Amid high tensions, the Indian Army is foiling Pakistan Army’s BAT actions almost every day along the Line of Control (LoC) and even taking pre-emptive actions against the Pakistani positions trying to help terrorists in their infiltration attempts, sources said on Tuesday. “If you look at the intelligence inputs, every day there are reports about attempts by Pakistan Army border action teams (BAT) to target our posts all along the LoC. We are taking all possible steps to thwart their actions,” top Army sources told ANI.

In an attempt to thwart the Pakistani actions, the Indian Army posts on the LoC are taking action against any movement from Pakistan’s side towards the fence on the LoC, sources said. The Pakistanis are now encouraging terrorists and their BAT teams to carry out their actions in civilian attire and avoiding combat fatigues, sources mentioned.

The BAT teams of the Pakistan Army include both regular Army personnel and terrorists from groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and are tasked to carry out surprise hits on Indian positions along the LoC. Sources said Pakistani forces have been trying to violate ceasefire in almost all sectors after the Balakot airstrikes by the Indian Air Force on February 26, but their attempts have been foiled. (ANI)

Srinagar: Ahead of Lok Sabha polls on Central Kashmir Parlimentary seat scheduled on 18th of this month, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Budgam has ordered closure of government and private schools in the district on April 17th and 18th in the backdrop of upcoming parliamentary polls.

An order issued by the CEO has also directed all the heads and class IV staff of the schools designated as polling stations to remain present in their respective schools on both the days.

Further more, all the rooms in the schools be kept unlocked so as to facilitate the smooth conduct of the polls, the order reads.

Srinagar, April 16 : Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Tuesday urged people for complete election boycott and shutdown on April 18 in poll bound areas of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal.

Geelani said: “On one hand, ruthless killings, unabated arrest spree, economic strangulation, vehicular restriction, enforced demographic changes through judicial onslaught is on its peak and on other hand a vast military exercise under the veil of election is being thrust on this helpless nation just to endorse their brutal suppression.”

“All pro-India parties and their leaders are least bothered about the miseries of the people. They instead are desperate to get to the power corridors to continue sucking our blood,” he said, adding, “We are passing through crucial period of our struggle, it is a litmus test for our conscious, morality and commitment to the movement just like we did during 2017 parliament election in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts.”

“We have invested mighty human material and every person, family and region has its own contribution which legalizes and compels the stakeholders not to let these precious sacrifices go waste,” Geelani said.

Hurriyat (G) chairman said the mainstream parties are shedding crocodile tears on Article 35-A, 370, AFSPA, PSA and are raising a “deceitful slogan” of change.

“All of them sail in the same boat and have contributed in turning this paradise in hell,” Geelani said. 

Srinagar, April 16:  The Director General of Police J&K Dilbag Singh on Tuesday hailed the security forces for bringing change in Kishtwar, and said that militancy shall be wiped out from the district.

DGP on Tuesday visited Kishtwar where he held review meetings to take stock of the preparedness for the parliamentary elections with officers and addressed police, army and CAPF officers deployed in connection with Lok Sabha polls.

DGP was accompanied by IGP Jammu, IGP CRPF and IGP BSF Jammu. During his visit to the far-flung areas of the district including Marwah, Dachan and later Kishtwar, he met local police, paramilitary and civil officers, according to a statement issued to news agency.

Addressing the officers at District Police Office Complex Kishtwar, DGP impressed upon the officers to dispose of the cases on a fast track basis and keep crime index check and also enhance public relations.

“The district has been militancy infested but the sacrifices of police and other security forces brought change and the remaining militancy shall be wiped out from the district,” he said.

He stressed upon the establishment of new SOG camps, Nakas and bunkers in Kishtwar and advised the security forces deployed in the district to work in coordination in order to kill the militants. He further said that noose must be tightened against the militants and their overground workers.

DGP in his address further stated that because of the safe and secure environment of the region, projects are being executed and development is taking place in the region for which credit goes to Police, Army, BSF, and CRPF who have worked as a team and accomplished the mission of establishing the peace.

He paid tributes to the slain forces personnel and said that Jammu and Kashmir Police has earned a good name at the national level due to their sacrifices for the nation.

From law and order front, the DGP J&K advised the officers to reach each and every section of society in order to gain the confidence of the general public, besides regular meetings should be held with members of the communities and they should be made stakeholders for maintaining peace and order in the district.

During his interaction with the officers of civil administration, police and CAPF, the DGP directed the officers to act tough against white collar criminals by identifying and booking them under relevant laws.

Referring to welfare measures, he said that PHQ is looking into various demands and more announcements are expected from state government for the benefit of police personnel. He advised the police personnel to take care of health, hygiene and their families.

DGP assured that all the grievances brought into his notice will be addressed. He said all the personnel especially lower ranks will be made comfortable.

He directed the officers to perform their duties with zest and zeal during parliamentary elections and ensure that no untoward incident takes place and the whole electioneering process is carried-out smoothly. He said action should be taken against the trouble mongers after identifying them.

Earlier, SSP Kishtwar Shakti K Pathak gave resume of the functioning of District Police Kishtwar.

The interaction meeting was attended by Munish Kumar Sinha, IGP Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, DIG DKR Range, Angrez Singh Rana, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Shakti K. Pathak, SSP Kishtwar, Addl. SP Kishtwar and other officers of Army and CAPF.

The officers of Army, CRPF and jurisdictional officers gave their inputs regarding various issues in these meetings. (GNS)

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday summoned the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) chairman Muhammad Yaseen Khan in and  alleged funding case, GK reported.

The notice issued to Khan read, “Whereas it appears that you are acquainted with the circumstances of the case noted below, which is now under investigation by the NIA, New Delhi, you are hereby required to report at National Investigation Agency, Ministry of Home Affairs, Opposite Lodhi Road, New Delhi on 18-04-2019 at 10:30 am for the purpose of your examination relating to the case,”

The summon was issued to Khan by the SP NIA Headquarters, New Delhi.

JAMMU, APRIL 16: Over 29.81 lakh voters will decide the fate of 24 candidates contesting for Srinagar and Udhampur Parliamentary seats, the polling for which is scheduled on April 18- the second Phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019.

The twin constituencies have 2,981,083 registered electors including 1,543,571 males, 1,416,387 females, 21,056 service voters (20,780 males and 276 females) and 69 transgender voters.

Twelve candidates each are in fray for both Srinagar and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies. For smooth conduct of polls, 4,426 polling stations have been set up in the twin constituencies.

SRINAGAR PC

The constituency is spread over 15 Assembly segments comprising three districts of Central Kashmir-Ganderbal, Srinagar and Budgam with 1,295,304 registered voters including 1,294,560 General voters and 744 service voters.

Among the general voters, 667,252 are males and 627,282 female electors. Among service voters, 728 are males and 16 females, while there are 26 transgender voters.

The authorities have set up 1716 polling stations across the Parliamentary constituency to facilitate the polling.

The candidates in the fray are Sheikh Khalid Jehangir of Bharatiya Janata Party, Aga Syed Mohsin of J&K Peoples Democratic Party, Abdul Rashid Ganie of J&K National Panthers Party, Dr Farooq Abdullah of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Showkat Hussain Khan of Janta Dal United, Abdul Khaliq Bhat of Shiv Sena, Irfan Raza Ansari of J&K People’’s Conference, Nazir Ahmad Lone of Rashtriya Jankranti Party, Nazir Ahmad Sofi of Manavadikar National Party, while Bilal Sultan, Sajjad Ahmad Dar, Abdul Rashid Banday are contesting as independent candidates.In 2017 By-Elections, the electoral strength in the constituency was 1,261,395.

The By-Elections witnessed the victory of National Conference’s Dr Farooq Abdullah by defeating his close rival Nazir Khan of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate by 10,766 votes. The seat was left vacant after Tariq Hamid Karra’s resignation.

UDHAMPUR PC

In Udhampur Parliamentary constituency, those in fray are Tilak Raj Bhagat of Bhujan Samaj Party, Dr. Jitendra Singh of Bhartiya Janata Party, Vikramaditya Singh of Indian National Congress, Harsh Dev Singh of JKNPP, Ch. Lal Singh of Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party, Mohammad Ayub of Navrang Congress Party, Meenakshi of Shiv Sena and Bansi Lal, Rakesh Mudgal, Shaber Ahmad, Garib Singh and Firdous Ahmed all independents.

The constituency is spread over 17 Assembly segments comprising six districts of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua.

The Udhampur parliamentary seat has 16, 85,779 electors of which 1,665,467 are registered as general voters and 20,312 as service voters.

Among the General voters, 876,319 are males and 789,105 females. The service voters include 20,052 males and 260 females, and 43 transgender electors.

For the smooth conduct of election in the PC, the Election Commission of India has established 2,710 polling stations.

In 2014 General Elections, the number of voters in the constituency was 14,69,072.

The last parliamentary election was won by Dr. Jitendra Singh of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) by defeating his nearest rival Ghulam Nabi Azad of Congress. Singh secured 487,369 votes while Azad managed to bag 426,393 votes.

The polling will be held on April 18 in both the constituencies of the state. The voting hours have been fixed from 7AM to 6 PM.

Srinagar, Apr 16, : Deputy Mayor Srinagar Shiekh Mohammad Imran on Tuesday started ‘I am Mujahid’ campaign from Mujahid Manzil of Downtown in Srinagar. He appealed Islamic clerics in Kashmir to highlight the meaning of Jihad and Mujahid in upcoming Friday.

Beginning his campaign at historic Pather Masjid in Downtown, Imran said the meaning of Islamic terms has been interpreted in a wrong way but as a Muslims, we have a responsibility to act against it.

To start from Mujahid Manzil, Imran said the campaign reminds us of the sacrifices that were made by our people in the year 1931. He urged youth to come forward and make the campaign successful in the whole world.

“Apart from Indian states, I am getting calls from UK, USA, and other countries to start the campaign from there but we have started this initiative from Srinagar,” Imran said.

“To give a befitting reply to communal forces, the youth across the globe should use prefix Mujahid in front of their names. When lakhs of people in a single voice will raise the awareness about Islam it will help to counter Islam phobia in the world,” he said.

Imran said Muslims across the globe are being divided into different sects and divisions. He urged all Muslims across the world to use prefix Mujahid in front of their names and clear mis-confusion about Islam.

Srinagar, Apr 16, : Expressing shock over the assault of SDM Duroo, former IAS officer and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement chairman Shah Faesal on Tuesday hoped that AFSPA doesn’t come in the way of taking action against the erring army officer.

Faesal demanded an immediate First Information Report (FIR) against the erring officer.

“News of physical assault on SDM Duroo by Army is very shocking. If true, DC/SSP Anantnag should immediately register an FIR and arrest the erring personnel. It is hoped that AFSPA won’t come in the way of IPC/RPC and the action will be taken,” Faesal said in a tweet.

 Pertinently, the army allegedly manhandled a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and damaged his official vehicle after an argument with an Army officer in Ujroo area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district Anantnag.