Blog

Leh, Kargil militancy free; 112 OGWs in Sgr, 496 in Handwara, 317 in Kulgam, 130 in Anantnag, 92 in Pulwama, 71 in Awantipore, Ganderbal only district with no active militant

Srinagar, July 18: The official report of the Crime wing of Jammu and Kashmir police has revealed that while on one hand the number of active militants have gone down since 2017, the network of over ground workers (OGWs) have shown a steep rise, raising another big concern for the security grid in the State.

According to the Crime Gazette, the annual report of the Crime department that works under the aegis of J&K police, the number of militants in Srinagar district is 11 while as the number of OGWs has reached 112. The report—Crime Gazette was released by the J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh recently in Srinagar.

As per the report, a copy of which is with the KNO, in Kupwara district of north Kashmir there are nine active militants while as there are 32 OGWs. “In Handwara area of the district, there are 23 active militants and at the same time 496 OGWs,” the report reveals. It states that in Baramulla there are only three active militants but 26 OGWs and in Sopore there are 30 active militants and 15 OGWs.

The report, according to the KNO, states that in Budgam there are four active militants and 89 OGWs while as Ganderbal there is no active militant as of now but 38 OGWs. In South Kashmri districts, the report discloses that there are 39 active militants in Shopian and 136 OGWs while as in Anantnag there are 23 active militants and 130 OGWs. “In Awantipore, there are 25 active militants and 71 active OGWs.”

“In Kulgam, the number of active militants is 29 and active OGWs are 317. Pulwama district of South Kashmir 36 active militants and 92 OGWs,” the report reveals. The report states that Leh and Kargil districts of the State are militancy free with no active militant or any active OGW.

Even though the number of militants active in Jammu region especially in Chenab valley is low, the number of OGWs is a big concern for the security forces, as per the report. In Jammu and Samba districts, there is no active militant or any OGW, but in Doda district, the report says that there are 122 OGWs but no active militant.

The data compiled by the crime wing of the J&K police states that in Kathua there are two active militants and 39 OGWs, in Reasi there are zero militant and 182 OGWs, five active militants in Rajouri and 80 OGWs in Poonch. “There are two militants in Kathua and 39 OGWs and in Kishtwar there are seven active militants and 135 OGWs.

In Reasi there are zero militants but 182 active OGWs,” the report reads. “In Ramban there are no militants but 74 OGWs. In Doda there are zero militants, but 122 OGWs,” the report, as per KNO, reads.(KNO)

SRINAGAR, JULY 18: For the comfort of commuters, Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) has decided to start night service from Jammu to Srinagar and vice-versa after 15th August 2019.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Principal Secretary Transport Department Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon. MD JKSRTC, RTO Kashmir, SSP Srinagar, SSP Traffic Srinagar, and other officials were also present in the meeting.

It was revealed that presently people are facing a lot of difficulties to reach Jammu or Srinagar due to non-availability of night service. Therefore, it is important that a service of this sort should be started at an earliest.

Dr. Samoon directed the officers to dedicate two luxurious buses for the smooth journey of commuters for night service so that people can avail the facility to reach to their destination without worrying about the time.

Dr. Samoon also asked the officials to give wide publicity to the facility started by the JKSRTC, besides a dedicated helpline number should be established for the convenience of people.

697 militancy related incidents were reported against 503 in 2017, 68 civilian died in year, forces causalities dropped

Srinagar, July 17 (KNO) : The annual report released by the State Crime Department has revealed that the year 2018 was more violent on all fronts than the 2017 as the year witnessed 697 militancy related incidents against 503 in previous year. The report, a copy of which lies, with the KNO, also disclosed that in 233 militants were killed in 2018 against 208 in 2017.

According to the report, the bomb blasts/grenade attacks also showed a surge in 2018 as 82 such incidents were reported in the year against 20 in 2017. The report also states that militants arrested in 2018 were however, lower than the year 2018 at 52 and 84 respectively.

As far the civilian causalities, the report stated that less civilian died in 2018 against 2017. “In 2018, 68 civilians died while as 116 sustained injuries. IN 2017, 78 civilians had died while 172 had sustained injuries at the encounter sites,” the report reads.

It says that six army personnel were killed in 2018 against eight in 2017. “Fifty five policemen were killed in 2018 against 30 in 2017. Other security forces personnel who were killed in 2018 were 34 against 52 in 2017,” the report said.

The report also reveals that from the slain militants, carbines were also recovered besides other sophisticated weaponry that includes sniper rifles, INSAS, RDX sticks, Bazooka Rocket Launcher, Bombs, high end detonators etc.

A senior security official told KNO that figures were up to the mark and that there was no doubt that 2018 was more violent in terms of successful anti-militancy operations.

“The forces causality figure dropped considerably in year 2018, but yes the civilian causalities, especially those that occurred at the encounter spots, went high. That was taken care and hopefully this year, we will be having satisfactory figures at the end of the year,” he said.

He said this year so far, 125 militants were killed and most of these operations were clean where there was no civilian causality. “The causality on part of the security forces also decreased this year. Overall situation this year is going to be very good the way things are shaping up. We are having a peaceful year 2019,” the officer told KNO.(KNO)

Srinagar, July 17: The ‘Free Yasin Malik’ and ‘Remove ban on JKLF’ campaign launched by Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) continues in various parts of the world, with leaders and activists expediting their campaign in UK and Europe from last few days, the party said on Wednesday.

A JKLF spokesperson in a statement issued to GNS said, “A JKLF high level delegation yesterday held a meeting with the British foreign office (FCO) and Chairperson UK All Parties Parliamentary Group on Kashmir (APPKG) in London. JKLF leaders and activists held a peaceful protest demonstration outside Indian high commission in Brussels Belgium in this regard.”

He said that JKLF team has also launched a minibus campaign with photographs of incarcerated chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, throughout London and other cities of UK.

Continuing with the campaign, JKLF diplomatic bureau led by its head Professor Raja Zafar Khan on Tuesday held a long meeting with British foreign and commonwealth office at London, the spokesperson said, adding that JKLF leaders Liaqat A Lone, General Secretary JKLF UK Zone, and senior leader Mehmood Hussain were also part of this delegation.

The delegation apprised FCO with the ground situation in Jammu Kashmir and “unilateral use of violent aggression” by Indian government against the people of Kashmir, he said.

Emphasizing on the need of immediate release of JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik and lifting the ban from JKLF, delegation asked FCO to play its role for ensuring a space on political activities and end to “human rights abuses” in Jammu Kashmir.

The same JKLF delegation also held a fruitful meeting with the Chairperson All Party Parliamentary Groups on Kashmir (APPKG) Debbie Abrahams and apprised her about the situation in Kashmir and asked the parliamentary group to use its good-offices to ensure an early release of Yasin Malik and lifting of “unlawful” ban on JKLF.

Meanwhile, a peaceful protest was held outside Indian high commission in Brussels Belgium, the spokesperson said, adding that JKLF leaders asked the international community to safeguard democratic and human rights of the people of Jammu Kashmir.

Meanwhile, JKLF has expressed heartfelt grief and sorrow over the demise of the wife of renowned Kashmiri poet Rahman Rahi.

JKLF prayed for heavenly abode of the deceased and forbearance to the bereaved family. (GNS)