Srinagar, March 17: A terrorist was killed on Monday and an AK-47 rifle and ammunition were recovered in an ongoing operation in J&K’s Kupwara district, officials said.

The exact identity and affiliation of the slain terrorist are being ascertained.

An encounter broke out between security forces and hiding terrorists in Kupwara earlier in the day.

Officials said that following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Krumbhoora (Zachaldara) village in the Rajwar area of the district, security forces started a CASO (Cordon and Search Operation).

“As the security forces closed on the hiding terrorists, they fired at the surrounding security forces triggering an encounter. Two to three terrorists are reportedly holed up inside the cordoned-off area. All the exit points of the terrorists are being plugged,” an official said.

A joint team of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) has launched a coordinated operation to eliminate the threat. Authorities have sealed off the area and additional reinforcements have been deployed to ensure a successful operation.

Civilians in the area have been advised to stay indoors and avoid movement near the encounter site for their safety.

Terrorists, under the orders of their handlers sitting across the border in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), have stepped up their activities. Intelligence agencies believe that the peaceful, people-participative Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections in 2024 have frustrated terror handlers in Pakistan. Recently, terrorists killed three innocent civilians in the Kathua district, including a 14-year-old boy.

The bodies of two civilians out of three who went missing from the Qazigund area of the Kulgam district on February 14 have been recovered.

These civilians, belonging to the Rajouri district of the Jammu division, were working as labourers in the Valley to earn their livelihood.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has chaired three security review meetings on J&K since the beginning of 2025.

He has given clear orders to the security forces to ensure zero infiltration and zero tolerance for terrorists and their sympathisers in the Union Territory.

Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has also chaired two back-to-back security review meetings, one in Srinagar and the other in Jammu, directing police and security forces to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terror sustained by terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers.

He said that funds generated from drug smuggling, drug trafficking and hawala rackets are ultimately used to sustain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, and the war against terror cannot be fought in isolation unless its support channels dry up.

New Delhi, March 17: As the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) intensified its protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), on Monday slammed the Muslim body for its warning of a “Shaheen Bagh-like protest,” calling it an attempt to divide people.

AIMPLB staged another demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, alleging that the government is conspiring to seize Waqf properties. The protest saw participation from eleven opposition parties, including the Congress. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress leader Salman Khurshid also participated in the protest.

However, AIMPLB’s approach has drawn criticism from within the community as well, with Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi accusing the board of being hijacked by political interests rather than focusing on real Muslim issues.

Reacting to AIMPLB’s stance, Pal told media, “They have been opposing this bill from the very beginning. Despite this, we invited the All India Muslim Personal Law Board to present their views before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. Owaisi Sahab was also a member. We listened to everyone for 3-4 hours and recorded the opinions of every stakeholder from different states.”

Earlier, AIMPLB member Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas had warned, “If the bill is implemented, the entire country will witness a protest like Shaheen Bagh.”

Notably, Ilyas is the father of former JNU scholar and student activist Umar Khalid, who has been behind bars since September 2020 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the “larger conspiracy” case related to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Slamming such remarks, Pal asserted that the JPC report was prepared after extensive consultations.

“We considered every stakeholder’s viewpoint before drafting the report. This law aims to protect Waqf properties from individuals who misuse them and prevent the benefits from reaching poor Muslims, women, and widows. The bill hasn’t even been passed yet, and they are already calling for a Shaheen Bagh-like situation. This is a well-planned attempt to divide people, just like during the Article 370 and Triple Talaq debates,” he said.

Pal pointed to the positive impact of past government decisions, stating, “Today, Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a tourism boom and economic prosperity. Similarly, the abolition of Triple Talaq has given minority women a new sense of security, and they are thankful to PM Modi for this historic decision.”

Defending the democratic process behind the bill, he added, “In a democracy, the power to make laws lies with the elected representatives of the people. The government introduced this bill and had the majority to pass it directly in Parliament.”

“However, instead of rushing it, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju proposed referring it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. This was done to ensure that Muslim organisations across the country, including those now protesting, were heard, and a fair and balanced law was created.”

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to introduce reforms such as digitization, enhanced audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

While the government argues that it aims to protect Waqf assets and benefit the underprivileged, the opposition and AIMPLB remain firm in their resistance, setting the stage for further confrontations over the bill.

Bareilly, March 17: National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, on Monday accused the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) of deviating from its core purpose and being “hijacked” by politicians.

His remarks come as AIMPLB staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, alleging that the government is conspiring to seize Waqf properties.

The protest saw participation from eleven opposition parties, including the Congress. However, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi slammed AIMPLB for prioritising political alliances over addressing the real concerns of the Muslim community.

“AIMPLB is holding a dharna at Jantar Mantar. Everyone has the right to protest, but I want to highlight an important point. When the Muslim Personal Law Board was formed, its purpose was to address social matters and combat societal evils within the Muslim community. Unfortunately, it has now strayed from that mission,” he said.

He pointed out that earlier, political figures were not part of the board, but today, it is dominated by members from various political parties.

“The board now includes people affiliated with different political groups, whether in Parliament or other positions. Leaders from the Samajwadi Party, Congress, and even AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi hold influential positions within the Muslim Personal Law Board,” he stated.

According to Razvi, the board has shifted away from addressing Sharia-related and social issues, instead aligning itself with political agendas.

“It is clear that the Muslim Personal Law Board has been hijacked by politicians and political parties. This hijacking will prove to be disastrous for the real issues concerning Muslims,” he warned.

His remarks come against the backdrop of the ongoing controversy surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tabled its report on the bill in Parliament on February 13, facing opposition from various political groups.

The Waqf Act of 1995, which was originally enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address these challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.