India asks Pakistan to take slain soldiers’ bodies
The Indian Army on Sunday offered its Pakistani counterparts to take the dead bodies of its soldiers who were killed in a foiled infiltration atempt in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Pakistan Army has been offered to approach with white flag and take the dead bodies lying on the Indian side for last rites,” Indian Army sources said.
Pakistan is yet to respond to the offer, the sources added.
The incident took place in Karen sector ater a Pakistan Border Action Team’s atempt to infiltrate in India was foiled on the intervening night of July 31 and Aug.1.
Five to seven terrorists and possible SSG personnel were killed. Four bodies were still lying in the open along the Line of Control (LOC), sources said on Saturday.
During the past one week, there has been a rise in infiltration and BAT atempts besides frequent ceasefire violations to disrupt peace along the LOC in the state.
Following these incidents, the Amarnath Yatra was cut short by two weeks and pilgrims and tourists were asked to leave the Valley.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday presided over a high-level security meeting amid escalating tensions in Jammu and Kashmir where a major security build up has sparked fears and tensions.
The meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Intelligence Bureau chief Arvind Kumar, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Kumar Goel and senior Home Ministry officials.
Additional Secretary (Jammu and Kashmir Division) Gyanesh Kumar separately briefed the Minister about the situation in Kashmir Valley.
Informed sources said the Minister discussed internal security as well as the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where the Amarnath Yatra has been curtailed ater the government warned of terror threats.
All Amarnath pilgrims as well as tourists have been told to leave “as soon as possible.”
Shah spoke about the preparation to deal with terror atacks and deployment of security establishment in the Kashmir Valley amid inputs that Pakistan-backed terrorists were planning to target the Amarnath Yatra - an annual month-long Hindu pilgrimage which started on June 28 and was to end on Aug.15, the sources said.
Shah is reportedly planning to visit Jammu and Kashmir. This too was discussed, said a source.
The Minister’s meeting, the abrupt axing of the Amarnath Yatra and the security build up has set off yet another round of speculation about the Modi government’s next move in Jammu and Kashmir.
Residents say that many in the Kashmir Valley are buying up essential goods to prepare for the worst.
Former J-K Chief Minister and President of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Muti, has been asked by the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) to clarify her role in the backdoor appointments made in Jammu and Kashmir Bank on references of some of her former ministers.
ACB Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) has sent a communication to Muti which said that during the investigations into the backdoor appointments made in the J&K Bank, it has surfaced that some ministers had sent recommendations to the J-K Bank Chairman and on these references backdoor appointments were made.
Muti has been ‘requested’ to clarify whether such references had her endorsement, verbal or otherwise.
Whem asked if her explanation was found to be unsatisfactory, what would be the next legal move by the ACB, sources said, “In that case, she would be summoned to appear before the investigators.”
Dozens of backdoor appointments in the J-K Bank came to the surface during the ACB investigations into the working of the bank’s sacked chairman, Pervaiz Ahmad Nengroo.
Unearthing of backdoor appointments and virtually unsecured loans to influential businessmen or kith and kin of the then ministers had jolted the reputation of the bank as the state government and the Reserve Bank of India stepped in quickly for course correction in April-may this year.
Assurances to shareholders and depositors have steered the bank out of a crisis situation and efforts are on to sustain and strengthen the largest financial institution of the state.
Muti has been spearheading the creation of a joint front of all mainstream political parties in Kashmir “to protect the state’s special status.”
Shah presides over a high-level security meeting amid escalating tensions in Kashmir where a major security build up has sparked fears and tensions