Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Two civilians and as many security forces personnel were injured while two militants of Lashker-e-Toiba are trapped at Mirbazar in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district where gunfight started in the afternoon on Thursday.

Official sources told GNS that two civilians Sahil Yaqoob Bhat (25) son of Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat of Dantar Anantnag and Shahid Farooq Sheikh (22) son of Farooq Ahmed Sheikh of Larm kulgam suffered injuries in lower abdomen and right thigh respectively at the encounter site.

Police in a tweet said that 2 security forces personnel and 2 civilians were injured from militants’ fire.

“Two trapped (militants) of LeT still alive. Exchange of fire on. 2 SFs personnel & 2 civilians injured from (militants) fire. Taking all precautions for lesser collateral damage as target building is huge one,” IGP Kashmir said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, a top police officer told GNS that “the operation may prolong,” the officer said.

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar and General Officer Commanding of Victor Force, Major General Rashim Bali have reached Mirbazar and were supervising the operation at the spot.

One of the two security force personnel was injured in initial phase of the gunfight. Identified as Umesh Singh son of Prabu Singh of Jharkhand, he along with other trooper whose identity was not immediately known have been hospitalized. The encounter had ensued after militants attacked a BSF convoy on Jammu Srinagar Highway at Mirbazar.

Earlier police in a tweet said: “(militants) fired upon BSF convey at NHW Kulgam. No injury reported. However, (militants) trapped. EOF on. Reinforcement reached. Senior officers of Police, CRPF & Army on the spot: IGP Kashmir.”(GNS)

Srinagar: Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on the International Youth Day on Thursday said she missed the youth Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Waheed-ur-Rehman Parray.PDP president Mehbooba alleged that Parra was being punished for his commitment towards Kashmir cause.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter the Vice Chairperson of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) Mebooba said “ On this International Youth Day, I terribly miss our Youth President @parawahid who played a stellar part in engaging with youngsters in J&K. He is being punished for his commitment towards the Kashmir cause. I salute his integrity, courage & grace”.
Parra was arrested on November 25, 2020 by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a terror funding case days after he filed nomination papers for District Development Council (DDC) polls in Pulwama. He won the seat despite remaining in jail during campaigning. He was re-arrested in another case after a court granted him bail in January this year.

Srinagar, Aug 12: Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly raping his younger sister in Watrina area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Reliable sources told news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that a 23 years old girl registered a written complaint at Police Station Bandipora alleging that her brother was constantly raping her from last many years.

According to sources, the girl name (withheld) approached Bandipora Police on August 12 after she told about the incident. Taking cognizance immediately, police have booked the accused under FIR number 134 of 2021 under section 376 of IPC at Police station Bandipora.

They said that further investigation has been set into motion. (KDC)

One unknown female jumped from old bridge of zaina kadal in downtown area of Srinagar. If anyone knows her HE/ She/ may contact police station MR GUNG
7006568606

‘Villages close to LoC have great tourism potential’

Kupwara, Aug 11: General officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lieutenant General DP Pandey Wednesday said that Kashmir has changed for good despite the forced militancy while the events organized by Army across the valley are witnessing an “enthusiastic crowd.”

Speaking to media men on the side-lines of the Bungus Valley Festival, the GoC said that the Lieutenant Governor has already given the directions and the facilities for commoners in border areas will be made available soon.

“This place (Bungus) is just eight kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC) and similarly there are bases in Keran, Tulail, Machil, Tangdhar, and Uri. Festival and other activities will continue to be organised in these areas,” the GoC Pandey said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that the army will provide all the best possible facilities to facilitate the administration to construct mobile towers and provide facilities required for daily usage for the people of border villages.

The GoC termed the visit of the LG Manoj Sinha to Bungus as landmark stating that the event conducted is awesome and it will send a message across.

“There are many other places like Bungus. This Kashmir valley is the safest place for tourists because of the people of Kashmir,” the army officer said. “Similar events are ongoing across Kashmir despite the militancy which is being forced on the people. “Kashmir has changed for good,” he said.

He informed that a massive crowd witnessed and enjoyed the two-day-long Bungus festival which depicts the direction of Kashmir today and similar enthusiasm is witnessed at other functions organized by the Army across the valley.

“People must visit Bungus so that native people will get a medium to earn a livelihood,” the army officer said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Aug 11: The Ministry Of Home Affairs on Wednesday said that as per the adapted land laws of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government can allow transfer of agricultural land for public purposes such as education, charitable purpose and healthcare.

“After 5th August, 2019, all provisions of the Constitution of India have been made applicable to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which necessitated changes in existing laws in Jammu and Kashmir by Adaptation Orders so as to conform with the provisions of the Constitution of India,” Minister of State in the Ministry Of Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai said in a written reply.

“As per the adapted land laws of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government may, by notification in the official gazette, allow transfer of land, for public purposes such as education, charitable purpose and healthcare.”

He was responding to a question congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh in Rajya Sabha whether Government has altered the land laws of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) wherein no domicile or permanent resident certificate is required to purchase non-agricultural land in the J&K.

To another question on whether the historic Jammu and Kashmir Big Landed Estates Abolition

Act, 1950 has been abolished which led to the radical redistribution of land which paved way for rural prosperity and ended landlordism in J&K, the minister said: Under the Jammu and Kashmir Big Landed Estates Abolition Act, 1950, the land was transferred to the tillers. The Act also prescribed a limit to right of ownership of 182 standard kanals (22.75 acres).”

However, he said, this Act has been repealed and there is another legislation i.e. The Jammu & Kashmir Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, for transfer of land to tillers which is in force. This Act prescribes ceiling restriction of 100 standard kanals (12.5 acres).

‘J&K industrial policy generated lot of interest in corporate sector’: Ranjan Thakur, Principal Secretary I&C

Srinagar, Aug 11 : The investors of United States (US), Dubai and England are willing to invest in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a top government official informed KINS.
“From last week we have been in talks with delegates and investors from the United States (US), Dubai, and England. The prospective foreign investors had detailed discussions with the government officials on their business plans,”the top officials in the industries and commerce department told news agency KINS, wishing not to be named.
He said that they have also asked them to visit the region and explore investment opportunities provided by the UT government.
He said that they have provided them the knowledge and research-based information, policy advocacy, marketing and developmental activities in the focus sectors.
The official said that they were also in talks with foreign delegates like- Russia, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Belarus — for exploring different avenues to attract global investments.
“The government is working towards policies and schemes to ensure ‘ease of doing business’ to investors. We are always open to facilitate queries and collaborate with the trade fraternity,” the official maintained.
“We are sure that more traders from across the world will be looking forward to visiting the Union Territory,” he said.
He said around 400 kanal of land have already been approved in the Union territory. “We have identified 30000 kanals of land and out of it around 400 kanals of land have been approved,” he maintained.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre bifurcated the state into the two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
The two units came into existence on October 31.
Meanwhile sources said that the SIDCO has received expressions of Interest (EoI) from several outside companies. These companies, according to the official sources, have shown interest in investing in different sectors in J&K, including apple industry, Hospitals, cold storages, dry fruit and saffron industries, and tourism and hotel industries.
“All of them have submitted detailed project proposals, including land required, setting up their businesses,” said the source.
“Once some companies start their operations in J&K, it will encourage other investors to follow. We hope this is only the beginning.”
It is to mention here that to remove bottlenecks for the land allotment under the new industrial policy, the government has created an easy online registration option for the investors across India.
The investors can now submit their proposals online for the investment in Jammu and Kashmir.
Principal Secretary Industries and commerce Ranjan Prakash Thakur told news agency KINS that the aim to introduce online registration was to provide a hassle-free option for the investors interested in expanding base in JK.
“The aim was to make the whole process a single window clearance. We don’t want to make the entire process tedious for the investors,” Prakash told KINS.
The Principal Secretary said the new J&K industrial policy has generated a lot of interest in the corporate sector.
“Projects worth Rs 23,000 crore have already been locked,”
Sources said that the sectors that the government identified include tourism, agro and food processing, manufacturing, IIT and IT, health and pharmaceuticals, skill development, milk, poultry and wool, infrastructure and real estate, herbal and medicine plants, film sector, renewable energy, agriculture and mulberry, handloom, handicrafts and horticulture.(KINS)

Statehood in full should be restored forthwith; Elections be held in free and fair manner; My fight against PM Modi’s divisive policies to continue, I am not allowed to speak in Parliament; Congress believes in love, honour, not hatred; will visit Jammu, Ladakh soon

Srinagar, Aug 10: Stating that J&K was “facing direct assault from New Delhi”, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said and the Government of India should restore full statehood to J&K and conduct the elections in a free and fair manner.

Rahul, who arrived in Kashmir on a two-day sojourn, also said that he is fighting against Prime Minister Narendera Modi and his policies of “dividing India” and he will continue his fight till he wins. Addressing a gathering at the newly constructed J&K Congress headquarters at Moulana Azad Road here, Rahul said today there is not the assault on J&K only but other parts of India also like Tamil Nadu, Bengal and other States. “But one thing is clear that J&K is under direct assault from New Delhi while other parts are facing an indirect attack,” Rahul thundered from the pulpit, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said the Congress party has a clear stand for J&K. “Statehood should be restored in full and there should be Assembly polls in a free, fair and transparent manner,” Rahul said.

Replying to senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s suggestion regarding seeking a bill in the parliament to press for restoration of Statehood for J&K, Rahul said: “ I am not allowed to speak in the parliament. I can’t speak about Raffle, unemployment and corruption. They (BJP) have attacked judiciary, Lok Sabha and even the voice of media stands muzzled. Journalists can’t write what they want to.”

He said that when there was a Congress government in J&K, major schemes like Udaan were launched and Panchayat polls were held.” “We brought experts to Kashmir University and sent Kashmiri youth to other states of India. But they (BJP) attacked this process too,” he said.

Rahul said that he can feel the pain of people of J&K. “My message to you is that I am with you to build a relationship based on love and honour. I am fighting against PM Modi. My fight is against Modi’s ideology and violence he is preaching besides his mission of breaking India. I will continue to fight till victory,” the Congress leader said as per KNO

He said J&K people have an age-old culture of love, honour and whatever “you want to do for people of J & K should be based on love and honour.” “If you start your hatred for people of J&K, nothing can be achieved, “Rahul said in an obvious reference to BJP. He said earlier, during Covid and post abrogation of Article 370, he tried to visit J&K, but was denied all the time,” he said.

Rahul said that he has a Kashmir connection as his ancestors were living in Valley. “Today, my family lives in Delhi, before that they were living in Allahabad and before that, they were living in Kashmir. So I have inherited a tinge of Kashmiriyat that lies inside me,” he said. Rahul who is also the Congress MP said he will visit Jammu and Ladakh very soon. Earlier, Rahul visited Mata Kheerbhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal and Hazratbal shrine to pay obeisance—(KNO)

Srinagar, Aug 10: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed around 74 civilian and political killings since 2019, reveal official figures.

Srinagar, Aug 10: The body of a 10-year-old boy, who drowned into river Jhelum at Cement bridge in Qamarwari area of Srinagar, was retrieved on Tuesday.

Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a boy identified as Sheezan Fayaz, son of Fayaz Ahmad Malla drowned while taking a bath in river Jhelum today.

They said that the river police Srinagar retrieved the body of boy, adding that the body has been handed over to the family for last rites—(KNO)