Cop martyred, 5 OGWs arrested
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 16: A copwas martyred in a militantattack in South
Kashmir'sKulgam district while five OverGround Workers of
militantswere arrested in Budgam dis-trict and a hideout was busted
inPulwama.
Militants attacked a nakaparty at Frisal Chowk in
districtKulgam, resulting in seriousinjuries to a
policeman,Mohammad Amin Bagad of vil-lage Sangarwani in
district
Pathak gets addl charge
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 16: TheGovernment today assignedadditional charge of
ChiefExecutive Officer (CEO Jammuand Kashmir EnergyDevelopment
Agency (JAKE-DA) to Bipul Pathak, PrincipalSecretary to the Lt
Governorafter shifting the incumbentOwais Ahmed to
GeneralAdministration department forfurther posting.
According to two separate
ExcelsiordailyREGD. NO. JK-71/18-20RNI No. 28547/65Follow us:
Daily Excelsior JAMMU, SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2020 8+4 (Magazine)=12 Pages
`̀ 5.00
Vol No. 56No. 135
Crackdown on corruption: Govt supersedes JKSCBL Board for Rs 223
cr loan scam
Neeraj RohmetraJAMMU, May 16: In a
major crackdown against cor-ruption on the directions
ofLieutenant Governor GirishChandra Murmu, theGovernment today
supersed-ed the Board of Jammu andKashmir State CooperativeBank
Limited (JKSCBL) andappointed new official Boardincluding the
Chairman andthe Managing Director afterdetecting major
irregularitiesand violations of all norms insanction of Rs 223
crore worthloan to a non-existent bodynamed River JhelumCooperative
House BuildingSociety for construction ofsatellite township at
Shivpora,Srinagar..
The Government hasattached `Seed Farm' situated atDhar Bagh,
Shivpora spreadover nearly 257 kanals of land inSrinagar which had
been pur-chased from the loan amount.
The NABARD, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)Jammu and Kashmir and
the
Registrar Cooperatives in theirseparate enquiries into
sanctionof Rs 223 crore worth loans bythe Bank to a
non-existentSociety have established thefraud committed by the
Board ofDirectors.
The Lieutenant Governorhas already directed allGovernment
Departments to gotough against corruption in vari-ous institutions
and detection ofRs 223 crore worth fraud by theJKSCBL is a step in
that direc-tion as supersession of the Boardof the Bank will send a
strongmessage to all those indulging incorrupt practices.
“Some influential personswere involved in the scam andtheir
identity may surface duringfurther inquiries into the sanc-tion of
loan,'' official sourcestold the Excelsior.
After superseding theBoard, the Government todayappointed the
DivisionalCommissioner Kashmir asChairman and TassaduqHussain Mir,
KAS as
Managing Director of theBank. The Members nominat-ed to the
Board includedGeneral Manager NABARD,Additional
RegistrarCooperative Kashmir,Moksha Kazmi, SeniorAdvocate, J&K
High Court,Rajni Saraf, President J&KBank and R Saboti,
CharteredAccountant.
“The Reserve Bank of Indiais being consulted for confirm-ing the
order of supersession ofBoard of Directors and appoint-ment of new
Board,'' sourcessaid, adding the new ManagingDirector today took a
meeting ofthe officers of the JKSCBL.
Mohammad Shaffi Dar,Chairman of the Bank, has beenbooked by the
Anti-CorruptionBureau.
Sources said the Chairmanin connivance with officials
andbeneficiaries, had sanctioned Rs223 crore fraudulently in
favourof a non-existent co-operativesociety - River Jhelum
Co-oper-ative Housing Building Society.
It was further revealed thatthe Chairman of the so-calledsociety
had moved an applica-tion in the Department of Co-operative
Societies, seekingdirections to the J&KCooperative Bank for
grant offinancial assistance of Rs 300crore for taking over
possessionof 300 kanals of land on the out-skirts of Srinagar City
for con-struction of a satellite township.
"J&K Cooperative Bank,Srinagar, sanctioned a loan tothe tune
of Rs 223 crores with-out obtaining any details of thesociety like
balance sheet,profit and loss account busi-ness, activities being
done bythe society, PAN number,Income Tax Returns detailsand
details of construction ofthe Board, and Board resolu-tions among
other things," theofficial said.
Inquiries had revealed thatthe River Jhelum Co-operativeHousing
Building Society wasnot even registered with Jammu
12 pregnant women, dead manamong 61 test +ve in Kashmir
Fayaz BukhariSRINAGAR, May 16: In
the highest single day spike inCoronavirus positive cases
inKashmir, 12 pregnant womenand a 70-year old man whodied in SKIMS
today wereamong 61 people who testedpositive in the Valley
takingthe number of positive cases inJammu and Kashmir to 1121while
Corona death toll is now12.
A 70-year-old man fromBudgam today died at SKIMS
Soura and he later tested posi-tive in the evening taking
theCOVID-19 deaths in Jammu andKashmir to 12.
Medical SuperintendentSKIMS, Professor Farooq Jan,told Excelsior
that the man hadsuffered heart attack and wasreported to Casualty
section latelast night and died this morning.He said that he had
chest ailmentalso and his sample was takenand it tested positive
thisevening".
The body was kept in mortu-
ary and has been handed over tothe family after completing
for-malities as per COVID-19 pro-
tocol. The 70-year old man wasa resident of Buchru Chadoorain
Budgam district.
The Srinagar district hasreported 4 of the deaths, high-est in
any district, followed by3 in Baramulla and one eachin Bandipora,
Anantnag,Budgam, Udhampur andJammu.
With today's cases, the num-ber of COVID-19 positive casesin
Jammu and Kashmir is now
1121 with 989 in Kashmir.. Thetotal number of active
positivecases is 567 with 497 inKashmir. So far 542 people
haverecovered including 482 inKashmir while 12 persons diedso
far.
Dr Farooq Jan told Excelsiorthat 37 tested positive at
SKIMSPathology Lab today including
12 from Kupwara, 3 fromAnantnag and one each fromBaramulla and
Budgam.
The positive cases fromKupwara Include 8-year-oldgirl,
24-year-old, 29-year-old,36-year-old, 38-year-old, 48-year-old and
61-year-old womenfrom Gonipora Handwara, threemen aged 25, 28 and
43 yearsbesides 19-year-old man fromWarpora and 40-year-old manfrom
Kralpora in districtKupwara.
The three persons whosesamples were collected at DHAnantnag
tested positive atSKIMS include 25-year-old manfrom Damhal,
26-year-old manfrom Anantnag, and 32-year-oldman from Kunzer
Baramulla, allwith travel history of Bhopal.The Baramulla case is a
55-year-old man while Budgam cases isa 70-year-old from Chadoorawho
died at SKIMS.
The Nodal officerGovernment Medical CollegeSrinagar, Dr Salim
Khan, toldExcelsior that 1002 sampleswere tested at CD
hospital'sCovid-19 laboratory and 17 per-sons tested positive. He
said that
Mohinder VermaJAMMU, May 16: There is
no end to the crisis in theJammu and Kashmir ForensicScience
Laboratory (FSL) asthe decision about the reorga-nization taken
several monthsback has remained on papersbecause of the absolute
non-seriousness on the part of theconcerned authorities.
Due to inaction on the deci-sion of the then StateAdministrative
Council almostall the posts of ScientificOfficers and Assistant
ScientificOfficers are lying vacant andnon-technical officials are
rulingthe roost in the lab, which other-wise is supposed to play a
cru-cial role in the criminal justice
system.Vide Government Order
No.594 dated June 11, 2019, thePrincipal Secretary to
theGovernment, Home DepartmentShaleen Kabra ordered place-ment of
eight Scientific Officersof the Forensic ScienceLaboratory as
Incharge DeputyDirectors in their own pay andgrade for a period of
six monthsor till the posts are filled up onregular basis on the
recommen-dations of the DPC/PSC.
Thereafter, the then StateAdministrative Council videDecision
No.274/22/2019 datedOctober 22, 2019 accordedsanction to the
reorganization ofthe J&K Forensic ScienceLaboratory in order to
overcomethe crisis which the Lab is facing
during the past several decades.However, despite lapse of
several months the much-needed reorganization hasremained on the
papers onlybecause of absolute non-seri-ous approach on the part of
allthe concerned authorities par-ticularly those who are at thehelm
of affairs in the ForensicScience Laboratory, sourcestold
EXCELSIOR.
The major aspect of the reor-ganization was creation of
88additional posts particularly oftechnical cadre like
ScientificOfficers and non-technical cadrelike Assistant Scientific
Officersfor all the divisions of the FSLlike narcotics/chemical,
biolo-gy/serology, physical and tech-
Almost all posts of Scientific Officers, Assts lying vacant
No end to crisis in J&K FSL as reorganization remains on
papers
*Non-technical officials rule the roost in labSanjeev
PargalJAMMU, May 16: Jammu
today again recorded singleday highest number of Coronapositive
cases of 23 includingfour females, all of whom werestranded persons
returningfrom trains and buses andtheir contacts, taking numberof
total cases in the region to145 and active cases to 83,while three
Corona patientsincluding an 85-year old manwith comorbidity were
treatedand discharged from the ChestDiseases Hospital.
Kathua recorded highestnumber of 11 cases today fol-lowed by six
in Ramban, twoeach in Jammu and Samba andone each in Udhampur
andPoonch. This was the firstCOVID-19 positive case in
Poonch district.Late tonight, two persons
from Bishnah tehsil of Jammudistrict including a female, whohad
returned from New Delhi,tested positive for COVID-19.Two persons
from Samba dis-trict, one of them a female stu-dent, also tested
positive.Another person hailing from
Udhampur was tested Coronapositive late in the night.
All late night five Coronapositive reports were confirmedin the
Government MedicalCollege (GMC) Jammu.
Teams have been sent to shiftall five to hospitals from
quaran-tine centres, who were asympto-matic.
District Magistrate KathuaOP Bhagat told the Excelsiorthat 11
persons from the dis-trict, who had returned fromdifferent parts of
the countryand were under administra-tive quarantine at
differentplaces, have tested positive forCoronavirus today.
“All of the positive caseshave been identified and arebeing sent
to the hospitals fromdifferent quarantine centres,''Bhagat said,
adding all of themare asymptomatic. Their con-tacts are being
traced for isola-tion and sample testing.
Of 11 Kathua positives, fourhailed from Basohli and hadtravel
history of Gujarat andNew Delhi while 28-year oldwoman belonged to
Rajbagh andhad travel history to New Delhi.
Students, women among 23 more test Corona +ve; Jammu tally
145
NEW DELHI, May 16:
In bold reforms aimed atboosting sagging economy, theGovernment
today announcedan easing of limits on ForeignDirect Investment in
defencemanufacturing, privatisationof six more airports, openingup
of more air space andallowing private sector in com-mercial coal
mining.
Also, the list of weapons thatcannot be imported will beexpanded
to give Make in Indiaa boost.
The private sector will alsobe involved in the Indian
spaceprogramme including in futureprojects for planetary
explo-ration and outer space travel as
well as satellite launches.Announcing the fourth
tranche of the economic stimu-lus package that largely dealtwith
reforms and almost negligi-ble new investment, FinanceMinister
Nirmala Sitharamansaid foreign investors would beallowed to own up
to a 74 percent stake in defence manufac-turing ventures under the
auto-matic route, up from the current49 per cent limit.
This would be subject tosecurity clearance norms, shesaid.
Also, the Government willexpand the list of weapons/plat-forms
banned for imports withyear-wise timelines and indi-genisation of
some imported
Govt to raise FDI in defence production; open coal, mineral
mining
* Bold reforms to boost sagging economy
Nishikant KhajuriaJAMMU, May 16: To
facilitate the hassle free returnof migrant workers and
otherstranded persons of differentStates in Jammu and Kashmir,the
Union TerritoryGovernment today issuedStandard OperatingProcedures
(SOPs) for theirdeparture movement.
"The trains for various desti-nations in the country will
leavefrom Railway Station Katra,where the migrant workers
andstranded persons shall bebrought in an organized mannerfrom
their respective places ofstay in the UT of J&K for
theirfurther departure," reads theSOP order, issued today byShaleen
Kabra, PrincipalSecretary to Government, Home
Department, who has been des-ignated as Nodal Officer
forMovement of Stranded Personsof J&K.
As per the directions con-tained in the SOPs, the NodalOfficer
will seek requisition oftrains from the Railways on thebasis of
information provided bythe Labour Commissioner,which should be duly
vettedafter verification on groundbefore furnishing the same
sincethe consent of the receiving stateis also required.
The Labour Commissionerwill provide full train passengermanifest
along with destinationdistricts of a particular State,
preferably all those going to aparticular destination district
inthe same train besides destina-tion district wise summery andthis
information should be fur-nished at least four days inadvance of
the likely departure.
Thereafter, the Nodal officerof J&K UT shall notify
thedeparture schedule of the trainswhile Saurabh
Bhagat,Commissioner Secretary Labourand Employment Departmentshall
assist him for the same.
As the arrival to Katrafrom across the UT will haveto be
coordinated with refer-ence to the departure schedule
Gopal SharmaJAMMU, May 16: Two
persons including a dumperdriver were killed, seven oth-ers
injured and at least ninevehicles including two trucksand an oil
tanker were dam-aged when sudden landslideshit Jammu-Srinagar
NationalHighway in Ramban area thisevening.
Official sources told theExcelsior that highway nearCafeteria
Morh in Ramban wasblocked since 2 pm today due tolandslides and
frequent shootingstones, as the road wideningwork was also in
progress simul-taneously in this stretch. A largenumber of vehicles
had beenstranded on both sides of thehighway in Ramban area. At
around 6 pm, the high-way was partially restored at this
point and there was very slow
2 killed, 7 injured; 9 vehicles damaged in Ramban landslide
Centre withdraws 10CAPF Coys from Jammu
NEW DELHI, May 16: The Union Home Ministry
today ordered withdrawal of 10CAPF companies from Jammuand
Kashmir and sent nine suchunits to Maharashtra, officialssaid.
They said the 10 units com-prising over 1,000 personnel arebeing
withdrawn from Jammuregion of the Union Territory.
No units of the paramilitaryforces deployed in Kashmir
CAT to ensure speedy disposal of J&K, Ladakh
service matters: ChairmanNEW DELHI, May 16:
Central AdministrativeTribunal (CAG) Chairman LNarasimha Reddy
today saidthat establishment of benches atvarious places including
in theUnion Territories of Jammu andKashmir and Ladakh and toensure
speedy disposal of casesis purely the responsibility ofthe
Tribunal, which didn't shirkfrom its duties at any point of
HighlightsFollowing are the high-
lights of the fourth tranche ofthe Rs 20 lakh crore
compre-hensive economic packageannounced by Finance MinisterNirmala
Sitharaman to tideover the COVID-19 crisis:
Defence:* FDI in defence manufac-
turing to be hiked to 74 per centfrom 49 per cent under
auto-matic route * Govt to notify alist of weapons/platformsbanned
for imports, such itemscan only be purchased fromIndia * To promote
indigenisa-tion of imported spares, focuson lowering defence import
bill
85-yr-old man, 2 others treated at CD HospitalCS writes to FSon
evacuation ofJ&K people
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 16: After theevacuation of JK students fromthe
neighbouring countryBangladesh amid COVID pan-demic, Jammu and
KashmirGovernment has approached theCentre with the request to
bringback the UT residents strandedin Oman, Dubai and Iran underits
'Vande Bharat Mission'.
In this regard, ChiefSecretary, B V RSubrahmanyam has written
to
(Contd on page 5 Col 7)
(Contd on page 5 Col 1)(Contd on page 5 Col 7)
(Contd on page 5 Col 5)
(Contd on page 7 Col 1)(Contd on page 7 Col 1)
(Contd on page 5 Col 3)
(Contd on page 5 Col 1)
(Contd on page 7 Col 1) (Contd on page 7 Col 1)
(Contd on page 5 Col 1)
(Contd on page 5 Col 3) (Contd on page 5 Col 1)
Special trains to leave from Katra Railway Station
‘Seed Farm’ spread over 257 kanals land in Srinagar attached
New Board of Directors appointed to run affairs
Avtar BhatJAMMU, May 16: Strong
resentment is brewing amongthe inmates of quarantine cen-tres
over alleged lack of facili-ties and delay in results of testfor
the Novel Coronavirus(COVID-19).
As per the reports, the people
quarantined in M A Stadium vir-tually protested against
theadministration today and saidthey were better at Delhi andother
places where from theycame as they were at least put-ting up in
their flats and quarterssafely. They alleged thatGovernment was
exposing them
to more risk as large number ofpeople have been quarantinedwith
no focus on social distanc-ing.
However, administration
contested the claims of the quar-antined people and said
thatdespite influx of large number ofstranded people no stone is
being
Quarantined people resentlack of adequate facilities
Govt issues SOPs for hassle free return of stranded migrant
workers in J&K
*Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com
All steps for people’s welfare: Admn
People show resentment against administration at M AStadium
quarantine centre on Saturday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
(Contd on page 5 Col 7)
COVID tally crosses90,000, deaths 2800NEW DELHI, May 16: The
nationwide COVID-19
tally crossed 90,000 today withnew cases getting detected
fromGanjam in Odisha to Patna inBihar to Thrissur in Kerala,
andmostly among people havingreturned from big Indian citiesor even
from abroad.
Several big urban centresalso continued to report largenumbers,
with just five of them -- Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad,Chennai and Pune
-- now takinga share of over 50 per cent in thenationwide count of
the deadlyvirus infection with close to46,000 cases. These five
alsoaccount for over half of thenationwide death toll of close
tonearly 2,800 so far. (PTI)
Trucks trapped in landslides at Seri on Jammu-Srinagar NHin
Ramban sector on Saturday. -Excelsior/Parvez Mir
Safety of road users being compromised on NH
Highest single day spike in COVID cases
People carrying milk pots walking at Khan-e-Kah-Molla roadin
downtown Srinagar on Saturday. (UNI)
*Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com
* Pics on page 5Video on
www.excelsiornews.com
