Srinagar, Feb 20: In a major crackdown on an alleged overseas medical admission fraud, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet against four accused persons for cheating and criminal conspiracy in connection with a Bangladesh medical college admission scam.

In a statement, a CBK spokesperson stated that the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K has submitted a chargesheet in FIR No. 20/2025 under Sections 420 and 120-B IPC before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, against four accused persons for cheating and criminal conspiracy.

Acting on a written complaint wherein it was alleged that the complainant was introduced by his relative, Peerzada Aabid S/o Peerzada Mohammad Nayeem R/o Bijbehara A/P Azad Basti Natipora Srinagar, to Syed Wasim S/o Syed Bashir Ahmad R/o Karimabad Pulwama A/P Azad Basti Natipora Srinagar, Proprietor of M/s Europe Consultancy Centre. They assured facilitation of admission of the complainant’s son in a medical college in Bangladesh, it reads.

The complainant was further introduced to Syed Suhail Aijaz S/o Syed Aijaz Qadri R/o Takya Magam Kokernag A/P Muslim Abad opposite Nundresh Colony Bemina and Zaigam Khan S/o Gh. Mohammad Khan R/o Mahmadiya Colony, Bemina Srinagar, owners of Overseas Consultancy. On their assurances, the complainant paid lakhs of rupees as fee to be deposited with Park View Medical College, it reads.

Investigation revealed that the accused persons fraudulently obtained lakhs of sums, but deposited only USD 8,000 (approximately ₹6.04 lakhs as per 2021 exchange rates) with the college. Due to non-payment of the remaining amount, the student was asked to leave the institution, it reads.

On the basis of bank records, official communication from the medical college and statements recorded during investigation, the allegations against all four accused persons namely 1. Peerzada Aabid S/o Peerzada Mohammad Nayeem R/o Bijbehara A/P Azad Basti Natipora Srinagar, 2. Syed Wasim S/o Syed Bashir Ahmad R/o Karimabad Pulwama A/P Azad Basti Natipora Srinagar, Proprietor of M/s Europe Consultancy Centre , 3. Syed Suhail Aijaz S/o Syed Aijaz Qadri R/o Takya Magam Kokernag A/P Muslim Abad opposite Nundresh Colony Bemina and 4. Zaigam Khan S/o Gh. Mohammad Khan R/o Bemina Srinagar, owners of Overseas Consultancy stands substantiated, it reads.

Accordingly, the investigation has been concluded as proved and the chargesheet has been presented before the competent court for judicial adjudication, it reads. (KNC)

Jammu, Feb 20: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday said that the preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) for the Razdan Pass tunnel — aimed at providing all-weather connectivity to Gurez valley — will commence shortly.

Replying to a question by NC legislator Nazir Ahmad Khan in J&K Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said that preparations for the DPR for the 8-kilometre-long tunnel in Bandipora district will begin shortly.

The deputy CM said the tunnel will facilitate all-weather connectivity to the strategically important border constituency of Gurez and the proposal has been endorsed by the Ministry of Defence.

Srinagar, Feb 19: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has issued notice to the government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to implement safety measures and reservation of seats for women in public transport as mandated under law.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal sought the government’s response to the PIL by March 4 after the Government Advocate requested for the same to seek instructions.

The PIL by a woman lawyer underscores that despite in place a Government Circular dated January 7, 2025, mandating reservation of seats 1-12 in large buses and 1-9 in minibuses for women, the directions remain unimplemented on the ground.

The petitioner invokes Articles 15(3), 21, and 38(1) of the constitution, contending that the failure to enforce the circular undermines women’s safety and dignity.

According to the PIL, the information obtained by the petitioner under the RTI Act from the Transport Commissioner and the Regional Transport Office (RTO) Kashmir revealed no record of inspections or penal action against violators of the circular.

The PIL said that no functional public helpline has been established to address complaints, and though RTO Flying Squads were reportedly constituted, no material evidence of enforcement at the ground level was furnished.

The responses from the Deputy Commissioner’s office and the Traffic Police purportedly shifted responsibility to the Transport Department indicating a lack of interdepartmental coordination, the PIL said.

The petitioner asserts that data collected from 298 women at the Local Educational Institutions revealed that 85.6 percent of them experienced harassment or discomfort during their travel in public transport.

And the majority of them was even unaware of any existing complaint mechanism, she said.

Moreover, the petitioner cited examples from states such as Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, where initiatives like ‘Pink Tickets’, ‘Tejaswini Buses’ and ‘Shakti Schemes’ have reportedly been implemented without requiring amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act.

Srinagar, Feb 19: In a significant step towards strengthening consumer engagement and as a as part of a nationwide awareness campaign, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) is observing “Smart Meter Pakhwada” across the Kashmir Valley.

The fortnight-long programme, which commenced on February 9, will continue until February 23. The initiative aims to create aware among electricity consumers about the benefits, features, and functioning of prepaid smart meters, as well as various billing applications line “smartbs” and “bill sahuliyat+” while encouraging greater adoption of these digital power management tools.

As part of the campaign, help desks and informational kiosks have been established at divisional and sub divisional level throughout the Valley. The camps feature interactive sessions and open discussions, allowing consumers to engage directly with officials and seek clarifications on smart meters, said a press release.

Informative leaflets are being distributed, and live demonstrations are being conducted to explain real-time energy consumption tracking and automated billing features which smart metering offers to consumers. Officials are also demonstrating consumer mobile application (billsahuliyat+ & smartbs) that enables users to monitor their electricity consumption in real time. Through this digital platform, consumers can conveniently access usage data from their homes and gain advance insights into their electricity bills.

The campaign is witnessing active participation from senior officers, field engineers, PMA representatives, and the implementing agency, along with encouraging response from consumers.

KPDCL has urged all electricity consumers to actively participate in the awareness camps and take full advantage of the initiative. The corporation emphasized that smart meters represent not merely a technological upgrade, but a vital step toward building a reliable, efficient, and future-ready power distribution system in the region.