Lead Stories
Day curfew lifted in Kishtwar, night curfew continues
Jammu, Nov 8: Day curfew has been lifted in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district following improvement in situation, though night curfew will remain in force as a precautionary measure, authorities said Thursday.
Curfew was imposed in the district last Thursday following the killing of BJP state secretary Anil Parihar, 52, and his brother Ajeet Parihar, 55.
“We have lifted the day curfew in Kishtwar, but the night curfew continues to remain imposed in the town as a precautionary measure,” Deputy Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana told PTI.
He has the situation has improved and there was no report of any untoward incident in the district.
The authorities had on Wednesday lifted the day curfew to allow people to buy essential commodities and celebrate Diwali.
Advisor to Governor B B Vyas Thursday visited the families of Anil Parihar and Ajeet Parihar.
While interacting with the bereaved families, Vyas expressed deep sympathies and condolences to them on behalf of Governor Satya Pal Malik and on his own.
He directed the district administration to process the case for employment and financial assistance to the kin of the deceased for appropriate and immediate consideration of the government.
Vyas assured that the governor’s administration will take all necessary steps to address the concerns of the bereaved families.
Later, the representatives of the Sanatan Dharma Sabha and the Majlis Shoura Committee, Kishtwar, also called on the advisor and urged for speedy probe into the matter.
Vyas lauded the people of Kishtwar for maintaining peace and communal harmony.
The government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing and directed it to expedite the investigation.
On November 1, Anil Parihar and Ajeet Parihar were returning home after closing their stationery shop when the gunmen fired at them in the Tappal Gali area.
Their killing triggered protests across the Jammu region following which authorities imposed curfew in Kishtwar and Doda districts.
The curfew was lifted from Doda district last Saturday.
Srinagar, Jul 18: Over 94 lakh kanals of land has been identified across Jammu and Kashmir for developing the state under the ambitious Metropolitan Region Development Authorities (MRDA) project.
Under the project, two Metropolitan Region Development Authorities will reduce the deficit on infrastructure â water supply, roads, sewage, drainage, light rails, e-buses and other amenities.
âThe authorities will also develop satellite townships in Greater Jammu and Greater Srinagar. Million square feet IT parks will also be developed in these townships,â the document reads.
Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration recently announced creation of Jammu Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Srinagar Metropolitan Region Development Authority â to provide an integrative framework for the purpose of planned development of these regions.
As per the details, the government has identified 94,22,465 kanals of land in 2559 villages of 14 districts in the state.
In Kashmir, 1452 villages comprising of 4989304 kanals of land would be covered under MRDA.
In Srinagar district, 124 villages comprising 514116 kanals of land would be covered. In Pulwama, 922715 kanals of land in 240 villages have been identified for implementation of project under MRDA.
Similarly, 331799, 1049195, 451400, 142461 kanals of land would be covered in Kulgam, Baramulla, Shopian, and Bandipora districts respectively.
Around 44,33,161 kanals of land would be covered in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur under MRDA.
The MRDAs, as per the document, have been selected on the principles of regional planning and development.
An official of Housing and Urban Development Department said a process has begun for acquisition of land for the project.
âAll types of land are being covered under MRDAs. Besides government land, we have also identified private land which ought to be acquired. But some land owners are not willing to provide land saying that government is not paying them commensurate to market value,â the official said.
He said the land owners want promulgation of an ordinance to replace old law “which will enable them fair compensation during acquisitionâ.
Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Dheeraj Gupta said that all types of land were being covered under MRDAs. âWe will acquire private land wherever needed,â Gupta added.
New Delhi, Jul 18: Describing the detention of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan as âillegalâ and under âfabricatedâ charges, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Thursday urged Islamabad to release and repatriate him immediately.
Making a statement in Rajya Sabha, he said the verdict of the International Court of Justice is not only a vindication for Jadhav but also for all those who believe in the rule of law.
The International Court of Justice on Wednesday ruled that Pakistan must review the death sentence for Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of âespionage and terrorismâ.
Jadhav, 49, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court on charges of âespionage and terrorismâ after a closed trial in April 2017.
A bench led by President of the Court Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf ordered an âeffective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Mr Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhavâ.
The bench also ruled by 15 votes to 1 that Pakistan had violated Indiaâs rights to consular visits after Jadhavâs arrest.
Pakistan âdeprived the Republic of India of the right to communicate with and have access to Mr Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav, to visit him in detention and to arrange for his legal representationâ, the judges had said.
Pakistan was under the obligation to inform India about the arrest and detention of Jadhav under the Vienna Convention, Judge Yusuf had ruled.
Islamabad, Jul 18: Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan Thursday said that he appreciated the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision to “not to acquit, release & return” Kulbhushan Jadhav, day after the world court in The Hague directed Pakistan to review the death penalty given to the former Indian Navy commander.
Holding Jadhav responsible for âcrime againstâ Pakistani people, Khan said Pakistan will proceed per law.
âAppreciate ICJâs decision not to acquit, release & return Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav to India. He is guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan shall proceed further as per law,â Imran tweeted.
On Wednesday, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to make an “effective review and reconsideration” of the conviction and death sentence of Jadhav.
The world court also rejected all objections raised by Pakistan, granting consular access to Jadhav “without further delay”, in a verdict that was hailed in India as a “big victory” for the country. It agreed with India’s stand that Pakistan had violated the Vienna Convention by denying access.
In a reprieve for Jadhav, 49, a retired Indian Navy officer sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” after a closed trial in April 2017, a 16-member bench by a 15:1 vote continued the stay on the execution.
A Chinese judge was part of the majority verdict while the ad hoc judge from Pakistan on the bench headed by President of the Court Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia gave a dissenting opinion.
Rejecting Pakistan’s objection to admissibility of the Indian application in the case, the court in its 42-page order held that “a continued stay of execution constitutes an indispensable condition for the effective review” of the sentence of Jadhav that had strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The bench, however, rejected some remedies sought by India, including annulment of the military court’s decision convicting Jadhav, his release and safe passage to India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the verdict, saying “truth and justice” have prevailed while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj described it as a “big victory” for India.
Despite the order backing India, Pakistan claimed victory. The country’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tweeted: “Jadhav shall remain in Pakistan. He shall be treated in accordance with the laws of Pakistan.” Jadhav was arrested in Balochistan on 3 March, 2016, by Pakistani security agencies and was convicted of being a spy. In April 2017, Pakistan had announced that Jadhav was given death sentence by a military court.