Page 5 - Jammu And Kashmir Government

Can Centre's new security plan protect Jammu from rising terror threats?

The Centre has chalked out a robust security strategy for Jammu region, with the deployment of SOG camps, training village defence committees, and increasing BSF presence to counter terror

Govt moves over 2,000 BSF personnel from Odisha to terror-hit Jammu

The government has ordered the extraction of two BSF battalions, comprising more than 2,000 personnel, from Odisha to beef up security in the terror-hit Jammu region along the India-Pakistan border, official sources said on Saturday. The decision to "immediately" move the two units from the anti-Naxal operations grid to Jammu was taken in the wake of the recent spate of terror attacks in the region, the sources told PTI. Officials in the security establishment said the two Border Security Force (BSF) units were meant to be deployed as the "second line" of defence behind the first tier of its units deployed along the international border in the Jammu area to check infiltration of terrorists from across the frontier, apart from attacks by these elements in the hinterland. The troops of these two units are expected to be based in Samba and near the Jammu-Punjab border, the sources said. "Two recent meetings, one in Delhi and one in Jammu, of the top security brass necessitated bolster

Elusive quest for clarity: Politics is hotting up ahead of J&K elections

Politics is hotting up in UT with SC's deadline for holding the polls drawing closer, but recent terror attacks and chances of an early winter may put a spanner in the works, writes Meraj Bhat

J-K: Fresh batch of pilgrims leaves for Amarnath Yatra amid tight security

A pilgrim, Hemanta, who completed his Amarnath yatra, appreciated the food arrangements made by the security forces for the yatris

Ex- IAS Ranchhodbhai fined Rs 1L for filing frivolous plea against J-K LG

The Central Administrative Tribunal's Jammu Bench has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on a former IAS officer for filing a "mischievous and frivolous" plea against the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and other senior bureaucrats. The tribunal's judicial member Rajinder Dogra, in the July 16 order, said the application filed by a former IAS officer Kumar Ranchhodbhai Parmar about his service was just to "harass" the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and other bureaucrats. The tribunal said this was a service-related matter and instead of impleading the Union and the state governments, Parmar has impleaded Sinha and other authorities by their names. "It is quite astonishing to note that the applicant, a senior IAS officer with extensive knowledge of the Constitution and its laws, proceeded to file the application seeking relief against the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor," the tribunal said. The tribunal said it was dismissing the application and imposing a cost of Rs 1 lakh on Parmar to ...

Doda terror attack: What happened to 'grand claims'? made by PM, asks Cong

The Congress on Tuesday hit out at the Centre after four soldiers were killed in an encounter in Doda, and asked what happened to all those "grand claims" made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jammu and Kashmir. Four army personnel, including an officer, died after being injured in a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday. The latest incident comes a week after a terrorist ambush on an Army patrol in the remote Machedi forest belt in Kathua district claimed the lives of five soldiers and injured as many. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply distressed by the martyrdom of the four brave soldiers, including an officer. "Our heart goes out to the families of our bravehearts, who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of Bharat Mata. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured, and we wish him a speedy and complete recovery," he said. No words of strong and unequivocal condemnation will suffice

9 terror attacks within 38 days of PM Modi govt: Cong after J-K encounter

Party President Mallikarjun Kharge also questioned the Central government alleging that the government was acting as if it were business as usual

Doda encounter: J-K LG pays tributes to slain soldiers, vows to avenge

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday vowed to avenge the death of the soldiers killed in an encounter with terrorists in Doda district. Four army personnel, including an officer, died after being injured in a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district, officials said on Tuesday. In a post on X, Sinha said, "We will avenge death of our soldiers & thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their associates. I call upon the people to unite in the fight against terrorism & provide us accurate information so that we can intensify anti-terror operations & neutralise the terror ecosystem". He also paid tributes to slain soldiers. "I am deeply anguished to learn about the cowardly attack on our Army soldiers and JKP personnel in Doda district. Tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice protecting our nation. My deepest condolences to members of the bereaved families," he added. Troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations ...

Security agencies on high alert in J-K as 'hidden terrorism' trend emerges

Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are grappling with what they call the "hidden threat" of "conservation and consolidation" tactics employed by infiltrating terrorists, which was evident in the recent ambushes and encounters in North Kashmir and Kathua district. Analysing the ambushes and encounters with terrorists, officials in the know of the matter said while security agencies are on high alert, the lack of ground-level intelligence -- human intelligence (HUMINT) -- hampers operations. Reliance on technical intelligence (TECHINT) has not been fruitful as terrorists use online activity to mislead authorities. Officials feel that there is an urgent need for heightened surveillance to counter foreign terrorists, especially in the Jammu region. The region, previously known for its peaceful atmosphere, has recently seen a surge in terror incidents, particularly in border districts such as Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Reasi. Attacks on an IAF convoy, a pilgrim bus and the recent ...

Centre amends rules to give more power to J-K Lt Guv, Opposition slams move

The Centre has significantly strengthened the authority of the lieutenant governor in Jammu and Kashmir, empowering him to make decisions on crucial matters such as police and all-India services officers and granting sanctions for prosecution in various cases. The opposition slammed the Union government's move and termed it a step towards "disempowering" the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Official sources, however, said the notification does not in any sense alter the balance of powers as enshrined in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The Union home ministry gave more powers to the lieutenant governor on Friday by amending the transaction rules framed under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This Act, passed alongside the abrogation of Article 370, bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The sources said that with the amendments to the transaction rules, the powers of the legislative assembly and the functi

Kashmir 'Martyrs Day': Mehbooba, others claim they are under 'house arrest'

Several political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, including PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, on Saturday claimed authorities have put them under house arrest to prevent them from visiting the 'martyrs' graveyard' to pay homage to the 22 Kashmiri people killed by the army of a Dogra ruler on this day in 1931. However, there was no official word on the claims made by the politicians. Mehbooba, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, alleged that she was put under "house arrest" at her residence in Khimber in the outskirts of the city. "The gates of my house have been locked up yet again to prevent me from visiting Mazar e Shuhada - an enduring symbol of Kashmir's resistance and resilience against authoritarianism, oppression and injustice," she said in a post on X. The PDP chief said the "sacrifices of our martyrs is a testament that the spirit of Kashmiri's cannot be crushed" and added that "today even observing it in remembrance of the protesters martyred on this day has been ...

Home Ministry gives more powers to J&K L-G on matters of law and order

The Centre has vested more powers to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir for taking decisions on police, officers of all-India services such as the IAS and the IPS, and giving sanction for prosecution in various cases. Decisions regarding the appointment of advocate general and other law officers, besides matters related to the anti-corruption bureau will also be taken by the lieutenant governor (L-G). These powers were given to the L-G by the Union home ministry on Friday by amending the rules issued under the Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which was enacted for the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,? while abrogating Article 370. "No proposal which requires previous concurrence of the Finance Department with regard to 'Police', 'Public Order', 'All India Service' and 'Anti Corruption Bureau' to exercise the discretion of the Lieutenant Governor under the Act shall be concurred or rejected

J-K polls will prove supremacy of security forces over terrorists: Omar

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held in time to prove the supremacy of security forces over terrorists, who have carried out a spate of attacks in Jammu region recently. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function here, Abdullah said there is no normalcy in the union territory. "There is no normalcy. But, is the situation worse than 1996? If yes, then let them not conduct the elections. If they want to bow down before these powers who are attacking, then don't conduct the election. If you have to prove the supremacy of the militancy, rather than proving the supremacy of our armed forces and police, then don't conduct the elections," he said. The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K, said if the government has courage, then elections should be conducted. "If you don't have the courage, and are afraid, then don't. But, if you have to show the supremacy of our police and .

Death of 5 Army personnel in J-K's Kathua will not go unavenged: Govt

The killing of five Army personnel in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district will not go unavenged and India will defeat the evil forces behind it, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said on Tuesday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish over the killing of the soldiers and asserted that the armed forces are determined to usher in peace in the region. Five Army personnel were killed and as many injured on Monday when a group of heavily-armed terrorists ambushed a patrolling party in Badnota area in Kathua. A massive search operation has already been launched to hunt down terrorists responsible for the attack. "I am deeply anguished at the loss of five of our brave Indian Army Soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K)," the defence minister said on X. "My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Nation stands firm with them in this difficult time. The Counter Terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to

PM Narendra Modi greets Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, to conclude on Aug 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted pilgrims on the start of the Amarnath Yatra, saying the 'darshan' of Lord Shiva is known to infuse immense energy in his followers. The annual Amarnath Yatra began early Saturday as the first batch of pilgrims left the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan to start their journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said. "My heartfelt best wishes to all pilgrims on the commencement of the holy Amarnath Yatra. This yatra associated with the darshan of Baba Barfani infuses immense energy in the devotees of Lord Shiva. May all devotees prosper with his blessings. Jai Baba Barfani, Modi said in a post on X in Hindi. The 52-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 19.

Mob attacks cops during anti-encroachment drive in J-K's Kathua district

At least five police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were injured on Saturday after allegedly being attacked by a mob protesting against an anti-encroachment drive in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said. A drive was launched in the Nagri area of Hiranagar to demolish an illegal place of worship that was resisted by a group of locals, the officials said. They turned violent and attacked the police, injuring five personnel, including a deputy superintendent. Reinforcements have been rushed to the area to restore law and order, the officials said.

EC to update voters' list in poll-bound states, including Jammu and Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said on Thursday that assembly elections would be held soon in Jammu and Kashmir and plans are underway to restore statehood to the UT in the near future

Reasi bus accident: J-K admin suspends DSP for 'dereliction' of duty

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday suspended a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of the traffic wing for alleged dereliction of duty related to a major accident here last month. As many as 22 people were killed and 64 injured in the incident that took place in the Akhnoor area here on May 30. The administration had on May 31 suspended six transport department officials for alleged negligence in duty in connection with the accident. "In accordance with the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1956, Satish Kumar, DSP, Traffic Rural, Jammu, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect," said Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary of Home Department, in an order issued tonight. During the suspension period, the officer will remain attached to the police headquarters, the order said. The accident had occurred when a bus carrying 86 devotees from Haryana's Kurukshetra to the Shiv Khori shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi

PM Modi to visit J&K today, to lead Yoga Day celebrations on June 21

PM Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir on June 20 and lay foundation stones for various projects. He will attend the 10th Yoga Day celebration event in Srinagar on June 21

Amarnath Yatra: Police conducts mock drill ahead of annual pilgrimage

Ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, the quick reaction teams (QRTs) and special operations group (SoG) of the police on Monday conducted a comprehensive mock drill at the base camp of the pilgrimage in Jammu. This comes close on the heels of Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewing the security situation and the preparations for the annual pilgrimage. The 52-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in south Kashmir will start on June 29 and conclude on August 19. The police carried out a comprehensive mock drill exercise at base camp yatri niwas in Bhagwati Nagar here, officials said. First responder team of sub division headquarters, including all territorial officers from the sub division, were involved in the exercise. The SOG Jammu, along with other territorial Police officers from adjacent sub divisions and their QRTs, also participated in the drill, they said. "The primary objective of this exercise was to provide practical training to the entire team, ensuring the