JAMMU, Jan 2: Locals in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday staged a protest over the attack in Dhangri in Rajouri district on Sunday in which four villagers died of gunshots and at least six people were injured after gunmen fired indiscriminately on three houses of Hindu residents, separated around 50 metres apart.
Locals gathered at Main Chowk in the mountainside village of Dhangri, in Jammu division and raised slogans against police and district administration demanding that J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to listen to their demands. The locals have also called for Rajouri Bandh as a protest against the administration.
According to the police, an incident of firing was reported on Sunday evening in which four people were killed and six injured. The firing was done by two terrorists at three houses separated at a distance of around 50 metres from each other at upper Dangri village.
“LG Manoj Sinha hosh mein aao” the protesters raised slogans.
“The district administration has failed. We want L-G Manoj Sinha to come and listen to our demands,” Dhiraj Sharma, the Sarpanch where the firing incident occurred said.
He further said that the incident took place at around 7 pm and the police reached the spot around 8.30 pm.
“Had the locals not taken up the initiative, all of these 10 people would have been killed. They came to the hospital after they saw that the civilians are active. All the agencies have failed here,” he added.
The head of the village further pointed out the “failures of administration” here and said that the police released the dead bodies at 2 am with no security. Police and civil administration should be reshuffled, the Sarpanch demanded further seeking the army deployment here.
Another local, Ranjeet Tara said that the alleged terrorists inquired before firing at the deceased persons as “Hindus are being targeted here”.
“They checked their Aadhar card before firing at him. These shells were found at their home, They are targeting Hindus to evacuate the area. We request the Centre and the L-G to strengthen VDC (village defence committees) further and provide people here with VDC guns, so that people can protect themselves because by the time forces reach here, the entire area could have been finished,” Ranjeet Tara said.
Ranjeet Tara further said that they won’t vacate the side of the protest until action is taken.
Police have strengthened the presence of security and forces and are continuing their search operation in the Dhangri village.
Attack in J-K village: Locals protest against L-G, administration
Demonetisation cannot be struck down: SC upholds Centre’s notes ban decision
NEW DELHI, Jan 2: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the decision of the Central government taken in 2016 to demonetise the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations.
A five-judge Constitution bench dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the Centre’s 2016 decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes and said the decision, being the Executive’s economic policy, cannot be reversed.
Supreme Court bench said: “There was consultation between the Centre and the RBI on before demonetisation. There was a reasonable nexus to bring such a measure, and we hold that the doctrine of proportionality did not hit demonetisation.”
The apex court had reserved its judgments on the batch of 58 petitions on December 7.
Earlier, it had asked the Centre and Reserve Bank of India to place before it the records pertaining to the 2016 demonetisation decision in a sealed envelope.
It had said that it has the power to examine the manner in which the decision for demonetisation was taken adding that “the judiciary cannot fold its hands and sit just because it is an economic policy decision”.
The top court’s remarks came when the Reserve Bank of India counsel made the submission that judicial review cannot apply to economic policy decisions.
The RBI had told the apex court about the objective of the demonetisation policy to curb black money and fake currencies.
Attorney General R Venkatramani had said that the economic policy of demonetisation was connected to a social policy where three evils are attempted to be addressed. (Agencies)
India asks Pakistan to release 633 Indians languishing in Pakistani jails
India has asked Pakistan to release and repatriate 631 Indian fishermen and two civilian prisoners who have completed their jail-term and whose nationality has been confirmed. In addition, Islamabad has also been urged to provide immediate consular access to the remaining 30 fishermen and 22 civilian prisoners who have been in Pakistan’s custody and are believed to be Indian, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. India made the request in the context of the exchange of the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen by both the countries as part of a practice to do so on January 1 and July 1 of every calendar year under the framework of a 2008 pact.
The MEA said Pakistan has been requested to ensure the “safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India”. The MEA said India shared lists of 339 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 95 Pakistani fishermen currently in Indian custody. India and Pakistan yesterday exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody, MEA said in a statement. It said the government has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel, and fishermen along with their boats, from Pakistan’s custody.
Four injured in explosion in Rajouri’s Dangri, hours after terror attack
JAMMU: At least four persons have been injured in a suspected explosion in Rajouri’s Upper Dangri village on Monday morning, hours after the village was attacked by terrorists, killing four persons.
Four civilians were killed and six others injured when suspected terrorists opened fire on three houses of a particular community in Upper Dangri on Sunday evening.
Reports said that an explosion occurred Monday morning in Dangri village.
“The injured have been rushed to hospital. Further details awaited,” said an official.
India Reports 265 New Covid Cases In 24 Hours
New Delhi: India recorded 265 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, according to a statement from the ministry of health and family welfare on Sunday.
The number of recoveries stood at 1,209 in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall recovery rate to 98.8 per cent.
India’s active caseload is currently at 2,706 and the daily positivity rate is 0.17 per cent, according to the data from the ministry.
Mercury plunges across J&K; Gulmarg records season’s coldest night at -10°C, Pahalgam at -9.6°C
Srinagar, Jan 2: Owing to clear skies during the night, the minimum temperature plummeted across Kashmir Valley with Gulmarg and Pahalgam recording season’s coldest night at minus 10.0°C and minus 9.6°C respectively on Monday.
Quoting a meteorological department official, GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.4°C against last night’s 0.5°C. The temperature was 3.3°C below normal for the summer capital, the official said. Srinagar has so far seen the coldest temperature this season on December 25 when mercury plummeted to minus 5.8°C.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 5.8°C against 0.3°C on the previous night. The temperature was 2.9°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 9.6°C against minus 9.4°C on the previous night. The minimum temperature was 3.0°C below normal and the coldest night recorded this season in the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus minus 4.6°C against minus 0.6°C on the previous night, he said. It was 1.1°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 10.0°C against minus 8.2°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 3.0°C below normal and this season’s coldest for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 5.7°C against minus 4.5°C on the previous night in the north Kashmir area, he said. The official said that the temperature was 3.2°C below normal.
Jammu recorded a low of 4.2°C against 5.7°C on the previous night. It was 3.1°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of minus 2.0°C (below normal by 2.2°C), Batote minus 1.5°C (below normal by 3.5°C), Katra 5.5°C (0.8°C below normal) and Bhadarwah minus 2.4°C (1.9°C below normal).
In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 15.4°C and minus 15.4°C respectively, the official said.
Regarding the forecast, the MeT official said mainly clear weather was expected till January 6. “Expect further fall in minimum temperature across J&K,” he said, adding, “On January 7, weather is expected to be cloudy and from January 8-10, weather is expected to be cloudy with possibility of snowfall and rain (in plains of Jammu) at many places of J&K (70% chance).”
Kashmir is under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21.
Russia-Ukraine conflict matter of “deep concern,” says Jaishankar
Emphasizing that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a matter of “deep concern,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday (Local Time) that India is on the side of peace and therefore has been urging both the countries to return to dialogue and diplomacy.
Voicing concern on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar in an interaction with the Indian diaspora said, “For us, this conflict is really a matter of very very deep concern. It is a deep concern because as PM Modi declared in September we actually believe that this is no longer an era of war where you cannot settle differences and issues through violence and conflict.”
“So from the very beginning, our effort has been to urge or to return to dialogue and diplomacy. We continued to press on. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has spoken on numerous occasions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. I myself talk to my colleagues in Russia and Ukraine,” he added.
He asked the countries, who believe that the only solution must lie through negotiation, to speak up clearly in that regard. “we are on the side of peace, and a large part of the world thinks similarly to us,” Jaishankar added.
Earlier, in September, on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said “today’s era isn’t of war.”
“Today’s era isn’t of war and I have spoken to you about it on the call. Today we’ll get the opportunity to talk about how can we progress on the path of peace. India-Russia has stayed together with each other for several decades,” the Prime Minister said.
Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to Austria, described the problem with China as an “intense challenge” and took a dig at Pakistan and said that the problem of cross-border terrorism from Islamabad is still continuing.
“Now, I spoke to you about the changes in governance. Let me also say that there have been obvious in this period, very profound changes in our national security. And a lot of that, of course, is centred around more intense challenges that we face on our northern border with China. I think most of you would be familiar with that,” Jaishankar said.
“We continue to have, of course, the problem of cross-border terrorism with Pakistan,” he added.
During his visit, S Jaishankar also held a meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. He tweeted, “Delighted to see my good friend Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna. My first diplomatic engagement was in 2023. Thank him for inviting us to join the traditional New Year’s concert in Vienna.”
In the press release, the Ministry of External Affairs noted, “This will be the first EAM-level visit from India to Austria in the last 27 years, and takes place against the backdrop of 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2023.”
Civilian Injured After Grenade Attack On CRPF Vehicle In Jammu & Kashmir’s Srinagar
Jammu , January 2: A grenade was hurled targeting a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle in Srinagar on Sunday night, as reported by the news agency ANI. The incident occurred at Srinagar’s MK Chowk. However, the grenade missed the target and caused injury to a local boy.
“There was an attempt to throw a grenade on a CRPF vehicle in a crowded area of MK Chowk, Srinagar. it missed the target and caused a minor splinter injury to one local boy. Operations were launched in the area to nab the culprit,” said Srinagar Police as quoted by ANI. Further details on the matter are awaited.
In another incident, four civilians were killed and six others injured in a suspected terrorist attack in a village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Sunday. The attack on civilians took place at upper Dangri village, about eight kilometers from Rajouri town, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.
“Firing took place at three houses, separated at a distance of around 50 meters from each other,” said Singh, while speaking to the media.
“Two armed men are allegedly involved in this firing,” he added. Injured were rushed to a government hospital where the condition of two was said to be serious.
“As per info, two terrorists came and targeted three houses in the upper Dangri area. 4 casualties were reported. Search operation on. Police, CRPF, and Army troops have cordoned off the area. We will try to neutralise the 2 terrorists soon,” Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu Zone said, as per news agency ANI. Security forces have launched a search operation in Rajouri to nab the attackers.
Earlier in the day, suspected terrorists snatched a weapon from a Central Reserve Police Force personnel in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. “Incident of weapon snatching of security personnel reported from Rajpora area of Pulwama,” the Jammu and Kashmir police said.
Your criticism makes me stronger; consider BJP my ‘guru’, says Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said he considers the Bharatiya Janata Party as his “guru” (teacher) as the BJP shows him a roadmap and teaches him “what should never be done”.
Addressing a press conference, the Wayanad MP said, “I want them (BJP) to attack us aggressively, this will help Congress party understand its ideology. I consider them (BJP) as my Guru, they are showing me the way and training me on what is not to be done.
” While talking about the Bharat Jodo Yatra which entered New Delhi on December 24 before taking a nine-day break, he said, “When I started this, I just took it as an ordinary yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Slowly we understood that this yatra has a voice & feelings.”
“The doors of Bharat Jodo Yatra are open for everyone, we are not going to stop anyone from joining us. Akhilesh ji, Mayawati ji and others want “Mohabbat ka Hindustan”,” he said in an open invite to the other parties of the opposition ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s mass contacting campaign, Bharat Jodo Yatra, was issued cautionary notes by the Centre amid a rise in COVID-19 cases across neighbouring countries.
So far, the Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, has covered parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra and Haryana.
It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress has claimed.
With this yatra, Rahul Gandhi aims to mobilise the party cadre and unite the general public against the BJP’s “divisive politics in the country”.
NDPI demands early restoration of statehood to J&K, Assembly polls
Addressing a party meeting, National Democratic Party Indian (NDPI) J&K chief Rajesh Gupta said that situation in J&K has worsened due to the steps taken in 2019 and after it. There is a complete governance deficit,” he added.
The NDPI chief hit out at the Central Government for downgrading the historical state and snatching rights to land and jobs besides trade and business opportunities at the cost of locals and said that Government has
failed to achieve any of the claimed benefits of August 2019 decision. Demanding early restoration of statehood to J&K and installation of an elected govt, Gupta, said that prolonged central rule in the erstwhile state was a negation of the constitutional guarantees enshrined in the constitution of India. He said that several assurances by the central govt of restoring statehood to J&K at the appropriate time had failed to inspire the people of J&K who had lost faith in all such ‘melodramatic rants’ of the BJP leadership.
NDPI president said that while the people of the erstwhile state were mystified and befuddled by the abrupt abrogation of Article 370, they had expressed their strong opposition to the dismantling of 200 year old historical State of J&K and downgrading it to the level of UT. He said that such move of BJP led government had not only lowered the morale of the people of erstwhile State but caused huge disenchantment in the hearts and minds of the general masses. “It was not a demotion of the State only. Infect every sensible citizen
felt downgraded and humiliated. It had deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of J&K who felt belittled and dwarfed”, said Gupta.
NDPI leader said Jammu and Kashmir is deprived of democracy for more than three and half years and there is total uncertainty about Assembly elections and restoration of statehood despite commitment on the floor of the house by the Prime Minister and Home Minister. “NDPI stands guarantee to peace, harmony, dignity, restoration of statehood and rights to land and jobs,” Gupta asserted. Those who attended the meeting were Umesh Manhas, Kuljeet Singh, Tilakraj, Rajiv Luthra, Sandeep Anand and others.