Jammu and Kashmir Timeline - 2004

January 2	A day ahead of the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit to Pakistan to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, two Fidayeen (suicide squad) terrorists attacked the Jammu Railway Station killing four security force (SF) personnel and injuring nine others and six civilians.
January 6	India and Pakistan agree to commence the process of composite dialogue from February 2004 to resolve all outstanding bilateral issues, including Kashmir. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, at separate press conferences in Islamabad, read out to the media a joint press statement on the talks between Indian Premier Atal Behari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf.
January 7	Security forces kill four terrorists affiliated to the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment (HMPPR) during an encounter in the Khari forest area at Banihal in the Doda district.
January 9	Two Government officials are killed and 19 people sustain injuries when an unidentified terrorist lobbed two grenades at a mosque in the Pir Mitha area of Jammu within minutes after the Friday prayers commenced.
January 13	The Union Government formally invites the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) led by Maulana Abbas Ansari for talks with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on January 22.
January 15	Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) ‘commander’ of Doda district, Abbas Malik alias Abbas Rahi, is killed by security forces (SFs) during an encounter at Tengpora, in the outskirts of the capital city Srinagar.
January 16	HM ‘chief commander of operations’, Ghulam Rasool Dar alias Riyaz Rasool alias Ghazi Nasiruddin, along with another Hizb terrorist, Fayaz Ahmed Dar, is killed by SFs in an encounter at Shalteng in the outskirts of the capital city Srinagar.
January 17	Six Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists and three SF personnel are killed in a gun battle in the Vevan forest area of Bandipore.
January 22	Leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (AHPC) and the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, meet in New Delhi and agree to find an "honourable and durable solution" to the Kashmir problem through dialogue, while hoping that all forms of violence at all levels would end.
January 23	Two LeT fidayeen terrorists are killed by SFs during an encounter at village Morha Bachai in the Surankote area of Poonch district.
January 30	Security forces raid a terrorist hideout at Kumhar Mohalla in the Kupwara district and kill six Pakistani cadres affiliated to the LeT and Harkat-ul-Jehadi-e-Islami (HuJI).
February 2	An unidentified terrorist kills Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Amin Bhat, in the compound of a Mosque after the Eid (Muslim Festival) prayers in the capital Srinagar.
February 5	Nine terrorists and a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army are killed during an encounter at Donil Hill in the Kupwara district.
February 6	Rafeeq Ahmed Dar alias Rafeeq Lidri, ‘chief commander of operations’ of the Al Umar Mujahideen, is shot dead during an encounter with the security forces in the Koolipora area of the capital Srinagar.
February 7	Four civilians are killed and 27 others sustain injuries when unidentified terrorists carry out a grenade attack in the south Kashmir township of Shopian in Pulwama district.
February 13	The Army foils an infiltration attempt on the Line of Control (LoC) at village Deri in the Poonch district killing four foreign mercenaries and a guide.
February 15	At least 14 security force personnel and three civilians are injured during an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion at Qazigund in the Anantnag district.
February 16	Three PDP activists and two Constables are killed in Budgam district.
February 18	Three suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) cadres are killed during an encounter that ensued after a search operation in the hilly terrain of Ahlan Gadole in Anantnag district.
February 20	Seven terrorists, including a ‘district commander’, of the Lashkar-e-Toiba are killed during an encounter at Andrawali dhok under the jurisdiction of Mandi police station in Poonch district.
February 21	The ‘district commander’ of Al Badr Mujahideen, Ishfaq Ahmad Rehmani alias Nazir Vikas, is killed along with two of his associates during an encounter with the security forces in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district.
February 22	Border Security Force (BSF) personnel seize nearly 650 kilograms of explosives and 11,000 rounds of assorted ammunition from two terrorist hideouts in the capital Srinagar.
February 24	Abdul Majeed Wani alias Arif Khan, ‘divisional commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, and one of his associates are killed during an encounter at Kaanzkullah in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district.
February 28	Four LeT terrorists are shot dead by the security forces at Dara Sangla in the Surankote area of Poonch district.
March 3	Seven persons, including four police personnel and two under-trial terrorists, were killed and six persons sustain injuries when a lone suicide terrorist (Fidayeen) attacked a police bus carrying 13 under-trials, mostly terrorists, from the district jail to the Court complex in Jammu. The lone Fidayeen was later shot dead by the troops.
March 4	Army foils an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) near Mendhar in Poonch district by killing three terrorists.
March 9	Offices of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Government of India and Directorate of Information of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir are destroyed during a fire even as troops kill two Fidayeen (suicide squad) terrorists who attacked and occupied the three-storeyed building in the Press Enclave area of capital Srinagar.
March 11	Two terrorists, two civilians and a soldier are killed during an abortive Fidayeen (suicide squad) attack on a military formation in the Khrew area of Pulwama district.
March 12	Four soldiers are killed and three others sustain injuries when terrorists ambushed an Army patrol party at village Kholeyanwali in the Surankote area of Poonch district.
March 14	A ‘divisional commander’ of the LeT, identified as Bagh Hussain alias Tahir Hussain, is killed during an encounter with the Army at Mohalla Dang in the Thannamandi area of Rajouri district.
March 18	A group of unidentified terrorists kill the youth president of Janata Dal (United), Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat, near the Police Housing Colony at Bemina on the outskirts of capital Srinagar. The ‘divisional commander’ of Al Badr Mujahideen is killed along with his close associate during an encounter in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district.
March 20	At least 50 soldiers and two civilians are wounded when unidentified terrorists triggered a bomb blast while targeting a civil passenger bus hired by the Army near Warpora on the Srinagar-Bandipore road. Former Finance Minister and senior National Conference leader Abdul Rahim Rather survives an attempt on his life by terrorists who attack his motorcade at Badipora in the Budgam district.
March 21	Five terrorists and a soldier are killed during an encounter that ensued after the Army carried out a search operation in the hilly terrain of Yawan Behak Dudbugh in the Bandipore area of Baramulla district.
March 24	A self-styled district commander of the JeM, identified as Abu Usman, is killed along with his associate during an encounter at Sogam in the Kupwara district. Two top commanders of the Al Badr Mujahideen, ‘district commander’ Yasir and ‘battalion commander’ Dawood, are shot dead by troops at village Nasoo in the Baramulla district.
March 26	Three JeM terrorists and two soldiers are killed during an encounter at Sonabrari village in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district.
March 27	The second round of the dialogue between the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Union Government is held in New Delhi.
March 28	Three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists are arrested in Pakistan for their alleged involvement in the December 25, 2003, suicide attack on President Pervez Musharraf.
March 29	Chief of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and daughter of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba Mufti, escapes a terrorist attack on her in the Anantnag district.
March 30	Abu Asadullah, a ‘district commander’ of LeT and Abu Rahim, an ‘area commander’ of the outfit are killed during an encounter in the Surankote area of Poonch district.
April 5	At least 60 civilians and five police personnel are wounded when an unidentified terrorist lobbed a hand grenade targeting a Border Security Force vehicle near Shaheed Park in the Pulwama town of south Kashmir.
April 7	Four Army personnel are killed and 16 others sustain injuries in an IED explosion in the Choornar forest area of Kupwara district while troops were carrying out searches to sanitise the area after killing Lashkar-e-Toiba's (LeT) 'divisional commander' Shakeel in an encounter earlier.
April 8	At least eleven persons are killed and 58 others are wounded during a terrorist attack on an election rally of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the border town of Uri in Baramulla district. Among those injured are Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Housing Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir. Sehrai Baba, the 'chief commander of operations' of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), is among five terrorists killed during an encounter in the Sheikhnaar forest area of Kupwara district.
April 11	Three Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists, including a 'commander' identified as Khalid alias Ceera 7, are killed by security force personnel in the Kreeri Pattan area of Baramulla district.
April 14	Unidentified terrorists hurl a grenade targeting the election rally of Congress candidate from Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituency and State Health Minister Lal Singh killing two persons and injuring 22 others.
April 17	Troops foil a Fidayeen (suicide squad) attack on a polling station at the Government Middle School in Kreeri, Baramulla district, by killing two terrorists. A soldier was also killed and two others wounded during the incident.
April 19	Foiling an infiltration attempt on the eve of voting for Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) constituency, troops kill three foreign mercenaries on the Line of Control (LoC) at Khari Karmara in the Poonch district.
April 20	Four persons are killed and at least 17 others sustain injuries in election-related violence even as Jammu and Kashmir reportedly witnessed a moderate turnout in the two constituencies of Jammu and Baramulla which went to polls in the first phase of elections to the Lok Sabha.
April 21	Three foreign mercenaries affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Toiba are killed by the troops during an encounter at Kalaban in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.
April 23	10 persons are wounded in a terrorist attack on the Congress headquarters in capital Srinagar.
April 25	In the second terrorist attack on the Chief Minister’s daughter and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mehbooba Mufti, at least three persons are killed and 30 sustain injuries during an election rally at Khull Ahmedabad in the Kulgam district.
April 26	During phase-II of the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) elections, the central Kashmir constituency of Srinagar-Budgam reportedly records 21% turnout of voters even as the polling concluded without terrorist violence.
April 27	The former Union Minister of State for Home, Mohammad Maqbool Dar, survives a grenade attack at Wachi in the Pulwama district.
April 28	At least two civilians are killed and 67 others sustain injuries when two terrorists attacked an election rally of the National Conference at village Bhagwa in the Doda district.
May 1	Three LeT terrorists, including Abu Bashir, a ‘district commander’ for Poonch district, are shot dead during an encounter with the troops at Kotli Kalaban in Rajouri district.
May 3	Two HuM terrorists, identified as ‘battalion commander’ Fazil Waheed and ‘group commander’ Khalid Bhai, both from Pakistan, are killed during an encounter at Padarpora in the Shopian area of Pulwama district.
May 5	In the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, polling was held in the Anantnag-Pulwama constituency amidst a series of terrorist attacks in which one person was killed and at least 20 others sustained injuries.
May 6	The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen ‘chief commander of operations’, Abdur Rasheed Pir alias Gazi Shahabuddin, is shot dead during an encounter with the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Maharaj Ganj area of capital Srinagar. Troops kill a group of six LeT terrorists at the Panar forest area near Bandipore in Baramulla district.
May 8	Three police personnel are killed during an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion at Golibagh in the Doda district.
May 9	Jaish-e-Mohammed ‘commanders’ Tariq Hussain and Maqsoom are killed during an encounter with the troops in the Mahore area of Udhampur district.
May 10	Amidst some incidents of terrorist violence, including grenade attacks and firing in which a Border Security Force Inspector and a civilian were injured, polling to the Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency passes off peacefully.
May 11	Security forces shot dead ‘deputy chief of operations’ of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Shakil Ansari alias Khatib Ansari, during an encounter in the Anchar area of capital Srinagar. In another operation, the troops kill a Harkat-ul-Jehad ‘tehsil commander’ Abdul Qari at village Karmali in the Udhampur district.
May 14	Army personnel kill three terrorists of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit, including ‘tehsil commander’ Niaz Ahmed Moulvi alias Yasif, during an encounter at village Dashnan in the Doda district.
May 16	Four unidentified terrorists are killed during an encounter with the troops at village Goran in the Anantnag district.
May 19	Four terrorists and one Border Security Force (BSF) personnel are killed and two BSF personnel sustain injuries during an encounter that ensued after a search operation at Sail Sui in the Kalakote area of Rajouri district.
May 20	Three persons, including two children, are killed and 22 people sustain injuries during a bomb blast in the Chadoura town of Budgam district.
May 23	At least 30 persons, including 19 BSF personnel, six women and five children, are killed during an Improvised Explosive Device explosion at Lower Munda, near Qazigund, on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
May 24	Three police personnel are killed during a terrorist ambush near Patimahal in the Kishtwar area of Doda district.
May 25	Four Army personnel and a civilian are killed and another civilian is wounded during a gun battle with a group of unidentified terrorists at Nelipora village in the Kupwara district.
May 27	Three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen are killed during an encounter with the security force personnel at Chansar village in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district.
May 29	Unidentified terrorists shot at and injure Moulvi Mushtaq Ahmed, the uncle of Awami Action Committee chief, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, in the Moulvi Mosque, adjacent to the Mirwaiz Manzil in downtown locality of Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar.
May 31	Two terrorists, including Hizb-e-Islami ‘commander’ Saqib Hussain, are shot dead during an encounter which ensued after troops raided a village at Kulgam in the Anantnag district.
June 4	The Army foils an exfiltration attempt on the Line of Control at Lohara Gali in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district by killing three terrorists, suspected to be part of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. A soldier is reported to have died in the gun-battle that lasted for approximately eight hours. A group of unidentified terrorists kill two ruling People's Democratic Party activists at Sallar village in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district.
June 6	Three terrorists of the Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment outfit, including divisional commander’ Musharat Akhtari of Lahore in Pakistan, are killed in an encounter at village Battan Wali in the Poonch district.
June 7	The Army foils an infiltration attempt on the Line of Control by killing three terrorists at Pathana Teer in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district.
June 8	Hasnain Ali alias Doctor, ‘deputy chief’ of the Al Badr and Abu Hamza, the outfit’s ‘district commander for Budgam’, are reportedly killed in a gun-battle with the security force personnel in the Beerwah area of Budgam district.
June 10	A group of terrorists kill four members of a family, including an infant, in their house at village Shorafiri in the Mahore area of Udhampur district.
June 12	At least five persons are killed and 25 others sustain injuries when a grenade planted by unidentified terrorists exploded in front of the Purnima Hotel at Pahalgam in Anantnag district.
June 14	Bashir Ahmed Ganai alias DC, a ‘district commander’ of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) is shot dead by troops of the Rashtriya Rifles during a cordon-and-search operation at Daanseer village in the Budgam district.
June 15	While the Congress party legislator from Hiranagar, Girdhari Lal, escapes unhurt during a grenade attack on his vehicle in the capital Srinagar, unidentified terrorists are reported to have shot dead the brother of another Congress legislator Abdur Rasheed Dar in the Sopore area of Baramulla district.
June 16	Two terrorists, including Abu Haider, a ‘district commander’ of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM), are shot dead by the troops during an encounter at village Gounthal in the Poonch district.
June 17	An Assistant Commandant of the Border Security Force (BSF) is killed and 15 people, including four BSF personnel and a three-year old child, sustain injuries during a grenade blast at Sopore town in the Baramulla district.
June 19	Army foils an infiltration bid on the Line of Control (LoC) by killing five terrorists at Naushera Nar in the Kupwara district.
June 20	Two police personnel and Azim Khan, ‘commander’ of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment, are killed and six people sustain injuries during an encounter at village Dudasan Pain under the jurisdiction of Thannamandi police station in Rajouri district.
June 23	At least twenty-two people, including five women, are wounded when an unidentified terrorist lobbed a hand grenade targeting a security forces’ vehicle at Bijbehara in the Anantnag district.
June 24	Commenting on the ongoing peace process in Jammu and Kashmir during his televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said his Government would continue the process of dialogue with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and all other groups. "The government is willing to talk with all disaffected groups provided they shun the path of violence," said Dr. Singh during his first address to the nation after he took over as the Prime Minister in May 2004.
June 25	Suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists kill the abducted railway engineer, Sudhir Kumar Pundeer, and his brother. Their slit-throat bodies are recovered from the Zainapora area of Shopian in south Kashmir on June 25.
June 26	Twelve persons, including three children, are killed during a terrorist attack at village Teli Katha in the Surankote area of Poonch district.
June 28	In a joint statement, India and Pakistan stated that their Foreign Secretaries, Shashank and Riaz Khokhar, had held a "detailed exchange" of views on Jammu and Kashmir and agreed to continue their "sustained and serious" dialogue to find a peaceful, negotiated and "final" settlement of the issue.
June 29	LeT ‘divisional commander’ Shahid Ahmed alias Zulu-4 and ‘district commander’ Zahid Hafiz Arian alias Nayeem are killed during an encounter in the Rawalpora area of Srinagar.
June 30	Two Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, identified as ‘district commander’ Osama and Rehman, are shot dead by the troops during an encounter at village Sam Samad in the Rajouri district.
July 2	Six police personnel are killed and two others sustain injuries when terrorists attacked the convoy of Member of Parliament, Choudhury Lal Singh, by detonating two improvised explosive devices at Sangom Bahthi in the Doda district.
July 4	Troops kill three infiltrators, who had been holed-up across Manawar Tawi in the Sunderbani sector, taking the death toll in the gun-battle to five while four soldiers were wounded.
July 7	A Lashkar-e-Toiba ‘section commander’, identified as Riaz Ahmed, is shot dead during an encounter with the security forces’ at Bash Dhar in the Doda district. Maulana Abbas Ansari, chairman of a faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), resigns as the separatist alliance’s chief while asking founder chairman of the undivided Hurriyat, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, to "re-launch" unification attempts.
July 8	Three terrorists of the Al-Fateh Force and an Army Captain are shot dead during an encounter that ensued after search operations at village Gundipora in the Baramulla district.
July 9	Three suspected LeT terrorists are killed during an encounter with the security force personnel at village Chakthroo in the Poonch district.
July 13	Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mangat Ram Sharma, escapes a bid on his life when terrorists fired a rifle grenade on his cavalcade near Lala Rukh Hotel in the capital Srinagar. Five persons, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, sustained injuries during the attack which occurred when Sharma was en route to Jehangir Chowk to attend the inauguration ceremony of Kashmir’s first fly-over.
July 14	For the first time, security forces in the State recover AK ammunition with poison head from a hideout at Chakri forest in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district.
July 17	Troops kill five Pakistani terrorists trying to infiltrate into the Indian side through Shahpur area near the Line of Control in Poonch district.
July 18	Mohammed Ashraf alias Aba Usman, a 'district commander' of Lashkar-e-Toiba, is shot dead by troops during an encounter at Seoj Gali in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district.
July 19	Even as Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma escaped another assassination attempt - six days after a grenade attack in the capital Srinagar - at least six persons died and 50 others sustained injuries when terrorists carried out a grenade attack on three Congress Ministers and over a dozen senior Government officials during a rally at Kapran village in the Anantnag district.
July 20	Three police personnel are killed, one sustains injuries and another is reported missing after a terrorist ambush at village Bhingra in the Doda district.
July 22	Lashkar-e-Toiba ‘deputy chief’ for Jammu and Kashmir, ‘Colonel’ Usman, is among five terrorists reportedly killed in an encounter with the troops at Tikkipora village in Kupwara district.
July 25	Syed Salahuddin, chief of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, said in Islamabad that the outfit would declare a cease-fire if the Indian government withdraws its troops from Jammu and Kashmir and begin tripartite negotiations on the Kashmir issue.
July 28	Five Central Reserve Police Force personnel and two terrorists were killed during an overnight gun-battle inside the para-military force camp on the banks of Dal Lake in the capital Srinagar.
July 30	Three terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit are arrested during a raid on a house in Javed Colony near the General Bus Stand in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
August 1	Mohammad Jameel alias Zafar, ‘district commander’ of the Hizb-e-Islami outfit, is killed in an encounter with the troops at Kralpora in the Budgam district.
August 2	The Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) allows its senior leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to form a new independent political party for finding a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue. The JeI also decided to become a member of the executive council of his faction of the APHC.
August 4	Nine Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including a company commander, and one terrorist are killed and nine people sustain injuries during an encounter after two terrorists stormed a CRPF camp in the Rajbagh locality of capital Srinagar.
August 6	Three terrorists, an equal number of soldiers and a woman are killed while another soldier is wounded during an encounter at Ari-Goripora in the Kangan area.
August 7	Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani floats his own party, the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu & Kashmir (TH). With support from his parent organisation, the Jamaat-e-Islami, Geelani announced that he shall function as chairman of his TH as well as his faction of the APHC.
August 12	A new separatist political outfit, Tehreek-e-Waahdat-e-Islami (Islamic Movement for Unity), is launched in the capital Srinagar by the head of Tehreek-e-Nifaaz-e-Shariat (movement for implementation of Islamic law) Nissar Hussain Rather.
August 19	Manzoor Ahmed Bhat alias Manzoor-ul-Islam, ‘chief commander’ of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM), is killed during an encounter with the security forces in the Bemina area of capital Srinagar.
August 21	Security forces kill two terrorists of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), including ‘company commander’ for Damhal Hanjipora area, Reyaz Ahmed Malik, in an encounter at Khul village in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district.
August 23	Abdul Rehman alias Hamza Askaari, an ‘area commander’ of the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, is killed by the troops at Darhal in the Rajouri district during a search operation.
August 25	A ‘commander’ of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Abdul Rehman Al-Darees alias Mussa, is killed in the Thannamandi area of Rajouri district.
August 27	The troops shot dead Mohammed Hassan Askari, a ‘commander’ of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), during an encounter at Choudhary Narh in the Rajouri district. During a separate encounter, Mohammed Ashfaq, an ‘area commander’ of JeM, died during an encounter with the troops at Bigial Mohalla in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.
August 28	A 'divisional commander' of the HM, Javid Ahmad Sheikh alias Kuka Sheikh, is killed during a shootout with a joint party of police and CRPF personnel near Gani memorial stadium at Rajouri Kadal in Srinagar.
August 29	The Army foiled two infiltration attempts on the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera and Keri sectors killing eight terrorists, including a top LeT ‘commander’ Kale Khan.
August 30	The People’s League headed by Sheikh Abdul Aziz joins the faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
August 12	A new separatist political outfit, Tehreek-e-Waahdat-e-Islami (Islamic Movement for Unity), is launched in the capital Srinagar by the head of Tehreek-e-Nifaaz-e-Shariat (movement for implementation of Islamic law) Nissar Hussain Rather.
August 19	Manzoor Ahmed Bhat alias Manzoor-ul-Islam, ‘chief commander’ of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM), is killed during an encounter with the security forces in the Bemina area of capital Srinagar.
August 21	Security forces kill two terrorists of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), including ‘company commander’ for Damhal Hanjipora area, Reyaz Ahmed Malik, in an encounter at Khul village in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district.
August 23	Abdul Rehman alias Hamza Askaari, an ‘area commander’ of the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, is killed by the troops at Darhal in the Rajouri district during a search operation.
August 25	A ‘commander’ of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Abdul Rehman Al-Darees alias Mussa, is killed in the Thannamandi area of Rajouri district.
August 27	The troops shot dead Mohammed Hassan Askari, a ‘commander’ of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), during an encounter at Choudhary Narh in the Rajouri district. During a separate encounter, Mohammed Ashfaq, an ‘area commander’ of JeM, died during an encounter with the troops at Bigial Mohalla in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.
August 28	A 'divisional commander' of the HM, Javid Ahmad Sheikh alias Kuka Sheikh, is killed during a shootout with a joint party of police and CRPF personnel near Gani memorial stadium at Rajouri Kadal in Srinagar.
August 29	The Army foiled two infiltration attempts on the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera and Keri sectors killing eight terrorists, including a top LeT ‘commander’ Kale Khan.
August 30	The People’s League headed by Sheikh Abdul Aziz joins the faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
September 1	The Army foils an infiltration attempt near the Line of Control in the Gambhir sector of Rajouri district by killing three terrorists.
September 2	Suspected Hizb-ul-Mujahideen cadres are reported to have killed three Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists near Maman village in the Pulwama district.
September 4	The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) ‘intelligence chief’, Abdur Rasheed Dar alias Tariq Aziz, is shot dead by unidentified assassins in his residential village of Ratnipora in the Pulwama district.
September 7	A ‘battalion commander’ of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM) outfit is killed in an encounter with the security forces at Duraswani in the Kupwara district.
September 8	A group of suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists are reported to have beheaded three civilians at Budhal in the Rajouri district.
September 9	Three Central Reserve Police Force personnel are killed and four others sustained injuries while a Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police had a narrow escape as terrorists triggered two IED explosions with a remote control in the Doda district.
September 10	Abdus Sattar alias Jindal, ‘deputy chief’ of Hizb-e-Islami, is killed during an encounter after the security force personnel raided a terrorist hideout at Hassanpora Arwani in the outskirts of Bijbehara town in Anantnag district.
September 11	Hizb-ul-Mujahideen ‘section commander’ Mohammad alias Zafar, a resident of Tragan, is killed by the troops during an encounter at Banihal in the Doda district.
September 12	The overnight suicide attack on a paramilitary formation at Dalgate in the capital city of Srinagar ends with the death of two Deputy Commandants of the Central Reserve Police Force. Both the suicide squad terrorists were killed by the security forces.
September 13	Three civilians, in whose house LeT terrorist Haneef Maisi alias Abu Zubair was killed about a fortnight ago, are shot dead by the terrorists at village Handali Tarkund near Surankote in the Poonch district.
September 14	Meraj-ud-din alias Faisal, a ‘battalion commander’ of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, is killed in the Sheikh Nar forest area of Lolab in Kupwara district.
September 15	Pir Hissam-ud-din, senior Jamaat-e-Islami functionary and political secretary to the pro-Pakistan All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, is shot dead by three unidentified gunmen at his Bemina residence in capital city of Srinagar. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen ‘company commander’ Fayaz Ahmed Dar is found dead in the Tral area of Pulwama district.
September 17	Nazir Afghani alias Hamid, a ‘district commander’ of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, is shot dead by the security force personnel at Bazipora forest area in Baramulla district.
September 18	Troops kill five terrorists of the LeT and Hizb-e-Islami at Chitti Pass in the Surankote area of Poonch district.
September 19	HM Hizb ‘section commander’, Mohammed Amin, is killed by the security force personnel at village Nun Chaba in the Gandoh area of Doda district.
September 22	Six civilians sustain injuries as terrorists fired rifle grenades while Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was filing nomination papers as the People’s Democratic Party candidate for by-elections to the Pahalgam Legislative Assembly seat in Anantnag district.
September 23	Troops shot dead a LeT ‘divisional commander’, identified as ., and his associates, Sajjad Ahmad Lone and Javed Ahmad Rather alias Abu Muslim Zarar, during an encounter at Paddarpora in the Pulwama district.
September 27	Security forces kill a ‘company commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, identified as Riyaz Ahmed Bhat alias Maajid, in an encounter at Guphan in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district.
September 29	A group of terrorists shot dead the Congress party’s vice president for Anantnag, Mohammad Yusuf Bhat alias Yusuf Mattan, along with his Personal Security Officer at Rishi Bazaar in the Anantnag town.
September 30	A group of unidentified terrorists are reported to have shot dead separatist leader, Mohammad Rafiq Shah alias Shaheen, near his residence at Chinkral Mohalla in the capital city of Srinagar. Three civilians are killed and five others sustain injuries when terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device at Kanishpora in the Baramulla district.
October 4	During an encounter at Ban Dodi in the Surankote area of Poonch district, the troops are reported to have killed six top cadres of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, including two ‘commanders’.
October 5	JeM ‘district commander’ Abu Sufiyaan and Saidullah, a ‘tehsil commander’ were killed and two terrorists arrested by the security force personnel at village Sungri in the Kishtwar area of Doda district. Three soldiers and three terrorists were killed during an encounter at Iqbalabad Zainakote, about 10 km from the capital city of Srinagar.
October 7	Two JeM terrorists, including ‘district commander’ Umar Mansoori, are killed during an encounter with the security forces at village Dhanna in the Darhal area of Rajouri district.
October 8	A group of terrorists attack the convoy of National Conference president Omar Abdullah at Sher Bibi between Ramban and Banihal. Abdullah escapes unhurt.
October 9	In a suicide attack on an army convoy, at least four soldiers and a civilian driver were killed while 35 others sustained injuries near Hartrath bridge, Singhpura on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway.
October 11	Three LeT terrorists including, a self-styled ‘district commander’ Abu Anaf, were killed during an encounter at Kachhdara village in the Pulwama district.
October 13	Four LeT terrorists trying to exfiltrate to the other side of Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri Sector of Baramulla district were killed by the army personnel.
October 16	Four LeT terrorists and two Army soldiers were killed in a gunbattle in Rajwar forest area of Handwara in Kupwara district.
October 18	Three unidentified terrorists were killed in a joint operation by troops of the 39 Rashtriya Rifles and police at Aman Mohalla in Snehi Top area of Surankote in Poonch district.
October 21	Senior National Conference leader and former minister Safdar Ali Beg shot dead by unidentified terrorists at a shop in Sarnal locality of Anantnag town.
October 24	National Conference president, Omar Abdullah, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, and a number of other senior leaders of the party had a narrow escape when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), planted by unidentified terrorists exploded injuring seven people in Anantnag town.
October 26	Ten terrorists attempting to infiltrate into Indian territory crossing the Line of Control (LoC) shot dead by the Army at Gulab Post in Kumkari Haihama area of Kupwara district.
October 31	Two HuJI terrorists were killed by the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and police personnel in an encounter at Warwan in Doda district.
November 1	Troops of Rashtriya Rifles shoot dead HM ‘chief administrator’ of Anantnag district, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Ahangar alias Baabar Chacha in an ambush at Golard, near Brakpora, in Achhabal locality of Anantnag district
November 3	Five LeT terrorists, hiding in a mosque in Khilan Gund-e-Moosa in Pulwama-Bijbehara belt shot dead following a six-hour security force operation.
November 4	Security forces kill a HM terrorist, identified as Ashiq Kalsi in an encounter in Kellar forest area of Pulwama district.
November 5	Seven persons, including four Police personnel are injured in a grenade attack by unidentified terrorists near a Hotel at Pahalgam.
November 6	Security forces foil an infiltration attempt from across the border and kill five LeT terrorists, at Balnoi area of Krishna Ghati (KG) sector of Poonch district.
November 7	Two terrorists and an Army soldier killed in an encounter as security force foiled an infiltration attempt on the LoC in Domail area along Poonch river. Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, after visiting border outposts in R S Pura sector in Kashmir, stated that the Government of India could consider a cease-fire in Jammu and Kashmir "if the situation so arises".
November 8	Nine persons including four soldiers were injured when a Fidayeen (suicide attacker) blew himself up outside a Rashtriya Rifles camp in Baramulla district.
November 9	47 terrorists, including seven ‘commanders’ of the LeT, Al Jehad and HuM, laid down their arms before police at Nagrota near Jammu.
November 11	Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh announced reduction of troops deployed in the State this winter in view of "improvement" in the situation there but made it clear that the decision would be kept under "constant review". Two Fidayeen (suicide) terrorists were killed when they stormed a formation of the paramilitary CRPF 94 Battalion in Hotel York and Hotel Ritz at Dalgate in Srinagar city.
November 14	Unidentified terrorists attacked a police picket at Nadimarg in Pulwama district, killing three security personnel on duty.
November 15	Two civilians were shot dead and a Special Police Officer (SPO) was seriously injured in firing by unidentified terrorists at village Tund in Patnazi area in Doda district. In a BBC Hindi programme, the APHC chairman Mirwaiz Omer Farooq says "If the Indian Prime Minister wants to take any initiative towards the political solution to the Kashmir problem, we would seriously consider it."
November 16	Suspected HM terrorists killed two counter-insurgents (Ikhwanis) and four members of their families at Chak-e-Kawoosa, near Narbal in the Budgam district.
November 17	Security forces killed two Fidayeen terrorists near the Sher-e-Kashmir International Cricket Stadium in Sonwar Bagh, Srinagar, the venue of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s public meeting. In a virtual rejection of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s new formula on Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that India would not accept any proposal for redrawing of International Border or further division of the country.
November 19	Three soldiers including a Major were killed and a Captain was seriously injured when terrorists detonated an IED under their vehicle at a culvert at village Sailan in Surankote tehsil (administrative unit) of Poonch district
November 24	Doda police and troops of Rashtriya Rifles killed two HM terrorists in an encounter at village Darosh in Bhagwa area of Doda district. India conveyed to Pakistan its willingness to "look at various options based on ground realities" to resolve the Kashmir issue, but ruled out redrawing of the country’s borders even as the two neighbours agreed to launch the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service "as early as possible" and take their composite dialogue process forward.
November 26	Two HUJI terrorists killed by security forces at village Ranjan in Gandoh area of Doda district.
November 27	Four LeT terrorists killed in an encounter with security forces near Doodh Mohalla on Foreshore Road in the outskirts of Srinagar.
November 28	Terming the Union Government’s decision to reduce troops in Jammu and Kashmir as "substantial", Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the exercise was "experimental" which could be reversed if the situation demanded.
November 29	Twelve people are wounded as unidentified terrorists hurl a hand grenade targeting a police party in the Lal Chowk area of capital Srinagar.
December 3	Fidayeen (suicide squad) terrorists attack a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) guarded Special Operations Group camp in Sopore, Baramulla district, killing five CRPF personnel and wounding two others. Two terrorists were also killed in the attack.
December 5	Ten security force personnel are killed when terrorists detonated a remote-controlled IED, hidden in an underground water pipe, near Naiyna Batpora village in the Pulwama district.
December 6	Security forces kill a ‘district commander’ of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, identified as Saifullah, in the Bandipore area of Baramulla district.
December 8	At least 36 people sustain injuries when a grenade lobbed by terrorists missed a police patrol and exploded at a crowded marketplace in Anantnag town, 55 km south of Srinagar. Answering questions in the Parliament, Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee states that infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir had increased in November compared to September and October this year.
December 9	Two police personnel are killed and four more, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, sustained injuries when terrorists attacked the Imam Sahib camp of Special Operations Group in the Shopian area of Pulwama district.
December 10	Four police personnel are killed and four Village Defence Committee (VDC) members sustained injuries during an encounter with a group of terrorists at village Mathain in the Kathua district.
December 14	During a 90-minute reply to a discussion on internal security in the Lower House of Parliament (Lok Sabha), the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, stated that infiltration has gone down by 60 per cent, incidents of violence by 24 per cent and killings by 12 per cent this year in J&K. Patil said among the reasons for the improvement in the situation were the fencing along the India-Pakistan border and efforts of security forces and State police to combat terrorist violence. However, he added that attacks with rockets, grenades and mines against politicians and security force personnel had shown an increasing trend in J&K.
December 17	A ‘district commander’ of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, identified as Abu Umar alias Bravo 1, is shot dead during a joint operation by troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group in the Surankote area of Poonch district.
December 19	A ‘tehsil commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit, identified as Mohammed Hafiz Bhat alias Danish, is shot dead by the troops during an encounter at Sherkhi Katari Gali in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district.
December 21	Two LeT terrorists, including ‘deputy district commander’ Abu Anees, are killed during an encounter with the security forces inside a natural cave at village Ganjot in the Mahore area of Udhampur district. Making a suo moto statement in the Parliament on foreign policy related issues, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says that India has made it clear to Pakistan that while it was willing to look at "possible options" for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue, it would not agree to any redrawing of boundaries or another partition of the country.
December 22	A ‘commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, identified as Ali Mohammad Dar alias Bilal, is reported to have died during an encounter with the troops at Nagbal in the Tral area of Pulwama district. The Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, informed the Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) that during last three years and up to November 30, 2004, as many as 1575 army personnel, including 102 officers, have lost their lives during anti-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
December 28	The 'operational chief' of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM), identified as Mohammad Shafi Dar, is arrested from the Srinagar district.
December 29	Senior National Conference leader, Farooq Ahmed Zargar, is killed by a group of terrorists in the Kawdara area of capital Srinagar. The 'chief area commander' of HuJI outfit, Tahir Billa, is shot dead during an encounter with troops of the Gorkha Rifles and Rajouri Police in the Khoyla forest area of Rajouri district.
December 31	Three LeT cadres are killed during an encounter that ensued after SF personnel raided their hideout at Nawpora Reban in the Sopore area of Baramulla district.