News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu

  • Security forces conduct search operation in J-K village

    By PTI

    JAMMU:  Security forces on Monday carried out a search operation in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district following a tip-off about the movement of some suspicious persons, officials said.

    A resident of Purani village noticed the movement of at least three suspicious people in the early hours and shared the information with the police, they said.

    The police, assisted by the Army and the CRPF, immediately set up a cordon and conducted house-to-house searches but did not find any suspicious people, the officials said.

    Local residents claimed that this was the second time in a fortnight that the movement of suspicious people under the cover of darkness have been picked up by a villager.

    They also demanded a permanent security post in the village for protection.

    Security forces are on high alert in Poonch and nearby Rajouri districts following three separate terror attacks that left 10 soldiers and seven civilians dead since January.

    JAMMU:  Security forces on Monday carried out a search operation in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district following a tip-off about the movement of some suspicious persons, officials said.

    A resident of Purani village noticed the movement of at least three suspicious people in the early hours and shared the information with the police, they said.

    The police, assisted by the Army and the CRPF, immediately set up a cordon and conducted house-to-house searches but did not find any suspicious people, the officials said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Local residents claimed that this was the second time in a fortnight that the movement of suspicious people under the cover of darkness have been picked up by a villager.

    They also demanded a permanent security post in the village for protection.

    Security forces are on high alert in Poonch and nearby Rajouri districts following three separate terror attacks that left 10 soldiers and seven civilians dead since January.

  • Farooq attacks Centre for not holding G20 meet in Jammu, settlement of locals

    By PTI

    JAMMU: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday attacked the government, saying it is unfortunate that G20 meetings were scheduled in Ladakh and Kashmir but not in Jammu, and slammed BJP leaders for not raising the issue.

    He also opposed the settlement of non-locals in Jammu and claimed that the Dogra identity is under threat.

    “It is very unfortunate that G20 meeting can be held in Ladakh and Kashmir but not in Jammu. Is Jammu not important? It is sad that not a single BJP leader, even those who chanted ‘Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Dogra, Dogra, Dogra’ raised the issue. They have taken Jammu for granted believing that it is in their pocket,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a NC function at its headquarters here.

    Asked about the public notice issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board seeking online applications from people, who have migrated to Jammu temporarily or permanently, for allotment of 336 flats under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission here, he said.

    “It shows what we have been saying all the time that demographic change is being brought about. Jammu is going to lose its identity, the Dogra identity is going to disappear and that is what Maharaja (Hari Singh — the last Dogra ruler) fought against. It was not (NC founder) Sheikh Abdullah or our party that brought that (state subject) law in 1927 for job and land protection. He (Maharaja) wanted his culture and identity to remain intact, Abdullah said. He said if outsiders are settled here, where will the locals go.”

    “They want to vanish this (Dogra) identity and it is very surprising that not a single BJP leader speaks about it. The people from outside will settle here and take our land and jobs slowly,” the NC leader said.

    On the April 20 terrorist attack on an army truck in Poonch district that left five soldiers dead, Abdullah said contrary to the BJP’s claims, terrorism is still alive in Jammu and Kashmir. “Has terrorism been ever finished? They were claiming that terrorism is finished with the abrogation of Article 370 (in 2019). There is no Article 370 (now) but terrorism is still there,” the former chief minister said, adding that “terrorism had heightened in the region”.

    In 2019, the Centre had abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

    He said the killing of the five soldiers is a “shame for us and we regret the loss”.

    Supporting casual and need-based workers seeking regularisation, the NC leader said “The world is celebrating labour day and they (the administration) should think about the plight of these workers and how they are running the affairs of their families in the present times of high inflation”.

    JAMMU: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday attacked the government, saying it is unfortunate that G20 meetings were scheduled in Ladakh and Kashmir but not in Jammu, and slammed BJP leaders for not raising the issue.

    He also opposed the settlement of non-locals in Jammu and claimed that the Dogra identity is under threat.

    “It is very unfortunate that G20 meeting can be held in Ladakh and Kashmir but not in Jammu. Is Jammu not important? It is sad that not a single BJP leader, even those who chanted ‘Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Dogra, Dogra, Dogra’ raised the issue. They have taken Jammu for granted believing that it is in their pocket,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a NC function at its headquarters here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Asked about the public notice issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board seeking online applications from people, who have migrated to Jammu temporarily or permanently, for allotment of 336 flats under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission here, he said.

    “It shows what we have been saying all the time that demographic change is being brought about. Jammu is going to lose its identity, the Dogra identity is going to disappear and that is what Maharaja (Hari Singh — the last Dogra ruler) fought against. It was not (NC founder) Sheikh Abdullah or our party that brought that (state subject) law in 1927 for job and land protection. He (Maharaja) wanted his culture and identity to remain intact, Abdullah said. He said if outsiders are settled here, where will the locals go.”

    “They want to vanish this (Dogra) identity and it is very surprising that not a single BJP leader speaks about it. The people from outside will settle here and take our land and jobs slowly,” the NC leader said.

    On the April 20 terrorist attack on an army truck in Poonch district that left five soldiers dead, Abdullah said contrary to the BJP’s claims, terrorism is still alive in Jammu and Kashmir. “Has terrorism been ever finished? They were claiming that terrorism is finished with the abrogation of Article 370 (in 2019). There is no Article 370 (now) but terrorism is still there,” the former chief minister said, adding that “terrorism had heightened in the region”.

    In 2019, the Centre had abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

    He said the killing of the five soldiers is a “shame for us and we regret the loss”.

    Supporting casual and need-based workers seeking regularisation, the NC leader said “The world is celebrating labour day and they (the administration) should think about the plight of these workers and how they are running the affairs of their families in the present times of high inflation”.

  • International Border in Jammu frontier incident free, safe: BSF IG

    Drone activity has also largely decreased in Jammu and the majority of weapons and other materials dropped from unmanned aerial vehicles have also been recovered, said BSF Inspector General.

  • Over 50 AAP, NPP workers as well as social activists join BJP in Jammu

    By PTI

    JAMMU: More than 50 political and social activists, including several workers of the AAP and National Panthers Party, on Monday joined the BJP in the presence of its Jammu and Kashmir president Ravinder Raina here.

    Prominent among those who joined the saffron party were former Chief Vigilance Officer Jeet Raj Kalsi, retired executive engineer R K Gupta, advocate Neeraj Gupta, and AAP’s provincial women wing president Rajni Jamwal, who switched over from the Aam Aadmi Party after being associated with it for the last more than six months.

    “The joining of these prominent political and social activists from different parts of Jammu will strengthen the party’s mission of 50 plus seats in the next assembly elections to have its own government in J&K,” Raina told reporters.

    Prominent personalities joining BJP in presence of J&K BJP President Sh. @ImRavinderRaina at BJP Headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.https://t.co/C3KoabmY1b
    — BJP Jammu & Kashmir (@BJP4JnK) November 7, 2022
    Welcoming the new entrants into the party fold, he credited their joining to the efforts of former MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia who ended his association with the AAP in September before switching over to the BJP.

    He was earlier affiliated with the NPP.

    NPP district president for Kishtwar Rehmat Choudhary, his party colleagues Sham Lal Sharma and Jagdev Singh from Udhampur too joined the BJP.

    “After 30 years of government service, I joined the AAP (in May) but was disappointed on seeing that the party is directionless and its primary aim is to oppose the policies of the BJP even if they is in the interest of the masses,” Kalsi said.

    Taking a dig at the AAP, he said making electricity and water free would not help the development of the country.

    “We will work harder to make the BJP and the country strong,” he said.

    Jamwal said she will work with dedication to reach out to people and highlight the policies of the BJP-led government.

    Mankotia said a large number of political and social activists are joining the BJP on daily basis as they are attracted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.

    JAMMU: More than 50 political and social activists, including several workers of the AAP and National Panthers Party, on Monday joined the BJP in the presence of its Jammu and Kashmir president Ravinder Raina here.

    Prominent among those who joined the saffron party were former Chief Vigilance Officer Jeet Raj Kalsi, retired executive engineer R K Gupta, advocate Neeraj Gupta, and AAP’s provincial women wing president Rajni Jamwal, who switched over from the Aam Aadmi Party after being associated with it for the last more than six months.

    “The joining of these prominent political and social activists from different parts of Jammu will strengthen the party’s mission of 50 plus seats in the next assembly elections to have its own government in J&K,” Raina told reporters.

    Prominent personalities joining BJP in presence of J&K BJP President Sh. @ImRavinderRaina at BJP Headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.https://t.co/C3KoabmY1b
    — BJP Jammu & Kashmir (@BJP4JnK) November 7, 2022
    Welcoming the new entrants into the party fold, he credited their joining to the efforts of former MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia who ended his association with the AAP in September before switching over to the BJP.

    He was earlier affiliated with the NPP.

    NPP district president for Kishtwar Rehmat Choudhary, his party colleagues Sham Lal Sharma and Jagdev Singh from Udhampur too joined the BJP.

    “After 30 years of government service, I joined the AAP (in May) but was disappointed on seeing that the party is directionless and its primary aim is to oppose the policies of the BJP even if they is in the interest of the masses,” Kalsi said.

    Taking a dig at the AAP, he said making electricity and water free would not help the development of the country.

    “We will work harder to make the BJP and the country strong,” he said.

    Jamwal said she will work with dedication to reach out to people and highlight the policies of the BJP-led government.

    Mankotia said a large number of political and social activists are joining the BJP on daily basis as they are attracted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.

  • Centre’s ‘colonial settler project’ initiated: Mehbooba on ECI order for new voters’ registration

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday flayed the Election Commission’s order for registration of new voters in Jammu, charging that the Centre’s “colonial settler project” has been initiated in the region.

    The former J-K chief minister said the BJP’s alleged attempts to create religious and regional divisions between Jammu and Kashmir must be “thwarted” because “whether its a Kashmiri or a Dogra, safeguarding our identity and rights will be possible only if we put up a collective fight”.

    “ECI’s latest order for registration of new voters makes it clear that GOIs colonial settler project has been initiated in Jammu. They will bear the first blow to Dogra culture, identity, employment & business,” she charged on Twitter.

    Her remarks come after authorities in Jammu on Tuesday authorised tehsildars (revenue officials) to issue certificate of residence to those residing in the winter capital for more than one year to facilitate their entry in the ongoing special summary revision of electoral rolls.

    Talking to reporters in Kulgam district in south Kashmir, Mufti said her party has been saying for the last many years now that the “BJP has an ‘illegitimate intent’ behind the abrogation of Article 370”.

    ““Their aim is to change the population ratio in J-K. It will start in Jammu when a sea of people will come to Jammu from outside, which will not only harm the Dogra culture there, but the business, employment and resources there will be attacked. The crime rate there has increased manifold since they opened the doors for the outsiders,”” she alleged.

    “”But, the people of J-K should understand that our future, destiny and our goal is the same. The way the people of Kargil and Leh, Ladakh, foiled the BJP’s divide and rule policy, and stood united to secure their land and jobs, similarly, the people of J-K have to stand united to foil the BJP’s illegitimate intentions, because outsiders, who do not even have a house, will get to vote which means reducing the importance of the vote of the people of J-K,”” she said.

    Mufti claimed that the delimitation of constituencies in J-K was done in such a way that the BJP benefits from it.

    ““But, despite that, they (BJP) feel the people of Jammu are against them as the people of Jammu have understood that the BJP uses them for their electoral benefits. So, they have come up with this voter law which is nowhere else in the country,”” she said.

    District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Avny Lavasa had passed the directive on electoral rolls after taking serious note of some eligible voters facing hardships in registration as voters for non-availability of required documents.

    The Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls has been started in the Union Territory with effect from September 15 for registration of new voters, deletion, correction, transposition of voters who have migrated, died since last summary revision, amid serious concern expressed by various political parties over the inclusion of non-locals as voters.

    The National Conference (NC) said the BJP is “scared” of the elections and knows it will lose badly.

    “The Government is going ahead with its plan to add 25 lakh non-local voters in J&K and we continue to oppose this move. BJP is scared of the elections & knows it will lose badly. People of J&K must defeat these conspiracies at the ballot box,” the NC said in a tweet.

    Peoples Conference said the DC Jammu’s order on facilitating registration of non-locals as electors was “highly suspicious”.

    ““The latest order by DC Jammu authorising revenue officials to issue certificate of residence to outsiders residing in Jammu for more than one year is highly suspicious aimed at enabling them to vote. This goes against the SC judgement on the issue. The onus of proving our suspicions wrong yet again lies on the ECI and the J&K administration. They must clarify if such a directive is permissible,”” the party said on Twitter.

    SRINAGAR: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday flayed the Election Commission’s order for registration of new voters in Jammu, charging that the Centre’s “colonial settler project” has been initiated in the region.

    The former J-K chief minister said the BJP’s alleged attempts to create religious and regional divisions between Jammu and Kashmir must be “thwarted” because “whether its a Kashmiri or a Dogra, safeguarding our identity and rights will be possible only if we put up a collective fight”.

    “ECI’s latest order for registration of new voters makes it clear that GOIs colonial settler project has been initiated in Jammu. They will bear the first blow to Dogra culture, identity, employment & business,” she charged on Twitter.

    Her remarks come after authorities in Jammu on Tuesday authorised tehsildars (revenue officials) to issue certificate of residence to those residing in the winter capital for more than one year to facilitate their entry in the ongoing special summary revision of electoral rolls.

    Talking to reporters in Kulgam district in south Kashmir, Mufti said her party has been saying for the last many years now that the “BJP has an ‘illegitimate intent’ behind the abrogation of Article 370”.

    ““Their aim is to change the population ratio in J-K. It will start in Jammu when a sea of people will come to Jammu from outside, which will not only harm the Dogra culture there, but the business, employment and resources there will be attacked. The crime rate there has increased manifold since they opened the doors for the outsiders,”” she alleged.

    “”But, the people of J-K should understand that our future, destiny and our goal is the same. The way the people of Kargil and Leh, Ladakh, foiled the BJP’s divide and rule policy, and stood united to secure their land and jobs, similarly, the people of J-K have to stand united to foil the BJP’s illegitimate intentions, because outsiders, who do not even have a house, will get to vote which means reducing the importance of the vote of the people of J-K,”” she said.

    Mufti claimed that the delimitation of constituencies in J-K was done in such a way that the BJP benefits from it.

    ““But, despite that, they (BJP) feel the people of Jammu are against them as the people of Jammu have understood that the BJP uses them for their electoral benefits. So, they have come up with this voter law which is nowhere else in the country,”” she said.

    District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Avny Lavasa had passed the directive on electoral rolls after taking serious note of some eligible voters facing hardships in registration as voters for non-availability of required documents.

    The Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls has been started in the Union Territory with effect from September 15 for registration of new voters, deletion, correction, transposition of voters who have migrated, died since last summary revision, amid serious concern expressed by various political parties over the inclusion of non-locals as voters.

    The National Conference (NC) said the BJP is “scared” of the elections and knows it will lose badly.

    “The Government is going ahead with its plan to add 25 lakh non-local voters in J&K and we continue to oppose this move. BJP is scared of the elections & knows it will lose badly. People of J&K must defeat these conspiracies at the ballot box,” the NC said in a tweet.

    Peoples Conference said the DC Jammu’s order on facilitating registration of non-locals as electors was “highly suspicious”.

    ““The latest order by DC Jammu authorising revenue officials to issue certificate of residence to outsiders residing in Jammu for more than one year is highly suspicious aimed at enabling them to vote. This goes against the SC judgement on the issue. The onus of proving our suspicions wrong yet again lies on the ECI and the J&K administration. They must clarify if such a directive is permissible,”” the party said on Twitter.

  • Heavy rains in Jammu cause landslides, block Jammu-Kashmir highway 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Several landslides on Sunday blocked the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district as heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu province overnight, officials said.

    Landslides and shooting of stones from hillocks overlooking the strategic highway at Cafeteria and Mehad forced the suspension of vehicular traffic, the officials said.

    The fresh landslides were triggered by the heavy rains overnight, they said.

    The officials said efforts were on to ensure early restoration of the highway- the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.

    Jammu city and other parts of the district received heavy rains overnight, rendering many roads waterlogged and commuters incapacitated.

    Jammu city recorded 95.7 mm, Udhampur 92.6 mm, and Kathua 42.0 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am Sunday, the officials said.

    Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, witnessed 14 mm of rainfall.

    The weather office has forecast more rainfall at many places across the Union Territory in the next 48 hours with possibility of heavy showers at a few places in the Jammu region.

    JAMMU: Several landslides on Sunday blocked the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district as heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu province overnight, officials said.

    Landslides and shooting of stones from hillocks overlooking the strategic highway at Cafeteria and Mehad forced the suspension of vehicular traffic, the officials said.

    The fresh landslides were triggered by the heavy rains overnight, they said.

    The officials said efforts were on to ensure early restoration of the highway- the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.

    Jammu city and other parts of the district received heavy rains overnight, rendering many roads waterlogged and commuters incapacitated.

    Jammu city recorded 95.7 mm, Udhampur 92.6 mm, and Kathua 42.0 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am Sunday, the officials said.

    Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, witnessed 14 mm of rainfall.

    The weather office has forecast more rainfall at many places across the Union Territory in the next 48 hours with possibility of heavy showers at a few places in the Jammu region.

  • Ghulam Nabi Azad to hold his first public meeting after leaving Congress; set to launch new party

    By ANI

    JAMMU (Jammu and Kashmir): Former Union Minister and senior ex-Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the party recently, will hold a public meeting today at Sainik Colony in Jammu.

    He left for Jammu to hold the public meeting on Sunday morning which is scheduled for 11 am.

    This will be his first meeting since he snapped his nearly 50-year-long association with Congress. Azad has said that he will launch a new party soon and the first unit will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir in view of impending assembly polls. Azad has been Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2005 to 2008.

    Notably, Rahul Gandhi and a string of party leaders will also hold a ‘Mehangai Par Halla Bol’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi today.

    With Azad signalling that he will float a new party, several leaders have resigned from the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand are among 64 leaders who have resigned from the Congress.

    WATCH |

    Over 36 Congress leaders including leaders of the National Students’ Union of India, the youth wing of the Congress party, from various universities in Jammu have submitted their resignations in solidarity with Azad.

    According to sources, the leaders submitted their resignations to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi.The General Secretary of NSUI-J&K unit, Manik Sharma in his resignation letter said, “I support resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from Congress party. I am fed up with the favouritism in the party. The work of ground-level workers doesn’t matter in the party. This is the reason why we failed in 90 per cent of the elections.”

    In his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, Azad had targeted party leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi, over the way the party has been run in the past nearly nine years.

    In the hard-hitting five-page letter, Azad had claimed that a coterie runs the party while Sonia Gandhi was just “a nominal head” and all the major decisions were taken by “Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs”.

    ALSO READ | Key points from Ghulam Nabi Azad’s letter of resignation from Congress

    Azad had said he was submitting his resignation with “great regret and an extremely leaden heart” and severing his 50-year association with the Congress. He was earlier Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

    Recounting his long association with the Congress, Azad had said the situation in the party has reached a point of “no return.”

    While Azad took potshots at Sonia Gandhi in the letter, his sharpest attack was on Rahul Gandhi and he described the Wayand MP as “non-serious individual” and “immature”. 

    JAMMU (Jammu and Kashmir): Former Union Minister and senior ex-Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the party recently, will hold a public meeting today at Sainik Colony in Jammu.

    He left for Jammu to hold the public meeting on Sunday morning which is scheduled for 11 am.

    This will be his first meeting since he snapped his nearly 50-year-long association with Congress. Azad has said that he will launch a new party soon and the first unit will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir in view of impending assembly polls. Azad has been Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2005 to 2008.

    Notably, Rahul Gandhi and a string of party leaders will also hold a ‘Mehangai Par Halla Bol’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi today.

    With Azad signalling that he will float a new party, several leaders have resigned from the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand are among 64 leaders who have resigned from the Congress.

    WATCH |

    Over 36 Congress leaders including leaders of the National Students’ Union of India, the youth wing of the Congress party, from various universities in Jammu have submitted their resignations in solidarity with Azad.

    According to sources, the leaders submitted their resignations to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi.The General Secretary of NSUI-J&K unit, Manik Sharma in his resignation letter said, “I support resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from Congress party. I am fed up with the favouritism in the party. The work of ground-level workers doesn’t matter in the party. This is the reason why we failed in 90 per cent of the elections.”

    In his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, Azad had targeted party leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi, over the way the party has been run in the past nearly nine years.

    In the hard-hitting five-page letter, Azad had claimed that a coterie runs the party while Sonia Gandhi was just “a nominal head” and all the major decisions were taken by “Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs”.

    ALSO READ | Key points from Ghulam Nabi Azad’s letter of resignation from Congress

    Azad had said he was submitting his resignation with “great regret and an extremely leaden heart” and severing his 50-year association with the Congress. He was earlier Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

    Recounting his long association with the Congress, Azad had said the situation in the party has reached a point of “no return.”

    While Azad took potshots at Sonia Gandhi in the letter, his sharpest attack was on Rahul Gandhi and he described the Wayand MP as “non-serious individual” and “immature”. 

  • ED files chargesheet against Farooq Abdullah

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has charged Farooq Abdullah, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and others for financial irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. The agency has filed a supplementary charge sheet under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, before the court in Srinagar.

    The charge sheet was filed against Abdullah, Ahsan Ahmad Mirza, Mir Manzoor Gazanffer and others. The court has issued notices to the accused for appearance before the PMLA Special Court on Aug. 27. The supplementary charge sheet was preceded by three provisional attachment orders where movable as well as immovable assets to the extent of `21.55 crore belonging to the accused were attached.

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has charged Farooq Abdullah, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and others for financial irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. The agency has filed a supplementary charge sheet under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, before the court in Srinagar.

    The charge sheet was filed against Abdullah, Ahsan Ahmad Mirza, Mir Manzoor Gazanffer and others. The court has issued notices to the accused for appearance before the PMLA Special Court on Aug. 27. The supplementary charge sheet was preceded by three provisional attachment orders where movable as well as immovable assets to the extent of `21.55 crore belonging to the accused were attached.

  • Undeterred by Baltal tragedy, Amarnath pilgrims continue to throng Jammu in hordes 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Undeterred by the deadly flash floods that have claimed at least 16 lives at Baltal, devotees thronged the Amarnath Yatra base camp in Jammu on Saturday with a “high degree of enthusiasm and devotion” for their onward journey to the cave shrine situated at a height of 3,880 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas.

    Expressing grief over the tragedy that occurred on Friday, the pilgrims said they have no fear as they have full faith in Lord Shiva, adding that it would be a great privilege for them if they die in the abode of the god.

    The 43-day annual pilgrimage started on June 30 from the twin routes — the traditional 48-km route from Nunwan in Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.

    Over one lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine as the yatra is scheduled to end on August 11 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

    “We reached Jammu on Saturday. We have no fear. We have come here taking the name of Lord Shiva. If the god takes our lives here, we will accept it. But we have come to have darshan of Bholenath and nothing can stop us from doing that,” Anantajit, who has come along with his wife and two children from Tripura, said.

    Pointing out that those who have been born will also have to die one day, he said, “If the death occurs in the abode of Shiva, it would be the most pious thing to happen to anyone.” 

    Chanting “Bam Bam Bhole”, “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bholenath Ki Jai”, a group of 60 enthusiastic pilgrims from Rajkot in Gujrat entered the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here for their onward journey to the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal on Sunday.

    “We have no fear in our hearts and minds. Whether there is a cloudburst or flash floods, we will go to Amarnath with the blessings of Bholenath. We are enthusiastic to have darshan of the ice lingam as we could not visit the shrine in the last two years due to COVID-19,” Surinder Singh of Kanpur said.

    Over 6,000 pilgrims have arrived in Jammu from various parts of the country for their journey to Kashmir to pay obeisance at the cave shrine.

    A heavy rush was seen at the registration counters, token centres and lodging centres, apart from the base camp in Jammu.

    The shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure called the “lingam” that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

    Devotees believe that the “lingam” symbolises the mythical powers of Shiva.

    ALSO READ | Amarnath Yatra starts amid heavy security in Valley

    The flash floods triggered by heavy rains have failed to alter the religious fervour and devotional mood in Jammu, officials said.

    “Pilgrims devoid of fear and with high enthusiasm are coming in hundreds. There has been no fall in pilgrim arrivals,” an official said.

    Over 3.42 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the shrine from July 1 to August 1, 2019, before the Centre cancelled the pilgrimage midway, ahead of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into Union territories.

    At least 16 people have been killed while 15,000 pilgrims, who were stranded near the holy cave due to the flash floods, have been shifted to the lower base camp of Panjtarni, officials said.

    A massive operation is on to trace the missing people.

  • First assembly polls in sight, Congress set to replace its J-K chief

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  In a bid to end factionalism and revive the party ahead of first Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, the Congress is looking to replace its J&K Congress chief, Ghulam Ahmed Mir.

    Sources said meetings of party leaders were held in New Delhi to discuss the change. In the meetings, AICC general secretary (org) KC Venugopal, in-charge J&K Rajni Patil and Mir, discussed the probable names to take up the post.

    Six names three each from Kashmir and Jammu — are said to be under consideration for the post in J&K Congress, which is ridden with factionalism. While Vikar Rasool, G M Saroori and Manohar Lal are the candidates from Jammu, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Tariq Hamid Karra and Ghulam Nabi Monga are in the race from Kashmir.

    The party may prefer a leader from Jammu region in view of the changed political scenario and increase of seven Assembly seats in the region after the revocation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K state in 2019. According to sources, Rasool, a former minister, is the top favourite as he is accepted by all and is also close to former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

    He was one among the dissident J&K Congress leaders who had written a letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi seeking Mir’s removal. Mir was appointed to the post in 2014. During his tenure, the party did not fare well in 2014 Assembly polls and he himself lost the parliamentary election from the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in 2019.