Jammu, Mar 23: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday announced a relaxation in the rules governing compassionate appointments, stating that families of government employees who died “natural deaths” will now be considered for jobs, a move that comes amid a continuing drive to streamline the recruitment process in the Union Territory.

LG Sinha said 438 people have already been issued appointment letters under the new dispensation. He noted that the administration was cognisant of the distress caused by job losses during the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.

“As you all know, for a long time, due to the pandemic and the lockdown, a large number of people have lost their jobs. You have all heard about their pain,” the Lt Governor said.

He said all Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police have been instructed to send approval letters to the General Administration Department (GAD) at the earliest, while stressing that each case was being processed only after a thorough investigation.

“Because if it is given to a wrong person, then it will be discussed more,” LG Sinha said.

In a significant policy relaxation, the Lt Governor said that even families of government employees who died naturally—who were earlier not covered under the existing norms—would now be issued approval letters.

“There are some cases where people who were in government jobs died naturally. But even they are not given a letter of approval. Now, by giving them relaxation, such people are also being given a letter of approval,” he said.

When asked about the recent film Durandar, which has drawn criticism and demands for a ban, LG Sinha dismissed the need for any such action, saying there was no reason to criticise the movie.

“I feel that there is no need to criticise it. What I have said, I have said it with a lot of energy,” he added without elaborating.

The Lt Governor further stated that elements linked to the government system were being removed, while security forces, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), were operating under “a lot of pressure” in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the terror ecosystem in the region. (KNS)

Srinagar, Mar 23: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out raids at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir, including Handwara and Kulgam, in connection with a terror-related case.

Sources said that NIA teams conducted searches at around a dozen locations across the Kashmir Valley as part of the ongoing investigation.

In Handwara, officials raided the residence of a businessman in the Guloora area, where searches were underway and documents as well as electronic devices were being examined.

Similar search operations were also conducted at several locations in Kulgam district, sources said.

The raids are part of a broader probe into terror-related activities, with officials continuing searches at multiple sites, they added. (KNC)

Thanking the people of Kashmir, the Embassy said that the kindness demonstrated by the people towards Iran would never be forgotten.

The embassy also thanked India.

In a post on X, the embassy, Iran in India, wrote, “With hearts full of gratitude, we sincerely thank the kind people of Kashmir for standing with the people of Iran through their humanitarian support and heartfelt solidarity; this kindness will never be forgotten. Thank you, India.”

The embassy also posted a short video clip of a little Kashmiri girl dressed in silky white with pink headgear thanking her cute gesture as she donated her ‘Bighwar’. “Even Kashmiri children are offering their piggy banks as gifts to Iran. God bless you.” the Embassy captioned the clip.

In another post on X, the embassy shared an emotional video of an elderly woman donating her gold she had kept as a memento of her husband for 28 years to the people of Iran as gesture of solidarity with them.

“Your tears and pure emotions are the greatest source of comfort for the people of Iran and will never be forgotten. Thank you #Kashmir. Thank you #India.” The embassy wrote as tears rolled down on her face.

Poonch/Jammu, Mar 22: The Mughal Road, a vital alternative route connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, reopened for vehicular traffic on Sunday after remaining closed for around 10 days due to heavy snowfall, officials said.

The 84-km road links south Kashmir’s Shopian district with Poonch and Rajouri districts in the Jammu region.

Officer Commanding of GREEF, Ashish Gupta, said that the snow clearance work was completed after an improvement in weather conditions.

“As the weather cleared, we removed snow from the Mughal Road and completed the clearance work this afternoon. After this, vehicles were allowed to move towards Kashmir as well as towards Poonch from Kashmir,” he said, adding that the first vehicle from Shopian had reached Poonch.

Gupta said that both passenger and goods vehicles were allowed to ply.

Local residents welcomed the reopening, saying it would significantly ease travel between the regions.

Liaqat Hussain, a resident of Poonch, thanked the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the administration for restoring connectivity. “This decision will reduce our travel time to Srinagar to nearly six hours,” he said.

Another resident, Shakeel Ahmed, said that the closure had disrupted essential travel, including medical visits.

“I wanted to take my sibling to Srinagar for a medical examination, but we could not go due to the road closure. Now we will travel to Kashmir to visit the hospital,” he said.

Jammu, March 21: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh for the Rs 111.66 crore Central grant to implement a fisheries development project.

Sinha said he was thankful to the prime minister and the Union minister for releasing the funds aimed at strengthening the fisheries sector in the Union Territory.

“I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Panchayati Raj and Fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh for releasing the Central share of Rs 111.66 crore to implement the approved fisheries development project in J-K,” Sinha said.

He added that the ministry released a “mother sanction” of Rs 10 crore this financial year, and further Central assistance will be provided once that amount is utilised.

“The Government of India has assured that additional Central share will be released after utilisation of the sanctioned amount and remains fully committed to improving the livelihoods and welfare of fish farmers in the Union Territory,” the lieutenant governor said.

Srinagar, Mar 22: A 48-year-old man lost his life after drowning in Babdemb area of Srinagar on Sunday.

Officals said that a police team shifted the unconscious person to SMHS Hospital Srinagar after he was initially referred from JLNM Hospital Rainawari.

The man had reportedly drowned near Dawood Bridge in Munawar Abad area of Babademb.

Doctors at SMHS Hospital declared him brought dead upon arrival.

The deceased was a resident of Gasi Mohallah Safakadal Srinagar, aged about 48 years.

Police have taken cognizance of the incident. (KNC)