Jammu, July 17: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Friday stated that his party would join National Conference’s protest at Jantar Mantar to seek statehood – the movement for which was charted by Congress only.

“Although they (NC) had not earlier accepted Congress’ invite to join its movement for statehood, but we cannot stay away from its (NC’s) call to join its protest (at Jantar Mantar) as the course (movement for statehood) was charted by us. We will also join because the matter relates to the future of J&K and the sentiments of 1.40 Cr people of J&K,” said Karra, while addressing a press conference at PCC office here.

He informed that the NC had invited AICC president Mallikarjun Kharg, Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and LoP Rahul and him (Karra) in his capacity as JKPCC president for participation in its Jantar Mantar protest.

“As far as our central leadership’s participation is concerned, the Indian National Congress too will participate in the protest. But it is for them to decide the level of participation,” he said.

Karra asserted that the statehood movement was conceived, championed, followed up consistently by the Congress and to take it to its logical conclusion, the party was relentlessly continuing its programmes and agitating at the district and block level under “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq.”

“The culmination of our (Congress’) current ongoing phase of agitation for statehood was already scheduled on July 20. But after the NC announced its Jantar Mantar protest on July 20, we preponed our scheduled programme to July 19,” he stated.

Karra said that on July 19, the party would hold a sit-in dharna at Maharaja Hari Singh Park, Jammu, followed by a march towards Lok Bhawan, Jammu to submit a memorandum to the President of India for the early restoration of statehood.

All senior leaders, legislators, ex-ministers, ex-legislators, ex-corporators, district presidents, block presidents and frontal wings would participate in the scheduled programme, he shared.

JKPCC president maintained that to further intensify the movement at the constituency level also, the party had chalked out its programme.

“If the Centre does not fulfill its promise, we have also planned a Yatra from Lakhanpur to Lolab. We have already discussed it with our leader Rahul Gandhi also. At present, we are working on the logistics for our proposed march,” he said.

Karra, while reiterating that Congress not only championed the cause of statehood since August 5, 2019 but also relentlessly fought for it. It also pursued its “Dilli Chalo” march, which was participated by Congress’ central leadership as well.

“A day after the withdrawal of J&K’s special status, in terms of Article 370 and 35-A unilaterally, undemocratically and unconstitutionally, by the BJP government- on August 5, 2019, the All India Congress Committee had passed a resolution condemning the act of Government of India and seeking the restoration of statehood to J&K forthwith. Since then, it has been our persistent demand. Our leadership last year even wrote a letter to the Centre reiterating the demand for immediate restoration of statehood,” he said.

Karra stated that the party even turned down the repeated requests of NC to be part of J&K cabinet as a part of its (Congress’) principled stand declared well before the elected government took oath that it would not accept cabinet berths until the restoration of statehood.

Responding to a question about former JKPCC president Prof Saif-ud-din Soz’s statement calling the NC not to confine its protest to statehood demand only but to assert restoration of Article 370 also, Karra reiterated that it had no connection with the party (Congress) and it was his (Soz’s) personal view.

Jammu, Jul 17: The Principal Sessions Court, Jammu, on Friday rejected the bail application of Kamal Singh, who was allegedly caught red-handed while attempting to murder former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, citing the gravity of the offence, public safety and democratic stability.

According to the court, the seriousness of the allegations, the potential impact on public order and the possibility of the accused repeating the offence weighed heavily against granting him bail.

Principal Sessions Judge R.N. Watal, in an order passed on July 17, 2026, dismissed the plea filed by the accused in connection with FIR No. 29/2026 registered at Police Station Gangyal, Jammu, under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3/25 of the Arms Act (later noted as Section 30).

Advocate Prince Khanna, who represented Kamal Singh, sought bail on the grounds of innocence, advanced age, and medical ailments, including neurological and psychiatric disorders. The defence argued that the accused had no intention of harming Dr. Farooq Abdullah and had merely attempted to approach him during a wedding function to take a photograph. It was also contended that the investigation was substantially complete and that the accused deserved bail considering his medical condition.

Opposing the application, Public Prosecutor Hemanshu Parkash argued that the allegations involve a grave and politically motivated attempt to murder a prominent public figure. He submitted that granting bail at this stage could undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system, create fear among witnesses, and encourage similar acts. The prosecution further informed the court that the accused had allegedly stated during questioning that he would attempt to kill Dr. Farooq Abdullah again if given another opportunity and expressed no remorse for the incident.

According to the prosecution case, the incident occurred on March 11, 2026, during a wedding function at Royal Park, Greater Kailash, Jammu, where Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary were present. Investigators alleged that Kamal Singh fired from a revolver at Dr. Abdullah with the intention of killing him, although the bullet missed its target. Police recovered the weapon of offence, live cartridges, a fired cartridge case, and other evidence during the investigation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) later conducted a detailed probe.

The prosecution also placed before the court forensic and documentary material, including handwritten notes allegedly authored by the accused, which investigators claimed reflected longstanding resentment and hatred towards Dr. Farooq Abdullah over issues linked to the migration of Kashmiri Hindus and loss of property during the militancy period. According to the investigation, forensic examination confirmed that the writings belonged to the accused.

In its detailed order, the court observed that offences involving attacks on public figures are not merely crimes against an individual but have far-reaching consequences for public order, democratic stability, and the rule of law. The judge held that individual liberty must be balanced against societal interest, particularly in cases carrying serious allegations with significant public implications. 

The court further noted that the prosecution material indicated prima facie evidence of premeditation, recovery of the weapon, alleged motive, and statements suggesting the accused could repeat the offence if released. It observed that these circumstances raised serious concerns regarding public safety and the administration of justice. 

Rejecting the defence plea regarding the accused’s mental illness and medical condition, the court said no convincing medical evidence had been produced to establish that the accused was suffering from such a disorder as would justify bail. It further observed that psychiatric treatment and medical care could be provided while the accused remained in judicial custody, and that the question of legal insanity would be determined during trial on the basis of evidence.

Concluding that the nature of the offence, the possibility of repetition, the larger public interest, and the likelihood of the accused fleeing justice or influencing the course of the trial outweighed the grounds raised by the defence, Principal Sessions Judge R.N. Watal dismissed the bail application. The court clarified that the observations made in the order were confined solely to deciding the bail plea and would not prejudice the merits of the trial.

Jammu, Jul 17: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday said it has arrested a Jammu and Kashmir Public Works Department (PWD) assistant engineer after allegedly catching him red-handed while accepting a Rs 30,000 bribe to process compensation for a house damaged during a PMGSY road project in Doda.

In a statemen, a spokesperson said the accused assistant engineer was posted with the PWD for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The spokesperson said the CBI registered the case on July 16, 2026, following a complaint alleging that the complainant’s house was damaged during the execution of the PMGSY road project connecting Thathri and Kathawa in Doda district, making the complainant eligible for compensation of around Rs 10 lakh.

He said the accused allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 for processing and releasing the compensation amount. After negotiations, the accused agreed to accept Rs 30,000 from the complainant.

The spokesperson said the CBI laid a trap on July 16 and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the Rs 30,000 bribe. Investigation into the case is underway.—(KNO)