SC adjourns next year hearing on pleas to January challenging Article 35A

The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned to January next year the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the Constitutional validity of Article 35 A, which provides special rights and privileges to natives of Jammu and Kashmir, after taking note of submissions of the Centre and the state government that there was a law and order problem in the state.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra was informed by Attorney General K K Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir government respectively that in view of the impending eight-phased local body elections and law and order situation in the state, the hearing be deferred.

"Let the elections take place. We are told that there is a law and order problem," the bench which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said while adjourning the hearing to the second week of January on petitions challenging Article 35 A.

Encounter underway in Kashmir's Bandipora; three terrorists 'trapped'

An encounter is underway between terrorists and security forces in Hajin area of north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Thursday.

Two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area.

No report of casualties or injuries has been reported as of now. More details are awaited.

On Wednesday, four policemen lost their lives in a terrorist attack in South Kashmir's Shopian district. According to the police, a police party came under indiscriminate firing by a group of terrorists during the afternoon hours in Shopian's Arhama.

This came after two terrorists from Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were gunned down in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.

Militant killed in Jammu & Kashmir's Bandipora, encounter underway

A militant on Thursday was killed in an encounter with security forces in Hajin area of Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Hajin area following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire towards security forces positions.

One militant has been killed in the operation, the official said adding searches were still going on.

The identity of the slain militant is yet to be ascertained.

On Wednesday, four policemen lost their lives in a terrorist attack in South Kashmir's Shopian district. According to the police, a police party came under indiscriminate firing by a group of terrorists during the afternoon hours in Shopian's Arhama.

This came after two terrorists from Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were gunned down in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.

Shutdown in Kashmir as clashes erupt on rumours of SC scrapping Article 35A

Spontaneous shutdown was observed at several places in Kashmir after clashes broke out between youths and security forces following rumours about scrapping of Article 35A, a police official said.
Article 35A, which accords special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, is facing a legal challenge in the Supreme Court.

"Spontaneous shutdown is being observed in many places in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, and Anantnag district in south Kashmir," the official said.

He said announcements were made on loudspeakers that Article 35A has been scrapped and people were asked to observe a strike and come out to protest.

"Shops and other business establishments, which had opened this morning, downed shutters after rumours of Article 35A being scrapped spread like wild fire and were circulated on social media, the official said.

Stone-pelters clashed with security personnel in Anantnag and in the Safakadal area here in the wake of the rumours, he said.

Court of inquiry against Major Gogoi for meeting woman in Srinagar hotel

A court of inquiry (CoI) was ordered on Monday against an Army Major who was seen with a local woman in a Srinagar hotel on May 23.

Army sources said the inquiry was ordered against Major Leetul Gogoi on charges of fraternizing with a local woman despite instructions to the contrary and leaving his place of posting without his senior's permission.

Major Gogoi was questioned by police on May 23 after he was seen in a Srinagar hotel with a Kashmiri girl and a male who works for the Army.

Major Gogoi hit the headlines in April 2017 when he tied a young artisan to the bonnet of his military vehicle to deter stone pelters from attacking his vehicle.

Should Art 35A pleas go to Constitution bench? 3-judge SC bench to decide

The Supreme Court on Monday said that a three-judge bench would decide whether the pleas challenging Article 35A, which provides special rights and privileges to the natives of Jammu and Kashmir, should be referred to a five-judge Constitution bench for examining the larger issue of alleged violation of the doctrine of basic structure of the Constitution.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A Khanwilkar adjourned the crucial hearing on as many as five petitions "to the week commencing from August 27" on the grounds that they pertained to the challenge to a Constitutional scheme and could not be heard as the third judge, Justice D Y Chandrachud, was not present on Monday.

As the matter came up on Monday in the backdrop of protests in Jammu and Kashmir on the issue, the state government sought adjournment of the hearing citing upcoming local body elections in the state and was supported by the Centre.

The lawyers for petitioners, however, vehemently opposed the adjournment plea and sought an early hearing after the bench clarified that it cannot take up the matter due to lack of quorum

Swachh Bharat: 8,000 toilets built in Kathua this year versus 15,000 target

In compliance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Mission, 8000 toilets have been constructed in the Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district out of 15,000 toilets target for the year 2018.

The main motive behind the mission is to make the district Open Defecation Free (ODF). Besides the target, community toilets are also being constructed.

The Swachh Bharat Mission is going on war footing in 19 blocks of Kathua district and the construction of individual toilets is speeding up to achieve the target before October 2.

As per survey of 2012, there were 92884 households without toilets. The target of construction of 41602 toilets is so far completed till 2017.

Block Development Officer, Naresh Kumar Chandan, said that out of 17 Panchayat of Kerrian Gandyal Block, four Panchayat are so far declared as ODF.

Ramzan ceasefire: Armed encounters from 2015 to 2017 rose 50% over 2012-14

The Ramzan ceasefire announced by the Indian government on May 16, 2018, comes after a period of heightened armed violence and killings in Kashmir. An IndiaSpend analysis of Jammu & Kashmir Police data shows that in the three years since March 2015, when the current government assumed power in the state, armed encounters between militants and security forces have increased by 53% over the preceding three years. Deaths in conflict have similarly increased by 51%.

The Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party formed a coalition government in Jammu & Kashmir in March 2015. Data suggest an increase in violence and related deaths since then, particularly after the July 2016 killing of militant commander Burhan Wani–209 militants were killed in 2017, up 65% from 136 in 2016.

J&K deputy CM Nirmal Singh quits Mufti govt ahead of Cabinet reshuffle

Ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle on Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh tonight tendered his resignation to pave the way for state Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta to take over the post in the PDP-BJP government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

BJP's state unit chief Sat Sharma, MLAs from Kathua and adjoining Sambha Rajiv Jasrotia and Devinder Kumar Manyal are among the BJP faces who will be inducted into the state government as Cabinet ministers, officials said.

"I have resigned from the post to pave the way for a new deputy chief minister in the state," Singh told PTI.

The PDP will have Mohd Khalil Band, MLA from Pulwama, and Mohd Ashraf Mir, MLA from Sonwar, as Cabinet ministers, while the BJP will upgrade Sunil Sharma, at present Minister of State for Transport, to the rank of a Cabinet minister, the officials said.

BJP MLA from Doda Shakti Raj will also be sworn in as Minister of State tomorrow at the oath-taking ceremony, which will be attended by senior BJP leaders, including national general secretary Ram Madhav and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh, they said.

J&K Cabinet rejig: Facing Kathua heat, BJP to bring on new faces; updates

The Mehbooba Mufti-led Jammu and Kashmir government's Cabinet reshuffle will take place on Monday noon, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in alliance with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, expected to bring in some new faces. Ahead of the reshuffle, BJP leader and Jammu & Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh tendered his resignation. State Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta will take over Singh's post in the PDP-BJP government.

According to the invitation for the ceremony, the oath of office and secrecy will be administered to those being inducted into the council of ministers by J&K Governor N N Vohra at the convention centre in Jammu at 12 noon. The function is being held at the convention centre instead of the Raj Bhavan because the J&K government has already shifted its base to the summer capital of Srinagar as part of its biannual 'darbar move', under which the government functions six months each in the twin capital cities.

Officials said that BJP's state unit chief Sat Sharma and MLAs from Kathua and adjoining Sambha, Rajiv Jasrotia and Devinder Kumar Manyal, were among the BJP faces who would be inducted into the state government as Cabinet ministers. An unnamed senior BJP leader told news agencies that the party leaders, in general, had no information on the specific number of people who were being inducted into the Cabinet or being dropped from the Cabinet. He added that BJP national president Amit Shah and party general secretary Ram Madhav had the list, which would be handed over to Nirmal Singh either on Sunday night or Monday morning.

Army jawan killed in Pakistani firing along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir

An Army jawan was killed in unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, the Army said.
Pakistan Army troops initiated unprovoked firing on Indian posts from across the border in the Sunderbani sector, prompting the Indian troops guarding the LoC to retaliate strongly and effectively, an Army spokesman said.
Lance Naik Yogesh Muralidhar Bhadane, 22, from Khalane village of Dhule district in Maharashtra, was critically injured in the firing and later succumbed to his injuries.

Bhadane is survived by his wife.
The incident comes just days after a BSF head constable was killed after Pakistani forces "sniped" from across the International Border in Samba district.
In retaliation, the BSF destroyed two Pakistani mortar positions. It also foiled an infiltration bid by gunning down a Pakistani intruder along the IB near Nikowal Border Out Post (BoP) in Arnia sector.
READ MORE

4 cops killed in IED attack in Kashmir; JeM claims responsibility

Four policemen on patrol duty were killed on Saturday in an improvised explosive device blast by militants in a market in Sopore township, the first IED attack in Kashmir since 2015.

The four personnel belonging to Indian Reserve Police-3rd battalion were on law and order duty in the township in north Kashmir, 50 km from here, when the IED planted by militants in the market, which was shut due to a separatist-sponsored strike, went off, police said.

Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit has taken responsibility for the attack, but the Kashmir police said it will have to verify the claim.

The slain personnel were identified as assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Irshad Ahmad - a resident of Doda, Constable Ghulam Nabi - a resident of Rohama Rafiaabad area of Baramulla, Constable Parvaiz Ahmad - a resident of Vilgam, Handwara and Constable Mohammad Amin - a resident of Sogam, Kupwara.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Munir Khan said the use of IEDs by militants had ended since 2015 and the security forces will have to chalk out a new strategy in the wake of the blast.
READ MORE

PoK belongs to Pak remark: Delhi HC to hear plea against Farooq Abdullah

The Delhi High Court will today hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against National Conference president Farooq Abdullah for his reported controversial remarks on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

President of Gharib Nawaz Foundation Maulana Ansar Raza filed the petition on November 17, and demanded that Abdullah's passport should be cancelled.

Recently, Abdullah said that the PoK belonged to Pakistan and the fact would not change no matter how many wars are fought over the issue.

Social activist Sukesh Khajuria also filed a complaint with District Magistrate against Abdullah, on the same day, and sought action against him under section 196 of CrPC, which deals with offences against the State and for criminal conspiracy to commit such offence.

A Bihar court has also ordered filing of FIR against Farooq Abdullah on charges of treason over his remarks on PoK.

India maintains that the PoK was invaded by Pakistan in 1947.

On February 22, 1994, the Indian Parliament passed a unanimous resolution that demanded "Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression; and resolves that all attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely".
READ MORE

Kashmir terror funding: Rs 36 cr seized in demonetised notes, NIA arrests 9

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said it had seized nearly Rs 36.5 crore in demonetised currency and arrested nine persons here in its ongoing probe into the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.

Following inputs, an NIA team seized the currency on Monday on Jai Singh Road near Connaught Place -- a business and financial hub of Delhi situated not more than eight km from the counter-terror agency's headquarters.

"Seven gang members were initially apprehended while carrying 28 cartons filled with the demonetised notes in four luxury vehicles. Their other accomplices were apprehended later in the evening. We seized Rs 36,34,78,500 from their possession," NIA Spokesperson Alok Mittal told IANS.

He said after initial questioning at the NIA headquarters, the nine were arrested on Tuesday in the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case. They will be produced in a Special NIA court on Wednesday.

Those held were Pradeep Chauhan, 47, Bhagwan Singh, 54, Vinod Shreedhar Shetty, 47, Shahnawaz Mir, 45, Deepak Toprani, 60, Majid Yousuf Sofi, 27, Ejajul Hassan, 38, Umar Mushtaq Dar, 27, and Jaswinder Singh, 53.

Three accused hail from Jammu and Kashmir, two from Delhi, two from Mumbai, and one each from Uttar Pradesh and Nagpur.
READ MORE

Bandipora encounter: Two militants and two security force personnel killed

Two security personnel were declared dead after an encounter with terrorists in the Hajin area of Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter, which began in the wee hours of the day,

According to earlier reports, three security personnel had sustained injuries. The Jammu and Kashmir Police, 13 personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and nine paramilitary force personnel are deployed in the operation currently underway.
READ MORE