A bullet-riddled body of a labourer from Bihar’s Banka district was recovered in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday.

The body was found in the Wachi area of Zainapora in the south Kashmir district. The laborer, identified as Ashok Chauhan, was living in the Sangam area of Anantnag.

Locals discovered the body and reported it to the police. The police arrived at the scene, assessed the situation, and then took the deceased’s body to the hospital for post-mortem examination.

According to one of Chauhan’s colleagues, they left their rented room at 7 a.m., and he was with them for about an hour. Chauhan received a phone call while they were harvesting corn and informed them that he was going somewhere.

After he didn’t return for some time, they went to look for him. When they called his phone, it kept ringing with no answer, and they later found his body.

“He got a phone call while we were harvesting corn. He told us that he is going somewhere. When he did not return for sometime, we went to look for him. We called his number which kept ringing, but there was no answer. Then we found his body,” the colleague told PTI.

The body has been taken to a hospital for medico-legal formalities, and an investigation has been initiated.

In December 2023, the Indian Army ordered a thorough internal investigation into the deaths of three civilians in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir after allegations that they died in its custody. 

The three civilians were allegedly picked up by the Army for questioning in the wake of the killing of four Army Jawans in an ambush by unidentified terrorists in Poonch on December 21. The aforesaid civilians, aged between 27 and 42, were found dead on December 22.

Following their death, their relatives and political leaders alleged that the three died due to custodial torture as they were among the eight people picked up by the Army for interrogation.

A few days after the incident, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met the Indian Army in Poonch. The Defence Minister had said that the Army must not just win the nation but also the hearts of the people.

Singh emphasised that the Army not only has to save the nation from enemies but also has the responsibility to win the hearts of people. He asked the Army to ensure that such things as civilian killings don’t happen again. He added that there should be an end to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. He also asked the army to move forward with the commitment to stamp out terrorism. 

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah will contest election from the Baramulla constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party announced on Friday.

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah, while speaking to reporters, said that Omar Abdullah is the party’s candidate from north Kashmir’s Baramulla Lok Sabha seat.

The National Conference president also informed that the firebrand Shia leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi would contest from central Kashmir’s Srinagar constituency, which has been an NC bastion.

On contesting the General election from Baramulla, Omar said that it’s a challenge, every election is a challenge but it’s a challenge that he is looking forward to. As he said earlier, his fight is not against an individual, it is against the skullduggery, treachery, the political machinations of the BJP, he asserted.

The former Chief Minister said the way in which BJP is trying to create alternatives to parties like the National Conference, the way in which they are conspiring to try and bring their associate parties together on one stage and therefore he sees this as an opportunity to take the fight directly to the BJP and to the Centre, he added.

Speaking to a reporter, he said that this time, his fight is not against any individual. In North Kashmir, his fight is not against any candidate instead his fight is with those powers which are behind that candidate. It has been decided that he will be contesting from North Kashmir because BJP is focusing a lot on North Kashmir, Omar added. He said he wants that these powers should be defeated in North Kashmir.

Regarding the BJP, the NC leader wondered if what PM Modi is saying is correct then why are his candidates not in the field? Why is the BJP not contesting South, Central and North Kashmir, he asked.

On being asked if he would leave politics if the BJP wins a single seat, he said to let the BJP announce their candidates. He will also see if they are able to get a single seat in J&K or not, he said while speaking to a reporter.

According to the Election Commission of India, polling in Baramulla will be held on May 20.

Ghulam Hassan Bhat, a retired Inspector General of Police with Jammu and Kashmir paid last tribute to his son Humayun Muzamil Bhat, a deputy superintendent who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday.   

The retired Police Officer walked towards Himayun’s body and laid a wreath on it, which was a heartwrenching moment. This is the toughest time for a father to pay the last tribute to his son. Bhat’s composure and his heavy steps for the last time at his departed son have shattered hearts.

Himayun Bhat, a deputy superintendent with Jammu and Kashmir Police along with Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Ashish Dhonack were killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Anantnag, a southern sector of Jehlum Valley in Kashmir.

According to reports, Himayun lost his life due to heavy injuries that led to heavy blood loss in a fight with terrorists.

The last rites were held in Budgam where Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Police Chief Dilbag Singh paid tribute to the police officer. A large number of people also gathered at the rites spot.

On behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, DGP J&K Sh Dilbag Singh has condoled the martyrdom of the braveheart officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army in an encounter at Gadool, Kokernag, Anantnag.

The DGP has said in his message that he is deeply saddened by the terrible loss of three young bravehearts Col. Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonack of 19 RR and Deputy SP Humayun Muzamil Bhat son of retired IG of Jammu and Kashmir Police Ghulam Hassan Bhat.

The DGP has said that every loss of life is unfortunate adding that, perpetrators of the criminal act would be brought to justice soon. The DGP extended his sympathies with the bereaved families and said the whole of J&K Police Force is at the beck and call of the next of keen of martyrs.