Jammu & Kashmir

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)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 02 : A drain which got damaged and is filled with construction material and muck is risking lives of commuters and pedestrians at New Colony locality of Sopore.

Locals told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that for the last several months, the slab of drain constructed by the Urban Environmental Engineering Development (UEED) got badly damaged and caved in. But the department has not cleared the site.

They alleged that sub-standard material was used in the construction of the drain. “The drain constructed is not in a position to withstand the load of even a light vehicle. It is a matter of concern as the drain is posing a threat to the lives of commuters and needs to be repaired at the earliest,” they added.

Meanwhile, an official at the municipal council Sopore told KNO that the issue was never brought to their notice and they will send a team to assess the situation tomorrow—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Handwara, Jan 02 : In a first, the doctors at District Hospital Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district successfully performed pediatric laparoscopic Hydatid-Cyst surgery of an 11-year-old boy from Mankal, Mawer area on Monday.

Dr Mushtaq, who led the medical team to perform the surgery, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that it was the first of its kind patient in the district hospital.

They received a minor patient who had liver pain and was subsequently asked for an ultrasound, wherein it was observed that the patient has a cyst like structure,” he said.

He said that the patient was then asked to undergo a CT scan and a Hydatid-Cyst was found following which a first-of-its-kind surgery was performed at the hospital. “We successfully managed to remove an 11×13×7 cm cyst,” he said.

The team, according to the officials, who assisted the doctor in performing the successful surgery include Dr Reyaz (Anesthetic), Dr Muzaffar, Dr Farooq Sofi and Dr Mustafa, besides other medical staff.

Medical Superintendent of District Hospital, Handwara, Dr. Nisar Ahmed Wani told KNO that such a surgery has been conducted for the first time in the hospital.

He said that the surgery is usually done in Srinagar hospital as there are every apprehensions of a medical complicacy, but after analysis of the whole situation and process of medical equipments, the team of medicos performed it successfully—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 02 : In Jammu and Kashmir, many students every year move out to other states of India to get primary and secondary level education owing to non-availability of good quality residential and boarding schools.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that the concerned authority in an official document has said that their focus area was to construct the ‘World Class Residential Schools’.

“Many students move out of Jammu and Kashmir to other states and Union Territories (UTs) for getting education at primary and secondary level in a good residential and boarding school every year because Jammu and Kashmir lacks the presence of good and reputed residential schools,” it reads,

The authorities have further said that the gap offers a huge potential of building such facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.

It further states, “The bounties of nature, rich natural bio-diversity and the pristine environment of Jammu and Kashmir provide a suitable atmosphere for overall learning and development of the students,”

About the state of art colleges and universities, the official documents reads, “With the state-of-the-art institutes, the UT aspires to induce the culture of scientific temperament, world view and innovation amongst the youth.”

“Private entities interested in taking up educational initiatives by setting up institutes of excellence or universities to impart up-to-date curriculum aligned with the contemporary developments in the world shall be encouraged,” it reads.

While stating the status of Student Scientific Activity Centre (SSAC), authorities further said, “There is a demand for science labs and scientific activity centers among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. “Absence of student scientific activity centres in the UT holds back the overall development of scientific temper among the students.”

“These Centres shall focus on frontier areas of science and technology and edutainment. These centres will work towards developing scientific attitude and temper and inculcate and sustain a general awareness about technology amongst the people,” it reads.

The document further reads that the centres shall also serve as a platform for students to experiment and experience the technology and the science behind everything and encourage students to take an interest in learning by doing and put theory to practical use—(KNO)

Rajouri, Jan 02 : A child has died while six others including two women and four children have suffered injuries in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast on Monday in Dangri area of Rajouri district, reports said here.

Reports reaching the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that an IED blast took place in the house of one of the slain civilians of a firing incident in Rajouri last evening when people had gathered for condolences.

“During the explosion, a child about 7 years of age died on the spot while six others have been injured in the incident,” officials said.

They said that the injured including two women and four children were taken to GMC Rajouri for treatment—(KNO)

Jammu, Jan 2: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday announced Rs 10 Lakh ex-gratia and a government job to next of kin of each of those civilians killed in a firing incident in Upper Dhangri village of Rajouri district last evening.

The Lieutenant Governor also “strongly condemned the cowardly” militant attack. “I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families,” he said in a tweet as per GNS.

“An ex-gratia of Rs. 10 lakh and a Govt job would be given to the next of kin of each of those civilians martyred in dastardly attack,” he said, adding, “Seriously injured would be given Rs.1 lakh. Officials have been directed to ensure best treatment to injured.”

Late last evening, four people were killed in the village and they have been identified as Pritam Sharma (56) and his 33-year-old son Ashish Kumar, Deepak Kumar (23), a PHE employee, and Sheetal Kumar (48).

Six persons were injured in the attack and among them who were airlifted to the GMC Jammu include Rohit Pandit (35) and Shubam Sharma (20) son of Pritam Sharma. Four injured admitted in the GMC Rajouri include Pawan Kumar (38), Saroj Bala (35) wife of Sheetal Kumar, Sushil Kumar (40) son of Kundal Lal and Urishi Sharma (17) daughter of Sheetal Kumar. (GNS)