Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Oct 30: The dead body of man was recovered this morning from forest area of Mansar under mysterious circumstances.
“The body is bearing bullet-injury marks,” a police official said, adding, the deceased namely Balbir Singh son of Ravinder Singh of Channi (Mansar) had gone for hunting yesterday in the forest area near his house and did not come back at night.
He said this morning when the family searched for him, his body was found lying in the forest. The body was sent for postmortem in the nearby Government Hospital while concerned police had taken cognizance of the matter.
Man found dead under mysterious circumstances
Timely action by traffic cops saves precious life
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 30: Timely action taken by Traffic Police personnel today saved the life of a young man in Satwari area of city outskirts.
“Today evening, Traffic Police came to know that an accident took place at Satwari. Without wasting time, Inspector Sanjeev Singh (DTI Satwari) along with officials reached the spot and found that a young man namely Saleem Massi of Narwal Pain (Satwari) sustained injuries after his a blue coloured Activa Scooty skidded off the road,” a police official said.
He said DTI Satwari along with his staff immediately swung into action and shifted the injured person to GMC Jammu, in his official vehicle where he was provided medical treatment by the doctors.
KPS for formation of Advisory Committee for displaced Pandits
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 30: The Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) Jammu while complimenting the Government for the various measures announced by it for the welfare of people however turned the attention of Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha to a few concerns of the community which were already discussed with him during a meeting held on September 10 this year.
In a letter to Lt Governor, KPS president K K Khosa requested that an Advisory Committee for the Kashmiri Pandits be constituted to discuss threadbare long pending issues confronting the community and make recommendations to the Government. It may be appreciated that in the absence of such Committee confusing signals about aspirations of the community emanate with multiple organizations submitting their memoranda without consultation amongst themselves.
The letter said that in view of the changes made to the land laws the vulnerability of the property and assets of Hindu temples and shrines will further increase. The land mafia and other antisocial groups who have already encroached on many of them will accelerate their activities due to increased value of these assets after change in land laws. To ward off these threats the Sabha once again requested for enactment of a temples and shrines law to create a Central authority for administration of these symbols of our culture and religion to preserve them for posterity. “We are grateful that the UT Government has started restoration work of the dilapidated temples as advised and a list of important 12 temples has already been sent”, the letter added.
The letter reiterated that the all important issue of KPs return and rehabilitation back in the land of forefathers should not be put on the backburner especially in the backdrop of the changes made to the land laws. “Our issue assumes greater importance in view of the fact that we have been dispossessed from our homes and hearths and it’s the legal and moral duty of the State to restore status quo ante to fulfill the aspirations of our community”, it added.
It also demanded that the recruitment process for the remaining 2000 posts under the PM package which has been initiated is completed within this financial year to provide relief to the youth especially those who are on the brink of becoming overage.
Bootlegger held with illicit liquor
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 30: A female bootlegger was held today with illicit liquor by Gajansoo police.
“Today at about 4:15 pm, a police party headed by ASI Vijay Kumar during patrolling duty near Assary Chak (Gajansoo) became suspicious after a woman namely Soma Devi wife of Jia Lal, resident of Assary Chak, trying to hide something inside a pit after seeing them,” a police official said.
He said the police party went on that spot and during search, recovered 43 pouches (of 180 ml each) of JK Excise Whiskey and seven pouches (of 250 ml each) of JK Excise Whiskey hidden in the pit which she had kept for illegal selling in the area.
The bootlegger was arrested on the spot by the police team led by Incharge BPP Gajansoo SI Lalit Sharma, the official said, adding, further investigation into the case was going on.
Athrout distributes Oxygen Concentrators among NGOs
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 30: A philanthropic organization Athrout today said to have distributed oxygen concentrators to various credible NGOs working across Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen collaborative efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
At an event organized at its Head office in Nawakadal Srinagar, the philanthropic organization distributed fifty oxygen concentrators to 22 NGOs working in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir including Karnah, Dras, Doda.
Notably, Athrout has been working on a war footing basis since the outbreak of the pandemic in March.
“Along with providing food kits, medicine to hundreds of poor families and dignity kits to women, Kashmir Athrout, has also provided medical equipment to hospitals which include ventilators, PPE (personal protective equipment), sanitizers and masks during the on-going Covid 19 pandemic,” Athrout said.
The chairman Athrout, Bashir Nadwi said that Athrout is one of the first NGO’s to distribute PPE kits & N95 mask to hospitals to complement the government efforts aimed to fight the pandemic.
He added that the organization has distributed 6 ventilators to SKIMS, 6000 PPE kits, 7000 N95, 30000 surgical masks, 10,000 Face shields, 5000 Food Kits to the needy and Medicine to over 1500 families in the past 7 months, besides, Athrout has innovated Hazmat Kit from locally sourced materials for the frontline warriors to protect them from the virus.
He further said that the “Doctor On Call” service started by Athrout in April following the closure of the OPDs in hospitals has benefited thousands of patients.
“So far over 3500 patients were benefited through teleconsultation with reputed and specialist doctors,” he said.
The event was attended by heads and other members from these NGOs.
Rasheed Gul, chairman Syed Us Sadat Foundation expressed sincere gratitude to Athrout.
Modi Govt deserves credit for realizing Dogra’s dream: BJP
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 30: Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, senior BJP and Kashmiri Pandit leader and Incharge Department of Political Affairs and Feedback, J&K-BJP today said the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A and total integration of J&K with Indian Union realised the cherished dream of Pt. Premnath Dogra, the tallest nationalist leader of Jammu & Kashmir.
In a statement issue here today he said credit goes to BJP led Narendra Modi Government for this. It was the late leader who led his struggle for ‘Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan’ relentlessly for whole of his life. This is the real tribute to the memory of the doyen of Praja Parishad movement; and everybody needs to understand it in an appropriate context”, he added.
Chrungoo said the disgruntled elements under the banner of Gupkar-Circus can’t export their political narrative to Jammu and Ladakh. The befitting reply of the leaders of Ladakh warning them to ‘keep off their hands from Ladakh’ is a well-timed caution to all in Jammu and Kashmir. Their stand is not only appreciable but also worthy to be followed by the people of Jammu region, he added.
“The ‘lengthening shades’ of the so-called special status have been buried for good and everybody needs to reconcile to the new realities. The Gupkar Alliance after having failed to muster courage to have a public gathering in the Valley and face the public there are now turning to Jammu region to create trouble therein. This is their old pastime which they tried to exploit even during the Amarnath land agitation, though unsuccessfully”.
Kavinder, Sanjeet enter finals of French boxing tourney
NEW DELHI, Oct 30: Indian boxers Kavinder Singh Bisht (57kg) and Sanjeet (91kg) advanced to the finals of the Alexis Vastine International Tournament in Nantes, France after clinching contrasting victories.
However, four-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (63kg) settled for a bronze after going down in his semifinal clash. He lost to local favourite Lounes Hamraoui in a 2-1 decision on Thursday.
Kavinder, an Asian championships silver-medallist and a former world championship quarterfinalist, defeated Frenchman Benik George Melkumian 3-0 to set up a summit clash against another local hope Samuel Kistohurry.
Sanjeet, a gold-medallist from the India Open, got the better of American Sherrod Fulghm in a 2-1 verdict.
Sanjeet will also be up against a French opponent, Soheb Bouafia in the final. World championships silver-medallist Amit Panghal (52kg) is also through to the finals after beating American Christopher Herrera in a draw that only featured four boxers.
This is the first international competition that Indian boxers are featuring in since the Olympic qualifiers in Jordan in March.
Their competition calendar as well as training schedule has been severely hampered by the shutdown that followed the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indians are currently on a training trip to Europe during which they have been primarily based in Assisi, Italy. (PTI)
Plea in SC seeks removal of party symbols on EVMs with name, educational qualification
NEW DELHI, Oct 30:
A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Election Commission to remove symbols from ballot and EVMs and replace it with ‘name, age, educational qualification and photograph’ of candidates.
The plea filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has also sought directions to declare that use of party symbol on EVM is illegal, unconstitutional and violative of the Constitution.
The plea, filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, said the best solution to weed corruption and criminalisation in politics is to replace political party symbols on ballot and EVM with name, age, educational qualification and photograph of the candidates.
It said that ballot and EVM without political party symbol have many benefits as it will help electors to vote and support intelligent diligent and honest candidates.
“Ballot and EVM without political party symbol will control dictatorship of political party bosses in ticket distribution and forced them to give ticket to those who religiously work for people’s welfare,” the plea said.
Referring to a study done by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a non-government organisation working in electoral reforms, the plea said that out of 539 MPs, 233 (43 per cent) MPs have declared criminal cases against themselves.
“Out of 542 winners analysed after 2014 election, 185 (34 per cent) had declared criminal cases against themselves and out of 543 winners analysed after 2009 Lok Sabha election, 162 (30 per cent) had declared criminal cases against themselves.
“There is an increase of 44 per cent in the number of Lok Sabha MPs with declared criminal cases against themselves since 2009, and the root cause of this bizarre situation is the use of political party symbol on ballot paper and EVM,” the plea said. (PTI)
Court dismisses plea seeking FIR in JNU violence matter, noting one already lodged
NEW DELHI, Oct 30:
A Delhi court has dismissed a plea filed by Professor Sucharita Sen, who suffered injuries during an attack allegedly by masked people inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on January 5, seeking registration of an FIR in the matter, as it observed that a case has already been lodged.
The court passed the order after a status report was filed by the police, which informed that an FIR was registered for the said violent act of the mob which gathered at Periyar Hostel, JNU.
After going through the report, the court said, “This implies that injuries suffered by number of persons including the complainant was a result of violent act which forms part of same transaction for which FIR already registered as it not only has proximity in time and place but also the damage to property and the injuries suffered by the complainant and other persons.”
“Hence, I am satisfied that no directions are required for registering separate FIR on the complaint made by the complainant,” Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh Rajawat said in the order passed on Wednesday, while dismissing the application.
The judge, however, directed the DCP of crime branch to file a status report of the investigation of FIR which has been registered in this regard by December 19.
The FIR was lodged by the Delhi Police at Vasant Kunj (North) police station and was later transferred to its Crime Branch.
The status report also said that the IO probing the matter has also collected the medical report from the AIIMS, which opined the injuries received by the complainant as “simple blunt”.
Sen’s statement was recorded on February 20, it said.
The court also observed that even though Sen wanted a separate FIR, she did not make any apprehension that her complaint will not be investigated in the FIR that has already been lodged.
According to the complaint, Sen, along with students and other teachers, was holding a meeting at Sabarmati Tea Point on January 5 and at about 6-6:30 pm, it was learnt that a mob armed with deadly weapons has gathered at Periyar Hostel.
The mob reached the meeting venue and started pelting stones and beating the students and teachers in which the complainant also suffered injuries.
The complaint had sought registration of a separate FIR in the matter.
In her submission, the professor had claimed that no action was taken so far and that the case that was transferred to the crime branch was a separate FIR.
In her plea, she had told the court that the lodging of an FIR was urgent since investigation could take place only after the case is registered.
The professor had said she had to approach the court on account of inaction on the part of police authorities despite “clear and cogent” facts and underlying material placed by her before the investigating agency.
On January 5, masked men armed with sticks and rods attacked students and teachers and damaged property on the campus, prompting the administration to call in police which conducted a flag march.
At least 28 people, including JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours.
Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, senior Union ministers and JNU alumni S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman had condemned the violence. (PTI)
Holy relic being shown to devotees at Hazratbal Dargah on Eid-e-Milad in Srinagar. -Excelsior/ Shakeel
Holy relic being shown to devotees at Hazratbal Dargah on Eid-e-Milad in Srinagar. -Excelsior/ Shakeel