Published from Srinagar | Jammu Regd. No. JKNP-5/SKGPO-2015-2017 Vol: 30 No. 204 Pages: 18 Rs. 5.00 epaper.GreaterKashmir.comGreaterKashmir.com, GreaterKashmir.net, GreaterKashmir.news

Naqvi flags off first batch of Hajj pilgrimsNew Delhi, July 24: Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday morning flagged off the first batch of 300 Hajj pilgrims from the Indira Gandhi Interna-tional Airport here.

Delhi deputy chief minis-ter Manish Sisodia also was present on the occasion, an official statement said.

SC rejects plea seeking probe into ‘mass killing’ of KPs‘You (petitioner) sat over it for last 27 years, now tell us from where evidence will come?’

KEG elects new body, Fayaz Kaloo re-elected president

New Delhi, July 24: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking probe and prosecution of various persons, including separatist leader Yasin Malik, for alleged offences including

alleged murder of over 700 Kashmiri Pandits during

the height of militancy in Kashmir in 1989-90.

A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar

and Justice D Y Chan-drachud said that almost

27 years have passed and

it will be very difficult to gather evidences in cases of murder, arson and loot-ing which had allegedly led to mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley.

“You (petitioner) sat over it for last 27 years. Now tell

Srinagar, July 24: Kash-mir Editors Guild on Monday elected its new body during the formal election held under the supervision of senior journalist Yusuf Jameel.

The election for five positions—president, vice president (Urdu), vice president (English), general secretary and treasurer—were held at ‘The Kashmir Monitor’ office and attended by all the members.

Jameel supervised

over the process as returning officer.

Fayaz Ahmad Kaloo, chief editor Greater Kash-mir was elected KEG president with Bashir Ahmad Bashir (Srinagar Times) and Sajjad Haider (Kashmir Observer) as vice-presidents. Bashir Manzar (Kashmir Images) was elected as general secretary while Haroon Rashid Shah (Nidai-Mashriq) was elected treasurer.

Executive members of the Guild include Ghulam Geelani Qadri (Afaaq), Zahoor Hashmi (Aftab), Tahir Mohiu-din (Chattan), Masood Hussain (Kashmir Life), Shamim Mehraj (Kash-mir Monitor), Shujaat Bukhari (Rising Kash-mir), Manzoor Unjum, (Uqab), Zahoor Ahmad Malik (Kashmir Times)

NIA arrests 7 Hurriyat leaders in funding caseSHABIR IBN YUSUF

Srinagar, July 24: The National Investiga-tion Agency on Monday arrested seven Hurriyat leaders including son-in-law of Syed Ali Geelani in connection with its probe into the case of alleged funding for “militancy and subversive activi-ties” in Kashmir. This is for the first time since the eruption of militancy in Kashmir in early nine-ties that a central probe agency has carried out raids and formal arrests in connection with fund-ing of Hurriyat leaders.

Soon after making the arrests, the NIA issued a formal statement that said seven separatist leaders including Altaf Ahmad Shah Funtoosh Geelani (son-in-law of Syed Ali Geelani), Ayaz Akbar Khandey, Raja Merajud-din Kalwal, Peer Saiful-lah, Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid-ul-Islam, Nayeem Khan and Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate have been arrest-ed in connection with the NIA case filed vide No. RC-10/2017/NIA/DLI (J&K Terror Funding Case)

Geelani, Mirwaiz, Malik call for shutdown today

TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 30th Year of publication

Srinagar, July 24: The joint resistance lead-ership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mir-waiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik condemned the “arbitrary and illegal”

arrest of Hurriyat leaders Altaf Ahmed Shah, Shahid-ul-Islam, Ayaz Akbar, Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Peer Saifullah by the National

NEW GANDERBAL POWER PROJECT

In a first, J&K govt approves subordinate debt, tax exemptions

26 killed, 57 injured in Lahore blastLahore, July 24: At least 26 people, including police-men, were killed and 57 others injured on Monday when a suspected suicide bomber targeted police personnel deployed near residence-cum-office of Paki-stan's Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore.

"Police and Lahore Devel-opment Authority officials were busy in removing encroachments outside the Arfa Karim Tower, located near the CM's Model Town residence, when a powerful blast took place," Rescue 1122 Deeba Shahnaz told PTI.

Lahore police chief Capt (R) Amin Wains confirmed

that it was a suicide blast and the "target was police".

The chief minister, who is also the brother of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was in a meeting at his Model Town office when the blast took place.

The Punjab government confirmed that 26 people

MUDDASIR ALI

Srinagar, July 24: In a first, the government has approved subordinate debt and different tax exemp-tions for 93 MW New Gan-derbal power project in a bid to make it competitive by slashing its tariffs.

On June 16 this year, the cabinet approved a proposal for implementation of the project following recom-mendations of a cabinet sub-committee. The power minister-led committee was constituted to study Rs 150 disparity in tendered cost compared to the appraised cost approved by the central electricity authority (CEA).

A source said the com-mittee had proposed Rs 300 crore subordinate debt for

the project that would bring down its tariff rates to make it competitive as per the market trends.

“Apart from the debt, the government has also cleared different exemptions like entry tax (on import of machinery and all other equipments for the project), work contract tax and water usage charges for the proj-ect,” said the source.

Confirming it, manag-ing director, Power Devel-opment Corporation Shah Faesal said the government has provided various con-cessions for the project.

“These are very impor-tant initiatives from the state government to give boost to hydro power devel-opment in Jammu and Kash-mir,” he said.

The New Ganderbal, coming up at around Rs 1000 crore, is the first hydropower project in the state sector that has got the subordinate debt and dif-ferent exemptions.

According to the source, the government of India provides subordinate debt at around one percent interest rate against 10 to 11 percent interest rate in the market. Also, the debt is cleared only after all the liabilities from banks and other financial institutions

20 arrested in cop lynching case, says IGP ‘Police not silent over thrashing incident; Have got substantial lead in Amarnath bus attack’

‘Will question Mirwaiz if needed’

ABID BASHIR

Srinagar, July 24: J&K police on Monday said that 20 persons have been arrest-ed in connection with the lynching of deputy super-intendent of police Muham-mad Ayoub Pandith outside Jamia Masjid in Downtown Srinagar on June 22.

Addressing a press con-ference here, Kashmir range inspector general of police Muneer Ahmed Khan said the slain officer was on an “access control duty” at Jamia Masjid on the night of Shab-e-Qadr. “The officer while performing his duties

was caught by an unruly mob and lynched,” he said. “We have arrested 20 persons who

See NIA arrests...on Pg-10

See 20 arrested...on Pg-10

See SC rejects...on Pg-10

See Naqvi flags...on Pg-10

See India’s soul...on Pg-10 See Geelani, Mirwaiz...on Pg-10

See KEG elects...on Pg-10

India’s soul resides in pluralism, tolerance: Pranab MukherjeeNew Delhi, July 24: Out-going President Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday that soul of India resides in pluralism and tolerance and the country must free its public discourse from all forms of violence, physi-cal as well as verbal.

In his farewell address broadcast to the nation, he

ABID BASHIR

Srinagar, July 24: Kashmir range inspector general of police Muneer Khan Monday said if need arises, Hurriyat Con-ference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq can also be ques-tioned in connection with the case of DySP’s lynching outside Jamia Masjid on June 22.

“The first group of youth

was raising pro-Zakir Musa slo-gans. They had left the mosque after offering eight ‘rakats’ of ‘Tarawih’ prayers. Amid slo-gans, they were waiting to wel-come Mirwaiz,” Khan said.

Asked how the support-ers of Zakir can be the fans of Mirwaiz, Khan said police have conducted the probe in a very thorough manner and know the

See Will question...on Pg-10

Mub

ashi

r Kha

n/G

K

Restrictions in Srinagar areas todaySrinagar, July 24: District magistrate Srinagar on Monday said restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC would remain in force under juris-diction of five police stations in Srinagar on Tuesday as a “pre-cautionary measure to avoid any untow-ard incident.” These include Nowhatta, MR Gunj, Rain-awari, Khanyar and Safakadal.

See 26 killed...on Pg-10

See In a first...on Pg-10

CMYK