Pakistan violates ceasefire along International Border in Jammu

[Hindustani78]

Two mIlItants and two soldIers were kIlled In Hajin today | Photo Credit: PTI
Srinagar, October 11, 2017 12:38 IST
Updated: October 11, 2017 12:47 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-killed-in-hajin-gunfight/article19838305.ece
Two militants and two soldiers were killed in an early morning operation in north Kashmir's Bandipora area on Wednesday.

A police official said security forces, comprising of army and local police, sealed off Rakh (Paribal), Hajin, around 5 a.m. The operation was launched after "follow up of inputs about the presence of a large group of armed militants in the area."

In the initial exchange of firing, two militants were killed. "However, two soldiers also sustained injuries, who succumbed later [sic]," said the official.

Both militants are believed to be associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The search operation is on as the firing from both sides have stopped. "It was an intense operation. Two members of the army's Air Force Garud were killed," army spokesperson told The Hindu.

On September 27, a BSF jawan, who was home on a leave, was killed by militants in Hajin.

Zulfikar Majid, Srinagar, DH News Service, Oct 12 2017, 18:10 IST
Rs 5 lakh looted from a bank
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/637485/militants-hurl-grenade-beauty-parlor.html

A girl sustained minor injuries after unidentified militants lobbed a grenade on a beauty parlour in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Pulwama Chaudhary Aslam said that a girl sustained minor splinter injuries in the attack in Rajpora Chowk of Pulwama town, 32 kms from here at around 3:45 pm. “Beauty parlor was the target. The grenade attacks are carried by militants and we are investigating the case,” he told DH.

Reports said soon after the attack, security forces launched a manhunt to nab the attackers. No militant organization claimed the responsibility for the attack till evening.

In the past radical women's outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of Faith) have several times threatened the owners of beauty parlors to either shut down their business or face consequences. In early 1990's when insurgency broke out in Kashmir, Dukhtaran-e-Millat launched a campaign to force women in Srinagar to wear the veil and threw paint on those who failed to comply.

In January 1990 gun-totting militants forcibly closed cinema halls, liquor shops and beauty parlors in the Valley. However, despite the ban, all these things continued throughout the past two decades.

Meanwhile, unidentified militants looted a bank in Marhama village of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday. A police official said that the gunmen barged inside the branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Marhama and looted over Rs five lakh.

He said that police and other security agencies have launched a search operation to nab the looters.

Kashmir witnessed a surge in bank looting cases ever since demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 last year. There have been more than a dozen bank robberies in Kashmir especially in southern districts since last November.

However, today’s incident was the first bank robbery in last almost two and half months. On July 31, militants had looted more than Rs five lakh from a bank in Bijbehara. Earlier, on May 3, militants had looted two banks in southern Pulwama district in one day forcing, banks in Kashmir to stop cash transactions at 40 branches in vulnerable areas of Pulwama and Shopian districts.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...istani-army/story-4RIyCmUuBL59xIxl0r3fsK.html
The year 2017 has seen a sharp increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
india Updated: Oct 12, 2017 21:09 IST
Press Trust of India, Jammu

Indian Army jawans patrolling at the Line of Control (LOC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.(PTI File Photo)

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An Army jawan and a porter were killed and six others injured when Pakistani troops fired small arms on forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

“The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms and automatics from 1035 hours in Krishnagati sector along the Line of Control (LoC),” a defence spokesperson said here.

The Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively. The exchange of fire is on, he said.

During firing, Sepoy T K Reddy (21) and Defence Porter Mohd Zahir (22) suffered serious injuries and died, the spokesperson said.

He said six other personnel, including a defence porter, were also injured and are undergoing treatment.

Reddy belonged to Obulapuram village in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district. He is survived by his mother.

Zahir belonged to Kalali village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, he said.

Sepoy Reddy was a brave and sincere soldier and Zahir was an honest and dedicated worker, he said adding that the nation will always remain indebted to them for their supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty.

On October 6, Pakistani troops had opened fire on Baba Khori and other areas in Rajouri district, and on October 4, three Army jawans were injured in unprovoked and indiscriminate firing in the Poonch sector.

An Army jawan was killed in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the LoC in Poonch on October 3.

In a ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the LoC in Poonch on October 3 an Army jawan was killed, a day after two minors died and 12 civilians were injured in cross-border shelling.

The year 2017 has seen a sharp increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ng-near-loc/article19853943.ece?homepage=true

A student shows bullet marks on the wall of his school after firing from the Pakistan side, near the Line of Control in Poonch district on October 10, 2017. | Photo Credit: PTI


Pakistan Army’s heavy shelling along the Line of Control in Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir October 13 forced authorities to shut schools in forward areas.

“The schools along the LoC in Digwar and Khadi Karmara were closed because of the firing and shelling by Pakistan today,” said Poonch Deputy Commissioner Tariq Ahmed Zargar. He, however, said the schools have been shut for a day.

Mr. Zargar said the situation was under control as firing from across the border stopped in the afternoon. Schools in areas unaffected by the firing remained open, he added.

Pakistan security forces violated ceasefire with India for the second consecutive day on October 13. They fired small arms and shelled the forward areas in Poonch district. An Indian Army jawan and a porter died in their firing on October 12. Another six were injured.

“The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively,” a defence spokesman said earlier in the day.

 

[Hindustani78]

Updated: Oct 13, 2017 14:28 IST
Press Trust of India

Gulzar Dar was captured during an operation in Pulwama.(ANI Photo)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...in-srinagar/story-7DwbmAEbmp7rAy4a3bPZKJ.html


A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was on Friday arrested by security forces from Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the police said.

“Gulzar Dar was captured during an operation in Pulwama,” a police spokesperson said in Srinagar.

He said further details of the operation are awaited.

 

[Hindustani78]

Army jawans look for bodies of militants after the encounter | Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...a-encounter/article19859196.ece?homepage=true

One civilian, Gulzar Ahmad Mir, was also killed as protesters clashed with security forces in Pulwama.

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were killed in an encounter in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning. One of them was their top commander Waseem Shah.

One civilian, Gulzar Ahmad Mir, was also killed as protesters clashed with security forces in Pulwama. Mir was shifted to a Srinagar hospital after suffering injuries. He succumbed in the hospital. The protests were sparked by the killing of two local militants. Over 20 protesters were injured in the clashes.

A search party of security forces, comprising the special operation group and the army, came under fire in the Litter area of Pulwama."As the searches were intensified towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon government forces, triggering a gun fight," said the police.Two militants, identified as Shah and Nasir Ahmad Khan, both locals, were killed. Shah was a self-styled commander of Lashkar.

PTI adds

This is the first counter-insurgency operation in Litter area in four years. Jammu and Kashmir Police have been tracking the movements of Shah, who is considered as the ‘don of Heff’, another traditional stronghold of militants in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Shah, 23, also known as ‘Abu Osama Bhai’, was wanted in various terror-related cases. A college dropout, Shah, a resident of Heff-Shrimal in Shopian, joined the militancy in 2014 and was considered as the ‘chief architect’ of last year’s unrest in various parts of South Kashmir.

Born in a middle-class family of Gul Mohammed Shah, who ran his fruit business, Shah was an active supporter of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group since his school days and had doubled up as a courier boy for the outfit, police said.

Of late, Shah, who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was recruiting fresh cadres for the militant outfit.

He had been involved in various attacks on security forces in South Kashmir, police said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...tants-for-two-kashmir-bank-robberies-4889511/

Approximately Rs 7 lakh was stolen from two branches of J&K Bank when unidentified gunmen barged into Ratnipora branch in Shopian and Marhama branch in Anantnag district.

Written by Mir Ehsan | Srinagar | Published:October 14, 2017 5:08 am

THE Police blamed Hizbul Mujahideen militants for two bank robberies in south Kashmir’s Shopian and Anantnag districts in the last two days and identified five local militants as being responsible for the incidents.

Police said that the militants were recognised from CCTV footage inside the bank branches and from human intelligence network. Approximately Rs 7 lakh was stolen from two branches of J&K Bank when unidentified gunmen barged into Ratnipora branch in Shopian and Marhama branch in Anantnag district.

Hizbul Mujahideen spokesperson Burhanuddin denied the allegations and said that the outfit does not believe in bank robberies as it is un-Islamic and unethical. “Robbing banks is not the work of militants. Honesty, truth and serving Kashmiri people is our core trait,” he said, adding that the police are trying to tarnish the image of militants.

Shopian SP Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar said that approximately Rs 1.98 lakh were stolen from the Ratnipora branch in Shopian on Friday morning. “We have identified three militants — Zubair Ahmad, Abas and Ishfaq. They are affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen.’’

Police have released CCTV footage of the robbery where gunmen are seen trying to damage CCTV cameras before fleeing.

On Thursday, unidentified gunmen looted around Rs 5 lakh from the Marhama branch of J&K bank. “During initial probe, two militants were identified as Rasik Nabi Bhat and Salia Mohammad Akhoon. They are affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen.’’

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http://indianexpress.com/article/india/one-killed-in-clashes-near-pulwama-encounter-site-4889832/

Police claimed that the victim, Gulzar Ahmad Mir, was caught in the cross-fire between the militants and security forces, but some locals alleged that he was killed in the action by security personnel against the protestors.

By: PTI | Srinagar | Published:October 14, 2017 12:46 pm

A civilian was killed as stone-pelting protestors clashed with security personnel near an encounter site in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district where two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were gunned down on Saturday. Police claimed that the victim, Gulzar Ahmad Mir, was caught in the cross-fire between the militants and security forces, but some locals alleged that he was killed in the action by security personnel against the protestors. Two militants, including wanted Lashkar commander Waseem Shah, were killed by security forces this morning at Litter in the district.

Soon after the encounter, a group of people started throwing stones at the security forces, eyewitnesses said. They claimed that six persons, including Mir, were injured in the security forces’ action.

Mir succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Srinagar. Four injured persons were taken to a local hospital for treatment and another injured is admitted to a Srinagar hospital, the eyewitnesses claimed.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ja...d-attack-on-pdp-minister-arrested/481894.html

The J&K Police on Friday arrested a local Jaish-e-Mohammad militant who had lobbed a grenade at Minister for Roads and Buildings Naeem Akhter’s cavalcade last month, leaving three civilians dead and over 30 injured.

The police said Gulzar Dar of Nagbal, Tral, had hurled the grenade on the instructions of Jaish’s Pakistani commander Mufti Vikas and local commander Noor Mohammad Tantray of Tral. Dar was arrested in a joint operation which was launched by the police, Army and the CRPF late Thursday after an input about his presence in Naristan, Tral, some 55 km from Srinagar. “One Chinese pistol was recovered from Dar’s possession,” a police spokesman said.

“During his questioning, he tipped off the forces about the hideout of four foreign Jaish militants at the Pastuna forest in Tral. An operation was launched and militants fired upon the search party. The fire was retaliated but taking advantage of the dense forest, the terrorists managed to escape from the hideout. The search operation is going on,” he added.

On September 21, Akhter had a narrow escape when a grenade was hurled at his cavalcade in Tral, killing three persons, including a 17-year-old girl. No militant group had claimed responsibility for the grenade attack. Kashmir’s militant group Hizbul Mujahideen had blamed intelligence agencies for the attack.

The police spokesman said Dar had lobbed a grenade at a bus stand in Tral in 2014 in which five persons lost their lives. He was arrested and released after two years in January 2017. Was arrested in 2015 too

• Gulzar Dar of Nagbal, Tral, had hurled a grenade at Minister for Roads and Buildings Naeem Akhter's cavalcade on September 21, which left three civilians dead and over 30 injured
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• Dar had also lobbed a grenade at a bus stand in Tral in 2014 in which five persons lost their lives. He was arrested in 2015 and released in January 2017

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http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ja...ashes-near-pulwama-encounter-site/482141.html

A civilian was killed as stone-pelting protesters clashed with security personnel near an encounter site in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district where two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were gunned down on Saturday. Police claimed that the victim, Gulzar Ahmad Mir, was caught in the cross-fire between the militants and security forces, but some locals alleged that he was killed in the action by security personnel against the protestors.

Two militants, including wanted Lashkar commander Waseem Shah, were killed by security forces on Saturday morning at Litter in the district. Soon after the encounter, a group of people started throwing stones at the security forces, eyewitnesses said.

They claimed that six people, including Mir, were injured in the security forces’ action. Mir succumbed to injuries at a hospital here. Four injured people were taken to a local hospital for treatment and another injured is admitted to a Srinagar hospital, the eyewitnesses claimed. PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/637952/day-3-siblings-injured-pak.html

Zulfikar Majid, Srinagar, DH News Service, Oct 15 2017, 22:05 IST

On Thursday, an Army personnel and a defence porter were killed while six others including five troopers were injured in firing by Pakistan army at Khari Karmara in Poonch sector. PTI Photo for Representation


A day after three minor siblings were injured in heavy firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, senior government officials visited the forward areas to assess the prevailing situation.

An official spokesperson said Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Tariq Ahmad Zargar visited shelling affected areas to take the stock of damages to property and assess the situation prevailing on the forward LoC areas of sub division Mendhar.

The team of officers including SSP Poonch Rajiv Panday met with Mohammad Nasib the father of three children injured due to Pakistani shelling on Saturday night. The injured children were identified as five-year-old Saquib Naseeb, eight-year-old Rafia Naseeb, 15-year-old Tariq Naseeb and 17-year-old Tahira Naseeb, who have been shifted to a hospital for treatment.

Later, the team of officers also visited to other shelling affected areas Drana, Basooni, Balakote to get appraisal from the local regarding damages to properties and livestock due to heavy cross border shelling during the intervening night, the spokesperson added.

Eyewitnesses told DH over phone that Pakistani troops started firing mortars and bullets, directly targeting civilian areas including Balakote, Balakote Forward, Tarkundi, Langiot, Kanga, Sandiot, Khanetar, Dhar Galoon and surroundings in Balakote sector of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district on Saturday evening.

“The people, who were working in the fields while children playing outside their houses were caught unaware in heavy mortar shelling. The people took shelter in houses, bunkers and other available space,” they said, adding that one of the mortar shells fired by Pakistani troops exploded in the house of Khan, a police constable, injuring his three children. Khan is posted in Jammu.

Security forces and local people braved heavy shelling and firing to evacuate injured from the forward village and shifted them to hospital, eyewitnesses said. The landing of mortar shells close to houses in border villages has created a wave of panic and fear among the residents. On Thursday, an Army personnel and a defence porter were killed while six others including five troopers were injured in firing by Pakistan army at Khari Karmara in Poonch sector.

A senior army officer said they expect the ceasefire violations to continue for some days as Pakistan has been relentlessly trying to push heavily-armed militants into India with nefarious intention of disturbing peace and cause casualties on security forces in the hinterland.

“However, well aware of the new strategy of Pakistan we have strengthened anti-infiltration grid. Whenever the militants try to infiltrate, they would be either killed or forced to retreat,” he added.

 

[Hindustani78]

Srinagar, October 16, 2017 18:10 IST
Updated: October 16, 2017 18:10 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...o-surrender/article19871531.ece?homepage=true

Two militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and one associated with Hizbul Mujahideen were arrested over the last three days

Three militants have been arrested in Kashmir, police said on Monday and made a renewed offer to the local militants that they would be rehabilitated if they surrender.

Two militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and one associated with Hizbul Mujahideen were arrested over the last three days from south Kashmir, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Munir Khan said.

“On October 14, two terrorists, with the intention to snatch weapons of personal security guards of a protected person, fired a few rounds at Kund in Qazigund area. But they had to beat a retreat due to hue and cry raised by locals,” Mr. Khan told reporters here.

He said on receipt of this information, a joint party of the police, the Army and the CRPF established a check point and nabbed the two militants, who were riding a motorcycle.

“They were identified as Khursheed Ahmad Dar and Haziq Rather. One pistol, some ammunition and a live grenade were recovered from their possession. They belong to LeT,” he added.

Later, an overground worker of militants Rameez Yatoo, who works in a medical agency in Kulgam, was arrested, Mr. Khan said.

“Arms and ammunition were recovered from his home. He had helped the militants in carrying out the attack on the police vehicle at Damhal Hanjipura on Saturday in which one cop lost his life,” the IGP said, adding the attack was carried out by militants of Hizbul Mujahideen.

Mr. Khan also said the offer of surrender to local militants still held good. “They should lay down their arms and we will provide all support in rehabilitating them,” he said.

He said the security forces will accept surrender by local militants even during encounters.

Police on Friday had arrested a Jaish-e-Mohammad militant, who was involved in an attack on the motorcade of Works Minister Naeem Akhtar last month in which three civilians were killed.

 

[Hindustani78]

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http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-former-sarpanch-killed-by-terrorists-in-shopian-4893686/
By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Updated: October 16, 2017 9:46 pm
A former sarpanch (village headman) of Imam Sahib village in Jammu & Kashmir’s Shopian district was killed on Monday by terrorists, police said. According to police, three terrorists fired at Muhammad Ramban Sheikh. In the scuffle that followed, a terrorist, identified as Shaukat was also killed and the sarpanch got badly injured. The sarpanch was rushed to a nearest hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

“3 terrorists fired & killed ex sarpanch Ramzan Sheikh in Shopian. In scuffle a terrorist Shaukat also killed,” tweeted J&K DGP SP Vaid.

 

[Hindustani78]

Terming it as inhumane, Director General of Police S P Vaid said, "The family had not even condoled the death of their loved one properly before such a senseless act instigated by terrorists was perpetrated on them in less than 24 hours."

Written by Mir Ehsan | New Delhi | Updated: October 17, 2017 8:54 pm

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...-on-fire-in-shopian-family-rescued-by-police/
A DAY after a former sarpanch of the ruling PDP, Mohammad Ramzan Sheikh, 50, was killed by militants in Humhuna village of Shopian district, his house was set on fire by a mob on Tuesday. Sheikh, a block-level PDP worker, was shot in an attack by three militants on Monday. One of the militants later died in a scuffle with Sheikh’s family members and neighbours. Police claimed the militant — identified as Showkat Ahmad Kumar, a resident of Trenz village, about 4 km from Humhuna village — died after he was hit by his own bullet.

The mob on Tuesday was reportedly angry at Kumar’s death. According to reports, a large number of people attended Kumar’s funeral on Tuesday afternoon, after which they walked to Humhuna village and set Sheikh’s house on fire. State Director General of Police S P Vaid said the mob was instigated by militants. “The family has been rescued by police and security forces. Strict action will be taken against the perpetrators,” he said.

Police said the mob surrounded Sheikh’s house at about 4 pm on Tuesday, set it on fire, and then fled the spot. By the time the police and fire tenders reached the area, the house, as well as the adjoining cow shed, had been razed to the ground.

“About 300-400 people gathered around the former sarpanch’s house and set it on fire. The people were angry that the militant had been attacked by his family members,’’ said a villager. “By the time the Army, police and fire tenders reached the village, the house had been completely burnt down.’’ Condemning the incident, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said such acts cannot justify or achieve any political goals.

Former Chief Minister and NC working president Omar Abdullah also condemned the incident. “Killing him in cold blood wasn’t enough? His house had to be set on fire as well!! No words strong enough to condemn this lawlessness,’’ he tweeted. According to the police, Kumar was with the Hizbul Mujahideen and had joined militancy in October last year.

The police constable, according to police, left the police station for home in Akhnoor on October 14 evening, saying that he will return by next evening.

By: Express News Service | Jammu | Published:October 17, 2017 10:08 pm

By: Express News Service | Jammu | Published:October 17, 2017 10:08 pm

The police constable, according to police, left the police station for home in Akhnoor on October 14 evening, saying that he will return by next evening. (Source: Google Maps)

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...nce-3-days-police-register-complaint-4895528/

A constable of the Jammu and Kashmir police has gone missing under mysterious circumstances for the last three days. Identified as Munish Kumar, 32, of Maira Mandriyan village in Akhnoor tehsil, the constable was posted at Bus Stand police station in Jammu. He, according to police, left the police station for home in Akhnoor on October 14 evening, saying that he will return by next evening.

According to his family members, he left home on October 15 afternoon, but did not reach the place of posting at Jammu. All efforts to contact him have proved futile as his mobile has been switched off since then.

Police have registered a missing complaint in this regard.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti calling on the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi on October 18, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

A two-year-old baby and three labourers are among the injured.
india Updated: Oct 18, 2017 14:22 IST

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Hindustan Times, Jammu

Villagers point to a hole caused by a mortal shell after Pakistan Army pounded forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. The latest unprovoked firing from across the border injured a civilian and damaged three cars in Bhimber Gali sector on Wednesday morning. (PTI File Photo )

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...ts-villages/story-sSFcsoQTPeelEyBVSDF4YP.html


At least eight civilian, including a two-year-old baby, sustained injuries and three cars were damaged as Pakistan army opened heavy fire and shot mortars on Indian posts and forward villages along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

A police officer at Poonch Police control room identified the injured child as Insha of Manjakote in Rajouri districts. Another injured civilian has been identified as Mohammed Ayyaz Ahmed, son of Mohammed Saddam Khan of Darati village. He has been shifted to a primary health center at Dhargloon.

Identities of other injured though could not be ascertained, police said among the wounded are three labourers.

The labourers, it said, were working at Sandote Basooni when they suffered minor injuries in Pakistan shelling in Bhimber Gali (BG) sector that runs along Poonch and Rajouri districts of the restive state.

The police officer informed that Pakistani troops opened fire around 7am.

The ceasefire violation comes just a day after India’s Border Security Force (BSF) repatriated a Pakistani youth, Raja Ali of Sialkot, as a goodwill gesture.

The 22-year-old youth, who was mentally ill, had crossed the international border and had entered Suchetgarh on Tuesday morning when BSF jawans nabbed him.

Many Indian security personnel and civilians have lost their lives as there has been a considerable spike in incidents of unprovoked firing by Pakistan army this year.

According to media reports number of ceasefire violations already crossed 500 marks this year.

Meanwhile, Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat will visit Jammu for standard presentation to an armoured regiment in Jammu on October 21.

The gun duel between the two sides is still on, he added.

Defence spokesman Col NN Joshi confirming the incident, said Indian Army is “retaliating strongly and effectively” to the provocation.

 

[Hindustani78]

Tantray, who was arrested in Delhi in 2003 and sentenced to life by a POTA court in 2011, is reported to have jumped parole a few months ago and rejoined militancy.

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...ammed-militant-noor-mohammad-tantray-4897465/


Written by Bashaarat Masood | Srinagar | Updated: October 19, 2017 5:07 pm

According to police sources, Tantray provided logistical support to JeM militants who stormed the District Police Lines in Pulwama in August. (Express File Photo: Shuaib Masoodi)

A 47-YEAR-OLD militant, who is only three feet tall, is reported to be behind the recent attacks by the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Kashmir. According to police sources, Noor Mohammad Tantray, a resident of Tral in Pulwama district, has taken over command of the JeM in South Kashmir and is engineering the outfit’s bid to regroup in the Valley.

Tantray, who was arrested in Delhi in 2003 and sentenced to life by a POTA court in 2011, is reported to have jumped parole a few months ago and rejoined militancy.

“Yes, he has joined JeM,” Awantipora SP Muhammad Zahid told The Indian Express.

“Our investigations into the recent attacks have revealed that he (Tantray) is playing a pivotal role in the Jaish,” a senior police officer told The Indian Express. “He and another Jaish commander, Mufti Waqas, have been playing a major role in the recent attacks carried out by the outfit.”

According to police sources, Tantray provided logistical support to JeM militants who stormed the District Police Lines in Pulwama in August. Eight security personnel and three militants were killed in that attack. Tantray is also reported to have been involved in the JeM attack on the BSF camp, outside the Srinagar International Airport, on October 3, in which one BSF officer and three militants were killed.

Sources said Tantray was also found to be involved in the grenade attack on State PWD Minister Naeem Akhtar’s cavalcade in Tral on September 21.

Police sources said Tantray was earlier a close aide of Jaish commander Ghazi Baba, who masterminded the 2001 attack on Parliament. After Ghazi Baba was killed, Tantray was arrested from Delhi’s Sadar Bazar on August 31, 2003. The Delhi Police claimed to have recover Rs 19.2 lakh from his possession and accused him of being in touch with JeM militants.

In January 2011, Tantray and four others, including two from Kashmir, were sentenced to life imprisonment by a POTA court in Delhi. After being lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail for some time, he was shifted to Srinagar. Tantray was released on parole in 2015, after which the Jammu and Kashmir High Court extended his parole several times.

However, three months ago, Tantray is reported to have gone underground and rejoined militancy. Police sources said he had rejoined JeM, and was closely coordinating the outfit’s operations with Waqas, a resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan.

“He has a good military mind. He is like Qayoom Najar of South Kashmir,” said a police officer, referring to former Hizbul Mujahideen commander Abdul Qayoom Najar, who was killed in Uri last month. “He also knows the Jaish’s old militant and sympathiser network, and will try to revive that network”.

A police officer, however, said Tantray’s physical features are a disadvantage for him. “He is just three feet tall,” he said. “So he can be easily identified, making his movement difficult.”

Militants killed a government school teacher at Gutipora village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday, after blaming him for the death of three militants in his village.

Written by Mir Ehsan | Shopian | Published:October 19, 2017 9:04 am

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/militants-kill-teacher-for-leaking-information-4897594/

Militants killed a government school teacher at Gutipora village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday, after blaming him for the death of three militants in his village. The body of Aijaz Ahmad Lone with his throat slit was recovered from an orchard. Locals said that Lone was abducted from his village. A letter was also recovered from the body that claimed that Lone was involved in the killing of three militants.

Shopian SP Shriram Ambarkar Dinkar said that the police are investigating the reason behind the killing. “We recovered the body in the morning.”

On October 9, three local militants were killed at Gutipora village in an encounter. Police said the militants were killed inside Lone’s house, after which militants had started blaming him for leaking information to the security forces.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/another-pdp-mlas-house-attacked-in-jk/article19890815.ece
Special Correspondent
Srinagar:, October 20, 2017 19:18 IST
Updated: October 20, 2017 19:19 IST

This is second such attack in the past 24 hours.
Militants attacked the house of ruling Peoples Democratic Party legislator on Friday afternoon in Pulwama's Tral.

Militants lobbed a grenade at the residence of MLA Mushtaq Shah in old town in Tral in the afternoon.

"The militants also opened fire. Security guards, however, retaliated the fire," said a police official.

There were no reports of any casualty. A police official said the MLA was not present in the house at the time of attack.

This is second such attack in the past 24 hours. The house of MLA Wachi Ajaz Mir, who also belonged to PDP, was attacked with a grenade of Thursday afternoonight in Shopian.

Earlier in the week, PDP ex-sarpanch was killed outside the house in Shopian.