The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — In the past five years, the Government of India has banned nine separatist groups in Jammu & Kashmir.

Details available with news agency KNO reveal that the Union Home Ministry has declared nine separatist groups in J&K as unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-1967, since 2019.

On February 18, 2019, the Union Home Ministry banned Jamaat-e-Islami, a cadre-based organisation with a pan-Kashmir presence. The MHA said that the outfit was involved in activities aimed at disrupting India’s integrity.

Nearly a month later, on March 22, 2019, the MHA declared the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) as an unlawful association for “supporting extremism and militancy” and indulging in “anti-national activity”.

On October 5, 2023, the Union Home Ministry banned jailed separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah's Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) for its "anti-India" and "pro-Pakistan" activities.

Two months later, on December 28, 203, the Union Home Ministry banned the Masarat Alam-led Muslim League, a separatist organisation, for “anti-national and secessionist” activities in J&K.

On December 31, 2023, the MHA banned Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) which was earlier headed by deceased separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

On February 28, 2024, the MHA first banned the Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Sumji faction) and Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Bhat faction) over 'terror' charges. They were respectively part of Hurriyat (G) and Hurriyat (M) before August 5, 2019.

On March 12, 2023, the government banned the Jammu & Kashmir National Front over charges of "indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country."

On March 16, 2024, the Government of India banned four factions of Jammu & Kashmir Peoples League (JKPL) and Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Freedom League (JKPFL).

The MHA declared factions of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League (JKPL), namely JKPL (Mukhtar Ahmed Waza), JKPL (Bashir Ahmad Tota), JKPL (Ghulam Mohammad Khan alias Sopori) also known as Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Political League and JKPL (Aziz Sheikh) led by Yaqoob Sheikh, as unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act-1967.

On the same day, the Centre banned the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Freedom League headed by Farooq Rehmani.

SRINAGAR — The Centre has constituted a tribunal consisting of Delhi High Court judges to adjudicate the ban on two factions of the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference.

According to an order, the tribunal, constituted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, will consist of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna of Delhi High Court.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had banned both factions of the Muslim Conference headed by Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat and Sumji respectively on February 28 under UAPA for five years.

Now, the Centre has constituted the tribunal for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring both factions as an unlawful association.

SRINAGAR — The Union Home Ministry has declared four factions of the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples League as unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

In a notification, the MHA has declared Peoples League (Mukthar Ahmad Waza), Peoples League (Bashir Ahmad Tota), Peoples League (Ghulam Ahmad Khan Sopori) and Peoples League (Sheikh Aziz) as unlawful associations) under the UAPA.

SRINAGAR — The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, announced on Saturday the declaration of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohammad Yasin Malik faction) as an 'unlawful association' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, effective immediately.

Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the Modi government has extended the ban on the 'Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohammad Yasin Malik faction)' for an additional five years, citing the organization's involvement in activities that foster 'terrorism' and separatism in the region.

The outlawed group's activities are deemed detrimental to the security, sovereignty, and integrity of the nation, warned Shah, emphasizing that severe legal consequences await those who challenge the nation's stability.

NEW DELHI — The Indian government has established a tribunal, headed by a judge from the Delhi High Court, to determine whether there are grounds to declare Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir, as an unlawful association.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the formation of the tribunal through a notification issued on Wednesday.

Citing a previous notification dated February 27, 2024, published in the Gazette of India, the MHA stated, "Jamaat-e-Islami has been declared as an unlawful association."

The notification further outlined that the Central Government is exercising its powers under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, to appoint Justice Navin Chawla, Judge of the High Court of Delhi, to lead the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal.

The tribunal's mandate is to assess whether there is sufficient cause to designate Jamaat-e-Islami as an unlawful association, as per the provisions outlined in the aforementioned Act.

This move comes after the Centre extended the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami for an additional five years on February 27, 2024. The organization was initially banned on February 28, 2019.

SRINAGAR — The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday declared the Jammu & Kashmir National Front (JKNF) headed by separatist leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

In a notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs declared the Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF) as an unlawful association.

The MHA did so by exercising powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Listing out the charges against JKNF, the MHA said that the separatist group is indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country.

The MHA said members of the JKNF have remained involved in supporting 'terrorist' activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir and providing logistic support to 'terrorists' in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The leaders and members of JKNF have been involved in mobilising violent protesters in various parts of Kashmir for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities, sustained stone pelting on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir," the MHA said.

”JKNF has constantly asked the people of Kashmir to refrain from taking part in elections and thereby targeted and hampered the very basic constitutionally recognized fundamentals of Indian democracy,” the Ministry said.

It said that JKNF and its members by their activities show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set-up of the country.

SRINAGAR — The Centre on Wednesday banned two factions of the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference led by Haji Ghulam Nabi Sumji and Prof Abdul Gani Bhat over anti-national activities.

Home Minister Amit Shah in a post on X said that by striking 'terror' networks with undiminished vehemence, the government has declared the Muslim Conference (Sumji faction) and Muslim Conference (Bhat faction) as Unlawful Associations.

He said that these outfits have been engaging in activities against the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.

"PM Modi's government is determined to uproot terrorism and anyone involved in unlawful activities will face dire consequences," he said.

SRINAGAR — The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on Tuesday announced the extension of the ban as an 'Unlawful Association' on Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Jammu Kashmir for another five years under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967.

Taking to microblogging site ‘X’, Home Minister Amit Shah wrote, “Pursuing PM @narendramodi Ji's policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and separatism, the government has extended the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu Kashmir for five years.”

“The organisation is found continuing its activities against the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation. The outfit was first declared an 'Unlawful Association' on 28 February 2019. Anyone threatening the security of the nation will face ruthless measures (sic.),” reads the post.

The last ban on the ‘Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir’ was imposed, vide Gazette Notification Number S.O. 1069(E), dated the 28th February, 2019.

Many criminal cases have been registered against the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir and its members under various sections of law including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

SRINAGAR — The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday ordered the posting of one AGMUT cadre IAS and one IPS officer to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

As per an order, 1996-batch IAS officer Chandraker Bharti and 2008-batch IPS officer Tejinder Singh have been posted to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Consequent upon repatriation from Central deputation, Chandraker Bharti is hereby posted to Jammu & Kashmir with immediate effect and until further orders,” read an order issued by the MHA.

Another order reads, “Consequent upon repatriation from Central deputation, Tejinder Singh is hereby posted to Jammu & Kashmir with immediate effect and until further orders.”

It is pertinent to mention here that Tejinder Singh joined the AGMUT cadre on February 14, 2024.

SRINAGAR — The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced a significant development on Monday, issuing orders for the transfer and posting of two IPS officers within the AGMUT cadre.

In a directive from the MHA, the order states, "Consequent upon repatriation from Central Deputation, two IPS officers of AGMUT Cadre are hereby posted as under with immediate effect and until further orders."

As per the order, Jatin Narwal, IPS (AGMUT:2006), is being transferred to Delhi, while Rajiv Omprakash Pande, IPS (AGMUT:2010), is being posted to Jammu & Kashmir.

The MHA's order concludes with, "This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority," signifying the official approval of the transfers.

SRINAGAR — The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has announced the promotion of Anand Jain and Chayya Sharma as Additional Director Generals of Police.

As per an official order issued in this regard, the decision was made following the recommendations of the Screening Committee during its meeting on December 20, 2023.

The order stated that in accordance with the recommendations of the Screening Committee held on December 20, 2023, Ms Chhaya Sharma, IPS (AGMUT-1999), Shri Anand Jain, IPS (AGMUT-1999), and Shri Nitish Kumar, IPS (AGMUT-1999), presently serving in the cadre, are hereby elevated to the ADGP Grade (Level 15 in the Pay Matrix) effective from January 1, 2024 or from the date of assumption of charge, whichever is later.

The order further clarified that this decision has received the approval of the Competent Authority.

Anand Jain and Chayya Sharma, both senior IPS officers, have been recognized for their contributions and dedication, marking a significant step in their careers within the law enforcement area.

SRINAGAR — The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has honoured Srinagar's Shergari Police Station as one of the top three 'best' police stations in the nation.

In a communication received by the Inspector General of Police in Kashmir Zone, Srinagar, the Joint Director and Conference Secretary of the Intelligence Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs conveyed that Shergari Police Station, located in District Srinagar, has been identified among the best three police stations in the country for the year 2023.

This recognition was officially confirmed through a communique issued by the Administrative Officer to the Director General of Police, Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu).

To commemorate this achievement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to present the prestigious trophy to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Shergari Police Station during an event scheduled at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur on January 5, 2024.

The SHO of Shergari Police Station has received explicit directives to attend the event in person and accept the esteemed award from Home Minister Amit Shah.

SRINAGAR — In a significant development, the Government of India has issued an order for the premature repatriation of IPS officer Rakesh Balwal to the Manipur cadre.

The decision was made official through an order issued by the Deputy Secretary to the Government of India. As per the order, Balwal, who belongs to the IPS (MA-2012) cadre, has been repatriated from the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories) cadre to Manipur.

This decision comes after a proposal from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and it received approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, marking the culmination of a process that took nearly a month.

Rakesh Balwal, who had been serving as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Srinagar, will now assume his new responsibilities in the Manipur cadre.

This move is expected to have significant implications for law enforcement and administration in both regions.

SRINAGAR — In a shocking revelation by the Centre, almost 10,000 women have gone missing from J&K from 2019 to 2021 with officials citing exorbitant use of social media as the main reason behind the missing cases.

In the Parliament, the Government of India revealed that around 10,000 women have gone missing in Jammu and Kashmir in three years from 2019.

In response to a question in Rajya Sabha, the Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, as per the news agency KNO, informed the Parliament that 9,765 women have gone missing from their homes in Jammu and Kashmir between 2019 to 2021.

In these three years, there were 1148 cases of missing girls below the age of 18 and 8,617 women aged above 18 have gone missing.

While giving yearly data, the MoS Home said that 355 girls and 2,738 women went missing in the year 2019, followed by 350 girls and 2,701 women in 2020 and 443 girls and 3,178 women in the year 2021.

As per the data available, just around 3300 women had gone missing in J&K from 2016-2018 while the number has tripled in the next three years from 2019-2021. As per the data, 943 women went missing in J&K in the year 2016, 1,044 in 2017 and 1,335 in 2018.

Meanwhile, the Government of India said that they have taken a number of initiatives for the safety of women across the country.

“The Criminal Law (Amendment), Act 2013 was enacted for effective deterrence against sexual offences. Further, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 was enacted to prescribe even more stringent penal provisions including the death penalty for the rape of girls below the age of 12 years. The Act also inter-alia mandates completion of the investigation and filing of charge sheet in rape cases in two months and trials to be completed in two months,” MoS Home said in Rajya Sabha.

“Emergency Response Support System provides a pan-India, single internationally recognized number (112) based system for all emergencies, with the computer-aided dispatch of field resources to the location of distress and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a cyber-crime reporting portal on 20th September, 2018 for citizens to report obscene content besides that MHA has launched the 'National Database on Sexual Offenders' (NDSO) on 20th September 2018 to facilitate investigation and tracking of sexual offenders across the country by law enforcement agencies,” he said.

“MHA has launched an online analytic tool 'Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences' for Police on 19th February 2019 to facilitate them to monitor and track time-bound investigation in sexual assault cases in accordance with Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018, in order to improve investigation. MHA has taken steps to strengthen DNA analysis units in Central and State Forensic Science Laboratories. This includes setting up of State-of-the-Art DNA Analysis Unit in Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh," he said.

He added, "MHA has also sanctioned setting-up and upgrading of DNA Analysis units in State Forensic Science Laboratories after gap analysis and demand assessment and MHA has notified guidelines for collection of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases and the standard composition in a sexual assault evidence collection kit. To facilitate adequate capacity in manpower, training and skill-building programs have been undertaken for Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers. Bureau of Police Research & Development has distributed 14,950 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to States/UTs as orientation kits as part of training.”

“MHA has also approved two projects for setting up and strengthening of Women Help Desks in Police Stations and Anti-Human Trafficking Units in all districts of the country and the Ministry of Home Affairs have issued advisories from time to time with a view to helping the States/UTS to deal with crimes against women, which are available at www.mha.gov.in while the Ministry of Women & Child Development has set up 733 One Stop Centres in the country. These centres provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence and in distress, under one roof and provide an integrated range of services including medical aid, legal aid, temporary shelter, police assistance, psycho-social counselling,” MoS said.

Meanwhile, some officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the exorbitant influence of social media leading to an elopement with strangers is the main cause for the rise in missing cases among the female population while few cases are also related to kidnapping and other issues.

They said that most of these women are brought back after cases are being registered and eloping with strangers whom they met on different social media apps is the main reason in most of the cases. “Women having weak family bonds are more prone to it besides that we must have a rethinking on the usage of social media,” they said.

SRINAGAR — The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday posted Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Shiv Darshan Singh Jamwal as the new police chief of the Union Territory of Ladakh.

According to an order, as per the news agency KNO, Jamwal has been transferred from Jammu and Kashmir to Ladakh UT.

"With the approval of the competent authority, Dr. Shiv Darshan Singh Jamwal, IPS (AGMUT: 1995), Additional Director General of Police, is transferred from Jammu & Kashmir and appointed as Head of Police, UT of Ladakh with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post and until further orders," reads the order.

KUPWARA — A day after the property of a TRF militant was attached in Sopore, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday attached the property of a slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander in Kralpora area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

An official told the news agency KNO that the property belonged to Bashir Ahmed Peer alias Imtiyaz Alam son of Late Mohammad Sikander Peer, a resident of Babapora, Kralpora who was shot dead in Rawalpindi on February 21 by unknown gunmen in Pakistan.

"Immovable property land measuring 3 kanals under survey numbers 3807/1479, 3810/1480, 1497and 1480 situated at Estate Batpora, Tehsil Kralpora, District Kupwara, J&K (UT) was attached by the NIA and were accompanied by the Jammu and Kashmir Police," the official added.

He said Imtiyaz was also designated an 'individual terrorist' under the UA(P)A and accused of NIA Case RC-29/2021/NIA/DLI by the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, dated 13-02-2023.

Notably, Peer as per the Ministry of Home Affairs participated in a number of online propaganda groups to unite ex-militants and other cadres for the expansion of activities of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and other militant organizations.

Pertinently, this is the third such action against militants operating from across the border.

Earlier on Thursday NIA attached the property of Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar alias ‘Latram’ - founder and chief commander of Al-Umar Mujahideen in Nowhatta area of Srinagar and on Friday, the property of TRP militant who is operating from Pakistan, Basit Reshi was attached in Sopore area.

SRINAGAR — The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday said that the year 2022 saw the highest number of anti-militancy operations in J&K in which 187 militants were killed while civilian and security forces killings were at an all-time low.

Replying to a query in Rajya Sabha, the MHA said that 111 counter-militancy operations were launched in 2022, which is the highest since 2018 that recorded 100 such operations.

“In 2018, 228 militancy-related incidents were recorded, 153 in 2019, 1126 in 2020, 129 in 2021 and 125 in 2022,” the MHA reply states as per the news agency KNO.

It further states that the year 2018 saw 189 encounters. “In 2019, 102 encounters were reported, 118 in 2020, 100 in 2021 and 117 in 2022,” the reply reads.

It further reads that 39 civilians were killed in 2018, 39 again in 2019, 37 in 2020, 41 in 2021 and 30 in 2022. “91 security forces personnel were killed in action in 2018, 80 in 2019, 62 in 2020, 42 in 2021 and 31 in 2022, (which is the lowest since 2018),” the reply adds.

It states that the year 2018 saw 100 counter-militancy operations while in the year 2019, 74 such operations were launched. “The year 2020 recorded 100 such operations, the year 2021 had 95 and the year 2022 had 111 (highest since 2018),” it reads.

The reply also states that in the year 2018, 17 militants were arrested, 20 in 2019, 21 in 2020, 17 in 2021 and 24 in 2022. “In 2018, the highest number of militants were killed at 257, 157 were killed in 2019, 221 in 2020, 180 in 2021 and 187 in 2022,” the reply reads.

In reply to another query, the MHA stated that no new Village Defence Groups (VDGs) were created while the existing ones are continuing. “At present, sanctioned strength of VDGs is 4985 of which 4153 have been constituted,” the reply reads.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu & Kashmir Government is likely to submit budget proposals of the Union Territory for 2023-24 to the Government of India in the next week.

According to the news agency KNO, sources privy to the development said that the UT administration has finalized the budget proposals for 2023-24 and revised estimates for 2022-23 and would submit them to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in the next week.

"The proposals would be submitted to the MHA for their forward submission to the Union Finance Ministry. This would be followed-up by discussions between J&K administration, MHA and Finance Ministry on the proposals," they said, adding that J&K’s budget is likely to be presented in the Parliament in the month of March.

The Central assistance for J&K would be announced in the Union Budget to be presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1. Last year, J&K was allocated Rs 35,581.44 crore in Central assistance.

On December 6, 2022, it was reported that the Union Finance Ministry has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to submit Jammu & Kashmir's budget proposals for the next fiscal year.

This will be the fourth consecutive budget of Jammu & Kashmir which will be presented in the Parliament in absence of the Legislative Assembly in the Union Territory. The budget is being presented in the Parliament as law-making powers of UT Assembly are vested with the Parliament in absence of elected government in J&K.

Jammu & Kashmir has been without an elected government since June 19, 2018. The budget for 2019-20 was approved by Governor Satya Pal as head of the State Administrative Council. After the abrogation of Article 370 and reorganization of J&K, all its budgets were presented in the Parliament by the Union Finance Ministry due to the absence of an elected Government in UT.

GANDERBAL — The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been awarded eight prestigious medals of the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training for the year 2021-22 ahead of Republic Day 2023.

As per the details from news agency KNO, Police Training School Manigam has bagged two medals and the officers who have been awarded the medals include DySP Syed Ahmad Badhana for Administration and Inspector Adil Bashir Makhdoomi for Indoor Category.

The objective of the institution of the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training is to recognize the importance of training and the trainers in police organizations and make training a respectable assignment and also to promote the quality of training and training institutions in the country.

An official, while talking to KNO, said that out of 320, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has bagged eight medals. “The Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training is established to recognize the significance of training and trainers within police organizations.”

The goal of this prestigious award is to inspire police personnel to excel in the field of training and to make training a respected assignment. "This award aims to increase the enthusiasm of trainers to improve the quality of training and training institutions in the country," he said.

The officer further said, “The award comes with a certificate signed by the Union Home Minister, a one-time cash reward of Rs. 25,000, and the names of the awardees are published in the Gazette of India and a register of such names is kept in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Bureau of Police Research and Development.”

NEW DELHI — The Narendra Modi government is prepared to take a few more audacious actions for Jammu and Kashmir after repealing Article 370 provisions.

According to unnamed sources quoted by News18 in a news report, J&K will experience major structural changes in the deployment of security forces in the coming days, including the withdrawal of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) soldiers from some locations and the deployment of paramilitary forces.

The report also said that proposals with modifications have been made and presented for preliminary approvals that were reviewed in a recent meeting in the MHA. The final meeting between the ministries of Home Affairs and Defence and other stakeholders is still to take place.

The Rashtriya Rifles would be phased down over the course of more than six years. However, authorities anticipate that the drawdown will occur sooner than anticipated and that certain phases will be accomplished by next year. In the coming months, the RR will reduce its personnel strength significantly.

The Rashtriya Rifles won't be entirely gone from J&K; they'll still have a strong presence in Jammu and Kashmir in the future.

Interestingly, the initial phase of the CRPF operation would likely be evident in the two Kashmir districts of Ganderbal and Budgam, which are under the jurisdiction of the Rashtriya Rifles for operations.

In a high-level meeting, it was resolved that the proposed drawdown would occur quickly in accordance with the circumstances and that the CRPF would get two districts for counterinsurgency operations. However, Rashtriya Rifles wants other forces to take over a few Nakas, ROPs, etc., first and that the district-level drawdown will thereafter take place.

On the other side, the report claims that Rashtriya Rifles prefers for other forces to take over a few Nakas, ROPs, etc. first and that the district-level drawdown will depend on the circumstances. Prior to deploying soldiers in accordance with the plan, RR wants police forces to seize control of the roadways.

In addition, the Centre has chosen a roadmap that calls for giving some police units new tasks. The MHA will reportedly push for additional specialized counterinsurgency operation teams, like Valley QAT, and give them cutting-edge weaponry. This decision will impact how the deployment of forces in various zones.

The government will continue to concentrate its efforts in the Valley, where it is anticipated that the CRPF will receive a role upgrade and be the only force deployed in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir.