SRINAGAR: An earthquake of 3.5 magnitude on the Richter scale early Monday morning jolted the mountainous Kishtwar district.

The National Center for Seismology (NCS) said that an earthquake of 3.5 magnitude occurred at around 2:47 am in Kishtwar district.

Earlier on Saturday an earthquake of 3.8 magnitude was also reported in the district.

Mukaram Ali Sarfaraz

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the dreams of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which has been 70 years in the making, will soon be fulfilled under his leadership.

Speaking at a large gathering in Jammu as per news agency Kashmir Scroll, PM Modi highlighted the positive changes that have taken place under his leadership, signifying a departure from the previous narrative of violence and instability in the region.

The Prime Minister underscored the newfound freedom experienced by the youth, who are now actively shaping their own futures, transcending the limitations imposed by dynastic politics. He commended their efforts in creating their own success stories and emphasized that a vibrant and peaceful Kashmir is no longer just an aspiration but a reality currently being realized.

One of the longstanding hurdles in the region has been the lack of local opportunities for professional education, resulting in the migration of young individuals to other areas. Recognizing this, the Modi government has implemented policies to address this issue, ensuring that soon all education needs can be met within the region, eliminating the need for outmigration.

PM Modi also reflected on his previous visit to the same location in 2013, during which he made a commitment to fulfill the aspirations of the people. He took pride in announcing that this commitment has been honored, pointing to the establishment of prestigious institutions such as IIT and IIM in the region as a testament to the progress being made.

PM Modi expressed his optimism for a new Kashmir where peace, prosperity, and development are flourishing, signifying a marked departure from the past. 

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kupwara apprehended a militant associate with arms and ammunition on Friday. 

"Today on 16/02/2024 police Kupwara apprehended one person whose identity was ascertained as Asif Mushtaq Wani son of Mushtaq Ahmed Wani resident of Galizoo Kupwara at a surprise Naka checking jointly established by Police Kupwara, PC Kupwara, 47RR and 162 CRPF near BEd college Dragmullah", reads a statement issued to GNS. 

"The person tried to escape on seeking the alert joint security forces party , however he was apprehended after putting hectic efforts. On the search of the said person one Pistol Chinese Make, one pistol magazine and 6 pistol rounds were recovered from his possession", reads the statement. 

"In this regard case FIR No 37/2024 under relevant sections of law has been registered in police station Kupwara and investigation has been taken up", reads the statement further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Three soldiers were killed and as many as three were injured in a militant attack in DKG area on Thursday, officials said.  

They said that army retaliated after being attacked by the militants. “The troops were going to reinforce a joint operation against terrorists going on in the area since last evening,” they said. 

“An operation was being conducted in general area DKG(Dera ki Gali), Thanamandi, Rajouri, since the night of 20 December 2023,” a defence ministry spokesperson based in Jammu said in  a statement to GNS. 

“At approximately 3:45 PM on 21 December , two army vehicles carrying troops were moving to the operational site, which were fired upon by the terrorist. The fire was immediately retaliated upon by own troops,” he said, adding, “In the ongoing operation, own troops sustained 3 fatal and 3 non fatal casualties.”

He said operations are in progress. “Further details are being ascertained.”

Meanwhile, officials told GNS Thannamandi DKG Bufliaz road closed due to ongoing encounter. “As such all are informed to use BG - Jara wali Gali road to travel Srinagar or Poonch,” they added. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A head constable of the Border Security Force (BSF) posted in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, took his own life after receiving news of his wife's suicide in Rajasthan officials said.

Official sources told News Agency Kashmir Scroll that the trooper, identified as Rajendra Yadav, used his service revolver to shoot himself following the devastating revelation.

They said the trooper's body is expected to reach his hometown today. Meanwhile, police took cognizance of this incident. (KS)

SRINAGAR: Two unidentified militants were killed as security forces foiled an infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Saturday, Police said.

Police also said a major terror plan was neutralized with the killing of two infiltrators who were heavily armed.

The latest bid was foiled along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kumkadi area of Machil sector of Kupwara.

The counter infiltration operation was jointly launched by Army and police based on intelligence input provided by Kupwara Police.

“The joint team observed movement of terrorists, employing meticulous tactics, the terrorists were intercepted who fired indiscriminately upon the joint team. The fire was retaliated, leading to the elimination of two heavily armed unidentified terrorists,” a police spokesman said.

The identification and affiliation of the slain militants was being ascertained.

They said two AK series rifles, four AK magazines, 90 rounds, a Pistol (Pak origin), a pouch, cash Rs 2100 (Pak currency) & other incriminating materials was recovered from the site of encounter.

Extensive search of the area was still being carried out.

Police said the neutralized terrorists were found to be heavily armed, equipped with sophisticated weaponry which indicated their malicious intent to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the valley.

“However, due to the timely and effective response by the Police & Army, their plans were foiled and a significant threat to peace and stability in the area was neutralized,” the police spokesman said.

A case under relevant sections of law has been registered.

This is the second infiltration bid that has been foiled by forces in Kashmir in the past fortnight.

On September 16, three infiltrators were killed in a gun battle in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. After that counter infiltration operation, the Army said the infiltrating militants received “fire support” from the Pakistan Army. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha today laid the foundation stone of Anti-Corruption Bureau Headquarters at Sidhra, Jammu.

The Lt Governor congratulated the officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau on the occasion.

“With this new beginning, the government reaffirms its commitment to effectively combat corruption to fulfill the resolve of corruption-free J&K,” the Lt Governor said.

The Lt Governor called upon the officials to work with determination and commitment to zero tolerance against corruption.

The infrastructure comprises of B+6 storeys including parking area, police station central, prosecution staff and other allied offices will provide suitable space for smooth functioning of Bureau.

Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Sh Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary; Sh Dilbag Singh, DGP; Sh RR Swain, Special DG CID; Sh Anand Jain, Director Anti Corruption Bureau J&K; Sh Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Sh Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner Secretary, GAD; Sh Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; and senior officers were present. 

SRINAGAR: Senior BJP leader Mr Devender Singh Rana today lashed out at Pakistan and some Kashmiri leaders, trying to sabotage peaceful atmosphere, by sending a misleading message across the country on normalcy in the Valley to push forward the agenda of the terror-secessionist ecosystem.

He said Pakistan’s latest move to appoint Mishaal Hussain Malik as Human Rights Minister hailed by certain Kashmiri leaders is an indication to slate the Kashmir sabotage plan across. But they forget that New Delhi is a New Delhi of New India which will not only fail all their attempts but teach them a lesson on their soil if need arises, he added.

“Their politics over the last seven decades has thrived  on conflict, disorder and mayhem”, Mr Rana said while interacting with various deputations during weekly public hearing at the BJP headquarters here,  along with Mrs Veenu Khanna, BJP State Secretary and Mr Danish Mishra Vice President , BJP Yuva Morcha, adding that transformed Kashmir has instilled new life, new hope for Kashmiris and has cast a spell of doom on certain political players of J&K and their patrons across.

“1.80 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir last year and two crores are expected this year in the aftermath of normalcy dawning with shutdown and stone pelting culture becoming a nightmare of the past”, Mr Rana said, asking isn’t  it a parameter of normalcy.

He attributed the false propaganda of Pakistan and Kashmiri dejected political players as a sinister design to deprive the people of Kashmir of their legitimate right to live peacefully and pursue their economic activities, which appeared to be a distant dream a few years ago. The Valley based so-called mainstream political class has a vested interest in boiling Kashmir to remain glued to power. On the one side they had been assuring the Delhi power corridors about working towards ending the unrest in the valley and on the other hand they were exploiting religious and separatist sentiments back home. The double edged weapon served their political interests well till the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which ended their political hegemony, deceit and duplicity. Isn’t it a food for thought for the peace loving people of Kashmir to understand how the hartal and shutdown culture came to an end after disempowering the political parties with vested interest, he asked, seeking an independent probe to find the truth of the widespread belief that the stone pelting had been a weapon of political class.

“By playing double game, the politicians like Mehbooba Mufti and others have neither done any good to the people of Kashmir nor to New Delhi, which sincerely endeavoured for peace, progress and development of Jammu and Kashmir”, Mr Devender Rana said, adding that these rejected politicians have been pursuing politics of convenience during the past over seven decades. They can abuse New Delhi from rooftops and belittle the pride of innocent Kashmiris at will, he said and cited how Mehbooba Mufti as Chief Minister mocked at the youngsters killed during countering stone-pelting by saying “Woh Kya Toffee Lene Gaye Thay”. But for the snub of a senior Union Minister flanking her in the presser, she would not have stopped there, he observed, saying this speaks volumes about the sensitivities of politicians with vested interest.

Mr Devender Rana hoped that the people of Kashmir would foil the game plan of these leaders, who were feeling uncomfortable due to economic activity and tourism trade in the Valley besides large scale investments pouring in to carve out Naya Jammu and Kashmir as per the dreams of suffering masses.

“When doubts about normalcy are echoed by the persons having held constitutional positions, the tourists across the nation and abroad will have double thoughts before embarking on holidaying in the serene and peaceful Valley”, he said, adding this will certainly jeopardise the ongoing brisk and peak tourism season. He hoped that the right thinking people will take cognizance of such anti-Kashmir rhetoric and stand for the economic interests of lakhs of families, who have got a reason to cheer after nearly three decades.

SRINAGAR: Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar on Monday stressed upon the officers to take legal action against those found aiding or abetting terrorism.

While attending a security review meeting at Jammu Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Monday, the ADGP stressed that appropriate legal action must be taken against those found to be aiding or abetting terrorism.

The security reivew meeting was held with the officers of J&K Police, BSF, Army & CRPF during which ADGP emphasized the need for heightened vigilance and coordinated efforts.

During the security meeting, ADGP Kashmir directed the officers to enhance the anti-terrorist operations to destroy the nefarious designs of terrorists who always try to disrupt the prevailing peace in the valley.

He also directed them to generate actionable intelligence and further share the same with the sister agencies to counter any terrorist threat.

ADGP Kumar provided clear directives to identify and apprehend terrorist associates operating within the Bandipora district.

The meeting also reviewed the security arrangements put in place and preparations of Independence day celebrations besides taking stock of the law and order situation in the district.

ADGP Kashmir was briefed about the overall security arrangements and preparations to tackle any security threat.

SSP Bandipora also briefed the ADGP Kashmir about the work done in the district including the disposal of cases related to NDPS & other crimes.

ADGP visited Martyrs Memorial at District Police Lines Bandipora where he paid homage and floral tributes to the valiant martyrs who have selflessly given their lives for the nation's safety and security.

DIG NKR Vivek Gupta, DIG BSF Hqrs Bandipora, SSP Bandipora Lakshay Sharma, CO 14 RR, CO 26 RR, CO 3rd Bn CRPF, Addl. SP Bandipora, all SDPOs of District Bandipora, DySP PC Bandipora, DySP PC Hajin and other officers of Army, CAPF accompanied the ADGP Kashmir. (UNI)