News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

  • Assembly elections in J&K possibly by year-end, says Defence Minister 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: In the first indication of a timeline for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir since it was downgraded to a Union Territory, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said there is a possibility of holding the polls “by this year-end”.

    Addressing a function here to celebrate the 200th year of the coronation of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the defence minister said the delimitation exercise has been completed following which the number of seats has gone up to 90 with Kashmir having 47 seats and Jammu 43.

    Rajnath Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the Union Territory, said, “By this year-end, there is a possibility of holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.” The indication of a timeline comes two days after the Election Commission initiated the revision of electoral rolls in the union territory and prepare the draft rolls by August 31.

    According to the officials, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey carried out a review and directed the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer to map the redrawn assembly constituencies.

    During the revision exercise, citizens would be given opportunities to enrol, delete and change their particulars in the electoral rolls.

    Last month, the Central government issued a notification saying the orders of the Delimitation Commission which redrew electoral constituencies and provided six additional assembly seats to the Jammu division and one to Kashmir would come into effect from May 20.

    According to the orders of the Delimitation Commission, set up under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019, the Union Territory will have 90 assembly constituencies — 43 in the Jammu division and 47 in Kashmir — with nine of them being reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. The erstwhile state had 87 seats — 46 in Kashmir, 37 in Jammu and four in Ladakh.

    During its reorganisation, Ladakh was declared a separate union territory without a legislature. The three-member delimitation panel was headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, a retired judge of the Supreme Court.

    Then chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra (now retired) and Jammu and Kashmir Election Commissioner K K Sharma were its two ex-officio members.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a meeting with Jammu and Kashmir leaders on June 24 last year, had said the ongoing delimitation exercise has to happen quickly so that polls can be held to install an elected government that gives strength to its development trajectory.

  • Huge rush for refilling vehicles in Kashmir amid rumours of fuel shortage

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Massive queues of vehicles could be seen at fuel stations in Kashmir on Thursday as people scrambled to fill up the tanks in the wake of rumours that the country is facing shortage of fuel, officials said.

    Hundreds of vehicles were lined up at almost every fuel station, waiting for their turn to be refilled, leading to traffic jams in some parts of the city and elsewhere in the valley as well, the officials said.

    Police and traffic police officials were seen regulating the movement of vehicles at some fuel stations where some motorists turned unruly while waiting for their turn. A police official said there were some minor altercations and the issues were resolved amicably.

    The rush for refilling the cars and vehicles began after rumours started circulating on social media that the country is facing a shortage of fuel.

    A senior marketing official at the Indian Oil Corporation Limited took to Twitter to allay the fears the of people but to no avail.

    “Dear esteemed customers, we reiterate that there is sufficient product availability and supplies to retail outlets are being met in line with demand. Request not to panic at all. We reassure our full commitment to serve you at all times without interruption,” Director Marketing of the IOCL tweeted.

  • Communal tension: Curfew relaxed for 2 hrs in J&K’s Bhaderwah; lifted in Kishtwar

    By PTI

    BHADERWAH/JAMMU: Curfew was relaxed for two hours on Wednesday in Bhaderwah town of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda while it was completely lifted in the neighbouring Kishtwar district headquarters, officials said.

    Curfew and strict restrictions under prohibitory orders were imposed in parts of Jammu regions Chenab valley, including Bhaderwah and Kishtwar on June 9 following communal tension in the wake of protests over the remarks of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on Prophet Mohammad and social media posts by some right wing local activists in her support.

    The broadband and mobile internet services, however, remained suspended for the seventh consecutive day in both Doda and Kishtwar districts.

    “The curfew was relaxed in Bhaderwah town for two hours from 3.30 pm till 5.30 pm,” Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bhaderwah, Dil Mir Chowdhary told PTI.

    He said the relaxation followed a series of meetings between socio-religious organisations and the civil-police administration during which both the communities, including representatives of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha in Bhaderwah, Anjuman-e-Islamia and senior citizens council called for maintaining peace and brotherhood.

    Officials said the meeting was also attended by Deputy Commissioner Doda, Vikas Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Abdul Qayoom.

    During the meeting, Senior citizens Council Bhadarwah urged the administration to relax the curfew to allow people to buy essential commodities.

    Shops and business establishments reopened soon after the relaxation was announced and people were seen making purchases, officials said, adding security forces are deployed in strength and are keeping a close watch on the situation.

    Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Shafqat Hussain Bhat said the day curfew was lifted from Kishtwar town early this morning.

    The curfew was relaxed for one-and-a-half hours on Monday and five hours on Tuesday and there was no untoward incident reported from anywhere during the relaxation period.

    “After 5-hours relaxation yesterday (Tuesday), a full day relaxation was given in curfew today and the situation in the entire district is normal,” the SSP said.

  • Two terrorists killed in separate encounters in Kulgam & Pulwama

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Two terrorists were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Kulgam and Pulwama districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

    Acting on specific information regarding the presence of a terrorist in village Khandipora area of Kulgam, a cordon and search operation was launched by the security forces there, a police spokesman said.

    During the search operation, as the search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the forces, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter, he said.

    However, in order to evacuate the civilians trapped around the encounter site, the forces ensured the evacuation of all civilians to the safer places, the spokesman said.

    In the ensuing encounter, a categorized terrorist identified as Rasiq Ahmed Ganie, resident of Shouch Kulgam of proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter, he said.

    As per police records, the killed terrorist was involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police/security forces, and civilian atrocities, the spokesman said.

    Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a 303 Rifle along with 23 rounds, a pistol along with 31 rounds, a hand grenade etc., were recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, the spokesman said.

    Meanwhile, another terrorist was killed in an encounter that broke out in Pulwama district of south Kashmir later in the day. The gun fight broke out in Drabgam area of the district, the spokesman said. One terrorist has been killed, the spokesman said, adding, the operation was on.

  • Two terrorists killed in separate encounters in Kulgam & Pulwama

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Two terrorists were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Kulgam and Pulwama districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

    Acting on specific information regarding the presence of a terrorist in village Khandipora area of Kulgam, a cordon and search operation was launched by the security forces there, a police spokesman said.

    During the search operation, as the search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the forces, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter, he said.

    However, in order to evacuate the civilians trapped around the encounter site, the forces ensured the evacuation of all civilians to the safer places, the spokesman said.

    J&K | Encounter underway at Drabgam area of Pulwama. Further details awaited.(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/JazKSvKz15
    — ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2022
    In the ensuing encounter, a categorized terrorist identified as Rasiq Ahmed Ganie, resident of Shouch Kulgam of proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter, he said.

    As per police records, the killed terrorist was involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police/security forces, and civilian atrocities, the spokesman said.

    Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a 303 Rifle along with 23 rounds, a pistol along with 31 rounds, a hand grenade etc., were recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, the spokesman said.

    Meanwhile, another terrorist was killed in an encounter that broke out in Pulwama district of south Kashmir later in the day. The gun fight broke out in Drabgam area of the district, the spokesman said. One terrorist has been killed, the spokesman said, adding, the operation was on.

  • Curfew imposed in J&K’s Bhaderwah town after communal tension

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Curfew was imposed and the Army called in to conduct a flag march in Bhaderwah of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir as tension spread in the area Thursday evening after alleged inflammatory speeches were delivered from a mosque, officials said.

    Police have registered a case over the alleged inflammatory speeches and warned people against taking the law into their own hands.

    “Curfew has been imposed as a precautionary measure in view of communal tension,” an official said, adding that additional security personnel have been deployed in the area to ensure peace.

    According to officials, inflammatory speeches were made during a protest against some derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad. Purported video clips of the inflammatory speeches went viral on social media.

    “Action has been taken (over inflammatory speeches). A case has been registered under IPC sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) at Police Station Bhaderwah,” the official said.

    “Anyone who takes the law into his own hands will not be spared,” he said.

  • Pakistani militant killed in encounter in J&K’s Baramulla

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: A Pakistani militant of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was killed in an encounter with security forces in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, while three terrorists managed to escape, police said.

    Acting on specific inputs about the presence of militants in Panipora forest of the Zaloora area in Sopore, security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation there, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the hiding militants fired at the security personnel, who retaliated.

    Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar said one Pakistani terrorist was killed in the encounter.

    In a Twitter post, Kumar said incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the terrorist, and two foreign and one local terrorist managed to escape from the cordon. Search is still on to nab the escapees, he said.

    Kumar said as per the documents recovered from the killed terrorist, he has been identified as Hanzalla of Lahore, Pakistan. An AK rifle, five magazines along with ammunition, has been recovered, the IGP said.

  • One migrant labourer killed, another injured in terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: A non-local labourer was shot dead while another injured by militants in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday night, officials said.

    Militants fired at two non-local labourers at a brick kiln at Magraypora in Chadoora area of the central Kashmir district, the officials said.

    They said the labourers, identified as Dilkush Kumar and Guri, were injured in the attack.

    While Guri was discharged from the hospital, Kumar was shifted to SMHS hospital here where he succumbed, the officials said, adding Kumar (17) was a resident of Arnia area of Bihar.

    Police have cordoned off the area and are looking for the terrorists involved in the incident, which took place at 9.10 pm, they said.

  • Former Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist arrested by SIA in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda

    By PTI

    JAMMU: A former Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist was arrested by the State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Tuesday for remaining in touch with Kashmir-based militants and carrying out many terror activities in Doda, officials said.

    “SIA team that was deputed to Doda arrested ex-HM terrorist Abdul Rashid code Arsalan from Tantna-Ghat area,” an SIA officer told PTI.

    The former terrorist was involved in a case of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in Jammu in 2010, he said.

    The SIA team was directed to identify the terrorist involved in the FIR and after strenuous efforts, the team arrested him, the officials said.

    As the ex-terrorist was active during 2009-2010 and was in constant touch with Kashmir-based Hizbul terrorists and carried out many terrorist activities in Doda valley, which will be further unfolded during the investigation of the said case, they said.

  •  Police shoot down drone in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Police on Sunday morning shot down a drone in the border district of Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Police in a tweet said on the basis of drone activity observed in the area of Talli Hariya chak under police station Rajbagh in Kathua district, early morning search party of police was being regularly sent in the general area.

    Kathua district shares an international border with Pakistan.

    “In the early morning today, the police search party observed a drone coming from the border side and fired at it,” police said.

    On the basis of #drone activity observed in the area of Talli Hariya chak under police station #Rajbag in district #Kathua, Early morning search party of police was being regularly sent in the general area. pic.twitter.com/bIo77hhYzK
    — Police Media Centre Jammu (@ZPHQJammu) May 29, 2022
    It said the drone was shot down.

    The drone, according to police, had a payload attachment. It is being screened by the bomb disposal experts.

    There has been a surge in drone activities along the frontiers in J&K in the last few years. Due to increased drone activity in J&K, the security grid along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) has been beefed up with the deployment of more men and sophisticated gadgets.

    In June last year, explosive-laden drones were used to attack the Indian Air Force station in Jammu.

    The low-flying drones were used to drop two low-intensity IEDs and it was the first drone attack on any defence establishment in J&K.