Jammu and Kashmir: News and Discussion

[RPK]

Two militants killed in separate encounters in Jammu

Srinagar: The security forces on Thursday killed two militants in separate encounters in Kupwara district of North Kashmir.


Acting on a tip off, security forces launched a search operation at Khangund village, 95 kms from here, in the wee hours to flush out hiding militants, official sources said.

The ultras opened fire on the search party and in the ensuing gunbattle a militant was killed.

Another militant was killed in a separate operation by security forces at Bangus valley of Handwara, 80 kms from here, this morning, the sources said.

They said the operation in the valley was launched last evening following specific information about presence of militants.

The identity and group affiliation of both the slain militants could not be ascertained immediately as the search operation at Khangund and Bangus valley was still continuing.

 

[I-G]

Dreaded Hizb militant escapes; police come with 'bail' theory

Updated on Thursday, August 20, 2009, 18:55 IST Tags:Hizb militant, escape, police, J&K, terrorism

Srinagar: A prize catch for Jammu and Kashmir Police Gazi Musbahuddin, Chief Commander of banned Hizbul Mujahideen, escaped from a court in South Kashmir leaving the police red-faced who later claimed that he had been granted bail by the court.

The incident happened when Misbahuddin, who was arrested from Bemina locality on December six, 2007, was being taken to a court at Anantnag to seek his further judicial custody.


However, around 12.30 PM, Misbahuddin managed to give a slip to the escorting policemen and fled from the court premises and mingled with the crowd, official sources said.

Misbahuddin's act gave a jolt to the policemen who within an hour claimed that the dreaded terrorist, who has also been the driver of Hizb Chief and Chairman of United Jehad Council Syed Sallahuddin, had not escaped but was released on bail.

Neither any senior police official was willing to come on record nor agreed to take any further questions on this issue but sources said an internal enquiry had been launched to fix the responsibility.

Misbahuddin had taken over the command of Hizbul Mujahideen in 2003.

Bureau Report

Dreaded Hizb militant escapes; police come with `bail` theory

 

[I-G]

Security forces kill two militants in Kupwara

Updated on Saturday, August 22, 2009, 12:37 IST Tags:Security forces, Pakistani militants, Kupwara

Srinagar: Two militants were on Saturday killed in an encounter with security forces in the frontier district of Kupwara.

Acting on specific information, police assisted by Army cordoned of Rationpora, 130 kms from here, to flush out the militants following which they opened fire, police said.


In the ensuing gunfight, two militants were killed, they said.

The identity of the slain militants was being ascertained.

Bureau Report

Security forces kill two militants in Kupwara

 

[I-G]

BSF jawan injured in mine blast


11:29 HRS IST
Jammu, Aug 22 (PTI) A BSF jawan was critically injured in a mine blast near the LoC in Rajouri district, police said today.

Sepoy Mohammad Rafiq of 67 battalion of BSF was patrolling LoC when he stepped over the landmine at Morcha Gap post in Peerbadeshwar area in Rajouri district last night.

Rafiq's leg was blown up in the blast and his condition was stated to be critical.

The jawan hails from Tamil Nadu.

fullstory

 

[I-G]

Army foils infiltration bid by militants in J&K

Updated on Sunday, August 23, 2009, 13:19 IST Tags:Army, foils, infiltration, militants, J&K

Srinagar: Army Sunday foiled an infiltration bid by a group of heavily armed militants killing two of them in frontier district of Kupwara.


The militants sneaked into this side in the wee hours but were confronted by troops guarding the border at Sonapindi near the Line of Control, defence spokesman said.

He said the infiltrating militants opened fire and two of them were killed in retaliatory action by Indian security forces.

Bureau Report

Army foils infiltration bid by militants in J&K, two killed





Two youths held in Samba for suspicious activity

Updated on Sunday, August 23, 2009, 12:23 IST Tags:youths, Samba, suspicious

Jammu: Police have arrested two suspected persons moving under suspicious circumstances in Samba, 40 kms from here, official sources said.


Acting on a tip-off provided by the Military intelligence, police arrested the duo when they were moving under suspicious circumstances near Railway station at Samba last night, they said.

The youth, identified as Moulvi Mohammad Ilyas and Mohammad Yaqoob, failed to explain the motive of their movement near the railway station, they said.

Two mobile phones recovered from them were being scrutinised and the duo has been sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) here for further investigation.

Bureau Report
Two youths held in Samba for suspicious activity

 

[I-G]

Top Al-Badr commander arrested in Kashmir Valley

Updated on Sunday, August 23, 2009, 23:31 IST Tags:Al-Badr, Militants, Kashmir

Srinagar: Police in Kashmir Sunday claimed a major success with the arrest of a top functionary of the Al-Badr guerrilla group from north Kashmir's Sopore town.


Zeenat-ul-Islam Shah, son of a local clergy, Gulam Hassan Shah, and resident of Sugan village in north Kashmir's Shopian district, was the chief commander of Al-Badr group and going under the codename Zahid.

"He had taken over the reins of the outfit five years back from a foreign militant code-named Major Abdullah," a senior police officer told IANS here.

Zahid had received training from a Pakistani militant named Sikander, the police officer said, adding that Zahid had been directly involved in the kidnapping and killing of two local policemen in 2008.

"In Shopian district, he operated jointly with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit. He was an expert in ambush and stand-off operations. He had masterminded and carried out many terrorist actions against the security forces in north Kashmir's Lolab area and then moved to Shopian," the officer said.

"Zahid had come to Sopore a few days back and today (Sunday), we arrested him without a fight. A laptop and many incriminating documents were recovered from his possession. He is reported to have recruited a few boys for his outfit from Sopore area," the police officer said.

Zahid was reporting directly to Yusuf Baloch, the Pakistan based head of the outfit, according to the police here.

Police expect many important disclosures from Zahid during his interrogation.

IANS


Top Al-Badr commander arrested in Kashmir Valley

 

[I-G]

108 foreigners arrested for militancy in J&K, 27 await deportation

Updated on Monday, August 24, 2009, 18:00 IST Tags:J&K militancy, 108 foreigners

Srinagar: As many as 108 foreign nationals, including nine Afghans and a Saudi, were among 2,449 people arrested in connection with militancy in Jammu and Kashmir till August this year.

"At present 2449 persons are lodged in different jails within as well as outside the state till August. Of these 2384 persons are in various jails in the state whereas 65 are lodged in jails located outside the state," the state Assembly was informed.


Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds the Home portfolio, in a written reply said that there were 108 foreign nationals including nine Afghans, a Bangladeshi and a Saudi detained in different jails within and outside the state.

Twenty-seven of them have either completed their sentence or have been acquitted and also recommended for deportation, he said adding 30 others including the Saudi national are facing trial for crossing illegally into the state.

Bureau Report

108 foreigners arrested for militancy in J&K, 27 await deportation

 

[I-G]

Grenade hurled at hotel, 6 CRPF injured

STAFF WRITER 22:51 HRS IST
Srinagar, Aug 24 (PTI) Militants hurled a grenade targetting a hotel at downtown Naopora locality here tonight, leaving six CRPF jawans injured, police sources said.

The jawans received minor injuries and the militants fled after the attack.

fullstory

 

[RPK]

Hizbul militant shot dead @ The Hindu
A top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in a gun battle with police in Reasi district today.

Based on specific information, police assisted by security forces launched a search operation in Hejzam area of Mahore tehsil, 190 kms from here.

Militants fired at the operation party when they closed in on the hideout. The joint operation party fired back resulting in the encounter, a police official said

While a militant was killed, two other ultras were still in the cordon, he said.

The encounter was going on when reports last came in from the area.

 

[I-G]

IED defused by security forces, tragedy averted

STAFF WRITER 13:53 HRS IST
Srinagar, Aug 25 (PTI) A major tragedy was averted by the security forces when an improvised explosive device was detected by them on a link road in Pulwama district of south Kashmir today, police said.

Police assisted by troops of 55 Rashtriya Rifles and 182 battalion CRPF recovered the IED planted by militants on Nayina-Batpora road, 35 kms from here, in the wee hours today, they said, adding the device was later defused by the bomb disposal squad.

fullstory

 

[I-G]

600 to 800 militants operating in J&K: Lt Gen Bhardwaj

Updated on Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 20:49 IST Tags:J-K, militants killed, Lt Gen Bhardwaj

Udhampur (J&K): Asserting that militancy is declining in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army on Wednesday said that nearly 600 to 800 militants are presently operating in the state.


The overall situation is good in the entire state with low level and sporadic incidents of violence, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command, Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj today told reporters at an informal chat at Northern Command Headquarters here.

"It was not possible to assess the exact number of militants operating in the state, but overall assessment from all agencies put their number to be around 600 to 800. Among them, the number of foreign mercenaries could be less."

The restoration of democratic and political activities and peaceful Amarnath yatra are indications that overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir is very good, he said and admitted that infiltration has however increased this year.

On role of army in restoration of peace in the state, Bhardwaj said, "We are instruments of peace and will ensure that complete peace is restored in the state."

Asked about any threat of Pakistan acquiring drone missile technology, he said that there is no such threat on this score and added, "Our country has also advanced and improved technology in making weapons."

Drone missiles, however, have proved effective in dealing with terrorists in parts of Pakistan, Bhardwaj said.

About situation along Line of Actual Control with China, the army commander said that the situation along borders with China was quite peaceful.

57 ultras killed from Jan to Aug: Army

As many as 57 terrorists were killed during infiltration bids across the borders in Jammu and Kashmir from January to August this year, a senior army officer today said.

Briefing reporters at the Northern Command headquarters here, Brigadier G Murali, BGS of Information Wing said that Indian army had foiled 26 infiltration bids along the borders in the state killing 57 terrorists this year.

However, infiltration has been continuing and has gone up especially in the month of March this year, he said.

"There have been nearly 72 successful infiltration bids between January and August this year. Of these 69 have taken place in Kashmir valley and remaining three in Jammu region," said Brigadier Murali.

The number of terrorists that might have crossed to this side during these infiltrations cannot be exactly assessed, he said.

The Brigadier said that the army had adopted a high level of operational strategy both on borders and hinterland to counter proxy war and it was yielding good results with significant signs of normalcy in the state.

Bureau Report


600 to 800 militants operating in J&K: Lt Gen Bhardwaj

 

[RPK]

LeT terrorist killed in Kashmir gunbattle

Jammu: One terrorist of Lashkar-e-Toeba was killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Kishtwar district's Keshwan area in Jammu and Kashmir this morning, police officials said.


Acting on specific inputs by intelligence agencies, a combined team of army and police launched a 'cordon and search' operation in Keshwan forest area, about 290 km from Jammu, during pre-dawn hours, they said.


During the search operation, terrorists fired on the security team. The security team also retaliated, the officials said adding that a LeT terrorist later identified as Mohd Yusuf alias Abu Salim was killed.


The shootout (or encounter, as they call it) was going on in the area when reports last came in.


In another encounter on Wednesday in Mohore area of Reasi district, two holed-up terrorists managed to escape from the cordon of army and police, the officials said.


The forces have launched a seek and destroy operation to track down the escaped terrorists, they added.


On Tuesday night, one terrorist and an army personnel along with a civilian were killed in another gun battle in the area.


As many as 10 terrorists were killed in Mohore belt in four different encounters during the last fortnight

 

[I-G]

Nine, including 4 cops, injured in Shopian clashes


Updated on Thursday, August 27, 2009, 21:55 IST Tags:Shopian, Kashmir

Srinagar: At least nine persons, including four policemen, were injured today in clashes over redeployment of police in Shopian, months after violent protests rocked the town following the rape and murder of two women, official sources said.

Normal activities were paralysed in the town when a large number of youth started pelting stones at the policemen, who were redeployed today after intelligence inputs suggested that militants were planning to strike the town and two NC workers were shot at by them recently.


Shopian was rocked by violent clashes, which left one person dead and scores of others injured, for nearly two months following the rape and murder of two women on May 30.

However, the police was withdrawn from the town on July 16 as normal activities resumed there after 47-days of turmoil.

Nine persons, including four cops were injured in the clashes, which were still continuing between locals, demanding immediate withdrawal of the security personnel, and the policemen, the sources said, adding police fired teargas shells and used batons to restore law and order.

They also fired a few warning shots during the clashes at Batpora locality of the town but none was hurt, while three protesters were taken into custody, they said.


Shopian news-Nine, including 4 cops, injured in Shopian clashes

 

[I-G]

Militants launch grenade attack, miss target

STAFF WRITER 19:8 HRS IST
Srinagar, Aug 27 (PTI) Militants today made an abortive attempt to blow up a security vehicle with grenade in Baramulla district of North Kashmir, official sources said.

The militants hurled the grenade towards the vehicle, which was moving, at Pattan, 27 kms from here on Srinagar-Baramulla National highway this afternoon. It however missed the target and landed in an open drain where it went off with a big bang without causing any casualty, the sources said.

Police reached the spot and frisked pedestrains who were moving on the road, but no one was arrested, they said.

The attack took place at a time when security has been beefed-up on the highway in view of the weekly bus service 'carvan-e-Aman', between Srinagar and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The buses however plied as per schedule.

fullstory

 

[I-G]

Arms, ammunition recovered from militant hideout in J&K
PTI 28 August 2009, 11:39am IST


JAMMU: Security forces have busted a militant hideout and recovered arms and ammunition from it in Mahore area of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Friday.

On specific information, Rashtriya Rifles troops and police launched a joint operation and busted the militant hideout at Purja Pathri in Mahore area, 160 km from here, in Reasi district last evening, he said.

The recoveries from the hideout included one Pika gun along with its 100 rounds, two rocket propelled guns among other things.

Arms, ammunition recovered from militant hideout in J&K - India - NEWS - The Times of India

 

[I-G]

Top Hizbul militant arrested in J&K

Updated on Saturday, August 29, 2009, 14:20 IST Tags:Militant, Jammu, Kashmir

Srinagar: A top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was arrested by security forces in Bandipora district of North Kashmir on Saturday.

Acting on specific information, police assisted by troops of 14 Rashtriya Rifles launched a joint operation in Gundpora village, 55 kms from here, and arrested Nazir Ahmad Baba alias Jan Nisar, self-styled district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, police said.


An AK 47 rifle, four AK magazines, 120 rounds and one under barrel grenade launcher with four grenades was recovered from his possession.

Bureau Report

Top Hizbul militant arrested in J&K

 

[I-G]

Militancy claimed nearly 200 lives in first 7 months: Omar

Updated on Friday, August 28, 2009, 20:21 IST Tags:millitancy, kashmir, omar abdullah

Srinagar: Nearly 200 persons including 113 militants and 37 security personnel were killed in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir during first seven months of NC-Congress coalition government, the state assembly was informed today.


As many as 113 militants were eliminated between January and July 20 this year, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in response to a question raised by Abdul Rehman Veeri in the Lower House today.

He said 45 civilians and 37 security personnel were also slain during the first seven months this year.

Giving details of security persons who lost their lives, Omar said they included 23 army and paramilitary personnel, five police personnel, nine special police officers (SPOs) and village defence committee (VDC) members.

However, no custodial killing or rape committed by security forces has been reported during the period, the chief minister said.

Noting that the internal security situation in the state was continuously under review, he said action on the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and on reduction of security forces in civilian areas will be considered as and when the situation warrants.

Militancy claimed nearly 200 lives in first 7 months: Omar

 

[I-G]

Kashmiri Muslims perform funeral of Hindu man

Kashmiri Muslims perform funeral of Hindu man
IANS 29 August 2009, 08:08pm IST


SRINAGAR: In a unique display of communal harmony, Muslims neighbours here performed the last rites of a Hindu man who stayed back when most of the Pandit families fled during the early 1990s when Islamist insurgency erupted in Jammu and Kashmir.

Bhola Nath Kachroo of Srinagar, who was living with his wife and a daughter here, died Friday after an illness and had nobody to perform his funeral.

The family was devastated when Kachroo, who his neighbour said was "very old", passed away. There was no other Pandit family nearby to help them.

But, Muslims in the area helped the family in performing the last rites of Kachroo.

They made arrangements for the last rites and also erected tents for Kachroo's friends and relatives who had gathered to mourn the death.

"There was nobody to perform the funeral. We were equally saddened to lose an elderly person in our neighbourhood. We gathered and performed the last rites without considering what faith we follow," said Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, secretary of the Muslim Welfare Society.

Most of the Hindu families migrated from the Kashmir Valley in the wake of insurgency fuelled by Islamic fundamentalists, but Kachroo and his family stayed back.

"We came as humans to help our mourning neighbours. They didn't leave when other Pandits fled and we owe responsibilities to this family," said Ali Mohammed, another neighbour.

Kashmiri Muslims perform funeral of Hindu man - India - NEWS - The Times of India

 

[Sabir]

Hope this feeling of brotherhood will be everywhere in the country.

 

[ahmedsid]

This is how real Muslims are supposed to be! Not like those gun trotting lunatics hell bent on killing peace in the valley!