JAMMU, Sept 1: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha kick-started a month-long drug de-addiction campaign here on Thursday and said efforts were underway to put an end to the smuggling of narcotic substances from across the border.
He sought cooperation of all sections of society for the success of the ‘Nasha Mukt’ campaign and lauded security forces personnel for their alertness and the seizure of huge quantity of smuggled drugs in the Union Territory.
”In my Independence Day speech, I have talked about making J&K fear free, corruption free, drug free and employable. These are my four pledges and given the rising graph of drug menace, it was taken up on priority,” Sinha told reporters.
He said the social welfare and health departments are already working to ensure a ”Nasha Mukt J&K” (drug-free Jammu and Kashmir) along with the local police who are also running a good number of de-addiction centres.
Seeking support of all sections of society for the success of the month-long campaign, he said, ”Every one has to make his contribution and support the efforts of the administration to achieve the goal of a drug-free J&K.” Asked about continuous attempts by Pakistan to push narcotics into Jammu and Kashmir, he said there has been a large seizure of drugs compared to previous years and “we will continue our efforts to ensure that such type of activities do not take place.” “The security forces are fully alert to the challenge and more arrangements will be made to stop smuggling (of narcotics from Pakistan),” Sinha said.
He said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure rehabilitation and treatment of those who have fallen victim to the menace of drugs.
Addressing the gathering, the lieutenant governor said the administration has adopted a zero tolerance policy against drug dealers and drug traffickers.
”It is the collective responsibility of the society to join this fight against drug menace,” he said.
He said it is not difficult for police to identify drug peddlers and nab them before they hand over the contraband to buyers.
Sinha also called for strict punishment to those involved in the drug smuggling and trafficking. (Agencies)

JAMMU, September 1: Over 36 Congress leaders including leaders of the National Students’ Union of India, the youth wing of the Congress party, from various universities in Jammu have submitted their resignations in solidarity with Ghulam Nabi Azad’s who recently announced his exit from the grand old party.
Among those who resigned include State Vice President Anirudh Raina and State General Secretary Manik Sharma who stepped down from the basic membership of the NSUI.
The development comes just in the wake of mass resignations from the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress party in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad.
On Tuesday 64 senior Congress leaders, including former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, resigned from the party in support of veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
According to sources, the leaders submitted their resignations to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi.
The General Secretary of NSUI-J&K unit, Manik Sharma in his resignation letter said, “I support resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from Congress party. I am fed up with the favouritism in the party. The work of ground-level workers doesn’t matter in the party. This is the reason why we failed in 90 per cent of the elections.”
Piyush Sharma-President NSUI GDC Bilawer, along with 19 other NSUI members, resigned and said, “I along with my team members resign in solidarity with our leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Manohar Sharma Ji.”
Azad resigned from all posts on Friday, directly blaming Rahul Gandhi for his ‘Immaturity’ and for destroying the consultative mechanism of the party.
In a hard-hitting, 5-page note to the interim party president, Sonia Gandhi, Azad claimed that a coterie runs a party and she was just a nominal head. all major decisions are taken by Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards. (Agencies)

SRINAGAR, Sept 1: A fresh inquiry has been ordered a against a police officer of deputy superintendent rank into allegations of “wrongful confinement” and “bribery” charges against him during his posting in Arnas area of Reasi district by Jammu and Kashmir government.
“Dr. S.D. Singh Jamwal, ADGP (Security), J&K, is hereby appointed as Inquiry Officer to conduct a denovo inquiry into the charges framed against Zubair Mirza, I/c Dy.SP, and served to him vide O.M. No. Home/Gaz/PB-I/32/2018 dated 11.12.2018,” reads an order by Raj Kumar Goyal (IAS), Financial Commissioner/Additional Chief Secretary Home Department.
The order states that General Administration Department on 1 August 2018 forwarded a copy of communication dated 14 June 2018 of Vigilance Organization (Now Anti Corruption Bureau), for consideration of its recommendations and initiation of Regular Departmental Action (RDA) against the officer, Zubair Mirza, then SDPO Arnas, based on the written complaint of alleged wrongful confinement of the complainant and his family members and bribery charges.
Subsequently, the Home Department served a charge sheet upon Mirza on 11 December 2018.
“In response, the delinquent officer submitted his reply on 27.12.2018, which was found at variance with the charges served upon him,” the order reads.
Subsequently, the order said a departmental inquiry was ordered against on 23 April 2019 in terms of Rule 33 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services ( Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956. Senior police officer Garib Dass (IPS) was appointed as Inquiry Officer and he furnished a report on 9 February 2022, the order reads. “He has inter-alia concluded that inquiry conducted has not brought out any adverse inference on the basis of which it could be constituted that the delinquent officer (Mirza) had failed to maintain absolute honesty and integrity and acted in unprofessional manner in discharge of his official duty, unbecoming of a government servant,” the order reads.
However, it has been observed that the Inquiry Officer has not delved on the charges framed against the officer “satisfactorily,” the order noted.
“Therefore, the Competent Authority has desired to hold a denovo inquiry into the charges served upon Zubair Mirza, I/c Dy. SP, …on 11.12.2018,” the order said, adding, “Therefore, in terms of Rule 33 of the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal), 1956, Dr. S.D. Singh Jamwal, ADGP (Security), J&K, is hereby appointed as Inquiry Officer to conduct a denovo inquiry into the charges framed against Zubair Mirza, I/c Dy.SP.”
The Inquiry Officer has been asked to complete the enquiry and submit his report along with recommendations to the Home Department within a period of thirty days. (Agencies)

SRINAGAR, Sept 1: A residential building and three shops were razed in a fire in Srinagar on Thursday. No one was injured, officials said.
Fire and Emergency service officials said it broke out in a shop at Barbarshah area in the city earlier in the day and engulfed two other provisional stores causing extensive damage to properties.
Fire tenders from the nearby stations rushed to the spot and doused the flames. The cause of the fire is believed to be due to electric short circuit. (AGENCIES)