The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A driver has allegedly killed his wife on Wednesday in northern Kashmir's Kupwara district.

An official quoted by the local news agency Kashmir Scroll that Amjid Ahmad, son of Abdul Rasheed Mughal and a resident of Shartpalla Tangdhar, killed his wife, namely Sobia Begum.

He said that the man, who is a driver by profession, killed his wife at own residence Shartpalla Tangdhar by strangulating her.

Meanwhile, the local police have arrested the accused while further investigation has been taken up.

JAMMU — The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday claimed to have solved a five-year-old murder case of a temple priest with the arrest of the main accused from Haryana.

Baba Pragat Nath (65), a resident of Uttar Pradesh, was found dead with injuries to his head inside the temple in Toph Sherkhania on the intervening night of November 15 and 16, 2019.

Following the murder, a case was registered at Bakshi Nagar police station and an extensive investigation was launched, which pointed to the involvement of two notorious criminals — Tarlok Singh of Uttar Pradesh and Ashish Kumar alias Hansai Nath of southwest Delhi, a police official said.

He said both the accused fled after the murder. It was later learnt that Singh had died.

However, the police continued to make efforts to arrest Kumar, the official said and added he was finally apprehended from Haryana’s Jind district by a special team from Bakshi Nagar police station.

The official said investigations revealed that Singh and Kumar operated as part of a gang involved in multiple criminal activities, including theft, cheating and murder, across states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Following Kumar’s arrest, all necessary legal formalities were completed and the charge sheet in the case was filed, he said.

SRINAGAR — A man was killed after he was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon on Tueaday evening at Dalgate area of Srinagar while the accused involved in the crime has been arrested.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a man was attacked in the late evening hours of Tuesday at Dalgate Srinagar, leaving him critically wounded.

He added that a man identified as Bilal Ahmad Guroo, son of Nazir Ahmed Guroo, resident of Bemina Srinagar, received serious injuries and was shifted to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Officials further added that the accused person identified as Hilal Ahmad involved in the crime has been arrested, and police have taken up the investigation.

Meanwhile, police in a post on X said that a scuffle broke out between two fruit vendors following which one among them stabbed the other to death.

"Scuffle between two fruit vendors broke out in Dalgate area in which Hilal Ahmad Shera S/o Riyaz Shera R/o Tengpora stabbed Bilal Guroo R/o Bemina to death. FIR No. 70/2024 u/s 302 IPC regd in PS RM Bagh & investigation taken up.

Accused arrested & weapon of offence recovered," Police wrote on X.

SRINAGAR — An elderly woman was allegedly killed by her son in Rafiabad area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

An official quoted by a local news agency said that a lady (name withheld), aged 48 years and a resident of Hadipora Sopore, was allegedly attacked by her son with a knife and injured critically.

However, she was immediately taken to Sub-district Hospital Sopore where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

The official further said that soon after the incident, police reached the spot and arrested the accused son involved in the crime. He identified the accused as Amir Farooq Wani.

The official further said a case in this regard bearing FIR number 28/2024 under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation has been set into motion. He said the weapons of offence has also been seized from the spot.

POONCH — Tragedy struck in Poonch district as a family dispute escalated into a fatal altercation, resulting in the death of a nephew allegedly shot by his uncle using a licensed 12-bore rifle.

According to officials quoted by a local news agency, the incident occurred during the night between Friday and Saturday. Joginder Singh, son of Jodh Singh, reportedly opened fire with his licensed firearm, fatally shooting his nephew Gagandeep Singh on the spot.

"The situation unfolded amidst a clash between two factions within the family, sparked by an ongoing dispute," stated an official familiar with the matter.

Law enforcement authorities have swiftly responded to the incident. A police official said that the accused has been apprehended, and the weapon allegedly used in the shooting has been seized for further investigation.

BUDGAM — In a significant development, Budgam Police on Thursday presented the chargesheet in the case FIR No. 49/23 U/S 302, relating to the tragic killing of Kaisar Yousuf Zargar of Gowharpora Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

In a statement to the news agency KDC, Budgam Police said Kaiser was murdered on March 9, 2023 at Nasrullahpora in Budgam. The chargesheet was submitted before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Budgam.

The charge sheet provides comprehensive details surrounding the circumstances leading to the crime and sheds light on the events that unfolded on that fateful day. "The accused, Abid Hussain Dar, premeditated the act by procuring a knife one day prior to the incident, with the specific intent to harm the victim. On the day of the occurrence, the accused viciously attacked Kaisar Yousuf Zargar with a knife, tragically resulting in his death."

"The investigative team has meticulously gathered and examined the evidence, including witness statements, forensic reports, and other relevant materials, to build a solid case against the accused. The charge sheet encompasses these findings, providing a comprehensive account of the events surrounding the incident," the statement said.

The statement further stated that the presentation of the charge sheet is a significant step forward in the legal proceedings, bringing the case closer to a fair trial.

SRINAGAR — Srinagar Police on Wednesday said it solved a blind murder case by arresting an accused involved in stabbing a man to death in Batamaloo area of Srinagar last evening.

Addressing a press conference, Superintendent of Police (SP) South Srinagar, Gaurav Sikarwar, as per the news agency KNO, said that a teenager had stabbed a man identified as Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, as the deceased was against the relationship between the accused and his daughter.

"Soon after the killing took place last evening, a case under FIR number 67 was registered and an investigation was taken up," he said, adding that CCTV footage was analyzed and some suspects were identified.

"One of the suspects was zeroed in and he was questioned, following which he confessed to the crime, saying that he took revenge as he was in a relationship with the deceased's daughter for the last one year," SP South said.

He said the accused last evening got a chance and stabbed him with a sharp-edged weapon. "The case was cracked within hours as the accused was arrested at 2:00 AM in the night. Blood-stained shirt, trousers and the knife used in the crime were recovered," he said.

Pertinently, a 45-year-old man was stabbed to death last evening in Batamaloo area of Srinagar following which police launched a probe to arrest the accused.

Meanwhile, police in a statement said that one juvenile (name withheld) has been arrested for murder in broad daylight in Batmaloo yesterday.

"He was having a romantic interest in the daughter of the victim. As he is above 16 years and the offence is heinous, a petition will be filed in court to treat him as an adult as per section 15 of Juvenile Justice Act 2015," police said.

SRINAGAR — A man was stabbed to death in Bypass-Batamaloo area of summer capital Srinagar on Tuesday.

Some unknown persons allegedly attacked a man identified as Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Momin-Abad at Bypass-Batmaloo near Dar Iron Traders in Srinagar on Tuesday evening, news agency KDC reported.

The man was taken to JVC Hospital Srinagar, where doctors declared him dead.

Principal JVC, Dr Irfan confirmed the death and said the man was brought dead to the hospital.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and an investigation has been set into motion.

AWANTIPORA — Police in Awantipora produced a chargesheet of the murder case before the Hon’ble Court of Law.

A case FIR No. 05/2023 was registered on January 9, 2023 in Police Station Pampore regarding the murder of Rozy Jan wife of Muzaffar Ahmad Ganie, resident of Kadlabal Pampore and the investigation of the case was assigned to SDPO Pampore, Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir.

During the investigation, all cogent evidence(s) including oral, documentary, circumstantial, medical and technical were collected by the investigating officer and the case was chargesheet against the accused within the mandatory period of 90 days before the Hon’ble Court of Law against the accused Altaf Ahmed Ganie.

It is pertinent to mention here that the deceased was murdered by her brother-in-law when she resisted sexual exploitation by the accused.

SSP Awantipora has extended his gratitude to all those people who cooperated with the Police in the course of the investigation. He also appreciated the efforts of the investigating officer in concluding the investigation of the case within the stipulated time.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday claimed to have solved a blind murder case by arresting three accused persons involved in the heinous crime.

A team of Police Station Nowgam, Srinagar made a significant breakthrough in a blind murder case that has been under investigation when they arrested three accused on April 4 who were involved in the heinous crime.

The accused have been identified as Sahil Maqbool Najar, his wife Mehak Sahil, and Waseem Ahmad Sheikh, all residents of Narkara Budgam. These three are also found involved in drug peddling activities as well, police said.

The case relates to an unidentified dead body that was found at village Tengan on March 15, 2023. Later, the deceased was identified as Suhail Rehman Beigh, a resident of Karfali Mohalla in Srinagar.

Following his identification and leads in the investigation, a case under FIR No. 48/23 under Section 302 IPC was registered at Police Station Nowgam.

A team of Police Station Nowgam headed by the Station House Officer Nowgam has been conducting a thorough investigation into the case, making use of available evidence to identify and track down the suspects.

The accused Waseem Shiekh was arrested for helping the other two accused for disposing off the body by ferrying it in a Sumo vehicle from their rented accommodation at Palpora Sonwar to Tengan. "The instant Sumo has been identified and seized in the instant case," they said.

Further investigation of the case is going on, police added.

BUDGAM — District Legal Services Authority here in central Kashmir’s Budgam district has directed the police to lodge cases against the persons who have uploaded and circulated the pictures and videos of the female victim, murdered by a carpenter in Mohandpora Soibugh area of Budgam.

In a communique to the police, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Budgam has said that it has been observed that the media and general public have been circulating the videos of the recent victim of Soibugh Budgam, who was murdered brutally.

“Moreover, the pictures of the victim and the videos of her autopsy have also been uploaded and circulated by a number of persons, thereby violating the right to privacy of the victim and her family. Such actions of these persons and agencies are against the law wherein the identity of the victim is revealed and even her private videos have been uploaded and circulated including the video of the autopsy of the deceased victim, which is punishable under law,” it said.

District Legal Services Authority has asked the media and the general public to stop revealing the identity of the victim and also circulating her pictures immediately, failing which the violators shall be booked under the law.

“SSP Budgam is directed to lodge FIR against the persons who have uploaded and circulated the pictures and videos of the victim. Further, Special Mobile Magistrate Budgam is requested to direct the concerned social media agencies to remove the pictures and videos of the victim from all social media platforms and also block the accounts of such violators,” it added.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a man for allegedly killing and chopping a girl, missing from the last four days, in Soibugh area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

An official told the news agency KDC that Budgam Police have arrested a person identified as Shabir Ahmad Wani (45) son of Abdul Aziz Wani, a resident of Mohanpora Ompora for killing a 30-year-old unmarried woman of Soibug at his home in Mohanpora (Ompora), chopped off her head, sliced the body into pieces and dumped the same at different spots in Budgam.

He said that the man, who is married and a carpenter by profession, during the questioning revealed that he has murdered the girl and cut her body into pieces and disposed off at different locations including Railway bridge Ompora and Sebden, where from her head and other parts of the body were recovered.

It is in place to mention that Budgam Police recovered all pieces of the body last night.

A police officer, while confirming the incident, said that the accused person was arrested and all the body parts were recovered from different locations including her head from his home and further investigation into the case is going on.

SRINAGAR — Police have arrested a man for killing her sister-in-law in Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

“On January 8, at around 1730 hours, police received information that the body of one woman identified as Rozi Jan (40) wife of Muzafar Ahmad Ganie of Kadlabal Pampore was brought to SDH Pampore by (her) in-laws,” a police spokesperson said in a statement, adding, “Since the cause of her death prima facie appeared to be suspicious, police after completion of a medico-legal procedure initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 CrPC to ascertain the cause of death.”

Keeping in view the sensitivity of the case, he said, a special investigating team was constituted by SSP Awantipora under the supervision of SDPO Pampore and the investigation was set into motion.

“During the course of the investigation, several family members including the husband of the deceased were called for questioning,” he said, adding, “During questioning of some of the relatives of the deceased, the SIT zeroed in on one Altaf Ahmad Ganie, the brother-in-law of the deceased for further questioning.” After sustained questioning, he said, Altaf confessed to his involvement in the murder.

“During questioning, he disclosed that since his sister-in-law was alone at home and thus taking advantage of her loneliness, he tried to exploit her sexually. However, the deceased strongly resisted this and raised hue and cry,” the spokesperson said, adding, “The accused further disclosed that although he first tried to pacify her but when she continuously called for help, this frustrated the accused who later strangulated her to death and thereafter fled away from the spot.”

During the further course of the investigation, he said, it also came to the fore that at around 1700 hours, the 11-year-old daughter of the deceased came back home and after seeing her mother apparently dead, she called for help. “Thereafter, some of the neighbours, including the accused, came and took the lady to hospital where doctors declared her brought dead,” he said.

The accused, he said, Altaf (44) is a driver by profession who is unmarried and is living separately in the same house. “Pertinently, he was accompanying when the dead body was taken to the hospital so that no one would suspect his involvement in the murder,” he said, adding, “In this regard, a case FIR No. 05/2023 under relevant sections of law already stands registered in Police Station Pampore and the accused has been arrested. Investigation of the case is going on.”

SRINAGAR — ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh on Wednesday said that no militant angle has emerged during the investigation of the murder case of DGP HK Lohia.

As per ADGP Jammu, no militant angle has emerged during the investigation of the case of the murder of HK Lohia.

"Interrogation of the accused is in progress. His disclosures are being corroborated by field investigation. Details will follow," the officer added.

DG Prison HK Lohia was found murdered at the residence of his friend. His domestic helper was found absconding after the incident.

After a night-long hunt, his domestic helper was apprehended within eight hours after the crime.

SRINAGAR — The prime accused in the murder of Jammu and Kashmir's Director General (Prisons) Hemant K Lohia, Yasir Ahmed, was apprehended on Tuesday after a massive search was launched to nab him.

Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, described it as an “extremely unfortunate” incident.

Mukesh Singh, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu Zone, said Lohia, a 1992-batch IPS officer, was found dead with burn injuries on his body and his throat slit when he visited the house in Udaiwala on the outskirts of Jammu.

The guards stationed at the officer’s residence observed fire in Lohia’s room. He explained that they had to break open the door because it was locked from the inside.

The ADGP said the preliminary investigation of the crime scene points to murder and the interrogation of the accused is underway. “The investigation has begun. Senior officers are on the scene," the officer said, adding that the J&K Police family is devastated by the death of their senior officer.

Mukesh said some CCTV footage collected from the incident site also showed the suspected accused running away after committing the crime. "He (Ahmed) had been working at this house for nearly six months. Initial investigations reveal he was quite aggressive and was also suffering from depression as per sources," Singh said.

He added, "Police have also seized some documentary evidence, including his diary, reflecting his mental state."

What appears to be Ahmed's diary reveals a depressed mind fixated on death. "Dear death, come into my life," says a note. "I'm sorry I am having a bad day, week, month, year, life," says another.

The diary has songs in Hindi, one of which is titled, "Bhula dena mujhe (Forget me)". Other pages are filled with short sentences and notes - "I hate my life", "Life is just grief…" - and one has a chart that starts with a drawing of a phone battery labelled "My Life 1%", "Love 0%, Tension 90%, Sad 99%, Fake Smile 100%."

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested five persons including the husband and in-laws in a murder case of a lady in Bemina area of Srinagar.

“On 27-06-2022, Police Station Batamaloo Srinagar received information through reliable sources to the effect that at Nundresh Colony-B Bemina, one lady namely Tasleema Bano (aged 38 years), wife of Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar of Nundresh Colony-B Bemina Srinagar has died at her in-laws house in suspicious condition and was taken to SMHS Srinagar where doctors brought her dead,” a police spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency KNO.

Upon reception of this information, a report has been entered into the daily dairy of Police Station Batamaloo vide GD No. 30; dated 27-06-2022 and proceedings under section 174 CrPC initiated, police said.

“During questioning, some suspects particularly her in-laws were brought to this P/S for questioning. However, a report from the Pathology department received and has been submitted that after the perusal of complete postmortem examination, the doctors' team are of the opinion that the findings are consistent with death due to Asphyxia (Smothering),” the statement added.

Upon this, police said that a case under FIR number 109/ 2022 under Section 302 stands registered and an investigation was set into motion.

Five suspected persons including three females and two males identified as Hafeeza Begum wife of Ghulam Qadir Dar, Sumiyaa wife of Parvaiz Ahmad Dar, Siaqa wife of Yasir Ahmad Dar, Parvaiz Ahmad Dar son of Gh Qadir Dar and Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar son of Gh Qadir Dar—all residents of NR Colony Bemina were arrested in the instant case and further investigation in the instant case is still going on.

Meanwhile, police appealed to people to come forward if they have any information about this case and thereby cooperating and fulfilling their civic duty, this will greatly help in the investigation of this heinous crime against women.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal said that police didn't come under any pressure and proceeded as per the law. “Justice will be done,” he said.

UDHAMPUR — A man was allegedly murdered by his son in Ramnagar village of Udhampur district on Tuesday.

Officials told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a man namely Gopi Chand son of Dhuni Chand, resident of Kaghote Ramnagar, was brought to District Hospital Udhampur in injured condition but he was declared dead by doctors.

"It was a case of assault after which cognizance of the matter was taken in Police Station Ramnagar and investigation was started," officials said.

They added that son of the victim, identified as Joginder Kumar, turned out to be the main suspect of the incident who was intercepted and detained.

"He confessed during questioning for his involvement in his murder after which he has been arrested and weapon of offence, which is a hammer, has been recovered," said officials.

They added that some verbal duel that took place between the father-son duo last evening was the reason for the incident. "Son, in a fit of anger, attacked his father with hammer while he was sleeping."

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday said to have arrested two sons from central Kashmir's Soura area on charges of murdering their father and dumping his body in Dal Lake.

"On 07/04/2022 on a reliable information that an unidentified body was lying in the Dal Lake near Akhoon Mohalla Foreshore road, Police Station Nigeen swung into action and fished out the body from the said spot and shifted it to the hospital for medico-legal formalities followed by inquest proceedings under section 174 CRPC," said a police spokesperson in a statement issued to GNS.

"The body was identified as of Khurshid Ahmad Tota, 62, son of Ghulam Nabi Tota, resident of Elahibagh Soura," the statement reads.

"After medical formalities, the body was handed over to its legal heirs. The preliminary medical report revealed marks on the neck etc. Also, through an investigation into other suspicious circumstances, it came to the fore that the deceased has been murdered by unknown persons who then threw the body into the Dal Lake and accordingly, case FIR number 34/2022 u/s 302, 120 (B) IPC, 201 IPC was registered in Police Station Nigeen and investigation was taken up," the statement reads.

"Through circumstantial evidence, oral witnesses, CCTVs and technical analysis, it came to the fore that the deceased was killed by his family members at their home on the evening of April 5 after some altercation, and the body was kept at home for a day," the statement maintains, adding that on the evening of April 6, after proper planning, they shifted the body in an i20 vehicle and threw it into the Dal Lake to conceal the crime.

"The two sons of the deceased have been arrested and the vehicle seized with the further investigation going on. More arrests will follow," concludes the statement.

KUPWARA — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said that it has resolved the murder case of an 8-year-old kid whose body was found today in the woods of Kupwara after almost three weeks and the two main accused have been arrested.

"Since February 15, we had been probing all angles. We searched wetlands, woods and manholes etc. During the course of investigations, it came to light that one Amir Khan and his mother hatched a conspiracy to abduct and kill the 8-year-old Talib," SSP Kupwara Yougal Manhas told reporters as per news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that over some personal rivalry with the victim's family, Amir Khan and his mother murdered the 8-year-old Talib and buried him in the woods in Awoora area of Kupwara district.

The SSP said both accused have been arrested and further questioning is going on.