Jammu and Kashmir: News and Discussion

[I-G]

Two militants killed in Jammu and Kashmir
IANS 2 August 2009, 02:59pm IST
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SRINAGAR: Security forces killed two separatist guerrillas in a fierce gunbattle in Bungus Valley of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, police said on Sunday.

A police official said security forces had Saturday surrounded the forest area, 112 km from here, on receiving specific information of the presence of militants there.

"During the searches, the security forces came under fire from hiding militants triggering a gunfight which is still continuing. So far, bodies of two militants have been recovered," the officer said.

On Saturday, the guerrillas had struck here killing two security men and wounding one in two hit-and-run attacks.

Two militants killed in Jammu and Kashmir - India - NEWS - The Times of India

 

[I-G]

Six youth attempting to exfiltrate to PoK arrested
Updated on Sunday, August 02, 2009, 14:55 IST

Srinagar: In the first such case this year, six youth were arrested by police in Kupwara district while they were attempting to exfiltrate to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for arms training, a senior police officer said on Sunday.

"We have arrested six youngmen who were planning to go across the border for arms training," Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, Uttam Chand told reporters on phone.

He said the youth, hailing from Tarzoo village of Sopore in Baramulla district, were arrested from Lolab valley yesterday following a tip off.

"They are being questioned," the Kupwara police chief said adding they were not accompanied by any guide at the time of the arrest.


This is the first group of local youth intercepted and arrested by police while attempting to cross over to PoK for arms training this year.

The trend of going for arms training had declined sharply over the past several years as local youth got disillusioned with militancy which had taken a heavy toll since its eruption in the early 90's.

Bureau Report

Six youth attempting to exfiltrate to PoK arrested

 

[I-G]

Four militants, two jawans killed in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar (PTI): Four militants and two Army jawans were killed in two incidents in Kashmir Valley where six youth were arrested for allegedly attempting to exfiltrate to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) for arms training.

Four militants and an Army jawan were killed in a fierce gunbattle in Kupwara district, a defence spokesman said, adding the encounter erupted on Saturday at Bangas valley, 125 km from here, when security forces launched a search operation to flush out hiding militants.

Efforts are on to ascertain the identity and group affiliation of the slain militants, he said.

The militants were believed to be part of a group who sneaked into the valley from across the border through the Tangdhar sector recently.

In another incident, suspected militants shot dead an army jawan outside his house in Shopian district of South Kashmir on Sunday evening, the spokesman said.

Safzar Ahmad Ganai, who had come on leave, was fired from point blank range by unidentified gunmen around 5 pm at Reshi Nagri locality of Shopian, 52 km from here, he said.

On Saturday, militants shot dead a policeman and injured two CRPF personnel in a twin strike in the city.


The Hindu News Update Service

 

[I-G]

Cache of arms and ammunition recovered in J&K

Jammu (PTI): Security forces on Monday busted a hideout in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including four kgs of explosives, police officials said here.

On a tip off, security forces launched cordon and search operation in Chasana village of Mahore tehsil and busted the militant hideout today, they said.

The recoveries from the hideout included four kg of explosives, one pistol, two magazines, a radio set, six magazines of AK-56 rifle, 50 rounds of AK ammunition, 52 pika rounds, 16 hand grenades, four IEDs, six detonators among other things, they said.


The Hindu News Update Service

 

[I-G]

Militants behead man in Jammu and Kashmir

Updated on Monday, August 03, 2009, 11:26 IST


Jammu: The beheaded body of a man who had been abducted by a group of militants was found in a forest near his home in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, police said Monday.


About four militants had barged into the house of Ali Saeed in Daddar Morh village in Rajouri district, about 120 km from here, late Saturday. They forced Saeed to accompany them at gun point.

Police launched a hunt for Saeed after his family lodged a complaint. His beheaded body was found in a forest near his house Sunday evening.

Police said they didn't know the reason for the abduction and killing. However, they suspect that militants might have believed Saeed to be a spy for security forces.

A search for the militants is on.

Militants behead man in Jammu and Kashmir

 

[I-G]

One killed in grenade attack in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: A labourer from Bihar was killed and four were injured in a grenade attack by suspected militants on the airport road here, official sources said on Monday.

Mohammad Younis, a resident of Bihar, who was injured along with four others in the grenade attack at Rambagh Chowk on Sunday, died at the Soura Medical Institute on Monday afternoon.

The grenade was hurled at a CRPF vehicle but missed the target and exploded on the roadside, injuring three labourers and two locals, the sources said. The police shifted the injured to the SMHS Hospital. — PTI

The Hindu : Front Page : One killed in grenade attack in Kashmir

 

[I-G]

Two VDC members arrested for firing at another member
Jammu (PTI): Police on Tuesday arrested two Village Defence Committee (VDC) members, who opened fire on another member of the committee and injured him in connection with a land dispute case, in Rajouri district, 177 kms from here.

The case of land dispute existed between two parties of Devi Singh and Mohd Abdullah which lead to clashes in Jaglanoo village of Bhudal tehsil in Rajouri district today, they said.

Khem Singh and Sukhdev Singh, both sons of Devi Singh, opened fire at another committee member Munshi Khan, son of Abdullah, in relation to the case, they said, adding Khan was injured in the attack and later hospitalised.

A case has been registered on the arrested duo and the weapon used for firing was recovered from their possession, they said.

The Hindu News Update Service

 

[Flint]

Has there been an increase in violence in the last few months?

 

[I-G]

Has there been an increase in violence in the last few months?

Yes , it has been increased and lot of weapons have been seized mostly Chinese and recently American weapons have been even recovered .

 

[RPK]

Indian troops foil rebel incursion into Kashmir: army

SRINAGAR, India — The Indian army Tuesday killed two Muslim militants as soldiers repelled an attempt by rebels to get into Indian Kashmir from the Pakistani zone of the disputed state, the military said.

"The army has foiled an infiltration bid by militants by killing two of them Tuesday evening," an army spokesman, Uma Maheshwar said.

He said the militants were killed in northern Keran sector along the Line of Control (LOC) -- the de facto border that splits Kashmir between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan.

"The operation to arrest or eliminate other militants along the LOC is in progress," the spokesman said.

The gunbattle was the second along the LOC in three days. On Sunday, four militants and a soldier were killed in a similar gunbattle.

There has been a rise in separatist violence in the Himalayan region since Saturday when rebels killed two policemen in Srinagar.

Police attributed the upsurge to the forthcoming Indian national holiday on August 15 which marks India's independence from British rule.

Over the last 20 years the insurgency has left more than 47,000 people dead according to an official count.

India accuses Pakistan of training, arming and funding rebels battling New Delhi's rule in Indian Kashmir, a charge that Islamabad denies.

 

[RPK]

Top Hizbul militant shot dead in J&K

Jammu (PTI): A top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was on Wednesday shot dead by security forces during an encounter in Doda district.

On a tip off, a joint search party of Army and police launched a cordon and search operation in Behota-Marmat area of the district, about 170 kms from here.

In the gunbattle that followed, the self-styled section commander of Hizbul Mujahideen identified as Noor Mohammed alias Mansoor was killed, official sources said.

An AK rifle and three magazines were recovered from the slain militant.

 

[RPK]

Army foils major infiltration bid in J&K, guns down 6 militants

Poonch: The security forces on Tuesday foiled a major infiltration bid near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district and killed at least six militants in different anti-insurgency operations across the Jammu and Kashmir.

According to reports, a group of militants tried to enter the state from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and were intercepted by troops of Raj rifles at Chhamb Kinari forward post in Pathri Gali area of Mandi in the district.

An encounter took place after militants fired on the troops, who had asked them to surrender. A militant was killed in the ensuing encounter.

Meanwhile, four ultras were shot dead in two separate encounters with security forces in Kashmir Valley this morning.

A group of heavily-armed militants from across the border sneaked into Tangdhar, 130 kms from here, in the wee hours, but Army troops confronted them and in the ensuing gun-battle two militants were killed, according to a defence spokesman.


The Army operation in the area is still on.

The army last evening shot dead two infiltrators in Keran sector, 140 kms from here, also in Kupwara district. That operation is also continuing, the spokesman said.

He said two more militants were killed in an ongoing gunbattle between ultras and security forces at Furkhan near Trehgam, 150 kms from here this morning.

Security forces have also launched a search operation in Didan Gali in Pirpanjal sector of South Kashmir this morning.

He said army troops launched a search operation in Didan Gali in Pirpanjal sector of South Kashmir this morning.

In a separate incident, a top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was shot dead by security forces during an encounter in Doda district.

On a tip off, a joint search party of army and police launched a cordon and search operation in Behota-Marmat area of the district, about 170 kms from here.

In the gunbattle that followed, the self-styled section commander of Hizbul Mujahideen identified as Noor Mohammed alias Mansoor was killed, official sources said.

An AK rifle and three magazines were recovered from the slain militant

 

[amitkriit]

I am quoting from a foreign newspaper: Actually Government of India is not as soft on Kashmir issue as it seems as per the report.

"experts see Singh's outreach less as a concession than a way to string Pakistan along.
He feels conflict with Pakistan is useless because the balance is shifting in India's favor and there's no sense getting in a conflict. India's economy is developing so rapidly that India is just seeking a way to continue containing Pakistan and running out the clock, since a day will come when economic strength will translate into an unassailable military and diplomatic position."

"Pakistan's senior military leaders know this, and are desperate to get a favorable settlement on Kashmir before it's too late. Worries that the two countries might agree on the status quo may have prompted the Mumbai attacks."

May be GOI's approach is right, a nation's lifetime is much longer compared to an individual's.

 

[RPK]

Pak tests patience, 5 encounters in J&K

Fierce gun battle continues between militants and security forces in difference parts of Jammu and Kashmir. So far in five separate encounters, eight militants have been successfully gunned down and operations continue in the nearby areas.

Encounter has been raging in Kupwara district since last evening, where two terrorists were killed in the Keran sector of the area. Exchange of firing has been on from last evening. This is the fourth encounter that has taken place in this district in the past one week. A total of seven terrorist have been killed so far.

In another incident in Parkiagali in the same district, two more terrorists have been gunned down in an operation headed by the Rashtriya Rifles. The encounter reportedly began early this morning and is close to where the other encounter is taking place -- Keran.

Two more militants were gunned down in the Tangdhar sector, after the army foiled an infiltration bid along the LoC in this district.

Meanwhile, the army confirmed these incidents and went to say that they have successfully foiled infiltration bids along the Line of Control (LoC), despite of the change in fence after the heavy snowfall in the state.

Speaking to TIMES NOW, Col Brar, PRO, Defence confirmed that six militants have been killed in three encounters in Kupwara district. He also went on to add that search operations are still on in different parts of the district as they believe that more militants could be hiding.

Meanwhile, a top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was shot dead by security forces during an encounter in Doda district.

On a tip off, a joint search party of army and police launched a cordon and search operation in Behota-Marmat area of the district. In the gun battle that followed, the self-styled section commander of Hizbul Mujahideen identified as Noor Mohammed alias Mansoor was killed, official sources said.

An ak rifle and three magazines were recovered from the slain militant.

Meanwhile, the Army also foiled an infiltration bid near the LoC in Poonch district by killing a militant. A group of militants tried to enter the state from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and were intercepted by troops of Raj rifles at Chhamb Kinari forward post in Pathri Gali area of Mandi in the district, defence sources said.

An encounter took place after militants fired on the troops, who had asked them to surrender, they said adding in the gunbattle a militant was killed.

 

[Flint]

Hi, please give the link to the full article.

I am quoting from a foreign newspaper: Actually Government of India is not as soft on Kashmir issue as it seems as per the report.

"experts see Singh's outreach less as a concession than a way to string Pakistan along.
He feels conflict with Pakistan is useless because the balance is shifting in India's favor and there's no sense getting in a conflict. India's economy is developing so rapidly that India is just seeking a way to continue containing Pakistan and running out the clock, since a day will come when economic strength will translate into an unassailable military and diplomatic position."

"Pakistan's senior military leaders know this, and are desperate to get a favorable settlement on Kashmir before it's too late. Worries that the two countries might agree on the status quo may have prompted the Mumbai attacks."

May be GOI's approach is right, a nation's lifetime is much longer compared to an individual's.

 

[Sridhar]

Hi, please give the link to the full article.

May be this one

tehran times : India's PM too soft on Pakistan? Opposition says yes.

 

[RPK]

Shopian case: Court rejects bail plea of four cops

The bail plea of the four police officers including former SP Shopian, Javid Iqbal Matoo was rejected by the Sessions Judge on Thursday saying that it is “premature to grant bail to the arrested police officers at this juncture.”

The four police suspended officers SP Mattoo, DSP Rohit Baskotra, Station House Officer (SHO) Shafiq Ahmad and the sub inspector, Gazi Abdul Karim are in the judicial custody from July 30. The police officers are accused of destroying the evidence in the rape and murder of Asiya Jan and her sister-in-law Nelofer during the intervening night of 29 and 30 May in Shopian.



The Principal District and Sessions Judge, Tauqeer Ahmad, had reserved the judgment on the bail plea moved by the accused police officers on July 26 after the directions of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Lawyer Asim Mahorotra and Mohammad Naseem — a Kashmiri lawyer — had filed the joint bail application on behalf of police officers. The arguments by defence and prosecution had lasted for four day after the bail application was moved. On July 31, the court had reserved its decision on whether or not to grant bail to the accused.

 

[RPK]

Militant supporter arrested with ammunition


Srinagar, Aug 7 (PTI) A person allegedly having links with militant groups was arrested along with five grenades in Baramulla district of North Kashmir today, a police spokesman said.

Irshad Ahmad Rather, who was working for Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfits, was arrested near his house at Peth Seer in Sopore, 55 kms from here, the spokesman said.

He said Rather was arrested on a specific information by a joint party of Police and Rashtriya Rifles.

Five Chinese grenades, cash of Rs 50,000, a cheque worth Rs 50,000, two photographs, a list of cellphone numbers and a mobile phone were recovered from him

 

[RPK]

Govt concerned over increase in infiltration in J-K: Antony

With army foiling several attempts by militants to sneak into the country from across the Line of Control in recent days, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Saturday that the "increase in infiltration" was a "matter of concern" for the government.



"Militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has come down substantially but in the last one month, suddenly a tendency of increase in infiltration is there... normally in J and K, on the onset of winter, there is some rise (in infiltration), which is a matter of concern," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function to inaugurate the Armed Forces Tribunal.



Observing that the atmosphere was improving in the state, he said, "We can't have complacency in Jammu and Kashmir. Eternal vigilance is needed and we can't take any decision regarding the state in a hasty manner."



On August 2, nine militants were killed in five different encounters along the Line of Control in the state

 

[I-G]

Troops recover IED in Poonch

POONCH (JAMMU & KASHMIR): A major tragedy was averted on Saturday when troops detected an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by militants on the Poonch-Mandi road here to trigger a blast targeting the security forces.

The IED , weighing five-and-a-half kg, was recovered from under a culvert at Timbra by a Road Opening Party of the Army during a sanitisation operation, defence sources said. Traffic along the route was suspended for three hours. The device was defused later. — PTI

The Hindu : Front Page : Troops recover IED in Poonch