September 2022

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Sep 30 : Two local militants were killed in an eight hours long encounter that raged between militants and government forces in Yedipora village of Pattan in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.

An official told the news agency, that based on a specific intelligence inputs, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the village and during searches contact was established with the hiding militants and in the ensuing encounter two militants were killed.

“Two militants, who were killed in an encounter were planning to carry out an attack on Army’s Angniveer recruitment rally in the district”, they added.

Addressing a presser, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla, Rayees Muhammad Bhat, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the killed militants had come to Baramulla with a motive to attack army’s recruitment rally at 10 Sector Hyderbeigh headquarters in the district.

“Their mission was to fail this recruitment rally by disturbing the Youth. However we have been successful in repulsing their plan to attack the rally by killing both the militants,” he said, adding that the militants are trying to attack those people who are coming forward in the mainstream.

“An AK-74U, a new version of AK-47, which is being carried by foreign militants was also recovered from the encounter site. In addition, one AK rifle, 3 magazines, pistol along with magazine and two bullets were also recovered,” SSP further added.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement to KNO, said that acting on specific information generated by Police regarding the presence of terrorists in village Yedipora, Pattan area of District Baramulla, a joint cordon & search operation was launched by Police, Army (29RR) and SSB (2ndBn) in the said area.

“During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter,” he said. “In the ensuing encounter, two local militants linked with proscribed terror outfit JeM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Yawar Shafi Bhat resident of Kalampora Pulwama and Aamir Hussain Bhat, resident of Veshro Shopian.”—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Sept 30 : Two militants, who were killed in an encounter in Yedipora village of Pattan in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday, were planning to carry out attack on Army’s Angniveer recruitment rally in the district, police said here.

Senior superintendent of Police Baramulla, Rayees Mohi-u-Din Bhat in a press conference, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the killed militants had come to Baramulla with a motive to attack army’s recruitment rally, which is going on at 10 Sector Hyderbeigh headquarters in the district.

He said that based on a specific intelligence inputs, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the village and during searches contact was established with the hiding militants.

He said that in the ensuing encounter two militants were killed and as per preliminary investigation it came to fore that they were planning to attack Agniveer recruitment rally.

He added that the killed militants belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit and their identity was being ascertained.

“An AK-74U, a new version of AK-47, which is being carried by foreign militants was also recovered from the encounter site. In addiction, one AK rifle, 3 magazines, pistol along with magazine and 2 bullets were also recovered,” SSP said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Pattan, Sept 30 : One more militant has been killed in an ongoing encounter that broke out in Yedipora village of Pattan in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday, taking the toll to two.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the identity of the slain militants was being ascertained, while the operation was going on.

Earlier, a joint team of Army’s 29 RR, CRPF and Police cordoned off Yedipora village after inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

Officials aid that as the joint team approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, which was retaliated to, triggering an encounter—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Pattan, Sept 30 : A militant has been killed in an ongoing encounter that broke out in Yedipora village of Pattan in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the identity of the militant was being ascertained, while operation was going on.

Earlier, a joint team of Army’s 29 RR, CRPF and Police cordoned off Yedipora village after inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

Officials said that as the joint team approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, which was retaliated to, triggering an encounter—(KNO)

Bandipora, Sept 28 : Jammu and Kashmir BJP General Secretary Ashok Koul on Wednesday said that elections in Jammu and Kashmir are expected to be conducted in March-April next year after the publication of final electrical roll in November 25 this year.

Talking to reporters here, Koul, as per the news agency, said that January and February are not suitable for elections in J&K due to weather conditions and it’s obvious that elections will be conducted in March-April next year.

He said that the publication of final electoral roll would be completed on November 25, following which voter list will be out and after that Elections Commission will start the preparation for conducting the elections in J&K.

While replying the question on daily-wagers, Koul said all of them will be included in minimum wages act very soon.

Notably, Ashok Koul visited Bandipora to take review of ongoing Seva Pakhwada program in the district.

He also impressed upon the party leaders in the district to make all arrangements to make Amit Shah’s rally successful—(KNO)

Srinagar, Sep 27 : Authorities in the traffic department on Tuesday said 48,845 trucks including 30,756 apple trucks have moved from Srinagar to Jammu through Jammu-Srinagar national highway since September 01.

As per the news agency, the officials from IGP Traffic’s office said, “After three continuous days of Down HMV movement, all the stranded trucks at Qazigund were cleared yesterday.”

They said as per the data collected by NHAI at the Qazigund toll plaza, since 1st September, 48,845 trucks including 30,786 apple laden trucks moved from Qazigund to other parts of the country via Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

“Because of the constraints of NH-44, which is single lane for 12-14 stretches between Nashri and Banihal, the movement of HMVS happens on alternate days.”

Further the movement of traffic on the NH is also subject to stoppage due to the frequent falling of “Shooting stones” at various locations like, Cafeteria More, Mahar, Sherbibi etc around Ramban town, officials said. “In particular, the Mahar passi, which became active on 18th July 2022, leads to the stoppage of the traffic several times during the day on account of shooting stones which makes it dangerous for traffic to pass.”

They said since 24th Sept 2022, the NHAI has also initiated urgent repair works at these single stretches of the NH, requiring the stoppage of traffic for a part of the day.

“Overall, in the last 4 days, over 34 hours of travel time has been lost on the NH 44 on account of the shooting stones at Mahar Passi and the repair work by NHAI,” they added—(KNO)

Srinagar, Sep 27 : Terming former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Azad Party (DAP) as an associate party of the Bharatiya Janta Party, Congress on Tuesday claimed that there was an internal alliance between Peoples Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janta Party in 2014.

Talking to reporters, Pradesh Congress committee president Vikar Rasool said that Ghulam Nabi Azad’s party is fully associated with BJP. “Mufti Muhammad Sayeed could have stopped BJP but after elections were held, you saw they had an internal alliance,” Vikar told reporters, as per news agency.

Vikar said Ghulam Nabi Azad is a shrewd politician and would not tell the public about his links with the BJP. “These people won’t tell you that they are affiliated with BJP because they know that they would then get a big zero in elections,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Sep 27 : Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Tuesday ordered restoration of ‘Shab-Khawani’ at all shrines of the Union Territory and directed the authorities to put in place all necessary arrangements.

An order issued by Executive Magistrate, Tehsildar of J&K Waqf Board, Srinagar, Ishtiyaq Mohi-ud-din, a copy of which lies with the news agency, said that Jammu and Kashmir has been an abode of Sufi Saints and their shrines are spread across the length and breadth of the UT of J&K, whose administrative affairs are managed by the J&K Waqf Board.

Apart from the usual religious practices, the practice of shab Khawani’ has been a precedence of centuries at these shrines, that was observed with great religious fervour and zeal, preferably on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday,” it said, adding that the practice of “Shab-Khawani” at most shrines was discontinued because of the turmoil and deteriorating law and order situation few decades back.

The Chairperson, J&K Waqf Board has desired that in view of the improvement in overall law and order situation in the UT, the practice shall be resumed to restore the sanctity and religious fervour associated with Shab-Khawani.

“Now, therefore, general public is hereby informed that “Shab-Khawani” being restored at all shrines of Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, and shall be preferably observed on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. However, it can also be observed on any other night of the week depending upon the local custom and past practice. Executive Officers/ Administrators and the staff posted at shrines are hereby directed to put in place all necessary arrangements to ensure “Shab-Khawani” is observed in peaceful and serene environment. They shall give wide publicity through public notices and announcements to generate awareness among the devotees in this regard,” the order reads—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Sep 26 : Halting of fruit laden trucks on Srinagar-Jammu national highway has taken a heavy toll on Asia’s second largest Fruit Mandi in Sopore, with Mandi administration stating that they have suffered around Rs 500 crore loss in the month of September alone.

President buyers association, Fruit Mandi Sopore Mudasir Ahmed Bhat told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that halting of trucks along Srinagar-Jammu national highway leads to a loss of around Rs 500 crore to the growers, buyers and dealers in the month of September only.

He said, that a buyer suffers a loss of Rs 4-5 lac per truck as the authorities are unnecessarily stopping trucks and it seems they deliberately want them to suffer. “Who is going to pay the losses,” asked Mudasir.

“If the situation doesn’t change and the trucks will not be allowed to pass, we will go for the hunger strike and the government will be responsible for that.”

Similarly, President Fruit Mandi Sopore, Fayaz Ahmed Malik told KNO, that the fruit industry is crumbling as they already had suffered heavy losses during the last several years and government must at least ensure hassle movement of the fruit trucks so that produce will reach markets in time. “It will fetch a good rate,” he said.

Malik said, that they were hopeful that their matter will be taken seriously as they had a meeting with the chief secretary, besides the directions were passed by the government to allow the fruit laden trucks, but they fail to understand why authorities are not taking any strong steps on the ground level.

Malik, however, holds SSP Traffic Shabir responsible for the losses. “Citing traffic jam reasons, the SSP is not allowing our trucks to pass, even if the vehicles are being allowed to enter the valley”, he added.

Malik, however, urge administration to take immediate necessary steps for transportation of fresh fruit-laden trucks on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway without any hindrance.

Addressing the fruit deals and growers during a peaceful protest at Fruit Mandi in Sopore, DDC Member Adv Irfan Hafeez Lone said, that by not allowing the fruit laden trucks towards Jammu seems administration want to crush the fruit industry, as the items are getting damaged for remaining stranded for days along national highway.

He said that the fruit industry is the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy and almost 70% of the population are dependent on this industry. “Despite claiming of the backbone of the economy government should take care of it as the industry is crumbling and the growers are facing huge losses”, Irfan added.

Pertinent to mention here, that the fruit Mandis across the Kashmir valley were closed for two days— Sunday and Monday in view of the strike call given against the blockage of fruit laden trucks.

Notably, fruit growers and buyers across the Kashmir valley are continuously protesting time to time over the halting of trucks along the national highway, but despite protests nothing happened—(KNO)