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Among dead include 227 militants, 94 civilians, 86 force personnel

Srinagar: With the killing of 48 persons in militancy-related incidents in November, at least 407 persons including militants, civilians and force personnel have been killed in militancy-related violence in strife torn Kashmir this year so far.
Of the 407 casualties recorded till November-end in different militancy-related incidents in Kashmir, 227 were militants, 94 civilians, 50 policemen and paramilitary personnel and 36 Army men.
The deceased militants mainly belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen—the largest militant group operating in Valley—and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). The Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al Badar, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen and Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind also suffered damage.
The militants—both local and Pakistani—were killed in gunfights with forces both in the hinterland and along the Line of Control in Kashmir.
According to statistics, more militants were killed this year as compared to last year when 209 militants were killed.
Four south Kashmir districts comprising Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag, which have emerged as hotbed of militancy, witnessed 110 militant killings out of total 227 militant casualties.
The north Kashmir districts of Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla recorded around 88 militant killings while the remaining militants were killed in central Kashmir’s Budgam and Srinagar districts.
Of 227 militants killed this year, 36 died in encounters in November followed by 33 in September , 28 in October, 24 each in August and June, 19 in April, 18 in May, 17 in March, 11 in July, 10 in January and seven in February.
Civilian causalities
Of the 94 civilian causalities this year, highest 17 were witnessed in April followed by 14 each in October and May, eight each in November and July, seven each in January and June, five each in September, February and March and six in August.
Most of the civilians were killed in forces’ firing during on protestors during clashes near the encounter sites.
Police said some of the civilians were killed in cross firing incidents at gunfight sites while others were killed by militants after being abducted.
Month-wise causalities
Of 48 causalities recorded in Kashmir in November, 36 were militants, 8 civilians, three Army men and a paramilitary CRPF man.
The militant groups lost many top commanders including LeT commander Naveed Jhatt, who was killed along with his aide in a gunfight at Kuthpora village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
The month also witnessed a series of kidnapping of alleged informers in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. Among those abducted by militants, three were killed for allegedly tipping off forces about militants and their confessional videos were circulated on social media by militants.
October was bloodiest month this year with 52 causalities. Of 52 dead, 28 were militants, 14 civilians including seven killed in a blast at a gunfight site at Laroo in Kulgam. Three policemen, a paramilitary SSB man and an ASI of CISF and five Army men were also killed in the month.
September and August were also violent with 45 causalities in each month followed by 42 killings in June, 41 in April, 36 in May, 29 in March, 27 in July, 23 in February and 21 in January.
Of 45 causalities reported in September, 33 were militants, five civilians, four policemen and three army men while of 45 killings in August, 24 were militants, eight policemen, seven army men and six civilians.
In July, eight civilians, 11 militants, three policemen, four paramilitary CRPF personnel, and an army man were killed.
In June, 24 militants, six civilians, eight policemen and three army men were killed, as per the data.
In May, 18 militants, 14 civilians, three cops and an army man were killed in different militancy-related incidents in Kashmir.
In April, 17 civilians, 19 militants, four army troopers

Reported The Rising Kashmir

Srinagar: Venturing into uncharted waters, the army chief, general Bipin Rawat, Friday said Pakistan should “turn into a secular state from an Islamic nation if the neighbouring country has to stay together with India”.

“If they (Pakistan) have to stay together with India, then they have to develop as a secular state,” Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of the Passing Out Parade of the 135th course at the National Defence Academy here.

“See this staying together, staying separate, ispe Pakistan ko apni andruni halat dekhni hogi. Pakistan ne apne state ko Islamic state bana diya hai. Hum log secular state hai (Pakistan has to look at its internal situation. They are an Islamic state, we (India) are a secular state),” he said.

Gen Rawat said, “How can we stay together if you say I am an Islamic state and there is no role for anybody else,” he said, adding: “If they are willing to become secular like us, then they seem to have an opportunity. Pehle dekhe karte hai ki nahi karte (Let us see if they do so or not).”

The Army chief also asked Pakistan to “curtail militant activities”.

Asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement that Islamabad would move two steps forward if New Delhi took one step, Gen Rawat said the neighbouring nation “should first take steps to curtail militant activities on its soil”.

“I would like to tell Pakistan to initiate that first step (curtailing militancy). In the past, India has taken several steps. When we say militancy is being harboured in your country, show some action by curtailing militant activities which are used against India,” Rawat said.

On Khan’s statement as to why India and Pakistan could not be friends when Germany and France could be good neighbours, he said the neighbouring nation “first needs to see its internal condition”.

‘Kashmiri Muslims will live and die for India’

New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah Friday said “Kashmir was a part of India and would always remain a part of it” and claimed that Kashmiri Muslims would live and die for India.
The National Conference president and three-time J&K chief minister joined several leaders from the opposition parties at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi where thousands of farmers from across the country have gathered to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce.
Abdullah in his address to the farmers, said, “Kashmir was a part of India and would always remain a part of it”.
“Kashmiris are standing with farmers and support them in their rights,” he said.
“We all know your plight. We know how you spend everything on your farms and when you do not get the right produce you have to starve. The farmers’ movement to Delhi is a wake up call for the government,” he said.
Abdullah also claimed that Muslims were not against the Ram temple.
“Muslims are not against the temple. The hatred that is being spread by the government that Muslims are against the Ram Mandir is not true. Whenever elections come, these people remember Ram,” he said.
Abdullah said BJP want to divide India on communal lines.
“We are 70 per cent Muslims (in Kashmir) and we will live and die for India. Your worries are our worries and we are standing with you. Elections are coming, let us stand together and not let them divide us and let us overthrow them,” he added.

Srinagar: Controversial businessman and deputy mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Sheikh Imran, said he was instrumental in organising the meetings of former Norwegian PM Kjell Magne Bondevik with separatists and others in Srinagar last week on behalf of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and that many more diplomats and politicians might visit the state soon.

“I along with a representative of (Sri Sri’s foundation) Art of Living coordinated the meetings with the Hurriyat, Bar Association, business chambers, Gujjar Bakerwal delegation and others. I want peace but not at the cost of aspirations and sacrifices of the people of the state,” Imran told ET.

He said that Bondevik had arrived at the Art of Living centre in Bengaluru and then flown to Srinagar. “There are many more to come. We shall not disclose it right now. I have to be tight-lipped right now,” he said.
Imran, who is embroiled in a loan default case with the J&K Bank through his business enterprise Kehwa Group, recently won the urban local bodies’ election as an independent councillor and was elected as deputy mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation with the help of the Congress. In March, he had conducted a programme, Paigham-e-Mohabbat, where he had invited Sri Sri to address a gathering of a few thousand people. However, the spiritual leader had to cut short his speech within a few minutes as some youngsters raised pro-freedom slogans alleging that they were bullied to attend the programme.
On Thursday, Imran said that he was hopeful that the latest initiative would gather mass as both Bondevik and Sri Sri were striving for a breakthrough. Bondevik also met some elected municipal councillors on his recent visit.
“I accompanied Sri Sri on his last visit to the UAE. The emirs welcomed us. They wanted him to create some happiness ministry there.
If he can work in Dubai, why not in Kashmir? Let the UAE also get involved in this initiative to make Kashmir liveable,” he said.

Economic Times Reported

Srinagar: Former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik and President of the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights called on Mushaal Hussein Mullick Chairperson Peace and Culture Organization and Wife of detained Kashmiri Hurriyat Leader Muhammad Yasin Malik (Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front) at her residence in Islamabad. An important meeting was held where Mr Aamir Shiekh Leader Norway,Rehana Hussein Mullick,Vice Chairperson Peace and Culture Organisation, Sabien Hussein Mullick ,Sec General Peace and Culture Organisation and Mr Faisal Babri were also present. They discussed the regional as well as global upshots of the longstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir and the unending upsurge of violence and human rights violations in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. After the meeting a joint press talk was held with Former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik on concluding his five-day trip to India, Srinagar, Azad Kashmir and Islamabad. Mr Kjell Magne discussed ways in promoting a peaceful settlement of Kashmir Conflict in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue through dialogues and other means is imperative for lasting peace and stability in the region. He expressed his wish that all parties must be allowed to participate in finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir dispute including the principal party, the representatives of Kashmiri people, in an amicable and peaceful manner. Mr Kjell Magne expressed grave concern over the continuous arrests of Mohammad Yasin Malik and his fast deteriorating health. He called him the beacon of peaceful struggle for Kashmiris. He appreciated the tireless efforts of the entire family towards long lasting solution of Kashmir cause. Mushaal Hussein Mullick welcomed the former Prime Minister of Norway, Honourable Kjell Magne Bondevik and appreciated his efforts in promoting a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue. The world leaders should acknowledge the sufferings of Kashmiri people and put some substantial effort into liberating Kashmir from India’s tyranny and oppression, and to treat Kashmiris as equals rather than as disposable humans. Speaking on the occasion, Mushaal while referring to the report of the United Nations’ Human Rights Commission, expressed grave concern over growing incidents of human rights violations in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and expressed her desire that Peace in the region is crucial for longterm proserity and The Kashmiri people must be given the right to self-determination according the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Mushaal Hussein Mullick presented her painting titled ‘Screams of Silence’ depicting the miseries of women and children of Kashmir to former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik. Norway has mediated in a number of conflicts including Israel-Palestine, Sri Lanka, Haiti, Colombia, the Philippines, Guatemala, Nepal, Afghanistan and Sudan.

He said Naveed was an A++ category militant and had managed to give a slip to forces at least six times in major encounters.

Srinagar: The 21-year-old Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Naveed Jatt was a longest surviving militant of the outfit operating in Kashmir since 2012.
Jatt took the reins after the killing of LeT’s top commander Abu Ismail, and was habitual of uploading videos on social media in a bid to bring youth into the militancy fold.

A police officer, while terming Jatt’s killing a major success for forces, said Lashkar is “now headless and the morale of its local and foreign militants in Kashmir has now gone down”.
He said Naveed was an A++ category militant and had managed to give a slip to forces at least six times in major encounters.
According to police records, Naveed crossed over to this side from Pakistan in October 2012 and started operating first in northern Kashmir and then shifting his base to southern areas.
“In 2014, he was arrested and lodged in central jail Srinagar,” the officer said, adding that Naveed managed his escape in February this year in a dramatic way after he was brought to SMHS hospital for a checkup.
Naveed secured his escape after killing two policemen who were accompanying him from the central jail.
“From that very moment, he was on the radar of all security agencies and his movement was being tracked. One thing about him was that he kept on changing his locations from Shopian to Pulwama and back,” the officer said. “He would stay with Hizbul Mujahideen militants most of the times. In fact, his escape was also facilitated by Hizbul Mujahideen militants from the SMHS hospital.”
After he escaped, the police said it took a series of steps to ensure the safety of prisoners and one such move involved shifting of all Pakistani prisoners from central jail Srinagar.
The then director general of police S P Vaid also banned medical checkup of prisoners at SMHS hospital and instead issued directions that the prisoners in need of medical attention be brought to the police hospital in Srinagar under tight security cover.
A probe was also ordered into Jatt’s escape, while then director general of Prisons and the SSP central jail were immediately removed.
Today, DGP Dilbag Singh, while addressing media, said Naveed was fond of recording videos and uploading them on social networking sites “with the motive of luring and attracting youth”.
“He was heading Lashkar after the killing of top commander of the outfit Abu Ismail in September 2017 in Aribagh area of Nowgam in Srinagar. At times Naveed would record a video during a snowfall or while roaming on roads in Anantnag. Sometimes he would be seen playing with weapons. But uploading videos on social media also helps us to track the militants,” the DGP said.

Moves comes amid reports about clubbing of JK assembly polls with Lok Sabha elections

Srinagar, Nov 29 : A dissident BJP MLA Gagan Bhagat has moved Supreme Court to challenge the dissolution of Jammu and Kashmir assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik.
Top sources while disclosing this to Kashmir News Service (KNS) revealed that Gagan Bhagat, a dissident MLA of BJP from Jammu, has moved Supreme Court with a petition challenging the dissolution of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly prematurely. The challenge to dissolution of assembly comes amid reports that election commission is mulling to club J&K assembly elections with the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the country. (KNS)

‘Sajad is my brother, he will remain so; will convene workers’ meet to change my party’s name to avoid confusion’

Bilal Gani Lone, Hurriyat leader and elder brother of People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone, Tuesday said he and his conscience was fully satisfied with the path he chose 13 years ago and that he was planning changing the name of his party to avoid confusion.

Bilal heads a faction of People’s Conference, which is a constituent of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Bilal told Greater Kashmir that Sajad “is my brother and he will remain so”.

“I respect his point of view and he respects mine. I believe I am satisfied with my decision that I took some 13 years ago (that of joining Hurriyat). I believe that was my father’s (Abdul Gani Lone’s) path for which he sacrificed his life,” Bilal said.

”I am taking forward the legacy of my father.”

Since Sajad has been openly supporting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and electoral politics in the state, Bilal said he is content being part of the Hurriyat.

Sajad plunged into mainstream politics in 2009 and has been heading his faction of People’s Conference. He recently staked claim to the government in the state by claiming he had numbers and was “ready to face the test” in the Assembly.

PDP, National Conference and the Congress had agreed to form a grand alliance, following which PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti informed the governor that she was staking claim to the government as she has more than 50 members.

Governor Satya Pal Malik, however, dissolved the Assembly.

“There has been confusion prevailing (about People’s Conference). I have convened the meeting of my workers to get their feedback over changing the name of my party. That will take a day or two,” Bilal said.

“I am doing it just to avoid confusion, nothing else. But for that I need to take my people on board. I have a group of committed people with me. Tomorrow, no one should cast aspersions on my people.”

He said a few new names for his party have been picked “but the final authority lies with the people”.

“Let there be a threadbare discussion”, he said. “Let the people know why we are changing the name of our party.”

He said it has been a long time since he and Sajad separated politically.

“I am following my ideology and my brother has been following his own,” Bilal said.

‘It is thoughtless, regressive | Will have very negative impact on state’s prime institution | Unacceptable as decision taken by administration that is neither elected by people nor accountable to them’

Former finance minister and ex-chairman of J&K Bank HaseebDrabu on Saturday said the decision by Governor Satyapal Malik-led State Administrative Council declaring J&K Bank a Public State Undertaking (PSU) was “thoughtless and regressive” and added that it will have a “very negative impact” on the prime institution of the state and its functioning.

In an exclusive interview with Greater Kashmir Drabu who has been the former economic advisor to the government, said the bank has been “downgraded” and brought at par with other state-owned PSUs like State Financial Corporation, which have over the years turned into loss-making entities.

Excerpts:

Q: What do you make of the decision to declare J&K Bank as a PSU?

A: J&K Bank is a publicly listed bank where the government of J&K has a majority shareholding. It is a government company. It is a very unique institution as no other state government owns a bank. Banking is a central subject so all government-owned banks are owned by the Union government. J&K Bank is an exception. Technically, it is an old generation private sector bank. Now it has been downgraded and put at par with any other state public sector undertaking like the J&K SRTC or J&K SFC or J&K TDC.

Q: What does it mean for the bank and the state?

A: It is a thoughtless decision which is very regressive. It will have a very negative impact on the bank and its functioning. There is no way that the state will be benefit from it. The state government will increase its control and that may be a positive for the Governor or his team. But it will be an unqualified disaster. The institutional autonomy of decision making will be impaired and all commercial decisions can be questioned for one reason or the other. It will also open up the bank to too many masters. Already it is supervised by the RBI, annually inspected by them, then the CAG audits it, it has its own internal auditors. Now, it will have the legislature and all the bodies of government interfering in its decision making.

Q The government today said that classifying the bank as PSU is “stating the obvious” as the state government is the owner?

A: This is not correct. It is not a PSU. It cannot be. The basic tenet of corporate governance is the separation of ownership and management. Owners are managers in PSUs. Their chairman and MDs are appointed by the government. The chairman and chief executive of J&K bank is appointed by the Reserve Bank of India, on recommendation of the board of directors.

Q: But bringing it under the ambit of RTI is seen as a good move to increase transparency in its functioning. Will it not?

A: Bringing it under RTI is a separate matter. It can be done without putting the bank under the PSU framework. I am all for transparency but it should not jeopardise commercial functioning of the bank. Central Information Commission has ruled out disclosure of information relating to bank accounts under the RTI Act saying that the agreements entered into by banks with its customers are matters of commercial confidence. Please understand that the bank holds such information concerning private persons in a relationship of trust. On administrative matters of the bank, bringing it under the ambit of RTI is not an issue. A case in point is the recent controversy about appointments in the J&K Bank. The reason why RTI is an issue is that it makes J&K bank as State. It is a legal conundrum. This means by implication it is an intrinsic part of the state government. Once it becomes a part of Government, every decision can be questioned and it is open to political interference and misuse. It is easy to say that if I am against RTI, I am against transparency and that I am scared of skeletons tumbling out. I wish it was so simple. I have run the bank for six years. Every commercial decision, on say a loan being sanctioned and its pricing, the rate of interest, will be questioned. Competitors and even political adversaries will file RTI queries and that will be the end of business of the bank. It is the thin edge of the wedge. There will be no end to it.

Q: What about other banks across India?

A: They are but in a limited sense. As I said, the commercial part is not. But they don’t have the complication of being State. J&K bank has. There have been many legal cases on this issue of J&K bank being State. What has made the decision adverse in the case of J&K Bank is that it has now been made accountable to the legislature. Not so long ago, when I was the finance minister, a veteran legislator was trying to raise the case of an NPA account settlement. The bank will have to submit its Annual Report to the legislature like all state PSUs. Commercial Banks, owned by the Government of India, don’t have to submit their Annual Reports to Parliament! Where is this coming from? What makes it unacceptable is that it is done by an administration that is neither elected by the people nor accountable to them. If tomorrow, the state legislature discusses the matter and decides to bring it under its own control, there can be a debate there. At the end a view will be taken. Here, it is a set of administrators in the SAC who take a view that has serious implications. That is also an issue. Such an issue is best decided by an elected and accountable government.

Q: During the last few years performance of the Bank has been questioned and it has been dogged by controversy of backdoor appointments?

A: Yes. There are a variety of reasons for that. One is that all banks have been going through a phase of poor performance. The quality of assets has been deteriorating as non-performing assets have been rising in almost all banks in the country. In the case of J&K Bank it has been compounded by the floods and later on by civil strife. Notwithstanding that the remedy is not to make it a PSU. It is to strengthen the corporate governance. Not to effectively take it over. If there is a management deficiency, address that. If there is governance failure address that too. What the Governor has done is to put in the framework of state PSUs. It is bizarre. The cure is worse than the disease. You don’t have to be a banker or a policy maker to understand this. Show me one state PSU that is doing well. Forget doing well. They are all on life support and a big drain on the state budget. The kind of adhocism and mismanagement that is prevalent in the state PSUs is legendary. And here we have an extremely successful institution and you are putting it in a framework of sickness. It is simply thoughtless. Do you know that there are dozens of PSUs in the state which haven’t finalised and audited their annual accounts for years and decades? Their boards don’t meet for months and years.

Q: As finance minister you gave the bank about Rs 500 crore? Isn’t J&K Bank a drain on the budget?

A: Of course not. That was given as capital. It is to meet the regulatory capital requirements of the bank; not to meet its losses. It is a profitable bank. International banking norms require the commercial banks to have a certain level of capital adequacy. The bank has grown in size and needs a certain level of capital adequacy. It was to beef up that. The union finance minister needs to provide Rs 70,000 to 90,000 crore to the banks it owns for their capital needs. Owning a bank is not only about receiving dividends, it is also providing capital. In the case of J&K Bank, the bank must have given dividends many times the capital it has got. It is by a long, long way the most profitable investment made by the state government ever.

Q: J&K Bank is the largest employer after the government. If there are irregularities in it, how should those be addressed?

A: You are right. It is the largest employer in the state outside the government, not after the government. If indeed there are irregularities, then the management is responsible and should be held accountable. A committee of the Board of bank should be set up, which is chaired by the promoter director on the board of the bank, the finance secretary. They should submit a report within a month and action should be taken by the government on that basis. If it is such a serious issue he can co-opt a vigilance expert.

Q: The bank was recently in the news for appointments. The Governor first announced and later retracted that recruitment list had been changed and those with political backing had been appointed?

A: I know. I tweeted on it. I asked the Governor to name the politicians who had got the list changed. It is not possible. The examinations are conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, a Government of India undertaking. That list can’t be changed. They have a copy. If it had been done it would be a criminal offence. What he might have been referring to is ad hoc class IV employees. Let him get that examined. But he jumped the gun twice. First by announcing that there was a recruitment scam done by politicians and then ordering the chairman – he said it on record – absorb the dropees, those who had not qualified or who were below the cut off list. This is not done. He is not only the head of the state but also the head of government right now. While he backtracked on the recruitment issue, his order is also questionable. It is for the board to decide. He should not be giving directions to the board. Today, it is about a policy about recruitment, tomorrow it can be about giving loans. The SAC has a lot of administrative experience with it, they should know.

Q: So what should be done?

A: Do what GK has suggested in its editorial! Roll it back.

Q: How do you see the evolving political situation?

A: Let it evolve!