Page 59 - Jammu And Kashmir

J&K polls: Apni Party releases manifesto, promises to work for statehood

The Apni Party on Wednesday released its manifesto for the assembly elections, promising to press the Centre for constitutional guarantees to preserve culture and special identity of Jammu and Kashmir, and to work for the restoration of statehood of the Union territory. The manifesto was released at a press conference here by the party's general secretary Rafi Mir along with other senior leaders. "The Apni Party will press for constitutional guarantees to preserve the culture and special identity of Jammu and Kashmir, similar to the provisions of Article 371 in some north-eastern states. This includes land and job protection, addressing the people's sense of loss," the manifesto read. The party said it will work tirelessly to restore statehood as promised by the Union Home Minister on August 5, 2019. It also promised the restoration of repealed and amended laws. "The Apni Party will revisit and restore all the laws that were withdrawn or amended over time. Our party will secure ..

Delhi court seeks NIA's response on Engineer Rashid's bail application

A Delhi court has sought the National Investigation Agency's response on an application filed by jailed Kashmiri parliamentarian Rashid Engineer seeking regular bail. Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, was arrested in a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case. He defeated former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in Baramulla in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Additional sessions judge (ASJ) Chander Jit Singh issued notice to the NIA on August 20 and directed it to file its response by August 28. The court had earlier granted Rashid custody parole to take the oath of office on July 5. Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was charged by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the alleged terror funding case. He is at present lodged in Tihar jail. The former MLA's name cropped up during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terrorist groups and ..

Health secretary reviews preparedness to tackle Monkeypox challenge in J&K

Though no case of Monkeypox was reported from anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities here on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness of public health agencies to meet the challenge posed by the infectious viral disease in the Union Territory, an official said. Health Secretary Syed Abid Rasheed Shah chaired a meeting of the officers in the light of recent declaration of Monkeypox as an emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), the official said. He said that Shah directed all stakeholders to take proactive measures to ensure full preparedness to handle any situation. All the institutions across Jammu and Kashmir were directed to maintain high vigil for any exigency, the officials said. They said the Health Secretary also asked all heads of departments to conduct mock drills across the Union Territory and to impart training to all the health officials regarding logistics and transportation concerned with potential situations. Shah ordered all the HODs to dedicate isolatio

Security forces busts major underground terrorist hideout in J&K's Rajouri

Security forces Tuesday busted a major underground terrorist hideout in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, recovering a large quantity of daily use items and some ammunition, officials said. The well-build hideout was unearthed during a cordon and search operation by a joint party of police, Army and CRPF at Sagrawat forest in the Darhal area of the border district, the officials said. A police spokesman said the underground hideout was covered with soil for camouflage. He said the search of the hideout led to the recovery of four cooking gas cylinders, six empty AK rifle magazines, one pistol magazine with 13 bullets, one INSAS rifle magazine with 19 rounds, one communication set, one solar light with plate, one pair of hand gloves and wheat flour. Other items seized from the hideout included dry fruits, five and two litres capacity cookers, 30 pencil cells, two blankets, three bags, 40 litre water can, three power banks, one data cable, one adaptor, pair of shoes, one wir

Kharge, Rahul to visit Jammu, Srinagar in preparation for Assembly polls

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Jammu and Srinagar on August 21 and 22 for key meetings in preparation for the upcoming assembly elections. The visit comes after Congress president Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met general secretaries, in-charges and screening committee members of four poll-bound states on Monday. "On 21st and 22nd August, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji and Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi ji will be visiting Jammu and Srinagar for key meetings in preparation for the upcoming assembly elections," Congress general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said on X. Congress National General Secretary Gulam Ahmed Mir told PTI in Jammu that "Kharge ji and Rahul ji will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir for two days, starting tomorrow. They will arrive in Jammu tomorrow afternoon". Mir said that during their stay, they will engage in extensive meetings with leaders

CRPF pays tributes to inspector Kuldeep slain during Udhampur encounter

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Tuesday paid tributes to inspector Kuldeep Kumar, who was killed in an ambush by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, officials said. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the headquarters of the 187th battalion of CRPF in Battal Ballian of the district in which Additional Director General CRPF Amrit Mohan Prasad and other senior officers of various forces paid tributes to Kumar. Several officers of civil administration, army and police also paid tributes to the officer. His mortal remains have been sent to his native place in Haryana. Kumar was killed when terrorists opened fire on a patrol party in remote area of Cheel-Dudu area of Udhampur district on Monday. An intense search operation to track down the terrorists, who fled the site of encounter is underway in Cheel-Dudu belt of Basantgarh area Udhampur district.

Election Commission issues notification for first phase of polls in J&K

The Election Commission on Tuesday issued notification for the first phase of the three-phased assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir in which 24 segments will go to polls on September 18. With the issuance of the notification, the nomination process for the candidates has started. The last date for making nominations for the first phase is August 27, while the scrutiny of the nominations will take place on August 28. The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is August 30 and the date of poll, if necessitated, is September 18. In the first phase, 16 assembly segments in the valley that are in south Kashmir and eight in Jammu region will go to polls. The seats are Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D H Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, and Pahalgam in the Kashmir valley. Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal will go to polls in Jammu re

J-K elections: Omar Abdullah releases National Conference manifesto today

The National Conference will release on Monday its manifesto for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The document will be released during a press meet by party vice-president Omar Abdullah in the presence of senior leaders, including members of its manifesto committee. The three-phase elections to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will be held on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The results will be declared on October 4. The National Conference had formed a committee led by former Jammu and Kashmir finance minister and senior leader Abdul Rahim Rather to draft the manifesto. The committee also included other senior leaders, including the party's Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi. The party had sought suggestions from the people for the manifesto, saying their submissions would be discussed and incorporated in the final document. Mehdi had said the biggest issues for the party were the political and constitutional statuses of Jammu and Kashmir and the ...

Will approach SC if Centre fails to restore J&K's statehood: Omar Abdullah

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday said his party would approach the Supreme Court if the Centre fails to restore the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. "The reality is that we have a fight on our hands to get our powers back and we have no doubt that we will succeed. At the very least, in the first instance we will get a statehood back for J-K," Abdullah told reporters here. "Within the state all the powers that are required to fulfil these promises, are with the government of J-K. And we will fulfil the promises," he added. Abdullah was interacting with the media after releasing the party's manifesto. The National Conference (NC) leader said if the Centre is not willing to restore the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir then his party would approach the apex court. "We only have to go as far to remind the Supreme Court that the government of India has promised the SC that statehood will be restored to J-K. In the unlikely event that the GoI is not willing to do i

Terrorists open fire on patrol party in J&K, 1 CRPF inspector killed

A CRPF inspector was killed when terrorists opened fire on a patrol party in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said. The CRPF along with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police was fired upon by terrorists around 3:30 pm in the remote Dudu area of Basantgarh, the officials said. They said an inspector of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) belonging to the 187th battalion was hit by a bullet and later succumbed to injuries while being taken to hospital. The terrorists fled the scene in the face of strong retaliation by the joint patrolling party, the officials said, adding reinforcements have been rushed to the scene and a search operation has been launched to track down and neutralise the militants.

News updates: Madhya Pradesh HC asks protesting doctors to return to work immediately

Latest news updates: From Sabarmati train derailment to the doctors' ongoing protest, catch all the news developments from around the world here

J&K set for 3-phase polls, Haryana votes on Oct 1; counting on Oct 4

Polling in J&K for its 90 seats will take place across three phases-on September 18, 25, and October 1-while Haryana's 90 seats will poll on October 1

Poll booths on lakes, sp provisions for migrants to enhance voting in J&K

The ease of voting for Kashmiri migrants introduced during the recent Lok Sabha polls will be in place for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls as well, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Friday. He also lauded the democratic spirit of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Talking about the special arrangements made for the Kashmiri migrants during the Lok Sabha polls, Kumar said those relaxations will continue. "You may also remember that for Kashmiri migrants, special arrangements were made. We simplified the process, we relaxed Form M and there were some cumbersome processes that required authorisation, which were converted to self-attestation," the CEC said at a press conference to announce the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election. "We got positive results and the migrants also participated," he added. Kumar highlighted that the Union Territory witnessed more than 58 per cent voting during the Lok Sabha polls and this record participation of voters was a testament

Kept promise of shorter election period for polls: CEC Rajiv Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Friday said the poll authority has kept its promise of having shorter poll period by holding assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir in three phases as compared to the five rounds in which Lok Sabha elections were held in the Union territory. The last assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir were held in five phases when Ladakh was part of the erstwhile state. Addressing a press conference here to announce the schedule for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, Kumar said on June 3 -- a day before counting of results for Lok Sabha elections -- the Election Commission had promised that it will make election periods short. "In true spirit of keeping that promise, we present the shorter election period in the best possible and conducive environment," he said. Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases during summer period which had led to criticism from certain quarters about the long duration of the polling process.

Farooq welcomes EC's move to advance J-K polls, hopes central rule to end

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Friday welcomed the Election Commission's decision to advance assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that the central rule will end in the Union Territory. According to the dates announced by the EC, starting from September 18, the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases. The second phase will be held on September 25 and the third and final phase on October 1. Results for the assembly polls in both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir will be announced on October 4. "Today, I thank God that they are deciding it. Earlier, people were saying that they would decide it between the 20th and 25th. I am happy that they have preponed it (sic)," Abdullah told PTI here. He further said the country celebrated India's Independence on Thursday, and on Friday they are hopeful of getting rid of the central government's rule in Jammu and Kashmir. Replying to a question about the party's readiness for the elections, he said,

Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana Assembly election dates announced; check details

The Election Commission on Friday, August 16, announced the Assembly election dates for Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Watch the video for more details.

Better late than never: Omar Abdullah on announcement of J&K Assembly polls

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Friday welcomed the Election Commission's announcement of a three phased assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir and said it was better late than never. "Some time back, the ECI announced the schedule for assembly elections in J-K. People of J-K were waiting for this day for a long time. It is better late than never," Abdullah told reporters here. The Election Commission said the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir would be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1, and the votes will be counted on October 4. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said it is perhaps for the first time after the 1987-88 polls, that the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in a short time and in just few phases. "It obviously will be a new experiment for the political parties. But as far as our party is concerned, the NC was prepared for this day and will soon start the electioneering," he added. Abdullah said Chi

J-K Assembly elections 2024: Voting from Sept 18-Oct 1; check details here

Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: Counting of votes will be on October 4, says Election Commission of India

LG govt has shaken up administration: NC asks EC to suspend transfer

The National Conference on Friday called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to thoroughly investigate the massive transfers in the police and civil administration, and demanded immediate suspension of the implementation of such orders. National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said the move seems "clearly intended to undermine" the integrity of the electoral process, which restricts such transfers to prevent the ruling party from gaining an undue administrative advantage over the opposition. "Why has a massive reshuffle been ordered in the police and administration since last evening, and today morning, seemingly to pre-empt the Election Commission's announcement? It appears to have been orchestrated by a BJP-appointed LG to benefit his party and its allies," Sagar said in a statement. "The LG government has strategically shaken up the entire administrative set up compromising the principles of free and fair elections," he added. The National Conference called

Days after EC's directive, J-K transfers officials ahead of Assembly polls

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has transferred several officials, including deputy commissioners, a couple of weeks after the Election Commission directed the poll-bound states to transfer out officers posted in their home districts. The Election Commission will announce the schedule for assembly elections on Friday afternoon. However, it is still not clear for which states the election schedule will be announced. The poll panel plans to hold assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir before September 30, the deadline set by the Supreme Court. Late on Thursday night, the general administration department of Jammu and Kashmir issued orders for 89 transfers and posting with immediate effect. The transfers include those of deputy commissioners of Poonch and Bandipora districts, secretaries, commissioners, director generals, managing directors, and directors of several departments. The Election Commission of India on July 31 asked the Union Territory administration to transfer out offi