Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan for Ceasefire Implementation

[Hindustani78]

A file picture of jawans taking positions during an encounter in Shopian district in Kashmir. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

Srinagar, September 02, 2018 11:55 IST
Updated: September 02, 2018 14:18 IST

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...s-under-way/article24847248.ece?homepage=true

Srinagar, September 02, 2018 11:55 IST
Updated: September 02, 2018 14:18 IST

Security forces on Sunday launched a cordon and search operation in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir following a brief exchange of fire with militants, the police said.

Security forces were in the process of laying cordon in Imamsahib area of Shopian following information about presence of militants when the ultras opened fire at them, a police official said.

He said the security forces retaliated, leading to a brief exchange of fire.

“Search operations have been launched and the cordon strengthened in the are but there has been no fresh firing reported so far,” the official said.

****************
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...ts-killed-in-jk-encounter/article24845237.ece
One Army soldier and three militants were killed in an anti-militancy operation in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, a defence spokesman said here.

“They were killed in an operation in Danna in Bandipora district of north Kashmir,” Col. Rajesh Kalia said. The identity of the slain militants is being ascertained, he said.

Two soldiers were also injured in the operation that began on Friday. He said weapons and other war-like stores were recovered from the site of gunfight. The operation was over, the spokesman said.

(Inputs from IANS)

**********

The forensic science laboratory (FSL) report of who died recently, has ruled out poisoning as the cause of his death, a senior official said Sunday.

“The FSL report has been received by SP . No poison has been detected in the viscera which was sent for chemical analysis,” Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said here.

“This should end all speculation and settle the cause of his death beyond doubt,” he added.

Dead on August 18 and his body was exhumed on August 25 and sent for postmortem examination, had alleged foul play in his death.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...-in-kashmir/article24848904.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar, September 02, 2018 20:08 IST
Updated: September 02, 2018 20:08 IST

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday reviewed the security situation in Kashmir during a visit to the valley, and army officials briefed her on the operational preparedness and counter-infiltration grid.

Ms. Sitharaman was accompanied by Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat on her visit, army officials said.

The defence minister visited the forward areas in the frontier district of Kupwara. She was briefed by the commanders on ground on the operational preparedness and counter-infiltration grid, they said.

During her interaction with the troops, the defence minister lauded their round the clock sharp vigil along the Line of Control and professionalism.

She also asked them to remain alert for any eventuality to defeat nefarious designs of hostile forces, the officials said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Picture for representation purpose only. | Photo Credit: AP

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...s-baramulla/article24862017.ece?homepage=true


Search operation launched to nab attackers

Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were injured on Tuesday when militants hurled a grenade at security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.

The incident took place in the Sangrama area of Sopore in the district. Two jawans of the CRPF were injured in it, a police official said.

The injured personnel have been hospitalised. The area has been cordoned off and a search operation has been launched to nab the attackers, he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Jammu, September 05, 2018 10:53 IST
Updated: September 05, 2018 12:39 IST
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...-in-pulwama/article24869760.ece?homepage=true

A search operation is on to track down the militants.

A brief exchange of fire took place Wednesday between militants and security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said.

Militants opened fire on a patrol party of security forces at Haji Darpora in Pulwama, a police official said.

Security forces retaliated, leading to brief exchange of fire between the two sides, he said, adding there were no casualties.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched search operations to track down the militants, the official said.

Infiltration bid, foiled, intruder killed
Meamwhile, Army troops foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir and killed an intruder on Wednesday, an Army officer said.

A suspicious movement was picked up along the LoC in Rajouri Sector in the early hours.

“One intruder was spotted and was challenged. The intruder opened fire on troops closing in and the Army retaliated effectively,” the officer said.

Hardcore militant held

In a separate develoment A top over-ground worker of Pakistan based outfit, who was involved in encouraging youth to join the terror group and revive militancy in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, has been arrested, the police said Wednesday. Top over-ground worker of Pakistan based outfit was arrested on specific information Tuesday, a police spokesman said.

The arrest of the hardcore motivator came just two months after police unearthed a module of the outfit planning to carry out grenade attacks and revive militancy in the district.

Top over-ground worker of Pakistan based outfit name came to the fore during interrogation of two other militants who were arrested on July 1 and with his arrest, there is “likelihood of decrease in terrorist activities and reduction in the number of youth indulging in anti-national activities”, the spokesman said.

Top over-ground worker of Pakistan based outfit, a close associate of Pakistan based outfit who operates from across the LoC, was also involved in a militancy-related case registered in police station Parimpora in Srinagar last year.

Top over-ground worker of Pakistan based outfit was also reportedly in contact with another terrorist in 2017. Top over-ground worker of Pakistan based outfit allegedly helped transfer money to other militants , the spokesman said.

Jammu, September 05, 2018 12:19 IST
Updated: September 05, 2018 12:20 IST
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...uder-killed/article24870094.ece?homepage=true

Intruder's body has been handed over to local police

Army troops foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir and killed an intruder on Wednesday, an Army officer said.

A suspicious movement was picked up along the LoC in Rajouri Sector in the early hours.

“One intruder was spotted and was challenged. The intruder opened fire on troops closing in and the Army retaliated effectively,” the officer said.

In the exchange of fire, the intruder was killed and his body handed over to local police, he said.

Further details are awaited.

 

[Hindustani78]

Around 7.30 pm, the body of the slain intruder was handed over to Pakistan army officers via Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch.

“The Pakistani army officers had arrived at the meeting point at 5 pm and they waited for the family of the intruder, who arrived around 7 pm. Eventually, the body was handed over to them,” said an army officer.

According to a post on the website of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the publicity wing of the Pakistani defence forces, a civilian, Abdul Rauf was killed.

 

[Hindustani78]

Rajouri, September 5

The Army gunned down an intruder near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keri sector in Rajouri district on Tuesday.

Sources said the incident occurred near the famous Veer Bhadreshwar temple of Lord Shiva situated close to the LoC. Two residents of Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) had crossed the LoC reportedly in the Kass area.

“When they were challenged by the Army, they started running towards Azad Kashmir side. A soldier deployed on the LoC opened fire. One intruder was killed while another managed to escape,” said the sources.

A rope and sickle was recovered from the possession of the slain person. He was not carrying any identity proof. However, the sources claimed the deceased was Mohd Arif, a resident of Kass in Azad Kashmir.

Pertinently, during the last few months, Azad Kashmir residents have been stealing cattle in the guise of collecting fodder in border villages. Several such incidents were reported near Sair village in the Nowshera sub-division in July. On July 23 in one such attempt an unidentified Azad Kashmir resident was killed when he touched an electrified fence. After completing legal formalities, the police sent the body to Poonch for handing it over to the Azad Kashmir authorities. — OC

 

[Hindustani78]

An Indian Army jawan takes position during an encounter . File | Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD


A Pakistan based militant was killed while an Indian Army Jawan was injured in an exchange of fire after ultras attacked a military post , military police said Saturday.

Militants attacked the army picket in the south Kashmir district Friday night, a police spokesman said.

He said the attack was successfully repulsed by Indian Army jawans on duty at the picket.

In retaliatory action, one Pakistan based militant was killed, the spokesman said.

He said weapon of the militant was also recovered from the site of the attack.

The slain militant has been identified — , the spokesman said.

Militant from the proscribed outfit entered three months ago. His involvement was also established in a weapon snatching case earlier. He was involved in carrying out terror attacks on the security forces and civilian atrocities in the area, he said.

In the incident, the spokesman said, an Indian Army jawan also sustained injuries and was evacuated to nearby hospital for medical attention where his condition is stated to be stable.

“From the spot, two cars have also been seized by the police, which were apparently used by terrorists. Police have registered a case in this regard and investigation in the instant matter is in progress, the spokesman said.

*************

Please note : A picket is a soldier, or small unit of soldiers, placed on a line forward of a position to provide warning of an enemy advance.

 

[Hindustani78]

Google Maps image locates the Hazratbal area of Srinagar.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...ant-shot-dead-in-srinagar/article24904393.ece
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a militant belonging — an affiliate of the al-Qaeda in the Valley led by Zakir Musa — in the Hazratbal area here on Saturday, the police said.

The militant has been identified by a resident of Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Militant was earlier actively associated with other Pakistan based outfit, but later defected to larger IS outfit, a police official said.

A pistol and two magazines were recovered from the slain militant, the official said.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...ays-crpf-dg/article24908437.ece?homepage=true

Back-to-back operations by security forces in the Kashmir valley has reduced the “shelf life” of terrorists and over 360 were killed in less than two years, CRPF Director General (DG) Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar has said.

Mr. Bhatnagar said keeping in mind the security challenges, the CRPF has “increased the protection level” of its troops operating in Jammu and Kashmir by inducting full-body protectors, bulletproof vehicles and special armoured ‘interception vehicles’ to enable personnel to operate in life threatening situations.

“The terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir... Some of them are from outside and there are also the misguided youth [locals] who join terror groups. It is quite a mix. The numbers go up and down but if you were to look at the length, the time for which terrorists survive in J-K, then the signal is very clear that it [terrorist recruitment] is having no impact.

“The shelf life of terrorists, the time frame to survive, is very short. So, even if the numbers [of joining terror ranks] may be large, they may be more, but the consequence is limited,” he said when asked if recruitment of local Kashmiri youths by terror groups is rising and a cause for concern.

******

The CRPF chief, on youths taking up arms, also said, “Obviously this is something that we have to prevent and take appropriate steps so that the youth does not take to militancy and those who have done so, come back.”

“The official numbers show an increase in recruitment. However, with the increase in the number of neutralisations the overall picture is better,” he said.

Mr. Bhatnagar acknowledged that the forces were taking it as a challenge to ensure that a lot of effort is taken to see that recruitment of youths for terror acts goes down.

Good governance, transparency in official dealings and an all-round exercise is on to gain confidence of the public and the youth in Jammu and Kashmir and the valley, he said.

‘Security forces have the upper hand’
The chief of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which has over 60 battalions deployed in the Kashmir valley (over 60,000 personnel), said his force, the State police and the Army are operating in “very good synergy”.

The forces now have an edge or to say the upper hand in the terrorism scenario in the valley, Mr. Bhatnagar said.

“We have worked as one unit. That has given us a lot of success. This year 142 terrorists have been neutralised. If you look at last year’s figures, it was more than 220 terrorists who were killed. There is excellent coordination between security forces and they have the upper hand.

“Their [terrorists’] notable commanders have been neutralised. Fidayeen attacks on camps have been effectively rebuffed. We have denied them any success in terms of camp attacks also,” the DG said.

‘Collateral damage fairly minimised’
He also spoke about better equipping his personnel to combat the security challenge in the State, specifically in the valley.

“We have gone in for better protection, full body protectors for our people, use of less lethal weaponry so that there is less collateral damage and the number of casualties and serious injuries on our side and the public is less.

“The collateral damage has been fairly minimised,” the DG underlined.

Pellet guns
When asked about the use of much-debated pellet guns and the damage rendered by them on locals, Mr. Bhatnagar said while these ammunition are not being discarded, its use is part of a well laid out standard operating procedure.

“The sequence in which we use force is well laid out. We fire and disperse them [protesters] by using tear smoke and other allied irritant kind of non-lethal gases...

“So our first effort is to disperse them by making a proper bandobast. Also, we have a large number of plastic bullets that are used,” he said.

Pellet guns, the CRPF chief said, is used where we find that it is required to disperse the mob.

“We are taking precautions by using deflectors [on pellet guns] so that injuries are on lower part of the body. There is a graded use of force. Even when crowd tries to come very close, our boys have shown restraint. We have done our best to meet the objectives for which we have been deployed in J&K,” he said.

The pure intent is always to have less and less collateral damage, he said.

 

[ranawat]

Very good.

 

[Hindustani78]

Pakistan troops violate ceasefire along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...and-kashmir/article24915439.ece?homepage=true

Srinagar, September 10, 2018 14:19 IST
Updated: September 10, 2018 14:19 IST

No injury has been reported so far

Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along Line of Control (Loc) in Jammu and Kashmir by opening firing towards an Indian post in Karnah area in Kupwara district, officials said on Monday. However, no casualties have been reported so far, the officials said.

The Pakistani troops from Ziarat post opened firing with small arms at Indian Army’s Black Rock post at 8.00 p.m. on Sunday, defence officials said.

“In retaliation, Indian Army at Black Rock also fired on Pakistani post. The firing was going on from both sides,” the officials said.

They said no injury has been reported so far.

 

[Hindustani78]

Security personnal in action during an encounter in Kashmir. File

Google Maps image locates Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

The operation was launched on Friday night and a contact with the hiding militants was established in the morning.

Earlier, the Indian security forces used an improvised explosive device to dismantle the house in Chowgam area where the Pakistan based militants were hiding and firing at them.

Train services in south Kashmir have been suspended and Internet services stopped. A spontaneous shutdown was reported from parts of south Kashmir. Pakistan based militants clashed with the security forces near the site of the operation and five of them were injured

Five Pakistan based militants, including a commander, were killed in the operation by security forces in south Kashmir's Kulgam on Saturday. "All five Pakistan based militants were killed in the Kulgam operation," said spokesmen of the police and the Army in separate statements.

A police spokesman said the militants belonged to the Pakistan based militants. Commander was among the militants killed. "Commander was a close associate of other Pakistan based militant whose identity is being disclosed by the Indian Security Forces who was killed in ambush sometime ago. The Pakistan based militant whose identity is being disclosed by the Indian Security Forces who was killed in ambush sometime ago were involved in a series of terror attacks," said the police.


The Jammu and Kashmir Special Police identified the three others Pakistan based Militants,two Pakistan based militants were involved in series of terror offences besides recruitment of locals," said the Jammu and Kashmir Special Police. Arms and ammunition were also seized from the site of encounter, said the Jammu and Kashmir Special Police.

 

[Hindustani78]

New Delhi, September 20, 2018 00:50 IST
Updated: September 20, 2018 00:50 IST
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...wans-throat/article24989711.ece?homepage=true

A jawan during an Army operation in Jammu and Kashmir. Photo for representation. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad


Border Action Team’s signature seen in his mutilation

A day after a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed along the Jammu border after he and his team came under unprovoked firing from Pakistan, a photograph emerged suggesting his throat had been slit.

A senior official told The Hindu that they did not rule out the role of the Border Action Team (BAT) of the Pakistan Army that had in the past beheaded jawans along the Line of Control.

Head constable Narender Singh, part of the BSF team, had gone ahead along the International Border in the Ramgarh sector to clear the elephant grass that provides cover to infiltrators. Around 10.40 a.m. on Tuesday, the team came under fire, leading to his death. The body was located by his team through “traces of his blood.”

This is the first time such an incident has taken place along the border in Jammu. The BSF said in a statement the body had bullet injuries on “torso, including neck.”

“The patrol retaliated to the firing and tactically moved to its side of the fence. It found one of its members missing. With reinforcement from company headquarters, the complete area was sanitised first and then the search started for the missing jawan. The area between the fence and the IB is undulating, marshy and has thick sarkanda growth which made the search difficult. With much effort, the body of missing jawan HC Narender Singh was found with multiple bullet injuries on his torso including neck,” the statement said.

A strong protest has been lodged with the Pakistan Rangers over the unprovoked firing and the loss of a BSF trooper, it said.

“The office of the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) took up the matter with Pakistan DGMO yesterday [Tuesday]. They refused to admit that there had been any incident of unprovoked firing. We have also asked the Foreign Ministry to take up the issue with Pakistan,” the official said.

Sent for post-mortem
The 740 km LoC is under the operational control of the Army and the 192 km IB in Jammu is manned by the BSF. The jawan’s body has been sent for post-mortem.

“We don’t know how he was killed, it is a matter of investigation…he had at least three bullet wounds. We are investigating the circumstances….it was an unprovoked firing in the morning hours. The initial presumption was that he was injured and had not been able to come back. Only when the other members got back, they found he was not there,” the official said.

The BSF statement said such patrols are routinely sent to clear the wild vegetation for clearing the field of view along the IB. This area is also of vital importance as the Pakistan side has a protective bundh (bunker) closer to the IB.

 

[Hindustani78]

Gunfight erupts between militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora

Following specific information about the presence of militants in Sumlar village, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area.
india Updated: Sep 20, 2018 16:20 IST

As the troopers of Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group of the state police and CRPF tightened the cordon, the militants fired at them, triggering the gun battle, police said.(PTI/Picture for representation)

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...s-bandipora/story-3XqoPEArx6r91oImw1fQeP.html

A gunfight erupted between militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday, police said.

Following specific information about the presence of militants in Sumlar village, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

“As the troopers of Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group of the state police and CRPF tightened the cordon, the militants fired at them, triggering the gun battle,” police said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Border Security Force (BSF) that located the mutilated body of head constable Narender Singh 30-40m inside Pakistan control territory, a senior government official told The Hindu. He was found lying in a pool of blood on a raised embankment across the border by the joint party.

On September 18, head constable Singh, who was part of a BSF party in Ramgarh sector in Jammu to clear elephant grass growth, went missing after they came under heavy fire from the Pakistani side.

The BSF submitted a report to the Home Ministry on Thursday, saying that the jawan had received three bullets — on his left eye, left side of his chest and left leg. The report also said that he had several “cut marks” on his body, including on his neck, confirming mutilation.

Such attacks are common along the Line of Control (LoC), but this is the first time that such an incident has taken place along the IB. The 740-km LoC in J&K is under the operational control of the Army and the 192-km IB in Jammu is manned by the BSF.

The official said that on the day of the incident, when after the first burst of fire the other BSF jawans rushed back to their post, they noticed that Singh was missing.

There was no retaliatory fire from the BSF as Singh was still missing and had to be traced. BSF Deputy Inspector General in Jammu called his counterpart — the sector commander of Pakistan Rangers in Sialkot — on the dedicated hotline for several hours but they did not respond. Calls were also made from the Delhi headquarters of the BSF.

“We could not immediately retaliate as our man was still missing. Despite repeated calls to the hotline, they remained incommunicado. Finally the concerned officer came on the line in the evening and we asked them for assurance that a search party will go to look for Singh and there should be no firing from the other side,” said the official.

He said that after initial round of search, the search party came back as it could not locate Singh.

“We then called a flag meeting with the Pakistan Rangers and pressured them to send a joint search party. They agreed and the combing operation began. We found Singh’s helmet and cap. There were blood stains indicating his body had been dragged. Following the traces, we found Singh’s body in a pool of blood, lying on a raised embankment, about 40 metres inside Pakistan,” said the official.

In the flag meeting, Pakistan Rangers denied their involvement in the killing, said the official.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that he had spoken to BSF DG KK Sharma. “ have given instructions to take appropriate action but cannot share the details right now,” Mr. Singh said.