SRINAGAR: Days after the government announced levying of property tax in Jammu & Kashmir, the administration on Wednesday said that the Municipal Corporations and Committees have started passing the resolution to adopt the decision and that the transparency system in the Union territory has no comparison with rest of the country.
In an exclusive chat with the news agency KNO, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, V K Bidhuri, said that the Municipal Corporations and committees require resources to run the affairs, but presently these corporations and committees are generating only 10-15 per cent of the revenue and are dependant for rest of the resources. “To ensure better facilities, every municipality requires resources and property tax is the best decision to generate revenue for the wellbeing of the people,” he said.
He added that J&K is the last in the country where the property tax has been imposed, but the government decided to go with a minimum tax. “The rural areas are already out while in urban areas, Agricultural land and other falling under master plan are also exempted,” he said while appealing people not to pay heed to rumours.
“Tax is not being imposed on any individual but it is being levied on a property and people having property on less than 1000 sq ft are already exempted,” he said while replying to a query.
He further said that out of total 5.20 lakh residential houses, 40% among them have been exempted as the properties have come up on less than 1000 sq ft. “The tax amount is different in different areas and districts and is being decided as per the circle rate,” he said.
He also said that after the decision was taken in this regard; the municipalities have started passing the resolution to adopt the decision.
He said that the tax amount will be used only for the developmental purpose in the respective municipalities and added that the tax will have to remain the same for three years and will be reviewed after that as per the circle rate.
The Div Com said that there is no comparison with J&K’s transparency system with any part of the country. “The transparency system in J&K cannot be found anywhere in the country where even the photos of developmental works are being uploaded,” he said.
Asked about a complete shift to online mode, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, said that the process has already been done and every work is being done through online mode now.
About the smart city project works, he said that the deadline has been squeezed to April and the works are going on at a rapid pace during day as well as night. “The people will face inconvenience, but the works will be completed on April 15 while carpeting and other related things will be done by April 30th,” he said.
Asked about the encroachment drive, he said that retrieving encroached land is their regular activity and the government is responsible for it. “We are duty bound to carry out our encroachment drive for the people. We are re-strategizing it at present, but the poor will not be touched,” he said.
Asked about the completion of installation of smart meters across Kashmir, he said that the process will be completed in next two years. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday attached house of Al-Umar Chief Mushtaq Zargar alias ‘Latram’ in Gani Mohalla Area of Nowhatta area of Srinagar.
NIA action comes as Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declared Zargar, “presently in Pakistan”, asdesignated “Terrorist” under the UAPA, a stringent act legislated to control militant activities.
According to reports reaching the news agency GNS, an NIA team, assisted by local police and paramilitary CRPF, attached the property of Latram situated in Nowhatta area of Srinagar early this morning.
According to a NIA spokesperson, Zargar’s two Marlas house (Khasra No. 182) at Ganai Mohalla, Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta, Srinagar, has been attached under the provisions of UA(P)A.
Zargar was arrested on 15 May 1992 and later released in 1999, along with Jaish chief Masood Azhar and Sheikh Omar. They were exchanged for passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999. The plane, which was en route from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, was hijacked and flown to Kandahar, where negotiations for hostages had started. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: Upper reaches including Gulmarg received light snowfall while rains lashed plains in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday. The weather department has forecast intermittent snowfall on higher reaches and light rain in plains during the next 24 hours in J&K.
A meteorological department official here told news agency GNS that in last 24 hours till 0830 hours, Srinagar received 2.9mm of rain, Pahalgam 9.2mm, Kupwara 4.9mm, Jammu traces, Banihal 5.4mm and Bhaderwah 6.8mm while Gulmarg received 2.5cm of snowfall.
Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 7.0°C against 6.4°C on the previous night and it was above normal by 4.8°C for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 5.5°C against 5.0°C on the previous night and it was 4.6°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 2.4°C against 0.6°C on the previous night and it was 4.7°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of 5.0°C against 3.4°C on the previous night and it was 4.1°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 0.6°C against minus 2.0°C on the previous night and it was 3.9°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 5.1°C against 4.2°C on the previous night and it was 6.1°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 15.5°C against 14.2°C on the previous night. It was 3.2°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 6.3°C (above normal by 3.3°C), Batote 7.7°C (above normal by 1.9°C), Katra 14.6°C (4.1°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 6.8°C (4.7°C above normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 3.4°C respectively, the official added. (GNS)
Like carpets that Kashmir weaves but ill-affords for itself, the valley produces more than 25 tons of costly morels that sell at a cost higher than silver in the global market, reportsTazeem Nazir
Morel Mushrooms, locally called Gucchi or Kan Gitch are prized wild-growing Fungi that feed a high end overseas market in Kashmir
Come spring and hundreds of people living in the Kashmir foothills will leave for, what they say, the Gucchi hunt. Usually arduous journeys, it is expertise and fate that helps collectors to locate the morels in the coniferous forests, the most expensive mushrooms that cannot be cultivated commercially. Locally, it is called Gucchi or Kan Gutch.
A major Kashmir export, these mushrooms are a treasure for collectors and a taste for consumers. Collectors take months in harvesting these mushrooms and many weeks to sun-drying them before selling them.
Collectors offer interesting ideas about their hunts. These mushrooms grow in clumps on partly rotten tree trunks, topsoil, and leaves. “Some people say, these could be found anywhere near a spot that had seen a forest fire in the last season,” one collector claimed. “But the crisis is that they may not grow at the same place next season.” Another belief is that these mushrooms sprout after lightning strikes the ground. Usually, they start appearing in late March and can be collected up to May.
It looks distinct from the entire mushroom varieties. Its cap is faded brownish cream, yellow to tan, or faded brown to greyish brown. The edges of the ridges are usually lighter than the pits, and quite oval in outline, now and again bluntly cone-shaped with a rounded pinnacle or greater elongate. Caps are hollow and connected to the stem at the lower edge. The meat is fragile. The stem is white to pale yellow or pale yellow, hollow and straight, or with a bulbous or club-shaped base.
“I live near the forest. When I was 15, I used to go on a mushrooms hunt,” Mohammad Waseem, a resident of Rayil in Ganderbal’s Gund belt, said. “I used to go for fun but sometimes it would fetch me some morels. The season for harvesting these mushrooms starts after the snow lines start disappearing.”
The morel pickers are supposed to be experts in their field. Nature grows lot of false morels as well and some of them are poisonous. The fake morels are almost akin to the prized mushroom but slightly differ in their caps which are rounder in false ones. Of over 14000 mushroom species only less than 3000 are edible.
Morels grow in higher reaches. “When we reach higher forests we face difficulties in finding these mushrooms as they are scattered over the forest land,” Zareefa, who goes on morel harvesting every year in Ganderbal hills, said. “At home, we put these mushrooms like beads in a thread and put the ‘garland” to sundry. They need proper care otherwise fungus can hit the garlands of mushrooms and make them black.”
Zareefa said she has heard that these mushrooms are very costly but we do not get much from it. “Earlier, we used to get Rs 10,000 for one kilogram but now we barely get half of it,” Zareefa regretted, insisting that the dealers give too hoots to the struggle we put in to collect these rare plants. She has been collecting the morels for the last three years between April and June. “Families used to manage their living by selling these mushrooms but now it is too difficult because we do not get much from it.”
A Major Export
Harvesters apart, the morels are a key export. Though a small part of the yearly collection goes to the upmarket hotel chains, the bulk goes offshore. A conservative estimate puts the average yearly morel production at around 25 tons.
“We supply morels to Germany, France, Switzerland, and China,” one Srinagar-based exporter, who talked on the condition of anonymity, said. “Routinely, we export around none tons a year. It mostly goes to different food industries.” He puts the cost for A-grade morel per kilogram at Rs 20,000 but insiders in the sector said it is way beyond it.
The exporter said the quantum of harvest in a year is linked to the weather conditions. Adverse weather hampers the harvest by Gujjars and Bakerwals, who are major contributors to the collection.
Admitting that there were problems in demand, another exporter Mohammad Affan said the global recession seriously compromised the rates. “These mushrooms are being sold either at supermarkets or are in demand from upmarket hotel chains,” Affan said. “Because of Covid19, tourism and travel were seriously impacted and the demand fell to an all-time low. The global slowdown has witnessed a 20 per cent fall in overseas demand and right now we see only 70 to 80 per cent sales.”
Asked about the disinterest that mushroom collectors are exhibiting because of low returns, another exporter said the morels are being marketed through a complicated long chain. “It is not that we purchase from gatherers and then we sell in retail. The fact is that we sell to major business companies who sell to the retailers,” the exporter said. “It has a lot to do with the size and quality of the mushroom, and age plays a key role.” He said the per kilogram costs start from Rs 10,000 and it goes up to Rs 24000 depending upon these factors – the same season morel costs more than the one that was harvested last season. “Smaller qualities cost huge. Even in Kashmir, a 100-gram packet would cost you Rs 3000.”
Morel exports said they are taking all the mandatory precautions in making the purchases. It is a zero-GST commodity but these exporters have to ensure they buy the mushroom from collectors who are certified by the forest department. “They must have the license,” one exporter said. “It is a laborious process to establish that the mushroom falls in the zero tariff category in GST. We do this for the farmers because they have only small quantities.”
The morel mushroom collectors are scattered across Kashmir. Mostly in the foothills, they are in Kupwara, Budgam, Ganderbal and Pahalgam and other parts of south and north Kashmir. “While they are collected early spring, the morels are in demand mostly during winters between September and March.”
Masood Wafai, a mechanical engineer turned mushroom entrepreneur said the morels in Kashmir are surrounded by myths. “That morels sprout with lightning and thunder hitting the ground in higher reaches is baseless,” Wafai, who recently attended a high-end interaction with academics, said. “These mushrooms require a particular temperature and environment to grow. The more black the soil, the more the fungus would be around. The Directorate of mushroom research, which has been working on these morels for the last three years have succeeded in growing these mushrooms in laboratory conditions but they have not succeeded in the way they wanted. It is being said that China has already produced it successfully but they are not letting their secret out.”
The Nutrient Worth
Even though the morels share a lot of their properties and nutrient structure with other mushrooms, the Gucchi fungus is still costly. “The demand for these mushrooms is high because they are rich in nutrients and they shed almost 80 per cent of their water when dried and with water, they resume a much bigger size.”
Beenish Zohra, a dietician, said Kashmir calls it Kan Gitch because they look like human ears. Known as Morchella esculenta to science this most sought-after macro-fungi has medicinal properties and is considered a dietary antioxidant. “The scientific research carried out on morels demonstrates that their anti-oxidative have immune-stimulatory and anti-inflammatory bioactivities besides being anti-tumour properties,” Zohra said. “The morel contains high amounts of potassium, vitamins, and copper, which all contribute to a healthy nervous system and cardiovascular health. Besides, they carry the highest amount of vitamin D among edible mushrooms, in addition to vitamin B1m which is thiamine that breaks down the body’s sugar content.”
People suffering from Arthritis, have thyroid or liver issues or wish to resist fatigue are being suggested to use morels as part of the food. “By nature, these mushrooms are antiviral, lower the blood sugar, reduce the signs of ageing, and improve immunity,” Zohra added. “The healing capacities of the mushroom make it vital in traditional medicine baskets.”
Zohra said that people who have mushroom allergy must avoid morels. Before they are cooked, they need to be cleaned properly because in certain cases insects remain trapped in their flesh. Over-consumption can lead to severe abdominal issues and can lead to abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting.
Climate Change
Morels do not grow in Jammu and Kashmir alone. In fact, the entire Himalayan range is home to precious mushrooms. Off late, however, there are reports that the availability of the mushroom has gone down and the research carried out by the Solan-based Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Directorate of Mushroom Research suggests that the increase in temperature is the key reason. Climate change, the research suggests is making this mushroom a victim.
At the same time, the experts suggest that the morel pickers must not uproot the mushroom totally. Instead, they must cut it from the stem. Besides, they suggest that if the pickers encounter a bunch at a spot, they must leave at least one mushroom untouched.
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the foundation day celebration of Cluster University, Jammu at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government PG College for Women, Gandhi Nagar.
Congratulating the Cluster University for achieving excellence in quality education, the Lt Governor said that the University, established on 1st March 2017 with five Constituent Colleges, is playing its role of a change agent, with focus on skill development and to transform the vibrant institutions as the centers of new ideas and discoveries.
The Lt Governor highlighted the important role of college campuses & class rooms in enriching the society, creating and nurturing the best talents and stressed upon the necessary changes in sync with the National Education Policy.
“In a new era, the education system & role of a teacher needs to adapt to fast-changing world. Teacher is not just a disseminator of knowledge. A teacher is the one who imparts different skill sets, ignites creativity, innovation in young generation to live a better life,” said the Lt Governor.
The new invention will not be born out of memories of the past or books, but from a free mind, from a young mind full of curiosity. To make the curiosity, innovation, invention, lifeblood of academic institutions, we must implement recommendations of national education policy, the Lt Governor added.
Observing that Innovation will be a major contributor to India’s five trillion economy, the Lt Governor asked the educational institutions to keep pace with digitalization and future technologies.
“We must remove the burden of textbooks and instill in young students the urge for new discoveries. We must give them courage & strength to explore the unknown and not just syllabus. We should provide them with academic freedom so they get to know themselves and respect their own uniqueness,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor also spoke on the growth registered in various sectors including tourism, industries, livelihood generation, sports and the measures taken to improve services for the people.
Entire J&K administration is working towards the welfare of common man. The time has gone when J&K’s administration was running at the whims and fancies of some handful of people with vested interests, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor said 20,000 vacant posts in administration will be filled soon. He also assured strict punishment to the culprits who are behind rigging of recruitment exam.
Speaking on the anti-encroachment drive, the Lt Governor said that the anti-encroachment drive only retrieved the land from the big and influential land grabbers who had illegally occupied large chunks of state land and if any poor person was affected by anti encroachment drive, strict action will be taken against the concerned officers.
The Lt Governor asked the educational institutions and students to collectively participate in the conduct of G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir. Be the socio-cultural ambassadors of JK and make the world aware of the diversity of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Educational institutions should also dedicate themselves to actively provide solutions to local problems, the Lt Governor said.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor inaugurated the Laboratory block of School of Sciences of Cluster University of Jammu and laid foundation stone for Examination block to be come up at a cost of Rs 39.35 crores.
RR Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Chief Secretary, and Bechan Lal, VC, Cluster University of Jammu shared the journey of making of the Cluster University of Jammu, highlighting the achievements of the University and the reforms introduced in the education sector.
SRINAGAR: Bettering by 4.7 percent in contrast with January 2023, Jammu and Kashmir ended up featuring on fourth spot of unemployment graph among twenty-seven States and Union territories for the month of February 2023, as per unemployment percentage by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) – a leading business information company and an independent think tank.
According to the latest figures of CMIE the current unemployment percentage in Jammu and Kashmir reads at 17.1 as against 21.8 in January 2023, indicating an appreciation of 4.7% for the month of February 2023.
As indicated by the figures, India currently has an overall unemployment rate of 7.5% – 8.0% in urban and 7.3% in rural areas.
While Haryana tops the list with most unemployment rate of 29.4%, Chhattisgarh on the other hand has least unemployment of 0.8%.
The other states with unemployment rate, in alphabetical order, are as; Andhra Pradesh 6.6, Assam 8.6, Bihar 12.3, Delhi 8.6, Goa 11.1, Gujarat 2.5, Haryana 29.4, Himachal Pradesh 13.9, Jharkhand 16.8, Karnataka 2.5, Kerala 5.6, Madhya Pradesh 2.0, Maharashtra 5.6, Meghalaya 4.1, Odisha 2.1, Puducherry 2.2, Punjab 8.2, Rajasthan 28.3, Sikkim 21.0, Tamil Nadu 3.0, Telangana 5.8, Tripura 11.7, Uttar Pradesh 4.0, Uttrakhand 2.3 and West Bengal 4.4. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: Bettering by 4.7 percent in contrast with January 2023, Jammu and Kashmir ended up featuring on fourth spot of unemployment graph among twenty-seven States and Union territories for the month of February 2023, as per unemployment percentage by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) – a leading business information company and an independent think tank.
According to the latest figures of CMIE the current unemployment percentage in Jammu and Kashmir reads at 17.1 as against 21.8 in January 2023, indicating an appreciation of 4.7% for the month of February 2023.
As indicated by the figures, India currently has an overall unemployment rate of 7.5% – 8.0% in urban and 7.3% in rural areas.
While Haryana tops the list with most unemployment rate of 29.4%, Chhattisgarh on the other hand has least unemployment of 0.8%.
The other states with unemployment rate, in alphabetical order, are as; Andhra Pradesh 6.6, Assam 8.6, Bihar 12.3, Delhi 8.6, Goa 11.1, Gujarat 2.5, Haryana 29.4, Himachal Pradesh 13.9, Jharkhand 16.8, Karnataka 2.5, Kerala 5.6, Madhya Pradesh 2.0, Maharashtra 5.6, Meghalaya 4.1, Odisha 2.1, Puducherry 2.2, Punjab 8.2, Rajasthan 28.3, Sikkim 21.0, Tamil Nadu 3.0, Telangana 5.8, Tripura 11.7, Uttar Pradesh 4.0, Uttrakhand 2.3 and West Bengal 4.4. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday inaugurated the GST symposium and Tax awareness initiative ‘Kar-Tavya’ for industries, traders associations, DDOs & other stakeholders, at the Convention Center.
The GST symposium is being organized by J&K State Taxes Department in collaboration with The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
The Lt Governor said the outreach to help and guide the stakeholders & taxpayers to build synergy and to achieve the prime objective to set J&K on a high growth trajectory. A systematic approach by the State Taxes Department to simplify regulatory compliances has led to revenue augmentation and improved ease of doing business for the stakeholders. Such symposium and awareness drive will further stimulate the rate of compliance & productive capacity, added the Lt Governor.
“We are following the Prime Minister’s mantra of Transform, Reform & Perform to build a prosperous & Atmanirbhar J&K. It is the collective responsibility of citizens and business enterprises to unlock potential and drive J&K’s economic growth,” said the Lt Governor.
The reforms and policies focus on the protection and empowerment of the common man. Our long-term economic development policies are aimed at reducing inequalities for the welfare of society. Robust growth in business sectors will benefit society as a whole, the Lt Governor observed.
It is imperative to ensure that economic growth through stabilization of the tax revenues is ensured at all levels. At the same time it should also be ensured that habit gets inculcated in every business enterprise & consumers to pay taxes with pride, he added. We must achieve the target of 100% GST tax coverage. Every taxpayer must come forward and contribute towards nation-building, LG said.
GST realized the dream of One Nation, One Tax, and guaranteed revenue flow to the states. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the business community and citizens of Jammu Kashmir for their cooperation & invaluable contribution to the development of J&K, the Lt Governor said.
Observing that increased business activities are required for long-term economic development and strengthening food security & generating employment opportunities, the Lt Governor highlighted the effective steps taken by the administration for improving Ease of Doing Business, facilitating the expansion of the existing units & set up of new industries & businesses and extending the benefits of amnesty schemes. The reason for buoyancy in the revenue is due to several measures taken by the State Taxes Department like the establishment of GST Facilitation Centers (GST Suvidha Kendras), District Level Awareness Programmes for the Stakeholders across the UT of J&K, Co-ordination Meetings between Central GST and UT GST authorities, etc. The State Taxes Department has adopted a promotional approach rather than a regulatory one and is continuously focusing on capacity building, the Lt Governor noted.
Jammu Kashmir has taken a giant leap in the industrial sector and investments from big companies from India & abroad continue to flow into the UT for industrial activities. Within two years, we have received investment proposals worth Rs 66,000 crores. In the last 6 months, one industrial-business unit has commenced its operation every day. This reflects the true picture of new & aspirational Jammu and Kashmir, the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor reiterated the government’s commitment to developing more land for industries. Every facility will be extended to 18 industrial estates in the future. I want more people from J&K to set up industries and avail the benefit of the industrial development scheme, he added.
Responding to the demand of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for land for the center of excellence, the Lt Governor announced that the land will be allotted for the said purpose.
The Lt Governor further shared the vision of the UT Government for accelerating growth in various sectors. We are working with an integrated approach for the development of all sectors, he added.
The Lt Governor also spoke on efforts of the government to generate employment and livelihood opportunities for the youth.
More than 30000 vacant government posts have been filled in the last three years. And wherever any wrong was found, a CBI inquiry has been initiated. The recruitment for another 20,000 posts in administration will be advertised in 3-4 months, the Lt Governor informed.
We want to saturate self-employment in J&K. Youth were identified from every panchayat and town of the UT, and in a single day, 75000 youth were provided more than Rs 939 cr financial assistance. More than 6 lakh women have been connected with NRLM, he noted.
The Lt Governor urged the people to not fall prey to certain vested interests spreading false information and creating misconceptions around anti-encroachment drives, power generation, and property tax.
No poor will be touched during anti-encroachment drives but no influential encroacher will be spared. The encroached land retrieved by the government will be utilized for the welfare of the common man and schools, colleges, hospitals, and sports facilities will be developed on the retrieved land, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor also shared the facts in detail regarding the imposition of property tax in the UT. The property tax in Jammu and Kashmir is the lowest as compared to other states. There are around 5, 20,000 houses in the cities of J&K. Out of these, 2,06,000 houses are less than 1000 sq ft and no tax is being imposed on them. No tax on 40% of the people living in cities, rural and religious places. 2,03,600 houses are less than 1500 sq ft and 80% of these households will have to pay less than Rs 600 per annum. This amount is one-tenth of the tax amount being paid in Shimla, Ambala, and Dehradun, the Lt Governor said.
46,000 out of 1,01,000 shops in city areas are less than 100 sq ft and they will have to pay up to Rs 700 per annum. Out of these 46,000 shops, 80% will have to pay a meager Rs 600 per annum/ Rs 50 per month. 30,000 shops will have to pay taxes below Rs 2000 per annum and out of these, 20,000 will have to pay less than Rs 1500 which is also one-tenth of the amount being paid in Shimla, Ambala, and Dehradun, he noted.
Revenue will directly go to the accounts of municipalities and corporations. This step has been taken to make our cities an engine of growth, he added.
The Lt Governor also invited suggestions from all sections of society concerning better arrangements in property tax. Our doors are open. Everyone must come forward in making J&K a dynamic and developed region of the country, he added.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor unveiled Kar-Tavya periodical and Kar-Tavya booklet and also handed over the Letter of Appreciation to organizations and top taxpayers of the UT.
Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Dr. Rashmi Singh, Commissioner Sales Taxes; Sh Ranjit Kumar Agarwal, National VP, Institute of Chartered Accountants India (ICAI) and other senior officers and various stakeholders were present on the occasion. (KNS)
SRINAGAR: Continuing systematic efforts against social crimes, and evils, two drug peddlers, and suppliers have been arrested and 3512 capsules of ‘Spasmo Proxyvon Plus’ were recovered from their possession during naka checking at Zindri crossing.
The accused were identified as Tanveer Ahmad Shah from Tulibal Seer Jagir, Sopore, and Javaid Ahmad Shah from Bagh e Rehmat, Iqbal Nagar, Sopore.
In this connection case with FIR No.07/2023 U/S 8/22, 29 of NDPS Act stands registered at Police Station Bommai and an investigation is in progress.
SRINAGAR: 75 days after going missing, body of a man from Kunan area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district has been retrieved and given back to family on Wednesday.
“In continuation to missing of Abdul Rashid Dar of Kunan area of Kupwara on December 16,2022 today early in the morning a dead (body was) recovered from Zurhama -PK Galli forests,” a police spokesperson said in a statement, adding, “The body was brought to SDH Kupwara where it was identified by the relatives of (the) missing person. After completing all medico-legal formalities including post mortem by a team of doctors, he said, the body was handed over to the family members for burial. “Cognisance of the matter has been taken for further investigations,” he said, adding, “Further details will be shared.”
At a presser, a police officer had said that the man was allegedly picked up by the army for questioning in connection with militancy related investigation. However the officer had said that he fled from custody.
Pertinent to mention, Dar was allegedly picked up by the army for questioning but had gone missing, triggering protests by his family and relatives.
Abdul Rashid Dar, a driver by profession, as per family was having dinner on December 15, 2022, at around 8:30 pm, when a team of Army soldiers from 41 Rashtriya Rifles unit posted in Trehgam knocked at the door of his house in Kunan village of the frontier district of Kupwara and took him away.
SSP Kupwara Yougal Manhas had earlier said that the youth Abdul Rashid Dar son of Muhammad Siddique Dar of Kunan Poshpora, was picked up for questioning related to a militancy case. “During the preliminary inquiry, it came to the fore that he had disclosed the location of a hideout and when the army took him there, he escaped.”
People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti had also sought the intervention of commander of Army’s 15 Corps. “A youngster detained by Army on 13th December has allegedly escaped from their custody & is now missing. Worrying that a civilian goes missing in Army custody. Request the Core (sic) Commander to kindly intervene,” she tweeted.
