News Analysis India

Tag: Kashmir

  • Kashmiri students held over pro-Pakistan slogans booked for sedition, sent to 14-day judicial custody

    By PTI

    NOIDA: Three Kashmiri students arrested in Agra for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan slogans were on Thursday booked for sedition, Uttar Pradesh Police officials said.

    The three students, two of them aged 20 and one 21, were also remanded in 14-day judicial custody by an Agra court, the officials said. While coming out of the court, they were allegedly heckled and chased by some people.

    Meanwhile, a body of Jammu and Kashmir students urged Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath for the withdrawal of the sedition charge against them.

    Adityanath earlier in the day had said the sedition law will be invoked against those celebrating Pakistan’s victory against India in the recent T20 World Cup match.

    “The three students were arrested on Wednesday after an FIR was lodged against them at the Jagdishpura police station.

    They were accused of raising pro-Pakistan slogans in the wake of an India-Pakistan T20 cricket match and posting celebratory messages on social media after Pakistan’s victory,” a police official said.

    On Thursday, they were produced in a magistrate’s court in Agra, which remanded them in 14-day judicial custody, the official said.

    “The FIR was initially registered under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups) and 505 (creating or publishing content to promote enmity). Section 124A (sedition) of the IPC was included on Friday in the case,” the police official said. The trio studies in a private college affiliated to Agra University.

    When the students were coming out of the court, some right wing activists raised slogans against Pakistan and chased them.

    Some lawyers also heckled the students while they were being taken from the court to a police vehicle, according to purported videos that emerged on social media. However, the Agra police said they escorted the students to safety.

    “The students were taken to the court in a discreet manner and were similarly taken out from there considering the sensitivity of the matter. However, some people heckled the trio on the court premises but none was hurt. They were all safe,” the police official told PTI.

    Nasir Khuehami, national spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association, urged the Uttar Pradesh chief minister to drop sedition charges against the students, seeking “mercy on humanitarian grounds”.

    They have urged the chief minister to intervene for the withdrawal of the sedition case and the FIR against the students, he said in a statement.

    “The college authorities must revoke the suspension of the students, whom we urged to focus on their studies,” he said.

    Mansoor Wani, a research fellow at Agra University and mentor of the accused students, said they were young and needed counselling instead of such heckling.

    “We apologise on their behalf if they were involved in such an unfortunate incident. But these are young men from financially weak backgrounds. They need guidance. We will counsel them. They should not be booked under such harsh laws. It will ruin their careers,” Wani added.

  • Delimitation will happen first, restoration of J&K statehood thereafter: Amit Shah in Srinagar

    By Agencies

    SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored after the delimitation of constituencies and assembly elections.

    Shah, who is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, was interacting with members of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth clubs on Saturday.

    “Why should the delimitation be stopped? It is because that will harm political interests. Now nothing will stop in Kashmir. Delimitation will happen, followed by elections and then restoration of statehood so that the youth of Kashmir get opportunities. I had said that in the parliament also. And, this is the roadmap. I came here to make friends with the Kashmiri youth,” Shah said.

    He said no one can obstruct development in Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that strict action will be taken against those who want to disrupt the peace and harmony in the union territory.

    “Kashmir has seen a new beginning — from fear, terrorism, corruption, and family-based politics to peace, development, and prosperity. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir have strengthened this change. Terrorism has reduced, stone-pelting has become invisible…I want to assure you that strict action will be taken against those who want to disrupt the peace and harmony of Jammu and Kashmir. No one can obstruct development here. It is our commitment,” Shah said.

    ALSO READ | Targeted killings by terrorists in Kashmir show frustration of Pakistan: AIATF chief Bitta

    The minister said that “transparency and corruption-free governance” Jammu-Kashmir has witnessed since 2019 is the pillar of the region’s development. “Would it be possible without abrogating Article 370? Our projects for Jammu and Kashmir are multidimensional. It promotes education and skill development, as well as economic assistance. We’ve also promoted sports and tourism,” he said.

    The government had abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. It had also bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. Shah said the government in Jammu and Kashmir has decided to form a youth club in every panchayat and Rs 25,000 will be provided to every such club. Sports programmes have also been started.

    Slamming the earlier regimes in the erstwhile state, Shah said, “What did the previous governments give to Jammu and Kashmir in 70 years? 87 MLAs, 6 MPs and 3 families…Prime Minister Narendra Modiji has made it possible that about 30,000 elected representatives in the Panchayat elections, who are serving the people today. Post-independence, the Government of India helped Jammu and Kashmir, but the poverty, unemployment did not go away, infrastructure did not develop. Now poverty is going from here, people are getting employment opportunities.”

    Earlier in the day, Shah held a security review meeting in Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was present in the review meeting. This is Shah’s maiden visit to the union territory since the abrogation of Article 370. 

  • Eight terror operatives arrested by NIA during multiple raids in Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Eight operatives of various proscribed terror organisations were arrested Friday during multiple searches spread across six districts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a terrorism conspiracy case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said.

    The searches were carried out at 10 locations in Srinagar, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Baramulla districts, which also led to the seizure of electronic devices and incriminating ‘Jihadi’ (holy war) documents and posters, an agency official said.

    With this, a total of 21 accused people have been arrested in connection with the terrorism conspiracy case which was registered on October 10.

    The official identified the arrested persons as Adil Ahmad War, Manan Gulzar Dar, Sobhia and Zamin Adil of Srinagar, Hilal Ahmad Dar and Shaqib Bashir of Kupwara, Rouf Bhatt of Anantnag and Haris Nisar Langoo.

    “The eight accused persons arrested are terror operatives of various proscribed terrorist organisations and have been instrumental in providing logistical and material support to terrorists,” the NIA official said.

    He said the case relates to the conspiracy for undertaking violent terrorist acts in J&K and other major cities by cadres of proscribed terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al Badr and their affiliates such as the Resistance Front (TRF) and People Against Fascist Forces (PAFF).

    “Further investigation in the case continues,” the NIA said.

    On October 13, the NIA said nine terror associates were arrested during two days of searches at 18 locations in different districts of Kashmir following the registration of the case.

    Four more suspected persons were arrested during searches at 11 locations in the valley on October 20.

  • Security beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Security has been beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s maiden visit to the Valley after the abrogation of Article 370 on Saturday, officials said.

    They said a thick security cover has been thrown around the BJP office at Jawahar Nagar in the city where Shah is likely to pay a visit.

    Similarly, roads leading to Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) have been made off-limits for three days from Saturday as the Union home minister is expected to attend an event there, they added.

    It will be Shah’s first visit to Kashmir after the Centre revoked J-K’s special status and bifurcated the erstwhile state into union territories in August 2019.

    The officials said additional deployment of security forces has been made across the valley, especially in Srinagar.

    Official sources said 50 companies of additional paramilitary forces are being inducted into the valley in the wake of the recent spate of civilian killings.

    Bunkers manned by paramilitary CRPF have come up in several areas of the city as well in other parts of the valley, the officials said.

    They said the aim of constructing new bunkers and putting more personnel on the ground was to cut the free movement of militants.

    The officials said barricades have been put up on the roads across the valley, especially in the city, while frisking and checking of people has been intensified.

    The mobile internet services on a dozen towers — mostly in the areas where non-local labourers were killed in the past week — were snapped three days ago as part of the security measures, they said.

    The officials said police have started stringent checking of documents of two-wheelers plying on the roads and many have been seized by police.

    However, IGP, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar had said these steps were purely related to terror violence.

    “Seizing some bikes and shutting down of internet of some towers is purely related to #terror #violence. It has nothing to do with visit of the Hon’ble HM,” he tweeted on Thursday.

  • JKNPP questions BJP government’s silence over former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik’s ‘sensational disclosure’

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The JKNPP on Thursday questioned the silence of the BJP-led central government over the “sensational disclosure” made by former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik.

    Malik has claimed that he was told he would get Rs 300-crore bribe if he cleared two files belonging to “Ambani” and an “RSS-affiliated man” during his tenure but he cancelled the deals, and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting his decision by saying there is no need to compromise on corruption.

    Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh said it is strange that “business tycoons and political syndicates” who had attempted to bribe the governor have been allowed to go scot free.

    “The fate of the files for which Rs 150 crore each was offered to the then governor should be made known to the public as Malik was relieved from Jammu and Kashmir shortly thereafter,” Singh said in a statement here.

    Referring to Malik’s “sensational disclosure”, he questioned the BJP government over its “cold criminal silence” in the matter.

    “The startling revelation having been made by none other than the constitutional head of the then state (of Jammu and Kashmir), it is shocking that no action has been even initiated against the corrupt mafia operational in the system,” he said.

    Seeking action, Singh claimed that Malik had made certain other revelations about corruption in the past which too were disregarded by the government for reasons best known.

    “He (Malik) had revealed that the cost of a power project was sought to be enhanced by 10 per cent and kickbacks accounting to 100 crore were offered for the same,” the JKNPP leader said.

    “He had pointed towards the financial scams of grave nature besides thousands of backdoor appointments having been made in J&K Bank and other departments during BJP-PDP government with hardly any action taken against those involved in the said frauds,” Singh claimed .

    Alleging that corruption had been legalised in Jammu and Kashmir especially under BJP-PDP rule, Singh said that even the reports of CAG revealing scams of thousands of crores between 2015 and 2018 were consigned to the dustbin only to protect the powerful politicians and a few bureaucrats.

  • Was told I will get Rs 300-crore bribe if I clear deals of ‘Ambani’, ‘RSS-linked man’: Former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has claimed that he was told he would get Rs 300-crore bribe if he cleared two files belonging to “Ambani” and an “RSS-affiliated man” during his tenure but he cancelled the deals, and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting his decision by saying there is no need to compromise on corruption.

    Malik, who currently holds the gubernatorial post in Meghalaya, also supported the ongoing farmer agitation against the Centre’s farm laws and said he is ready to leave his post and stand with them if their protest continues.

    “After going to Kashmir, two files came to me (for clearance), one belonging to Ambani and another to an RSS-affiliated man who was a minister in the previous Mehbooba Mufti-led (PDP-BJP coalition) government and claimed to be very close to the prime minister.

    “I was informed by secretaries in both the departments that there is a scandal involved and I accordingly cancelled both the deals. The secretaries told me that ‘you will get Rs 150 crore each for clearing the files’ but I told them that I have come with five kurta-pajamas and will leave with that only,” Malik told a gathering at an event in Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.

    A video of his speech has gone viral.

    Malik did not elaborate on the two files, but he was apparently referring to a file related to the roll-out of a group health insurance policy for government employees, pensioners and accredited journalists, for which the government had tied up with Reliance General Insurance, part of the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group.

    In October 2018, Malik who was then the governor of J&K, had cancelled the tie-up with Reliance General Insurance Company for providing the group health insurance to employees as there was “some bungling” in it.

    Two days later, the governor approved foreclosure of the contract with Reliance General Insurance and referred the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau for examining the entire process to see whether it was conducted in a transparent and fair manner.

    “As a precaution, I took time from the prime minister and briefed him about the two files and the scandal as the people involved were taking his name. I straightaway told him (PM) that I am ready to leave the post but if I stay back, I am not going to clear the files,” he claimed and praised Modi for saying that there is no need to compromise on corruption.

    Malik also alleged that Kashmir is the most corrupt place in the country.

    “In the whole country, four to five per cent commission is sought, but in Kashmir 15 per cent commission is demanded,” he said without explaining, but added that under his leadership, there was no big case of corruption reported in J&K and that he even declined a favour to his relatives in the valley.

    He said after his return from Kashmir, he made a statement in favour of the agitating farmers.

    He said that he being poor is his strength and he can fight any powerful man in the country.

    “If the farmer agitation continues, I will leave my post and stand with them without caring for anyone. It is possible when I have done no wrong and do not have any wrong item in my wardrobe. I am satisfied that I have not done anything wrong,” he said.

    Advising newly recruited officers not to budge under pressure and work honestly for the betterment of society, he asked them to remain alert against their wives who “spoil everything” by demanding more and prompting their husbands to indulge in corrupt practices.

    “The pressure will come and you will also feel good (by taking bribe)…In Jaipur, there are officers who did not even have thatched houses in their native places have built palatial houses. But if you remain steadfast and honest, you can fight anyone,” Malik said.

    The former J&K governor said he does not have a house to live in after his retirement but “I do not have any worry that I have no house.”

    Malik said he had been an MLA, an MP, a union minister but the people from Rajasthan who have a lot of money would come to his place and be surprised on seeing his small accommodation.

  • Internet snapped in areas of Kashmir, two-wheelers seized ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Authorities have shut down the internet in some areas of Kashmir while police seized a large number of two-wheelers ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s likely visit to the Valley this weekend.

    Shah is likely to visit Kashmir on Saturday when the first international flight from Srinagar to Sharjah will take off.

    However, police officials said the shutting down of the internet and seizing of two-wheelers has nothing to do with Shah’s visit but was part of routine anti-terror measures.

    “Seizing some bikes and shutting down of internet of some towers is purely related to #terror #violence. It has nothing to do with visit of the Hon’ble HM,” IGP, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar tweeted.

    The internet services on a dozen towers — mostly in the areas where non-local labourers were killed in the last week — were snapped two days ago while police have started stringent checking of documents of two-wheelers plying on the roads.

    Many riders have alleged that their two-wheelers were seized by police without even checking the documents and were asked to collect their vehicles after October 26.

  • Farooq Abdullah questions claims of peace, development in Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI

    JAMMU: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the targeted killings in Kashmir and said it should give an answer to the people over the claims of restoration of peace in the valley.

    He also said that the National Conference was never a pro-Pakistan party and always worked for the betterment of all, irrespective of their caste, creed and religion.

    “They (BJP) used to say after abrogation of Article 370 (in August 2019) that they have restored peace in J&K Where is the promised peace and development? Give answers to the people,” Abdullah said addressing party workers in Ramban district.

    Eleven civilians, including two teachers, a pharmacy owner and five non-local labourers, were killed in targeted attacks by terrorists in different parts of the Kashmir valley this month.

    Without naming the BJP or the central government, the former chief minister said the recent killings have shattered all the claims made in the aftermath of the August 5, 2019 development.

    “They are talking about ‘Ram Rajya’ but the fact is that they do not know anything about it. In ‘Ram Rajya’, there is no discrimination and all the people whether Muslims, Hindus, Sikh or Christians are treated equally,” he said.

    Referring to the statement of former prime minister A B Vajpayee “you can change friends but not neighbours”, Abdullah said friendship between India and Pakistan holds the key to peace in the region.

    However, he said the National Conference has never been a pro-Pakistan party.

    “The aim of National Conference is to serve the people of all faiths without any discrimination, provide better living to them, ensure they educate their children and bring laurels to J&K and the country,” he said.

    “Our enemies have always conspired against us but they never succeeded in the past nor will they succeed in future. We will live and die here,” the NC president said.

    He also slammed the central government for price hike of essential commodities and said the rates of petrol and diesel are touching the sky, making the lives of the commoners miserable.

  • NIA conducts searches in Jammu and Kashmir, arrests 4 terror associates in terrorism conspiracy

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The NIA on Wednesday conducted searches at multiple locations in four districts of Jammu and Kashmir and arrested four alleged terror associates in connection with a terrorism conspiracy case, an official said.

    The searches were carried out at 11 locations in Srinagar, Pulwama, Kulgam and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Suhail Ahmad Thokar of Kulgam; Kamran Ashraf Reshi, Rayid Bashir and Hanan Gulzar Dar from Srinagar, have been arrested by the premier investigation agency, the NIA official said.

    The case relates to conspiracy for undertaking violent terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir along with other major cities by cadres of the proscribed terrorist organisations Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al Badr and similar other outfits and their affiliates including The Resistance Front (TRF), People Against Fascist Forces (PAFF) among others, the NIA official said.

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered the case on October 10 and has so far arrested nine accused.

    The searches have led to the recovery and seizure of electronic devices and incriminating jehadi documents/ Posters among others, the official said.

    The four accused are terror associates/OGWs (Over Ground Workers) of various proscribed terrorist organisations and have been providing logistical and material support to terrorists, the NIA official said, adding that further investigation in the case continues.

  • ‘Stay indoors’, J&K Police tells locals as forces go for final kill in Poonch forest

    By IANS

    JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday asked people not to move towards the forest area in J&K’s Poonch district where an encounter is going on between the Army and the militants for the last 8 days.

    Police made appeals to people through public address systems in mosques in the Bahatdhurian area of Poonch, urging them not to move towards the jungle and keep their livestock inside their premises.

    “These announcements were made after some people were seen moving towards jungle along with livestock amid ongoing encounter in the area.

    “People can contact police any time and we are in the service of public 24X7. We will ensure home delivery of anything needed by them urgently,” a police officer said.

    Police did not agree that these announcements were being made because the Army was preparing a major offensive against the militants hiding in the jungle area.

    Defence sources said six militants have been killed in the 8-day-long operation against the militants in the area.

    Nine soldiers, including two JCOs, have also been killed in this operation.

    Army chief, M.M. Naravane visited the area on Tuesday along with senior field commanders.