Page 8 - Jammu And Kashmir

Grenade found near house of former MLA in J-K's Poonch, search underway

A grenade was found near the home of a former legislator in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday evening, his son said. Last Friday night, an explosion was reported at his house in Lasana village of Surankote tehsil. His family had a narrow escape as splinters pierced the ceiling of several rooms. "I had gone for a condolence meet when I received a call from home that a grenade was found near the house. It was close to our boundary wall," Showkat, the son of former Surankote MLA and prominent Gujjar leader Choudhary Mohammad Akram, told reporters. Police and Army personnel have cordoned off the area and a search is underway, he said. Expressing fear, Showkat also questioned the security measures being enforced in the area. "Why is this happening to us? This is the second such incident," he said while expressing faith in the security forces. Security guards have been increased at our house and floodlights installed, Showkat added.

G-20 meet in J-K 'message to enemies of humanity': LG Manoj Sinha

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the upcoming G-20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir is a "message to the enemies of humanity" and urged people of the Union territory to come forward and make it an "inclusive" event. "The G-20 meeting being held in Jammu and Kashmir in May this year is a message to the enemies of humanity who were attacking the interests of our citizens through cowardly acts of terrorism for decades," Sinha said while addressing a Republic Day function here. He said that Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, is the "life blood" of the country. Sinha said it is the guiding lamp of the civilization and "eternal sound of our social consciousness". "Jammu and Kashmir today stands tall with self-confidence, encompassing the great heritage and cultural values of the world's largest republic. Today, J&K is marching forward on the path to progress," he said. "I urge every section of the society to come forward and make the G-20 an inclusive ...

Republic Day celebrated across Kashmir, relaxed atmosphere in Srinagar

Republic Day was celebrated across Kashmir on Thursday with functions held at all district headquarters of the valley amidst tight security arrangements, officials said here. The main Republic Day function in the valley was held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium at Sonawar here. Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Rajesh Rai Bhatnagar was the chief guest and presided over the function. Braving bone-chilling cold, contingents of the police, CRPF, NCC and school children took part in the march past where Bhatnagar took the salute. After the parade, artistes from various parts of the union territory performed at the cultural event. In his address, Bhatnagar highlighted the steps taken by the LG administration and the central government to improve the development scenario and security situation in Kashmir. BJP workers led by the party's state general secretary Ashok Koul unfurled the national flag at Lal Chowk's clock tower. While security force personnel were deployed in numbers to en

Relaxed security situation in Srinagar on India's 74th Republic Day

Security arrangements were eased in Srinagar city on Republic Day with fewer check posts set up in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, while in a rare break from practice, internet services were not suspended on Thursday. Security forces were deployed in adequate numbers on the roads leading to the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium , the venue of main function in the valley, but the concertina wires that used to block the intersections in the city were missing, officials said. Check posts were set up at very few places in the city, allowing for free movement of people and vehicles. Suspension of mobile phone and internet services on Republic Day and Independence Day have been part of the security drill in the Valley since 2005 when terrorists used a mobile phone to trigger an IED blast near the venue of Independence Day celebrations.

Whenever held, polls in J-K will be free and fair: LG Manoj Sinha

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday assured the people that whenever the assembly elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir, it will be conducted in free and fair manner. Sinha said he was confident that all election officials will conduct free and fair elections in future. "Whenever assembly election will be held in Jammu and Kashmir, I assure you that they will be held in free and fair manner", Sinha, who took part in the 13th national voters' day celebrations at convention centre here, said. The LG said there were two type of legislators here in Jammu and Kashmir, one was elected by people and another by "khaleef sahib" (selected one). "Now J&K has got rid of it", he said. Taking a dig at those who raked up the issue of large scale increase in the number of voters, he said some people unnecessarily tried to incite the feelings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "The publication of electoral rolls saw increase of over 11 lakh voters. An atmosphere was being created that over 7

Army on high alert in J&K along LoC to thwart infiltration by terrorists

The Army has intensified its vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Poonch districts to thwart any attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into this side to disturb the Republic Day celebrations, taking advantage of low visibility, officials said. The border security grid along the 220-km LoC, starting from Sunderbani sector in Rajouri and ending at Saujiyan in Poonch, was maintaining the highest alert due to inclement weather for the last five days, the Army officials said. They said there was intermittent rainfall in the entire stretch for the last five days coupled with foggy conditions and low visibility. The possibility of infiltration attempts by terrorists to disturb Republic Day, taking advantage of the low visibility remains there. So we are alert to foil their nefarious designs, an Army officer said. He said though the troops guarding the LoC always remain on high alert round the clock, extra alertness is maintained on several occasions like

Ensure proper security for Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar: ADGP Security

Additional Director General of Police, Security, Jammu and Kashmir, S D Singh Jamwal on Wednesday directed officers to ensure proper security for the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra in the city. Jamwal chaired a meeting of officers of the police, Army, CAPF and the civil administration at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here to finalise the arrangements for Republic Day celebrations. He also reviewed security arrangements for the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the G20 event to be held here. With reference to Congress' foot march, Jamwal emphasised upon the officers that the security for the Yatra should be taken care of in coordination with all sister agencies and stakeholders. He stressed that nodal officers from all security and police agencies should coordinate the arrangements as per the guidelines. The ADGP also directed the officers to make necessary security arrangements for Republic Day celebrations. He stressed on proper and intensive foot-patrolling, surveillance of the area in and a

75,000 youth given entrepreneurship opportunity during Jan Abhiyan in J-K

Asserting that 75,000 youth were provided with entrepreneurship opportunities during the Jan-Abhiyan programme in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday. The administration has taken many steps to create supportive infrastructure, schemes and policies to speed up the economic development of the Union Territory, he said and saluted the hard work of all the youth who have helped build a new Jammu and Kashmir. At a function here, Sinha said, "As many as 75,000 youths have been provided entrepreneurship opportunities during Jan Abhiyan in Jammu and Kashmir." "The administration will ensure aspirations, creativity and enterprise of every youth are realized and they are empowered. We have been steadfast in our resolve to provide self-employment opportunities to youth and last year," the LG said. On the eve of the 74th Republic Day, Sinha handed over certificates to selected youth who have availed the facility to start their own business venture. LG further

All security measures in place for BJY along Jammu-Srinagar highway: CRPF

Security forces are on alert and have put in place all measures along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for the safety of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, officials said on Wednesday, a day before it is scheduled to reach Kashmir. CRPF Deputy Inspector General (Operations), South Kashmir, Alok Avasthi said the force is anyway always on alert. "We are more alert as far as the Bharat Jodo Yatra is concerned. Otherwise also, we are alert always. Whoever travels on the highway should feel safe, we have taken all security measures," he told reporters in Pulwama. Asked about the security measures for Republic Day, Avasthi said any intelligence about attempts to vitiate the peace here will be acted upon strongly. "We are fully alert. If there are intelligence inputs of any element trying to disrupt peace, we will destroy those elements," the CRPF officer said. Earlier, the CRPF distributed sewing machines among beneficiaries who had approached the CRPF helpline 'Madadgaar'.

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes amid rains in J-K's Ramban

Amid incessant rains, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Ramban Wednesday and is heading for the highway town of Banihal. The journey from Ramban to Banihal along the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway - the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country -- is the most challenging due to several problematic stretches, including Panthiyal, Mehar and Magerkote which are prone to shooting of stones from the hillocks overlooking the arterial road. Traffic on the highway was suspended Wednesday morning after heavy rains triggered shooting of stones at a few places in Ramban district that left a truck driver dead and two others injured. J-K Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Jahanzaib Sirwal said the yatra resumed around 9 am from Bathi after an hour-long delay due to heavy rains and was progressing smoothly on day 131, covering the old alignment road via Maitra in Ramban town. Gandhi, who started the yatra wearing his trademar

Will contest Jammu-Kashmir assembly polls with 'full might', says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday said it will contest Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls with "full might and political power" whenever they are held. The decision was taken by the party at a meeting here chaired by AAP's national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak who is also the party's poll strategist. The meeting was attended by AAP's election in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir Imran Hussain as well as the office bearers of the party's unit in the Union territory. Addressing the meeting, Pathak, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said that AAP will take part and contest next assembly and panchayat elections in J&K. "We will contest the next assembly and panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir with full might and political power, the AAP quoted Pathak as saying during the meeting. Pathak also asked the AAP's J&K unit leadership to increase the pace of their efforts to strengthen the party's base in every town and village there, the party added. In the first round of the .

Jammu and Kashmir Bank Q3 net profit rises 79% to Rs 311 cr; NII up 27%

Jammu and Kashmir Bank on Monday said its December quarter net profit rose 79 per cent to Rs 311.59 crore. The net profit rose to Rs 311.59 crore as against Rs 173.95 crore registered for the same period last fiscal, a bank spokesperson said during its December quarter results announcement. The bank was well on its trajectory to meet annual profitability targets, the spokesperson added. "The bank's profit for nine months is up 85 per cent to Rs 721.05 crore from Rs 389.36 crore clocked during nine months of the last fiscal," he said. Its Net Interest Income (NII) increased 27 per cent to Rs 1,257.38 crore for the October-December quarter as compared to Rs 993.30 crore reported previous year. It posted a growth of 19 per cent Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) for nine months to Rs 3,495.73 crore. The bank's operating profit grew 65 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 544.11 crore during the quarter under review. "Driven largely by an improving asset-quality through better SMA management and vigorous recoveri

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes from Vijaypur, nears Jammu city

The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed from Vijaypur in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir amid heightened security

Jammu and Kashmir govt launches Rs 879-crore food processing project

The project shall create 7,030 direct jobs and lead to establishment of 34 enterprises with expected revenue generation to the tune of Rs 1,436.04 crore every year

National Investigation Agency team visits Narwal twin-blast site in J-K

A special team of the National Investigation Agency on Sunday inspected the scene of the twin blasts here, officials said. Back-to-back blasts in Narwal on the outskirts of Jammu City had left nine people injured on Saturday. Police suspect that improvised explosive devices were used to carry out the twin explosions in an SUV parked in a repair shop and in a vehicle at a nearby junkyard at the Transport Nagar area. The explosions occurred at a time when security agencies in the region are on high alert for the Congress' ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra and the upcoming Republic Day celebrations. The National Investigation Agency team visited the site of the blasts in the morning and the federal anti-terror agency is likely to take over the case for a thorough probe, the officials said. Officers of the probe agency spent over an hour at the scene of the blasts and collected samples before leaving. Senior officers of the Indian Army also visited the area for inspection for the second day, t

Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes amid tight security in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua

The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed Sunday from Hiranagar in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district amid heightened security in the wake of twin blasts in Jammu. After a day-long break, the foot march started as per schedule around 7 am from Hiranagar near the International Border along the Jammu-Pathankot highway which was sealed by police and other security forces. Accompanied by J-K Pradesh Congress chief Vikar Rasool Wani, working president Raman Bhalla and hundreds of volunteers carrying the tricolour, Gandhi entered Samba district's Tapyal-Gagwal after crossing Londi check point at around 8 am and was greeted by enthusiastic workers and supporters waiting on both sides of the road. After covering about 25-km distance, the march will have a night halt at Chak Nanak before restarting from Samba's Vijaypur for Jammu, where it will reach on Monday. Officials said adequate security arrangements are in place for Gandhi with police, CRPF and other security

J-K LG seeks active participation of edu institutions in G20 meeting in UT

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday sought the active participation of educational institutions in the G20 meeting to be held in the Union Territory

Frame policy to identify poor and vest them with ownership rights: Lone

People's Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Saturday said a policy should be framed to define criteria for identifying the poor and vest them with ownership rights.

Land mine found near Army post in J-K's Poonch, destroyed, says official

A land mine was found near an Army post and subsequently destroyed in a controlled explosion in Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Poonch Saturday, officials said

9 injured in Jammu in twin blast, 2 days ahead of Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra

Police suspect that IEDs were used to carry out the twin explosions in an SUV parked in a repair shop and in a vehicle at a nearby junkyard at Transport Nagar area of Narwal