Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) on Thursday said that there is no transparency in the ongoing anti-encroachment drive launched by the government.

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Addressing a news conference, Sheikh Ashiq, president of KCC&I, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that there is a need to set accountability in the ongoing anti-encroachment drive and that a formal order should be issued in this regard so that the people are aware about it completely.

“We have talked to the higher ups today after the shops were sealed at Aftab Market yesterday and we have been assured that no such measure involving the livelihood of people will be taken,” he said.

He said that they are not here to shield the land mafia and those who have grabbed the land, but the livelihood should not get affected and thus a formal order in this regard is imperative to end the chaos.

“We have urged the government to come clear in this regard. We have been assured that the chaos will end soon,” he said.

The Election Commission of India has approved the appointment of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P.K Pole as Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir.

Also Read: Shops that were sealed at Aftab Market in Srinagar reopened

In a notification issued by Secretariat of the Election Commission of India, a copy of which lies with Asian News Hub (ANH) reads, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 13A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950), the Election Commission of India in consultation with the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir hereby designates Pandurang
Kondbarao Pole, IAS (AGMUT:2004) as the Chief Electoral Officer for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with effect from the date he takes over charge and until further orders in place of Hirdesh Kumar, IAS.

Pandurang Kondbarao Pole shall cease to hold and hand over the charge of all or any charges of work under the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, which he may be holding before such assumption of office.

Pandurang Kondbarao Pole while functioning as the Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir shall not hold any additional charge whatsoever under the Government of Jammu and Kashmir except that he should be designated Secretary to the Government in charge of Election Department in the State Secretariat, reads the notification.

All shops that were sealed in Aftab Market in Srinagar yesterday were reopened on Thursday.

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An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the shops were unsealed as the administration is concerned about the livelihood of the shopkeepers.

He said as the shops have been unsealed, rest of the process will follow.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Traders Alliance (KTA) president, Aijaz Shehaldar told KNO that he along with Lal Chowk Traders Association General Secretary Sheeraz Ahmad met Tehsildar South over sealing of 25 shops at Aftab Market.

He said they were assured that the shops will be unsealed today.

Notably, 25 shops were sealed yesterday at Aftab Market after a complainant claimed that the land was illegally occupied where these shops were raised.