The Kashmir Pulse

PULWAMA — Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain on Monday said that police are fully prepared to ensure peaceful Lok Sabha elections whenever they are announced and the force will provide a safe and secure atmosphere to enthusiastic voters.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating the police post at Rohmoo in the southern district of Pulwama, the DGP, as per the news agency KNO, said that the police force is fully prepared and geared up for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in J&K.

“We will ensure peaceful Lok Sabha polls in J&K. We will provide a safe and secure atmosphere to enthusiastic voters,” the DGP said, in reply to a query.

Replying to another query about links between 'narco-terror' and 'terrorism', the DGP said that earlier, they had a doubt whether these two were really linked. “As and when investigations progressed, concrete evidence came to the fore that narco-trade and terrorism are deeply not only linked but interconnected. Terrorist outfits like Al-Badr, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Toiba are behind this trade,” he said.

The J&K Police chief said that the value of Rs 15 lakh consignment of narcotics reaches up to Rs 1 crore while travelling from Kashmir to Delhi and other parts of the country.

“We have a robust mechanism to curb and crack this trade. It is not so easy but we are doing and the police force is capable to do it,” he said.

PULWAMA — Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain held a Public Darbar at Awantipora area in Pulwama district to address the security situation and grievances faced by the public, especially in South Kashmir.

Swain assured the media that the security situation was well under control, with successful management of law and order, street violence, and the smooth functioning of business establishments, schools, and colleges.

However, he acknowledged the challenge of foreign militants infiltrating into the region, particularly in Rajouri-Poonch and to some extent in Kashmir. Swain highlighted that the majority of militancy issues in J&K originated from outside, emphasizing the commitment to deal with this challenge, and expressed optimism that local support would play a crucial role in apprehending 'foreign terrorists'.

The DGP mentioned that the first grievance redressal in South Kashmir witnessed a significant turnout, with various issues such as cheating, domestic violence, and land disputes brought to the forefront. Swain stated that efforts were being made to resolve these issues and emphasized the importance of community involvement.

The Public Darbar initiative, led by DGP Swain, has gained popularity as a beneficial platform for the public to engage with law enforcement directly. Hundreds gathered at District Police Lines (DPL) Awantipora, presenting approximately 1200 applications during the Darbar. On-the-spot directions were given to address many concerns, and for pending cases, DGP Swain assured the formation of a committee.

Several attendees shared their experiences, highlighting the positive impact of the initiative.

A woman from Anantnag expressed hope for employment for her son, while an elderly man from Budgam praised the platform for addressing land ownership issues. Another individual from Pulwama commended the DGP's swift action against an official, underscoring the importance of holding similar Public Darbars in every district for timely issue resolution.

The attendees collectively emphasized the need for widespread redressal programs to swiftly resolve the concerns of the less privileged population.

JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir’s Police chief R R Swain on Saturday said that foreign militants are getting some support from “our territory” and the police was mindful of the security situation in the region.

Addressing the year-end press conference in Jammu, DGP Swain, as per the news agency KNO, said that he has already admitted that there is a security situation in Rajouri-Poonch region. “There are foreign fighters who have some support coming from our territory. Their (those supporting foreign militants) number is very, very limited,” he said.

He added, “The foreign fighters hide in houses with the result that information flow is less. They hide in caves, jungles and wilderness.”

As far as the counter-strategy is concerned, DGP Swain said that the same can’t be discussed before the media. “We have discussed the issue and strategy at the top level. We will effectively deal with it,” he said.

Recently, four soldiers were killed and two others injured in Poonch district of Jammu when heavily armed militants attacked an army vehicle at Dera Ki Gali. After the incident, many civilians were taken for questioning and three civilians allegedly died in army custody which triggered a massive public outcry.

The incident had forced army chief General Manoj Pande and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit the area to calm the nerves. Union Minister Singh visited the hospital to meet the civilians allegedly tortured and also the families of three slain civilians. He assured them that justice will be delivered.

To a query that PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has alleged that she wasn’t allowed to meet the families of three slain in Poonch, DGP Swain said that the job of the police is to ensure that the visit is not leveraged in a malicious manner.

Replying to a query about whether Rajouri-Poonch region was going back to what it was between 1997 to 2003, the DGP said that police are mindful and that there is a gap between the past and present situation. “We will fill this gap…,” he said.

8000 fake social media handles identified in J&K: DGP Swain

J&K Police wasn’t fighting against the gun-wielding militants only but also the false narrative being spread by almost 8000 fake social media handlers sitting across with an aim to incite trouble and glorify terrorism, Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain said.

“Our battle is not against terrorists only but against the narrative which is being spread by 8000 fake social media handles—Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Their handlers are sitting across and their aim is to incite trouble and glorify terrorism. They peddle wrong information. We are acting against them under the ambit of law after differentiating the genuine and not-genuine,” he said.

He added, “We will act against them under IT Act 61. If the need arises, we will catch hold of them through Interpol.”

The year 2024 will witness a decisive battle against narco-terror. “The links between narco-terror, separatism and terrorism was already nailed in 2022,” he said.

He added, “Links of narco-terrorism have been found in Kashmir to Jammu to Punjab and Delhi. Other links including the handlers were traced in Paris, Canada and Turkey. In the recent case of the Ramban narco-terror module, the mastermind was traced in Turkey.”

DGP Swain said that police are mindful of cybercrime and the fact is that this crime is going under-reported and affecting more people than what police actually knows.

“We are upgrading the system and lot more needs to be done to prevent cybercrimes," he said, adding that a large amount was traced and given back to the people who were cheated through internet fraud and digital world frauds.

POONCH — Director General of Police Rashmi Ranjan Swain arrived at the encounter site situated in the Surankote area of Poonch district, as confirmed by officials familiar with the situation.

According to sources quoted by a local news agency, the top-ranking police officer, accompanied by his subordinates, reached the site to evaluate the evolving scenario arising from the ongoing encounter.

During his visit, the police officer engaged in discussions with security forces overseeing the operation in the area. He provided strategic insights and guidance aimed at swiftly neutralizing the militants believed to be in hiding.

The encounter site along the DKG-Buffliaz road in Surankote witnessed a tragic incident where militants engaged security forces, resulting in the loss of five soldiers' lives, with two others currently receiving treatment following the intense firing.

JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain on Sunday said that revealing the number of militants would amount to a breach of “operational secrecy” even as only two militants are enough to carry out a “big strike.”

Talking to reporters after visiting the family of slain police constable Bodh Raj, a resident of Bakha Chak Samba, DGP Swain, as per the news agency KNO said that it is not permissible to reveal the number of active militants in J&K.

“The number of terrorists active is part of the operational secrecy of police and other forces. It is not advisable to reveal the number as just two terrorists can carry out a big strike,” he said, adding that a challenge is being tried to impose on the police and other forces in J&K. “As I have stated already, this challenge (militancy) is not going to overwhelm us,” he said.

The DGP said that J&K being a border area will face challenges. “We are not Madhya Pradesh,” he said, adding that strategy with the active support of the people will help defeat all nefarious designs hatched across the border.

Replying to a query, the DGP said that in Samba district, earlier, there was a challenge of tunnels and now drones continue to be a fresh challenge. “Those who receive consignments from drones like money, weapons and narcotics will be booked under tough laws. Those people are the real enemies of the nation and need to be dealt with strictly,” the DGP said.

He said that with the help of strong intelligence, people’s support, area domination and timely action, police and other forces will ensure drone challenges are countered effectively so that the “enemy stops sending drones to this part.”

Meanwhile, recalling the quality of the head and heart of the martyr Bodh Raj, the DGP said that the brave heart was one of the important members of his team. While interacting with the sons of the fallen hero, DGP Swain impressed upon them to work with dedication and honesty and added that Jammu and Kashmir Police as an institution is always at their beck and call. He impressed upon them to grab any opportunity which comes their way and also advised them to explore possibilities of self-employment and employment in the private sector as well.

DC Samba, Abhishek Sharma on the occasion assured all possible help and assistance to the family of brave heart. Slain constable Bodh Raj, a resident of Bakha Chak Samba had attained martyrdom in a car bomb blast at Residency Road Srinagar on August 10, 2000.