Jammu & Kashmir Archives - Lokmarg

Terror Module Busted In J&K, Five LeT Terrorists Held

By LokMarg 24th September 2023

In a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a terror module was busted in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district with the arrest of five terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit, an official statement said on Sunday.

A huge quantity of arms and ammunition including two pistols, three Hand Granedes, one UBGL, two pistol magezines, 12 poistol rounds, and 21 AK-47 rounds was recovered from their posession, the statement added.

As per the statement, the arrested terrorists were identified as Aadil Hussain Wani, Suhail Ahmad Dar, Aitmad Ahmad Laway, Mehraj Ahmad Lone and Sabzar Ahmad Khaar.

A case has been registered in this regard under the under relevant sections of law.

Further investigation is underway.

More details are awaited.

Earlier in August, Jammu and Kashmir Police along with 26 Assam Rifles and 3rd BN CRPF busted a terror module in North Kashmir’s Bandipora and successfully foiled the nefarious designs of Pakistan-based terror handlers in reviving the terrorists in the district. (ANI)

Omar, Mehbooba Relieved Over Mirwaiz’s ‘Release’

By LokMarg 22nd September 2023

Welcoming the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from house arrest, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday expressed hope that the cleric will be “allowed to move freely, interact with people” and “resume his religious responsibilities”.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will “walk a free man after years of denial about his detention” by the administration of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Finally Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will walk a free man after years of LG admin’s denial about his detention. As a religious head he is held in high regard by muslims across J&K. Unfortunately a tussle has already begun between BJPs and various political outfits to claim credit for his release,” the People’s Democratic Party Chief posted on Twitter, which is now X.

Abdullah said: “I welcome the step taken by the administration in J&K to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from house arrest. I hope that they allow him to move freely, interact with people & resume his social/religious responsibilities. Today eyes in Kashmir will be on the Mirwaiz as he delivers his first Friday sermon in Jamia Masjid after 2019.”

The management of Kashmir’s grand mosque- Jamia Masjid said in a brief statement said that the cleric will be allowed to offer Friday prayers after four years of “house arrest”.

“Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will be allowed to offer Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid after 4 years of house arrest,” the statement said.

Mirwaiz Manzil, which identifies to be the Centre of religious and political discussions, posted on X, “After FOUR years (212 Fridays) of illegal & arbitrary incarceration, Mirwaiz Kashmir will today offer congregational Friday prayers & deliver the sermon at Jama Masjid Srinagar”.

Mirwaiz Umar has repeatedly alleged that he has been put under house arrest by the police after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

However, contradicting his statement, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha told the media in Srinagar last month that Umar Farooq was a “free man and not under detention”.

Earlier in August, the Centre celebrated the fourth anniversary of its decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the erstwhile state into two Union territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is the son of Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq who was killed on May 21, 1990, by terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen.

Earlier in May this year, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said that the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two absconding terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen in the case.

The arrested terrorists Javaid Ahmad Bhat and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat were residents of Srinagar. They were absconding after murdering Mirwaiz Farooq on May 21, 1990. (ANI)

SC Allots Plough Election Symbol To J&K National Conference

By LokMarg 6th September 2023

The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the notification issued by the Union Territory of Ladakh for the election in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and allotted the ‘plough’ symbol to the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC).

Welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision, JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah said, “We have got the verdict we wanted and deserved.”

Hitting out at the ‘biased’ UT administration, Abdullah said, the Bharatiya Janta Party, ably assisted by a totally biased Ladakh administration, did everything possible to deny us our rights.

“Our symbol, the plough, was given to us by the Hon. Supreme Court earlier this morning. The BJP, ably assisted by a totally biased Ladakh administration, did everything possible to deny us our rights. The court saw through this and penalized them with ₹1 lakh in costs imposed on the administration. Congratulations to @JkncKargil! And a huge thank you to @ShariqJReyaz for the amazing job he did arguing this in front of the HC and SC,” Omar Abdullah wrote on X.

On Friday, the Supreme Court reserved orders on a petition filed by the Ladakh administration seeking to restrain the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference Party (JKNC) from fighting the local body elections in Kargil on its registered ‘plough’ symbol. The court announced that an order would be passed on Wednesday.

Elections will be held in the Kargil region on September 10. The Court, in its order, asked the election authorities to allot the plough symbol to the JKNC.

The decision was announced by a bench of Justices, including Vikaram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullan. The court directed a fresh notification to be issued to LAHDC within 7 days. Also, a fine of Rs 1 lakh has been imposed on the UT administration. The Court said that only due to this reason, the entire election process issued by the Ladakh authority has been set aside. (ANI)

Another Pulwama Attack Was Thwarted, Reveals Book By Former Chinar Corps Chief

By LokMarg 25th February 2023

Within 10 days of the Pulwama attack of February 14, 2019, in which 40 CRPF troopers had lost their lives, Indian security forces averted another similar suicide attack by killing three terrorists, including two Pakistanis, reveals the book ‘Kitne Ghazi Aaye, Kitne Ghazi Gaye’ authored by former Chinar Corps Commander Lt General KJS Dhillon (retd).

In the book, Dhillon writes that many people are not aware about a similar suicide attack which had been planned in February 2019 itself where a potential suicide bomber terrorist had made a video showcasing, explosives and other weaponry to indicate his intentions.
The main attack had taken place on 14 February 2019 when is a suicide, a bomber rammed his vehicle into a CRPF convoy bus in which 40 personnel lost their lives and many others were injured.

“However, when intelligence and other agencies intercepted information about the plans of this operation, they moved in instantly to neutralize the module urgently,” Dhillon writes.

The former Chinar Corps commander says that after the Pulwama incident, intelligence agencies, Jammu Kashmir police and the Indian Army had intensified their operations and were highly successful in infiltrating the network of terrorist organisations like Jaish-e- Mohammed in the South Kashmir area.

He mentions that agencies were working relentlessly and gathered intelligence about the presence of this module of Jaish terrorists in the Turigam Village where they were planning the attack.

The officer credits Jammu and Kashmir police Deputy Superintendent of Police in Kulgam Aman Kumar Thakur for sharing the input about the terrorists with the local Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit and leading the operation with his men from the front.

Dhillon says that the army and other security agencies which he refers to as Team Security Forcee planned a joint operation on the night of 24 February 2019 as they could not afford to fail in this operation as this would have allowed the terrorists to execute another suicide attack within 10 days of their success in Pulwama.

“Acting with stealth, speed and surprise the joint team was successful in trapping three. Just tell us inside the cotton soon a contact was established and heavy exchange of fire followed,” he writes.

Highlighting the camaraderie between the Jammu and Kashmir police and the Indian Army, troopers deployed in counter-terrorist operations in the Kashmir Valley, Dhillon says that during the operation, DSP Thakur saw an Indian Army soldier Baldev Ram getting hit by terrorist bullets.

Thakur disregarding his personal safety, evacuated the injured soldier to a safe location but was hit by a bullet fired by a terrorist from a concealed location.

Displaying rare courage and steely determination Thakur subsequently closed in on the terrorist and engaged him from close quarters and eliminated him in a fierce gunfight. The slain terrorist was identified as Noman, a resident of Pakistan belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group.

He also mentions the gallantry shown by Naib Subedar Sombir of 34 RR who killed Osama, a Pakistani terrorist in a close gun battle and sacrificed his life for the country.

Both DSP Thakur and Naib Subedar Sombir were awarded the Shaurya Chakra for their indomitable spirit and valour sacrificing their lives in the operation.

Highlighting the importance of the success of this operation in the Turigam village area, Dhillon says that “if these terrorists had not been neutralised, 10 days after Pulwama, it would have been a huge disaster”.

Dhillon says that other people involved in the planned but filed terror attack were caught from their respective places in real time due to the alertness and perfect coordination among the security and intelligence agencies operating there. (ANI)
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₹42-Cr Project To Revolutionise Mushroom Farming In J&K

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

Agricultural diversification is key to reducing the risk in farming activities and the J&K Government is constantly employing the latest technological interventions to diversify the agriculture sector across Jammu and Kashmir.

Mushroom cultivation is one important tool in not only enhancing the agricultural income of the farming community but also securing it against rising changes in climate and soil resources.

With this in mind, the Government of J&K is implementing a full-fledged project on ‘Promotion of Round the Year Mushroom Cultivation’ (PRYMC) across the UT. The project to be implemented at a cost of around Rs 42 Cr over the next three years by the Agriculture Production Department of J&K will increase the production of Mushrooms by 3.5 times and revolutionize Mushroom Cultivation here, an official statement said.

The project will also increase employment generation by 3 times and more than 768 new enterprises are also being created in the process to ensure the sustainability of the interventions.

“Mushroom farming generates revenue and helps to reduce poverty. The production of mushrooms creates a significant amount of direct and indirect employment opportunities in the fields of cultivation and marketing, as well as providing opportunities for processing businesses and labor-intensive management,” said Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo.

He added that Mushroom farming requires little capital and little technical expertise, and it is even possible to grow mushrooms indoors on a small scale and easily earn a high return on investment. He further said that women can grow mushrooms in their homes with little investment and as a result, mushroom farming not only gives rural women more power but also fights poverty at its source.

‘Promotion of Round the Year Mushroom Cultivation’ is one among the 29 projects, which were approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in UT of J&K.

The prestigious committee is headed by Dr. Mangala Rai, Former DG ICAR, and has other luminaries in the field of Agriculture, Planning, Statistics & Administration like Shri Ashok Dalwai, CEO NRAA, Dr. P. K Joshi, Secretary, NAAS, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner MOA & FW, Dr. H. S Gupta, Former Director, IARI, Sh. Atal Dulloo IAS, Financial Commissioner (Addl Chief Secretary) APD apart from the Vice Chancellors of the twin Agriculture Universities of the UT.

“Mushroom is an important cottage industry in rural areas. It leads to the economic betterment of small & marginal farmers, landless laborers, and women. Being a cash crop it is a good means of generating employment opportunities for the youth of the UT”, said Director of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Jammu, K.K Sharma, who is implementing the project in collaboration with SKUAST.

He added that the lack of availability of pasteurized compost & unorganized market were the major constraints in mushroom production and this project is going to address them in a significant way.

Under the project 26 pasteurized compost-making units, 10 spawn production labs, and 72 controlled conditioned cropping rooms (2000 bags capacity), will be established in the span of three years. For the promotion of mushroom cultivation in non-traditional areas, 1.5 lakh subsidized pasteurized compost bags will be distributed among mushroom growers. Women empowerment through the establishment of 300 women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) will be undertaken.

The project also focuses on the value addition of the perishable commodity through the creation of four canning units and the distribution of 60 solar dryers among mushroom growers. In addition to this, an amount of Rs 2.1 Crs has been earmarked for research and development.

Under this emphasis will also be laid on the promotion of medicinal mushrooms and the introduction of new strains of mushrooms. It will also have a specific emphasis on the standardization of locally available substrates and documentation of conditions for their optimal growth.

The mushroom sector in J&K is about to witness a resurgence in the form of unprecedented institutional and capital support which will boost production, productivity as well as export of mushrooms from the UT.

This information was provided by the Department of information and public relations J&K. (ANI)

Amid Attacks On Civilians, Centre To Deploy 18 Additional CRPF Companies In J-K

By LokMarg 4th January 2023

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will send additional 18 companies to Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of recent killings of civilians in two fresh terror attacks in the Rajouri district, sources familiar with the development said.

The 18 CRPF companies – approximately 1,800 personnel – will be rushed to the Jammu region for deployment mainly in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
As per inputs, eight CRPF companies will be deployed very soon from nearby locations of deployment in Jammu and Kashmir while 10 CRPF companies are being rushed from Delhi.

The move followed a recent order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs amidst intelligence input about the terror attack in the Jammu region, said the source.

Six persons, including two children, were killed and many more injured in two separate terror attacks in Upper Dangri village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Sunday evening and Monday morning.

In the latest terror attack, two children were killed and several others injured after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast took place in Rajouri’s Upper Dangri village on Monday morning.

ADGP Mukesh Singh cautioned people as another suspected IED was spotted in the area near Upper Dangri village, which is about eight kilometers from Rajouri town.

Officials said that the explosion took place near the house where four civilians were killed and many more injured by terrorists in a shooting incident on Sunday evening.

Nearly a dozen people were reportedly injured in the two terror attacks by the terrorists since Sunday evening. The injured were being treated in Jammu hospital.

In the first attack, two armed terrorists barged into three homes separated by a distance of around 50 meters from each other on Sunday evening and opened indiscriminate fire. The attack led to the killing of four civilians and injuries to six others.

These separate attacks are the third such incidents of civilian killings in the Rajouri district in the past two weeks after two people were killed outside an Army camp on December 16.

The attack has sparked panic in the district. Several organizations have called for a strike today to protest against the incident and demand swift action.

Army and the CRPF have launched a massive search operation to nab the two “armed men” behind the attack at Upper Dangri village.

The office of LG Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a government job to the kin of those killed in the firing incident.

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

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also visited the village where security has been enhanced. (ANI)

Shift Kashmiri Pandits To Safer Jammu Till Situation Improves: Ghulam Nabi Azad

By LokMarg 26th December 2022

Democratic Azad Party Chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Kashmiri Pandit employees of the Jammu and Kashmir government should be temporarily shifted to Jammu till the situation improves in Kashmir.

Questioning the safety of the Kashmiri Pandits, he said that life is more important than employment and that the government should transfer Kashmiri Pandits to Jammu.
“The Government should transfer Kashmiri Pandit employees to Jammu and transfer them back only when the situation improves,” said Azad.

“If our government comes to power, we will transfer the Kashmiri Pandits to Jammu until the situation improves,” he said.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha had last week said that Kashmiri Pandits serving in the Valley will not be paid their salaries if they do not attend their duties.

Migrant Kashmiri Pandits have been protesting against the decision of the government claiming that they are being threatened by the terrorists and can’t go back to work.

“We are receiving death threats repeatedly, the latest being on Wednesday night. We were told that a policeman would be posted outside the place of our posting. But we do not trust the security policy of the administration,” said a Kashmiri Pandit.

“The main reason behind the protests is an insecure environment prevailing in Kashmir. We have been protesting since the day targeted killings started against the minority community in the Valley. We appeal to the government to post us at safe and secure places,” said Rohit, a Kashmiri Pandit who is participating in the protests.

Kashmir has been witnessing a series of targeted killings since October last year.

Targeted killings in Kashmir Valley were part of a larger conspiracy by terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen and other proscribed terrorist outfits to disturb the peace and democratic process established by the Panchayati Raj System in Kashmir Valley and also to create terror among the politically elected representatives, an NIA charge sheet said earlier.

The revelation came when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September filed the charge sheet against six accused in the targeted killing of a Sarpanch of Adoora village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam.

The counter-terror agency filed the chargesheet in a special NIA court in Jammu in the case of the targeted killing of Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir by the terrorists of the proscribed terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.

The case was initially registered on March 11 at Kulgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir and re-registered by the NIA on April 8.

Investigations have revealed that the handlers of the proscribed terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen operating from Pakistan, hatched a criminal conspiracy in collusion with terrorist associates and Over Ground Workers and terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen active in Kashmir Valley to carry out the targeted killing of Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir, said the NIA. (ANI)

8 Scribes Working For Srinagar Get Threats From Terrorist: MoS Rai

By LokMarg 7th December 2022

Eight journalists working for Srinagar-based local newspapers received threats through an online terror blog. Four of the media persons reportedly resigned, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai told the Rajya Sabha today.

MoS Home Nityanand Rai said that a case has been registered at Shergari Police Station in this regard.
“As reported, eight journalists working for Srinagar-based local newspapers received threats through the terror blog “Kashmir Fight”. Four media persons have reportedly resigned. The media persons who resigned belong to the media house “Rising Kashmir”. In this regard a case has been registered at Shergari Police Station, Srinagar,” told MoS Nityanand Rai to Rajya Sabha.

Rai further said that Jammu and Kashmir government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and the security situation has improved significantly in the state.

“The Government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir. The Government has taken several steps to protect the lives of people including media persons from terrorist threats/attacks,” said MoS Nityanand Rai. (ANI)

Home Secretary To Chair High-Security Meet On Kashmir

By LokMarg 6th December 2022

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla will chair a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, here this afternoon, sources said on Tuesday.

The meeting is being held in the Ministry of Home Affairs in a hybrid mode around 12.30 pm with senior officials in the ministry joining it in the presence of Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka and National Investigation Agency Director General Dinkar Gupta among others present physically.
Officials in the Ministry told ANI that the meeting is a “regular affair to review internal security across the country”.

“Officials in Jammu and Kashmir will also join the meeting, which is being held in a hybrid mode,” said the officials requesting anonymity.

The meeting was held after The Resistance Front (TRF)– an offshoot of Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba– recently issued a threat letter to 56 employees of the Education Department from the Srinagar district.

Meanwhile, as per government sources, various Kashmiri Pandit organisations while terming it a serious matter have demanded a high-level probe into the matter as to how the names of the employees working under the PM package in the Education Department with their names and place of posting were leaked to a terror outfit.

They have urged the government to ensure the safety of employees appointed under the PM’s package in Kashmir Valley. (ANI)

L-G Sinha Inaugurates Kashmir’s First Multiplex After 3 Decades

By LokMarg 20th September 2022

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant General Manoj Sinha inaugurated the first-of-its-kind multiplex in Kashmir after cinemas were shut down in the region in the 1990s, in Shivpora locality of Srinagar district.

This multiplex, which has a capacity of 520 people is designed by INOX with the latest technology. With the opening of the multiplex, in Srinagar, Kashmiris will get a chance to see movies on the big screen after more than three decades.
“Providing health infrastructure, employment, quality education to the youths and to empower them is our priority,” Sinha said adding “these types of initiatives will not only help in generating employment but also provide social security to our youths,” LG said.

Chairman of the project, and Owner Vijay Dhar, thanking the LG of J-K, said, “This was a project of passion. My happiness has no limits. We are thankful for LG sir to have inaugurated the Multiplex. Every work is 100 per cent complete. We will have a special screening for Lal Singh Chaddha. 1st of October the multiplex will open for locals.”

Designer of the Multiplex, Amit Katyal told ANI, ” This was an old project, as old as 3 years old. This was a shared dream of Vikas Dhar and me, but Covid halted our plans for 2 years. It was a dream project, that started to bring a change in Kashmir for youngsters.

“We made this Multiplex with INOX standards depicting the local culture of Kashmir. We have designed an INOX logo depicting the art and culture of Kashmir. In June this year, the project started. Lobby interiors, box office and food courts were desined by our team in accordance with INOX standards. A change will happen in Kashmir with this multiplex.”

The Kashmiri handicrafts ‘khatamband’ and ‘papier mache’ have been used in the cinema hall, which stands out.

“World famous Kashmiri ‘papier mache’ and khatamband’ handicrafts have been used in the architecture. This is our ancestral work. It took us 2 and a half months to complete the artisan work. My work is being displayed here which makes me happy, ” Artist Irshad Ahmad told ANI.

Notably, J-K was a preferred destination for moviemakers, which diminished due to militancy in the region during the 1990s.

Locals expressed happiness over the opening of the multiplex in Kashmir.

A local, Syed Tajmul, told ANI, “For 32 years, cinemas were closed in Kashmir, now it has made a comeback. It is a very good intention that will benefit the youth of the district. Earlier, we had to go to Jammu to watch cinema, but now we can watch it here.”

Another local, Rohit also expressed happiness and said, “I feel very happy that now people have some opportunities for entertainment. It is very nice, shows a certain kind of progress. Let’s hope the people of Srinagar will enjoy coming to the movies like sports. We feel a sense of normalcy.”

Meanwhile, Ashoke Pandit, President of the Indian Film and Television Director’s Association, wrote to L-G Sinha and praised his efforts.

The letter said, “We are extremely glad to know that you have inaugurated Multiplex Cinema Halls at Pulwama and Shopian. We extend our heartiest congratulations on the exemplary initiative which will boost the spirits of the owners of cinemas and instil confidence in the cinegoers. Above all, it will bring life to a normal.”

In another letter, the President of the Indian Motion Picture Producer Association, Abhay Kumar Sinha wrote, “We on behalf of the Indian Motion Picture Producer Association heartily congratulate you for inaugurating multiplexes in Kashmir.” (ANI)