BARAMULLA, Oct 5: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Wednesday said that announcement with regard to elections in J&K will be made once the final voter list and other preparations are completed.
He also lashed out at National Conference and PDP stating that Abdullah and Sons and Mufti and Co are responsible for the killing of 42000 people in J&K. Addressing a massive rally at Baramulla district of northern Kashmir, Shah said that announcement about elections in J&K will be made once the formalities like completion of final voter list and other preparations are completed. “Process is on and preparations are in a full swing,” he said.
Taking a jibe at NC and PDD, Shah said that Abdullah and Sons and Mufti and Co. are responsible for the killing of 42000 people as these families did politics for their personal gains and left people suffer.
“These families looted J&K resources for their personal benefit and did nothing for common man,” he said.
Shah said that Baramulla was once a hot bed of militancy and militant related activities were common here but “today this place is the hot spot of tourists.” “Sprawling Gulmarg the skiers’ paradise, the shrines and the breath-taking snow clad mountains of this place are attracting tourists in large numbers,” he said.

He said that without Prime Minister Narendera Modi, development of J&K was impossible. “Today, we have best roads, rail links, bridges and hospitals,” Shah said, adding that “We have nine medical colleges to J&K besides AIIMS and nursing colleges.” Shah said that Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Paharis will be given due reservation as they were deprived of the benefits of democracy since past 75 years. The Home Minister praised Maqbool Sherwani for his role against Pakistani invaders. He also laid the foundation stone of various power, road and Jal Shakti projects. He said that GoI will talk to youth not Pakistan. “I am ready to talk to the youth of J&K on any issue but not Pakistan,” he said. Shah is in J&K on a 3-day visit and will fly back late this afternoon.

Baramulla, Oct 5: Union Home Minister Amit Shah paused his speech midway for Azaaan, the Muslim call for prayers, during his public rally in this north Kashmir town on Wednesday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah halted his speech when he heard Azaan from a nearby Masjid in Baramulla. Shah resumed his speech after Azaan was over.
Shah here addressed thousands of people who had come from different parts of Kashmir to participate in the rally.

Jammu, Oct 5: ADGP Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh on Wednesday said that no terror angle had been established in the ongoing investigation into DG Prisons, HK Lohia’s murder.

“No terror angle has emerged during investigation of the case of murder of Shri HK Lohia. Interrogation of the accused is in progress. His disclosures are being corroborated with field investigation,” said the ADGP Jammu.

SRINAGAR, Oct 5: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor Junaid Azim Mattoo has alleged that some corporators were involved in corruption and taking bribes to facilitate illegal constructions in the city.
“Lakhs of rupees in bribes have been found to be deposited electronically into the bank account of an elected representative in SMC over the course of the last two years.
The amount is roughly 1.4 crores with individual transactions running into lakhs,” Mattoo said in a series of tweets late on Tuesday.
He said multiple witnesses have come forward, narrating “horrific tales” of extortion and brazen corruption. Three citizens have recorded statements before the officials in this regard, he added.
“A @JKACB investigation is underway and the @JmuKmrPolice Crime Branch and @SrinagarPolice has also taken cognizance,” Mattoo said
He said the matter has been officially brought to the notice of the administration, seeking removal of the elected representative from a position of authority immediately, pending the final outcome of the investigation.
“Multiple witness statements have been recorded in the presence of Commissioner SMC, Srinagar Police officials and representatives of investigative agencies over the last two weeks. Documents and details sought from SMC have been promptly submitted to @JKACB – as sought,” he said.
The Mayor said a “symbiotic eco-system that has thrived on corruption, forgery and extortion” is trying to distract attention from the investigation.
“That won’t happen. There will be absolutely no compromise on corruption. The law will take its toll!” he said.
Mattoo said he would prefer the dissolution of the corporation and fresh elections than suppress the “scam”.
“And let this be a one-time, LOUD and CLEAR message to those two-bit, lumpen elements trying to pressurize me into suppressing this scam — it is FAR better for me to seek the dissolution of SMC and fresh elections than to compromise with corruption and extortion,” he said. Mattoo, however, did not name any corporator.
The elections to the SMC are due next year. (Agencies)

Srinagar, Oct 5: Srinagar police on Tuesday clarified that former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti was free to travel to Pattan while refuting her allegations that she was put under house arrest.

“It is clarified that no restriction of any kind travel to pattan, travel to pattan was at 1 pm as intimated to us. The picture tweeted by her is of inside of the gate with own lock of residents who stay in the bunglow. There is no lock or any restrictions. She is free to travel,” said the police, in a tweet.

Earlier, Mehbooba had alleged that she was not allowed to travel to Pattan for a worker’s wedding.

“While HM is going around Kashmir beating drums of normalcy,I am under house arrest for simply wanting to visit Pattan for a worker’s wedding.If an ex CM’s fundamental rights can be suspended so easily, one cant even imagine the plight of a commoner,” she wrote on Twitter while tagging the profiles of the Home Minister and LG Manoj Sinha.

SRINAGAR, Oct 5: A civilian was killed on Wednesday when the service weapon of a policeman went off “accidentally” in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
Asif Ahmad Padroo, 25, was hit by a bullet fired accidentally from the service rifle of a policeman at Haal in Pulwama at around 10 am, they said.
The officials said Padroo was rushed to a hospital in Srinagar for treatment where he succumbed to injuries. (Agencies)

Srinagar, Oct 5: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high level crucial security meeting in Srinagar and directed the security top brass to step up anti-militancy operations to make J&K “militancy free” so that people taste the real democracy and reap the benefits of peace.
Shah, who is on a three-day visit to J&K, chaired the crucial security review in Srinagar, where top security officials including J&K DGP Dilbagh Singh, ADGP Vijay Kumar, GoC 15 Corps, DG BSF, IG BSF besides a team of Home Ministry accompanying the Home Minister, were present.
Union Minister Amit Shah, was given a power point presentation over the progress achieved on anti-militancy and anti-infiltration front. “The Home Minister hailed the security agencies for their role post Article 370 in tackling militancy and preventing infiltration,” an official, privy to the meeting said.
He said that Shah expressed gratitude over the “improved figures” of violence related incidents that includes drop in killings of security forces personnel and civilians. The Home Minister also expressed his satisfaction over the intelligence based anti-militancy operations and stated that security agencies must step up the operations wipe out militancy from J&K soil so that people can taste the real democracy and reap the benefits of peace.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha explained the policy adopted by the security forces—“begunah ko chedo mat, gunahgaar ko chodo mat.” The Home Minister stressed that the common man should feel free and live a life without hassles while those fomenting trouble, especially the anti-peace elements including OGWs and supporters should be crushed to the core.
Challenges related to social media including “online propaganda” being launched by handlers sitting across was also discussed in the meeting, to which the Home Minister stressed for “adopting a sustained counter mechanism” that includes blocking the pages trying to radicalise youth through online platforms. Sources said that the Home Minister called for steps to be taken out to reach out to youth and enhancing sports infrastructure at district level to keep youth engaged.
Shah also hailed the army for protecting the borders and plugging the infiltration. Expressing satisfaction over almost zero infiltration stating that GoI is providing all the latest equipment to the army and BSF to keep a watch on the borders and to detect the infiltration along the LoC and International Borders.

Srinagar, Oct 5: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday claimed that she has been placed under house arrest to prevent her from visiting north Kashmir’s Pattan town.
“While HM (Home Minister) is going around Kashmir beating drums of normalcy, I am under house arrest for simply wanting to visit Pattan for a worker’s wedding,” she tweeted.
“If an ex CM’s fundamental rights can be suspended so easily, one can’t even imagine the plight of a commoner,” she added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address a public rally in Baramulla town later today. (Agencies)

Jammu, Oct 5: Weather was dry in J&K during the last 24 hours as the MeT office said on Wednesday, and that same conditions are likely to continue in the next 24 hours.

“Mainly dry weather is expected to continue in J&K during the next 24 hours”, said an official of the MeT department.

Srinagar had 9.2, Pahalgam 5.1 and Gulmarg 5.5 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature today.

In Ladakh region, Drass town had 0.4 and Leh 2 as the minimum temperature.

Jammu had 19.6, Katra 18.2, Batote 12.1, Banihal 7.8 and Bhaderwah 10.1 as the minimum temperature.