News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu Kashmir

  • Pakistan cries foul over India’s decision to hold G20 meeting in Srinagar

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Pakistan has cried foul over India’s decision to host a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir.

    In a statement, Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said, “Pakistan expresses its strong indignation over India’s decision to hold the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May 2023.”

    The meeting comes as India has taken up the G20 Presidency this year and this will be the first international event to be held in Srinagar since the abrogation of Article 370.

    “India’s irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and the international law. Pakistan vehemently condemns these moves,” Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry statement said.

    ALSO READ | Ukraine minister says India a vishwaguru, seeks help to rebuild war-torn country

    India has not issued any response to this statement. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has in the past always reaffirmed that Kashmir is an integral part of India and no other country has any right to comment on what happens there.

    “With its decision to host G-20 events in IOJK (Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir), India is again exploiting its membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda,” the Pakistani statement added.

    “For a country that has a grandiose vision about itself and its place in the world, India has repeatedly demonstrated that it is unable to act as a responsible member of the international community,” says the press release issued by Pakistan.

    Political and diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have been downgraded since the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir. On various UN platforms, Pakistan tries to rake up the Kashmir issue and India always gives a befitting rebuttal.

    NEW DELHI: Pakistan has cried foul over India’s decision to host a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir.

    In a statement, Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said, “Pakistan expresses its strong indignation over India’s decision to hold the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May 2023.”

    The meeting comes as India has taken up the G20 Presidency this year and this will be the first international event to be held in Srinagar since the abrogation of Article 370.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “India’s irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and the international law. Pakistan vehemently condemns these moves,” Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry statement said.

    ALSO READ | Ukraine minister says India a vishwaguru, seeks help to rebuild war-torn country

    India has not issued any response to this statement. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has in the past always reaffirmed that Kashmir is an integral part of India and no other country has any right to comment on what happens there.

    “With its decision to host G-20 events in IOJK (Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir), India is again exploiting its membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda,” the Pakistani statement added.

    “For a country that has a grandiose vision about itself and its place in the world, India has repeatedly demonstrated that it is unable to act as a responsible member of the international community,” says the press release issued by Pakistan.

    Political and diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have been downgraded since the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir. On various UN platforms, Pakistan tries to rake up the Kashmir issue and India always gives a befitting rebuttal.

  • JeM terror module busted in Pulwama, 8 militant associates arrested 

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Security forces have busted a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror module in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, arresting eight militant associates, police said Tuesday.

    Based on specific inputs, several suspects were arrested and leads were developed, resulting in the busting of the terror module operating in the Awantipora area of the south Kashmir district, a police spokesman said.

    He identified the arrested as Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, Ishfaq Ahmad Dar, Manzoor Ahmad Dar (all residents of Wagad); Fayaz Ahmad Rather, a resident of Pastuna; Shabir Ahmad Rather, a resident of Syedabad Pastuna; Mohammsd Latief Rather, a resident of Syedabad Pastuna; Sheeraz Ahmad Mir, a resident of Aripal and Waseem Ahmad Bhat of Pastuna.

    Incriminating materials including ammunition were also recovered from their possession.

    Besides, vehicle used in the commission of the crime has also been seized, the spokesman said.

    Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested terrorist associates were involved in providing shelter, logistics and transportation of arms/ammunition to two active JeM terrorists namely Asif Sheikh, a resident of Monghama, and Ajaz Bhat, a resident of Syedabad Pastuna Tral, he said.

    A case has been registered and further investigation is in progress, the spokesman said.

  • Farooq Abdullah demands Rs 20 lakh compensation to each of families of tunnel accident victims 

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah Sunday sought Rs 20 lakh ex gratia for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in a tunnel collapse on Srinagar-Jammu highway.

    In a statement, Abdullah said the deceased were the sole breadwinners for their poor families.

    ALSO READ | Jammu & Kashmir tunnel collapse: Bodies of all 10 labourers pulled out in Ramban district

    The unfortunate event, he said, has left the victims’ families in dire straits, he said.

    He called upon the Jammu and Kashmir administration to reach out to the affected families.

    Ten persons were killed after a landslide hit an under-construction tunnel in Ramban district of Jammu.

    The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced an ex gratia of Rs five lakh and asked the construction company to pay Rs 15 lakh each to the families of the victims. 

  • PM meets UAE delegations; says investment proposals in J&K has reached Rs 38,000 cr 

    By PTI

    PALLI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met delegations from the United Arab Emirates looking for opportunities to invest in Jammu and Kashmir, and said private investment proposals in the union territory has reached around Rs 38,000 crore.

    Modi visited Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the celebrations for the National Panchayati Raj Day and addressed all gram sabhas of the country from here.

    Before arriving at the dais for his speech, the prime minister met the delegations from the UAE, an official spokesman said.

    ALSO READ | Work going on in Jammu and Kashmir for fast pace development: PM Narendra Modi

    Later in his speech, he said a new story of development is being written and many private investors are interested in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “For seven decades of independence, private investment of only Rs 17,000 crore could be made in Jammu and Kashmir. But now it is reaching around Rs 38,000 crore. Tourism also is thriving once again,” the prime minister said.

    Modi, who was wearing a white kurta-pajama with a stole around his neck, also interacted with renowned local sculptor Ravinder Jamwal.

    He had sculpted a six-foot-long statue of the prime minister which was installed during the event.

    The prime minister also posed for a photo with the sculptor in front of his artwork, officials said.

    He also went around various stalls put up at a technology exhibition by the ministry of science and technology to motivate start-ups and help create awareness about the enormous new avenues of livelihood, they said.

    The stalls put up by various departments and wings of the ministry will display latest technologies and innovations beneficial for rural areas and farming till Tuesday, the officials said, adding that the stalls showcase integration of science and technology with the themes of rural development and Panchayati Raj.

    Lt Governor Manoj Sinha honoured the prime minister by presenting a shawl and a painting.

    Modi lauded the administration and said since the introduction of constitutional reforms with regard to Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, the government has been focused on bringing about wide ranging reforms to substantially improve governance and enhance ease of living for the people of the region at an unprecedented pace.

    “The projects inaugurated and whose foundation stone was laid will go a long way in facilitating provision of basic amenities, ensuring ease of mobility and development of infrastructure in the region,” he said.

    During his visit, Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple development initiatives worth Rs 20,000 crore for Jammu and Kashmir.

  • Suicide attack foiled ahead of PM’s J&K visit

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Security forces foiled a major fidayeen (suicide) attack at Sunjwan in Jammu as they shot down two heavily armed Jaish-e-Mohammed militants wearing suicide vests on Friday, just two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

    A CISF officer was also killed in the gunfight, while four security men were injured. “The launch of two militants took place ahead of PM’s visit. It was part of a bigger conspiracy to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and sabotage the PM’s visit,” said Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh.

    Prime Minister Modi is due to visit Palli in Samba district on April 24 to participate in national panchayat diwas. A joint team of National Investigation Agency (NIA ) and State Investigation Agency visited the encounter site during the day. They are likely to take over the case for investigation.

  • Jawan killed, 4 hurt in Jammu encounter; death toll in Baramula rises to 4

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, an encounter erupted between militants and security forces in the Sunjwan area of Jammu in which a jawan has been killed and four others have been injured. The death toll in the Baramulla encounter has risen to four with the killing of two more militants.

    Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Mukesh Singh said security forces launched a search operation in the Sunjawan area of Jammu yesterday evening after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

    “We had reports that militants wanted to do something.  The search party of security forces came under fire from militants in the early hours today in which a security force jawan was killed and four others injured,” he said.

    The injured security men have been evacuated to Government Medical College Jammu.

    More reinforcement has been rushed to the area to tighten the siege and prevent militants from escaping from the area.

    The ADGP said it seems that militants are hiding in a house and firing on security forces from there.

    Loud explosions were heard from the area and heavy gunfire was going on.

    The administration as a precautionary measure has closed all schools in the area while the security arrangements in other parts of Jammu have been tightened and patrolling intensified.

    Meanwhile, the encounter between militants and security forces at Malwah area of Baramulla in north Kashmir entered the second day today.

    A police official said two more militants were killed in the overnight gunfight, taking the death toll of militants killed in the encounter to four.

    Among the slain militants is top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Yousuf Kantroo, who was the longest surviving LeT militant and had been active since 2020. He had twice recycled to the militancy after the arrest.

    IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has said Kantroo was involved in the killing of several security men and civilians termed his killing a major success for security forces.

  • Terror plot foiled as security forces destroy improvised explosive device in J-K’s Rajouri

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Security forces detected and destroyed an improvised explosive device planted alongside the Rajouri-Gurdan road early on Saturday, thus foiling a terrorist plot, police said.

    According to a police spokesperson, information was received about some suspicious movement in Gurdan Chawa village on Rajouri-Gurdan road the previous night.

    Joint teams of the police and Army personnel launched a cordon and search operation and found a suspicious object lying on the roadside, he said.

    On inspection, the object turned out to be an IED.

    The bomb squad of the police later took it in their possession and destroyed it following standard operating procedure.

    The police have registered a case and further investigation was underway, the spokesperson said.

  • ‘Arrested journalist Fahad Shah was wanted for glorifying militancy, spreading fake news’: Kashmir Police

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: A day after the arrest of journalist Fahad Shah, police on Saturday, February 5, 2022, said the journalist was wanted in three cases for glorifying militancy and spreading fake news.

    “Fahad Shah is wanted in 3 cases for glorifying terrorism, spreading fake news & inciting general public for creating L&O situations: FIR No. 70/2020 of PS Safakadal Srinagar, FIR No. 06/2021 of PS Imamsahib, Shopian & currently has been arrested in FIR No. 19/2022 of PS Pulwama,” Kashmir Police tweeted.

    Fahad Shah is wanted in 3 cases for glorifying terrorism, spreading fake news & inciting general public for creating L&O situations: FIR No. 70/2020 of PS Safakadal Srinagar, FIR No. 06/2021 of PS Imamsahib, Shopian & currently has been arrested in FIR No. 19/2022 of PS Pulwama.
    — Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) February 5, 2022
    Fahad, who is editor of a local news magazine and portal, “The Kashmir Walla”, was arrested yesterday by police in FIR No. 19/2022 registered by Pulwama police under different sections of law.

    Fahad was among few journalists summoned and questioned by Pulwama police a few days back for alleged “incorrect reporting” about an encounter in Naira in Pulwama district on January 30 in which four militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad including a top commander Zahid Wani and a Pakistani militant were killed.

    In the past also, Fahad had been summoned and questioned by the police.

    Fahad is the second journalist to be arrested by police in the last two months.

    Earlier, last month police arrested Sajad Gul, who worked as a trainee reporter at “The Kashmir Walla”. He has been booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and lodged at Kotebalwal Jail, Jammu.

    Reacting to Fahad’s arrest, former J&K Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, “Standing up for the truth is deemed anti-national. Showing the mirror to a deeply intolerant & authoritarian government is also anti-national. Fahad’s journalistic work speaks for itself & depicts the ground reality unpalatable to GOI. How many Fahad’s will you arrest?”

    Standing up for the truth is deemed anti national. Showing the mirror to a deeply intolerant & authoritarian government is also anti national. Fahad’s journalistic work speaks for itself & depicts the ground reality unpalatable to GOI. How many Fahad’s will you arrest? https://t.co/G22lN487zc
    — Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 4, 2022
    Peoples Conference chairman and former minister Sajjad Gani Lone tweeted, “Fahad Shah arrested. What times we are living in. Just a word of caution for the administration. This is not the worst that we in Kashmir have seen. We have seen even worse in nineties.”

    “That didn’t change anything. This won’t change anything either. Take my humble word for it,” he further tweeted.

  • Vaishno Devi Stampede: Scuffle between 2 groups claimed as cause; probe panel to submit report within a week

    By Online Desk

    JAMMU: The Saturday’s stampede that killed 12 people and left 16 others injured occurred due to a scuffle between two groups of pilgrims, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) said in a statement, emphasising only 35,000 pilgrims were allowed to proceed for the yatra against the normal capacity of 50,000 in view of the pandemic.

    National Green Tribunal has capped the normal capacity of Yatra per day to 50000.

    Pertinently, keeping in view the COVID-19 Pandemic, 35000 pilgrims were allowed to proceed for yatra on 31st December 2021 and for Jan 1, 2022, SMVDSB said in a detailed statement on the tragic incident.

    It said around 2:15 am on January 1, the stampede happened near Gate No. three at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan.

    “The unfortunate incident, due to a scuffle between two groups of pilgrims, resulted in the stampede. In this ill-fated incident, a total of 12 pilgrims lost their lives and 16 others were injured,” it said.

    Out of the 12 pilgrims who lost their lives, 7 were from Uttar Pradesh, 3 from Delhi, and 1 each from Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.

    The police said most of the pilgrim died due to suffocation.

    The statement said the Board, as well as the Reasi District Administration, promptly shifted the injured pilgrims immediately to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Kakryal, after providing first aid at Medical Unit Bhawan, for specialized treatment.

    A three-member panel has been constituted to probe the stampede. The committee, constituted by the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, is headed by the principal secretary (home) and comprises Jammu Divisional Commissioner Raghav Langer and Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Mukesh Singh.

    The committee will examine in detail the causes or reasons behind the stampede, point out the lapses and fix them thereafter, and suggest measures to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future. The panel has been asked to submit its report within a week.

    (With PTI inputs.)

  • Scuffle between 2 groups caused stampede, only 35K pilgrims were allowed due to Covid: Shrine board

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The Saturday stampede that killed 12 people occurred “due to a scuffle between two groups of pilgrims”, the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said in a statement, emphasising only 35,000 pilgrims were allowed to proceed for the yatra against the normal capacity of 50,000 in view of the pandemic.

    The board said Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Board, was informed about the stampede at 3 am and he has been continuously monitoring the situation since then.

    “National Green Tribunal has capped the normal capacity of Yatra per day to 50000.

    Pertinently, keeping in view the COVID-19 Pandemic, 35000 pilgrims were allowed to proceed for yatra on 31st December 2021 and for 1st Jan 2022,” SMVDSB said in a detailed statement on the tragic incident.

    It said around 2:15 am on January 1, the stampede happened near Gate No. three at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan.

    “”The unfortunate incident, due to a scuffle between two groups of pilgrims, resulted in the stampede. In this ill-fated incident, a total of 12 pilgrims lost their lives and 16 others were injured,” it said.

    The statement said the Board, as well as the Reasi District Administration, promptly shifted the injured pilgrims immediately to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Kakryal, after providing first aid at Medical Unit Bhawan, for specialized treatment.