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

[Hindustani78]

In this file photo, security personnel stand guard during a curfew in the Lal Chowk area of central Srinagar. (Representational image) | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...s-lal-chowk/article17756403.ece?homepage=true


Earlier in the day, gunshots were heard in Srinagar's busy commercial centre of Lal Chowk and adjoining areas.
A soldier was injured when militants opened fire on an Army convoy near Srinagar on Saturday afternoon.

Preliminary reports suggested the army convoy passing on the busy stretch of Srinagar-Baramulla national highway came under fire from an alley around 1 p.m. near Bemina.

Police sources said one army personnel sustained injuries in the attack. The convoy's last vehicles was targeted by the militants.

The Army also fired in retaliation. A search operation is on in the area.

The attack triggered panic in the area, which also houses a hospital.

Earlier in the day, gunshots were heard in Srinagar's busy commercial centre of Lal Chowk and adjoining areas, triggering panic.

Preliminary reports suggested that the firing was heard near Lal Chowk's Taj Hotel.

"I heard gunshots and we left the area. I saw people running for cover," an eyewitness told The Hindu.

The area houses busy markets and government offices. Panic gripped the city centre as people feared a fidayeen (suicide) attack.

Without divulging details, Senior Superintendent of Police (Srinagar) Imtiyaz Parray said, "There is no attack."

Police sources said a militant was spotted in the area and an operation is on to nab him.

Security personnel take positions during a search operation after militants attacked an army vehicles, part of a convoy, near a hospital along Parimpora-Panthachowk bypass road in Srinagar on Saturday. Two soldiers were injured in the attack and the militants managed to flee. PTI Photo

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...a-rifle-snatching-assailant-rewarded-4595439/

By: Express News Service | Jammu | Published:April 1, 2017 7:41 pm

A Selection Grade Constable Rajesh Kumar was on Saturday felicitated by state’s Director General of Police Dr S P Vaid for apprehending one of the three assailants who had snatched an AK rifle from a police man in Jammu last week for displaying courage and presence of mind.

Rewarding him with cash and commendation certificate at the police headquarters here, Dr Vaid said that his timely action and presence of mind led to the arrest of other two assailants also, solving the case of weapons snatching within a short time. “Such act of courage and fearlessness by the constable is exemplary, which would inspire other personnel in the force,’’ he maintained.

On March 23 late evening, three motorcycle borne youth from Shopian attacked a police constable Mohammad Hanief and snatched his service rifle at Mandir-Masjid point near Tawi bridge after hitting him in the head with a rod and throwing chili powder in his eyes. Rajesh Kumar, who was returning from duty to security lines found his counterpart crying.

He also noticed a boy in suspicious circumstances and immediately overpowered him. The boy was later found involved in the weapon snatching incident. His two accomplices, who had fled along with the AK rifle, too were arrested in next 48 hours from Jammu and Shopian and the gun recovered by police.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...agar-market/story-EIA7RrzE6nFrKxKrFTVjHL.html


Gunshots were heard in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk and adjoining areas of Srinagar on Saturday, triggering panic in the busy market place.

“Firing of gunshots has been reported from Lal Chowk area. We are investigating the incident,” a police official said.

Most of the business establishments downed their shutters while pedestrians ran towards safer places as people had apprehensions about a militant attack in the area.

According to eyewitnesses, cops had fired few rounds in the air to stop a mentally-challenged person who created panic among people.

“This person entered a hotel and asked people to leave saying the militants had entered the building.A police team rushed to nab the person who tried to flee, forcing the cops to fire warning shots,” they said.

Militants attacked an army convoy in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 1,2017. (Waseem Andrabi/ HT Photo )''

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...es-reported/story-eRwo9sqyerWufXRgsP9OXK.html

Militants on Saturday opened fire on an army convoy near a hospital on Parimpora-Panthachowk bypass road in Srinagar.

A police spokesperson said that one solider was injured in the attack.

The militants opened fire on the convoy near JVC Hospital, Bemina at around 1.15 pm, the official said.

He said the last vehicle of the convoy was hit by the bullets and the troops retaliated.


The area has been cordoned off and combing operations started to track down the militants, the official said.

In a separate incident, there was panic in Srinagar’s commercial centre Lal chowk and adjoining area after rumour of a militant attack at a hotel.

While witnesses said gun shots were heard, a senior police officer refuted the news saying a person entered a hotel building and started vandalising it.

Police have detained the person and investigation in on.

 

[Hindustani78]

On edge: Security personnel take position outside at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, following rumours that a militant had entered a hotel un the area on Saturday. No one was, however, arrested. | Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD;NISSAR AHMAD -

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...trike-ahead-of-modi-visit/article17760435.ece

Three jawans injured in attack on Army convoy on Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway
Just a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir, militants on Saturday attacked an Army convoy here, injuring three soldiers.

The attack took place around 1 p.m. on the busy Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway as the convoy was heading to the capital.

“The militants opened fire on the convoy at Bemina. Three soldiers were injured. They were shifted to the Army’s base hospital and are undergoing treatment,” the Srinagar-based Army spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, told The Hindu.

Army retaliates

The Army fired in retaliation, but failed to nab the militants. The area where the attack took place houses the busy Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital.

The militants escaped as the people started running for cover. A high alert has been issued.

During his visit, Mr. Modi will inaugurate the 9.2-km Nashri-Chenani tunnel, which connects Udhampur and Ramban districts.

Separatists have called for a shutdown in the Valley.

Earlier in the day, panic gripped Srinagar’s Lal Chowk after rumours about a militant attack.

Scores of tear smoke shells were fired on a 2- km stretch to control the situation.

Panic spread after gunshots were heard near Taj Hotel in Lal Chowk.

Police sources said a masked man was spotted in the area and was mistaken for a fidayeen attacker.

However, no militant was arrested as the police raided the area.

The crackdown was followed by stone throwing by the local people. A shutdown soon ensued. No one was grievously injured in the clashes.

 

[Hindustani78]

A view of an Indian border post near the fencing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakot Sector in Poonch. An IED blast in the Degwar sector in Poonch killed one officer on April 1, 2017.(PTI File Photo)

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...ers-inquiry/story-4sBVNqRfzgKwQqA7ihKrDL.html

An army officer, who was killed in Saturday’s IED blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, was identified as Naib Subedar S Sanayaima Kom, a junior commissioned officer.

Kom was critically wounded in the blast that occurred in the Degwar sector of Poonch around 1:30 pm on Saturday. He was evacuated to an Army hospital in Poonch where he succumbed to his injuries.

A native of Manipur, he is survived by his wife and three children.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said a court of inquiry has been initiated.

Kom was part of an advance party of the 2nd Naga Regiment, which will replace the 12 Jat Regiment in the area. According to an intelligence source, the officer was part of a joint patrol being familiarised with the posting.

“This area is known in the past for IEDs (planted) by Pakistan to inflict losses to Indian patrols. It apparently seems that some “rogue” elements from Pakistan had entered our Territory and planted the IED before escaping back to Pakistan,” he said.

The army clearly maps and maintains complete records of minefields, but the bombs, which weigh around 100 grams each, get displaced during rains.

In a similar instance of a landmine explosion, DIG OP Tanwar of the Border Security Force was killed near a forward post in Samba sector on November 16, 2009, when his vehicle went over a bomb.

Then General Officer Commanding-in-chief of the Northern Command, Lt Gen KT Parnaik, had in January 2013 admitted that frequent “accidental blasts” in KG sector of Poonch were mines planted by Pakistan targeting Indian soldiers.

 

[Hindustani78]

Army personnel conducting a search operation after one of their vehicles was targeted by militants near a hospital along Parimpora-Panthachowk bypass road in Srinagar.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...-14-others-injured-in-grenade-attack-4596673/
By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Updated: April 2, 2017 8:22 pm

J&K: 11 security personnel injured (4 CRPF jawans, 7 police jawans) in Nowhatta grenade attack, brought to SMHS hospital. A police jawan killed (Source: ANI)


A policeman was reportedly killed while 11 other police personnel were injured after militants launched a grenade attack against them in Nowhatta area of old Srinagar on Sunday. According to a police official, the militants threw the grenade on a police party next to Ganjbaksh Park in Nowhatta area of the city at around 7.00 pm when the cops retracted from there after day-long law and order duty.

The injured cops (four CRPF jawans and seven police jawans) were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The official said miscreants had engaged the cops by throwing stones on them in the same area.

Significantly, the attack took place hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Nashri-Chenani tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Separatists had earlier called for a shutdown to protest Modi’s visit.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/ceas...-indian-side-retaliates-strongly-1992374.html

Jammu: India and Pakistan traded gunfire in Poonch district of Jammu when the Pakistan Army on Monday resorted to unprovoked shelling and firing at the Indian positions along the Line of Control.


"The Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars at the Indian Army posts along the LoC (Monday)," Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta told IANS here.

"The Indian side is retaliating strongly and effectively," he said.

The exchange of fire is still on, he added at 11 a.m.


First Published: Monday, April 3, 2017 - 12:02

Security personnel inspect the spot after 6 CRPF personnel were injured in an attack by militants on a patrol manning the highway at Pantha Chowk, near Srinagar, on Monday. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/attack-on-crpf-near-srinagar/article17770677.ece?homepage=true


The attack comes just a day after a policeman was killed and 11 others were injured in a grenade attack by militants in Srinagar's Nowhatta area.
Six CRPF personnel were injured in an attack by militants on a patrol manning the highway at Pantha Chowk, near Srinagar, on Monday afternoon.

Preliminary reports suggest that gunshots were heard at Pantha Chowk.

Locals told The Hindu they heard heavy exchange of fire in the area around 3:30 p.m. Both the police and the CRPF were not confirming any casualties.


The attack comes just a day after a policeman was killed and 11 others were injured in a grenade attack by militants in Srinagar's Nowhatta area.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...litant-attack-3-injured-pantha-chowk-4597707/

As many as six Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were on Monday injured after some gunmen opened fire at their convoy in Pantha Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar. Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi 03-04-2017

A CRPF jawan, who was hospitalised after being injured in firing by suspected militants, has died while five others are undergoing treatment. Six CRPF personnel and a civilian were injured when militants attacked a vehicle carrying security forces in Panthachowk area of Srinagar on Monday afternoon, police said. One of the injured personnel, Head Constable Basappa, later succumbed to his injuries while two other security personnel were said to be critical, the official said.

This is the second such attack in two days against security forces. “Our companies were going from Jammu to Srinagar when they were fired upon by militants, 6 personnel injured and taken to the hospital,” CRPF PRO, B Chaudhary told ANI. The CRPF jawans of the 97 Battalion were on their way to Srinagar for election duty for Lok Sabha bypolls scheduled to be held on April 9.

“It’s a sensitive time, separatists have called for boycott of elections. We are on high alert; CRPF is doing its duty,” Chaudhary added. This is the third militant attack on security forces in Srinagar in as many days. On April 1, militants had opened fire on an army convoy on the Parimpora-Pantha Chowk bypass, injuring two jawans.

Earlier on Sunday, militants attacked a joint party of Jammu-Kashmir and paramilitary forces on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Kashmir to inaugurate the Chenani-Nashri road tunnel. A policeman was killed and 11 others were injured in the grenade attack. The attack took place in the evening when the security forces, deployed in the old city, were withdrawing. The militants lobbed a grenade at the security personnel near Nowhatta.

More details awaited

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju seeing the CRPF Commandant Shri Chetan Kumar Cheetah at AIIMS, who survived fatal bullet injuries in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir in February this year, in New Delhi on April 05, 2017.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju seeing the CRPF Commandant Shri Chetan Kumar Cheetah at AIIMS, who survived fatal bullet injuries in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir in February this year, in New Delhi on April 05, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/crackdown-on-cyberspace-in-kashmir/article17821730.ece

J&K police say it is to stop smear campaign of officials, but netizens worried

An online smear campaign against government officials, especially police officers at the forefront of the clampdown on protesters, on Tuesday forced the police to launch its first ever major crackdown on cyberspace in the Kashmir Valley, fuelling anxiety among netizens.

According to J&K police spokesman Manoj Sheeri, the police have activated their technical cells to monitor activities on social media across Kashmir.

A top police official told The Hindu there was a concerted campaign online against officials and policemen, “making their position precarious in society”.

Several policemen and government official were being trolled online for their role in cracking down on protesters. The fresh crackdown against netizens was triggered by a recent smear campaign against a Station House Officer (SHO), who stopped an ambulance carrying the body of a youth, killed near the encounter site in Budgam on March 28. The video of the police officer went viral, with his pictures pasted all over social media like Facebook and Twitter.


Videos and posts
“It was reported and found that some videos and posts were uploaded and shared to harm the repute of some professionals and officers,” said Mr. Sheeri.

Scores of social media users have been questioned at police stations in Srinagar's Pantha Chowk, Zakoora and Chanapora areas so far. “Some miscreants who threatened professionals and government functionaries through their posts and uploads have been arrested,” the police said.

Valley based bloggers and social media activists see the police move as “deliberate intimidation”.

“By-elections are round the corner. There is growing anger and alienation. The move is aimed at capping the ground reality from emerging on the social media. Such acts tantamount to intimidation,” said a Srinagar based blogger on the condition of anonymity.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...olicemen-in-poll-bound-anantnag-flee-4605013/

Militants on Saturday opened fire on a police team near an election meeting venue of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in poll-bound Anantnag district in south Kashmir and fled from the scene, police said. No one was hurt in the firing, even as the meeting, chaired by Jammu and Kashmir minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, remained unaffected and later concluded peacefully, a police official said.

The militants opened fire on a police party patrolling the area around Magray Mohalla in Achabal, 65 km from Srinagar, the official said.

He said the policemen fired in retaliation and immediately cordoned off the area. There was no report of any casualty on either side, the official said.

The meeting was being held in connection with the Lok Sabha bypoll to Anantnag parliamentary constituency scheduled for April 12.

The official said the militants apparently fired a few shots to scare the voters but fled the scene due to heavy presence of police and paramilitary personnel.

A search operation was in progress to track down the militants, the official said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Border Security Force jawans arrive for polling duty ahead of parliamentary election in Srinagar on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/polling-for-srinagar-lok-sabha-seat-begins/article17896913.ece

Violence affects overall voting percentage in some booths, which was below 5% at noon
Three youths were killed and several others were injured when security forces opened fire on a stone-pelting mob that stormed a polling station in Budgam district in this Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday, disrupting polling which saw an abysmally low 5% turnout till 1200 hours.

Hundreds of protesters stormed a polling station at Pakherpora in Chrar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district and ransacked the building, officials said.

Security forces fired several warning rounds to disperse the mob which did not relent.

Six persons were injured in the firing, of whom two later succumbed to injuries. Those killed were later identified as 20-year-old Mohammad Abbas and 15-year-old Faizaan Ahmad Rather, the officials said, adding both died of bullet wounds.

Our Correspondent from Srinagar adds:
Polling booths attacked with stones, EVMs damaged in parts of Budgam. Polling stopped in parts of Budgam after clashes. Peaceful polling in Kangan, Ganderbal.

PTI adds:
They said the BSF, deployed for security of the polling stations, fired live rounds as they were not provided with pellet guns.

Violence marred polling in some other parts of the Srinagar parliamentary seat as polling staff and security force personnel were forced to abandon two polling stations in Chadoora Assembly segment as they came under heavy stone-pelting by mobs, the officials said.

Stone pelting incidents were reported from over two dozen other places across the three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal which constitute the Srinagar constituency, the officials said.

The voter turnout has been low so far with only 3.3% of the 12.61 lakh electorate exercising their franchise in the first four hours of polling, the officials said.


Even in traditionally high turnout areas like Budgam, Ichgam and Maloora, many voters chose to give polling a miss.

Farooq Abdullah in the fray
Voting for the bypoll began amid tight security, with nine candidates including National Conference president Farooq Abdullah in the fray.

More than 1,500 polling stations have been set up for nearly 12.61 lakh electorate. Polling began at 7 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m.

All the polling stations have been declared as either sensitive or hyper-sensitive, keeping in mind threats from various militant outfits and separatist groups, including the Hurriyat Conference.

The seat fell vacant following resignation of PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra, both from the Lower House of Parliament and his party, in protest against the “atrocities” on people during the agitation in the summer last year in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

Dr. Abdullah, who is the candidate of his party and the Congress jointly, will take on the ruling PDP’s candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan in a virtual direct contest.

Dr. Abdullah tasted his first electoral defeat in his over 35-year-long political career when he lost to Mr. Karra in 2014 general elections. Mr. Karra, who has since joined the Congress, is now supporting the National Conference president in the bypolls.

Mr. Khan, on the other hand, joined the PDP after quitting the Congress in February and was announced the candidate by the ruling party for the bypolls.

Voter turnout in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 polls was 26%, slightly better than 25.55% recorded in 2009 elections.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/jamm...upwaras-keran-operation-underway-1994588.html

Kupwara: The brave soldiers of Indian Army have foiled an infiltration bid by Pakistani terrorists on Monday.

Four Pakistani infiltrators have been gunned down by Army in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara.

The encounter took place in Keran sector.

"A major infiltration bid from across the LoC was foiled by the Army troops in Keran sector yesterday (Sunday) evening," Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

The entire area has been cordoned off and security forces are sweeping the perimeters to check for any untoward elements remaining.

The search operation is still on.


First Published: Monday, April 10, 2017 - 09:08

 

[Hindustani78]

A militant hideout was busted in a joint operation launched by the army and the J&K Police at Tattapani forests in Kalakote belt in Rajouri.

http://zeenews.india.com/india/terr...r-uri-attack-active-again-report-1995410.html

New Delhi: The terror launch pads that the Indian Army destroyed after the Uri attack are active again, a report said on Wednesday.

This is the time of the year when snow thaws and Pakistani forces try to push through infiltrators into India.

Talking to NDTV, Major General RP Kalita, who heads the Army's 19 Division based in Baramulla, said that terror launch pads directly opposite Uri in Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) have now been reoccupied.

"After the surgical strike, for some time we had intelligence inputs that some of them (terrorists) had moved back but during the winter, we continued to get inputs about their occupation (of launch pads)," Major General Kalita told the channel.

He added that almost all the areas targetted after the Uri terror attacks which fall under his area of responsibility are now "active".

The Army's 19 Division is shouldered with the responsibility of defending 100 kilometres of the Line of Control in Kashmir's Uri sector.

"Across our area, there are nine or ten launch pads that we are aware of," he said. "The structure can be a hut, a dhok (a makeshift structure) which is temporarily occupied from which they carry out the final coordination and thereafter they are launched for infiltration."

On the intervening night of September 28 and 29, India carried out surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from Azad Kashmir, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Uri attack would not go unpunished.

The strikes came 11 days after the attack by Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Kashmir.


First Published: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 - 16:47

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

http://zeenews.india.com/india/no-p...an-border-govt-tells-rajya-sabha-1995397.html

New Delhi: India has no plans to construct a wall along its border with Pakistan, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

"There was no proposal with the government of India to build a wall along the Pakistan border," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said replying a written question.

The Minister said the government has adopted a multi- pronged approach for security arrangements at the Indo-Pak border.

"The arrangements include deployment of BSF, construction of border fence, construction of border roads, installation of floodlights, construction of BOPs, introduction of hi-tech surveillance equipments, providing weapons and specialised vehicles to security forces," he said.


First Published: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 - 16:34

 

[Hindustani78]

April 15, 2017 20:30 IST
Updated: April 15, 2017 20:30 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...erious-firing-in-srinagar/article18060511.ece

A civilian was shot dead on Saturday evening in a mysterious firing incident in Srinagar's Batamaloo area.

Preliminary reports suggest that Sajad Hassan, a resident of Gulmarg, presently living in S.D. Colony, was fired at by unknown gunmen. "The victim was shot at near Reka Chowk where there is no deployment of security forces," said a police official. The victim was in his twenties.

The incident fueled tension in Srinagar with shopkeepers downing their shutters.

Kashmir Valley remains on the edge since April 9, when eight civilians were killed in clashes during polling.