The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A day after the approval from the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the posting of four police officers as district police chiefs, the officers assumed the charges at designated places on Saturday.

According to the news agency KNO, customary handing over of charges took place between the outgoing SSPs and SP and incoming officers.

Soon after taking over charge as the district chiefs, the top officers chaired introductory meetings with the officers in their respective police districts at their office chambers.

In Baramulla, the incoming SSP Mohammad Zaid, who was accompanied by the outgoing officer SSP Gurinderpal Singh, was received by the SP Operations Feroz Yehya, SP Headquarters Syed Yasir Qadri besides others.

The event was followed by the handing over of the charges.

In Kupwara, the outgoing SSP, Shobhit Saxena, along with senior police officers of the district, extended a warm welcome to the incoming officer Ghulam Jeelani Wani at the District Police Headquarters. The officer was honoured with a ceremonial guard of honour.

Similarly, in Handwara, the outgoing SP Dawood Ayoub and incoming SP Mir Ifroz were received by SP Operations Handwara Zaffar Iqbal, SDPO Hamid Ali and others, which was followed by the handing over of the charges.

Earlier on Friday, the ECI approved the posting of Mohammad Zaid as SSP, Baramulla, Ghulam Jeelani Wani as SSP Kupwara, Ifroz Ahmad as SP Handwara and Imtiyaz Hussain Mir as SSP Srinagar.

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KUPWARA — In a tragic incident on Friday, the father of two brides died on their wedding day in Haril village of Mawer block of Handwara in northern Kashmir's Kupwara district.

The deceased, aged 50 years, has been identified as Nissar Ahmad Mir son of Mohammad Maqbool Mir.

The wedding ceremony of the deceased's two daughters was slated to take place this coming Saturday and Sunday. However, Nissar Ahmad passed away in the early morning hours, at about 4 am.

Meanwhile, the wedding ceremony was cancelled after consultations with the elders from both families given the sudden and untimely death of the brides' father.

It is in place to mention here that the deceased was a businessman and is survived by four daughters.

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KUPWARA — The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has proposed the dismissal of Vishais Kumar Parihar, currently serving as Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Handwara. This decision follows an enquiry into his conduct during his tenure as Sub Judge in Surankote.

The court's order, issued on July 23, 2024, stems from a report dated November 30, 2023, by the Enquiry Judge. The Full Court accepted this report in its meeting on July 20, 2024, and proposed a major punishment for Parihar. Consequently, he has been attached to the office of Registrar Judicial in Jammu with immediate effect.

It states, "In the interim, the Sub Judge of Kupwara will assume the additional charge of CJM Handwara until further orders."

The order was signed by Shahzad Azeem, Registrar General, and copies were forwarded to various judicial and administrative officials to ensure compliance and necessary actions.

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KUPWARA — A 17-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her home in Ashpora Handwara of northern Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday morning.

An official quoted by a local news agency said that a girl (name withheld) from Ashpora locality of Qaziabad allegedly hanged herself at her home following which her family members took her to a nearby hospital, however, she was immediately referred to GMC Handwara where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

A police officer said that a case in this regard has been registered and further investigation has been set into motion.

He said the police were verifying from all angles what forced her to take such an extreme step.

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KUPWARA — Authorities on Wednesday took into seizure over five kanals of orchard land belonging to a notorious drug peddler at Mawer Handwara area of Kupwara district.

An unnamed official, quoted by the news agency GNS, said that in a groundbreaking operation, the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Handwara alongside the Revenue Department struck a major blow against the drug trade by seizing illegally acquired assets of the notorious drug dealer at Audoora Mawer.

“As part of the operation, the apple orchards spanning over 5.4 kanal, under Khasra Number 14, belonging to a notorious drug peddler Mohammad Amir Malik son of Mohammad Mukhtar Malik of Audoora Mawer was seized under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act,” the official said.

“We will continue with our operations to weed out the drug menace from Handwara,” the official remarked.

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JAMMU — The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Sunday dismissed three employees under Article 311 of the Constitution of India for their involvement in anti-national activities.

An official said the activities of these employees had come to the adverse notice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies as they found them involved in activities prejudicial to the interests of the State, such as involvement in terror-related activities and drug trafficking.

"Manzoor Ahmad Itoo, Junior Engineer (Public Works Department) in PMGSY, Bandipora, Syed Saleem Andrabi, Orderly in Social Welfare Department, Tehsil Handwara, District Kupwara, and Mohd Aurif Sheikh, Teacher in Government Middle School, Pagihalla, Mahore, Reasi are the employees against whom action has been taken," he said.

"Manzoor Ahmad Itoo had played an important role in mobilizing people in support of the terrorists and also motivating youth to join terrorist ranks, which posed a serious threat to the security of the Indian State," the official said.

"Syed Saleem Andrabi has been found involved in drug trafficking. Further, Mohd Aurif Sheikh, has been found involved in planting IEDs, on the instructions of terrorists operating from Pakistan, thus causing loss of human lives and damage to public properties," he said.

"Government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-national elements who have been taking advantage of being in government," the official said, adding that prior to these three dismissals, 44 government officials have been dismissed invoking provisions of Article 311 of the Constitution of India.

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HANDWARA — A soldier ended his life inside the Army camp after shooting his head with his service rife in north Kashmir’s Handwara town.

Official sources, as per the news agency KNT, said that some gunshots were heard inside 21 RR Bagatora Handwara camp.

When soldiers rushed to the spot to ascertain the facts, they found a sentry in a pool of blood with a head injury. He was taken to the local sub-district hospital where doctors declared him dead. The victim has been identified as Lance Naik Shiv Kumar.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police have initiated proceedings under section 174 CrPC.

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SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday said that it has arrested a man along with cash of over Rs. 57 lakh concealed in a geyser in Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Kashmir Zone Police in a tweet said that a man identified as Syed Irfan Abdullah was arrested during a Naka checking in Braripora area of Handwara.

They said a case has been registered and further investigation had been taken up in this regard.

“During Naka checking at Braripora Handwara, police apprehended one Syed Irfan Abdullah, resident of Laribal, Handwara and recovered cash amounting Rs. 57.43 lacs concealed in a geyser. The Magistrate was also present on the spot. Case registered and investigation started,” police tweeted.

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HANDWARA — A four-year-old boy was killed in a leopard attack at Monabal Haril area of Langate in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, officials said on Sunday evening.

Officials, as per news agency KNO, said that a minor boy was playing outside his home when a man-eater wild animal attacked him and left him critically injured.

They said that the injured was taken to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him dead. "After medico-legal formalities, the body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites," they said.

The officials identified the minor boy as Saqib-Din-Badana son of Baya Din Badana of Londa-Lohikot village of Monabal in Langate.

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SRINAGAR — Two civilians were injured when security forces opened fire on protesters in north Kashmir’s Handwara town, 80 km from here, following an altercation between locals and the Army while later was making a video of devotees during afternoon prayers.

Sources told CNS that Army personnel of 21 RR were making videos of devotees while they were entering Masjid for Zuhar prayers at Jamia Jadeed in main chowk Handwara to which some people objected and there was an altercation between the Army and civilians.

During the altercation, 'accidental' firing was reported in which two persons received injuries in their legs.

The injured, identified as Abdul Ahad Mir from Rajwar and Mujeeb Ahmad Sofi from Handwara, have been hospitalized and are said to be stable.

Meanwhile, speaking to CNS, SSP Sandeep Gupta said that there has been an 'accidental' fire and two persons were injured.

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SRINAGAR —An unidentified militant has been killed in an ongoing encounter that raged between forces and militants in Rajwar village in Handwara of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that one militant has been killed while his identification is being ascertained. They said that operation is on in the area. Earlier, following specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a Cordon and Search operation (CASO) was launched this night during which the hiding militants fired upon the security forces, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter, they said. This post first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — An encounter broke out between forces and militants in Rajwar village in Handwara of northern Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that following specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a Cordon and Search operation (CASO) was launched this night During the searches, the hiding militants fired upon the security forces, which was retaliated, thus leading to an encounter, they said. The operation was on when the report was last filed. This post first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Police on Friday said that a newly recruited militant was arrested in an injured condition at Langate Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

A top police officer told GNS that the injured is presently admitted to the hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.

The injured militant has been identified as Abrar Hassan son of Ghulam Hassan Gojri, resident of Azad Gunj Baramulla, the officer said.

The top police further said that Abrar was earlier a stone pelter and there are two FIRs registered against him. Later on, he started working as an OGW.

He said that searches have been launched to trace another militant who was accompanying the injured.

He said there was a brief shootout as soon as the duo saw the joint party of Police and Army.

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