News Analysis India

Tag: J&K Civilian Killings

  • CRPF DG in Kashmir Valley to expedite work on safe camps for labourers

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Aiming to accelerate construction of special security camps for migrant workers in Kashmir, the DG of CRPF, who also happens to be the DG of NIA, flew to the Valley on Monday to review the arrangements. 

    Sources said the main purpose of his visit, which comes in the wake of a spate in targeted killings of non-locals, is to review the final arrangements made for the proposed security camps, the construction work on which is likely to begin soon.  

    Highly placed sources said that the DG, Kuldeep Singh, asked agencies to compile data on the number of non-locals in the Valley and the present security arrangements available for them. Singh, who would be camping in the Valley for next few days, would apprise the home ministry about the number of camps that would be required, the timeline in which these camps could be readied and the necessary resources that would be required to build these camps, a top government functionary told this newspaper.

    “The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is likely to deploy more CRPF companies in the Valley for the protection of these camps. Orders to this effect may be issued soon,” the official said. Sources said that for the time being, senior security officials were toying with the idea of converting schools that were not in use into temporary shelters for the non-locals. “Details such as the number of non-locals are being compiled along with the security arrangements that have been made for Pandits, Sikhs and non-locals  living in Kashmir,” said a senior security official. A similar plan to secure non-locals in Kashmir had been put in place right after the abrogation of Article 370.

  • J&K civilian killings: Senior police officer denies security lapse

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: A senior Jammu and Kashmir Police officer on Saturday ruled out any security lapse behind the recent civilian killings in the Valley and said that it is not possible to provide security to all those who may be soft targets for terrorists.

    Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that none of the civilians killed last week had been provided security by the police.

    Seven civilians, including four from minority communities, were killed by terrorists in Kashmir last week, triggering fear among the people in the Valley and criticism of the security apparatus by political parties.

    ALSO READ | Militant involved in civilian killings in Srinagar gunned down in encounter in Pulwama

    “There was no lapse in security….They (terrorists) chose soft targets, we had not provided security to them (civilians). It is not possible to provide security to all soft targets,” Kumar said.

    He said security forces acted swiftly and identified all five terrorists involved in the killings.

    “Two of them have been neutralised and the other three will also be tracked down soon,” he added.

    Dismissing criticism of the security apparatus by politicians, Kumar said the police are dealing with the situation professionally.

    ALSO READ | Fallout of civilian killings: Govt asks migrant Pandit employees not to leave Kashmir Valley

    “It is the job of politicians to make all kinds of statements. I am a professional and I know how to deal with it (situation). We are dealing with it professionally,” he said.

    The IGP said that 11 terrorists have been killed in nine encounters since October 8.

    “Two more are trapped (in an encounter at Pampore) and they will also be killed soon,” he said.

    Many political leaders had criticised the Centre and the security forces over the civilian killings in Kashmir.

    Some had also demanded that accountability be fixed for the “repeated security lapses” and security be provided to members of minority communities living in the Valley.

  • Fallout of civilians killings: Six non-migrant Pandit families leave Kashmir Valley

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  After the killing of three minority community members and a non local by militants in Kashmir last week, at least six non-migrant Kashmiri Pandit families and many families of Pandits, who had taken up jobs in Valley under PM’s job package, have left the Valley while the Pandit groups have demanded setting up of three separate Pandit townships in the Valley and urged the majority (Muslim) community to make announcements from mosques appealing their community to stand with minorities to instill confidence among them.

    Sanjay Tickoo, president of non migrant Pandit group — Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) told this newspaper that there is fear among the community after killing of three minority community members including a prominent Pandit businessman M L Bindroo and non-local street vendor by militants last week.

    About 808 Kashmiri Pandit families comprising about 3400 souls did not migrate after eruption of militancy in 1990 and are living in different parts of the Valley.  Tickoo said many Pandit families who had taken up jobs in the Valley under PM’s job package, have also left the Valley after the killings.

    Tickoo urged the majority (Muslim) community to make announcements from mosques appealing their community to sand with minorities.“We don’t need security men at our homes. We want our majority community Muslims and sisters in our homes. These steps can instill confidence among the minority community including Pandits and Sikhs and prevent 1990 like exodus of Pandits from the Valley,” he said.The government has taken many steps including increasing security at the transit accommodations for Pandits in the Valley, where the Pandits, who have taken up jobs under PM’s package, are staying with their families.

  • Killing of J&K civilians aimed at denting ‘normalcy’ claim?

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The recent spike in attacks on non-Muslim civilians in Kashmir Valley could be an attempt by militant outfits to puncture the central government’s claim of restoring normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, feel some senior officials.

    According to sources in intelligence agencies, the terrorists have plans to carry out more civilian killings in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting more members of the minority communities living in Anantnag and Kulgam regions. “There are specific inputs about the possibility of targeted killings in around 10 colonies where non-Muslims have a sizeable population,” a senior intelligence official told this newspaper. 

    The official added that the intel was generated on Friday, a day after two government teachers were shot dead in downtown Srinagar. Latest intel suggests that terrorists want to send a message of “no normalcy” in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to the Valley this month, another top security official said. 

    With these attacks, the official said, terrorists wanted to puncture the narrative of the Centre that abrogation of Article 370 had led to “revival of normalcy, boosted tourism and full integration of J&K with rest of India”, and instead create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, particularly among the minority communities.

    ALSO READ | J&K militants attempting to recreate early 1990 situation, scare minorities: Experts

    Meanwhile, an analysis of government data reveals that more people from minority communities have been killed by militants in J&K this year compared to last year, though the total number of civilians killed in the UT this year is fewer than the number of civilians killed in 2019 and 2020 (as on October 5 for all years). The data, analysed by this newspaper, comes amid widespread panic among minorities in the Valley over the spate of targeted killings over the last one week. Many Kashmiri Pandits have reportedly fled the Valley while many more are in the process of leaving their homes.

    As of October 5 this year, as many as 29 civilians have been killed in the newly carved UT. Of these, five were non-Muslims. Last year till October 5, as many as 37 civilians, including three non-Muslims were killed in terror incidents. The year 2019, when the erstwhile state was split into two union territories and its special status revoked, saw a higher number of civilian casualties during the corresponding period. Thirty four Muslims and six non-Muslims lost lives to terror attacks till October 5, 2019.

    MORE THAN 300 DETAINEDThe local police have detained over 300 people for questioning in the case of civilian killings. Many more are expected to be detained and questioned over the course of next one week

  • Centre must take effective measures to ensure safety of J&K residents: Punjab CM

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday condemned the recent killing of civilians by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and urged the Centre to take effective measures to ensure the safety of the Union Territory’s residents.

    Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a number of killings of civilians in the last few days, with the latest on Thursday, when principal Supinder Kaur and teacher Deepak Chand were shot dead at point blank range inside a government school in Srinagar.

    On Tuesday, Makhan Lal Bindroo, a prominent Kashmiri Pandit, and a vendor, Virendra Paswan from Bihar, were killed by terrorists in Srinagar, and civilian, Mohammad Shafi Lone, in Bandipora.

    ​ALSO READ | Priyanka Gandhi condemns terrorist attacks on J&K civilians, urges govt to ensure safety of all

    Terrorists shot dead Majid Ahmad Gojri in Srinagar and Mohammad Shafi Dar at Batamaloo on Saturday.

    Channi expressed deep anguish over the gruesome killings of the principal and the teacher.

    The chief minister has urged the Centre to take effective measures to ensure protection and security of people there (Jammu and Kashmir) who are living under the atmosphere of uncertainty due to constant threat and fear from various terrorist outfits, according to an official statement.

    Channi also emphasised the need to immediately repose a sense of security amongst the minorities in Jammu and Kashmir.

    ​ALSO READ | Will smoke perpetrators out, hold them accountable: Naqvi as militants target civilians in J&K

    Severe punishment according to the law should be given to those who have perpetrated this heinous crime against humanity to destroy the ethos of peace, harmony and brotherhood, he said, referring to the Thursday killings.

    Channi said that severe punishment will act as a deterrent for others and they will not dare to repeat such ghastly acts, which should be condemned in the strongest possible words by one and all.

    The chief minister also requested Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to direct the administration to extend all possible help to the grieving families in these difficult times.

  • Civilian killings by militants aimed at spreading fear, damaging communal harmony: J&K DGP

    The killing of the teachers took the number of civilians killed in the Kashmir Valley in the last five days to seven, including four from the valley #39;s minority communities.