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  • ‘Dastardly…Cowardly’: Amit Shah, Omar Abdullah Condemn Terror Attack In J&K’s Ganderbal |

    J&K Terror Attack: At least seven people were killed after terrorists struck a tunnel-construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday, officials said. The victims who lost their lives in the attack include a doctor and six labourers.

    The terrorists who carried out the attack are yet to be identified. The attack took place when the laborers and other staff working on the tunnel project at Gund in Ganderbal had returned to their camp late in the evening, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.

    Following the attack, reactions started to pour in from political leaders condemning the attack. Reacting to the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah dubbed it “a despicable act” and said that those involved in this heinous act will not be spared. He also expressed grief and extended his condolences towards the families of those who lost their lives.

    “The dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir, J&K, is a despicable act of cowardice. Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces. At this moment of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured,” Shah said in a post on X.

    The dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir, J&K, is a despicable act of cowardice. Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces. At this moment of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to…

    — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 20, 2024

    The deceased have been identified as Dr Shahnawaz, Faheem Nazir, Kaleem, Mohammad Hanif, Shashi Abrol, Anil Shukla, and Gurmeet Singh. According to officials, the terrorists, believed to be at least two, opened indiscriminate fire on the group of laborers that included both locals and non-locals.

    While two laborers died on the spot, four others and the doctor succumbed to their injuries subsequently, the officials said, adding that five people are undergoing treatment for injuries.

    Union Minister Nitin Gadkari offered his tribute to those who lost their lives in the attack and extended deepest condolences to their families. “I strongly condemn the horrific terror attack on innocent laborers in Gagangir, Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir, who were engaged in a vital infrastructure project. I offer my humble tribute to the martyred laborers and extend my deepest condolences to their families during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with the injured for a swift and full recovery,” Gadkari said in a post on X.

    I strongly condemn the horrific terror attack on innocent laborers in Gagangir, Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir, who were engaged in a vital infrastructure project.

    I offer my humble tribute to the martyred laborers and extend my deepest condolences to their families during this… — Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) October 20, 2024

    In a series of posts on Governor Manoj Sinha also condemned the attack and said that J&K Police, Army, and Security forces have been given full freedom to ensure that those who are behind this heinous crime do not go unpunished.

    “I strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack on civilians in Gagangeer. I assure the people that those behind this despicable act will not go unpunished. We have given full freedom to J&K Police, Army and Security forces,” Sinha said.

    “Our brave personnel are on the ground & they will ensure terrorists pay a very heavy price for their action. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for speedy recovery of the injured. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the families in this hour of grief,” the J&K LG said in another post.

    Our brave personnel are on the ground & they will ensure terrorists pay a very heavy price for their action. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for speedy recovery of the injured. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the families in this hour of grief. — Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) October 20, 2024

    Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the attackers, the officials said. Top security officials, including Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, VK Birdi, have reached the spot to assess and take stock of the situation. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the number of casualties in the attack may go up.

    “The casualty figure from the Gagangir attack is not final as there are a number of injured labourers, both local and non-local. Praying that the injured make a full recovery as the more seriously injured are being referred to SKIMS, Srinagar,” he said in a post on

    Abdullah condemned the attack, which came barely four days after he was sworn in as the chief minister of the Union Territory.

    “Very sad news of a dastardly and cowardly attack on non-local laborers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. 2 have been killed and 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people and send my condolences to their loved ones,” he said in another post on the microblogging platform.

    The casualty figure from the Gagangir attack is not final as there are a number of injured labourers, both local & non-local. Praying that the injured make a full recovery as the more seriously injured are being referred to SKIMS, Srinagar. — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 20, 2024

    Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the attack. “Unequivocally condemn this senseless act of violence against two laborers in Ganderbal. Deepest condolences to their families,” she said in a post on

    In a post on be brought to justice.”

    Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra expressed grave concern over the attack and said such incidents will vitiate the atmosphere in the Union Territory. He urged the government to take immediate measures to prevent such brutal attacks on innocent labourers.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Kashmir’s Vistadome Train: A Swiss-Like Experience To Snow Cladded Valley |

    New Delhi: Indian Railways has launched a new gift for Kashmir, which has boosted the tourism industry in the valley. The railways has introduced a Vistadome train, which has a glass ceiling and offers a 360-degree view of the scenic surroundings. The train runs between Banihal and Baramulla, covering a distance of 135 km.

    The Vistadome train is an all-weather train, which can run smoothly in extreme winter or summer. The train passes through snow-capped mountains and green valleys, giving the passengers a glimpse of Switzerland. The train has been in the headlines for its unique features and design.

    Vistadome Train: Features, Facilities

    The Vistadome train has specially designed coaches, which have double-wide reclining seats that can rotate a full 360 degrees. The passengers can enjoy a panoramic view of their surroundings from the glass dome roof, the huge glass windows, and the observation lounge. The train also has automatic sliding doors, luggage rack, LED screens for entertainment, and a GPS-enabled information system.


    The train runs six days a week and is available to all. The fare for the train tickets is Rs 940 and it runs twice a day. The train has a capacity of 40 seats in each coach. The coaches are produced by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, estimated to cost around Rs 4 crore. The coaches are equipped with air conditioning to effectively manage the harsh cold of winter and scorching heat of summer in the valley.

    The train seats are equipped with trays like airplanes, allowing passengers to enjoy meals. They can also order light meals from the Indian Railways menu during the journey. The train also has a mini pantry and a bio-toilet facility.

    The Vistadome train has received a very good response from the tourists and the locals. Many tourists travel by car from Jammu and get down at Banihal so that they can travel from Banihal to Srinagar by the Vistadome train. They say that the train gives them a very good experience and a view of heaven.

    Railway employee Prabhat Kumar said, “We have received a very good response. A lot of tourists travel here and especially since there has been snow, we get to see a lot of tourists.” Passenger Hakumat Singh said, “It is a very good train, it is very enjoyable, it feels like heaven, it is a very good step for tourists.” Sunita said, “It feels like heaven, there are many sights to see.”

    Tourist Aditi said, “We have come to have this experience, it will be a very good experience, the view is very good, why go to Switzerland, stay here, this is to enjoy.” Satish tourist said, “This is very good, this tourist will be attracted a lot, this coach is very good, the view is like Switzerland.”

    Tourist Mohammad Zaheeruddin said, “It is very good that this glass train is there, we will be able to see the open valley. Indian Railways has taken a good step, we can enjoy Switzerland in our country.”

    The Vistadome train is a part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vocal for Local initiative, which aims to promote local products and services. The train is expected to attract more tourists and promote tourism in the area. The train is also a step towards the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The work on the rail link connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country is in the final stages. The day is not far when trains will connect Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The introduction of Vistadome coaches is another step towards the developmental journey of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Northern Railway had successfully completed a trial run of the Vistadome train from Budgam to Baramulla under the supervision of senior railway officials in July last year. The train was formally launched in January this year.

  • Deeply jaded, upset, however politicians can’t mourn for lengthy: Omar Abdullah on Article 370 abrogation

    Two years after the particular standing of Jammu And Kashmir was abrogated and he was detained for 234 days, NC chief Omar Abdullah stated on Wednesday that after initially being “deeply jaded” he had realised that as a politician he didn’t have the precise to “mourn” for lengthy and couldn’t let down the folks struggling for his or her fundamental constitutional rights.
    On the eve of the second anniversary of the nullification of Article 370 of the Constitution, the previous chief minister of the erstwhile state which has been bifurcated into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, stated that what had been finished on August 5 had come as a shock to most individuals who have been affected by the “sudden, unexpected and unconstitutional blow”.
    Abdullah, who spent seven months in detention which was challenged within the Supreme Court, recalled, “I was a deeply jaded and disappointed individual. I found it difficult to motivate myself even to indulge in basic political activities possible in the prevailing situation. But as the saying goes ‘if you want the rainbow, you have got to put up with rain’. So here I am doing the best I can for the people.”

    He stated the employees and leaders of the National Conference (NC) had made immense sacrifices for the folks of Jammu and Kashmir. “Hundreds of our workers and several of our leaders have fallen to the bullets of militants. I thought of all this when a certain light inside me was getting dimmer during my solitary confinement. I realised I could not just walk away,” he instructed PTI.
    There is little doubt in Abdullah’s thoughts that the abrogation of Article 370 was unconstitutional which had been challenged as such on behalf of his celebration within the Supreme Court. “I have hope and faith in the Supreme Court which had said that they could turn the clock back if merited. I am sure that someday justice will be done to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,” the NC vice chairman stated.
    Answering a query on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assembly with mainstream leaders of Jammu and Kashmir on June 24, Abdullah stated that the initiative must be adopted up on the bottom to supply significant outcomes.

    “The prime minister candidly spoke of reducing the “doori” (distance), each bodily and psychological, between Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. We now await the beginning of the follow-up to that assembly,” he stated. “There is so much talk of development, development. We would welcome that if it really happened. The administration needs to go beyond inaugurating projects for which work had begun during the time of elected governments,” the NC chief stated.
    About the claims of considerable enchancment within the regulation and order state of affairs, he stated, “You cannot gag the people and then claim all is well. In the last two years people are not allowed to do even peaceful protests. The due process of law is ignored. On the one hand a rosy picture of the situation is painted and on the other hand the Centre tells Parliament that statehood will be restored when the situation normalises.”
    In any case, the folks can’t any longer proceed to be disadvantaged of an elected authorities via free and truthful elections in a full-fledged state, Abdullah emphasised.

    Both restoration of statehood and holding of early elections have been promised on the highest ranges by the Centre. “That should be the order — restoration of full, undiluted statehood, followed by Assembly elections. There is no better way to reduce, to a large extent, the trust deficit to which the prime minister obliquely referred,” he stated.
    Abdullah was categorical that he wouldn’t be contesting elections for the foreseeable future however made it clear, “I will continue to be with our people and serve them even if I am not in the Assembly.”

  • ‘Frankly speaking they are balloons kids play with, but they are from Pak, we have to be cautious’

    Forces posted at LoC, eyes skilled throughout the border, are on larger alert than ever since a drone made its technique to an airbase. This additionally means holding a watch on balloons:
    When did you first began recognizing the balloons?
    Aeroplane-shaped balloons began flying into J&Ok from the Pakistani facet practically an 12 months in the past. However, balloons of various sizes have been coming into the Indian facet for a while now.
    What do you do with them?
    We have seized about seven to eight balloons thus far. All of them have ‘PIA’ written on them. We seize and destroy them.

    Who do you assume is behind the balloons?
    These are definitely from Pakistan. People fill these balloons with helium gasoline and launch them into the air close to the border. When they fall close to the border, the locals inform us and we seize them.
    What risk can they pose?
    Frankly talking, these are regular balloons with which kids play. However, we now have to be cautious since they’re coming from throughout the border. We should be sure that they don’t seem to be carrying something suspicious.
    What function can the balloons serve?

    Some handlers from throughout the border could also be attempting to create some sort of concern in folks residing close to the border. However, as and when folks inform us about them, we swing into motion and seize the balloons.

  • J&Ok: CBI raids on Srinagar ex-DC’s home pits two mainstream events in opposition to one another

    The CBI raid on the residence of former Srinagar Deputy Commissioner and IAS officer Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has pitted two mainstream political events in opposition to one another.
    Choudhary is presently Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, J&Ok, and CEO of Mission Youth programme.
    While the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party has mentioned that the bureaucrat was “given ample time to destroy evidence”, the Peoples Conference has are available help of Choudhary saying a “hardworking IAS officer cannot overnight be dubbed as a violator of law”.
    Terming the CBI investigation a mere eyewash, the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party has questioned the investigation into the arms’ licence rip-off.
    “It seems that the investigating agency is trying to shield the culprits who are involved in this scam by providing them ample time to destroy evidence and manage escape routes,” mentioned Apni Party’s General Secretary Vikram Malhotra. “That the CBI is conducting raids and searches in a scam which happened during 2012-16. After years of gap, the raids being conducted at the official residences of the IAS officers shows how serious the investigating agency is”.
    Malhotra, who hails from Jammu, has sought an investigation into the property made by the officers accused of the rip-off.
    “If (the) CBI is looking for documents after a gap of a few years, then they are mistaken. The investigation and subsequent raids seem to be an eye-wash,” Malhotra mentioned. “The CBI should inquire about the palaces these IAS officers have acquired from the ill-gotten money within the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu. The source of funding of these palaces must be investigated.”

    The assertion issued by Choudhary after the raids at his residence has not gone effectively with the Party. “Instead of CBI, which is probing the scam, it is surprising to see that an IAS officer is coming out with the details claiming that “nothing incriminating found” within the ongoing arms license probe from his residence,” Malhotra mentioned.
    The Peoples Conference has brazenly are available help of Choudhary. In a response to Malhotra, Peoples Conference General Secretary Imarn Ansari has mentioned that the “court of law will define justice”.
    “Raids and investigations cannot define justice and a hardworking IAS officer cannot overnight be dubbed as violator of law,” Ansari mentioned whereas backing Choudhary. “I fail to understand how a political party has decided to offer its unsolicited views in an ongoing investigation. If law is really to take its course then the queue would be really long. Someone, who till yesterday was an honourable hardworking IAS officer looked up by youngsters cannot overnight be dubbed as violator of law.”

    Ansari mentioned whereas the Peoples Conference has been “at the forefront in criticising the bureaucracy” for lack of deliverance, such points can’t be changed into a private battle.
    “I personally know the officer and I am sure he will come out clean.” Ansari mentioned giving a clear chit to the accused IAS officer. “We know what problem the Apni party has with this bureaucrat. Using petty familial issues to actually target an achiever and demand for his arrest is shameful behaviour”.

  • Fake gun licences: Reasi police establish 9 offenders

    Following CBI raids at 40 locations in Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi in reference to issuance of arms licences to unauthorised individuals, police within the UT’s Reasi district on Monday claimed to have recognized 9 criminals, recurring offenders and history-sheeters who, on the pretext of self-protection, had managed to get gun licences from districts apart from their very own.
    Pointing out that the sector report didn’t help any menace to them for which they wanted self-protection, Reasi SSP Shalindra Singh mentioned that they had been reasonably a menace to folks in view of possession of arms and ammunition. Some of them had been in possession of three weapons and ammunition for a few years, he added.
    As it got here to the discover of police that these criminals had sparked concern within the minds of individuals and amassed big wealth through the use of these weapons, they ready a recent discipline report and approached the involved district magistrates with suggestions for cancellation of those licences.
    While they received 5 gun licences cancelled, two had been discovered to be faux. Police have seized the weapons and registered circumstances, the Reasi SSP mentioned.
    Those recognized embrace:
    * Mohammad Asghar, who was named in two FIRs for allegedly harbouring terrorists and committing a homicide. He possessed a gun on the idea of a licence purportedly issued by the workplace of DM Udhampur in 1984. The police approached the DM’s workplace with a request to cancel his licence solely to seek out that there have been no such official data. The police filed an FIR and seized the gun.

    * Mohammad Asger, who’s concerned in 10 circumstances of try to homicide, assault and theft from 2010, was maintaining a single barrel 12 bore gun on the idea of a licence presupposed to have been issued from the workplace of DM Poonch. The police approached the DM for cancellation of his licence, solely to seek out that it was faux. The police seized the gun and registered a case towards Asger.
    * Rattan Lal had 12 circumstances of homicide, try to homicide, assault, kidnapping, theft and so on., registered towards him between 1984-89. He possessed a 12 bore gun after managing a gun licence from Srinagar district.

  • Twin explosions at IAF station in Jammu airport terror assault: J&Ok DGP

    Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Sunday termed the dual explosions on the excessive safety Indian Air Force station within the Jammu airport a terror assault.
    The police, IAF and different companies have been investigating the assault, he stated.
    Two IAF personnel have been injured when two explosives-laden drones crashed into the station round 1.40 am. The blasts befell inside six minutes of one another.
    The first blast ripped off the roof of a single-storey constructing on the technical space of the airport manned by the IAF in Satwari space of town. The second one was on the bottom, officers stated.

  • J&Okay: Man held for social media rumours on Nowgam encounter

    The Jammu and Kashmir Police Friday arrested a person for allegedly spreading social media “misinformation” on the involvement of a Srinagar resident —who’s from a minority group— in a current encounter.
    Samiulllah Chraloo, 34, allegedly used pretend accounts on Twitter and Facebook to say that the Srinagar resident had connections to the operation which led to the killing of a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant at Nowgam on June 16.
    Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Sandeep Chaudhary mentioned at a press convention: “After the encounter, we noticed that on social media an account by the name of Urwa Andrabi on Facebook and Sana Nazki on Twitter made allegations against a… member of a minority community in Srinagar, to the effect that this person had any connections to the operation.”

    The police traced each handles again to Chraloo, a resident of Chhattabal in Srinagar.
    “As district police and through our interactions with civil society we have a guarantee that this family has no involvement in any anti-terror activities,” the SSP mentioned.
    The police mentioned the accused particular person “makes fake handles from time to time to peddle incorrect information on social media”.

    “This kind of activity on social media can easily put someone’s life in danger. Such tendencies should be avoided under the garb of anonymity on social media because we have the tools to nab such individuals as we have done in this case,” Chaudhary mentioned.
    The accused has been booked underneath related sections of the IPC and the IT Act.
    caption (pic connected): Srinagar SSP Sandeep Chaudhary at a press convention in Srinagar to announce the arrest of the person.

  • 14-yr-old amongst 5 militants shot useless in J&Ok

    Five militants, together with a 14-year-old boy, have been killed in two separate encounters in South Kashmir in a single day, taking the variety of militants killed within the area throughout the previous 72 hours to 12.
    The boy, Faisal Gulzar Ganai, had gone lacking simply two days in the past, and had joined the militants. Two of the 5 slain militants have been liable for the killing of a Territorial Army (TA) soldier in Bijbehara on Friday, police mentioned.
    Late on Saturday afternoon, a joint staff of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army, and paramilitary forces started cordon-and-search operations at Reban village in South Kashmir’s Shopian following inputs in regards to the presence of militants.

    As the forces zeroed in on the goal space, the trapped militants opened fireplace, triggering a gunfight. Police mentioned the forces gave ample time to the militants to give up, particularly the 14-year-old boy, whose household they referred to as to the positioning of the encounter.
    “They (militants) were given an opportunity to surrender. However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter. In the initial retaliatory firing, one terrorist was killed, but the operation was suspended to give the trapped terrorists another chance to surrender,” police mentioned in an official assertion.
    “The joint teams exercised maximum restraint and facilitated the presence of family members of terrorist Faisal Gulzar to encounter site so as to persuade him to surrender. However, despite repeated appeals by his family members and assurances by the security forces, the other terrorists didn’t allow him to surrender,” the assertion mentioned.
    Two different militants holed up on the encounter web site have been killed early on Sunday, police mentioned. One of them has been recognized as Aasif Ahmad Ganai; the id of the opposite militant was being ascertained, police mentioned.
    Both Aasif Ahmad and the boy, Faisal Gulzar, belonged to Chitragam, Shopian, police mentioned. They mentioned the militants have been related to the al-Badr outfit, and {that a} rifle and two pistols had been recovered from them.
    Two troopers have been injured within the alternate of fireside with the militants, police mentioned.
    Faisal is the fourth – and youngest – teenage militant to have been killed within the Valley within the final 4 years. In 2016, Faizan Ahmad Bhat (15) was killed in a gunfight together with Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat at Tral in South Kashmir. A 12 months later, Mudasir Rashid Parray (15) and Saqib Bilal Sheikh (16) have been killed in an encounter in Hajin city in North Kashmir.
    Around the identical time because the operation in Shopian was launched, one other joint staff of forces cordoned off Semthan village of Bijbehara in Anantnag. Two militants have been killed within the gunbattle that ended on Sunday morning.
    “The joint team (of forces) rescued all the civilians trapped in the gunfire and halted the operation for the night,” police mentioned. “In the wee hours, after ensuring all the civilians are safe, the operation was resumed and both the terrorists were eliminated in the ensuing encounter.”

    Police recognized the slain militants as Towseef Ahmad Bhat and Aamir Hussain Ganie of Bijbehara. They have been related to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, police mentioned.
    According to police, Towseef had been lively since 2017, whereas Aamir had joined militancy in 2018. They had been concerned in a number of militant actions, together with the killing of Mohammad Saleem Akhoon, an off-duty Territorial Army soldier who was killed in Bijbehara on Friday.
    Police claimed to have recovered two AK rifles from the slain militants.

  • J&Ok: LeT operative held, arms cache seized in Reasi dist after years

    Jammu and Kashmir Police and safety forces arrested an alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba affiliate in Reasi district’s Mahore city in a joint operation and claimed to have seized an enormous amount of arms and ammunition, together with Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG) and mortars, amongst others.
    Arms haul at such a degree comes within the district after six years. The improvement comes simply earlier than the three-day Shiv Khori mela, held on the event of Maha Shivratri, starting March 10.
    The police recognized the arrested individual as Reyaz Ahmed, 21 – he was arrested on Friday. According to police, throughout questioning within the presence of an government Justice of the Peace, Reyaz disclosed that he had hidden the arms and ammunition at a hideout between Makhidhar and Upper Shikari ridge of Mahore tehsil.

    A search operation by the police and Army was launched subsequently and two beneath barrel grenade launchers (UBGL) and mortar grenade launcher (MGL), 5 grenades, one RPG, three mortar bombs, 80 rounds of INSAS, sniper and AK rifles, in addition to explosive materials, have been recovered, the police mentioned. Reasi’s Superintendent of Police Surjeet Bhagat mentioned the seizure additionally included one AK-47 rifle with 22 magazines and 150 cartridges, one rocket launcher, 16 UBGL grenades, 4 hand grenades, and two very excessive frequency (VHF) radio units with antennas.
    The cache was to be delivered to an individual from Gool, in adjoining Ramban district, Bhagat mentioned. It was a part of the consignment despatched by LeT ‘commander’ Khobaib, a resident of Doda who’s at current primarily based in Pakistan, the SP added.
    On February 18, the police and safety forces had seized an AK 47 rifle together with a sealed field of ammunition, one self loading rifle (SLR), one .303 bolt rifle and two Chinese pistols together with magazines and ammunition from Makhidhar forests. These have been additionally despatched by Khobaib, in response to the police.

    With these large-scale seizures, the police mentioned a plan to revive militancy in Pir Panjal ranges, particularly forward of the Amarnath yatra and Budha Amarnath yatra to Mandi, in Poonch district of Jammu division, has been foiled.