Kashmir.Watch

Category: National

  • UAE Govt deports Jaish militant, NIA takes custody, starts questioning

    Srinagar, April 02: The government has arrested a Jaish-e-Muhammad militant, Nisar Ahmed Tantray from UAE and handed him over to National Investigation Agency (NIA).

    Sources told KNO that Nisar who was absconding in Lethpora CRPF attack case of Dec 30, 2017, escaped to UAE on Feb 1, 2019. Nisar is younger brother of Jaish commander Noor Tantray.

    Spokesman of NIA, Alok Mittal told KNO that Nisar was deported on Sunday by UAE government and they have taken his custody. “He is being questioned,” said Mital.

    Jaish Militant Nisar Ahmed Tantray from Tral, Pulwama who was brought back to India from UAE today where he was hiding since last month after his accomplice was arrested in Kashmir. Nisar is involved in attack on CRPF in 2017. (KNO)

  • Four injured in Poonch shelling

    Poonch, April 02: Four person including two women and a boy have received injuries in ceasefire violation in Poonch sector on Tuesday evening.

    Officials sources told KNO that firing started on Tuesday evening and was going on when last reports poured in.

    In the firing, two woman and a boy among four identified as Nafisa Bi, Zahreed Begum and Touseef Ahmed have received injuries.

    Touseef studies in a local madarssa at Bandi Chichian village of Poonch.

    A local man working with Army as porter has also received injuries in firing and shelling along LoC in Poonch sector.

    Yesterday, 17 civilians and five security force personals received injuries while a BSF officer, a five years old girl and a young housewife got killed in firing in KG sector and Poonch sector of Poonch district.(KNO)

  • Another terror attack on India will be ‘extremely problematic’, U.S. warns Pakistan

    Washington, March 21: The United States warned Pakistan that another terror attack on India will prove to be ‘extremely problematic’. The United States has asked Pakistan to take sustained, verifiable and irreversible action against the perpetrators of terrorism. Pak was warned and categorically. A senior administration official at a White House meets said: ‘We need to see Pakistan taking concrete and sustained action to reign in the terrorist groups, mainly the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba in order to ensure that we don’t have re-escalation (of tension) in the region.’

    “We need to see Pakistan taking concrete and sustained action to reign in the terrorist groups, mainly the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba in order to ensure that we don’t have re-escalation (of tension) in the region,” a senior administration official told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

    “And, if there’s any additional terrorist attack without Pakistan having made a sustained, sincere effort against these groups, it would be extremely problematic for Pakistan and it would cause re-escalation of tensions, which is dangerous for both countries,” the official said on the condition of anonymity.

    Asked about the steps being taken by Pakistan in the aftermath of the Balakot air strike by Indian fighter jets, the official said the US and the international community needed to see “irreversible and sustained” action against the terror groups.

    “It’s early to make a full assessment,” the official said.

    In the recent days, the official said Pakistan has taken some “initial” actions. They have frozen the assets of some terrorist groups and made some arrests. They have taken administrative control of some of the JeM facilities, the official added.

    “But we clearly need to see more. We need to see irreversible action because in the past, what we’ve seen is they made some arrests and then a few months later, they released these individuals. The terrorist leaders are sometimes still allowed to travel around the country, hold rallies,” the official said.

    Reiterating that the United States is looking for “irreversible action”, the official said America is working with its international partners to increase pressure on Pakistan. “Because it has been too long that these groups have been able to operate.”

    Observing that Pakistan has economic concerns as well, the official said the Financial Action Tasks Force (FATF) is one area which demonstrates the need for them to take these actions against terror groups. “Otherwise, they’re at risk within the system and the FATF to be grey-listed,” the official said. (Agencies)

  • Army Major takes colleague for a drive, rapes her on deserted airport road

    Bengaluru: An Army Major has been booked for allegedly raping his colleague on the old Airport road in Bengaluru.

    A case of rape and assault under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 376 and 323 has been registered against the accused, who was arrested but later granted bail from March 8 to 21.

    According to reports, the incident happened late on February 4 after the victim returned home from attending a party hosted by a senior colleague.

    The accused then called the victim and invited her for a drive to which she agreed. The accused took her towards Old Airport road and parked his car on a deserted stretch. Both consumed alcohol in the car during which the Army officer started misbehaving with her.

  • China defends blocking Azhar at UN, says it will help in finding lasting solution

    Beijing: China on Thursday sought to defend its fourth technical hold at the UN Security Council to block the designation of Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist”, saying it would help the parties concerned to engage in more talks to find a “lasting solution” acceptable to all.

    The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US on February 27, days after a suicide bomber of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, leading to a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan.

    The Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee members had 10 working days to raise any objections to the proposal. Just before the deadline ended, China put a “technical hold” on the proposal seeking “more time to examine” it.

    The proposal was the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist.

    Asked why China once again resorted to block the move, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here that Beijing’s decision is in line with the rules of the committee.

    China “sincerely hopes that relevant action taken by this committee will help relevant countries to engage in dialogue and consultation and prevent adding more complicated factors into regional peace and stability,” he said.

    “As to the technical hold at the 1267 Committee our action is to make sure that the committee will have enough time to study the matter so that the relevant sides will have time for dialogue and consultation,” Lu said.

    “Only a solution that is acceptable to all sides could fundamentally provide a chance for a lasting solution to the issue. China is ready to communicate and coordinate with all sides including India to properly handle this issue,” he said.

    The Security Council 1267 Committee has clear standards on the procedures of designating terrorist organisations and individuals, Lu said.

    “China conducts thorough and in-depth assessment of these applications and we still need more time, so that is why we put forward the technical hold,” he said.

    India Wednesday expressed disappointment soon after China put a technical hold on designating Azhar.

    The External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi said India will continue to pursue all available avenues to ensure that leaders of terror groups involved in heinous attacks on Indian citizens are brought to justice.

    “This has prevented action by the international community to designate the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a proscribed and active terrorist organization which has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14,” the MEA said.

    Without naming China, it said the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee was not able to come to a decision on the proposal for listing Azhar on account of a member placing the proposal on hold.

    To another question on the Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping last year to improve the bilateral relations, Lu said, “Xi and Modi met four times. Particularly Wuhan summit made great progress. China is full of sincerity and ready to work with India to build on the consensus of our leaders for greater progress in the bilateral relations.”

    On the Kashmir issue, Lu said China’s position on it is clear and consistent.

    “This is an issue that is left over between India and Pakistan. We hope that the two sides will engage in friendly dialogue consultation and solve this issue and other related issues,” he said.

  • Why are terrorists who attack other nations free? Bilawal Bhutto blasts Pak govt

    Pakistan, March 14: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has questioned Pakistan’s inaction against groups that attack other nations, delivering a stinging rebuke of his country’s government.

    He decried the contrast between the punishment given to his mother and his father — former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari — and the lack of action against groups that killed children in Pakistan and carried out attacks on foreign soil.

    Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan recently said no militant group would be allowed to operate from Pakistani soil to carry out attacks abroad, days after his government announced a crackdown against Islamist militant organisations.

    Bilawal Bhutto has claimed there are at least three ministers from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party who have links to banned groups.

    Ties between India and Pakistan have plummeted since a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber killed dozens of Indian paramilitary soldiers in southern Kashmir on February 14.

    India carried out airstrikes on the terrorist group in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on February 26. A day later, New Delhi said it had thwarted an attempt by Pakistani warplanes to target its military installations.

    China has now — once again — prevented a UN Security Council committee from blacklisting Masood Azhar, the head of Jaish-e-Mohammed. (Agencies)

  • EVM Hacking: EC Seeks FIR Against ‘Cyber Expert’ Syed Shuja

    Source: The Quint

    Electronic Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) in a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) said that Syed Shuja, the self-proclaimed cyber expert who made explosive claims in London over EVMs and election rigging in India was never an employee of the corporation.

    “The records of this company have been verified and it is found that Mr Syed Shuja has neither been in the rolls of ECIL as a regular employee nor was he in any way associated in the design and development of EVMs in ECIL produced between 2009 to 2014,” ECIL said in the letter.

    Police requesting them to lodge an FIR and investigate the statement made by Shuja.

    In the press conference, Shuja alleged that 2014 Lok Sabha elections were rigged and Congress lost 201 seats in 2014 because of the tampering

    He also claimed that Gopinath Munde was murdered as he was aware of EVM hacking

    He also claimed that slain journalist Gauri Lankesh agreed to run the story for him, but she was killed

    Shuja said that other than the BJP, the SP, BSP and the AAP too approached him to know if EVMs could be hacked

    He said he fled India in 2014 because he felt threatened in the country after the killing of some of his team members.

  • BJP Wants Ban On Kedarnath, Asks Why No “Hindu Character” As Lead

    DEHRADUN: A senior BJP leader Saturday demanded a ban on “Kedarnath”, an upcoming film set against the backdrop of a catastrophic deluge that hit the Himalayan shrine in 2013, alleging that it hurts the sentiments of Hindus and promotes love jihad.

    Ajendra Ajay, who is part of the state BJP’s media relations team, wrote to Central Board of Film Certification Chairman Prasoon Joshi that despite being set against the backdrop of one of the worst human tragedies, the film directed by Abhishek Kapoor makes fun of Hindu sentiments.

    Taking exception to a kissing scene between lead pair Sushant Singh Rajput and Sara Ali Khan featured in the film’s teaser and a tagline in its poster reading “Love is a Pilgrimage”, the BJP leader alleged that it was an attack on the Hindu religion as Kedarnath represents the faith of crores of Hindus.

    “By setting a romantic love story against the backdrop of a huge tragedy that occurred at Kedarnath, a centre of faith for crores of Hindus, the filmmakers have shown great disrespect to the followers of the religion” Mr Ajay told PTI.

    Objecting to the film depicting the love story of a Muslim porter and a Hindu pilgrim, Mr Ajay said couldn’t the makers of the film find a Hindu character for the lead.

    Accusing the film of promoting love jihad, the BJP leader said acute resentment prevailed among teertha purohits for projecting Kedarnath in such a flippant manner.

    Warning of large-scale protests in the state if the film was released, Mr Ajay urged the CBFC chairman to impose a ban on the movie produced by Ronnie Screwwala and Pragya Kapoor.

  • Will Respond 1 Bullet With 10 Bullets: India

    “The home minister has said we should not fire the first bullet. But if one bullet is fired from their side, we should respond with 10,”

    Mumbai: Indian Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir has said and asserted India will respond with 10 bullets for every bullet fired by the neighbouring country.
    “Sending (militants) into India, violating ceasefire has become their (Pakistan’s) nature. They have a twisted mindset. Be it our home ministry, defence ministry or the Jammu and Kashmir police, everybody has to keep co-ordinating and give reply to Pakistan’s misadventures,” Ahir said, speaking to reporters in Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
    “The home minister has said we should not fire the first bullet. But if one bullet is fired from their side, we should respond with 10,” he said.
    As the situation continues to be tense, over 1,000 people staying on border have been moved and schools in the area will remain closed till further notice.

  • Pakistan inciting Kashmir youth against India: Rajnath Singh

    Tekanpur (MP): Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said “terror” infrastructure in Pakistan continue to exist and the neighbouring country is leaving no stone unturned to instigate the youths of Jammu and Kashmir against India. He also asked the country’s top police brass to take strong action in cases of riots and desecration of religious places.

    Addressing the annual conference of the DGPs and IGPs here, Singh said “terror” infrastructure in the form of training camps, launch pads and communication stations continue to exist in Pakistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK).

    He said the neighbouring country is leaving no stone unturned to provide all help, including finance, to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and that youths of the state are being instigated against India, sources privy to the home minister’s speech said.

    Singh said Pakistan’s encouragement to the separatist anti-India sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir often lead to law and order problems.

    Highlighting the appointment of a representative for initiating dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir, he said it was a matter of satisfaction that security forces have been successful in tackling the situation in the state to a great extent.

    The home minister said the violence perpetrated by Naxals have come down to a great extent and assured that the government would encourage the surrender policy for Naxals in the coming days.

    Referring to the Northeast, Singh said insurgency has come down in the region but camps and hideouts of underground outfits in Myanmar was a matter of concern.

    The home minister said there has been a slight increase in communal violence in the country and asked the top police officers to take strong action wherever such incidents and desecration of religious sites take place. Singh also talked about growing incidents of cyber crime, use of internet and the social media by anti-social elements to create tension in the society and asked police officers to be vigilant.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the three-day conference on Sunday.

    The conference of the DGPs and IGPs is an annual affair, where senior police officers of the states and Centre meet and discuss issues. The Modi government has been organising the conference outside the national capital since it came to power in 2014. The last three conferences were held in Guwahati, Rann of Kutch and Hyderabad.