News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu Kashmir

  • Jammu & Kashmir Congress leaders close to Ghulam Nabi Azad sends resignation letters

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  In a major jolt to Jammu and Kashmir Congress, about a dozen senior leaders including former ministers and legislators loyal to Ghulam Nabi Azad have revolted against the unit chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir and resigned demanding a change in guard.

    Party sources said that leaders GM Saroori, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Vikar Rasool, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Monga, Naresh Gupta, Subash Gupta, Amin Bhat, Anwar Bhat, Inayat Ali and others in a joint statement to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi have submitted their resignation from party positions.

    Those who have resigned belong both to Kashmir and Jammu and all of them are close to former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. They have maintained that they are leaving the party. In the letter to Sonia, the leaders have alleged that under Mir, Congress is heading towards a disastrous situation and over 200 leaders, including former ministers, MLAs, MLCs, PCC office-bearers, district presidents and AICC Members have left for other parties.

    The leaders informed that they have been requesting the high command for long to change the J&K Congress president but no heed was paid.

    “Mir has been a total disaster for the party. He has been the president of the J&K unit of Congress for about seven years. Normally a person heads the party unit in a single term for two years (maximum three years),” said J&K Congress senior vice-president Monga. He made it clear they are not leaving the party. “We are Congress by heart and won’t leave the party,” asserted Monga.

  • Hyderpora encounter: Prohibitory orders imposed in parts of JK’s Ramban

    By PTI

    BANIHAL/JAMMU: Prohibitory orders banning the gathering of five or more people at one place were imposed in some villages of Ramban district on Wednesday, following the death of one of its residents in an encounter in Hyderpora area of Srinagar. The move comes apparently to thwart any protest by the affected family.

    According to police, Mohammad Amir of Famrote village in Ramban was a militant and was killed along with his Pakistani accomplice in the Monday evening encounter in Hyderpora, where an illegal call centre and a terror hideout were allegedly being run.

    Two civilians – Altaf Bhat and Mudassir Gul — were also killed in the firing, triggering angry reaction from their family who claimed they were innocent and not linked to militancy.

    Amir’s father Latief Magray also refuted the Jammu and Kashmir police’s claim that his son was a militant and appealed to the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to provide “justice to his family” and also return the body of his son for a proper burial.

    In an apparent move to scuttle protests by Amar’s family, Ramban Additional District Magistrate Harbans Lal Sharma ordered the imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Famrote village along with Sangaldan and Seripura from 9 am Wednesday till further orders.

    “The Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramban shall ensure the implementation of this order in letter and spirit,” the order said.

    Magray, who had reportedly killed a militant with bare hands in his village over 15 years ago, said he would continue his struggle for “justice” for his slain son.

    “If they have any proof of his involvement in militancy, show it to me. I know he was innocent,” Magray said, asking “if this was the reward for being a nationalist”.

  • J&K administration removes separatist leader Geelani’s grandson from govt service

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Over a month after death of separatist leader and Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Lt Governor administration on Saturday terminated services of his grandson Anees-ul-Islam, who was working as Research Officer in Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Srinagar.

    The government also sacked a teacher from the mountainous district of Doda.  

    “The Lt Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available that activities of Anees-ul-Islam, Research Officer in SKICC are such as to warrant his dismissal from service,” reads the order issued by the government.

    The order was issued by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha under Article 311 of the constitution of India.

     “The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under sub-clause (c) of the provison to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry in the case of Anees-ul-Islam, Research Officer in SKICC,” it stated.

    Accordingly, Lt Governor dismissed Anees-ul-Islam from service with immediate effect.

    Similar termination order was issued regarding Farooq Ahmad Butt, teacher (RReT) in GMS Kathawa Doda S/o Dawood Butt R/o Kathwa Tehsil Pahgsoo, Doda.

    Under sub-clause (C) of the provison to clause (2) of the Article 311 of Constitution of India, the government can terminate an employee without holding mandatory inquiry into charges against him.

    The employees have been terminated on recommendations of the Special Task Force constituted by J&K government.

    The government has so far sacked about 30 government employees for alleged anti-national activities and “in the interest of the security of the state”.

    In July this year, the administration sacked 11 employees including two sons of Hizb chief Syed Salah-ud-Din for their alleged involvement in militant and anti-national activities.

    In April this year, the J&K government formed a Special Task Force, which was created to scrutinise government employees suspected of activities requiring action under the Article 311(2).

    The provison (C) of Article 311(2) confers powers for dismissal, removal and reduction in the rank of public servants to government without holding recourse to normal procedure if it is satisfied that his/ her retention in public service is prejudicial to the security of the State.

  • Harkat 313: New terror outfit posing threat to security grid

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  A batch of foreign terrorists under the banner of a new terror outfit — Harkat 313 — is believed to have snuck into the Kashmir Valley.  According to highly placed sources in the security establishment, the terrorists, who are giving a tough time to security set up, were tasked with attacking vital government installations to disturb the law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley.

    “This is the first time we are hearing about this group. All we know at this point about them is that this group comprises exclusively of foreign terrorists. Whether this name is being floated as a smokescreen, to divert attention away from Lashkar-e-Toiba, which is known to push Pakistani terrorists in the Valley, we don’t know at the moment,” said a senior security official.

    Several high-profile government installations are believed to be in the crosshairs of this terrorist group, the official added. Security was accordingly enhanced up at various points such as the ongoing hydropower projects and the Srinagar airport.

    The security grid is working overtime to find out more about this group, its benefactors and Over Ground Workers (OGWs) in the Valley. The activities of this new group are being seen in the backdrop of Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

    “We received specific information about some targets, including two vital locations — one in North Kashmir and one in South, that could be in the crosshairs of the terrorists of this new outfit but owing to operational constraints, we cannot reveal them at this point in time,” a top intelligence official told this newspaper.

    With regards to the Srinagar airport, several security review meetings involving various agencies, including Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, J&K Police, CRPF and CISF, have already taken place, in the wake of the terrorist attack on an IAF base on June 28. 

    Meanwhile, the BSF and the army are on high alert as Pakistan is desperately trying to push terrorists into India just before the onset of winter. Over the past three days, seven army personnel were killed in various counter-insurgency operations in J&K’s Poonch district. 

    VITAL Installations Among targetsAs high-profile government installations are believed to be in the crosshairs of this terrorist group, there has been upgrade in security set-up at various points such as the ongoing hydropower projects and the Srinagar airport

  • Amit Shah pulls up officials over J&K civilian killings

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday pulled up senior security and intelligence officials over the civilian killings in Jammu and Kashmir, directing them to ensure better law and order to prevent possible targeted killings in the future, sources said. 

    Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review the security in Jammu and Kashmir where as many as seven civilians have been shot dead in the first week of October alone.  The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the chiefs of Intelligence Bureau, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and other senior officials of the security establishment. 

    Shah directed the top brass to identify the gaps which could have led to the increase in civilian killings in the Valley and also ordered for enhancement of security in areas where minorities have a sizable presence, said a senior security  official who was in know of the meeting. 

    Back in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also undertook a meeting to review the security situation in the newly carved out Union Territory. Sinha condemned the killing of two teachers belonging to minority communities on Thursday, saying a befitting reply would be given to the perpetrators of the terror attack. 

    Sinha said the terrorists and their patrons would not succeed in disturbing peace in the Union Territory. Sources said Sinha would be reaching the national capital on Friday to discuss the security situation with Amit Shah.

    Jammu and Kashmir police DGP Dilbagh Singh said the targeted killing of civilians, particularly minorities, in the Valley was aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear and damaging the age-old communal harmony. The people who are targeting humanity, brotherhood and local ethos would be unmasked soon, Singh told reporters at the site of the latest militant attack. 

    “We regret the back-to-back attacks in which civilians have been killed. We are working on the previous cases and the Srinagar Police have got many clues and we will soon get the people behind such terror and barbaric attacks, he said.

  • Indian Army gun down terrorist in J&K’s Uri, another surrenders

    By ANI

    URI (Jammu & Kashmir): One terrorist was neutralised by the Indian Army in the Uri sector, Jammu and Kashmir, while another surrendered during the operation, said sources on Tuesday.

    Further details are awaited.

    Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two terrorist associates in Pulwama and busted a terrorist hideout in Rajourikadal area in Srinagar district, officials said on Tuesday.

    The Srinagar Police with the assistance of Pulwama Police and Army’s 50 RR also arrested two overground workers (OGWs) of terrorists from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

  • In militancy-hit Shopian, government college named after slain paratrooper

    By Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  In a first, a government degree college in militancy-hit Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir has been named after slain para-trooper, who was killed in an encounter with militants in 2010.

    The Principal of the college Prof Bashir Ahmed Dar said the function to rename the Government Degree College Shopian was held today. The college has now been named ‘Imtiyaz Ahmad Thoker Memorial Model Degree College, Shopian.’

    Hailing from Shopian, Imtiyaz Ahmad Thokar was a paratrooper of First Para and was killed in a fierce encounter with militants in Sopore in north Kashmir in February 2010. Besides para trooper Imtiyaz, five militants, an army Captain and a Naik were killed in the gunfight.

    Top civil and military officers, college staff and family members of the slain soldier were present at the function at the renaming of the college.

    Speaking on the naming of the institution, College Principal Prof Bashir Ahmed Dar lauded the valour of Imtiyaz Thokar saying he laid down his life and set an example of bravery and ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the nation.

    “The naming of this college after the martyr is a matter of honour not only for this college but for the people of the entire area,” he said.

    Shopian is one of the four militancy-hit districts in south Kashmir and has witnessed many fierce gunfights between militants and security forces over the years.

    In August this year, Lt Governor administration decided to name educational institutions 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 of militancy violence.

    The Deputy Commissioners were directed to submit the list of schools in their districts that can be named after slain security men.

    On August 28, the administration named Government Higher Secondary School Chandwan in the border district of Kathua after Vir Chakra awardee Sepoy Bua Ditta Singh. The school was named as “Shaheed Sepoy Bua Ditta Singh school”.

    Singh was killed in 1948 while fighting Pakistani troops at Chirri Kot village in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

  • People of Kashmir cooperative, situation after Syed Geelani’s death absolutely under control: DGP

    The authorities imposed restrictions on the movement and assembly of people and suspended mobile Internet services after Geelani, 91, died at his home in Srinagar on Wednesday night.

  • Manoj Sinha interview: Taliban not a threat, hoping to create 10 lakh jobs, says J&K Lt Governor

    Express News Service

    After the unveiling of the industrial policy, Jammu & Kashmir had expected about Rs 25,000 crore investment, but the response has so far been overwhelming, J&K Lt-Governor Manoj Sinha tells H Khogen Singh and Fayaz Wani in an interview

    What are the big projects are undertaken which have made a difference to the people of J&K?

    We have completed about 22,000 projects in the last year. There was a legacy here of languishing projects. A special scheme was launched to complete these projects and we have completed 1,100 of these. Five projects were started 20 years back and 165 about 10 years back. But they were all incomplete. We have converted liability into assets and disaster into dividends.

    What type of projects were languishing for the last 10 to 20 years and why?

    They include school buildings, roads, government departments, primary health centres etc. In J&K, there was a tradition of the system not working. Now there is total transparency. Without administrative approval, no work can be undertaken. If there is no e-tendering, the treasury will not accept bills.

    Has developmental work gained momentum?

    Under the PMGSY, on an average 1,600-1,700 kms of roads used to be built in J&K in a year. Last year, the average rose to 3,600-3,700 kms and this year it is 4,000 kms. As far as blacktopping of roads is concerned, an average of 2,200-2,400 kms used to be macadamized. Last year, 6,000 kms of road were macadamized and this year we have fixed a target of 8,000 kms.

    What is being done to augment power position?

    In the last 70 years, only 3,500 MWs capacity of electricity was installed. It is a power deficit region. We have signed an MoU with the NHPC on the Sawalakote power project. It is being constructed from 1984 and has not been completed yet. Now we are hopeful that it will be completed in five years. I think hydropower is not reliable during peak hours so we need alternate sources of energy. We have signed MoUs for solar power.

    What measures are being undertaken to boost tourism and are there any new destinations in the pipeline?

    Tourists are coming in large numbers. About 10 lakh tourists came to J&K in July. This is a message in itself and it needs to be understood. People feel it is safe to go to J&K. It is true that there are some tourist destinations that are not known to people. We are trying to tap this potential.

    Did unemployment go up during Covid-19 in J&K?

    There are more than four lakh government employees and 90,000 daily wagers. We recently advertised for 20,000 government jobs, of whom 4,000 have joined and 12,000 results have been declared. Verification of the rest is going on. We will be giving special weightage to families which do not have a single member in government service. Besides, 1,700 people were appointed in J&K Bank in the most transparent manner. We have abolished interviews for Class III and IV positions.

    Self-employment can be a big source of employment and we are trying to break the mindset of the youth who want government jobs only. As per the CMIE data, unemployment rate in J&K was 29.9% in 2016, 21% in 2019 and 19.5% in 2020. Due to our cohesive and targeted efforts, the March 2021 figure was 9.3%. After the second wave, it increased to 10.6% in June.

    What has been the response to the industrial policy?

    The new industrial policy focuses on ease of doing business. We have got tremendous response from the industry. We were expecting Rs 25,000-30,000 crore of investment and the creation of five lakh jobs. But the response has been such that we are expecting double the investment and the creation of 10 lakh jobs. Many of the investors have even submitted the fees and have been given land also.

    Were investors more interested in putting their money in Jammu or the Valley?

    We have so far received investment proposals for Rs 25,000 crore. Of this, Rs 12,200 crore is for Kashmir and Rs 12,800 crore for Jammu.

    Big industrial houses are showing interest in investing in J&K. JSW is one such.

    Will the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan have security implications here?

    I don’t see any threat. It will take the Taliban at least 3-4 months to settle down. Our forces are not only ready but they also have clarity of purpose. As per the constitution, the president and the head of a state has a right to dismiss any government employee who is a threat to the state. Even the J&K constitution had the same provision and action was taken. We have sacked 21 government employees for being involved in anti-national activities.

    How do you assess J&K’s security situation?

    August 15 was celebrated in every school and panchayat. This was for the first time in J&K’s history. Some people met me who wanted to hold such functions. The overall situation has improved and stone pelting incidents are a thing of the past.

    When will Assembly elections be held?

    The J&K Reorganisation Act says after completing the delimitation, elections will be held. Some people say when elections in Assam can be held without delimitation, why not in J&K. It is a simple thing: seven seats have increased in the J&K Assembly. Who will define boundaries of those seven seats? The PM has said after the delimitation exercise is completed elections will be held. The Delimitation Commission visited J&K for four days. After the delimitation process is completed, elections will be held.

    Many political parties have demanded that statehood be restored before holding elections…

    The home minister has stated in Parliament that statehood will be restored at an appropriate time. I think people should believe his words. The PM and the home minister have given assurances in this regard.

  • BJP worker shot dead by militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam 

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Militants on Tuesday shot dead a BJP worker in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

    The assailants fired upon Javeed Ahmad Dar near his residence in Brazloo Jageer area of the south Kashmir district at around 4.30 pm, they said.

    Dar, who was affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, died on the spot, they added.

    Security forces have cordoned off the area and a hunt has been launched to nab the militants, they said.