J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Sex racket: CBI directed to seek transfer of people hindering probe
Srinagar, June 23
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today took strong notice of the allegations that some highly-placed people in politics, administration and police were hindering the investigations into the sex racket case and directed the CBI to seek their immediate transfer from their present positions. The court once again pulled up the CBI for taking no action against the hotels and guest houses allegedly used for carrying out flesh trade activities.

Bail plea in sex racket case referred to HC
Srinagar, June 23
The Chief Judicial Magistrate today referred the bail applications of four persons including two former ministers accused in the sex racket case, being investigated by the CBI, to a division bench of the state High Court.

2 yatris die of heart attack
Srinagar, June 23
Two more Amarnath pilgrims, including a woman, died since last evening, official sources said today. With this, a total of 13 pilgrims have died since the commencement of the two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage on June 11.

Sex racket: CBI directed to seek transfer of people hindering probe

Srinagar, June 23
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today took strong notice of the allegations that some highly-placed people in politics, administration and police were hindering the investigations into the sex racket case and directed the CBI to seek their immediate transfer from their present positions.

The court once again pulled up the CBI for taking no action against the hotels and guest houses allegedly used for carrying out flesh trade activities and asked the agency to speed up the probe into the sex racket case.

Passing orders after hearing the arguments from both sides, a division Bench comprising Justice Bashir Ahmed Kirmani and Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain listed the case for June 30 and asked the CBI to submit a status report indicating the progress of the investigations on June 26 and 28.

The orders were passed this evening. It was earlier reported that the case had been posted for orders tomorrow.

The CBI had earlier submitted the case diaries to the Bench.

In its orders, the Bench said during submissions the petitioners (Kashmir Bar Association) had alleged that the involvement of highly-placed people from politics, administration and police was perhaps hindering the pace of investigations and reportedly some of them were using their official positions to threaten the witnesses and the victims.

“The investigating agency requires to take note of that. In the interest of investigation, they (CBI) may also seek shifting of such persons by the competent authority so that they are not in positions to hamper the process of investigation or tamper with the evidence,” the court ordered.

It said the court, if required, would also examine the advisability of assessing the level of accusations and the requisite action in each case and then pass the appropriate orders.

“We have also noticed that no action has been taken in cases of hotels and places stated to have been used for commission of the occurrence (flesh trade activities) nor has any reason been furnished for that omission,” the Bench added. It asked the CBI to take all necessary lawful steps in respect of these hotels and places and the people associated.

“We are also informed that some of the accused persons arrested by the CBI perhaps face difficulty in having the service of counsel for defending them. If that be so, such persons will be at liberty to seek appropriate legal help, either from the court concerned of if necessary from this court,” the Bench observed.

The court said the perusal of the case diaries also revealed that some of the arrested officers had been lodged in the Central Jail here. In view of the fact that other inmates of different hues were also lodged in the Central Jail, the Bench directed that all requisite precautions be taken for ensuring safety of the accused persons and officers arrested in connection with the case.

Requisite steps for their medicare should also be taken wherever sought, it added.

Bail plea in sex racket case referred to HC
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 23
The Chief Judicial Magistrate today referred the bail applications of four persons including two former ministers accused in the sex racket case, being investigated by the CBI, to a division bench of the state High Court.

The four persons whose bail applications have been referred are Congress MLA from Dooru Ghulam Ahmad Mir, MLA from Habbakadal Raman Mattoo, DIG, BSF, K.S. Padhi and former Additional Advocate General of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Anil Sethi.

The two accused MLAs, Mr Mir and Mr Mattoo were arrested by the CBI on Tuesday while Anil Sethi surrendered in a court in Jammu on Wednesday. Their names had figured in the list of about 70 persons including politicians, police and security officers, who were allegedly involved in the sex racket that surfaced about two months ago.

The DIG, BSF, K.S. Padhi was taken into custody by the CBI when he surrendered here earlier this month. So far, 13 persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the racket.

A division bench of the state High Court comprising Justice Hakeem Imtiyaz Hussain and Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani is monitoring the investigations by the CBI after it took suo moto cognizance of the racket in May.

2 yatris die of heart attack

Srinagar, June 23
Two more Amarnath pilgrims, including a woman, died since last evening, official sources said today. With this, a total of 13 pilgrims have died since the commencement of the two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage on June 11.

The sources said Ram Krishan, a resident of Devika Mandir in Udhampur district of Jammu region, died today of cardiac arrest at Chandwanwari on the way to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath from the traditional Pahalgam route.

They said Champa Ben, a resident of Sipur in Gujarat, also died of heart failure at Zojibal en route to the Amarnath cave last evening. — UNI

Army Chief inaugurates model village
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 23
The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen J.J. Singh, yesterday inaugurated and dedicated Tithwal model village to the people in the Karnah area of Kupwara district.

The village had witnessed heavy damage in the earthquake in October last year. This was the Army chief’s second visit to the village after his first visit in November last year. During his last visit, Gen J.J. Singh had issued directions for adopting and developing Tithwal into a model village, a defence spokesman here said.

After adopting the village under Operation Sadhbhavana, the Army created basic infrastructure like road, water scheme, street lighting and a state-of-the-art community development centre during the past seven months. Two mini buses were gifted by the Army chief to the village today.