Page 109 - Jammu And Kashmir

Whenever held, polls in J-K will be free and fair: LG Manoj Sinha

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday assured the people that whenever the assembly elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir, it will be conducted in free and fair manner. Sinha said he was confident that all election officials will conduct free and fair elections in future. "Whenever assembly election will be held in Jammu and Kashmir, I assure you that they will be held in free and fair manner", Sinha, who took part in the 13th national voters' day celebrations at convention centre here, said. The LG said there were two type of legislators here in Jammu and Kashmir, one was elected by people and another by "khaleef sahib" (selected one). "Now J&K has got rid of it", he said. Taking a dig at those who raked up the issue of large scale increase in the number of voters, he said some people unnecessarily tried to incite the feelings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "The publication of electoral rolls saw increase of over 11 lakh voters. An atmosphere was being created that over 7

Army on high alert in J&K along LoC to thwart infiltration by terrorists

The Army has intensified its vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Poonch districts to thwart any attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into this side to disturb the Republic Day celebrations, taking advantage of low visibility, officials said. The border security grid along the 220-km LoC, starting from Sunderbani sector in Rajouri and ending at Saujiyan in Poonch, was maintaining the highest alert due to inclement weather for the last five days, the Army officials said. They said there was intermittent rainfall in the entire stretch for the last five days coupled with foggy conditions and low visibility. The possibility of infiltration attempts by terrorists to disturb Republic Day, taking advantage of the low visibility remains there. So we are alert to foil their nefarious designs, an Army officer said. He said though the troops guarding the LoC always remain on high alert round the clock, extra alertness is maintained on several occasions like

Ensure proper security for Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar: ADGP Security

Additional Director General of Police, Security, Jammu and Kashmir, S D Singh Jamwal on Wednesday directed officers to ensure proper security for the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra in the city. Jamwal chaired a meeting of officers of the police, Army, CAPF and the civil administration at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here to finalise the arrangements for Republic Day celebrations. He also reviewed security arrangements for the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the G20 event to be held here. With reference to Congress' foot march, Jamwal emphasised upon the officers that the security for the Yatra should be taken care of in coordination with all sister agencies and stakeholders. He stressed that nodal officers from all security and police agencies should coordinate the arrangements as per the guidelines. The ADGP also directed the officers to make necessary security arrangements for Republic Day celebrations. He stressed on proper and intensive foot-patrolling, surveillance of the area in and a

75,000 youth given entrepreneurship opportunity during Jan Abhiyan in J-K

Asserting that 75,000 youth were provided with entrepreneurship opportunities during the Jan-Abhiyan programme in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday. The administration has taken many steps to create supportive infrastructure, schemes and policies to speed up the economic development of the Union Territory, he said and saluted the hard work of all the youth who have helped build a new Jammu and Kashmir. At a function here, Sinha said, "As many as 75,000 youths have been provided entrepreneurship opportunities during Jan Abhiyan in Jammu and Kashmir." "The administration will ensure aspirations, creativity and enterprise of every youth are realized and they are empowered. We have been steadfast in our resolve to provide self-employment opportunities to youth and last year," the LG said. On the eve of the 74th Republic Day, Sinha handed over certificates to selected youth who have availed the facility to start their own business venture. LG further

All security measures in place for BJY along Jammu-Srinagar highway: CRPF

Security forces are on alert and have put in place all measures along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for the safety of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, officials said on Wednesday, a day before it is scheduled to reach Kashmir. CRPF Deputy Inspector General (Operations), South Kashmir, Alok Avasthi said the force is anyway always on alert. "We are more alert as far as the Bharat Jodo Yatra is concerned. Otherwise also, we are alert always. Whoever travels on the highway should feel safe, we have taken all security measures," he told reporters in Pulwama. Asked about the security measures for Republic Day, Avasthi said any intelligence about attempts to vitiate the peace here will be acted upon strongly. "We are fully alert. If there are intelligence inputs of any element trying to disrupt peace, we will destroy those elements," the CRPF officer said. Earlier, the CRPF distributed sewing machines among beneficiaries who had approached the CRPF helpline 'Madadgaar'.

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes amid rains in J-K's Ramban

Amid incessant rains, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Ramban Wednesday and is heading for the highway town of Banihal. The journey from Ramban to Banihal along the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway - the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country -- is the most challenging due to several problematic stretches, including Panthiyal, Mehar and Magerkote which are prone to shooting of stones from the hillocks overlooking the arterial road. Traffic on the highway was suspended Wednesday morning after heavy rains triggered shooting of stones at a few places in Ramban district that left a truck driver dead and two others injured. J-K Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Jahanzaib Sirwal said the yatra resumed around 9 am from Bathi after an hour-long delay due to heavy rains and was progressing smoothly on day 131, covering the old alignment road via Maitra in Ramban town. Gandhi, who started the yatra wearing his trademar

Will contest Jammu-Kashmir assembly polls with 'full might', says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday said it will contest Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls with "full might and political power" whenever they are held. The decision was taken by the party at a meeting here chaired by AAP's national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak who is also the party's poll strategist. The meeting was attended by AAP's election in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir Imran Hussain as well as the office bearers of the party's unit in the Union territory. Addressing the meeting, Pathak, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said that AAP will take part and contest next assembly and panchayat elections in J&K. "We will contest the next assembly and panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir with full might and political power, the AAP quoted Pathak as saying during the meeting. Pathak also asked the AAP's J&K unit leadership to increase the pace of their efforts to strengthen the party's base in every town and village there, the party added. In the first round of the .

Jammu and Kashmir Bank Q3 net profit rises 79% to Rs 311 cr; NII up 27%

Jammu and Kashmir Bank on Monday said its December quarter net profit rose 79 per cent to Rs 311.59 crore. The net profit rose to Rs 311.59 crore as against Rs 173.95 crore registered for the same period last fiscal, a bank spokesperson said during its December quarter results announcement. The bank was well on its trajectory to meet annual profitability targets, the spokesperson added. "The bank's profit for nine months is up 85 per cent to Rs 721.05 crore from Rs 389.36 crore clocked during nine months of the last fiscal," he said. Its Net Interest Income (NII) increased 27 per cent to Rs 1,257.38 crore for the October-December quarter as compared to Rs 993.30 crore reported previous year. It posted a growth of 19 per cent Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) for nine months to Rs 3,495.73 crore. The bank's operating profit grew 65 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 544.11 crore during the quarter under review. "Driven largely by an improving asset-quality through better SMA management and vigorous recoveri

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes from Vijaypur, nears Jammu city

The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed from Vijaypur in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir amid heightened security

Jammu and Kashmir govt launches Rs 879-crore food processing project

The project shall create 7,030 direct jobs and lead to establishment of 34 enterprises with expected revenue generation to the tune of Rs 1,436.04 crore every year

National Investigation Agency team visits Narwal twin-blast site in J-K

A special team of the National Investigation Agency on Sunday inspected the scene of the twin blasts here, officials said. Back-to-back blasts in Narwal on the outskirts of Jammu City had left nine people injured on Saturday. Police suspect that improvised explosive devices were used to carry out the twin explosions in an SUV parked in a repair shop and in a vehicle at a nearby junkyard at the Transport Nagar area. The explosions occurred at a time when security agencies in the region are on high alert for the Congress' ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra and the upcoming Republic Day celebrations. The National Investigation Agency team visited the site of the blasts in the morning and the federal anti-terror agency is likely to take over the case for a thorough probe, the officials said. Officers of the probe agency spent over an hour at the scene of the blasts and collected samples before leaving. Senior officers of the Indian Army also visited the area for inspection for the second day, t

Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes amid tight security in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua

The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed Sunday from Hiranagar in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district amid heightened security in the wake of twin blasts in Jammu. After a day-long break, the foot march started as per schedule around 7 am from Hiranagar near the International Border along the Jammu-Pathankot highway which was sealed by police and other security forces. Accompanied by J-K Pradesh Congress chief Vikar Rasool Wani, working president Raman Bhalla and hundreds of volunteers carrying the tricolour, Gandhi entered Samba district's Tapyal-Gagwal after crossing Londi check point at around 8 am and was greeted by enthusiastic workers and supporters waiting on both sides of the road. After covering about 25-km distance, the march will have a night halt at Chak Nanak before restarting from Samba's Vijaypur for Jammu, where it will reach on Monday. Officials said adequate security arrangements are in place for Gandhi with police, CRPF and other security

J-K LG seeks active participation of edu institutions in G20 meeting in UT

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday sought the active participation of educational institutions in the G20 meeting to be held in the Union Territory

Frame policy to identify poor and vest them with ownership rights: Lone

People's Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Saturday said a policy should be framed to define criteria for identifying the poor and vest them with ownership rights.

Land mine found near Army post in J-K's Poonch, destroyed, says official

A land mine was found near an Army post and subsequently destroyed in a controlled explosion in Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Poonch Saturday, officials said

9 injured in Jammu in twin blast, 2 days ahead of Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra

Police suspect that IEDs were used to carry out the twin explosions in an SUV parked in a repair shop and in a vehicle at a nearby junkyard at Transport Nagar area of Narwal

J-K LG condemns twin blasts in Jammu, calls for steps to identify culprits

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday strongly condemned the twin blasts here and called for urgent steps to identify and take action against those responsible

Seven people injured in twin blasts amid heightened security in Jammu

Seven people were injured in two explosions within a span of 15 minutes here on Saturday, sources said. The additional director general of police (Jammu zone) confirmed the explosions and injuries to six people. Hospital sources, however, said seven people were admitted with splinter injuries and all of them are "stable". The blasts in the transport yard of Narwal were triggered by suspected terrorists at a time when security agencies in the region are on high alert amid the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra of the Congress and the upcoming Republic Day celebrations. The first blast occurred around 10.45 am, followed by another explosion, an official said, adding that the whole area was cordoned off and a search operation underway. Jaswinder Singh, an eyewitness, said the first blast occurred in a vehicle that was sent to a workshop for repairs. Fifteen minutes later, another explosion nearby littered the area with damaged parts and garbage, said Singh, chief of the Motor Spare Parts ...

Jammu-Kashmir's LG Manoj Sinha condoles loss of lives in Kathua mishap

J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the Kathua road accident."Anguished by the loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Kathua. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured. Directed district administration to provide the best possible treatment to injured," tweeted Sinha.On Friday night, in a tragic road accident, five persons were killed and 15 others were seriously injured at the Dhanu Parole village in Jammu & Kashmir's Billawar.According to the police, the accident took place after the vehicle travelling from Koug to Dannu Parole fell into a deep gorge after rolling down at Sila. The accident initially killed four people and the fifth person succumbed to the injuries later.The 15 injured persons have been taken to the Sub District Hospital in Billawar.The deceased have been identified as Bantu, Hans Raj, Ajeet Singh, Amroo, and Kaku ...

Fresh light snowfall in parts of Kashmir; Srinagar-Jammu highway closed

Some areas in Kashmir received intermittent light snowfall amid a decrease in minimum temperatures in most parts of the Valley, officials said on Saturday. The bad weather also forced closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. Some areas in the Kashmir Valley, especially the upper reaches, received fresh light snowfall early on Saturday, the officials said. Pahalgam, the tourist resort town in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, recorded 13 inches of snow in the last 24 hours, followed by eight inches in Kokernag, six inches in Qazigund and four inches in Shopian, they said. There was very light snowfall in Srinagar, Ganderbal and some other areas in the plains. Some other areas in Jammu and Kashmir received intermittent rainfall. The inclement weather also hit air traffic to and from the Valley with many flights being delayed. The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather road connecting the Valley with the rest of the country, was closed for traffic due to shoo