Briefing December 8-14, 2024

BUDHAAL

The Badhaal region in Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with seven mysterious deaths across two incidents, sparking widespread panic. In the first case, five members of a family died after severe vomiting, allegedly due to food poisoning, while two others remain critically ill. The victims include Fazal Hussain, 38, and his four children, aged between 4 and 15. A second incident, five kilometres away, claimed the lives of two siblings, aged 7 and 9, with their brother still hospitalised. The government is investigating the cause, having ruled out contamination in initial food and water samples. A GMC Jammu team is probing the case. MLA Choudhary Javed Iqbal has sought Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s intervention, urging a forensic probe and ex gratia relief for families. Health teams have been deployed, and awareness efforts on food and water safety are underway, as the community anxiously awaits clarity on the tragedies.

Jammu and Kashmir generated 34,384 tonnes of plastic waste during 2021-22, which decreased slightly to 30,342 tonnes in 2022-23.

JAMMU KASHMIR

Jammu and Kashmir is facing a serious liquidity crisis as the treasuries are struggling to process pending bills and General Provident Fund (GPF) payments, raising concerns about the erstwhile state’s financial stability. Contractors and government employees report months of delays, with treasuries citing a persistent shortage of funds. Payments for completed projects in departments such as Roads and Buildings and Jal Shakti have been stalled for two months, while retirees face delays exceeding six months for post-retirement benefits. Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Contractors Association, Ghulam Jeelani Purza, criticised the backlog, highlighting that unpaid bills violate government directives to clear payments within 24 hours. They allege that more than Rs 650 crore have been stuck in the last two financial years and the overall liabilities are above Rs 1500 crore. This prolonged issue, persisting for two years, has forced many contractors out of business, leaving their families in distress.

Jammu Kashmir Paid Rs 35,273 Cr GST between July 2017 and November 2024.

JAMMU

The issue of Rohingya refugees in Jammu and Kashmir has sparked a political controversy, with reports revealing that 152 Rohingya females have married local men and 158 refugees have secured Aadhar cards. Newspapers claimed 38 Rohingya girls married youths in Jammu, and 124 married in Kashmir, raising concerns about the community’s integration. There are allegations that many Rohingyas have obtained ration cards, voter IDs, Aadhar cards, and Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) through illegal means to settle permanently in the region. Four NGOs based in Kashmir are reportedly helping the refugees.

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah asserted that the Jammu and Kashmir government is responsible for providing basic amenities like water and electricity to refugees, as the Union Government settled them in the region. This statement came in response to BJP’s claims of a “political conspiracy” involving the settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, urging a CBI probe. Recently, the administration had attempted to cut power and water supplies to areas with Rohingya residents, but Jal Shakti Minister Javed Rana intervened, stating that connections would remain intact. There are currently around 13,700 refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh in the region. At the peak of the controversy, two UNHCR executives flew to Jammu and met the refugee representatives.

Cybercrime cases in Jammu and Kashmir rose steadily from 120 in 2020 to 154 in 2021, marking a 28 per cent increase, and further to 173 in 2022.

BUDGAM

Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a senior leader of the National Conference (NC) and Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar has recently become more vocal on national issues affecting Muslims, diverging from the approach of his predecessors. Mehdi has initiated a motion in Parliament seeking the impeachment of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court. The motion follows controversial remarks made by Yadav at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) event, where he endorsed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and made statements perceived as discriminatory against Muslims. Mehdi has gained support for the motion from members of various political parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, and All India Trinamool Congress, and aims to gather 100 signatures for its advancement. In a separate matter, Mehdi visited Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, following deadly clashes during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, which led to the deaths of five Muslim youths. The MP met with victims’ families and rejected attempts to frame the incident as a communal conflict, describing it as a clash between ideology and Muslims. He called for a transparent investigation and swift justice, condemning the police’s alleged use of force and urging the administration to prevent further unrest.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered 444 cases in Jammu and Kashmir over the past five years, reflecting the government’s stringent crackdown on corruption.

SYRIA

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria could significantly affect India’s diplomatic relations, especially regarding Syria’s stance on Kashmir. Assad’s regime had been a consistent ally for India, with Syria supporting India’s position on Kashmir, labelling it an internal matter. This support, distinct from many OIC nations, included backing India’s right to resolve the issue without external interference. India reciprocated by supporting Syria’s claim to the Golan Heights, providing humanitarian aid, and investing in Syrian infrastructure. India’s engagement with Syria included notable projects in the oil sector, thermal power, and education, reflecting its strategic interest in the region. The recent decline in bilateral trade signals shifts in these dynamics. With Assad’s downfall, the future of India-Syria relations will depend on the new regime’s approach. Syria’s alliances are shifting, with Turkey potentially playing a more prominent role, despite its historical opposition to India’s Kashmir stance. The evolving geopolitical situation, with Iran’s diminished influence and Turkey’s rising role, will influence India’s engagement with Syria. However, beyond the geopolitical changes, the Middle East shift is also personal, as 44 Kashmiri Shia Muslim devotees, stranded during the conflict, were safely flown back to India by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Jammu and Kashmir faces a massive drug crisis, with 6,562 cases registered and 9,424 arrests made in the past four years.

DELHI

The Government of India recently addressed concerns raised by Kashmir’s apple growers regarding the reduced import duties on apples, specifically from the United States. The Ministry of Finance clarified that the import duty on US apples was reduced from 70 per cent to 50 per cent in September 2023, following the resolution of certain World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes. This move led to a notable increase in apple imports, which reached Rs 17,902 lakhs in the first half of 2024, surpassing the total imports of 2023-24. Despite this surge in imports, the government acknowledged that it has not conducted an official impact assessment on domestic apple growers, particularly in Kashmir, where the industry faces heightened competition. Additionally, the government stated that it could not increase the import duty beyond the WTO-mandated 50 per cent rate, limiting its ability to offer further protection to local producers.

Over Rs 1,100 crore remain unspent under rural development schemes in Jammu and Kashmir this financial year.

JAMMU

Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a serving policeman, Pardeep Singh Thakur, for allegedly duping senior citizens by misusing their ATM cards. Thakur, who had five ATM cards from different individuals in his possession, is accused of stealing Rs 2.02 lakh from elderly victims. The scam was uncovered when Prem Nath Raina, an elderly resident, reported that his ATM card had been used fraudulently. An investigation, which included CCTV analysis and intelligence gathering, led to Thakur’s arrest. He was found to have targeted elderly people, posing as a helpful bystander to gain access to their PINs, swapping their ATM cards, and later withdrawing money. The accused also used stolen cards at petrol pumps when the daily withdrawal limit was reached, with the assistance of two petrol pump employees. All three suspects have been arrested, and further inquiries are ongoing.

Jammu and Kashmir has made significant progress under the Forest Rights Act, of 2006, distributing 6,020 forest right titles, including 429 individual and 5,591 community rights, empowering forest dwellers and tribal communities.

KASHMIR

The latest tuberculosis (TB) data from Jammu and Kashmir reveals concerning trends, especially regarding the age groups most affected by the disease. In 2023, the region recorded 11,754 TB cases, with 923 deaths. By October 2024, the number of cases had slightly decreased to 10,442, with 723 deaths, indicating a reduction in both cases and mortality. The data highlights that the highest proportion of TB cases in both 2023 and 2024 occurred in individuals aged 15-30 years, with 27 per cent of cases in 2023 and 28 per cent in 2024. The 60-plus age group also showed significant numbers, representing 25 per cent of cases in 2023 and 26 per cent in 2024. The death rate among younger individuals appears lower than in older populations, suggesting improved survival for those under 30, although detailed recovery rates are not provided.

KASHMIR

The Jammu and Kashmir government has proposed a uniform Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate of 5 per cent for all state handicrafts, citing the labour-intensive nature of the industry. Currently, carpets are taxed at 5 per cent, while shawls are taxed at 12 per cent. The proposal seeks to harmonise the tax rate, arguing that shawls, like carpets, require significant human labour. However, a new recommendation for a sharp increase in GST on textiles, including Kashmiri shawls and carpets, has sparked concern. Under the proposal, textiles priced between Rs 1,500 and Rs 10,000 would be taxed at 18 per cent, and those above Rs 10,000 would face a 28 per cent rate. This proposed hike has alarmed artisans, traders, and political leaders, fearing it could devastate Kashmir’s traditional industries. The handicraft sector, vital to the region’s economy, saw exports surge from Rs 563 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 1,162 crore in 2023-24. The increase in tax rates could severely impact industries like Pashmina, which require months of work per item. Industry representatives warn the hike would render Kashmiri products less competitive globally, increase unemployment, and threaten the survival of this heritage sector. Stakeholders are urging the GST Council to reconsider the tax increase.

UDHAMPUR

Two Jammu Kashmir police personnel were found dead with bullet injuries in Udhampur on December 8. The incident, suspected to be a case of “suicide and fratricide,” involved a head constable, Szah Malik, who allegedly shot his colleague, driver constable Manjit Singh, before turning the weapon on himself. The two were travelling from Sopore to Talwara when the incident occurred. Another constable, Harmeet Singh, who was in the vehicle, escaped unhurt and is being questioned. Authorities have initiated an investigation, and the bodies were sent for post-mortem after legal formalities were completed.