Page 89 - Jammu And Kashmir

Hizbul affiliated terrorist arrested by UP ATS from J-K's Anantnag district

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen-affiliated terrorist from Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement issued here on Sunday, the ATS said that its team went to Jammu and Kashmir and with the help of the local police arrested Firdous Ahmad Dar from Kokernag police station area on Friday. After completing the court process there, the ATS team took Dar in transit remand and brought him to Lucknow on Saturday. The ATS produced the accused in court after getting him medically examined here on Saturday. His arrest came a day after the ATS arrested one Ahmed Raza alias Sharukh, who hails from Muilak Gudia village of Moradabad district, over alleged links with banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen. During preliminary interrogation, it was found that Dar had called Raza to Anantnag for terror training, the ATS said. It was Dar who got Raza the membership of Hizbul Mujahideen. Based on this information, the ATS sought 14

Encounter in J-K's Rajouri enters second day; people advised to stay away

An encounter between terrorists and security forces in a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district entered the second day on Sunday, with police advising people to stay at a distance of two kilometres for their safety. An unidentified terrorist was killed on Saturday in the initial exchange of fire with the security forces during a cordon-and-search operation launched by police and the Army at Gundha-Khawas village in the Budhal area. A police official said a gunfight between the two sides was on when the last reports were received. Reinforcements of the security forces have plugged all escape routes for the terrorists and efforts are on to neutralise them, the official said. He said the search operation was launched after police received information about the movement of terrorists in the area. A small police team launched the operation and was later joined by reinforcements from the Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the official said, adding that the body of th

Batch of Amarnath pilgrims leave Jammu, highway blocked after landslide

After a daylong suspension, the Amarnath Yatra resumed from Jammu on Sunday, with a fresh batch of 1,626 pilgrims leaving the base camp here in the early hours to join the annual pilgrimage in the south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said. However, they were stopped at the Chankerkote Yatri Niwas in Ramban district after a landslide blocked the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway -- the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country -- near Keela Morh, the officials said. They said the 34th batch of 1,626 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in a convoy of 64 vehicles between 3.30 am and 3.45 am. While 1,092 of them are heading for the Pahalgam base camp in Anantnag district, the remaining 534 devotees are on their way to the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district, they said. The convoy of the pilgrims was stopped at the Chanderkote Yatri Niwas after a landslide blocked the highway near Keela Morh around 6.15 am, prompting the traffic department to advise

Kashmir struck by 3 earthquakes in one day, no reports of any damage

An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 on the Richter Scale struck Kashmir Saturday evening, officials said. There were no reports of any damage. The earthquake that took place at 9.31 pm had its epicentre in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, officials said. The quake hit at the latitude of 36.38 degrees north and longitude of 70.77 degrees east at the depth of 181 km, officials said. This was the third quake to hit J&K in the day. Earlier the region was jolted by quakes occurring in Pakistan and in the Hindu Kush region at 8.36 am and 10.24 am. The two quakes, in that order, were measured 4.8 and 5.2 on the Richter Scale.

Divisive elements hell bent to disturb peace among communities in J-K: Azad

Divisive elements are hell-bent on disturbing peace among communities in Jammu and Kashmir, Democratic Progressive Azad Party chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Saturday. Addressing a public meeting at the Gaglla area of Doda on the first day of his 10-day tour of Chenab valley, Azad said the Union Territory has already suffered during 33 years of militancy that led to the loss of precious lives, collapse of the local economy, and lack of development. "We cannot afford instability in the region as elements are out there to exploit and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere, thereby the need of the hour is to remain vigilant and united, the DPAP supremo said without identifying the divisive individuals or groups. The former chief minister said the strong bonding between different communities in Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal is an example of how people uphold and cherish secular values in their respective communities by living in harmony for ages despite disturbance in neighbourhood ...

Article 370 abrogation ushered in peace in J-K, says govt; Oppn protests

On the fourth anniversary of Article 370's abrogation, the government on Saturday highlighted that the "historic" decision has ushered in peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir, while opposition parties, including the PDP and the Congress, held protests demanding restoration of statehood. The BJP marked the day with a public meeting in Srinagar and its leaders there said that following the 2019 decision, there has been no shutdowns in the Kashmir Valley, and with the situation getting better, the Union Territory has hosted international events and witnessed record tourist footfall. The biggest change after the abrogation of the article is that the common people of Jammu and Kashmir are living life according to their own wishes, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha said in Srinagar. The Centre on this day in 2019 had revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and ...

J-K: BJP celebrates 4th years to Article 370 abrogation; Cong, PDP protest

The BJP on Saturday celebrated the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 by holding a public meeting in Srinagar, while its rivals staged protests, with the Congress calling it a "black day". The Centre on this day in 2019 had revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Several leaders and workers of the BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit, led by general secretary organisation, J-K, Ashok Koul, participated in the meeting at Jawahar Nagar. This programme was held to open the eyes of those leaders who are trying to "provoke" the people in the name of Article 370, party spokesperson Thakur Abhijeet Jasrotia told reporters in Srinagar. "These leaders are propagating lies, but the common people and the poor want development...Today, people have risen above dynastic politics, and they do not want any Abdullah or Mufti to befool them," he said in an apparent .

Post-Article 370 abrogation, people living life as per their wishes: J-K LG

The biggest change after the abrogation of Article 370 is that the common people of Jammu and Kashmir are living life according to their own wishes, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Saturday, the fourth anniversary of the scrapping of the article. The Centre on this day in 2019 had revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. "Pakistan-sponsored shutdowns by terrorists and separatists, due to which schools, colleges and business establishments used to remain closed for about 150 days a year, have ended," Sinha told reporters after an event here. "The biggest change that is visible on the ground is that the common people of Jammu and Kashmir are living life according to their own wishes. Street violence has ended," he said. The lieutenant governor (LG) said the youth of Kashmir are enjoying late night-outs and now spend time at the Poloview market and Jhelu

UP CM extends greetings on completion of 4 years of Article 370 abrogation

5-judge Constitution bench of Supreme Court had on Wednesday begun hearing a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir

Fresh batch of pilgrims leaves for Amarnath Yatra, praises army's effort

The enthusiastic pilgrims, who will take Baltal and Pahalgam routes to reach the holy shrine, raised 'Bam Bam Bhole' slogans

Earthquake of magnitude 5.2 jolts Jammu-Kashmir's Gulmarg, says NCS

An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted Jammu and Kashmir's Gulmarg on Saturday, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported.The quake occured at around 8:36 am with its depth registered at 129 km.According to NCS, its epicentre was found at Latitude: 35.46 and Longitude: 73.32, respectively."Earthquake of Magnitude:5.2, Occurred on 05-08-2023, 08:36:01 IST, Lat: 35.46 & Long: 73.32, Depth: 129 Km, Location: 184 km NNW of Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir," the NCS tweeted.No reports of casualties or material damage were reported.Further details are awaited. An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 on the Richter scale jolted the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the early hours of Thursday.The quake hit the islands at 4:17 am.National Center for Seismology (NCS) said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 61 km.

Three army personnel killed in encounter with militants in J-K's Kulgam

Three Army personnel were killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Friday, officials said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the higher reaches of the Halan forest area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir following inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired at the security forces, who retaliated. In the exchange of fire, three security forces personnel were injured, the official said, adding, they succumbed during treatment. "Operation Halan #Kulgam. On specific inputs regarding presence of terrorists on higher reaches of Halan in Kulgam, operations launched by Security Forces on 04 Aug 23. In exchange of firing with terrorists, three personnel sustained injuries and later succumbed. Search operations are continuing, Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army said in a tweet. The official said reinforcement has been

'Early elections needed in J&K amid ongoing human rights violations'

Notably, up until June 2023, J&K has been denied the right to representation for five years

HC permits virtual production of Yasin Malik in terror funding case

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed that separatist leader Yasin Malik be virtually produced before it from jail in connection with the NIA's plea seeking death penalty for him in a terror funding case. Allowing an application by the jail superintendent citing security concerns, a bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul said the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief, who is presently serving a life term in the case, need not be produced in person and modified an earlier order seeking his physical presence. In view of the matter, the order dated May 29, 2023 is necessarily modified to the extent that the jail superintendent is directed to produce Yasin Malik in the present appeal through video conferencing alone on August 9 and not in person, ordered the bench, also comprising Justice Anish Dayal. The high court had, on May 29, issued warrants for production of Malik, who is presently serving a life term in the case in Tihar jail, on August 9 when NIA's plea for enhancement o

NIA conducts raids in J-K's Pulwama in terror-related cases: Officials

The raids are part of an ongoing investigation into the raising of funds for sponsoring terrorist activities, they said

No mechanism to abrogate Article 370 even when everyone in J-K wants it: SC

Is there no mechanism to abrogate Article 370 even when the people of Jammu and Kashmir want it, the Supreme Court asked on Thursday and wondered if the now repealed provision can't be touched will it not amount to creating a "new category" beyond the basic structure of the Constitution. Hearing for the second day a clutch of petitions challenging the Centre's 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud wanted to know how the provision could be revoked in the absence of a constitutent assembly. The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant, told senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for National Conference leader Mohd Akbar Lone, there are only two highly debatable issues -- whether Article 370 acquired a permanent status with the cessation of the constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir and whether

32nd batch of over 1,100 Amarnath pilgrims leave Jammu for cave shrine

The 32nd batch of Amarnath Yatris with over 1,100 pilgrims Thursday left the base camp here for the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas amid tight security arrangements, officials said. Over 4.3 lakh devotees paid obeisance at the 3888-metre high shrine since the commencement of the Yatra on July 1, the officials said. The 62-day annual pilgrimage to Amarnath shrine commenced from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the shorter 14-km Baltal route in the Ganderbal -- on July 1. In the early hours of Thursday, 1,198 pilgrims -- 1,023 men, 116 women, 58 seers and a child -- left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in a convoy of 43 vehicles, the officials said. As many as 932 pilgrims, headed for Pahalgam, left in a convoy of 33 vehicles, while another convoy of 10 vehicles carrying 266 pilgrims left for the Baltal base camp, they added. The Yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.

Engineers' expertise will be crucial in driving 'Make in India': L-G Sinha

Asserting that the ''Make in India'' and ''Digital India'' initiatives present a fertile ground for young minds to make their mark, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said young engineers' expertise will be instrumental in driving these missions. He said the world's greatest powers are witness to the fact that great engineers have been instrumental in propelling those nations to unparalleled heights. "Young engineers' expertise will be instrumental in driving the mission of Make in India and Startup India: Their ideas and solutions can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society", LG said Sinha was addressing the students of the joining batch of 2023 of IIT Jammu at the inaugural session of the Foundation Programme at the Jagti campus. He said "Make in India and Digital India initiatives coupled with a burgeoning startup ecosystem, presents a fertile ground for young minds to make their mark and carve a successful career in engineering". The LG said India's .

Who can ask for Art 370 revocation when no constituent assembly exists: SC

Who can recommend the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir when no constituent assembly exists there? The Supreme Court Wednesday put this question to the petitioners who have challenged the abrogation of the constitutional provision that bestowed special status on the erstwhile state. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud today commenced hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Centre's August 5, 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370, a move that had come in for vicious attack by some major opposition parties but earned fulsome praise from those supporting the BJP. The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, the lead counsel for the petitioners, as to how can a provision (Article 370), which was specifically mentioned as a temporary provision in the Constitution, become permanent after tenure of the Jammu and Kashmir constituent assembly came to an end in

Villagers lock out govt school in Udhampur as building deemed unsafe

Zonal Education and planning officer, Ghordi Krishan Dutt, said the prevailing infratructure at the government school, or the lack of it, was unsafe to house students