The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — In a significant breakthrough, police have apprehended the primary suspect linked to the killing of two Punjab residents in Srinagar, said IGP Kashmir VK Birdi.

During a press conference at Police Control Room, Inspector General of Police VK Birdi revealed that following the registration of FIR number 08/2024 under sections 302, 307 IPC, 7/27 Arms Act, 15, 16, 20 ULA(P) Act at Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, police successfully cracked the case.

The investigation led to the identification and subsequent arrest of the main accused responsible for the attack on the two individuals from Punjab, along with the recovery of the weapon and other incriminating materials.

IGP Birdi elaborated that Srinagar Police, utilizing technical and field analysis, narrowed down suspects and ultimately apprehended the main accused, identified as Adil Manzoor Langoo, a resident of Zaldager, Srinagar.

Investigations revealed Langoo's conspiracy with a handler in Pakistan, who radicalized and motivated him through social media to carry out the attack. The accused, according to the IGP, was supplied the weapon by his handler in Pakistan as part of the conspiracy, and subsequently, urged to execute the attack.

The attack occurred on February 7 when militants targeted two carpenters, both residents of Amritsar, Punjab, in the Shallakdal area of Old City in Srinagar. While one carpenter, Amrit Pal Singh, was killed, the other, Rohit Mashi, sustained critical injuries and succumbed to them the following day.

SRINAGAR — In a display of unity and resilience, hundreds of individuals from diverse backgrounds took to the streets of Kashmir on Thursday to condemn the killing of two young workers from Punjab.

According to reports received here, candlelight vigils were held across various districts of Kashmir, spanning north, south, and central regions, as a poignant protest against the recent killings. Demonstrators passionately voiced their plea for an end to violence, advocating for a future characterized by peace and fairness.

During these gatherings, participants resounded with chants denouncing the senseless loss of innocent lives and stood in solidarity with the bereaved families of the victims. They lamented these tragic events as sombre chapters in Kashmir's history, evoking widespread sorrow and anguish among the populace.

Echoing a collective desire for tranquillity, the demonstrators underscored the imperative of moving beyond the spectre of violence and embracing a life of harmony alongside their loved ones. They emphasized the inherent value and sanctity of human existence, urging against its wanton squandering.

Furthermore, the protesters vehemently condemned these acts of aggression as deliberate endeavours to disrupt peace and impede the region's developmental progress.

The recent violence unfolded on Wednesday evening when Amritpal Singh, a 31-year-old hailing from Amritsar, Punjab, fell victim to a fatal shooting by militants in the Shaheed Gunj area of Srinagar. His companion, Rohit, aged 25, sustained grave injuries and tragically succumbed to them at a tertiary care hospital in Srinagar on Thursday morning.

SRINAGAR — One of the victims critically injured in yesterday's militant attack in Srinagar's Shalkadal area has passed away at the hospital this morning.

According to a senior official, Rohit Mashi, who was rushed to SMHS Hospital Srinagar along with another victim, Amritpal, following the attack, couldn't survive his injuries.

Suspected militants opened fire on Amritpal and Rohit yesterday, resulting in Amritpal's immediate demise at the scene, while Rohit succumbed to his injuries today. "Both deceased hailed from Punjab," the official added.

BARAMULLA — An army soldier was killed while performing an operational task in the forward area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Army informed that the incident occurred on Friday late at night.

The victim soldier has been identified as Gunner Gurpreet Singh, who hails from Gurdaspur, Punjab.

Army, as per the news agency KNT, said that Chinar Corps regrets the unfortunate demise of Gunner Gurpreet Singh while performing operational task in forward area in Baramulla sector.

SRINAGAR — Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) J&K, Raj Kumar on Thursday claimed to have busted an inter-state narco smuggling racket by arresting two Punjab residents along with 35 poppy straw packets.

“Acting on information, we seized an Innova vehicle bearing number PB-08 CP 0517 at Shampora, Qazigund. Two persons Amandeep Singh and Manohar Singh, both residents of Gurdaspur, Punjab were arrested along with 35 packets of poppy straw. The vehicle has been seized as well,” the SSP ANTF said as per the news agency KNO.

He said more forward and backward links of the case are being investigated and there are chances of more arrests. “He said that once the narco-smuggling links are established, we also seize the properties of the accused,” the SSP said.

He said in the last month, 5 kg of Charas, 200 bottles of Codeine, 900 tablets of Alprazolam besides other drugs were seized. “Heroine was also seized as well,” the SSP said.

He said ANTF is specialized in investigating narco-smuggling cases and people must come forward and provide leads about peddlers and smugglers.

As per the statement of ANTF, last month one person from West Bengal and another from Maharashtra were arrested as well along with two kilograms of Charas. A resident of Gujarat was also arrested along with 3.8 kilograms of Charas last month. “Further investigations are on,” he said.

SRINAGAR — A youth from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district has gone missing from Ludhiana city of the northern Indian state of Punjab.

Firdous Ahmed Peer, a resident of the Muqam Dardpora Kralpora area of Kupwara, went missing on February 17 this year and since then his whereabouts is unknown to his family.

The family members, including the mother and the sister of the missing youth, emerged in Press Enclave Srinagar to attract the attention of the media towards the matter.

“He was working in a hotel at Ludhiana where he had gone along with a friend from Anantnag. The hotel authorities informed us that Firdous is untraceable since February 17,” one of the relatives told the news agency KNT.

Another relative said that police in Ludhiana don’t take the issue seriously. “We repeatedly visited the police station in Ludhiana but the men in uniform are not giving serious heed and no efforts are being made to locate our missing relative,” he said.

The protesting family appealed to the Jammu & Kashmir Police and Kupwara district administration to take up the issue with the Punjab Police.

PUNJAB — Congress MP from Jalandhar, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, died during Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday morning in Phillaur area of Punjab, officials said.

According to the reports of Srinagar-based news agency KDC, Singh was walking along with Rahul Gandhi in the Yatra when he suddenly felt unwell as his heartbeat increased.

The leader was taken to Phagwara’s Virk Hospital, where he was declared dead, the reports said, adding that Rahul Gandhi has left Bharat Jodo Yatra and reached the hospital after receiving the news.

A congress leader said that the Yatra has been suspended for the day.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Bharat Jodo Yatra commenced on September 7 last year from Kanyakumari and will culminate on January 30 in the summer capital Srinagar.

UDHAMPUR — An alleged narcotic dealer was crushed to death by an unknown vehicle while his associate was apprehended by police along with the heroin and cash in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, local police said on Thursday.

Divulging information about the incident, ADGP Jammu, Mukesh Singh said that a patrolling party of Police Station Udhampur which was on patrolling duty near Gole Mela petrol pump noticed two persons moving in a suspicious manner.

“On seeing the police party, both persons ran towards the main road. One person while on run was knocked down by an unknown vehicle and said person got seriously injured. The police party on duty immediately shifted the injured person to the district hospital from where he was referred to GMC Jammu and during treatment, he succumbed to his injuries,” the statement said.

The deceased has been identified as Mukhtiar Ahmed, a resident of Prada Tangdhar area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara.

Police said that his other accomplice namely Jagtar Singh of Pakhopur Taran Taran Punjab was immediately nabbed and after a thorough search of his vehicle, nearly 250-gram heroin along with huge cash amounting to rupees 19134030 (one crore ninety-one lakh thirty-four thousand and thirty) of different denominations was recovered.

“A case under relevant sections has been registered and investigation set into motion. A preliminary investigation reveals that both persons were involved in the narco trade. However, detailed investigation of the case is going on,” police said.

PUNJAB (PAKISTAN) — According to local media on Sunday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, defeated the ruling coalition by winning 17 out of the 20 seats up for election in Punjab by-polls.

According to Pakistani media, the vast coalition of powerful figures, including former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Maryam Nawaz, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and leader of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is on the verge of suffering a significant defeat in the province. Only 2 seats have PLM-N in the lead, while only 1 seat has an Independent candidate.

Up until April, when then-Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar resigned following the federal parliament's vote of no-confidence in Khan, Punjab was governed by the PTI party.

A portion of the party's state parliamentarians voted in favour of the PMLN's candidacy, which led to the PTI's subsequent nomination for the position being rejected. Khan then successfully petitioned the Pakistani Election Commission to dismiss the state Assembly legislators for improperly voting against the party's request, creating vacancies for 20 seats.

Sharif's party now owns 165 seats, while PTI retains 163, thus it will be a close contest. Sharif and coalition members are in charge of the Assembly.

There are now 20 open seats in the Punjab Assembly, which has a total membership of 371, bringing the total number of MPAs there to 351.