Kishtwar communal riot: Violent crowd tried to burn me alive, says Sajjad Kichloo

August 15, 2013

Srinagar, Aug 15: The National Conference (NC) MLA from Kishtwar, Sajjad Kichloo, who resigned as Minister of State for Home in Omar Abdullah's government on Monday, said that he had a providential escape in the communal collision in his hometown on August 9 as “thousands of rioters” attempted to burn him alive.

“As soon as the Id-ul-Fitr congregational prayers concluded at Chowgan Grounds, we learned about a minor clash between the men of the two communities at Kaleed Chowk. Soon we noticed multitudes of the 25,000-strong gathering running in different directions. We observed that an unruly crowd of over 15,000 men was vandalising properties and setting on fire shops and vehicles”, Mr. Kichloo said on Tuesday. “Within minutes, the town turned into a battlefield”.

“My PSOs escorted me to the nearby Dak Bungalow. Even as we took shelter inside and began making frantic calls to senior Army and police officials, the violent crowds led by some local BJP leaders made sustained efforts to capture me and burn me alive. They scaled the boundary walls and jumped in. They smashed the glazed windows of the Dak bungalow and set on fire the bulletproof police bunker. I asked the police to scare away the mobs with baton charge and tear gas. I asked them to ensure that nobody died in the police firing. I am sad that two people died in the mayhem. But, I am relieved that 200 were saved because of our presence at the spot.” At one point of time, Mr. Kichloo said, he and his PSOs vacated the main bungalow and took shelter in a backyard house on the Deputy Commissioner's insistence. “But we returned quickly and continued our efforts to call out the Army. DC's first call went to Sector Commander of Rashtriya Rifles at 10.40 a.m. in my presence. Brigadier and other commanders were very much cooperative but they called for a written requisition. It went to them by fax at 11-45 a.m. They called back and asked for some corrections. The final draft was faxed at 12.12 p.m”, Mr. Kichloo claimed.

Officials privy to the communications claimed that Mr. Kichloo's first telephonic call to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah matured at 11.45 a.m. “CM sahab assured them every help but asked to ensure that nobody died in the Police or forces' action,” said an official. He claimed that the junior Home Minister and the DC spoke to almost all senior civil and police officials, including Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday and Director-General of Police Ashok Prasad.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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