January 2023

Srinagar, Jan 06: At least 17 leaders, who had resigned from the basic membership of the Congress and had joined former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad led party, Friday rejoined the party in New Delhi.

The leaders had resigned to support former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who later formed his own party—Democratic Azad Party, which has now been renamed as Democratic Progressive Azad Party.

In a press conference held at New Delhi, the former deputy chief minister Tara Chand and former minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed were among the 17 leaders, who rejoined Congress today.

The leaders include Tara Chand, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, Balwan Singh, Advocate Muzaffar Paray, Advocate Mohinder Bhardwaj, Bhushan Dogra, Virodh Sharma, Narendra Sharma, Naresh Sharma, Amresh Mangotra, Subhash Baghat, Santosh Manhas, Badrinath Sharma, Varun Mangotra, Anuradha Sharma and Vijay Sargotra.

MP Rajya Sabha and AICC General Secretary (Organization), K C Venugopal, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said the leaders have joined the party again.

He said these leaders and people from across the country including Jammu & Kashmir have also extended their support to the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

He said that former Congress leaders have also observed that they should also extend their support to their own party and thus decided to join back.

Tara Chand while talking to reporters during the presser said that it is time for secular forces to join hands to defeat the ill designs on the ground.

“The secular minded people should join hands to protect the country,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 05 : Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Central Kashmir Range (CKR) Sujit Kumar Thursday visited district Budgam where he chaired a review meeting regarding security scenario, anti-militancy operations, law & order, anti-drug drive and other issues related to day-to-day policing at the conference hall of DPO Budgam. Besides, the newly promoted 23 SIs with ranks.

A police spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the meeting was attended by DIG CRPF Mathew. A. John, SSP Budgam Tahir Saleem, ASP Budgam Gowhar Ahmed DySP DAR DPL, SDPO Charar Shareef, SDPO Khansahib, DySP PC Budgam, DySP PC Chadoora and other senior officers of Police & CRPF.

During the meeting, DIG CKR Sujit Kumar appreciated the efforts of Budgam Police for maintaining law & order in the district.

During the meeting, he took stock of the overall security situation & counter insurgency operations. He emphasised upon the officers to adopt a professional approach while dealing with counter insurgency operations. He directed the officers to complete investigation of pending cases on priority.

He also laid stress on strengthening the police-public relations, service-oriented policing which will help in gaining the confidence and trust of the general public. DIG CKR also briefed about the security measures/preparations to be adopted in connection with upcoming Republic Day-2023 celebrations. He briefed the officers to make all necessary and required arrangements for peaceful celebrations of the Republic Day event.

Meanwhile, a piping ceremony was also held at the lawns of District Police Headquarters Budgam in which DIG (CKR), DIG CRPF, SSP Budgam and other senior officers of Police/CRPF decorated 23 newly promoted Sub Inspectors.

The promoted officers include Naseer Ahmad Shah, Khursheed Ahmad Lone, Gh Rasool Mir, Gh. Nabi Khan, Mohd Maqbool, Ab Rehman Malik, Gh Hassan Yatoo, Gh. Rasool Wani, Bashir Ahmad Lone, Zahoor Ahmad Malik, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Gh Mohd Mir, Gh Mohd Malik, Gh Mohd Mir, Mohd Naseem, Abdul Salam Kumar, Mohd Amin Bhat, Gh. Mohidin Dar, Gh. Mohd Bhat, Karan Singh, Gh. Mustafa Malik, Quam ud din Shah & Ghulam Mohammad Dar.

On the occasion, DIG CKR, DIG CRPF and SSP Budgam congratulated the promoted officers and their families. While addressing the promoted officers, DIG CKR said that the promotion adds more responsibilities and challenges to the working assignments and hoped that the officers would continue to work with zeal and zest in the future as well. He wished them good luck for the future.

During the colourful ceremony, the newly promoted officers expressed their gratitude towards the Police Department for conferring their next rank. They also pledged to work with same zeal and enthusiasm—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Srinagar, Jan 05 : Transporters of all three three districts of north Kashmir districts have decided to go for strike on Monday and Tuesday, demanding authorities to permit them to move ahead of Parimpora stand in Srinagar.

Transporters told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that SRTC buses are being allowed to move ahead to Batamaloo stand but they are not, which makes them as well as passengers suffer a lot.

They said at least 8 SRTC buses are running on the same route which has become a problem for them.

Chairman All Kashmir Transport Confederation, Mohammad Shafi told KNO that they have called for a strike on Monday and Tuesday over allowing of SRTC busses to move ahead of Parimpora stand.

“We fail to understand why we aren’t allowed to move ahead of Parimpora stand even when we have the same permit from the authorities,” he said.

He said government must look into the issue at an earliest which would benefit them and the passengers at the large—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Pattan, Jan 05 : A 21-year-old girl has allegedly hanged self to death in Trikolbal village of Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thurssday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the girl hanged herself to death at her residence in Trikolbal village.

He said she was rushed to Pattan hospital where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and started further investigations.

Notably, this is the second incident in the district in the last 24 hours.

On Wednesday, a 27-year-old youth hanged self to death in Hib Dangerpora village in Sopore—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 05 : The School Education Department has said that Post Graduate degrees obtained through distance mode by RRT teachers in Scienee Stream would not be considered valid for seniority and promotion purposes.

An official document accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reads the PG degrees through distance mode cannot be considered valid.

DSEK said this while responding to application of an RRT teacher seeking permission for pursuing PG in Environmental Science through IGNOU.

“In this context, it is to inform that the Administrative Department has conveyed that the degrees obtained through distance mode in Scienee Stream (Environmental Science) cannot be considered valid for the purposes of seniority and promotion,” reads the document—(KNO)

Srinager, Jan 05 : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Thursday declared a Kashmir-born terrorist, Aijaz Ahmad Ahanger alias Abu Usman Al-Kashmiri, currently based in Afghanistan as an individual terrorist.

A notification issued by Union Home Ministry, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), states that Aijaz Ahmad Ahanger alias Abu Usman Al-Kashmiri, currently based in Afghanistan, one of the chief recruiters of Islamic State J&K (ISJK), has been designated as the individual terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Ahanger, who was born in Srinagar in 1974, is a wanted terrorist in Jammu and Kashmir for more than two decades and has started planning terror related strategies in Jammu and Kashmir by building coordination channels between various terrorists groups. He has contacts with al-Qaeda and other global terrorist groups and is engaged in restarting the Islamic State (IS) in India.

“Ahanger is working towards providing traction to militancy in Kashmir and has started the process of identifying people for inclusion in his Kashmir based network,” the MHA said, adding that he was appointed as the head of Islamic State (IS) recruitment cell for India and had been instrumental in initiating an online India-centric ISIS propaganda magazine.

The MHA futher said that with his inclusion in the Fourth Schedule under the UAPA, 1967, Ahanger will be the 49 individual designated as the terrorist—(KNO)

Bla, Jan 03, Waris Fayaz: The residents of Nowpora Jagir in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday held a protest against the Power Development Department (PDD) for allegedly failing to provide adequate electricity to them.

Reports reaching the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that inhabitants of Nowpora Jagir village in Baramulla said they are being forced to reel under darkness.

The protesters also blocked Putkha-Wagoora road for hours together to press for their demands.

The blockade led to a traffic jam, however, later the protesters dispersed peacefully after the officials from Police and civil administration pacified them.

“We do not receive adequate power supply and frequent power cuts have become a daily affair,” a protestor told KNO.

He said that the department is not adhering to any power schedule.

The protestors said, that they brought the issue into the notice of the concerned officers several times, but nothing has been done as yet.

Protesters while urging the administration and PDD to ensure uninterrupted power supply especially during peak hours, however, threatened to launch an agitation in case their demands are not met—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 03 : Jammu and Kashmir police have announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for sharing information about militants involved in Rajouri attack in which six civilians were killed on Sunday evening.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that if any person shares any specific information about militants involved in the attack he/she will be rewarded with Rs 10 lakh.

He also said the details of the informer shall be kept secret.

Earlier today, a special team of the National Investigation Agency also reached to the crime scene in Dangri village.

Notably, 4 civilians were killed while 6 others were injured after suspected militants stormed Dangri village on Sunday evening.

Next morning, two minor children also died and few others were injured after an unattended IED blast went off in one of the houses of the slain civilians in Dangri village.

The attack has created panic and fear among the locals, while security agencies are trying ascertain details about the attack.

On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also reached Dangri village to review the situation and express solidarity with the victim families.

He also assured that security agencies will go to the bottom of the incident and ensure justice to the victim families—(KNO)

Rajouri, Jan 02 : Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday while terming the killing of four innocent civilians and two children in firing and IED explosion at Rajouri as “very unfortunate” stating that “we will get to the bottom of the case and ensure justice to the families of slain.”

LG Sinha, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), visited the families of slain—four civilians and two children, who were killed in firing and IED blast explosion at Rajouri, to express solidarity with the bereaved families. The IED blast took place early on Monday morning exactly at the spot where gunmen shot dead four civilians and injured many others.

Addressing the locals of Rajouri, the LG said that the killings of innocents was “very unfortunate and painful.” “We assure you (locals) that the administration and police will go to the bottom of the case and ensure justice to the families of the slain,” the LG said. He said that the Government of India was committed to zero tolerance against terrorism. He said that Ex-servicemen and VDCs will be strengthened further and the government will take some more steps for them. Locals present at the spot, urged the LG Sinha to order a thorough probe to find actual reasons for the incident. Later, talking to reporters, the LG said that the administration will ensure the families of slain are taken care of by all means. He said an inquiry will be ordered to find out whether there were possible security lapses. “Let me tell you that hathiyon ka hisaab barabar hoga (will avenge killings),” he said.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh visited the families of slain civilians at Rajouri and stated that police and security forces were working to reach out the culprits behind the innocent killings and the perpetrators of the crime will be punished very soon.

Talking to reporters after expressing solidarity with the bereaved families of civilians including the child who was killed in the IED blast today morning. “Today we have come here to ensure the peaceful cremation of all slain. These killings are very unfortunate and are a cowardly act on part of those who have committed it,” the DGP said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that police and security forces were working on the leads to reach out to the culprits involved in the heinous crime of killing innocents. “Our efforts are to neutralize those involved in the act. We will catch them as soon as possible,” the DGP said.

He said that as far as the security is concerned, steps have been taken and more measures will be taken after a thorough review. It may be recalled that four civilians were killed in a firing incident at Rajouri on Sunday while two children were killed in an IED explosion at the same firing spot today (Monday) morning. Police and locals said that the unidentified gunmen who fired at civilians yesterday had planted the IED at the same spot (house) where the gunmen had opened fire at the civilians. Four more people including two women who were injured in the IED explosion are being treated at the GMC Rajouri—(KNO)