Srinagar, July 20: The Special Crime Wing (SCW), Kashmir, of the Crime Branch, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday launched simultaneous searches at multiple locations in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts as part of an investigation into an alleged extortion racket involving fraudsters posing as officials of the Crime Branch and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

The searches are being carried out in connection with FIR No. 18/2026, registered under Sections 204, 319(2), 308(2), 338 and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to the Crime Branch, the accused are part of an organised gang that allegedly impersonated Crime Branch and ACB officials to target senior citizens. The gang is accused of threatening victims with fabricated complaints, falsely claiming they would be arrested, and extorting large sums of money from them.

Investigators said the accused allegedly extorted more than Rs 30 lakh from a senior citizen residing in Srinagar.

Searches are being conducted at the residences of four accused persons identified as Mubashir Ahmad Yatto (Wani) of Rangil, Nagbal in Ganderbal; Naseer Maqbool Bichoo of Khwaja Yarbal, Saidakadal, Srinagar; Mudasir Sadiq Najar of Kalal Doori, Naid Kadal, Srinagar; and Muneer Ahmad Mir of Gousia Colony, Elahi Bagh, Srinagar.

Officials said the searches are aimed at recovering incriminating evidence and uncovering the wider network involved in the alleged criminal conspiracy.

The Crime Branch has urged the public to remain vigilant against individuals involved in offences such as cheating, forgery, cyber-enabled crimes, impersonation and other forms of organised criminal activity.

It advised citizens not to fall prey to fraudulent schemes, forged documents or false promises made for unlawful gain and appealed to anyone with information about such activities to immediately report the matter to the nearest police station or the Crime Branch so that legal action can be initiated promptly.

Away from the bustling tourist hubs of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, travellers are increasingly venturing into north Kashmir’s remote villages, drawn by pristine landscapes, hidden waterfalls, forest trails and authentic rural experiences.

The travellers are breathing a new life into destinations that remained off the tourist radar for decades.

With the shift in the footfall, the visitors are no longer finding best hotel or houseboat but discovering untouched landscapes, authentic village life and experiences far removed from the bustle of conventional tourist circuits.

From the Watlab area in Sopore to the upper reaches of Khadlu Manglu (Rampur Rajpora), Nigli, Bangladesh, Surender, Athwatoo, Wullar Lake, Wullar Vintage, Kiterduj, Munddej, Namlan Waterfall, Shrunzfall, Drung, Gowhas, Reshwari, Pujkabar, Naganari and Chandigam, a network of once-overlooked hamlets is witnessing a steady rise in local and domestic tourist arrivals.

Unlike traditional destinations, visitors now choose to stay with local families, trek through forests, explore waterfalls and immerse themselves in village life.

“People are looking for peace rather than crowds,” said Suhail Khan, a frequent traveller to these destinations.

He said visitors like him stay with local families, eat home-cooked food and experience a side of Kashmir that cannot be found in luxury resorts.

“These days visitors are not more into sightseeing but prefer connecting with nature and people,” he told Greater Kashmir.

Manglu, perched on the hills overlooking Sopore, has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the trend.

Once known only to locals for its panoramic views, the village is now attracting tourists seeking solitude after authorities eased travel restrictions to several areas earlier this year.

“Earlier, people would stop here for a few photographs before leaving. But now they spend nights here, wake up to mist-covered mountains and leave with unforgettable memories,” said local guide Shabir Ahmad.

He said that the new trend in tourism has brought income and has also given them confidence to showcase their culture and hospitality.

Officials in the tourism department acknowledge that visitor preferences are changing rapidly.

“Earlier, almost every tourist would visit around Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg, but the trend has now changed as the visitors are deliberately searching for lesser-known villages and offbeat destinations,” a tourism official in north Kashmir said.

He said this decentralisation supports eco-tourism, distributes economic benefits to rural communities and offers travellers authentic cultural experiences.

As per the residents of these villages, the surrounding forests, trekking routes and waterfalls remain largely untouched by commercial tourism.

“These off beat destination has a big attraction that visitors can walk for hours without encountering crowds,” Fayaz Ahmad, a resident from Sopore outskirts said.

He said the sense of isolation has become a luxury.

“We are not trying to compete with Gulmarg but we are offering something different without being included on tourism map of J&K,” he said.

As already reported, the border villages of Keran in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district are witnessing a tourism boom, and nearly 3000 to 4000 travellers visit the areas each day.

Bandipora, Jul 19: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the ruling National Conference (NC), accusing it of failing to defend the constitutional rights of the people after the August 5, 2019 developments and questioning its credibility in leading the campaign for the restoration of statehood.
Addressing a workers’ convention in Bandipora and later speaking to reporters, Bukhari said the NC had remained silent during one of the most difficult periods in Jammu and Kashmir’s political history despite enjoying a strong public mandate.
“When I stepped out in 2020, there was no active politics happening. All of them were sitting safely inside their homes,” Bukhari said, referring to mainstream political leaders.
He said the NC had failed to utilise the mandate of 50 Assembly seats given to it by the people, adding that if the party was genuinely committed to restoring the rights of Jammu and Kashmir, “it should not have been able to sleep even for a single day.”
While clarifying his absence from the National Conference’s recent proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi seeking restoration of statehood, Bukhari said he had not been consulted before the programme was announced. However, he maintained that he fully supported the cause.
“It does not mean I don’t support the cause. Whoever takes the fight for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood or Article 370 forward, I stand with them,” he said.

At the same time, Bukhari questioned the effectiveness of the opposition’s approach, describing some of the political campaigns as attempts to score “brownie points.”
“Let us see how much they actually manage to bring back. If it is merely about scoring brownie points, I can score plenty of them too. If we have to wash dirty linen in public, I can wash it as well. But this political grandstanding benefits no one except the elements who do not want the people of Jammu and Kashmir to live in peace and harmony with India,” he said, adding that dialogue and persuasion remained the only viable path to resolving political issues.
Bukhari reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir’s future lay within the Indian Union and said the resolution of all political issues rested with New Delhi.
“Jammu and Kashmir is destined to remain a part of India, and the solutions to all our problems will also come from New Delhi, not from anywhere else. Apni Party will compel the Centre to restore the constitutional rights of J&K,” he said.
He also sought to allay public concerns over demographic changes in the Union Territory, promising that the Apni Party would take up the issue with the Centre.

“Some people in Jammu and Kashmir are apprehensive about demographic changes and any attempt to alter the region’s Muslim-majority status. Apni Party will ensure these concerns are addressed,” he said.
Appealing to the Government of India, Bukhari urged it to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to bridge the “Dili aur Dil Ki Dooriyan” (distance between New Delhi and the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir).
“This is the right time for the Government of India to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir so that their genuine concerns and grievances are heard, understood and effectively addressed,” he said.

Bukhari also blamed successive political parties for the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019.
“What was the need to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A? What was the need to strip away our statehood? The elements operating there are exactly like the ones here—whether it is the PDP, the National Conference, the BJP, Kejriwal’s party or the Congress—they all collectively voted to remove Article 370 and end our statehood. None of them are our well-wishers. This is not a religious or holy fight; it is pure politics,” he alleged.
Tracing the roots of Kashmir’s political unrest, Bukhari said repeated electoral manipulation had eroded public faith in democracy.
“I say it today as well: if rigging had not occurred since 1947, things would be different. The people of Jammu and Kashmir decided to align with a democratic India back then, but democracy was denied to them. It was the blatant rigging of the 1987 elections that created Syed Salahuddin,” he said.
He also criticised Bollywood’s portrayal of Kashmir, saying such depictions often ignored the emotional sensitivities of the people.
“They don’t know that our emotions are associated with these issues. All these attempts to play with the emotions of Kashmiris are setting a dangerous trend,” he said.

Referring again to the National Conference, Bukhari alleged that the party had remained silent on the restoration of statehood for six years, including after assuming office in 2024.
“They remained in power for decades, yet after August 5, 2019, when the people needed them the most, they chose to remain silent. Now they have suddenly begun raising the issue of statehood. The obvious question is: where were they over the past six years?” he asked.
He further alleged that it was the National Conference that had gradually surrendered Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional autonomy after the state’s accession to India.

“It was this party that made J&K accede to India in 1947. Following that, they started giving away J&K’s rights and special status to New Delhi. But when people needed them the most after August 5, 2019, they remained in hiding,” he said.
Highlighting local issues in Bandipora district, Bukhari demanded immediate construction of the Gurez Tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity to the border valley by bypassing the snowbound Razdan Pass. He also sought early construction of the Bandipora-Sogam road.
Accusing previous governments of neglecting the district, he said hospitals and schools lacked adequate infrastructure and qualified staff, and called for improved drinking water facilities in tribal villages.

Bukhari also raised concerns over mining policies, alleging that local residents had been deprived of their traditional rights while outsiders were extracting minerals worth millions of rupees from rivers.
“Locals have been denied their traditional manual mining. This has to change, and Apni Party will ensure that local people get their rightful share so they can continue their traditional livelihood,” he said.
Expressing concern over rising unemployment, Bukhari said the lack of job opportunities was fuelling frustration among educated youth and contributing to the growing menace of drug addiction.
“It is the responsibility of the government to create employment opportunities for our youth. One of the reasons behind the growing drug menace is unemployment,” he said.

He also accused the National Conference of failing to fulfil major promises made during the 2024 Assembly election campaign.
“People were assured 200 units of free electricity every month and 12 free LPG cylinders every year. They were promised additional ration, but instead the quota has been reduced. They also promised one lakh jobs within six months of forming the government. Now they are outsourcing jobs,” he alleged.
Calling upon people to reject traditional political parties, Bukhari said they had repeatedly exploited public sentiment for electoral gains.
Speaking on the occasion, Apni Party Provincial President for Kashmir Mohammad Ashraf Mir urged party workers to intensify public outreach and remain closely connected with people at the grassroots level.
“The Apni Party is a party of the masses. It is our responsibility to raise public issues and ensure their grievances reach the concerned authorities for redressal,” Mir said.

During the convention, National Conference youth leader Sameer Iqbal from Kuloosa, Bandipora, joined the Apni Party along with his supporters.
The convention, jointly organised by District President Syed Shafat Qazmi and senior leader Naseer Ahmad Mir, was attended by several party functionaries, including Chief Spokesperson and State Secretary Muntazir Mohiuddin, Provincial Secretary Mohammad Saleem Lone, Provincial Joint Secretary Raiz Atish, Constituency In-charge Imtiyaz Paray, Vice District President Abdul Rahim Bhat, Youth President Shiraz Wani, former DDC member Ghulam Nabi Ganaie and other senior leaders.