Eleven abduction mostly relatives of Indian policemen in the four south Kashmir districts

[Hindustani78]

Just another day: Police personnel checking a vehicle during a search in Srinagar.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...led-in-2018/article25115625.ece?homepage=true

Heightened militant attacks lead to highest casualties in two decades.

The Jammu and Kashmir police witnessed the highest number of casualties among its men in two decades, with 37 policemen killed in 2018 in heightened militant attacks on them, according to police data. Of the 37 policemen, eight were special police officers (SPOs) and 29 were ‘regular’ policemen.

The data also shows that J&K Police lost 31 men to militant attacks in 2017, with increased militancy in the wake of Pakistan based militant commander killing in 2016. “However, this year [2018] J&K police saw even more casualties than the last year [2017],” said a police officer.

The highest number of 23 policemen were killed in the first half of the year. Even during the Ramzan ceasefire, when security forces followed a cessation of operations from May 16 up to June 17, militant attacks continued and left five policemen dead.

The abduction and killing of three policemen by over two dozen militants on September 21 in Shopian triggered a wave of panic in the police ranks, especially among lower-rung SPOs in south Kashmir. According to police figures, 47 policemen, mainly lower-rung SPOs, uploaded videos online and made public announcements of their resignations.

SPOs withdrawn
A police advisory has asked all policemen to “avoid visiting their homes in south Kashmir without informing the respective police stations.” In a fresh order, under-trained SPOs, who have of late become the targets of militants in south Kashmir, have been withdrawn from serving as personal security officers to senior police officers and protected persons.

“SPOs performing duties of personal security officers is not as per the norms and [they are] not trained to do so,” said an order issued by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order, Muneer Khan. The order also seeks a list of SPOs withdrawn by October 5. “In case any SPO does not report back, the honorarium may not be released and their disengagement orders will be issued,” reads the order.

The fresh order comes in the wake of resignations made by the SPOs, and the latest case of a SPO stealing eight service rifles from a legislator in Srinagar.

Rifles looted
In another disturbing trend, militants made 25 attempts to snatch weapons this year, and succeeded in decamping with 24 service rifles from the policemen, mainly in the volatile districts of south Kashmir. There is a spike in such incidents, too, with only 15 cases of rifle snatching reported in central and south Kashmir in 2016. The gun snatching forced the police to set a new standard operating procedure, which included banning the use of mobile phones while on duty.

 

[Hindustani78]

The police on Friday said that unidentified gunmen killed two men in Karfali mohallah of Srinagar’s old city, three days before the first phase of local body elections in Kashmir. The dead have been identified as Nazir Ahmad and Mushtaq Ahmad while Shakeel Ahmad has been injured. (Waseem Andrabi / HT Photo)

 

[Hindustani78]

The accident happened around 10:30 am when the vehicle veered off the road and plunged into the gorge. Police, army, paramilitary personnel assisted by locals launched a rescue mission to evacuate the injured.
india Updated: Oct 06, 2018 18:35 IST

The injured being airlifted from Chanderkote in Ramba. The police, army and paramilitary personnel were pressed into the rescue operations.(HT Photo)


Twenty-one people were killed and 16 others injured, 13 of them seriously, after a minibus which was allegedly overloaded plunged into a deep gorge in Ramban district on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway Saturday morning, police said. Authorities fear that the toll may increase as some of the injured were in critical condition.

Ramban’s senior superintendent of police said that 20 people died at the spot and 16 other were injured, out of whom 12 were airlifted to Command Hospital at Udhampur, one was referred to bone and joints hospital in Srinagar and three admitted to the district hospital in Ramban.

Later, one more passenger succumbed to his injuries in Udhampur, taking the toll to 21.

Senior superintendent of police, Udhampur, said: “ aged around 26 or 27 years, of Khari village in Ramban district, succumbed to his injuries at the Command Hospital.”

The 11 injured were airlifted to command hospital were in critical condition, he added.

The Ramban SSP said that the accident happened around 10.30 am at Kela Morh when the minibus (JK19-1593), on its way from Banihal to Ramban, veered off the road and plunged into the gorge.

“Driver (who was also killed) was said to be a professional driver, known for his safe driving skills but apparently the vehicle developed some technical snag. Its steering had developed some problem causing the mishap,” she said.

Police, army and paramilitary personnel were pressed into rescue operations.

Ramban’s deputy commissioner , who reached the spot, said that the administration has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of those who died and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.

A local also said that Driver “was an experienced driver and passengers always preferred him for his safe driving skills but the minibus was overloaded.”

A majority of the passengers on the minibus were employees and students going to Ramban to attend their offices and educational institutions respectively.

The deceased also included patwari (revenue department official) , teacher and some students of degree college and government higher secondary school in Ramban.

Patwari (revenue department official) was engaged recently and was to be married soon.

 

[Hindustani78]

J&K civic polls: high turnout in Uri, Jammu in third phase

Srinagar, October 13, 2018 09:47 IST
Updated: October 13, 2018 14:41 IST

Security personnel stand guard inside a polling station during the municipal elections. File | Photo Credit: PTI


The officials said massive security arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the polls.

Kashmir valley’s Uri and Jammu’s Samba crossed 59 per cent voters turnout mark by noon on Saturday, while Anantnag and Srinagar fairs poorly at 2.5 per cent and 1.2 per cent.

Lone queues were seen since the morning at Baramulla’s Uri, where women showed equal enthusiasm. “We are faced with many development issues at the local level. We voted and hope it will make our lives better,” said Asma Bi, a voter in Uri.

In contrast, deserted pooling booths were witnessed in Anantnag and capital Srinagar. Of 9,062 voters registered in Ward 49 at Safa Kadal, no voter turned out till noon, showing complete disinterest in polls. Srinagars’ 20 wards are witnessing polls for the third phase.

"From the highest turnouts since 1987 in 2014 to the lowest turnouts ever recorded in 2018. Why is the Modi government able to get away with its disastrous handing of Kashmir almost unquestioned?" asked former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah.

However, independent candidate and former NC leader Junaid Azim Mattu, who resigned from the party recently, casts his vote in Srinagar's Barzulla wards.

Militant, policeman killed in two incidents
Meanwhile, a militant was killed in Pulwama’s Babagund village in a joint team of the Army, the police special operation group and CRPF.

The slain militant was identified as Shabir Ahmad Dar, a resident of Samboora.

The authorities have snapped Internet services in Pulwama.

Suspected militants killed a policeman at his residence in Baramulla’s Sopore.

The police said unknown gunmen barged inside the house of SPO turned follower Javid Ahmad Lone at around 10:45 p.m. on Friday at Warpora area.

Lone, who suffered bullet wounds in the head, succumbed to his injuries later.

The authorities have snapped Internet services in Pulwama.

Suspected militants killed a policeman at his residence in Baramulla’s Sopore.

The police said unknown gunmen barged inside the house of SPO turned follower Javid Ahmad Lone at around 10:45 p.m. on Friday at Warpora area.

Lone, who suffered bullet wounds in the head, succumbed to his injuries later.

 

[Hindustani78]

Google Maps image locates Wahibug in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...ma-district/article25353242.ece?homepage=true

A sub-inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police on his way home was shot dead by militants in Pulwama district in South Kashmir on on October 28, officials said.

The body of sub-inspector Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, who was posted with the CID in Srinagar’s Sheergadi, was recovered from the Chewa Kalan area of the district, the officials said. He was targeted when he was returning home, they said.

Police have registered a case and investigating has been taken up, the officials said.

The desperation to see his parents prompted Mr. Mir to shave off his beard and change appearance in his unsuccessful attempt to dodge militants who had laid a death trap for him in his village, his colleagues said.

Mr. Mir, 30, was shot dead by militants at Wahibug in Pulwama district of South Kashmir on October 28 when he was on his way home.

Posted in the CID department, Mr. Mir had been warned against venturing into his village as there was a possibility of attack by militant groups, who have been targeting policemen in the state recently.

“I had told him that he should not go as militants could attack. But he was desperate to see his parents who reside at Sontabugh in the interiors of Pulwama district,” recalled one of his supervising officers.

In the morning of Octobner 28, as he was preparing to leave for home, he came with a changed appearance. He shaved off his beard and decided to use his personal vehicle to go to his native village, the officer said.

“Now they (militants) will not be able to recognise me” were possibly his last words to his officer before he left for home with a smiling face as he was seeing his parents after a long time.

Mr. Mir is survived by his father and mother. Son of a retired police officer, Mr. Mir, who was from 2010 batch of sub-inspector, had served in Ganderbal district of South Kashmir for five years before being transferred to Kulgam district in 2017. He was shifted to the CID department in March 2018 and his superiors recalled his dedication towards his work.

Militants have been targeting policemen in the State and killed two special police officer and a constable in September, triggering an unrest in the lower ranks of the force with some SPOs declaring their resignation on social media. In fact, some militants had claimed that Mr. Mir had also submitted his resignation.

When the body of Mr. Mir was being brought to Pulwama district lines by a police team from Wahibug, it was attacked by stone pelters as security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operations in Chewa and the area where he was shot dead.

The police have also launched a probe to ascertain how the information about his journey to home had been leaked to militant groups, who had been waiting to ambush him at Wahibug.