http://zeenews.india.com/news/india...an-cross-border-firing-officials_1943260.html
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 04:18
Two children and another civilian were killed along with a soldier in firing across the border between India and Pakistan, officials from both sides said Monday, as tensions soar between the nuclear-armed rivals.
Pakistan`s military said an 18-month-old girl and another civilian were killed on its side of the border in "unprovoked firing" by the Indian army.
"Due to Indian unprovoked firing last night a civilian, Muhammad Latif of village Janglora, and a minor Haniya, age one and a half, embraced shahadat (martyrdom) while seven civilians were injured," a military statement said.
The firing took place across the border between Indian-held Kashmir and Pakistan`s Punjab province in the villages of Harpal, Pukhlian and Charwah, the statement said.
Indian police said the late night heavy exchange of firing occurred in its RS Pura sector, killing an Indian border security guard and a six-year-old boy.
The
Border Security Force (BSF) soldier died after he received splinters from a mortar shell fired by Pakistan rangers, Danish Rana, inspector general of police for the area, told AFP.
"The boy and the BSF soldier died during the intense exchange of small arms fire and mortars throughout the night along the border," Rana said.
Six other civilians were also injured during the exchange, said another Indian police officer speaking on condition of anonymity.
Relations between the two countries have plummeted in recent months, with India blaming Pakistani militants for a raid on an army base in its part of disputed Kashmir in September that killed 19 soldiers.
India later said it launched "surgical strikes" across the border in Pakistan on militant targets, prompting fury from Pakistan which denied the raids took place.
Pakistani military said late Monday a strong protest was lodged with the United Nations Military Observers for India and Pakistan over the Indian firing.
Indian and Pakistani troops regularly exchange fire across their de-facto border in Kashmir, but rarely send ground troops over the line.
The overnight incident comes days after Indian border security forces said they shot dead seven Pakistani soldiers in retaliation for a ceasefire violation, with Pakistan refuting the claims.
Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan, but claimed in full by both, since the two countries gained independence from Britain in 1947.
Since 1989 several rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces deployed in the region, seeking independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan.
AFP
First Published: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 04:18
http://zeenews.india.com/news/india...wan-killed-in-pakistani-shelling_1943266.html
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 05:02
Jammu: The BSF today paid tributes to Head Constable Sushil Kumar, who was killed in Pakistani shelling while defending the border.
Sushil is the second BSF jawan who laid down his life due to Pakistan Rangers' firing and shelling during the last few days.
Constable Gurnam Singh, who foiled an infiltration bid of heavily armed militants in the Bobiya area of Kathua district, was injured on Friday in a sniper attack and succumbed on Saturday night.
A wreath-laying ceremony was organised at the Jammu frontier BSF camp at Paloura where rich tributes were paid to the slain soldier.
Director General, BSF, KK Sharma specially came from Delhi. Arun Kumar, ADG, BSF Western Command, Chandigarh, Rajeev Krishna, IG (Operation), DK Upadhyay, IG, BSF, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, IG, Jammu Police, Danish Rana, the CRPF DIG, along with BSF officers and jawans paid floral tributes to the martyr at the Frontier Headquarters in Jammu.
On the occasion, Sharma said the BSF had a history of bravery and this act has once again proved that those guarding the border were always ready to sacrifice their lives when it came to the country's security.
Sushil, who was martyred during heavy firing from across the border last night, gave a befitting reply to the Pakistani soldiers from his post.
He sustained bullet injuries on the chest in the process.
"He was immediately evacuated to GMCH, Jammu where the doctors declared him brought dead at 0130 hours," an officer said.
Two more BSF personnel -- ASI RD Puri and Constable Ayyappa Babu -- sustained minor injuries. They were currently admitted in a hospital, he added.
Jammu and Kashmir Minister of Industries and Commerce Chandra Prasad Ganga also paid tributes to the martyr.
The cremation of the jawan will be held at his native Pihowa village in Kurukshetra district in Haryana tomorrow at 10 am.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 05:02
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http://zeenews.india.com/news/india...int-to-engineer-infiltration-bsf_1943318.html
Border Security Force (BSF) chief KK Sharma said Pakistani forces are deliberately trying to 'create a flash point' to facilitate infiltration of terrorists into India and asserted that these designs will be foiled.
He insisted that BSF never initiates ceasefire violations nor does it target civilian areas, a comment that assumes significance in the wake of Pakistan army's claim that two people, including a minor girl, were killed in firing by Indian troops.
"They (Pakistani forces) deliberately create such flash points with an aim of engineering infiltration," Sharma told reporters on Monday while commenting on the intensified cross- border shelling and firing by Pakistani troops.
"You can say that they (Pakistani troops) always try to create a flash point so that they get an excuse to go for action," Sharma added after laying wreath on mortal remains of BSF Head Constable Sushil Kumar who was killed in Pakistani shelling in RS Pura sector on Monday morning.
The BSF Director General said while Pakistan may start the confrontation, "we are committed to give befitting reply and foiling their designs of infiltration.... We have to react so that we do not allow them to get successful in their designs to engineer infiltration from across the border."
He said the morale of the troops is "very high and we are ready to meet any eventuality".
Asserting that BSF never initiates ceasefire violation, he said the Indian border guarding force only gives a "befitting reply" to the provocations by the Pakistani forces.
"I want to clarify that we have never initiated (any ceasefire violation). It is Pakistan which is doing it. As you know in case of (BSF constable) Gurnam Singh, they killed him in a sniper fire first. In reply to that we gave them befitting reply," Sharma said, referring to last week's incident in which BSF claimed to have killed 7 Pakistani Rangers and a terrorist in retaliatory fire.
"The way they are bombarding our areas, they are targeting civilians but as a policy, BSF does not target civilians at all," Sharma said.
"We only target the place from where the fire is coming. We only target military and Pakistani Rangers establishments. We never intentionally target civilian areas," he added.
About Monday's incident, he said, "They initiated heavy shelling in RS Pura, we retaliated to that."
He added, ".. the area weapons do not have great amount of accuracy. As a result, civilians are also harmed, property is also damaged. That is the collateral damage."
In reply to another question about his message and directive to the field commanders, Mr Sharma said
"I have asked my commanders not to initiate anything. But at the same time give them befitting and strong reply".
Sending out a message, the BSF DG said,
"I would like to convey to Pakistan that as in the past, they will have to retreat. I will only tell them that they should desist from unholy designs and they should not do anything that will harm us as in the past."
Giving details about Sunday night's incidents of firing and shelling, the BSF DG said a vital organ of Head Constable Sushil Kumar was hit by a bullet due to which he later died.
"From my side and on behalf of BSF and the country, we praise the role and supreme sacrifice of the brave-heart jawan and pay tributes to him," he said.
"We are sad over the death of two jawans whom we have paid tributes from this campus alone but I want to assure you that we will give a befitting reply to this action of Pakistan," Sharma said.
"As you know for past few days there have been firing exchanges on the two sides and Pakistan has been initiating firing and shelling," he said.
The DG said, "I was told that there is a huge loss of life and property on the other side. My officers told me that opposite to our Chenab post, there lies Tariq post of Pakistan where ambulances were seen. There is also loss and damage to the Pak Rangers as well".
When pointed out that there are generally ceasefire violations by Pakistan during this time, he said, "I agree with you that in 2014 and 2015 during this period only there have been hostilities from the Pakistan side.
"As you know we have always given them a befitting reply and I assure you that we will give them a befitting reply this time as well."
Replying to another question about the security situation along the border line, he said "I think they are still smarting over the surgical actions taken by Army".
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 10:39
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http://zeenews.india.com/news/india...shwant-sinha-over-kashmir-unrest_1943385.html
Srinagar:
A five-member delegation led by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday met separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his residence here -- in a fresh bid at breaking a logjam after more than three months of deadly unrest in the Kashmir Valley.
The team, which includes former bureaucrat Wajahat Habibullah, who has served in Jammu and Kashmir, ex-Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, journalist Bharat Bhushan and activist Sushobha Barve landed in Srinagar and straight away drove to Geelani`s residence in Hyderpora.
Interestingly, Geelani, who heads the hardline faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference, agreed to meet and talk to the Sinha-led delegation. The delegation members were seen entering the highly fortified house where Geelani has been kept under detention for over three months.
The octogenarian separatist had on September 4 shut the door on Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and other non-BJP MPs who were part of an all-party delegation on a visit to Kashmir.
Sinha and his team members are also expected to meet other separatist leaders, including moderate Hurriyat head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yaseen Malik.
And after two months of detention at a guest-house-turned-jail in Srinagar, the Mirwaiz is now under house arrest at his upscale Nigeen residence. Malik has also been moved from jail to a Srinagar hospital after his health deteriorated.
Sinha confirmed to IANS that he and other "people of goodwill" will try to "meet all" during their visit to the valley that began on Tuesday.
"We came here for humanity. Our motto is to share the grievances and pain (of Kashmiri people). I hope the state of unrest will be resolved soon," Sinha said.
Talking to reporters, the former BJP minister hinted that it was an independent initiative and that they were "not here as a part of any delegation".
The fresh bid to break ice between separatist groups and the government comes after 108 days of unrest and shutdown that have disrupted normal life in the Kashmir Valley since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
At least 92 persons were killed and over 12,000 injured in clashes between protesters and security forces.
Police have arrested over 7,000 suspected ring leaders of stone throwers. Some have been let off.
Sinha and his team are also expected to meet civil society and trade groups including the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) and the Kashmir Centre for Social and Developmental Studies (KCSDS).
They will call on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Governor NN Vohra.
IANS
First Published: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 13:23
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A resident of Gajansoo village points to the damage caused by cross-border firing in the Kanachak sector, 25 km from Jammu, on Monday. Photo: AFP
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hotlines-fall-silent-as-guns-boom-on-border/article9262717.ece
BSF terms the cross-border firing from Pakistan as "bizarre and unprovoked" as the targets were civilians.
The hotlines activated last year between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers have fallen silent as ceasefire violations along the crowded International Border in Jammu continued for the third consecutive day.
The border guarding forces of both countries have snapped any form of communication even as a BSF head constable and a six-year-old boy were among those killed in the current spell of cross-border firing.
On Monday, BSF termed the cross-border firing from Pakistan as “bizarre and unprovoked” as the targets were civilians.
The official Twitter handle of BSF posted, “RS Pura sector in Jammu received unprecedented fire by Pakistani forces. It is unprovoked and completely bizarre as Pakistan firing is targeting civilians.”
After large scale ceasefire violations were reported in 2015, BSF and Pakistan Rangers had put in a system to resolve any flare-up on the IB by effective communication.
At least 14 hotlines were activated along the Pakistan border from Gujarat to Jammu.
The system bore results. Post-talks, the ceasefire violations in the past one year came down to nine from 253 recorded till September 2015. Officials said that the situation took a turn for the worse from October 19 when constable Gurnam Singh was shot by a sniper and later died. “We were expecting retaliation post-September 29 surgical strikes. The sniper attack on our personnel was the tipping point,” said a senior BSF official.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in Bahrain on an official visit, took stock of the situation and spoke over phone with Director General, BSF K.K Sharma.
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...iolations-in-rajouri-jammu/article9265942.ece
Updated: October 25, 2016 13:27 IST
Fresh violations of the ceasefire agreement were reported in Jammu's R.S Pura Sector and along the frontline posts situated in the Pir Panchal Valley's Rajouri district on Tuesday.
Preliminary reports suggest Pakistani troops opened fire in Rajouri's Baba Khori and Kalal areas of Rajouri district, more than 200 km away from Jammu district. The exact timing of the exchange could not be ascertained immediately.
In Jammu, a BSF official said ceasefire violations were reported in R.S Pura where Pakistani troops fired mortar shells between 11 pm and 12am on Monday night.
Fresh violations come as two people, including a BSF jawan and a six-year-old boy, died in cross border fire in Jammu on Monday.
The Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) remains tense for fifth consecutive. The intensity, however, has come down compared to Monday, said police sources.
Fresh trigger was the sniper attack on a BSF personnel on Friday. The fatally injured BSF personnel died on Sunday. The BSF claims to have killed seven Pakistani Rangers in retaliation.
Around 40 ceasefire violations have been reported in J&K since India carried out surgical attacks in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) on September 30.
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...school-buildings-set-afire/article9265575.ece
Three school buildings were set ablaze by unknown persons in Kashmir over the past 24 hours, setting alarm bells ringing among authorities who have decided to step up security around educational institutions.
A Government school was set ablaze by unknown persons in the wee hours today in Noorbagh area of the city but the blaze was put out by fire tenders, a police official said.
He said the school building suffered damage in the fire and the firefighting operation.
In another incident, miscreants tried to burn down Government Higher Secondary School at Aishmuqam in Anantnag district, the official said.
The school building was saved by the timely intervention of fire brigade personnel, he said adding one window panel was damaged due to the fire.
Last night, fire broke out in a building of Government Middle School in Sadrukote Bala of Bandipora district.
Fire tenders were rushed in and the blaze was put out, the official said, adding the incident is suspected to be handiwork of miscreants.
The official said in view of these incidents, the security patrol around school buildings have been increased to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
State government has announced that annual board examinations will be held next month even though the schools have remained closed since July following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces.
Protests have been held against the government decision to hold examinations.
sensors, cameras etc etc are already installed so what is new from Indian side this time?
