News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

  • Temple gutted in fire in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: A temple was gutted in a fire incident in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting authorities to order an inquiry, officials said on Thursday.

    Rojana temple in Zainapora area of Shopian in south Kashmir was gutted in a fire mishap last night, they said.

    District Magistrate of Shopian, Sachin Kumar Vaishya along with Senior Superintendent of Police, Shopian, Amrit Paul Singh visited the spot.

    The district magistrate ordered an inquiry into the incident to establish the cause of the fire.

    Vaishya said that those found guilty will not be spared and will be brought to book.

    Forensic team has also collected samples of the temple and police are investigating the cause of fire and lodged an FIR in this regard, they said.

    The DM has also directed the sub-divisional magistrate of Zainapora for immediate restoration of the temple.

  • Terrorists responsible for Srinagar grenade attack identified: Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The terrorists responsible for a recent grenade attack in Srinagar have been identified and the case will be solved soon, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said on Tuesday.

    Two people, including a 19-year-old woman, were killed and 32 others injured when terrorists exploded a grenade at the crowded Hari Singh High Street, near Amirakadal, in the heart of Srinagar on Sunday.

    “The enemies of peace are doing such kind of cowardly acts. We have achieved success against them in the past by busting all the modules created by the enemy forces to carry out civilian killings and throw grenades to harm the public,” Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Kathua district.

    He said any new terrorist module coming to the fore will be tackled and neutralised.

    “Three-four modules were busted in the last few days. Those involved in the grenade attack (in Srinagar) have been identified and the case will be solved soon,” the police chief said.

    At another function organised by the Jammu and Kashmir police to celebrate the International Women’s Day in Jammu, the DGP said they have got solid clues in the case and some suspects were also picked up and are being questioned.

    “This module will be busted as well and those behind it will be exposed,” he said.

    The DGP said 85 such modules, involved in civilian killings and grenade-throwing incidents, were busted last year, while half-a-dozen modules were neutralised in Jammu and Kishtwar in the Jammu zone.

    Several other modules in Kashmir’s Awantipora, Ganderbal, Sopore, Baramulla and Anantnag were busted this year.

    Asked about the details of a liquid that was seized along with arms and ammunition after being dropped by a Pakistani drone in Jammu’s R S Pura sector last month, Singh said the forensic report has confirmed that it was a liquid explosive.

    “The Jammu police, headed by Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Singh, is thwarting conspiracies from across the border (to smuggle weapons and narcotics). We are working with different agencies and have also seized some more material that have been sent for (a forensic) analysis. We will share the report once it is available,” the DGP said.

    He said the security grid along the border with Pakistan has been strengthened to stop the smuggling of narcotics and weapons into the Indian side.

    “We have strengthened the security to completely stop the smuggling of drugs and weapons, which are being dropped by drones,” Singh said.

    Seeking the support of the public to wipe out the menace of drugs from the Union Territory, he said it is a bigger challenge than terrorism and police alone cannot fight it off.

    “It is a big challenge and every section of the society, including youngsters, should come forward to help police fight this plague. We have seized big consignments and will continue our work, but we need support in tackling the menace,” the DGP said.

    He said police have launched a special drive against drugs in every district, while the zonal heads are monitoring at the zonal level and “with the support of people, this will be dealt with as well”.

  • LeT militant arrested in Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Security forces on Sunday arrested a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

    He was spotted during a naka checking near Shuhama Nagbal.

    He tried to flee after seeing the security forces team, but his attempt was foiled and he was apprehended tactfully, a police spokesman said.

    He identified the arrested as Mohammad Altaf Wani, a resident of Keegam in Shopian.

    Incriminating material was recovered from his possession, the spokesman said, adding that he was a militant of the LeT.

    A case has been registered and investigation taken up, the spokesman said.

  • Four terrorist associates arrested in Pulwama, JeM module busted: Jammu and Kashmir Police

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday said it arrested four terrorist associates in Pulwama district and busted a module of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit.

    “Police in Awantipora have busted a terror module of the proscribed terror outfit JeM by arresting four terrorist associates,” a police spokesman said.

    He identified them as Umar Farooq Dar, a resident of Shahbad; Soraj Manzoor Malik, a resident of Midoora; Irshad Ahmad Lone, a resident of Midora; and Afnan Javeed Khan, a resident of Shahbad.

    During preliminary investigation, the spokesman said, it was revealed that the arrested terrorist associates were involved in transportation of arms and ammunition and providing shelter and logistic support to terrorists Umais alias Usman and Abdul Rahman alias Jaat.

    Abdul Rahman is a foreign terrorist.

    Police have registered a case and begun investigation.

  • J&K delimitation panel shares revised draft report with associate members

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delimitation Commission, mandated to redraw assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday circulated a revised draft report to its associate members incorporating some changes suggested by them.

    Five Lok Sabha members from Jammu and Kashmir — Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi of the National Conference and Jugal Kishore Sharma and Jitendra Singh of the BJP — are the panel’s associate members.

    They had suggested various changes to the earlier draft report of the panel. The panel had met on Thursday and accepted most of the suggestions after due consideration, sources said.

    They said the reworked draft incorporating the suggestions was circulated to the five associate members on Friday.

    In their objections and suggestions, the members had urged the panel to “redraw” some assembly seats. Their suggestions regarding Habba Kadal seat in Srinagar and Suchetgarh seat in Jammu have been accepted.

    The commission has also agreed not to rename Inderwal assembly seat, sources said.

    The Delimitation Commission on Jammu and Kashmir is headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, with Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and the State Election Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir being its ex-officio members.

    The associate members have been asked to respond to the latest draft in a week’s time.

    Later, the commission will put the draft in public domain to get suggestions from people. It was recently given a two-month extension till May 6 to complete its task.

  • Delimitation panel on J&K gets two months extension

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The term of the Delimitation Commission, mandated to redraw the assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, has been extended by two months to complete its task.

    The panel’s term was to end on March 6, but according to a Law Ministry notification issued on Monday, it has been extended by two months — till May 6 this year.

    The panel needed more time to ready its final report, sources aware of the reasons for the extension said. Formed in March 2020, the panel was granted a one-year extension last year.

    Headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, it has Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and the state election commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir as its ex-officio members.

    In its draft report shared with its five associated members — all Lok Sabha members from Jammu and Kashmir — the delimitation panel has proposed an overhaul of assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union territory.

    Jammu and Kashmir at present has no legislative assembly. It is a union territory with a provision for a legislature.

    The Commission has asked the associate members to give their inputs and objections to the draft in the coming days. Then they would be asked whether their objections, if any, should be printed before the next draft is put out in the public domain.

    Once people share their inputs and objections, the panel would start working on the final report, the sources explained. Delimitation is the process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a state or country.

  • Vote only for PAGD allies in the next J-K Assembly polls: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti

    By PTI

    JAMMU: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged people to vote for PAGD allies in the next J&K assembly polls to defeat the BJP and its associates, which, she said, were hampering the case of restoration of the Union Territory’s special status in the apex court.

    She also reiterated her call for a peaceful struggle for the restoration of “snatched rights”, saying the August 5, 2019 development was like an earthquake and its aftershocks are still continuing with “this government taking away something on a daily basis from us”.

    The PAGD is a coalition of six parties, including the National Conference, PDP and CPI(M), seeking restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under the revoked Article 370 of the Constitution.

    The article was revoked by the Narendra Modi government on August 5, 2019, a decision which has been challenged by many parties in the Supreme court.

    “Whether we stand united or fight separately, you have to vote those who do not betray your vote in the assembly. I request you to take this message to every nook and corner that we have to choose among the PAGD constituents and vote for their candidates,” Mehbooba said addressing a party function at Surankote in Poonch district.

    She said attempts are on to divide the people and the interim report of the delimitation commission was part of the process to pit Hindus versus Muslims, Muslims versus Muslims, Gujjars Vs Pahari- speaking people and one versus other.

    These attempts are aimed at getting enough seats for the BJP and its people so that they can form the next government in J&K and put a stamp on the August 5, 2019 decision to weaken “our case in the Supreme Court”.

    “The talk of an election is premature as the time has not come yet but remember my words. If you do not like PDP (candidate), vote for any other candidate among the PAGD constituent and likewise if the other candidate is not of your liking, vote for the PDP candidate,” she said.

    “You have to make a choice among them only and not vote independents or any other candidate,” the former chief minister said.

    She said her party or National Conference have not lost anything alone but it is the people of the entire J&K who have been deprived of their rights and they have to fight for the restoration of their “snatched rights”.

    Mehbooba said August 5, 2019 was not just a tragedy for the people of Jammu and Kashmir but it struck them like an earthquake.

    “An earthquake ends within a few minutes but we are still being hit by aftershocks. They are still snatching from us on a daily basis to finish our identity, culture and traditions. They are forcibly taking away land from the people,” she said.

    She said the land which was under the occupation of the people for over a century is being taken away to give it to big industrialists in both Jammu and Kashmir regions and the way the government is working, the day is not far when “our youths will not get a foothold to stand up”.

    Mehbooba also criticized the government for the dismissal of state employees on the grounds of supporting militancy and massive raids.

    “They are doing everything to break the backbone of the people of J&K. The unemployment is growing with each passing day and deliberate attempts are being made to make people poorer so that they are silenced and are not able to stand up,” she said.

    She said they want “dead souls” as it suits their narrative of a peaceful atmosphere in J&K which is, in fact, “the silence of a graveyard”.

    “The BJP is behaving like the East India Company and the only difference is that they are from this country. They are selling the national resources at a big loss,” she said, adding “people have to raise their voice in a peaceful manner as Mahatma Gandhi did against the British rule”.

    Referring to the delimitation commission draft proposal to merge Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu with Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in Kashmir, Mehbooba said instead of giving a separate seat to the Rajouri and Poonch districts, they merged it with Anantnag Lok Sabha seat to sow the seeds of hatred among the people of Kashmir and this region.

    “The PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed built Mughal Road to bring the two districts of Rajouri and Poonch closer to Shopian district of Kashmir. They want to create a wedge as both sides would like to have their own Parliament member to represent them and want us to fight each other. There is no other reason,” she said.

    She alleged that they have no pain for the region or Chenab valley.

    “They wanted to have only one face, one dress and one food. The situation could be worse than this if we do not stand up and fight their onslaught as graveyard type of silence suits them,” she said.

    Defending her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s decision to form the previous government with the BJP, Mehbooba said, “It was done to protect Article 370, state flag and constitution under a strategy.

    It took Mufti three months to stitch an alliance with the BJP and the government was formed on our terms.

    “After Mufti’s death, we functioned as per our agenda which was not of their taste as they found us an obstacle in their original plan and the rest is history,” she said.

  • 2 terrorist associates arrested in Pulwama, Srinagar: Police

    In south Kashmir's Pulwama, security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Rahmoo area based on specific information, a police spokesperson said.

  • Two Army jawans killed in Shopian encounter in Jammu and Kashmir

    By ANI

    SHOPIAN: Two Army jawans were killed during an encounter at Chermarg in the Zainapora area of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

    According to Kashmir Zone Police, the deceased armed forces personnel are identified as Santosh Yadav and Chavan Romit Tanaji, both from 1 Rashtriya Rifles (RR).

    The police said both the army jawans died due to fatal gunshot wounds around 9:30 am.A terrorist also died in the encounter that began earlier in the day.

    Earlier today, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists at Chermarg, Zainapora area of Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir.

    (Further details are awaited.)

  • Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Dwivedi reviews security scenario in Kashmir

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: The Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the security situation in Kashmir during his three-day visit to the valley which ended on Wednesday.

    “The Army Commander was briefed by Lt Gen D P Pandey, General officer Commanding Chinar Corps, on the prevalent security situation and measures instituted to counter adversaries’ design,” a defence spokesman said here.

    He said the Army Commander had arrived here on Monday on his maiden visit to Kashmir after taking over the reins of Northern Command of the Army.

    Lt Gen Dwivedi interacted with the senior officers of Chinar Corps and lauded the strong counter infiltration grid along the Line of Control, the spokesman said.

    He said the Army Commander also appreciated the strict control exercised by the formation to abide by the ceasefire understanding between the DGMOs of both India and Pakistan, which will complete one year on February 25, 2022.

    “For the hinterland, the Army Commander complimented Chinar Corps for the conduct of operations with precision ensuring zero collateral damage. He was appreciative of the excellent Soldier-Citizen connect activities, which have resulted in overall reduction in the terrorist recruitments,” the spokesman said.

    Let Gen Dwivedi also paid homage to the 40 bravehearts of CRPF who had made the supreme sacrifice during terror attack on the convoy three years ago in Pulwama.

    The Army Commander also interacted with various civil functionaries and members of the civil society. He appreciated the rapid steps that are being taken by all agencies for sustainable peace and development of Kashmir. He lauded the synergy between all elements of the security forces and the Civil Administration.