Jammu, October 4: Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered prayers at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra on Tuesday morning.
The Home Minister reached the Katra shrine via the Sanjhichatt Helipad. He was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Jitendra Singh. Internet services have been temporarily suspended in Jammu and in specific areas of Rajouri.
This is Shah’s first visit to the holy cave shrine after being appointed as the Union Home Minister.
His visit coincides with the ninth day of the ongoing Navratri festival.
Shah is scheduled to later address a public meeting at Rajouri, which is around one-and-half hours away from the Vaishno Devi temple.
The Minister will further launch development projects and also lay foundation stones for various projects at Convention Centre in Jammu.
Shah will then hold a public meeting in Rajouri and offer prayers at the Raghunath Temple in Jammu.
He will also inspect various developmental projects here before heading to the Kashmir valley.
Later in the evening, the Home Minister will hold a number of crucial meetings including the ones regarding the security situation in the region.
On Wednesday (October 5), Shah will review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir at a meeting that is slated to be held at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.
LG Manoj Sinha, top officials of the Army, paramilitary forces, state police and civil administration will take part in this high-level meeting expected to begin at 10 am tomorrow.
The Minister will later address a public meeting here at Baramulla around 11.30 am and will address the gathering.
Before concluding his visit to the Union Territory, Shah will also launch and lay foundation stones for various development projects in Srinagar around 3.30 pm.
Various programmes have been scheduled to take place during his visit to the valley including the ones which will be held by communities like Bakarwal and Gujjars to honour Shah on behalf of the Modi government for working for the welfare of these communities.
In a surprising move, the Modi government recently nominated Ghulam Ali to the Rajya Sabha. Ali joined BJP in 2008 and hails from the Gujjar tribe.
Several organisational meetings are on the cards too including the state core group meeting and meeting with party MPs and MLAs.
This is the second visit by Amit Shah to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 by the Modi government in August 2019.
Meanwhile, Shah on Monday met people from different communities including Gujjar-Bakarwal, Rajput, Pahari and Jammu Sikh Community. (Agencies)

JAMMU, Oct 4: Authorities have decided to suspend mobile internet services in parts of Jammu and Rajouri districts till 1700 hours on Tuesday, fearing “misuse by miscreants” which may cause “deterioration in public order”.
The temporary suspension of the internet services comes while Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a visit to the area.
“The ADGP, Jammu Zone, Jammu being the Authorized Officer under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, has issued directions to the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)/Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to suspend mobile data (2G/3G/4G) services in District Jammu at Lat:32.816110, Long:74.818369 and within a radius of 1.5 KMs around the mentioned latitude/longitude and in District Rajouri at Lat:33.338402, Long 74.337315 and within a radius of 1.5 KMs around the mentioned latitude/longitude w.e.f 03.10.2022 (1700 HRS) to 04.10.20222 (1900 HRS),” read a government order issued by the Financial Commissioner Home (ACS) R K Goyal.

Jammu, October 4

Police on Tuesday said initial investigation into the murder of Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General (Prisons) Hemant Kumar Lohia here 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.Lohia was found murdered at his house on the outskirts of Jammu on Monday night.

Terror group People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) claimed responsibility for his murder, which took place at a time when Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said multiple teams had been constituted to arrest the suspected culprit, Yasir Lohar (23), a resident of Halla-Dhandrath village in Ramban district.

Terror group People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) claimed responsibility for his murder, which took place at a time when Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said multiple teams had been constituted to arrest the suspected culprit, Yasir Lohar (23), a resident of Halla-Dhandrath village in Ramban district.

Director General of Police Dilbag Singh described the incident as “extremely unfortunate” saying a manhunt had been launched to nab the domestic help, who is absconding.

Giving details, Singh told PTI that the suspect had even tried 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 burns on his body and his throat slit.

Director General of Police Dilbag Singh described the incident as “extremely unfortunate” saying a manhunt had been launched to nab the domestic help, who is absconding.

Giving details, Singh told PTI that the suspect had even tried 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 burns 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 house saw the fire inside his room. They had to break open the door as it was locked from inside, the ADGP said.

He said the preliminary examination of the scene of crime pointed towards murder.

“The domestic help is absconding. A search for him has started,” the police officer said, adding that forensic and crime teams inspected the spot.

Jammu and Kashmir Police expressed grief over the death of the senior officer, he added.

The officials said raids were conducted by special teams at different places to trace the domestic help, whose last location was found in the higher reaches of Udhampur district.

The ADGP said the CCTV footage collected from the incident site showed the accused running away after committing the crime.

“Lohar was working in the house for nearly six months. Initial investigation revealed that he was quite aggressive in his behaviour and was also under depression,” he said, as police shared his pictures and sought the help of the public in the arrest of the accused.

Terror group PAFF claimed that its “special squad” carried out the “intelligence-based operation” to target the high-value target.

“This is just the beginning of such high-profile operations just to warn this Hindutva regime and its collaborators that we can strike anytime and anywhere with precision. This is a small gift to their visiting home minister amid such a security grid. God willing we will continue such operations in future,” the PAFF said in a statement online.

However, ADGP Singh said no terror link had come to the fore as per the initial investigation.

“A thorough probe is on to rule out any possibility. The weapon has been seized besides some documentary evidence showing the domestic help’s mental state,” he said.Officials said the body of the deceased officer was sent to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, for post-mortem.

Jammu, Oct 4: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address a historic public rally in J&K’s Rajouri town on Tuesday where he is expected to announce ST reservation for the Pahari community.

Over enthusiastic members of the Pahari community from different parts of Rajouri and the neighbouring Poonch district have started reaching Rajouri town where high security is being maintained in and around the venue at the town’s bus stand.

In the evening on Monday, Shah met delegations of Paharis, Gujjars/Bakarwals, Dogras and Sikhs at the Raj Bhavan where he spent the night.

He reached Jammu around 8 p.m. Monday.

On reaching Jammu, Shah tweeted, “Reached Jammu and Kashmir on a three-day tour. Through the medium of different programmes, I’m eager to have dialogue with the people of J&K”.

In another comment he said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Government holiday on the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh keeping in view his role in making Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of the country”.

Before flying to Rajouri, the Union home minister will pay obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district.

He is scheduled to inaugurate 14 Urban Development Projects, 48 roads totaling 269.41 kilometres, eight bridges and 10 power distribution/transmission projects in J&K.

He will also lay the foundation stone of 41 Water Supply Schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission.

He will generate distribution of Land Pass Books and launch 225 Citizens Centric Online Services, 1000 Cooperatives and second edition of District Good Governance Index Financial Year 2021-22.

Shah will have a meeting with the senior BJP leaders at 3.30 p.m. today at Jammu Convention Centre.

At the same venue, he will launch developmental projects at 4.30 p.m.

The BJP leaders are expected to brief Shah about the likely impact the grant of ST status to Paharis will have on the electoral prospects of the party.

It is believed that the grant of ST status to Paharis can affect the electoral results in around a dozen Assembly constituencies, including Poonch, Mendhar, Surankote, Kalakote, Nowshera, Rajouri, Thanna Mandi, Budhal and Sunderbani in Jammu division and Uri, Karnah, Gurez and Trehgam in Kashmir division.

Besides, the Paharis have sizeable population in Pahalgam, Shopian, Kupwara, Lolab and Baramulla Assembly constituencies of Kashmir division.

He will leave for Srinagar around 6 p.m. today where he has an equally busy schedule.

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)