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  • Khanmoh gunfight: 2 militants killed, 6 injured including SI, 3 CRPF, 2 Army personnel

    Pampore: Two militants have been killed in an encounter that broke out between forces and militants at Khanmoh Khrew area of Srinagar outskirts on Saturday.
    Six forces personnel have been injured the gun-battle as well.

    “Two militants have been killed, ” Police sources told KNO.They added that among the injured is a Sub Inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police, three CRPF and two Army personnel.

    Earlier, Reports reaching KNO that two to three militants were believed to be trapped in school building.Reports reaching KNO that a joint team of forces launched cordon and search operation in Khanmoh after having credible input about presence of some militants .

    A top police officer told KNO that the contact has been established and the encounter in Pampore area is underway. As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot the hiding militants fired upon government forces triggering an encounter. (KNO)

  • Facebook to integrate WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger

    Facebook plans to integrate its messaging services on Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

    While all three will remain stand-alone apps, at a much deeper level they will be linked so messages can travel between the different services.

    Facebook told the BBC it was at the start of a “long process”.

    The plan was first reported in the New York Times and is believed to be a personal project of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

    Once complete, the merger would mean that a Facebook user could communicate directly with someone who only has a WhatsApp account. This is currently impossible as the applications have no common core.

    The work to merge the three elements has already begun, reported the NYT, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 or early next year.

    Shared data

    Mr Zuckerberg is reportedly pushing the integration plan to make its trinity of services more useful and increase the amount of time people spend on them.

    By effectively joining all its users into one massive group Facebook could compete more effectively with Google’s messaging services and Apple’s iMessage, suggested Makena Kelly on tech news site The Verge.

    “We want to build the best messaging experiences we can; and people want messaging to be fast, simple, reliable and private,” said Facebook in a statement.

    “We’re working on making more of our messaging products end-to-end encrypted and considering ways to make it easier to reach friends and family across networks,” it added.

    The statement said there was a lot of “discussion and debate” about how the system would eventually work.

    Linking the three systems marks a significant change at Facebook as before now it has let Instagram and WhatsApp operate as largely independent companies.

    The NYT claimed that Mr Zuckerberg’s championing of the plan to connect the messaging system had caused “internal strife”. It was part of the reason that the founders of both Instagram and WhatsApp left last year.

    The decision comes as Facebook faces repeated investigations and criticisms over the way it has handled and safeguarded user data.

    Comprehensively linking user data at a fundamental level may prompt regulators to take another look at its data handling practices.

    The UK’s Information Commissioner has already conducted investigations into how much data is shared between WhatsApp and Facebook.

    Reported BBC News.

  • Ahead of Jan 26, militants carry series of attacks

    Srinagar, Jan 25: A day ahead of the R-Day function in Kashmir, militants on Friday carried several attacks on government forces in various places in Kashmir Valley including in this summer capital of the state.

    A policeman and a civilian were injured after militants lobbed a grenade in police post near bus stand in Anantnag town of south Kashmir.

    Reports reaching GNS said that the militants lobbed a grenade towards police post. In the blast, a policeman and a civilian Abid Hussain sustained splinter injuries and has been taken to district hospital Anantnag.

    The injured cop has been identified as constable Sajad Ahmad. Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul Majeed Mehrab told GNS that the civilian Abid suffered injuries in his face and policeman Sajad Ahmad has injuries in his abdomen.

    Meanwhile, there was another blast inside police station Srigufwara but its nature could not be ascertained immediately.

    Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police South Kashmir range Amit Kumar said that a grenade was lobbed at police post near bus stand Anantnag in which one cop suffered minor injuries.

    Asked about the explosion at Srigufwara, the DIG said that nothing of sort has happened there.

    Meanwhile, militants tossed a grenade on CRPF bunker in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

    An official of the CRPF told GNS that the suspected militants lobbed the grenade towards the bunker of paramilitary force’s 179 battalion.

    The device, however, missed the target and exploded on the roadside, he said.

    SSP Sopore Javid Iqbal said that a team of police has been deputed to the site to ascertain the nature of the blast.

    The SSP said that there was no immediate report of any injury in the blast.

    Also, suspected militants lobbed a grenade towards Tahab camp in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday evening.

    Reports said that suspected militant lobbed a grenade towards Tahab camp which exploded outside the gate of Tahab camp.

    A senior Police officer confirmed to GNS that militants lobbed grenade on Tahab camp which was retaliated by forces by firing some gunshots.

    The officer said there was no loss of life or injury reported. The whole area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers. Meanwhile, reports said that some unknown persons hurled a petrol bomb on SSB 14 battalion camp located at Bund Mehjoornagar Srinagar which exploded in the camp. But no loss of life or injury was reported in the incident, officials said.

    Suspected militants also hurled a petrol bomb at CRPF vehicle of 25 battalion near Iqbal Park, Lal Mandi crossing. However, there was no loss of life reported in the attack.

    Unconfirmed reports also suggest that few shots were fired on SSB post at Nalbal Nowshera Srinagar.

    Reports said militants also fired few gunshots upon 180 battalion CRPF at 8:15 p.m. camped at Midoora Awantipora. The troops retaliated and there was no damage. (GNS)

  • Making Kashmir militancy free: Baramulla, Srinagar, more to follow, says police

    ‘Wiping out militancy not an easy task, want to make peace a permanent feature’

    Srinagar, January 24: The recent announcement by the State’s police chief Dilbagh Singh that Baramulla district of north Kashmir was militancy free has triggered a debate as to whether police was working on a plan to wipe-out militancy from the Valley.

    The police believe not just Baramulla, but Srinagar too was militancy free as there were “no native militants in these twin districts” while as efforts are on to clean Kashmir from the militancy in a gradual and well-thought plan, a senior police officer revealed to KNO.

    The assertions made by the director general of police Dilbagh Singh that Baramulla was the militancy free district comes at a time when forces have killed 250 militants last year and almost 16 militants in the first 25 days of the January month of New Year.

    Nine militants were killed all alone in just 48 hours that include three from Al-Badr who were slain in Hapatnar Budgam, three from Hizbul Mujahideen at Heff-Shirmal and the last three at Binner, Baramulla who were part of Lashkar-e-Toiba.

    A police officer said that Srinagar said that the killing of three local militants in Baramulla’s Binner village, who were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba that include—Shoaib Farooq Akhoon, Mohsin Mushtaq Bhat, and Shaheed Nasir Ahmed Darzi was a big success for the forces as they were all locals from the Baramulla district.

    “With this Baramulla has become first district of Kashmir with no surviving militant as on date. JK police extends its thanks to local population for all their support in providing a better security environment in the district,” said DGP Singh in a statement issued here. “Kashmir needs peace so that its people could have its dividends for a better tomorrow.”

    A top police officer told KNO that Baramulla is not the only district where there is no local surviving militant. “Srinagar too is in the list of militant free district. As on date, there is no surviving militant in Srinagar.

    Efforts are on to root out militancy from Kashmir. For that many steps were taken by the police and the other security agencies and results are visible,” he said, wishing not to be named.

    Asked whether there was a deadline for eradicating militancy like there was a buzz that “police was working on a plan to ensure zero militancy in Kashmir, a head of the upcoming polls,” the officer said: “Zero militancy was never possible as far as the militancy in Kashmir is concerned.

    We may be able to eliminate all local militants but unless Pakistan stops infiltration, militancy will remain a matter of concern for the police and other agencies.”

    However, police officer admitted that district-wise mechanism was being followed to make districts militancy free. “As declared by the DGP vis-a-vis Baramulla, tomorrow it can be Bandipora or Kupwara… the process will go on,” he said.

    “The ultimate aim is to create an atmosphere of peace. Once peace becomes a permanent feature, Kashmir would need a political handling where there would be no role of police.”(KNO)

  • President’s & Sher-I-Kashmir Police medals announced

    43 J&K Police Officials are among the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished, Meritorious Services and Police Medal for Gallantry awardees

    153 J&K Police Personnel gets Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Service and Gallantry

    DGP congratulates awardees

    Jammu, January 25: Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI today announced Medals of different categories on the eve of 70th Republic Day. Forty three J&K Police personnel are among the awardees of President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Meritorious Service and Police Medal for Gallantry. This includes 25 Police Medal for Gallantry, one President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services and 17 Police Medal for Meritorious Services.

    One hundred fifty three Personnel of J&K Police have been awarded Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Service and Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry on the occasion of Republic Day. One hundred forty seven Police personnel including 32 Gazetted and 115 Non-Gazetted have been awarded Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry. Six officers have been awarded Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Service.

    Director General of Police, Shri Dilbag Singh has congratulated the awardees and their families. In his message he has said that the awards show the exemplary courage and dedication shown by police personnel in different fields to the nation. He has wished them more success and recognition in future.

    President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services have been awarded to SP Sham Lal Thakur while Police Medal for Meritorious Service have been awarded to SSP Zubair Ahmad Khan, DDP Parshotam Lal, SSP Shailender Singh, SSP Mumtaz Ahmed, SSP Rashmi Wazir, SSP Sheikh Junaid Mahmood, SSP Roop Raj, DySP Varinder Kumar, DySP Syed Mohi-u-Din Andrabi, Inspr (M) Nazir Ahmad Yatoo, ASI Bhikam Chand, ASI Reyaz Ahmad Shah, HC Sunil Jalla, HC Farooq Ahmad Mir, HC Nisar Ahmad Bhat, HC Darshan Lal and SgCt Syed Muzamil Shabir.

    Those who have been awarded with Sher-i- Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Service are ADGP Muneer Ahmad Khan-IPS, SSP Shahid Mehraj Rather, SSP Rajeshwar Singh, SSP Randeep Kumar, DySP Bodh Raj and DySP Mushtaq Ahmad Wani.

  • Deputy Mayor suggests setting up of ‘Quran audio system’ in ICU’s in hospitals

    Welcomes Gujrat Government ban on PUBG, appeals Governor to ban PUBG in J&K

    Srinagar, Jan 25: Deputy Mayor Srinagar Shiekh Mohammad Imran Friday urged Governor Administration to install Quranic audio systems in Intensive Care Unit’s (ICU) in all major hospitals of Srinagar city. He said Quran has its own healing touch.

    Imran said while he visited hospitals in Srinagar. “Quran is the best medicine in the world and we as the residents of Muslim state should not hesitate to install audio Quranic systems in our hospitals, he said.

    “Holy Quran recitation is the best way to serve people, this move will create the best environment in our hospitals,” he said adding that it will strengthen the willpower of patients,” Imran said.

    “I have written a letter to Governor Satya Pal Malik to install Quran audio systems in the ICU’s of hospitals. I hope he will accept my proposal,” Deputy Mayor said. He wrote this initiative would not only give feeling spiritual healing but would also provide a sacred atmosphere in ICU’s. The attendants would also behave with a feeling of sincerity, he said.

    Imran said, “It is pertinent to mention here that as Kashmir is Muslim majority area and this would suit the sentiments in the entire region and make them better in all forms.”

    Responding to PUBG ban in Gujrat over ‘adverse effects’, he welcomed the Gujrat Government for banning the game. He said he has already raised the issue with Governor led administration but nothing was done on ground level. He appealed again Governor that it should be banned in J&K too so that youth can be saved from this virtual disaster.

    He said doctors in hospitals are urging youngsters to stay away from PUBG addiction and it is the need of the hour to implement a blanket ban on it.

    Apart from visiting Super Specialty Hospital Srinagar, Deputy Mayor also visited Brein, Nishat, Kral sangria and other neighboring localities in the area. Issues pertaining to people were solved on the spot and immediate basis.

  • Cop receives minor injuries in grenade attack at Anantnag

    Srinagar, January 25: A policeman on Friday sustained minor injuries after suspected militants lobbed a grenade towards a vehicle of forces parked outside the General bus stand in KP road area of Anantnag on Friday afternoon.

    Sources told KNO that suspected militants after hurling the grenade, fled from the spot, after which forces fired some aerial shots.

    However, the attackers managed to escape from the spot, they said.

    A Police official while confirming the attack said that a search operation has been launched in the area immediately after the attack to nab the attackers.

    He added that a cop has received minor injuries during the attack who has been rushed to the hospital for treatment.(KNO)

  • JKLF chief Yasin Malik Detained in Srinagar on January 26 eve

    Srinagar: Police on Friday detained Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik in Srinagar on the eve of R-Day.
    A large posse of police reached the Abi Guzar office of JKLF and took Malik into custody.

    A JKLF spokesperson said Malik was lodged at police station Kothi Bagh after his detention.
    Before his detention, Malik told reporters that India claims to be a democratic country but stifles the democratic rights of people of Kashmir.

  • Stranded passengers protest in Jammu, demand airlifting allege price hike in markets

    Jammu: Stranded passengers travelling back to Kashmir on Friday protested in Jammu urging government to airlift them immediately. They also asked government to take immediate steps to clear road and to help the families stuck.

    “Government should air lift stranded passengers as there are women and children who are suffering badly,” protesters said. The Srinagar Jammu highway has been closed five days back due to snowfall and landslides.

    Huge snow avalanche had come down near Jawahar tunnel as well. According to traffic officials almost 800 people are stranded due to closure of highway, the only road connectivity of Valley to rest of the world.

    According to KNO correspondent stranded families assembled in General Bus Stand Jammu asking authorities to take serious note of difficulties they are facing. “What’s stopping government from airlifting people to valley. Will they only airlift the dead,” they said.

    They said had the administration been serious they would have been all to valley in five days. “Does this government was us to accept that they cannot airlift us because they just cannot. They can, only if they want to,” they accused.

    “Every day the officials tell us that road will be open tomorrow but since five days road is closed and it seems no early it will be opened,” they said. Many stranded families claimed that market prices of commodities has sky rocketed as there is no market checking squads trying to put order in place.

    “Some of the shopkeepers are taking undue advantage of our miseries,” they claimed.”Many of us had been to doctors and hospitals but now there is crash crunch, since we had planned to be home at earliest,” they said.

    They also said that accommodation facilities should have been arranged by the authorities or at least should have put a check fleecing by people here. “What purpose does this government serve if it leaves it’s people on roads and lives on assurances.

    Promises don’t get you food, medicines and payment of bills,” protesters said. They urged governor to take stock of situation so that people have a sigh of relief. (KNO)

  • Reliance Jio announces 2 new long term prepaid plans

    New Delhi: Reliance Jio on Thursday announced two new long term plans of Rs 297 and Rs 594, with validity up to six months, for JioPhone users.

    Both the plans will offer free voice calls, a total of 300 SMS, 0.5 GB data per day. Post exhaustion of daily limit, the speed will be reduced to 64 Kbps. The plan also offers free access to apps like My Jio, Jio Money, Jio TV, Jio Music, and more.

    The benefits are same as that of existing Rs 99 plan for Jio users which is valid for only 28 days. (PTI)