Category: Union Territory

Srinagar, Aug 8: A 4-year-old boy was killed in a bear attack in Wagoora area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, official sources said.

They told GNS that one Ehsaan Ahmad Shah was outside his home, when a black bear caught hold of him this evening. “As the news spread, the family and locals tried to rescue the boy, however the boy succumbed to his injuries suffered during the attack”, the sources said.

A police official has also confirmed the incident to GNS. “A team is on the spot to collect more details”, the official added. (GNS)

Srinagar, Aug 7: Authorities have placed restrictions in several parts of Srinagar to prevent Muharram mourners from taking out processions on 8th day of the Islamic calendar on Sunday.

Official sources told GNS that police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers in Lal Chowk and adjoining areas including Maisuma, MA Road and Dalgate as well in downtown areas including Bota Kadal, Alamragri Bazar and Hawal. The security establishment has placed coils of concertina wires and stationed mobile bunkers on roads to prevent any movement of people. The restrictions caused a lot of inconvenience to commuters passing through areas under restriction, eyewitnesses told GNS.

The authorities have already announced that no Muharram procession will be allowed on 8th Muharram through the city centre.

The announcement by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar followed a detailed meeting involving all the “field magistrates and police officers” as well as taking into consideration “reports by intelligence agencies.”

“Law & order and Security concern is the top most priority of the Government of the Jammu and Kashmir keeping in view the larger public interest and safety of its citizens,” the deputy commissioner, who is also District Magistrate, had said in the order, adding, “In view of the facts and circumstances read in conjunction with the reports of Intelligence Agencies thereof, more particularly the security concerns of the District Srinagar with respect to the Muharram, the processions therein cannot be allowed on the Gurubazar toward Buchwara (Dalgate) and Abi-Guzar towards Zadibal routes respectively, keeping in mind the public interest, law & order and security.”

Two major processions of 8th and 10th Muharram were banned in 1989 by the then administration. Since then no processions have been allowed till now. (GNS)

Srinagar, Aug 5: 284 people including 174 police & security forces personnel and 110 civilians were killed in militancy related incidents in Kashmir Valley since 5 August 2019, officials said on Friday.

The Kashmir Zone Police in a tweet regarding “pre and post security scenario in Kashmir”, said 290 security forces personnel and 191 civilians were killed during the period from 5 August 2016 to 4 August 2019.

It said there 438 “law and order” incidents from 5 August 2019 to 4 August 2022. The number of such incidents during 5 August 2016 to 4 August 2019 was “3686”.

The police said while six police and security forces men were killed in ‘L&O’ from 5 August 2016 to 4 August 2019, the number was zero for subsequent three years following the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into union territories of J&K and Ladakh, as per GNS.(GNS)

Srinagar, August 04: Police on Thrusday claimed to have arrested three militants along with arms and ammunition at Fruit Mandi crossing in North Kashmir’s Handwara.

In a handout to GNS, the police said that today, joint parties of Police, Army 21 RR and 92 Bn CRPF were conducting naka checking at Fruit Mandi Crossing at Handwara. During checking, the joint parties apprehended 03 persons, who had attempted to flee the spot on seeing the checking parties.

According to police spokesman on personal search, the following arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession, they include One Pistol, one pistol magazine, seven pistol rounds, two grenades.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the individuals were tasked to carry out militant attacks in Handwara, cause loss of life and injuries to the public and to disrupt peace in the area. The timely and swift action by the security forces has prevented the militants from carring out the attack. They have been identified as Manzoor Ahmed Kumar son of Aziz Kumar resident of Sagipora, Showkat Ahmed Bhat son of Mushtaq Ahmed resident of Khanu Babagund and Name withheld until age ascertained, he said.

In relation to this, FIR No. 213/2022 u/s 13 UAPA and 7/25 Arms Act has been registered at Police Station Handwara and investigation initiated, reads the statement.

New Delhi, Aug 02: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has urged citizens to change the DP of their social media accounts to Tiranga.

In tweets, Amit Shah said “Have changed the DP of my social media accounts to Tiranga on PM Narendra Modi Ji’s clarion call to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.”

In an official statement issued, Amit Shah said “I urge all to change the DP of your social media accounts to Tiranga to show your love and respect towards the National flag.”

Yasin Malik began an indefinite hunger strike on July 22 after the Centre did not respond to his plea that he be allowed to physically appear in a Jammu court hearing the Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case in which he is an accused.

New Delhi: Yasin Malik who was on hunger strike in Tihar Jail for the last 10 days discontinued his fast on Monday evening after he was informed that his demands have been conveyed to the authorities concerned, prison officials said.

Yasin Malik began an indefinite hunger strike on July 22 after the Centre did not respond to his plea that he be allowed to physically appear in a Jammu court hearing the Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case in which he is an accused.

The 56-year-old chief of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is serving a life sentence in a terror-funding case.

He has deferred his hunger strike for two months at the request of the Director General (DG) of Delhi Prisons Sandeep Goel, the officials said.

The DG has conveyed to Malik that the demands raised by him have been sent to the authorities concerned and he will be informed of the decision on the same, said a senior jail official.

“On my request, convict Yasin Malik, who was on hunger strike in Tihar Jail since July 22 has today (Monday) evening, discontinued his fasting,” Mr Goel said.

Yasin Malik was admitted to the RML hospital in New Delhi last month following a fluctuation in blood pressure, and after returning to the prison, he refused to eat anything.

The separatist leader, who is kept in solitary confinement in a high-risk cell in Tihar’s prison number 7, was shifted to the prison’s Medical Investigation (MI) room where he was being given IV fluids, the officials said.

Yasin Malik had submitted a letter to the doctors at the hospital, saying he did not want to be treated.

Srinagar: Army personnel on Sunday thanked ‘Axel’ — an army dog who died during an anti-militancy operation in Baramulla district — for his services as they bid adieu to their canine friend.
“Thank you for your Service Axel”, Srinagar-based Chinar Corps tweeted alongside a file photo of the Army Dog.
“#ChinarCorps salutes the valour & sacrifice of Army Dog No 74B7 AXEL (Aslt Canine) who laid down his life in the line of duty in Op Wanigambala, #Baramulla on 30 Jul 22,” the army said in a tweet.
A wreath laying ceremony was held on Sunday for the fallen canine who was part of the 26 Army Dog Unit and carried the number ‘74B7’during its service.
Besides Axel, an unidentified militant was killed in the encounter at Wanigam Bala in Kreeri on Saturday in which two security personnel also sustained injuries.
—PTI

Handwara, Jul 31: A four-year-old boy was killed in a leopard attack at Monabal Haril area of Langate in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said on Sunday evening.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a minor boy was playing outside his home when a man-eater wild animal attacked him and left him critically injured.

They said that the injured was taken to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

After medico-legal formalities the body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites, they said.

The officials identified the minor boy as Saqib-Din-Badana, son of Baya Din Badana of Londa-Lohikot village of Monabal in Langate—(KNO)

Says more needs to be done to eradicate menace of militancy from entire region; narco-terrorism if not dealt in time, will emerge as cancer; J&K Police facing multiple challenges effectively; new recruits trained to face all challenges

Ganderbal, Jul 31: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday said that many areas in the UT have been cleared off the militancy and its eco-system stands fully damaged while efforts are on to root-out militancy from the entire region.

He, however, said narco-terrorism, if not handled in time, will emerge as a cancer. Addressing the passing out-cum attestation parade of 538 new recruits at Police Training Centre (PTC) Manigam, Ganderbal, the LG, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that police along with other security forces through its human and technical intelligence have been able to clear off many areas in J&K from the menace of militancy and its ecosystem. “But more needs to be done to root out the terrorism completely from J&K. Narco-terrorism is fast emerging as a biggest challenge and if it is not dealt in time, it can take the shape of a cancer. For eradicating militancy, you need to destroy all its off-shoots and tools supporting it,” the LG said.

He said that police in J&K were facing multiple challenges on many fronts. “In other states, challenges for police are less compared to J&K. Here, police have to maintain law and order, deal with social crimes, criminals, also with militancy and subversive elements,” the LG said and hailed the police force for facing all challenges bravely and in a professional manner.

He said that the police force is fast learning the art of countering technical and social media propaganda through the same means. “We have counter the social media propaganda by using online means and the police force is working hard on that front,” Sinha said.

He said that administration has been providing full support to police over the years and no stone will be left unturned to make the police force more efficient in the times to come. He said that new recruits who completed their course are not trained to do just normal policing, but to handle law and order, deal with militancy and are also trained to use computers to stay connected through CCTNS—(KNO)

Kulgam, Jul 30: A woman from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district has written Aayat-ul-Qursi (greatest verse of Quran according to hadith) by designing it on a hand-made shawl.

Shaheena Banoo (42) wife of Ghulam Rasool Lone, who is a resident of Hariwath Gopalpora Kulgam has worked for several days and nights to ready the shawl.

A white colour shawl about five feet white and three feet tall is embossed with the Quranic verses.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shaheena said that she has been associated with handicrafts for the last two decades and has trained dozens of women in handicrafts so far who are now earning their livelihood well.

“I had taken a loan from the government some three years before and started a centre at home to train women folk and for the last three years, I have trained dozens of girls who are earning their livelihood themselves,” she said.

“It took me months together to prepare this shawl and money does not matter whatever it will fetch as it is holy Quran written on it,” she added—(KNO)