Page 9 - Jammu And Kashmir

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

6 years of abrogation of Article 370: Why it matters and what has changed?

Six years after Article 370 was scrapped, debates continue over its impact on J&K's security, development, and political future, with statehood restoration still a key demand on the ground

Amarnath Yatra suspended amid high-level political huddles in Delhi

The Amarnath Yatra 2025 was suspended as the Jammu admin withdrew officials, coinciding with heightened political activity and key meetings in New Delhi

Congress to observe Aug 5 as 'black day', demand J-K statehood restoration

The Congress will observe August 5 as a "black day" against the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir from a state to a Union territory six years ago and will sit on a dharna to press for the restoration of statehood. On August 5, 2019, the Centre scrapped J&K's special status and bifurcated the state into two Union territories. The Congress is backed by the other members of the All Parties United Morcha, which was created with the aim of restoring statehood, for the protest on Wednesday. "The Congress party shall observe August 5 as a black day against the downgrading of the historical J&K state into a Union territory. All constituent members are fully supporting it together," chief spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, Ravinder Sharma, told reporters here. He said that a peaceful sit-in will be organised by the Congress supported by All Parties United Morcha near the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at Tawi bridge in Jammu to press for the early ...

Operation continues for fourth day in J-K's Kulgam, one terrorist killed

On Saturday, security forces neutralised one terrorist during a gunfight that continued overnight in the Akhal area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, Chinar Corps said

Operation continues on third day in J-K's Kulgam, one terrorist neutralised

On Saturday, security forces neutralised one terrorist during a gunfight that continued overnight in the Akhal area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district

Authorities suspend Amarnath Yatra from August 3 due to track maintenance

Authorities have suspended this year's annual Amarnath Yatra, just a week before its scheduled conclusion, due to the need for maintenance on the tracks that were damaged by recent heavy rainfall, officials said on Saturday. The yatra, which began on July 3, was scheduled to conclude on August 9 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. However, authorities decided to shorten it by a week, citing "critical repair and maintenance works" to be undertaken in the wake of the heavy rainfall. "Due to recent heavy rainfall and the need for track maintenance along both the Baltal and Pahalgam axes of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra route, the yatra movement has been closed on both the tracks," Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, said here. "It has been observed that due to the continued deployment of men and machinery on the tracks from tomorrow, we would not be able to resume the yatra. The yatra will therefore remain suspended from 3rd August onwards from both the routes," he explain

One terrorist neutralised in ongoing encounter in J&K's Kulgam: Army

The joint anti-terror operation, carried out by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and Special Operations Group (SOG), remains underway

Amarnath Yatra from Jammu remains suspended for 2nd day due to bad weather

The Amarnath Yatra from Jammu remained suspended from Jammu for the second consecutive day on Friday due to inclement weather conditions, officials said. No fresh batch of pilgrims was allowed to proceed to the Amarnath cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas, they said. The pilgrims who had come from outside for the yatra are housed in the high-security Bhagwati Nagar base camp for their further journey to the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal after reviewing the weather situation. Over 4 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the ice lingam of Lord Shiva at the 3,880-meter-high cave shrine since the 38-day pilgrimage commenced on July 3 from the Valley. "The yatra to the cave shrine from Jammu remained suspended today. It has been done in view of the inclement weather besides precautionary measures. No fresh batch was allowed from Jammu towards Amarnath," Yatra information official said. This is the second time the yatra has been suspended from Jammu. On July 17, the yatra

Amarnath Yatra resumes on Baltal axis, still suspended on Pahalgam route

The Amarnath Yatra resumed from the Baltal axis on Thursday, a day after it was suspended due to heavy rains, officials said. However, the yatra remains suspended from the Pahalgam axis as urgent maintenance and repair works have to be carried out on the route, they said. Torrential rains in Kashmir had rendered the roads unsafe, following which the pilgrimage was suspended on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes on Wednesday. "The yatra resumed this morning from the Baltal route," said an official, adding, "In view of maintenance works required to be carried out on the Pahalgam axis of Amarnath Yatra route following the recent rains, the yatra shall continue only through Baltal axis." The official said that no convoy movement would be allowed towards the Baltal and Nunwan base camps from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Thursday. So far, more than 3.93 lakh yatris have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine this year. The annual yatra that began on July 3 will culminate of Au

In a first, UNSC report names TRF as group behind Pahalgam terror attack

UNSC report links TRF to Lashkar-e-Taiba, endorses India's counter-terror efforts despite Pakistan's opposition