In a first, suspect apprehended by using facial recognition technology: J&K Police
'The Anantnag Police, using the newly installed Facial Recognition System at Langanbal Naka, apprehended a suspected OGW flagged by the system. The individual is in custody. An investigation is under way,' a police spokesman said.
It's for the first time the J&K Police held a suspect by using the high-end technology of facial recognition. The suspect was held near Pahalgam, which is one of the main yatra routes. The Amarnath yatra will start from July 3 from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Sonamarg in Kashmir.
'Safety of the Amarnath Yatra remains our top priority,' the police said.
The latest move comes days after the Lieutenant Governor administration declared the twin routes as 'No Flying Zones' between July 1 and August 10 this year.
According to the order, any kind of aviation platforms and devices including UAVs, drones, balloons, etc., is prohibited on both the Pahalgam axis (in south Kashmir) and Baltal axis (in central Kashmir).
This year, the annual yatra comes in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead on April 22. The Baisaran meadow where the attack took place is adjacent to the yatra route in Pahalgam. Additional companies of the central reserve force have been deployed for the yatra this year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
41 minutes ago
- Hans India
Over 3.52 lakh perform Amarnath Yatra in 21 days
More than 3.52 lakh devotees performed the ongoing Amarnath Yatra so far as another batch of 2,896 pilgrims left Jammu for the Valley on Friday, officials said. Officials added that the number of Yatris performing the Shri Amarnath ji Yatra during the last 21 days since it started on July 3, has crossed the expected figure of 3.50 lakh. "Another batch of 2,896 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu on Friday in two escorted convoys for the two base camps." "First escorted convoy of 42 vehicles carrying 790 Yatris left at 3:30 a.m. for Baltal base camp while the second convoy of 75 vehicles carrying 2,106 Yatris left at 4:18 a.m. for Pahalgam base camp," officials said. 'Chhari Mubarak' (Lord Shiva's Holy Mace) was taken to the historic Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar for customary Puja on Thursday by a group of Sadhus led by Mahant Deependra Giri. The Puja at Shankaracharya Temple is held each year on the occasion of 'Haryali-Amavasya' (Shravan Amavasya) as per the age-old customs. On Friday, the Chhari Mubarak will be taken to the 'Sharika Bhawani' Temple atop the Hari Parvat hillock in Srinagar for customary Puja. Chhari Mubarak will start its final journey towards the cave shrine from Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on August 4 and will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the Yatra. Authorities have made extensive multi-tier security arrangements for this year's Amarnath Yatra, as this takes place after the cowardly attack of April 22 in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. Additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been brought in to augment the existing strength of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB and the local police. The Army has deployed more than 8,000 special commandos to secure the passage of the pilgrims this year. The Yatra started on July 3 and will end after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Devotees approach the holy cave shrine situated 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas either from the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route. Those using the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni to reach the cave shrine, covering a distance of 46 km on foot. This trek takes a pilgrim four days to get to the cave shrine. Those using the shorter Baltal route have to trek 14 km to reach the cave shrine and return to the base camp the same day after having darshan. No helicopter services are available to Yatris this year due to security reasons. The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
One killed in Jammu shootout
One person died of 'bullet wounds' after a shootout in Jammu's Satwari sparking protest from the family of the deceased. Officials said Mohammad Parvez, 21, a resident of Javed Nagar, Nikki Tawi, suffered injuries during a shootout. The victim was declared dead at the Government Medical College, Jammu. The J&K Police has not issued any statement about the incident. Official sources said it took place when the police were chasing suspected drug peddlers in the area. The death sparked a protest outside the hospital. 'It's a fake encounter. Parvez never faced any First Information Report. If he was required in any drug case, he should have been arrested and hanged. We came to know the victim and his brother-in-law were stopped at a checkpoint and fired upon,' Talib Hussain, a tribal activist, said. He rubbished allegations that the victim was involved in any drug smuggling. 'For many months, Gujjars have been killed in the name of cattle smuggling and drug smuggling. We have been silent over the past incidents, but this needs to be investigated,' Mr. Hussian said. He cited the example of Altaf Lali, a Gujjar, who was allegedly arrested in Bandipora by the police and 'later found dead during an encounter'. 'If Parvez was a smuggler or carried weapons, the police should have booked him under UAPA. No authority allows the police to kill him like this,' Mr. Hussian said. The family said the victim was engaged in sand mining from the Tawi River. Officials said the police were investigating the matter.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Assertions like ‘J&K is illegally occupied', ‘should separate from India' attract UAPA sections: J&K High Court
The J&K High Court has observed that 'advocating and inciting unlawful activity by asserting that J&K is illegally occupied and must be separated from the Indian Union' attracts sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). 'Section 13 specifically states that whoever takes part in, incites, advocates, or abets unlawful activity shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine. Such accusations against the respondents squarely fall within the ambit of Section 13(1), because, as per the statements recorded under Section 161 CrPC, they were advocating and inciting the commission of an unlawful activity by asserting that J&K is illegally occupied and must be separated from the Indian Union, thereby advocating secession,' a Division Bench, comprising Justices Sanjeev Kumar and Sanjay Parihar, held. The Bench was hearing a petition challenging the order of discharge drawn by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge (Special Judge) for trial of offences under ULA(P) Act for districts of Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara. The respondents, who were facing prosecution for offences under Section 13 UAPA in FIR No. 41/2015 of Police Station Bandipora stood 'discharged by the trial judge'. However, the Division Bench observed that the order was 'not sustainable on any count as it suffers from non-application of mind and erroneous application of law, thus, on the face of it, is perverse and is, therefore, set aside.' 'The charge sheet shall stand restored with the direction to the trial court to proceed with framing of charge against the respondents for offence under Section 13 of ULA(P) Act, and thereafter proceed to dispose of the challan in accordance with law,' the Court directed. The trial court was of the view that since the respondents were merely raising slogans with no activity of inciting violence, 'Section 13 was not applicable'. 'This view was palpably wrong, because what Section 13(1), read with Section 2(1)(o) of the UAPA, relates to is the commission of an unlawful activity, and the allegations raised against the respondents were squarely covered within the definition of 'unlawful activity. The trial court appears to have not appreciated the version of the witnesses under Section 161 CrPC, who were present at the spot when the occurrence is stated to have happened,' the Division Bench further observed.
