DC Jammu withdraws order allowing voter registration for those living in the district for over a year

DC Jammu withdraws order allowing voter registration for those living in the district for over a year 1

The Jammu administration on Wednesday withdrew a notification issued two days earlier, directing revenue officials to provide residence certificates to those living in the district for more than a year in order to register them as voters.

The directive had received criticism from political parties in Kashmir, who alleged that it was an attempt to influence the upcoming Assembly elections, likely to be held next year.

The new order stated that the directive has been withdrawn and should be treated as being void.

Avny Lavasa, the district poll officer and deputy commissioner of Jammu, had said in the earlier order that voters were facing difficulties to register themselves as many of them did not have proof of residence prescribed by the Election Commission such as Aadhaar card, passport and bank passbook.

The revision of electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir is significant as the exercise is being carried out for the first time since the abrogation of its special status.

Until August 2019, when the status was revoked, voting rights were restricted to those defined as permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had called the latest decision a first step toward Centre’s “colonial settler project” in the region.

Mufti also accused the BJP of creating religious and regional divisions between Jammu and Kashmir and urged the Dogras and the Kashmiris to thwart such attempts.

The National Conference had claimed that the move was a part of the Centre’s plan to add 25 lakh non-voters in Jammu and Kashmir. “BJP is scared of the elections and knows it will lose badly,” the party tweeted. “People of J&K must defeat these conspiracies at the ballot box.”

In August, an uproar had erupted after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar said that that the Union Territory could get 25 lakh more voters. That included those originally from outside Jammu and Kashmir, such as migrant workers and security forces, but living in the region.(SCROLL)

24-year-old woman killed in lightning strike in Poonch: Police

24-year-old woman killed in lightning strike in Poonch: Police 3

Poonch: A 24-year-old woman died due to lightning strike in Poonch district last night, police said on Wednesday.

A police official said that lightning struck the woman, Saleema Kousar daughter of Mohammad Zaman, when she was on way to give fodder to the cattle in a cowshed nearby her house at Balakote in Mendhar Poonch last night.

Station House Officer Mendhar Niaz Ahmed confirmed it to GNS and said that a case has been registered in this regard. (GNS)

Tehsildars authorised to issue certificate of residence to people residing in Jammu for over one year

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Jammu: Authorities in Jammu on Wednesday authorised tehsildars (revenue officials) to issue certificate of residence to those residing in the winter capital for more than one year to facilitate their entry in the ongoing special summary revision of electoral rolls.

District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Avny Lavasa passed the directive after taking serious note of some eligible voters facing hardships in registration as voters for non-availability of required documents.

The Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls has been started in the Union Territory with effect from September 15 for registration of new voters, deletion, correction, transposition of voters who have migrated, died since last summary revision, amid serious concern expressed by various political parties over the inclusion of non-locals as voters.

The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), headed by National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, on Saturday had announced the formation of a 14-member committee to chalk out a strategy on the issue of any attempt of “manipulation and inclusion” of non-locals in the revised electoral rolls.
The panel has members from the five PAGD constituents and several other political parties such as the Congress, the Shiv Sena, the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party (DSSP) and the Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS).
“…Keeping in view the urgency involved in the matter and to ensure that no eligible voter is left for registration during the Special Summary Revision, 2022 in district Jammu, all Tehsildars are authorised to issue certificate of residence after conducting necessary field verifications, to the person(s) residing in district Jammu for more than one year, for the purpose,” Lavasa said in her order.

Quoting the guidelines by the Election Commission of India for registration of the eligible voters, she said it also provides that in case none of the mentioned documents is available, field verification is must.
“As for example, categories like homeless Indian citizens who are otherwise eligible to become electors but do not possess any documentary proof of ordinary residence, electoral registration officers shall designate an officer for field verification…,” the order read.

It said during review meetings taken with the field functionaries including electoral registration officers and assistant electoral registration officers, it has been noticed that some eligible voters are facing hardships in registration as voters for non-availability of documents.

Reacting to the order, the National Conference tweeted,” The Government is going ahead with its plan to add 25 lakh non-local voters in J&K and we continue to oppose this move. BJP is scared of the elections & knows it will lose badly. People of J&K must defeat these conspiracies at the ballot box.”

Almost all political parties except the BJP have strongly opposed the inclusion of non-locals as voters, an issue that surfaced when the then chief electoral officer Hirdesh Kumar in August said Jammu and Kashmir is likely to get around 25 lakh additional voters, including outsiders, after the special summary revision of electoral rolls being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Following an outcry, the Union Territory administration later clarified that “this revision of electoral rolls will cover existing residents of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the increase in numbers will be of the voters who have attained the age of 18 years as of October 1, 2022, or earlier”. PTI

DC kick starts mass awareness on E-Waste Rules in Ramban

DC kick starts mass awareness on E-Waste Rules in Ramban 4

RAMBAN: Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee has launched a doorstep drive in collaboration with Public Responsible Organization (PRO) Saahhas Zeo waste and NGO Global Human Rights Trust (GHRT) to create awareness among consumers and bulk consumers for effective implementation of Action Plan on E-Waste Rules, approved by NGT.

The rules envisage safe disposal of E-Waste through authorized collection points established by PROs and E-Waste collection points identified in various districts of Jammu & Kashmir with respect to the surveillance of illegal trading of E-waste by the informal sector.

In this regard, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mussrat Islam today kick started the mass awareness campaign in the district in presence of District Officer, PCB Ramban, Sanjay Rathore and Chairman Founder GHRT, Dr. H. R. Rehman. The Campaign will be conducted in major schools, colleges, and Urban local bodies of the district for three months (till January 2023) and after that the PROs will establish their E-waste collection centers at different towns of the district.

Meanwhile, an awareness program was also conducted by GHRT in Government Degree College Ramban in which Principal Prof. Subhash Chander Sharma, staff members, and students were made aware of E-waste rules and its safe/scientific disposal.

Six day national workshop on Microtomy commenced at department of Botany at University of Jammu

Six day national workshop on Microtomy commenced at department of Botany at University of Jammu 5

The six-day National Workshop on “Microtomy: Principle, Procedures and Applications” started today at the Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu.

The workshop is conducted for the research scholars and faculty members to impart basic and advanced aspects of microtomy under the aegis of the Botanical Club, University of Jammu. The workshop will be conducted in offline mode only to impart hands on training of microtomy to the participants.

Earlier, Prof. Veenu Kaul, Head, Department of Botany welcomed all the delegates and thanked Dr. Yash Mangla, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi for accepting the invitation for training the delegates in Microtomy procedures.

Dr. Sikander Pal, organizing secretary of the workshop welcomed the Chief guest Dr. Yash Mangla, for accepting the invitation to act as subject expert. Dr. Sikander Pal welcomed participants from different places such as Rayat Bhara University, Chandigarh, BGBSU Rajouri, IIIM Jammu and Central University of Jammu.

Thirty participants including five faculty members are actively participating in this six-day long event. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Namrata Sharma formally introduced Dr. Mangla to the audience. She acknowledged the expertise and long associations of the Department of Botany with the University of Delhi for doing cutting edge research in the field of plant reproductive biology.

Chief Guest of the event Dr. Mangla enlightened the delegates about the various facets of the microtomy and its wider applications in the field of science. The event was attended by Prof. Yash Pal Sharma, Prof. Susheel Verma, Dr. Harish, Dr. Geeta, Dr. Skarma Nonzom (Co-organizing secretary) and Dr. Madhu raina. The proceedings of the event were carried by Aroosa Mattoo, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Harish Dutt.

Pace of progress on NH-44 widening work in Ramban inspected

LandSlide

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Ramesh Kumar today inspected the pace of progress on National Highway-44 four laning construction works in district Ramban.  He also reviewed the status of traffic movement on the Highway.

The Div Com was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Mussarat Islam, SSP Mohita Sharma, officers from NHAI besides representatives of the construction companies engaged for the four laning  project.

The Div Com visited several vulnerable spots, including the sliding area at Mehar,  and directed the NHAI to expedite the road clearance works to facilitate smooth double lane traffic.

He also directed the NHAI to expedite the pace of progress on the widening work and ensure  mechadamization of existing highway for  undisruptive movement of the traffic on the National Highway.

He directed the construction companies to station adequate manpower and machinery at all the vulnerable sliding zones for immediate clearance of landslides and  to maintain hassle free traffic.

The DC apprised the Div Com about section wise progress on the four-laning of National Highway, including Nashri-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal sections.

The Div Com also directed the traffic police department to effectively regulate the Vehicular traffic and facilitate smooth passage of the fruit carrying vehicles on the National Highway.

Meanwhile, the DC also apprised the Div Com about measures taken by the District Administration to resolve the bottlenecks hindering the pace of progress on the prestigious national project as projected by the Construction Companies.

Accused murderer of IPS HK Lohia arrested by JK Police

Accused murderer of IPS HK Lohia arrested by JK Police 6

After a nightlong manhunt, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday arrested the domestic help of Hemant Kumar Lohia, Director General (Prisons), who was murdered in the house of his friend.

Yasin Ahmed, the officer’s domestic help was the main accused in this murder, according to police.

Dilbag Singh, DGP (J&K) said while the investigation was going on, so far the terrorist angle to this murder was ruled out.

Police said that initial investigation indicated that the domestic help, Yasir Ahmad of Ramban district, was the main accused.

“CCTV footage collected from the incident site also showed the suspected accused running away after committing the crime.

“He was working in this house for nearly six months. Initial investigation also reveals that he was quite aggressive in his behaviour and was also under depression as per sources.

Police also said that initial investigations into the murder of Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General (Prisons) Hemant Kumar Lohia did not point towards the terror angle as efforts are on to arrest his domestic help who has emerged as the main suspect in the case.

“So far no terror act is apparent as per the initial investigation, but thorough probe is on to rule out any possibility.

“The weapon of offence has been seized besides some documentary evidence reflecting his mental state,” the police statement said.

Police had released the photographs of the accused to seek public assistance in nabbing him.

Lohia was killed on Monday in the house of his friend in Jammu. He was an IPS officer of 1992 batch and a native of Assam.

Udhampur Tiwn bomb blasts: Former militant arrested

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Jammu: J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Sunday said that in the recent two back to back explosions in Udhampur district sticky bombs fitted with timers were used and that person involved in the act is a local who was an active militant in 2005, arrested and then released.

The DGP said that former militants are being recycled into militancy by their mentors across to carry out sticky bomb attacks and this time high profile ministerial visit was a possible target to show that “all wasn’t well in J&K.” Addressing a press conference in Jammu, DGP said that former militant Aslam Sheikh was involved in the Udhampur twin blasts that left two persons injured. “There were at last four to five such IEDs/bombs available with them and possible target was the upcoming high profile visit. Sheikh has confessed to the crime,” he said, adding that consignments of sticky bombs are available with the Lashkar-e-Toiba and there is a possibility that Jaish-e-Muhammad may be also used a few.

“In Udhampur explosions, timers were fixed for seven and 14 hours. Aslam Sheikh was in touch with his Pakistani handler Muhammad Amin Bhat alias Khubaib. Sheikh received three sticky bombs and four new IEDs,” said DGP, who was accompanied by ADGP Jammu Mukhesh Singh.

Replying to a query whether Pakistan is trying to bring back all the former militant into militancy, the DGP said that police are keeping a close watch on all the former/released militants and OGWs keeping in view the involvement of some in the militant activities in the recent past. “In Kashmir, hybrid militancy is being promoted and that is being countered well by the police,” he said. “There is an indication that former/released militants are being recycled again into militancy to carry out sticky bomb attacks.”

After the interrogation of Sheikh, the DGP said, it was found that it is easy to assemble the sticky bomb which is magnet based and has a timer fixed in it. “Sticky bombs is a serious challenge and we will counter it too,” the DGP said as per KNO.

He said that at present security scenario is much better compared to past four years. “So elements not happy with the peace always try to hatch conspiracies to convey that situation wasn’t well in Kashmir,” the DGP said—(KNO)

Efforts on to set up cancer hospital in Kathua: Jitendra

JKSSB Jitendra Singh

Jammu:Union minister Jitendra Singh on Friday said efforts are afoot to set up a Tata memorial cancer institute in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.

This was conveyed by the minister while chairing a district development coordination and monitoring committee (DISHA) meeting in Kathua to review progress on various centrally-sponsored schemes (CSS) being implemented in the district, an official statement said.

The minister directed officials to identify and procure land for establishing a unit of Tata memorial cancer institute in Kathua.

He said the hospital will provide much needed relief to the patients of the region battling against the deadly disease.

About the status of Arun Jaitley International sports stadium coming up at Hiranagar, the Kathua deputy commissioner told the meeting that the architectural drawing of the project has been prepared and sent for approval to the authorities concerned, the statement said.

The minister was also informed that the first phase of the much-anticipated Shahpur Kandi Project will be completed by December 2022, while work on the Ujh multipurpose project will be started soon, it said.

Singh said a multi-facility tourist village at the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir in Lakhanpur will be established for giving a pleasant and memorable experience to the tourists arriving in J&K.