Category: Union Territory

Udhampur, Jun 07: A man was allegedly murdered by his son in Ramnagar village of Udhampur district on Tuesday.

Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a man namely Gopi Chand son of Dhuni Chand resident of Kaghote Ramnagar was brought to District Hospital Udhampur in injured condition but he was declared as brought dead by doctors.

“It was a case of assault after which cognizance of the matter was taken in police station Ramnagar and investigation was started,” officials said.

They added that son of victim identified as Joginder Kumar turned out to be main suspect of the incident who was intercepted and detained.

“He confessed during questioning for his involvement in his murder after which he has been arrested and weapon of offense which is a hammer has been recovered.” said officials.

They added that some verbal duel that took place between father-son duo last evening was reason of the incident.” Son, in a fit of anger, attacked his father with hammer while he was sleeping.”—(KNO)

‘He Was Category-B Militant; Searches Continue’

Srinagar, June 7: More than 26 months after going missing, BVSc-turned-Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant killed in a gunfight with joint team in Shopian was category-B militant, Inspector General of Police said on Tuesday.

Raja Nadeem son of Abdul Rahman Rather of Ashmuji Kulgam, pursuing Bachelor’s degree in veterinary science (BVSc) 4th semester at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences (SKUAST), was killed in the encounter at Aloora Badimarg area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.

The 22-year-old was missing since March 27, 2020, officials said.
“He was B category (militant),” IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar told GNS. “Searches continue,” he said.

The encounter had started after joint team of police and army launched a joint team of police and army in the area. (GNS)

The devices were Packed Inside Children Tiffin Boxes

Jammu, Jun 07: Security forces recovered three IED’s, attached as payload with a drone, which were brought down by border security force late last night in Akhnoor sector and diffused through a controlled explosion.

“Alert BSF troops fired two rounds on hearing humming sound which was about 800 mtrs in height in Akhnoor area at about 1045 hrs last night. All concerned informed,” a BSF spokesman told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Further sources said that drone activity were again observed in Kanachak area. “The troops fired some shots towards the drone. Immediately police party was deployed and they followed the anti-drone SOP in the general area,” said a police officer.

“At around 11 pm at Dayaran area of Kanachak, police party observed the drone activity and fired at it again,” the officer said, adding, “The payload attached with the drone was brought down.” However, the officer said, the drone could not be brought down.

“The payload contained three magnetic IEDs packed inside children tiffin box with timer set to different timings of 3 hours, 8 hours etc,” he said, adding, “The IED has been deactivated and diffused through controlled explosion.” The officer said that a case has been registered and investigations taken up—(KNO)

Srinagar, June 07: Two militants including a foreign militant were killed in an encounter in Kandi area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday.

On the behalf of IGP Kashmir, The Kashmir Police Zone tweeted, ” Two militants of outfit LeT including one Pakistani militant namely Tufail killed. Search still going on,”.

Earlier reports reaching GNS that a joint team of Police and Army launched a cordon and search operation in Kandi.

As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight.(GNS)

Says elements on other side can’t digest robust growth of economy, huge tourist influx; Security Forces, Admin preparing to their full capacity

Srinagar, Jun 06: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that militancy was on its “death bed” in Kashmir and some elements on the other side were attempting to create instability as they can’t digest robust growth of economy and huge tourist influx in the Valley.

Talking to reporters on the side-lines of a function at SKICC here, the LG as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that people of Kashmir fully understand the current situation in Kashmir and they are collectively up against whatever has happened in the past few weeks.

“When the lamp is about to go off, its flames flare more. Militancy was about to end and was counting its days,” the LG said as per KNO. He said that the administration and the security forces were preparing to their full capacity.

“Some elements on the other side are attempting to create instability. They can’t digest the robust economy and tourism here,” the LG said. He was interacting with the media for the first time after attending the marathon security review meet chaired by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi where all top security officials from J&K and MHA were in a huddle in the wake of target killings in Kashmir. Militants have been killing members from the Kashmiri Pandit community, non-local labourers and also non-local officials in various parts of Kashmir.

The LG, who participated in the two crucial rounds of meeting in Delhi, following the killing spree, didn’t share the strategy to be adopted by the UT administration to curb the target killings. However, he hinted at dealing with the militants more sternly. “We are ready to deal with the situation….,” he said and credited the people of Kashmir for condemning the killings collectively.

Pertinently, the MHA officials have chaired a series of meetings in New Delhi to evolve a joint strategy to be adopted to prevent killings of minorities and non-locals. As part of the new strategy, sources said safe-zones will be created for the members of minority community, more deployment of forces in vulnerable areas and where there is militancy threat, will take place. Day and night patrolling, sources said is part of the new security strategy as well. “There won’t be any security measure that would instil or spread fear among people across Kashmir given the fact that Valley is full of tourists at this stage and all preparations have been made for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra commencing on June 30,” an official privy to the series of meetings held in New Delhi, including the one chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah where National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, J&K DGP Dilbagh Singh besides officers from the intelligence bureau of New Delhi and J&K were present—(KNO)

NEW DELHI, June 6: India on Monday hit out at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for its criticism of the country in the wake of the alleged derogatory remarks made against Prophet Mohammed by two BJP functionaries.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India categorically rejects the OIC Secretariat’s “unwarranted and narrow-minded comments” and asserted that New Delhi accords the highest respect to all religions.
“The offensive tweets and comments denigrating a religious personality were made by certain individuals. They do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India,” Bagchi said.
He said strong action has already been taken against these individuals by relevant bodies.
The BJP has already suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma while it expelled the party’s Delhi unit media head Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks following widespread anger in several Gulf countries over their comments.
Amid protests by Muslim groups over the remarks, the party had also issued a statement aimed at assuaging the concerns of minorities and distancing itself from these members, asserting that it respects all religions and strongly denounces the insult of any religious personality.
Bagchi said, “It is regrettable that OIC Secretariat has yet again chosen to make motivated, misleading and mischievous comments. This only exposes its divisive agenda being pursued at the behest of vested interests”.
The MEA spokesperson was responding to media queries on the comments by the OIC.
“We would urge the OIC Secretariat to stop pursuing its communal approach and show due respect to all faiths and religions,” he said.
The OIC had slammed India for the comments against the Prophet even urged the UN to take necessary measures to ensure that the rights of Muslims are protected. (Agencies)

Qazigund, Ju 05: In a shocking incident, an infant was found dead in a Nallah in Qazigund area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Sunday, officials said.

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the body of baby was found near a bridge in Nallah Yathvathur at Manigam area of Qazigund today afternoon.

“The body was fished out and taken to nearby health facility for legal medical formalities”, he said.

Meanwhile, police has taken cognizance of the incident—(KNO)

Jammu: BJP on Sunday appealed to Kashmiri Pandit  and Dogra employees not to leave the Kashmir Valley which is our Matribhoomi and said the government is determined to defeat the ”Pakistani conspiracy”.

Calling Jammu and Kashmir the country’s crown, the BJP’s chief for the union territory Ravinder Raina said, ”We have to stand together to scuttle the nefarious designs of Pakistan, which has chalked out the conspiracy of targeted killings through its sponsored terrorists to force out minorities and nationalist Muslims from the Valley.” ”We are fighting a Pakistan-sponsored proxy war for the last 32 years and our army, police and paramilitary forces have given a befitting reply by eliminating thousands of terrorists over the years to frustrate the evil designs of the neighbouring country,” Raina said, addressing a gathering of Kashmiri Pandits at the party headquarters here.

He said when terrorism started in the Valley in the early 1990s, Pakistan’s plan was to drive out the ”nationalist forces”, and hence it targeted Kashmiri Pandits and nationalist Muslims in the Kashmir Valley.

”Our people fought back bravely. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has given a free hand to the army, police and paramilitary forces, and the security situation in the Valley has improved satisfactorily, which is evident from the fact that there is no Hurriyat Conference-sponsored strikes and stone pelting during anti-terrorism operations,” he said.

As Pakistan saw the restoration of peace in the Valley, it conspired with the terror groups to bleed Kashmir again and chalked out the strategy of targeted killings to create fear and force fresh migration, he alleged.

”We appeal to all nationalists, including Pandits, Dogras and those who have come from different parts of the country to stay back as we have to join hands to defeat the conspiracies of the enemies,” he said, adding the government has already announced their relocation to safer paces and provided them adequate security.

After two years of tight COVID-19 restrictions, the first batch of 145 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir departs for Madeenah to perform #Hajj. This year, around 83,000 pilgrims are expected from India. 🕋

Srinagar, June 04: Condemning the recent targetted killings in Kashmir, Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam on Friday said i think the blood of humans and humanity has become cheap in Kashmir, demanded a probe into such a “heinous crime” and urged the people to maintain brotherhood between communities as every religion emphasises the security of every human, ANI reported.

He also expressed pain over the recent killings by militants in the valley and said that blood of humans and humanity has “become cheap in Kashmir”.

“Islam, in fact, every religion, emphasises the security of every human. If there is an issue, it should be resolved but looking for a solution by spilling blood is against humanity. I think the blood of humans and humanity has become cheap in Kashmir,” the Grand Mufti of Kashmir told ANI.

He said the security of people working in the Valley is the responsibility of local residents.

“It (probe) should be done. Until culprits are identified and their intentions are found out…why would they want to do that to a Bihari labourer, besides creating a law and order situation. Their security is our (responsibility),” he said.

The Grand Mufti further emphasized the need to maintain amity and brotherhood between communities and deplored the killings.

“Every killing is deplorable and it is a heinous crime. I feel pain about such killings. I want people to understand that we have to maintain brotherhood between communities. We shouldn’t allow miscreants to create an atmosphere of mistrust,” Kashmir’s Grand Mufti told ANI.

“We have to work together to find out who is behind such things. The questions need to be answered,” he added.

Referring to Kashmiri Pandits, he said they shouldn’t go and stay in the Valley. “We have been making lamentable cries about their return for the last 30 years. Now they have returned and they should stay with us with peace and dignity,” Nasir-ul- Islam said.

“I don’t see complete peace here. Yes, the tourists have returned, and normalcy has returned to Kashmir to some extent. But we want to see complete peace and prosperity in Kashmir. But the situation is fragile,” he said.