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As many as 51 militants were killed in the 80-day period from June 25 to September 14, while 85 militants were killed between September 15 and December 5, an official said.

Srinagar: Government forces have killed over 230 militants in Jammu and Kashmir this year so far, while there has been a dip in injuries caused due to stone pelting, officials said Saturday.
As many as 51 militants were killed in the 80-day period from June 25 to September 14, while 85 militants were killed between September 15 and December 5, an official said.

A total of 232 militants have been killed so far this year, while 240 militants, including foreigners, are active in the Kashmir Valley, the official said.
Eight people, including forces’ personnel, were killed and 216 others, including security personnel, received injuries between June 25 and September 14 this year.
In the subsequent 80 days — from September 15 to December 5 — two people were killed and 170 others received injuries during stone pelting incidents, the official said.

Srinagar : In yet another jolt to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a senior leader and former finance minister, Haseeb Drabu and a close aide of former chief minister and PDP patron, Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed has tendered his resignation from the party. Haseeb Drabu who was considered as a close aide of former chief minister and PDP patron, Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed besides tendering his resignation to party president Mehbooba Mufti and also informed about the move on his personal twitter handle where he posted a letter and wrote bidding adieu to PDP, another phase of life over.

Following is the text of the letter:

“It has been exactly four and a half years since I joined the J&K PDP, I can’t say that I enjoyed every moment of it. But when I look back at it, it has been an enriching and enlightening association.” During this sojourn into politics, I successfully contested an ekcetion under the political and ideological banner of J&K PDP, became a Member of the Legislative Assembly of J&K and was inducted into the cabinet. As such, in this brief period, got a flavor of politics in all its fascinating melanage ranging from conviction, compulsion and compromise to principles, pledges and perfidies! This journey has had its fair share of highs and lows, successes and failures appreciation and condemnation, contentment and frustrations and agreement and disagreements. There are many things that I am thankful for, many more I am grateful for and yet much more that I am distressed about. A slice of full life in itself as it were.My legislative engagement has permanently come to an end with the dissolution of the State assembly by the Governor. I don’t agree with the timing and manner in which it was done. It doesn’t credit either the democratic system or its custodian participants with any glory whatsoever.

Be that as it may, the time has come for me to bid adieu!This have been coming for a while now. Even though I have not be a dissent-you are aware I had resigned from the cabinet, assembly and party nearly two years ago which you didn’t accept-I have disengaged myself from party affairs for quite some time now. I didn’t precipitate the matter because I believe it is ethically and morally wrong to leave the party under whose aegis one has contested and won the seat in the legislative assembly. Now that it is over, I am hereby resigning from the J&K PDP. As I do so, I do want to remember Mufti sahib who sought me out and got me into politics. Working with him made me realise that politics is not the “last refuge of scoundrels”! Occasionally, people with intellectual integrity, personal honesty and moral courage can also be found here. I was exceptionally lucky to have worked with him. I just hope that when history judges Mufti sahib and his decision to ally with the BJP, it does so in the context and with the complexity that it deserves. I wish the J&K PDP all the very best! May it contribute to the resolution of the long impending political issue, help in bringing about social order, peace and prosperity in the state.”

Srinagar: In a heated press conference, furious Farooq Abdullah has lashed out heavily on the ruling BJP led NDA Government for creating unrest in the country. The Ex CM has alleged the BJP to use Lord Ram for electoral motives.
Farooqh Abdullah has come out heavily on the Bhartiya Janta Party. The Ex cm has alleged BJP to use Lord Ram for the sheer purpose of gaining votes and further said that they have created an environment of unrest and hatred in the whole country. He said, ” They are ignorant about Lord Ram. Had they been aware of his teachings, the situation in the country would have been entirely different. Lord Ram was an example of sacrifice and love.”
” Lord Ram is my God too. He is every individual’s God. The Quran aslo says that ‘Rub-ul-Aalameen’ which means that Allah is the God of Universe. Then why are they dividing the nation on the basis of religion and castes,” said Abdullah, which was followed by a thunderous applause by the audience. Abdullah also criticized Yogi Adityanath and his administration over the Bullandshahar incident where a police officer was shot dead by the mob.
He also blamed the state BJP of doing horse trading and thanked Governor Malik for dissolving the assembly at the right time. He went ahead to say that BJP is trying to evade election because they are scared of it.

Srinagar: Police today said that after the killing of some 230 militants this year so far, including eight top commanders of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, a serious exercise is underway to crack the whip on the logistic base of militants and their over ground worker (OGW) base. The police believe that tightening the noose on the logistic base of militants will help get closer to the remaining militants especially the top commanders. Recently, two modules of militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were busted in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir in which ten persons were arrested and huge quantity of incriminating material recovered. A police spokesperson had said a special team was constituted to investigate surge in attacks by militants in Tral in which civilians and forces were targeted and created an atmosphere of panic and fear in the area. “Police in south Kashmir also busted two modules of proscribed terror outfit JeM and arrested ten of its associates in Tral area of Awantipora and Khrew area of Pampore,” the spokesperson said. On the basis of material evidence collected, four persons, identified as Younis Nabi Naik, a resident of Pinglish, Fayaz Ahmad Wani, a resident of Reshipora, Riyaz Ahmad Ganaie, a resident of Nigeenpora and Bilal Ahmad Rather, a resident of Hafoo Nigeenpora were taken into custody. Another module was busted in Khrew area of Pampore in which six associates of JeM identified as Javaid Ahmad Parray, Yasir Bashir Wani, Tahir Yousuf Lone, Rafiq Ahmad Bhat, Javaid Ahmad Khanday and Imran Nazir — all residents of Khrew area — were arrested on the basis of incriminating materials recovered. A senior police officer said that now that the militancy has received a jolt, forces have now launched an exercise to nab the OGW base of militants and their logistic support base as well. “This will help catch the rest of the remaining militants including top commanders that include Reyaz Naikoo, Zakir Moosa and Zenatul Islam,” the officer, wishing anonymity told KNO.

The intelligence reports have suggested that Musa could be disguised as a Sikh and wearing a turban. He is the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind chief and is said to be aligned with a global group.

Security agencies have been put on high alert in Bathinda and Ferozepur districts of Punjab on Thursday following intelligence reports that Kashmiri militant Zakir Musa could be hiding in the area.
The intelligence reports have suggested that Musa could be disguised as a Sikh and wearing a turban. He is the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind chief and is said to be aligned with a global group.

Army troopers, Punjab Police and other para-military were stationed in and around important places like the Bathinda railway station and checking was being carried out since early Thursday.
Security agencies have put up posters carrying photographs of Musa, including one of him disguised as a Sikh, at various places to make the public aware in both districts.
Posters of Musa had earlier been put up in the frontier districts of Gurdaspur and Amritsar in November following similar reports that he could be hiding in Punjab.
Musa, who heads the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH), a cell of Al-Qaeda, in Kashmir Valley, is said to be well-acquainted with places and people in Punjab.
He was a student in an educational institution in Punjab’s Mohali district, adjoining Chandigarh, from 2010 to 2013 before joining the militant ranks.
He had succeeded Burhan Wani as the chief of the Hizbul Mujahideen following Wani’s death in an encounter with forces in Kashmir in July 2016.
Punjab Police officials said here that the high alert had been sounded to nab the militant.

SRINAGAR: On one hand Government claims to give boost to sports for engaging Kashmiri youth so that they may not derail from the mainstream and on the other hand the sportspersons are being neglected by the Government.
The Jammu and Kashmir Forest department has posted an unqualified person as the Sports Officer of the department despite the presence of many State-level players and recognized coaches who have been appointed in the department on sports category.
The employees said the incumbent sports officer lacks the qualification required for the post.
“He has neither participated in any Sports event nor is he holding any professional degree or document,” an official said, adding that the officer has been posted there on political influence.
As per the employees, the present sports officer, Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, who happens to be Forest officer is unsuitable for the job and has managed to install a Class IV employee as Mukhtar Ahmad Teli as Coach of the Department’s Cricket team. Ironically, the coach was placed after replacing the former Ranji Trophy player and BCCI recognized coach, Manzoor Ahmad Dar who is Assistant Director in Forest Protection Force.
“This has been done with the help of some blue-eyed officials,” the employees,” said.
Manzoor is a recognized Level-A Cricket coach of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
For the last nine years, he has been coaching the U-19 and U-23 teams of the state for the different Cricket tournaments, besides he has been participating in different tournaments of the department as player and coach since 2010.
In the year 1998, he was selected in the department as the Inspector of Forest Protection Force after qualifying the entrance test of Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB). Being a professional cricket player he was immediately inducted into the cricket team of the department. Since then he has been associated with the cricket team and has also lead the team in 2007. He has also coached the team for different tournaments which has helped the team to win several tournaments. The team has won 7 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze medals in all India Forest Sports meet since 1999.
Jammu and Kashmir Forest department is the only department that has full-fledged Cricket, Football, Billiards, Snooker and other teams which have been winning medals at all India Forest sports meet and also participated in the tournaments organized by the Department. However, the absence of deserved forest officer the sportspersons are facing a tough time, the employees said.

Police says no ban on peaceful activities, but groups must seek permission first

Srinagar: Accusing the authorities of launching a mass crackdown on resistance leaders, the separatist camp on Wednesday said the police have created a situation in the Valley in which even a candlelight march poses a threat to peace and in such an atmosphere youth are deliberately pushed to adopt violent means.

The separatist groups including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Hurriyat Conference (G) and Hurriyat Conference (M), said that ever since the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) urged the people to observe the human rights week by holding peaceful protests—December 3 to December 9—the police launched a massive crackdown on the pro-freedom leadership.

JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik was detained days before the commencement of ongoing Panchayat polls, Syed Ali Geelani continues to remain confined to his Hyderpora residence and Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also caged.

A JRL spokesman said that at least 30 pro-freedom leaders and activists are under detention apart from the top leadership.

“The JKLF chief’s health deteriorated in police custody and he was hospitalised and is under observation of doctors at the SKIMS, Soura,” he said.

The JRL had asked people to follow its programs in a bid to attract the world community’s attention towards “Kashmir’s grim human rights situation”.

A source in the JRL said that the peaceful means of protests, which include torch and candle light marches during evening hours, wearing black badges on shoulders, and fixing black flags atop vehicles and shops was also a move to “check how far alternate means to strikes would work”.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar, who has been under house detention for the past several days, said the rulers have already snatched all the rights from the resistance leaders, be it political, social and religious.

“Now the right to protest too stands snatched,” he said.

“At present, Kashmir is witnessing the ultimate form of oppression where human values stand trampled under the boots of military might with the result every single citizen of Kashmir is feeling insecure due to the fear that looms large in every corner of the Valley,” he added.

Mirwaiz said that since every other avenue for dissent for the youth “has been squeezed”, they have been pushed to the wall and forced to pick up arms to fight the “worst form of state terrorism and oppression”.

He said even the Governor SP Malik-led administration disallowed a peaceful candle light procession.

A JKLF spokesman said that those who participated in the peaceful candle light protest have either been detained or placed under house arrest.

“From JKLF alone at least a dozen leaders have been detained by the police for participating in the candle light protest,” he said.

“An atmosphere of fear is being created in Kashmir and every space is being choked where in even peaceful means of protest aren’t allowed. In such an atmosphere, the youth are left with no choice other than to express their anger by picking up arms. So it is amply clear that it is the government that is responsible for pushing youth to the wall.”

He said a “gradual process” of disallowing peaceful protests in Kashmir started from 2008 after the then mass participation of people in peaceful street protests unnerved New Delhi.

“We want to ask the Governor Malik what should he expect the Kashmiri youth to do when even holding a candle in hands poses a big threat?” he said.

Engineer Hilal War, whose Peoples Political Party (PPP) is a constituent of Hurriyat (M), said that December 10 is observed as the World Human Rights Day and it is a practice across the globe that peaceful rallies because they are guaranteed by the UN charter.

“I believe Kashmir is the only place where even a small peaceful activity poses a threat to peace. Pro-freedom leadership is caged and youth are subjected to harassment or confinement if they raise voice. When the right to protest guaranteed by the UN stands choked, what is the option?” War said.

“In such a situation, young lot can start exploring violent means of resistance and gun is the first choice that strikes their minds. It is high time for New Delhi to understand the gravity of the situation and take steps to resolve the conflict rather than flexing muscles by banking on its military might.”

Javid Ahmed Mir, who heads the JKLF (H), said that the authorities with the direct support from the various security agencies are creating such an atmosphere in Kashmir where youth feel that “picking up arms is the only way out”.

“The situation is deteriorating by the day. The youth are picking up guns knowing very well they would get killed. We are losing young boys just because there is no space for them to register their anger or to lodge their protest in a peaceful way,” said Mir, who is also under house arrest.

“If any youth tries to protest in a peaceful manner he is booked under draconian Public Safety Act,” he said.

A police official said that there is no ban on the peaceful activity in Kashmir. “We don’t disallow any peaceful protest. As far as holding candle light processions in Lal Chowk, there is a proper procedure that needs be followed which includes seeking permission from the deputy commissioner,” the official said.

Srinagar: The plains and upper reaches of Kashmir may receive another spell of rain and snowfall in third week of December.
Director Meteorological department Kashmir Sonam Lotus told that snowfall is expected in Valley on December 18 -19.
He said no significant change in weather condition is expected during next one week.
“There is possibility of occasional light and moderate snowfall on December 9 and 10 in upper reaches of the valley and Zojila area. However, there is no forecast of heavy snow in plains,” Lotus said.
Meanwhile, the cold wave conditions prevailed across the Valley.
According to weather department official, Srinagar recorded lowest night temperature of the season as the mercury dropped to – 3.2 degrees Celsius.
The Pahalgam health resort in south Kashmir registered a low of minus 5.1 degrees Celsius and was the coldest place in the Valley.
The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded – 4.0 degrees Celsius.
According to the weatherman, Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a low of – 1.9 degrees Celsius while mercury in nearby Qazigund settled at – 2.6 degrees Celsius.
In north Kashmir’s Kupwara, the mercury settled at a low of – 3.0 degrees Celsius.
“Leh recorded a low of – 11.4 degrees Celsius while nearby Kargil registered a minimum of – 10.9 degrees Celsius,” the weather department official said.

Srinagar: Veteran politician and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said the resolution of the Kashmir issue is emerging as there is a change in the mindset of Indian and Pakistani leaders.

“I see a change in Indian and Pakistani leaders… I am quite confident that the time has come and that is why probably God has kept me alive to see a solution emerging to this problem. I hope we will have peace which we all want,” he said during the 36th annual day of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, at SKICC here.

Farooq’s remarks came in reaction to the statement of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who on Monday recalled his discussion with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee about the Kashmir issue. Imran said Vajpayee had told him that the Kashmir problem would have been resolved if the BJP had not lost the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. “It shows that there is a solution to the Kashmir problem and both countries were close to resolving it,” Imran said, adding former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh was also present at that meeting.

“I want to walk freely without any security. My daughters, my friends, my colleagues and people should work without any tragedy. I hope it will happen and I hope you all will pray for this,” he said. The former CM said the secular character of India was at stake due to polarisation in the name of religion.

“India is going through a major change. It is not Ram and Allah that will give votes to politicians. People have to decide whom to give their votes. People have to rise above religion and decide their future,” he said.

The National Conference leader also called for early Assembly elections in the state.

“Democracy is essential and Governor’s rule is for a short term. I am sure peaceful elections will be held and honest people, who will serve the state, get elected. The Assembly and parliamentary polls should be held together in the state,” he said. Over the government’s approval for treating J&K Bank as a public sector undertaking, he said the move to take over the institution had been in the pipeline for a long time.