Indo-Pak border to be completely sealed by December 2018: Rajnath Singh

[Hindustani78]

Jammu January 01, 2017 16:52 IST
Updated: January 01, 2017 17:11 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...C-in-JK’s-Poonch-district/article16973639.ece

The Indian troops retaliated and there was a brief exchange of firing, an Army officer said, adding there was no casualty.
Pakistan violated ceasefire on Sunday morning along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir but there was no casualty.

“There was firing by troops from across from 0900 hours along LoC in Poonch sector today,” an Army officer said.

The Indian troops retaliated and there was a brief exchange of firing, he said, adding there was no casualty.

The firing took place in Shahpur sector of Poonch.

On December 30, 2016, a civilian was killed as Pakistan Army indulged in heavy cross-border firing targeting Indian positions and civilian areas along the LoC in the district, prompting the Indian side to give a befitting reply.

On December 16, Pakistan Army had targeted Indian positions along the LoC in the Balakote sector of the same district.

 

[Hindustani78]

Handwara Terror Attack: Wreath Laying Ceremony Of Policeman Held

http://vidshare.indianexpress.com/previews/KPkaeLRh-xe0BVfqu

 

[Skywalker]

Good now don't blame us if freedom fighters does that again.

 

[Hindustani78]

Bodies of many vehicles have been padded using bamboo-cane shields in Srinagar.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-safeguard-their-vehicles/article16979942.ece


A shield of plastic bottles adds ‘catapult effect’ to windows and doors of the well-netted Rakshak Gypsy
Security forces in Kashmir are resorting to jugaad (situational improvisation) to protect their vehicles from stone-throwers.

In a bid to add catapult effect to windows and doors, the well-netted Rakshak Gypsy, an armoured patrol car developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) mainly for internal security, has been cushioned with plastic bottles beneath the net.

“The iron-mesh mounted on the doors and windows has been cushioned with empty plastic bottles to avoid damage to the window glasses when stone throwers come close to a vehicle. The cushioning also repulses the stones,” said a senior police officer posted in south Kashmir.

His car was recently cornered by stone-throwing protesters and had its glasses damaged.

The bodies of many vehicles have been padded up with the traditional bamboo-cane shields. “Sometimes it rains stones. Bamboo shields reduce the noise emanating from the stones hitting the vehicle, which confuses drivers,” said the officer.

Even head and back lights have been padded up, the officer said, as stone throwers would “aim at these lights during the evening and late-night crackdowns.”

Hundreds of buses and large vehicles, meant for ferrying jawans to volatile districts, have been fixed with tin sheets or bamboo shields on the side windows to avoid casualties due to stone-throwing.

For effective policing, many vehicles have cameras mounted on top to locate position of protesters in advance while moving in a volatile area.

“The doors of many vehicles are locked with long iron-bars inside than bolts, which would unlock due to protesters banging,” said the police officer.

According to police data, 403 vehicles were damaged in the five-month-long street protests since July 8 last year.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/589618/militant-killed-encounter-security-forces.html
Srinagar, Jan 3, 2016, (PTI)
An unidentified militant was today killed in an encounter with security forces in Sopore area of North Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.

Security forces had laid an ambush at Haritar in Sopore during the intervening night following information about movement of militants through the area, a police official said.
He said security forces on noticing suspicious movement in the wee hours challenged the persons who opened fire.

"In the retaliatory firing, one militant was killed. Further details are awaited," the official said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...k-s-pulwama/story-WqogSjoGAes3vmHvZ3cUbN.html

Representative Photo. A CRPF officer was critically injured in an attack by militants in Pulwama district of J-K, January 3, 2017. (Waseem Andrabi / HT File Photo )
Updated: Jan 03, 2017 14:56 IST
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...k-s-pulwama/story-WqogSjoGAes3vmHvZ3cUbN.html
A CRPF officer was on Tuesday shot at and injured by militants in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, officials said.

Assistant sub inspector BN Thakur was on duty in Muran Chowk, 32 kms from capital Srinagar, when he was shot at by unidentified militants from a close range, the officials said.


They said the injured officer was immediately evacuated to hospital and a hunt has been launched to nab the assailants.

Representative Photo. A gunfight broke out between security forces and militants in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. (PTI File Photo )
Updated: Jan 03, 2017 10:09 IST
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...s-baramulla/story-c1MgOPsPnOVGm0KjmxBmiM.html

An unidentified militant, believed to be a foreigner, was killed on Tuesday morning in an encounter with security forces in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.

Security forces of the 52 Rashtriya Rifles and Sopore police launched an operation at Haritar Tarzoo village on Monday night following information about movement of militants through the area.

The militants reportedly opened fire when security officials were investigating the area.

“In the retaliatory firing, one militant was killed. Further details are awaited,” the official said.

(With inputs from agencies)

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-and-kashmir-police-apprehends-let-terrorist-4458314/

One of the arrested terrorist, Ashiq Ahmed, disclosed that he was a close associate of Abu Bakar, an LeT Commander, who was killed in Sopore few days back.

By: ANI | Handwara | Published:January 4, 2017 11:30 am


On specific inputs, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and 21 Rashtriya Rifles on Wednesday apprehended a LeT terrorist, Ashiq Ahmed, near Fruit Mandi crossing in Handwara. Huge Cache of arms and ammunition have been recovered from him which includes, one AK 47 rifle, three Magzines with live cartridges, one Chinese Pistol with one Magzine, three hand grenades, one Magzine pouch, one Map and one haversack.

On interrogation, Ahmed disclosed that he was a close associate of Abu Bakar, an LeT Commander, who was killed in Sopore few days back. On further discloser, the arrested militant said that in near future he was planning to attack the convoy of security forces in Handwara.

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[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...i-s-killing/story-Mho7p2GjAj2Ga44ZUV9gzM.html

Updated: Jan 04, 2017 19:41 IST
As many as 66 weapons, including 17 AK rifles, and over 7,000 rounds of ammunition have been looted by militants and mobs in Kashmir valley after the killing of Hizb-ul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 last year which had triggered protests.

As per the figures of the state home ministry, 66 weapons — 17 AK rifles, 23 SLR rifles, 14 INSAS rifles, 6 pistols, one .303 rifle, one carbine, 3 UBGL thrower and one Taser gun — were looted by militants and other suspects from mobs who attacked police stations and cops.

Burhan Wani was killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Kokernag belt of South Kashmir, which had led to widespread protests in the Valley.

Similarly, they looted and snatched 196 magazines of various types of weapons during the period, it said.

As many as 7,012 rounds of ammunition was also looted in these incidents, the data said, adding, four BP headgears were also looted.

It began when an unruly mob attacked a guard post with petrol bombs and stones at Gudbug in Pulwama district and looted one SLR, one magazine and 20 rounds on July 11, it said.

The biggest loot took place when a mob and militants attacked DH Pora Police Station in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on July 9 and looted 5 INSAS rifles, 11 AK rifles, 7 SLRs, one Taser gun, 6 pistols, 3 UBGL throwers, 117 INSAS magazines, 2,474 INSAS rounds, 299 AK rounds, 4 SLR magazines, 1,763 SLR rounds, 268 carbine rounds, 5 pistols magazines, 133 rounds and 189 PIKA rounds.

Sixteen such incidents had taken place last year. As per the CID report, as many 59 youth in Kashmir have joined militant ranks after Wani’s killing.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/disc...primacy-of-islam-over-azadi-army_1964735.html

Lieutenant General Subrata Saha has also served as General Officer Commanding 15 Corps, Srinagar.

He was speaking at a seminar on "leveraging defence expenditure as a tool for nation building", organised by the College of Defence Management here.

Giving a case study on Jammu and Kashmir vis-a-vis annual defence expenditure in border areas, Lt Gen Saha said about Rs 7,516 crore are being spent every year on border roads, infrastructure and other operational works in that State.

Noting that the annual budget of Jammu and Kashmir is Rs 64,669 crore, he said "approximately 12 per cent (or Rs 7516 crore, which is more than double the most revenue-generating power development department in the State at Rs 3,674 crore) addition to the State budget happens because of Armed Forces".

Jammu and Kashmir has a population of 1.42 crore. About 2.6 lakh Armed Forces personnel deployed in the state contribute 12 per cent of state budget. "So, that's the kind of financial contribution of the Armed Forces into a border State, as it were," Gen Saha added.


First Published: Thursday, January 5, 2017 - 19:34

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Militant-killed-near-Srinagar/article16997968.ece

Srinagar January 06, 2017 12:59 IST
Updated: January 06, 2017 12:59 IST

A militant was killed in a late night police operation in the outskirts of Srinagar, while a National Conference legislator's house came under attack by militants in south Kashmir.

A shootout between a hiding militant and the chasing policemen was reported on Thursday night at Gulzapora locality of Moochwa near Srinagar. Locals said they heard loud explosions and exchange of fire till late in the night.

There is no confirmation of any casualty by the police. Sources said a wanted former Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant from Sopore, Baramulla district, may have been killed in the operation.

In a separate incident, armed militants came close and opened fire at the residence National Conference legislator Showkat Ahmad Ganai in Chiytagam village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday night.

Preliminary reports suggest that the militants fled after the guards retaliated. Mr. Dar hit the headlines recently when he described slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani a "freedom fighter" on the floor of the Assembly.

***************
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...f-stone-pelting-incidents/article16999564.ece

Of the total 2,690 incidents of stone pelting, North Kashmir accounts for the highest with 1,248 incidents.

Seventy-six persons, besides two police personnel, were killed during the five month-long unrest in which 463 persons were arrested under Public Safety Act (PSA) for their alleged involvement in incidents of violence and stone pelting.

Of the total 2,690 incidents of stone pelting, North Kashmir accounts for the highest with 1,248 incidents, followed by 875 in South Kashmir and 567 in Central Kashmir, according to official data of the state Home Ministry.

Sopore, which is part of Baramulla district, has recorded the highest number of 492 incidents. In Baramulla district, 810 incidents were reported during the unrest, it said.

Baramulla is followed by Srinagar and Kupwara districts with 339 incidents in each of these districts, it said, adding 271 such incidents took place in Anantnag district, followed by 264 in Pulwama district, 173 in Shopian district, 167 in Kulgam district, 163 in Budgam district, 109 in Bandipora district and 65 in Ganderbal district.

Among the total incidents of weapon snatching and looting by militants and mobs during the unrest, Kulgam tops the list with six incidents, followed by Pulwama with three, and two incidents each from the three districts of Anantnag, Shopian and Budgam. One such incident was reported from Srinagar district, the data said.

Thirteen such incidents took place in South Kashmir besides three in Central Kashmir districts and no incident was reported from North Kashmir districts.

As per the figures of the Home Ministry, as many as 66 weapons, including 17 AK rifles, and over 7,000 rounds of ammunition were looted by militants and mobs that attacked police stations and cops after Wani’s killing.

He was killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Kokernag belt of South Kashmir on July 8.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...r-in-budgam/story-EgbpZy43dnL4rUwfjvpd6H.html
Updated: Jan 06, 2017 09:40 IST

A Lashkar-e-Taiba militant was killed in an encounter with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Budgam early on Friday.

Muzzafar Ahmed, who was earlier associated with al-Badr, was killed in the encounter that started around midnight at Gulzarpora Machowa area. He was one of the longest-surviving local militants in the region.

One SOG personnel was injured in the incident, official sources said.


In another incident, unknown gunmen opened fire at the residence of NC MLC Showkat Ganie in Chitargam in Shopian late on Thursday forcing guards there to retaliate. No casualties were reported.

Ganie was not at his residence when the incident happened, sources said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-Kashmir-says-Sinha-panel/article17006826.ece

A team from New Delhi, headed by former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, has warned of growing anger in rural Kashmir and vanishing faith in the institution of dialogue among the people of the State.

The second report of the Concerned Citizens Group led by Mr. Sinha, compiled after its second visit to the Valley, said, “There is a crisis of acknowledgement of the Kashmir problem with the Indian state. People feel India refuses to recognise that Kashmir is a political problem. Almost every Kashmiri we met said that there was a need for a one-time political settlement.”

The report pointed out that anger in the rural areas was “palpably greater than in Srinagar and raw”.

“Kashmiris see the visits of emissaries of Government of India and civil society groups as farcical exercises and part of a diversionary tactic to handle disturbances in Kashmir,” it said.

Because of the record of the Indian State, there is scepticism about even non-governmental initiatives, it said.

According to the report, people even objected to the language used to describe the situation in Kashmir — “unrest”, they say, is the wrong term to use because Kashmir has never been at rest since 1947; “peace and normalcy” are the most abused words in the State as no one knows what they are meant to signify; and while the government talks of “anger and alienation” of the Kashmiris, those are not the issues that need to be addressed — the problem is political and cries out for a political solution.

India, many believe, is deliberately pretending to be ignorant of the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

The team, which held two rounds of dialogue with various stakeholders including separatists comprises Wajahat Habibullah, Air-Vice Marshal Kapil Kak (retired), journalist Bharat Bhushan and Sushobha Barve, who is the director of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation.

 

[Hindustani78]

BSF jawans patrol the LoC near Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir. File photo

Jammu January 09, 2017 09:14 IST
Updated: January 09, 2017 17:50 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...attack-GREF-camp-in-Jammu/article17012429.ece




Incident fuels speculations of a cross-border raid coinciding with the State Assembly session.

Three personnel of the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) of the Border Roads Organisation were killed in an attack by miltants in the early hours of Monday on their camp near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu’s Akhnoor district.

As the attackers remain elusive, there was a speculation of a cross-border raid coinciding with the State Assembly session.

A senior police official said the attackers, whose numbers is not known, alighted in Battal area, which has both International Border (IB) as well as the closeby LoC, and attacked the camp.

The camp, housing around dozen GREF employees, is about 2 km away from the LoC.

“The area was cordoned off immediately. The attackers are still on the run,” said the police official.

All schools in the area were closed. Police said no eyewitness has come forward with any tip-off on the attackers.


In Assembly, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack. “No one feels good over the killings. Everyone feels bad,” she said.

Both lawmakers of the National Conference and the Congress created a ruckus in the Assembly over the attack, seeking a government response.

“Three jawans were killed and we do not know what happened. Where has the 56 inch chest gone missing? Was it just a militant attack or a surgical strike by Pakistan?” asked NC MLA Devinder Singh Rana.

Several BJP lawmakers raised slogans against Pakistan.

In 2015, there was a similar attack in Jammu when the Assembly session was on.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ed-in-Bandipora-encounter/article17017130.ece
Srinagar January 10, 2017 09:14 IST
Updated: January 10, 2017 15:15 IST
A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant was killed on Tuesday morning in north Kashmir's Bandipora district in a brief gunfight, amidst heavy snow accumulation in the area.

A police official said the security forced raided Parray Mohalla in Hajin, more than 30 km north of Srinagar, following a tip-off about the presence of militants.

The police official said the hiding militant opened fire and injured a soldier of the Army’s 13 Rashtriya Rifles (RR). “He (militant) too was gunned down in the exchange,” said the police.

Preliminary reports suggest the militant belonged to the LeT. However, the officials could not establish his identity immediately.

 

[Hindustani78]

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti during budget session at legislative assembly in Jammu on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: PTI

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...oss-during-Kashmir-unrest/article17018598.ece

Jammu and Kashmir suffered losses to the tune of over Rs. 16,000 crore during the five-month long unrest in the Kashmir Valley due to complete halt of economic activity coupled with loss of property worth crores of rupees.

“Losses caused due to the unrest from July 8 to November 30, 2016 are estimated at more than Rs. 16,000 crore,” Economic Survey 2016 report tabled by Minister for Finance Haseeb Drabu in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today stated.

Chapter “Economies of Uncertainty and Conflict” of the report said that in 2016, the civil strife caused tremendous miseries, loss of life, complete halt of economic activity in the Valley coupled with loss of property worth crores of rupees.

“The scraping of internet services, mobile and phone services for long spells during the turmoil made communication in the state very difficult. Hartals, bandhs, stone pelting, curfews and restrictions immobilised life in all the 10 districts of the Valley,” it said.

The medical services were badly affected. Chronic patients suffering from cancer, heart diseases and those requiring dialysis, continue treatment and check up had to suffer a lot.

Lack of primary treatment resulted in death of some of the patients, it said, adding that security-related expenditure is over and above the losses caused due to the 2016 unrest.

On the issue of macro-economics costs, it said the conflict has reduced per capita GDP growth, FDI inflow, exports and trade flow in the state.

“It has reduced domestic investment and savings, redirected public expenditure to security-related expenditure and reduced tourist inflow, tourism receipts and demand for transportation,” it said.

The number of tourist who visited the Valley in 2015-16 stood at 6,23,932 including 2,20,490 Amarnath yatris.

“The tourist season had last year started in April and was in full swing up to July 7. The remaining about four months remained completely tense and registered closure of all activities due to turmoil resulting in almost zero arrival of tourists in the Valley,” it said.

The disappearance of tourist in the Valley during four peak months resulted in loss of business to hoteliers, restaurants, houseboats, handicrafts, poniwallas, transporters, shikara walla and so on, it said adding the revenue loss in the second quarter of 2016-17 was of Rs 751.97 lakh (80 per cent) compared to revenue realisation of Rs 936.89 lakh in Q2 of 2015-16.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/590987/infiltration-bid-foiled-2-terrorists.html

Jammu, Jan 11, 2017, PTI

Two terrorists were killed by the army as it foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The army has yet again successfully foiled an infiltration attempt in Poonch sector by killing two terrorists on the LoC" an army spokesman said.

He said the troops present along the LoC detected movement of two terrorists along the Betar Nala in the wee hours yesterday and engaged them with heavy automatic fire.

"While one terrorist was eliminated by afternoon of January 10 the second was eliminated today," he said.

He said the bodies of the slain terrorists and their weapons lie on the LoC.

"Pakistan has shown no restraint in its support to aiding and abetting infiltration across the LoC," the spokesman said.

He said the latest infiltration attempt comes close on the heels of the terror attack at Battal in the Akhnoor sector, where three labourers were killed in the GREF camp on January 9.

He said the army was keeping a vigil and was prepared to thwart any nefarious designs of Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.