Over 12,000 attend LeT militant's funeral in PDP stronghold

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Sep 13: Allegedly involved in dozens of attacks on security forces and several civilian killings, including the killing of 8 soldiers on the eve of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba's top wanted militant Irshad Ganai was buried amid pro-Pakistan slogans in his village of Padgampora in Pulwama district on Sunday. He had died in an encounter with security forces and Police near Kakpora last evening.

Residents and some separatist leaders claimed that 25,000 tp 30,000 people participated in Ganai's funeral. However, independent reports put the number of the participants as 12,000 to 15,000. A J&K Police agency also reported that it was a gathering of 12,000 to 15,000 people----the biggest for a militant in recent times and several years. Padgampora is a village in the ruling PDP stronghold of Pulwama, in South Kashmir.

"1000's attend a LeT militant's funeral in Padgampora, Kashmir (I heard 20k-30k). Still believe an economic package is the solution, do you??", National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted.

Separatist hardliner and Chairman of the radical faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani addressed the huge gathering on telephone from his residence in Hyderpora where Ganai and other LeT militants had ambushed an Army convoy and killed 8 soldiers in 2013.

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Kashmir up in arms against beef judgment

With separatists planning turbulence during shutdown, Srinagar put under undeclared curfew

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 11: Even as the principal mainstream parties PDP, National Conference and Congress remained tightlipped, all the separatist organisations including some mainstream politicians in Kashmir valley have rejected the Jammu and Kashmir High Court's order asking Director General of Police to strictly enforce the year 1862 law that bans cow slaughter across the State.

In a PIL filed by advocate Parimoksh Seth last year, a Division Bench comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Janak Rak Kotwal had on September 8th directed DGP to ensure strict enforcement of Section 298 of Ranbir Penal Code that makes cow-slaugh liable to 10 years of imprisonment and fine upto five times the cost of the slaughtered animal. Even the consumer under this law has to undergo imprisonment for one year.

Around 500 beef shops are believed to be illegally operating in the Valley as Police and other law enforcement agencies have rarely booked a defaulter.

Dismissing the court order, as also the 1862 law of Maharaja's government, as "not acceptable" and "an intervention into the religious matters of the Muslims", Valley’s political and religious leadership made it unambiguously clear that cow-slaughter and the beef consumption would continue in violation of any law or court order. Separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani has already called for a total shutdown in Kashmir on Saturday to register a strong protest against the High Court order.

Authoritative sources told STATE TIMES that the authorities have decided to enforce "restrictions"----euphemism for undeclared curfew----in half of the summer capital on Saturday. Densely populated Srinagar downtown areas, falling under the jurisdiction of seven Police Stations would remain closed for usual traffic and pedestrian movement.

With the tension mounting, University of Kashmir authorities suspended all the examinations scheduled for Saturday.

Head of a faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Dukhtaraan-e-Millat Chairperson Asiya Andrabi stole the limelight with their hard-hitting statements against the interim order passed by the court. They invariably maintained that cow-slaugh and beef consumption were 'Halal' (permitted) in Islam and no government could ban it, particularly so in a Muslim-dominated State.

Even the mainstream parties run by the prominent Communist leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Hakeem Mohammad Yasin (both sitting MLAs) opposed the High Court order and called for immediate revocation of the beef law.

Official sources said that at several places in Srinagar and other district headquarters, thin groups of demonstrators staged protest. Cows were publicly slaughtered at eight different spots in the Valley "as a mark of protest". Even in a marketplace beside Iqbal Park, all the six beef selling shops were open in Srinagar. Reports said that Police remained a mute spectator and did not take action against a single defaulter anywhere in Kashmir valley.

Authorities here fear a fresh turbulence, including communal and regional polarisation in the State as the conflict is resting on bovine. While the Muslims in Kashmir contend that beef is very much "Halal" and permitted by Islam, some of the Hindu groups have been crusading for blanket ban on cow slaughter and consumption of beef.

After the Friday congregational prayers, groups of people shouted slogans and engaged police in ding-dong clashes. Police and CRPF used tearsmoke and baton charge to disperse the thin unruly crowds. Officials said that none of the separatists was either detained or put under house arrest. However civilian sources maintained that at least five separatist leaders were under "house arrest".

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BR Sharma appointed as J&K Chief Secretary

[Published in today's State Times http://news.statetimes.in/br-sharma-appointed-as-jammu-kashmir-chief-secretary/]

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 7: Son of the soil bureaucrat and 1984-batch IAS officer Brij Raj Sharma assumed charge as Chief Secretary in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir shortly after his appointment was sanctioned by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s Cabinet on Monday.

Following Mr Khanday’s application for voluntary retirement, STATE TIMES had categorically and exclusively reported in its issue of August 26 and again in today's edition that none other than Mr B.R. Sharma would be appointed as the next Chief Secretary. It had reported that unlike on August 21, Commissioner-Secretary General Administration Department Gazzanfer Hussain would attend Monday's meeting as Cabinet Secretary in absence of Chief Secretary. On August 21, Mr Sharma had functioned as Cabinet Secretary in Mr Khanday’s absence.

Fifty-five-year-old Sharma superseded four of his seniors---Arun Kumar and Sonali Kumar (1979), Ashok Kumar Angura (1980) and Khursheed Ahmad Ganai ( 1982)---even as Mr Ganai is likely to be shifted as Director General of Institute of Management and Public Administration (IMPA) in the next Cabinet meeting. Currently posted as Financial Commissioner Industries, Ganai is the only administrative secretary of a department functioning directly under Chief Secretary junior to him in IAS by two years. However, he has less than two months to his retirement from service.

Other three of Mr Sharma’s seniors being out of the bureaucratic hierarchy need not to be relocated to fresh postings. Mr Kumar, who is left with 16 months of service, is currently posted as Financial Commissioner Revenue outside Civil Secretariat while as Mrs Kumar, who is reaching superannuation on November 30, is functioning as Chairperson of the autonomous Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal. Mr Angurana, due to retire on April 30, 2016, is currently a full-fledged Secretary in Government of India.

The Cabinet meeting, which lasted for around 40 minutes and was presided over by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, took a unanimous decision to appoint Mr Sharma as the next head of the State bureaucracy after confirming Mr Iqbal Khandey’s voluntary retirement three months ahead of his date of superannuation.

The Cabinet also placed on record its appreciation for the "honesty, integrity, administrative acumen and remarkable contribution of Iqbal Khandey, in various capacities, towards development of the State", an official release said. It said that Mufti recalled with appreciation Khandey's performance as his Principal Secretary during his previous tenure as the Chief Minister.

Administrative secretaries of different departments, senior officers and secretariat employees called on Mr Sharma and felicitated him on assuming office of the Chief Secretary.

In his 31-year-long IAS career, Mr Sharma has held various important positions in the State administrations including Principal Secretary Home, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, J&K's Chief Electoral Officer, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, Deputy Commissioner of Kathua and Kupwara, Director School Education Jammu and Excise Commissioner.

With an unblemished service profile, that finally earned him the distinction of becoming the State’s youngest Chief Secretary post-1990, Mr Sharma is widely respected and known for his honesty, integrity and dedication to public service. He has also the distinction of being one of the most nonaligned and uncontroversial bureaucrats with no regional or religious prejudices.

As reported by STATE TIMES, PDP and BJP had consensus over Mr Sharma’s appointment and both the principal opposition parties, National Conference and Conference, seemed to be not averse to his elevation to the hot seat. J&K Pradesh Congress Committee head Ghulam Ahmad Mir had told this newspaper last evening that his party would welcome Mr Sharma as the next Chief Secretary.

"We are aware that Mr Sharma and his family members attended Narendra Modi's Lalkar Rally in Jammu on December 1, 2013. But we know that he is a fairly professional and nonaligned public servant", Mir had said.

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BR Sharma appointed as J&K Chief Secretary

[Published in today's StaBraje Times http://news.statetimes.in/br-sharma-appointed-as-jammu-kashmir-chief-secretary/]

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 7: Son of the soil bureaucrat and 1984-batch IAS officer Braj Raj Sharma assumed charge as Chief Secretary in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir shortly after his appointment was sanctioned by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s Cabinet on Monday.

Following Mr Khanday’s application for voluntary retirement, STATE TIMES had categorically and exclusively reported in its issue of August 26 and again in today's edition that none other than Mr B.R. Sharma would be appointed as the next Chief Secretary. It had reported that unlike on August 21, Commissioner-Secretary General Administration Department Gazzanfer Hussain would attend Monday's meeting as Cabinet Secretary in absence of Chief Secretary. On August 21, Mr Sharma had functioned as Cabinet Secretary in Mr Khanday’s absence.

Fifty-five-year-old Sharma superseded four of his seniors---Arun Kumar and Sonali Kumar (1979), Ashok Kumar Angura (1980) and Khursheed Ahmad Ganai ( 1982)---even as Mr Ganai is likely to be shifted as Director General of Institute of Management and Public Administration (IMPA) in the next Cabinet meeting. Currently posted as Financial Commissioner Industries, Ganai is the only administrative secretary of a department functioning directly under Chief Secretary junior to him in IAS by two years. However, he has less than two months to his retirement from service.

Other three of Mr Sharma’s seniors being out of the bureaucratic hierarchy need not to be relocated to fresh postings. Mr Kumar, who is left with 16 months of service, is currently posted as Financial Commissioner Revenue outside Civil Secretariat while as Mrs Kumar, who is reaching superannuation on November 30, is functioning as Chairperson of the autonomous Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal. Mr Angurana, due to retire on April 30, 2016, is currently a full-fledged Secretary in Government of India.

The Cabinet meeting, which lasted for around 40 minutes and was presided over by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, took a unanimous decision to appoint Mr Sharma as the next head of the State bureaucracy after confirming Mr Iqbal Khandey’s voluntary retirement three months ahead of his date of superannuation.

The Cabinet also placed on record its appreciation for the "honesty, integrity, administrative acumen and remarkable contribution of Iqbal Khandey, in various capacities, towards development of the State", an official release said. It said that Mufti recalled with appreciation Khandey's performance as his Principal Secretary during his previous tenure as the Chief Minister.

Administrative secretaries of different departments, senior officers and secretariat employees called on Mr Sharma and felicitated him on assuming office of the Chief Secretary.

In his 31-year-long IAS career, Mr Sharma has held various important positions in the State administrations including Principal Secretary Home, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, J&K's Chief Electoral Officer, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, Deputy Commissioner of Kathua and Kupwara, Director School Education Jammu and Excise Commissioner.

With an unblemished service profile, that finally earned him the distinction of becoming the State’s youngest Chief Secretary post-1990, Mr Sharma is widely respected and known for his honesty, integrity and dedication to public service. He has also the distinction of being one of the most nonaligned and uncontroversial bureaucrats with no regional or religious prejudices.

As reported by STATE TIMES, PDP and BJP had consensus over Mr Sharma’s appointment and both the principal opposition parties, National Conference and Conference, seemed to be not averse to his elevation to the hot seat. J&K Pradesh Congress Committee head Ghulam Ahmad Mir had told this newspaper last evening that his party would welcome Mr Sharma as the next Chief Secretary.

"We are aware that Mr Sharma and his family members attended Narendra Modi's Lalkar Rally in Jammu on December 1, 2013. But we know that he is a fairly professional and nonaligned public servant", Mir had said.

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BR Sharma being appointed as Chief Secretary today

Political parties across the board support a State subject who has been the most nonaligned and uncontroversial bureaucrat throughout his IAS career

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Sep 6: Principal Secretary Planning & Development, a son of the soil in bureaucracy and the 1984-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Brij Raj Sharma, is tipped to be appointed as Chief Secretary in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, following the 1978-batch IAS officer Mohammad Iqbal Khandey’s differences with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and some Cabinet Ministers that culminated into his voluntary retirement.

Chief Minister is scheduled to preside over a crucial meeting of his Cabinet in the forenoon on Monday that would take a call on selection of the next Chief Secretary. Even as the Cabinet would hold a brief discussion on the five seniormost IAS officers---four of them holding rank equivalent to that of Chief Secretary---highly placed sources in the PDP-BJP government revealed to STATE TIMES that there was “total consensus” on the nomination of Mr B.R. Sharma between the coalition partners.

More significantly, both the principal opposition parties, National Conference and Congress, have made it clear with their sustained silence publicly and private conversations in the last over a week that neither of them would oppose picking up the juniormost of the panel for a host of reasons.

Of the four IAS officers senior to Mr Sharma, Financial Commissioner Revenue and the 1979-batch IAS officer Dr Arun Kumar is the only potential contender as he alone has 16 months of his active service. “He is definitely a diligent IAS officer but two particular factors will go against him: A PDP-led coalition will essentially prefer a State subject and Dr Kumar is from outside; Nobody would run the risk of making him CS in a Muslim-dominated State as he has a negative baggage from the communal strife of 2008 attached to him”, said a Cabinet Minister about Dr Kumar.

The second in the row, Dr Kumar’s wife and 1979 IAS batch-mate, Sonali Kumar, has less than three months to her superannuation. She is currently posted as Chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal. A network of the State bureaucrats promoted by Mr Khandey is calling the shots even after his retirement and this lobby has been virulently against Mr and Mrs Kumar for over a decade.

The third in the row and the 1980-batck IAS officer, Ashok Kumar Angurana, has only 8 months of his active service and would not ordinarily prefer to return to his State as he is already posted as Secretary (Panchayati Raj Institutions) in the Government of India.

The fourth seniormost State bureaucrat and 1982-batch IAS officer, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, is apparently a hard contender but he is due to retire from active service on October 31, 2015. Besides, Chief Minister Mufti has not favoured him for Chairmanship of the prestigious Public Service Commission. Currently posted as Financial Commissioner Industries, Mr Ganai would have to be appointed as DG IMPA in case Cabinet decides to pick up his junior for the seniormost position of Chief Secretary.

Sources revealed that a top government functionary was likely to take the opposition parties NC and Congress on board for Mr Sharma’s appointment. However, nobody by this evening had established contact with the opposition. While the NC President Omar Abdullah’s phone was continuously switched off, Congress legislature party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora did not respond to calls from this newspaper.

President of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee and former Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir, told STATE TIMES that his party would not oppose B.R. Sharma’s appointment as CS. “He has been undoubtedly the most non-controversial and non-aligned IAS officer and popular equally among all political parties. Besides, he is the only one in the lot who has about five years of service left to his retirement. His being a son of the soil and a resident of Jammu will also go to his advantage”, Mir asserted.

“Seniority is a qualification but a couple of Mr Sharma’s seniors have been pretty controversial. It will be difficult for any government to pick them up for the post of CS. But if the PDP-BJP government goes by the seniority alone, we won’t object”, Mir added. He said that “seniority and suitability” is an indispensable combination in the selection of senior officers like CS and DGP. “Someone who has just a few months to retire, doesn’t take much interest in implementation of the government directions. One seldom delivers at the fag end of service”, Mir said.

A senior NC leader, who wished to remain unidentified, pointed out that even when C Phonsog and B.R. Kundal were appointed as Chief Secretary by the former PDP-Congress government, “suitability” had prevailed over seniority.

That all decks have been cleared for Mr Sharma’s appointment as CS was clear on Sunday evening from the fact that, unlike on August 21, he was not appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Monday’s meeting.

Top level sources in the government told STATE TIMES that Commissioner-Secretary General Administration Department, Gazanfer Hussain, would function as Cabinet Secretary in tomorrow’s meeting. “This is a clear indication that Mr Sharma is the coalition government’s choice by consensus”, said a senior government functionary. “Someone, whose appointment or elevation is to be considered by the Cabinet, can’t attend that particular meeting as Cabinet Secretary”.

In absence of Mr Khandey, Mr Sharma had attended the August 21 meeting as Cabinet Secretary.

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Four Pak militants, soldier killed in Handwara encounter

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Sep 3: Four militants, claimed to be the Pakistani cadres of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, as also a soldier, have got killed in the overnight operation of Police and security forces in Vilgam area of Handwara in northern Kashmir on Thursday.

Deputy Inspector General of Police for North Kashmir, Gareeb Das, told STATE TIMES that a group of four Pakistani militants of LeT was ambushed and wiped out by Police and security forces when it was on way to Socahlwari village in Hafruda forest area of Vilgam, Handwara. He said that the operation was launched by Army, CRPF and SOG Handwara after receiving specific information about the group’s movement to a hideout in Sochalwari village on Thursday evening.

DIG said that heavy exchange of gunfire took place between the militants and the security forces on the banks of a stream. One soldier of Special Force (9 Para), identified as Mohan Nath Goswami, was critically wounded. He was evacuated but later died at hospital. “During the search on Friday morning, troops spotted and seized bodies of four heavily armed militants, along with a quantity of arms and ammunition including four AK rifles”, DIG said. He asserted that it was a group of the LeT militants operating in Hafruda forest cover.

Defence sources said that Army used Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) to track the group’s movement. “It was completely wiped out with surgical precision even as we lost one of our para commandos and three more soldiers sustained injuries”, said an officer.

With Thursday’s operation, Police and security forces have neutralised as many as 10 militants in the last 9 days in northern Kashmir. On August 26, a group of four Pakistani militants of LeT was intercepted in Bijhama area of Uri. One militant died in the encounter but four militants managed to escape. They were continuously tracked till they fell in the Army trap in Hamam Markot area of Rafiabad. Three more of the group were killed in the second encounter and one more, who later identified himself as Sajad of Punjab, Pakistan, was captured alive.

Chief Judicial Magisterial of Sopore today remanded Sajad to Police custody till September 10.

On September 2, one local militant of Lashkar-e-Islam, identified as Riyaz Ahmad Mir, was killed in an encounter with Police and security forces at Ladoora in Rafiabad area.

In the third successive operation on September 3, Police and security forces claimed to have killed four Pakistani cadres of LeT, while losing one soldier.   

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Lashkar-e-Islam militant, soldier killed in Sopore encounter

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Sep 2: One of the prominent militants of Lashkar-e-Islam, Hizbul Mujahideen’s breakaway faction that spread terror with a chain of attacks on the people associated with mobile telephone operations in Kashmir earlier this year, besides a soldier died in a daylong gunfight in Sopore area of northern Kashmir on Wednesday.

Deputy Inspector General of Police for North Kashmir, Gareeb Das, told STATE TIMES that the LeI terror Riyaz Ahmad Mir alias Gosha, a resident of Brat Kalan neighbourhood of Sopore, got killed when troops of Rashtriya Rifles 32 Bn, CRPF and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police brought down his hideout at the house of one Ghulam-ud-din Ganai at Ladoora with IEDs , 5 Km from Sopore. He said that earlier in the day, two soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles sustained injuries. One of them succumbed to injuries at hospital.

DIG said that according to the specific information there were one to two militants present at the hideout when SOG and Army launched the cordon-and-search operation in the morning. “There were inputs about the possible presence of the top wanted LeI terror Imtiyaz Kandoo. But, we are not sure whether he gave the forces a slip and escaped or was not hiding there when Police and security forces swooped on the hideout”, DIG said. He said that three AK-47 rifles and a quantity of other arms and ammunition was recovered from the debris the destroyed hideout.

Official sources here insisted that the operation was launched on the source information of SOG Srinagar. As soon one soldier entered the hideout, the lonely militant fired a burst of AK-47 rifle. Critically wounded, the soldier was evacuated and rushed to hospital where he succumbed to injuries.

Residents of the area claimed that Riyaz alias Rizwan was associated with Hizbul Mujahideen and he was not part of the breakaway group formed by the rebel Qayoom Najar. However, DIG Gareeb Das disclosed that the slain militant had been spotted more than once lately in the company of LeI guerrillas Imtiyaz Kandoo, Meraj Halwai, Adil Mir and others of the group. At least once recently, he had been spotted with the LeI head Qayoom Najar. He said that Riyaz was wanted in the assassination of a Sarpanch and the murder of five others associated with mobile telephone operations. Before his shifting to LeI, Riyaz was active as a militant with Hizbul Mujahideen.

According to the Police records, Riyaz, along Mehraj Halwai and Adil Mir, shot dead Bomai Sarpanch Ghulam Mohammad Bhat at Bomai on December 20, 2014. FIR No: 93/2014 under section 302 RPCand 7/27 Indian Arms Act was lodged in police station Bomai. He was allegedly involved in causing a grenade blast in Dangerpora orchards in which three civilians got killed. FIR No: 167/2014 dated 12-10-2014 stood registered against him and others.

Riyaz, 32, was allegedly involved in grenade attack on police and Army at Kupwara crossing. On 21-02 -2014, he killed one civilian Waseem Malla s/o Mehrajuddin Malla r/o Bagh I Islam. FIR no 25/2014 under section 302 RPC, 7/27 Indian Arms Acount Act dated 21-02-2014 stands registered in Tarzoo Police Station. On May 25, Riyaz Riyaz Was allegedly involved in the assassination of Mohammad Rafiq r/o Pohrupeth Handwara resulting in registration of case FIR no 103/2015 under section 302 and 307 RPC and 7/27 Indian Arms Act against him at Sopore. Slain guerrilla was also involved.

He was also allegedly involved in terrorising landlords of mobile towers resulting in registration of FIR No: 100/2015 u/s 7/27, 506 RPC with Police Station Sopore. On August 26, Riyaz and Adil Mir allegedly killed a mobile phone operator Ghulam Hassan of Dooru, Sopore. FIR No: 105/ 2015 u/s 302 RPC and 7/27 Indian Arms Act stand registered with Police Station Sopore.

 Riyaz was also allegedly involved in killing of one Hurriyat activist Sheikh Altaf-ur-Rehman of Iqbal Nagar, Sopore bus stand, on June 9, 2015. FIR no 115/2015 dated 09-06-2015 stands registered with  Police Station Sopore.  He was also allegedly involved in the killing of one Hurriyat activist Khursheed Ahmed Bhat s/o Gh Nabi Bhat r/o Bomai Sopore outside his home on 9-06-2015. FIR no 36/2015 dated 12 -06- 2015 stands registered with Police Station Bomai. 

He was involved in the killing of one former militant Mehrajuddin Dar s/o Mohammad Ahsan Dar r/o Badambagh Sopore on 14 -06-2015.  He was also involved in the killing of former militant Aijaz Ahmad Reshi s/o Ab Rahim Reshi s/o Mundji sopore on 15-06-2015.

Encounter in Handwara

Meanwhile, late on Wednesday night, another gunbattle started between militants and security forces at Socahlwari, in Vilgam area of Handwara Police district. One militant and one soldier died. Another soldier injured.

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