers,” Mufti said in her letter.

When ITBP soldiers are patrolling border, no one can encroach even an inch of our land: Amit Shah

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December 31, 2022

Dec 31: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday lauded the Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP), calling them ‘Himaveer’ (snow bravehearts) and said no one can encroach even an inch of our land when they are there at the borders.

Hailing the ITBP personnel, he said they guard our borders in harsh conditions and that the title of ‘Himaveer’ for them is bigger than Padma Sri and Padma Vibhushan.

“We cannot even imagine how they guard our borders in minus 42 degree Celsius temperature. This can happen only with a strong willpower and supreme degree of patriotism. The ITBP works in the odd geographical conditions in Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh or Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah said after inaugurating the Central Detective Training Institute of the ITBP here.

Also Read Search Operation Conducted Along IB In J&K’s Samba

“People of India call the ITBP soldiers as ‘Himaveer.’ This title is bigger than the Padma Sri and Padma Vibhushan civilian awards. While the civilian awards are the government title, ‘Himaveer’ is the title given by the people of India,” Shah told the gathering.
Among all the central armed police forces, the ITPB works in the most odd weather conditions, he pointed out.

“I am always assured and never worry at all about the Indo-China border when our ITBP soldiers are patrolling or camping because no one there can encroach even an inch of our land,” the Home Minister said.

He also said the Government of India is planning to provide 100 days for the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel to spend time with their family at their headquarters.
“This is necessary from a human point of view,” Shah added.

Search Operation Conducted Along IB In J&K’s Samba

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December 31, 2022

Police and security forces on Saturday conducted a search operation in several forward villages along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police officer said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations-Samba) G R Bhardwaj said the focus of the search operation was to look for any underground tunnel and create public awareness about drones being used to smuggle weapons from across the border. The search operation comes in the wake of a recent gunfight in Sidhra bypass area in Jammu that left four terrorists aboard a Kashmir-bound truck dead. The terrorists are believed to have infiltrated from the International Border (IB) and were heading to the Valley when they were intercepted by the security forces.

Also Read J&K Govt Razes Property Of Hizbul Commander Amir Khan In Pahalgam

”In view of the recent encounter, security has been beefed up and the vulnerable areas searched,” Bhardwaj, leading the joint operation of the police, CRPF and BSF, told reporters.

He said the search operation started from Chek Dhurma, the last village along the IB, Saturday morning.

”We have clear-cut directions to go for frequent search operations to maintain pressure on anti-national elements to foil their nefarious designs. The searches are being carried out especially in areas having wild grass to look for any cross-border tunnel and suspicious objects,” the officer said. He said the opportunity was also used to demonstrate drones to border dwellers so that they can immediately inform the nearest security establishment on seeing any such flying object coming from across the border or lying on the ground.
The operation covered several forward villages, including Manguchek, Sadechek, Regal and Chahwal.

Meet Sushil Kumar, the driver who rescued Rishabh Pant after car accident

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December 31, 2022

India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was taken to the hospital after he narrowly avoided a terrible car accident in the early hours of December 30.

The star cricketer was extracted from the car, according to bus driver Sushil, who was the first person at the scene of the collision to arrive and act. Sushil recognised that the renowned cricketer is Rishabh Pant and stated that he was severely hurt and limping as a result of the accident. Sushil ran to the burning car to rescue Rishabh by smashing the window.

Also Read: Was Rishabh Pant Overspeeding? CCTV footage viral

When he spotted the famous wicketkeeper’s car colliding with the divider, Sushil stated he was coming from the Haridwar side and Rishabh from the Delhi side and he pressed the brakes to assist the Indian cricketer. According to reports, Pant’s vehicle crashed through the roadblock and skidded for around 200 metres. “We are all concerned but thankfully he is stable. We at DDCA are keeping a tab and wish him a speedy recovery,” DDCA secretary Siddharth Sahib Singh said in a statement.

Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, declared that his state will pay for Pant’s medical care entirely. Dhami contacted the authorities to inquire about the cricketer’s condition and to request that they make the necessary arrangements for his care. If necessary, he added, arrangements should be made for an air ambulance. Since Pant was scheduled to attend the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for a strength and conditioning programme in preparation for the Border Gavaskar Trophy in February, he was excluded from the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka commencing on January 3.

Also Read: PM Modi speaks with Rishabh Pant’s mother, inquires about his health

‘New Qualifications For Sarpanch In J&K’, Fake or Real

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December 31, 2022

Jammu, Dec 31: From yesterday, reportedly a notification about ‘New Qualifications For Sarpanch’ has been doing rounds on social media widely, which has confused many people of J&K UT regarding the authencity of this govt order, whether it is bonafide or not.

As per the report, A Government notification invoking ‘J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 under Section 6, 2022’ has set this new qualifications to apply for a Sarpanch in J&K UT, which has been doing rounds on social media, leaving many locals in awe.

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Talking to the media, in a call, Mr Anil Sharma President All J&K Panchayat Conference informed that he has received hundreds of calls on phone from people since yesterday regarding the new credentials to qualify for a ‘Sarpanch’ and he is of the opinion that the govt should confirm that this order is fake or not for the public welfare.

This order is being circulated on social media , but we have no final confirmation on this from the local govt yet. It’s beneficial if well qualified persons elects for this post , but heads of village panchayats are supposed to look after the daily affairs of villages and they are not elected to frame laws for the people, it is the legislature and parliamentarians who make laws in assemblies’’, he said.

He further said that he is not saying that the govt should not amend laws to raise the qualification bar of ‘Panchayati Raj institutions or ‘Local Urban Bodies’, but it should be implemented for everyone.

‘’First, such orders should be proposed in our parliaments for the members, because if well educated people work in our assemblies, it will be very helpful for the masses. We welcome such orders from our administration but it should be implemented for other governmental institutions’’, he added.

37% decline in terrorist recruitments this year

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December 31, 2022

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday said that there was a 37% decline in terrorist recruitments this year as compared to last year.

“This year, 100 fresh recruitments into terrorist ranks were reported showing a decline of 37% compared to last year. Maximum (74) joined LeT. Out of total recruitment, 65 terrorists neutralised in encounters, 17 terrorists arrested and 18 terrorists are still active,” said the ADGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, in a tweet.

“In 2022,, total 93 successful encounters took place in Kashmir in which 172 terrorists including 42 foreign terrorists got neutralised. Maximum terrorists neutralised from LeT/TRF(108) outfit followed by JeM (35), HM (22), Al-Badr (4) and AGuH(3) outfits, said the ADGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, in a tweet.

Civilian Killings

On civilian killings, he said 29 civilians were killed by terrorists, including 21 local residents (6 Hindus, including 3 Kashmiri Pandits, & 15 Muslims) and eight from other states. “All terrorists involved in these terror crimes have been neutralised except Basit Dar & Adil Wani who will be neutralised soon,” he said.

The ADGP said that 26 security forces personnel were martyred this year, including 14 cops of Jammu and Kashmir Police. “During the year, total 26 Security Forces personnel including 14 JKP personnel attained martyrdom during terror attacks/encounters. Majority of terrorists involved in these terror crimes have been neutralized,” he said.

Kumar said that they have observed two “remarkable changes” in the society. “House owners started denying shelter to terrorists and Parents don’t feel proud if their wards join terrorism. Rather they appeal them to return, curse terrorists openly & work with JKP for the return of their wards,” said the ADGP.

Jammu: Three dead in road accident

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December 31, 2022

Three dead in road accident

Three people were killed and one person injured after a vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in the Bani area of Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

Quoting official that a vehicle (JK02BR 5834) fell into a deep gorge at Gera on Bani- Basoli road, leaving three people dead on the spot.

One person who was injured in the mishap was shifted to a hospital by the rescuers including police and local volunteers.

The deceased were identified as Ajay of Billawar, Mohan Lal of Doda and Kaku Ram of Doda while the injured has been identified as Rajesh Kumar.

SHO Bani Jaswinder Singh confirmed the deaths. He said a case has been registered in this regard and further investigations started.

Huge rush witnessed at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine ahead of New Year

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December 31, 2022

The Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu witnessed a huge rush of devotees on Saturday as serpentine queues were seen on the Trikota hills of Katra despite the severe cold conditions ahead of New Year.

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Devotees hailing from different regions of the country, including children, were seen chanting “Jai Mata Di” as they made their way up and down the hill, wishing each other the best ahead of the new year.

Also Read Security beefed up at Vaishno Devi shrine after Sidhra encounter

“I am getting a good feeling. I come here on the eve of every new year. I have been coming here for 5-6 years to pray to Mata Devi. I am feeling good,” said Manish Kumar, a devotee from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, who was seen chanting “Jai Mata Di”.

Poonam Sharma, another devotee said, “I wish that ‘Mata Rani’ shower her blessings upon everyone. Everyone remain happy. May the new year turn out well and bring happiness to everyone”.

J&K Govt Razes Property Of Hizbul Commander Amir Khan In Pahalgam

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December 31, 2022

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday bulldozed a one-storey building at Lewar village in Pahalgam that belonged to terror group Hizbul Mujahideen’s commander, Amir Khan.

According to sources, Ghulam Nabi Khan alias Amir Khan is a top operational commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen. He crossed over to Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) in the early 90s.

Also Read: Authorities issue avalanche alert in J-K

The J&K administration’s joint operation team carried out the drive in the presence of a Magistrate in Lewar village of Anantnag district. A bulldozer demolished the compound wall of Hizb commander Amir Khan’s property that was constructed on encroached government land.

Officials said that the step was taken to make the Valley terror-free and instill people’s faith in the Government.

Also Read: Commissioning of Jammu AIIMS to give major fillip to healthcare: DC Samba