Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal

Kashmiri Man Had Voted Before Army Used Him As 'Human Shield': Police

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Tuesday September 26, 2017

Farooq Ahmad Dar, who was tied to an army jeep and paraded during the violence-hit April 9 by-polls in Srinagar, had cast his vote before he was used as a "human shield", a police investigation has confirmed.

3 Terrorists Killed In Kashmir, Were Planning Uri-Like Attack, Say Police

India News | Reported by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Monday September 25, 2017

Three terrorists were killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri on Sunday, averting a major attack like the one on an Army base in the same area last year, the police said. Early investigations suggested they belonged to Pakistan-based Laskkar-e-Taiba, they added.

Row Over State Holiday For Hari Singh Birthday Grows In Jammu And Kashmir

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Sunday September 24, 2017

A major controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over the birthday of the last King of Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh - 55 years after his death. Hari Singh's grandsons, members of the ruling PDP and BJP, are demanding that the day should be marked as a state holiday.

2 Terrorists Involved In Banihal Attack Arrested, Weapons Recovered

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Friday September 22, 2017

Barely 30 hours after they killed a Sashastra Seema Bal jawan and injured another soldier at Banihal, the Jammu and Kashmir police have arrested two attackers.

Terrorists Target Minister's Convoy At Tral Near Srinagar, 3 Civilians Dead

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Thursday September 21, 2017

Three civilians have been killed and six security personnel are reported injured in a terrorist attack in Tral, about 25 miles south of Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir. Minister Naeem Akhtar escaped unhurt in the attack

Schools Closed For A Week Due To Pak Firing In Jammu And Kashmir's Arnia

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Wednesday September 20, 2017

For the last one week, schools at the international border at Arnia in Jammu and Kashmir are shut due to incessant shelling by Pakistan. The panic-stricken students and staff say the situation is just not conducive for studies.

Schools Shut In Jammu And Kashmir's Arnia After Pakistan Violates Ceasefire

India News | Reported by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal, Edited by Nidhi Sethi | Monday September 18, 2017

After a night of heavy shelling by Pakistani forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Arnia sector, all schools within five-kilometre area along the international border (IB) have remained closed. This is the fifth ceasefire violation by Pakistan in as many days.

To Fight Blue Whale Challenge, J&K Schools Run Special Campaigns

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Saturday September 9, 2017

With rising incidents of children committing suicide by taking the blue whale challenge throughout the country, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to run special campaigns in schools for awareness. Students are taught about the disastrous effects of the challenge to prevent them from playing the game and ending their lives.

Deportation Ordered For Rohingyas, PM Modi Likely To Discuss Issue In Myanmar

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Wednesday September 6, 2017

Mohammad Aejaz, 34, did not celebrate Eid this year. Facing persecution in Myanmar, Aejaz, a labourer, fled to India with his wife and three children seven years ago and settled in Jammu and Kashmir. He hasn't met his relatives, who are in Myanmar, since he became a refugee.

Blog On Reporting From Dera HQ As Violence Erupted, Premis Went On Prowl

Blog | Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Thursday August 31, 2017

I have reported on many terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir; this violence was equally chilling in many ways. Premis in name only.

Haryana 'Sant' Rampal Acquitted Of Illegally Confining 1000s Of Devotees

India News | Reported by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Tuesday August 29, 2017

A self-declared religious leader in Haryana, Satguru Rampalji Maharaj, has been found not guilty of illegally confining thousands of followers and obstructing officials in 2014 when they stormed his 12-acre ashram. Six people were killed as his devotees turned into a private army to prevent his arrest; hundreds were injured.

Thousands Evacuated From Ram Rahim's Base, Sentencing Today: 10 Points

India News | Reported by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal and Amitoj Singh, Edited by Anindita Sanyal | Monday August 28, 2017

The estimated 30,000 followers of self-styled guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who were inside the headquarters of his sect, the Dera Sacha Sauda in Haryana's Sirsa, started moving out on Sunday evening. Around 6 pm, the security forces brought 100 state transport buses to ferry them out, resolving the stalemate that had been in continuing since Ram R...

As Dera Chief Left In Huge Convoy, Devotees Fainted, Flung Themselves On Road

India News | Reported by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Friday August 25, 2017

As Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh left in a 100-car convoy for a court in Panchkula for a verdict in a rape case against him, followers lined the roads of Sirsa, the Haryana town home to the sprawling headquarters of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect.

'Prefer To Die Here Than Go Back', Say Rohingyas, Facing Deportation

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Wednesday August 23, 2017

With the Centre planning to deport all Rohingya refugees, there is distress and panic among the nearly 40,000-strong community living illegally in India. Calling the move counter-productive, most of them say, "We would prefer to die here rather than go back to a situation of conflict and violence."

PM Modi Outreach Gets A Thumbs Up In Kashmir, A Nudge For Action

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Wednesday August 16, 2017

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's outreach to Kashmiris from the iconic Red Fort, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti made the state's complex relationship with the central government the crux of her Independence Day speech, underlining that there can't be any compromise on the special status of the state.

Before Laying Down Life, CRPF Man Unfurled Flag. Today, Wife Took His Place

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Tuesday August 15, 2017

The Independence Day celebrations at Srinagar's CRPF 49 battalion this year was overshadowed by grief. Thirty-two-year-old Neha Tripathi, her little daughter by her side, was unfurling the flag. Last year, it was her husband, Commandant Pramod Kumar, who performed the same task. Within a couple of hours, he was dead.

Hizbul Commander Yaseen Itoo 'Ghaznavi' Killed In Encounter In Kashmir

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Monday August 14, 2017

Yaseen Itoo, a top commander of the terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, was among three terrorists killed in an encounter with security forces in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir today. Two soldiers also lost their lives in the 20-hour gunbattle that began last night. Three others, including an officer, were seriously injured.

Jammu Railway Station On High Alert After Terror Threat

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Saturday August 12, 2017

The Jammu railway station is on a high alert a day after a low intensity explosive device and a letter vowing revenge for the killing of Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Abu Dujana was found on a Jammu bound train. With inputs suggesting possible terrorist attacks ahead of the Independence Day, a high alert has been sounded and trains are being thoroughly...

Why Kashmiri Pandits Are Refusing To Return To Their Jobs In Valley

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Wednesday August 9, 2017

Most Kashmiri Pandit employees left the valley last year after a long spell of unrest following the encounter of Burhan Wani. Now, 500 of them are refusing to return.

Srinagar, Part Of Smart City Mission, Gets A Facelift

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Tuesday August 8, 2017

Less than two months after the Narendra Modi government included Srinagar in the Smart City mission, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir is getting a facelift.

5 Terrorists Killed In Jammu And Kashmir's Machil Sector, Major Infiltration Bid Foiled

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Monday August 7, 2017

A major infiltration bid has been prevented in Jammu and Kashmir's Machil Sector today. Five infiltrators were killed by security forces along the Line of Control.

3 Lashkar-e-Taiba Terrorists Killed In Encounter In Jammu And Kashmir's Sopore

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Saturday August 5, 2017

In a major boost to security forces involved in anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir, three terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in a joint operation by the police and the Army in north Kashmir's Sopore district today.

3 Lashkar-e-Taiba Terrorists Dead, 1 Policeman Injured In Encounter In Jammu And Kashmir's Sopore

India News | Reported by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal, Edited by Anuj Pant | Saturday August 5, 2017

Three terrorists were killed in an encounter in North Kashmir's Sopore this morning, police said.

'You Caught Me, Mubarak': Terrorist Abu Dujana's Last Call With Officer

India News | Reported by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Thursday August 3, 2017

Abu Dujana, the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist killed in Kashmir on Tuesday, refused to surrender during what is believed to be an officer's phone call when he was cornered in a house surrounded by security forces.

Army Major, Jawan Killed In Gunbattle With Terrorists in Kashmir's Shopian

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Thursday August 3, 2017

Two soldiers including an Army Major were killed when terrorists opened fire on a search party of security forces this morning in south Kashmir's Shopian district, police said. Another jawan was also injured in the gunfight.

Sashastra Seema Bal Launches Rescue Teams For Disaster-Prone Jammu And Kashmir

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Tuesday August 1, 2017

Jammu and Kashmir, a state that has battled various natural disasters for a while and has had to depend on national rescue teams, has now launched specialised rescue team to help improve and fasten the process.

Burqa-Clad Hizbul Terrorists Rob Bank In Jammu And Kashmir, Escape With 5 Lakhs

India News | Reported by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal, Edited by Nidhi Sethi | Monday July 31, 2017

It was a usual Monday for officials till a group of at least three burqa-clad terrorists raided their bank in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag and escaped with over Rs 5 lakh.

Machil Encounter: Families Say Unhappy With Army Tribunal Verdict

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Monday July 31, 2017

The families of the three men killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Machil sector seven years ago say they are not satisfied with the verdict of a military tribunal which has given bail to the five armymen indicted in the case.

Stuck For A Month, 48 Passengers From Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Protest

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Thursday July 27, 2017

48 people from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir have been stuck in Jammu and Kashmir for over a month ever since the cross-Line of Control bus service was unilaterally suspended by Islamabad following massive ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

Flash Flood In Jammu And Kashmir's Doda That Killed 6 Could Have Been Avoided: Locals

India News | Written by Sheikh Zaffar Iqbal | Monday July 24, 2017

Did poor planning lead to the flash floods in Jammu and Kahsmir's Doda last week leaving six people dead, scores injured and several houses destroyed? Cloudbursts have been causing massive damage across the state and while not much can be done about natural calamities, local residents that poor planning or illegal construction may have led to the l...