JAMMU, Oct 4: Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General (Prisons) Hemant K Lohia was found murdered at his residence here, police said, asserting that his domestic help has emerged as the main suspect in the case.
Director General of Police Dilbag Singh described the incident as “extremely unfortunate” and said a manhunt had been launched to nab the domestic help identified as Jasir, who is absconding.
Giving details, Singh said that the suspect had even attempted to set ablaze the body of 57-year-old Lohia, who was promoted and appointed as Director General of Prisons in the Union Territory in August.
Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh, who visited the house of Lohia at Udaiwala on the outskirts of Jammu, said the 1992-batch IPS officer was found dead on Monday night, with burn injuries on his body and his throat slit.
A preliminary examination of the crime scene indicated that Lohia must have been applying some oil on his foot which showed swelling. The killer suffocated Lohia to death and also used a broken ketchup bottle to slit his throat and later tried to set the body afire, he said.
The guards present at the residence of the officer saw the fire inside his room. They had to break open the door as it was locked from inside, the ADGP said.
It has come to the fore that one domestic helper Yasir Ahmed is the main accused. Initial investigation reveals that he was quite aggressive in his behaviour and was also under depression as per sources. So far no terror act is apparent as per the Initial investigation but a thorough probe is on to rule out any possibility. The weapon of offence has been seized besides some documentary evidence reflecting his mental state, says ADGP Jammu on the death of J&K DG Prisons HK Lohia.
He said the preliminary examination of the scene of crime points towards murder.
“The domestic help is absconding. A search for him has started,” the police officer said, adding forensic and crime teams inspected the spot. (Agencies)

Jammu, Oct: Union Home Minister Amit Shah landed in Jammu on Monday on a 3-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
He is accompanied by Union Minister Jitendra Singh and senior officers of the MHA.
Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary Arun Mehta and other senior civil and police officers received the home minister at the technical area of Jammu airport.
Senior local BJP leaders, Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh and others were also present. Shah is staying at the Raj Bhavan for the night.

SRINAGAR, Oct 3: Security has been stepped up across Jammu and Kashmir with additional troops being deployed on highways and vital road links while as check points have been increased in Srinagar, Baramulla, Rajouri and other parts of the UT in view of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit beginning today.
A police official said that security has been beefed up across UT in general and particularly in the areas where Home Minister is scheduled to address rallies/public gatherings. “There is a round the clock vigil at check points and their number has been increased to ensure smooth visit of the dignitary,” the official said.
He said that in Rajouri, where Shah is slated to address a mammoth gathering, check-points, and additional deployment of troops has been made to prevent any untoward incident.
Similarly, official sources said that in Baramulla, heightened vigil and round the clock patrolling is being carried out by joint teams of security forces. Shah is scheduled to address a mega rally at Showkat Ali Stadium Baramulla.
“Day and night patrolling is being carried out in the city while aerial surveillance through drones is also being carried out to ensure a close watch on the suspects,” an official said. Shah will arrive in Jammu late in the afternoon today and address public gatherings at Rajouri-Poonch in Jammu and Baramulla in Kashmir.
He is likely to chair a high level security review meeting in Srinagar before flying back to New Delhi. (KNO)

JAMMU, Oct 3 : The Government on Monday called for ‘discouraging’ the ‘culture of anonymous or pseudonymous’ complaints even as it issued a slew of instructions for lodging and disposal of the complaints against a public servant.
“In order to eradicate corruption for providing robust service delivery mechanism and increase participation of citizens in governance at various levels, citizens can draw attention of appropriate authority by making formal complaints regarding any action/inaction on part of public servant in writing or through other specified means for which complaint redressal mechanism has already been put in place in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” reads a government circular.
It subsequently issued instructions for proper lodging and disposal of the complaints against the public servants.
Among others, it said, complaints can be lodged with appropriate authority by addressing a written communication either directly or through electronic mode or on portal available for this purpose. “Appropriate authority, after gathering information about corruption, malpractices and misconduct may take appropriate action under law against such public servants in a time bound manner.”
It however reiterated that anonymous or pseudonymous complaints or complaints containing vague, frivolous, non-specific allegations should not be taken cognizance of. Further, it said, complaints about sub-judice matters should also not be entertained.
It reiterated guidelines regarding disposal of anonymous and pseudonymous complaints in the Departments and autonomous bodies etc.
General Administration Department, it said, vide Circular (No. 29-GAD(Vig) of 2014 dated 31 July 2014), reiterated vide Circular (No. 22- GAD(Vig) of 2015) dated 10 July 2015) guidelines notified in consonance with those issued by the Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel & Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India on 18 October 2013 and Central Vigilance Commission’s circulars on 25th November 2014 and 7th March 2016.
“As a standard procedure in these matters, the first step is to verify whether the complaints are filed by citizens who have provided their particulars viz. name, address and contact number,” the government circular with Global News Service Reads, adding, “In case, the complaint is anonymous/ pseudonymous, the same is to be filed without any further action.”
The culture of anonymous and pseudonymous complaints is to be discouraged, it said.
The complaints which have been filed by persons who have provided their identity should be processed in accordance with law, the Circular reads further. “Where the complaints are genuine, due action be taken against the officers/officials under extant rules and guidelines issued by CVC as well as GAD.”
The government also clarified that there are specific provisions in law to deal with fake, frivolous and motivated complaints.
“Importantly, in cases where it is established that the complaints were lodged with a malafide intention or an ulterior motive to harass or harm an innocent Government servant, necessary action should be taken against such Complainants as per law.”
It said under section 182 of Indian Penal Code, a person making a false complaint can be prosecuted.
“Under section 195(l)(a) of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 a person making a false complaint can be prosecuted on the basis of a complaint lodged with the court of competent jurisdiction by the public servant to whom the false complaint was made or by some other public servant to whom he is subordinate.”
Also, it said, if a person making a false complaint is a public servant, departmental action may also be considered against them as an alternative to prosecution.
The government said that these instructions have been brought to notice of all administrative departments and autonomous bodies etc., public servants and general public for strict adherence. (Agencies)

Srinagar, Oct 3: BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir president, Ravinder Raina on Monday said that the rallies to be addressed by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah in Rajouri-Poonch and north Kashmir’s Baramulla district during his upcoming visit will be “grand and historic in nature”.

Talking to reporters, Raina claimed that a “sea of people will participate in the twin rallies of Amit Shah in Rajouri and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir, ” news agency KNO reported.

He said that Amit Shah will arrive in Jammu today and tomorrow he will address a massive rally in Rajouri and day after, he will address a historic rally at Baramulla, wherein people from all across the valley will participate.

Raina said that the decision of holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir lies with the Election Commission of India and that BJP was always ready for elections in J&K. “BJP has started its preparations for elections and whenever ECI decides to hold elections here, BJP will be ready,” he said.

Srinagar, October 3: A non-local bank manager escaped unhurt after terrorists fired at him in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.
The incident took place in Goushbugh in Pattan area of the north Kashmir district, they said.
Further details are awaited. (Agencies)