Jammu News

M S Nazki

Poonch : Five cattle were charred alive in a midnight fire in Baila village in Mandi area in Poonch district, officials said on Friday.

They said the fire started from a residential house belonging to one Muhammad Sharif son of Wali Muhammad. While five cattle, three buffaloes and two cows, inside a shed adjacent to the house were charred alive, there was no loss of human life or injury reported in the incident, they said.

Soon after the fire, they said, locals, police and army rushed to spot and doused off the flames. Besides loss of cattle, goods and belongings in the house were burnt to ashes in the fire incident. Confirming it, a police officer told that a case has been registered. He said the cause of the fire was also being investigated.

Jammu: Police Thursday detained scores of job seekers after they staged a demonstration for the second consecutive day here against the hiring of a previously black-listed company by Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for conducting computer-based written tests (CBT).
The protesters came out on the roads despite assurances of a fair recruitment process by the JKSSB. The board has scheduled written tests from March 16 to April 5 at various examination centres across the Union Territory to fill various government vacancies.
A group of job aspirants assembled at Panama chowk and raised slogans against the hiring of APTECH Limited, the company which had been blacklisted in 2019.
They were detained by police, who forced them into two waiting buses and took them to a nearby police station.
“We are not even allowed to hold a peaceful protest to secure our future,” said a protester while being whisked away by police.
PDP president and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti reacted sharply to the use of police force against the protesters and said the action shows how deeply entrenched corruption is in J&K.

“JKSSB’s decision to continue with a fraudulent blacklisted company indicates how deeply entrenched corruption is in J&K. Sarkari babus responsible for this continue enjoying their positions at the cost of sabotaging the future of J&Ks youth. So much for corruption-free J&K,” Mehbooba tweeted.

JAMMU: The youth of Jammu and Kashmir have embarked on a new journey of peace and prosperity, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on Thursday, and assured that the administration will provide modern sports facilities and world class coaching to help them achieve their goals.

Sinha was speaking at the concluding day of the LG’s Rolling Trophy – an initiative of the Mission Youth — that aims to strengthen the roots of sports culture in the Union Territory.

“The divisive forces and their sympathizers misguided our youth and gave stones in their hands. Today, with hockey sticks, cricket bats, tennis and badminton rackets in their hands and dreams in the heart, they have embarked on a new journey of peace and prosperity,” Sinha said.

He said the youth should think big and act towards more ambitious goals in life. “The administration is with them at every step,” he said.

The Lt Governor said more than 42,000 players competed with the spirit of peace, friendship, equality, and respect.

“The players with their skill and endurance on the playing field have inspired the young generation, renewed the essential spirit of sports and made this tournament truly memorable,” he said.

The Lt Governor reiterated the government’s commitment to provide modern facilities and world class coaching to the sportspersons.

“Under the guidance of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have created new infrastructures for the players in far-flung areas. It is being ensured that the youth living in villages get modern facilities and mentoring,” he said.

He observed that the key to vibrant sports culture lies in the effective combination of talent hunt, mentoring and suitable platform.

“Not only we want to feed our sports culture with a steady stream of young talents, but we also want to inculcate sporting excellence and skill in our youth,” Sinha added.

He said his administration is resolute to extend all possible support, facilities and resources to the sportspersons to safeguard their future and make their dreams come true.

“This year, 104 projects under J-K Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC) Limited and 117 projects under CAPEX have been completed across Jammu and Kashmir. A record number of more than 60 lakh children and youth participated in sports activities in the last one year,” he said.

In many disciplines like gymnastics, judo, football, cricket, the administration has set up academies to identify and nurture the talents, the Lt Governor said.

He said the mission youth with its various schemes is providing the local youth a life of hope, purpose and opportunity.

“Sports, self employment and other youth oriented programmes being run by the administration have transformed the lives of youth of J-K. As many as 17 schemes of mission youth have empowered the young generation to realize their true potential,” he said.

The Lt Governor later inaugurated the Main Gate at MA Stadium and laid the foundation stone for an artificial rock climbing wall at the premises.

Sinha interacted with the players and handed over trophies and cash prizes to the winning, and other top performing teams and the players who excelled in the tournament. PTI TAS TDS TDS

Srinagar : After system reforms in Waqf, now time for upgradation of facilities at shrines: Dr Darakhshan Andrabi

Dr Andrabi lays foundation stone of many news works costing about 2.2 crores at Shahdara Sharif & Panjpeer in Rajouri today

Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson, Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi today layed foundation stone for new projects of facility upgradation estimated at around 2.2 crores at Shahdara Sharief and Panjpeer shrine in Rajouri today. The new works included new Guest House, New Kitchen Block, New Bathroom Complex, New Security Block at ziyarat Shahdara Sharief and a Masjid area in Panjpeer shrine near Salani Bridge in Rajouri. She was accompanied by CEO of Waqf Board Dr Syed Maajid Jahangir, Waqf Administrator Rajouri Ashiq Rafiq and Administrator Jammu Mudassir Iqbal. Speaking to media after the foundation laying events, Dr Andrabi said, “After system reforms in Waqf, it is now time for upgradation of facilities at shrines. We have begun the process of creating necessary infrastructure at all prominent shrines. With digital system of working, we have ensured transparancy and accountability within Waqf”.

Dr Darakhshan Andrabi chaired Ulema conclave at Dak Bunglow Rajouri which was attended by all prominent religious preachers and scholars of the district. The religious leaders hailed the Waqf Board decision of 30 percent enhancement in remuneration of Imams, Khateebs & Muazzins. Addressing the conclave Dr Andrabi said that it was the responsibility of religious preachers and scholars to refresh the sufi legacy of this land in people’s minds and to inform public about the universal peaceful message of Islam.
Waqf Board Chairperson chaired Waqf employees conference and awarded certificates of excellence to the employees with great working records during the past one year. She emphasized on Waqf Board staff to dedicate themselves to the service of the society with more zeal and honesty.

Dr Andrabi inspected Eidgah Masjid Complex and Old city Purani Masjid Complex also.

She met the BJP Rajouri leaders delegation and had a detailed discussion about initiatives for expansion of party’s outreach to the untouched areas and people. Dr Andrabi met many other public delegations too. (KNS)

Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday welcomed Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal’s newly-launched platform ‘Insaaf Ke Sipahi’.
“Sibal sahab is a veteran leader and a seasoned lawyer. He is considered an important voice of the opposition, and his talk of bringing opposition parties and leaders together should be welcomed. There is nothing better than everyone uniting against injustices,” Abdullah said in a statement.
He said the National Conference (NC) firmly stands with Sibal in his new initiative.
“The party rank and file, including (vice president) Omar Abdullah, is of the firm belief that the initiative will act as a catalyst in bringing the opposition parties together for a common cause of fighting injustices,” he added.
Alleging that a government working against the citizens is at the helm, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal had recently announced the new platform ‘Insaaf’ to fight “injustice” prevailing in the country and called on everyone, including opposition parties’ chief ministers and leaders, to support him in his endeavour.

JAMMU: The two-way traffic was on Wednesday allowed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which was hit by a massive landslide in Ramban district the previous day resulting in the death of one person and injuries to six commuters, officials said.

The strategic 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was cleared of the debris by road clearance agencies late Tuesday night after nearly eight hours of hectic efforts.

“After clearing hundreds of stranded vehicles on Tuesday night, fresh light motor vehicles (LMVs) were allowed from both Jammu and Srinagar, while heavy motor vehicles were only allowed from Jammu to Srinagar this morning,” a traffic department official said on Wednesday.

He said the traffic was moving smoothly on the highway when last reports were received.

A crane driver was killed and six members of a family were injured when two vehicles came under the landslide at Seri village near Ramban town around 2.30 pm on Tuesday.

The stranded vehicles were allowed to move towards their respective destinations around 10 pm on Tuesday after the clearance of the debris, the officials said.

Jammu: “Being informed is being empowered. We cannot change our lives by sitting at home,” says Shahnaza, the brain behind the ‘Milk Processing Unit’ at Nadaso Kud Chenani in Udhampur district.

Shahnaza, along with three other women, has proven that with pure passion for work one can be a true inspiration for everyone all around.

Talking exclusively with GNS, Shahnaza said that I live in a place where job opportunities are almost nil, and with the day-to-day increase in financial crisis, I came forward to help my family, and it was Umeed (scheme) which showed me the right direction to fight my hardest battles, and within no time, I had achieved that much, which even I would have never otherwise dreamt of.

She said we sell cheese, Kalari, curd, and milk from the plant, besides we are supplying to different hotels in and around Patnitop, and the unit is easily making a sale of 3 to 4 thousand rupees a day – and is increasing day by day.

Sahahnaza recalls that the initial days were challenging when she alongside her colleagues started to work in a male-dominated society, but slowly things started working smoothly for us and the result is in front of all today.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, she says that “More than education, you need the willingness to chase your dreams. The rest will follow.”

“Financial independence makes a lot of difference in a woman’s life”, says Shahnaza. (GNS)

M S Nazki

Jammu : Body of a 50-year-old woman was found under mysterious circumstances in Poonch district on Wednesday, officials said.

They told that the body was found by police in an open field near Ari Bridge at Mendhar area of the district this morning.

The deceased was later identified as Shahmim Akhter (50) wife of Mohammad Ashraf of Ari village.

Meanwhile, police shifted the body to Sub District Hospital Mendhar for autopsy, they said. “We have started inquest proceedings,” a police officer

Srinagar : At least seven persons, two of whom are children, have been rescued after an alto car they were travelling came under a major landslide in Seeri area in Ramban.

An official told that soon after the incident a major rescue was launched at the site, which led to the timely rescue of seven car occupants.

The injured persons, among whom two are minors, are being taken to a nearby health facility for immediate treatment.

A JCB operator, who happened to be around the site, had a narrow escape even as the machine he was on got damaged by the landslide, the official said.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the affected road remains closed for all sorts of vehicular traffic due to amassing of huge mounds of debris. (GNS)

Srinagar : An alto car was buried under debris after coming under a major landslide in Seeri area of Ramban district, officials said.

They told  that soon after the incident, a rescue operation was launched at the site – which continued on filing of this report.

The number of occupants in the car was not immediately known.

More details awaited. (GNS)