Concerned over the recent unrest in the Kashmir Valley, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday directed the unified command to come up with a plan in 10 days for the phased replacement of Central Reserve Police Force personnel by local police in law and order duty.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, along with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Tuesday met members of women self-help groups in Amethi and asked them to make use of several schemes run by the Centre for improving their lot. On a day-long visit to his Parliamentary constituency Amethi, Gandhi told women members to take advantage of several schemes run by the Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojna and the Union government for their development.
Five soldiers were killed and five others were injured when an Army vehicle carrying them skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. The accident occurred in the Gharoa area when the vehicle was on its way to Banoi in the district. Rescue teams have recovered five bodies. The vehicle plunged into a gorge, approximately 300-350 feet deep.
Despite the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, locals demonstrated incredible bravery and compassion, risking their own lives to save tourists. Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony 'wallah', was killed while protecting tourists from the gunmen, while Nazakat Ahmed Shah rescued a family of 11, including three children. Tourist guide Sajad Ahmad Bhat also carried injured people to the hospital. The attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, highlighted the resilience and kindness of the Kashmiri people.
Amid raging controversy over the issue of partial withdrawal of AFSPA, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said there was ample opportunity to address the concerns of the armed forces and still go ahead with the proposed plan.
Making a strong pitch for phased removal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday asked the Centre to set in motion a mechanism which could guide in repealing of the act from the state.
'I am committing suicide because I was subject to torture and humiliation in the police station.'
Over 2.5 million voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the fray for 26 Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats in the second phase of the election to be held in the Union territory on Wednesday.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who took his ministers to a remote town near Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday, has said the next month's cabinet meeting will be held at another LoC town of Gurez in Bandipora district.
Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh, who arrived on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, briefed Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah about the recent reports of Chinese army incursions in Ladakh.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said his government is concentrating on making up for losses suffered on the development front during recent unrest in the Valley.
Members of the legislative assembly from the Bharatiya Janata Party and National Panthers Party staged a protest outside the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Friday morning against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's remarks over the state's accession to India
Lashing out at Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Rashid on Wednesday alleged that they have "destroyed" Kashmir.
Inclement weather could delay the annual Amar Nath Yatra, hinted Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Stressing on "progressively" decreasing the footprints of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said conciliation and dialogue will always remain the best medium for seeking a solution to all contentious issues.
The PDP looks a distant third in the race, observes Mohammed Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir politics.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed hope that certain remarks made by India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden will not have an affect on the dialogue process between the two countries.
In the backdrop of an attack on a top separatist leader, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and reviewed the ongoing peace process and security situation in the state.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah favours troop levels in the state to be reduced to numbers that existed prior to 1989, but says the Centre can't undertake this presently with upswing in infiltration attempts.
The results of assembly elections in the Kashmir Valley have culminated in a significant rejection of separatist candidates, including those from Engineer Rashid-led Awami Ittehad Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, who failed to make a meaningful impact in the polls.
Terrorists opened fire at a popular tourist spot near Kashmir's Pahalgam town on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly holidayers from other states, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday discussed the controversial arrest of alleged militant Syed Liyaqat Shah with Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. Liyaqat was arrested by the Delhi police while he was returning from Pakistan to surrender before the Jammu and Kashmir police under the rehabilitation policy of the state government for militants.
Holding that the government has to have courage to take a decision on the issue of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday questioned the need for "protection" to the army in areas where they have not operated for years.
In a goodwill gesture, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spoke to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitely and invited party members, who were arrested for trying to enter the state, to attend the Republic Day function either in Jammu or in Srinagar.
"I have made no bones about the fact that we should have made more progress on that (AFSPA). I believe we are comfortably placed for the phase-wise removal of the AFSPA," he told reporters after presiding over the Police Martyrs' Day function at Zewan in the outskirts of Srinagar.
Phase-wise revocation of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and return of power projects to Jammu and Kashmir are the two most important wishes of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Jammu and Kashmmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday hit out at Narendra Modi for his "lies" during public speeches and also dared him to speak about dynasty politics in states like Punjab and Maharashtra.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today discussed security issues and progress of development projects with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.
National Conference chief Omar Abdullah on Sunday said his party has got 'positive signals' from the Congress on forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir, where the Assembly election has returned a fractured verdict."The NC has got very positive signals from the Congress. Otherwise, I would not have come to Delhi," Abdullah, who flew in to New Delhi from Srinagar for a meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi,said."Everything will be clear after the talks," he added.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the inquiry into the alleged custodial killing of a Sopore youth will be completed "in days" but the government will not act in haste as that can compromise with the case.
National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal landed in the middle of a controversy on Monday after he claimed that the Indian government was dragging its feet on talks with Pakistan, drawing criticism from his nephew and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who distanced himself from the remarks.
Tharoor questioned the alleged arrest of leaders and said, "if we alienate them, who's left?"
The terrorists opened fire on the camp housing labourers of a private company working on construction of a tunnel Gund area in the district, officials said.
Taking a strong exception to frequent ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the neighbouring nation should avoid confrontation with India for its own interest.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said people from villages close to the borders in Jammu region have been abandoning homes following shelling by Pakistan troops.
The bodies of two village defence guards (VDG) killed by terrorists were found near a rivulet on Friday during a massive search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, officials said.
Voicing concern at the heavy shelling in border areas, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said no one in India was in favour of war with Pakistan but friendship cannot be a one-sided affair.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that he would keep promises he had made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, a statement seen as an oblique reference to the demand for restoration of statehood voiced strongly by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
'It is sad and unfortunate. But we have to accept it'