News Analysis India

Tag: Kashmir

  • Frustrated youth in Kashmir picking up guns, those in Jammu resorting to drugs: Altaf Bukhari

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The frustrated youth in Kashmir are joining the ranks of militants and getting killed within days while those in Jammu are ruining their lives due to drug addiction, Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said on Sunday and added the government’s mishandling of the affairs of the union territory was leading to such a situation.

    The former minister said his party will continue to raise the issues of public importance with the central government.

    “The drug menace is growing and our youth are getting addicted. They were not using drugs in the past but why are they resorting to the use of drugs now. When the educated youth are not able to find job, they take drugs under frustration and it has spread to girls as well which is an issue of grave concern and debate,” Bukhari told reporters in Kathua on the sidelines of a public rally.

    He said the youth in Jammu do not get a gun here and are ruining their lives by taking drugs, while in the valley the frustrated youth are joining militancy and getting killed in encounters with security forces.

    “They are joining militant ranks in the night and getting killed two days later. Are they really militants? I call them brainless youth,” he said.

    Bukhari said all the issues facing Jammu and Kashmir were the result of mishandling of its affairs by the government which has to address these issues to provide relief to the people.

    “If I will not go to the prime minister with the issues of my people, then whom should I go to…the overall situation has worsened in J&K,” he said.

    He said Modi is not the prime minister of one community and “that is why we are meeting him and also lodging our complaints. We will continue to do so because we believe he is the prime minister of all the people of the country and so is Home Minister Amit Shah.”

    “We have to believe their words till they prove otherwise,” he said.

    On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said everybody is upset as the unemployment rate has touched an all-time high of 22 per cent and every day the youth are on the streets to seek jobs while daily wagers are waiting for their regularisation and pending wages.

    Responding to a question about allegations that the BJP is creating new political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to achieve its goal of forming the next government, he said these are just rumours.

    “They are not forming any parties…they are in the central government does not mean we are because of them. Let there be hundreds of parties but at the end of the day, it is the people who will decide the fate of such parties,” he said.

    On the BJP’s target of 50-plus seats in the next assembly elections to form the government, he said the BJP has been ruling Jammu and Kashmir since June 18, 2018 after the fall of the previous PDP-BJP government and its report card is before the people.

    “What they have done for the last four years is before the public and they will get the votes accordingly. If they have not done well, they should be sent back to their homes and start learning how to serve the people,” he said, adding they have failed the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

    He called for early restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and holding of assembly elections to provide an opportunity to the people to choose their true representatives in a democratic way.

  • 11 injured as terrorists hurl grenade at security forces in J&K’s Srinagar

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: At least 11 people, including a policeman, were injured after terrorists hurled a grenade at security forces in the Hari Singh High Street locality of the city here on Sunday, police said.

    “At about 4:20 pm, terrorists hurled a grenade upon police and security forces deployment at Hari Singh High Street,” a police official said.

    He said a policeman and 10 civilians sustained splinter injuries in the explosion.

    The injured were rushed to the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital here, he added.

    The area has been cordoned off and a hunt launched to nab the culprits, the official said.

  • Vote only for PAGD allies in the next J-K Assembly polls: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti

    By PTI

    JAMMU: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged people to vote for PAGD allies in the next J&K assembly polls to defeat the BJP and its associates, which, she said, were hampering the case of restoration of the Union Territory’s special status in the apex court.

    She also reiterated her call for a peaceful struggle for the restoration of “snatched rights”, saying the August 5, 2019 development was like an earthquake and its aftershocks are still continuing with “this government taking away something on a daily basis from us”.

    The PAGD is a coalition of six parties, including the National Conference, PDP and CPI(M), seeking restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under the revoked Article 370 of the Constitution.

    The article was revoked by the Narendra Modi government on August 5, 2019, a decision which has been challenged by many parties in the Supreme court.

    “Whether we stand united or fight separately, you have to vote those who do not betray your vote in the assembly. I request you to take this message to every nook and corner that we have to choose among the PAGD constituents and vote for their candidates,” Mehbooba said addressing a party function at Surankote in Poonch district.

    She said attempts are on to divide the people and the interim report of the delimitation commission was part of the process to pit Hindus versus Muslims, Muslims versus Muslims, Gujjars Vs Pahari- speaking people and one versus other.

    These attempts are aimed at getting enough seats for the BJP and its people so that they can form the next government in J&K and put a stamp on the August 5, 2019 decision to weaken “our case in the Supreme Court”.

    “The talk of an election is premature as the time has not come yet but remember my words. If you do not like PDP (candidate), vote for any other candidate among the PAGD constituent and likewise if the other candidate is not of your liking, vote for the PDP candidate,” she said.

    “You have to make a choice among them only and not vote independents or any other candidate,” the former chief minister said.

    She said her party or National Conference have not lost anything alone but it is the people of the entire J&K who have been deprived of their rights and they have to fight for the restoration of their “snatched rights”.

    Mehbooba said August 5, 2019 was not just a tragedy for the people of Jammu and Kashmir but it struck them like an earthquake.

    “An earthquake ends within a few minutes but we are still being hit by aftershocks. They are still snatching from us on a daily basis to finish our identity, culture and traditions. They are forcibly taking away land from the people,” she said.

    She said the land which was under the occupation of the people for over a century is being taken away to give it to big industrialists in both Jammu and Kashmir regions and the way the government is working, the day is not far when “our youths will not get a foothold to stand up”.

    Mehbooba also criticized the government for the dismissal of state employees on the grounds of supporting militancy and massive raids.

    “They are doing everything to break the backbone of the people of J&K. The unemployment is growing with each passing day and deliberate attempts are being made to make people poorer so that they are silenced and are not able to stand up,” she said.

    She said they want “dead souls” as it suits their narrative of a peaceful atmosphere in J&K which is, in fact, “the silence of a graveyard”.

    “The BJP is behaving like the East India Company and the only difference is that they are from this country. They are selling the national resources at a big loss,” she said, adding “people have to raise their voice in a peaceful manner as Mahatma Gandhi did against the British rule”.

    Referring to the delimitation commission draft proposal to merge Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu with Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in Kashmir, Mehbooba said instead of giving a separate seat to the Rajouri and Poonch districts, they merged it with Anantnag Lok Sabha seat to sow the seeds of hatred among the people of Kashmir and this region.

    “The PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed built Mughal Road to bring the two districts of Rajouri and Poonch closer to Shopian district of Kashmir. They want to create a wedge as both sides would like to have their own Parliament member to represent them and want us to fight each other. There is no other reason,” she said.

    She alleged that they have no pain for the region or Chenab valley.

    “They wanted to have only one face, one dress and one food. The situation could be worse than this if we do not stand up and fight their onslaught as graveyard type of silence suits them,” she said.

    Defending her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s decision to form the previous government with the BJP, Mehbooba said, “It was done to protect Article 370, state flag and constitution under a strategy.

    It took Mufti three months to stitch an alliance with the BJP and the government was formed on our terms.

    “After Mufti’s death, we functioned as per our agenda which was not of their taste as they found us an obstacle in their original plan and the rest is history,” she 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.

  • Many steps taken to give better opportunities to people of hitherto neglected J&K, Ladakh: President Ram Nath Kovind

    President Ram Nath Kovind said the government has started a new central sector scheme for the industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of about Rs 28,000 crore.

  • Earthquake of 5.3 magnitude hits Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 on the Richter scale hit Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, but there were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property, officials said.

    The epicentre of the quake was in Hindukush in Afghanistan, they said.

    The quake of magnitude 5.3, which occurred at 9.43 pm, was also felt in Jammu and Kashmir, the officials said.

    The quake hit at the coordinates of 36.37 degrees north and 71.5 degrees east at a depth of 81 km, they said.

    There are no reports of any loss of life or damage to property, they said.

  • JeM terrorist, cop killed and five injured in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: A Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist and a policeman were killed and five people, including three soldiers, injured in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday, police said.

    Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Pariwan area of the district following information about the presence of militants there, officials said They said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire towards the position of security forces.

    Inspector General of Police (Kashmir zone) Vijay Kumar said one policeman and one Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist were killed in the encounter “One police personnel Sg Ct Rohit Chhib attained martyrdom, three Army soldiers got injured. Two civilians also got minor injuries. One terrorist of terror outfit JeM killed. Operation continues,” Kumar tweeted.

  • Six terrorists killed in 48 hours in Kashmir security operations

    By IANS

    SRINAGAR: The killer of a police official was among the six terrorists neutralised in the last 48 hours in four anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

    Police said based on specific information generated by them regarding the presence of a terrorist in the village Kalan Sirgufwara area of Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by the police and army’s 3 RR on Saturday.

    “During the search operation, as the presence of terrorist got ascertained, he was given ample opportunities to surrender. However, he denied the surrender opportunities and instead fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which retaliated leading to an encounter,” police said.

    In the ensuing encounter, the trapped terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter.

    “He has been identified as Faheem Bhat, a resident of Kandipora, Anantnag affiliated with proscribed terror outfit ISJK. It is pertinent to mention that the killed terrorist had recently joined terror outfit ISJK and was the main accused behind the killing of ASI Mohammad Ashraf near Police Station Bijbehara,” police said

    Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from his possession.

    Pertinently, in the last 48 hours, joint teams of police and the security forces neutralised six terrorists in four successful anti-terrorist operations without any collateral damage.

  • Two arrested on espionage charges in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Two persons were arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan in a village in border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

    A man working as a porter with the Army and his relative, both residents of Nowshera, were picked up by a joint team of the Army and police on a specific information late Saturday night, they said.

    They said the duo is accused of taking videos of vital and sensitive security installations and sharing these with their handlers outside the country in lieu of money.

    A case under relevant sections of law was registered and further investigation is going on, the officials added.

  • BJP plotting to pass resolution in favour of Article 370 revocation in J&K Assembly after polls: Omar 

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said BJP would make an attempt to pass a resolution in favour of Article 370 revocation in the J&K Assembly after the elections to tell the world that people of J&K are satisfied with the August 5, 2019 decisions.  

    “BJP would make an attempt to pass a resolution in favour of Article 370 revocation in J&K Assembly after the elections to tell the world and the country that people of J&K are satisfied with the August 5, 2019 decisions. They want to wipe out the early resolution passed by J&K Assembly in 2000 seeking greater autonomy for J&K,” Omar said while addressing party workers in north Kashmir’s Bandipora.

    “They want to pass the resolution so that they can tell the world that J&K don’t want any change in it,” he said.

    On August 5, 2019, the Centre scrapped J&K’s special status and bifurcated the J&K state into two Union Territories — J&K (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).

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    “After they (BJP) pass the resolution in favour of Article 370 revocation in J&K Assembly, they would then approach the Supreme Court and tell the apex court that people challenging Article 370 revocation are telling lies and J&K people are very happy with the decision,” Omar said.

    The SC would tell them (BJP) how they knew it and the BJP would show the resolution passed by the J&K Assembly in favour of Art 370 revocation, Abdullah said. “Then the SC will be left with no option but to dismiss petitions challenging Article 370 revocation and won’t do anything against the August 5, 209 decision”.

    According to Abdullah, pleas challenging Article 370 revocation and bifurcation of J&K state were not being heard “because we have got a strong case.

    The BJP knows well that they cannot get many seats in Kashmir and without getting seats from the Valley, the resolution cannot be passed in J&K Assembly. “In order to create a division of votes in Kashmir, it has propped up many parties. However, to thwart this plot, the Gupkar Alliance was formed,” he said.

    The former CM said DDC the elections were held to break the Gupkar Alliance. “The alliance got more seats and proved that people of Kashmir and Jammu are not in favour of August 5, 2019 decisions.”

    Peoples Conference had pulled out from the seven-party alliance after the DDC polls while the head of another party — J&K Peoples Movement — has joined the Apni Party of Altaf Bukhari.