Indian Military: 400 Pakistan-backed terrorists waiting to infiltrate into Republic of India

[Hindustani78]

There is a possibility of escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, Dr. Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State for Defence cautioned on Thursday.

“Today we face a difficult neighbourhood with myriad security challanges. On the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the situation is sensitive and incidents of patrolling, transgression and stand-offs are a potential of escalation. While Confidence Building Measures (CBM) are enhanced, we shall take all actions as deemed necessary to endure the sanctity of the LAC,” Dr. Bhamre said addressing the annual Army seminar jointly organised by the Army and Centre for Land Warfare Studies.

Elaborating on it, he said there are so many things going on along all the borders and one of the things might trigger an escalation.

 

[Hindustani78]

On Monday, the General Officer commanding of the army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lt Gen A K Bhatt, had said a large number of terrorists were waiting at launching pads across the Line of Control (LoC) to cross over into Kashmir and that the ceasefire violations by Pakistan were an attempt to facilitate the entry of the infiltrators.

There were 515 incidents of infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017, in which 75 militants were killed. In 2016, there were 454 such cases, in which 45 militants were killed.

In January alone, eight civilians and six security personnel were killed and around 70 injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Indo-Pak border in the Jammu region.

The Pakistani troops had carried out intense shelling along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts and from across the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts between January 18 and January 22.

While no ceasefire violation by Pakistan was reported along the IB since January 22, intermittent shelling has taken place along the LoC.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...nalist-kamran-yusuf-bail-application-5083426/

An NIA court on Thursday reserved its order on the security protection application of photo-journalist Kamran Yusuf for March 7.

Yusuf is in security protection since September 5 last year after the NIA declared that he was in “regular touch with security forces” and that his work as a photojournalist was a front to “cover up his actual subversive activities”. 11 were chargesheeted by the NIA for alleged role in terror funding and stone pelting incidents.

During arguments opposing the bail on Thursday, Special Public Prosecutor Sidharth Luthra, appearing for the NIA, read out statements of witnesses Yusuf , 11 accused were shouting “anti-national slogans” and seen “stone pelting”.

He read this with the NIA’s reply on Yusuf’s testamony — which the agency had submitted in December — stating that the passwords to his device were not given, and that his BSNL SIM card — the “most important evidence” which could have led to recovery of chats he had on social media with security forces — were found in his possession.

However, Yusuf had told the judge that the SIM card was given to J&K Police. “When I was called by J&K Police on September 4, I handed them the SIM card,” he had informed Additional Sessions Judge Tarun Sherawat during an earlier hearing.

Defence counsel Warisha Farasat re-produced before the court a part of the chargesheet that claimed that Yusuf had spoken to several people, including journalists, who were in touch with each other. “There is no link of Yusuf directly speaking to any of the accused,” the defence argued. “If the people who Yusuf spoke to are connected to the accused, why hasn’t the NIA arrested anyone?”

ASJ Sherawat asked the NIA, “Why hasn’t there been any action against them?” To this, Luthra said that some of them were made “witnesses”.

The SPP reiterated that Yusuf was summoned by the NIA on September 5, not a day earlier as claimed by the defence. But Farasat informed the court, “There are contradictions in NIA’s chargesheet.” She reproduced two documents: the arrest memo prepared by the NIA and a fax document of South Kashmir Range Police Headquarters Anantnag.

As per the Anantnag Headquarters fax document, they gave Yusuf’s testamony to the NIA at 1.35 am on September 5.

However, as per the arrest memo, the time of arrest of 11 accused is 5 pm on September 5.

 

[Hindustani78]

At least half a dozen residential structures have been damaged completely. PTI file

Informed sources said the four Pakistan based militants were killed in retaliation on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts since Thursday.

“The Pakistani Army has been using 120mm and 82mm mortars to target defence and civilians facilities.

“Two of our soldiers and two civilians were injured during this period in Pakistan shelling and firing,” sources said.

At least half a dozen residential structures have been damaged completely or partially in the shelling.

Authorities have ordered all schools in the proximity of the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri to be closed till March 5.

People remained indoors most of the time in these areas avoiding any movement in fields and other places, the authorities said. IANS

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ja...ch-operation-along-loc-in-rajouri/553169.html

Jammu, March 5

Security forces here have launched a cordon and search operation in forest areas along the Line of Control (LoC) after some “suspected movement” was reported in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, an official said on Monday.

The search operation was launched after locals here informed the forces about suspected movement in Nikka and Panjgrain areas along the LoC in Manjakote belt on Sunday, he said.

Nothing has been recovered so far, the official said. PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
14-March, 2018 17:30 IST
Cross-Border Infiltrations

The details of Jawans martyred in the Border of Jammu and Kashmir either due to militants’ attack or cross-border attacks during the last three years is as under:



Year
No. of Jawans Martyred

2015
10

2016
13

2017
19

2018 (upto 28th February)
10


Considering the security situation at the borders, the Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach for effective border domination to check trans-border crimes including infiltration along the international borders of the country. The steps taken in this regard, inter-alia, include:

• Construction of fence, patrol roads, floodlighting systems and additional Border Out Posts.
• Effective domination of the border by carrying out round the clock surveillance of the borders by patrolling, setting up of nakas (border ambushes) and by deploying observation posts all along the international borders of the country. The riverine segments of international borders of the country are being patrolled and dominated with the help of water crafts/speed boats/floating Border Out Posts (BOPs) of Border Security Force (BSF) water wings.
• Introduction of force multipliers and Hi-Tech surveillance equipments fully equipped with day and night vision devices for further enhancing the border domination.
• Vulnerability mapping of entire border has been made a continuous process based on which sensitive spots are identified and adequate measures are taken to further strengthen security in these spots.
• It has also been decided to deploy technological solutions in the form of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System(CIBMS), on a pilot basis to begin with, in different terrains on Indo-Pakistan Border and Indo-Bangladesh Border. The technological solutions are based on integration of sensors and surveillance equipments like radars, day and night vision cameras, etc. in a network architecture with command and control system.
• Up-gradation of intelligence network and co-ordination with sister agencies, conduct of special operations along the border.
• Raising the issues of infiltration from across the border during various meeting with counterpart countries i.e Company Commander Meeting, Commandant Level Meeting, Sector Commander Level Meeting, Frontier Level Meeting and Director-General Level Talks.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.



****

Ministry of Home Affairs
14-March, 2018 17:13 IST
Construction of Wall Along Indo-Pak Border

The strengthening of border guarding arrangements including infrastructure is a continuous process. Considering security requirement, availability of technology and resources, the same is taken up. Based on above, Laser Walls have been provided at appropriate places.

The state-wise details of infiltration during the last three years, are as under:

State


2015
Cases
Apprehension
Killed

Jammu & Kashmir
121
1
46

Punjab
01
-
-

Rajasthan
-
-
-



Gujarat
-
-
-






2016
Cases
Apprehension
Killed

Jammu & Kashmir

371
3
35

Punjab
06
11
-

Rajasthan
-
-
-



Gujarat
-
-
-



2017
Cases
Apprehension
Killed

Jammu & Kashmir
406
-
59

Punjab
10
-
07




Rajasthan
-
-
-



Gujarat
-
-
-



2018 (Upto Feb)
Cases
Apprehension
Killed



Jammu & Kashmir
16
-
04



Punjab
03
-
02


Rajasthan
-
-
-

Gujarat
-
-
-

The state-wise details of casualties of common people and defence personnel during the last three years, are as under:

2015
Jammu & Kashmir

Civilians
Killed
Injured

16
71


Army Personnel
Killed
Injured

6
17


BSF Personnel
Killed
Injured

4
9



2016
Jammu & Kashmir

Civilians
Killed
Injured
13
83


Army Personnel
Killed
Injured

8
74


BSF Personnel
Killed
Injured

5
25



2017
Jammu & Kashmir

Civilians
Killed
Injured

12
79


Army Personnel
Killed
Injured

15
58

BSF Personnel
Killed
Injured

4
14



2018
Jammu & Kashmir

Civilians
Killed
Injured

12
59


Army Personnel
Killed
Injured

6
18


BSF Personnel
Killed
Injured

4
22


2015
2016
2017
2018(Upto Feb)


Punjab
Rajasthan
Gujarat

NIL
NIL
NIL

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.


****

 

[Hindustani78]

Soldier injured in Pakistan firing on LoC in J-K’s Poonch

Police said the soldier was injured in Pakistan army firing on Dharti village in Balakote sector.
india Updated: Mar 14, 2018 22:36 IST
Indo Asian News Service, Jammu

Border Security Force jawans patrol near Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch.(PTI File Photo)

A soldier was injured Wednesday in Pakistani firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, police said.

“A soldier was injured in Pakistan army firing on Dharti village in Balakote sector of Poonch. Injured in his right leg, he was shifted to army hospital for treatment,” said a police officer.

 

[Hindustani78]

Balhama, March 16

Two militants were killed in a 10-hour gunfight on Srinagar outskirts. A CRPF man was also injured during the operation.

The gunfight broke out on Thursday afternoon at Balhama, some 20 km from the city centre, when security forces cordoned off a cluster of houses after militants fired upon security guards of BJP leader Anwar Khan in a neighbouring area. Even as the policemen repulsed the attack, a security guard of the BJP leader was injured in the shootout.

Immediately after the attack, contingents of the Army, CRPF and police cordoned off Balhama village at around 2 pm on Thursday.

“There were three militants involved in the attack on security guards of the BJP leader and in the incident a militant was injured. The three while trying to escape from the area got holed up inside a double-storey house. Another militant who was unarmed escaped,” police sources said.

As the militants were challenged, they opened fire triggering a gunfight.

“During the initial firing, a CRPF man sustained bullet injuries. In the gunfight that followed two militants were killed,” Inspector General of CRPF Ravideep Singh Sahi told The Tribune. “Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.”

Two houses were gutted during the gunfight. The two slain militants hailed from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district and were identified as Rasiq Nabi Bhat of Tral and Shabir Dar of Awantipora.

“Both were associated with the Pakistan based militant group ,” Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi said. According to police records, the duo had joined militancy last year.

Earlier this week, three including Mohammad Taufeeq, who hailed from Telangana, was killed along with his two Kashmiri associates in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Pakistan based militant outfit and Islamic State had claimed that Taufeeq was member of their group which is under investigation by Indian Military Intelligence Bureau

At Balhama and its neighbouring areas, a shutdown was observed over the killing. People from the area thronged the encounter site where two houses were reduced to rubble.

It is first gunfight in the village since the eruption of violence,” said Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of the village at the encounter site. “They were not hiding in the houses, but they entered to chase the militant,” he said.

********

2 others arrested in south Kashmir

Srinagar: Security forces on Friday apprehended two suspected militants in separate incidents in south Kashmir, recovering arms and ammunition from their possession. In the first incident, Shahnawaz Ahmad Mir, a resident of Budgam in Kulgam, was apprehended during a random checking at a check-point set up at Takia Adijan in the district, a police spokesman said. A Chinese pistol, one magazine, five live rounds and Rs 10,000 were recovered from Mir’s possession, the spokesman said. In another incident, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Dangerpora, Padgampora, was arrested with a hand grenade on the national highway near Padgampora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the spokesman said. PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ts-non-local-cadre-of-let/article23325254.ece

The combing operation in north Kashmir’s Kupwara continued for the third day on Thursday, as the police described the five slain militants as “foreigners” and affiliates of the Pakistan based militants outfits.

“All the slain militants are foreigners and belonged to Pakistan based outfits. We have recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition. It was a very difficult operation in view of thick vegetation and open areas,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP)-Kashmir range, S.P Pani.

Five militants and five security forces, including three Army men, were killed in the encounter that started on Tuesday afternoon at Kupwara’s Halmatpora belt.

There were no reports of any firing as the security forces continued to comb the area for the third day on Thursday.

Meanwhile, IGP Pani laid floral tributes on the mortal remains of deceased policeman Deepak Thusoo at the District Police Lines, Srinagar. Two policemen were killed in the encounter.

The Army also paid tributes to the three jawans killed in the encounter. Lieutenant General A.K. Bhatt, 15 Corps Commander, was present on the occasion.

The deceased jawans were identified as Havaldar Jorabar Singh, a resident of Himachal Pradesh; Naik Ranjeet Khalkho, a resident of Jharkhand; and Naik Muhammad Ashraf Rather, a resident of Kralpora, Kashmir.

“The mortal remains of the martyrs were flown for the last rites to their native places, where they would be laid to rest with full military honours. In this hour of grief, the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families of the martyrs, and remains committed to their dignity and well-being,” said the Army spokesman.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...jured-in-budgam-encounter/article23346915.ece

One militant was killed and a woman was injured during a search operation of the security forces in Budgam early on Sunday.

The Budgam police, the Army's 53 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Khan Mohalla, Arizal, Beerwah early morning on March 25.

"During the search, the militants came out of a house and fired indiscriminately. In retaliation one unknown militant has been neutralised, whose identity and affiliation is being ascertained," said the police.

Arms and ammunition have been recovered, the police said.

One lady received injury in the thigh in the shootout. "She has been promptly evacuated to a hospital by the police for medical treatment and her condition is now reported to be stable," the police said.

The area was under cordon and the search operation was on till last reports came in.

 

[Hindustani78]

Jammu and Kashmir DGP S.P. Vaid. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kashmir-youth-quits-militancy/article23385413.ece
“Another mother’s appeal to her son to shun militancy and return home gets response. God bless the family and show the path to others,” said J&K Director General of Police S.P Vaid.

A youth from south Kashmir has rejoined his family and quit militancy in the past 24 hours, according to the police.

“Another mother’s appeal to her son to shun militancy and return home gets response. God bless the family and show the path to others,” said Director General of Police (DGP) S.P Vaid.

The police refused to disclose the youth’s details “for security reasons”. However, the police sources said the youth belong to south Kashmir. Around six youth have returned to home this year after joining the militancy. However, the number of those who return remain on lesser side as 27 youth joined the militancy till March.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/4-militants-gunned-down-in-rajouri/565396.html

Tribune News Service
Jammu/Rajouri, March 28

Four terrorists, believed to be members of a suicide squad, were on Wednesday killed in a day-long encounter with the security forces in Sunderbani area of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. They had infiltrated into the Indian territory from across the Line of Control (LoC) four-five days ago, prompting the forces to launch a search operation.

The militants were trapped inside a forest near Sutra village on Sunderbani outskirts after locals informed the police and the security forces about their presence in the area. "The search operation was on for a few days. But it was on Wednesday morning that the forces came in contact with the militants near Sunderbani. During the operation, four militants were gunned down,” Shesh Paul Vaid, the state DGP, told The Tribune. The operation was conducted jointly by the police, the Army, the BSF and the CRPF.

Sources said the militants, who infiltrated from Keri-Battal area, covered a distance of 10 km and hid themselves in a forest near Kalideh village. A search was conducted on March 24 in Peli, Phalli, Kuldabi and adjoining villages, but with no success.

“On Sunday evening, the terrorists purchased food items from the market. An alert was sounded and a search conducted. The next day at about 9 pm, two terrorists entered a house in Lower Bhajwal village (near Jogi Nullah), collected food and vanished. Again a search was launched.

"At about 10 am on Wednesday, the terrorists purchased food from a shop in the vicinity of Jogi Nullah and were traced by the security forces," the sources said.

“The contact with militants was established at 10 am after which the security forces zeroed-in on them. All of them have been killed, but the sanitisation operation will continue,” Col NN Joshi said, adding the identity of the militants was yet to be ascertained. As a precautionary measure, the district administration in Rajouri had ordered the closure of educational institutions in Sunderbani area.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...in-hospital/article23395251.ece?homepage=true

An injured Hizbul Mujahideen militant was found in a Srinagar hospital and the owner of a car, used for the attack in Shopian, held on Friday.

A police spokesman said the authorities came to know that the Hizb militant, Asif Ashraf, a resident of Shopian’s Krawoora, “has been admitted with a bullet injury at Srinagar’s SKIMS hospital.”

“Preliminary investigation suggests he was injured in the incident at Ahgam on Thursday when militants from a car opened fire on an Army patrol. The police are investigating,” said the spokesman.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...nag-pulwama/article23401605.ece?homepage=true

IS says it’s behind another killing

One policeman was killed and another injured in twin attacks carried out by militants in south Kashmir on Saturday. Also, the Islamic State (IS) said it was responsible for the killing of a policeman in Anantnag two days ago.

Militants fired at a Special Police Officer, Muhammad Ashraf, from a close range at 4.25 p.m. near Muran Chowk in Pulwama where he was on a private visit.

“Ashraf was critically injured and died on the way to hospital,” a police official said.

Ashraf of Mouchpona village had joined the police as an SPO in Srinagar. “We suspect the hand of militants behind the killing,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Pulwama, Mohammad Aslam Choudhary said.

A civilian was injured in the attack, but his condition is stable, a local official said.

Earlier in the day, another SPO, Turag Singh, was fired at in Anantnag. He received “critical injuries”. “The policeman was regulating traffic when he was attacked,” a police official said.

IS claim
Amaq, the Islamic State’s online news organisation, said the outfit had killed a policeman in Bijbehara on Thursday evening.

In an Arabic message posted online, the group said the attack was carried out by its men belonging to the IS-J&K, said a counter-insurgency officer. “The veracity of the claim is being investigated. Amaq apparently represents the IS, but any online claims remain a matter of investigation till conclusive technical evidence is established,” a senior police official said.

It’s the third time that the IS-J&K has been mentioned as a group behind attacks on security forces in Kashmir.

The IS’s first such claim through Amaq was reported on November 19, 2017, after a shoot-out at Zakura in Srinagar, which left a policeman and a militant dead. The body of the slain militant was then wrapped in a black flag similar to the flag of the IS in Iraq and Syria.

In March, Amaq said its men carried out the killing of a policeman at Soura in Srinagar on February 25. The deceased policeman was guarding the house of separatist leader Fazul-Haq Qureshi.

Both the Central and State security agencies had in the past discounted the presence of the IS or the Al-Qaeda in J&K.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-encounters/article23405648.ece?homepage=true

A file photo of the Army in Shopian. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad


At least seven protesters were hit in the eyes during violent clashes.

Eleven militants of two different Pakistan Military corps, three Indian Army jawans and two civilians were killed in three separate gun battles in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Shopian districts on Sunday.

"We have neutralised eight Militants in three operations (in south Kashmir). The third operation is going on. Two Indian Army jawans were also martyred," J&K Director-General of Police S.P. Vaid said earlier in the day.

The toll went up to 11 after the recovery of three more bodies of militants, PTI reported quoting officials. One more Indian Army jawan was also killed in the district taking the number of jawans dead to three, the agency further quoted officials as saying.

The DGP said four to five militants may be holed up at the third encounter site at Kachidora, "where encounter is on". Two civilians have also died near the encounter sites.

According to the Kulgam hospital officials, one of the deceased civilian was identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat.

At least seven protesters were hit in the eyes during violent clashes. They were admitted to Srinagar's SMHS hospital. Over two dozen protesters were reportedly injured in the ongoing clashes.

A two-day shutdown call was issued by separatists against the killings. Life has come to a halt in large parts of south Kashmir, comprising four districts.

The DGP said all the slain militants are "locals" and were affiliated to Pakistan based Military corps.

It’s first time that the security forces in south Kashmir carried out counter-insurgency operations on such scale. All the operations were launched during the night in parts of south Kashmir, which saw over 20 fresh recruitment of locals into militancy this year. Around 250 militants are active in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the official data.

The militant killings have pushed south Kashmir on the edge. Internet services in south Kashmir has been stopped. Train services also suspended.