JAMMU, Nov 15: The grant of reservation to the Pahari community in Jammu and Kashmir will not have any effect on the quota of the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here, he referred to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement during his visit to Rajouri and Baramulla on the grant of reservation to the Pahari community.
“Some people are trying to mislead the communities for political reasons, but I again reiterate with confidence and responsibility that there will no change in the reservation quota of Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddis and Sippis,” Sinha said.
Gujjars and Bakerwals have been holding protests against the Centre’s move to give Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Paharis. (Agencies)

BARAMULLA: The Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited has asked consumers in the old town area of Baramulla to pay pending electricity bills or face a police case.

A circular in this regard has been issued by the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL).

“It is to inform all Mohalla presidents to advise the defaulter consumers of your Mohalla to pay your pending electricity bills immediately, otherwise FIR in the police station Baramulla will be lodged against the defaulters”, reads the circular.

The official said that there are hundreds of consumers in the old town area of the district who have not paid any power dues for the last several years in the old town. He said that the defaulters include those who have not deposited electricity dues for 6 months to 10 years despite several notices.

The official added that at least 697 consumers have not paid their dues for the last several years, while around 130 consumers have availed of an amnesty scheme to date.

JAMMU, Nov 15: BSF Additional Director General, Western Command, P V Rama Sastry has reviewed the security situation, including challenges related to drone activities and smuggling, along the International Border here with Pakistan, officials said.
Sastry, on his arrival in Jammu from Chandigarh on Monday, was welcomed by top officers led by Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General Jammu Frontier D K Boora. He is on three-day visit.
Boora gave a detailed presentation to the additional director general (ADG) on the critical aspects, including those related to security, of the IB, officials said.
He described the general security scenario of the area covering the deployment pattern of BSF battalions and their robust domination aspects on the border, they said.
Boora also informed Sastry about the challenges being faced by the BSF, including tunnelling, drone activities and cross-border smuggling by the anti-national elements, the officials said.
Sastry also called on the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan here and briefed him about the current security scenario on the IB in the Jammu frontier, they said.
The ADG felicitated and awarded students of the BSF Senior Secondary and Primary School in Paloura who performed well in academics and sports.
Sastry also visited frontier campuses and offices. He will visit Jammu border areas. (Agencies)

JAMMU: A revenue officer in Bahu Tehsil of Jammu district was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau while accepting Rs 50, 000 from a complainant.

An official told that Rohit Sharma, Tehsildar Bahu had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a person for issuing fard in his favour. He said that ACB received a complaint that a person living in R S Pura had bought land in City South and applied for a fard in respect of the land.

“Tehsildar demanded a bribe of one lakh while the deal to give Rs 50, 000 has been workout between the officer and the complainant. The complainant meanwhile approached the ACB and lodged a complaint against the officer for demanding a bribe,” he said.

He added that the ACB laid a trap and in the evening, signalled the complainant to visit his office on Monday.

“The complainant handed over Rs 50,000 to the officer. Soon as the bribe amount was given to Tehsildar, the ACB team that was already present there in civics entered the office and caught him red-handed,” he said. He further said that after apprehending Tehsildar, ACB raided his office and residence to collect evidence.

Srinagar, November :

Union Minister for Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said people had been investing in J&K because of the Central Government’s “farsighted decision” to remove the bottleneck of Articles 370 and 35A. He said the PM’s commitment to the development of J&K was turning into a reality and the work had been in full swing. “Central schemes directly benefit people and I am glad that the work is going on at the ground level,” he said in Srinagar.

Highlighting the development works, he said 25 new highway projects costing Rs 11,721 crore had been sanctioned, 168 MoUs amounting to Rs 13,600 crore signed, seven new medical colleges sanctioned with medical seats increasing from 500 to 955, world’s highest railway bridge being constructed in J&K, Vande Bharat Express in operation from Jammu to Delhi and the tourist footfall had also been increased in the Union Territory. He further said some 12 lakh LPG connections had been provided under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and 50,000 houses sanctioned under the PMAY-U.

On fuel prices, he said the Central Government was ready for bringing petrol and diesel under the GST regime but it was unlikely that the states would agree. “If the states make the move, we are ready,” Puri said.

The minister, however, pointed out it was unlikely that the states would agree to such a move as liquor and energy were revenue generating items for them.

The Union minister said the Kerala High Court had suggested that the issue be placed before the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council for discussion at its last meeting in Lucknow. “The finance minister of that state did not agree…,” he said.

He said the petroleum prices had seen a sharp rise from July 2021 to August this year, recording 43% to 46% increase in the United States and Canada. India witnessed only 2% increase during that period, he said. “When many countries are witnessing fuel shortage and inflation, there is no shortage of fuel in India even in its remotest corners,” Puri said.

At a meeting, the minister said application of modern technology for solid waste management was the need of the hour and Srinagar would be among the cities where such strategies would be adopted on a priority basis.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, the Union minister said the decision of Jawaharlal Nehru to take the Kashmir issue to the international forum was a “monumental blunder”. (With PTI inputs)

JAMMU: A major tragedy was averted by Jammu and Kashmir Police last night after they detected and defused two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) with timers near Phallian Mandal in Jammu district

A top police officer told that the IEDs were found inside a black-coloured backpack lying near Phallian Mandal police post under Satwari Police Station in Jammu last evening. “The IEDs were recovered during routine searches.”

Subsequently, the officer said, a Bomb Disposal Squad was summoned and the devices were defused without any damage to life or property.

He said a case (FIR No. 211/2022) under section 4/5 explosives act 18/20 UAP Act has been registered in this regard. “Investigation has been taken up and police is working to nab the accused involved in it.” Meanwhile, sources said that security has been also beefed up in the Jammu district.