News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

  • Gupkar should unitedly contest J&K polls: Omar

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday suggested that the five-party Gupkar Alliance should form a united front to contest the forthcoming Assembly polls in the Union Territory to “keep the BJP and its A and B teams at bay”.“I personally suggest that the Gupkar Alliance should unitedly contest the forthcoming Assembly polls in J&K. If they seek my advice, I would suggest that we unitedly contest the polls,” Omar told reporters on the sidelines of his party’s youth convention in Srinagar on Wednesday.

    He said Gupkar Alliance should not allow the BJP and its “A and B teams” to create division of votes.“However, it is my suggestion. The decision has to be taken by Gupkar Alliance. What decision they take, I don’t know,” Omar said. Another former CM Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP is also in favour of Gupkar Alliance fighting the upcoming Assembly elections in unison.

    A PDP leader said his party is in favour of Gupkar parties unitedly contesting the Assembly polls. He said the alliance contesting unitedly and forging tactical understanding with Congress is the only way out to keep the BJP out.

    In Jammu, according to the PDP leader, Congress is the only party that can take on BJP. “Neither PDP nor NC can take BJP head-on in Jammu. Congress is the only party that can pose a challenge there, and Valley-based parties should enter into a tactical understanding with the Congress.

    Reacting to Omar’s suggestion, BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur termed it another ploy to continue the “family rule” in J&K. “It is clear that Omar and his party are unnerved by Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s recent mega rally in Samba. Now he is afraid of the growing acceptance of BJP and Modi in J&K,” Thakur said.

  • Blast on Jammu outskirts, may be meteorite: Police

    The blast was reported in Lalian village in Bishnan belt, they said. “We suspect it to be a meteorite…might be lightning”, a senior police officer said.

  • Sunjwan encounter: Two people who transported terrorists from border arrested

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested two people for allegedly transporting the two JeM terrorists who were killed in an encounter in Sunjwan here, officials said on Sunday.

    Driver Bilal Ahmad Wagay and his helper Ishfaq Chopan were nabbed from Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Earlier, the police had arrested one person and detained another in connection with the encounter case.

    Wagey and Chopan are accused of ferrying the two Pashtu-speaking Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists, either from Pakistan or Afghanistan, from Supwal in Samba district, after their infiltration from across the border, to Sunjwan in Jammu a day before the encounter.

    Both the terrorists, equipped with suicide vests and sophisticated weapons, were killed in the encounter on Friday, averting a major suicide attack in the city.

    An Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was also killed when the terrorists attacked a bus before being engaged by the security forces.

    Nine security personnel, including two policemen, were also injured in the incident that took place just two days ahead of the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The officials said Wagay and his helper had left for Kashmir after dropping the terrorists in Sunjwan.

    “They were arrested in a late-night operation from Kokernag on Saturday and are being questioned,” an official said.

    Addressing a press conference on Saturday evening, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Mukesh Singh announced a breakthrough in the case and said while two persons were nabbed, efforts were on to arrest two others, including Wagay. Shafiq Ahmed Sheikh of Tral was the first person to be arrested in the case.

    Mohammad Iqbal Rather of Malwan village of Kulgam in whose residence the terrorists stayed at Jallalabad locality of Sunjwan was detained on the disclosure of Sheikh.

    Rather has not been formally arrested in the case so far.

    “The analysis of mobile tower data as well as internet data usage of the general area led to suspicion on a person by the name of Bilal Ahmed Beig (Wagay) of south Kashmir’s Kokarnag who had received the terrorists on the border at Supwal in Samba district and brought them to Jallalabad area before handing them to Sheikh,” the Jammu police chief had said.

    Sheikh’s brother Asif — a key conspirator in the case — is still at large and efforts are on to nab him, the officials said.

    After the encounter, police teams worked tirelessly to establish the identity of the conspirators who were behind the plan to carry out a suicide attack in Jammu.

    According to the ADGP, Sheikh and his brother Asif are deeply involved with terrorists of JeM.

    “Asif created a telegram ID called ‘Pagal Jamaat’ (Mad group) for Sheikh and also provided him with a mobile phone with a SIM card which was used to establish contact with a JeM commander in Pakistan by the name of ‘Veer’, his telegram identity,’ Singh said.

    Wagay had set out on the instructions of a JeM commander from Kashmir’s Pulwama at 10 am on April 20 and reached Jammu in the evening evening.

    “He stayed at Transport Nagar and at around 12 midnight, he sets out for Sapwal (border) in Samba and picked up two terrorists of JeM. They board a medium size truck loaded with empty vegetable crates and neatly created a cavity among the crates for hiding the terrorists,” he said.

    They reached Jallalabad locality of Sunjwan around 2.30 am. Sheikh received the terrorists and took them to a house in Jallalabad where they stayed and also discussed their plans with their handlers across the border, he said.

    The plan was to take them to the nearest security base and inflict maximum casualties on the security forces to discourage the VVIP visit, the ADGP said, referring to the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Palli Panchayat in Samba on Sunday.

  • Armed forces want removal of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

    By ANI

    GUWAHATI: Days after the Centre reduced the areas under AFSPA in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the armed forces are in favour of the withdrawal of the Act from Jammu and Kashmir.

    Speaking at the felicitation ceremony of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War veterans here, Rajnath Singh said it is no small thing that for the last three-four years the work of removing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was being done in northeastern states.

    “The three wings of our defence forces want Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to be removed from Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible. The circumstances are responsible for the imposition of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir, not the Army,” Rajnath Singh said.

    He said that AFSPA was removed from 15 police stations each in Manipur and Nagaland. “That in itself means a lot. This is the result of durable peace and stability in this area,” Rajnath Singh said. He said that AFSPA was recently completely removed from 23 districts of Assam. The minister said that people from all parts of the country had taken part in the 1971 war.

    “We should take inspiration from the 1971 war, there were commanders from different castes, they belonged to different religions and all unitedly protected India. This social harmony of Assam should not be broken at any cost,” he said.

    The minister said that the Narendra Modi government is “working to wipe out terrorism from the country” and the North East Region (NER) is moving fast on the path of development due to synergy between the Centre and the states.

    Speaking about the eastern border, Rajnath Singh said that it is more peaceful and stable compared to the western frontier and noted that Bangladesh was a friendly neighbour. The Centre had last month removed AFPSA from 15 police station areas in seven districts of Nagaland, 15 police station areas in six districts of Manipur and 23 districts entirely and one district partially in Assam.

    The AFSPA Act empowers the governor of the state or administrator of Union territory or Centre to issue an official notification concerning disturbed areas after which the central government has the authority to send in armed forces for civilian aid.

  • 3 soldiers injured in gunfight with militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla

    By PTI

    SRI NAGAR: Three soldiers were injured in an encounter between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district in the early hours of Thursday, police said.

    Based on specific inputs about the presence of militants in the Malwah area of Baramulla in north Kashmir, the security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation there, a police official said.

    He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon the forces, who retaliated.

    “In the initial exchange of fire, 03 #soldiers received minor injuries. #Operation in progress. Further details shall follow,” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said on Twitter.

  • Deserve higher post: Jammu lawyer Suraj Singh

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  Even as the Jammu and Kashmir administration appointed him as a government advocate in the high court, visually impaired lawyer Suraj Singh claimed that he was entitled for senior positions. Singh, who has been practising law since 2011, is not satisfied with the post offered to him at Jammu. According to Singh, there was a gazette notification last year stating that the visually impaired practicing lawyers could be appointed as Advocate General and Additional Advocate Generals.

    “I am the lone visually impaired lawyer in J&K High Court and I have been practising since 2011. It is my right that I should be appointed as Additional Advocate General. Instead the government has appointed me as government advocate,” he asserted.

    Singh said his work would be hampered given that the required infrastructure was not available. “The infrastructure and technological support I needed to prove myself is not available,” he said, adding that the support he needed was available with the two senior posts of Advocate General and Additional Advocate Generals.

    According to Singh, justice has not been done to him. “I was entitled for the post of AAG and instead I have been offered a government lawyer’s post.” Singh has twice gone on protest to demand the AAG post, special recruitment drive for the specially-abled persons and implementation of disability law in J&K. ‘‘ (But) there has been no development in J&K for the rights of disabled people. They continue to suffer.” 

    Singh said the Supreme Court passed an order on October 8, 2013 directing governments to advertise all backlog vacant posts for the disabled persons and recruit people on merit. Unfortunately, he said, nothing has happened in J&K. “I urge the government to start a special recruitment drive for the disabled people… The educated disabled persons should be appointed as per their merit.” 

  • Earthquake of 3.4 magnitude hits Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar

    By PTI

    JAMMU: A low-intensity earthquake hit Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Monday, officials said, adding that there were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property.

    The earthquake of magnitude 3.4 had its epicentre in Kishtwar and occurred at 12.09 pm.

    There were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property, the officials said.

  • We want to make Jammu and Kashmir a model state: Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Condemning the divisive elements in society creating differences among the people, Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said his party wants to make Jammu and Kashmir a model state with respect to its culture, development and communal harmony.

    He claimed that the traditional parties like the BJP, Congress, National Conference and PDP have always played divisive politics to garner votes from the people. Asserting that playing politics on communal and regional approach is dangerous for Jammu and Kashmir, Bukhari said his party stands against such elements.

    “The regional and communal politics have no place in the Apni Party as we believe in unity and equitable development of all regions. We are committed to develop backward areas equally with other areas of J&K,” the former minister said, addressing a public meeting at Domana in the outskirts of Jammu.

    He alleged that it was due to the divisive agenda pursued by the BJP, Congress, NC and PDP that the peace remained disturbed for long. “However, we will not allow anti-peace elements to flourish again,” he said, adding “the unnecessary division was created among the people by these traditional political parties to gain votes in elections”.

    He said that they will not be able to create further divide among the people as both the regions have the same demands -restoration of Statehood, holding of assembly elections and protection of land and jobs for locals.

  • Sarpanch shot dead in Kashmir

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: A village sarpanch, who was elected as an independent, was shot dead by militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday, officials said.

    Manzoor Ahmad Bangroo was shot at by the ultras at Goshbug in Pattan area officials said, adding he was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

    Bangroo is the second victim of targeted killing of civilians by militants in three days. Satish Singh, a local Rajout, was shot dead on Wednesday in Kulgam district. The militants have stepped up attacks on civilians in the past two weeks.

    A police spokesman said a case has been registered in the sarpanch’s killing under relevant sections of law. “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this terror crime. The area has been cordoned and search is going on,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and political parties condemned the killing. “I strongly condemn the terror attack on Sarpanch, Manzoor Ahmad Bangroo. Perpetrators of this despicable act shall be punished. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” Sinha tweeted.

    “Another targeted killing, another family in mourning this evening. This unending cycle of violence is heartbreaking. My condolences to the family of Manzoor Bangroo. May he find place in Jannat,” National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said in a tweet.

    The PDP and the BJP also condemned the killing. “Deeply pained by the news of killing of a Sarpanch Manzoor Ah Bangroo in Pattan. Even after multiple security assesments, bundling them in secure accomodations in Srinagar, why do sarpanches still continue to be killed,” a spokesman of the PDP tweeted.

    BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur said he strongly denounces the “barbaric killing” of Bangroo. “Gruesome act, terrorists have no religion and mercy even during the fasting month of Ramzan,” he said.

  • Woes aplenty for J&K fruit growers let down by rains

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: With Jammu and Kashmir recording 80 per cent deficit rain in March and dry weather conditions likely to continue in April as well, the fruit growers are worried and anxious. They apprehend losses in case the weather condition does not change for the better.

    The Director, Meteorological Department, Kashmir, Sonam Lotus told this newspaper that Srinagar city has received only 21.3mm rainfall in March as against the normal of 117.6mm.

    “Jammu city received only 2.1mm as against normal of 68 mm,” he said. 

    According to Lotus, J&K has received about 80 per cent rain deficit in March-April. As a result of the absence of any strong Western Disturbance and stable atmosphere, the weather remained fair and mainly clear on most occasions. It has led to the early onset of spring and above normal temperature compared to the last few years. March 2022 turned out to be the warmest in Srinagar since 1892.

    Due to changes in weather conditions, the mean temperature in Srinagar in March 2022 was 13.7 ℃, which is quite high, and the mean temperature in Jammu city in March this year was 23.3 ℃, which is also quite high, Lotus said.

    He said for the next two to three weeks, there is no good news of major rainfall. “There is no forecast of good rainfall indicating we will witness deficit rainfall in April also”.

    According to Lotus, the dry weather conditions will prevail and there may be a further rise in temperature. “Let us hope and pray that it rains,” he said adding the deficit rainfall will impact the production of crops.

    Kashmir Fruit Growers Dealers Union chairman Bashir Ahmad Bashir said the horticulture would be impacted by the dry weather conditions and deficient rainfall. 

    “We are witnessing 5-7 degrees above normal temperature,” he said. 

    According to Bashir, deficit rainfall can also impact the season’s first cash crops like cherry, peach, plums, and apricots.

    “We may have to incur losses due to early harvest. In the past whenever we have done early harvest, we have incurred losses,” he said.

    A fruit grower, Aijaz Ahmad, said the dry weather condition is worrying for the fruit growers.

    “The rain and moisture are very important for fruit crops in March and April. We pray that it rains so that our fields remain moist. If it does not rain, then our crops yield will be adversely affected and we will be in for big losses,” he said.