Wednesday, December 4News and updates from Kashmir

INDIA

Ganderbal attack and the wife whose Karwa Chauth wait ended in tragedy

Ganderbal attack and the wife whose Karwa Chauth wait ended in tragedy

INDIA
On the eve of Karwa Chauth, tragedy struck when seven individuals, including Shashi Bhushan Abrol from Jammu’s Talab Tillo, were killed in a militant attack at a tunnel construction site in Gagangeer, Ganderbal. The attack, which occurred on Sunday evening, left families and communities grieving, with relatives of the victims calling for justice. Shashi Bhushan Abrol, an architectural designer and the sole provider for his family, was known for his dedication to work, according to a report by ETV Urdu. His wife, Ruchi Abrol, had spoken to him just hours before the attack, eagerly preparing to celebrate Karwa Chauth. “I waited the entire night to break my fast, praying for his safety. I never thought I would receive the news of his death instead,” she tearfully recounted. The vi...
‘I have been shot’: Punjab man’s dire call to his wife during Ganderbal attack

‘I have been shot’: Punjab man’s dire call to his wife during Ganderbal attack

INDIA
Gurmeet Singh, one of the seven persons killed in an attack in Jammu Kashmir’s Ganderbal, was speaking to his wife on the phone when he was struck by a bullet, his father shared on Monday. A doctor from Kashmir and six non-local laborers lost their lives, while five others sustained injuries in the attack at an under-construction tunnel in Gund on Sunday. Gurmeet Singh, 45, hailed from the village of Sakhowal in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district and worked as a construction worker for a company there. “He was speaking to his wife over a mobile phone when this incident took place… He told his wife that he had been hit by a bullet,” said Gurmeet’s father, Dharam Singh. The family was later informed that he had succumbed to his injuries, Dharam Singh explained from Gurdaspur. Gurmeet...
‘Outrageous’: Hurriyat condemns killings in Ganderbal,Calls for end to violence

‘Outrageous’: Hurriyat condemns killings in Ganderbal,Calls for end to violence

INDIA
All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior members of Hurriyat including Prof Ghani Bhat, Bilal Ghani lone, Masroor Abbas Ansari expressed deep sorrow and grief over the dastardly killings in Gagangeer, Ganderbal. Describing the killings as outrageous, Mirwaiz Umar emphasized that Islam strongly deplores such inhuman acts . “Every life is precious, and to lose lives in this manner is extremely painful,” Mirwaiz said. He further lamented the incident as a grim reminder of the unending cycle of violence and uncertainty that the people of the region have endured for decades. Mirwaiz prayed for the injured, wishing them a speedy recovery, and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones. "May Allah grant s...
Chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ inside mosque does not outrage religious sentiments: Karnataka HC

Chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ inside mosque does not outrage religious sentiments: Karnataka HC

INDIA
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed a criminal case against two individuals accused of chanting “Jai Shri Ram” inside a mosque. The incident, reported to have occurred on September 24, 2023, led to charges of criminal trespass, intimidation, and offending religious sentiments under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The accused were booked under IPC Section 295A for “outraging religious feelings,” along with Sections 447 (criminal trespass), 505 (statements conducive to public mischief), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention), however, Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who presided over the single-judge bench, ruled that chanting “Jai Shri Ram” did not inherently harm religious sentiments or provoke communal discord. The court stated, “Section 295A p...
Opposition MPs walk out of joint committee meeting on Waqf Amendment Bill

Opposition MPs walk out of joint committee meeting on Waqf Amendment Bill

INDIA
Several opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a walkout during a joint committee meeting on the Waqf Bill today, citing derogatory remarks made by a BJP member. The meeting, which included a presentation from representatives of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, was attended by opposition figures such as Kalyan Banerjee, Gaurav Gogoi, A Raja, Mohamed Abdulla, and Arvind Sawant. The opposition MPs left the meeting after alleging that they were subjected to insults, but they returned about an hour later. In response, BJP members contended that the opposition was disrespecting the committee's chairman, Jagadambika Pal. This incident marks the second consecutive day of walkouts by opposition members due to ongoing disagreements regarding the bill.
Supreme Court rejects plea against nomination of MLAs to JK assembly by LG

Supreme Court rejects plea against nomination of MLAs to JK assembly by LG

INDIA
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition against Jammu Kashmir Lieutenant Governor's proposal to nominate five members to the assembly. The top court asked the petitioner to approach the high court. As per amended section 15 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, J&K Lieutenant Governor has the authority to nominate five members to the assembly - two women, two Kashmiri pandits, and a resident of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). According to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar stated, "We are not inclined to entertain the present petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India and give liberty to the petitioner to approach the jurisdictional high court by way of writ petition ...
Vande Bharat set for Delhi-Srinagar route: Full schedule, stops, and ticket details here

Vande Bharat set for Delhi-Srinagar route: Full schedule, stops, and ticket details here

INDIA
The Indian Railways is set to introduce a new addition to its Vande Bharat series—an overnight sleeper train connecting New Delhi to Srinagar. The Vande Bharat Sleeper, built by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), will commence operations in January 2025, providing a faster and more comfortable travel experience for long-distance, overnight journeys. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the prototype in September 2024. According to senior officials, the Vande Bharat Sleeper will significantly enhance rail connectivity between the national capital and Srinagar, the capital of Jammu Kashmir. Indian Railways also has plans to extend the route further to Baramulla, aiming to improve access to the region. Route and Maintenance The Vande Bharat Sleeper will operate between N...
NC demands arrest of Narsinghanand over blasphemous remarks on Prophet Muhammad

NC demands arrest of Narsinghanand over blasphemous remarks on Prophet Muhammad

INDIA
The National Conference (NC) has condemned Yati Narsinghanand’s recent remarks against Prophet Muhammad, calling for his immediate arrest. The NC stated that the inflammatory comments deeply wounded the sentiments of Muslims and could incite communal unrest. Narsinghanand, who has been previously booked for hate speech, faces fresh charges after protests erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad and other states in response to his remarks. Imran Nabi Dar, spokesperson for the NC, emphasized the need for swift government action, urging authorities to arrest Narsinghanand and ensure accountability. He noted that such statements harm India's reputation for religious tolerance and have the potential to disrupt communal harmony. Dar also called on the public to remain calm and resist att...
NIA officer arrested for demanding Rs 2.5 crore as bribe, arrested by CBI

NIA officer arrested for demanding Rs 2.5 crore as bribe, arrested by CBI

INDIA
A Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Ajay Pratap Singh, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday for allegedly accepting a Rs 20 lakh bribe. Singh, stationed in Patna, along with two middlemen, is accused of extorting money from Rocky Yadav, the owner of Ramaiya Construction, by threatening to falsely implicate his family in a case involving unlicensed weapons. The investigation began after Yadav lodged a complaint stating that Singh demanded Rs 2.5 crore to shield his family from potential terror charges. Singh allegedly asked for an initial payment of Rs 25 lakh during an interrogation on September 26, providing Yadav with a middleman's contact information. Following this, Yadav arranged for the m...
Kolkata Protest: Kashmir slogans spark controversy, police launch investigation

Kolkata Protest: Kashmir slogans spark controversy, police launch investigation

INDIA
The Kolkata Police have begun investigating after slogans of "Kashmir Mange Azadi" (Kashmir wants freedom) were raised during a protest in the Jadavpur area of Kolkata, as reported by India Today. The protest on Tuesday was originally organized in response to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College on August 9, which has stirred widespread anger among healthcare workers across India. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed after a viral video surfaced showing protesters chanting slogans supporting Kashmir's freedom. The police have registered the case under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), invoking Section 152, related to actions against the sovereignty of India, and Section 285, concerning public safety. The appearance of separatist slogans durin...