News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

  • Kashmiri Pandit ATM guard shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Terrorists on Sunday shot dead a 40-year-old Kashmiri Pandit man in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district while he was on his way to a local market, police said.

    Sanjay Sharma (40), who worked as an ATM guard, was shot in the chest at point-blank range in the Achan area of the south Kashmir district around 11 am, they added.

    “Terrorists fired upon one civilian from minority namely Sanjay Sharma S/O Kashinath Sharma R/O Achan Pulwama while on way to local market,” the Kashmir Zone police wrote on Twitter.

    They said Sharma was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to the injuries. “There was armed guard in his village. Area cordoned off. Details shall follow,” police said.

    ALSO READ | Nine Kashmiri Pandits killed in Jammu and Kashmir in 3 years: Govt

    Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on the victim’s village.

    The deceased worked as an ATM guard in a bank but had not been reporting to duty of late following an earlier spate of terror attacks on his community members, his colleagues said.

    Political parties condemned the killing, terming it “senseless”. “Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Sanjay Pandith of Achan in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. Sanjay was working as a bank security guard and was killed in a militant attack earlier today. I unequivocally condemn this attack and send my condolences to his loved ones,” National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah said in a tweet.

    Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Sanjay Pandith of Achan in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. Sanjay was working as a bank security guard & was killed in a militant attack earlier today. I unequivocally condemn this attack & send my condolences to his loved ones.
    — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 26, 2023
    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti blamed the BJP-led Centre for failing to protect Kashmiri Pandits. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also hit out at the perpetrators of the attack. Talking to reporters here, she said, “A few days ago, right-wing terrorists killed two Muslims in Rajasthan. Today, you have killed a Hindu. What is the difference between you and them?” Mufti accused the BJP government of endangering the lives of minorities in Kashmir while projecting a picture of normalcy in the valley.

    NC’s chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq condemned the killing, saying it was an unfortunate incident. “As the majority community, we should ensure the protection of the minorities,” he said, adding that the government has failed to do so.

    ALSO READ | Radio Sharda connects displaced Kashmiri Pandits in India, 108 countries with their roots

    SRINAGAR: Terrorists on Sunday shot dead a 40-year-old Kashmiri Pandit man in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district while he was on his way to a local market, police said.

    Sanjay Sharma (40), who worked as an ATM guard, was shot in the chest at point-blank range in the Achan area of the south Kashmir district around 11 am, they added.

    “Terrorists fired upon one civilian from minority namely Sanjay Sharma S/O Kashinath Sharma R/O Achan Pulwama while on way to local market,” the Kashmir Zone police wrote on Twitter.

    They said Sharma was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to the injuries. “There was armed guard in his village. Area cordoned off. Details shall follow,” police said.

    ALSO READ | Nine Kashmiri Pandits killed in Jammu and Kashmir in 3 years: Govt

    Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on the victim’s village.

    The deceased worked as an ATM guard in a bank but had not been reporting to duty of late following an earlier spate of terror attacks on his community members, his colleagues said.

    Political parties condemned the killing, terming it “senseless”. “Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Sanjay Pandith of Achan in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. Sanjay was working as a bank security guard and was killed in a militant attack earlier today. I unequivocally condemn this attack and send my condolences to his loved ones,” National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah said in a tweet.

    Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Sanjay Pandith of Achan in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. Sanjay was working as a bank security guard & was killed in a militant attack earlier today. I unequivocally condemn this attack & send my condolences to his loved ones.
    — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 26, 2023
    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti blamed the BJP-led Centre for failing to protect Kashmiri Pandits. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also hit out at the perpetrators of the attack. Talking to reporters here, she said, “A few days ago, right-wing terrorists killed two Muslims in Rajasthan. Today, you have killed a Hindu. What is the difference between you and them?” Mufti accused the BJP government of endangering the lives of minorities in Kashmir while projecting a picture of normalcy in the valley.

    NC’s chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq condemned the killing, saying it was an unfortunate incident. “As the majority community, we should ensure the protection of the minorities,” he said, adding that the government has failed to do so.

    ALSO READ | Radio Sharda connects displaced Kashmiri Pandits in India, 108 countries with their roots

  • Jammu-Srinagar highway reopens after 38-hour closure due to landslide

    By PTI

    BANIHAL/JAMMU: The one-way traffic resumed on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Wednesday after remaining suspended for about 38-hours following a landslide in Ramban district, officials said.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (national highway), Banihal, Asghar Malik said the road clearance operation at the landslide-hit Sher Bibi near Banihal was still going on.

    Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on the highway after a massive landslide blocked the arterial road at Sher Bibi around 2 am Tuesday.

    The road clearance operation was hampered by continuous shooting of stones from the hillock throughout the day.

    “Despite intermittent shooting of stones, the road clearance agencies worked hard since this morning to ensure that the road is opened for one-way traffic which was allowed at around 4 pm (Wednesday),” Malik said.

    No fresh traffic was allowed either from Srinagar or Jammu for the second day in the morning as authorities focused on road clearance operation and to clear the stranded vehicles on priority, a traffic department official said.

    He said some more time is needed to make the road two-way at the landslide hit stretch.

    Meanwhile, J-K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta asked for a possibility of taking a “traffic holiday” for a day every week on the highway till March 15 so that it is better utilised for making some crucial repairs and completing a few essential works for making travel on the road a pleasant experience for the commuters.

    Reviewing the traffic scenario on the highway at a meeting with traffic authorities here, Mehta made it amply clear that in no case should travel time between the two capital cities exceed beyond seven hours on any day for light motor vehicles.

    The chief secretary enjoined upon the traffic authorities to enhance their personnel on all the damaged portions of the road for better traffic management.

    He impressed upon them to show zero tolerance towards road side parking hindering traffic flow, directing for having stringent regulations in place to deal with all the violators.

    Taking stock of the ongoing construction works, Mehta called for all out efforts to open the T5 tunnel on Panthiyal stretch of the highway by March 15, Jaiswal Bridge by March 31 and double-lane of Ramban Flyover and Banihal Bye-pass by April 15.

    BANIHAL/JAMMU: The one-way traffic resumed on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Wednesday after remaining suspended for about 38-hours following a landslide in Ramban district, officials said.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (national highway), Banihal, Asghar Malik said the road clearance operation at the landslide-hit Sher Bibi near Banihal was still going on.

    Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on the highway after a massive landslide blocked the arterial road at Sher Bibi around 2 am Tuesday.

    The road clearance operation was hampered by continuous shooting of stones from the hillock throughout the day.

    “Despite intermittent shooting of stones, the road clearance agencies worked hard since this morning to ensure that the road is opened for one-way traffic which was allowed at around 4 pm (Wednesday),” Malik said.

    No fresh traffic was allowed either from Srinagar or Jammu for the second day in the morning as authorities focused on road clearance operation and to clear the stranded vehicles on priority, a traffic department official said.

    He said some more time is needed to make the road two-way at the landslide hit stretch.

    Meanwhile, J-K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta asked for a possibility of taking a “traffic holiday” for a day every week on the highway till March 15 so that it is better utilised for making some crucial repairs and completing a few essential works for making travel on the road a pleasant experience for the commuters.

    Reviewing the traffic scenario on the highway at a meeting with traffic authorities here, Mehta made it amply clear that in no case should travel time between the two capital cities exceed beyond seven hours on any day for light motor vehicles.

    The chief secretary enjoined upon the traffic authorities to enhance their personnel on all the damaged portions of the road for better traffic management.

    He impressed upon them to show zero tolerance towards road side parking hindering traffic flow, directing for having stringent regulations in place to deal with all the violators.

    Taking stock of the ongoing construction works, Mehta called for all out efforts to open the T5 tunnel on Panthiyal stretch of the highway by March 15, Jaiswal Bridge by March 31 and double-lane of Ramban Flyover and Banihal Bye-pass by April 15.

  • 3.4-magnitude earthquake hits Katra in Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI

    JAMMU: An earthquake of 3.4 magnitude hit the Katra belt of Jammu and Kashmir Monday night, officials said.

    There was no casualty or damage to property reported from anywhere, they said.

    The quake struck at 10.07 pm at a depth of 25 km, the National Centre for Seismology said.

    The epicentre was 89 km east of Katra. Tremors were felt in Reasi and Doda districts in the Union territory.

    On February 17, an earthquake of 3.6 magnitude hit the Katra belt.

    JAMMU: An earthquake of 3.4 magnitude hit the Katra belt of Jammu and Kashmir Monday night, officials said.

    There was no casualty or damage to property reported from anywhere, they said.

    The quake struck at 10.07 pm at a depth of 25 km, the National Centre for Seismology said.

    The epicentre was 89 km east of Katra. Tremors were felt in Reasi and Doda districts in the Union territory.

    On February 17, an earthquake of 3.6 magnitude hit the Katra belt.

  • Infiltration bid foiled along LoC in J&K; one ultra killed 

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: The Army on Thursday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, killing one terrorist.

    “Indian Army eliminated an infiltration attempt in forward areas of Tangdhar sector on the night of 15/16 February 2023, thereby preventing efforts of Pakistan to destabilise peace and tranquillity in Kashmir valley and successfully maintaining higher moral ascendancy over the enemy along the Line of Control,” a defence spokesman said here.

    Giving details, the spokesman said troops deployed in an anti-infiltration grid detected movement of three terrorists across the LoC while they were approaching the LoC fence.

    “On being challenged at close proximity to the post, an intense firefight ensued between the terrorists and alert troops, resulting in successful elimination of one terrorist, while grievously injuring the other. The injured terrorist managed to flee to PoJK, along with the third terrorist, taking advantage of darkness,” he added.

    The spokesman said a search operation was launched in the morning following which a body was recovered.

    An AK series rifle, one light automatic weapon, six magazines, two grenades and large quantity of war-like stores was also recovered.

    “Continued infiltration bids along the LoC are an uncanny reminder of Pakistan’s efforts to orchestrate terrorism in Kashmir valley and disrupt peace and harmony, while putting on the facade of ceasefire understanding,” he added.

    SRINAGAR: The Army on Thursday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, killing one terrorist.

    “Indian Army eliminated an infiltration attempt in forward areas of Tangdhar sector on the night of 15/16 February 2023, thereby preventing efforts of Pakistan to destabilise peace and tranquillity in Kashmir valley and successfully maintaining higher moral ascendancy over the enemy along the Line of Control,” a defence spokesman said here.

    Giving details, the spokesman said troops deployed in an anti-infiltration grid detected movement of three terrorists across the LoC while they were approaching the LoC fence.

    “On being challenged at close proximity to the post, an intense firefight ensued between the terrorists and alert troops, resulting in successful elimination of one terrorist, while grievously injuring the other. The injured terrorist managed to flee to PoJK, along with the third terrorist, taking advantage of darkness,” he added.

    The spokesman said a search operation was launched in the morning following which a body was recovered.

    An AK series rifle, one light automatic weapon, six magazines, two grenades and large quantity of war-like stores was also recovered.

    “Continued infiltration bids along the LoC are an uncanny reminder of Pakistan’s efforts to orchestrate terrorism in Kashmir valley and disrupt peace and harmony, while putting on the facade of ceasefire understanding,” he added.

  • SC verdict on JK delimitation immaterial; rejected process at outset: Mehbooba

    Mehbooba charged that delimitation was a “tactical process of rigging before the elections.”

  • Anti-encroachment drive in J&K: 45 shops sealed, 2 demolished in Ramban

    By PTI

    BANIHAL / JAMMU: At least 45 shops were sealed and two others demolished during the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Banihal township of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Sunday, officials said.

    Two political activists were taken into preventive custody before the start of the drive to retrieve state land along the sub-district hospital road amid tight security arrangements, they said.

    A team of revenue officials led by Tehsildar, Banihal, and Imtiyaz Ahmad had on Saturday served notices to the owners of the shops, mostly pharmacies and clinical laboratories, triggering a protest.

    The shopkeepers and local residents staged a sit-in at the tourist hostel, however, a police team swooped on the protesters around midnight and two sarpanches — Mohd Ilyas Wani of Democratic Azad Party (DAP) and Qaiser Hamid Sheikh of Congress — were taken into preventive custody, officials said.

    Additional security personnel were deployed across the town on Sunday morning and the notified shops were sealed while two were demolished.

    The shops that were sealed, included 22 pharmacies, nine clinical laboratories and five optical shops, officials said.

    “The shops have come up on the encroached state land over the years and were handed over to Municipal Committee Banihal after being sealed as per the law,” the Tehsildar said.

    He said eight marlas of state land, under illegal occupation of a private school, were also freed during the drive which is successfully going on and so far 40 per cent encroachment has been removed.

    President, Beopar Mandal of Banihal, Pervez Hamid Sheikh requested the district administration to take into account the plight of poor shopkeepers who have lost their livelihood.

    “We are thankful to the administration for providing enough time to the shopkeepers to vacate their shops which were not razed,” Sheikh said.

    More than 300 people have been rendered jobless by the closure of nearly 50 shops, he said.

    “We appeal to the government to take into account the plight of poor shopkeepers and their dependents and give back possession of shops to their owners as soon as possible,” he said.

    BANIHAL / JAMMU: At least 45 shops were sealed and two others demolished during the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Banihal township of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Sunday, officials said.

    Two political activists were taken into preventive custody before the start of the drive to retrieve state land along the sub-district hospital road amid tight security arrangements, they said.

    A team of revenue officials led by Tehsildar, Banihal, and Imtiyaz Ahmad had on Saturday served notices to the owners of the shops, mostly pharmacies and clinical laboratories, triggering a protest.

    The shopkeepers and local residents staged a sit-in at the tourist hostel, however, a police team swooped on the protesters around midnight and two sarpanches — Mohd Ilyas Wani of Democratic Azad Party (DAP) and Qaiser Hamid Sheikh of Congress — were taken into preventive custody, officials said.

    Additional security personnel were deployed across the town on Sunday morning and the notified shops were sealed while two were demolished.

    The shops that were sealed, included 22 pharmacies, nine clinical laboratories and five optical shops, officials said.

    “The shops have come up on the encroached state land over the years and were handed over to Municipal Committee Banihal after being sealed as per the law,” the Tehsildar said.

    He said eight marlas of state land, under illegal occupation of a private school, were also freed during the drive which is successfully going on and so far 40 per cent encroachment has been removed.

    President, Beopar Mandal of Banihal, Pervez Hamid Sheikh requested the district administration to take into account the plight of poor shopkeepers who have lost their livelihood.

    “We are thankful to the administration for providing enough time to the shopkeepers to vacate their shops which were not razed,” Sheikh said.

    More than 300 people have been rendered jobless by the closure of nearly 50 shops, he said.

    “We appeal to the government to take into account the plight of poor shopkeepers and their dependents and give back possession of shops to their owners as soon as possible,” he said.

  • Bharat Jodo Yatra to enter J&K tomorrow, grand finale in Srinagar on January 30  

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) would enter Jammu and Kashmir on January 19 and tight security measures would be put in place in the Union Territory for the yatra.

    AICC J&K In-charge Rajni Patil told reporters in Jammu that the BJY would enter Lakhanpur’s Kathua district of J&K from Punjab on January 19 at 4 pm.

    “After the night halt, Rahul will lead the yatra from Hatli Morh in Kathua from January 20 morning and take a night halt at Chadwal. January 21 will be the break day,” she said.

    The rally will reach Jammu on January 23 and the party is planning a rally in the city. The yatra would remain in Jammu region for over a week.

    Former J&K Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said the yatra would enter Kashmir from Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on January 27.

    The closing of the yatra, which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, would take place in Srinagar on January 30.

    “From January 27, the yatra will travel to different parts enroute to Srinagar. A mega rally will be held at Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar on January 30,” Mir said.

    Asked whether Rahul Gandhi would hoist the national tricolour, which he is carrying from Kanyakumari, at Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar, he said that he is searching for a place to hoist the flag.

    “The flag will be placed permanently at the place,” Mir said.

    Director General of J&K Police Dilbagh Singh said all security needs of the yatra will be taken care of and security will be ensured in every district.

    “Whatever security measures are needed will be put in place for the yatra,” he said adding, “Yatra will be regulated to ensure that people don’t face inconveniences.”

    Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Advocate Deepika Rajawat, who led the legal fight for justice for an eight-year-old girl who was brutally raped and murdered in J&K’s Kathua in January 2018 resigned from the party over allowing former BJP minister and ex-Congress MP Lal Singh to participate in the yatra.

    In a series of tweets, Deepika alleged that Lal Singh defended the rapists of the girl and divided the entire J&K to protect the rapists.

    “In view of Ch. Lal Singh’s proposal of joining @bharatjodo &  @INCJammuKashmir  allowing the same, I am left with no other option but to resign from @INCIndia .Lal Singh was responsible for sabotaging the Kathua rape case in 2018 by brazenly defending rapists,” she tweeted.

    Lal Singh, who now heads a Jammu-based party, and other politicians from J&K including Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Muzaffar Shah would be attending the yatra. Shiv Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut would also join the yatra when it enters J&K tomorrow.

    However, former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has floated his own party DAP, would not be attending the yatra. Neither did Congress invite him to the yatra nor did Azad show any inclination to attend the yatra.

    SRINAGAR:  Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) would enter Jammu and Kashmir on January 19 and tight security measures would be put in place in the Union Territory for the yatra.

    AICC J&K In-charge Rajni Patil told reporters in Jammu that the BJY would enter Lakhanpur’s Kathua district of J&K from Punjab on January 19 at 4 pm.

    “After the night halt, Rahul will lead the yatra from Hatli Morh in Kathua from January 20 morning and take a night halt at Chadwal. January 21 will be the break day,” she said.

    The rally will reach Jammu on January 23 and the party is planning a rally in the city. The yatra would remain in Jammu region for over a week.

    Former J&K Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said the yatra would enter Kashmir from Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on January 27.

    The closing of the yatra, which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, would take place in Srinagar on January 30.

    “From January 27, the yatra will travel to different parts enroute to Srinagar. A mega rally will be held at Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar on January 30,” Mir said.

    Asked whether Rahul Gandhi would hoist the national tricolour, which he is carrying from Kanyakumari, at Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar, he said that he is searching for a place to hoist the flag.

    “The flag will be placed permanently at the place,” Mir said.

    Director General of J&K Police Dilbagh Singh said all security needs of the yatra will be taken care of and security will be ensured in every district.

    “Whatever security measures are needed will be put in place for the yatra,” he said adding, “Yatra will be regulated to ensure that people don’t face inconveniences.”

    Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Advocate Deepika Rajawat, who led the legal fight for justice for an eight-year-old girl who was brutally raped and murdered in J&K’s Kathua in January 2018 resigned from the party over allowing former BJP minister and ex-Congress MP Lal Singh to participate in the yatra.

    In a series of tweets, Deepika alleged that Lal Singh defended the rapists of the girl and divided the entire J&K to protect the rapists.

    “In view of Ch. Lal Singh’s proposal of joining @bharatjodo &  @INCJammuKashmir  allowing the same, I am left with no other option but to resign from @INCIndia .Lal Singh was responsible for sabotaging the Kathua rape case in 2018 by brazenly defending rapists,” she tweeted.

    Lal Singh, who now heads a Jammu-based party, and other politicians from J&K including Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Muzaffar Shah would be attending the yatra. Shiv Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut would also join the yatra when it enters J&K tomorrow.

    However, former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has floated his own party DAP, would not be attending the yatra. Neither did Congress invite him to the yatra nor did Azad show any inclination to attend the yatra.

  • BJP’s ‘use and discard’ policy responsible for plight of Kashmiri Pandit employees: Kharge

    Rahul Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit employee, was shot dead by terrorists inside his office at Chadoora in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir in May last year.

  • Over 2,000 CRPF personnel being deployed in Rajouri, Poonch

    By PTI

    JAMMU: In a bid to enhance security setup in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, authorities on Wednesday are deploying more than 2,000 CRPF personnel to secure minority areas in the region, officials said.

    The development comes in view of twin terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district in which six people of a minority community including two children were killed and 11 others were injured.

    Over 20 CRPF companies comprising more than 2,000 personnel are being deployed for strengthening security in Rajouri and Poonch districts, an officer told PTI.

    The Inspector General of CRPF and other top officers are supervising the deployment of the troops, he said. He said the security deployment is going on.

    It is being done for the security of minority areas in Rajouri and Poonch.

    There is a huge cry from the minority community people over the security of their areas in border districts after the Rajouri attack.

    Two children were killed and six people were injured in an IED explosion on Monday near the house of one of the victims in Dangri village, officials said.

    On Sunday evening, terrorists opened fire on three houses of a minority community in the area in Rajouri district killing four civilians and injuring six.

    JAMMU: In a bid to enhance security setup in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, authorities on Wednesday are deploying more than 2,000 CRPF personnel to secure minority areas in the region, officials said.

    The development comes in view of twin terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district in which six people of a minority community including two children were killed and 11 others were injured.

    Over 20 CRPF companies comprising more than 2,000 personnel are being deployed for strengthening security in Rajouri and Poonch districts, an officer told PTI.

    The Inspector General of CRPF and other top officers are supervising the deployment of the troops, he said. He said the security deployment is going on.

    It is being done for the security of minority areas in Rajouri and Poonch.

    There is a huge cry from the minority community people over the security of their areas in border districts after the Rajouri attack.

    Two children were killed and six people were injured in an IED explosion on Monday near the house of one of the victims in Dangri village, officials said.

    On Sunday evening, terrorists opened fire on three houses of a minority community in the area in Rajouri district killing four civilians and injuring six.

  • Basic rights in India have become ‘luxuries’ & ‘entitlements’: Mehbooba writes to CJI

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Basic rights in the country have now become “luxuries” and “entitlements” bestowed upon only those who toe the government’s line on political, social and religious matters, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Saturday.

    In a letter to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, she also alleged that the trust deficit and growing alienation have only widened in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

    “I write to you with a deep sense of concern and worry about the prevailing situation in the country, especially J-K. Your recent observations on the inability of lower judiciary to grant bail in ordinary cases in a functioning democracy as ours should have been adopted as a directive rather than just being consigned to a single column story churned out in newspapers,” Mufti said in the letter posted on her Twitter handle.

    Wrote a letter to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India about the worrying state of affairs in the country especially Jammu & Kashmir. Hoping for his kind intervention to ensure justice is served. pic.twitter.com/PdZ3zgZL1T

    — Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) December 31, 2022

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Andhra Pradesh Judicial Academy on Friday, CJI Chandrachud had said that over 63 lakh cases across the country have been considered to be delayed due to the non-availability of counsel and over 14 lakh cases are delayed as they await some kind of document or record.

    He had said that people must get rid of the colonial mindset of referring to and treating district courts as the subordinate judiciary in hierarchy and in practice.

    Mufti, the PDP president, said the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian constitution and guaranteed to all Indian citizens “are being brazenly impinged upon.”

    “Unfortunately, it is these basic rights that have now become luxuries and entitlements bestowed upon only those select citizens who toe the Government’s line on political, social and religious matters.”

    “And more worryingly, to those who actively contribute and not obstruct GOI’s idea of an India where its strengths of diversity, religious pluralism and tolerance must be weeded out and crushed to lay the foundations of a one religion nation where minorities are relegated to the social, political and economic fringes,” she said.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader further alleged that since 2019, the fundamental rights of every resident of Jammu and Kashmir have been suspended arbitrarily and the constitutional guarantees given at the time of its accession were suddenly and unconstitutionally abrogated.

    She said hundreds of youngsters are languishing in jails outside the Union territory as undertrials and their condition is exacerbated since they belong to poor families who lack the wherewithal to get legal aid.

    “All this is happening at a time when the trust deficit and growing alienation has only widened since 2019. Passports being a fundamental right are impounded with full impunity. Journalists are being jailed and even prevented from flying out of country,” she said.

    While Mufti said the only ember of hope in these “bleak circumstances” is the judiciary which only can right these “wrongs,” she added, “however, it saddens me to say that so far our experience with the judiciary has not inspired much confidence.”

    She said it took the Supreme Court well over a year to order her release after she was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in 2019.

    She, however, expressed hope that with the CJI’s intervention, justice is delivered and the people of J-K see their expectations of dignity, human rights, constitutional guarantees and a democratic polity realised which had inspired their forefathers to join Mahatama Gandhi’s India.

    SRINAGAR: Basic rights in the country have now become “luxuries” and “entitlements” bestowed upon only those who toe the government’s line on political, social and religious matters, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Saturday.

    In a letter to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, she also alleged that the trust deficit and growing alienation have only widened in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

    “I write to you with a deep sense of concern and worry about the prevailing situation in the country, especially J-K. Your recent observations on the inability of lower judiciary to grant bail in ordinary cases in a functioning democracy as ours should have been adopted as a directive rather than just being consigned to a single column story churned out in newspapers,” Mufti said in the letter posted on her Twitter handle.

    Wrote a letter to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India about the worrying state of affairs in the country especially Jammu & Kashmir. Hoping for his kind intervention to ensure justice is served. pic.twitter.com/PdZ3zgZL1T

    — Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) December 31, 2022

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Andhra Pradesh Judicial Academy on Friday, CJI Chandrachud had said that over 63 lakh cases across the country have been considered to be delayed due to the non-availability of counsel and over 14 lakh cases are delayed as they await some kind of document or record.

    He had said that people must get rid of the colonial mindset of referring to and treating district courts as the subordinate judiciary in hierarchy and in practice.

    Mufti, the PDP president, said the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian constitution and guaranteed to all Indian citizens “are being brazenly impinged upon.”

    “Unfortunately, it is these basic rights that have now become luxuries and entitlements bestowed upon only those select citizens who toe the Government’s line on political, social and religious matters.”

    “And more worryingly, to those who actively contribute and not obstruct GOI’s idea of an India where its strengths of diversity, religious pluralism and tolerance must be weeded out and crushed to lay the foundations of a one religion nation where minorities are relegated to the social, political and economic fringes,” she said.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader further alleged that since 2019, the fundamental rights of every resident of Jammu and Kashmir have been suspended arbitrarily and the constitutional guarantees given at the time of its accession were suddenly and unconstitutionally abrogated.

    She said hundreds of youngsters are languishing in jails outside the Union territory as undertrials and their condition is exacerbated since they belong to poor families who lack the wherewithal to get legal aid.

    “All this is happening at a time when the trust deficit and growing alienation has only widened since 2019. Passports being a fundamental right are impounded with full impunity. Journalists are being jailed and even prevented from flying out of country,” she said.

    While Mufti said the only ember of hope in these “bleak circumstances” is the judiciary which only can right these “wrongs,” she added, “however, it saddens me to say that so far our experience with the judiciary has not inspired much confidence.”

    She said it took the Supreme Court well over a year to order her release after she was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in 2019.

    She, however, expressed hope that with the CJI’s intervention, justice is delivered and the people of J-K see their expectations of dignity, human rights, constitutional guarantees and a democratic polity realised which had inspired their forefathers to join Mahatama Gandhi’s India.