Pakistan violates ceasefire along International Border in Jammu

[Hindustani78]

Updated: Oct 20, 2017 18:57 IST
Indo Asian News Service, Srinagar

Police say no damage has been reported so far.(ANI Twitter)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...-j-k-s-tral/story-dUbgwi84ryWdWb0eVt3lzL.html

Militants on Friday attacked the residence of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Mushtaq Ahmad Shah in Tral town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Police said the militants hurled a grenade at Shah’s residence.

“Militants also fired at the guard post outside the legislator’s house. The fire was returned. No damage has been reported so far,” police said.

On Wednesday, militants had hurled a grenade at the house of Aijaz Ahmad Mir, also a PDP MLA, in Wachi area in Shopian district. No damage had occurred in that explosion.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...-ceasefire-in-uri-one-porter-injured-4899987/

J-K: A porter has been reportedly injured.
By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Published:October 21, 2017 1:58 pm

A porter has been reported to be injured. (Representational photo)

Pakistan on Saturday violated ceasefire in Kamal Koot area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector, news agency ANI reported. A porter has been reportedly injured.

More details awaited.

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Written by Arun Sharma | Jammu | Updated: October 21, 2017 2:31 pm

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat presents President’s Standard to 47 Armoured Regiment in Jammu. (AIR/Twitter)
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...highlighted-army-general-bipin-rawat-4899960/



Army Chief Bipin Rawat on Saturday said the situation in Kashmir valley is improving. Addressing the troops in Jammu, Rawat said, “I think the situation in Kashmir is improving. The frustration of terrorists and those who are supporting them is being highlighted by what is happening in the valley,” he said. Speaking on the goodwill generated by Army’s Sadbhavana camps, Rawat said the efforts have brought a change in the mindset of a large number of youths who are now coming up to join the army.

“At the same time, ups and downs keep on going at the terrorist front. Some wayward driven by social media campaigns joining the terror and we keep on eliminating them. However, at the same time, a number of them are coming overground and surrendering before security forces and the police,” Rawat said.

Describing radicalisation as a worldwide phenomenon, General Rawat admitted it is a matter of concern. He further added that the civil administration and police were dealing with the instances of radicalisation. On being asked about the terror training camps, which are still operational across the borders, Rawat said, “I do not know as to who told you that training camps across the border have been closed. Training camps existed there earlier also and they are operational at present too.”

General Rawat further stressed the need for a surgical strike as a way to deal with the training camps. There are other ways also and action is being taken in the matter, he added. On the possibility of a Doklam-like situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Rawat said, “We have to remain alert.”

Rawat further refused to describe the incidents of violence in the valley following reports of braid chopping as a “challenge”. “Why you see it as a challenge?” General Rawat asked, adding that such incidents have earlier taken place elsewhere in the country as well. “In Kashmir, the civil administration and the police are dealing with it and they will foil these incidents,” he said.

Earlier, Rawat presented the President’s Standard to 47 armoured Regiment. Addressing the troops, he called upon them to remain prepared to deal with any situation on both the internal and external fronts.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ring-in-uri/article19895433.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar, October 21, 2017 14:47 IST
Updated: October 21, 2017 16:04 IST

An Army soldier takes up position during a gunbattle in Uri. File photo | Photo Credit: AFP


Unprovoked firing occured on Saturday morning along the LoC
An army porter was killed in a fresh ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla's Uri sector.

A police official said the porter Mohd. Abbas (22), resident of Kamalkot, lost his life in an unprovoked firing at around 11:30 a.m on Saturday.

The incident sparked a "major exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops".

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...says-police/article19900793.ece?homepage=true

A police cordon was put in place around the area to nab the culprits
Militants on Sunday gunned down a woman and critically injured another in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the police said.

The deceased woman has been identified as Yasmeena, a resident of Khonmoh, and the injured as Ruby, a resident of Seer Tral, they said.

A police cordon was put in place around the area to nab the culprits.

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Srinagar, October 22, 2017 09:33 IST
Updated: October 22, 2017 09:46 IST

Army personnel taking position during an encounter with the militants in Kupwara. File | Photo Credit: PTI

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...jks-kupwara/article19900473.ece?homepage=true

An Army official said one militant has been killed and the encounter is still underway.

An unidentified militant was killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Langet area of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir.

An encounter broke out between militant and security forces on Sunday morning after the latter launched a search operation in Langet, 100 kms from here, an Army official said.

He said one militant has been killed and the encounter is still underway.

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...urt-in-tral/article19901304.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar, October 22, 2017 18:37 IST
Updated: October 22, 2017 18:37 IST

Militants on Sunday hurled a grenade at the residence of a National Conference (NC) leader in the Tral area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in injuries to a CRPF jawan, the police said.

The militants lobbed the grenade at the residence of Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, son of former NC MLA Mohammad Subhan Bhat, in Tral town, a police official said. He added that a CRPF jawan was injured in the grenade attack.

This was the third grenade attack targeting politicians in south Kashmir in the last three days. Earlier, militants had hurled grenades at the houses of ruling PDP MLAs at Real and Zainapora in Shopian district.

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Keeping the peace: Jawans stand guard in Srinagar during a shutdown called by separatists on Saturday.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...braid-chopping-in-kashmir/article19898061.ece
Say they want to disturb peace, create animosity between people and security forces, and build an atmosphere of fear among women
The Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday blamed “radical elements” and detained a worker of a political party for raising “false alarms of braid-chopping”, as the Valley observed a shutdown in protest against the forcible cutting of women’s hair.

The police said an investigation in north Kashmir had revealed that miscreants who attacked women this way had three objectives.

“It is aimed at disturbing peace; creating animosity between people and security forces, especially the police; and creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty for women to confine them to home so that the radical religious agenda of these elements is realised,” a Srinagar-based police spokesman said.

The police said some 45 “trouble-mongers” had been identified in Baramulla. Of them, many raised slogans supporting Zakir Musa (who heads Al-Qaeda’s Kashmir cell) “to make their intentions public”.

18 arrested for attack
The Baramulla police said they had arrested 18 persons “involved in the attack on three territorial Army men” on October 18. “A notorious stone-thrower, Qaiser Bilal Bhat, had hatched a conspiracy to get Army men killed by falsely accusing them of being braid-choppers,” the police said.

On the 12 braid-chopping incidents in Baramulla, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Imtiyaz Hussain said, “Some occurred within the four walls of victims’ houses. One of the victims was consulting a psychiatrist. There are some radical elements who don’t want women to be given a free hand. They want to stop women from pursuing education and government and private jobs and this is happening right now.”

Party supporter held
The police, meanwhile, said a person who faked braid-chopping at Dooru in Anantnag had been detained.

“The person, having allegiance to a political party, had tried to create law-and-order problems by enacting the drama of hair chopping,” the police said.

In a separate incident, the people of Thokarpora village in Pulwama attacked a five-member group of Hizbul Mujahideen on Friday night. When the people stopped the militants for questioning, they opened fire in the air and escaped.

Youth injured
A young man was injured in clashes in Srinagar on Saturday during the shutdown.

The youth was allegedly hit by bullets as protesters clashed with security forces in the Nowgam area. All educational institutions, offices, markets and petrol pumps remained closed in the wake of the Hurriyat call for a shutdown.

The Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) criticised the government for failing to “stop such incidents”.

“Why has the State government miserably failed to investigate and demystify the plaguing menace that has disturbed the social order,” asked CPI(M) MLA M.Y. Tarigami.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/638840/security-forces-increase-footprint-militant.html

The security forces' footprint has considerably increased in Shopian district, considered the last bastion of militants operating in south Kashmir, with the Army establishing new camps and the CRPF pushing a reserve battalion into the area, officials said.

Once seen as the 'ground zero' for militants, who used to roam openly in the area, problems started after April this year with security forces faces resistance in entering Heff Shermaal area in the district, they said.

Senior police, Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel started burning the midnight oil to overcome the crisis of controlling Shopian, which is located south of the Peer Panjal mountain range and can provide free access to terrorists to cross over to Doda, Kishtawar and Poonch area of Jammu, the officials said.

After the killing of Burhan Wani, the poster boy of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, on July 8 last year, the district has accounted for the disappearance of over 37 youths, who are believed to have joined various militant outfits.

Officials said that after increasing the footprint, local intelligence has started flowing, resulting in encounters that saw top militant leadership, including the main recruiter for Hizbul Mujahideen Ifan Maldera and the group's financier Waseem Sheikh being eliminated.

CRPF has also moved in a reserve battalion comprising nearly 1,000 men into Shopian.

Victor Force, a counter-insurgency unit of the Army, headed by Major Gen B S Raju, and Deputy Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police (South Kashmir) S P Pani along with CRPF officer brain stormed and started re-calibrating their plans for making Shopian a militant-free zone, they said.

Jammu and Kashmir police moved in a considerable number of its personnel to various parts of the district and its crack teams of special operation group got attached with teams of the Army and CRPF to engage in a quick operation, whenever needed, they said.

Army has established nearly five camps at Nagabal, Chillipura, Maitribugh, Zainpura and Larkipura besides increasing strength in existing camps in the area, the officials said.

The most important were the Army camp at Chillipura, which is located next to Heff Shreemal area, as it provided a safe haven to militants with a natural cover being provided by the lush green forests and apple orchards.

Considered as a gateway to the Kashmir Valley for being strategically located en-route to the historical Mughal road, Shopian has at present nearly 15 active militants out of which only Saddam and Zeenat-ul-Islam are A++ category militants who carry a cash reward on them.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Indian Army personnel gave a befitting response to the ceasefire violation. PTI file

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/pakistan-violates-ceasefire-in-uri-sector/485414.html

Srinagar, October 22

Pakistani troops on Sunday violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kamalkote area of Uri sector in Baramulla district for the second consecutive day, an Army official said.

No casualties had been reported in Sunday’s firing so far, the official said. There was unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Kamalkote area and they fired indiscriminately for the second day running, he said.

The Indian Army personnel were giving a “strong and befitting” response to the ceasefire violation, he said, adding that further details were being ascertained. In Saturday’s firing, an army porter was killed while two women were injured. PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
23-October, 2017 18:35 IST
Centre appoints Shri Dineshwar Sharma as its Representative in J&K

In a major development, the Centre today appointed Shri Dineshwar Sharma, former Director of Intelligence Bureau, as the Representative of Government of India to initiate and carry forward a dialogue with the elected representatives, various organizations and concerned individuals in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Shri Sharma will initiate a sustained interaction and dialogue to understand the legitimate aspirations of the wide cross sections of society, particularly the youth in Jammu and Kashmir and communicate them to the State Government and the Centre.

The move comes in the wake of various steps taken by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to address the needs of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It may be recalled that during his visit to Srinagar on November 7, 2015, the Prime Minister had announced a package of Rs 80,068 Crores for the overall development of the State. He has also met the leaders of political parties from time to time and received suggestions with regard to the issue of peace and development in J&K.

In continuation of this process, in his address to the nation on 15th August this year, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had mentioned that, “Neither by bullet, nor by abuses but by embracing we can solve the problem of Kashmir”.

Subsequently, Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has also visited J&K from September 9-12, 2017 and met a large number of delegations from wide spectrum of the society.

Shri Dineshwar Sharma is a Retired IPS officer from 1979 Batch of Kerala Cadre. During his distinguished career, he has served in J&K, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur and as Additional Director and Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau in the Headquarters. He has in-depth understanding of security related matters and considerable knowledge and experience of issues relating to Jammu and Kashmir.

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[Hindustani78]

Shri Dineshwar Sharma, former Director of Intelligence Bureau, calling on the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, after being appointed as the Representative of Government of India to initiate dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir, in New Delhi on October 23, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

New Delhi, October 24, 2017 12:35 IST
Updated: October 24, 2017 15:47 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...unding-case/article19911024.ece?homepage=true

The NIA, which registered the case in 2011, revived the investigation recently.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Syed Shahid Yusuf, son of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin.

The arrest comes a day after the Central government announced the appointment of a special representative to carry forward the dialogue process in Jammu and Kashmir.

A government official told The Hindu that Mr. Yusuf, who works in the agriculture department of the J&K government, was arrested as his name cropped up in a 2011 case registered by the NIA pertaining to terror funding.

The investigation revealed that one of the accused, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, based in Syria, allegedly transferred money to Mr. Yusuf on the direction of Salahuddin.

“The money was sent between 2011-14 and it was used for terrorist activities in the Kashmir Valley,” said the official. The NIA revived the investigation recently, even though the case is under trial in a city court.

Four persons related to this case — Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, Mohammad Sidiq Ghanaian, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga, were arrested earlier. Two others, Mohd. Maqbool Pandit and Aijaz Ahmed Bhat are absconding.

(With PTI inputs)

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ack-in-tral-no-casualties/article19910868.ece


Srinagar, October 24, 2017 11:44 IST
Updated: October 24, 2017 11:44 IST

Militants attacked a police party with grenades in Pulwama’s Tral on Tuesday morning. No one was injured in the attack.

Preliminary reports suggest militants fired a grenade from a rifle launcher at a police party.

“There was a huge explosion but no one was injured,” said a police official.

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...s-drug-peddlers-accross-rajouri-town-4904610/

These criminals were shortlisted by the police following threadbare discussion on their activities, sources said, adding that help of intelligence agencies was also sought in the matter.

By: Express News Service | Jammu | Updated: October 24, 2017 7:00 pm

News Service | Jammu | Updated: October 24, 2017 7:00 pm

Representational purpose.

In a major drive against drug peddlers and notorious criminals, Jammu and Kashmir Police in simultaneous raids across Rajouri town and its surrounding areas arrested 16 people from different places in border Rajouri town and its outskirts on Tuesday and detained them under preventive custody for a period of one month.

These criminals were shortlisted by the police following threadbare discussion on their activities, sources said, adding that help of intelligence agencies was also sought in the matter. Most of the arrested people were habitual drug peddlers who had been arrested repeatedly, they added.

Later special police teams were made by Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri, Yougal Manhas, to arrest the identified criminals. Sixteen criminals were apprehended in serious of raids by these teams and they were sent to Dongri jail in Rajouri following orders by Executive Magistrate for a period of one month.

The detainees include Ifraz Bukhari alias Chotu Shah, Rakesh Kumar Hondia, Mukesh Kumar, Mohammad Arig, Shahbaz Khan, Shabir Ahmed,Zaheer Abaas, Basit, Abid Hussain, Ravi Kumar, Tahir Shah, Rameez Hussain, Tanveer Hussain, Amit Kumar, Rishabh Sharma and Naseer Mahmood.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...ma-district/story-nmPIqeTv10n3L1elzMq9dJ.html

Security forces arrested on Tuesday a Hizbul Mujahideen militant from Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
india Updated: Oct 24, 2017 21:10 IST
Press Trust of India, Srinagar

Army soldiers outside a house where militants were hiding during an encounter in Shopian district of south Kashmir.(PTI File Photo)

Security forces arrested on Tuesday a Hizbul Mujahideen militant from Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, an official said.

“Arizoo Bashir was arrested by the police and security fores from Tral,” a police spokesman said.

He said that Bashir was a Hizb militant and had been active for “quite some time”.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...ugam-sector/story-9JjyBk0buV5pM1cnKWckDO.html

Pakistani troops on Tuesday opened unprovoked fire on the Naugam sector along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting a strong retaliation by the Indian Army.

It is for the fourth consecutive day that Pakistan has violated the truce agreement along the LoC in the Kashmir Valley.

“Pakistan started unprovoked firing in Naugam sector along the LoC at 9.30 am today,” an Army official said.

He said Indian troops retaliated strongly to the Pakistani action and intermittent exchange of fire was going on till reports last came in.

No casualties have been reported in the ceasefire violation on the Indian side, the official said.

Pakistani troops targetted Indian posts and villages in the Uri sector over the past three days, resulting in the death of a civilian porter and injuries to two women.

 

[Hindustani78]

Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat | Photo Credit: PTI
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...s-gen-rawat/article19917089.ece?homepage=true

He stated that the situation in Kashmir has improved and “infiltration has come down.”

Speaking on the situation in Kashmir for the first time after the appointment of the interlocuter, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said it would have no effect on the operations.

“The appointment will not affect Army operations. The government’s strategy on Kashmir has worked. The government is talking from a position of strength,” Gen. Rawat said speaking on the sidelines of a joint seminar by the Army and industry body FICCI.

He stated that the situation in Kashmir has improved and “infiltration has come down.”

On Monday, the Government appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as the Special Representative for Kashmir to “initiate and carry forward a dialogue with elected representatives, various orgamisations and concerned individuals in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Uri like attacks

Gen. Rawat also cautioned against more Uri like attacks on military installations in the hinterland. “Security of military installations in the hinterland is becoming a cause for concern. We keep getting reports of Uri like attacks well in depth,” he stated.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
26-October, 2017 14:05 IST
Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir meets Union Home Minister

Development Projects in J&K to be accelerated

The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ms Mehbooba Mufti met the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh here today. The meeting was also attended by the MoS (Home) Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba, Chief Secretary J&K and other senior officials from MHA and State Government.

It was decided to fast track the projects under Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) by making encumbrance free land available for the Infrastructure projects including Road, Power, and Health etc. Under the Prime Ministers’ Development Package for Jammu and Kashmir (Rs 80,068 Crores) for 63 major Development projects pertaining to 15 Central Government Ministries, an amount of Rs 62,599 Crores (approx. 78%) has been sanctioned and an amount of Rs 22,042 Crores (approx. 28%) has been released.

Special emphasis will be given for development of border areas (0-10 km) while selecting projects under the Border Area Development Program (BADP). It was also decided that to ensure safety of these people in Border areas, construction of Bunkers along the border will be expedited.

It was also decided to accelerate the development projects relating to additional jobs to Kashmiri Migrants, transit accommodations, transfer of cash relief/honorarium through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode and providing employment to youth of J&K.

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[Hindustani78]

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh chairing a meeting on the development projects in Jammu and Kashmir, in New Delhi on October 26, 2017. The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and senior officers of MHA and state government are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/639786/photo-policeman-ak-47-goes.html

Press Trust of India, Jammu, Oct 28 2017, 9:08 IST

AK-47 assault rifle. Image for representation

A purported picture of a Jammu and Kashmir policeman with an AK-47 assault rifle is doing the rounds of social media fuelling rumours that he has joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as he did not report for duty following a leave.

The policeman was posted at the Police Training Centre (PTC) in Kathua district in the state.

"Ishfaq Ahmed had gone on leave from PTC Kathua. He was supposed to report back on October 23 but failed to return. We will take legal action against him," a senior officer of PTC Kathua told PTI.

On whether he had joined the LeT in South Kashmir, when he had gone on leave, the officer said that details are being verified.

A resident of Heff Shirmal village in southern Shopian, Ahmed joined the police in 2012, the official said.

In recent past, eight police personnel have deserted police ranks and joined the militancy in Kashmir.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...o-retaliate/story-KeUhbcKZ96gAiXK8EKfwoM.html

India told Pakistan on Monday the support provided by its army to infiltrators was “unacceptable” and the Indian side will continue its “retaliatory measures” along the Line of Control (LoC) against “unabated support” given to terrorists seeking to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pakistani director general of military operations (DGMO) Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza dialled his Indian counterpart Lieutenant General AK Bhatt, alleging that the Indian Army had carried out unprovoked firing and targeted civilians along the de facto border between the two nations.

During the unscheduled hotline interaction after lunch, Lieutenant General Bhatt also told Mirza that the neighbouring army had hired civilians to snoop on India’s forward post and it was also “providing guides” to terrorists to help them cross the LoC. He said the Pakistani army had granted permission to civilians to settle in the vicinity of their (Pakistani) posts.

“These civilians have repeatedly been used to gain information on our locations and providing guides to terrorists while crossing the LoC,” he told Mirza.