Page 63 - Jammu And Kashmir

MoS for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai meets locals in Srinagar, visits LoC

Nityanand Rai paid a two-day visit to the Border Security Force FTR Head Quarter, Kashmir, to review the security situation

Amarnath Yatra: Fresh batch of pilgrims leaves under heightened security

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board organises the Amarnath Yatra, which is divided into two routes: one that goes through Pahalgam and the other that goes through Baltal

Govt's decision of 40% positions for open merit triggers outrage in Kashmir

The decision to allocate only 40 per cent of positions for open merit in government job recruitments in Jammu and Kashmir has triggered widespread outrage among the youth in the Union Territory. The move, which comes after accounting for reserved quotas, has led to opposition in various districts of the erstwhile state. Contrary to past trends of supporting terrorism or separatism, the youth in the Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu have taken to the streets demanding meritocracy in government job placements. This shift towards advocating for equity in opportunities reflects a new wave of sentiment among today's youth. Often news hungry people, who would look for articles about youngsters joining terrorist organisations or mysteriously disappearing to join ranks of Pakistan-supported groups, come across a different trend these days where the youth wants equity in government jobs. Though some youths are still joining terror groups, the number is lower. Often this is also not reporte

Security agencies on high alert in J-K as 'hidden terrorism' trend emerges

Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are grappling with what they call the "hidden threat" of "conservation and consolidation" tactics employed by infiltrating terrorists, which was evident in the recent ambushes and encounters in North Kashmir and Kathua district. Analysing the ambushes and encounters with terrorists, officials in the know of the matter said while security agencies are on high alert, the lack of ground-level intelligence -- human intelligence (HUMINT) -- hampers operations. Reliance on technical intelligence (TECHINT) has not been fruitful as terrorists use online activity to mislead authorities. Officials feel that there is an urgent need for heightened surveillance to counter foreign terrorists, especially in the Jammu region. The region, previously known for its peaceful atmosphere, has recently seen a surge in terror incidents, particularly in border districts such as Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Reasi. Attacks on an IAF convoy, a pilgrim bus and the recent ...

Centre amends rules to give more power to J-K Lt Guv, Opposition slams move

The Centre has significantly strengthened the authority of the lieutenant governor in Jammu and Kashmir, empowering him to make decisions on crucial matters such as police and all-India services officers and granting sanctions for prosecution in various cases. The opposition slammed the Union government's move and termed it a step towards "disempowering" the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Official sources, however, said the notification does not in any sense alter the balance of powers as enshrined in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The Union home ministry gave more powers to the lieutenant governor on Friday by amending the transaction rules framed under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This Act, passed alongside the abrogation of Article 370, bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The sources said that with the amendments to the transaction rules, the powers of the legislative assembly and the functi

Kashmir 'Martyrs Day': Mehbooba, others claim they are under 'house arrest'

Several political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, including PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, on Saturday claimed authorities have put them under house arrest to prevent them from visiting the 'martyrs' graveyard' to pay homage to the 22 Kashmiri people killed by the army of a Dogra ruler on this day in 1931. However, there was no official word on the claims made by the politicians. Mehbooba, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, alleged that she was put under "house arrest" at her residence in Khimber in the outskirts of the city. "The gates of my house have been locked up yet again to prevent me from visiting Mazar e Shuhada - an enduring symbol of Kashmir's resistance and resilience against authoritarianism, oppression and injustice," she said in a post on X. The PDP chief said the "sacrifices of our martyrs is a testament that the spirit of Kashmiri's cannot be crushed" and added that "today even observing it in remembrance of the protesters martyred on this day has been ...

Search operation launched in Jammu following reports of suspicious movement

Security forces launched a search operation in the border belt of Jammu district on Friday after information was received about suspicious movement in the area, officials said. The forces are on high alert and have asked people to share any details of suspected movements in their areas. A joint search operation was launched by Army, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Guda Patan and Kana Chak areas near the Chenab river in the Akhnoor border belt this morning after some people informed police about the suspicious movement of three persons in the area, the officials said. The security forces have scanned agricultural fields, villages and adjoining scattered habitation, they said. The operation is underway.

Interstate security review: Senior BSF, police officials meet in Kathua

Senior BSF and police officials gathered at a high-level interstate security review meeting in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua on Thursday, days after terrorists, who are believed to have infiltrated from across the International Border, ambushed an army patrol. Five army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were killed and as many injured when terrorists opened fire on two army vehicles on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountain road near Badnota village, about 150 km from the district headquarters of Kathua, on Monday. The meeting was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police R R Swain, his Punjab counterpart Gaurav Yadav and Special Director General of BSF, Western Command, Y B Khurania, among others, to review the security grid along the International Border and plug any loopholes, officials said. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), J-K, Vijay Kumar, ADG (Law and Order), Punjab, Arpit Shukla and Inspector General-rank BSF officers of Punjab

J-K polls will prove supremacy of security forces over terrorists: Omar

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held in time to prove the supremacy of security forces over terrorists, who have carried out a spate of attacks in Jammu region recently. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function here, Abdullah said there is no normalcy in the union territory. "There is no normalcy. But, is the situation worse than 1996? If yes, then let them not conduct the elections. If they want to bow down before these powers who are attacking, then don't conduct the election. If you have to prove the supremacy of the militancy, rather than proving the supremacy of our armed forces and police, then don't conduct the elections," he said. The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K, said if the government has courage, then elections should be conducted. "If you don't have the courage, and are afraid, then don't. But, if you have to show the supremacy of our police and .

HC judge recuses himself from plea seeking death penalty for Yasin Malik

Delhi High Court judge Amit Sharma on Thursday recused himself from hearing a plea by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking death penalty for separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case. The matter was listed before a division bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh after a change in the roster of judges dealing with such cases. "List before another bench, of which Justice Sharma is not a member, on August 9," Justice Singh said. The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief, who is currently serving a life term in the case, was virtually present for the the court proceedings from the Tihar jail here. The court directed that he will appear virtually on the next date as well. On May 29 last year, the high court had issued a notice to Malik on the NIA's plea seeking death penalty for him in the terror funding case and had sought his presence before it on the next date. Subsequently, jail authorities had filed an application seeking permission for his virtual ..

4,400 govt schools in Jammu and Kashmir closed due to low enrollment

School Education Department proposes merger of more than 1,200 school due to no or low enrollment of students

No terror attack on security post in Udhampur district, says J-K police

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday denied reports claiming a terror attack on a security post in the higher reaches of Udhampur district, saying a sentry on guard duty opened fire as a precautionary measure on observing some suspicious movement. The officials said the sentry fired a few rounds in the air around 8 pm and a search of the area was later conducted but nothing was found. A sentry opened fire as a precautionary measure upon noticing suspicious movement in the Sang area of Basantgarh. Contrary to circulating social media reports, there was no attack, police said in a brief statement tonight. It is advisable for the public to avoid spreading unsubstantiated information, police said. The security forces are engaged in a massive search and combing operation in Basantgarh, which connects Udhampur with Kathua district, the scene of Monday's deadly ambush on an army patrol that left five soldiers dead and an equal number injured.

Brief exchange of fire reported in J&K's Udhampur, militant flee from spot

SSP Udhampur Joginder Singh said that an unknown person believed to be a militant fired on a Police Picket at Sang in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur District

Kathua manhunt: Truck driver, 50 others detained after deadly army ambush

At least 24 people have been detained for questioning as the hunt for the terrorists behind the ambush in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, in which five army personnel were killed, entered its third day on Wednesday, officials said. The search operation by the army and police is underway amid intermittent heavy rain in dense forests across four districts, besides Kathua. It was launched from three different areas -- Kathua, Udhampur and Bhaderwah, official said. Security forces have detained 24 people for questioning in connection with the ambush, they said, as efforts continued to track down and neutralise the terrorists who are believed to be hiding in a forest. The officials said another search operation is underway in the higher reaches of Doda district where a gunfight took place between terrorists and security forces on Tuesday evening, a day after the ambush in Kathua. On the search operation linked to the Kathua ambush, the officials said army and police personnel are a

Security forces conduct search operations in J-K's Kathua, Samba districts

Five Army soldiers lost their lives and as many as were injured in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district on July 8

Interrogation of Reasi attack accused links to Pak-based LeT handlers: NIA

The NIA's interrogation of an arrested accused in the attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi last month has pointed towards the role of Pakistan-based handlers of banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, officials said on Tuesday. Nine people were killed and 41 injured on June 9 when terrorists opened fire at a 53-seater bus, which was on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge in Reasi. NIA officials said at least three terrorists could have been involved in the attack on the bus. Interrogation of Hakam Khan alias Hakin Din has revealed that he provided shelter, logistics and food to the terrorists, they said. Khan also helped terrorists in conducting a recce of the area and even accompanied them, the officials said, adding the terrorists involved in the attack stayed with Khan on at least three occasions since June 1. Based on details provided by Khan, the NIA on J

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Encounter breaks out in J&K's Doda between terrorists, security forces

This comes a day after dive Army soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8

Kathua attack: Searches intensify as DGP Swain reviews ongoing operation

A massive search operation was underway on Tuesday to track down the terrorists behind the deadly attack on an Army patrol party in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, as Director General of Police R R Swain flew to the area to oversee the operation on the ground. The bodies of the five soldiers killed in the attack have been handed over to the Army after postmortem and were airlifted to their homes for last rites, officials said. Accompanied by ADGP Anand Jain, DGP Swain conducted an aerial survey of the area and reviewed the ongoing operations, they said. The scope of the search operation has been expanded to encompass large areas in the adjoining districts of Udhampur and Kathua, including Basantgarh, Seoj (a high-altitude area in Udhampur), and the upper reaches of Bani, Daggar, and Kindli in Kathua district. Special forces of the Indian Army's 'Para' unit have been deployed to conduct surgical operations against the terrorists in specific areas, the officials said. Ground se

Rajnath Singh condoles deaths of 5 soldiers in Kathua terror attack

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families of five army soldiers who were killed in an ambush by terrorists in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8.In a message on social media platform X, Rajnath Singh said, "I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J & K). My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time".Rajnath Singh said, "The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region"."I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack," he further said.Meanwhile, security has been tightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway after five army soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Kathua district on June 8.An encounter is still underway between troops and ...