News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

  • Govt constitutes SIA for speedy, effective investigation of militancy cases in Jammu & Kashmir

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  After last week’s visit to J&K by Home Minister Amit Shah to review the security situation, the Lt Governor has ordered the constitution of a specialized agency  — State Investigation Agency (SIA) for speedy and effective investigation and prosecution of militancy-related cases in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a specialized agency to be called the State Investigation Agency (SIA) for investigation and prosecution of the militancy related offences. The SIA shall be the Nodal Agency for coordinating with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other Central Agencies and shall take such other measures as may be necessary speedy and effective investigation and prosecution of terrorism-related cases,” reads an order issued by Special Secretary to J&K Govt Khalid Majeed.

    The SIA shall comprise a Director and number of officers and employees as are deputed by the government from time to time.

    “The CID, CIK and CID, CIJ, already notified as police stations vide notification bearing SRO-230 of 1977 dated 19.05.1977, shall also be the police stations for the purposes of registering and investigation of cases,” reads the order.

    The government has ordered that all the officers In-charge of Police Stations shall mandatorily intimate the SIA immediately upon registration of militancy-related cases and also about such cases where any militancy linkage surfaces during the investigation; and wherever, upon intimation u/s 6 of the National Investigation Act, 2008, the investigation is not taken up by the NIA, DGP J&K shall having regard to the gravity of the offence, progress of investigation and other relevant factors, determine in consultation with the SIA whether the case is fit to be investigated by SIA & transfer the investigation of the such case at any point of time during its investigation.

    However,  in case of difference of opinion, the DGP shall take a decision, while recording the reasons in writing in such cases, where the investigation is not transferred to the SIA, the PHQ shall ensure that SIA is kept informed about the progress of the investigation at regular intervals, preferably on fortnightly basis; where SIA is of the opinion that an offence committed is fit to be investigated by it, the SIA shall register an FIR, suo motu, while keeping the DGP, J&K informed.

    “The SIA shall also be the agency for investigation and trial of offences in cases which are transferred to the State Government in terms of section 7 of the National Investigation Act, 2008,” further reads the order.

    The head of CID wing shall be the ex-officio Director of the SIA. A special incentive 25% of the basic pay shall be paid to the employees who are posted in the SIA.

  • Search for terrorists in J-K forest belt enters 21st day, highway reopens for traffic after 2 weeks

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The authorities reopened a stretch of the Jammu-Rajouri national highway for traffic on Sunday morning, more than two weeks after it was shut in view of an ongoing counter-insurgency operation in an adjoining dense forest belt, officials said.

    The operation to track down a group of hiding terrorists, who are responsible for the killing of nine soldiers, in Bhatti Durrian forest in Mendhar along with Surankote forest in Poonch and nearby Thanamandi in Rajouri district entered the 21st day on Sunday, the officials said.

    While the operation is underway, the authorities allowed traffic on the main highway between Bhimber Gali in Mendhar and Jera Wali Gali in Surankote in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, much to the relief of residents, especially taxi operators who have been demanding its reopening.

    The road stretch, which passes along the cordoned-off forest belt, was closed as a precautionary measure on October 15, a day after four army personnel, including a JCO, were killed in an exchange of fire with the hiding terrorists in Bhatti Durrian forest, the officials said.

    The operation started in Surankote forest on October 11 following the killing of five soldiers, including a JCO, and was subsequently extended to Mendhar to neutralize the fleeing terrorists.

    A Pakistani terrorist, who was moved from the Kot Bhalwal Central Jail in Jammu to Mendhar on police remand for questioning in connection with the ongoing operation, was killed when the security forces accompanying him to identify a hideout came under fire from hiding terrorists on October 24.

    The contact with the hiding terrorists was only established twice on October 11 at Surankote and Thanamandi and again at Bhatti Durrian on October 14, the officials said.

    After the firing on October 24 in Bhatti Durrian which left the Pakistani terrorist killed, there was no contact with the hiding terrorists.

    A major part of the forest belt was cleared to allow the authorities to reopen the highway and villagers to resume normal activities, the officials said.

    They said there was no breakthrough against the holed up terrorists who are avoiding direct contact with the search parties and are on the run taking advantage of thick foliage, natural caves and difficult terrain.

    “The operation is now going on deep inside the forest with a number of natural caves. The search parties are clearing the caves and moving cautiously to neutralize the suspected terrorists,” an official said.

    Over a dozen persons, including two women, were detained so far for questioning after it came to light that they allegedly provided logistic support, including food and shelter, to the terrorists, the officials said.

    Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters.

  • Nine killed in J&K’s Doda after bus falls into gorge; PM announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Expressing grief over the loss of lives in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased.

    A mini bus skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Doda district on Thursday, leaving nine passengers dead and 15 others injured, officials said.

    The bus was carrying passengers to Thathri from Doda when the accident took place at Sui Gowrie area.

    The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tweeted Modi’s condolence message, “Saddened by the road accident near Thatri, Doda in Jammu and Kashmir. In this hour of grief, I convey my condolences to the bereaved families.

    I pray that the people who have been injured recover at the earliest.”

    He also announced Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

  • One militant killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: One militant was killed in a brief shootout in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

    A police spokesperson said militants fired upon an area domination patrol of the Army and police at Cherdari in Baramulla district.

    The security forces retaliated, resulting in the death of one ultra, the spokesperson said, adding that a pistol, magazine and one hand grenade were found on his body.

    Kashmir zone Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said the slain militant was a “hybrid type” and identified as Javed Ah Wani of Kulgam district.

    “He (Wani) had assisted terrorist Gulzar (who was killed on October 20) in killing two labourers from Bihar at Wanpoh earlier this month,” the IGP said.

    Kumar claimed that Wani was on a mission to target a shopkeeper in Baramulla.

  • Experts caution as Poonch operation enters 16th day

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  Security experts have advised security agencies against hastening the ongoing army operation against militants in the forest areas of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir. After suffering casualties, troops are moving cautiously and tiring out the militants, whose exact number is not known. The operation entered the 16th day on Wednesday.

    Former J&K police chief S P Vaid said after initially suffering casualties, the army is now taking all precautions to avoid casualties. “They are now tiring out the militants,” he said. Army also deploys helicopters and para-commandos to track down the well armed militants. Vaid said the terrain in Dera Ki Gali and Bhatadurian forest area is very difficult and  there are caves and troops are now moving on very cautiously to take on militants.

    It is the second major operation launched by the army in the Poonch forest area after Operation Sarp Vinash in 2003 in Hilkaka area of Surankote.Former DGP Kuldip Khoda said this operation is different from the one launched in 2003, when militants in large numbers were present there and had turned it into their sanctuary. “Over 60 militants were killed and the entire area was cleared of militants.

    This time it is an infiltrating group. We don’t know how many militants are involved but since nine soldiers have been killed, it means the group is a big group and well armed.  They might have used snipers to target army men,” he said. Ruling out intelligence failure, Khoda said, “It would have been failure had these incidents happened repeatedly. The border is vast. Militants always look out for areas, where they can infiltrate. Most of the time they don’t succeed but on occasions.”

    Statutory rights to kin of slain non-residentsAfter the recent targetted killing of migrant workers by militants, the Lt Governor administration in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday extended relief under the Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) 43 to the next of kin of non-J&K resident victims, who were recently killed by militants in targetted attacks in Kashmir.

    NIA raids residences of JeI office bearersThe NIA on Wednesday raided residences of office bearers and workers of banned Jamaat-e-Islami in 17 locations in state in a militancy funding case. The NIA sleuths assisted by J&K police and CRPF conducted searches in Anantnag, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam, Kishtwar and Jammu districts.

  • Would rather talk to Kashmir’s youth for development: Shah on NC chief seeking talks with Pakistan

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday hit out at National Conference president Farooq Abdullah for seeking talks with Pakistan, saying the government would rather talk to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir for making it the most developed in the country.

    The home minister, who is on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir — his first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 — remotely inaugurated several development projects and laid the foundation stone of some.

    “I read in newspapers that Farooq Abdullah has suggested that the government should talk to Pakistan. He has a right to his opinion but we would rather talk to the Kashmiri youth,” Shah said while addressing a function at the SKICC here.

    “The repealing of Article 370 had only one intention — to put Kashmir, Jammu and newly created Ladakh (Union Territory) on the path of development. You will see the fruits of our efforts by 2024,” he said.

    The article, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated in August 2019 and the state was bifurcated into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

    Shah inaugurated a 500-bed hospital at Bemina, completed at a cost of Rs 115 crore, laid the foundation stone for the Handwara Medical College, a Rs 46-crore steel girder bridge over the Ferozepur Nallah in Baramulla district and road projects worth Rs 4,000 crore, among others.

    The home minister, who is on his Jammu and Kashmir visit’s third day, said that those who advocate talks with Islamabad and separatists should be asked what has Pakistan done in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

    “Compare the development between this side and PoK. Do they have electricity, roads, healthcare and toilets. There is nothing (on the other side). You (Kashmiris) have the same rights as any other Indian,” he said.

    Without naming the Congress, the National Conference and the Peoples’ Democratic Party, he said while only three medical colleges were set up by the “three families which have ruled Jammu and Kashmir”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured seven new medical colleges and these are coming up.

    “Earlier, 500 youths could become doctors. Now 2,000 youths can become doctors from these new medical colleges. Nobody will need to go to Pakistan to study medicine,” he said.

    Shah said the schemes and the plans of the Modi government will ensure that Jammu and Kashmir will be the most developed province of the country.

    He sought the cooperation of the people to realise this dream.

    “It is only the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who can work towards achieving this goal,” he said.

    Asserting that the government is aiming to wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and put an end to civilian killings, Shah said nobody would be allowed to disrupt peace and development in the Union Territory, which has a special place in Prime Minister Modi’s heart.

    Defending the curbs on internet services and imposition of curfew in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370, he said that “some people would have misled the masses. Who would have been killed? The Kashmiri youth. We know how heavy the coffin of a young son is for an old man”.

    He said that 40,000 people have been killed in Kashmir in violence and it should stop now.

    “This many people do not die even in wars. We have to come back and take Kashmir to new heights of development,” he said.

    The minister said Rs 12,000 crore worth of investment has already come to the Union Territory and the government aims at a total of Rs 51,000 crore by the end of 2022 to provide five lakh jobs to the local youth.

    Shah said “three families” are answerable to the people for their failure to develop Jammu and Kashmir over the past seven decades.

    “The new phase of development under the leadership of Modi has started in J&K but attempts are being made by inimical elements to create hurdles. I have come here to assure you that nobody will be able to create a hurdle and disrupt peace and development,” Shah said.

    He said a new phase of development has started and this cannot be stopped by anyone.

    Listing various steps taken by the government since the formation of the BJP government at the Centre, Shah said five lakh jobs are being created in Jammu and Kashmir, while 20,000 people have been provided government jobs in the past two years.

    “The three families used to say who will come and invest in J&K. In just six months after announcing a new industrial policy, we have got an investment of Rs 7,000 crore in Jammu and Rs 6,000 crore in Kashmir and are looking forward to an investment of Rs 50,000 crore by the end of 2022, the minister said.

    Targeting the “three families”, he said they were asking what the government is going to give to Jammu and Kashmir.

    “We have a long list of what we have given to J&K and the people know it very well but the people are demanding an answer from them as to what they have given to J&K despite ruling the erstwhile state for the past seven decades. Have you thought of anyone else other than your own family members?” Shah asked.

  • PM Modi’s personal efforts led to revocation of Article 370: Amit Shah

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Sunday said the “discriminatory” Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was scrapped because of personal efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil the dream of Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

    In his first public rally in J&K after the August 2019 revocation of its special status, Shah said Modi restored the grassroots democracy and started a new phase of development in J&K where lakhs of people faced injustice under the garb of Article 370.

    “After a long gap, I have come to meet my brothers and sisters in Jammu. I was a bit tense because of the inclement weather and was not sure of meeting you. But by the blessings of the Mata Vaishno Devi, the sun came out and we came together,” the home minister said at a public rally here. Heavy rains on Saturday had cast a shadow over Shah’s scheduled public meeting. However, an improvement in the weather allowed the rally to go through and it was attended by thousands of people who raised high pitch pro-BJP slogans.

    “Today is the birth anniversary of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, a leader from J&K who worked for the total integration of the state with India along with Mookerjee by raising the slogan of ‘ek nishan, ek vidhan and ek-pradhan’,” the home minister said.

    “On August 5, 2019, the Modi-led government took a historic decision and revoked the discriminatory article 370 paving the way for the development of lakhs of people of J&K who have faced injustice over the years,” he said.

    “It was our dream, the dream of Mookerjee and Dogra and we are happy that this dream was fulfilled in our lifetime and it was only possible because of Modi,” Shah said.

    He said the credit for setting up grassroots level democracy in J&K for the first time in 70 years goes to the BJP which conducted a successful panchayat, block and district development council polls along with urban local body elections.

    “Anyone can become a minister and even the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. The pahadis were being used as a vote bank but not given due representation. Now even their representative stands a chance to be the chief minister,” he said.

    He said that with the revocation of the controversial article, the people who have suffered immensely and faced injustice have been given their due rights.

    “Now the Sikhs, Mahajans, Khatris and others have got the right to buy and sell land. West Pakistani refugees, Gorkhas, Valmikis got the citizenship rights and various other communities including Gujjars and Pahadis who were deprived of reservation rights and benefits of forests act got the benefits guaranteed by the constitution,” he said, adding the women also got their rights back with the abrogation of the Article 370.

    Various central laws were implemented in Jammu and Kashmir as the focus of the BJP government is to ensure development and prosperity of every citizen of the union Territory, he said.

    “Efforts are on to ensure gas connection to every household along with electricity and water tap connections.” He said PM Modi sanctioned Rs 35,000 crore for the completion of various hydroelectric projects, which shows his priority and the love for the people of J&K.

    Shah referred to the opening of medical colleges, setting up of nursing training institutions and AIIMS and said 500 students used to complete their MBBS degrees earlier but now 2,000 students are pursuing medical courses in J&K with the sanctioning of seven new colleges.

    Referring to the inauguration of the new campus of IIT-Jammu, the home minister said he was surprised to witness such a beautiful campus.

    He lauded the efforts of the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who was also present there along with Union minister Jitendra Singh and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.

    Shah said he talked to the directors of IIT, IIM and AIIMS Jammu and asked them to set up a satellite campus for training of local youths so that more of them get admission in these institutions.

    He said he talked to the 35,000 youths who got jobs, education and skill upgradation under various centrally sponsored schemes and expressed hope that their active involvement would take J&K to new heights.

    The home minister also talked about various achievements under rail and road projects and said the people of Jammu used to take their children to Delhi to enjoy a metro ride but “they do not need to go there anymore as we are bringing Metro to Jammu and Kashmir within next two years”.

    He talked about the Delhi-Katra expressway, sanctioning of Rs 700 crore for a new airport and said the government is also planning to set up helipads in all district headquarters to promote religious tourism.

    Shah also praised the Prime Minister for the “successful campaign” against the coronavirus and said people were apprehensive how India will tackle the situation after the outbreak of the pandemic in view of weak health infrastructure.

    “Modi fought the virus in the best possible way which led to the minimum loss of life,” he said. Shah said Jammu and Kashmir is the only place in the entire country where all the people are covered by Ayushman Bharat PM-Jay Sehat scheme.

  • Three security men, Pakistani terrorist injured in fresh firing by militants in J&K’s Poonch

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Three security personnel and an arrested Pakistani terrorist were injured on Sunday when militants opened fire on a joint search party of the Army and police inside a forest in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

    Heavy firing and explosions were reported from Bhatta Durrian forest of Mendhar which along with nearby forest areas adjoining Surankote (Poonch) and Thanamandi in Rajouri district is witnessing a massive search operation, the officials said.

    The operation, which saw nine Army personnel losing their lives in separate ambushes in Surankote and Mendhar on October 11 and 14, entered the 14th day on Sunday.

    A police spokesperson said two policemen and an Army jawan along with a prisoner Zia Mustafa, a Pakistani terrorist affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were injured in fresh firing by terrorists in Bhatta Durrian forest this morning.

    “Detenue Mustafa was taken to Bhatadurian for identification of terrorist hideout during the ongoing operation in which three Army jawans and a JCO were martyred (on October 14).”

    “During the search when the team approached the hideout, terrorists again opened fire on the joint team of police and Army personnel in which two policemen and an Army jawan sustained injuries,” the spokesperson said.

    The police said Mustafa also sustained injuries and he could not be taken out from the site due to heavy fire.

    “Injured personnel are under treatment at the nearby health facility. A fresh attempt will be made with reinforcements (to neutralise terrorists and retrieve the injured Mustafa,” the spokesperson said, adding that an operation at the site is still going on.

    Officials said Mustafa, a resident of Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was lodged in Kot Bhalwal jail for the last 14 years and was shifted to Mendhar on police remand after investigation revealed his link with the hiding terrorists.

    Mustafa had sneaked into this side from the same route before he was arrested from south Kashmir, the officials said.

    The operation in the forest areas in the twin border districts commenced on October 11 when terrorists ambushed a search party killing five soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) in Surankote forest of Poonch before another gunfight in nearby Thanamandi on the same day.

    On October 14, the terrorists struck again and killed four soldiers including a JCO in Nar Khas forest in Mendhar as the security forces extended the cordon and search operation to neutralise the fleeing terrorists.

    Drones and helicopters were pressed into service to assist the marching troops, which included para-commandos, in the jungle spread over nearly 8 kmX2 km area at a distance of four km from the Line of Control (LoC), the officials said.

    Ten persons, including two women, were detained for questioning after it came to light that they allegedly provided logistic support including food and shelter to the terrorists, the officials said.

    An Army official said on Saturday that a major part of the forest was cleared and now the search area is restricted to a location housing a number of natural caves.

    “There was no contact with the terrorist after the initial gunfights on October 11 and October 14. The search area was expanded in search of the terrorists,” the official had said, hoping to conclude the operation with the clearance of the natural caves within a day or two depending on the weather conditions.

    Traffic between Mendhar and Thanamandi along the Jammu-Rajouri highway remained suspended as a precautionary measure for the ninth day on Sunday in the wake of the ongoing operation.

    Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters.

  • Amit Shah’s Jammu and Kashmir visit was necessary in aftermath of recent killings: Farooq Abdullah

    By PTI

    JAMMU: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir was imperative in the backdrop of the recent targeted killings of civilians that have triggered panic among the minorities and non-local labourers who have started fleeing the valley.

    The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, however, questioned the claim of the BJP that militancy has been wiped out from the Union Territory.

    “Jammu and Kashmir is under the direct rule of the Centre and the emerging situation demanded his (Shah’s) visit, which was imperative. He has come and people have high hopes that this (targeted attacks) will end and he will be able to provide security to them,” he said.

    Eleven civilians, including two teachers, a pharmacy owner and five non-local labourers, have been killed by militants in separate attacks in the valley this month.

    Speaking in Rajouri district on the first day of his three-day tour of the Pir Panchal region, Abdullah said many in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are claiming that militancy has been finished and the borders have been sealed in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “If the claim is true, one wonders how they (militants) come and carry out the attacks,” he added.

    The NC leader said 900 youngsters, who were accused of stone-pelting in the past, have been arrested ahead of the home minister’s visit to the Union Territory.

    “Will you get peace by arresting the youngsters? Your policies are not favourable to Jammu and Kashmir and the fact of the matter is that you are polarising people and creating a big danger for the country with an eye on the upcoming election in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

    Abdullah said it is better for the BJP to lose the Uttar Pradesh polls rather than winning the election by “spreading hatred and dividing communities”.

    He said nobody is willing to come to Kashmir in view of the emerging situation that has led to the migration of labourers and Kashmiri Pandits who had got jobs under the prime minister’s package here.

    “They are seeking investors but who will come to invest under the present situation? I do not see any development happening in Jammu and Kashmir (post the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019). They (Centre) promised 50,000 jobs but where did these jobs go? Inflation has broken the backbone of the poor,” the former chief minister said.

    He urged the government to give salaries to the Kashmiri Pandits who have returned to Jammu out of fear.

    Referring to the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Abdullah said no concrete step was taken to remove “Dilli ki Doori and Dil Ki Doori” as promised by him.

    “Political prisoners are still in jails, which is very unfortunate. They (Centre) should keep the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

  • Inaugurating flights cosmetic steps, won’t address actual problem in J-K: Mehbooba on Shah’s visit

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurating international flights and medical colleges were cosmetic steps that will not address the ‘actual’ problem in Jammu and Kashmir.

    She said ideally the home minister’s visit should have been preceded by a follow up on assurances given to leaders of the union territory during the all-party meeting convened by the prime minister in June this year.

    “HM inaugurating international flights from Srinagar & laying foundation of new medical colleges isn’t new. Half a dozen medical colleges were sanctioned by UPA gov(ernment) & are functional now. Post Article 370 abrogation & an engineered crisis, J&K has been thrown into chaos,” Mehbooba said in a series of tweets.

    She said the Union government should address the real problems to provide a sense of relief to people.

    “This crisis is of GOIs making & instead of reaching out they opted for cosmetic steps that don’t address the actual problem. Ideally, HM’s visit should have been preceded by following up on PM’s assurances post the all-party meeting,” Mehbooba said.

    “CBMs such as lifting the siege that J&K has been put under since 2019, releasing prisoners, ending the harassment people here face on a daily basis, taking tangible steps to revive the economy esp(ecially) horticulture would have provided a sense of relief,” she added.

    Contrary to that, prior to Shah’s visit, 700 civilians were detained, booked under the Public Safety Act and many shifted to jails outside Kashmir, the former chief minister alleged.

    “Such oppressive steps further vitiate an already tense atmosphere. ‘Normalcy acrobatics’ are in full swing while reality is denied & obfuscated,” she said.