Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Feb 19: The killing of two policemen, who were killed in a militant attack in Baghat area of Srinagar district on Friday, evoked widespread condemnation from several political and social organisation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Notably, two policemen were killed in Baghat area after being attacked by militants in broad day light today afternoon.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the killing of the policemen was condemned by several political leaders including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and PC president Sajad Ghani Lone and several political parties including, CPI(M), Congress and National Conference.

In a Tweet former chief minister and president Mehbooba Mufti while condemning the attack said: “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.”

Meanwhile, former chief minister and vice-president National Conference, Omar Abdullah also condemned the attack.

In a Tweet, he said: “I condemn this act of militant violence & send my condolences to the families of these brave men.”

In another Tweet he said: “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.”

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference on its official Twitter handle also condemned the attack on two policemen. The Tweet was Retweeted by president JKPC, Sajad Lone.

In a Tweet JKPC said: “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.”

Meanwhile, in a statement CPI(M) also condemned that killing of two policemen in Baghat and said that the killing of two policemen is highly condemnable and unfortunate.

The statement reads that violence has no place in a civilised society. “There is an urgent need to put and end to these killings. CPI(M) expresses heartfelt sympathies with the families of the slain policemen,” the statement reads.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also condemned the killing of two policemen in a militant attack in Baghat.

In a statement, JKPCC said that the mindless attack has cost two more precious lives of police personnel, which was very anguishing and unfortunate.

The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president, Mohammad Altaf Bukhari while terming the attack as inhuman said that violence is not a solution but a huge impediment in peace and progress of any society.

In a statement, Altaf Bukhari said that it is highly unfortunate and heart-wrenching that Kashmir continues to lose precious lives to senseless violence which has only aggravated the sufferings of the people over the years.

“The attackers have no respect for human lives and are only adding to the tragedies of the ill-fated families which must be condemned by one and all,” he added while extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Bukhari prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and courage to their families to bear this irretrievable loss—(KNO)

Srinagar Feb 19: Three policemen, three militants were killed on Friday in various gunfights between militants and security forces in Kashmir.
Security forces started cordon and search operation in the Beerwah area of Budgam district in central Kashmir.
As the suspected spot was cordoned the hiding militants fired upon the searching party injuring one constable and SPO (special police officer), who later succumbed to his injuries. The militants have escaped from the spot.
According to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), IGP Vijay Kumar said a cordon was laid in a village in Beerwah area of Budgam.
“In the initial exchange of firing, SPO Altaf Ahmed and constable Manzoor Ahmed sustained injuries. Altaf succumbed to injuries later,” Kumar said.
There were reports of presence of a militant Yusuf Kandroo and another foreign militant.
In a separate incident, a gunfight erupted shortly after security forces launched an operation late Thursday in a village in southern Shopian district following a tip that three militants were there.
“All three were killed in an exchange of gunfire early Friday,” Kumar said. He said police recovered two rifles and a pistol.
While, two policemen were killed on Friday afternoon. The attack took place on the High Security Airport Road in the Baghat area of Srinagar. The two policemen were shot from close range
The wounded police officers were taken to a hospital where they died. They were identified as  Mohammad Yousuf and Suhail Ahmad.
A short video of the attack circulated on social media shows a man in a pheran, a Kashmiri tunic worn during the winter, taking out what appears to be an automatic rifle and shooting at the policemen. He then quickly runs away.
The IGP Kashmir said Lashkar-e-Toiba militants including a local were behind the Baghat attack.
“One among them is a foreign militant while another Saqib is a local,” he said.
He said the policemen were on a routine duty and were at a shop to buy something.
“They were fired from the back. They were totally unarmed,” he said. “Doctors at the hospital tried their best to save the two injured cops but they could not survive,” he said.
He said policemen will take some precautionary measures in the future. “We will plug the loopholes,” he said.
About detention of a civilian, Kumar said, “He might have been detained for questioned. We have not arrested anyone related to Baghat incident.”
The slain cops have been identified as Suhail Ahmed and Muhammad Yousuf, residents of Ashmuqam, Anantnag and Zurhama, Kupwara (KINS)

SRINAGAR: The Meteorological Department has predicted a wet spell in J&K and Ladakh between February 22 and 27.

Srinagar, Feb 19: Both police cops, who were injured in a militant attack in Baghat area of Kashmir capital Srinagar on Friday afternoon, succumbed to their injuries in Srinagar hospital.

An official told News Agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that police men identified as constable Suhail Ahmad and Mohammad Yousuf, who were injured in militant attack succumbed to injuries at hospital in Srinagar.

Pertinently, the attack was the second one in the last 48 hours in the Srinagar city. Earlier, militants had shot and injured a shopkeeper in Dalgate area on Thursday evening. (KDC)

Srinagar, February 19: Suspected militants fired upon on security forces in Baghat Barzulla area of Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district on Friday.

Official sources told GNS that militants fired upon Police in Baghat . In this incident two policemen recieved bullet wounds and have been shifted to Bone and Joint Hospital for treatment in critical condition.

Meanwhile whole area has been cordoned off to nab the fleeing militants, they said.

More details will follow.(GNS)

Shopian, Feb 19: Three unidentified militants have been killed in an encounter that raged between security forces and militants in Badigam village of Imamsahib belt in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday.

Srinagar, Feb 19q: A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed and a policeman injured in an encounter that raged between security forces and militants in Beerwah area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 87 fresh covid-19 cases, 44 among them travellers, even as three person succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Thursday.

They said 11 cases were from Jammu Division and 76 from Kashmir Valley, taking the total case tally to 125634.

Providing district-wise details, the sources told GNS that Srinagar reported 48 cases, Baramulla 6, Budgam 10, Pulwama 6, Kupwara 0, Anantnag 1, Bandipora 3, Ganderbal 0, Kulgam 0, Shopian 2, Jammu 11, Udhampur 0, Rajouri 0, Doda 0, Kathua 0, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 0, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.

Also, there were three fresh deaths in the Valley due to the virus during the last 24 hours, taking the number of people succumbing to the virus in J&K to 1954—725 in Jammu and 1229 in the Valley.

Moreover, 53 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 19 from Jammu Division and 34 from Kashmir valley.

So far 122992 people have recovered— 50931 in Jammu and 72061 in the valley.

Meanwhile, Head of Chest Disease Hospital Dr Naved Nazir Shah warned against second wave, saying indications in this regard have started to come.

“Beware and cautious Indications of second wave beginning to come.. Maharashtra/Kerala starting to heat up again TAKE VACCINE whosoever get an opportunity and TAKE PRECAUTIONS…” he said in a tweet. (GNS)

Curated tour to showcase normalcy in the Valley is misleading, it says

The Hurriyat, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Wednesday urged the visiting 24 diplomats to “push for a dialogue” on the Kashmir issue.

“The envoys should use their good offices and help in facilitating dialogue among India, Pakistan and people of J&K for the resolution for the sake of peace in this highly volatile region,” a Hurriyat spokesman said.

The Hurriyat said a curated tour of foreign dignitaries to showcase normalcy in the Valley is misleading. “Peoples’ spontaneous strike, only means of protest left to them, speaks volumes of what they feel and want.”

It said the Hurriyat’s efforts towards “seeking a dialogue among India, Pakistan and people of J&K as a means of peaceful resolution of the issue has been snubbed”.

It said the people of J&K have for the past 74 years “been demanding the resolution of the Kashmir conflict, which arose in 1947”.

“Instead of a dialogue, a policy of repression and intimidation in varying degrees has been pursued by the government of India resulting in severe human rights abuses.”

The Hurriyat alleged that efforts were on “to change the demographic composition of J&K to undermine its disputed nature”.

“After J&K was downgraded to a Union Territory and brought under the direct rule of the Centre, all forms of peaceful protest or dissent by the people to this unilateral authoritarian move and its resultant effects, is curbed by force.”

Srinagar: All Parties Hurriyat Conference in a statement demanded dialogue between India, Pakistan and people of Jammu abs and Kashmir.

In a statement issued, the APHC said, ” the people of Jammu & Kashmir have for the past 74 years been incessantly demanding the resolution of the Kashmir conflict that arose in 1947 , when India and Pakistan two newly formed states , divided J&K between them , with both claiming it in its entirety as an “integral part “ without ascertaining the will of the people of J&K”
” The Commitments made to the people of J&K by the Governments of both the states at that time , that their fundamental right the right to decide their future will be honoured , stands unfulfilled to this day,.” It added.

All attempts by APHC seeking dialogue between India Pakistan and people of J&K as a means of peaceful resolution of the issue stand snubbed .instead the leadership is jailed and harassed, it reads.

“Meanwhile efforts are on to change the demographic composition of the the state to undermine its disputed nature , after it was downgraded to a union territory of India and brought under its direct rule . All forms of peaceful protest or dissent by the people to this unilateral authoritarian move and its resultant effects , is curbed by force as the number of armed troops in the valley is highest anywhere in the world,.” It said.

The statement issued said, ” such situations a curated tour of foreign dignitaries to showcase normalcy in the valley to the outside world is misleading . Peoples spontaneous strike ,the only means of protest left to them , speaks volumes to the world of what people feel and want,” it added.

APHC appeals to the delegation that for the sake of peace in this highly volatile region to use its good offices and help in facilitating dialogue among India Pakistan and people of J&K for the resolution of this long standing dispute and being an end to decades of uncertainty and suffering of the people of J&K.