News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

  • Farooq Abdullah condemns killing of 3-year-old in grenade attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: National Conference president and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah on Saturday condemned the killing of a three-year-old child in a grenade attack by militants on a BJP leader’s house in Rajouri on Thursday.

    He expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.

    “Violence in all its forms and manifestations brings countless miseries to people. I express my unison within the bereaved family; pray for strength to bear this inconsolable loss and fast recovery to all the others who have sustained injuries in this despicable act of violence,” he said.

    Party’s vice president Omar Abdullah while denouncing the attack said the vicious circle of violence must stop now.

    “I condemn the heinous and despicable act that shows contempt for innocent lives. The vicious circle of violence must stop now. The perpetrators of the attack must be held accountable and be brought to justice,” Omar said.

    Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) led by Sajad Lone also condemned the attack.

    “We unequivocally condemn the dastardly killing of a 4-year-old in a senseless attack on the family of Jasbir Singh. The attack on mainstream workers for their political affiliations is the worst violation of human rights. Such killings only add to our collective suffering,” the JKPC said on Twitter.

    A three-year-old child was killed and six members of BJP leader Jasbir Singh’s family were injured in the grenade attack on his house in Khandli area of the district on Thursday night.

  • CRPF jawan, two civilians injured as militants lob grenade at security forces in J-K’s Baramulla

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Three people, including a CRPF head constable, were injured on Friday when militants lobbed a grenade towards security forces in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

    Militants hurled a grenade at a security forces party near SBI Main Chowk Sopore in north Kashmir district, a police official said.

    He said a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) head constable and two civilians were injured in the explosion.

    The injured were taken to a hospital for treatment, the official said.

    Meanwhile, in another incident, militants targeted a CRPF camp here with a grenade, but no loss of life or injury has been reported so far, the officials said.

    About 8:30 pm, militants hurled a grenade at CRPF Camp of at Nowpora Chowk which exploded on the roadside, they said.

    The officials said a sentry on duty fired some aerial shots after the explosion, but no loss of life or injury was reported so far.

  • IED-fitted sticky bombs recovered in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, major tragedy averted

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Ahead of Independence Day, a major tragedy was averted when security forces seized improvised explosive device-fitted four sticky bombs from a man in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Friday, police officials said.

    On information provided by the Border Security Force, a joint checking party of police, BSF and Army was deployed at Morh Kotan in the district, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh said.

    During checking, a suspicious person was apprehended and during his search, an IED attached with four sticky bombs and Rs 10,500 were seized from his possession, he said.

    The man, identified as Mehmood Hussain of Kasbalari area of Poonch, was arrested, the officials said.

    With this a major tragedy ahead of Independence Day was averted, they added.

    An FIR has been registered at police station Mendhar and further investigation is on, the officials said.

  • Five injured in grenade attack on BJP leader’s house in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Five people were injured in a grenade attack on the house of a BJP leader in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Thursday night, officials said.

    The grenade was thrown by suspected terrorists on the house in Khandli area and it exploded on the rooftop, they said.

    Five people, who were injured in the attack, have been hospitalised, the officials said.

    Top police officials have rushed to the spot.

    Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh confirmed the incident.

  • Two security personnel, two civilians injured in encounter between forces, militants in J-K’s Kulgam

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Four people, including two security personnel, were injured in an encounter that broke out between militants and security forces on Thursday after the ultras fired upon a BSF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said.

    “Terrorists opened fire on a BSF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Malpora in the Qazigund area of Kulgam,” they said.

    The officials said the convoy was on its way to Srinagar from Jammu.

    A police spokesperson said there were no injuries in the initial attack but the assailants were trapped as a cordon was laid around the area.

    “Terrorists fired upon BSF convoy at NHW #Kulgam. No injury reported. However, terrorists trapped,” the police quoted IGP, Kashmir Vijay Kumar as saying.

    The spokesperson said reinforcements were called in as senior officers of the police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Army were also present on the spot.

    The officials said after the evacuation of civilians from the area, a gunbattle broke out between the security forces and the ultras.

    A CRPF jawan and an Army jawan were injured in the exchange of fire, which was intermittently going on between the two sides, they added.

    Meanwhile, two civilians with bullet injuries were brought to a hospital in Anantnag for treatment, the officials said.

  • Security forces alert to scuttle Pakistan-based terrorists’ plan to carry out major strikes in J-K: DGP 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Just days ahead of the Independence Day, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh disclosed on Wednesday that Pakistan-based terror outfits, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are planning major strikes in the Union Territory, while asserting that the security forces are alert to thwart any such attempt.

    He also said anti-terrorism operations are going on in both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir and the security forces are keeping a tight vigil to frustrate Pakistani attempts to lure youngsters into committing terror activities.

    “There are reports that Pakistani terror outfits like LeT, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and JeM are looking for an opportunity to carry out major terror attacks in the Jammu region as well as in the Kashmir region.

    “Our forces are alert and the police are working in close coordination with the intelligence agencies and other security agencies. I am confident that we will be able to thwart such designs of the terrorists,” the police chief told reporters in Kishtwar district.

    After visiting Rajouri the previous day, the DGP reached Kishtwar on Wednesday morning to review the security situation ahead of the Independence Day in the district that saw repeated attempts by the ultras to revive terror activities.

    On the arrest of two newly-recruited HM terrorists from the Dachhan area of the district two days ago, Singh said, “It is an ongoing process. The operations are going on all over the Kashmir and Jammu regions.”

    “In Rajouri, two terrorists were eliminated in a joint operation by the police and the Army in the Pangai area. There are reports about the presence of more terrorists in the area who have crossed over from Pakistan,” he added.

    The DGP said Pakistan and agents sponsored by the country are trying to activate certain overground workers (OGWs) of terror outfits in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “The Kishtwar police was keeping track of such elements and they were able to lay their hands on some of them who had joined terrorist ranks and were just about to go active and resort to acts of terror,” he said, referring to the arrest of the two newly-recruited terrorists from Dachhan.

    Lauding the police and other forces working in the district, Singh said, “They are also on the look out for some others who are hand in glove with the elements (terrorists) working in Kashmir.

    “They have expressed their desire to join terrorist ranks and resort to terror violence. I am sure the police and the security forces will be able to take care of them.”

    He said Pakistan and the agents sponsored by it are looking out for those who could be involved in terror activities and “hunting for people” in Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch and some parts of Reasi district in the Jammu region.

    “Our police and intelligence agencies are keeping a watch and we know the way to crack down on them,” the DGP said.

    He said the support structure, which includes separatists and elements working with Pakistan-based terror outfits, are active along with those who are misusing the social media to lure youngsters into terrorism, but “we are countering the adversaries who are misguiding and misleading the youngsters”.

    “Our effort is to ensure that those boys who are being lured into terrorism, despite joining terrorist ranks, are brought back and given a chance to return home. We have been successful as 40 such youngsters were reunited with their families even after being caught in live encounters,” Singh said.

    Asked about his message for the youngsters of Jammu and Kashmir, the DGP said the Centre and the Union Territory administration sincerely want that a turnaround in the security situation paves the way for lasting peace and development.

    “The security situation is now better in Jammu and Kashmir. The youngsters should focus on their education, their future and also support their parents,” he said.

  • Nine properties of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir restored to original owners: Govt tells Parliament

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The government is taking steps to restore ancestral properties of Kashmiri Hindu migrants who had to run away from Kashmir in the wake of terrorist violence there and so far nine properties have been given back to the rightful and original owners, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

    Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said under the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, District Magistrates (DMs) of concerned districts in Jammu and Kashmir are the legal custodians of the immovable properties of the migrants, who take suo motto action on eviction proceedings in cases of encroachment, while the migrants can also request DMs in such cases.

    ALSO READ | Only two persons bought two properties in J&K post Article 370 abrogation: Government to Parliament

    “Regarding restoration of properties to its rightful and original owner, nine properties have been restored, as per the information provided by the government of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said in a written reply to a question.

    Rai said as per the information provided by the government of Jammu and Kashmir, after the abrogation of Article 370, a total of 520 migrants have returned to Kashmir for taking up the jobs under the Prime Minister’s Development Package-2015.

    Replying to another question, the minister said after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, all provisions of the Constitution have been made applicable to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which necessitated changes in existing laws in J-K by Adaptation Orders so as to conform with the provisions of the Constitution.

    He said as per the adapted land laws of Jammu and Kashmir, the government may, by notification in the official gazette, allow transfer of land for public purposes such as education, healthcare and charitable purpose.

  • Only two persons bought two properties in J&K post Article 370 abrogation: Government to Parliament

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Since August 5, 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir’s special status through Article 370 was abrogated, making way for people from other states to buy land, only two such persons have bought properties in the Union Territory, Parliament was told on Tuesday. 

    Minister of State, Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai shared this information in response to a question whether it was true that many from other states have purchased or are interested in buying properties in Jammu and Kashmir after the removal of Article 370.

    Asked whether any hardship or impediments are being faced by the government and people of other states while buying properties in Jammu and Kashmir, Rai said, “No such instance has been reported to the government.”

    ALSO READ | Five terror incidents in Kashmir Valley on second anniversary of Article 370 abrogation

    In a written reply shared in Lok Sabha, Rai said, “As per information provided by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, two persons from outside Jammu and Kashmir have purchased two properties in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019.”

    2 people from outside #JammuAndKashmir have purchased 2 properties in the newly created Union Territory since August,2019, union ministry of Home affairs @HMOIndia has told Lok Sabha when asked if many non-kashmiris have bought properties in J&K @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard pic.twitter.com/v90z5lXiLr
    — Sana Shakil (@sanashakil_TNIE) August 10, 2021
    He was responding to questions from S Ramalingam and A Ganeshamurhi, both MPs from Tamil Nadu.

    Rai was also asked whether the government or people from other states faced any “impediments” while buying properties. Rai said no such instance has been reported.

    Soon after the Modi government abrogated Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and bifurcated it into two UTs, it formulated a new definition for getting J&K domicile.

    According to this, a person living there for at least 15 years is eligible to be a permanent resident.

    The government notification also extended domicile rights to Central government employees who have served in the state for 10 years and their children.

    Power to define eligibility rests with the state Assembly.

  • Terrorist killed in encounter in J&K’s Rajouri travelled to Pakistan on Indian passport in 2018: Police

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Police on Tuesday said one of the two terrorists killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district last week had travelled to Pakistan on a valid Indian passport in February 2018.

    Two terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Rajouri district on Friday.

    “One of the terrorists (who was killed in the encounter) has been identified as Ramees Ahmad Tantray son of Mohd Yusuf Tantray, of Ramnagri (Shopian district). He had travelled to Pakistan on a valid Indian passport in February 2018,” Rajouri SP Sheema Nabi Qasba, who led the operation, said.

    She said Ramees was not known to have returned thereafter.

    “Further verification of this is in process,” the SP said, adding that the identity of the second terrorist is yet to be ascertained.

    On August 6, information was received by the Jammu and Kashmir Police about the presence of a group of terrorists in Pangai village.

    A joint search operation was launched by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

    During the search, the joint party came in close contact with terrorists who started firing upon the search party, which retaliated effectively, in which two terrorists were successfully neutralised.

    Two AK-47 rifles with nine magazines and 232 rounds, four grenades, ammunition pouches, batteries, bandages, pills and other materials were recovered.

    In this regard, an FIR was registered at Thanamandi police station.

  • Only two persons bought two properties in J&K post Article 370 abrogation: Govt to Parliament

    The central government had abrogated Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories.