Page 11 - Jammu And Kashmir

SC seeks Centre's response on plea seeking restoration of statehood to J-K

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a response from the Centre on a plea seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran also took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that there were "several considerations which go into the decision-making process". It listed the plea, filed by academician Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and socio-political activist Ahmad Malik, for hearing after eight weeks. "You cannot ignore what happened in Pahalgam... It is for Parliament and the Executive to take a decision," the CJI said when senior lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Bhat, sought an early hearing. On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the revocation of Article 370, which accorded a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, even as it ordered that assembly elections be held in the union territory by September 20

Army foils infiltration bid in J-K's Uri sector, one soldier killed

A soldier was killed in an exchange of fire as the Army on Wednesday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. They said troops foiled the infiltration bid in Churunda area of Uri in Baramulla district of north Kashmir. However, during the exchange of fire, an Army soldier was killed, the officials said. The operation is going on and further details are awaited, the officials added.

Take national flag to greater heights: J-K CM Omar at Tiranga rally

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said citizens should try to take the national flag to greater heights and do their bit for upholding its dignity. "It is not necessary that we need a large number of people to do something.All of us can do our bit to uphold the respect and dignity of the national flag," Abdullah said addressing a Tiranga rally here. The chief minister said hoisting of the national flag should not be limited to official functions only. "We should try to take the national flag to greater heights and follow the footsteps of those who have made supreme sacrifices for upholding the respect of this flag," he said. Abdullah said people should not feel disheartened for being alone when they want to do the right thing. "Few years back, the national flag could be hoisted only on government buildings and at designated official functions. However, it was one man who knocked the doors of the courts to get the right to hoist the national flag on his own

Landslide blocks Jammu-Rajouri national highway, restoration in progress

Earlier, roads were blocked in Nandprayag in Chamoli district due to a landslide following rainfall, days after the cloudburst in Uttarkashi, which left behind a trail of destruction

Delhi HC seeks Yasin Malik's response on NIA appeal for death penalty

Yasin Malik, chief of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, is serving a life term after being convicted in May 2022 under sections of the UAPA and the IPC in a terror funding case

Security ops to kill terrorists enters second day in J&K's Kishtwar

Intermittent firing and deafening sounds of explosions rattled a forested area in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district as the operation to neutralise terrorists entered the second day on Monday, officials said. The terrorists are believed to be hiding inside a cave on a cliff at Bhagna forest in Dool area, some 25 km from Kishtwar town, the officials said. The search operation in the forest area started early Sunday following intelligence input about the presence of two most wanted Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists -- Riyaz Ahmad and Mudassar Hazari -- who are active in the district for the past eight years and carrying a reward of Rs 10 Lakh each. The hiding terrorists opened fire on the search parties at 6.30 am on Sunday and fled deep into the forest in the face of retaliation, the officials said, adding intermittent exchange of fire was reported two more times during the day. The cordon and search operation was strengthened with the joining of more reinforcements from the army, ...

2 police officers dead, 1 injured in accident on Jammu-Srinagar highway

Two police officers died in an accident on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway here, an official said on Monday. Three sub-inspectors travelling from Srinagar to Jammu after performing Amarnath Yatra duty met with an accident at Tengan in Lasjan area of the city, the official said. The injured police officers were rushed to a hospital where two of them were declared brought dead. The deceased have been identified as Sachin Verma and Shubham, while the injured officer has been identified as Mastan Singh, he said.

Operation Sindoor was akin to playing chess: Army chief General Dwivedi

General Upendra Dwivedi said Operation Sindoor involved unpredictable, grey zone tactics as India struck terror hubs in Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam attack

Encounter breaks out between security forces, terrorists in J-K's Kishtwar

An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said. The security forces had launched a search operation in Dool area of the hilly district following specific information about the presence of terrorists, they said. On noticing the security search parties, the hiding terrorists, believed to be two in number, opened fire, leading to a gunfight, they added. Army's White Knight Corps confirmed the encounter in an X post. It said the alert troops, while carrying out an intelligence-based operation, have established contact with terrorists in the early hours on Sunday and exchanged gunfire. The Army said the operation is under progress.

J-K's Anantnag gets first freight train as USBRL Banihal-Katra route opens

This landmark event marks the operational debut of the newly commissioned Banihal-Sangaldan-Reasi-Katra section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project

Kulgam encounter: 2 soldiers killed, 2 injured as anti-terror ops continue

Two Army soldiers were killed and as many injured in an overnight gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, in one of the longest anti-terror operations in the Valley that entered the ninth day on Saturday, officials said. The Army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, in a post on X, paid tributes to the soldiers killed in the encounter and said that the operation was still underway. Two terrorists have been killed in the encounter that began on August 1 after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in a forest at Akhal in the south Kashmir district, following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists there. The identity and the group affiliation of the slain terrorists have not been ascertained so far. In a post on X on Saturday, the Chinar Corps said, "Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will foreve

India in difficult phase, but secularism will endure, says Farooq Abdullah

India is going through a "difficult phase", and Muslims have "fear", former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah said on Friday, as he also stressed that no one can finish secularism in India. He was speaking at the launch of book "The Lion of Naushera", a book on the life of Brigadier Mohammed Usman, the highest-ranking officer of the Indian Army killed in action during the Indo-Pakistani War in 1948, written by Ziya Us Salam and Anand Mishra. "India is passing through a difficult phase, the Muslims have a fear, but the fear is there because the larger society is not of communal thought, but it is suppressed," Abdullah said at the book launch. "But I don't believe India will not get out of it. That day will come..." he said, and added, "No one can finish our secularism," he said. Abdullah Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted Kashmir to join Pakistan, but Sheikh Abdullah chose Gandhi's India. "Jinnah believed Muslims are fools, Kashmir will come with us.... When the raiders came

Jammu and Kashmir: Anti-terror operation in Kulgam enters 8th day

In one of the longest anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the gunfight in Kulgam district entered the eighth day on Friday as security forces continued to battle the terrorists hiding in the deep forest area, officials said. Senior police and Army officers are monitoring the operation round-the-clock, the officials said. On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat visited the operation area to take stock of the situation. Army's Northern Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma also reviewed the security situation and counter-terrorism grid in South Kashmir, where he was also briefed on the ongoing operation. "The operation has entered its eighth day and is ongoing," an official said, adding intermittent exchange of fire was going on. They said security forces have pressed drones and helicopters into service to track down the terrorists in the difficult terrain in the forest area. Para commandos were also assisting the security forces in neutralising the hiding ...

Anti-terror op in Kulgam enters seventh day, 3 security personnel injured

Three security force personnel were injured in a fresh firefight on Thursday as the anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district entered the seventh day, the longest so far this year, officials said. Army's Northern Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma reviewed the security situation and counter-terrorism grid in South Kashmir, where he was also briefed on the ongoing operation. "The operation has entered its seventh day and is going on," the officials said. They said three security forces personnel were injured in the fresh firefight on Thursday morning. The total number of injured security forces personnel has now risen to seven, the officials added. They said the security forces were using all means, including drones and helicopters, to track down the terrorists in the difficult terrain in the forest area. Two terrorists have been killed in the encounter which began on Friday last after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in a forest area at Akhal i

J-K govt bans 25 books for propagating false narrative, secessionism

The Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday declared the publication of 25 books, including those written by famous authors like Moulana Moudadi, Arundhati Roy, A G Noorani, Victoria Schofield and David Devadas, as forfeited for "promoting false narratives and glorifying terrorism". "It has come to the notice of the Government, that certain literature propagates false narrative and secessionism in the Jammu and Kashmir," an order issued by the Home Department said. It said available evidence based on investigations and credible intelligence "unflinchingly indicate" that a significant driver behind youth participation in violence and terrorism has been the "systematic dissemination of false narratives and secessionist literature by its persistent internal circulation, often disguised as historical or political commentary". It plays a critical role in "misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence" against India, the order said. It said this literature would deeply

Ensured minimum disturbance while building Chenab, Anji bridges: LS told

To ensure minimum disturbance to Himalayan ecology, due care was taken for slope stabilization and the best institutes were roped in for execution of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, including Chenab and Anji Bridge, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. On questions whether the government has conducted any environmental impact assessments of the Chenab and Anji Khad bridges in fragile Himalayan zones, the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided an elaborate response on Environmental Impact Assessments of the project. Vaishnaw said that Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project having a total length of 272 km has been recently commissioned and it covers Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla districts. The USBRL project is one of the most difficult new railway line projects undertaken in the country post-independence. The terrain passes through young Himalayas, which are full of geological surprises

CM Omar urges party leaders to back J&K statehood bill in Parliament

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday wrote to the presidents of over 40 political parties seeking their support for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying it "must not be viewed as a concession, but as an essential course correction". According to officials, Abdullah, in his two-page letter, called for bringing a legislation for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during the current Parliament session. The chief minister's appeal comes nine months after his government's unanimous resolution calling for immediate statehood restoration, which, he says, was personally handed to the Prime Minister with an assurance of progress. It also comes on the sixth anniversary of the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into two Union Territories -- Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. "Restoration must not be viewed as a concession, but as an essential course correction -- one that prevents us from sliding down a dangerous and ..

Satyapal Malik, who oversaw Article 370 abrogation in J&K, dies at 79

Satyapal Malik served as Governor in five states and remained outspoken on corruption and governance

Former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik dies at 79 after prolonged illness

Satyapal Malik had been suffering from kidney-related ailments and was under treatment in Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital

SC likely to hear plea seeking restoration of statehood to J-K on August 8

The Supreme Court is likely to hear on August 8 a plea seeking directions to the Centre for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the matter on Tuesday before a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran. "The date (on SC website) shows as August 8. Let it not be deleted," Sankaranarayanan submitted. The CJI accepted the request. Tuesday marks the sixth anniversary of the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which accorded a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the revocation of Article 370, even as it ordered that assembly elections be held in Jammu and Kashmir by September 2024 and its statehood be restored "at the earliest". Last year, a plea was filed in the top court seeking directions to the Centre for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir within two months. The application was filed by Zaho