Page 14 - Jammu And Kashmir

Bank boards can decide on waiving penalty on minimum balance: Karad

The boards of individual banks can decide on waiving the penalty on accounts, which do not maintain a minimum balance, Union Minister of State for Finance Bhagwant Kishanrao Karad on Wednesday said. "Banks are independent bodies. They have boards which can take a decision to waive off the penalty," Karad told reporters here. The minister was responding to a question if the Centre would consider directing banks not to charge any penalty from the accounts where the balance falls below the prescribed minimum levels. Karad was on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review the implementation of various financial schemes in the Union Territory. The minister said the banks in Jammu and Kashmir had done a good job over the years and directed them to improve their performance on those parameters where they are lagging behind the national average. "I have told the banks in Jammu and Kashmir to hold Saturday camps to bring the percentage of Jan Dhan Yojana accounts closer to the national

BJP creating confusion in J-K to rule directly from Centre: JKPCC president

Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani on Wednesday accused the BJP of creating an atmosphere of confusion in the union territory so that it can rule it directly from the Centre. "The BJP is indulging in falsehood and promotion of hate politics in the country in order to divert people's attention from its failures for the sake of power while adding more confusion in J&K aiming to continue ruling it directly from the Centre," Wani said at the party workers' convention at the Valtengo area in Kulgam district. Wani blamed BJP the government for the losses caused to J&K due to the "wrong policies adopted by it (BJP) while having failed people miserably on developmental, economic, employment and various other fronts". Wani said the developmental process initiated in J&K by UPA-I and UPA-II is nowhere to be seen "What the people of J&K got under the BJP rule is only unemployment, lack of development, unprecedented price hike on essentials and hardships which .

Searches carried out along int'l border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba

Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday conducted a search operation in several forward villages of Samba district along the International Border (IB) here, an official said. The SOG was assisted by the Central Reserve Police Force and the nearly three-hour-long combing operation was carried out as part of border area domination following the recent infiltration attempts from across the border, a police official said. The search operation started in the early hours from S M Pora and covered Sapwal, Chamliyal and Narayanpur areas in Ramgarh sector, the official said. The focus was on detecting any underground tunnel and suspicious material dropped by drones, but nothing suspicious was found, he added. On Tuesday, the Border Security Force (BSF) had shot dead a Pakistani intruder in Arnia sector of Jammu, while another was arrested and later repatriated in Ramgarh sector.

Counter-drone equipment in place; terrorists lack weapons: Army commander

A top Army commander on Tuesday said counter-drone equipment have been deployed at different places in Jammu and Kashmir to check airdropping of weapons and drugs from across the border. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi said the security agencies have also identified all the places where weapons are being dropped to ensure that terrorists, who are running short of arms, do not get hold of the weapons. "Drone is an evolving technology and in the coming days, you will see action from both sides -- they (Pakistan) will try to send drones (with weapons and drugs), we will deploy counter-measures using technology," the Army commander told reporters here on the sidelines of a programme to mark the platinum jubilee of the historic "Poonch Link-up Day". The platinum jubilee of the Poonch Link-Up Day, commemorating the "Operation Easy" conducted by the Indian Army in 1948 to defend the border district from the invading Pakistani raider

Two infiltration bids foiled in Jammu; 1 intruder dead, another held

Two separate infiltration bids were foiled on the International Border (IB) in Jammu in which one intruder was killed and another was apprehended, officials said

India can use G20 presidency to engage Pakistan on Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah

As India assumes the G20 presidency for a year from next month, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the country can use this opportunity to engage Pakistan to address Kashmir issue and also help the world end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said he was tired of advocating dialogue with Pakistan to be dubbed as "anti-national". "I am happy that we (India) are assuming the presidency of G20 and I hope that Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) will be successful in ending the Russia-Ukraine war that had badly hit the economy of the world," Abdullah told reporters here. He said it would be better for the global population if India is able to defuse the crisis. "Secondly, we have a problem with our neighbouring country (Pakistan over Kashmir). There can be a possibility to seek a solution (to the issue) to end our hardships," Abdullah said. India will assume the G20 presidency for a year on December 1 and chair over 200 ...

Jitendra Singh to inaugurate e-governance meet in J-K's Katra on Nov 26

Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh will inaugurate a two-day national e-governance conference in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra on Saturday. The conference will be a platform for discussion on some of the digital innovations and technologies that will play an important part in the next decade for governance to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, a statement issued by the ministry said. The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) in association with the Jammu and Kashmir administration will organise the 25th national conference on e-governance (NCeG) on November 26- 27 in Katra. The theme of this conference is "Bringing citizens, industry and government closer". "November 26 is celebrated as the Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. "As part of the celebrations, Union Minister Jitendra Singh will administer

Farooq Abdullah to join Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in J-K

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah will join the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi when it reaches Jammu and Kashmir, a spokesperson of the All Parties United Morcha (APUM) said on Monday. The Jammu-based umbrella organisation of nearly a dozen mainstream parties and social organisations called on Abdullah at his residence here and discussed the need to further strengthen coordination among opposition parties to defeat the designs of "communal and divisive forces'', a spokesperson said. The delegation included leaders of the Congress, the CPM, PDP, IDP and CPI. According to the spokesperson, Abdullah was in agreement with the delegation that opposition parties should mount a more united and coordinated campaign against attempts to create political and social divisions in society and assured that he would work towards strengthening broader unity to "defeat BJP and its sister concerns''. The APUM leaders suggested that a joint convention of major ...

Several projects in progress to make Jammu major tourist destination: CS

Several projects are being undertaken in Jammu to make it a major tourist destination and these include developing the Tawi riverfront and the city's heritage sites, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta said on Sunday. Mehta also visited sites of different works being taken up under the smart city project that are meant to add to the beauty and aesthetics of the city. "The face of Jammu is going to change for the better by June 2023. The city is fast changing its outlook and enhancing its value in terms of tourist appeal," the chief secretary said during his visit here. He said various projects along with those under progress would give a massive facelift to the city and it would emerge as a major tourist attraction. Mehta, at the Mubarak Mandi that used to be the royal residence of the Dogra rulers, enjoined upon officers to open the restored portions of the heritage buildings for the public by mid-December. He asked them to start at the complex cultural activities

Security forces recovered heroin worth crores of rupees in J-K's Baramulla

Security forces recovered heroin worth crores in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said Sunday. During a routine check at AD Post in Hathlanga area of Uri, security forces intercepted a suspicious looking man who tried to flee when they tried to approach him, a police spokesperson said. When police searched him, he was found to have four packets of heroin-like substance worth crores of rupees in his possession, he said. The person was identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Sahoora area of Uri, he said. Bhat was arrested and taken to a police station where he remains in custody, he said. A case has been registered and investigation set in motion, the spokesperson added.

Huge cache of arms recovered from house in J-K's Kupwara: Police

Security forces seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from a house in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Sunday. The arms cache was recovered from the house of one Rafaqat Hussain Shah, a resident of Panjtaran in Karnah area of north Kashmir's Kupwara, in a cordon-and-search operation last night, a police spokesperson said. During search, one pistol, two pistol magazines, 16 pistol rounds, two hand grenades, two detonators, and other incriminating materials were recovered from the said house, the spokesperson said. In connection with the seizure, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is in progress, he said.

LeT 'hybrid' terrorist killed in encounter in Jammu-Kashmir's Anantnag

A "hybrid" terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba, accompanying a police party for identifying a hideout, was killed in an encounter between security forces and ultras in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, police said. "Hybrid" terrorists are not listed as ultras but are radicalised enough to carry out a terror strike and then slip back into routine life. The "hybrid" terrorist, Sajad Ahmad Tantray alias Furqan, a resident of Shirpora in Kulgam, was involved in the killing of a non-local labourer at Rakhmomen in Anantnag's Bijbehara on November 12, a police spokesperson said. He was arrested and during questioning, he confessed to his involvement in the labourer's killing. At his instance, a pistol used in the commission of the terror crime was recovered, the spokesperson said. Tantray also revealed information about the presence of terrorists in Bijbehara's Cheki Duddo area, he added. On the basis of information provided by Tantray, the police said, a search and cordon opera

3 hybrid militants arrested in J-K's Srinagar; arms, ammunition recovered

Three 'hybrid' militants have been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital, police said on Sunday. "Army (2RR) and Srinagar Police arrested three hybrid terrorists along with a huge consignment of 03 AK rifles, 02 Pistols, 09 Magazines & 200 rounds from outskirts of Srinagar," Kashmir Zone Police said on Twitter. An investigation is going on in the matter, they said.

Hybrid terrorist of LeT killed in encounter in J-K's Anantnag: Police

A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) hybrid terrorist, accompanying a police party for identifying a hideout, was killed during an encounter between security forces and ultras in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Cheki Dudoo area of Bijbehara in south Kashmir's Anantnag district early Sunday morning following specific input about the presence of terrorists there, the police said. When search party reached towards the suspected hideout, terrorists opened fire which hit one accused, hybrid terrorist of LeT Sajjad Tantray of Kulgam, who was with search party for identification of hideout. He was rushed to SDH Bijbehara where doctors declared him brought dead, Kashmir Zone Police wrote on Twitter. The police said Tantray was involved in the killing of a non-local labourer on November 13 at Rakhmomen, Bijbehara. During investigation hybrid terrorist Sajjad Tantray, who was earlier a terrorist associate of LeT and

Never joined hands with Pakistan: Farooq Abdullah at rally in J-K's Akhnoor

Former President of the National Conference Farooq Abdullah on Saturday addressed a public rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor district and said that they never joined hands with Pakistan

Infiltration bid on LoC in J&K's Rajouri foiled, one terrorist killed

The sources said that terrorists attempted to infiltrate into the Indian side in Kalal area of Nowshera sector.

Massive searches carried out in J&K over militant threat to journalists

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday started massive searches at ten locations in connection with threatening of journalists by terror outfit The Resistance Front. The searches were conducted in Srinagar, Anantnag and Kulgam districts of the Valley, police said. Massive searches in connection with #investigation of case related to recent #threat to journalists started by Police at 10 locations in #Srinagar, #Anantnag and #Kulgam. Details shall be followed, Kashmir Zone Police wrote on Twitter. The police had on November 12 filed a case against militants and handlers belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow organisation of LeT, for sending threat letters to journalists in Kashmir. The TRF had issued an online threat to a few media houses in the Valley for their "traitorous acts and nexus with fascist Indian regime". Following the threat, several journalists resigned from local publications. Turkey-based terror operative Mukhtar Baba and six o

I'm still National Conference president, haven't resigned: Farooq Abdullah

"I am still the party chief till elections and till someone else is ready to shoulder responsibilities of this post," he told reporters.

India hits back after Pakistan rakes Jammu & Kashmir issue at UNGA

India has slammed Pakistan after it raked the Jammu and Kashmir issue during a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly on Security Council reforms, saying Islamabad's desperate attempts to peddle falsehoods and its bad habit of abusing the sanctity of multilateral forums deserves the international community's collective contempt. The General Assembly held a plenary meeting on Thursday on the issue of UN Security Council reforms during which Pakistan yet again raked up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. I am taking the floor today to exercise India's Right of Reply to respond to Pakistan's continued abuse of this august Assembly, Counsellor in India's Permanent Mission to the UN here Pratik Mathur said. Mathur said that while the UNGA is meeting to discuss the "extremely important topic of UN Security Council reforms, the representative of Pakistan has yet again made unwarranted references to Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir, let me repeat once again for his benefit, remains an

Money made from drug trade used in terror activities in J&K, says DGP

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Thursday said drug menace has emerged as a big threat as the money generated from the trade is being used in terror activities. He urged the the police department to expedite investigation into cases of narcotics and increase conviction rate. Singh was speaking after chairing an officers' meeting at the police headquarters here to review the targets and goals set for the Jammu zone this year. The senior officer asked his department to work on a mission mode on cases of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2008. Calling for a strict action, he directed the officers to destroy drug-related cultivations in Jammu and seize properties earned through proceeds from sale of narcotics. The DGP impressed upon his officers to identify more investigating officials and train them to deal with the increasing number of cases. Investigators need to equip themselves with