News Analysis India

Tag: JK

  • Jammu and Kashmir to open purse string to woo tinsel town back

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  The verdant Valley is attempting to win back the tinsel town’s attention by lining up a whole array of sops for filmmakers. The administration on Friday approved the J&K Film Policy-2021, offering subsidy for shooting films, serials, web series and documentaries and also free security. Subsidy would also be provided for the stay of the crew in the UT.

    As per the policy, two separate appraisal committees will be constituted for giving permissions for locations and script screening. Shooting locations, crowd management, security, use of public place etc. would come under the ambit of the eight-member Location Permission Committee.

    Another five-member committee, headed by a chairman to be nominated by J&K Film Development Council, would look into script screening. Security arrangements would be made free of cost to enable filmmakers to complete shooting.

    For a filmmaker shooting first film in J&K, upto Rs 1 crore or 25% of the total Cost of Production (COP), whichever is less, will be provided by the government if a minimum 50% of the total shooting days are in J&K. Up to Rs 1.50 crore or 25% of the total COP, whichever is lower, will be given if at least 75% of the shooting days are in J&K.

  • NC leader Omar Abdullah calls out J&K govt’s ‘dim-witted policies’ over youth’s suicide

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed shock and grief over the suicide of a 24-year-old youth from Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir who ended his life as his father was not paid salary for two years.

    Abdullah called the incident “a visible manifestation of the misplaced policies” of the administration and demanded a time-bound inquiry.

    The former chief minister’s remarks came after the youth from Avil area of Noorabad in the south Kashmir district recorded a video message to invite government attention towards the miseries of his family before taking his life.

    In the video, the youth said he was taking the extreme step as his father – a government teacher – was not paid salary for over two years.

    Expressing shock, the NC vice-president said the incident has brought forth the mounting financial pressure on the people of Jammu and Kashmir propelled by the “dim-witted policies” of the J&K government.

    “The unfortunate incident ditches the claims of the government on the so-called dividends that August 05 (2019) measures were said would bring.

    People are suffering,” he said, referring to the revocation of the special status of the erstwhile state of J&K by the Centre on August 5, 2019.

    The suicide committed by a promising youth should act as an eye opener for the government to assess the plight of the people including the employees of J&K, Abdullah said.

    “It’s quite evident that by targeting employees, the government has put the livelihood of their families at stake. This incident should be enough to remind the government about the extent of its anti-employee measures.

    This very incident also betrays an appalling picture of the level of anxiety and mental trauma, the families whose sole breadwinners are without salaries for months altogether,” he said.

    Abdullah expressed hope that the incident would be moving enough for the incumbent government to make urgent amendments to its policies with regards to employees.

    He demanded a time-bound inquiry and fixing of responsibility leading to the incident.

    “The drastic step taken by the youth is a direct fallout of the government policies and actions.

    The concerns of the government employees have become insurmountable and if the grievances are not redressed, the situation can snowball.

    “Post August 5, 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has already earned a reputation of being one of the highest unemployed regions.

    The youngster’s suicide is yet another macabre reflection of the implication of the policies the Centre and the incumbent J&K government is pursuing vis-à-vis J&K,” he said.

    The former J&K chief minister expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and prayed for fortitude to them in their hour of loss.

    He also prayed for peace to the departed.

  • ISJK commander arrested in Jammu; terror strike averted: IGP

    Singh said the major success came when police started checking at Jhajjar Kotli after being tipped-off about the possible movement of a terrorist commander.

  • ED summons Mehbooba Mufti for questioning in money laundering case on March 15

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday summoned former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti for questioning on March 15 in a money laundering case, officials said.

    The 60-year-old PDP leader, who was released last year after more than a year in detention following the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, has been served notice to appear at the ED headquarters in the national capital.

    After the ED summons, Mehbooba said the Centre’s “tactics to intimidate and browbeat political opponents” won’t work.

    “GOI’s tactics to intimidate & browbeat political opponents to make them toe their line has become tediously predictable. They don’t want us to raise questions about its punitive actions & policies. Such short-sighted scheming won’t work,” she wrote on Twitter, without any mention of the ED notice.

    GOIs tactics to intimidate & browbeat political opponents to make them toe their line has become tediously predictable.They don’t want us to raise questions about its punitive actions & policies. Such short sighted scheming wont work .
    — Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 5, 2021

    According to officials, the case has been filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

    Agency sources did not specify the case in which she has been summoned but indicated that it could be linked to alleged financial irregularities in loans taken in the past from Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

    The agency had searched the premises of Anjum Fazili, a close side of the PDP leader, in December last year and had seized over Rs 28 lakh in cash.

    The raids were carried out at Fazili’s premises in Srinagar and Delhi in connection with a money laundering case.

    Criticising the ED summons to Mehbooba, People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) chairperson Farooq Abdullah said “political vendetta” would not help in improving the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Centre should “put an end to this kind of vendetta” and allow democratic processes to continue smoothly, said Abdullah, also a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

    “Political vendetta will not help in improving the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” the National Conference chief added.

    The PAGD is an alliance of various mainstream parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    These parties have come together to work towards restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s special status that was revoked by the Centre in August 2019.

  • Govt went back on its decision to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq: Hurriyat Conference

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: The moderate Hurriyat Conference on Friday claimed that the Jammu and Kashmir authorities have gone back on their decision to release its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from preventive custody.

    On Thursday, a close aide of Farooq had claimed that curbs on the movement of the Mirwaiz had been lifted.

    The administration, however, neither confirmed nor denied it.

    “Hurriyat Conference expresses strong resentment and regret that after announcing the release of it’s chairman and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Umar Farooq from a 20-month-long house detention since August 2019, government authorities went back on their decision,” a Hurriyat spokesperson said on Friday.

    The spokesperson claimed that police officials visited the Mirwaiz at his residence late Thursday night to convey that he continues to be under house arrest and will not be allowed to go to the Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers.

    “Since early morning, additional forces have been deployed outside his house,” he alleged.

    The spokesperson said the Hurriyat strongly condemned this flip-flop.

    “Recently in Parliament, the minister of state for home affairs had categorically stated that no one in Jammu & Kashmir is under house arrest.

    If that is so, then why does the Mirwaiz continue to be detained,” he asked.

    The spokesperson, however, appealed to people to not lose hope and in no way resort to any form of violent protest.

    The Mirwaiz, who is also the chief priest of Kashmir, was among hundreds of political leaders — both separatist and mainstream — who were taken into custody or placed under house arrest as the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution 19 months ago.

    While most leaders were released by March last year, some including the Mirwaiz continued to be under detention.

  • Reprehensible, savage, act of cowardice: J&K leaders condemn killing of cops by terrorist

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir political leaders, including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, condemned the killing of two unarmed policemen by a terrorist in an upmarket Srinagar area on Friday.

    Abdullah, who is also the National Conference vice president, said the attack was “reprehensible” as the two policemen were unarmed and shot from behind.

    “I condemn this act of militant violence & send my condolences to the families of these brave men,” he tweeted.

    “What makes this attack even more reprehensible is that SgCT Mohammad Yousuf of Zurhama and Ct Suhail Ahmad of Logripora were unarmed & shot in the back.

    Senseless & cowardly at the same time,” he added.

    PDP president Mehbooba condemned the attack saying the cycle of violence only begets misery.

    “Condemn the killing of two policemen in the Baghat attack.

    My heart goes out to their families & loved ones. This cycle of violence serves no cause & begets only misery,” she tweeted.

    People’s Conference led by Sajad Lone also condemned the killing of the policemen.

    “We strongly condemn the killing of two policemen in a dastardly and savage act of senseless violence at Baghat today.

    Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Suhail Ahmad and Mohd Yusuf in this hour of grief,” the party said. Local leaders of the BJP and the Congress also condemned the killings.

    BJP leader Altaf Thakur termed the attack an act of cowardice.

    “There is no place for such cowardly acts and the attackers must be brought to book,” he said.

    The two constables were on duty at Baghat on the high-security airport road when they were attacked.

    The terrorist, identified as Saqib, can be seen pulling out an assault rifle hidden inside his ‘pheran’, a loose over-garment worn during winters, and pumping bullets at them at close range.

  • Last surviving member of J&K Constituent Assembly, K D Sethi no more

    By PTI
    JAMMU: K D Sethi, who was the last surviving member of the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly, passed away at his residence here on Thursday.

    He was 93.

    Sethi was a member of the Constituent Assembly — a body of representatives elected in 1951 — which framed the Constitution of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Constituent Assembly was dissolved on January 26, 1957.

    Born in Mirpur, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, on January 1, 1928, Sethi was a popular leader.

    He had migrated to Jammu in 1946.

    Seth, who strongly batted for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, served as the state general secretary of the Democratic Conference.

    He represented the Nowshera Assembly segment of Rajouri district. Sethi is survived by a son and a daughter — both bureaucrats in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the demise of Sethi.

    “Saddened by the passing away of Krishan Dev Sethi, Ex MLA #Nowshera & father of Law Secretary J&K, Achal Sethi.

    He was also the last surviving member of J&K Constituent Assembly,” Sinha said in a tweet.

    PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti remembered Sethi as a fatherly figure.

    “Deeply saddened to know of Sethi sahab’s demise. I was hoping to see him in Jammu. He treated me like a daughter & will always be an integral part of my childhood. Will miss his wisdom & guidance,” she tweeted.

    Deeply saddened to know of Sethi sahab’s demise. I was hoping to see him in Jammu. He treated me like a daughter & will always be an integral part of my childhood. Will miss his wisdom & guidance.
    — Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 28, 2021

    Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also expressed grief over the demise of the veteran leader and said he was a versatile politician and an intellectual.

    Bukhari said that Sethi was a well-known writer and thinker who had witnessed various historical political events that happened in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “Sethi Ji will be remembered for his promptness, erudition and revealing historical accounts whose heart remained always beating for his native land.

    Losing such a stalwart personality is a great loss for the people of J-K.

    I pray for peace to the departed soul and extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” he said.

    Expressing sorrow over the demise of Sethi, J-K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) vice president and former MLC G N Monga today said he was a strong pillar of secularism.

    “His death has left a void that will be long felt in the political and social arena of Jammu and Kashmir.”

  • Two Jammu and Kashmir policemen receive awards for saving lives during Pakistan ceasefire violations

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Two policemen received ‘Jeevan Raksha Padak’ awards on Saturday for saving the lives of civilians during ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir in March 2018, an official said.

    Selection Grade Constable Maqsood Ahmad in Poonch district police and Follower Zakir Hussain of sixth battalion J&K Armed Police (JKAP) were awarded ‘Jeevan Raksha Padak 2019’ by the Union Home Ministry last year.

    Poonch Deputy Commissioner Rahul Yadav and Senior Superintendent of Police Ramesh Kumar Angral handed over the awards to the policemen in a function at Dak Bungalow, Poonch, the police official said.

    He said the award comprises a medal, certificate and cash reward of Rs 1 lakh. The function was attended by other senior civil and police officers of the district who appreciated the role of police personnel for their bravery.