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.
Tag: Jammu and Kashmir
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J&K’s statehood should be restored before holding assembly polls: Ghulam Nabi Azad
By PTI
SRINAGAR: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday called for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood before assembly elections are held and batted for land and job rights for its residents.
Speaking to reporters outside the Kheer Bhawani temple complex in Tullamulla area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, Azad said Kashmiri Pandits who left the valley in early 1990s in the wake of eruption of militancy be brought back.
“The elections… should be conducted soon. But before the elections, statehood should be restored, which is very important. Kashmiri Pandits should be brought back.”Our land and job (rights), which were taken away after Article 370 was revoked, should be secured like they were before (August 5, 2019) through a new law when the statehood is restored,” he said.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre announced abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and its bifurcation into union territories.
The former J&K chief minister visited the temple shortly after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit earlier in the morning.
Gandhi had left for Hazratbal shrine when Azad reached Tullamulla.
“I came from Delhi today, but the flight reached late and that is why we could not meet here. But since it was in my programme, I came here and will also go to Hazratbal,” he said.
Asked about the BJP’s charge that the Congress party had lost its credibility, Azad said, “Everyone knows who has the credibility.”
After the Kheer Bhawani visit, Azad went to Hazratbal shrine here to pay obeisance.
Later, he joined Gandhi at the inauguration of Congress Bhawan at M A Road here.
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BSF unearth terrorist hideout in J-K’s Poonch, recover huge cache of arms
By PTI
JAMMU: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday said a “big terrorist activity” ahead of Independence Day has been averted with the recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunition from a terrorist hideout in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The recovery which included two AK-47 rifles, a Chinese pistol, four grenades and two mobile phones was made during a joint search operation in the forest area at Sangad in Mankote tehsil of Mendhar sector, Deputy Inspector General of BSF, S P S Sandhu said.
Sandhu, who is also the Public Relations Officer of BSF Jammu, said a joint operation was launched along with the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of local police in the forest area this morning, which led to the unearthing of the hideout.
The other recoveries made from the hideout included four AK-47 magazines with 257 rounds, a pistol magazine with 68 rounds, a radio set, 13 detonators, 15 fuse detonators of Chinese grenades with levers, two mobile phones, 12 battery mobile chargers and two nine-volt batteries, the DIG said.
He said the BSF averted a big terrorist activity before Independence Day with the unearthing of the hideout.
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Those associated with terrorism won’t be spared: L-G Sinha asserts to root out militancy from J&K
Express News Service
SRINAGAR: A day after a policeman was killed in a terrorist attack, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday asserted to root out terrorism from the pious land of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sinha visited the home of policeman Nisar Ahmad, who was killed in terrorist attack yesterday, in south Kashmir’s Kulgam diatrict.
While extending condolences to the bereaved family, Sinha said “the whole administration is standing in solidarity with the family and would provide every possible support and assistance to them.”
“My visit after last evening’s cowardly militant attack is a clear message to the militants and their sympathizers that we will root out terrorism from this pious land. The Government is determined to make development a mass movement”, the Lt Governor asserted.
Addressing a public gathering at Kund in Kulgam, Sinha noted that the Government will not bow down to the nefarious designs and motives of terrorists.
He said all those who are directly or indirectly involved in terrorist acts will not be spared.
The Lt Governor said that this holy land belongs to Saints and Sufi mystics and any kind of violence here is a crime.
He appealed everyone to join their hands for the progress and development of the Union Territory.
“While the government is implementing policies and plans that will strengthen the young generation to fulfill their desire for progress, it is society’s collective responsibility to identify those who mislead our enterprising youth for their own vested interests,” he added.
Emphasizing that youth is ready to transform the socio-economic landscape of J&K, the Lt Governor observed that it is only a handful of people who want to disturb the process of peace and progress.
“The youth of J&K wants platforms to grow and become successful in life,” he said.
The Lt Governor urged the younger generation to strive for peace, prosperity, development of the common man in order to transform the Union Territory.
He highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir is the land of sages, saints, and Sufi mystics and the fragrance of their words, ideals and teaching is in its every corner. “Whether it is Nund Rishi, Simnani Sahib, all had spread the fragrance of peace and equality of all religions.” he said.
“All religions, whether Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, have flourished here and all have said one thing that progress is possible only through peace and love. If some people are being misled from the path of peace, then it becomes the responsibility of the elders to bring them back onto the right path”, added the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor said that there is no place for people in the society who are radicalizing and brainwashing our youth. It is the collective responsibility of parents, teachers, and community elders to counter radical propaganda machinery.
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One policeman dead, two injured in terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam
By PTI
SRINAGAR: One policeman was killed and two others were injured after terrorists fired “indiscriminately” on a police party at a crossing in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
They said the policemen came under attack when they were busy in managing the traffic at Adijan Crossing on their way back after escorting former minister Abdul Majid Padar to his residence.
“Terrorists attacked the police party at Pombai in Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district by opening fire, resulting in injuries to three cops,” one of the officials said.
They said one of the injured policemen, identified as Nisar Ahmad Wagay, succumbed to injuries while being taken to a hospital.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a hunt for the attackers, the officials added.
A police spokesman said preliminary investigation revealed that, a group of terrorists fired upon a police party headed by the local station house officer.
“In this terror incident, three police personnel sustained gunshot injuries and were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment,” the spokesman said.
However, constable Nisar Ahmad Wagay succumbed to injuries, he added.
“Taking undue advantage of a huge traffic jam and presence of a large number of civilians, the terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the SHO and his escort party and managed to escape from the spot.
“However, to avoid collateral damage in view of huge rush, the police party exercised maximum restraint,” he said.
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Massive search operation continues for second day in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri
By PTI
JAMMU: A massive search operation continued for the second day on Saturday in a dense forest area in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir where two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter by security forces, officials said.
The joint operation by the police and the army in remote Pangai village, located in a forested area of Thanamandi, was launched early Friday following information about the presence of three to four terrorists, including two foreign nationals, there.
“The operation is going on but no fresh contact was established with the suspected terrorists believed to be holed up in the dense forest,” an Army official said.
Two LeT terrorists were killed in a fierce gunfight in the forest area on Friday and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from them, they said.
The bodies of both the terrorists were removed to a local hospital where their post-mortem was conducted on Saturday, the officials said, adding the identity of the deceased is still awaited but they are most likely from Pakistan.
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Schools in Jammu & Kashmir to be renamed after security men killed in militant violence
By Express News Service
SRINAGAR: The administration has decided to name schools in Jammu and Kashmir after the police, CRPF and army men killed in militancy-related violence in the Union Territory in the last three decades.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Raghav Langer in an order has directed Deputy Commissioners of all 10 districts of Jammu region — Jammu, Kathua, Doda, Poonch, Ramban, Samba, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Udhampur and Reasi — to identify schools for being named after the security personnel killed in militancy violence in J&K in over three decades of militants.
The Divisional Commissioner directed all 10 DCs to identify government schools in villages, municipal wards of their districts that can be named after the slain security men.
“A committee may be constituted at district level to prepare such details after due verification,” reads the circular.
“SSP/ADC/DPO or AC Panchayat/Representative of the Army/etc can be included in the committee to finalise the list at district level,” further reads the circular.
The DCs were directed to submit the list of such schools that can be renamed before August 5, 2021 to the Divisional Commissioners’ office for further action in the matter.
The directions from Divisional Commissioner Jammu has come after J&K government directed that tri-colour be hoisted on all government buildings and offices including schools across the UT on Independence Day.
Reacting to government order on naming of schools after security men killed in line of duty, PDP leader Mohit Bhan tweeted, “Another government order to divide, politicise armed forces & civilians in the name of nationalism”.
”8000 political workers in J&K have given the supreme sacrifice of their lives to keep the democracy alive since 1947 – 2021 where’s their honour ?,” he tweeted.
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Encounter breaks out in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir
By PTI
JAMMU: An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Friday, officials said.
Acting on a tip off, police and security forces personnel launched a cordon and search operation in the Thanamandi forest belt in the district, they said.
The security forces zeroed-in on the position of the militants following which the encounter broke out, the officials said The operation was going on when reports last came in from the area, they said.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajouri Sheema Nabi Qasba, who is supervising the operation, confirmed that there was exchange of fire .
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Five terror incidents in Kashmir Valley on second anniversary of Article 370 abrogation
By PTI
SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Valley witnessed a series of terrorist attacks on the second anniversary of the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on Thursday.
Officials said there were a total of five terrorist incidents during the day.
No loss of life or injury to anyone was reported, they added.
Other than these, there were no reports of any untoward incident in the valley.
Shops and business establishments in some areas of Srinagar remained shut during the day and public buses did not ply, officials said.
Though there was no call for a strike given by any separatist outfit, some areas in the city witnessed spontaneous shutdown, they said.
ALSO READ | BJP hoists Tricolor across J&K to celebrate two years of Art 370 move; PDP says ‘day of mourning’
Giving details of the attacks, the officials said the first one took place at Batpora in the Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district where militants fired at a police team from a long distance in the morning.
There was no loss of life or injury to anyone.
Around noon, an explosion — suspected to be that of an improvised explosive device (IED) — took place near Jamia Masjid in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar, the officials said.
The security forces deployed in the area fired some rounds in air after the explosion, they said.
In the evening, terrorists hurled a grenade on a security forces patrolling team in Mehjoor Nagar here.
Around 20:30 pm, terrorists hurled a grenade at Pulwama Police Station in south Kashmir and it exploded on the roadside outside its main gate, the officials said.
The fifth attack took place around 9 pm when militants hurled a grenade at a security forces’ post located at Bemina near Judge Quarters here which exploded without causing any loss of life or injury to anyone.
ALSO READ | I was deeply jaded but politicians can’t mourn for long: Omar Abdullah on Article 370 abrogation
Meanwhile, shops in several areas of the city, including Lal Chowk city centre, were closed.
Those in other areas such as south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and parts of Budgam, Ganderbal and Kupwara were open.
Shopkeepers in many areas, including Lal Chowk, alleged that police forced them to keep their establishments open.
Many of them claimed police broke open the locks of their shops.
There was no strike call given by any separatist group.
The police termed a letter in the name of hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is under house-detention, calling for a shutdown “fake”.
They added that action was being taken against those uploading or sharing the letter.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre announced nullification of Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
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BJP hoists Tricolor across J&K to celebrate two years of Art 370 move; PDP says ‘day of mourning’
By PTI
SRINAGAR: The BJP Thursday celebrated the second anniversary of the Article 370 revocation by holding Tiranga rallies and hoisting the national flag across Jammu and Kashmir, while the PDP termed it “a day of mourning for J&K” and took out protest marches.
National Conference (NC) president and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah said his party will continue its struggle for the restoration of the “abridged” constitutional and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Romasia Rafiq, the BJP’s Municipal Councillor from Anantnag district’s Khanabal, kicked off the party’s celebrations in the valley by hoisting the Tricolour near the Degree College at Khanabal.
ALSO READ | I was deeply jaded but politicians can’t mourn for long: Omar Abdullah on Article 370 abrogation
She was accompanied by around 200 party workers.
Bandipora BJP district chief Abdul Rehman Tikri was joined by a dozen party workers as he hoisted the national flag at the party office.
Block Development Council (BDC) member Sushma Nehru along with 20 other people hoisted the national flag at Panzulla Panchayat Ghar in Baramulla district.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, who is also the party affairs in-charge for the union territories of J&K and Ladakh, said one of the more significant achievements of the 2019 decision was that it dealt a big blow to the divisive and terrorist forces.
Addressing the party workers in Srinagar, Chugh said that after many decades, the Pakistan-sponsored militancy seems to be on the back foot.
ALSO READ | Two years of Art 370 abrogation: Parties vow to continue struggle for restoration of J&K’s special status
Anti-national feelings among people have been replaced by the ideas of inclusive development and progress, he said.
Chugh came down heavily on the Gupkar alliance parties for “trying to disrupt the positive narrative in J&K”.
In Srinagar, wearing black bands, scores of PDP leaders and activists, led by party president Mehbooba Mufti, took out a protest march from the party’s head office near the Sher-e-Kashmir Park.
They shouted slogans against the Centre’s August 5, 2019 decisions and in favour of a “resolution of the Kashmir issue”.
The protesters were, however, stopped by police near GPO and turned back.
Speaking to reporters, Mehbooba said, “Today is a day of mourning for J-K. It is unfortunate that the BJP is celebrating across the country, while Kashmir is mourning,” she said.
“The existence of the people of J-K will remain only when we all will together restore our constitutional position and then resolve the Kashmir issue by forcing the Government of India to talk to the people of J-K to address the internal dimension and talk with Pakistan as well to address the external dimension,” she said.
“There is no other option. They are already talking to Pakistan resulting in the ceasefire which in turn resulted in decline in infiltration,” she said.
Mehbooba said her party is of the view that J-K has to become a bridge of peace between India and Pakistan.
She said the BJP will have to take back the decisions taken on August 5, 2019.
In Jammu also, pressing for the revocation of the August 5, 2019 decision to withdraw J&K’s special status and divide it into two union territories, the party took out a protest rally from its office in Gandhi Nagar and tried to move deeper into the city, but was stopped by police.
They observed the day as a ‘black day’ and held anti-government protests.
They alleged no positive change has come in J&K since August 2019.
“Militancy is going on. Stone-pelting is on. Violence is on. Killing of civilians and political workers is on. No development has taken place. None of MNC has come,” said a leader.
Also in the Jammu winter capital city, led by J&K Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president Arun Dev Singh, hundreds of BJP youth activists marched carrying the Tricolour and raising patriotic slogans of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
The Shiv Sena unit of Jammu and Kashmir led by its president Manish took out a Triranga rally in the city and raised slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
Led by its president Ashok Gupta, Dogra Front also took out a Triranga rally in Jammu amid beats of dholaks and dance.
Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad and some social organisations also celebrated the second anniversary of the abrogation of articles 370 and 35-A.
The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) batted strongly for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and holding of early assembly elections.
Back in Srinagar, NC chief Farooq Abdullah told a meeting of party functionaries at its headquarters, “The party’s position on the unilateral, unconstitutional and undemocratic decisions taken on August 5, 2019 will never change and the party will keep up with its struggle for the restoration of J-K people’s abridged constitutional and democratic rights.”