Pakistan violates ceasefire along International Border in Jammu

[Hindustani78]

Militants attacked a BSF camp near Srinagar airport on Tuesday.(Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

Suspected fidayeen militants entered a Border Security Force (BSF) camp near the Srinagar International Airport in the early hours of Tuesday. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

One militants has reportedly been killed and three jawans injured, but there is no official confirmation. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

Personnel barred entry into the airport but services at the Srinagar airport have now resumed. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

Flights scheduled to land had also been cancelled. The Kashmir Valley School has also been shut for the day. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

The Fidayeen (suicide) attack carried out by the militants on Tuesday left three jawans injured, police said. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

According to Director General of Police SP Vaid an unidentified body suspected to be that of a militant is yet to be ascertained. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

The attack took place at around 4: 00 am and there was exchange of firing between the militants and security forces. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

Policemen stop empolyees of Srinagar Airport in Humhama on Tuesday. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

Meanwhile, in another unrelated development, militants shot dead a cop in Awantipora area of Pulwama District in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday night, the police said on Tuesday. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi)

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...s-in-poonch-for-third-day/article19795377.ece

The Indian Army was retaliating effectively and firing was on, a defence spokesman said.
Pakistani troops on Wednesday opened fire from automatic weapons and shelled mortars at forward posts and villages along the LoC in Poonch district of in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Army is retaliating effectively and firing was on, a defence spokesman said.

“Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0845 hours in Poonch sector along the Line of Control”, the spokesman said.

On Tuesday, Naik Mahendra Chemjung was killed when the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire and resorted to shelling in Poonch.

On October 2, two minors were killed and 12 civilians injured in cross-border shelling by Pakistan along the LoC in Poonch district.

Five children were among the injured, the youngest being five-year-old Zobia Kousar.

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[Hindustani78]

By: PTI | Jammu | Published:October 4, 2017 7:29 pm

BSF personnel patrolling at the international border on the outskirts of Jammu (above). The meeting, chaired by SSP Samba Anil Magotra at the Rajpura police station, saw the participation of a number of border dwellers and the heads of several villages. (PTI/File)

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...wellers-demand-licences-for-firearms-4874371/


Residents of border villages who live under the constant threat of firing by Pakistani troops and militant attacks have demanded that the Jammu and Kashmir government grant them licences to keep firearms, police on Wednesday said. They said they needed weapons to defend themselves in the event of a militant attack. At a meeting of police and border dwellers in Samba, the residents of the border belt demanded they be given licences to protect themselves from ultras, a police spokesperson said.

The meeting was convened in the wake of recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan that forced villagers to seek shelter in safer places. The meeting, chaired by SSP Samba Anil Magotra at the Rajpura police station, saw the participation of a number of border dwellers and the heads of several villages.

The villagers rued they were not enough bullet-proof vehicles for their evacuation to safer places during ceasefire violations, the police spokesperson said. Also, more ambulances with all life-support systems needed to be added to the existing fleet, they said. The SSP told the villagers he would raise the matter at the appropriate level.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/pak-...rorists-active-in-kashmir-report-2047794.html

New Delhi: Over 500 ceasefire violations have been reported by Pakistani forces along the Line of Control (LoC) till October 3 this year, news agency ANI reported quoting government sources.


"Till October 3, 2017, Pakistan has violated ceasefire at least 503 times in which 14 terrorists were killed," it said quoting sources.

The security forces have gunned down at least 150 terrorists in this year while the Indian Army neutralised at least 14 terrorists who were provided security cover by Pakistani forces during ceasefire violations.


It added that in 2017 alone, at least 291 terrorists attempted to cross the LoC border and enter into India, out of which 80 were successful.

42 intruders were killed by Indian Army in 56 infiltration attempts.

The source further added that at least 275 terrorists are active in Kashmir out of which over 250 are active in the north of Pir Panjal Range.

The report comes days after Pakistan summoned Indian Deputy High Commission and claimed that Indian forces carried out more than 900 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary this year, which has resulted in the deaths of 43 civilians and injuries to 153, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016.

More updates to follow.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...u-s-akhnoor/story-edq8pULHWiNVYps4LC5z3K.html

Updated: Oct 05, 2017 22:53 IST

The Army on Thursday averted a major terrorist strike in the strategic Akhnoor sub-division of Jammu district, 30 kms from Jammu city.

“On Wednesday night, the alertness and vigilance of Army personnel at Akhnoor helped in averting a major terrorist strike on the sensitive and soft targets in Akhnoor,” said defence spokesman colonel NN Joshi.

The sentries had observed suspicious movement close to an army unit near the Akhnoor Market, he added.

Akhnoor, it may be mentioned here, has several army formations including the Crossed Swords Division.

“Thereafter, the response mechanism was activated wherein the entire area was cordoned off and deliberate search operation was conducted. During the area’s sanitisation process, the security force pressed into service its dog squad that recovered one fully installed IED, two mines, army accouterments and other incriminating stores till now,” said colonel Joshi.

Recoveries also included a Soviet-era map of Jammu & Kashmir, a few fake security badges, among other things.

Minister of state for defence Dr Subhash Bhamre, who is currently on a two-day visit of Jammu region had asked the troops to maintain a high degree of alertness along the Line of Control (LoC) in the state.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...ofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

The Army today recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and mines in the forested area of Akhnoor border belt in Jammu district, foiling a potential terror strike, a defence official said.

The combing operation is still on, he added.

According to the spokesman, suspicious movement close to an Army Unit location near the Akhnoor Market was observed by jawans last night leading to the security forces cordoning off the area.

"A search operation was conducted and during the area sanitisation process, the security forces utilising a dog squad had recovered one fully installed IED, two mines, army accoutrements and other incriminating items till now," he said.

The spokesmen also commended the alertness and vigilance of Army personnel at Akhnoor for helping avert what he said could have been a major terrorist strike on sensitive and soft targets in Akhnoor.

Combing operation with police are in progress, he said, adding that security had been beefed up in and around establishments of security forces in Jammu, particularly the Akhnoor border belt.

Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre, is currently on a two-day visit of Jammu region and had asked the troops to maintain a high degree of alertness along the LoC in the state.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...n-north-kashmir-officer-hospitalised-4878041/

Both father and son were shifted to hospital for treatment. A senior police officer blamed militants for the attack on the family members of SPO and said condition of seven year old boy is critical and doctors are trying to save him.

Written by Mir Ehsan | Srinagar | Updated: October 6, 2017 9:41 pm

Unidentified gunmen on Friday evening shot and injured a Special Police Officer and his seven-year-old son in North Kashmir’s Kralgund village. Officials said that unidentified gunmen forcibly entered into the house of Altaf Ahmad and fired indiscriminately on the inmates of the house that left Altaf and his son injured.

Both father and son were shifted to hospital for treatment. A senior police officer blamed militants for the attack on the family members of SPO and said the condition of the seven-year-old boy is critical and doctors are trying to save him.

After the attack gunmen fled from the spot as police and Army launched search operation to track down the gunmen. Last week militants had killed a BSF jawan in Hajin town when he was on leave.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...order-areas/story-ozprghpFo1QTH3NSNJGLPN.html

Hindustan Times, New Delhi

During a four-day tour to the state, home minister Rajnath Singh had met people of border areas and assured them that their concerns will be taken into account.(PTI FILE PHOTO)


Days after home minister Rajnath Singh visited Jammu and Kashmir, the government has set up a study group to examine problems faced by people living near the international border and Line of Control (LoC) due to repeated and rising instances of ceasefire violations.

Special secretary (internal security) Rina Mitra, principal secretary (home) J&K government Raj Kumar Goyal, divisional commissioner Kashmir Bashir Ahmed Khan, divisional commissioner Jammu Dr Mandeep K Bhandari and joint secretary J&K government Gyanesh Kumar will be members of the group.

Data compiled by the home ministry (MHA) shows that 2017 witnessed a major spike in the number of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops.

Against a total of 449 incidents last year, there have been 600 ceasefire violations till September this year, killing eight civilians and 16 soldiers whereas last year 13 security personnel were killed.

During a four-day tour to the state, Rajnath Singh had met people of border areas and assured them that their concerns will be taken into account, a senior home ministry official said.

He also met security forces and their recommendations will also be taken into account by the study group, the official said.

According to MHA spokesperson Ashok Prasad, the group will prepare a detailed report of the issues faced by the public in these areas and submit recommendations for remedial actions to be taken by the government.

The group will meet people, district administration and security forces in these areas.

According to MHA officials some of the key areas that the study group will focus on are issues like relocation of civilian population during ceasefire violations, construction of bullet-proof bunkers to house civilians, self-protection trainings for local population and better watch and monitoring by security forces.

Among other issues that the study group will collect feedback is of compensation for land of civilians that has been used by the military for border fencing and other security purposes.

 

[Hindustani78]

By: PTI | Published:October 7, 2017 3:11 pm

“During the interrogation of the three terrorists, involved in the attack on SSB company in Banihal on September 20, by police, one of them revealed that they had also placed a grenade in general area Kaskoot Banihal,” a police officer said.(File/PTI Photo)
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...m-ramban-after-questioning-militants-4879051/

Police have recovered a grenade in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir after interrogating three militants arrested in connecting with a terror attack on a SSB patrol party in Banihal last month.

“During the interrogation of the three terrorists, involved in the attack on SSB company in Banihal on September 20, by police, one of them revealed that they had also placed a grenade in general area Kaskoot Banihal,” a police officer said.

On getting the information, two police teams searched the area yesterday and recovered the grenade, the official said.

Three militants had attacked an SSB patrol party in Banihal on September 20, killing one security personnel and injuring another.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...olve-kashmir-ex-raw-chief/article19820726.ece

India has created a mess in the last 15 months, says Dulat
India has created a “mess” in Kashmir in the past 15 months, India’s former Intelligence chief said during a debate with a former Pakistani head of intelligence in London on Friday night, urging the need for “imagination” and dialogue going forward.

“Its high time we started talking,” said Amarjit Singh Dulat, former Research and Analysis Wing head, who spoke at a packed event held by the London School of Economics’ South Asia Forum, on the ability of intelligence agencies to do good — seen as a rare occasion when top figures from both services had come together at a public venue.

“Heavy handedness has never worked in Kashmir…actually it doesn’t work anywhere as we’ve seen recently in Spain,” Mr. Dulat said at the start of the debate.

Futility of force
“I think if there is one message that comes out of Kashmir, not today, not yesterday or the day before but as far back as one can remember…you can achieve a lot through love and compassion but you can never achieve it by force. That is the mistake we have created in the last 15 months,” Mr Dulat said. “Kashmir is part of India, an integral part of India and its not going anywhere but we need to deal with Kashmir in a more civilized manner.”

However, while there was “anger” and “even disgust” against India in Kashmir, there was “no love lost for Pakistan,” he added. “They realize there is nothing to be gained from Pakistan…Pakistan is only a convenient fall back position for Kashmiris,” he said.

The former R&AW chief said while India had borne the “brunt of terrorism for a long time” there was no way but to talk. “I would say in the case of Pakistan we need to make this one exception and talk along with them….Kashmir needs to be discussed and discussed upfront, not only between us but between Delhi and Srinagar.”

Opening the debate Ehsan-ul-Haq, the former director general of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence said the situation in Kashmir, which had remained the oldest unresolved international dispute and the core issue in India-Pakistan relation, had taken a ”turn for the worse” since last July.

He said security forces had tackled protest with singular “ruthlessness” and flagged the “shocking and indiscriminate” use of pellet guns.

“The Kashmir dispute cannot be wished away…if left unresolved it will keep returning as a crisis with increased intensity,” he said adding that there were no problems between the two countries that couldn’t be resolved “through dialogue.”

“We must now structure a détente that reduces tensions and move meaningfully towards dispute resolution,” he said, though warned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his “extremist allies” were using harsh rhetoric against Pakistan to electoral and political advantage. “This does bode well for the future.”

Mr. Dulat concurred that dialogue was the only way forward, and India’s strategy of not engaging “makes no sense at all…because if you look at the worst days…even the coldest days of the cold war the KGB and CIA never stopped talking, Kennedy and Khrushchev never stopped talking…many believe that because of their letter writing it saved the world from a possible world war.”

He said there been instances in the past where Indian and Pakistani intelligence agencies had cooperated which had produced more than the “desired results” “We need imagination. Let us think ahead -not just of the immediate crisis that faces us -let us think ahead with compassion.”

While ul-Haq declined to confirm that secret meetings had taken place in the summer of 2003, with his Indian counterpart at the time CD Sahay - reported in the Indian media but never confirmed officially - he agreed on the need for intelligence agencies to keep channels of communication open no matter what happened at the political level. “That becomes the last resort sometimes for preventing and preempting crises,” he said. Dulat credited these talks with bringing about the 2003 ceasefire, and noted that a tip off from India had succeeded in saving the life of General Musharraf in 2003.

 

[Hindustani78]

Srinagar, October 09, 2017 13:10 IST
Updated: October 09, 2017 15:13 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...orces-in-jk/article19827757.ece?homepage=true

Umer Khalid is believed to be the brain behind recent fidayeen attacks carried out by JeM in south and central Kashmir.
Jaish-e-Mohammad’s (JeM) operational commander was killed on Monday in an encounter in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

“JeM commander Khalid was killed in a swift operation at Ladura in Rafiabad area. The search operation continues in the area,” Srinagar-based Army spokesman said.

Preliminary reports suggest Khalid exchanged fire with security forces after being spotted by a naka party on Monday morning. A police official said a check-point was established after a tip-off about movement of militants in the area.

In the brief exchange of fire, according to police sources, Khalid was injured and fled from the spot. “He was later neutralised in a residential area,” he added.

Khalid, an A++ category, is believed to be the brain behind recent fidayeen attacks carried out by JeM in south and central Kashmir. Initial reports suggest Khalid is a resident of Pakistan. However, there is no confirmation on his real identity.

Solider killed in firing
In a separate incident in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, one solider was killed when militants opened fire on security forces in forest area if Drung on Sunday night.

The Army spokesman said the soldier was injured in a brief encounter and succumbed to his injuries later. The affiliation of the attackers remain unknown. The deceased was identified as Subedar Raj Kumar (47). His mortal remains were shifted to his native place in Himachal Pradesh.

 

[Hindustani78]

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...rity-forces/article19828715.ece?homepage=true

A gunbattle broke out this afternoon between militants and security forces in Shopian district of Kashmir, police said.

The exchange of fire is going on between the two sides, a police spokesman said. He said further details of the incident are awaited.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/637041/militants-roping-surrendered-terrorists-revive.html
Press Trust of India, Jammu, Oct 9 2017, 19:12 IST

SD Singh Jamwal, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, said that the militants' attempts to revive terrorism continue to be foiled by alert security forces. Screen Grab

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/637041/militants-roping-surrendered-terrorists-revive.html


Militants are roping in surrendered terrorists and "overground workers" of terror outfits in a desperate effort to revive terrorism in the Jammu region, a top police official said today.

SD Singh Jamwal, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, said that the militants' attempts to revive terrorism continue to be foiled by alert security forces.

Police has scuttled two attempts to revive militancy in the region this year by busting two terror modules and arresting nine militants in the Doda and the Ramban districts of the region, he said.

"Jammu region is virtually a militancy-free zone, but there are continuous attempts by anti-national elements to revive militancy and they are in touch with surrendered militants and sympathisers," Jamwal told PTI.

"This time the situation in Jammu region is under control but they are making attempts by roping in surrendered militants, overground workers, and their attempt is to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere," the IGP said.

He said the recent militant attack in Banihal and the earlier incident in Doda were part of the nefarious designs of the militants but police had cracked both the cases within 72 hours by arresting nine culprits and seizing the weapons, including snatched service rifles.

In May, a special police officer was killed and another injured when terrorists attacked their post in Tantra in Doda district, he said.

An SSB jawan was killed and another injured when their patrol party was attacked in Banihal area of Ramban district last month. The ultras fled from the scene with the service rifles of the slain and injured SSB jawans, Jamwal said.

Five terrorists were arrested in connection with the Doda attack. Three newly recruited Banihal youth and another person from south Kashmir, who provided a pistol to them, were arrested in connection with the attack in Banihal, he said.

Jamwal said the security forces were watching the minutest movement of the suspects to frustrate them.

"We have full control over the situation and we are monitoring and watching the minutest movement of the suspects. Their attempts are on but we have not allowed them to succeed in their nefarious designs," the Jammu region police chief said.

He said it was the counter-insurgency plan that did not allow the terrorists to settle down and as a result both the modules set up in Banihal and Doda were busted within the shortest possible time.

Jamwal said only three militants were active in Kishtwar district and "efforts are on to neutralise them".

"Kishtwar belt is very vast and connected to south Kashmir. We have three listed militants in our records operating in Kishtwar, one of them, Jehangir, is the oldest surviving militant. There are no other militant active in the region," the IGP said.

He said there were chances, that when the pressure on militants in south Kashmir builds up, they might try to shift their base to this side of Pir Panjal.

"But we are alive to the situation and have taken necessary precautionary measures to ensure they do not succeed," he said.

Jamwal said there was synergy among various security agencies working on the ground to maintain law and order and peace in the region.

"Army, police and other security forces are working closely along with intelligence network on the ground. Though there is no major threat but the chances of militants spreading their tentacles remains," he said.

Jamwal said since nomads move along the high altitude areas, all police posts along their routes have been directed to maintain tight vigil to ensure that terrorists do not mingle with them and come to this side.

The officer said despite frequent ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) there was no breach of the fence along the borders.

"In some cases, the cross-border firing was aimed at giving cover fire to the infiltrating militants but no such activity was witnessed and there was no breach of the fence. Recently a tunnel along the IB was unearthed, scuttling the attempt to push militants into this side," he said.

Jamwal said multi-tier security arrangements were in place along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts to foil infiltration of militants from across the border.

"There was no report of any militant activity reported from the twin districts. That means there was no breach of the border fencing and the alertness of the Army despite frequent cross-border firing had ensured zero per cent infiltration (of militants)," he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...-in-shopian/story-OYEHpy3bW0qiaq0M5TE6HN.html

A gunbattle broke out on Monday afternoon between militants and security forces in Shopian district of Kashmir, police said.
india Updated: Oct 09, 2017 21:31 IST
Agencies, Srinagar

Security forces during an encounter in Shopian, in south Kashmir, on Monday. (ANI/Twitter)

Three militants were killed in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday, Jammu and Kashmir’s top cop said.

In a series of updates on Twitter, director general of Jammu and Kashmir police, Shesh Paul Vaid confirmed the three death.

So far, one militant’s body and two weapons were recovered in the combing operation, ANI reported.

Security forces surrounded Gatipora village in Shopian in the afternoon after receiving information that a group of militants were holed-up in a house.

“When security forces closed in on the house in which the militants were hiding, the militants opened fire at them, triggering a gunfight,” a police official said earlier in the evening while confirming the first militant’s death.

Earlier in the day, a top Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militant, believed to be the mastermind behind the recent suicide attacks in the restive state, was killed in a brief gunfight with security forces in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Police said the militant was identified as Khalid – the operational commander of the Pakistan-based militant group.

 

[Hindustani78]

Srinagar, October 10, 2017 20:53 IST
Updated: October 10, 2017 20:53 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-casualties/article19834655.ece?homepage=true

Suspected militants attacked a CRPF vehicle in busy Sanat Nagar area of Srinagar on Tuesday evening but there were no casualties.

“CRPF personnel reported that their vehicle came under fire at Sanat Nagar chowk here,” a police spokesman said.

He said there were no casualties on the CRPF side.

“A police team has rushed to the spot to investigate the incident,” he added.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri N.N. Vohra calling on the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi on October 11, 2017.