Srinagar: The intelligence agencies of India have rescued thousands of youths, who had been trafficked by a cyber fraud syndicate, from Myanmar. The rescued youths include over a dozen Kashmiri youngsters who had fallen prey to the cyber fraud syndicate operating from Myanmar. These youngsters were rescued and repatriated and later handed over to the Counter Intelligence wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Unemployed youth across India have been falling in the trap of these fake job scams. The job opening links on social media sites are mostly posted by fraudsters, offering jobs in different countries across the world. These sites run proper exams and interviews before calling the candidates to foreign countries. Some of these youngsters were even given air tickets while some were called to come on their own.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-discovers-2400-hidden-jfk-assassination-files-61-years-after-his-killing-all-thanks-to-donald-trumps-order-8709938" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FBI 'discovers' 2,400 hidden JFK assassination files 61 years after his killing</a>
&ldquo;The unemployed youth from Kashmir Valley were searching for jobs on different websites. There are 13 youngsters, including females as well, who were trying to look for jobs online, specially, on Facebook. They came to know about these jobs, and clicked on these links and got scammed. They were promised jobs in foreign countries like Thailand and the agents lured them to reach foreign countries on the promise of a job, and once they reached Thailand, they discovered there was no job. They were forced to get into illegal criminal activities like scamming youngsters across the globe, specially Indian citizens. They were also asked to indulge in sexual activities online. However, the timely intervention of Indian agencies helped these 13 youngsters from Kashmir who were rescued along with other Indian youths. CIK got them to Kashmir and counselled them. They were then handed over to their parents,&rdquo; said Tahir Ashraf, SSP CIK.
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According to security agencies, many more youngsters are still trapped in Thailand and Myanmar. The family of one of the youths from Srinagar has been running from pillar to post to get their son back. Faizan Rasool from Srinagar&rsquo;s Safa Kadal area is still trapped and has lost touch with his family.
&ldquo;My son had gone outside Kashmir for a job. He first went to New Delhi and later reached Bangkok. He was accompanied by a friend who is also from Srinagar. On reaching Thailand, there was a car waiting for both of them and drove them for around 15 hours and they reached Myanmar. We had contact with him till they reached Myanmar but after that we have not spoken to him at all. I want my son back,&rdquo; said Ghulam Rasool, father of Faizan.
All the youngsters who were rescued and brought back to Srinagar were counselled and later handed over to their families.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-respond-accordingly-white-house-accuses-hamas-of-making-very-bad-bet-on-gaza-talks-8854373" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'Will respond accordingly': White House accuses Hamas of making 'very bad bet' on Gaza talks</a>&nbsp;

India News: According to security agencies, many youngsters are still trapped in Thailand and Myanmar. The family of one Faizan Rasool from Srinagar’s Safa Kadal area has been running from pillar to post to get their son back.

Srinagar: The intelligence agencies of India have rescued thousands of youths, who had been trafficked by a cyber fraud syndicate, from Myanmar. The rescued youths include over a dozen Kashmiri youngsters who had fallen prey to the cyber fraud syndicate operating from Myanmar. These youngsters were rescued and repatriated and later handed over to the Counter Intelligence wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police. Unemployed youth across India have been falling in the trap of these fake job scams. The job opening links on social media sites are mostly posted by fraudsters, offering jobs in different countries across the world. These sites run proper exams and interviews before calling the candidates to foreign countries. Some of these youngsters were even given air tickets while some were called to come on their own. Also read | FBI 'discovers' 2,400 hidden JFK assassination files 61 years after his killing “The unemployed youth from Kashmir Valley were searching for jobs on different websites. There are 13 youngsters, including females as well, who were trying to look for jobs online, specially, on Facebook. They came to know about these jobs, and clicked on these links and got scammed. They were promised jobs in foreign countries like Thailand and the agents lured them to reach foreign countries on the promise of a job, and once they reached Thailand, they discovered there was no job. They were forced to get into illegal criminal activities like scamming youngsters across the globe, specially Indian citizens. They were also asked to indulge in sexual activities online. However, the timely intervention of Indian agencies helped these 13 youngsters from Kashmir who were rescued along with other Indian youths. CIK got them to Kashmir and counselled them. They were then handed over to their parents,” said Tahir Ashraf, SSP CIK. Also read: US strikes Houthi-held city in Yemen after Trump warns of ‘great force’ against retaliation According to security agencies, many more youngsters are still trapped in Thailand and Myanmar. The family of one of the youths from Srinagar has been running from pillar to post to get their son back. Faizan Rasool from Srinagar’s Safa Kadal area is still trapped and has lost touch with his family. “My son had gone outside Kashmir for a job. He first went to New Delhi and later reached Bangkok. He was accompanied by a friend who is also from Srinagar. On reaching Thailand, there was a car waiting for both of them and drove them for around 15 hours and they reached Myanmar. We had contact with him till they reached Myanmar but after that we have not spoken to him at all. I want my son back,” said Ghulam Rasool, father of Faizan. All the youngsters who were rescued and brought back to Srinagar were counselled and later handed over to their families. Also read: 'Will respond accordingly': White House accuses Hamas of making 'very bad bet' on Gaza talks

Over a dozen Kashmiri youths among thousands rescued from Thailand-Myanmar job scam

One Terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter in Zachaldar area of Handwara in North Kashmir.
Security forces have recovered arms and ammunition from his possession, which includes an AK47 rifle and incriminating material.&nbsp;
The operation started early morning of Monday (Mar 17) when security forces received an input about the presence of terrorists in the area.&nbsp; Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cherry-picking-of-situations-india-slams-un-rights-chiefs-baseless-remarks-on-manipur-kashmir-8778260">&lsquo;Cherry picking of situations&rsquo;: India slams UN rights chief&rsquo;s &lsquo;baseless&rsquo; remarks on Manipur, Kashmir</a>
A cordon and search operation were launched by security forces in the area after which terrorists fired on the forces, resulting in a gunbattle.
After hours of firing from both sides, the security forces managed to kill one terrorist so far, while the operation still continues at the time of writing this.&nbsp; 
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1302_SUMIT_J_K_10AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1302_SUMIT_J_K_10AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=182&amp;tags=jammu &amp; kashmir, indian army, anti-terror, soldiers" title="Jammu &amp; Kashmir police intensify crackdown on terror networks" id="PL_iframe_block-m8crokal-8k5cadjo-8zw4ux4l"></iframe>
The security forces have not revealed the identity of the terrorist killed so far.
More deployment was brought to the Zachaldar area of Handwara after the operation started.
Security forces believe there could be more terrorists hiding in the area.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/who-was-abu-qatal-lets-most-wanted-terrorist-killed-in-pakistan-8857673">Who was LeT's most wanted terrorist Abu Qatal killed by unknown men?</a>
A massive search operation of the forces is still being carried out in the area to look for more terrorists.
The operation was a joint effort of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Paramilitary Forces.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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India news: The operation started early morning of Monday (Mar 17) when security forces received an input about the presence of terrorists in the area.

One Terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter in Zachaldar area of Handwara in North Kashmir. Security forces have recovered arms and ammunition from his possession, which includes an AK47 rifle and incriminating material. The operation started early morning of Monday (Mar 17) when security forces received an input about the presence of terrorists in the area. Also read: ‘Cherry picking of situations’: India slams UN rights chief’s ‘baseless’ remarks on Manipur, Kashmir A cordon and search operation were launched by security forces in the area after which terrorists fired on the forces, resulting in a gunbattle. After hours of firing from both sides, the security forces managed to kill one terrorist so far, while the operation still continues at the time of writing this. The security forces have not revealed the identity of the terrorist killed so far. More deployment was brought to the Zachaldar area of Handwara after the operation started. Security forces believe there could be more terrorists hiding in the area. Also read: Who was LeT's most wanted terrorist Abu Qatal killed by unknown men? A massive search operation of the forces is still being carried out in the area to look for more terrorists. The operation was a joint effort of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Paramilitary Forces.

One terrorist killed in ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara

The Higher reaches of Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall while the plains were lashed with intense rains over the last 24 hours. With Kashmir Valley witnessing driest winter season this year, the snow and rains have brought some respite among the farming community of the Valley. Tourists Areas like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg received fresh snowfall bringing a lot of cheer among the tourists.
Due to the heavy snowfall across the higher reaches various schools and educational institutions were closed by the government in the northern part of Kashmir. Gurez, Machhil and Keran announced holiday for schools earlier today. Some of the Highways like Srinagar-Leh, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Top have been closed for vehicular movement.&nbsp;
The MeT Department has also said that the Temperatures have dropped across Kashmir Valley and by 2 - 3&deg;C. The snowfall in Higher reaches and rains in the plains will continue for the next 24 hours. There will be improvement in the weather from Sunday (March 16) afternoon.&nbsp;
The administration has also advised travellers, tourists and transporters to follow admin and traffic advisory. Some of the roads in the higher reaches have become slippery and have been shut for traffic movement.&nbsp;
The MeT department has also advised the farmers to halt any farming activity till March 16. The government has also issued an avalanche warning in the snowbound areas of north Kashmir.&nbsp;
Multiple water bodies and springs had dried up due to no precipitation in the region. With January and February 2025 receiving negligible precipitation water bodies have dried up, also causing rampant forest fires. The recent bout of rain and snow has brought a lot of relief to the locals.&nbsp;

The MeT Department has also said that the Temperatures have dropped across Kashmir Valley and by 2 - 3°C | India News

The Higher reaches of Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall while the plains were lashed with intense rains over the last 24 hours. With Kashmir Valley witnessing driest winter season this year, the snow and rains have brought some respite among the farming community of the Valley. Tourists Areas like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg received fresh snowfall bringing a lot of cheer among the tourists. Due to the heavy snowfall across the higher reaches various schools and educational institutions were closed by the government in the northern part of Kashmir. Gurez, Machhil and Keran announced holiday for schools earlier today. Some of the Highways like Srinagar-Leh, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Top have been closed for vehicular movement. The MeT Department has also said that the Temperatures have dropped across Kashmir Valley and by 2 - 3°C. The snowfall in Higher reaches and rains in the plains will continue for the next 24 hours. There will be improvement in the weather from Sunday (March 16) afternoon. The administration has also advised travellers, tourists and transporters to follow admin and traffic advisory. Some of the roads in the higher reaches have become slippery and have been shut for traffic movement. The MeT department has also advised the farmers to halt any farming activity till March 16. The government has also issued an avalanche warning in the snowbound areas of north Kashmir. Multiple water bodies and springs had dried up due to no precipitation in the region. With January and February 2025 receiving negligible precipitation water bodies have dried up, also causing rampant forest fires. The recent bout of rain and snow has brought a lot of relief to the locals.

Kashmir receives fresh round of snowfall leading to road closures, drop in temperature

Jammu and Kashmir is soon going to be terror free, and in the process see some major anti-terror operations across the region. The security forces posted in Jammu and Kashmir have been ordered to set a time frame for getting rid of all terrorists and terror related incidents in the Union Territory.&nbsp;
According to sources, the region is soon going to witness intensified anti-terror operations. Joint operations of the Indian Army, Paramilitary Forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police will include the Quick Action Teams (QATs), specially trained soldiers with High Altitude warfare training to help finish off the remaining terrorists in the region.&nbsp;
''With the Home Ministry taking a decision, that Quick Action Teams will be made by taking the best of the officers from every unit, with specialised training and provided with the latest arms and equipment. These teams will help in clearing the terrorism in the region. Jammu and Kashmir will be terror free. They will be taking NSG and Assam Rifle commandos to work in the hilly areas along with CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Operations would be launched with specific inputs so that India makes JK terror free soon, '' said S P Ved, Former DG, Jammu and Kashmir Police.&nbsp;
Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-demands-uk-uphold-diplomatic-obligations-after-videos-of-jaishankar-security-breach-go-viral-8827128" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank"> India demands UK uphold 'diplomatic obligations' after videos of Jaishankar's security breach go viral</a>
The areas close to the Line of Control (LoC) and higher reaches will be the major challenge for the security forces and that is why Indian Army's Assam Rifles along with NSG will be majorly responsible for the operations in these areas.&nbsp;
Jammu and Kashmir Police and Paramilitary forces have already chalked out a plan and discussed it with the Home Ministry about how the joint operations would be taking place in the coming future.&nbsp;
According to Sources, many launchpads across the border in PoK are active and forces suspect that there will be a rise in the infiltration attempts from across the border this summer. With the help of technology, security agencies have been able to keep an eye on the movement of terrorists along these launch pads across the border.&nbsp;

The areas close to the Line of Control (LoC) in and higher reaches in Jammu and Kashmir will be the major challenge for the security forces India News

Jammu and Kashmir is soon going to be terror free, and in the process see some major anti-terror operations across the region. The security forces posted in Jammu and Kashmir have been ordered to set a time frame for getting rid of all terrorists and terror related incidents in the Union Territory. According to sources, the region is soon going to witness intensified anti-terror operations. Joint operations of the Indian Army, Paramilitary Forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police will include the Quick Action Teams (QATs), specially trained soldiers with High Altitude warfare training to help finish off the remaining terrorists in the region. ''With the Home Ministry taking a decision, that Quick Action Teams will be made by taking the best of the officers from every unit, with specialised training and provided with the latest arms and equipment. These teams will help in clearing the terrorism in the region. Jammu and Kashmir will be terror free. They will be taking NSG and Assam Rifle commandos to work in the hilly areas along with CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Operations would be launched with specific inputs so that India makes JK terror free soon, '' said S P Ved, Former DG, Jammu and Kashmir Police. Also Read: India demands UK uphold 'diplomatic obligations' after videos of Jaishankar's security breach go viral The areas close to the Line of Control (LoC) and higher reaches will be the major challenge for the security forces and that is why Indian Army's Assam Rifles along with NSG will be majorly responsible for the operations in these areas. Jammu and Kashmir Police and Paramilitary forces have already chalked out a plan and discussed it with the Home Ministry about how the joint operations would be taking place in the coming future. According to Sources, many launchpads across the border in PoK are active and forces suspect that there will be a rise in the infiltration attempts from across the border this summer. With the help of technology, security agencies have been able to keep an eye on the movement of terrorists along these launch pads across the border.

India: Home Ministry gives orders for increased anti-terror operations in J&K to make the region terror free

The higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley have been covered with white blanket of snow. And the winter activities are at its peak in North Kashmir's Gurez area of Bandipora District. The cricket enthusiasts from the Gurez area aren&rsquo;t giving up playing cricket despite heaps of snow and minus degree temperatures.&nbsp;
Gurez Premier League, 5th Edition of traditional snow cricket championship is organised by Dawar Battalion under Snow Leopard Brigade at Habba Khatoon Cricket Ground in Gurez. In Total 16 teams from Gurez and Tulail Valley participated in the championship.&nbsp;
It has become an annual event in the Gurez Valley to hold the Ice Cricket Tournament during winter. The event became a hit a few years ago after the videos of the tournament went viral on social media. International cricket players from across the world have appreciated and shared the photos and videos on their social media handles.&nbsp;
Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-first-world-peace-centre-is-here-all-you-need-to-know-8769873" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank"> India's first World Peace Centre is here. All you need to know</a>
''We are very thankful to the Indian Army and local administration for organising this snow cricket tournament which is become an annual event in the Gurez area. There are multiple teams from many areas which have participated in it. These events help keeping our youth away from drugs, and it has also given hype to the Gurez tourism. And we are also starting winter sports. This is also an opportunity for the youngsters to showcase their talent, '' said Zakir Hussain, A local.&nbsp;
The tournament culminated with Final between HKCC Dawar and MCC Markoot wherein HKCC Dawar won by 8 wickets and became Champions of Gurez. Winners took home Gold Medals, Championship Trophy and a cheque of Rs 25000/- and Runners Up were awarded with Silver Medals and a cheque of 15,000/-.
Gurez generally remains cut off for months from the rest of Kashmir Valley and the country due to heavy snow accumulation in the region. But that does not dampen the spirit of the locals as the Indian Army has started many winter sports activities in the region.
The youth of the Gurez region is extremely happy and thankful to the Indian Army for organising such events. Such activities not only &nbsp;train the youngsters but helps in promoting the region so that more and more people visit the area.&nbsp;
''We are very thankful to the Indian Army for organising this. It&rsquo;s a great event for winters to keep us involved, Indian army time and again comes to our rescue all the time in every problem., '' said Zahid Ahmad, another local.
The Indian Army promotes such activities in these areas with an to explore local talent in the sport and develop skills in citizens to boost tourism and recreational opportunities in the region.&nbsp;

Gurez Premier League, 5th Edition of traditional snow cricket championship is organised by Dawar Battalion under Snow Leopard Brigade at Habba Khatoon Cricket Ground in Gurez.

The higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley have been covered with white blanket of snow. And the winter activities are at its peak in North Kashmir's Gurez area of Bandipora District. The cricket enthusiasts from the Gurez area aren’t giving up playing cricket despite heaps of snow and minus degree temperatures. Gurez Premier League, 5th Edition of traditional snow cricket championship is organised by Dawar Battalion under Snow Leopard Brigade at Habba Khatoon Cricket Ground in Gurez. In Total 16 teams from Gurez and Tulail Valley participated in the championship. It has become an annual event in the Gurez Valley to hold the Ice Cricket Tournament during winter. The event became a hit a few years ago after the videos of the tournament went viral on social media. International cricket players from across the world have appreciated and shared the photos and videos on their social media handles. Also Read: India's first World Peace Centre is here. All you need to know ''We are very thankful to the Indian Army and local administration for organising this snow cricket tournament which is become an annual event in the Gurez area. There are multiple teams from many areas which have participated in it. These events help keeping our youth away from drugs, and it has also given hype to the Gurez tourism. And we are also starting winter sports. This is also an opportunity for the youngsters to showcase their talent, '' said Zakir Hussain, A local. The tournament culminated with Final between HKCC Dawar and MCC Markoot wherein HKCC Dawar won by 8 wickets and became Champions of Gurez. Winners took home Gold Medals, Championship Trophy and a cheque of Rs 25000/- and Runners Up were awarded with Silver Medals and a cheque of 15,000/-. Gurez generally remains cut off for months from the rest of Kashmir Valley and the country due to heavy snow accumulation in the region. But that does not dampen the spirit of the locals as the Indian Army has started many winter sports activities in the region. The youth of the Gurez region is extremely happy and thankful to the Indian Army for organising such events. Such activities not only train the youngsters but helps in promoting the region so that more and more people visit the area. ''We are very thankful to the Indian Army for organising this. It’s a great event for winters to keep us involved, Indian army time and again comes to our rescue all the time in every problem., '' said Zahid Ahmad, another local. The Indian Army promotes such activities in these areas with an to explore local talent in the sport and develop skills in citizens to boost tourism and recreational opportunities in the region.

5th edition of snow cricket championship organised by Indian army concludes in Gurez

The MeT department in Jammu and Kashmir has predicted a fresh spell of snowfall across various divisions of the Valley over the next three days. Kashmir Valley has been witnessing a major dry spell during the winter months of January and February.&nbsp;
The wet spell across the region will bring a lot of cheer and relief among the people of the Valley. Multiple water bodies and springs had dried up due to no precipitation in the region.&nbsp;
January and February 2025 received negligible precipitation, leading to the drying up of water bodies and glaciers and also causing rampant forest fires.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-kashmir-ice-cricket-tournament-in-snow-clad-gurez-enthuses-locals-8745700" rel="dofollow">Jammu &amp; Kashmir: Ice cricket tournament in snow-clad Gurez enthuses locals</a>
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir had to postpone the Khelo India Winter Games due to insufficient snow in the Ski Resort Gulmarg.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s already predicted that we will experience a wet spell, most likely from 25th to 28th February. At a few places tonight, moderate to heavy snow is expected, particularly over north and Central Kashmir. On 27 and 28, there might be moderate to heavy snowfall, particularly over south Kashmir and a few higher reaches of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal. A few places might witness very heavy snowfall. During the same period, light snowfall is expected over the plains of south Kashmir also and at a few places in Central Kashmir, said Mukhtar Ahmad, Director MeT.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fresh-snowfall-and-rain-in-kashmir-valley-end-dry-spell-bring-respite-8740289" rel="dofollow">Fresh snowfall and rain in Kashmir Valley end dry spell, bring respite</a>
<h2>A dry Chillai Kalan</h2>
Global warming is impacting the weather patterns of Jammu and Kashmir drastically. With January 2025 being one of the driest 'Chillai Kalan' in many decades, the water bodies across the Kashmir division are drying up and are a cause for concern for summers. The MeT department and experts say the next three days of wet spell are going to be extremely important for replenishing the water bodies of the Valley. &nbsp;
The Met Department has advised people to halt farming activities for the next one week. The tourists are also advised to accordingly plan their travels.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Jammu region mostly rains are expected during next couple of days. Travellers and tourists are advised to plan their travel accordingly and have to follow traffic advisory. Farmers should stop spraying of fertilisers etc for the next week,&rdquo; said Mukhtar Ahmad, Director MeT.&nbsp;
Areas like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg tourist destinations are also expected to receive fresh snowfall which will help the tourism to pick up again.&nbsp;

January and February 2025 received negligible precipitation, leading to the drying up of water bodies and glaciers and also causing rampant forest fires.

The MeT department in Jammu and Kashmir has predicted a fresh spell of snowfall across various divisions of the Valley over the next three days. Kashmir Valley has been witnessing a major dry spell during the winter months of January and February. The wet spell across the region will bring a lot of cheer and relief among the people of the Valley. Multiple water bodies and springs had dried up due to no precipitation in the region. January and February 2025 received negligible precipitation, leading to the drying up of water bodies and glaciers and also causing rampant forest fires. Also Read: Jammu & Kashmir: Ice cricket tournament in snow-clad Gurez enthuses locals The Government of Jammu and Kashmir had to postpone the Khelo India Winter Games due to insufficient snow in the Ski Resort Gulmarg. “It’s already predicted that we will experience a wet spell, most likely from 25th to 28th February. At a few places tonight, moderate to heavy snow is expected, particularly over north and Central Kashmir. On 27 and 28, there might be moderate to heavy snowfall, particularly over south Kashmir and a few higher reaches of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal. A few places might witness very heavy snowfall. During the same period, light snowfall is expected over the plains of south Kashmir also and at a few places in Central Kashmir, said Mukhtar Ahmad, Director MeT. Also Read: Fresh snowfall and rain in Kashmir Valley end dry spell, bring respite A dry Chillai Kalan Global warming is impacting the weather patterns of Jammu and Kashmir drastically. With January 2025 being one of the driest 'Chillai Kalan' in many decades, the water bodies across the Kashmir division are drying up and are a cause for concern for summers. The MeT department and experts say the next three days of wet spell are going to be extremely important for replenishing the water bodies of the Valley. The Met Department has advised people to halt farming activities for the next one week. The tourists are also advised to accordingly plan their travels. “Jammu region mostly rains are expected during next couple of days. Travellers and tourists are advised to plan their travel accordingly and have to follow traffic advisory. Farmers should stop spraying of fertilisers etc for the next week,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, Director MeT. Areas like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg tourist destinations are also expected to receive fresh snowfall which will help the tourism to pick up again.

Kashmir to receive heavy snowfall over the next three days

The higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley have been covered with a white blanket of snow and the winter activities are at their peak in North Kashmir's Gurez area of Bandipora District. Cricket enthusiasts from the Gurez area aren&rsquo;t giving up playing cricket despite heaps of snow and minus-degree temperatures. These local cricket lovers from the bordering village of Gurez have started a cricket tournament on the ice pitch surrounded by the snowclad mountains.&nbsp;
It has become an annual event in the Gurez Valley to hold the Ice Cricket Tournament during winter. The event became a hit a few years ago after videos of the tournament went viral on social media. International cricket players from across the world have appreciated and shared the photos and videos on their social media handles. Gurez has received heaps of snow this year which has generally led to the shutting of roads leading from Srinagar to Gurez.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fresh-snowfall-and-rain-in-kashmir-valley-end-dry-spell-bring-respite-8740289" rel="dofollow">Fresh snowfall and rain in Kashmir Valley end dry spell, bring respite</a>
The tournament is organised by the Indian Army every year to promote tourism and winter activities in the Gurez area which is generally cut off during the winters.&nbsp;
''The tournament has been organised by the Indian Army here. Locals also organise it as well. If the government also held such activities, then Gurez would be promoted as a tourism destination. It's always the Indian Army which helps us to organise such events. We want the government to also support such activities so that this place gets more tourism and promotion,'' said Zakir Hussain, a local.&nbsp;
<h2>Gurez receives heavy snowfall, cutting it off&nbsp;</h2>
Gurez generally remains cut off for months from the rest of Kashmir Valley and the country due to heavy snow accumulation in the region. But that does not dampen the spirit of the locals as the Indian Army has started many winter sports activities in the region. A ski training workshop for the local youth was organised by the Indian Army as well.&nbsp;
The Youth of the Gurez region is extremely happy and thankful to the Indian Army for organising such events where not only are these youngsters trained, but also help promote the region so that more and more people visit the area.&nbsp;
''Indian Army organises these events to engage youth in such events. We are very thankful to them for it and They also keep prize money to help the youngsters of the area. We hope that more and more such activities are held in the area so that Gurez becomes a tourist attraction,'' said Zahid Ahmad, a local.&nbsp;
The Indian Army promotes such activities in these areas with the aim that these winter sports activities will explore local talent &amp; develop skills in citizens to boost tourism and recreational opportunities in the region.&nbsp;

Kashmir snowfall India News: The tournament is organised by the Indian Army every year to promote tourism and winter activities in the Gurez area.

The higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley have been covered with a white blanket of snow and the winter activities are at their peak in North Kashmir's Gurez area of Bandipora District. Cricket enthusiasts from the Gurez area aren’t giving up playing cricket despite heaps of snow and minus-degree temperatures. These local cricket lovers from the bordering village of Gurez have started a cricket tournament on the ice pitch surrounded by the snowclad mountains. It has become an annual event in the Gurez Valley to hold the Ice Cricket Tournament during winter. The event became a hit a few years ago after videos of the tournament went viral on social media. International cricket players from across the world have appreciated and shared the photos and videos on their social media handles. Gurez has received heaps of snow this year which has generally led to the shutting of roads leading from Srinagar to Gurez. Also Read: Fresh snowfall and rain in Kashmir Valley end dry spell, bring respite The tournament is organised by the Indian Army every year to promote tourism and winter activities in the Gurez area which is generally cut off during the winters. ''The tournament has been organised by the Indian Army here. Locals also organise it as well. If the government also held such activities, then Gurez would be promoted as a tourism destination. It's always the Indian Army which helps us to organise such events. We want the government to also support such activities so that this place gets more tourism and promotion,'' said Zakir Hussain, a local. Gurez receives heavy snowfall, cutting it off Gurez generally remains cut off for months from the rest of Kashmir Valley and the country due to heavy snow accumulation in the region. But that does not dampen the spirit of the locals as the Indian Army has started many winter sports activities in the region. A ski training workshop for the local youth was organised by the Indian Army as well. The Youth of the Gurez region is extremely happy and thankful to the Indian Army for organising such events where not only are these youngsters trained, but also help promote the region so that more and more people visit the area. ''Indian Army organises these events to engage youth in such events. We are very thankful to them for it and They also keep prize money to help the youngsters of the area. We hope that more and more such activities are held in the area so that Gurez becomes a tourist attraction,'' said Zahid Ahmad, a local. The Indian Army promotes such activities in these areas with the aim that these winter sports activities will explore local talent & develop skills in citizens to boost tourism and recreational opportunities in the region.

Jammu & Kashmir: Ice cricket tournament in snow-clad Gurez enthuses locals

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir finally witnessed a fresh spell of snowfall over the higher reaches and rains in plains after a 50-day dry spell. The snow and rain across the region brought cheer and relief among the people of the Valley. Due to the snowfall around Zojila area, the highway that connects Kashmir to Ladakh has been shut for traffic as well.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/day-of-grief-for-israel-says-netanyahu-as-hamas-confirms-youngest-hostage-kfir-bibass-body-among-dead-to-be-released-today-8738314" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Day of grief&rsquo;, says Netanyahu as Hamas prepares to return baby Kfir Bibas&rsquo;s body</a>
Areas like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg received a fresh spell of snow while Srinagar witnessed rains, bringing the much-needed respite as multiple water bodies and springs had dried up due to no precipitation in the area. As January and February so far saw negligible precipitation, it led to the drying of water bodies and caused rampant forest fires. So much so that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir had to postpone the Khelo India Winter Games due to insufficient snow in the Ski Resort Gulmarg.
Global warming is impacting the weather patterns of Jammu and Kashmir drastically. With January 2025 being one of the driest &lsquo;Chillai Kalan&rsquo; periods in many decades, the water bodies across the Kashmir division are drying up, sounding an alarm for the summers. The MeT department has predicted a wet spell across the region in the next 24 hours. But it might not just be enough.
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The MeT department has said that there is going to be a wet spell starting February 25th till 28th. The valley also saw a sudden drop in the temperatures as it was recording temperatures 6 degrees above normal.
The change in weather across Jammu and Kashmir has impacted the weather across North India. National Capital New Delhi also witnessed rain in the morning and a dip in the temperatures.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-orders-firing-of-all-biden-era-us-attorneys-in-major-justice-department-shakeup-8734328" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump orders firing of all Biden-era US attorneys in major Justice Department shakeup: 'We must clean house IMMEDIATELY'</a>

India News: Areas like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg received a fresh spell of snow while Srinagar witnessed rains, bringing the much-needed respite as multiple water bodies and springs had dried up due to no precipitation in the area.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir finally witnessed a fresh spell of snowfall over the higher reaches and rains in plains after a 50-day dry spell. The snow and rain across the region brought cheer and relief among the people of the Valley. Due to the snowfall around Zojila area, the highway that connects Kashmir to Ladakh has been shut for traffic as well. Also read: ‘Day of grief’, says Netanyahu as Hamas prepares to return baby Kfir Bibas’s body Areas like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg received a fresh spell of snow while Srinagar witnessed rains, bringing the much-needed respite as multiple water bodies and springs had dried up due to no precipitation in the area. As January and February so far saw negligible precipitation, it led to the drying of water bodies and caused rampant forest fires. So much so that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir had to postpone the Khelo India Winter Games due to insufficient snow in the Ski Resort Gulmarg. Global warming is impacting the weather patterns of Jammu and Kashmir drastically. With January 2025 being one of the driest ‘Chillai Kalan’ periods in many decades, the water bodies across the Kashmir division are drying up, sounding an alarm for the summers. The MeT department has predicted a wet spell across the region in the next 24 hours. But it might not just be enough. Also read: ‘It’s possible’: Trump eyes new trade deal with China The MeT department has said that there is going to be a wet spell starting February 25th till 28th. The valley also saw a sudden drop in the temperatures as it was recording temperatures 6 degrees above normal. The change in weather across Jammu and Kashmir has impacted the weather across North India. National Capital New Delhi also witnessed rain in the morning and a dip in the temperatures. Also read: Trump orders firing of all Biden-era US attorneys in major Justice Department shakeup: 'We must clean house IMMEDIATELY'

Fresh snowfall and rain in Kashmir Valley end dry spell, bring respite

Srinagar: A godman and Imam of a mosque who sexually abused minor children for over three decades in North Kashmir&rsquo;s Sopore area has finally been convicted after a decade long legal battle. The local court convicted the infamous paedophile Ajaz Sheikh bringing relief to the hundreds of victims.
Sheikh misused the trust people had in the positions he held as an imam, teacher, and faith healer in the area. He exploited his position and sway to sexually abuse children for over 30 years and never got caught. There are thousands of victims of Sheikh&rsquo;s abuse in the district, and some of them have shared their horrific abuse tales.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Sopore Court&nbsp;on Tuesday sentenced the convict to 14 years of imprisonment, seven years each in two cases. He will also have to pay a fine of 50,000 rupees to each of the victims. The victims are also at liberty to approach authorities for compensation.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/supreme-court-restraints-ranveer-allahbadia-others-from-sharing-any-episode-on-youtube-grants-him-interim-protection-8731446">&lsquo;Something dirty in his mind&rsquo;: Supreme Court slams Ranveer Allahbadia, but grants him protection from arrest</a>
''The CJM sopore sentenced the accused to seven years of imprisonment each for two victims. In this case, the sentences will run consecutively, which will mean he will be in jail for 14 years and will have to pay a Rs 50000 fine to each of the victims,&rdquo; said Naila Noor, public prosecutor.
One of the victims in the case had revealed in court that he was raped over 500 times by the faith healer over a period of three years. He later developed some serious health issues. In some cases, the faith healer used to ask the minor children to engage in sexual acts while he would watch. Some of the victims were less than 10 years of age and were forced to do violent assaults.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lebanon-forms-new-government-pm-nawaf-salam-vows-reform-and-salvation-8703452" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lebanon forms new government, PM Nawaf Salam vows &lsquo;reform and salvation&rsquo;</a>
&ldquo;He was hired as a Quran teacher; he would choose and take kids with him. He would tell the parents that there is black magic in the family, and he would need the child below 12 years of age to stay with him as he would want them to speak to Djinn&rsquo;s and heal them. It was during this time that he would sexually abuse them. I also became a victim of the same,&rdquo; said one of the victims.
The first FIR against Sheikh was filed on March 2, 2016. A chargesheet was produced against him in 2017, and since then the legal battle has been going on. The defence lawyers made their arguments in January this year. Over the course of time, the case saw many replacements; the judges were replaced six times, while the prosecutors were changed four times as well.
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&ldquo;This case was filed in the Bomai area of Sopore in the year 2016 under Section 377. This convict was involved in sexual exploitation of children under the age of 18. He warned those children not to reveal anything to their parents. He threatend that he would harm the children and their parents,&rdquo; said Mirza Zahid Khalil, senior prosecuting officer.
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India News: One of the victims in the case had revealed in court that he was raped over 500 times by the faith healer over a period of three years. He later developed some serious health issues.

Srinagar: A godman and Imam of a mosque who sexually abused minor children for over three decades in North Kashmir’s Sopore area has finally been convicted after a decade long legal battle. The local court convicted the infamous paedophile Ajaz Sheikh bringing relief to the hundreds of victims. Sheikh misused the trust people had in the positions he held as an imam, teacher, and faith healer in the area. He exploited his position and sway to sexually abuse children for over 30 years and never got caught. There are thousands of victims of Sheikh’s abuse in the district, and some of them have shared their horrific abuse tales. The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Sopore Court on Tuesday sentenced the convict to 14 years of imprisonment, seven years each in two cases. He will also have to pay a fine of 50,000 rupees to each of the victims. The victims are also at liberty to approach authorities for compensation. Also Read | ‘Something dirty in his mind’: Supreme Court slams Ranveer Allahbadia, but grants him protection from arrest ''The CJM sopore sentenced the accused to seven years of imprisonment each for two victims. In this case, the sentences will run consecutively, which will mean he will be in jail for 14 years and will have to pay a Rs 50000 fine to each of the victims,” said Naila Noor, public prosecutor. One of the victims in the case had revealed in court that he was raped over 500 times by the faith healer over a period of three years. He later developed some serious health issues. In some cases, the faith healer used to ask the minor children to engage in sexual acts while he would watch. Some of the victims were less than 10 years of age and were forced to do violent assaults. Also read: Lebanon forms new government, PM Nawaf Salam vows ‘reform and salvation’ “He was hired as a Quran teacher; he would choose and take kids with him. He would tell the parents that there is black magic in the family, and he would need the child below 12 years of age to stay with him as he would want them to speak to Djinn’s and heal them. It was during this time that he would sexually abuse them. I also became a victim of the same,” said one of the victims. The first FIR against Sheikh was filed on March 2, 2016. A chargesheet was produced against him in 2017, and since then the legal battle has been going on. The defence lawyers made their arguments in January this year. Over the course of time, the case saw many replacements; the judges were replaced six times, while the prosecutors were changed four times as well. Also read: Arab summit on Donald Trump's Gaza plan postponed “This case was filed in the Bomai area of Sopore in the year 2016 under Section 377. This convict was involved in sexual exploitation of children under the age of 18. He warned those children not to reveal anything to their parents. He threatend that he would harm the children and their parents,” said Mirza Zahid Khalil, senior prosecuting officer.

Imam convicted for sexually abusing hundreds of children for three decades in Kashmir Valley

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir today defused two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in South Kashmir's Shopian and Awantipora districts. The first IED was detected in the Kashwa Chitragam area in the Zainapora sub-division of Shopian district. Security forces said that the IED was concealed inside a pressure cooker.
The second IED was recovered in the Tral area of Awantipora. Security forces, during a routine patrol in the area, found a suspicious object and called the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) to defuse the IED. In both places, IEDs were destroyed through a controlled blast by the forces.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmir-fearful-of-drought-as-water-bodies-dry-up-forest-fires-become-rampant-8728855" rel="dofollow">Kashmir fearful of drought as water bodies dry up, forest fires become rampant</a>
<h2>Big tragedy averted</h2>
The joint operations of the Army's 1st Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Jammu and Kashmir Police and 178 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) managed to avert a big tragedy in the Shopian area as the IED was planted very close to the roadside.
Security forces have now cordoned off both places and are carrying out a massive search operation at both locations. More deployment was brought in for searching and sanitising the areas around the incident sites.

India News Jammu and Kashmir: Security forces have now cordoned off both places and are carrying out a massive search operation at both locations.

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir today defused two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in South Kashmir's Shopian and Awantipora districts. The first IED was detected in the Kashwa Chitragam area in the Zainapora sub-division of Shopian district. Security forces said that the IED was concealed inside a pressure cooker. The second IED was recovered in the Tral area of Awantipora. Security forces, during a routine patrol in the area, found a suspicious object and called the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) to defuse the IED. In both places, IEDs were destroyed through a controlled blast by the forces. Also Read: Kashmir fearful of drought as water bodies dry up, forest fires become rampant Big tragedy averted The joint operations of the Army's 1st Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Jammu and Kashmir Police and 178 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) managed to avert a big tragedy in the Shopian area as the IED was planted very close to the roadside. Security forces have now cordoned off both places and are carrying out a massive search operation at both locations. More deployment was brought in for searching and sanitising the areas around the incident sites.

Jammu and Kashmir: Two IEDs defused in Shopian and Awantipora districts

Srinagar: Is Jammu and Kashmir headed for a drought this summer? With January and February 2025 receiving negligible precipitation, water bodies have dried up, and forest fires have been rampant. Not only this, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir had to postpone the Khelo India Winter Games due to insufficient snow in the Ski Resort Gulmarg.
It seems global warming is impacting the weather patterns of Jammu and Kashmir drastically. With January 2025 witnessing one of the driest &lsquo;Chillai Kalan&rsquo; periods in many decades, the water bodies across the Kashmir division are drying up, sounding an alarm for the summer ahead.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-sikh-body-condemns-us-authorities-for-not-allowing-sikh-deportees-to-wear-turban-8728259" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top Sikh body condemns US authorities for 'not allowing' Sikh deportees to wear turban</a>
One of the most famous water springs in South Kashmir at the Achabal Mughal Garden has dried up completely. The locals claim that the Achabal water spring has dried up for the first time in history. The Achabal spring is a source of water for the locals in the area, besides being a lifeline for the trout fish farmers.
&ldquo;It is for the first time in the history of Achabal that this water spring has dried up. Our ancestors never mentioned the drying up of this spring. It seems to be due to climate change, there are no rains or snow. In the last two months, we have not seen any snow here. The water from this spring goes to 15 villages, and now they have no drinking water at the moment. Horticulture and agriculture are also dependent on this,&rdquo; said Shabir Ahmad, a local of Achabal.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/earthquake-shakes-delhi-strong-tremors-felt-in-delhi-and-surrounding-regions-8727330" rel="noopener" target="_blank">4.0-magnitude quake jolts Delhi and surrounding regions, PM Modi urges people to 'stay calm'</a> The weather experts in Jammu and Kashmir are worried that the coming summer might witness a drought-like situation in the Valley. With the main source of water, River Jhelum, flowing at its lowest and the valley witnessing a dip of 80-90 per cent in precipitation, there is worry that the summers will be difficult for everyone, including the people associated with agriculture and horticulture. &ldquo;Jammu and Kashmir saw a huge precipitation deficit in December, and it continued in January and February as well. There has been almost nil precipitation, due to which the Jhelum is flowing at its lowest level. And if we talk about other water bodies, even the Achabal water spring has dried up. If this trend continues, it may negatively impact horticulture and agriculture,&rdquo; said Faizan Arif, a weather analyst and forecaster.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-third-us-deportation-flight-with-112-indians-lands-in-amritsar-amid-outrage-over-alleged-mistreatment-8727110" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Third US deportation flight with 112 Indians lands in Amritsar</a> This year, Jammu and Kashmir has also witnessed rampant forest fires across the region, from North Kashmir&rsquo;s Baramulla and Bandipora to Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu division. On Monday morning, there was a forest fire in the Bandipora district, and experts say it was mostly due to the dry weather during the winters. In the last two weeks, around 50 incidents of forest fires have been reported across the region.
&ldquo;Forest fires have continuously increased, be it in Kupwara, Bandipora, or Srinagar, forest fire incidents have increased. In the last 15 days, there have been more than 50 forest fires. Besides, there have been numerous incidents of forest fires in the Zabarwan hills of Srinagar. This is not very common for winters as it&rsquo;s the time when we see a lot of rain and snow, but this year the scenario has been completely different and we are seeing a long dry spell. Even a small spark can turn into a forest fire at this time,&rdquo; said Faizan Arif, a weather analyst and forecaster.
<h2>Winter Games postponed due to insufficient snow</h2>
The government of Jammu and Kashmir has also postponed the 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, initially set for February 22-25, 2025.The government says that ski resort Gulmarg has insufficient snow to hold the games. The authorities will undertake a new assessment if the snow conditions improve, and the revised update will be announced accordingly.

India News: This year, Jammu and Kashmir has also witnessed rampant forest fires across the region, from North Kashmir’s Baramulla and Bandipora to Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu division.

Srinagar: Is Jammu and Kashmir headed for a drought this summer? With January and February 2025 receiving negligible precipitation, water bodies have dried up, and forest fires have been rampant. Not only this, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir had to postpone the Khelo India Winter Games due to insufficient snow in the Ski Resort Gulmarg. It seems global warming is impacting the weather patterns of Jammu and Kashmir drastically. With January 2025 witnessing one of the driest ‘Chillai Kalan’ periods in many decades, the water bodies across the Kashmir division are drying up, sounding an alarm for the summer ahead. Also read: Top Sikh body condemns US authorities for 'not allowing' Sikh deportees to wear turban One of the most famous water springs in South Kashmir at the Achabal Mughal Garden has dried up completely. The locals claim that the Achabal water spring has dried up for the first time in history. The Achabal spring is a source of water for the locals in the area, besides being a lifeline for the trout fish farmers. “It is for the first time in the history of Achabal that this water spring has dried up. Our ancestors never mentioned the drying up of this spring. It seems to be due to climate change, there are no rains or snow. In the last two months, we have not seen any snow here. The water from this spring goes to 15 villages, and now they have no drinking water at the moment. Horticulture and agriculture are also dependent on this,” said Shabir Ahmad, a local of Achabal. Also read: 4.0-magnitude quake jolts Delhi and surrounding regions, PM Modi urges people to 'stay calm' The weather experts in Jammu and Kashmir are worried that the coming summer might witness a drought-like situation in the Valley. With the main source of water, River Jhelum, flowing at its lowest and the valley witnessing a dip of 80-90 per cent in precipitation, there is worry that the summers will be difficult for everyone, including the people associated with agriculture and horticulture. “Jammu and Kashmir saw a huge precipitation deficit in December, and it continued in January and February as well. There has been almost nil precipitation, due to which the Jhelum is flowing at its lowest level. And if we talk about other water bodies, even the Achabal water spring has dried up. If this trend continues, it may negatively impact horticulture and agriculture,” said Faizan Arif, a weather analyst and forecaster. Also read: Third US deportation flight with 112 Indians lands in Amritsar This year, Jammu and Kashmir has also witnessed rampant forest fires across the region, from North Kashmir’s Baramulla and Bandipora to Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu division. On Monday morning, there was a forest fire in the Bandipora district, and experts say it was mostly due to the dry weather during the winters. In the last two weeks, around 50 incidents of forest fires have been reported across the region. “Forest fires have continuously increased, be it in Kupwara, Bandipora, or Srinagar, forest fire incidents have increased. In the last 15 days, there have been more than 50 forest fires. Besides, there have been numerous incidents of forest fires in the Zabarwan hills of Srinagar. This is not very common for winters as it’s the time when we see a lot of rain and snow, but this year the scenario has been completely different and we are seeing a long dry spell. Even a small spark can turn into a forest fire at this time,” said Faizan Arif, a weather analyst and forecaster. Winter Games postponed due to insufficient snow The government of Jammu and Kashmir has also postponed the 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, initially set for February 22-25, 2025.The government says that ski resort Gulmarg has insufficient snow to hold the games. The authorities will undertake a new assessment if the snow conditions improve, and the revised update will be announced accordingly.

Kashmir fearful of drought as water bodies dry up, forest fires become rampant

<div>
<div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Jammu and Kashmir Police have conducted searches across various parts of the north Indian city of Srinagar and seized around 668 books. Police said these books were promoting the ideology of a banned organisation in J &amp; K. Police started legal action and investigation regarding the sale of these books.</div>
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<div>''Based on credible intelligence regarding the clandestine sale and distribution of literature promoting the ideology of a banned organisation, Police conducted a search in Srinagar, leading to the seizure of 668 books. Legal action has been initiated under Section 126 of the BNSS [Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita law],'' said the police.</div>
<h2>Book seizure leads to political controversy</h2>
<div>The issue has now snowballed into a political controversy. Leaders from both National Conference and People's Democratic Party have criticised the move and raids by Jammu and Kashmir Police.&nbsp;</div>
<div></div>
<div>Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said the government is violating the freedom to read and consume information in Jammu and Kashmir. Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-kashmir-mysterious-illness-containment-zones-established-in-rajouris-budhal-8643374">Jammu &amp; Kashmir mysterious illness: Containment zones established in Rajouri's Budhal</a></div>
<div> 'Days after a security review meeting in Delhi, vicious raids were conducted throughout bookstores in Srinagar. Under the garb of &lsquo;security&rsquo; all sorts of Kafkaesque oppressive measures are being unleashed on Kashmiris. Now even the freedom to read &amp; consume information is being violated. Are we merely sheep or cattle that need to be herded?, '' said Mufti, who is a PDP Leader.</div>
<div> Police are yet to clarify as to which books and literature have been seized, but sources told WION that those were related to the ideology of Maulana Maududi. Maulana Abul A'la Maududi was a 20th century Islamist scholar-ideologue who was active in British India and post-Partition Pakistan.</div>
<div></div>
<div><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/thousands-turn-up-at-recruitment-rallies-kashmiri-youth-dream-of-donning-indian-army-uniform-775827">Also read: Thousands turn up at recruitment rallies, Kashmiri youth dream of donning Indian army uniform</a></div>
<div></div>
<div>National Conference's Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah said the interference in the religious affairs of the Kashmiri Muslims is crossing a red line.</div>
<div> ''Interference in the religious affairs of Kashmiri Muslims is crossing a red line&mdash;it is blatant state oppression and intolerance. First the Shab-e-Barat prayers at Jama Masjid were barred and the masjid itself was sealed. If that wasn&rsquo;t enough, there are reports of police seizing literature by Maulana Maududi (RA)," Ruhullah said.&nbsp;</div>
<div> "Will the state now dictate what Kashmiris read, learn, and believe? This is an unacceptable overreach. If such an order exists, it must be revoked immediately. The state must stop harassing Kashmiris and meddling in their religious affairs&mdash;because the cost of this reckless exercise will be heavy, '' added the National Conference parliamentarian.</div>
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<div>For its part, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said the legal action has been initiated under Section 126 of the Indian Civil Defence Code.</div>
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India news : Jammu and Kashmir Police have conducted searches across various parts of the north Indian city of Srinagar and seized around 668 books.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have conducted searches across various parts of the north Indian city of Srinagar and seized around 668 books. Police said these books were promoting the ideology of a banned organisation in J & K. Police started legal action and investigation regarding the sale of these books. ''Based on credible intelligence regarding the clandestine sale and distribution of literature promoting the ideology of a banned organisation, Police conducted a search in Srinagar, leading to the seizure of 668 books. Legal action has been initiated under Section 126 of the BNSS [Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita law],'' said the police. Book seizure leads to political controversy The issue has now snowballed into a political controversy. Leaders from both National Conference and People's Democratic Party have criticised the move and raids by Jammu and Kashmir Police. Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said the government is violating the freedom to read and consume information in Jammu and Kashmir. Also read: Jammu & Kashmir mysterious illness: Containment zones established in Rajouri's Budhal 'Days after a security review meeting in Delhi, vicious raids were conducted throughout bookstores in Srinagar. Under the garb of ‘security’ all sorts of Kafkaesque oppressive measures are being unleashed on Kashmiris. Now even the freedom to read & consume information is being violated. Are we merely sheep or cattle that need to be herded?, '' said Mufti, who is a PDP Leader. Police are yet to clarify as to which books and literature have been seized, but sources told WION that those were related to the ideology of Maulana Maududi. Maulana Abul A'la Maududi was a 20th century Islamist scholar-ideologue who was active in British India and post-Partition Pakistan. Also read: Thousands turn up at recruitment rallies, Kashmiri youth dream of donning Indian army uniform National Conference's Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah said the interference in the religious affairs of the Kashmiri Muslims is crossing a red line. ''Interference in the religious affairs of Kashmiri Muslims is crossing a red line—it is blatant state oppression and intolerance. First the Shab-e-Barat prayers at Jama Masjid were barred and the masjid itself was sealed. If that wasn’t enough, there are reports of police seizing literature by Maulana Maududi (RA)," Ruhullah said. "Will the state now dictate what Kashmiris read, learn, and believe? This is an unacceptable overreach. If such an order exists, it must be revoked immediately. The state must stop harassing Kashmiris and meddling in their religious affairs—because the cost of this reckless exercise will be heavy, '' added the National Conference parliamentarian. For its part, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said the legal action has been initiated under Section 126 of the Indian Civil Defence Code.

India: Policial row erupts after J and K Police seize 668 books promoting ideology of banned organisation

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