Jammu & Kashmir

Rajouri, Oct 04 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday said that post abrogation of Article 370, J&K has emerged as the ‘most secured place’ as the militancy related incidents are all time low. He said a sustained drive launched by Prime Minister Narendera Modi against militants and Hurriyat bore fruit and stones in the hands of youth were replaced by laptops.

Addressing a massive rally at Rajouri district of Jammu, Shah said those who would state that blood will flow if Article 370 was rolled back should go through figures.

“Against the previous figures of 4767 militancy related incidents reported in J&K in a year, the figure dropped to 721 only post Article 370 roll back. Killing of Security Forces personnel has come to just 137 a year, which is lowest ever,” the Home Minister thundered from the stage, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that the sustained campaign launched by the Prime Minister Narendera Modi to crush militants, separatists and Hurriyat yielded good results. “Today, J&K is a most secured place,” said Shah, who was flanked by J&K LG Manoj Sinha and MoS in PMO Dr Jitendera Singh besides MP Jugal Kishore. Shah said that PM Modi reached out to J&K youth and replaced stones with laptops. “Today, J&K youth are competing like any other youth of the country in different fields,” he said, as per KNO.

Reaching out to the Gujjars, Bakerwals and Pahari’s, Shah asked them to ensure that three families, who kept government confined to them, their family members and friends, should be defeated in every election. “These three families enjoyed family rule for 70 years and kept common man yearning for democracy,” Shah said.

“Today, people have Gram Panchayat, Zila Panchat and Tehsil Panchayat, which didn’t happen in the past 70 years,” he said. “Democracy was kept confined to 87 MLAs and six MPs in J&K for the past 70 years while Gujars, Bakerwals, and Paharis were left out. By nominating Ghulam Nabi Khatana in the Rajya Sabha, Modiji proved that he is committed to give due representation to all sections.”

He said that post Article 370 roll back, Rs 56000 Cr outside investment has reached J&K that would ultimately provide employment to youth.  “We formed Anti Corruption Bureau to end corruption that remained on top in the past 70 years due to the family rule of three families,” he said.

Shah hailed LG Sinha for announcing holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh. He said that for the first time, direct flight from Srinagar to Sharjah was launched and night flight operations were stated in Srinagar. “First time in the history, 1.62 Cr tourists visited J&K since Jan 2022,” the Home Minister said as per KNO.

He said the delimitation commission was constituted to give due representation to Gujjars, Bakerwals and Pahari’s which otherwise was a dream. “You were always exploited by the people who ruled you,” Shah said, adding that the government headed by PM Modi is committed to take J&K to new heights with all sections of society including Gujars, Bakerwals and Paharis on board—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Oct 04 : Body of a woman was recovered from river Jhelum near Sher Colony locality of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the body was seen floating in the Jhelum near Sher Colony by locals, following which they informed the police.

He said that soon after getting the information, a police team reached to the post and recovered the body.

The official added that further investigation into the matter has been started—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Oct 03 : Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Baramulla visit on October 05, traffic police rural Kashmir issued advisory.

“In view of Public Rally at Showkat Ali Stadium Baramulla on 5th of October-2022, motorists who are intending to travel from Srinagar – Baramulla-Uri and vice-versa are advised to adopt following routes to reach their destinations on said date reads the advisory a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

People from Central Kashmir who are supposed to reach Uri are advised to follow Srinagar-→ Pattan-→Sangrama- Fruit Mandi Sopore-Azad Gunj-→ Khanpora Bridge-→ Uri route plan.

Similarly, from North Kashmir’s Uri have to follow Uri- Khanpora Bridge-→ Azad Gunj→ Ladoora-→ Fruit Mandi Sopore -Sangrama- Pattan-→ Srinagar.

Pertinent to mention, Shah is scheduled to visit Baramulla on October 5 and address a mega rally there—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Oct 01 : Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Baramulla visit on October 05, security has been beefed up and put on a maximum alert across the district, officials said here on Saturday.

A top security official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that police and paramilitary forces have been deployed for surveillance and vehicles are being checked at several places in the district.

Earlier on last week, Jammu and Kashmir police chief – Dilbag Singh visited the district and chaired a meeting of civil and police officers to review the security arrangements. The DGP emphasized upon the officers to keep an eye on the activities of suspicious elements who always try to find an opportunity to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in a first of its kind in the district especially in Sopore town – which once used to be the hotbed of militant/anti-national activities Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) are on wheels and have been continuously announcing people to participate in the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s rally.

Pertinent to mention, Shah is scheduled to visit Baramulla on October 5 and address a mega rally there. He is also scheduled to make announcements about various welfare schemes for Paharis and Schedule Tribe people in Baramulla—(KNO)

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)