Situated 55 kilometres north of Srinagar, Bandipore assembly constituency goes to polls in the first phase. The main contest here is going to be between the independent candidate Usman Majid, Nizamuddin Bhat of the People's Democratic Party and Ghulam Rasool Mir of the National Conference. Interestingly, a Tihar jail inmate, Mohammad Iqbal Jan is also fighting elections from Bandipora on the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers' Party ticket.
The separatist amalgam appealed to the international community to intervene in putting an end to the daily violence and tragic loss of life in Kashmir by "pushing for the resolution of the lingering Kashmir conflict, which is the root cause of all this suffering".
Abdul Hamid Najar, a resident of Mohiendpora area of Budgam in central Kashmir, was shot at and critically injured by terrorists in his native village on Sunday, the official said.
The Resistance Front, which is believed to be a shadow group of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, has claimed responsibility for the killings.
Youths held protests and pelted stones at security forces at several locations in Baramulla district in north Kashmir.
Scores of individuals and groups including from many political parties, and Panchayati Raj Institutions members, met the commission.
It has met 20 such delegations and members of the public from Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Kathua and Doda districts.
An army official said that security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in Bandipora district on Monday morning following information about presence of terrorists in the area.
A top Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist, believed to be nephew of the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was on Thursday gunned down by security forces in an encounter in north Kashmir's Bandipora district.
Jammu and Kashmir has been without an assembly since November 2018 when the then legislative assembly was dissolved by then Governor Satya Pal Malik after the People's Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government fell apart earlier that year.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' -- the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region
Poonch district of Jammu region recorded the highest turnout at 75.42 per cent. Ganderbal district recorded the highest polling in Kashmir valley at 56.28 per cent.
General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the Army's Srinagar-based 15 Corps or Chinar Corps, Lt Gen D P Pandey, said there have been some infiltration attempts, but unlike previous years they have not been 'adequately supported' by ceasefire violations.
"The local terrorists must realise that it is easy to call themselves a Mujahid. But are you a Mujahid, or just a proxy for Pakistan?"
Tajamul Islam, the eight-year-old world kickboxing champion from Bandipora district, has hit out at the Jammu and Kashmir government for not providing proper training facilities and equipment for her and other sportspersons from her district.
Terrorists have stepped up attacks in the Kashmir valley over the past week.
"The incidents of targeting civilians in Kashmir since a few days are barbaric. Innocent people who are working for the society and have nothing to do with anyone are being targeted," the police chief said.
On a mission to visit the families of soldiers who have died in action, Vikas Manhas has met over 1,000 families whose loved ones made the supreme sacrifice for the country.
Two terrorists were killed in an overnight gunfight in Hajin area of Bandipora district, officials said.
This is the second encounter in the district in as many days.
The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) swept the maiden District Development Council (DDC) polls by winning 110 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party by getting 75 seats after securing the largest vote share in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday.
The broadband services were restored on Saturday after working journalists protested against the communication 'gag'.
The Border Security Force is deployed along the LoC under the operational command of the Army as part of guarding the front against Pakistan.
The terrorists, however, managed to escape after the gunbattle and security forces were making efforts to track them down.
In order to consider giving mobile Internet connectivity on such SIM cards, the telecom service providers will have to verify the credentials of the subscribers.
With these deaths, the toll in the ongoing agitation in Kashmir has gone up to 78.
Three weapons have been recovered from them.
The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday searched 10 locations in the Valley and one in Bengaluru in connection with a case related to NGOs and trusts diverting funds meant for charitable activities to 'secessionist and separatist activities' in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The report published in the gazettes of India appeared in local newspapers on Monday and showed that Habba Kadal seat in Kashmir division and Suchetgarh seat in Jammu province had been restored.
The terrorists had killed Farooq Ahmad's son last year.
Four army men, including a Major, and an equal number of militants were on Tuesday killed while eight other security personnel and a civilian were injured in two separate encounters in Kashmir, officials said.
According to new guidelines imposed by authorities on Sunday, shops have been allowed to open on alternate days.
Nineteen candidates saw an extremely close contest in the maiden District Development Council (DDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir where the margin of victory was less than 100.
The Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra were posthumously awarded to Major David Manlun and Major Satish Dahiya, who lost their lives while fighting with terrorists in Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir.
Ganderbal district recorded the highest of 56.40 per cent polling in the Valley, while Poonch district of Jammu region polled the highest of 71.62 per cent votes across J-K.
Modi, after assuming office in 2014, has primarily spent the festival every year with soldiers and security personnel at different parts of the country.
An army officer belonging to the elite counter-insurgency unit was charred to death when a fire broke out in his camp in Bandipora district of Kashmir, officials said.
The identities and affiliation of the terrorists were yet to be known. Arms and ammunition had been recovered from the site.
The 68-year-old Bindroo, who ran Bindroo Medicate, was shot at by the assailants point blank at his pharmacy, a police official said, adding he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Search operations were on in the area.
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