JAMMU AND KASHMIR
The Jammu and Kashmir Police, for the first time, announced a cash reward for information that helps them bust cross-border tunnels and curb narcotics smuggling and militant recruitment. It will give anything between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 12.5 lakh to anyone providing “actionable” information that leads to the arrest or killing of militants, exposes people talking to militant handlers, helps bust narcotics smuggling modules, cross-border tunnels or provides information about the cross-border drone movement. Any information leading to the “arrest or combat” of a category A militant would be rewarded with Rs 12.5 lakh and two lakh for a category C militant. Again, for the first time, there is a cash reward for information about people who “incite” people to join militant ranks. People can take five lakh rupees for information that leads to the busting of a cross-border tunnel used to “transship terrorists, explosives and contraband consignments”. Any information about the sighting of a cross-border drone “to drop narcotics or explosive materials and which leads to recovery of said dropped material” will fetch Rs 3 lakh. A Rs 2 lakh reward has been announced for the information that led to the busting of the “inter-state narcotics module”. Similarly, a Rs 2 lakh reward has been announced for anyone providing information about people who communicate with militant handlers across the border “or their agents”. Police also announced a Rs 1 lakh cash reward for whoever gives “information about persons in masjids, madrassas or schools or colleges, inciting people to join terrorist ranks”.
Of an investment of Rs 5319 crore since 2019, officials said in 2019-20, investments totalled Rs 296 crore, rising to Rs 412 crore in 2020-21, Rs 376 crore in 2021-22 and a substantial increase to Rs 2153 crore in 2022-23. The ongoing fiscal year has already recorded investments worth Rs 2079 crore, bringing the cumulative total to Rs 5319 crore.
JAMMU
Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the Biotech Startup Expo on Emerging Startup Trends in North India in Kathua. He said Article 370 and 35-A were “obstacles to democratic governance.” He congratulated the students and awardees of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-J), where he was scheduled to attend the conference. Dhankhar’s aircraft could not land in Jammu city due to adverse weather, forcing him to skip the convocation. He later reached adjoining Kathua, after landing at Pathankot in Punjab. Twenty-five Startups, including 11 from Jammu and Kashmir, participated in the expo.
The year 2023 saw the killing of 72 militants, with 50 of them non-local.
DELHI
Javed Matto, a militant from banned Al-Badr was apprehended by Delhi police after a two-month operation based on intelligence inputs. Formerly affiliated with proscribed Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Matto had a bounty of Rs 12.5 lakh and had been inactive for nearly nine years. However, he was implicated in the killing of policeman, Mohammad Shafi Lone in 2011. A resident of Sopore, Matto, according to police was involved in 11 known attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. He had been on the run for 13 years.
Kashmir Cyber Police 2023 registered 39 FIRs, redressed 583 cases via NCCRP and recovered Rs 2 crore
KASHMIR
Kashmir is experiencing a prolonged dry spell, attributing the weather anomaly to a shift in patterns influenced by El Niño. The region is anticipated to have a milder winter this year, impacting the snowfall levels. The ongoing El Niño effects, along with other regional factors, prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to predict above-normal temperatures for December–February, leading to a less harsh winter across India. Recent data also reveals that Kashmir has witnessed a decline in snowfall over the past decades, raising concerns about climate change’s long-term impact on the Himalayan region. The region is currently in the grip of Chilla-i-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period, with reduced precipitation levels and freezing temperatures. The historical record indicates a noticeable reduction in snowfall since 1981, with the years 2023 and 2014 marking exceptionally dry Decembers’. The diminished snowfall has potential repercussions on water flow, agriculture, and hydropower generation. Researchers warn of a 30 to 70 per cent reduction in snowfall by the end of the century, emphasising the urgent need for climate action and sustainable strategies in the fragile mountainous region.
State Council of Educational Research and Training in Jammu and Kashmir received 35,211 innovative ideas from grades 6 to 10 students for the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK 2023-2024.
BELICHARANA
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) has arrested Saif-ud-Din, a cop (IRP-4) from Kupwara for his involvement in a narco-terror financing case, connected to former Minister Jatinder Singh’s case. He was previously arrested for narcotics smuggling in Pathankot. The arrest follows investigations into a syndicate operating across the Line of Control (LoC) that utilised narcotics proceeds for terror financing. The SIA raided his house, recovering electronic gadgets. Din is originally a resident of Doda but is now settled at Belicharana (Jammu). The SIA previously arrested two others, bringing the total accused to 17. Babu Singh, Chairman of the Nature-Mankind Friendly Global Party, was arrested on April 9, 2022. The SIA had previously filed a chargesheet against 12 individuals, including Singh, about this case. Nine accused are currently held in the Central jail, while three are fugitives in Pakistan. The cop was arrested after his involvement, along with that of the former sarpanch, Mohammad Sharief Chechi from Uri, was established. Chechi, a resident of Uri, played a crucial role in collecting narcotics from across the Line of Control (LoC) to finance terror activities.
BANIHAL
Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) Dinesh Chand Deshwal conducted the second round of statutory inspection for the recently completed 14.869 km track between the Banihal and Khari section along the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). The Khari railway station in Ramban district falls between Banihal and Katra on the remaining 111 km stretch of the USBRL project, connecting Kashmir with the rest of India. The inspection involved a trolley inspection from Banihal to Khari and a return journey by special train. The completion of this section will link Khari with the Kashmir valley by train, enhancing connectivity in the region. The first inspection was carried out on December 6, 2023. A trial run with a high-speed train comprising five bogies was also conducted from Banihal-Khari (to and fro) on the newly laid track. Of the 272 km USBRL project, the first phase 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009 followed by 18-km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013 and 25-km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014.
DELHI
The MHA has declared the defunct separatist party Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TEH) as an unlawful organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for five years. Syed Ali Geelani had floated this party in 2004 after he came out of the now-banned Jamaat-e-Islami and Hurriyat Conference and witnessed a vertical split. The ban is attributed to TEH’s involvement in anti-India propaganda, stone-pelting, and fundraising for unlawful activities. “The Central Government thinks that if there is no immediate curb or control of unlawful activities of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir, it will use this opportunity to (i) continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India while disputing its accession to the Union of India; and (ii) continue with the anti-national activities which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country; and (iii) continue propagating false narrative and anti-national sentiments among the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the intention to cause disaffection against India and disrupt public order,” the MHA notification said.
JAMMU
The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has directed all schools up to Class 12 to adhere strictly to the textbooks prescribed by the Board. The order warns of disciplinary action and a penalty of up to Rs 50,000 or both for schools recommending books other than those specified by the Board. Criticism has arisen from political parties and publishers, citing concerns about limiting access to materials and hindering the inclusion of supplementary advanced books or those related to local faith and history. The move follows a High Court judgment affirming the Board’s statutory power to prescribe textbooks. The Private Schools United Front opposes the decision, while parents and publishers express reservations, emphasising potential financial losses and advocating for reconsideration. In a separate development, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir has sanctioned the establishment of a four-member draft committee for the setup of a Madrassa Board in Jammu and Kashmir.
JAMMU
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved the establishment of the first Finger Print Bureau (FPB), a crucial initiative to enhance law enforcement capabilities in countering militancy and crimes. The Administrative Council, led by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, sanctioned the creation of 73 positions within the FPB, which will be headed by a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and include various roles such as SP, two DySPs, 7 Inspectors, 22 Sub-Inspectors, and other specialized positions. The FPB is expected to play a pivotal role in aiding law enforcement agencies by conducting thorough criminal record checks, comparing fingerprints at crime scenes with the existing database, facilitating suspect identification, and establishing connections between criminal and terrorist activities.
SRINAGAR
KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
The Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) Srinagar’s Testing Laboratory secures accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), making it the first Textile Testing Laboratory in Jammu and Kashmir with this prestigious recognition. The accreditation ensures systematic testing aligned with National and International Quality Standards, enhancing credibility. The IICT had completed the necessary documentation, calibration, inter-laboratory comparison, and proficiency tests as per NABL guidelines. The accreditation, valid until November 29, 2025, attests to the laboratory’s adherence to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards, contributing to the region’s textile quality assurance. In February 2022, the Institute introduced QR Code-based mechanism, the first of its kind for the Certification and labelling of Hand knotted carpets manufactured in Jammu and Kashmir.
LAL CHOWK
For the first time, Jammu and Kashmir organised a chain of New Year bashes across Kashmir with Lal Chowk, the Srinagar city centre, in sharp focus for the largest gathering in sub-zero temperature. Officials celebrated the success of the events in Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and other places. While the political class chose their style to criticise the events, Sajad Lone stood out and praised the happening. Interestingly, the erstwhile porn star and now an established actor, Sunny Leone celebrated her New Year in Kashmir with family.
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