The Chhattisgarh

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir

  • Mehbooba Mufti Warns Govt Against Pressuring Non-Local Laborers To Leave Kashmir |

    PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that the J-K administration is pressuring non-local labourers to leave the region following the recent terrorist attack in Sonamarg, which claimed seven lives. Mufti also called for a more measured response, warning that hasty decisions could damage Kashmir’s social and economic stability and tarnish the region’s image on a national level.

    In her social media post, Mufti stressed that expelling non-locals could send a dangerous signal to the rest of the country, undermining the recent peaceful elections held in the Union Territory. She pointed out the risk of this move provoking retaliatory sentiments in other states where Kashmiri workers and students reside, potentially putting their safety at risk.

    “Kashmiris living outside the valley could face similar hostility if we force these workers to leave in such a manner. The situation needs to be handled with care,” Mufti said.

    She also emphasised the contributions of non-local labourers to the region’s economy, especially in sectors like construction, agriculture, and service industries, warning that their sudden departure could lead to severe labour shortages and halt critical projects.

    The former chief minister called on current political leaders, including Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to ensure that labourers are given enough time to return home safely rather than being abruptly forced out.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Police quickly responded to Mehbooba Mufti, quoting IGP Kashmir and said, “Social media reports claiming that the local administration has asked non-local workers to leave the valley are false. The Jammu and Kashmir Police is committed to ensuring security and fostering a safe environment for all individuals to pursue their livelihoods without fear or intimidation. The general public is advised not to pay heed to such false information on social media platforms.”

    Although security has been beefed up across the Kashmir Valley after the Gagangeer attack, extra deployments can be seen on the roads in Kashmir.

  • J&K: Encounter Breaks Out Along LoC As Army, Infiltration Bid Foiled In URI |

    Jammu And Kashmir Encounter: An encounter broke out in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir after security forces opened fire on Sunday. The Army and J&K police foiled a possible infiltration bid after noticing suspicious movement along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector. 

    Speaking about the encounter, the Army’s Srinagar-headquartered Chinar Corps said that a joint anti-infiltration operation was launched by the Army and police based on intelligence inputs pertaining to a likely infiltration bid. 

    “Based on intelligence inputs regarding the likely infiltration bid, a joint anti-infiltration operation was launched by the Army and police along LoC in the general area of Uri, Baramulla. Alert troops spotted suspicious activity and challenged, which resulted in terrorists opening indiscriminate fire. Vigilant troops responded with effective fire. Operation is in progress,” the Chinar Corps said.

    Terrorists based in the Pakistan-occupied part of J&K (POJK) have been making several attempts to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir to disturb the prevailing peace after a largely people-participative Lok Sabha and Assembly elections ended without any terrorist attack to disrupt the democratic process.

    The terrorists, especially hardcore foreign mercenaries, have carried out several hit-and-run attacks on the Army, other security forces, and civilians in hilly districts of the Jammu division, including Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Udhampur, and Reasi districts.

    Over 4,000 trained commandos drawn from the elite Para commando force and those trained in mountain warfare have been deployed in the densely forested areas of these districts to prevent the terrorists from carrying out ambush attacks and then hiding in the difficult forest areas.

    Besides the deployment of the Army and the CRPF in these mountainous districts, police have also issued automatic weapons to the village defence committees (VDCs). The VDCs are groups of civilians trained to handle weapons to protect their villages and families from terrorists in remote, inaccessible areas of the Jammu division.

    On Thursday, terrorists killed a non-local Bihar resident identified as Ashok Chouhan in the Zainpora area of the Valley’s Shopian district. Following the incident, security forces launched a manhunt to trace the assassins. The attack was widely condemned by several people, including Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

    (With IANS Inputs)

  • Delhi Court Extends Interim Bail Of Engineer Rashid Till October 28 In Terror Funding Case |

    NEW DELHI: The Patiala House Court in Delhi on Tuesday extended the interim bail of Engineer Rashid, an independent Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, till October 28 in connection with a terror funding case. The court granted the extension on medical grounds, relating to Rashid’s father.
    Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh, while extending the interim bail, directed Rashid to surrender before the jail authorities by 12 noon on October 28, 2024. The court also deferred the pronouncement of its order on his regular bail plea until the same date.

    The same judge had previously granted Rashid interim bail on September 10 to allow him to campaign for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, and has now postponed the decision on his regular bail plea. The court noted that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had verified the medical documents and did not oppose the extension of interim bail sought by the applicant.

    The elections for the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly were conducted in three phases from September 18 to October 1, with the results announced on October 8. The National Conference-Congress alliance secured 48 seats, followed by the BJP with 29 seats. In 2005, Engineer Rashid was arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Srinagar for allegedly supporting militants and was held for three months and 17 days. He faced charges of anti-national activities and was incarcerated in Cargo, Humhama, and Raj Bagh prisons. However, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Srinagar later dropped all charges against him on humanitarian grounds.

    In August 2019, Rashid was again arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During his incarceration, he filed his nomination for the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail and won by a margin of 204,000 votes, defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

  • J&K Polls Phase-I Roundup: 23 Lakh Voters To Decide Fate of 219 Candidates In First Phase |

    J&K Election 2024: In the first phase of polling, 23 lakh voters will decide the fate of 219 candidates. Foolproof security arrangements have been made across the Union Territory. Jammu and Kashmir is heading for its assembly elections after a decade. The first phase of the election will be held on September 18, with security remaining one of the major concerns for agencies. As PM Modi stated, this assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir will determine the fate of the Union Territory.

    A total of 219 candidates are contesting in the first phase of elections. Polling will take place in 24 Assembly Constituencies in this phase of the J&K Assembly Elections-2024 on September 18, 2024. In Anantnag district, 64 candidates remain in the final electoral fray, followed by 45 in Pulwama district, 27 in Doda district, 25 in Kulgam district, 22 in Kishtwar district, 21 in Shopian district, and 15 in Ramban district. In Kishtwar district, 9 candidates are contesting in 48-Inderwal AC, 7 in 49-Kishtwar AC, and 6 in 50-Padder-Nagseni AC.

    In Doda district, 10 candidates are in the fray for 51-Bhadarwah AC, 9 for 52-Doda AC, and 8 for 53-Doda West AC. In Ramban district, 8 candidates are contesting in 54-Ramban AC, while 7 will contest in 55-Banihal AC. Similarly, in Pulwama district, 14 candidates are competing in 32-Pampore AC, 9 in 33-Tral AC, 12 in 34-Pulwama AC, and 10 in 35-Rajpora AC.

    In Shopian district, 10 candidates are running in 36-Zainapora AC, and 11 in 37-Shopian AC. In Kulgam district, 6 candidates remain in the fray for 38-DH Pora AC, 10 for 39-Kulgam AC, and 9 for 40-Devsar AC. In Anantnag district, 10 candidates are contesting in 41-Dooru AC, 10 in 42-Kokernag (ST) AC, 9 in 43-Anantnag West AC, 13 in 44-Anantnag AC, 3 in 45-Srigufwara-Bijbehara AC, 13 in 46-Shangus-Anantnag East AC, and 6 in 47-Pahalgam AC.

    More than 23.27 lakh voters, including 5.66 lakh youths, are eligible to cast their votes in Phase-I. Among these, 11.76 lakh are male voters, 11.51 lakh are female voters, and there are 60 third-gender electors. A three-tier security system has been implemented across the Union Territory to secure every polling booth. Special polling booths with extra security have been established in areas near the Line of Control and the International Border.

    V.K. Birdi, IG Kashmir Police, stated, “With September 18th being the date for the first phase of elections, particularly in South Kashmir, we have made extensive arrangements. Paramilitary forces have been deployed at polling booths, and area domination is being carried out to ensure fair elections in a secure environment. We have also implemented multilayered security at strong rooms and distribution centers. These arrangements will continue for the second and third phases as well. Technology serves as a force multiplier and greatly enhances security.”

    Around 300 companies of paramilitary forces have been brought in from across India specifically for election security, in addition to the Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF already present in the Valley.

  • Meet Kashmiri Social Activist Mudasir Dar, Who Was Once Refused Hotel In Delhi Over His Address, Working For ‘Naya Kashmir’ |

    In a region infected by terrorism, Kashmir and its people are now more than willing to focus on development and positivity. While the region has been contributing more to sports, many individuals have also decided to help the underprivileged in society, assisting them in overcoming obstacles. One such inspiring story is that of Mudasir Dar.

    Who Is Mudasir Dar?

    Mudasir Dar is a social activist from Jammu and Kashmir. He was born and raised in the scenic village of Mughalpora, Pulwama, in South Kashmir. As a college student, he joined the All Jammu and Kashmir Students Union (AJKSU) and, within a year, became General Secretary. Later, he was elected president of the union. According to reports, Mudasir subsequently joined ‘The Sajid Iqbal Foundation for Peace and Human Rights’, a nonprofit organization that provided aid to flood victims in 2014 when Kashmir was ravaged by devastating floods.

    Mudasir oversaw the foundation’s relief activities and worked to help those impacted by the catastrophe. According to reports, his efforts did not go unnoticed. For his contributions to social service, he was honored with the prestigious Rashtrapati Award (President’s Award), and in World Scouting, he received the Rajya Puraskar Award (Governor’s Award). Mudasir’s focus has always been on youth participation and peace-building in society.

    A Friend In Need

    During his tenure as the student union’s president, Mudasir reportedly organized numerous youth interaction programs in South and Central Kashmir to engage young people and keep them away from negative influences such as drug addiction and militancy. He also reached out to students who were unable to attend school due to the unprecedented shutdown in Kashmir after August 2019. Mudasir donated study materials and stationery to hundreds of children in South Kashmir districts, helping them stay focused on their studies and away from harmful distractions.

    During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Mudasir took his activism to the next level. According to reports, he helped 500 impoverished families by providing them with food, medicine, and other essential supplies. As the coordinator of The Sajid Iqbal Foundation, Mudasir also distributed oxygen cylinders to hospitals across Kashmir. In an effort to steer youth away from violence and drug addiction, he actively involved hundreds of young people in mainstream activities in the Shopian and Pulwama districts. His work reportedly helped save 39 young people whose lives were on the verge of rebellion against the government.

    Additionally, Mudasir has been successful in engaging young people from “No Go Zone” villages like Kareemabad, Lelhar, Parigam, Murran, Tahab, Koil, and Gulzarpora. In one incident, when he was in Delhi, Mudasir was allegedly turned away by a hotel administration after revealing his address. “That incident in Delhi hurt me the most, and I resolved to correct the false perception among people on the Indian mainland,” he said.

    In response, Mudasir began working with the local administration and police to improve the image of his district, which had become infamous for various reasons. He also used sports as a tool to promote peace and development.

  • BJP Releases Second Candidate List for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Polls |

    Jammu and Kashmir Election 2024: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its second list of candidates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, which will be conducted in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 4. The second list has names of 29 candidates for the second and the third phase. The first list had 15 names. With this, the party has announced a total of 44 candidates out of the total 90 seats.

    In the second phase, the party has nominated candidates for various constituencies:

    Habba Kadal – Ashok Bhat
    Gulabgarh (ST) – Mohammad Akram Chaudhary
    Reasi – Kuldeep Raj Dubey
    Shri Mata Vaishno Devi – Baldev Raj Sharma
    Kalakote-Sunderbani – Thakur Randhir Singh
    Budhal (ST) – Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali
    Thannamandi (ST) – Mohd. Iqbal Malik
    Surankote (ST) – Syed Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari
    Poonch Haveli – Chowdhary Abdul Ghani
    Mendhar (ST) – Murtaza Khan

    In the third phase, the following candidates have been fielded:

    Udhampur West – Pawan Gupta
    Chenani – Balwant Singh Mankotia
    Ramnagar (SC) – Sunil Bhardwaj
    Bani – Jeevan Lal
    Billawar –  Satish Sharma
    Basohli – Darshan Singh
    Jasrota – Rajiv Jasrotia
    Hiranagar – Adv. Vijay Kumar Sharma
    Ramgarh (SC) – Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal
    Samba –  Surjit Singh Slathia
    Vijaypur – Chandra Prakash Ganga
    Suchetgarh (SC) – Gharu Ram Bhagat
    R.S. Pura-Jammu South – Dr. Narinder Singh Raina
    Jammu East – Yudhvir Sethi
    Nagrota – Dr. Devinder Singh Rana
    Jammu West – Arvind Gupta
    Jammu North – Sham Lal Sharma
    Akhnoor (SC) – Mohan Lal Bhagat
    Chhamb – Rajeev Sharma

    The BJP is contesting these elections with a focus on strengthening its foothold in the region. The upcoming elections are seen as crucial for the party to establish its influence and address local issues in Jammu and Kashmir.

  • Omar Abdullah Welcomes Amit Shah’s Remark On NC Manifesto, Says ‘Thankful To The Home Minister…’ |

    New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and vice president of National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah welcomed Home Minister Amit Shah’s comment on the National Conference’s manifesto. Speaking during an election campaign in Ganderbal district, Omar addressed a query about Shah’s comments on the NC manifesto.

    “I thank Amit Shah for mentioning the manifesto of a small party. It means our campaign has attracted his attention. I reviewed our manifesto after Shah’s remarks on X, and I found that none of the issues he mentioned are actually in our manifesto. However, it is a significant achievement for us that the Home Minister of the country has read our party’s manifesto,” Abdullah said. 

    Regarding reports of Jamaat-i-Islami (JeI) contesting the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said, “The beauty of democracy is that anyone can contest elections. I saw news that JeI was trying to get its ban lifted to participate in the elections. Unfortunately, the government did not lift the ban even after the elections were announced. Now, there are reports that JeI is fielding candidates as independents, which is a welcome step. Let them present their manifesto and promises, and it is up to the people to decide whom they will choose.”

    Omar addressed a public rally in Ganderbal district, where speculation suggests he might contest from two places in Kashmir, possibly including Ganderbal. However, the party has not yet made any official announcement.

  • Modi’s Body Language, Confidence Drastically Changed After Lok Sabha Poll Results: Rahul Gandhi |

    JAMMU: Striking an emotional chord with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Thursday said he considers himself their soldier in New Delhi, and added his doors are always open for party workers — “the lions of the Congress”. Taking a dig at the prime minister, Gandhi said Modi’s body language and confidence have drastically changed after the parliamentary poll results.

    “You know my relationship with you. It is not a political connection. It is a relationship of love and that of my family’s background. My family comes from your state,” the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha told Congress workers here. He was addressing them on the second and concluding day of his visit to poll-bound Jammu and Kashmir.

    “So, you should always feel that you have a sepoy in Delhi. I am your sepoy. Whatever you need, my doors are always open for you,” he said. “You only have to give me an order, and I will be present before you,” Gandhi said amid amid huge applause.

    Flanked by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Gandhi referred to party leaders as his ‘generals’ and the workers as ‘sepoys’. He emphasised that both must be respected in all situations, including during alliances with other parties.

    In an apparent dig at former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, without naming him, Gandhi told the party workers, “When there was a difficult time, and you and your ideology were under attack, you still fought on the ground, keeping the flag flying high. Several people threw down the flag and ran away. You did not run away. You faced bullets, sticks, and abuses, and stood your ground firmly. I call you the lions of the Congress.” Asserting that the Congress and its workers have shaken Prime Minister Modi’s confidence, Gandhi remarked he has lost the self-assured body language he displayed before the elections.

    “Congress workers have given him so much psychological tension that his confidence has been badly hit. Congress workers have forced him to bow before the Constitution. He is not the same PM he was before the elections,” he added. He affirmed that the Congress will continue to challenge the BJP across the country.

    “Whenever they try to do any mischief, they will find the Congress challenging them. The Congress and its workers have saved the Constitution and democracy in the country. We will thwart their design. They will not be allowed to pass their bills,” he said.

    He said the Congress is engaged in a battle of ideologies with the BJP. “It is a fight between the ideologies of Congress and the RSS.” On the issue of ticket distribution by the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, Gandhi expressed his desire to see tickets being given to grassroots workers. “They should have the opportunity to become MLAs. I want to see them in assembly.” He also called for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood at the earliest. He said the people of J&K have gained nothing under the current regime, which has handed over all the region’s resources to “outsiders”.

    Gandhi and Kharge were welcomed and honoured with a Dogri pagri and picture of Mata Vaishnodevi.

  • Farooq Abdullah Announces Alliance With Congress For J&K Assembly Elections After Rahul Gandhi’s Visit |

    Farooq Abdullah has ended speculation by announcing a pre-poll alliance between the National Conference and Congress. This announcement came after Rahul Gandhi and Malikarjun Kharge met with him at his residence. The National Conference has declared a pre-poll alliance with the Congress and CPI(M) in Jammu and Kashmir, in anticipation of the assembly elections scheduled to begin on September 18.

    Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Congress President Malikarjun Kharge, visited Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s residence in Srinagar before their departure to Jammu. Rahul was on a two-day visit to the Union Territory.

    At the meeting, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and several party leaders were also in attendance. Shortly after Rahul Gandhi’s departure from the Abdullah residence, Farooq Abdullah addressed the media to announce the National Conference’s pre-poll alliance with the Congress and CPI(M) for the forthcoming elections.

    The president of the National Conference said, “There will be an alliance across all 90 assembly seats between the two parties. The paperwork is expected to be completed by tonight. Congress, NC, and CPI(M) will join forces. We are united in our efforts and will contest the elections together. We are optimistic that statehood will be reinstated. Our doors remain open to everyone.”

    Previously, Rahul Gandhi had expressed his party’s and the INDIA block’s commitment to the prompt restoration of statehood in J&K.

    Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition and head of the Congress Party, said, “Restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as swiftly as possible is our top priority. Although we had hoped for this to occur before the elections, we are hopeful that statehood will soon be reinstated. This is an unprecedented situation since independence, where a state has been downgraded to a union territory. It is our foremost concern to return their democratic rights. The Congress Party stands in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.”

    Congress President Malikarjun Kharge also spoke on the occasion and said that We want to keep the entire opposition together. 

    Congress President Malikarjun Kharge said “BJP couldn’t ensure elections in J&K. The party announced polls under pressure in the wake of Supreme Court directions. I want to put it on record that BJP can’t suppress the peoples’ voices anymore in J&K. Congress is committed to work for the welfare of the people of J&K. Tall claims of BJP that post Article 370, terrorism has been wiped out in J&K, have fallen flat. Infiltration has gone up and terrorism incidents have also witnessed a spike”

    The Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir will start on September 18 and will be held in three phases and on 4th October results will be announced. 

  • Search Operation Underway In Anantnag Forests Following Encounter In Jammu And Kashmir |

    New Delhi: A massive search operation is underway after a heavy exchange of fire in the Gagarmunda forest area of Anantnag in South Kashmir. Two army personnel and one civilian have been killed, and two army personnel and one civilian have been injured.

    Three to four terrorists are present in the Gagarmunda forest area and they possibly came from Doda, the IG of Kashmir said.

    The IGP of Kashmir reached the operation site along with top police and army officials and is monitoring the situation. The official stated that it appears a group of four to six terrorists is present in the area, and the police are investigating the role of civilians in how they were able to get so close to the terrorists.

    Speaking to reporters at the operation site, IGP Kashmir VK Birdi stated that the number of terrorists seems to be between three and four. “We are investigating the role of civilians to understand why and how they reached so close to the terrorists,” the IGP said.

    He mentioned that it cannot be ruled out that the group may have come from Doda, as Anantnag and Doda share adjoining borders. He confirmed that two soldiers and one civilian have been killed, while another civilian is undergoing treatment. An extensive search operation is underway. “The terrain and weather are challenging,” he added.

    Security forces are engaged in a major operation in the Gagarmunda forest area of Kokernag for the second consecutive day, during which two Indian Army soldiers were martyred and one civilian was injured.

    The operation was triggered after terrorists opened fire on security personnel, injuring three soldiers and two civilians. Tragically, two of the injured soldiers later succumbed to their injuries, while one is currently admitted to an Army hospital in Srinagar. The civilians caught in the firing were immediately given medical aid and rushed to a nearby medical centre, but one of them later succumbed to his injuries.

    The operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs indicating that terrorists responsible for recent violent incidents in Doda had infiltrated South Kashmir from the Kishtwar range of Jammu. The Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have been tracking these suspects since the beginning of August.

    For the past year, terrorists have changed their modus operandi and are now hiding in the mountains within the dense forests of the Pir Panjal Range instead of in settlements and towns. They are moving from one location to another through these mountains, travelling from Rajouri to Poonch, Udhampur, and Doda to Kishtwar via Kokernag, as the borders of these areas converge.

    Security forces believe that 70 to 80 trained Pakistani terrorists are present in these mountains, taking advantage of the forests and naturally formed caves. These terrorists are equipped with sophisticated weapons, ammunition, and communication systems.

    The army stated that security forces continued their operation through the night. More security personnel were called in for the encounter this morning, and the cordon around the area has been expanded. Drones and hexacopters have been deployed for assistance. However, the operation is becoming very difficult due to the dense forest and natural caves, as the terrorists are taking advantage of these features. This operation is being conducted at an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level.

    The Gagarmunda area is connected to the Kapran and Gadol Ahlan villages of Kashmir on one side and to the Desa and Lal Daraman areas of Doda on the other side, where terrorists attacked the army in July, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers.