SRINAGAR: Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police, Dilbag Singh on Wednesday said infiltration to a large extent has been stopped and almost all cases of target killings have been solved.

Talking to reporters in Pulwama, DGP said security arrangements on border so as to foil any attempt of infiltration are very effective and to a large extent infiltration has been checked and some attempts were made but infiltrators were killed.

He also said that almost all cases of target killing have been solved and just one or two cases are pending in which involved persons have been identified and very soon pending cases will be closed too.

The DGP also said a large number of cases have been registered against drug peddlers and more than 2000 persons have been arrested.

He said among them many were slapped with PSA and strict action against is being taken so as to curb this menace.

He said earlier people were killed with bullet but now people are being killed with drugs here as whosoever uses it once searches for it again and again.

“Attempts are being to drop drugs through drones especially in Jammu region, however, every effort is being made to curb this menace,” the DGP said.

Meanwhile, while talking to reporters in Tral area, he said that he would like to congratulate the people and youth in particular for not opting the path of terror and choosing peace and prosperity.

He said that Tral is almost militancy free now and has become an abode of peace. “Youth must continue this path as those who chose the wrong path never came back,” he said—(AGENCIES)

Jammu: In a big warning to hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits who had been protesting for better security and relocation outside Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has warned them that those sitting at home won’t get any salary. Sinha also assured them that the J&K Administration has taken all necessary measures for the safety of minority community employees including Kashmiri Pandits serving in the Valley.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha made the remark on Wednesday amid the ongoing protest by migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees and Jammu-based reserved category employees who left the Valley for Jammu in May following the targeted killings of their two colleagues – Rahul Bhat and Rajni Bhalla. “They are on a strike and I was in constant touch with them and made sincere efforts to address all their long-pending issues. Almost all of them were transferred to district headquarters in consultation with district commissioners, superintendents of police and other government functionaries,” the Lt Governor told reporters here.

He, however, said some people are placed at tehsil headquarters, and some in villages close to the city as those posted in the rural development department cannot be transferred to the city.

“Minority employees will not be deployed alone in any office and it was decided that two to three more people will be stationed along with them. We have appointed officers in every district and one in Raj Bhavan to look after their grievances. They are listening to them and are looking for necessary steps to address their issues,” he said.

SRINAGAR: ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, the 40-day harshest winter period, has made its presence felt in the Kashmir valley with Srinagar recording its coldest night this winter, officials said on Thursday.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar recorded on Wednesday night was minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, which is the lowest so far this season, the officials said.

The city had recorded minus 4.2 degrees Celsius the previous night.

They said Pahalgam, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius and was the coldest recorded place in the valley.

It was also the coldest night of the season so far at the tourist resort.

The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district recorded a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, they said.

The mercury in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley, recorded minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, and Kokernag recorded a low of minus 3.3 degrees Celsius.

The meteorological department has forecast mostly dry weather in Jammu and Kashmir till December 24.

There is possibility of rains or light snowfall in some parts of Kashmir around Christmas, it said.

The ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ is the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to freezing of water bodies, including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley.

The chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas, especially in the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall.

While ‘Chillai-Kalan’ begins on December 21, it will end on January 30. The cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 21: Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari and Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha held a review of the ongoing National Highways projects in J&K today.

Union Minister of State, General (Retd.) V.K. Singh; Union Minister of State, Shri Jitendra Singh, and Central & UT officials were also present in the meeting. After a detailed discussion, the meeting finalized the design for the upcoming Inter Modal Station, Katra.

It will improve the travelling experience of pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and provide better infrastructure and mobility to the citizens.

The meeting also reviewed the ongoing National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) & National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) projects in J&K UT and steps have been taken to resolve various issues related to projects.

Keeping in view the tourist influx at prominent tourist places like Sonamarg during the winter season, and also to ensure uninterrupted connectivity to the locals, the meeting deliberated upon the measures to keep Sonamarg open for the public in winters.

Giving special impetus to surveillance and monitoring of vehicular movement, NHAI & NHIDCL will install CCTV cameras on its highways.

NHIDCL’s works related to Shri Amarnathji Yatra were also reviewed and directions were passed for the completion of the ongoing works to ensure smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage.

The Lt Governor said J&K administration is giving utmost priority to infrastructure development in the Union Territory and various steps are being taken for timely completion of ongoing projects.

“The priority of a self-reliant Jammu Kashmir is modern infrastructure and modern connectivity. Our prime objective is to create facilities for people to ensure sustained economic growth and social upliftment,” the Lt Governor said.

Jammu,
Congress Seva Dal President Vijay Sharma Babbi has said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are eagerly waiting for Rahul Gandhi’s visit to India. Starting from Kanyakumari and covering a distance of 3500 kms, this yatra will reach its last stop in Jammu and Kashmir. To make this yatra a success, the Congress has completed all the preparations. Every member of Congress is very excited about this visit. The public support received by the Yatra across the country has proved that the countrymen are fed up with the divisive and hate politics of the present government. Wherever Rahul Gandhi is going, he is getting a lot of love. From small children to old, elders are welcoming them on their way which proves that Bharat Jodo Yatra has been a complete success. He said that Rahul Gandhi is trying to unite India by walking for 145 days. For this journey, there should be love in the heart for the country, which is filled with codification in the Gandhi family. If Rahul Gandhi wanted, he could have made big rallies and made attractive promises in front of the people, but he believes in politics of morality and wants communal harmony and peace to prevail in the country. The family from which Rahul Gandhi comes has a history of its own. From the freedom struggle to making India a world leader, the Congress has made the most important contribution. Rahul Gandhi has proved that the real aim of politics should be towards uniting the country and not towards making people fight in the name of religion and caste.