Jammu & Kashmir: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2019

A suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, identified as Showket Ahmed Khan alias Aumer Bhai who was allegedly involved in a weapon-snatching case, was arrested at Barzulla in Srinagar District on March 1, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Clashes broke out near the encounter site at Babgund Langate area of Handwara in Kupwara District between SFs and youth in which one civilian was killed another three were injured, reports Daily Excelsior. In SFs’ action, at least four youth were injured, three of them have suffered pellet injuries while one received injuries in his foot. A youth Waseem Ahmad Mir, suffered critical bullet wounds in his abdomen and head later succumbed to his injuries. Read less...

Earlier on March 1, at least two dozen activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) were arrested in overnight raids and over a dozen establishments of the party were sealed, reports Daily Excelsior. The number of the leaders and activists of the JeI arrested for last one week is now over 300. These leaders and activists were arrested during night raids and even on March 1 night over two dozen leaders and activists of the Islamist party were arrested. The administration with the help of Police swooped on the offices of JeI across Kashmir and sealed at least one dozen establishments and its offices. The offices and establishments were sealed on the direction of District Magistrates of the respective districts. Read less...

Four Security Forces (SFs) personnel including a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Inspector were killed and eight others including a Commandant of the paramilitary forces injured in the encounter at Babgund Langate area of Handwara in Kupwara District on March 1, reports Daily Excelsior. SFs launched a joint operation in Babgund village after specific input about presence of a group of militants hiding in the village including a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) ‘commander’. The militants fired on the troops during the searches leading to clashes in which a house suffered major damage. As the firing stopped in the afternoon, the troops zeroed in towards the damaged house during which the militants fired at them indiscriminately, leading to martyrdom of four SF personnel while around eight others were injured. The firing stopped on March 1 evening and the SFs put the operation on hold for the night and will resume it in the morning of March 2. Sources said that there are around three militants hiding in the area. Read less...

Pakistan army on March 1 continued firing and shelling in several forward villages of Lower Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch District, killing three members of a family including a woman and her two children, one of them just nine-month-old and injuring four others including two civilians and two Army men, one of them a Major. Read less...

Pakistan on March 1 night opened fire at Lower Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch Dictrict targeting forward villages of Jhalas, Salhutri, Bera and surroundings, hitting civilian population with long range mortar shells and artillery fires. Indian Army immediately retaliated Pakistan’s shelling and firing. There were reports of seven casualties on Pakistan side including three army personnel. Read less...

Pakistani troops continued shelling and firing in Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote and Nowshera sectors in Rajouri and Poonch Districts during the day on March 1, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Stone pelting clash was reported in Pulwama in Pulwama District when the JeI office in Pulwama was locked on March 1, reports Daily Excelsior. The protesters were, however, chased away by the Security Forces (SFs). Read less...

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted on a road by suspected militants exploded at Amlar village in Awantipora area of Pulwama District on March 2, report Greater Kashmir. Police source said that militants triggered the IED, planted in the middle of road, in Amlar village of Awantipora at around 3 am. However, the source said there was no loss of life or injury to anyone due to the explosion. Read less...

Another couple was injured in Pakistani shelling in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District on March 2, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India, New Delhi said on March 2 after the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) criticised India on Kashmir in a resolution adopted by the influential grouping of 57 countries, reports Daily Excelsior. The resolution came just a day after Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, as the guest of honour, called out “states which shelter terrorists”.In its first reaction to the resolution, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Our stand is consistent and well known. We reaffirm that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India.” In a sharply-worded statement on March 2, the OIC hit out at what it called “intensified Indian barbarities since July 2016” and “illegal detentions and disappearances” in Jammu and Kashmir.On March 1, Sushma Swaraj had urged the OIC to “act together” to combat global terrorism amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan triggered by the Pulwama terror attack last month. Though she did not name Pakistan in her 17-minute address, she said, “If we want to save humanity, we must tell the states who provide shelter and funding to terrorists, to dismantle the infrastructure of the terrorist camps and stop providing funding shelter and funding to the terror organisations based in that country.”She also said terrorism, which was destabilising regions and putting the world at great peril, was not against any religion. “Terrorism and extremism bear different names and labels. It uses diverse causes. But in each case, it is driven by distortion of religion, and a misguided belief in its power to succeed. The fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion,” Ms Swaraj said. On March 2, the OIC adopted a resolution on Kashmir, attacking India for “indiscriminate use of force against innocent Kashmiris” and also praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for sending back Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured after an aerial encounter on February 27. Read less...

Sources said the Indian side retaliated firing and shelling effectively and strongly at all the places to silence the Pakistani guns, reports Daily Excelsior. It said that four more Pakistani army personnel were killed in retaliatory shelling and firing by the Indian troops on March 2. Official sources said Pakistan has confirmed the killing of its four Army jawans (troopers) in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops across Rajouri and Poonch Districts and also admitted heavy infrastructural losses on their side. Throughout the March 1 night and March 2 morning, ambulances could be seen shifting dead and injured on Pakistan side to the hospitals opposite Mendhar, Mankote, Balakote, Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts. According to reports, over 100 houses and other structures were reported to have been damaged in Pakistant shelling in Indian side, reports Daily Excelsior. The panic-stricken border residents in some worst-hit villages fled to safer places. The district administration in Rajouri and Poonch have made necessary arrangements in case more people are forced to flee their homes. Read less...

Three civilians, identified as Azad Ahmad, Zahida Khatoon and Zarina were injured in Pakistan shelling in Mankote in Poonch District after mortar shells exploded close to their houses on March 2, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Two days after the Government of India banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), for its links with terror and extremist elements, Jammu Police on March 2 launched a major crackdown across the region arresting three leaders of the outfit and detaining seven others ordering freeze of its six accounts and sealed nearly dozen assets, reports Daily Excelsior. During the operation, ‘jihadi literature’ in large quantity was recovered from Lawnyal, Kishtwar office, which showed that it was preaching ‘jihad’ and luring its cadre towards the militant outfits. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, MK Sinha said that 14 police teams, joined by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), initiated simultaneous raids on Jamaat-e-Islami assets including offices, houses of the leaders and all wings affiliated with it in six districts including Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban. “The raids were conducted after Jammu Police prepared detailed list of the Jamaat assets across the region, which concluded late this evening,” Sinha said. Sources confirmed the arrests and said three leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami have been arrested from various places during the raids, which concluded this evening while seven others were detained. “At least six bank accounts of the banned outfit have been identified and the concerned Banks have been directed to immediately freeze them. We have also asked the Banks to give complete details of the transactions in the accounts,” Sinha, who supervised the raids across the region, said. Sources said nearly dozen assets of the Jamaat-e-Islami have been sealed in six districts. One of the prominent Jamaat leaders, Ghulam Nabi Gundana of Kishtwar was admitted in the hospital and he has been kept there in house arrest. One Jamaat leader from Jammu managed to escape and was being searched. Read less...

SecurityForces (SFs) launched a cordon-and-search operation in Malangpora village of Pulwama District on March 3, reports Greater Kashmir.A Police official said personnel of army, special operations group of J&K Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) cordoned off the area at around 8.30pm “following inputs about presence of militants.” The operation was in progress when the report last came in. Earlier, forces laid a siege around Zainbatoo village in Shopian district and searched a few houses. Read less...

Suspected militants lobbed a grenade towards the residence of a Police officer in the Awantipora in Pulwama District on March 3 evening, reports Greater Kashmir.A source said militants attacked the residence of Deputy Superintendent of Police (operations), but the grenade exploded outside and no loss of life or injury was reported.The militants managed to escape from the spot, the source said. Read less...

Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, one commander and his associate were killed on March 3 in a 56-hour-long encounter at Babgund Langate area of Handwara in Kupwara District. One Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, identified as Sham Narayan Singh Yadav, who was injured earlier succumbed on March 3. The total death toll in the encounter rises to seven including five Security Forces (SFs) personnel and two militants. One civilian also killed in the ensuing clashes with the SFs on March 1. Earlier SATP had reported that Four SFs personnel including a CRPF Inspector were killed and eight others including a Commandant of the paramilitary forces injured in the encounter on March 1.The encounter ended on March 3 after three days of intense firing between troops and trapped militants in Babagund village. Bodies of two militants were recovered from the encounter site. The slain militants were identified as LeT ‘commander’ Kabullah (Pakistani national) and Ishfaq Majid (local resident). According to reports, the special forces of Army or Para-commandos were called in on March 2 to take on militants who had inflicted heavy casualties on the troops. Eight structures including two cowsheds were damaged in the gun battle as the militants were changing their positions during the gun battle.A Police spokesman said that the operation posed considerable difficulties to the SFs due to the topography of the area. “Area where the terrorists were hiding was very congested and civilians in the adjoining houses had to be evacuated to the safer places away from the site of encounter”, Police said.“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case in this matter and the incriminating materials retrieved from the site of encounter have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror cases”, Police said. Officials also said that the Babagund operation was one of the longest gun-battles between militants and SFs in Northern Kashmir in recent years.The casualties on the SFs’ side—five personnel—were highest in a single encounter in northern Kashmir in the recent years, they said Read less...

“The ban on Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Jammu and Kashmir is to ensure complete non-functioning of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) as it has been the brain behind the separatist group,” said a Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) official, reports Greater Kashmir on March 5.The “sole” agenda of the Government of India’s ban on Jamaat-e-Islami is to curb separatism in Jammu and Kashmir as the organisation has been the “brain” behind the APHC which, the investigating agencies claim, has been ideologically supporting Pakistan-sponsored militancy, said sources in the UMHA.Sources said the JeI (J&K) has been “instrumental behind the APHC's role in militant activities, especially in the Valley, with the support of Pakistan for the last three decades.” The ban would help the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other agencies take action against the JeI (J&K), which has been providing "logistic support" and feeding "new ideas" to the APHC for spreading militancy in the Valley, under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), said the official. Normally, the official said, the probe agencies or the police would have to go through legal documentations and collect “more strong evidence to prove the illegal activities of any organisation”.The APHC, the official said, is a conglomerate of organisations with “separatist and militant leanings” and has been instrumental in “stone pelting and recruiting youth to join militancy through radicalization” in the Valley. The NIA has already registered a case against it besides arresting several separatist leaders. The Home Ministry's decision to ban the JeI (J&K) came after it received inputs that the Hurriyat has become active to increase the "overground workers" support on the JeI's instructions for enhancing militant activities, not only in J&K but across the country, said the official. Read less...

Army on March 4 destroyed four unexploded mortar shells at Chajla Patri in Mendhar sector of Poonch District. The mortar shells had been fired by the Pakistan army a couple of days back in civilian areas but they hadn’t exploded. Read less...

Pakistan army on March 4 resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector in Poonch District and Akhnoor sector in Jammu District targeting forward defence posts and civilian installations, reports Daily Excelsior. Reports said Pakistan army started shelling and firing in Pallanwalla area of Akhnoor sector in Jammu District at 3 am on March 4, which was immediately replied by the Indian side very strongly. Read less...

Pakistani troops started shelling and firing at Shahpur, Kirni, Kasba, Malti and surrounding villages of Poonch sector in Poonch District on March 4 evening, reports Daily Exc. Pakistan on March 4 again used long range mortar shells and heavy fire arms to target civilian areas in Poonch sector but failed to inflict any damages as Indian side gave an effective retaliation. Exchange of shelling and firing in some areas on the LoC continued till late in the night. Read less...

Report said that situation has been very tense on the LoC in twin border Districts of Poonch and Rajouri, where Pakistan had violated ceasefire for over 50 times, ever since the Indian air strike at Balakote deep inside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Four civilians have been killed on the Indian side and nearly a dozen others were injured. However, number of casualties has been very high on Pakistan side where at least seven Pakistani troops were dead. Pakistan has also suffered heavy infrastructural losses. While giving strong response to Pakistan army’s mortar shelling and firing, the Indian soldiers were also keeping strict surveillance on the LoC to thwart infiltration attempts by the militants, sources said, adding that Pakistan was frustrated by ‘Operation Balakote’ of the Indian Air Force and was, therefore, trying to push the militants to carry out an attack on security forces. Security Forces (SFs) have been maintaining very high alert all along the Line of Control and International Border to ensure that the militants don’t succeed in their infiltration plot. Read less...

A 12-bore rifle of a security guard posted at Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch in Kumdalan village of Shopian District was missing from intervening night of March 5-6, reports Daily Excelsior.The incident took place on intervening night at JK Bank branch Kumdalan in Shopian. “No cash is missing from the bank. The snatchers fled the scene after snatching the rifle”, Police said. Read less...

An Army soldier was injured as Pakistan army again violated ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked mortar shelling and firing of small arms on forward posts and villages along Line of Control (LoC) at Nowshera sector in Rajouri District and Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch District on March 5, reports Daily Excelsior. Indian troops also retaliated very effectively and stronglyat all the places in Nowshera and Krishna Ghati sectors. Official sources said an Army trooper, guarding a forward post in Kalal area of Nowshera sector in Rajouri District, suffered a bullet injury in the firing from across the border on March 5.Sources said Pakistani troopers first targeted forward posts and villages in Nowshera around 11:30 am and the cross-border skirmishes continued for some time.Pakistani army also initiated shelling with mortars and small arms in Krishna Ghati sector around 6 pm, they said. There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan after India’s air strike at Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist camp in Balakote on February 26 in a preemptive action following the February 14 Pulwama attack. Four civilians, including three members of a family, were killed and several others injured in over 60 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC last week. Read less...

Clashes erupted at the encounter site in Reshipora area of Tral town of Pulwama District between local youth and SFs in which a civilian was injured, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Indian Army on March 6 issued a stern warning to Pakistan against targeting civilians on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC), saying that any “further provocation or misadventure” by it will have “dire consequences”, reports Greater Kashmir.“In the last 24 hours, the Pakistan army resorted to intense and unprovoked firing with heavy calibre weapons in selected areas of Krishna Ghati and Sunderbani, targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with mortar bombs and heavy artillery guns,” the army said in a statement.It said that it “effectively retaliated” to the attack and that there have been no casualties on the Indian side. “We would reiterate that as a professional army, we are committed to avoid civil casualties, especially along the LoC. All actions taken by our defence forces are targeted towards counter terrorism and terrorist infrastructure, away from civilian areas, to avoid civilian casualties,” the army said.“We are maintaining strict vigil along the Line of Control and International Border (IB). Any further provocation or misadventure by Pakistan will be responded in a befitting manner with dire consequences.”The army said that after its warning, the overall situation along the LoC “remains relatively calm”. Sources said the military officials of the two armies (India and Pakistan) spoke over the hotline on March 5 during which India had asked Pakistani side not to target civilian population along the LoC, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an accused suspected to be involved in 2018 Grenade attack on a Police station in Punjab from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), reports Business Standard on March 6. The arrestee has been identified as Amir Nazir Mir. On September 14, 2018, four grenades were hurled at the building of Maksudan Police Station in Jalandhar, in which one police personnel was injured. NIA stated that ‘investigation has revealed that the attack was handiwork of Kashmir-based terror outfit Ansar Ghazawat-ul-Hind (AGH)’. Mir is a key accused as he procured and facilitated delivery of four grenades used in the attack. Two other accused hailing from Pulwama identified as Fazil Bashir Pinchoo and ShahidQayoom -- were arrested earlier. Read less...

Traders strike called by various trade bodies over banning of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and tinkering with Article 35A disrupted normal life in Kashmir on March 5, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM)militants, identified as AdfarFayazParray and Irfan Ahmad Rather (local residents) were killed in an encounter in Reshipora area of Tral town of Pulwama District on March 5, reports Daily Excelsior.A joint team of Security Forces (SFs) cordoned off Reshipora village after credible input about presence of militants hiding in the area.As the house to house searches were going on, the search party of the troops was fired upon by the militants. The fire was retaliated, leading to a gunfight in which two militants were killed and the bodies were recovered from the site of encounter. “Arms and ammunition including rifles were recovered from the site of encounter”, sources said. Read less...

A HM militant, Shabir Ahmed Bhat alias Imran alias Sadat alis Subhan Afghnai alias Junaid, who belonged to the Mushtaq Malla group, surrendered to the Superintendent of Police Handwara following a raid on a hideout at Khan Tulwari along with an AK-56 rifle and a hand grenade. Read less...

A Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant, identified as Anwar (Pakistani national) was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) at Badra Payeen area in Kralgund in Handwara of Kupwara District on March 6, reports The Times of India. The body of the militant, who was killed after a brief gunfight on March 6 night, was recovered along with a pistol and a few grenades, on March 7. He added that the Army’s 32 Rashtriya Rifles (RR)jawans(troopers) were attacked when they were setting up a cordon after receiving inputs about the presence of some militants. The gunshots were retaliated, leading to an encounter in which the militant was killed.A Police spokesman said that, “Anwar, according to police records, was wanted by law for his involvement in a series of terror crimes including attacks on security establishments and for many other civilian atrocities. Several terror crime cases were registered against him.” Later, the slain militant was buried on March 7 evening in Rajwar area of Handwara in Kupwara District. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) busted a militant hideout in Kungnoo village of Shopian District on March 6, reports Daily Excelsior.A joint team of Police and 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army recovered huge quantity of incriminating materials and other items from the hideout.“Officers on the spot have seized all the incriminating materials and further investigation in the matter is going on”, Police said. Read less...

Jammu Police on March 7 arrested a HM militant, identified as Yasir Javed Bhat alias Arman of South Kashmir within few hours after he lobbed powerful grenade in a crowded area at General Bus Stand in which two civilians were killed and 32 others were injured, reports Daily Excelsior. According to sources, HM’s‘district commander’ Farooq Ahmad Bhat aliasUmar, based in Kulgam District had masterminded the blast in Jammu to target innocent people in crowded areas to disturb peace in the City.Police sources said that the HM militant Yasir Javed Bhat, who carried out the grenade attack at Bus Stand, was just a 9th class student of British School at Khanpora Dassan in Kulgam District. He was lured into militancy by Farooq Ahmed Bhat. Jammu Police have established contact with their Kulgam counterparts to ascertain more details about Yasir. However, this was reportedly the first terror act committed by Yasir, sources said. Read less...

Two civilians were killed and 32 others were injured as suspected Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militant lobbed powerful grenade targeting crowded place at Bus Stand platform near U-market in Jammu in Jammu District on March 7, reports Daily Excelsior. One civilian, identified as Mohammad Sharik(17), a resident of Uttarakhand, was killed and 33 others (10 hailing from Jammu, 11 from Kashmir and 12 from outside the State) were injured in the grenade explosion. Later, one more civilian succumbed to his injuries on March 8 (today) morning. The blast occurred on the roadside when there was huge rush of people. Sources said majority of the injured were travelers while some of them were shopkeepers and rehriwallahs (street vendors) in the vicinity of the area. Some vehicles parked in the area also suffered damage after being hit by splinters of the grenade. Read less...

A Pakistani intruder was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF)along the International Border (IB) in Ramgarh sector of Samba District on March 8, reports Daily Excelsior. A BSF official said that alert BSF personnel noticed the person and caught him soon after he sneaked into this side from Pakistan. He was arrested and is being interrogated, the official said without giving further details. Read less...

A Special Police Officer (SPO), identified as Sayeed Hussain Shah was seriously injured as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along the LoC in Gondria village in Shahpur sector of Poonch District on March 8, reports India Today. A defence spokesman said the shelling from across the border in Shahpur and Kerni sectors started around 6 pm, prompting strong and effective retaliation by the Indian Army. Read less...

Militants snatched AK-47 rifle and 90 rounds from Daleep Kumar, Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Rana, from his rented house at Asrarabad near Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Kishtwar District on March 8, reports Daily Excelsior.Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar Shakti Pathak said that two militants entered the rented room of Daleep Kumar, a Police constable of District Police Lines (DPL) Kishtwar, posted with the DC Kishtwar as PSO on March 8 night, and decamped with his AK-47 rifle and 90 rounds.The militants were equipped with a gun and didn’t give any chance to Daleep to react.Pathak said massive search operations have been launched in entire Kishtwar town to nab the militants, responsible for the rifle snatching.This was second militancy-related incident in Kishtwar in little over four months. Read less...

Normal life remained disrupted in Kashmir on March 8 due to strike called by separatists to protest against ban on Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), arresting its leadership and activists, PSA on Mohammad Yasin Malik and attempts to fiddle with the State subject law, reports Daily Excelsior.Shops, business establishments and petrol pumps remained closed on March 8. Security Forces (SFs) imposed restrictions in Srinagar to prevent any protests and violence. The restrictions under section 144 were imposed in parts of Srinagar. For the second consecutive week, the Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid (Srinagar) were disallowed by the authorities on March 8.The head cleric of the Masjid and All Parties Hurriyat Conference-Mirwaiz (APHC-M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who continued to remain under house arrest since March 7 evening was barred from leading prayers on March 8 at the Jamia Masjid. Read less...

Police on March 8 arrested another suspect, identified as Showkat Ahmad Bhat from Chenani in Udhampur District in connection with the grenade attack at Bus Stand in Jammu on March 7, reports Daily Excelsior. Police sources said they got specific information that another suspect from South Kashmir had reached Jammu along with Yasir Javed Bhat aliasArhan, who had lobbed the grenade at Bus Stand on March 7 morning and was arrested in the evening from Nagrota when he too was trying to return to South Kashmir.No recoveries have been made from Showkat so far. However, he was being questioned to ascertain his involvement in Bus Stand blast or whether he was on another mission to Jammu. Read less...

A suspected cross-border narcotics smuggler was arrested along with Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) worth INR 10 lakh and two kgs of heroin near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch District on March 9, reports The Indian Express. Mohammad Zaffar Khan, a resident of village Dabbi, was arrested while attempting to cross the LoC fence gate in Balakote area of Poonch on March 9 evening, a Police spokesperson said.Terming the arrest as a ‘major success’, the officer said 400 counterfeit notes in denomination of INR 2000 and 500 along with the heroin was recovered from Khan’s bag.He had received the consignment from across the border and was trying to smuggle it into the country, the officer added. Read less...

Defence Ministry on March 9 said that the media reports on the abduction of Mohammad Yaseen, a serving Army soldier, who was on leave, are incorrect, reports The New Indian Express. "Media reports of the abduction of a serving Army soldier on leave from Qazipora, Chadoora, are incorrect. (The) individual is safe. Speculations may please be avoided," a Defence Ministry statement said.On March 8 evening, it was reported that armed militants had abducted Yaseen from his residence in central Kashmir's Budgam District. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector in Jammu District of Jammu and Kashmir on March 9, reports Daily Excelsior. The IED was found planted on the roadside by a Police party during routine patrolling at Nandwal Chowk on Khour-Pallanwalla road, Police said. Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) of Police and the Army along with reinforcements isolated the area before successfully diffusing the explosive substance. Read less...

Pakistan violated ceasefire in Kamalkote sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector in Baramulla District by resorting to unprovoked mortar shelling at Indian posts on March 10, reports Daily Excelsior. At least four civilians, identified as Riyaz Ahmad Khatana, Meena Begum, Asif Ahmad and Ashfaq Ahmadwere injured as some shells landed in civilian areas in the village. A senior official said that the firing started at around 3:30 am and there was a lull in between and they again violated ceasefire in the afternoon.The official said that the Army gave befitting reply to the shelling from Pakistan and intermittent shelling continued for the whole day. The shelling created panic among residents and they took cover in their houses. Read less...

Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations targeting forward posts and villages at four places along the LoC in Poonch District on March 10, reports Daily Excelsior.The firing was intense in the Krishna Ghati sector, where the Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and firing by small arms from around 4.30 am, which was retaliated to befittingly by the Indian Army.The cross-border shelling between the two sides continued till 7.30 am. However, there was no report of any casualty on the Indian side. Officials said firing and shelling by Pakistan were also reported from the Balnoi and Mankote (both in Mendhar sector), besides from Shahpur sector, all in Poonch District, for a brief period in the early hours of March 10. Read less...

Parts of Srinagar city observed shutdown on March 10 against summoning of All Parties Hurriyat Conference-Mirwaiz (APHC-M)chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq to New Delhi by the National Investigating Agency (NIA), reports Daily Excelsior.The shutdown in the area was called by the traders of the area in protest against his summoning. The separatists termed the NIA summons to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Geelani’s son Syed Naseem Geelani and asking them to present themselves before NIA court in New Delhi on March 11, as sheer political vendetta.They strongly denounced the arrest spree, ban on Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), slapping of PSA on Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik and many others, harassing and intimidating the youth and elderly, vandalizing Properties, injuring the youth in peaceful protests, imposing curbs and restrictions in down town. Read less...

The army is on high alert anticipating “shallow infiltration” by terror groups to target troops and military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on March 10, reports NDTV. The officials, who are keeping an eye on developments along the 740-km Line of Control (LoC) stretching from Poonch in Jammu region to Kupwara in north Kashmir, claimed that Pakistan, having faced severe reverses during the recent heightened tension, might resort to its age-old "shoot-and-scoot" warfare technique by sending terrorists into the Indian side and cause some damage. In the past, "shallow infiltration" has been carried out by terror groups, in which either some army men were killed or damage was caused to an army installation, the officials said. They feel that terrorists were very much present along with the border populace in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and could be used for carrying out such attacks. Many a time, they come barely a few hundred metres into the Indian side, fire at a patrol party and run back to their side, the officials said, adding Pakistani troops provide them cover by firing at Indian posts. In the past, "shallow infiltration" -- striking the first available military installation or men after crossing the LoC -- has been seen in Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri sectors of Jammu region as well as Kupwara, Uri and Gurez in Kashmir division. Read less...

Three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants were killed in an encounter at Pinglish village of Tral in Pulwama District on March 10, report Daily Excelsior. A joint team of Security Forces (SFs) launched cordon and search operation in Pinglish village after reports about presence of three militants in the village including one local Mudasir Ahmad and two foreigners.As the search party reached near the house in which militants were hiding, they were fired upon by militants from inside the house, triggering a gun battle. In the intermittent firing, which continued throughout the day three militants were killed and two bodies of the militants were recovered from the debris of the house along with two AK-47 rifles and one pistol.The identities of the slain militants are yet to be ascertained. The search operation is still going on in the area.The bodies were charred and beyond the recognition as the house where the militants were hiding was set on fire. The New Indian Express adds that the mastermind of the February 14 Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel is believed to have been killed in an encounter at Pinglish village of Tral in Pulwama District on March 10. The encounter in Pinglish area of Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama District lasted past midnight in which Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Mudasir Ahmed Khan alias 'Mohd Bhai' was among the three militants killed, the officials said.Piecing together evidence gathered so far, security officials said that 23-year-old Khan, an electrician with a graduate degree and a resident of Pulwama, arranged the vehicle and explosives used in the terror strike.A resident of Mir Mohalla of Tral, Khan joined the JeM sometime in 2017 as an over ground worker (OGW) and was later drawn into the terror outfit by Noor Mohammed Tantreyalias 'Noor Trali', who is believed to have helped the terror group's revival in the Kashmir Valley.After Tantray was killed in December 2017, Khan disappeared from his home on January 14, 2018 and has been active since then. Read less...

A youth, identified as Rajinder Singh was arrested with two grenades and a detonator in Surankote area of Poonch District on March 11, reports Daily Excelsior. Rajinder Singh, a resident of Dalyote village in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri District, had come for a recruitment rally for Territorial Army (TA) which was underway and was arrested during frisking outside the Army town gate in Surankote. A C-90 grenade, a UBGL (Under Barrel Grenade Launcher) grenade and a detonator were recovered from his possession. Read less...

General-Officer-Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar based 15 Corps, Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, on March 11 said that Security Forces (SFs) have killed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants after February 14 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy attack so that such attacks are not repeated, reports Daily Excelsior. Dhillon said that main focus after the attack was to eliminate the JeM militants. “Our main emphasis after the convoy attack was to eliminate the JeM leadership and we have been successful in that,” he said. The GOC said that they succeeded in their efforts to prevent Pulwama type attack. “We have reasonably succeeded in eliminating JeM militants so that a Pulwama-type attack does not take place. The leadership of the JeM has been hit and hit deadly. We will continue it”, he said. The Corps Commander also said that in last three weeks troops have eliminated 18 militants including key conspirator of the attack, Mudasir Ahmad Khan. “In last 21 days, we have eliminated 18 terrorists and 14 are from JeM and 6 are main commanders. We have eliminated Mudasir Ahmad Khan, who was the main conspirator of the convoy attack”, he said. He said that the operation against JeM will continue till it is wiped out. “Eight Pakistani and 10 local terrorists were killed so far since the attack. Operation against foreign terrorists and JeM will continue till we eliminate all of them”, he said. Read less...

Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Kashmir, Swayam Prakash Pani on March 11 said that the recruitment of locals into the militant ranks has significantly dipped during the last about three months in Kashmir valley, reports Daily Excelsior. ”It is a positive development that the recruitment in militant ranks has significantly dipped during the last three months, which is proven by statistics,” he said. According to the IGP, normally, when a local youth joins the militant ranks, he announces the same on social media or his family files a missing compliant in a police station. However, he said such incidents have significantly decreased in the last three months. Read less...

The chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference-Mirwaiz (APHC-M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq didn’t appear before the National Investigating Agency (NIA) at New Delhi on March 11 and instead sent a written reply to the notice, reports Daily Excelsior. Mirwaiz, who was summoned by NIA to appear before its headquarters in New Delhi at 10.30 am on March 11, has asked the NIA to conduct his examination in Srinagar. In reply to NIA summons, Mirwaiz, through his lawyer Aijaz Ahmad Dhar, alleged that attempts were being made to link the moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman in false and fabricated cases of terror funding through manipulation. Advocate Dhar alleged that the notice appeared to have been issued on the basis of fallacious assumptions and misinformation solely aimed at maligning the Mirwaiz and knowing his status and position, it appears to be outcome of considerations other than the law. Read less...

The Indian Army on March 11 said that in the first 70 days of 2019 armed forces have eliminated 44 militants in Jammu and Kashmir and most of them were associated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), reports Free Press Kashmir. The Army also said that 478 ceasefire violations have taken place along the Line of Control (LoC) this year (2019). In 2018, according to the Indian Army, 1629 violations took place. Read less...

Also,all Indian air defence and radar system was put on high alert after observing movement of two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets close to the LoC in Poonch sector in Poonch District on March 12 night, reports Daily Excelsior. “Indian air defence radars detected two Pakistani Air Force (PAF) jets go supersonic, about 10 kilometers from the LoC within their territory in Poonch sector. Loud bangs were heard in Poonch sector in the area due to sonic booms of the jets,” sources said.However, within minutes, the Pakistani jets flew back to their bases. Read less...

Days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached a Gurgaon (Haryana) property worth over INR 1 crore belonging to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali in connection with its money laundering probe into allegations of terror funding through Hurriyat leaders, the agency is likely to attach more properties worth INR six crore in the days to come, reports The Indian Express on March 13. The ED, in its probe, has found that Kashmiri separatists have allegedly received at least INR seven crore from across the border to fund unrest in India. Identifying the money as proceeds of crime, ED has alleged that the funds were disbursed by conduits and the Pakistan High Commission in India. The agency has claimed this was substantiated through a document seized during searches at the residence of Ghulam Mohammad Bhatt, who worked as the cashier-cum-accountant with Watali. Read less...

In another incident, during cordon-and-search operation at Badroo Yaripora in Kulgam District, Security Forces (SFs) arrested persons, identified as Mohammad Ayoub Rather and recovered a grenade, Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) shell, eight rounds of AK and seven rounds of pistol from his possession. Read less...

Pakistan again violates ceasefire along Line of Control (LoC) Akhnoor sector in Jammu District on March 12, reports News Nation. However, Indian army retaliated effectively. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 12 arrested three persons from Shopian District in Jammu and Kashmir for alleged theft of seven AK series assault rifles of Security Forces (SFs) personnel posted at the residence of former PDP MLA Aijaz Ahmad Mir in Srinagar last year (September 2018), reports Daily Excelsior. Parveez Ahmad Wani, Javid Yousuf Dar and Subzar Ahmad Kumar were arrested by the NIA on March 12, NIA spokesperson said in New Delhi. “The case relates to theft of weapons from the guard room of official residence of Aijaz Ahmad Mir, former MLA of Wachi, at Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar. SPO Adil Bashir Sheikh was attached with him at his official residence,” he said. Sheikh had fled with seven AK rifles issued to the security personnel attached with Mir and also a personal pistol of the MLA, he said. Read less...

Two persons were arrested after a bank security guard’s missing rifle was recovered from their possession in Kumdalan village in Shopian District on March 12, reports Daily Excelsior. Police said that, “during questioning, a 12-bore rifle, which was missing from J&K Bank guard Kumdalan from March 6, was recovered from their possession”. Read less...

At least 14 youths were detained by Security Forces (SFs) at Ratnipora village in Pulwama District on March 13 night, reports Greater Kashmir.A Police official said that at around 11:30 pm SFs raided several residential houses in Ratnipora village of the district and detained 14 youths for allegedly taking part in separatist protests. Read less...

Militants shot dead a man, identified as Showkat Ahmad Naik alias Ashiqin Pinglina village of Pulwama District on March 13, reports Daily Excelsior.Ashiq Ahmadwas working in Army but had left his job few months back. However, defence spokesman said that he never took oath as a soldier. He said Naik, resident of Pinglina was enrolled on January 15, in Territorial Army (TA) and went to JAK LI (Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry) Regimental Center on Mar 21, 2018.He, however, said that Naik went on three days leave on September 14, 2018 but he never returned. “He was declared deserter on September 17, 2018,” he said.The spokesman further added that technically, after being declared deserter during training, he is a civilian. “We have no ex-recruit,” he added. Read less...

Pakistan troops violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) by resorting to unprovoked mortar shelling and small arms firing in Poonch District on March 13, reports Daily Excelsior. Five mortar shells hit the Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) at Chakan-da-Bagh, damaging a few sheds, including the one housing the X-ray scanner, custodian of LoC trade centre, Poonch, Fareed Kohli said.He said the shelling took place around 12.30 pm, when the process of scanning of the trucks was almost complete.Kohli said the cross-LoC trade was suspended for the day in view of the shelling. Read less...

Pakistani troops resorted mortar shelling on civilian areas along the LoC in nearby Khari Karmara area of Poonch District on March 13, reports The Indian Express. Indian Army retaliated shelling and firing very strongly and effectively. There were reports that at least three Pakistan army posts were destroyed in the Indian shelling after which Pakistan stopped shelling and firing around 1.30 pm. However, there was no casualty on the Indian side. Read less...

Jammu Police on March 14 said that it would again approach the State Juvenile Board with necessary evidence to seek the custody of the grenade thrower who was arrested in connection with the Jammu Bus Stand grenade attack last week, reports Daily Excelsior.The Juvenile Board had earlier rejected medical reports suggesting the teenager allegedly involved in the grenade attack was in fact an ‘adult’ and had asked Police to submit all relevant documents to establish his age.The reports of the bone and teeth tests conducted on the accused showed that he aged around 19 and based on the report, police had sought a 10-day remand which was rejected by the board.“We will project our case afresh with all documents and proof, including the doctor’s report,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu, Tejinder Singh said. Read less...

Suspected militants abducted and shot dead a civilian, identified as Manzoor Ahmad Lonein Gulzarpora area of Awantipora in Pulwama District on March 14 night, reports India Today. Police spokesperson said that Manzoor Ahmad Lone of Dogripora village, was ‘forcibly’ taken away by the terrorists and shot dead.According to the reports, the deceased's body was recovered near Higher Secondary School at Gulzarpora. Police said that Manzoor Ahmad Lone suffered serious bullet wounds and died instantly. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 14 issued fresh summons to All Parties Hurriyat Conference-Mirwaiz (APHC-M) leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to appear for questioning at the probe agency headquarters in connection with a terror financing case, reports Daily Excelsior. According to the notice, the Mirwaiz has been asked to appear at the NIA headquarters in New Delhi on March 18, the agency officials said. The NIA had on February 26 carried out searches at premises of separatist leaders, including the Mirwaiz, in connection with the case related to financing of terrorist and separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Read less...

Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded a National Conference (NC)’s block president, identified as Mohammad Ismail Wani at Bijbehara area of Anantnag District on March 14, report Daily Excelsior.Official sources said that unidentified gunmen fired at NC block president of Bijbehara, Mohammad Ismail Wani, in south Kashmir on March 14 evening. “The injured was rushed to a nearby hospital from where he was referred to Srinagar in a critical condition,” they said. Read less...

An Army porter, identified as Surjeet Kumar was injured as Pakistani troops fired a few shots targeting Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kalal area of Nowshera sector in Rajouri District on March 15, reports Daily Excelsior. Barring this incident, there was no report of ceasefire violation from anywhere along the LoC since March 13 afternoon, an official said. Read less...

Unidentified militants killed a female Special Police Officer (SPO), Khushboo Jan, at Vehil village in Shopian District on March 16, reports The Hindu. Read less...

Meanwhile, SFs also cordoned off Drubgam village in Pulwama District after inputs about presence of militants in the village on March 17, reports Daily Excelsior. As the SFs cordoned off the village, youth took to streets and pelted stones on the SFs leading to clashes. SFs fired teargas to disperse the protesters. Read less...

Militants fired at the Security Forces (SFs) party at Frisal area of Kulgam District and they fired back triggering a brief shoot-out ton March 17 afternoon, reports Daily Excelsior. Sources said that the SFs had inputs about the presence of three militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) hiding in the area. However, they escaped during the shootout. Soon after gunshots were heard in the Frisal area of Kulgam District youth took to streets and started pelting stones on SFs which was retaliated by tear smoke, reports Daily Excelsior. The irate youth blocked the roads with logs and placed rocks on roads to prevent SF’ movement. Read less...

Pakistani Army violated the ceasefire by firing unprovoked on the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector in Rajouri District on March 17, reports Daily Excelsior. Defence Spokesman, said that “Indian Army is retaliating effectively while no injury has been reported so far in exchange of fire.” Read less...

An Army soldier, identified as Rifleman Karamjeet Singh was killed and four others were injured in heavy shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops on the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri District on March 18, reports Daily Excelsior. The Indian side retaliated very effectively, leading to heavy exchanges and reports indicated heavy damages on Pakistan army.Pakistani troops pounded forward posts of the Indian Army and civilian areas using long range mortars and heavy fire arms at KattalBattal and surrounding villages on Pallanwalla-Sunderbani border along the LoC at about 5 am.Official sources said that exchange of shelling and firing between the two sides continued for about one and a half hours in which an Indian Army trooper was killed and four troopers were injured.Sources said that In effective retaliation from the Indian side Pakistani troops suffered heavy losses. However, exact number of casualties or damages suffered by Pakistan couldn’t be ascertained immediately. Read less...

Meanwhile, late night on March 18, Pakistan army again resorted to heavy shelling and firing in Pallanwallain Jammu District and Sunderbani sector in Rajouri District, reports Daily Excelsior.There was intense shelling in civilian areas at villages including Gigriyal, Badwal and Channi Diwani in Pallanwalla sector in Jammu District.Indian Army retaliated effectively at all the places. There was no immediate report of any casualty or damage on the Indian side.There were reports that at least three Pakistan army posts were damaged in retaliatory shelling by the Indian troops. Read less...

Militants shot dead a 25-year-old labourer, identified as Mohsin Ahmad Wani in Reshipora in Tral area of Awantipora in Pulwama District on March 18 evening, reports Daily Excelsior. Militants fired upon Mohsin Ahmad Wani outside his home at Reshipora and he succumbed to injuries while he was being taken to a hospital, the official said. Read less...

An Over Ground Worker (OGW) of a militant outfit, identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Rah escaped from Srinagar court in Srinagar District on March 19, reports Daily Excelsior. Official sources said that Ishfaq Ahmad Rah, a resident of Qaimoh in Kulgam District, was brought to Srinagar court from Sub Jail Mattan in the afternoon in connection with a case against him. However, they said Rah managed to give a slip to the guards accompanying him and fled from the court complex. Meanwhile, a search operation has been launched to arrest Rah. Read less...

India has neither forgotten nor will forget the Pulwama terror attack and the country’s leadership is ‘capable and courageous’ to mete out effective responses to such acts, the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said on March 19, reports Daily Excelsior. Speaking for the first time about the attack in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed on February 14 in Jammu and Kashmir, the NSA asked the paramilitary force to ‘constantly’ enhance their professionalism, training, physical capabilities and quick response skills. Read less...

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached 13 properties of Mohammad Shafi Shah and six other terrorists of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) worth INR 1.22 crores under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), reports The Hindu on March 19. The properties are located in Jammu and Kashmir. This move is part of an ongoing investigation against Mohd Syed Salahuddin (‘commander’ of HM) and others. Read less...

The Enforcement Directorate (ED),on March 19, said it has attached over a dozen assets in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in a terror financing case against Pakistan-based terrorist and ‘chief’ of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Syed Salahuddin, reports Daily Excelsior.The central probe agency issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach 13 properties, worth INR 12.2 million in the State.The ED said the properties belonged to Mohammad Shafi Shah, a resident of Bandipora, and six other residents of J&K, who allegedly worked for the terror outfit.The agency said it filed a criminal case of money laundering in this instance after taking cognisance of a National Investigating Agency (NIA) charge sheet filed against Salahuddin, Shah and others under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Action (UAPA) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.“Hizbul Mujahideen, the most active terror outfit in Kashmir, has been responsible for funding terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.Headed by Syed Salahuddin, its self-styled commander based out of Rawalpindi in Pakistan, it funds terrorism on Indian soil through monies organised by a trust called JKART (Jammu and Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust) in alleged connivance with the ISI and other Pakistan-based entities,” the ED said in a statement. The ED said the probe found that “terror funds” were being sent to India through the hawala — illegal way of routing money by skirting banking channels, barter trade and human carriers.“The funds are illegally distributed to the next of kin of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, active and dead,” ED added.Besides heading HM, Salahuddin is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir valley.The NIA had arrested Salahuddin’s son Syed Shahid Yousuf in this case in 2017 and the J-K Government had later suspended him from service as he was working in the State Agriculture Department.Shah and three others are lodged in Tihar jail in the national capital in connection with this terror funding case, the ED said. Read less...

A 32-year-old youth, identified as Reyaz Ahmad Khatana who was critically injured in Pakistan firing at Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector in Baramulla District on March 10, died in hospital on March 20, reports Daily Excelsior. Official sources said that Reyaz Ahmad Khatana and three others were injured at Kamalkote in Uri when Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing and shelling, targeting forward Indian posts and civilian areas on March 10. Meanwhile, majority residents in border areas have shifted to safer places, fearing more shelling from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), reports Daily Excelsior. However, the residents alleged that despite assurance, the Government has failed to construct underground bunkers in border areas, where they could take shelter in case of Pakistan shelling. Read less...

Also, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District on March 20, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Also, the normal life was disrupted in Kashmir valley on March 20 due to a protest shutdown called by the separatists against the custodial death of a school teacher on March 19, reports Daily Excelsior.Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar to prevent any violence. Adequate SFs were also deployed in sensitive areas to thwart any protests in view of shutdown call issued by separatists.The shutdown was called against death of 29-year-old Rizwan Assad Pandith in Police custody at CARGO camp in Srinagar.Pandith was picked up by the Police from his home few days ago. APolice spokesman said that, “In pursuance of a militancy case investigation, a suspect Rizwan Pandith of Awantipora was in police custody. The person died in police custody. In this matter, while following the procedure laid down in section 176 of CrPC, a magisterial inquiry is underway.” His death triggered a fresh wave of anger across Kashmir, even as the administration ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident that evoked widespread condemnation from the mainstream and separatist circles in the Kashmir Valley. Read less...

An Army soldier was killed when Pakistan violated the ceasefire by heavily shelling forward areas and posts along the Line of Control (LoC) with mortar bombs in Rajouri District on March 20, reports Daily Excelsior. Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in Keri belt of Sunderbani sector on March 20 morning, sources said. Read less...

Meanwhile, militants escaped from a security cordon at Heff in Shopian District on March 20, reports Daily Excelsior. Army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) cordoned off Heff village after reports of militants hiding in the village. Militants fired on the troops, leading to a brief gun battle but the militants escaped. Read less...

Police on March 20 arrested an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of militants, Ishfaq Ahmad Rah, who had escaped from Police custody on March 19 at District Court Srinagar, from Kulgam District, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Separately, militants attacked a SFs patrolling party at Nambalnar Kandi in Baramulla District on March 20, reports Daily Excelsior.Official sources said that militants fired at a SFs patrolling team at Nambalnar Kandi in Baramulla.“The security forces retaliated, ensuing in a brief exchange of fire,” they said.However, they said the militants managed to escape from the spot and no one was injured in the attack. After the attack at Nambalnar Kandi in Baramulla District, SFs launched cordon and search operation (CASO) in the area on March 20, reports Daily Excelsior. Sources said that SFs busted a militant hideout in the area and recovered one Ak-47 rifle, gas cylinder, uniform and warlike stores. Sources said that four militants are still hiding in the area and SFs have tightened the cordon. Read less...

A militant was killed in an encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) in Hajin area of Bandipora District on March 21, reports Daily Excelsior. Encounter broke out in the afternoon following a search operation launched by the SFs in Mir Mohalla. According to reports, one militant was killed in the ongoing encounter and his associate was still hiding in the house at the time of reporting. Police said that two civilians were held hostage by militants during the encounter in Hajin area of Bandipora District, reports The Indian Express. While one was rescued, the other, a minor, was yet to be rescued.“Two civilians held hostage by terrorists. With the assistance of security forces, police & community members, one civilian has been rescued safely while efforts are on to rescue another civilian, reportedly a minor, kept as hostage by terrorists,” the Jammu and Kashmir Police tweeted.Intermittent firing is going on and civilians are being evacuated,” a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) spokesperson said. Read less...

Also, the two militants killed in an encounter at Kalantara area in Baramulla District on March 21 were identified as JeM militants Aamir Rasool Kaboo (Local resident) and Sabir Bhai (Pakistani National), reports Daily Excelsior. SATP had earlier reported that Two militants were killed and three Army personnel, including an officer, were injured in an encounter at Kalantara area in Baramulla District on March 21. Read less...

Three Police personnel including a Station House Officer (SHO) were injured after suspected militants hurled grenades at them in Sopore in Baramulla District on March 21, reports Daily Excelsior. According to reports, militants lobbed a grenade at the Security Forces (SFs) party at Main Chowk in Sopore. SFs initiated a cordon and search operation earlier in Soporeto nab the suspected attackers. Read less...

Two Army troopers were injured as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by firing on forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Two Army troopers were injured as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by firing on forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Pallanwala sector in Jammu District on March 21, reports Daily Excelsior. sector in Jammu District on March 21, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)militants including a Special Police Officer (SPO) turned militant were killed in an encounter in Ratnipora area of Shopian District on March 22, reports Daily Excelsior. The slain JeM militants were identified as Showkat Ahmad, an SPO turned militant and Yasir Ahmad Shah. A joint team of Security Forces (SFs) cordoned off and conducted search operation in Ratnipora village late on March 21 night. The troops fired some warning shots towards the suspected spot which was responded by militants triggering a gun battle. “During the course of gun battle, two militants have been killed and their bodies along with two weapons were recovered from the site late this afternoon (March 22),” Police said. Read less...

Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT)militants, identified as Ali and Hubaib (Pakistani nationals) and a minor boy were killed during a gun battle in Hajin area of Bandipora District on March 22, reports Daily Excelsior. The Security Forces (SFs) launched a cordon and search operation at Mir Mohalla of Hajin on March 21 evening. As the troops approached the suspected house, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter. The operation was suspended for the night and resumed on March 22 morning. A Police spokesman said that initially, the militants kept two civilians as hostages. However, Police and security forces with the assistance of community members safely rescued one civilian. “Aatif Mir (12), was kept hostage by the militants till the end and despite repeated requests by community members and police for his release, he was brutally killed by them and could not be rescued from their clutches,” the spokesman said. In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter, the spokesman said. SFs also recovered two AK-47 rifles. Earlier, SATP had reported that a militant was killed in an encounter with the SFs in Hajin area of Bandipora District on March 21. Read less...

Two militants were killed and three Army personnel, including an officer, were injured in an encounter at Kalantara area in Baramulla District on March 21, reports The Hindustan Times. Security Forces (SFs) launched a cordon and search operation earlier on March 21 based on information on the presence of militantsin the area.The militants had opened fire on the SFs, who retaliated, triggering a gun battle. Read less...

According to local media, a youth identified as Shahid who had been missing from his home in Awantipora, Pulwama for the past couple of days has joined Pakistan-based terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), reports India Times on March 22. In an audio message he claimed that he joined militancy after his friend, Rizwan Asad Pandit, the principal of a private school in Awantipora who died in Police custody. Rizwan was picked up by Police on March 17 for his alleged links with Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) which was recently banned. Two days later his family was informed about his death. Read less...

Also, Mirwaiz said that the Government of India’s decision to ban the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front for five years is highly “authoritarian, autocratic and pure political vendetta.” The Central Government banned the JKLF, headed by Mohammad Yasin Malik, on March 22 labeling it an unlawful party. Malik has also been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and lodged in a jail in Jammu. Read less...

Enforcement Directorate (ED) has levied a penalty of INR 1.4 Million on Hurriyat Conference (HC) leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in a 17-year-old case of illegal possession of USD 10,000 in alleged contravention of the foreign exchange law, reports Daily Excelsior on March 22. The foreign currency worth INR 690000 has also been confiscated by the agency as part of an order issued under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) on March 20. The foreign currency was seized during an Income Tax raid at Geelani’s residence in Srinagar’s Hyderpora area in 2002. Under the FEMA, foreign exchange dealings are regulated in India and acquisition and possession of foreign exchange by resident Indians are required to be conducted in accordance with the general or special permission. ED official stated that Geelani did not have any such permission or bona fide explanation for acquisition and possession of the foreign currency. Therefore, he has been asked to show cause to the adjudicating officer under FEMA within 30 days as to why the recovered currency should not be confiscated and penalty imposed on him’. Read less...

Meanwhile, at least 12 Pakistan army personnel including two officers were killed and 22 others were injured in major retaliatory actions undertaken by the Indian troops following continuous ceasefire violations on the LoC in twin border Districts of Rajouri and Poonch, reports Daily Excelsior on March 23. Pakistani troops suffered heavy losses across Sunderbani sector of Rajouri District.Sources said that the Indian Army undertook major retaliatory action against Pakistani troops on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch Districts especially Sunderbani sector and to silence the Pakistani guns, which had been targeting forward Indian posts and civilian areas regularly for past over 20 days.At least 12 Pakistan army personnel including two in the rank of officers have been killed in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops, sources confirmed. They said 12 coffins including two premiums, which are used for officers by the Pakistan army, were seen in Pakistan’s Brigade Headquarters across Sunderbani sector through high resolution gadgetries. Read less...

Meanwhile, at least 15 youths and a Policeman were injured as massive stone-pelting protest erupted near encounter site at Ratnipora area of Shopian District and its adjoining villages including Gadapora as protesters tried to march closer to the spot, reports Daily Excelsior. SFs used pellets and tear gas to disperse the protesting youth. Read less...

Pakistan on March 22 again violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector in Poonch District, reports Daily Excelsior.Indian Army is retaliating befittingly to the firing, sources said. Read less...

Pakistani troops continued night-long mortar shelling and firing along the LoC in Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors of Rajouri District till March 22 morning, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Pakistani troops pounded civilian areas heavily with long range mortar shells in Mendhar and Balakote sectors in Poonch District on March 22 afternoon, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Separately, a personal security officer (PSO) of Congress leader and Municipal Committee chairman Anantnag Hilal Ahmad Shah was injured in a militant attack at Dangerpora area in Anantnag District on March 22, reports Daily Excelsior.Militants opened fire upon the Police party resulting in injuries to the PSO, identified as Irshad Ahmad. Read less...

The stone pelting clashes were also reported in neighbouring Pulwama District on March 22, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

The Yasin Malik-led Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)was banned by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on March 22 for ‘promoting’ secession of the militancy-hit State from the Union of India, reports Daily Excelsior. Banning the outfit under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA] after a high-level meeting on security chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, officials said the Centre is of the opinion that the JKLF is “in close touch with militant outfits” and is supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere.They said the outfit claims “secession of a part of the Indian territory from the union” and supports terrorist and separatist groups fighting for this purpose. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said the JKLF has been banned as the Government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism.The JKLF has been at the forefront of separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and was involved in the killings of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989 leading to their exodus from the Valley, he said.The Home Secretary said the Government is committed to relentlessly pursuing a policy of curbing the activities of secessionist groups which are threat to the country.The other reason for banning the outfit was that the cadres of the JKLF were indulging in activities intended to disrupt the territorial integrity of India, the officials said. Yasin Malik is at present lodged in Kotbhalwal jail in Jammu, and is likely to face trial in the three-decade-old case of kidnapping of Rubaya Sayeed, the daughter of then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and gunning down of four IAF personnel in Srinagar. The JKLF was founded by Pakistani national Amanullah Khan in mid-1970 at Birmingham in the United Kingdom (UK) and came into prominence in 1971 when its member hijacked an Indian Airlines plane flying from Srinagar to Jammu.As many as 37 FIRs have been registered against the JKLF by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Gauba said.The organisation was also involved in the kidnapping and killing of Ravindra Mhatre, an Indian diplomat posted in the UK, in 1984. A week later, India executed Maqbool Bhat, a JKLF activist, who had been sentenced to death.This is the second organisation in Jammu and Kashmir which has been banned this month. Earlier, the Centre had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI)Jammu and Kashmir. Read less...

Two militants were killed in an ongoing encounter between militants and Security Forces (SFs) at Warpora area of Sopore in Baramulla District on March 22, reports Daily Excelsior.The encounter broke out at Mir Mohalla area of Warpora Sopore after a joint team of SFs launched a cordon and search operation in the area on March 21 morning. Station House Officer (SHO) and his two security guards were injured near the encounter site on March 21.Two militants were killed on March 22 and their bodies were recovered. The encounter was going on till the time of reporting. Read less...

An Army trooper, identified as Grenadier Hari Bhakar was killed in Pakistani firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch District on March 24, reports The New Indian Express. An army official said that Pakistani troops breached the border ceasefire in Shahpur and Kerni areas of Poonch District on March 23 evening and targeted army posts and civilian areas till the wee hours of March 24. “The army men manning the posts at LoC also retaliated with similar caliber weapons,” he said. With the killing of the army trooper, the death toll of civilians and soldiers killed in ceasefire violations since the February 26 Indian Air Force air strikes in Pakistan reached to nine. Clashes have broken out almost every day along the border since February 26. Read less...

Continuing crackdown on terror financers in Jammu and Kashmir, security agencies have identified 13 people, including Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) chief Syed Salahuddin, Hurriyat leaders and businessmen, who are allegedly providing funds to terrorists and stone-pelters at the behest of Pakistan spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), officials said on March 24, reports Daily Excelsior. The Centre has started seizing properties belonging to terror financiers in a big way. Thirteen individuals and their properties have been identified by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and action has been initiated, they said. “Individuals identified during these investigations have been found providing money to all major terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) as also Hurriyat leaders, separatists and stone-pelters in Jammu and Kashmir,” a senior Government official said. Funds were provided to the leadership of Kashmir-based terrorist groups for misguiding, motivating and recruiting local youths to militant ranks. Operational activities of terror groups, including attacks on Security Forces (SFs), camps and convoys, are also being financed, the official said, adding money obtained through these channels are being used by major secessionist formations, especially the Hurriyat Conference. These funds are used for maintaining Hurriyat’s top leadership and a massive propaganda machinery to arouse disaffection among the people of Jammu and Kashmir against the Centre. It is also being utilised to spread false information through media contacts, newspapers and social media, the official claimed. Read less...

Meanwhile, clashes broke out at HabbaKadal area of Srinagar on March 24 afternoon when youth pelted stones and bricks at Security Forces (SFs). A group of irate youth took to streets and SFs in clashes. The SFs fired tear smoke to disperse them but they continued to lob stones and bricks at the SFs. The shutdown was called by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq against the ban on JKLF. Read less...

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on March 24 said the Indian troops have inflicted heavy casualties and adequate damage on Pakistan side in retaliatory firing and to silence the Pakistani guns, which were targeting our civilian areas, located close to the LoC, reports Daily Excelsior. An official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence confirmed heavy casualties and damage on Pakistan side in strong and effective retaliation by the Indian troops in both Poonch and Rajouri sectors. “Own troops retaliated in strong measure inflicting adequate damage and casualties to Pakistan army,” the MoD statement said. This is for the first time during current hostilities between Indo-Pak troops on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch sectors after February 26 Indian Air Force strike at Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training camp in Balakote that the MoD has officially confirmed inflicting casualties to Pakistan army and damage to their infrastructure in retaliation. Read less...

Three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants, identified as Rayees Hurrah, Shahid Bhat and Ishaq Lone were arrested by Security Forces (SFs) from Lawaypora in the outskirts of the Srinagar city in Srinagar District on March 24, reports The New Indian Express. "Three car-borne terrorists affiliated with proscribed terror outfit JeM (were) arrested by police and security forces at Lawaypora (on Srinagar-Baramulla road) (based) on a credible input today (March 24)," a Police spokesperson said. The spokesperson said ammunition, including live rounds, was also recovered from the militants. Read less...

Two days after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) banned the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front – Yasin Malik faction (JKLF-Y), around six leaders of the organization were arrested from different parts of the Valley in nocturnal raids by the police, even as the hunt ‘for others’ continues, officials said on March 24, reports Greater Kashmir. The UMHA on March 22 banned the JKLF-Y for allegedly propagating “anti-national and separatist sentiments”. Following the ban, an official said the Police carried out raids at several places including Baramulla, Ganderbal and southern Kashmir areas. “So far, around half a dozen JKLF people (sic) have been arrested,” a senior police officer, in know-how of these raids, said. “Hunt for others is on,” he said. Read less...

Virtual SIMs used in Pulwama attack by the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber Adil Dar to connect with his Pakistan and Kashmir-based handler Mudassir Khan, reports The Indian Express on March 24. Piecing together probe from the site of the terror strike, searches carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Security Agencies at an encounter site in Tral as well as other locations, it was found that the bomber, Adil Dar, was in constant touch with the JeM across the border. It was a fairly new modus operandi where terrorists across the border were using a “virtual SIM”, generated by a service provider in the United States (US). In this technology, the computer generates a telephone number and the user downloads an application of the service provider on their smartphone. The number is linked to social networking sites like WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram or Twitter. The verification code generated by these networking sites is received on the smartphone and the user is ready. A request would be sent to the US to seek details from a service provider of “virtual SIMs”. While the security agencies would attempt to find who had paid for the virtual SIM, they were also aware that the terror groups used forged identities, as was done during the Mumbai 26/11 terror strikes. During the investigation of the 26/11 attacks, it was found that an amount of USD 229 was wired to Callphonex, via Western Union Money Transfer receipt number 8364307716-0, for activating the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) used during the strikes. The money was received from ‘Madina Trading’ located in Brescia in Italy and sender was claimed to be Javed Iqbal, a resident of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). However, after Italian police arrested two Pakistani nationals in 2009, it was alleged that the firm had made nearly 300 transfers in the name of Iqbal, who probably had never set his foot in Italy. The Italian police, while concluding the probe, had said the Brescia-based company made several transfers using the identity of innocent, unsuspecting persons, whose identity cards or passports might have been stolen. Read less...

The Central Government has constituted a tribunal headed by a Delhi High Court Judge to decide whether there is sufficient cause for declaring Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Jammu and Kashmir as an unlawful association, reports Daily Excelsior. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on March 23 had issued a notification which states that Justice Mukta Gupta would head the tribunal set up under the Unlawful Activities [Prevention] Act (UAPA). Justice Gupta is presently heading another tribunal set up under UAPA to ascertain whether there was sufficient cause to extend the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as an unlawful association. The tribunal’s proceedings with regard to the ban on SIMI commenced on February 28 and is ongoing. Read less...

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will procure a new fleet of Mine Protected Vehicles (MPVs) and small 30-seater buses to ensure safety of its troop convoys in Jammu and Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior. The CRPF has also decided to enhance the number of its Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS) for its about 65 battalions based in the Kashmir Valley for anti-terror and law and order duties. These new measures have been chalked out by the force in the aftermath of the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel travelling in a bus, part of a convoy from Jammu to Srinagar, were killed by a suicide bomber. “We are enhancing our counter-IED [Improvised Explosive Device] capabilities in Kashmir. We are procuring and sending more MPVs and are bullet-proofing force buses. As it is difficult to armour large buses, we are looking at procuring small 30-seater buses that can be better armour plated,” CRPF Director General (DG) R RBhatnagar said. The force uses MPVs for limited troop movements in the anti-Naxal operations theatre and some of them are being used in Jammu and Kashmir too. About six personnel can travel in these four-wheeled vehicles. Bhatnagar said small buses can be better fabricated and provided bullet-resistant armour as compared to the standard large buses that seat 54-57 people. Officials said once a large bus is fabricated with bullet-proof sheets, its engine takes a toll and its speed and endurance is restricted due to the weight of the additional metal used for the armour. Read less...

Former Chief Minister (CM) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on March 26 said that if her party is voted to power, they will lift the ban imposed on the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Jammu and Kashmir, reports The Indian Express. “Recently it was ordered to shut down the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) schools, orphanages and offices. They didn’t dare to come out themselves at that time (to protest). They were in a difficulty and no one talked about it. Only PDP came forward. We didn’t allow their schools, their orphanages to close down. When time will come and we will have power, we will end this ban,” Mufti said at a public rally in Baramulla. The former CM also said that turning the state into a prison will not solve the Kashmir problem. “The Kashmir issue is an ideology; it can only be resolved through an ideology, and not by prison,” said Mufti. Read less...

Pakistan troops violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector in Rajouri District on March 26, reports Daily Excelsior. The Indian Army also retaliated the firing. However, there was no report of any casualty on the Indian side. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) launched a cordon and search operation in Hathlangoo area of Sopore in Baramulla District on March 26 afternoon, reports Greater Kashmir. A combined team of Army, Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted house to house searches in the area. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sopore, Javid Iqbal said that the searches were launched following inputs about presence of militants in the area. The search operation was called off after three hours as no militant was found in the area. Read less...

Separately, SFs launched a similar operation in Nathipora area of Sopore in Baramulla District on March 26 evening, reports Greater Kashmir. Read less...

A 24-year-old youth, identified as Tanveer Ahmed Dar was shot dead by militants at near Jamia Masjid in Kachdoora village in Shopian District on March 27 soon after his confession that he was working for an Army Major and had provided information about the four militants who were killed in an encounter in the District, reports Daily Excelsior. The militants released a video, soon after the body Tanveer Ahmed Dar was recovered at Kachdoora village, in which Tanvir confessed that he was in touch with an Army Major and on his information, four militants were killed. Read less...

A month after India handed over a dossier on terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)’s involvement in the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, Pakistan on March 27 handed over its ‘preliminary findings’ after its investigation and sought more ‘information or evidence’ from Delhi to take the process forward, reports The Indian Express. Sources said that the dossier has two parts — one-part deals with the investigations into the Indian leads and the actions taken and the second part deals with the questions which have been asked from New Delhi about the further action. “The Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Ajay Bisaria was called to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and the findings on the Pulwama incident were shared with him,” the Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Last month, after India conducted the Balakot airstrikes and Pakistan retaliated, India had handed over a dossier to Pakistan with “specific details of JeM complicity in Pulwama terror attack and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan”, the Ministry of External Affairs had said in Delhi. Read less...

According to a report prepared by security agencies, Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) recruited the most number of locals from Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama District both in 2018 and in 2019, reports The Hindustan Times on March 27. About 63 locals were recruited from Pulwama in 2018 and two more this year (2019). Shopian District was a distant second, with 46 locals joining terror groups in 2018, but none in 2019. The report said that the maximum number of terrorists killed in 2019 belonged to the JeM – 15 terrorists. In comparison, 10 terrorists each of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and the LeT were killed in counter-terrorism operations in 2019. In 2018, the JeM recruited about 33 locals from the Kashmir valley. In contrast HM and LeT recruited 79 and 66 local youth in 2018. According to figures provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, since 2018, the JeM carried out at least 30 attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, “around 150 JeM terrorist are believed to have infiltrated between 2017-2018,” an unnamed senior Jammu and Kashmir Police official said. According to J&K Police, four days prior to the Pulwama strike, JeM terrorist lobbed grenades at Palladium Cinema in Srinagar, injuring 11 people. On January 25, 2019, JeM claimed responsibility for as many as eight consecutive grenade attacks. JeM attacks continued all through 2018. For instance, on December 11, 2018, four Police officers were mowed-down by JeM terrorists in Shopian. During last year’s month-long Ramzan ceasefire the JeM carried out as many as 10 terror attacks. In February last year, JeM terrorist also stormed the Sunjwan Army camp killing six including five soldiers of the Indian Army. Read less...

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on March 27 released pictures of seven ‘wanted’ militants in Kishtwar District announcing cash reward and a Government job for information leading to their arrest or killing, reports The Indian Express. “For any information leading to get hold live or dead – cash reward in lakhs & job,” reads posters put up by police at various places in Kishtwar. Carrying photographs of seven militants, the posters also carry phone numbers where people can give information about them, at the same time assuring that the identity of the informer would be kept secret. The posters end with an appeal asking people: “please help us to protect you better’’. The ‘wanted militants’ include Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir, Riaz Ahmed aliasHazari, Mudassir Hussain, Jamal Din alias Abu Bakar, Talib Hussain, Junaid Akram and Usama Bin Javed alias Osama. Jahangir of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) was the oldest surviving militant in entire Chenab Valley comprising Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban Districts who has never been caught ever since the inception of militancy in the area during 1990s. Junaid from the same outfit is wanted in connection with Delhi High Court bomb blasts. His elder brother, however, was arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA). The posters have come up after the Kishtwar District was rattled by the killing of a senior BJP leader and his brother in November 2018 and gun-snatching incident from a policeman recently. Read less...

Two youth, identified as Faizan Ahmad and Suhail Nazir Bhat were injured after Security Forces (SFs) allegedly opened fire on a group of stone-pelting protesters at Kuger area of Kulgam District on March 27, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Also, Police arrested an Al-Badr militant, identified as Rameez Ahmad Dar along with arms and ammunition from Bijbehara area of Anantnag District on March 28, reports Daily Excelsior. Police said that he was active since January 2014 and was involved in many militancy cases. Dar was earlier affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) but he has recently joined the Al-Badr. Read less...

Meanwhile, a powerful blast damaged a house and a car near Army camp in Aloochibagh area of Srinagar District on March 28 morning, reports Daily Excelsior. According to reports, the sound of the blast was heard in the entire area and the houses in the locality were shaken with the impact of the blast. A house and a parked vehicle were damaged due to the impact of the blast. Senior Police and SFs officials are investigating the cause of blast, report said. Read less...

Separately, a militant, identified as Danish Ahmad Dar resident of Sopore was killed in an encounter at Yaroo village of Langate in Handwara in Kupwara District on March 28, reports Daily Excelsior. As the Security Forces (SFs) search operation was going on, the search party was fired upon by the hiding militants and the fire was retaliated by troops leading to a gun fight in which the militant was killed. Arms including rifle and grenades and incriminating materials were also recovered from the site of encounter. Read less...

Three militants, identified as Sajad Khanday, Aqib Ahmad Dar and Basharat Ahmad Mir (all residents of Pulwama) were killed in a nocturnal encounter at Yarwan area of Keller in Shopian District on March 28, reports Daily Excelsior. A Police spokesperson said that the slain militants were a part of a combined group of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). He said that Aqib had a long history of militancy and was involved in several militancy related incidents and cases were registered against him. He was involved in conspiring and executing many attacks in the area. He also said that Sajad and Basharat were involved in many attacks and several crime cases were also registered against them. Incriminating materials and arms including three AK rifles were also recovered from the site of encounter. Read less...

Meanwhile, a man, identified as Naseer Ahmad Ganie was shot at by militants at Nowpora village of Tral in Pulwama District on March 29 evening, reports Daily Excelsior. Masked militants fired upon one Naseer Ahmad Ganie outside his home at Nowpora Amlar in Tral. He has received three bullet wounds, one in right leg, one in right arm and another in the shoulder. Read less...

Pakistan army violated ceasefire and shelled forward posts of troops and civilian population along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors of Poonch District on March 29, reports Daily Excelsior. “Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by using mortars and firing small arms along the LoC in Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors from 7.50 am,” sources said. They said the Army retaliated befittingly to silence the Pakistan guns but there was no report of any casualty on the Indian side in the cross-border firing. Read less...

Pakistani wives of former Kashmiri militants protested in Srinagar in Srinagar District on March 29 demanding citizenship rights and travel documents from Jammu and Kashmir Government, reports Daily Excelsior. Scores of women assembled at the Press Enclave and demanded permission from the Government to return to their native country. They raised slogans in favor of their demands and appealed the Government to solve their issues on the humanitarian ground. The women had married to the Kashmiri men who had gone across the Line of Control (LoC) for arms training. However, they surrendered and returned to the valley along with their families under the Government’s rehabilitation policy. The protesting women alleged that they were not given the promised rights and were denied the permission to meet their families. “We are unable to meet our parents, siblings, and relatives due to lack of travel documents. We haven’t seen them for past ten-fifteen years,” a protesting woman said, adding that she doesn’t have an Indian passport to travel to Pakistan. The women appealed the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, to take up their cases with his Indian counterpart. “We request the leadership of both the countries to deal with our cases on humanitarian cases,” a woman said, adding that they have been denied the right to visit their country. Read less...

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) said on March 29 that it is keeping a close watch on illegal flow of funds to fuel militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, and announced the setting up of a Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) aimed at taking ‘coordinated action against terror funding’, reports The Indian Express. According to the order issued by UMHA, the terms of reference of the TMG include, “taking action against hardcore sympathisers among government employees including teachers etc providing overt or covert support to such activities”. It charges the TMG with action against all registered cases related to terror, terror financing and terror-related activities and bring them to a logical conclusion. The seven-member TMG shall be headed by the Jammu and Kashmir Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). It shall also have representatives from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The Jammu and Kashmir Police Inspector-General (IG) shall be the seventh member of the TMG. However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has attached several properties in terror funding cases, did not find mention in the order. The order further states that the TMG shall “identify all key persons including leaders of the organisations who are involved in supporting terrorism in any form and take concerted action against them. Investigate the networks of various channels being used to fund terror and terror-related activities and take action to stop flow of such funds”. Read less...

Two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants, identified as Ali Bhai and Idrees Bhai, both Pakistani nationals, were killed and five soldiers injured in an encounter at Chittergam in Nowgam in Budgam District on March 29, reports Daily Excelsior. As the Security Forces (SFs) intensified the searches, militants opened fire, triggering a gunfight in which two militants were killed and five Army personnel injured. Arms and ammunition including one AK-47 rifle and M4 carbine sniper rifle were also recovered from the encounter site. Read less...

A car hit a bus carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, and exploded at Banihal near the Jawahar Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban District on March 30, reports Indian Express. The car was destroyed, but no one on the bus or the road was injured. The rear of the bus, where the car hit it around 10.30 am, was slightly damaged, Police said. The whereabouts of the driver of the car is not known. Inspector General of Police (IGP- Jammu Zone) M K Sinha on March 31 said that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and some detonators were found inside the wrecked car. The officer also said that a note in English, written on plain paper apparently by the driver of the Santro, had been found at the site, which raised questions about the incident. The writer of the note claimed that he was a member of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, and that he was “taking the extreme step in view of continued atrocities on Kashmiris since 1947”, Sinha said. “We are verifying the authenticity of the letter,” he added. Read less...

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper was injured after militants hurled a grenade on CRPF bunker near SBI Branch in Pulwama town in Pulwama District on March 30, reports Daily Excelsior. Militants attacked a bunker of paramilitary CRPF 182 Battalion guarding the SBI branch Pulwama. “In the blast, one CRPF man suffered injuries. The injured have been evacuated to hospital for treatment where his condition is said to be stable,” Police said. Read less...

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on March 30 said that till sympathizers of terrorists and their organizations are not tackled, terrorism can’t be contained in Kashmir and observed the newly constituted Multi-Disciplinary Terror Monitoring Group by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs will take action against all those linked to terror, reports Daily Excelsior. The Governor welcomed and described as “very significant” the decision of the Central Government to set up the Terror Monitoring Group for taking decisive action against those involved in terror financing and related activities. “The Terror Monitoring Group will curb activities of terrorists and their sympathizers. There is a need to tackle activities of the terrorist supporters. Till activities of these persons are checked, terrorism can’t be contained,” Malik said. He added that the newly set up Terror Monitoring Group would help put an end to the terror menace in the State. Read less...

Meanwhile, a Policeman, identified as HC Ghulam Mohammad was injured after local residents of Hakbara area of Hajin in Bandipora District attacked a Police search team on March 30 afternoon, reports Daily Excelsior. Soon after a Police party reached the village and asked the inmates of the house of Abdul Majeed Dar son of Ghulam Ahmad Dar of YarbalporaHakbara that they were going to conduct the searches, some members of house and neighbours assaulted the Police party. Police fired around 10 to 12 rounds in air to disperse the villagers. Read less...

Pakistan Army violated ceasefire and pounded civilian areas with long range mortar shells and artillery fire in several sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch District on March 30 night, reports Daily Excelsior. According to report, Pakistan started shelling and firing at about 8pm targeting Mendhar, Balakote, Mankote, Balnoi and Krishna Ghati sectors in Poonch District. Two houses were damaged at Mankote in which a civilian, identified as Mohammad Mushtaq a resident of Mankote was seriously injured. The Indian side retaliated very effectively and strongly, leading to heavy exchanges, which continued till late night when the reports last came in. Read less...

Police on March 31 arrested a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militant, who had attempt to repeat Pulwama like fidayeen attack on CRPF convoy near Banihal on March 30 when he was trying to escape towards Kashmir in a tipper, reports Daily Excelsior. He has confessed that he had been tasked to trigger the blast by ramming car into the convoy of Security Forces (SFs). Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said that SFs and Police were maintaining high alert all along the National Highway (NH) after the failed attempt of the militants to repeat Pulwama like attack. He said that the militant appeared on the NH near Banihal late last evening (March 31) and took lift in a tipper on way to Kashmir. However, alert naka parties apprehended him after spotting burn marks over his body as there had been reports that the militant had sustained minor burn injuries in the blast before fleeing from the spot. Read less...

Separately, a group of militants fled from the security cordon after a brief exchange of fire in Tangpawa village of Kokernag area in Anantnag District on March 30, reports Daily Excelsior. As the joint team of Security Forces (SFs) approached the suspected spot the hiding militants fired upon SFs triggering a brief exchange of firing. The cordon was later tightened around the village and massive searches were launched against the militants. Read less...

The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) claimed responsibility for the blast that took place at Banihal near the Jawahar Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH) in Ramban District on March 30, reports Daily Excelsior on March 31. SATP had earlier reported that a car hit a bus carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, and exploded at Banihal near the Jawahar Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar NH in Ramban District on March 30. According to the reports, militants attempted to repeat February 14-like Pulwama terror attack in Banihal, but failed as LPG cylinder Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along with explosive material, inside a Hyundai Santro car was blasted off by a militant, who was driving the car, few yards short of CRPF convoy and the troops had narrow escape as the car caught fire and was gutted. Militant, who was driving the car, fled away from the spot. Later, HM named militant, who was driving the car, as Owais Amin. The National Investigating Agency (NIA), which was probing Pulwama terror attack, has reached the spot for investigations along with Police, Forensic experts and Dog squads for probe and find out how the car could manage to reach right up to the convoy of 33 CRPF vehicles, which was on way from Srinagar to Jammu despite categorical directions of avoiding civilian vehicles or keeping vigil on them during movement of the convoy of security forces post-Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Read less...

Unidentified militants killed a civilian, Arjumand Majid Bhat, inside his chemist shop in main town area of Baramulla town of Baramulla District on March 30, reports Indian Express. Read less...

Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) decided to handover the case of unsuccessful attack on CRPF convoy at Banihal on the morning of March 31, to the National Investigating Agency (NIA), reports Daily Excelsior. All formalities in this regard were being completed and order to this regard was expected to be issued soon. Read less...

Separately, Pakistan Army targeted forward posts and villages along the LoC in Rajouri District with mortars and small arms firing on March 31, reports Daily Excelsior. “At about 0900 hours, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri. The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly,” the spokesman said. He said there was no report of any casualty in the cross-border shelling which was still continuing when last reports came in. Read less...