Pakistan violates ceasefire along International Border in Jammu

[Hindustani78]

Two JeM militants killed in Kashmir encounter - The Hindu
Srinagar, October 4, 2015
Two militants of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit were on Sunday killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Kashmir, police said.

The encounter erupted after a joint team of police and Army cordoned off Hari village in Tral in Pulwama and started a search operation following an intelligence input, police said.

As the search operation was going on, the militants, who were hiding in the area, tried to break the cordon and opened firing on the forces, Superintendent of Police, Awantipora, Irshad Ahmad, said.

“They belonged to JeM and have been identified as Adil Pathan and Burmi,” Mr. Ahmad said.

 

[Hindustani78]

38 died in border firing in last two years in Jammu and Kashmir | Zee News

Srinagar: Thirty eight people, including 10 security personnel, have died in border firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border during the last two years in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government said on Monday.

In a written reply in the assembly, the government said 28 civilians and 10 security personnel were killed in cross border firing in 2014 and up to September 22, 2015.

"In the year 2014, the number of civilians killed was 14 and during the current year up to September 22, same number of civilians lost their lives in border firing.

"In these incidents, four security force personnel died in the year 2014, while six lost their lives in 2015," the government's reply stated.

It said 162 civilians were injured in 2014 and 2015 while 30 security force personnel were also injured during the same period.

The state government was replying to a question by opposition National Conference's legislator and former minister Mian Altaf Ahmad.

The state government also said 141 people lost their lives in militancy related incidents from 2014 to September 22, 2015.

"Thirty five civilians died in militancy related incidents in 2014, while 47 security force personnel were killed in the same year. In 2015, 20 civilians and 29 security force personnel died in the state in militancy related incidents."

"Nearly 278 people, including 155 security forces and 123 civilians, were injured in such incidents," the government said.

Over Rs 53 lakh were provided as ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of deceased or injured people.

As per divisional commissioners of the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region, Rs 34.43 lakh were paid in Jammu region and Rs 19.32 lakh in Kashmir Valley to the next of kin of victims.

"The remaining cases are under process at various stages," said the government.

IANS

Four soldiers, one militant killed in Kashmir gunfights | Zee News
Last Updated: Monday, October 5, 2015 - 21:34

Srinagar: At least four soldiers and one militant was killed on Monday as two separate gun battles raged in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Four soldiers were killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Rajwar area, while a terrorist was killed in another encounter in Lolab, an army statement said.

A senior police officer here told IANS that the soldiers were killed in a still raging gun battle with militants in Hafruda forests of Kupwara near the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

The militant was killed in Darpora village of Kupwara, he added.

As per Army officials, based on specific information regarding presence of some terrorists in the Hafruda forest in Rajwar, a joint operation was launched by the army and Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday evening.

Around midnight, as the security forces approached the suspected area where the terrorists were reportedly hiding, they came under heavy fire, in which four soldiers were killed.

According to the police officer, the group of militants "had infiltrated into the Kashmir Valley recently".

Officials said that the other gunfight in Lolab ensued after a tip off regarding presence of some terrorists in the area.

"The areas of both gunfights have been cordoned off with additional troops inducted and combing operations are continuing," an official said.

IANS

 

[Hindustani78]

Indian police officers carry the coffin of their colleague Altaf Ahmed during his wreath laying ceremony in Srinagar, Kashmir. Militants gunned down Ahmed in a brief shootout at Gund Dachin area of Bandipora in north Kashmir on Wednesday.

Police officer gunned down in Kashmir | Zee News

Srinagar: Suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants today gunned down Police Sub-Inspector Altaf Ahmed, who was considered a key operational man and credited with smashing of many militant hideouts and arrest and killing of terrorists on the basis of intelligence generated by him.

Ahmed was shot at in Bandipora area, about 35 kms from here in Kashmir, this morning and he succumbed to his injuries later.

Preliminary probe indicated that he became a victim of a trap laid by LeT.

In the morning, Altaf, nicknamed as '24-hour duty cop', reached his office as usual and soon after he got a "tip-off" about the presence of top LeT commander Abdul Rehman alias 'Qassim' in a house nearby in Bandipora area.

Wasting no time, the officer boarded his official vehicle and moved towards the house.

According to the probe quoting eyewitnesses, a pick up van started following him from some distance. When the officer reached a secluded spot in Aragam area, the pick up van overtook his vehicle and militants sitting in it fired two bullets on the left side of his chest and one on the right side.

Critically injured, he was airlifted to Army's 92 Base Hospital at Badamibagh cantonment where he succumbed to injuries, sources said.

He was credited with smashing of many of LeT hideouts, arrest of its cadres and generating intelligence leading to encounters in which cadres of the outfit were killed.

As soon as the news about his death spread, a pall of gloom descended on police headquarters.

Besides top brass of police, Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, top Army, paramilitary and senior intelligence officials paid their homage to the officer, who joined Jammu and Kashmir police as a constable.

Because of his professional capabilities, he received three promotions between 2007 to 2012 when the force was led by Kuldeep Khoda, who is now the Chief Vigilance Commissioner of the state.

Senior officials working with him said that he was always on duty and never said "no" to any operation. "He can be credited with 50 per cent of operations that have taken place since 2008," the official said.

Survived by a wife, two small children of the age of four and two, Altaf, who belongs to a village located on border between Kulgam and Devsar assembly constituencies, has received gallantry medals from the state as well as the central government.

PTI


First Published: Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - 19:17

 

[Hindustani78]

Bandipora: Army personnel inspecting a damaged vehicle after a militant attack in Bandipora District of north Kashmir. PTI Photo

 

[Hindustani78]

Militant hideout busted, arms cache recovered in J&K | Zee News

Jammu: Security forces have busted a militant hideout and recovered large quantity of ammunition and explosives in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Acting on a specific information, police along with CRPF conducted a joint search operation at Bandhara Dewal forest area of Mahore tehsil in Reasi district yesterday, a police officer said here today.

During the search, 60 AK-47 rounds and six Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) grenades were recovered from the hideout, he said.

A case was registered in this regard at Police Station Mahore, he said.
PTI


First Published: Thursday, October 8, 2015 - 12:32

Altaf Ahmad played a crucial role in combating terror in the Valley.
Valley’s top counter-insurgency cop killed in LeT attack - The Hindu


Altaf Ahmad or ‘Altaf Laptop’ was the brain behind several online surveillance operations against militants since 2006.
He earned the sobriquet ‘Altaf Laptop’ within the police for his unmatched success in online surveillance of militant activities since 2006.

On Wednesday, sub-inspector Altaf Ahmad fell to bullets, while chasing Kashmir’s most-wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operational commander Abu Qasim.

Heading the Srinagar-based Special Investigation Team (SIT) for counter-insurgency, with 40 members reporting to him, Mr. Ahmad had been tracking Qasim — a foreign militant with a Rs. 20 lakh reward on his head — for long.

Sources said Mr. Ahmad was killed when he and his men were going after the militant commander in a private vehicle, following a tip-off from a source.

“We suspect it was a source trap,” said a top counter-insurgency official.

Mr. Ahmad had decided to carry out the operation on his own without laying any cordon, which counter-insurgency officials said “was a very casual approach.”

The source was right about the location of Qasim, who was “already alert.” Mr. Ahmad gave chase to Qasim’s car near Gund Dachin area of Bandipora, 40 km from Srinagar. Sources said Qasim and other militants stopped Mr. Ahmad’s vehicle and opened fire.

Mr. Ahmad, who was injured, was immediately rushed to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, where he died.

Elusive Qasim is behind several high-profile militant attacks in the Valley since 2012, including the Hyderpora attack in 2013 that left eight Army personnel dead, attack on the Silver Star hotel in October 2012 and the attack on the BSF in Pampore in 2013.

Operating for the past five years in south Kashmir, Qasim, whose name figured in the Udhampur attack this year that left two BSF men dead, had apparently shifted his base to north Kashmir’s Bandipora district recently.

‘A big loss’
“The police officer was an asset to the department. He had done a tremendous job on the anti-terrorism front. It is really a big loss for us,” said Inspector General Police, Kashmir Range, Syed Javaid Mujtaba Geelani.

“It has broken the backbone of the counter-insurgency cell of the police,” admitted another top cop to The Hindu.

According to the police, he was the brain behind 33 per cent of the operations against militants. It was because of him many top Hizbul Mujahideen commanders, including Qazi Misbauddin, Hanief Khan and Muzaffar Dar, were killed.

In 2012, Mr. Ahmad is believed to have played a key role in identifying constable Abdul Rashid Shigan’s militant activities, which included 13 attacks across Srinagar, by tapping phones.

Army jawan laid to rest - The Hindu
Updated: October 8, 2015 05:52 IST
The Golladi village in Badangi mandal on Wednesday bid a tearful adieu to its brave son Lance Naik (GD) Botta Satyam (36) of the 6th RR Battalion, who was killed in a militant attack at Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir.His body was consigned to flames with military honours at the village.

The defence personnel fired three rounds in the air as the mark of last respect during the funeral.

Satyam’s elder brother Appanna lit the funeral pyre, in the presence of his father Ramulu and mother Narayanamma and sons.

Lance Naik Botta Satyam of the 6th RR Battalion was killed in a militant attack at Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir


The body of the jawan was flown into Visakhapatnam from Delhi. Military Honour and wreath laying ceremony was conducted at Shradhanjili Sthal at airport by Station HQs (Army) Visakhapatnam as a mark of respect to the deceased with a Ceremonial Guard of the Navy in attendance. Representatives of the District Administration of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram as well as Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer Visakhapatnam and Ex-Servicemen Association also paid tributes to the deceased.

 

[Hindustani78]

Militant killed in overnight encounter in J&K | Zee News
Last Updated: Sunday, October 11, 2015 - 13:47
Srinagar: A militant was killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Handwara area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

"One militant has been killed so far. The operation is still in progress as there are inputs about presence of more militants in the area," an army official said on Sunday.

The encounter broke out in the forests of Wader Bala in Zachaldara area, 100 kms from here, yesterday after security forces launched a cordon and search operation following information about presence of militants there, the official said.

He said there were no casualties on the security forces side in the operation so far.

PTI


First Published: Sunday, October 11, 2015 - 13:47

 

[Hindustani78]

Blast in Kashmir's Shopian town | Zee News

Srinagar: An IED explosion occurred on a road in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian town on Monday, but it failed to cause any damage to any property or life, a police officer told IANS here.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was scheduled to inaugurate a mini-administrative complex in Shopian on Monday. But it was cancelled due to a separatist shutdown in the Kashmir Valley against the Udhampur truck attack in which two residents of Anantnag district were injured.

The injured -- Zahid Rasool Bhat, 16, and Showkat Ahmad Dar, 35 -- are being treated for burn injuries in New Delhi at government expense.

IANS

Weapons recovered from hideout - The Hindu

The Army on Monday busted a hideout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition including a M—16 rifle..

Based of specific information, the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Police recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition in general area Shergari Forest in Chasana Tehsil of Reasi District, Defence Spokesman said.

The joint operation team marched in rugged terrain and seized a cache of arms and ammunition from a natural hideout, he said.

The cache includes one M-16 Rifle, one AK-47 Rifle, one AK -56 Rifle, five magazines AK-47, one magazine M-16, two Chinese grenade, five UBGL grenade, thirty pistol round, two hundred four AK—47 rounds and seventy five Pika rounds, he said.

The timely recovery of the cache has prevented any untoward incident in the area and thwarted the evil designs of the terrorists, he said. - PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Robust counter-infiltration grid led to minimum infiltration: Indian Army | Zee News

Srinagar: The Army on Tuesday said that a "robust counter-infiltration grid" in Jammu and Kashmir led to "negligible infiltration" this year, despite the desperate attempts to push as many militants before the onset of winter to make up for their dwindling numbers in the hinterland.

"There are more than 300 militants who are ahead in the launch pads, waiting to be launched. But, unfortunately for them, they are not finding an opening.

"Negligible is the infiltration that has happened over this year and whatever does get through in a shallow area is being caught over there," General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Satish Dua told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Awantipora in south Kashmir.

He said there has been an increase in attempts by militants to sneak into the valley in the last couple of weeks but most of these bids were foiled by the alert troops along the Line of Control (LoC).

The Commander stated that the number of militants in the hinterland is currently "low".

"The infiltration is not happening at all. So, it is their frustration (trying to send as many militants) that is coming out," he said.

Dua noted that there was nothing unusual in the infiltration attempts as militants are usually being sent before the onset of winter which results in the closure of infiltration routes.

"This is the trend that happens every year that just before the snow sets in, they keep trying to push in militants," he said.

He emphasised that the militants are not able to penetrate the robust counter-infiltration grid along the LoC.

"First of all, what is happening is because of our very coordinated, multi-tiered counter infiltration grid, they are not able to get through in the numbers that they want to.

"Thus they are attempting to just create some incident very close to the LoC. Several times they have run back after firing a few shots or throwing an IED," he said.

About the recent encounters in the forests near the LoC in north Kashmir, the Army Commander said, "Yes, there have been encounters in the last week or ten days. There have been some terrorist kills. We have also had a few soldiers who have been martyred. So that shows that they are there and they are trying their best but they are not succeeding very much."

PTI

Gunfight in south Kashmir, militants holed up - The Hindu
Updated: October 13, 2015 20:28 IST

A soldier during an encounter with militants in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. Photo: Nissar Ahmad

A major exchange of fire started between militants and security agencies on Tuesday afternoon during a search-and-cordon operation in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Two civilians were reportedly injured.

Preliminary reports suggest two hiding militants opened fire at security forces at Dogripora village in Awantipora, more than 30 km south of Srinagar.

A residential house, in which the two militants are believed to be holed up, has been identified and encircled by the security forces. Both the army as well as the local police are part of the operation.

Exchange of fire was on when the report was being filed.

 

[Hindustani78]

Encounter between security forces, militants in J&K's Pulwama; 2 civilians injured | Zee News
Srinagar: Two civilians were on Tuesday injured during an encounter between militants and security forces in Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.

A boy Owais Ahmad Dar was hit by a bullet while a girl Iqra was injured in the head by a broken glass, a police officer said.

Both were rushed to a hospital in Bijbehara from where they were referred to a hospital in Srinagar, the officer said, adding the condition of both of them is stable.

The officer said the encounter broke out when militants fired at a party of security forces which had gone to Dogripora village following a tip-off about presence of militants.

Firing has stopped but the search operation is still going on in the area, the officer said.

PTI


First Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 - 23:08

 

[Hindustani78]

1 jawan injured in grenade attack by militants in Kupwara

Srinagar, Oct 14, 2015 (PTI)

An Army jawan was today injured in a grenade attack by militants on a picket in Kupwara town of north Kashmir, police said.
Some unidentified militants hurled a grenade on a bunker of 41 Rashtriya Rifles at old bus stand in the town, about 90 kms from here, around 1440 hours, a police officer said.

He said the grenade exploded near the picket causing minor injuries to a jawan who has been shifted to Drugmulla Army hospital.

Window panes of at least three vehicles of the Army, parked there, were also broken due to the explosion, the officer said, adding a hunt was launched to nab the militants.

 

[Hindustani78]

Two deserter police officers killed in Jammu gunfight | Zee News

Jammu: Two Special Police Officers (SPOs), who had run away from their jobs along with their weapons, were killed on Thursday in a gunfight with security forces in the Jammu region, police said.


"Gul Mohammad and Riaz Ahmed, who had deserted on September 9 this year along with two rifles, were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Bagwa village of Doda district today (Thursday)," a police officer told IANS here.

Defence spokesman Captain S.N. Acharya told IANS here that one AK 47 rifle and one INSAS rifle was recovered from their possession.

In most cases, SPOs are chosen from among unemployed youth and former militants.

IANS

 

[Hindustani78]

Large cache of weapons recovered in J&K's Poonch | Zee News

Poonch: The Special Operations Group (SOG) of the district Police on Saturday, recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition from a major terrorist hideout in Mandi Chaprian area of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir.

The hoard recovered included some Pakistan-made pistols and 20 kilograms of RDX.

ANI


First Published: Saturday, October 17, 2015 - 10:23

 

[Hindustani78]

Trucker injured in bomb attack dies, PSA slapped on accused


One of the two persons injured in Udhampur petrol bomb attack on a Kashmir-bound truck died today after battling for life for nine days, sparking fresh protest in some areas in the Valley, even as the stringent Public Safety Act was slapped against five of the accused.

Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah attacked BJP and its allies over the incident and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to who would be blamed for the death of Zahid Ahmed.

Zahid, the conductor of the truck targeted in the October 9 attack, died this morning at Safdurjung Hospital in Delhi, where he was admitted with 74 per cent burns.

The police said that five of the seven persons arrested in connection with the petrol bomb attack, that claimed one life and left another critically injured, have been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).

Those booked under the PSA are Sandoor Singh, Danesh alias Pamma, Harish Singh Katoch, Balbahadur Singh alias Abbu and Varinder Singh alias Kaka, an official said.

The decision to book the five accused under PSA was taken by the District Magistrate Udhampur based on a dossier submitted by the district police which pointed out to their criminal history as they had several FIRs already lodged against them.

According to the dossier, these persons have been booked for planning and executing a criminal conspiracy aiming at disturbing peace and public order in the state under a pre-designed and motivated plan.

Meanwhile, Batengoo in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, the native village of Zahid, observed a spontaneous shutdown to protest against the killing.

"Batengoo village, which is on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, has shutdown in protest against the death of Zahid Ahmed," an official at Police Control Room (PCR) Anantnag told PTI over phone.

Clashes broke out in Batengoo and surrounding areas between protesters and police personnel, a police official said.

The protesters pelted stones at security personnel, who retaliated by firing tear smoke shells, he said, adding that there was no report of anyone getting hurt.

"The Highway has been closed," the official said, adding additional police personnel are on stand by.

Omar condoled the death of Zahid and said he had met him yesterday.

Attacking the state and the Cemtral governments, he said they cannot wash their hands off the issue.

"The Hon PM passed the buck on to @yadavakhilesh and the UP Govt for #Dadri. Who will he blame for #Zahid's death now???

"Another needless death in the name of #BeefBan for which the BJP and its affiliates including allies are directly responsible," he said in a series of tweets.

The NC leader hit out at the Mufti Sayeed government saying, "And to think that all the state Govt could do was to throw 10,000 rupees at #Zahid & wash it's hands off the whole thing #BeefMurder."

Zahid's death also drew protest call from separatists, with Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik announcing strike in the Valley tomorrow.

Malik said the strike was to express solidarity towards Muslims "who are facing the onslaught of right wing Hindu organisations over rumours of beef eating."

Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq blamed the government for the death of Zahid.

"The government failed to rein in communal forces who are hell bent upon vitiating the atmosphere in the state," he said.

Zahid, a resident of Anantnag in South Kashmir, was conductor of the truck that was en route to Kashmir when a mob attacked it with petrol bombs on October 9. The driver of the truck Showkat Ahmed is currently being treated at AIIMS in Delhi.

The truck was on its way to Srinagar from Jammu and was stationary near Shiv Nagar area as traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was stopped in view of the strike called by various Hindu outfits following recovery of three carcasses in the district.

 

[Hindustani78]

One militant killed in encounter in J&K's Baramulla; 2 Army jawans also injured | Zee News

Srinagar: One militant was killed in Kashmir Valley on Wednesday in an encounter between militants and security forces.

As per reports, the encounter was still on and an unknown number of militants were hiding in Kunzer area of Tangmarg in Baramulla district.

Two Army jawans are also reported to have got injured in the encounter.

Further details are awaited.

Kashmir encounter: Militant killed in Baramulla gunbattle - The Hindu

A fierce gunfight between militants and security forces have left one militant reportedly dead and three soldiers injured in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

A search party of the army and the police came under militant fire early in the morning when the troops laid a cordon of Bongam village near Kunzar town in Baramulla district, around 30 km away from Srinagar.

The hiding militants, whose number remains unascertained, opened fire at the security forces.

The operation was on when this report was being filed.

The encounter on Srinagar-Gulmarg road has come a long lull of militancy in that area.

 

[Hindustani78]

Two militants killed in Kashmir gunfight - The Hindu

Continuing with operations against militants in Kashmir, the security forces on Thursday afternoon killed two militant in an operation in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

According to Srinagar-based spokesman, the security forces came under fire at Manzimpora village, Shopian, 60 km away from Srinagar, when a search operation was launched there.

“In the surgical joint operation of the police and the army two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed,” said the army spokesman.

The slain militants were identified as Adil Khandey and Irshad Ahmed Sheikh. Both are from south Kashmir and locals. They were active for the past two years.

"Arms, ammunition and other war-like stores were recovered from the slain terrorists. The operations were continuing,” said the spokesman.

However, there were unconfirmed reports of third militant being killed in the operation. The army has not confirmed the death.

Thursday’s operation is second such operation in the past 24 hours. One militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen was killed and three soldiers injured in Kunzer area of north Kashmir on Wednesday.