Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Manoj Sinha.
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in Pulwama district that left a civilian dead.
He said the administration is standing strong with the bereaved family.
Sanjay Kumar Sharma was killed by terrorists on Sunday in Achan village of Pulwama.
“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The administration has given a free hand to the security forces to deal with the terrorists and we will continue to combat such acts of terrorism firmly and decisively,” the Lt Governor said.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also condemned the killing of civilian by terrorists.
“Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Sanjay Pandith of Achan in Pulwama district of South Kashmir,” he tweeted.
“Sanjay was working as a bank security guard and was killed in a militant attack earlier today. I unequivocally condemn this attack and send my condolences to his loved ones.”
Srinagar: Sanjay Sharma, 40, a bank security guard by profession who was killed in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district was on his way to a local market, police said.
Sanjay Sharma was shot in the chest at point blank range in the Achan area of Pulwama on Sunday morning.He was quickly taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Condemnations of the killing poured in from all the sections of society. Cutting across the party lines , political parties unequivocally condemned the killing.
The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha,strongly condemned the killing of Kashmiri Pandit in Pulwama saying the administration has given a free hand to security forces to deal with the killers. He said the administration is standing strong with the breaved family.
“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The administration has given a free hand to the security forces to deal with the terrorists and we will continue to combat such acts of terrorism firmly and decisively,” he said.
A few hours after the incident, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah took to his twitter and wrote that he was deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Sanjay Pandith.
“Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Sanjay Pandith of Achan in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. Sanjay was working as a bank security guard and was killed in a militant attack earlier today. I unequivocally condemn this attack and send my condolences to his loved ones,” tweeted Omar.
Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti lashed out at BJP for its “failure to protect minorities” in J&K and accused BJP of using these types of incidents to defame Muslims in the country.
“It is the government’s failure. The BJP government has failed to ensure safety of the minorities here. They (BJP) use minorities to show normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. They use these incidents to defame Muslims across the country,” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief told reporters.
Blaming the BJP-led Centre for failing to protect Kashmiri Pandits, she said, “A few days ago, right-wing terrorists killed two Muslims in Rajasthan. Today, you have killed a Hindu. What is the difference between you and them?”
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit, saying it was a matter of grave concern.
“Any killing, especially a targeted killing, is a matter of grave concern and condemnable. We condemn it,” Azad told reporters.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said every targeted killing is condemnable, be that of a Kashmiri Pandit or a Muslim or a Sikh and whether the victim is from Jammu or Kashmir.
However, he said the most unfortunate part is that while many people were arrested in connection with such incidents over the last 30 years, “not one killer has been arrested for these targeted killings in the last two years”
NC’s chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq called the killing an unfortunate incident.
“ As a majority community, we have to ensure the protection of the minorities as the government has failed to do so,” he said.
Srinagar: Terrorists shot dead a man belonging to the Kashmiri Pandit community in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district Sunday, police said.
The victim was identified as Sanjay Sharma (aged about 40 years), a resident of the Achan area in the south Kashmir district, they said, adding that the incident took place at around 11 am.
“Terrorists fired upon one civilian from minority namely Sanjay Sharma S/O Kashinath Sharma R/O Achan Pulwama while on way to local market,” the Kashmir Zone police wrote on Twitter.
They said Sharma was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to the injuries.
“There was armed guard in his village. Area cordoned off. Details shall follow,” police said.
Anantnag, Feb 24: For the very first time, a known cricket manufacturing company from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district has taken an initiative to provide a platform to talented cricketers of Kashmir to reach international level.
Gr8 Sports, a bat manufacturing company from Halmulla Anantnag, has signed MoU with various international cricket boards and leagues to vanguard the talent from Kashmir.
Owner of the company Fawzul Kabiir while talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that he has witnessed that cricket players in Kashmir are very much talented but they lack the platform to reach to the mega stages.
“We have taken up initiative to provide them a platform so that they get an opportunity to reach to international level and prove their mettle,” he said.
Any professional cricketer below 36 years of age can make videos of his signature shots and upload them while tagging Gr8 Sports on social media, he said, adding that every video of batting, bowling or wicket keeping will be analyzed by experts and management companies and shortlist players.
Kabiir said that every year shortlisted players will undergo trials before selection committee members of international cricket boards and International league franchisees, who will select them for different leagues.
“Every year around 100 batsmen, 100 bowlers and around 50 wicket keepers will be shortlisted who will have to undergo trials and can reach international level as selection will be done on spot in Kashmir,” he said.
“Our aim behind this initiative is just to promote local talent and we have signed MoU with at least 10 cricket playing nations and if our players will be able to showcase talent, they can reach international leagues like Carabian League, BPL,” he added.
Let players play their normal cricket and make videos and upload them while tagging us and Mobica-our talent management company will access and on that basis screening will be done and players will be shortlisted.
After shortlisting, international coaches of franchises and international boards will be brought here one by one and will select players from shortlists on the basis of data base uploaded and trials, he said.
He said that even children have exposure to leather ball cricket and he is hopeful that local cricket players will be able to showcase their talent anywhere in the world.
“It will be a big opportunity for talented youth to make their career besides that it will help in keeping youth away from social evils and generate income as well,” he said.
When asked why he is sponsoring players, he said that mostly sponsored players are being used as advertising agents only and they don’t get proper opportunity as we want to make stars not marketing agents.
“The Company has also decided to start a monthly show that will be live on social media platforms where queries of players will be answered besides that international players will guide talented players as well,” he said.
“We want to provide talented players every opportunity to groom them into stars and this program will be started from March 2023,” he said.
Interested players can tag us on Facebook @gr8sports.biz, Twitter @gr8sports_ltd, Website https://gr8sports.org—(KNO)
New Delhi: A US-based Kashmiri Pandit group has supported the demand of community members employed under a special government package for relocation outside Kashmir Valley in view of targeted killings by terrorists.
Alleging that the issues related to Pandits are being used for politics across the country, the Kashmiri Hindu Foundation (KHF) urged the central government to initiate a dialogue with the Panun Kashmir, an organisation representing the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community, to address their grievances.
“The series of selective killings (by terrorists) in Kashmir shows that normalcy has not been restored…. Taking our miniscule community back by force in a scattered way, like it is being done under the prime minister’s (employment) package, is destined to prove to be a fatal experiment,” the foundation said in a resolution passed at its special session.
Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits employed in the valley under the prime minister’s package fled to Jammu in May last year following the killing of their colleague Rahul Bhat inside his office by terrorists. Many of them are on a protest strike in Jammu, demanding their relocation outside the valley.
“The current agitation by the employees of the PM package, which is termed by the government a rehabilitation package, proves that this experiment of rehabilitation has also failed. The government wants to project that only by sending a few thousand Kashmiri Pandits back to the valley, they have rehabilitated us,” the resolution reads.
Questioning the “Naya Kashmir” slogan of the government, it alleged that the PM package employees are facing “grave and systematic human rights violations” at the hands of authorities which have stopped their salaries, using force and detaining them.
“We demand immediate relocation of Kashmiri Pandit employees to Jammu to safeguard their right to life until a comprehensive rehabilitation plan as per aspirations of the whole community are considered,” the KHF said.
Suggesting initiation of dialogue with the Panun Kashmir, it said the organisation can apprise the central government about the ground realities which will help in addressing the issues faced by the community effectively.
The KHF reiterated the demand for carving out a separate homeland with Union Territory status to the east and north of river Jhelum for the community in accordance to The “Margdarshan Resolution” adopted on December 28, 1991, by pandits after their migration from the valley.
Kashmiri Hindu Foundation Inc. (Organisation of overseas Kashmiri Pandits based in the USA) adopt Margdarshan Resolution 1991 as the guiding principle for return & rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, demanding enactment of the Genocide Bill, & Relocation of PM Package employees. pic.twitter.com/RJYwVrlaFd
SRINAGAR: In the last few days, two top Kashmiri militants are reported killed in different incidents in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both of them were designated terrorists by the MHA and were sought by the law in India.
In one incident banned Hizb ul Mujahedeen’s “launching commander” was assassinated in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He was identified as Bashir Ahmad Peer, alias Imtiyaz Alam.
In another assassination Ejaz Ahmad Ahanger, a Kashmir-born insurgent is thought to have been assassinated in southern Afghanistan along with intelligence personnel and members of his family.
Reports appearing in the media suggest that Peer was killed on Monday night outside a store in Rawalpindi by a close-range assailant.
Back home, the MHA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act declared Peer as a terrorist on October 4, 2022, for his involvement in terrorism-related activities, including facilitating terrorist infiltration into Kupwara.
Peer, originally from the Babarpora neighbourhood in the Kupwara had taken up residence in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. According to reports, Peer was assassinated by militants of rival organisations after disagreements arose between various organisations over a variety of problems, including funding.
The statement issued on the day he was declared a designated terrorist, offers a lot of details about him. “Peer participated in a number of online propaganda groups to bring together ex-militants and other cadres for the expansion of activities of Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba, and other terrorist organisations,” the statement said.
Ejaz Ahmad Ahanger is reported to have been killed last week. The authorities have informed the family that the militant leader “had slept off”.
“The police summoned my older brother to give him the news a few days ago. I do not know whether this is true or not, but I have been crying since then,” Fahmida Shafi, Ahanger’s sister, has told The Print website.
Afghan intelligence has identified Ahanger as the mastermind of the Kasargod-born Muhammad Muhsin suicide bombing in March 2020, which claimed the life of a security guard and 24 worshippers at the Gurdwara Kart-e Parwan in Kabul. Ijas Kallukettiya Purayil, a former dentist from Kasargod in Kerala, was also suspected to have carried out a suicide attack at Jalalabad under the direction of Ahanger.
In addition to his two children, Sabira Ahanger, who was born in 1997, and Tooba Ahanger, who was born in 2001, Ejaz is believed to have left behind his first wife, Rukhsana Ahanger.
A resident of Srinagar, Ahangar was designated a terrorist by the MHA in January 2023. He was an Islamic State member who was earlier jailed in Afghanistan and fled the jail after Kabul fell to the Taliban. The Print report said Ahanger married thrice since 1995.
The MHA notification said Ahanger “is wanted by J&K Police” for his links with Al-Qaida and other global terrorist groups. He is alleged to have been engaged in re-starting the ISIS channels in India, the MHA said in the notification. Besides, he was accused of providing traction to militancy in Kashmir Valley and has initiated an online India-centric ISIS propaganda magazine.
New Delhi: The police team probing the Nikki Yadav murder case took the accused Sahil Gehlot to the crime scene in Kashmiri Gate where he had allegedly killed her, police sources on Thursday.
Sources said that the murder was allegedly committed near the Kashmiri Gate area and Gehlot then drove with the body all the way to his dhaba near village Mitraon – a distance of around 45 km – where he stuffed it in a refrigerator and proceeded coolly with his wedding on February 10
Meanwhile, police teams are also scanning CCTV around the place and on the route to verify all this.
“The complete sequence is being examined so that the exact place and time of Nikki’s murder can be known. Police have also summoned Ashish, Gehlot’s brother, in whose car he strangled Nikki with a data cable, for questioning,” said the sources.
Sources also said that the police team will also take Gehlot to Nizamuddin and Anand Vihar railway stations, where he had taken Yadav in the car the day he killed her.
According to the official, on February 9 night, the accused Gehlot, a resident of Mitraon village, went to meet the woman at her Uttam Nagar residence where she lived with her younger sister.
“Gehlot stayed there for two-three hours and later both of them went to Nizammudin railway station. But as they could not get tickets to Goa, they changed their plan to go to Himachal Pradesh and reached ISBT, Kashmere Gate,” said the official.
“When the duo reached ISBT, an argument broke out between them. In between the fight, Gehlot kept receiving back-to-back calls from his family, which he says triggered him to his threshold point and he turned violent,” said a source.
He then strangled Nikki with his mobile phone data cable inside the car, probably around 8 a.m on February 10, drove to his dhaba to hide her body, and then, proceeded with his wedding on February 10.
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday attended the 3-day long Mahashivratri Mahotsav at Jagti Colony and Migrant Camp Buta Nagar.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha attended 3-day long Mahashivratri Mahotsav at Jagti Colony & Buta Nagar
In order to facilitate Kashmiri Pandit Community in Camps & Non-Camp Areas, Relief Organisation has brought together 20 Line Departments for the Mahashivratri Mahotsav.
Extending the greetings of Mahashivratri in advance, the Lt Governor said the festival is the celebration of Kashmiri culture & the spiritual-cultural heritage of the country.
It is the symbol of our ancient values and ethos. Kashmiri Pandit brothers & sisters living in different parts of the country & the world have kept this tradition alive, he added.
“Mahashivratri or Herath is the most important festival of Kashmiri Pandits & festivity has been aptly named ‘Waliv Samav- Let’s Come Together’ to celebrate & seek divine blessings of Lord Shiva. This is a welcome step by the Relief and Rehabilitation department,” said the Lt Governor.
Our festivals are also the source of self-awakening. I pray to Lord Shiva for the happiness, prosperity, good health and well-being of all, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor said, keeping in view Mahashivratri festival, full salaries of all PM package & other minority community employees who have resumed their duties in Kashmir have been released.
He also highlighted the initiatives of the administration for extension of seamless public service delivery to Kashmiri Pandit community at their doorsteps.
All the issues of the Migrant Kashmiri Pandit community are being taken up for their resolution with utmost sensitivity, said the Lt Governor.
Special Governance Camp is a testimony to our commitment for welfare of Kashmiri Pandit Community. The Department of Relief and Rehabilitation and other line departments are ensuring 100% saturation of the benefits of all social security schemes, entrepreneurship development schemes and skilling programs, added the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor urged all the members of the Kashmiri Pandit community to avail the benefits of the special camps. Administration is always ready to resolve all the genuine issues. Continuous efforts are being made to ensure that your problems & grievances are resolved promptly and effectively, he further added.
Jammu Kashmir Government always stands by you. Your safety is our top priority and we are taking all possible measures to ensure that. This is the commitment of the Government of India and Prime Minister, the Lt Governor said.
You have suffered a lot for three long decades. I pray that the day will come when you return to your homes with honour. I hope with your return Kashmir will find its lost glory, added the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor also shared the progress of construction of housing units for PM Package employees in Kashmir.
Earlier, it was difficult to get Land for construction of 6000 dwellings but now land has been identified and except for two sites, the work is in full swing. 1200 dwellings will be handed over by April and by December more than 2500 dwellings would be handed over, he informed.
Beneficiaries identified for various schemes during Special Governance Camp on 4th February were also handed over aids and authority letters on the occasion.
Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; KK Sidha, Commissioner, Relief & Rehabilitation and other senior officers were also present.
SRINAGAR: A 40-year-old Kashmiri businessman, who was abducted by his two business partners from Delhi’s Kashmiri Gate area, was rescued from Punjab, an official said on Saturday.
After six hours, Delhi Police along with its counterpart Punjab Police managed to rescue the victim and nabbed the kidnappers from Phagwara in Punjab.
The accused have been identified as Nishar Ahmad (48) and Imtiyaz Ahmad (48) –both residents of village Pahroo Navgav, district Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (north), Sagar Singh Kalsi, said that on Friday, a Police Control Room (PCR) call was received at Kashmiri Gate police station regarding the kidnapping of a man from the area.
“The call was received from a Kashmir-based number and on initial enquiry, it was revealed that two Kashmiris have abducted one man from Hare Rama Travels in the area. The CCTV footage near the travel agency was analysed and it was revealed that the accused abducted Sayad Tarikh in a taxi,” said the DCP.
“A case under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code was registered and after scanning CCTV footages, it was found that the taxi- swift dzire — is going towards Kashmir through G.T. Karnal Road. The police teams tasked with investigation immediately chased and a W.T. message was also flashed subsequently to police of Haryana and Punjab,” said the DCP.
The taxi was intercepted at Phagwara, with the help of Punjab Police and the victim was safely rescued from the clutches of the accused.
During interrogation, it was revealed that both the victim and the accused are business partners and there is a monetary dispute of Rs 55 lakh between them.
“The victim was not in a position to repay his debt. When the victim opposed paying his debt, both the accused threatened to kill him and asked him to quietly go with them to Jammu and Kashmir and if he spoke to someone in-between, his dead body would not be found,” said the official.
“The duo accused was planning to recover Rs 55 lakh from the family members of the victim after the abduction. The accused also impersonated police officers before the taxi driver who was hired by them,” said the official.
JAMMU: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today inaugurated Special Governance Camp for Kashmiri Migrants at Jagti Colony.
The 12-day long camp at 6 locations is aimed to ensure 100% saturation of Social security schemes for Kashmiri migrants. 18 departments have put up their stalls at the camp including the facilities for enrolment of youth for self employment, skilling and up-skilling.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor said, Administration is sensitive to the issues of Kashmiri Migrant families and PM Package Employees.
“Few unfortunate incidents had occurred. These attacks were not only on individuals but also on the integrity of India. There are a handful of people, who on the behest of the neighboring country are targeting innocent civilians. Under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, we are working with full sensitivity and commitment to address all the issues,” the Lt Governor told the gathering.
The Lt Governor also observed that many PM Package Employees have resumed their duties and the direction has been issued to release their pending salaries without delay.
The Lt Governor strongly refuted the quote by the Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, and asserted that he has made no such statement and it has been attributed to him with malicious intent.
“It is completely fabricated and full of lies. I have never used such words for anyone in my entire life. It is my firm belief that anyone who needs help should always be given priority. My doors are open 24 hours for those who has any problem. We are creating an environment to address your issues, efforts are being made for welfare of your children and families to ensure that entire community can contribute in the progress of J&K like it did in the past,” Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor said, directive has been issued to organize such special governance camps for POJK brothers and sisters to ensure saturation of social security schemes, self-employment and skilling.
He also highlighted that almost all the posts under PM Package have been filled and the UT Government has made all the arrangements for construction of 6000 dwellings.
“Except two, the construction is underway on all the sites. I am personally monitoring the progress. By this April, 1200 houses and till December 2700 houses will be ready. All the pending promotions were completed recently. The process of promotion from Non-gazetted to gazetted is going on and I hope that it will be completed by the end of this month,” the Lt Governor said.
He also said that 80% to 85% PM Package employees are posted at district headquarters. Some are posted at tehsil headquarters after the security audit of the areas. We have ensured that no one is posted at any office or school situated in remote isolated area, he added.
“We are committed to fulfill the expectation of people. Earlier, the laws were formulated to retrieve the properties of Kashmiri Pandit brothers but it was not implemented. We have taken immediate action and out of 8000 applications received on Migrant Portal around 6000 cases have been resolved. The administration and the security forces are working with dedication to ensure your safety,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor directed the concerned departments for the up-gradation of community hall and a playground.
Nazim Zai Khan, Secretary, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; KK Sidha, Commissioner, Relief & Rehabilitation and other senior officers were also present.
