Jammu, June 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday reviewed the ongoing preparations for the Amarnath Yatra 2023 which is commencing on July 1.

The Amarnath Yatra takes place annually via two routes -- southern route through Baltal in Ganderbal and the northern route through Pahalgam in Anantnag.

A defence ministry spokesman said that the Army Commander inspected the arrangements on both the routes where he was briefed on the multi-tiered security arrangements including night domination through night vision devices, snipers, drone systems, bomb disposal squads, dog squads, counter IED equipment, vehicle repair and recovery teams to ensure smooth movement of convoys and synergy with the civil agencies being undertaken to make the Yatra incident free.

He also inspected the arrangements of the BRO, Indian Air Force and teams from the High Altitude Warfare School.

"The road stretch to Holy Cave Shrine is almost clear for induction of pilgrims. In coordination with civil administration, NGOs and other agencies, Army is establishing multiple medical detachments with special arrangements of oxygen cylinders and control rooms at various places along both the routes for humanitarian aid that will be operational round the clock.

"Various civil aviation agencies have been incorporated for providing air travel facilities to the devotees. Army has established helipads at multiple locations for medical emergencies and to cater for other air lift requirements."

The Army has also established a number of Yatri camps with adequate tentage facility along with special winter clothing arrangements to provide habitat and comfort during the Holy Yatra.

"Based on the experiences of cloud burst during the Amarnath Yatra 2022, civil rescue teams and avalanche rescue teams will also be deployed enroute systematically to mitigate any kind of disaster."

The Army said that earth movers will also be placed at multiple locations enroute for emergencies. Seamless communication network on both the routes has also been operationalised. SFF detachments will also be overlooking the security of the people.

"An all inclusive approach has been followed to synergize the efforts with all civil agencies including joint training, joint operation, joint exercises and mock drills are being conducted to ensure seamless and successful conduct of the Yatra this year."

The Army said that the Northern Army Commander appreciated the good work of all agencies and the synergy between them. He complimented them for their proactive action and exhorted them to meet the future challenges.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, June 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Fourth District Srinagar Indoor Rowing Championship 2023 commenced on Wednesday at Indoor Sports Complex in Elahibagh, Srinagar.

The opening function witnessed an overwhelming response of more than 250 boys and girls representing different schools and clubs across the district.

The Championship, organized by the District Rowing Association in collaboration with the J&K Rowing and Sculling Association and the J&K Sports Council, promises to showcase the region's burgeoning talent in rowing.

The opening ceremony was graced by guests, including Mashkoor Ahmad Zargar (SP Hazratbal, Sgr) as the Chief Guest, and Tariq Ghani (President CCIK) and Vandana Daftari (Regional Director for Art of Living) as the Guests of Honour.

On Wednesday, 35 out of the scheduled 52 races were successfully conducted, with the remaining races scheduled for Thursday. The medal ceremony will follow the conclusion of the remaining races.

President of the J&K Association of Rowing and Sculling Dr. Burhan Bazaz said that the association's commitment in unveiling and nurturing the hidden talent of the youth across J&K by offering them a platform to showcase their skills.

"We are thrilled to witness such a massive participation of students in the Fourth District Srinagar Indoor Rowing Championship. It is a testament to the dedication and passion these young athletes possess. J&K Association of Rowing and Sculling is wholeheartedly committed to fostering talent in the region and providing deserving players with opportunities to excel," he said.

Bilquis Mir, an international player of Kayaking, seized the moment to highlight the significance of initiatives like this championship. She emphasized the need for more youth to participate in sports as a means to avoid drugs and transform their lives positively.

"Sports is the best game changer of life. I commend the organizers for holding such an incredible event. It's crucial for more youth to engage in sports and steer clear of the harmful influence of drugs. This championship serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of sports," Bilquis said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) A day after attaching 17 properties of terror financier Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday attached two more properties belonging to another accused in the Hurriyat terror-funding case in Kashmir.

The properties of All Party Hurriyat Conference's (APHC) separatist leader Mohammad Akbar Khanday include nine kanals of land and a two-storey house in Srinagar. These have been attached on the orders of the special NIA court in New Delhi under Section 33(1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

"Khanday is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with the terror-funding case. He served as the media advisor to Hurriyat Conference (G). He was raising and collecting funds from within India and abroad through various illegal channels and using the same to sponsor and promote separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir," an NIA official said.

The official said that Khanday, who had close connections with other separatist leaders of the APHC, operated in close association with the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). He used to collect funds for unlawful and violent activities and was actively involved in activities aimed at secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India, as revealed by NIA investigation.

The case, filed suo moto by the NIA in May 2017, relates to terrorist and secessionist activities being carried out by ISI-backed proscribed terrorist organisations in Jammu and Kashmir.

These banned outfits, including Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) etc., were using the APHC as a front for their activities, as revealed by the NIA investigation.

They spread terror and perpetrated violence in the Kashmir Valley by promoting and carrying out attacks on civilians and security forces.

So far, the agency has filed charge sheets against 17 individuals, including Hafeez Saeed, the Amir of Jamaat-ud-Dawah and LeT, and a UN-listed terrorist, as well as Mohd. Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, the chief of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday said that it has attached 17 properties of Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali, a financier of terrorism in J&K, in a Hurriyat terror funding case.

Yasin Malik, a JKLF commander, is currently serving a life sentence in this case.

Alongside Yasin Malik, seventeen others, including Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the Amir of Jammat-ud-Dawah and a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Mohd Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, a top commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, have also been charged in the case.

The NIA registered the case suo moto on May 30, 2017. Malik was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine.

The case pertains to terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu & Kashmir conducted by proscribed ISI-backed organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

These outfits have been spreading terror and perpetrating violence in the valley by promoting and carrying out attacks on civilians and security forces.

"Seventeen properties belonging to Watali in the Handwara area of Kupwara in Kashmir have been attached by the NIA today, on the orders of the Special NIA Court, Patiala House, under section 33(1) of the UA(P) Act," said the NIA official.

The official said that these banned terrorist groups were using the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), formed in 1993, as a front for carrying out and supporting secessionist activities in Kashmir.

Investigations in the case have revealed that the accused secessionists, including the APHC, entered into a criminal conspiracy and adopted a strategy of inciting the general public to create a tense atmosphere in the Kashmir valley and resort to violence. Watali had been sending funds raised from various sources to Hurriyat leaders to promote the secession of Jammu & Kashmir from the Union of India.

NIA investigations revealed that Watali was a hawala conduit who received money from Hafiz Saeed, a 'Specially Designated Global terrorist' by the United States and a 'listed global terrorist' by the UN.

Hafiz Saeed masterminded the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Watali received foreign remittances amounting to crores between 2011 and 2013 from various sources.

Additionally, he received foreign remittances in his Proprietorship Firm named M/s 'Trisson International', Srinagar, and unexplained remittances were found in his NRE Bank accounts.

"Watali claimed to have sold a plot of land measuring 20 kanals, purportedly owned by his company, M/s 'Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt. Ltd.', to one Naval Kishore Kapoor, a co-accused in the case. However, investigations found that neither Watali nor his aforementioned company were the owners of this plot of land according to the revenue records. Watali is currently facing trial before the Special NIA Court in New Delhi," said the official.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, June 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday held a wreath laying ceremony to pay homage to policeman Fayaz Ahmad at his native village in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.

"ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar on behalf of J&K Police Parivar conveyed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of the martyr for his supreme sacrifice made in the line of duty," the police said.

"We pay our rich tributes to the martyr for his supreme sacrifice made in the line of duty and stand by his family at this crucial juncture."

Senior police officials and locals of the area participated in the ceremony and laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains of the martyr.

The deceased policeman was injured in a terror attack on July 12, 2022 at Lal Bazar in Srinagar and succumbed to injuries and attained martyrdom on Monday.

On July 12, 2022, terrorists fired upon a Naka party near G.D Goenka Public School area of Lal Bazar, resulting in the martyrdom of ASI Mushtaq Ahmad and injuries to Head Constable Fayaz Ahmad and SPO Abu Bakar.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to the kin of two workers who died due to a blast in its plant at Patralapli village in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district on June 10, 2020.

The NGT bench also directed JSPL to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh to those injured within one month.

"In default of payment, the District Magistrate may take coercive measures for recovery, including disconnecting the electricity," the bench of Chairperson Justice A.K. Goel (retd) said.

Kanhaiya Lal Poddar and Jayman Khellkon, who had suffered nearly 90 per cent burn injuries in the incident, died at a hospital on June 12, 2020, while Arvind Kumar Singh and Laluram survived with injuries.

The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi along with expert members A. Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, requested the State Legal Services Authority to provide the necessary legal aid in the matter.

The NGT bench said that this order will not debar any other civil or criminal liability of the JSPL. "We further direct the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) to audit the safety norms adopted by the unit so that such incidents do not reoccur in the future," it said.

The NGT proceedings were initiated in the matter suo-motu on the basis of the media reports. The green bench also observed that the works were denied fair treatment and justice.

"Death of two workers and burn injuries to two other surviving work ers was on account of failure of the establishment to follow environmental safety norms. A commercial establishment undertaking hazardous activities has absolute financial liability for injury or loss of life to anyone. Such liability is apart from liabilities under other laws, including criminal offences," the bench said.

"Unfortunately, no proceedings appear to have been initiated for IPC offences such as under section 304 A IPC and only prosecution which has been initiated is under Factories Act only against the managers who have been let off by imprisonment till rising of court and fine," it added.

"As a responsible business entity, JSPL is expected to show sensitivity for loss of lives and injuries to persons on account of failure in following expected norms but unfortunately, they have chosen to raise technicalities and even two years after the incident," said the bench.

"Mere expression of willingness instead of doing duty is nothing. We cannot help recording our observation that the establishment has not shown concern expected from a responsible business entity. We hope the Legal Service Authority will reach out to the victims to provide them access to justice," it added.

Source: IANS

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By Pawan Tripathi

Noida, Dec 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Incidents of poorly maintained lifts have been constantly coming to light in Noida.

An 8-year-old boy got stuck in a lift in Nirala Aspire Society of Greater Noida while returning home from tuition. As soon as the child pressed the button after boarding, the lift got stuck for about ten minutes between the fourth and fifth floors due to a technical glitch.

A video of the incident has surfaced online.

Negligence on the security guards' part was observed in the incident.

The boy's father, Priyanshu Das bought his dream home on the 14th floor of A8 Tower in the society. He said that his son cycled back from his tuition and got inside the lift with his bicycle before getting stuck.

The society's maintenance staff said that the lift's door remained slightly open due to the boy's bicycle, which led to its abrupt stoppage.

The staff however could not provide answers when asked about the whereabouts of the security personnel who were supposed to monitor the lift through CCTV cameras.

The matter has been reported to the police and their investigation is underway.

Earlier, on November 29, three girls were trapped in a lift of Assotech Nest Housing society in Crossing Republik for about 25 minutes.

The society's builder S.K. Garg appeared worried over the matter and told IANS that he ensured the installation of good quality lifts and other equipment in the premises.

He said that maintenance was the responsibility of the company which is given the contract of installing other equipment in the building. He added that the Apartment Owners' Association (AOA) becomes responsible for the same when the building is transferred.

Ajit Kumar Singh, an official of a maintenance company, claimed technical problems to be a reason behind such incidents.

He blamed maintenance work not being done at the right time by the company and tampering of buttons inside the lift as two more reasons behind the incidents.

He said that sudden damage to electronic equipment, including a short circuit, was also a reason for such problems.

The residents, unhappy over such incidents happening continually, raised questions on why they were provided with only sub-par facilities after spending thousands of rupees on maintenance.

The residents held both the AOA and the builder responsible for the incidents and said that irregular servicing of the lifts, which is supposed to be done every month, is making them suffer.

Source: IANS

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Jammu, June 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Police and security forces in a joint operation have arrested one Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist from Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

He has been identified as Talib Hussain who "Joined terrorist ranks of HM outfit in 2016 and remained active along with other terrorists of Kishtwar and was instrumental in reviving militancy by way of recruiting youths into militancy," police said.

But later on, due to some squabble with other HM terrorists, he left the group but remained active at large. However, "Kishtwar Police worked meticulously on the leads obtained about his whereabouts and pre-empted his move to affect the revival of militancy in the area as he got arrested after dodging the police and other security agencies for a long time," police said.

Police have registered a case and investigations have been taken up.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, April 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two terrorists killed in an encounter between terrorists and security forces at the Mitrigam area in south Kashmir's Pulwama district have been identified, said police officials on Thursday.

The encounter took place on Wednesday. The two terrorists killed were involved in several terror attacks on migrant labourers belonging outside Jammu and Kashmir in Pulwama district during March and April this year, police said.

"Both killed terrorists identified as local terrorists namely Aijaz Hafiz and Shahid Ayub, of Al-Badr outfit. Two AK rifles recovered. They had been involved in series of attacks on outside labourers in Pulwama in the month of March-April 2022," Jammu and Kashmir Police quoting Inspector General Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar, tweeted.

The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, April 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two terrorists were killed and a soldier was injured in an encounter between terrorists and security forces at Mitrigam area in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, said police officials on Thursday.

"One more terrorist killed (Total 2). Operation over," police said.

Earlier, the police added that a group of two to three terrorists were holed-up and the priority was to prevent collateral damage and to evacuate the civilians.

The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, April 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) She made her mark in Bollywood as well as in the web space with films like 'Margarita with a Straw', 'Fan', 'Jolly LLB 2','Article 15' and 'Axone'.

Actress Sayani Gupta says even though in the public places people recognise her as an actor, it's funny for her to get the weird yet curious look.

She also appeared in web series like 'Inside Edge', 'Four More Shots Please!'.

The actress recently appeared in a short film titled 'Shameless' along with the co-actor Hussain Dalal.

In conversation with IANS, Sayani shares, one such incident of how it feels to be what she calls a 'semi-popular' actor.

Sayani said, "I think unless you are Shah Rukh Khan, or a superstar of his level, many actors must have faced it. It is a little weird where in public places like cafe, resturant etc people walked up to us saying, 'I have seen you somewhere'...and then there is a moment of silence because something is buffering in their head (laugh)! Sometime even the onus comes on you that you have to explain where they have seen you! Funny but reality."

Directed by Keith Gomes, produced by Shabinaa Khan - 'Shameless' released on Amazon miniTV.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, April 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Railway police officer injured in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) Pulwama district, succumbed to critical injuries in a city hospital on Saturday.

J&K Police sources said, "Sub-Inspector Dev Raj, who was injured in Kakapora area of Pulwama district in militant attack on Monday, succumbed in the hospital on Saturday morning."

Sub-Inspector Dev Raj and Head Constable Surinder Kumar were injured in firing by terrorists in Kakapora area on Monday.

The Head Constable had died on the spot while the Sub-Inspector was shifted to Srinagar's SMHS hospital for treatment where he survived till Saturday morning.

Source: IANS

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Jammu, April 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the 'Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Sankalp Rally' on May 8 which is being organised to reiterate India's claim over parts of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan, BJP sources said.

The rally is being organised in Jammu on May 8 by Jammu and Kashmir People's Forum.

The rally will be attended by the Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir refugees, who have settled in Jammu and Kashmir, and other states of the country.

Shah's second visit to Jammu and Kashmir comes amid reports that the Union government proposes to hold Assembly elections in the Union Territory after completion of the delimitation exercise which will be followed by summary revision of electoral rolls.

The Union Home Minister's visit on May 8 will follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Palli panchayat in Jammu's Samba district on April 24 on the occasion of National Panchayat Day.

Union Home secretary, A.K. Bhalla and Intelligence Bureau Director, Arvind Kumar will visit Srinagar on Thursday (April 14) to review the arrangements for this year's Amarnath yatra.

The 43-day long Amarnath yatra will start this year on June 30 and end on August 11 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.

In 2019, the yatra was cut short because of the Union government's decision to abrogate Article 370. The yatra was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, April 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) A civilian, who was allegedly shot and injured by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)'s Kulgam district, succumbed in the hospital, police officials said.

The civilian was allegedly shot on Wednesday evening and died on the same day.

The J&K Police said, "Satish Singh, a local Rajput belonging to Pombay Kakran village, who was shot and injured by militants yesterday evening, has succumbed to critical injuries".

Doctors at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar, where the injured civilian was admitted for treatment, said the civilian had gunshot injury in the head and had finally succumbed.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, April 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Actress and model Himanshi Khurana went on to become a household name after her stint in season 13 of the show 'Bigg Boss'.

The actress is a fitness enthusiast herself who opened up about what fitness means to her.

She says: "Fitness for me is being flexible and comfortable in my own body. Unfit people tend to face a lot of health problems and difficulties in carrying day to day activities, therefore being fit is very important"

She furthermore adds how important working out is to her. Talking about the same, the actress shares: "Working out for me is very important. I work out regularly no matter what, even in my busy schedule I take out time to work out. I tend to skip my workout only when it is literally impossible but I try to make it up by following a proper diet."

The actress further briefs about her diet and says: "My diet mostly consists of Indian food because Indian food is very nutritious. We can get all the required nutrition and protein from our Indian food."

Lastly, the actress concludes by giving out a message to the youngsters.

"My only advice to motivate youngsters is to stay persistent and consistent. Make fitness a habit and not an option by exercising regularly."

Source: IANS

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Srinagar/New Delhi, April 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Army has initiated Court Martial against a Captain involved in an alleged encounter where three civilians mistaken to be terrorists were killed in Amshipura village of Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district in July 2020.

The Army says a Court of inquiry and the summary of evidence indicated the need for "disciplinary proceedings".

The Court Martial proceedings has been then initiated against Army Captain Bhoopendra Singh.

The three people from Rajouri district of Jammu region -- Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrar -- were killed in Shopian district on July 18, 2020, and called as "terrorists".

But as the protest started and doubts were raised over the alleged killings, the Army promptly constituted a Court of inquiry which found prima facie evidence that the troops had "exceeded" powers vested under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

After the news about the fake encounter spread, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had constituted a special investigation team which filed a chargesheet against three people, including Captain Singh, for "staging a fake encounter" in Shopian district and killing three men.

It had alleged that Captain Singh had provided wrong information to his superiors and the police about the recovery made during the encounter.

The other two named by the police in its chargesheet are Tabish Nazir and Bilal Ahmed Lone, both civilians.

The Court of inquiry was followed by the summary of evidence, which was completed in the last week of December 2020.

In October 2020, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the three families and assured them that justice will be done.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Dec 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two policemen were injured on Sunday in a grenade attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pulwama district, police officials said.

Police sources said terrorists hurled a grenade at a police party in Pulwama main Chowk.

"The grenade exploded resulting in splinter injuries to two policemen. They have been shifted to hospital and the area has been cordoned off," sources added.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Dec 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two terrorists belonging to the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chowgam area of south Kashmir's Shopian district on Saturday, Jammu & Kashmir police officials said.

The police said that acting on a specific input regarding the presence of terrorists in Chowgam village area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by the police, Army's 44 Rashtriya Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force.

"During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given ample opportunities to surrender. However, they refused to surrender and instead fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which retaliated leading to an encounter," the police said.

In the encounter, two terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site.

They have been identified as Sajad Ahmad Chak, a resident of Braripora in Shopian district and Raja Basit Yaqoob, a resident of Achan Litter in Pulwama district.

"As per police records both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and were part of groups involved in several terror cases. Besides, the killed terrorist Sajad was also instrumental in motivating and recruiting the youth to join terror outfits," the police added.

Incriminating material, arms and ammunition, including two AK-series rifles, four AK magazines and 32 rounds were recovered from them.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Dec 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) A terrorist killed in an encounter at Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on Friday refused to surrender and instead fired indiscriminately at the security forces which triggered the encounter, police officials said.

Based on a specific input regarding the presence of a terrorist in Mominhall Aarwani village of Bijbehara area in Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by the police and the Army's 1st Rashtriya Rifles and Central Reserve Police, the police said.

"During the search operation, as the presence of the trapped terrorist got ascertained, he was given ample opportunities to surrender. However, he refused to surrender and instead fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which retaliated leading to an encounter," police added.

In the ensuing encounter, the terrorist identified as Shahzad Ahmad Seh, a resident of Sehpora in Kulgam was killed and his body was retrieved from the site.

"As per police records, the killed terrorist was a categorised terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and was part of groups involved in several terror cases.

He was involved in the killing of J&K Police Inspector, Mohammad Ashraf Bhat of Chandpora, Kanelwan, in Anantnag at his residence on October 19, 2020; three BJP workers at YK-Pora in Kulgam on October 29, 2020, as well as a BJP Sarpanch and his wife at Lal Chowk in Anantnag on August 9, 2021.

"Besides, the terrorist was involved in an attack on District Development Council candidate Anees-ul-Islam Ganie at Sagam Kokernag on December 4, 2020, and snatching a weapon from a Police constable at Shamispora crossing in Khudwani area of Kulgam on July 25, 2021. Moreover, he was involved in various grenade lobbing incidents and attacks on security establishments in Anantnag and Kulgam areas," police said.

Incriminating material, arms and ammunition, including one AK-47 rifle, two AK magazines, 40 AK rounds and a grenade were recovered from his possession. All the recovered material has been taken into case records for further investigation.

Source: IANS

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Jammu, Dec 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a significant decision, the Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Council which met under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, approved the regulations framed by the Board of Revenue for conversion of agricultural land for non-agrarian purposes.

These regulations were necessitated after the legislative changes in the Land Revenue Act
post-reorganisation of the erstwhile state.

These regulations have been issued to regulate the uncontrolled conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes on the one hand and keeping the developmental aspirations of the Union Territory (UT) and people on the other hand.

Under the new regulations, the District Collector has been empowered to grant permission to the change in land use from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes in accordance with the procedure as to be notified by the Board of Revenue.

The permission is to be granted within 30 days of filing of the application with a provision of deemed approval if no decisions are taken.

The powers have been delegated to the District Collector to grant permission for land up to 12-A standard acre against a fee of 5 per cent of the market value of the land notified under the Stamps Act.

The regulations empower the applicant to start the non-agriculture use on the permitted land within one year from the date of the order issued by the District Collector in this regard. However, the land can be diverted and used only for the purpose specified in the permission.

Moreover, the regulations provide exemption from seeking the permission in cases of conversion for construction of residential house or farm-related buildings and storages with a ceiling of 400 square metres (17 Marla).

The Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Tehsildar concerned have been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of these regulations within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Besides, it will be the duty of every Agriculture Extension Officer to report cases of violation to the revenue officers and any neglect on this account can attract disciplinary action for dereliction of duty.

The decision is aimed at ensuring production of sufficient quantity of foodgrains, besides promoting orderly growth of industrial and services sector in the UT and creation of employment.

With this decision, the UT will be at par with the leading states of the country in allowing the conversion of agricultural land and reducing compliance burden under Business Reforms Action Plan (Ease of Doing Business) in an investor-friendly ecosystem.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Dec 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter between the former and the security forces at Redwani area in South Kashmir's Kulgam district, Jammu & Kashmir police officials said on Thursday.

"Two unidentified terrorists killed. Search operation is going on," the police added.

The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place on Thursday after a joint team of police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Dec 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) An encounter has started between terrorists and security forces at Rajpora area in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, Jammu & Kashmir police officials said on Wednesday.

"Encounter has started at Usgam Pathri in Rajpura area of Pulwama. Police and security forces are on the job," the police added.

The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the Army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) High-density apple plantation was done in 2,300 hectares under a special scheme for the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the Central government informed at the Apple Festival inaugurated on Thursday at Srinagar.

Claiming that this Apple Festival was being organised for the first time in J&K, the government informed that the largest quarantine centre for high-density planting material was also being opened in the UT.

With an annual production of more than 2.2 million metric tonne, apples from the UT contributes to 87 per cent of the national production and are linked to the livelihood of nearly 30 per cent of UT's population.

Virtually inaugurating the Apple Festival, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar along with the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, said the government is doing good and speedy work for development of agriculture in the UT with the funds provided under various schemes by the Central government, according to a release from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Apple and Kashmir are synonymous with each other; it is the main crop, and this important event will provide a better platform to apple growers and other stakeholders here under the able leadership of Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha," Tomar said.

Sinha said agriculture and allied sector have a significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product and most of the residents are dependent on agriculture, for whose upliftment the Central and UT governments are working together.

"Various schemes have been implemented to double the income of the farmers. Work is being done with full force to fulfil the Prime Minister's vision of a self-reliant India," he added.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary said the agriculture Budget of the Centre is now Rs 1.23 lakh crore, higher than Rs 22,000 crore before 2014 when the Modi government came to power.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) A police officer, Arshid Ahmad Mir, was shot dead from point-blank range by terrorists in Khanyar area of Srinagar city, evoking strong reactions from various quarters in Kashmir. While huge crowds turning up for funerals of militants in the valley had become a norm till 2020, on Sunday, thousands of people participated in the last rites of SI Mir.

As the mortal remains of the young and brave officer reached his home in Kupwara district people were shocked. Everyone mourned his death with women wailing when the body reached the village. Later thousands of people joined the funeral with slogans against terrorists.

According to J&K police, Arshid Ahmad Mir, a Probation Sub-Inspector, was critically injured in a cowardly attack of terrorists at Khanyar. He was shifted to hospital where he succumbed.

At his son's funeral, father Mohammad Ashraf Mir had one question for his killer: "I want to know the fault of my son. What wrong he could have done in his two years of service?..." This made all the participants at the burial cry out loud.

People of Kashmir are showing anger against the killing of un armed personal, it is a clear resentment against the militants among the public. No one is happy when an unarmed police man is killed. People are now appreciating the police.

At the funeral of this brave young officer, a strong voice was raised by the Islamic scholars against the barbaric killing. Strong reactions erupted in the valley. The Police chief said we have identified the perpetrators .

"We have lost a brave young officer. He was learning the nuances of policing. It's a very tragic loss for us and his family. We express our deepest condolences. Perpetrators involved in this case have been identified and they will be brought to justice," DGP Dilbagh singh said.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack in strong words and said: "This is a handiwork of enemies of humanity and peace."

Kashmir civil society and netizens expressed grief on this dastardly and brutal attack.

A Netizen from Kashmir wrote on a microblogging site: "The dastardly attack on young, unarmed policeman left another family orphaned and it deserves highest possible condemnation."

Another wrote: "Day in and day out we are losing our gems, this must end, Kashmir must wake up against the terror cycle."

All the regional political parties also expressed grief over the killing of an unarmed police man, J&K Congress termed it inhuman and ghastly attack, while the NC and PDP termed the attack dastardly.

Every one in Kashmir is expressing their deepest sympathies with the bereaved family. Things are changing now this massive turnout at police officer's funeral is reminder of Kashmir's complex reality.

People from all walks of life are now fed up with daily killings in Kashmir. Terrorism has brought endless pain and suffering to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and it must end now, echo voices from all corners.

Terrorists are working as per the agenda of their handlers to keep this place in turmoil and agony. They are responsible for regular innocent killings of locals and attacks on security forces involved in maintaining and strengthening peaceful environment -- This all must stop.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Sep 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Jammu and Kashmir mainstream party leaders have condemned the killing of a Jammu and Kashmir police Sub-Inspector in a terrorist attack on Sunday.

Terrorists fired upon police Sub-Inspector identified as Arshid Ahmad from a close range in Khanyar area of Srinagar. He was moved to the hospital in a critical condition where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Former Chief Minister and J&K National Conference leader, Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Sorry to hear about the death in the line of duty of Sub-Inspector Arshid Mir of @JmuKmrPolice in a dastardly attack in the heart of Srinagar city. A young life with so much promise, another grieving family. May Allah grant Arshid place in Jannat."

Jammu & Kashmir People's Conference leader Imran Ansari while condemning the attack tweeted, "Strongly condemn the killing of JK police Sub-Inspector Arshid Ahmad. A young life snatched in broad daylight, leaving behind his family in perpetual mourning and sense of grief. May Allah grant him highest place in Jannat."

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, "Saddened to hear about the death of J&K Police Sub-Inspector Arshid Ahmed killed by militants at Khanyar on Sunday. May his soul rest in peace and condolences to his family."

Condemning the killing of Arshid Ahmad, Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari termed the incident extremely barbaric that can yield nothing except more miseries to the people.

"Khanyar incident is an addition to the senseless bloodshed that has made another Kashmiri family a victim of violence," he said in his condolence message.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two local teachers on Saturday claimed that they have discovered a gigantic fossil site in Jammu & Kashmir's Kulgam district.

Manzoor Ahmad and Rouf Hamza are junior lecturers at a school in Kashmir.

They told the media that while scouting for fossil samples near the Aharbal waterfall in Kulgam district, they came across a site which is rich in fossil diversity dating back between 488 to 354 million years.

"The site located just two kilometres from the Aharbal waterfall is studded with thousands of fossil remains which got exposed due to weathering, road construction and subsequent erosion", the duo claimed.

The two teachers said fossils are visible superficially at the site without any excavation which indicates that a huge haul of fossils is hidden at the site.

"Preliminary investigation has revealed that these fossil samples fall between Ordovician and Devonian period.

"Actual age can, however, be determined by subsequent research and carbon dating," said Rouf Hamza.

The site is presumably the biggest paleontological finding in Jammu & Kashmir in terms of occurrence, area, diversity and age, he added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned major events across Jammu and Kashmir on International Yoga Day (IYD) observed on June 21 every year, to further expand its base in the Union Territory (UT), including the valley.

The saffron party will organise a yoga programme in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP has decided to use the opportunity to create awareness to reduce vaccine hesitancy among the people.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP Co-incharge, Ashish Sood, told IANS that IYD programmes will be held at the polling booth level across Jammu and Kashmir and senior party leaders will participate. He said that like the other flagship programmes of the Narendra Modi government, the BJP has planned to promote Yoga Day in Jammu and Kashmir by organising events at the booth level.

"Several events and awareness programmes highlighting the welfare schemes of the Modi government have been held in Jammu and Kashmir. This year for the first time, the BJP will be organising an International Yoga Day programme across Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar, Baramulla, Ganderbal and other parts of the UT," Sood said.

The saffron party believes that such events involving public participation will give a boost to its expansion in the valley. "For the first time a BJP member won District Development Council (DDC) polls in the valley and continuously worked to win people's support with the welfare schemes of the Modi government," Sood added.

BJP workers and leaders will do yoga with the people and explain to them about the benefits of yoga, especially in the time of a pandemic.

The party workers will celebrate IYD with people at the majority of booths or where the BJP has already appointed booth level workers.

"Our workers and leaders will do yoga with the residents of that particular polling booth," Sood said. A party leader said out of more than 10,000 polling booths in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP has appointed workers at the majority of the booths.

Sood said the BJP workers will also use Yoga Day as an opportunity to create awareness about Covid vaccination. "On June 21, the Union government is also launching free vaccines for everyone above 18 years and the BJP workers, including me, will use yoga day events to create awareness to reduce vaccine hesitancy among people," he added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) in collaboration with I Am Buddha Foundation and Anupam Kher Foundation hosted a mega online Covid relief fundraising concert on June 5 'Ek Saath India Will Rise Again'.

The event was supported by Sewa International Foundation, Kashyap Seva Foundation, the US India Pragati Foundation and Federation of Indian Physician Associations. The concert was in aid of thousands of victims of the recent Covid pandemic that has struck India. Widows and orphans have been left behind to fend for themselves and the refugees, migrants, indigenous people, artists and minorities have borne the brunt of having lost their livelihood and earnings.

Anupam Kher stated, "Inspite of being refugees in their own country, the compassionate Kashmiri Pandits heard the cry of agony of those orphaned or widowed, those migrants and refugees, those who have lost all hope. They rose to meet the challenge and demonstrated by their actions that India will rise again."

Lata Mangeshkar stated, "Covid has hurt everyone physically and economically. Covid came to India and the second way has traumatized India for which I am filled with sorrow. Anupamji is working with organizations which is extremely beneficial. I pray to God that the world is freed from this disease, and we can once again lead our normal lives. Everyone should do good works and inspire others to do good".

Utpal Kaul GKPD India coordinator stated, "We are immensely grateful to all of the legendary artists including Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle who supported the event and gave us the honour of listening to their melodious voices, poem renditions that uplifted our spirits with their encouraging words."

Director and Producer Vivek Agnihotri stated, "It was an honor for Pallavi Joshi to anchor the program and for I Am Buddha to produce it on behalf of Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora. We are filled with gratitude at how the artist community responded to the call. We are deeply appreciative to the audience from across the world who joined live in thousands on all online platforms. It continues to be watched across the world."

There has been an outpouring of emotion for the concert and viewers from across the globe including U.S.A, U.K, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and South Africa have contributed to the fundraising effort. All of the moneys raised from the public will go to the end beneficiaries or reputed organizations serving them.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) E-commerce major Amazon on Tuesday announced that it has procured 100 ventilators and will import these to India, in its bid to help the country fight the devastating second wave of Covid-19.

Amazon has tied up with Medtronic, an American-Irish medical device company, to deliver the units to India in the next two weeks.

"Amazon has worked with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to ensure the ventilators are of acceptable technical specification and carried out its own compatibility checks to immediately fund 100 units of Medtronic's PB980 model and bring them into India for urgent use," the company shared in a blogpost.

The e-commerce giant is also working closely with the Health Ministry's appointed agencies to finalise the hospitals for end-to-end delivery, installation, maintenance and training of personnel who will use these machines.

"We hugely appreciate the quick response from the MoHWF to help identify the most compatible models, expediting the shipment import into India and for coordination with agencies of MoHFW to allocate these where they are needed most. We are doing more and are committed to support our country in the fight against Covid-19," said Amit Agarwal, Global SVP and Country Head, Amazon India, in the blog post.

The company had, meanwhile on Sunday, announced to donate 10,000 oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines to hospitals and public institutions to augment their capacity to help Covid-19 infected patients across multiple cities in India.

The first of these consignments was set to land in Mumbai on Sunday and a majority of the shipping is expected to be completed by April 30.

Additionally, Amazon also joined hands with ACT Grants, Temasek Foundation, Pune Platform for Covid-19 Response (PPCR) and other partners to urgently airlift over 8,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 BiPAP machines from Singapore.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, April 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) As many as 106 doctors, selected by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, have been given postings and put on Covid treatment duties.

Out of these new doctors, 18 were selected in the orthopaedics, six in TB and Chest, 19 in paediatrics, five in ophthalmology, eight in ENT, 12 in gynaecology, 22 in general medicine, one in forensics, one in skin, three in radiotherapy, five in epidemiology, five as RHTC-cum-assistant teacher and one medical teacher in plastic surgery.

They have all been deployed in Covid duties from Monday.

According to Principal Secretary, Medical Education, Alok Kumar, with this, the resource crunch has been addressed.

He said that along with human resource, the number of beds in the hospitals was being further increased. Orders have also been issued to purchase additional oxygen cylinders to make them available to patients.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, April 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway will remain closed for vehicular traffic on Sunday in view of the inclement weather and landslides triggered by incessant rain, said the state traffic police.

The traffic police said on Sunday no vehicular movement would be allowed from either side on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in view of the inclement weather, landslides and falling stones at several places and continuous rain on NH-44.

The highway is the lifeline of the Kashmir valley and the main road link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. Kashmir-bound trucks laden with essential supplies and other vehicles pass through this highway.

During the winter last year, the highway was closed several times due to snowfall and landslides triggered by rains.

The Mughal road, which is a second road link connecting Kashmir valley with the Jammu region, through Bafliaz in the Poonch district is closed due to snow accumulation.

Source: IANS

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The members of the party inspired by 'The Art of Living' founder and spiritual leader, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, organized a confluence of prominent Muftis, Maulvis and Khatibs on Wednesday at the Gujjar Charitable Trust Hall, Channi Himmat Bypass, Jammu.

"We all have the responsibility of bringing peace to every nook and corner of the world," says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. "Unless every member of our global family is peaceful, our peace is incomplete."

The conference was inaugurated by Lt Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha, who was also the Chief Guest and the keynote speaker.

"While we have controlled radicalisation with all of your collective efforts, it still needs attention because of the pace at which it is spreading with the help of technology," Manoj Sinha said.

"It will be a mistake to associate it with a community. If we look at it like drug addiction then we can follow the right direction in my opinion."

He said, "This programme has been organised in view of national integrity, to bring collective energies of the citizens together, self-introspect and take citizens in the right direction, and I appreciate this effort."

Sinha underlined the need for messages from prominent figures like Abdul Salam, Maqbool Shervani, Salim Malik, Israr Ahmed to be included in chapters of peace and harmony in school and madrasas curriculum.

He shared the widely acknowledged example of Tamil Nadu, where significant courses on deradicalisation were introduced with a focus on counselling and making children understand the true meaning of Islam.

"The voice for peace has risen from this platform and we want to send this message to all of Kashmir, across the border that in this world we are brothers and will coexist peacefully like this together," said Sheikh Mujjaffar, President, Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist People's Front.

The conference on deradicalisation opened with addresses by Mufti Ajaz Sahib, Mufti Noorani, Mufti Muzafar and Nazir Ahmad Soibug Badgaum.

"A Momin (believer in Allah/Islam) is one who understands the real essence of Islam. Once we have understood what it means to be a true Momin, then we will also know that ours is a religion of peace because our basic Taleem (education) is of Aman (peace)," said Mufti Muzafar.

"(Imaan and Ehsaan) to do good to others and be honest, can also happen only in peace. Momin is one in whose presence everyone feels safe, irrespective of their religion."

The topic of the post lunch session was 'Duties of Muslims towards country as per Quranic verses'. The Shahi Imam of Jammu and Mufti Anayat Ulla Quadmi spoke on the topic, followed by Mufti Lal Udin and Mufti Nazir Quadmi.

Several Kashmiri Pandits also attended the conference. The religious leaders spoke on the unfortunate exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits and the need to move ahead together and bridge the trust deficit.

Youth leaders of Jammu also joined the conference. The discussion included measures to bridge the divide in Jammu region and the Kashmir valley.

Sanjay Kumar, a social activist and programme director (J&K) of Art of Living, also addressed the gathering. The concluding address was by J&K NPF (Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist People's Front).

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) It is a vile and obnoxious tale of ethno centrism practised with great glee by a bunch of radicals in the heart of Kashmir Valley famed for its brand of Kashmiriyat on this fateful day exactly 31 years ago.

The abomination architected by a section of the JKLF leadership narrowed its whole gaze towards retribution and in the process paved the way for a systemic plan of ethnic cleansing of a minority community. This in turn led to metastasising of a peculiar kind where Islamic radicals held the Valley to ransom triggering the politics of abduction.

Almost overnight Kashmir became a death pit and the brutal cage match continues to be played there.

Successive govternments have felt no gravitational pull to rehabilitate Hindu migrants who have been dislocated from their home and hearth, thinking it is not their wound to suture. Instead of wanting to dial it up, governments have washed their hands off the invisible community even as resilient Kashmiri Pandits have rebuilt their lives by living through 30 years of trauma and mindless violence.

It all begins on December 8, 1989, with a V.P. Singh National Front government recently in place backed strangely by the Indian Left and Right, a tumultuous event takes place. Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's daughter Rubaiya is abducted by JKLF militants and the world is turned upside down.

Top erstwhile Jan Morcha leaders arrive at the house of Sayeed, where he is inconsolable as Arun Nehru, Arif Mohammad Khan and Satya Pal Malik (till recently Governor of Jammu and Kashmir) are trying to convince him to appear on national television to say that she is the nation's daughter and it's imperative that she be set free.

But a tearful Sayeed has lost all reason to think, overcome by extreme emotion, for obvious reasons. He refuses to do anything -- stunned and struck by lassitude and inertia.

Just six days earlier Mufti Saheb had taken oath as the first Kashmiri Muslim Home Minister in V.P. Singh's government. Almost at the same time, a germ of an idea takes root in JKLF's Asfaq Majid Wani's mind who wanted to do something spectacular in Kashmir Valley. His charter was to kick-start the "revolution" and he didn't know where to begin.

Watching the oath-taking of Mufti Saheb, he thought of an audacious PLO-type of plan to rattle the newly formed government. The original plot, conceived by Wani, was to kidnap Mufti's son, reportedly a doctor in Lal Ded hospital. But once recces were carried out, the son turned out to be a daughter - Dr Rubaiya Sayeed. As she finished her shift and left for home around 3 p.m. on December 8 boarding a bus at Exhibition Crossing, JKLF militants took over the bus with Wani and others following in a car.

The ill conceived plan actually worked and an era of turbulence was unleashed.

Around 5.30 p.m., JKLF top brass Javed Mir called up 'Kashmir Times' and relayed the news of the abduction of the Union Home Minister's daughter. All hell broke loose, with phones ringing non-stop in the Valley and Delhi. The triumph of V.P. Singh slaying Rajiv Gandhi was lost in translation as panic gripped the security mavens.

After 122 hours in captivity, against the wishes of then J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, five top separatists were released for Rubaiya. It became a watershed moment for Kashmiris as they brought India to its knees. Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Sher Khan (a Pakistani), Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Altaf Ahmed and Javed Ahmed Jargar were released the same day. A couple of hours later, Rubaiya was back home with her family.

Jargar later went on to carry out the hijacking of IC-184 plane in December 1999 which eventually saw the release of the dreaded Masood Azhar.

One would think that the next big play was the hijacking of IC-814, taking it to Kandahar and securing the release of Maulana Masood Azhar, but then we are missing the wood for the trees.

The swapping of three militants for 155 hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane was not the first incident of its kind after Rubaiya Sayeed's kidnapping in 1989, but one of several high-profile kidnappings which have gone unnoticed.

Following the Rubaiya playbook, innumerable abductions took place and the release of many militants took place in parallel. The period between December 1989 and January 1992 saw frenetic kidnappings.

Prominent among them was the abduction of Tassaduq Dev, brother-in-law of then Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad by Al Umar Mujahideen in January 1992. Three jailed activists of Al Umar were set free in exchange for Dev's release on January 17. Before this came the abduction of Nahida Soz, daughter of then National Conference MP Saifuddin Soz, by Jammu and Kashmir Students Liberation Front (JKSLF) in August 1991. Nahida was released when the government set free a Pakistan-trained hard-core militant, Mushtaq Ahmed.

Indian Oil Corporation Executive Director K. Dorraiswamy was abducted by activists of Ikhwan-Ul Muslimeen in Srinagar on July 29, 1991. His release on August 21 was possible when the government set free six militants. The released militants, included Javed Shalla, main accused in the kidnap and murder cases of Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor Mushir-Ul Haq and HMT General Manager H.L. Khera in 1990. Seven more militants were set free to seek the release of Mir Nassar Ullah, son of former J&K Minister G.M. Mir Lasjan, A.K. Dhar, scientist and T.K. Raina, retired Deputy Commissioner, abducted in March 1992.

There have been many other such instances -- kidnappings of Dr Mustafa Aslam, son-in-law of then PCC President Ghulam Rasool Kar (February 24, 1992), Fayaz Ahmed Sheikh, son of then Additional Chief Secretary Sheikh Ghulam Rasool (March 21, 1992) and Ghulam Hassan Zia, assistant station director of AIR (April 1992). It is not known how the Government made their release possible.

Similarly, Allah Tigers militant outfit abducted former Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Habib-Ullah Bhat on March 2, 1992 and released him a month later on April 3. The number of militants, if any, set free in exchange for his release is not known. Likewise, J&K Bank chairman M.S. Qureshi was abducted on June 28, 1992 and later released unconditionally.

The Rubaiya Sayeed case had set a precedent for kidnappings for seeking release of jailed militants. According to government statistics, the state witnessed an upsurge in abductions after Rubaiya's kidnapping. While only one kidnapping, that of Rubaiya, was reported in 1989 -- 169 abductions were reported in 1990, 290 in 1991, 281 in 1992, 349 in 1993 and 368 in 1995. It virtually became a cottage industry.

Incidentally, in one of these kidnapping cases, no militant was released for seeking release of Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor Mushir-Ul Haq and HMT GM H.L. Khera in 1990. They were killed by the captors.

In a first, six Western tourists were kidnapped by Al-Faran, an Islamist militant organisation from the Liddarwat area of Pahalgam in the Anantnag district on July 4, 1995. The government refused to succumb to their demands. The six victims included two British tourists, Keith Mangan (from Middlesbrough) and Paul Wells; two Americans, John Childs of Simsbury, Connecticut, and Donald Hutchings of Spokane, Washington; a German, Dirk Hasert; and a Norwegian, Hans Christian Ostro. Mangan's and Hutchings' wives were left behind by the kidnappers as their husbands were abducted.

A note released by the kidnappers a day after the kidnappings read, "Accept our demands or face dire consequences. We are fighting against anti-Islamic forces. Western countries are anti-Islam, and America is the biggest enemy of Islam." Childs managed to escape and was rescued four days later. Ostro was beheaded by his abductors and his body was found near Pahalgam on August 13, 1995. His body was taken to AIIMS, New Delhi, where a post mortem was conducted by Professor T.D. Dogra, who established the beheading as ante mortem and reported that the words 'Al Faran' were carved onto his chest.

The kidnappers demanded the release of Pakistani militant Maulana Masood Azhar who had been imprisoned by India and 20 other prisoners.

Several national and international organisations issued appeals to Al-Faran to release the tourists. Representatives of the embassies of the victims' countries also visited Kashmir frequently to seek their release, without success.

In December 1995, the kidnappers left a note that they were no longer holding the men hostage. Mangan, Wells, Hutchings, and Hasert have never been found and are presumed to have been killed. In May 1996, a captured militant told Indian investigators and FBI agents that he had heard that all four hostages had been shot dead on December 13, 1995, nine days after an Indian military ambush that killed four of the original hostage-takers, including the man said to have been leading them, Abdul Hamid Turki.

Journalists Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark claim, however, in their book 'The Meadow', say that the remaining hostages were sold from Al-Faran to Ghulam Nabi Mir, also known as Azad Nabi, who held them for months before shooting them dead on December 24, 1995.

Rubaiya Saeed became a successful template leading to a classic double bind for the security establishment.

Source: IANS

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Jammu, Jan 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth President, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, was granted bail by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu city on Saturday.

A PDP spokesman confirmed that Waheed Para was released on bail by the NIA court.

He was arrested by the NIA in 2020 on charges of being associated with funding of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.

He was also accused of having close links with the dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police, Davinder Singh and two of his terror associates, Irfan Shafi Mir and Naveed Babu.

The NIA court sent Para to 30-day judicial remand on December 20.

His house was also raided by the Counter Intelligence Wing of J&K police on December 30 in Pulwama district.

News reports said the NIA had sought details of Para's properties in Srinagar city.

Para won in the District Development Council (DDC) polls held in 2020 but was not allowed to take oath as he was in judicial remand.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Nov 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The People's Alliance For Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has announced that it will take part in the upcoming District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The PAGD has unanimously decided to fight the DDC elections unitedly. Despite the abruptness of the DDC elections in terms of timing, it is important that this sacred space in democracy is not allowed to be invaded and marauded by divisive forces," said PAGD Spokesperson Sajjad Lone.

The PAGD in a statement on Saturday said that delegations from various sections of society met the constituents of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration at the residence of its Chairman and National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah at Bathindi in Jammu.

The delegations held detailed discussions with PAGD constituents over the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and pledged their support to the PAGD in its fight for restoration of special status to J&K, said a spokesperson of the Alliance in a statement.

All senior leaders of PAGD constituents comprising the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), People's Conference, Awami National Conference, CPM and JK People's Movement were present and listened to the issues raised by different delegations, he added.

The major delegations which converged at the residence of former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah comprised Sikh groups, Gaddi and Sippi leaders, members of the Kashmiri Pandit community, transporters, Gujjars and Bakerwals, residents of Bathindi and Sunjwan, delegations from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Class (OBC) communities, IAS aspirants, BSPA and delegations from Chenab valley and Pir Panjal.

"During the discussions they assured that they would fight for the identity and dignity of the people of J&K. The delegations said they would fight with PAGD for the restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir," the statement said.

Source: IANS

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