Jammu and Kashmir police Thursday said that a high security alert has been sounded in Rajouri and Poonch in the wake of recent incidents of violence.

Addressing a press conference here, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Poonch-Rajouri range, Haseeb Mughal said that there are two to three splinter groups of militants present in the area and their movement is being followed and tracked.

“They will be killed soon,” he said. About the recent act in Rajouri’s Darhal on 11 August where a “Fidayeen attack” took place on an army camp in Pargal village, the DIG said that forces were already following the movement of the group after some inputs while in gunfight that broke out at Kandhra Budhal on 14 August, militants escaped from the spot amid very bad weather conditions.

He said that keeping in view the entire scenario, security in Rajouri and Poonch areas have been put on a “high alert” while CASOs and searches are going on almost on a daily basis.

“The security of vital installations have been strengthened further,” he said and appealed people to share information of “any suspicious movement or object with forces for timely action”.

NEW DELHI, Sep 2: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed an NGO named “We The Citizens” to approach the Union Government with a plea seeking probe into the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir during 1990.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and CT Ravikumar expressed disinclination to entertain the matter and asked the petitioner to approach the authorities. Accordingly, the petition as disposed granting liberty to the petitioner NGO to file a representation before the Central Government.
The petition also sought a direction to the government to conduct a census of those victims who were forced to flee the state and reside in different parts of the country.
During the hearing, the advocate appearing for the petitioners submitted that it was a “genocide of more than 1 lakh Hindus in Kashmir”.
He relied on the study in the book “Our Moon Has Blood Clots” by Rahul Pandita, which described the first-hand account of incident of murder, arson and migration of Hindus & Sikhs from Kashmir.
He argued that the book contained detailed accounts of the incident and that the author of the book himself was a victim of the said attacks. He also referred to a book written by Jagmohan, the Governor of J&K during 1990, describing the atrocities committed against Pandits.
Further, he argued that the Jammu & Kashmir government never investigated into the alleged conspiracy. The counsel submitted that the Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure was implemented in J&K only in 2019 after the abrogation of its special status under Article 370 and the Ranbir Penal Code was governing till then. Therefore, appropriate action under IPC and CrPC has not been taken with respect to the crimes.
“The Government has not seen our plight…”, he argued.
The Court then asked,
“Approach the government. Why should we hear it?.. Have you made representation to the Government of India?”
Post this, the court granted liberty to the petitioner NGO to move the government.
The petition filed by the NGO submits that attacks on Kashmiri Pandits in 1989-1990 was a “Genocide of the highest order” with the intent to ethnically cleanse the Kashmir valley from Hindus and Sikhs.
“Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) and Sikhs have always been in the forefront of the struggle against secessionism, communalism and fundamentalism in Kashmir.The final exodus of Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs began from the Kashmir valley in 1989. This was a Genocide of the highest order with the intent to ethnically cleanse the Kashmir valley from Hindus and Sikhs.”
Further, the petition said that the attacks in 1990 is a glaring example of complete failure of Constitutional Machinery in preventing the genocide and protecting the life, property of the Kashmiri Hindu and Sikh in the Kashmir valley. Owing to this, the Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Article 14, 19 & 21 of the Constitution of India were openly violated,” the petition argued.
Even though, hundreds of FIRs pertaining to the murders of Kashmiri Hindus were filed, they were taken to their logical conclusion even after lapse of more than 30 years. Highlighting this, the plea states,
“Because of shoddy investigations the perpetrators, terrorist, anti national have been allowed to aggravate the law and order in the valley which resulted into exodus of Hindu families from Kashmir. Thus, till date those migrated families are living life of refuges in other parts of India. Thus, their fundamental right is being violated on day to day basis as they are unable to return to their home please in Kashmir due to lack of security and settlement measures.”
On these grounds, the petition was filed.
In March 2022, Kashmiri Pandits organization “Roots in Kashmir” filed a filed a curative petition in the Supreme Court seeking probe into the killings of Kashmiri Pandits during the height of militancy in the valley during the 1990s.
The curative petition was filed against a 2017 verdict of the Supreme Court which had dismissed the organization’s petition for probe citing long delay. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Sept 2: Taking a jibe at Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday claimed that the “ground reality” of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir is different from the ones “manufactured by people sitting in New Delhi in Modi Sarkar-sanctioned bungalows.”
Tagging a video of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Twitter, Jairam Ramesh wrote, “This is ground reality, not reality manufactured by people sitting in New Delhi in Modi Sarkar sanctioned bungalows with huge lawns and planting fake news.”
The Jammu and Kashmir Congress tweet stated the Congress workers of all blocks of Bhallessa Sub Division held a monthly meeting on September 1 in Gandoh’s party office. The meeting is being held for more than 50 years, it further stated.
Notably, Bhalessa is the home town of former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
“Congress workers of all blocks of Sub Division Bhallessa assembled at Congress office Gandoh to hold monthly meeting which is being conducted 1st day of every month for last more than 50 years. Bhalessa is the home village of Ghulam Nabi Azad,” tweeted Jammu and Kashmir Congress.
Azad, on August 26, resigned from all posts of the party citing the “immaturity” of Rahul Gandhi whom he blamed for “demolishing the consultative mechanism” in the party.
In a hard-hitting 5 page note to party interim president Sonia Gandhi, Azad claimed that a coterie runs the party while she was just a nominal head and all the major decisions were taken by “Shri Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs”.
Earlier speaking to media persons in the national capital, Azad said, “I have been forced to leave my home on my own.”
Taking a dig at the Congress over his resignation, he said, “Modi is an excuse, they have had an issue with me since the G23 letter was written. They never wanted anyone to write to them, question them.”
“Several (Congress) meetings happened, but not even a single suggestion was taken,” added Azad.
When asked if he’ll go with BJP if needed after forming a new party, Azad said, “Congress mein anpadhon (illiterate) ki jamaat hai, especially those sitting for clerical work…Those who know Jammu and Kashmir, I can’t increase even one vote in BJP’s constituencies, they can’t do it in mine.”
Several political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir last Saturday met veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is planning to launch a new national party.
“MLAs from Jammu and Kashmir are here. A few more-some senior leaders and ex-ministers-will come in the evening. Azad Sa’ab said a national party will be formed, we’ll begin from J&K and the upcoming poll will be fought strongly. Don’t want to reply to comments, we’ll reply with a victory,” said ex-Congress leader Salman Nizami.
The meeting came within 24 hours of Azad’s resignation from all posts in Congress and it holds importance as the polls in the valley are likely to be held later this year.
“Under the leadership of Azad ji we will launch a national party and the work will begin from Jammu and Kashmir. Azad ji will go to J-K and will form an alliance with like-minded parties and leaders. All the criticism coming Azad Ji’s way will be answered by winning elections,” ex- Congress leader Salman Nizami had earlier announced.
The decision to launch a new national party came just hours after the veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, in a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi resigned from all positions of the Congress party including the primary membership. (Agencies)

Crimes against women in Jammu and Kashmir have seen 15 percent increase in 2021, NCRB report has revealed.

The report said that J-K has recorded a 9.5 percent increase in cognizable offences and there has been a rise of 15 percent in crime cases against women.

As per report, 3,069 crime cases against women were registered in 2019, followed by 3,405 in 2020 and 3,937 in 2021.

Most prominent crime cases against women was assault on women with intention to outrage her modesty and in J-K, 1,851 such cases were reported in year 2021, reads the data adding that, the crime rate of such assaults on J-K is 28.9 per lakh of population which is highest in eight Union Territories.

As per data, 31,675 criminal cases under the IPC of the special and local laws in 2021 while as in 2020, 28,911 such cases were registered.

In overall criminal cases, J-K has reported an increase of 9.5 percent while in 2020 the increase percentage was 13.7 percent, data reads further.

NEW DELHI, Sep 2: For the convenience of rail commuters, the Northern Railway has decided to provide temporary stoppages to two pairs of trains at Kapasan Railway Station in Rajasthan and Manwal Railway Station in Jammu and Kashmir. This has been in response to a long-term demand for stoppages to be provided at these stations. Train No. 19615/19616 Udaipur City-Kamakhya Kaviguru Express and Train No. 14033/14034 Delhi Jn.-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Jammu Mail Express will halt at the aforementioned stations.
The commuters, who travel daily from Udhampur and Manwal to Jammu, Samba, and Kathua will benefit from these halts, according to Northern Railway. The two-minute stoppage of Mail Express 14033/14034 at Manwal Railway Station has been authorised by Railways. With this, students coming to Jammu for studies along with passengers will also be benefited.
According to the officials, the 19616 Kamakhya-Udaipur City Kavi Guru Express will begin travelling on September 1 at 10.35 pm, while the 19615 Udaipur City-Kamakhya Kavi Guru will begin travelling on September 5 at 05:09 pm. From September 3 through September 6, the train will stop at Kapasan Railway Station for two minutes in both directions.
14033 Delhi Jn. – Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Jammu Mail will depart at 07.36 AM while Train No. 14034 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra – Delhi Junction. Jammu Mail will halt at Manwal station at 02.59 PM. This stoppage in both directions will be provided for a period of two minutes from August 31 to September 6. (Agencies)

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday inaugurated the recommencement of balance work of Tawi Barrage.

Sinha said that recommencement of Tawi Barrage is a significant occasion for Jammu city.

The ambitious project, which was delayed for more than a decade, will enhance scenic beauty, increase tourism potential of the city of temples and it will also ensure creation of recreational spots for people, the Lt. Governor added.

Today’s initiative is a part of the government’s endeavour to develop urban centres as engines of economic growth and make the cities ecologically and economically sustainable, he said.

The new and robust infrastructure will cater to tourists as well the local population, making the citizens partners in the conservation and development of water bodies, Sinha added.

Noting that the legacy of project delays in J&K has hampered the economy of the region and kept people away from the basic facilities, the Lt Governor asserted that project delays which were earlier considered a norm is now a thing of the past.

The Union Territory has achieved new strides in project implementation, while only 9,229 projects were completed in 2018-19, more than 50,000 projects have been completed in 2021-22, registering a substantial five-fold increase, Sinha said.

The proposed Tawi Barrage will create a pondage of 1.41 million cubic metres. It will be an auto-mechanical and manual operated gated barrage controlled through SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system and the project is scheduled to be commissioned by mid-July 2023.

Police arrest duo from Kashmir capital Srinagar for blackmailing her, official sources said.

They said that the two accused Danish Majeed Bhat of Noorbagh and Aadil Ahmed Rather, a resident of Shunglipora Srinagar were arrested for blackmailing and extorting money from a girl (name withheld) threatening her of circulating a video on the internet.

After receiving the complaint, both the accused were arrested by police station Safakadal while a formal FIR vide number 169/2022 under section 354C, 509 IPC, & 66 E,67,67 A IT Act was registered against them.