Page 64 - Jammu And Kashmir

From Doda and Kathua to Poonch, terrorist tactics reveal worrying trend

Eleven security forces personnel have reportedly lost their lives in action during 2024 alone

Brief exchanges of fire between security forces & terrorists in J-K's Doda

Security forces and terrorists exchanged fire twice briefly within a span of four hours in a forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, officials said on Wednesday. They said the firing was first reported at Kalaan Bhata at 10.45 pm on Tuesday and then near Panchan Bhata at 2 am during the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in the Desa forest area, where four Army personnel were killed in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. There are no reports of any casualties in the latest exchanges of fire. Taking advantage of the darkness, difficult terrain and thick foliage, the terrorists managed to slip away, the officials said. Troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police had launched a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest belt, some 55 km from Doda town, late on Monday evening following information about the presence of terrorists. Despite the challenging terrain and weather conditions, efforts are

Security forces launch search ops after suspected movement in J&K's Poonch

The security forces launched a joint search operation following suspected movement of two persons in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Tuesday, officials said. The troops are already on high alert along the border line and hinterland in the border district, they said. Acting swiftly on information about spotting suspicious movement of two persons near Betaar river, the army and Special Operation Group (SOG) launched a search operation, the officials said. The soldiers also questioned one person roaming in the area, they said.

Doda terror attack: 4 soldiers killed; what’s fuelling terrorism in Jammu

Jammu was struck by another terror attack on July 15 that killed 4 army personnel in Doda district. This takes the terror attack tally in the region to 6 in this year.

Soldiers, their families suffering because of BJP's wrong policies: Rahul

The Congress on Tuesday attacked the Centre after four soldiers were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda, with Rahul Gandhi asserting that the government should take full responsibility for the repeated security lapses and take strict action against the culprits. Four Army personnel, including an officer, died after being injured in a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district, officials said on Tuesday. The latest incident comes a week after a terrorist ambush on an Army patrol in the remote Machedi forest belt in Kathua district claimed the lives of five soldiers and injured as many. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also said such horrific incidents one after the other are extremely sad and worrying, and that Army soldiers and their families are bearing the brunt of "BJP's wrong policies". Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply distressed by the martyrdom of the four brave soldiers, including an officer. "Our heart goes out to the famili

SC to regain full strength as Centre notifies appointments of two judges

The Supreme Court will function with its sanctioned strength of 34, including the Chief Justice of India, after the swearing-in of Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice R Mahadevan

Doda encounter: J-K LG pays tributes to slain soldiers, vows to avenge

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday vowed to avenge the death of the soldiers killed in an encounter with terrorists in Doda district. Four army personnel, including an officer, died after being injured in a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district, officials said on Tuesday. In a post on X, Sinha said, "We will avenge death of our soldiers & thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their associates. I call upon the people to unite in the fight against terrorism & provide us accurate information so that we can intensify anti-terror operations & neutralise the terror ecosystem". He also paid tributes to slain soldiers. "I am deeply anguished to learn about the cowardly attack on our Army soldiers and JKP personnel in Doda district. Tributes to brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice protecting our nation. My deepest condolences to members of the bereaved families," he added. Troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations ...

Brief gunfight between security forces, terrorists in J&K's Doda district

The operation was launched on a reliable input about the presence of terrorists, sources said, adding reinforcements have been rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon

Vikram Misri takes charge as foreign secy: all you need to know about him

A 1989-batch IFS officer, Vikram Misri served as an ambassador in Beijing during the Galwan clash and as deputy secy for Pakistan desk in MEA during the Kargil War

Three terrorists killed in anti-infiltration operation in J&K's Kupawara

Earlier, the Indian Army informed that it foiled an infiltration bid in Kupwara, notably, Jammu and Kashmir has seen a rise in terror attacks lately

MoS for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai meets locals in Srinagar, visits LoC

Nityanand Rai paid a two-day visit to the Border Security Force FTR Head Quarter, Kashmir, to review the security situation

Amarnath Yatra: Fresh batch of pilgrims leaves under heightened security

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board organises the Amarnath Yatra, which is divided into two routes: one that goes through Pahalgam and the other that goes through Baltal

Govt's decision of 40% positions for open merit triggers outrage in Kashmir

The decision to allocate only 40 per cent of positions for open merit in government job recruitments in Jammu and Kashmir has triggered widespread outrage among the youth in the Union Territory. The move, which comes after accounting for reserved quotas, has led to opposition in various districts of the erstwhile state. Contrary to past trends of supporting terrorism or separatism, the youth in the Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu have taken to the streets demanding meritocracy in government job placements. This shift towards advocating for equity in opportunities reflects a new wave of sentiment among today's youth. Often news hungry people, who would look for articles about youngsters joining terrorist organisations or mysteriously disappearing to join ranks of Pakistan-supported groups, come across a different trend these days where the youth wants equity in government jobs. Though some youths are still joining terror groups, the number is lower. Often this is also not reporte

Security agencies on high alert in J-K as 'hidden terrorism' trend emerges

Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are grappling with what they call the "hidden threat" of "conservation and consolidation" tactics employed by infiltrating terrorists, which was evident in the recent ambushes and encounters in North Kashmir and Kathua district. Analysing the ambushes and encounters with terrorists, officials in the know of the matter said while security agencies are on high alert, the lack of ground-level intelligence -- human intelligence (HUMINT) -- hampers operations. Reliance on technical intelligence (TECHINT) has not been fruitful as terrorists use online activity to mislead authorities. Officials feel that there is an urgent need for heightened surveillance to counter foreign terrorists, especially in the Jammu region. The region, previously known for its peaceful atmosphere, has recently seen a surge in terror incidents, particularly in border districts such as Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Reasi. Attacks on an IAF convoy, a pilgrim bus and the recent ...

Centre amends rules to give more power to J-K Lt Guv, Opposition slams move

The Centre has significantly strengthened the authority of the lieutenant governor in Jammu and Kashmir, empowering him to make decisions on crucial matters such as police and all-India services officers and granting sanctions for prosecution in various cases. The opposition slammed the Union government's move and termed it a step towards "disempowering" the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Official sources, however, said the notification does not in any sense alter the balance of powers as enshrined in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The Union home ministry gave more powers to the lieutenant governor on Friday by amending the transaction rules framed under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This Act, passed alongside the abrogation of Article 370, bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The sources said that with the amendments to the transaction rules, the powers of the legislative assembly and the functi

Kashmir 'Martyrs Day': Mehbooba, others claim they are under 'house arrest'

Several political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, including PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, on Saturday claimed authorities have put them under house arrest to prevent them from visiting the 'martyrs' graveyard' to pay homage to the 22 Kashmiri people killed by the army of a Dogra ruler on this day in 1931. However, there was no official word on the claims made by the politicians. Mehbooba, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, alleged that she was put under "house arrest" at her residence in Khimber in the outskirts of the city. "The gates of my house have been locked up yet again to prevent me from visiting Mazar e Shuhada - an enduring symbol of Kashmir's resistance and resilience against authoritarianism, oppression and injustice," she said in a post on X. The PDP chief said the "sacrifices of our martyrs is a testament that the spirit of Kashmiri's cannot be crushed" and added that "today even observing it in remembrance of the protesters martyred on this day has been ...

Search operation launched in Jammu following reports of suspicious movement

Security forces launched a search operation in the border belt of Jammu district on Friday after information was received about suspicious movement in the area, officials said. The forces are on high alert and have asked people to share any details of suspected movements in their areas. A joint search operation was launched by Army, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Guda Patan and Kana Chak areas near the Chenab river in the Akhnoor border belt this morning after some people informed police about the suspicious movement of three persons in the area, the officials said. The security forces have scanned agricultural fields, villages and adjoining scattered habitation, they said. The operation is underway.

Interstate security review: Senior BSF, police officials meet in Kathua

Senior BSF and police officials gathered at a high-level interstate security review meeting in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua on Thursday, days after terrorists, who are believed to have infiltrated from across the International Border, ambushed an army patrol. Five army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were killed and as many injured when terrorists opened fire on two army vehicles on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountain road near Badnota village, about 150 km from the district headquarters of Kathua, on Monday. The meeting was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police R R Swain, his Punjab counterpart Gaurav Yadav and Special Director General of BSF, Western Command, Y B Khurania, among others, to review the security grid along the International Border and plug any loopholes, officials said. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), J-K, Vijay Kumar, ADG (Law and Order), Punjab, Arpit Shukla and Inspector General-rank BSF officers of Punjab

J-K polls will prove supremacy of security forces over terrorists: Omar

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held in time to prove the supremacy of security forces over terrorists, who have carried out a spate of attacks in Jammu region recently. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function here, Abdullah said there is no normalcy in the union territory. "There is no normalcy. But, is the situation worse than 1996? If yes, then let them not conduct the elections. If they want to bow down before these powers who are attacking, then don't conduct the election. If you have to prove the supremacy of the militancy, rather than proving the supremacy of our armed forces and police, then don't conduct the elections," he said. The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K, said if the government has courage, then elections should be conducted. "If you don't have the courage, and are afraid, then don't. But, if you have to show the supremacy of our police and .

HC judge recuses himself from plea seeking death penalty for Yasin Malik

Delhi High Court judge Amit Sharma on Thursday recused himself from hearing a plea by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking death penalty for separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case. The matter was listed before a division bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh after a change in the roster of judges dealing with such cases. "List before another bench, of which Justice Sharma is not a member, on August 9," Justice Singh said. The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief, who is currently serving a life term in the case, was virtually present for the the court proceedings from the Tihar jail here. The court directed that he will appear virtually on the next date as well. On May 29 last year, the high court had issued a notice to Malik on the NIA's plea seeking death penalty for him in the terror funding case and had sought his presence before it on the next date. Subsequently, jail authorities had filed an application seeking permission for his virtual ..