SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has quashed the detention of a North Kashmir labourer under the contentious Public Safety Act (PSA).

Senior Advocate Bashir Ahmed Tak representing the incarcerated student informed that the detention of 22-year-old labouer Muhammad Iliyas Dar, a resident of Rahpora Khudwani village of Kulgam was quashed by the court of Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul nearly over a year after he was arrested on charges of allegedly indulging in anti-national activities in May 2022 and simultaneously booked under the PSA.

The accused was put behind bars in an old FIR lodged against him by Kulgam police in 2021. He is currently languishing at Haryana jail in Gurgaon.

The court of Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul after hearing the arguments of Advocate Bashir Ahmed Tak directed authorities to release him from the Jail. Advocate Tak pleaded that the detenue was not provided any material even after his arrest. [KNT]

SRINAGAR: Two unidentified militants have been killed in a gunfight at Kujjar area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday, an official said.

A senior police officer while confirming to GNS said that two militants have been killed and their bodies are being retrieved from encounter site. However their identity is yet to be ascertained.

Earlier, a joint team of Police and army launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

As the joint team of forces zeroed towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired on the joint team, which was retaliated triggering off a gunfight. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti, on Saturday voiced her concern over troubling reports of alleged harassment of residents by an Army unit in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

She even requested the Army's Awantipora based General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Victor Force, Major General Balbir Singh to look into worrying allegations.

“Received distressing calls from residents of Kanslo Kanda area in Kulgam about them being allegedly harassed by 9 RR camp troops. Also concerned that they are summoning young men to the army camp & forcing them to do labour work for free,” Mehbooba said in a post on X.

“Request GOC Awantipora Balbir Singh to kindly look into these worrying allegations. If true he must ensure those involved are taken to task.”

However, Army officials said the allegations were not true.

“It's not true. It has been checked from local formation. Casual labourers employed by the army are paid in time and no such thing has happened,” they said. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: A 18-year-old boy allegedly hanged himself to death at his home in Paniwah area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district.

An official told Kashmir Scroll that on receving information, police officials rushed to the spot and the body of the deceased was taken to DH Kulgam.

The body of the deceased will be handed over to his family members for the last rites after completing all legal formalities.(KS)

SRINAGAR: All the three soldiers injured in a gunfight with militants in Halan forest area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district have succumbed, army said. 

Taking to microblogging site Twitter, the Army's Chinar Corps, stationed here at BB Cantonment, tweeted; "On specific inputs regarding presence of terrorists on higher reaches of Halan in Kulgam, operations launched by Security Forces on 04 Aug 23. In exchange of firing with terrorists, three personnel sustained injuries and later succumbed (sic.)". 

"Search operations are continuing", read the tweet further. 

Pertinent to mention here that the three soldiers sustained injuries in a gunfight in Halan woods on Friday evening. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Encounter broke out between  militants and government forces in Halan forest area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district on Friday.

Reports reaching GNS that a joint team of Police and army launched a cordon and search operation in Halan forest.

As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight.

A senior police officer also confirmed to GNS about exchange of firing between militants and security forces. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: National Investigation agency on Friday raided different locations in South Kashmir's Kulgam district. Official sources told the news agency Kashmir Scroll that National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided different locations in South Kashmir's Kulgam district.

They said that NIA team was assisted by police & CRPF and house of Slain Hizb Commander Omar Ganie from Shouch Kulgam was also raided.(KS)

Further details awaited

SRINAGAR: An army soldier who had gone missing in Kulgam district of south Kashmir has been found, Additional Director General of Police Vijay Kumar said on Thursday.  

“Missing Army jawan has been recovered by Kulgam Police. Joint #interrogation will start shortly after medical checkup. Further details shall follow,” the ADGP Kashmir said in a tweet, as per GNS.

The soldier, Javaid Ahmad Wani, had gone missing five days ago. Posted in the Ladakh region, he was supposed to join work on Sunday but went missing on Saturday evening. His car was found abandoned at Paranhall area of the district.(GNS)

SRINAGAR: Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh on Tuesday said that security forces efforts are on to locate the missing soldier of Kulgam.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function, the DGP as per news agency Kashmir Scroll said that a case has already been registered against the Kulgam missing soldier and efforts of the police and security agencies are on to locate him.

The top officer said we are hopeful to locate the missing soldier at the earliest.

Pertinently, An army soldier, Javeed Ahmad, a resident of Asthal Kulgam on leave, went missing on Sunday.(KS)

SRINAGAR: Body of an elderly man was found in Veshow Nallah in Khudwani area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Monday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that some locals spotted the body in Veshow Nallah and immediately informed the police. 

He said that soon a police team reached to the spot and recovered the body. 

He has been identified as Nazir Ahmad Sofi (65) son of Sonullah Sofi of Chirhama area of Kulgam. 

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance in the incident—(KNO)

SRINAGAR:  Special Court Kulgam designated under National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act issued Proclamation orders against two active Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, officials said.

The Court has given the duo a chance to surrender by or before September 15.

The Proclamation orders were issued against Yawar Bashir Dar of Redwani Balla and Irfan Yaqoob Lone of Hawoora, on the request of Jammu and Kashmir's Special Investigation Unit (SIU).

The two are involved in a case registered in Police Station Qaimoh Kulgam.

“Before issuing the proclamation orders, the Court had already issued open ended Non Bailable warrants (NBW) against these terrorists.,” police said.

Today Proclamation orders were read in the conspicuous places of their native villages and copies of proclamations were pasted in conspicuous places of their residential houses and conspicuous place of their villages as well, they added.

“Before initiation of further proceedings under law against these terrorists, Court has given them a chance to surrender before the Court or Investigation agency or Police Station by or before September 15, 2023,” police said.

Teams of SIU Kashmir went to their native villages in Kulgam, along with local police & Magistrate for execution of Proclamation orders and proper SOPs have been followed during these proceedings. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Police on Wednesday arrested a PhD scholar for allegedly motivating youth to join militant ranks and also claimed the arrest of two Over Ground Workers of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and JeM on his disclosure in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

A top police officer told GNS that Kulgam police generated input and was in search of a person with code name “Dr. Sabeel who was motivating, funding  and providing logistic support” to the youth of District Kulgam and adjoining areas to join militant ranks.

“Special police teams were  constituted to search for this suspect and then to take a legal action,” he said. After systemic efforts, he said, one vehicle (JK18B-4852) was zeroed in. 

“The credentials  of the vehicle was sought and it came to fore that this vehicle was being used  by one Dr. Rubani Bashir son of late  Bashir  Ahmed Dar of Ashmuji Kulgam,” he said, adding, “Accordingly police naka was established at Ashmuji and Dr Rubani was arrested.” When he was put to sustained questioning, the police officer said, Dr Rubani disclosed his code name as Dr Sabeel.

Dr. Rubani is a PHD scholar from Central University of Kashmir and has also applied for job as assistant professor there, he said.

“During questioning Dr Rubani Bashir disclosed that he has been associated with Jamat-e-Islami from his student days and he has been its member in student wing ( IJT) Islamic Jamat ul Tulbha for 14 years and later on has been a full-fledged member  of JEI, he said, adding, “The basic modus operandi of Dr Sabeel was to work for (militant) organization  of HM/JeM  behind the curtain. He used to identify the youngsters, motivated them, funded them and then made them ready to join  (militant) organizations.”

During preliminary investigation, he said, it came to fore that Dr Subeel  motivated  two youngsters  and had made them join the militant ranks. “On the disclosure of Dr Rubani Bashir two OGWs of HM /JeM were arrested.”

Among those arrested include a 17-year-old of Ashmuji  Bhan  who works as labour and another a 22-year-old Tariq Ahmed Naikoo alias Chawla of Check  Wattoo  Aharabal who also works as labour, the officer said.

On disclosures by Dr. Rubbani, he said,  one Pistol (Chinese )  along with Magaz and  nine 9mm live rounds  were recovered.

Similarly, he said,  on the disclosure of  two other accused, one AK 47 magazine and 29 live rounds besides one grenade (Chinese) were recovered.  

“In this connection FIR No 143/2023 u/s 13,18,18-B,39/UA(P) Act, stands registered in  Police Station Kulgam,” he added. (GNS)