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

[Hindustani78]

This undated photo shows Army personnel searching for militants in Sopore. | Photo Credit: PTI
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...n-Baramulla/article17192865.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar February 04, 2017 14:23 IST
Updated: February 04, 2017 15:01 IST

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an operation by the security forces in Baramulla's Sopore area, 55 km away from Srinagar, on Saturday. Sources said the slain militants were identified as Hizbul Mujahideen commander Parvaiz Ahmad from Galoora Handwara and Umar Ghazi.

A Srinagar-based Army spokesman told The Hindu that two militants have been killed and ammunitions were recovered from the encounter site.


The operation was carried out by a special operation group of the police and the Army's 52 Rashtriya Rifles in Amargadh village in the morning.

Preliminary reports suggest that there was a brief encounter between the militants and the security forces.

Two policemen were also injured in the incident.

 

[Hindustani78]

Commandos of Army and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police take positions during an encounter in which two top Hizbul Mujahideen Commanders were killled, at Sopore in north Kashmir on Saturday. PTI Photo

By: PTI | Attari(punjab) | Published:February 4, 2017 9:16 pm

The Pakistani national entered Indian territory, reached near Border security fence. Pak rangers were contacted and he was handed over to them on humanitarian ground: BSF (ANI Photo)

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-hands-over-pak-national-to-pakistan/

In a goodwill gesture, the BSF on Saturday handed over a Pakistani national who crossed into to India inadvertently back to his home country. BSF did not register any case against the Pakistani national for crossing to India, a senior BSF official said.

BSF DIG J S Kataria said BSF troops of Border Out Post Rattan Khurd, Amritsar Sector apprehended the Pakistani national identified as Nemshah, aged 35, and a resident of Nagga Chak, Faislabad, Pakistan, after he crossed the international boundary and entered inside Indian territory near the border fence.

However, as Nemshah had inadvertently crossed over to the Indian territory, Pakistani Rangers were contacted and the apprehended Pakistani national was handed over to them, Kataria said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Army and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir display arms and ammunition recovered from the two top Hizbul Mujahideen Commanders who were killled during an encounter, at Sopore in north Kashmir.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/594846/former-lecturer-among-2-ultras.html
Zulfikar Majid,Feb 5, 2017, Srinagar, DHNS
A former lecturer was among the two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) ultras killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday.
Two police officers were also injured in the gun fight.

Police said the gunfight broke out after security forces intercepted two militants travelling in a vehicle near Amargarh village of Sopore, 50 km from here.

“After receiving information that militants were travelling in a vehicle and were planning terrorist action in Sopore, the police and security forces immediately swung into action and intercepted them near Amargarh,” they said.

When the security forces conducted a search operation, the militants lobbed a grenade at the search party and fired at them. Superintendent of Police (Operation) Baramulla Shafqat Hussain and Sub-Inspector Mohammad Murtaza were injured in the firing.

In the retaliatory action, both the militants were killed, the police said. Two AK series rifles, one pistol, four hand grenades and other ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

The slain militants were identified as Azhar Khan alias Gazi Umar of Kupwara and Sajjad Ahmed, a resident of Bomai in Sopore.

Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla Imtiyaz Hussain said that Khan was working as an Arabic lecturer at a college before joining the militancy six months ago.”

He had joined militancy during the 2016 unrest and was trying to motivate local youth to join the HM,” he told DH.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/feb/04/bsf-jawan-goes-missing-in-mizoram-1567003.html
KATHUA: A BSF jawan serving at a Border Out Post (BoP) along the international border has gone missing while on his way back from his home in Mizoram. "The jawan was returning from his home and gone missing from Jalandhar after he made last call to his home," a senior BSF officer said.

The jawan has been identified as Constable Malsawkima of 97 battalion and was serving at BoP Pansar in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district. His family called the authorities of his unit but were told that he had not reported on duty, he said.

The matter was reported by Sub Inspector Antal Kumar to police post Marheen on February 2. Constable Malsawkima is aged 25, height of 5 feet 6 inch, colour wheatish, a resident of Pukdni District Lungle (Mizoram) has been missing since evening of February 1. SP, Kathua, Pawan Parihar said police has deputed a team to search for the missing jawan and there is no report of any missing weapon from the company.

 

[Hindustani78]

• http://indianexpress.com/article/in...filtrator-along-international-border-4509177/

Jammu: BSF arrests Pakistani infiltrator along International Border
As per preliminary interrogation, the suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Mansheer, son of Iqbal and resident of Kingra More in Sabekote in Pakistan.

By: PTI | Jammu | Published:February 5, 2017 5:41 pm

A 26-year-old Pakistani infiltrator was arrested today by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel from the International Border (IB) in Jammu frontier in Jammu and Kashmir. Jawans on duty observed suspicious movement across the IB in Basantar river area this afternoon. They rushed and challenged the suspect, who had intruded deep inside the Indian territory, and arrested him, a BSF officer said.

As per preliminary interrogation, the suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Mansheer, son of Iqbal and resident of Kingra More in Sabekote in Pakistan.

During search, BSF jawans recovered an extra set of dress, a pair of white sports shoe, a brown cap, a tennis ball, playing cards and 110 rupees in Pakistani currency, he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ire-twice-in-Samba-sector/article17201488.ece

Pakistani troops on Monday targeted forward Indian positions twice by using small arms and mortar bombs along the International Border in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

No one was injured in the ceasefire violation, the first by Pakistani troops this year.

“At about 0845 hours, Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing in Samba sector along the IB”, a senior BSF officer said.

It was followed by small arms firing and also shelling of 51 MM mortar bombs from 0935 hours from the Pakistani side, he said.

“Our troops also retaliated. No loss of life or damage to property has been reported from the area”, he said.

It may be recalled that Indian troops had foiled an attack by heavily armed terrorists on troops deployed on forward areas along the IB in Samba sector on February 2.

The terrorists entered Indian territory and targeted troops by opening fire from automatic weapons and also firing of Under Barrel Grenades, forcing them to retreat.

 

[supun1]

I wasn't aware it was already open.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/bsf-...-jammu-and-kashmirs-samba-sector_1974321.html

Jammu: BSF on Monday foiled an infiltration bid along International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector, which also saw two ceasefire violations.


A BSF spokesperson tonight said that the border guarding force personnel foiled an attack on duty mound at IB from Pakistan side in Samba sector.

At about 0845 hours, taking advantage of undulating ground, a group of heavily-armed terrorists reached close to IB in Pakistan side, he said.

Terrorists resorted to heavy firing with automatic weapons on forward BSF troops, he said, adding that coordinated firing by alert jawans not only suppressed the fires from heavily armed terrorists but also forced them to retreat.

Earlier today, two incidents of ceasefire violations were reported from the sector.


First Published: Tuesday, February 7, 2017 - 00:37

 

[Hindustani78]

By: PTI | New Delhi | Published:February 8, 2017 8:37 pm

The figures for 2014 stood at 222 and for 2015 at 121. (File photo)
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...ds-india-pakistan-border-indian-army-4514525/


The infiltration bids from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir in 2016 was highest among the the previous three years at an average of one attempt per day. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said 364 infiltration bids were made from Pakistani side last year.

The figures for 2014 stood at 222 and for 2015 at 121. The minister, however, did not give the number of successful infiltration attempts last year.

He informed the House that the Centre in collaboration with the state government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross-border infiltration which includes strengthening of border and enhanced security along Line of Control.

In reply to another question pertaining to Home Ministry on Full Body Truck Scanners (FBTS), Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the government is procuring five such scanners for location at Attari (Indo-Pak Border), Petrapole (Indo-Bangladesh Border), Raxual (Indo-Nepal Border), Poonch-Chakkanda-bagh (Indo-Pak Border) and Uri-Salamabad (Indo-Pak Border).

 

[Hindustani78]

Army jawans during an encounter at Kulgam in south Kashmir. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...r-encounter/article17291640.ece?homepage=true

Three other militants, believed to be severely injured during the gunfight, managed to escape.
Two soldiers and four militants were killed in an ongoing gunfight with holed up militants in south Kashmir's Kulgam, around 70 km away from Srinagar.

Preliminary reports suggest that the soldiers came under fire while laying a cordon and search operation in Nagbal Frisal area, Kulgam.

Militants are hiding in the area. "The operation is on," said a police official.


Three soldiers have sustained injuries too.

The number of militants hiding in the area could not be ascertained immediately.

 

[Hindustani78]

Jammu: Man held for cutting border fencing along LoC in Poonch district
"He cut the wiring of three security lights and damaged the border fence, a Defence Spokesman said.

By: PTI | Jammu | Updated: February 12, 2017 5:33 pm

The individual was administered first aid and evacuated to Poonch Military hospital, he said, adding that an FIR has been lodged in this connection with Poonch police.(Express File Photo)
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...fencing-along-loc-in-poonch-district-4520896/

A man has been arrested after being shot at for allegedly cutting anti-infiltration border fencing along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence official said on Sunday. “In the wee hours of the intervening night of February 11 and 12, a suspicious movement of a person, attempting to cut the electrical cable of the anti-infiltration border fence was detected in general area of Poonch sector,” Defence Spokesman said.

He cut the wiring of three security lights and damaged the border fence, he said. The spokesman said that the alert sentry of the Army challenged the person as per the standard operating procedure.

“The person did not respond and continued to cut the fence. On receiving no response to repeated challenges, the sentry fired one round, injuring the individual,” he said. The individual was administered first aid and evacuated to Poonch Military hospital, he said, adding that an FIR has been lodged in this connection with Poonch police.

Search of the area and further investigations were on.

 

[Hindustani78]

Jawans being deployed near the encounter site at Frisal in Kulgam district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...m-encounter/article17291640.ece?homepage=true

Clashes break out after the killing of four militants
Restive south Kashmir was seething again after seven people, including four militants and two soldiers, were killed in an encounter in Kulgam, 70 km from Srinagar, on Sunday.

It all began when four militants, who were holed up in a house in Nagbal village of Frisal area, were surrounded by the security forces during the night. A gunfight erupted on Sunday morning when they opened fire at a search party.

“The terrorists had taken the owner’s son hostage. We had no option but to storm the house,” said Army Brigadier R. Chakarwarty. “While doing so, two soldiers and a civilian were shot by the terrorists. Later, all the terrorists were killed by the security forces.”

Clashes broke out in south Kashmir after the news of the killing of the four militants spread. Eyewitnesses told The Hindu that the security forces “fired into the crowds to break up the fast-spreading protests.”

According to figures released by two hospitals in south Kashmir, 15 civilians were treated, including 12 with bullet injuries. One of the injured civilians, identified as Mushtaq Ibrahim, a resident of Srigufwara, succumbed to injuries in a Srinagar hospital.

From Hizb, Lashkar
“Two militants belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen and two others were associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT),” said Brigadier Chakarwarty. “Their death is bound to impact the morale of the terrorists.”

The four slain militants were all residents of Kulgam. The civilian was identified as Ashiq Reshi, a government employee and father of a three-month-old child. An Army spokesman identified the deceased soldiers as Lance Naik Bhandoriya Gopal Singh, 33, and Sepoy Raghubeer Singh, 32. Three more soldiers suffered injuries.

Opposition National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had claimed that she ordered the forces to exercise restraint while dealing with civilians.

“Sunday’s incident showed the reality. Why was the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) not followed?” he asked.

J&K government spokesman Naeem Akhtar said the government “will look into the matter and find out the circumstances that led to such a situation.”

In a joint statement, separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik called a shut-down for February 13 and ‘Kulgam march’ for February 15. “People of J&K are not war-mongers. It’s India’s stubbornness that is at the root of all the bloodshed,” Mr. Geelani said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Kashmir-shuts-over-Kulgam-deaths/article17296227.ece

All shops, business centres and private offices remained closed in the Valley
Kashmir witnessed a complete shutdown on Monday as the separatists called for protests over the killing of two civilians and four local militants in the Kulgam encounter on Sunday.

All shops, business centres and private offices remained closed in the Valley. There was very less traffic on the roads.

Authorities have deployed extra personnel in volatile pockets of Srinagar and large parts of south Kashmir. Kulgam was sealed as security vehicles manned the streets and dominated the volatile stretches.

Dukhtaran-e-Milat chief Asiya Andrabi was detained early in the morning.

Eight people, including two soldiers, died in Kulgam, 70 km south of Srinagar, on Sunday. Seven people died in an encounter, while a civilian died when security forces fired into the crowds.

Opposition National Conference (NC) has demanded a probe into the civilian casualties, as more than 12 protesters have sustained bullet injuries. "The magnitude of mayhem in Kulgam can be gauged by the fact that nearly 15 youth have received bullet and not pellet injuries. Agonizing," said NC spokesman Junaid Mattu.

 

[Hindustani78]

Army personnel along with a sniper dog move towards the house where militants were hiding during an encounter at Frisal area of Kulgam district of south Kashmir. PTI Photo

 

[Hindustani78]

Reports state that one civilian was killed in the gun battle between militants and security personnel on Sunday, while another was killed in clashes that erupted after the encounter ended in Frisal area of Kulgam.(PTI Photo)
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-and-kashmir-curfew-imposed-in-kulgam-sophian-4522110/

Though most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut across Srinagar, public as well as private transport vehicles were plying in many areas, officials said.

Inter-district transport was also operational on many routes connecting various districts of the Valley to Srinagar. However, less public transport was visible in rural areas of the Valley, they said.

Schools were closed due to the ongoing winter vacations, banks and government offices functioned normally.

Chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference — Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq — and JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik had called for a complete shutdown on Monday and ‘Kulgam Chalo’ on February 15 to protest the civilian killings.

Updated: February 13, 2017 10:56 am

Security personnel at the site on Sunday. Source: Shuaib Masoodi
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...ts-killed-in-south-kashmir-encounter-4521539/

Four militants and two Army men were killed in an encounter in Kulgam district in South Kashmir early on Sunday. Two civilians were also killed — one in the encounter, and another in the protests that followed.

Brigadier R Chakravarty, Commander, 1 Sector RR, said a security cordon was put up around Nagbal Frisal village on Saturday night following information about the presence of militants in the area.

“After the cordon was established at around midnight, we came to know that a civilian was also inside the house with the militants. We delayed the operation due to the presence of the civilian. Along with members of the local Auqaf Committee, we made several announcements that the civilian should be released, but the militants didn’t release him. After we launched the operation, the civilian, who had heard our announcements, came out and was hit by militant fire and died. Two soldiers who were in the front were also killed in the firing,’’ he said.

After the encounter ended, protests broke out in the area and security forces reportedly used bullets and teargas shells to disperse the protesters. More than 25 civilians are reported to have sustained injuries. One of the injured, Mushtaq Ahmad Yatoo, 22, of Hatimarg, succumbed to his injuries. Four of the critically injured protesters have been shifted to Srinagar for treatment. Hospital authorities said many of them had suffered bullet injuries.

Residents alleged that police used teargas shells to disperse the protesters in Anantnag town, where the injured were taken for treatment. Later in the day, a huge crowd attended the funeral of the militants.

The Opposition has demanded an impartial inquiry into the civilian deaths, while the state government spokesman regretted the deaths and said a probe would be carried out. The separatist leadership, meanwhile, has called a strike in the Valley on Monday.

The Army said over 30 militants are active in Kulgam area, which falls under the jurisdiction of 1 Sector RR, and efforts are being made to motivate them to lay down their weapons.

 

[Hindustani78]

<iframe src="//vidshare.indianexpress.com/players/Je1OT0fK-xe0BVfqu.html" width="320" height="260" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto"></iframe>
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...rorist-in-bandipora-4-jawans-injured-4523721/

One terrorist and three army personnel have been killed in an encounter in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, according to the news agency ANI. Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the Hajin area of the district. Six other security personnel and a civilian also suffered injuries in the gunbattle that began in the wee hours today, a police official said.

The injured security force personnel have been rushed to a hospital, a police official said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area this morning following specific intelligence inputs about presence of militants in the area. While the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering the encounter, the official said.