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Anybody having evidences should go to Magistrate, SIT; Police a professional force, all Ops conducted as per SoPs; Collecting evidences against people indulging in ‘Soft-Separatism’

Jammu, Dec 31: Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police Dilbag Singh Friday asserted that Srinagar’s Hyderpora encounter was ‘transparent’ and asked the political leaders who are questioning the ‘clean chit’ given to the security forces by SIT, to submit evidence to the investigation panels.

“JKP is a professional force, it conducts all operations as per laid down SoPs. We have made it clear Hyderpora operation was transparent. If they (Kashmir based politicians and others) have evidence, they should present it to the investigation panels as magisterial probe still going on in the case,” the DGP said addressing the year-end press conference at Jammu, while replying to questions on the issue after former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti questioned SIT’s alleged clean chit to forces.

“We definitely feel hurt about the kind of utterances of such political leaders who are raising fingers at the encounter. It is very irresponsible,” DGP Singh said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), adding that the “people who aren’t part of investigation, who don’t know about the operation, are playing politics over the issue.”

The DGP said: “We have already made it clear that if anybody having any evidence, then there are two forms available— to approach magistrates or to consult SIT to present evidences.

Warning people objecting to Police probe to mend their ways, the DGP also said the political leaders’ comments are unlawful and the law will take its own course in the matter.

“The operation was neat and clean. We see their utterances in violation of law,” he said.

The DGP said that “we’re on the lookout, working to get more evidence on people who in a way very cleverly try to support militancy.” “They’re into soft separatism, we’ve taken action against some of them and we’d be looking for more evidence against them. No one is above law,” he said—(KNO)

A Kashmiri woman prays outside the closed doors of historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, #Kashmir.
Authorities on Friday disallowed the weekly congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid for the consecutive 21st week.

Photo © Saqib Majeed

Hybrid militancy biggest challenge for year 2022: Police

168 militants active at present in Kashmir, ratio of locals, foreigners almost equal; 128 boys joined militancy this year, 73 were killed, 16 arrested, only 39 active; Over 150 pistols recovered from modules, slain militants; only 4 top commanders active: IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar

Srinagar, Dec 31: Jammu and Kashmir police Friday said that while peaceful burial of senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was a “major achievement” in year 2021, the biggest challenge for year 2022 will be dealing with the Hybrid militants—the militants who aren’t categorized in police stations.

Addressing a year-end press conference at PCR here, Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that burial of senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was the major achievement of the year as it remained peaceful. “There was no law and order incident and burial remained peaceful. So I count this as the major achievements for police for the year 2021,” the IGP said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). He said that for the year 2022, Hybrid militancy will remain as the biggest challenge for the police. “After examining various CCTV footages, it was observed that young boys aged 17 years carry out attacks on police men and security forces. These boys aren’t categorized anywhere neither do we have their photographs in police stations,” the IGP said.

He said some political leaders questioned the term Hybrid militants but the fact remains that “police coined the term in January 2021.” The IGP Kashmir said that second major challenge will be to prevent policemen from becoming soft targets. “Militants attacked unarmed policemen. A few were killed while coming out of masjids, some while going to markets and some while sleeping,” he said, adding that police will work to prevent such attacks in 2022.

He said that at present 168 militants are active in Kashmir at present and the number of locals and foreign militants is almost equal. “We have made list of 25 Hybrid militants who aren’t categorized,” the IGP said. He said 171 militants were killed in year 2021 and almost equal number of pistols were recovered. “Five US-made M-4 carbine guns were also recovered from slain JeM militants,” the IGP said, adding that almost all top commanders were killed and only four are active in Valley now.

He said that 34 civilians were killed this year against 37 last year. “This year there was no collateral damage during encounters. Not a single civilian was killed in law and order incidents,” he said. He said curbing narco-trade will also be the top priority for the police besides prevent crime against women. The IGP wished media fraternity a happy and prosperous year 2022—(KNO)

‘No political party, media org, family of slain have no right to term police probe as false; they can demand investigations by higher forums like CBI, NIA etc, Pol leaders should refrain from instigating people’

Srinagar, Dec 31: Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar Friday said that only court has the authority to decide whether SIT probe into the Hyderpora encounter was having any flaw and that political leaders should refrain from “instigating people by terming police probe as false.”

Addressing a year-end conference at PCR here, the IGP Kumar as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that court is the only authority to decide whether SIT probe into Hydeprora encounter was having any flaws. “Families of slain, media organizations, and political leaders have no right to pass judgements on the police probe by terming it false etc. Families of slain can demand a probe by NIA,CBI and others if they feel dissatisfied with the police investigations,” said Kumar. He urged political leaders to refrain from instigating people by questioning police probe—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 31: With the threat of Omicron variant looming large in Kashmir valley, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Friday warned against crowding on new year celebrations.

“People are urged to avoid gatherings on new year to prevent the spread of highly transmissible Omicron variant in the valley,” said DAK President and Influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Gatherings increase your risk of contracting the virus and spreading it in the community,” he said.

Dr Hassan said let us not take chances with our own health and health of others by creating easy opportunity for the virus to spread.

“People should avoid new year parties and gatherings to protect themselves and their loved ones,” he said.

“We cannot be complacent. We are not out of woods yet. Covid is far from over and we must not lower our guard,” said Dr Nisar.

“If people are not careful and don’t act responsibly, the situation will spin out of control,” he said.

The DAK President said if we want to go back to normal in near future, we need to impose self restrictions. And the most important is to avoid crowding.

“If we can limit our social gatherings, we can successfully create a deterrent against the spread of infection to a large extend,” he said.

General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said vaccination and Covid appropriate behavior like masking and avoiding crowding should go hand in hand.

“Vaccination will protect from severe disease, but you can still get the virus and spread it to others. People should continue to follow safety norms to avoid catastrophic slipup,” he said

Spokesperson DAK Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga said many state governments have already put restrictions on new year celebrations in view of rise in omicron cases across the country.

He said Jammu and Kashmir is already witnessing a winter surge in Covid-19 cases and hospitals too are seeing increase in number of cases requiring oxygen and some even need ICU beds.

Three cases of Omicron that have been detected in Jammu had no travel history or contact which gives us to understand that the new variant is possibly already in the community.

“If we do not behave appropriately, we will give the virus a chance to spread in the community which could reignite another outbreak in the valley,” he added.

Srinagar, Dec 31: Weatherman on Friday said that “heavy snow” was expected at some place in Jammu and Kashmir during January 5 to 6 and that it may affect road and aerial transportation.

“As per today’s analysis, widespread snow/rain spell of moderate intensity is most likely during 4-6th January in both J&K and Ladakh with main activity on 5-6th,” a meteorological department official said in a statement to GNS. “Heavy Snow is expected at some places during 5-6th,” he said, adding, “(It) may affect the surface and air transportation.” He said light snow is expected over higher reaches of Kashmir during January 2-3rd. “Expect colder days and warmer nights from January 2nd onwards,” he added.

Meanwhile, cold conditions prevailed across J&K and Ladakh even there was slight rise in minimum temperature with Gulmarg recording a low of minus 9.0°C.

The official told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against previous night’s minus 4.0°C. Although the temperature was above 1.0°C than the previous night, it was minus 0.9°C below normal for this time of the year.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

The mercury settled at the world famous resort of Gulmarg at minus 9.0°C against minus 9.6°C on the previous night, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of minus 3.0°C against 4.2°C on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.6°C against minus 8.9°C on previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.3°C against minus 3.6°C on previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 2.6°C against minus 4.4°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a drop temperature by 8 notches from the precious night, recording a low of 5.1°C which is minus 1.5°C below normal for the place during this time of the year, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 15.0°C against last night’s minus 16.0°C while automatic Kargil station recorded a minimum of minus 10.2°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 19.8°C, the official said. (GNS)

One of the slain militants was involved in the December 13 attack on a police bus in the nearby Zewan area

Srinagar: Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed and four security forces personnel injured during an encounter in the Pantha Chowk area of the city here on Friday, police said.

One of the slain militants was involved in the December 13 attack on a police bus in the nearby Zewan area.

The three ultras were killed in the encounter at Pantha Chowk on the outskirts of Srinagar city, a police official said.

In the exchange of fire, three police personnel and a CRPF personnel were also injured, the official said, adding that they were rushed to hospital.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, identified one of the slain militants as Suhail Ahmad Rather of proscribed terror outfit JeM.

“As revealed during yesterday’s PC, terrorist Suhail was also involved in #ZewanTerrorAttack. All terrorists involved in Zewan attack have been #neutralised,” the IGP said in a tweet.

Two militants involved in the Zewan attack were killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag on Thursday. PTI