News Briefs for 30 January 2022

Altaf Bukhari condemns killing of policeman in Bijbehara-Anantnag

Srinagar 29 Jan: (KNS) Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday strongly condemned the killing of a policeman identified as Head Constable Ali Mohammad who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Hassanpora area of Bijbehara-Anantnag. In a statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS) , Bukhari termed the cowardly attack as extremely heart wrenching while expressing his profound solidarity with the bereaved family. Bukhari asserted that violence holds no space or legitimacy in any civilized society and such acts have only worsened the collective situation in Jammu and Kashmir for a long time now.

Altaf Bukhari strongly opposes employment to non-locals in Chenab Valleys power projects

JAMMU 29 Jan: (KNS) Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party - JKAP President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari has strongly opposed employment of the outsiders in power projects of Chenab Valley and demanded job protection for local youth of three districts. Addressing a joining programme at Jammus Apni Party Office in Gandhi Nagar, Altaf Bukhari welcomed retired Forester, Irshad Ahmed Masoom from Kishtwar and District President, People Conference in Doda, Saleem Magray who joined Apni Party. The programme was organized by State General Secretary, Syed Asgar Ali.

Cop shot dead by militants in Bijbehara: Officials

Srinagar 29 Jan: Militants on Saturday evening shot dead a policeman in Hassanpora area of Bijbehara in Anantnag district, officials said here. An official told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the policeman was critically injured after being attacked by militants in Hassanpora area. He said that soon after the incident, he was rushed to sub-district hospital Bijbhara for treatment, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Dr Farooq, Omar Abdullah condemn killing of JKP constable in Bijbehara

Srinagar January 29 29 Jan: (KNS) The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah on Saturday condemned the killing of JK Police Head Constable Ali Mohammad Ganaie in Hassanpora, Bijbehara. While condemning the killing, Dr Farooq said, Violence in any of its manifestations is always unacceptable and will yield nothing except further death and destruction. The vicious cycle of death has caused much loss to human lives in J&K while devastating the socio-economic conditions of the people during the last over three decades.

Reconsider Imposing Lockdown, Allow Economic Activities: KEF

Srinagar 29 Jan: (KNS) Stating that fresh 64-hour lockdown has affected the economic activity badly, the Kashmir Economic Forum (KEF) has urged the administration to reconsider the decision and help revive Valleys fledgling economy. In a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), President KEF Showkat M Chowdhary said the valleys business units have been badly suffering from the previous lockdowns and had hardly started to recover the loses. It is not advisable to enforce lockdown in the Valley.

Govt Forces Besiege Militants in Pulwama Hamlet

Srinagar 29 Jan: Around 2-3 militants are trapped in Naira village of south Kashmirs Pulwama district where an encounter broke out on Saturday evening after government forces launched a search operation. According to officials, police, army and the paramilitary CRPF personnel laid a siege around Naira after receiving information about the presence of militants in the village. When the joint team started advances, they said, the militants hiding in the village opened fire upon them in a bid to escape from the dragnet.

5 more die as JK reports 4,175 new cases

Srinagar 29 Jan: Five more Covid patients died, 3 in Jammu Division and 2 in Kashmir Division, in the last 24 hours during which 4,175 new cases of Covid-19, 2,812 from Kashmir Division and 1,363 from Jammu division, were reported, the official bulletin informed on Saturday. It said 7,107 Covid patients recovered, including 5,293 in Kashmir Division and 1,814 in Jammu Division, in the last 24 hours. According to the bulletin, there are now 42,219 active positive cases in J&K, 31,563 in Kashmir Division and 10,656 in Jammu Division.

Encounter starts in Budgam, two militants trapped

Srinagar 29 Jan: An encounter between militants and a joint team of police and army has started at Chrar-i-Sharief area of centrals Budgam district. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow, a police spokesman said in a tweet as per GNS.

Three militant associates arrested: Police

Ganderbal 29 Jan: Police claimed to have arrested three militant associates from south Kashmir and recovered pistols, bullets, and grenades from their possession. These arrests were made at a checkpoint in Shuhama village of the district by joint forces including police, soldiers from 24 Rashtriya Rifles, and 115 Battalion CRPF. A police spokesperson identified the arrested militant associates as Faisal Manzoor Lone of Braripora Shopian, Azhar Yaqoob Ganai of Zainpora Shopian and Nasir Ayoub Dar, a resident of Begam Kulgam.

Only EC Can Decide On J&K Polls: MoS Singh

Jammu 29 Jan: The decision about holding assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir is the prerogative of the Election Commission, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday and asserted that the BJP as a party is always in ready mode for any democratic exercise. He also said that the Narendra Modi-led government has created ample opportunities for the youth to get employment in the country. But the youth in Jammu and Kashmir did not get exposure to such avenues due to "constitutional barriers" of the past (now abrogated Article 370), Singh said.

Pak PM Bats For Talks, Diplomacy With India

Beijing, Islamabad 29 Jan: Ahead of his visit to China, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that for "enduring peace" in South Asia, it is contingent that a "strategic balance" in the region is maintained and all "outstanding issues" like border questions and the Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and according to norms of international law. In an article published in China`s state-run Global Times, Khan briefly referred to the resolution of the Kashmir issue besides the border disputes as key to maintaining peace in South Asia. It is our common vision that enduring peace in South Asia is contingent on maintaining a strategic balance in the region and all outstanding issues like border questions and the Kashmir dispute should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and as per norms of international law, he wrote, amidst a chill in bilateral ties between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism.

Kashmir Traders Warn Of Adverse Impact Of Lockdown, Seek Stimulus

Srinagar 29 Jan: Facing prolonged spells of lockdowns since 2019, traders in Kashmir resort to lay-offs, sale of manufacturing units and switch to businesses of daily consumables to survive the nose-diving incomes, as the authorities continue to impose a 64-hour weekend lockdown.There are growing voices among the traders' body on Saturday which seek a review of the lockdown practice.