Militancy Case: NIA Conducts Raids Across Jammu and Kashmir, Seizes Digital Devices & Incriminating Data

Srinagar, Dec 5 (GNS): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday raided several locations across Jammu & Kashmir in connection with the terror conspiracy hatched and operationalised by the offshoots of the banned Pakistan-backed terrorist organisations including Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, Al-Qaeda and other associated groups.

An NIA statement in this regard issued to GNS, reads, “Teams of NIA cracked down on eight locations in the seven districts of Poonch, Shopian, Pulwama, Baramula, Ganderbal, Kupwara and Srinagar of the Union Territory of J&K. The locations raided today were residential premises of hybrid terrorists and Overground Workers (OGWs) associated with the newly-formed affiliates and offshoots of the banned terrorist outfits.”

“Extensive searches were also conducted at the premises of the cadres and sympathisers of these newly floated organisations, which included The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULF J&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF, among others”, the statement reads.

“The searches led to the seizure of several digital devices containing large volumes of incriminating data and documents by the NIA, which has been investigating the conspiracy of the recently launched offshoots of the banned terror outfits to destabilize J&K through violent terrorist attacks and activities”, reads the statement.

“NIA had registered the case (RC-05/2022/NIA/JMU) suo moto on 21st June 2022 to probe the involvement of the cadres, OGWs and other suspects of the new outfits in the collection and distribution of sticky bombs/magnetic bombs, IEDs, funds, narcotic substances and arms/ammunition to spread terror, violence and subversion in J&K”, reads the statement.

“NIA investigations so far have revealed that Pak-based operatives were using social media platforms to promote terror, and were also using drones to deliver arms/ammunition, explosives, narcotics etc. to their operatives and cadres in the Kashmir valley. These activities were being carried out as part of the terror conspiracy hatched by the banned outfits, backed by their masters in Pakistan. The conspiracy also involved radicalization of local youth and mobilization of OGWs to carry out violent and disruptive activities in J&K”, the statement reads. (GNS)

Govt ready to hold Assembly polls in J&K; EC to decide: Union minister Jitendra Singh

New Delhi, Dec 5: The government is ready to hold Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir whenever the Election Commission (EC) takes a final decision in the matter, Union minister Jitendra Singh said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Intervening in the discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, the minister of state in the prime minister’s office (PMO) said “whenever the EC announces it (Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir), we are ready”.

He said this in response to a demand from opposition parties for holding early Assembly polls in the Union Territory.

“The EC has its own mechanism of gathering inputs according to its requirements and it will take a final call. Let us all trust the wisdom of the EC and not appear to be interfering in its functioning,” Singh added.

He further said democracy must reach the grass-root level and in the future, “we will do” what is in the best interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh blamed Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, for the Kashmir problem.

He further said the Congress should be grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution that provided a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh said a series of measures have been taken to ensure development in the Union Territory.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah wanted to know from the BJP-led Centre why Assembly polls are not being held in Jammu and Kashmir.

Participating in the discussion, Congress leader Manish Tewari also sought to know about the election and when statehood would be restored in Jammu and Kashmir.

He wondered that at a time when the treasury benches are claiming that normalcy has been restored in Jammu and Kashmir, “why elections” are not being held.

Tewari further said constitutional proprietary demands that the government should refrain from coming up with these legislations as a matter related to the Constitution (Amendment) Act pertaining to the abrogation of Article 370 is pending in the Supreme Court.

Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present during the debate, said he would give a detailed reply on all the issues raised by the opposition members.

Jamyang Tsering Namgyal of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said peace in Jammu and Kashmir is “more important” than elections.

He said after the abrogation of Article 370, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved and investments have started pouring in.

Intervening, Union minister Anurag Thakur said it is sad when security personnel are killed, but the opposition should not forget that 45,000 people died in Jammu and Kashmir during the 70 years of their regime.

National Conference (NC) MP Hasnain Masoodi also demanded early polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the government should tell the truth to the country and not spread the illusion of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Masoodi also claimed that unemployment is increasing in the Union Territory.

Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) too demanded early polls and said the government should bring a comprehensive bill on reservation to meet the aspirations of the people of different states.

Janata Dal-United’s Kaushalendra Kumar also demanded the holding of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.–(PTI)

4 Kerala residents killed, 2 injured after vehicle skids off road on Zojila Pass

Ganderbal, Dec 05 (KNO): Four tourists from Kerala died while two were injured after a vehicle, they were travelling in, rolled down into a deep gorge on Zojila Pass in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday, officials said.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the vehicle on way to Sonamarg skidded off the road and feel into a deep gorge on Zojila Pass.

He said that in the incident four tourist died while two were injured and they were shifted to hospital for treatment.

“One of the critically injured person was later shifted to SKIMS Soura for advanced treatment,” he said—(KNO)