JAMMU, Aug 17: Security forces and police have intensified operation to track down terrorists, who managed to escape from the cordon after a bried gunfire encounter in Rajouri district, sources said.
Security forces had on Sunday located a group of 2-3 terrorists in Sojan forest area of Samote in Rajouri and laid a seige to neutralise them, they said.
Terrorists fired on the security forces during cordon and search operation (CASO) but managed to escape using heavy rains and bad weather conditions as cover, they said.
Forces have now intensified the operation to track down the terrorists, who may be trying to find new targets in the area, they said.
Security forces and police have been put on high alert in view of movement of two suspected persons around Rajouri city, particularly around security forces area on Tuesday, they said.
Agencies also spotted two suspected persons, including one carrying a bag, in CCTV footage, they said.
On August 11, two terrorists had attacked an Army camp in Rajouri, killing four soldiers in a pre-dawn suicide strike that marked the return of ‘fidayeen’ to Jammu and Kashmir after more than three years.
Both the terrorists, believed to be from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), were shot dead after an over four-hour gun battle.
On May 8, a terrorist was killed as the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Laam area of Rajouri district. There were several blasts in Rajouri district in April and May.
Police had busted two modules of the LeT instrumental in carrying out terror acts and ferrying drone-dropped weapons from Pakistan to the Kashmir valley. They arrested five members of two terror modules. (Agencies)
Security forces on high alert in Jammu after militants escape during encounter
BJP Parliamentary board revamp: Shivraj Chouhan, Nitin Gadkari out, Yediyurappa, Sonowal in
New Delhi, August 17: In a major organizational rejig the BJP has dropped Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from its Parliamentary Board, the party’s top decision-making body.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has been included in the revamped parliamentary party board, which now has many new faces.
As per a notice, Yediyurappa, Sarbananda Sonowal and K Laxman are the new additions.
The Board will be headed by the party’s national president JP Nadda, and comprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, according to a notification. (Agencies)
Supreme Court asks Centre to take proactive steps with FIFA to lift AIFF suspension
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Central government to take “proactive steps” with the world football governing body FIFA to ensure that the suspension of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is lifted and the country gets to host the Under-17 Women Football World Cup as scheduled.
A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, AS Bopanna and JB Pardiwala adjourned the hearing in the matter related to AIFF on the request of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, as he said some discussions are going on with FIFA.
The bench in its order stated, “Solicitor General has informed the court that government of India is in active engagement with FIFA and stakeholders to ensure Under-17 World Cup in the country as planned. The meeting happened on Tuesday and discussions are ongoing. We request the Centre to take proactive measures to ensure holding of Under-17 world cup and lift the suspension on AIFF so the objective is duly achieved.”
At the outset of the hearing, Solicitor General informed the top court that the Central government has taken up the issue with FIFA on the suspension of AIFF.
“Yesterday itself government took it up as an issue. We had two meetings with FIFA. We have reached a stage. I must also say that the Committee of Administrators (CoA) has played a very constructive role. There is some breaking of the ice which has taken place. I am requesting if this can be kept on Monday,” Mehta said.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, the petitioner in the main case, told the bench that the entire event has been orchestrated by the former AIFF President Praful Patel, who was ousted after the Supreme Court’s orders.
The Centre on Tuesday mentioned before the apex court the decision of the FIFA Council suspending the AIFF with immediate effect, which has stripped India’s right to host the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled for October.
FIFA, the apex football body on Tuesday announced that it has decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect and the decision was taken unanimously by the Bureau of the FIFA Council. The decision has been taken due to “undue influence from third parties”, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.
In a press statement, FIFA said that the suspension will be revoked once the order appointing the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee is repealed.
FIFA was reportedly concerned by a CoA appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee the functioning of AIFF till a democratically elected executive committee is put in place.
The Supreme Court on May 18 appointed a three-member CoA to manage the affairs of the AIFF. The CoA is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd) Anil Dave, and comprises former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi and a former captain of Indian football team Bhaskar Ganguly.
The Supreme Court order forced AIFF president and NCP leader Praful Patel and his Executive Committee to step down for not holding elections due in December 2020. Patel’s third term in office ended in December 2020. As per rule, 12 years is the maximum term permitted to a national Sports Federation Chief under the Sports Code.
The top court had directed the CoA on August 3 to elect the AIFF Executive Committee and finalise the constitution for AIFF in consonance with the National Sports Code. The apex court also directed the Executive Committee of the AIFF to expeditiously hold elections as per the schedule proposed by the CoA, which is currently running the affairs of the national federation.
On August 5, the Supreme Court approved the COA timeline for AIFF elections, polls to be held on August 28 and the poll process will start on August 13.
Later on Monday, FIFA suspended the AIFF and threatened to strip its right to host the women’s U-17 World Cup, days after the Supreme Court’s direction to hold elections of the AIFF.
The CoA had earlier filed a contempt petition before the apex court alleging that the ousted AIFF President Praful Patel for misusing his position as a FIFA Council member to undermine the court orders and the conduct of the tournament.
SIT to investigate death of 6 people in Jammu
A special investigation team (SIT) of J&K Police was constituted on Wednesday to investigate the death of six people whose semi-decomposed bodies were found in the posh Sidhra residential area of Jammu city.
“SIT headed by Sanjay Sharma (SP rural Jammu), Pardeep Kumar (SDPO Nagrota), Inspector Vishav Partap (SHO Nagrota) and SI Majid Hussain (IC Police Post Sidhra) has been formed to investigate the matter.
“Prima facie it appears to be a case of poisoning, though it has to be ascertained whether it is a case of forced poisoning or otherwise.
“Five deceased belonged to Marmat in Doda district of Jammu division and one to Barzalla area of Srinagar district.
“Of these, Sakina Begum and her two daughters, Naseema and Rubina, and her son, Zafar Saleem, and Sajad Ahmad were from Doda district while Noor-ul-Habib was from Barzalla area of Srinagar District.
“Around 10 p.m. yesterday, we received a call from a woman in Barzalla area of Srinagar saying that her brother, Noor-ul-Habib was not picking up her calls and she had apprehension about some untoward happening.
“Upon this, police parties of police post Sidhra and police station Nagrota rushed to the spot and found that the doors of the house were bolted from inside.
“The doors of the house were forcibly broken open in the presence of locals of Tawi Vihar Colony in Sidhra.
“It was found that the dead bodies were lying in the house.
“A team of FSL and photographers of the crime section of PCR was called in.
“Locals of the area informed that the four dead bodies were of Noor-ul-Habib, Sakina Begum, Sajad Ahmed and Nassema Akhter.
“Locals also informed us that there is another house which belongs to one of the deceased.
“The police party went there, opened the doors and found two more bodies of Rubina Bano and her brother Zafar Saleem”, police said.
Senior police officers, including Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, Chandan Kolhi also rushed to the spot.
Bodies are in the government medical college hospital in Jammu where medico-legal formalities, including post-mortem is being conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death.
Senior BJP leader Kuldeep Raj Gupta is no more
JAMMU, Aug 17: Senior BJP leader and former Vice Chairman State Advisory Board for the Development of Pahari Kuldeep Raj Gupta is no more.
Extremely saddened to hear the passing away of Kuldeep Raj Gupta, prominent Pahari leader from Rajouri. He was deeply committed to the welfare of economically weaker classes. In his death we have lost a social worker of great promise. My condolences to the family & admirers, tweets office of LG J&K
LG Manoj Sinha Lends Shoulder to Mortal Remains of ITBP Jawans Who Lost Their Lives in Tragic Accident in Pahalgam
SRINAGAR, Aug 17: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha lend his shoulder to mortal remains of ITBP jawans after the wreath-laying ceremony in Srinagar. Seven Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel died and 30 were injured on Tuesday morning after a bus carrying 39 security personnel, including Jammu and Kashmir police officials, skidded off the road and fell into a riverbed near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
HC aims for “Vision Plan” for Solid Waste Disposal in J&KNews WAALI
J&K, 17 August:The J&K and Ladakh Supreme Court has asked the government to come up with a “vision plan” for solid waste management in Jammu and Kashmir, while seeking details on the funds used for waste management.
In hearing a related public interest litigation (PIL), a departmental bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal asked the Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department for full details of steps taken and proposed to date in relation to the Solid waste disposal.
The court also asked him to provide information about the past use of federal and state funds for solid waste disposal.
While pointing out that the defendants (concerned authorities in the government) have not presented a vision plan for solid waste management despite repeated instructions, the court said: “Sufficient time has been granted in the past and even costs imposed, but without Effect.”
61 domestic cattle die of mysterious disease in Jammu
Jammu has reported deaths of 61 domestic animals in Jammu, Samba and Rajouri districts due to the spread of mysterious disease in border areas.
Most of the cases of the disease have come from Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Rajouri district that border Pakistan. Director, Animal Husbandry, Jammu, Krishan Lal said 61 animals have so far died due to LSD in border areas of Jammu division.
“61 animals have died. Fifty six in Jammu distt, 4 Samba & 1 in Rajouri,” Director, Animal Husbandry Jammu,Krishan Lal Sharma said“Apparently these animals died of ‘lumpy skin disease’ as they had such symptoms.The dead animals were buried.”
Control rooms have also been established in all districts of Jammu and response teams have been formed by the department to deal with the spread of the disease.
Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo recently chaired a meeting to review preparedness to combat the ingress of LSD.
Kashmiri Pandit’s killing: J&K admn moves to attach house of terrorist; police arrest father, 3 brothers for sheltering him
Srinagar, August 17: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday initiated the process of attaching the house of a terrorist who killed a Kashmiri Pandit in Shopian, while his father and three brothers were arrested for sheltering him.
Police said Adil Wani killed Sunil Kumar Bhat in an orchard in a Shopian village on Tuesday and later took shelter at his home in Kutpora.
The security forces launched a cordon and search operation but Wani, a categorised terrorist of the banned Al-Badr outfit, fled in the cover of darkness after hurling grenades at the approaching police party, they said.
During the search operation, police also recovered arms and ammunition from Wani’s house, prompting the authorities to place his father and three brothers under arrest besides initiating the process of attaching their house.
Wani was identified by eyewitnesses and Sunil Kumar’s cousin as the person who fired indiscriminately at him and his brother while they were working in the apple orchard on Tuesday.
Earlier this year, Jammu and Kashmir Police had announced that it would start the process of “attachment of some immovable properties which have been used for purpose of terrorism as per section 2(g) and 25 of ULP Act (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act)” and asked people not to shelter or harbour terrorists/terror associates.
Under this provision, all kinds of properties that have been derived or obtained from the commission of any terrorist act or intended to be used for a terrorist act can be seized. (Agencies)
Livestock, makeshift tent swept away after cloudburst hits near Jawahar Tunnel
Anantnag, Aug 17: A makeshift tent and cattle were swept away by a cloudburst near Jawahar Tunnel in Qazigund area of Anantnag district on Wednesday morning.
An official as saying that clouds burst after heavy rain in Jawahar Tunnel area.
He said that a temporary tent and cattle were washed away, but no one was reported to have died in the incident.
SDPO and SHO Banhal have reached the spot to find out more details, the official said.