Mohd. Ismal Alvi, alias Lamboo, was family member of Masood Azhar and was involved in conspiring in the February 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, reports Asian Lite News
A top Pakistani terrorist commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, who is related to terror mastermind JeM chief Masood Azhar, was one of the terrorists killed in an early morning encounter between militants and security forces in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said on Saturday.
“Top most Pakistani terrorist affiliated with proscribed terror outfit JeM, Lamboo, killed in today’s encounter. Identification of second terrorist being ascertained,” police said.
Police said Mohd. Ismal Alvi, alias Lamboo, was family member of Masood Azhar and was involved in conspiring in the February 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
“Mohd Ismal Alvi, alias Lamboo, alias Adnan, was from family of Masood Azhar. He was involved in conspiracy and planning of Lethpora Pulwama attack and figured in charge sheet produced by NIA,” police said. “He stayed with Adil Dar till the day of fidayeen attack, the viral video of Adil Dar had Lamboo’s voice in it.”
Adil Dar, acting as a Fidayeen, rammed his explosive laden car into the CRPF convoy at Lethpora on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Pulwama district on February 14.
The gunfight at Nagberan-Tarsar forest area took place after a joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists.
As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.
IG Kashmir Vijay Kumar has congratulated the army and police for the successful anti-terror operation.
Azhar was exchanged along with two other terrorists, Omar Saed Sheikh and Mushtaq Zargar for the safe release of passengers of Indian Airlines Flight 814 which was hijacked to Kandahar in Afghanistan on December 24, 1999.
Second terrorist identified
The second terrorist killed in encounter in the forest area of Namibian and Marsar, general area of Dachigam forest in Kashmir on Saturday has been identified, officials said.
Police said the second slain terrorist has been identified as Sameer Ahmad Dar alias Hanzala Jihadi, resident of Gundibagh, Kakapora Pulwama and was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.
“As per police records, Sameer Dar alias Hanzala Jihadi was A+ category terrorist and also figured among the list of most wanted terrorists operating in the Valley. He was also involved in 2019 Lethpora Fidayeen attack and figured in NIA’s chargesheet,” police said.
With the elimination of terrorist Sameer Dar, eight terrorists have been killed so far out of 19 terrorists involved in the Lethpora Fidayeen attack, seven terrorists/Over Ground Workers (OGWs) have been arrested and four terrorists are still absconding, police added.
“Sameer Dar was also involved in a series of grenade attacks on Police/Security Forces including attack on Army camp Kakapora, patrolling party at Gundibagh and killing of two CRPF personnel at Chinar Bagh and Railway Kakapora for which several cases are registered against him. He was also influential in motivating and recruiting the youth to join terror folds and brainwashing them to seek new members in the terrorist ranks,” police said.
Soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo IANS)
Major tragedy averted
A major tragedy was averted on Saturday when the security forces detected and successfully defused an improvised explosive device (IED) on Jammu-Poonch highway in Jammu and Kashmir.
Traffic on Jammu-Poonch Highway was suspended for around 3 hours on Saturday after the security forces recovered an IED on the highway.
Sources said specific information was received by the police that suspicious movement has taken place in Dalogra area along the highway.
“Traffic was immediately suspended and an operation was launched during which the security forces detected an IED.
“Bomb disposal squad later successfully defused the IED”, police sources said.
The Government has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and has taken various measures, such as strengthening of security apparatus…reports Asian Lite News
The Centre on Wednesday stated that the number of terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir reduced drastically in the last two years. The terror incidents declined by 32 per cent upto June 2021 in comparison with corresponding period upto June, 2020, the government said in the parliament.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha also said the number of terror incidents reduced during 2020 by 59 per cent as compared to 2019.
Shops and business establishments, public transport, government Offices, educational and health institutions and other are functioning normally in the union territory.
The Government has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and has taken various measures, such as strengthening of security apparatus, strict enforcement of law against anti-national elements, intensified cordon and search operations to effectively deal with the challenges posed by the terrorist organisations, the minister said.
Security forces also keep a close watch on persons who attempt to provide support to terrorists and initiate action against them.
The government has also continuously encouraged policies to help youth to return to mainstream, including providing employment opportunities to wean them away from militancy.
“Adequate strength of Forces are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for augmenting the Counter Insurgency grid, strengthening Internal Security and maintaining law and order,” the minister added.
Replying to another question raised by Sanjay Raut, the minister said as per the report of Relief Office setup in 1990 by the Jammu and Kashmir government, a total 44,167 Kashmiri migrant families are registered who had to move from the valley since 1990 due to security concerns.
“Out of these, the count of registered Hindu Migrant families is 39,782,” the minister.
Kashmiri Pandits have felt more secure in the recent past as evident from the fact that 3,841 Kashmiri Migrant youth have moved back to Kashmir and have taken up jobs in various districts of Kashmir under the Prime Minister’s rehabilitation package.
Another 1997 candidates have been selected for jobs under the same package in April, 2021, and they will be moving to Kashmir soon.
It is also pertinent to mention that as many as 26,684 Kashmiri Migrant youth showed interest for going back to valley by applying for the above referred 1997 posts, which were advertised by the Jammu and Kashmir’s recruitment Board in December, 2020.
The government has also prepared a comprehensive policy to provide residential accommodation to these Kashmiri migrants who have moved back to Kashmir. 6,000 residential units are being constructed for them at an accelerated pace. Already, 1,000 residential units are being used by these employees.
Approximately 900 such families, including Kashmiri Pandits and Dogra Hindu families, are residing in Kashmir.
As regard, those who never migrated from Kashmir, the government allowed their inclusion in the jobs package for Kashmiri migrants. Besides, they are getting all benefits of government schemes along with others in Kashmir.
The government has taken necessary steps to protect the life and property of the people. These include proactive operations against terrorists, identification and arrest of over ground workers, supporters of terrorism, action against members of banned organizations, intensified night patrolling checking at Nakas, security arrangements through appropriate deployment, coordination meetings amongst intelligence agencies, maintaining high level of alertness.
Addressing the 19th annual convocation of University of Kashmir, he said that the core nature of the place has always been inclusive….reports Asian Lite News
Terming violence as alien to its culture, President Ram Nath Kovind has said that Kashmir had turned a new leaf and exciting new possibilities were opening up.
Addressing the 19th annual convocation of University of Kashmir in Srinagar on Tuesday, he said that the core nature of the place has always been inclusive.
According to President Kovind, almost all religions that came to this land embraced a unique feature of Kashmiriyat that shunned orthodoxy and encouraged tolerance and mutual acceptance among communities.
It was “most unfortunate” that this outstanding tradition of peaceful coexistence was broken, he said.
Pic credit @rashtrapatibhvn
“Violence, which was never part of ‘Kashmiriyat’, became the daily reality. It is alien to Kashmiri culture, and it can only be termed as an aberration – a temporary one, much like a virus that attacks the body and needs to be purged,” he pointed out.
“Now there is a new beginning and determined efforts to regain this land’s lost glory,” President Kovind said.
Kashmir has always been a beacon of hope for the rest of India. “It’s spiritual and cultural influence has its imprint all across India,” the President added.
The President said that he firmly believed that democracy has within it a capacity to reconcile all differences and also a capacity to bring out the best of citizens’ potential. Kashmir was already realizing this vision, he added.
Pic credit @rashtrapatibhvn
“Democracy lets Kashmiri people build their own future, a peaceful and prosperous tomorrow. The youth and women especially have high stakes in it, and he was confident that they would not let go of this opportunity to rebuild lives and rebuild Kashmir,” President Kovind explained.
Addressing the students at the convocation, he expressed pride at the fact that about half of the students of University of Kashmir receiving degrees at the 19th convocation were women and 70 percent of gold medals winners were also women.
Pointing out that education was the cornerstone in the foundation of our nation-building, he said India had always prided itself in placing knowledge above all.
“We had great traditions in learning, and Kashmir too has been home to some of them,” he said. (India News Network)
The general impression is that not only the IAS and IPS officers but also the J&k Administrative and Police service officers are above the law’, even if found law unto themselves…reports Asian Lite News
With a few exceptions like the former Chief Secretary level officers Ajit Kumar and Iqbal Khanday, there is no tradition of booking or arresting IAS and IPS officers or conducting raids on their premises in Jammu and Kashmir. Sundays raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) teams on the residences of two IAS officers, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary and Niraj Kumar, notwithstanding a considerable level of pessimism, makes it clear that membership of the elite All India Services club would be no more an immunity in implementation of the rule of law in the Union Territory.
A 1970-batch IAS officer, Ajit Kumar, was arrested by the J&K State Vigilance Organisation, now known as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), in 2004 after he went underground following the charges of his involvement in a large scale procurement of jute matting for the government schools at exorbitant rates in 1997-98. In 1999, Vigilance Organisation Jammu had booked Kumar and several others in FIR No: 69. He was subsequently released on bail.
Charge sheet was produced in a court against Kumar and others in March 2015. Thereafter, nobody knows about Kumar who retired silently. None of the accused, who included former Directors of School Education of Kashmir and Jammu, is known to have been convicted.
Iqbal Khanday, IAS-1978, was Principal Secretary Planning when he was arrested by the CBI in 2006 in the infamous ‘Srinagar Sex Scandal’. Months later, he was released and reinstated. Subsequently, the CBI’s witnesses turned hostile and Khanday was appointed as Chief Secretary in 2013. He retired in 2015 and died in 2018.
Saji Mohan (IPS-1995) is the only IPS officer of the J&K cadre who was arrested and dismissed from service, in a drug peddling case of 2009, and convicted with 15-year imprisonment in August 2019. Another IPS officer of 1997 batch was booked and arrested over allegations of bribery during his inter-State deputation in Bihar. He was soon repatriated to J&K where he is now working as IGP. Nothing is on record about his prosecution. One more IPS officer of IGP rank has been placed under suspension multiple times.
The general impression is that not only the IAS and IPS officers but also the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative and Police service officers are �above the law’, even if found law unto themselves. The CBI proceeding against some of them, significantly after the State’s reorganisation into UT, is believed to have been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs which regulates the IPS as well as the IAS.
A highly placed source revealed that the CBI’s demand of searches on some IAS officers’ residences and offices was discussed and cleared early this year in a high level meeting presided over by the Union Home Secretary AK Bhalla. According to the source, it was flagged that one IAS officer, allegedly involved in J&K’s ‘gun licence scam’ had a track record of impressive performance and had also received awards from the Prime Minister.
The consensus was over permitting the CBI to hold its investigation without interference from any side. So, when the CBI teams swooped down on the 40 premises on Sunday, none of the officers or arms dealers had an inkling of the raids. Officers in the J&K Police and the CRPF, who provide escort to the Central investigation and enforcement agencies, were completely tight lipped with regard to the locations under the crackdown.
It was some time in 2016-17 that a J&K Police intelligence wing learned about the gun licences being issued to a large number of ‘outsiders’ by different District Magistrates (DMs) and additional DMs.
There were reportedly three categories of the beneficiaries. Some of the applicants were genuinely working in Army, CRPF and other armed forces who wanted to obtain arms licences so as to get the job of security guards in private companies in their home States after retirement. Some of the applicants lived in different States, and never worked with the security forces. They invariably produced forged letters of recommendation from different Commanding Officers. A smaller category of the applicants included criminal elements from outside J&K.
A secret investigation pointed out that a network of agents was managing everything from the forged letters at DM’s office to conversion of the licence into a document of the all-India validity at the State Home Department. However, there was no follow up action. Subsequently, ATS Rajasthan caught hold of a man who had transferred huge amounts of money to some bank accounts in J&K. During his sustained interrogation, he divulged that he had been obtaining arms licences from his relative Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, a 2010-batch IAS officer, who had served as DM of Kupwara.
The ATS Rajasthan filed an FIR and sent a questionnaire to the officers who had surfaced as suspects during the investigation. J&K’s Vigilance Organisation filed two FIRs but the government did not cooperate with ATS Rajasthan. Consequently, DGP Rajasthan recommended a CBI investigation which was approved by the government and subsequently ordered by the Centre. On Governor NN Vohra’s orders, the investigation was finally assigned to the CBI which registered its own FIRs in 2018. It alleged that during 2012-2016, DMs of 20 districts, had “fraudulently and illegally issued bulk arms licences in lieu of monetary consideration”.
In March 2020, CBI arrested Ranjan and the former additional DM of Kupwara, Itrat Rafiqui. In a statement, CBI claimed that the two officers, one each from IAS and KAS, had fraudulently issued a large number of the gun licences from 2013 to 2016. In December 2019, CBI conducted a series of raids and searched as many as 17 locations in J&K, Punjab and Delhi NCR.
Gun. (File Photo: IANS)
The agency statement said: “CBI conducted searches at locations spread over Srinagar, Jammu, Gurgaon, Mohali and Noida at the premises of then DC/DM Kupwara, Barmula, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Sopian, Rajouri, Doda, Pulwama, in an on-going investigation of the two cases related to allegations of issuance of around two lakh arms licences from different Districts of Jammu & Kashmir by their respective DC/DM.” The searches were carried out at three places in Kashmir, 11 places in Jammu and one each in Gurugram (Haryana), Mohali (Punjab) and Noida (Uttar Pradesh).
On July 12, 2018, then J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik revoked individual gun licences issued between January 2017 and February 2018, citing unearthing of fake gun licensing rackets through “various investigating agencies, particularly ATS and SOG Rajasthan.”
According to the Rajasthan officials, 1,32,321 of the 1,43,013 licences in Jammu division’s Doda, Ramban and Udhampur districts had been issued to non-State subjects. They established that, in all, 4,29,301 gun licences had been issued during the period under investigation in J&K and only 10 per cent of the beneficiaries were the State subjects.
A sample survey of licences in Kupwara showed that no files or registers had been maintained and most of the licences had been issued to outsiders on forged documents.
While the second major crackdown was underway on Sunday, 25 July 2021, the CBI said in a statement that the operation was part of the investigation of FIRs No.18 of 2018 of Vigilance Organisation Kashmir and FIR No. 11 of 2018 of Vigilance Organisation Jammu. It said that in 2012-16, over 2.78 lakh arms licences had been issued to non-entitled persons.
“The Central Bureau of Investigation is today conducting searches at around 40 locations including at Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, Rajouri, Anantnag, Baramulla, Delhi at the official & residential premises of certain then public servants (including IAS, KAS Officers, then DM, then ADM etc.), around 20 gun houses/dealers in an on-going investigation of a case related to arms licence racket”, said the CBI statement.
It added: “During investigation and scrutiny of documents, the role of certain gun dealers was found who in connivance with the public servants i.e. the then DM and ADM of concerned District had allegedly issued such illegal arms licenses to the ineligible persons. It was also alleged that the persons who got these licenses were not residents of the places from where the said arms licenses were issued”.
Early this year, CBI has launched an extensive investigation, on the direction of a bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, into the irregularities pointed out in vesting of proprietary rights over the State lands in the occupation and possession of thousands of the beneficiaries of the infamous Roshni scam. According to the insiders, over 40 IAS and KAS officers, including former DMs — some of them currently posted as Secretary to Government of India or the Government of J&K — have been allegedly involved in criminal violations of the laws in the two investigations.
Even as many people in J&K believe that most of the highly placed and influential IAS and KAS officers — retired as well as in service — would be spared and eventually taken off the hook, sources insist that all the accused would be interrogated, arrested and prosecuted as per the evidences available against them.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
J&K police prevents 14 boys from joining terror ranks in Anantnag.
Community members and their parents have voiced their gratitude to Anantnag Police for saving the life of the youths…reports Asian Lite News.
As part of its efforts to bring misguided youth back into the mainstream, Anantnag Police of Jammu and Kashmir conducted a counselling-cum-interaction session with delinquent youth so as to prevent them from falling prey to pro-terrorism and anti-national propaganda, officials said on Tuesday.
The youth were counselled and handed over to their parents at District Police Office Anantnag. Preliminary investigation revealed that 14 boys in the age group of 18-22 years were in constant touch with various local terrorists over social media and also being lured by terrorists based in Pakistan to get recruited in terror folds.
During the counselling session, SSP Anantnag, Imtiyaz Hussain advised the parents to take proper care of their wards and keep a watch upon their activities, actions and behaviour.
He further said that parents should come forward and report any such activity of their wards so that they are mainstreamed through counselling by experts.
“The boys were properly counselled by Anantnag Police in presence of their parents and later handed over to their parents,” police said.
It’s pertinent to mention here that many counselling sessions were held by police officers for past many days with these vulnerable youths belonging to various areas of Anantnag district.
Community members and their parents have expressed their gratitude to Anantnag Police for this kind gesture and thereby saving life of the youths.
There will be no place in the Government jobs for those who are a threat to the unity and sovereignty of the country, Sinha asserted, reports Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha asserted that all employees of anti-national credentials would be purged out of the State institutions and systems and there would be no more any place in the government for the incumbents posing a threat to the unity and sovereignty of the country.
Addressing a function after inauguration of Ayurvedic College at Akhnoor in Jammu, followed by an interview with CNN News 18 network, Sinha said that recruitment of the people of doubtful integrity and undesirable credentials had been “a deliberate and intentional” process in the past which the successive governments should not have overlooked.
With an obvious reference to the termination of eleven government employees, including two sons of the Hizbul Mujahideen chief Salahuddin, who has been designated as a global terrorist by the US government as well as the United Nations, Sinha said that their appointment into the government services was a ‘favour’ and it was not based on merit.
“One was even afraid of hearing the name of persons who were in Government jobs,” he said in an apparent reference to Salahuddin two sons who were among the eleven government employees dismissed from the services last week.
Indian-Army-soldiers-in-Jammu-and-Kashmir
“There will be no place in the Government jobs for those who are a threat to the unity and sovereignty of the country,” Sinha asserted in a stern warning to the Government officials indulging in anti-national activities.
Sinha said that the previous (political) Government had intentionally overlooked such cases, implicitly communicating that a section of the mainstream politicians had been hand-in-glove with the separatists and the militants in Jammu and Kashmir.
“All such cases are under scrutiny and the law enforcement agencies will launch a crackdown to remove such elements from the Government jobs,” he said and pointed out that both the sons of the Hizbul Mujahideen chief were involved in terror funding from abroad.
He disclosed that as per Article 126 of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, an investigation is conducted against the Government employees involved in terrorism who are threat to the State. He clarified that their individual conduct rather than their familial association was pertinent in termination of their services.
“It’s my responsibility to encourage the employees who are hard workers and work with devotion and punish the wrongdoers. There was a provision under Article 126 in the Constitution to take action against the employees involved in terror and secessionism and who are an insider threat to the State. Such an action against the employees was also taken in 2016. We invoked the provisions of the Constitution of India as all the dismissed officials displayed conduct and character of an internal threat,” he said, adding the action was based on proof and there was no prejudice against anyone.
All those dismissed were involved in terror funding and promoting separatism, LG maintained. He said that 20,000 Government jobs have been identified and a process had been initiated for recruitment of the unemployed youths in the most transparent and fair manner. “No clout or money would fetch any jobs. Only merit will matter,” he added.
Official sources, meanwhile, maintained that both of the Hizbul Mujahideen chief’s sons, dismissed last week, had met hawala operators in Saudi Arabia and London for funding terror activities in India. According to these sources, both Shakeel and Shahid, who worked with Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and the UT Government’s Department of Agriculture respectively, had remained in direct contact with one Nazir Ahmed Qureshi of Baramulla Qureshi had been allegedly running a hawala syndicate from Saudi Arabia and London to finance terror activities in India.
Sources said that Shahid Yusuf had also received funds from Aijaz Ahmad Bhat alias Aijaz Maqbool Bhat, a close aide of Salahuddin. “Aijaz used various addresses from Saudi Arabia to transfer these funds to Shahid through Western Union Money Transfer. Shahid covertly received funds to launch a terror conspiracy against India.
“Shahid and Shakeel’s modus operandi was quite similar and both used multiple identities to receive terror funds from multiple addresses in Saudi Arabia. Charges were framed against both of Salahuddin’s sons last year”, said an official. According to sources, all the evidence was in files but courtesy a favourable regime, facts were suppressed and evidence buried, against.
“Evidence revealed that Shakeel, who was a backdoor appointee in SKIMS in 1990s, facilitated terror funding on at least six occasions. Shahid , who was appointed in Agriculture Department through backdoor in 2007, has been involved in terror financing on nine occasions”, said an official, justifying the dismissals.
“Shahid even visited Dubai on a passport where his father’s name was mentioned as Yousuf Mir instead of Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah. This was in 1999-2000. He was accompanied by Nasir Mir, the Hizbul Mujahideen operative who lives in Dubai. During his visit Shahid met his father Salahuddin. He also met Nazir Ahmad Qureshi of Baramulla who operates a hawala syndicate from Saudi Arabia and London and finances terror activities in India”, said the official.
“Shakeel was appointed as Lab technician in SKIMS in 1990. Although his activities were known, it was unravelled only after the NIA took over a terror funding case originally pursued by the Special Cell of Delhi Police. The NIA investigation revealed that in 2009-10 Shakeel received money on six occasions from Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, the same Hizbul terrorist, who was financing his brother Shahid’s activities”, the official added.
Both, Shakeel and Shahid, have been in jail over the last two years. However, sources close to their family insist that the agencies had actually intercepted one money transfer through a bank from Saudi Arabia which is believed to be an amount of Rs 3.25 lakh which Salahuddin had possibly sent for the treatment of his first wife when she was under treatment at a hospital in Srinagar before her death.
“Nobody knows much about this family. All five of Salahuddin’s sons have been in government service. But apparently none of them is living a luxurious lifestyle and few in the area are convinced that any of the five brothers was involved in subversive activities or terror funding”, said one of their neighbours in Soibug Budgam.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Constable Abdul Rashid Shigan is among the eleven employees of the J&K Government whose services were terminated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on charges of their involvement in anti-national and subversive activities last week, a report by Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
At 1.45 p.m. on August 10, 2012, retired Deputy Superintendent of Police Abdul Hamid Bhat of Mominabad Batmaloo, Srinagar, was coming out of Masjid-e-Bilal after performing his Friday afternoon congregational prayers. An unidentified terrorist took out his AK-47 rifle and shot dead 60-year-old Bhat, the father of three daughters.
Notwithstanding their preoccupation with the security arrangements for the Independence Day ceremonies, Inspector General of Police SM Sahai, DIG Ahfadul Mujtaba and SSP Srinagar Ashiq Hussain Bukhari worked hard to identify and arrest Bhat’s killer. On 21 August 2012, they arrested Constable Abdul Rashid Shigan of the same Batmaloo neighbourhood who spilled the beans during his sustained interrogation.
Posted in the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s most sensitive Security Wing, which is supposed to protect hundreds of the terrorists’ perceived targets –Police and civil officers, judges, journalists, politicians including Ministers and legislators–constable Shigan confessed not only the retired Dy SP’s murder but also several others attacks and assassinations. His victims included retired Inspector of J&K Police Telecommunication Wing, Shabir Ahmad, and Assistant Sub Inspector Sukhpal Singh.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha
Shigan also admitted to an attack on Ali Mohammad Sagar, then Minister of Law and Rural Development. Even as the Minister survived, one of his National Conference (NC) workers got killed. He owned several attacks on security forces, including the one on a local Army camp. In one of his grenade attacks, he had left 13 CRPF personnel injured in downtown Srinagar.
One of his attacks was straight on the Civil Secretariat, the highest seat of power in the State. In one of his unsuccessful attacks in close vicinity of his residence and the Security Wing offices, he also targeted SHO of Batmaloo Police Station, Inspector Nazir Ahmad. Nazir was present when IGP Sahai made Shigan’s revelations public at a Press conference on 22 August 2012.
Shigan revealed that, while being paid his monthly salary from the J&K Police, he operated as a commander and spokesperson of Kashmir Islamic Movement (KIM), a front for the formidable Hizbul Mujahideen, under the code names of Omar Mukhtar and ‘General Usman’. A large quantity of arms and ammunition, including three AK-47 rifles, four pistols and one grenade-launcher, were seized at his hideout.
The investigation revealed that Shigan had been actively associated with the militants before his appointment as a constable in the J&K Police. He not only managed to get a job in the Police but also the CID clearance. He was arrested several times but each time released by one or the other judge on bail. Senior officers in the J&K Police shut eyes to his past and parallel terrorist activities and placed him in the Security Wing. He served a term as Personal Security Officer (PSO) with the then SSP of Bandipora.
Army foils infiltration bid in J&K’s Noushera sector and seizes arms
Even after admitting to multiple attacks and assassinations, Shigan managed to escape from the administration of justice with the help of a well-knit support structure in the politics and establishment. After he managed yet another release, he was allowed to join back as a constable in the J&K Police without legal resistance from the government. In several years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, he remained in the ranks of the J&K Police.
Shigan is among the eleven employees of the J&K Government whose services were terminated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on charges of their involvement in anti-national and subversive activities last week. Even as many in the Union Territory do not justify the action against some dismissed employees–particularly the teacher Razia Sultan of Khiram Anantnag–Sinha’s crackdown has left the separatist-terrorist ecosystem within the establishment perplexed. Many of Shigan’s ilk now fear similar or even more stringent action against them.
Razia Sultan comes from a Jamaat-e-Islami family whose father once contested the Assembly elections as a candidate of the Muslim United Front, in 1987. He was kidnapped and shot dead allegedly by the counterinsurgent Ikhwanis in 1995. Subsequently, the J&K Government granted the job of a teacher as ‘compassionate appointment’ under rules to Razia. The Police dossier calls her a sympathiser of the outlawed Dukhtaraan-e-Millat.
“This terrorist’s (Shigan’s) manipulation in grabbing a Police job, his repeated escapades and reinstatements without resistance from the law enforcement agencies explains a near-total breakdown of the system. Highly placed politicians, including Chief Ministers, Ministers, MLAs and MPs, besides senior bureaucrats and officers in the J&K Police and civil administration, have been part and parcel of the separatist-terrorist ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. They have been enjoying top positions and prize postings with nobody questioning their open patronage to the saboteurs and moles like Shigan”, said a retired officer.
“Termination of services alone is not enough. LG must set up a high powered commission and make accountable all the officers, bureaucrats and politicians who have shielded and helped these saboteurs and got them into the government systems through backdoor. There must be arrests and prosecutions of the Director and Secretary rank officers and their equals in Police”, the retired officer added. He narrated how the “separatist-terrorist ecosystem” ran an orchestrated campaign against Bhat, then Sub Divisional Police Officer of MR Gunj in downtown Srinagar, for proceeding against the stone-throwers in the street turbulence of 2010.
“A group of the detained stone-pelters was encouraged to level charges of sodomy and other atrocities against the Police officers not soft towards the urchins. SDPO Bhat was subjected to character assassination. They didn’t rest until they got him killed, 18 months after his retirement from service”.
Not everybody related to the separatists and the terrorists could be a saboteur but their preponderance in the institutions, including Police and judiciary, has a bearing on the morale and confidence of the officers discharging their duties conscientiously.
Even as more than 2,000 personnel in the J&K Police have laid sacrifice of life in the last 31 years of the armed insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, around a thousand have been indulged in treason. “It is a long list from Ali Mohammad Dar alias Burhanuddin Hijazi to Naveed Mushtaq and DSP Davinder Singh. Dar was later killed as Hizbul Mujahideen’s operational chief in an encounter. Naveed and Davinder are in jail. But many like Shigan are back in Police or waiting for their renistatement”, said a senior officer in J&K Police. The officer mentioned the names of 14 prominent separatist leaders, militants and ex-militants, including a former JKLF chief commander Javed Mir, Hizb chief Salahuddin, two top separatist lawyers, hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and a number of senior Hurriyat leaders, whose family members were holding key positions in different layers of the government. “You name a separatist or a terrorist, I’ll name his wife, brother, son or grandson who has been inducted into the government and promoted to top positions, often unlawfully”.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
In Kashmir , tourists can be seen lining up at the ticketing counters of the historic gardens of Srinagar — Mughal, Nishat, Shalimar and Chasme Shahi. Elsewhere, too, the hospitality industry had reasons to celebrate, reports Asian Lite News
For the first time since the beginning of the year, tourist footfalls have started going up in Kashmir, raising hopes all over again in the local hospitality industry.
Tourists can be seen lining up at the ticketing counters of the historic gardens of Srinagar — Mughal, Nishat, Shalimar and Chasme Shahi. Elsewhere, too, the hospitality industry had reasons to celebrate.
“It now takes over an hour to cross the Wayil Bridge on the Srinagar-Leh highway in the evenings,” said Jan Mohammad, who runs a restaurant near this famous bridge.
“Vehicles returning with tourists from Sonamarg are lined up on the northern side of this narrow bridge waiting for their turn to cross over,” he said.
Shikarawallahs, who earn their livelihood taking visitors across Dal Lake on joy rides, have started getting their first customers this year.
Kashmir -Kids enjoys at mustard filed on the outskirts of Srinagar-Umar Ganie
“There has been a gradual increase in the number of tourists coming to visit Dal Lake,” confirmed Abdul Salam, a shikarawallah in the Gagribal area of the Lake. “I expect the flow to pick up and increase till the end of the summer tourist season,” Salam added.
Reports are equally encouraging from hoteliers and tour operators in Pahalgam and Gulmarg.
“We had bookings for the spring, but those were cancelled because of the second wave of COVID-19,” said the manager of a Pahalgam hotel. “Now we have started getting guests and also bookings for the coming months.”
Gulmarg, the most sought-after tourist destination in Kashmir, has been getting tourists in good numbers for the first time after the winter tourist season.
“All of us, from the taxi operators to pony owners, trekking guides and hoteliers, have started getting back our clientele,” said Shabir Ahmad, a ski trainer in Gulmarg.
Kashmiri farmers carrying baskets of Strawberries inside their farm during corona curfew , on the outskirts in Srinagar, Kashmir India (Pic from Umar Ganie)
“If all goes well, we will get a good number of tourists in Gulmarg by the end of this month,” Ahmed said.
The main worry for the the administration is the absence of strict compliance with the Covid-19 protocols among the tourists coming into the Valley.
“We have to keep on reminding the visitors and the local people accompanying them that the pandemic is still around,” a Srinagar police officer said.
“As a deterrent we impose fines on those not wearing masks or those who wear them in the most casual manner. A word of caution followed by a fine has been working, but both tourists and tour operators are duty-bound to keep the pandemic at bay. This message is being delivered at every place where we check tourist vehicles,” the official said.
The hospitality industry, while trying its best to follow the Covid-19 protocols, is not letting such fears cloud their optimism. Steadily growing footfalls through the rest of the tourist season is just what they need to lift their businesses out of the extended slump.
The Physical Endurance Test and Physical Standard Test of candidates of Kashmir Province for 2 Women BNs of J&K Police. (Source twitter@JmuKmrPolice)
Revocation of special status ended gender bias, opened new avenues. Prior to August 5, 2019—when the Centre announced its decision to scrap Article 370—women in J&K, especially in Kashmir due to many reasons stayed away from joining the armed forces. But during the last two years scenario has changed, reports Asian Lite News
After the abrogation of J&K’s special status and its bifurcation into two union territories, the government has taken many steps to empower women folk in the erstwhile state. The steps include holding recruitment drives in police and central armed forces, providing them with an opportunity to excel as entrepreneurs, and scholarship schemes for young students.
In last week of June this year, the Jammu and Kashmir Police held a staffing drive for the women in the Valley. A three day rally held in central Kashmir’s Budgam District was attended by hundreds of young women. In the physical endurance test and physical standard test women candidates, who had applied for the post of constable in two women battalions in the Jammu and Kashmir Police, took part.
The J&K Police had announced 1300 posts for women police personnel across the Union Territory out of which 650 each would be recruited in Kashmir and Jammu regions.
In January last year 21000 women had participated in a similar rally held in frontier Doda district. That time J&K Police had announced 1300 posts for women.
Prior to August 5, 2019—when the Centre announced its decision to scrap Article 370—women in J&K, especially in Kashmir due to many reasons stayed away from joining the armed forces. But during the last two years scenario has changed. Women have taken a lead in every field and are not shying away from building their careers. The gender equality has been the main focus of the present dispensation led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
(Source twitter@JmuKmrPolice)
J&K Reorganisation Act ended inherent gender bias
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 ended the decades long discrimination with the native J&K women. Earlier J&K women marrying non-permanent residents lost their status as permanent residents, which led to a denial of their right to inherit or own property. This impact was of this provision on female residents of J&K was overruled by the 2002 J&K High Court judgment in the ‘State of Jammu & Kashmir v. Susheela Sawhney’ case.
This landmark judgment held that the “a daughter of a permanent resident marrying a non-permanent resident will not lose the status of permanent resident of the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” thereby clarifying female permanent residents right to inherit property. However, this judgment did not confer such rights to their progeny. Ironically, such exclusionary provisions did not apply to the children of male J&K permanent residents marrying females from other places.
After August 5, 2019, women have access to guaranteed constitutional rights of equality and they can get married to anyone without losing any of their rights.
Focus shifts on women
A survey conducted by an NGO prior to post August 5, 2019, had stated that an overwhelming majority of 90% of women in Kashmir were of the opinion that becoming an entrepreneur was either challenging or very challenging, mostly due societal expectations. But during the past two years many women have come forward to become entrepreneurs.
The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) has tried to shift its focus towards the women empowerment.
The JKEDI is focusing on imparting training to women in different trades like garment and food technology, and fashion designing. These capacity development programmes offered by the JKEDI are equipping the women with knowledge and abilities to run their business enterprises successfully.
(Source twitter@JmuKmrPolice)
Hausla’ scheme for women entrepreneurs
On June 30, 2021, J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha , launched “HAUSLA- inspiring her growth”, a comprehensive programme which aims at promoting women entrepreneurship in the Union Territory. The objective of the scheme is to build a comprehensive programme for women entrepreneurs of the region which can serve as a guide for achieving success in their business and to widen the reach of their business products and services.
The LG stated that the programme has been made in a very scientific way, creating a channel for educated women to explore their potential and subsequently channelize their business acumen, helping them overcome challenges related to finances, legal, societal biases by focusing on their innate potential.
The new scheme for women would also disseminate knowledge about the government policies for women entrepreneurs and providing access to enterprise education and training with focus on business development, besides linkages to women enterprise networks, associations, business premises and online market places. “This programme will definitely help the women entrepreneurs. Where there is a will, there is a way,” LG Sinha had said.
“The J&K Government is working aggressively to identify various initiatives and accordingly, JK Trade Promotion Origination (JKTPO) has also identified various stakeholders cum partners which can help women entrepreneurs to scale new heights,” the LG said.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha
Super-75 scheme for meritorious girls from poor families
On March 9, this year Jammu and Kashmir Government announced the launch of Super-75 scholarship scheme to support the education of meritorious girls from poor families, so that they can excel in streams like medicine, engineering, ITI and humanity, and contribute to the nation building.
According to an official spokesman the scheme was announced in view of this year`s theme of International Women`s Day i.e. “Choose to Challenge” and to celebrate Azaadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav- India@75.
Another new scheme – Tejaswini under Mission Youth, was announced to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs to the girls between the age group of 18 to 35 years to start their business.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had stated that a new era of change and development was ushering in J&K, a change that will provide women their rightful place, a voice, an identity, and individuality. “We are making tireless efforts to ensure women`s safety, modern education, and economic independence,” the LG had said.
After J&K’s transition into a Union Territory, the administration has acknowledged the role of women in economic development of J&K. The key areas which the government is working on, include, skill development of women entrepreneurs; facilitating financial assistance; providing global market to women entrepreneurs and connecting them with innovative products.
The LG had announced that no fee will be taken from 5,89000 girls upto 12th standard studying in the government schools.
During the past two years 88 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya and 88 girls hostels have been made functional in far flung areas. The step has been taken to fill in the gender gap and to control the girl child dropout rate. To assist the higher education of girls, the J&K Government is also providing 13 different scholarship schemes.
(Source twitter @JmuKmrPolice)
Women found greater access to opportunities
According to Statesman after August 5, 2019 women in J&K have found greater access to opportunities and resources to excel in their fields.
One of the major advantages of the abrogation of Article 370 has been the unshackling of the chains of bondage of women of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
Women were one of the main disadvantaged sections of the former state. Women were not just constitutionally denied their rights, there was also erosion of their existing rights. Despite all the odds J&K women have a long history of glory to bring social change and breaking new grounds as far as gender equality and professional development is concerned.
The order has been issued under section 144 of CrPc. The order says decentralised air space access has to be regulated in view of the recent incidents…reports Asian Lite News
Authorities in J&K’s Srinagar district on Sunday banned storage, sale, possession, use and transport of unmanned aerial vehicles.
An order issued by Mohammad Aijaz, district magistrate Srinagar, said, “To secure aerial space near vital installations and highly populated areas it is imperative to discontinue the use of drones in all social and cultural gatherings to eliminate any risk of injury to life and damage to property”.
The order has been issued under section 144 of CrPc. The order says decentralised air space access has to be regulated in view of the recent incidents of misuse of drones posing threat to security infrastructure as reported by the media and other reliable sources.
“Directorate general of civil aviation has provided draft guidelines/standard operating protocol to regulate the use of drones in terms of weight classification, generation of unique identification number, height/altitude restrictions, speed restrictions, enforcement/panel action, etc.”, the order said.
The order says government departments using drones for mapping, surveys and surveillance in agricultural, environmental conservation and disaster mitigation sector shall inform the local police station before undertaking any such activity in public interest.
