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  • Year 2021: 165 militants, 39 security forces personnel killed in J&K

    41 civilians, political workers killed, over 85% of militants killed were locals, reveal official figures

    Srinagar, Dec 29: Around 165 militants and 39 security forces were killed in different encounters and attacks in Jammu and Kashmir this year.

    Around 41 civilians have been killed and 80 injured in Jammu and Kashmir in militancy related incidents also this year.

    Minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai in response to a question in the Lok Sabha on 30 November informed that 35 personnel of the government forces, including Jammu and Kashmir Police were killed in militancy incidents till 15 November while 86 were injured.

    However, after 15 November, three cops were killed in a militant attack in Zewan area of Srinagar and one ASI was killed in Bijbehara area taking the toll of slain security forces to 39.

    Top officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that in dozens of encounters in J&K around 165 militants were killed among them around 140 were locals.

    They said that this year most of the militants killed in J&K were locals as just around 15 percent of militants killed were non- locals while 85 percent were locals.

    Officials added that 220 militants were killed in J&K in 2020 while 148 were killed in 2019.

    Top officials said that 41 civilians and political workers were also killed in Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2021.

    They added that TRF which is an offshoot of Lashker e Toiba has emerged as a target killer as most attacks were claimed by TRF in 2021.

    Srinagar district witnessed 12 killings followed by five from Kulgam, four from Tral area of Awantipora police district while whole north Kashmir witnessed just three civilians killings.

    Shopian in South Kashmir, Ganderbal in central Kashmir and Kupwara in north Kashmir witnessed zero civilian or political workers killings this year.

    Some of the civilian/political workers killings include:

    On 27 January, Nadif Hanief Khan, a resident of Soura who was shot and injured by gunmen at his residence on the first of December last year, succumbed to his injuries.

    On 28 February, Akash Mehra, the son of a popular dhaba owner in Srinagar, who was critically injured in a militant attack on February 17, succumbed.

    On 29 March two councillors namely Riyaz Ahmad Peer and Shams ud din Peer were killed after councillors met in the Sopore area of Baramulla district.

    On 11 April, an ex-cop Nisar Ahmad of Magam Budgam was killed after he was attacked in his locality.

    On 29 May Sanjeed Ahmad Parry and Abdul Azeem Parry, two civilians from Jablipora Bijbehara were killed in their locality.

    On 02 June, Rakesh Pandita, a municipal councillor affiliated with BJP was killed in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

    On 23 June, Umar Ahmad a resident of Habba Kadal was killed by gunmen in his locality.

    On 27 June, SPO Fayaz Ahmad along with his wife Raja Begum and daughter Rafiya Jan were killed in Hariparigam area of Awantipora in Pulwama district.

    On 23 July, Javaid Ahmad Malik, 35, of Lurgam village in Tral, an employee of the education department was killed by a gunman near his residence.

    On 27 July Mehran Ali Pathan a resident of Safa Kadal who was said to be a part of local gang was killed in NawaKadal area of Srinagar.

    On 09 August, a couple namely Ghulam Rasool Dar and his wife Jawahira Begum from Redwani Kulgam were killed at their rented residence in Lal Chowk Srinagar.

    On 17 August, Javaid Dar, a political worker affiliated with BJP was killed near his residence in Brazloo area of Kulgam district.

    On 19 August, Ghulam Hassan Lone, affiliated with Apni Party was killed near his residence in Devsar area of Kulgam district.

    On 18 September, a non-local labour identified as Shankar Kumar Chowdhary a resident of Preetnagar Kathiyar Bihar was killed by gunmen at Nehama area of Kulgam.

    On 02 October, Majid Ahmad Gojri a resident of Chattabal Srinagar was killed in Karanagar area of Srinagar while as Mohammad Shafi Dar a resident of Batamallo was killed in his locality.

    On 05 October, Dr Bindroo Lal a chemist, Virendar Paswan a non local street vendor and Mohammad Shafi Lone president Sumo drivers association Naidkhai were killed in Iqbal Park area, Lal Bazar and Shah Gund Hajin in Bandipora area respectively.

    On 07 October, two teachers namely Deepak Chand and Supinder kour were killed in Safakadal area of Srinagar.

    On the same day a civilian namely Parvaiz Ahmad from Larnoo Anantnag was killed allegedly by CRPF after he didn’t stop the vehicle he was driving and CRPF opened fire in Monghall area of Anantnag.

    On 16 October, Arvind Kumar a non local street vendor and Sageer Ahmad a non local carpenter were killed in Srinagar and Litter Pulwama respectively.

    On 17 October, two non local labourers namely Raja Reshi and Joginder Reshi were killed in Wanpoh area of Anantnag.

    On 24 October, a civilian named Shahid Ahmad from Kharpora Nowpora Kulgam was killed near CRPF camp Babapora Shopian allegedly by CRPF, however, police later said he was killed in cross firing.

    On 08 November, a civilian identified as Mohammad Ibrahim Khan son of Ghulam Mohammad Khan resident of Astengoo Bandipora who was working as salesman at Kashmiri Pandits shop was killed at Borikadal area of Srinagar.

    On 15 November, four people were killed in an encounter in Hyderpora which included Mohammad Altaf, Dr Mudasir Gul and Aamir from Ramban along with a foreign militant. According to police Altaf was killed in a cross firing, while Gul was killed by a militant.

    The police said that Mudasir was in touch with foreign militant while Aamir was a militant associate.

    On 22 December, civilian namely Rouf Ahmad Khan (45) son of late Muhammad Shafi Khan of Merjanpora Safakdal who was a real estate broker by profession was killed in Eidgah area of Srinagar—(KNO)

  • Scooty rider dies in Kulgam road accident

    Kulgam, Dec 29: A 35-yr-old scooty rider died in a road accident in Laroo village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam on Wednesday evening, an official said.

    An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an unknown vehicle hit a Scooty in Laroo area of the district, resulting in critical injuries to the Scooty rider.

    He was immediately shifted to the hospital but succumbed to the injuries, he said.

    The deceased has been identified as Jahangeer Ahmad Dar, son of Mohammad Shaban Dar of Shurat Kulgam—(KNO)

  • Hyderpora ‘Encounter’: Omar Questions SIT For ‘Rushing’ To Press If Investigation Still Underway

    Says Warning People Does No Behove Police

    Srinagar, Dec 29: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah questioned police for “rushing to the press” if it was still investigating Hyderpora shootout.

    “If the SIT is “still investigating the matter” then what was the need to rush to the press with a statement yesterday? I don’t recall reading anywhere that yesterday’s report was an interim one,” Omar said in a tweet.

    “As to the “threat of penal action”. Criticising the report, whether interim or final is the right of any citizen & it does not behove J&K police to be trying to threaten people in to submission. If the SIT wants people to believe the report it should report the truth, period,” he added.

  • Poet Akbar Allahabadi named as Akbar Prayagraj on UP Education Body Website

    Poet Akbar Allahabadi becomes Akbar Prayagraj on UP education body website, hacking claimed

    An Uttar Pradesh government body on Wednesday claimed that its website had been hacked after social media users flagged that it referred to famous poet Akbar Allahabadi as “Akbar Prayagraj”, PTI reported. The name was restored on Wednesday morning.

    Syed Akbar Hussain, a 19-century poet used the pen name Akbar Allahabadi, as he was born in a town close to the Uttar Pradesh city. The Uttar Pradesh government had changed the name of the city of Allahabad to Prayagraj in October 2018.

    On Tuesday, several social media users shared screenshots of a page on the Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Service Commission’s website that showed the pen names of him and two other poets – Tegh Allahabadi and Rashid Allahabadi – as “Pragyagraj”.

    The names appeared under the “About Prayagraj” section on the website of Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Service Commission, an autonomous body under the state government.

    Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi said that the flub may have been a human error, “because one cannot change a person’s pen name like that”, The Print reported. Joshi is a professor of history at Allahabad University.

    On Wednesday, the commission’s chairperson Ishwar Charan Vishvakarma told PTI that a complaint has been filed on the matter with the cyber cell of Prayagraj Police.

    “It was evidently a handiwork of some miscreants expressing their apparent resentment over the change of name of Allahabad,” Vishvakarma said.

    Several people on social media criticised the name change.

    With inputs from Scroll.in

    (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Hyderpora ‘Encounter’: SIT Says Investigation Still Underway, Warns Political Leaders Of ‘Penal’ Action Against ‘Speculative Statements’

    Srinagar, Dec 29: Special Investigation Team of Police formed regarding Hyderpora “encounter” on Wednesday said that its investigation is still going on and warned political leaders of “appropriate penal” action for “speculative” statements for calling the investigation “Concocted Cover up Story”, “Ornamental Probe”, “Clean Chit to Killers”, “Fairy Tale of Police” etc.

    “Today (29.12.2021) SIT (Special Investigation Team) came across with several posts on media from some political leaders and family members wherein they have casted doubts upon the evidences obtained by SIT so far.

    These people have tried to call it “Concocted Cover up Story”, “Ornamental Probe”, “Clean Chit to Killers”, “Fairy Tale of Police” etc,” chairman of the SIT said in a statement to GNS.

    “Pertinent to mention also that vide District Magistrate vide his Order NO. DMS/JUDINQUIRY/2838/2845/2021 Dated: 18.11.2021 wherein magisterial enquiry was initiated under section 176 Cr.Pc and accordingly the enquiry officer vide NO. ADM(K)/PSINQ/2021/1168/1172 Dated: 18.11.2021 issued a general notice through the electronic and print media and invited members of the general public to record his/her statement if any such person has any acquaintance or knowledge or proof regarding the incident,” the chairman SIT said, adding, “All such person making statements should have approached the enquiry officer with genuine evidences they have, for corroboration or contradiction of the facts surfaced in the case.”

    He said the SIT constituted in the instant case is “still investigating” the matter and “all such persons are once again advised to provide any type of evidence if they have regarding the incident so that every aspect of investigation is covered and concluded on merits.”

    “Such speculative statements from the political leaders have tendency to create provocation, rumour, fear and alarm among the general masses or particular section of society,” he said, adding, “This kind of approach is against the rule of law and may attract appropriate penal provisions as envisaged under law.” (GNS)

  • Physical Distancing To Be Reimposed In Two Holy Mosques

    Re-imposing Physical Distancing in the Two Holy Mosques from Thursday, 26 Jumada Al Ula 1443 as per the directive issued by the Ministry of Interior due to increasing COVID-19 cases

  • Cast one crore votes to Bharatiya Janata Party We will provide liquor for just Rs 70

    Cast one crore votes to Bharatiya Janata Party we will provide liquor for just Rs 70. If we have more revenue left, then, will provide liquor for just Rs 50: Andhra Pradesh BJP president Somu Veerraju in Vijayawada said yesterday, reported ANI

  • Hyderpora encounter: Police version a ‘fairy tale’, say families of slain building owner Altaf, Dr Gul

    My brother had torturer marks on his body, how could one militant make him human shield in presence of 2000 forces personnel: Altaf’s brother; Why would my husband put his family at stake, show us CCTV footage ferrying foreign militant, says Dr Gul’s wife

    Srinagar, Dec 29: The family members of slain building owner Altaf Ahmed Bhat and Dr Mudasir Gul Wednesday rejected the SIT probe of police stating that “it seems a fairy tale” adding that Altaf was tortured and killed while as Dr Gul’s family urged police to show them CCTV footage where slain doctor is ferrying foreign militant.

    “SIT probe is totally false. I reject it. My brother had severe torture marks on his body. How come he was made a human shield as claimed by police when 2000 security forces personnel were present on the spot,” Abdul Majeed Bhat while reacting to SIT probe, told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). He said they don’t buy the police version as it seems a “well drafted tale.”

    Similarly, Humaira Gul, the wife of Dr Mudasir Gul, also rejected police claims stating that the truth was either known those who were killed or to those who killed them. “My point is that my husband was a doctor by profession and why would he put his family, little daughter wife, parents at a stake for nothing. His character is an open book and his friends and I as his wife know what kind of a person was my husband,” she told KNO, adding that police must show them the CCTV footage where Dr Gul is allegedly ferrying foreign militant Bilal Bhat.

    Pertinently, SIT incharge DIG Central Kashmir Sujit Kumar Singh yesterday told media men that Altaf Bhat was made a human shield by the foreign militant Bilal Bhai, while Dr Gull was killed by foreign militant and that Amir Magray of Ramban was also a militant who was killed in the encounter.

    The Hyderpora encounter took place on November 15 in which four persons—a foreign militant Bilal Bhai, a youth from Ramban Amir Magray, building owner Altaf Bhat and Dr Mudasir Gul were killed. The bodies of Bhat and Dr Gul were exhumed after three days from Handwara graveyard and handed over to their families for burial—(KNO)

  • Jammu & Kashmir Bank board appoints Baldev Prakash as MD and CEO

    J&K Bank on Tuesday said its board of directors has appointed Baldev Prakash as the MD & CEO for three years.

    The board of directors in the meeting held on December 28 has appointed Baldev Prakash as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the bank for a period of three years, J&K Bank said in a regulatory filing.

    His appointment will be effective from the actual date of his taking charge, the bank said.

    The board also appointed R K Chhibber as an additional director on the board of the bank to be effective from the date Baldev Prakash takes charge as MD&CEO of the bank, it said further.

    In October this year, the RBI had approved the appointment of Prakash as the next MD&CEO of J&K Bank. His appointment was slated from the date of taking charge or April 10, 2022, whichever earlier.

    Prakash has over 30 years of experience in banking in various roles at small and large size branches at SBI. He had joined SBI as a probationary officer in 1991 and he is currently the Chief General Manager (Digital and Transaction Banking Marketing Department) at SBI, Mumbai.

    Presently, RK Chhibber is the Chairman and Managing Director of J&K Bank, who assumed the charge in June 2019.

    J&K Bank shares closed at Rs 35.80 apiece on BSE, up by 0.56 per cent from the previous close.

    (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Hyderpora Encounter: PAGD terms police statement to be a concocted cover up

    Says, press briefing of J&K police about Hyderpora incident only a repetition of old story

    M Y Tarigami Spokesperson of PAGD today said that, today’s press briefing of J&K police about last month’s Hyderpora tragic incident is only a repetition of old story . It does not even, slightly give any objective picture of this shocking incident.

    furthermore he said, that, there is a strong public perception that the civilians killed in the incident were made human shields by the security forces and the latest statement of the police seems to be a concocted cover up story. it will not suffice the legitimate concerns of the people at large and family of the slain victims.

    Meanwhile, PAGD firmly believes that nothing short of a credible judicial probe will clear the doubts. The administration must ,without any further delay, order a time bound judicial probe .