Schoolkids trapped in landslide rescued

A major tragedy was averted in Ladakh as Army troops, battling adverse weather conditions, rescued 11 schoolchildren who were trapped in a major landslide near Turtuk village in Nubra Valley on the Line of Control (LoC).

Giving details, a Defence Ministry spokesman at the Northern Command in Udhampur said on Sunday that a school bus carrying 15 children to Tyakshi — an Army Goodwill School ? was trapped in a landslide around 9.45 am on Thursday. Eleven of them were seriously injured.

Rescue operation was launched immediately under supervision of senior Army officers, the spokesman said and the children were taken out of the school bus trapped in the landslide. An Army medical team rushed to the site despite continuing landslides, and provided immediate first aid and treatment to the injured children.

Three Army helicopters were launched despite bad weather conditions to evacuate eight seriously injured children to Military Hospital at Hunder.

Three children were evacuated to Military Hospital, Leh by Air Force helicopter. Two of these children have been further air evacuated to an Army hospital in Delhi.

Woman crosses over to PoK

A woman on Monday crossed over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from a border village along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Noorjahan, 32, married to Abdul Majeed of Gotaraya village crossed over from Kerni forward belt along the LoC early today, they said.

Police have registered a case in this regard and investigation has begun.

Kerni village is divided into two parts, one part on either side of the LoC, they said.

Outgoing Army Chief expects enhanced attempts of infiltration

New Delhi, Mar. 31 (ANI): Outgoing Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Wednesday expressed confidence that security forces would be able to thwart infiltration attempts by militants from across the Line of Control (LoC) during the summer.

“We do expect enhanced attempts at infiltration this summer and the trend for that are already obvious,” said Kapoor after paying homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi.

“The infiltrations are aided and abetted by our western neighbour but we are quite sure that the security forces would be able to take care of any such attempts at infiltration and would be able to ensure a degree of peace and stability in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir as has been the trend for the last year and a half and two years,” he added.

Intelligence officials say Pakistan-based militant groups have stepped up efforts to infiltrate the region across the Line of Control (LoC) or military ceasefire line after snow started melting on the high Himalayan mountain passes.

General Kapoor, who is retiring as the Army Chief on Wednesday was accorded a guard of honour.

General V K Singh has formally taken over as the country’s 26th Army Chief. (ANI)

Militants killed in J-K encounter identified as Pakistani nationals

Srinagar, Mar 31 (ANI): The militants killed in the encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir”s Rajouri district have been identified as Pakistani nationals.

The security personnel have also recovered a diary that disclosed their identity as Abu Zarar, Abu Abdullah, Abu Shoaib and Abu Osama.

The security personnel have also found the food supplies that the militants brought with them. All of them have Pakistani registration marks, which further makes it clear that they all had come from Pakistan.

It is suspected that they came in groups from Pakistan and later split in three teams as three encounters were witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir”s Rajouri district in the last 48 hours.

Four militants and three security personnel were killed in the exchange of fire in Rajouri district that lasted nearly 12 hours.

The second encounter that took place at Dharamshall came to an end with terrorists fleeing back to the Pakistani side of the LoC; a police official was injured in the encounter.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the encounter between security forces and militants is on in Jammu and Kashmir”s Kolian area. (ANI)

Security forces recover huge cache of ammunition in J-K

Srinagar, Mar 27(ANI): In a joint extensive surveillance and search operation, security personnel have recovered a huge cache of ammunition and RDX from a hideout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sawjian sector in Poonch District.

The operations were conducted late on Friday evening.

The spot from where the arms were recovered is very close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch District.

“We launched this operation in Sawjian sector near Line of Control. We recovered nearly four kilograms of RDX, three magazines of AK-47 assault rifle, detonators and some grenades,” said Major Ajay Pathania.

“If this hideout had not been busted these explosives and ammunition might have fallen into hands of militants and these would have caused great destruction,” he added.

Among the assorted armament items seized were four kilograms of RDX, nine detonators, three magazines of AK-47 assault rifle and nine grenades. (ANI)

One militant killed in encounter in J-K

Srinagar, Sep 16 (ANI): Indian security force on Wednesday killed a militant in an encounter while three others are still holed up in border area of Mendhar in Poonch district.

Sources said that the army and the police in Chajla area of Mendhar launched a joint operation soon after receiving inputs that a group of four militants had come into the Indian side from across the Line of Control (LoC).

One militant was killed and rest are still trapped in the area, they said.

The encounter is continuing when the last reports came in. (ANI)

Family grieves death of soldier in an encounter in Poonch

Poonch (Jammu), Sep 9 (ANI): A pall of gloom enveloped the household of the Army major who was killed in an encounter with the militants in Mendhar sub-sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

Major Akash Singh was killed while trying to foil an infiltration bid across the Line of Control (LoC) in Sonagali area.

He gunned down two militants before being hit by a bullet while aiming at the third.

His friends remembered him as a brave and courageous young man.

“We got this news suddenly in the morning. I had gone to drop off my kids at the bus stop when his (Akash Singh) father got a call from his CO (Commanding Officer). Since his father was not able to decipher what was being said, his brother, who was with me, rushed to take the call. He was informed that around 3 in the morning, they had set up an ambush for the militants, where he (Akash) killed two militants but got hit by a bullet while aiming at third and he is no more,” said Avdhesh Raina, friend of Akash Singh.

Singh is survived by his wife and two children.

The infiltration comes despite a ceasefire between the two armies and a three-metre-high barbed wire security fence along most of the 742-km LoC. (ANI)

Cross-LoC firing kills army soldier in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 1 (ANI): A soldier was killed in firing from across the border at a forward post along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch District in the wee hours on Tuesday, Army officials said.

According to reports, the soldier has been identified as Lance Naik Dag Bahadur Gurung.

A senior Army official said that it was an unprovoked firing, and the Indian Army didn’t retaliate.

It is believed to be the fourth case of ceasefire violation by Pakistan in this sector this year.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony had last year stated that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire over 30 times since it was agreed between India and Pakistan in November 2003. (ANI)

Army foils infiltration bid near LoC; two militants killed

Srinagar, Aug 23 (ANI): Indian Army on Sunday foiled an infiltration bid by a group of heavily armed militants and killed two of them in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir at Sonapindi near the Line of Control.

According to the Defense spokesperson, the militants had sneaked into this side in the wee hours. But they were confronted by troops guarding the border at Sonapindi near the Line of Control, defence spokesman said.

The two militants were killed during the security personnel’s retaliation as after militants opened fire at them. (ANI)

Editorial nails Pakistan’s ‘no terror camps on its soil’ lie

Islamabad, Aug.20 (ANI): While Pakistan has been denying the presence of terror camps on its soil, an editorial in a leading English daily of the country suggests that Islamabad and also the international community were aware about such camps operating along the Line of Control (LoC).

“The entire world knew about them. Pakistani journalists knew about them and accounts were written about the heroism of their inmates in in-house journals that jihadi organisations published and circulated all over Pakistan. The truth is that Pakistan gave itself a bad name and endangered its own security at the hands of these ‘trainees’ later on,” the Daily Times editorial said.

While New Delhi has accused Islamabad of abetting these terror camps to carry out attacks against it, Pakistan says it is working ‘sincerely’ to dismantle the terror safe haven, but it can hardly guarantee that there is no planning going on inside Pakistan by for more attacks on India.

“It has already admitted to it in the past: it had no clue that a ‘charity organisation’ (JuD) was plotting the 2008 Mumbai attacks and wants more evidence from India to punish those who did it,” the editorial said.

It said that it is a mistake on part of Pakistan to think that these camps could not be located.

“Training camps are not something that can be concealed from the world in these days of satellite photography. Pakistan would be foolhardy in restarting something which has not succeeded in the past and which endangers its own internal security now,” it went to add.

The editorial stressed that it was important for both countries to restart the stalled bilateral talks in order to settle all impending issues.

“Given the circumstances, our suggestion to Prime Minister Singh is that he should decide quickly about restarting the stalled dialogue with Pakistan,” the editorial concluded. (ANI)

Lahore Police claims arresting RAW agent

Lahore, July 12 (ANI): The Lahore Police has claimed arresting an agent of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s premier secret services organization.

Lahore Police officials said they have arrested a man, Nazir Hussain, who was trying to smuggle Pakistan-made weapons to India.

Officials claimed that Hussain, who belongs to the Mendhar Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir, has confessed to his crime and told the investigators that he and his other two associates Muhammad Sharif and Hussain were working for RAW.

Hussain reportedly said that he had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) 15 times earlier, and an Indian Army official, named Prithvi, gave him the money to smuggle the arms and ammunitions to India.

A case under Section 121-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act has been registered against Hussain, The Daily Times reports. (ANI)

Rain prayers in Rajouri

Rajouri, July 2 (ANI): Residents offered prayers for rains at a shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri District, putting all their hopes on divine intervention.

Situated near to the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan, the shrine of saint Sain Lal Din at Sorah Pani is said to cure all woes of devotees and fulfil all their wishes.

Devotees from the state and from outside are visiting the shrine with the hope that with god’s grace there shall be rain.

“There were prayers especially for the rain and for prosperity in the country. By the grace of god everything will be sorted out and nothing will remain unsolved,” said Ali Shah Bokhari, a resident.

Lack of rains has caused concerns among the people across the country. Thus, farmers are desperately seeking divine intervention.

The four-month (June-September) monsoon is the main source of water for irrigation in the country.

Ample rainfall helps agricultural output, which contributes a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product. (ANI)

Cross-LoC firing in Poonch kills army soldier

Jammu, June 29 (ANI): A soldier was killed in firing from across the border at a forward post along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch District in the wee hours on Monday.

According to defence sources, Mohinder Singh of 8 Kumaon was killed in firing from across the border at Khari near Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point. (ANI)

Infiltration bid foiled, three militants killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 22 (IANS) Three militants were killed Friday when army troops foiled an infiltration bid in the Tangdhar sector at the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir, officials said.

Troops detected and challenged a group of infiltrators at the LoC in Kupwara district as soon as they crossed the border in the Tangdhar sector, a defence spokesman said here.

“The infiltrating terrorists opened fire at the surrounding troops. The fire was returned, triggering a gun battle in which three militants have been eliminated,” Lt. Col Uma Maheshwar told IANS here.

“Troops are still busy searching the area,” he added.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the gun battle.

The identity of the slain guerrillas is being ascertained, Maheshwar added.

Three-tier security to prevent infiltration during polls: General Kapoor

New Delhi, Apr 14 (ANI): Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Tuesday assured that a three-tier security system has been placed at the Line of Control (LoC) to prevent any infiltration during the elections.

Talking to reporters here on the sidelines of an international seminar, General Kapoor claimed there is no trace of Taliban militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, he admitted the presence of LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) and the JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammed) in the valley.

General Kapoor expressed confidence about the security forces ability to face the extremists. He said the forces would ensure that the elections are peaceful.

“We had already foreseen all this (infiltration attempts) happening and were quite well prepared. That is why our troops are there on the LoC .We have put a three-tier defence system in place,” he said.

General Kapoor also spoke about reports of female terrorists being trained across the border. (ANI)

‘KNP concerned over missing people in Muzaffarabad’

London, Apr.13 (ANI): Kashmir National Party Spokesman Dr Shabir Choudhry has expressed serious concern over disappearance of Kashmiri youths from Muzaffarabad. Over the months dozens of young men have disappeared from Muzaffarabad, and people are really concerned about this, said Dr Shabir Choudhry.

Last night another young man Adnaan Mir disappeared without a trace. Last week a dead body of Shah Zaman was discovered from a deserted hotel building. Shah Zaman disappeared some weeks ago and no one knew anything about him until his dead body was discovered inflicting fear and worry among the citizens of the city.

About two months ago Khawaja Asim Rasool, a cousin of a famous political activist Khawaja Abid Kashmiri went missing and no one knows where he is. Khawaja Abid Kashmiri pursues a nationalist politics and wants a complete independence of the State from India and Pakistan.

Khawaja Abid Kashmiri while talking to Dr Shabir Choudhry said, ‘people are seriously worried about these disappearances’. He said over the months dozens of young men have disappeared and no one knows where they are and what has happened to them.

KNP Spokesman said, ‘this is very serious matter and we need to know what is going on. Are these people kidnapped by the agencies to teach lesson and harass those who oppose Pakistani domination in the area; or they are used for some other sinister motives’.

Dr Shabir Choudhry said, ‘this is a serious breach of UNCIP Resolutions under which Pakistan assumed control of these areas. Pakistani authorities must come clean on this matter and stop harassing those who espouse nationalist politics’.

Dr Shabir Choudhry said, ‘some organisation are only concerned about human rights abuse on the Indian side of the LOC; but we condemn and oppose human rights abuse on both sides of the divide, as our struggle is against wrong policies and human rights abuse rather than any specific country’.

Dr Shabir Choudhry said, ‘we have asked people to prepare a list of missing people that we can take up their case with the relevant authorities and international human rights organisation, including the UN and Amnesty International’.

KNP Spokesman said, ‘we will investigate human rights abuse in Gilgit and Baltistan and in Pakistani Administered Kashmir, and take it up at the international level that this trend must stop; and people of these areas are not intimidated for their political or religious views. By Dr Shabir Choudhry (ANI)

2 Lashkar commanders killed in J and K gunbattle

The three-day long gun-battle between militants and security forces in the forests of Maidanpora village in Lolab valley of frontier Kupwara district ended on Tuesday evening leaving two soldiers and two top commanders of Lashkar-e-Toiba dead. Three other soldiers were also injured in the clash.

A defence spokesperson in Srinagar said that the operation was over. Bodies of two senior Lashkar commanders were found on the site of encounter, he said.

The slain militants were identified as Abu Musa and Abu Muawiya, both Pakistan nationals, owing allegiance to Lashkar-e-Toiba. Abu Musa was divisional commander of the outfit.

Police sources said that the militants had made underground hideouts and gave tough resistance to the troopers. “They were well trained”, sources said adding that the army had to use helicopters for rushing in more troops in the operation.

“The operation was meticulously carried out and entire area was divided into five zones”, they said, adding that two bodies were found when the clashes ended on Tuesday evening. The clash had occurred on Sunday afternoon after troops launched a search operation in the area to flush out militants.

Two soldiers Naik Vipin Thakur and paratrooper Kamaljeet Singh of the 9 Para regiment were killed and three other soldiers were injured in the firing. Even though the army has called off the operation, they have not lowered the guard.

“An alert has been sounded all along the line of control (LOC) and mountainous regions of Kupwara”, said an officer, who did not want to be named. He said that the reported infiltration by Taliban militants was a matter of concern and “we are fully prepared to neutralise them”.

There has been sudden spurt in clashes between militants and security forces in the past three weeks. Over 30 militants and 11 soldiers have died in these encounters.

Seventeen militants and eight soldiers, including an army major, were killed in a five-day long encounter at Drangyari and Hafradu forests. Syed Ali Geelani, chairman of hard-line faction of Hurriyat Conference, has rubbished the claims of Taliban presence in Kashmir.

He said that neither Taliban nor Al Qaedah had any presence in Kashmir.

Terror attacks to top talks with Holbrooke, Mullen

New Delhi, April 7 (IANS)The rapidly worsening security scenario in Pakistan and the increasing Talibanisation of large swathes of the country’s tribal areas are expected to dominate discussions between top Indian and US officials here Wednesday.

U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, come to India after visiting Pakistan and Afghanistan will meet up with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan.

Mullen will also hold talks with Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta separately, with counter-terrorism continuing to be on the agenda.

Officials in the external affairs ministry said all engagements will take place Wednesday and the Indian side will be keen to present its feedback on various dimensions to US President Barack Obama’s new Af-Pak policy announced last month.

India’s immediate problem is the security crisis in Pakistan, where terror strikes are taking place with increasing regularity and Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud warning that the group would carry out two suicide bombings per week to protest the drone attacks by US forces from neighbouring Afghanistan.

The security establishment believes there is a real danger of the violence spilling over into India, with reports indicating that infiltration could go up along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in the coming weeks.

Home secretary to review Kashmir security

Jammu, April 1 (IANS) Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh are set to review the security in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the polls during their two-day visit to the state beginning Thursday, official sources said here.

The two officials will conduct the security review along with army, paramilitary forces and state government officials in the two cities of Srinagar and Jammu.

‘Major talking points would be the rise in infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) and internal security,’ an official source said.

The Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in five phases beginning April 16.

Gupta and Singh would also be looking at the security arrangements for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage that begins in June, the source added.