Udhampur: Insisting that the revocation of AFSPA might put at stake the "fragile" peace existing in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army on Monday said it has given advice to the Centre on the issue and it was for the government to take a call. "It is a measured Act. AFSPA protects our officers and jawans who are faced with unusual situation," General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt General KT Parnaik, told reporters on the occasion of 42nd Raising Day of the Northern Command.
He said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) divests huge powers in the Army, but the Indian forces have never misused it. "The Army might have got increased powers under the Act, but the ethos of the Army and the drill which we go through train us to have restrain on ourselves. So, to say AFSPA has been misused would not be right. The Army has always used AFSPA in the right way," the General said.
"With the use of AFSPA, the situation has remained peaceful for over last couple of years. If AFSPA would have been so draconian, the situation would not have become so peaceful," he said. The General said the existing situation in the state may change if breathing space is provided to militants.
"We need to consolidate our position. The peace which you see, as I had mentioned earlier, is very fragile. It might get disrupted with a couple of triggers from the militants. So, we need to
07:27 PM, Jun 17, 2013
Srinagar: Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said it was highly regrettable that the Srinagar-Muzaffrabad bus service between divided parts of Jammu and Kashmir has been reduced to a mere tool for political propaganda. "Hurriyat had welcomed the bus service believing that it would provide relief to the divided families and people of Kashmir. It has proved to be otherwise and government has just used it for...
03:56 AM, Jun 15, 2013
Jammu: With the chorus against inadequate water supply and power outage in the city growing louder by the day, Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Friday asked the engineers to ensure "best possible service" to the people. "Ensure best possible service within given resources keeping in view the unprecedented climatic conditions," Sadhotra asked the officials during a high level meeting held in Jammu. The...
01:23 AM, Jun 15, 2013
Girls in Jammu and Kashmir take to football and hope to make it big. ...
06:28 PM, Jun 14, 2013
Srinagar: Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Thursday claimed the "aggressive" and "stubborn" policy of the Centre on Kashmir was forcing the youth of the Valley to take up arms. "India's aggressive and stubborn policy will bear more terrible results in future and it is because of this youth (have) opted to take (to) arms," Geelani said in a statement in Srinagar. The Hurriyat leader was commenting on...
03:50 AM, Jun 14, 2013
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed happiness over what he called the central government's acknowledgement that the "controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has to be lifted from Jammu and Kashmir". Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said the state government was in touch with the centre regarding the revocation of the AFSPA. Union Home...
01:06 AM, Jun 13, 2013
Bhaderwah: Two mild tremors shook Bhaderwah valley and adjoining areas in Doda-Kishtwar belt of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning. The first earthquake measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale hit Baderwah valley at 6:50 am and another measuring 2.7 on the scale shook the valley at 6:52 am, Met officials said. No loss of life or property was reported. ...
02:50 PM, Jun 10, 2013
Srinagar: An Indian Army soldier was killed when Pakistani troops opened fire in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The Indian Army retaliated by firing back at the Pakistani soldiers, but the gunbattle has stopped now. Pakistan generally resorts to such firing to provide cover to terrorists and push them across the border. This is fourth ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the past two weeks. The area has...
04:19 PM, Jun 07, 2013
Srinagar: The encounter in Pulwama district of South Kashmir entered the second day on Thursday as security forces exchanged fresh fire with holed-up terrorists in the wee hours. "Fresh firing between the security forces and the holed-up terrorists took place at around 4.00 am. Intermittent firing continued for several hours since then," police sources said. The security forces have maintained a tight cordon around the terrorists to prevent them from...
12:10 PM, Jun 06, 2013
Srinagar: Security forces shot dead a terrorist in a gunfight after their foot patrol came under fire from the ultras in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Wednesday. An unidentified terrorist was killed and the operation was on till late evening, an Army spokesman said in Srinagar. Security forces launched a search operation in Rajpora area of the district, 45 km from Srinagar, after their foot patrol came under firing...
08:42 PM, Jun 05, 2013
Srinagar: Terrorists on Wednesday opened fire at a foot patrol of Army in Pulwama district of south Kashmir but no casualty was reported in the incident, police said. The terrorists fired at the patrol party of 44 Rashtriya Rifles in Rajpora area of the district, 45 km from Srinagar, this afternoon, they said. The Army personnel fired back forcing the terrorists to flee. No one was injured in the brief...
06:31 PM, Jun 05, 2013
Jammu: An 'encounter specialist' sub-inspector, who was instrumental in the killing of 68 militants in the Doda-Kishtwar belt, was on Tuesday arrested for allegedly running a militant module in Jammu and Kashmir. A recipient of President's gallantry award, SI Shiv Kumar Sharma was arrested in Doda for his alleged involvement in militant activities, official sources said. State Minister for Home Sajad Ahmed Kitchloo confirmed the arrest and said that investigation...
11:38 PM, Jun 04, 2013
Srinagar: A police head constable was among five persons who were injured on Tuesday when militants hurled a grenade at Army vehicles near Deputy Commissioner's office in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, police said. Militants lobbed the grenade at two stationary Army vehicles near Khanabal Chowk in Anantnag town, the police said. The grenade exploded after hitting one of the Army vehicle, injuring four civilians and the police head constable,...
01:41 PM, Jun 04, 2013
Jammu: A Jammu and Kashmir court on Monday directed police to register a case against Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo for allegedly slapping an official. Kishtwar Chief Judicial Magistrate Ajay Kumar Gupta directed police to register a first information report (FIR) against Kichloo for allegedly slapping Riyaz Ahmad Choudhary, chief executive officer of the Kishtwar Development Authority, on April 18. The court told Kishtwar station house officer...
08:19 AM, Jun 04, 2013
New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the filmmakers of 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' on Twitter on Saturday over showing Gulmarg as Manali in the film. Omar Abdullah was upset over the portrayal of Gulmarg in the movie as Manali. In his tweet he said, "It is irritating when we roll out the red carpet and facilitate the shoot only to have people believe its Manali." Omar...
07:57 AM, Jun 02, 2013
Srinagar: Three terrorists were killed on Saturday as Army troops foiled an infiltration bid near the Line of Control in Nowgam sector of Handwara area. Meanwhile, two of the terrorists crossed over to the PoK after a gun battle with the Army. According to reports, a large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists. More Details awaited ...
10:05 PM, Jun 01, 2013
Shopian: After nearly 30 hours of gun battle, Army and police forces killed two terrorists in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir. The gun battle stopped late on Saturday evening and the forces are now carrying out searches in the area. A joint team of Army and police had cordoned village Mellora on Friday after a tip-off about the terrorists' presence. The slain terrorists have been identified as top commanders of the...
08:44 PM, Jun 01, 2013
Srinagar: The security forces have killed a terrorist in Shopian district of South Kashmir but the gunbattle is still on as another terrorist is hiding in the area. The gunbattle is on from Friday afternoon. An unidentified terrorist was killed in the encounter on Friday. "Acting on a specific information regarding the presence of militants in village Vandena in Zainapora area of Shopian, police and 55 Rashtriya Rifles of the...
08:15 AM, Jun 01, 2013
Srinagar: In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nawgam sector of Kashmir valley but there was no causality. "Pakistani troops opened firing on our positions this evening, using small firearms and RPGs in Nawgam sector," an Army spokesman said. He said the Indian Army exercised total restraint and did not retaliate to the unprovoked firing from the other side....
09:32 PM, May 31, 2013
Jammu: A Rashtriya Rifles personnel killed his colleague following an argument on early Monday morning. The incident happened at 5 am on Monday morning at Kallaar, Rajouri, Jammu. This is the second such incident in the state in 10 days. Earlier an SSP had killed his colleague and injured two others. ...
10:27 AM, May 28, 2013
