Jammu & Kashmir: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2021

Pakistan Army violated the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) and shelled forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 1, reports Daily Excelsior. A Defence spokesman said, “At about 1745 hours today, Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along the LoC in Mankote sector of Poonch.” The Indian Army retaliated befittingly to the Pakistani aggression, sources said. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested two militant associates of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 2, reports Daily Excelsior. Bandipora Police had received reliable information that there were certain anti-national elements who were indoctrinating youths and influencing them with false narratives and motivating and enticing them to take violent path besides providing them arms, ammunition and other resources for the purpose. Police said that acting on specific human and technical inputs, Bandipora police along with 13 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army arrested one suspected person Abdul Majeed Khan, resident of Kralpora Bandipora, in a joint operation at Wullar Vantage Park Aragam Bandipora and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession which includes one pistol, three live hand grenades and 10 live rounds. On enquiry, the accused revealed that he is associated with JeM militant outfit and is in contact with handlers across the border from where he received instructions to identify innocent youth for joining militancy and pass on arms and ammunition to them. Police said that on his disclosure, he named Showkat Ahmad Malik, resident of Sangrama Sopore as his accomplice in carrying out his nefarious designs and accordingly a search operation was launched in Sangrama Sopore with Sopore Police and 52 RR leading to the recovery of one pistol, five live hand grenades and 20 live rounds from the accused person. Read less...

An Army soldier was killed in Pakistan shelling and firing in violation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) on the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector in Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 3, reports Daily Excelsior. Reports said the Pakistan army resorted to shelling and firing in Sunderbani sector with a view to push trained militants into the Indian territory, and in the exchange of firing, an Army jawan identified as Sepoy Laxman, a resident of Bilara, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, was killed, while, the Indian Army retaliated effectively. Read less...

The Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist, identified as Muneeb Ahmad Sofi, from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on February 4, after his deportation from Qatar, reports Zee News. "Kulgam police arrested a wanted top OGW of JeM terror outfit Munib Sofi of Bijbehara from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi who deported today from Qatar. He was working for Pakistani terrorist Waleed Bhai who was killed in an encounter at Kulgam last year," the Kashmir Zone Police said on its official Twitter handle. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA),on February 4, conducted searches in Amritsar and Gurdaspur Districts of Punjab, in connection with a narco-terror case of Pakistan-based terror group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), reports Daily Excelsior. During searches, INR 2 million of drug proceeds, 130 rounds of 9 mm bullets, mobile phones, pen drive, one bunch of polythene bags used for packing heroin, a car, a two-wheeler, documents related to properties and other incriminating documents have been seized from the house of the suspect.An NIA spokesperson said, the searches were conducted at the premises of suspect Manpreet Singh of Amritsar, a close associate of charge-sheeted accused Ranjit Singh in connection with the investigation of HM narco-terror case. The case relates to the arrest of Hilal Ahmad Shergojri, an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of HM and a close associate of Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo, the then ‘commander’ of HM who had come to Amritsar to collect funds to further the terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the official said.The case was originally registered by Punjab Police on April 25, 2020, under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in connection with the seizure of INR 2.9 million which were drug proceeds, the official added. Read less...

Bandipora Police arrested three militant associates of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit in Hajin area in Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 5, reports Daily Excelsior. Police said that acting on specific inputs, Bandipora Police along with 13 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army and 45 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) arrested three suspected militant associates of LeT, identified as Bashir Ahmed Mir of Rakhi Hajin, Irfan Ahmad Bhat alias Ifa, of Bonikhan Mohalla Hajin and Hilal Ahmad Parray, of Parray Mohalla Hajin, in a joint operation at Rakhi Hajin and recovered arms, ammunition from their possession which include three live hand grenades, one AK-47 magazine and 21 live rounds of AK 47. Preliminary enquiry revealed that the accused were associated with LeT outfit and were providing shelter, logistics and other material support to active militants of LeT in Sumbal and Hajin areas. Read less...

In a joint operation by Jammu and Anantnag Police, Hedayatullah Malik, chief of Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) terror outfit, has been arrested,from Jammu District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 6, reports Daily Excelsior. Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shridhar Patil, said, “Hedayatullah Malik, a categorised terrorist, has been arrested near Kunjwani in Jammu. A pistol and a grenade have been recovered from his possession. When we went to arrest him, he attacked the police party.”Jammu and Kashmir Police in a statement said that Malik is a categorised terrorist from Shopian district. “The said terrorist is the Chief of Lashkar-e-Mustafa, an offshoot of Jaish-e-Mohammad [JeM] in Kashmir in Kashmir valley,” it said. Read less...

Suspected militants fired upon Security Forces (SFs) in Chhanapora in Nowgam area in Srinagar District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 6, reports Daily Excelsior.Official sources said, militants fired upon 29 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Chanapora, in which one CRPF personnel sustained bullet injuries. Later,the whole area was cordoned off to arrest the fleeing militants, however, no arrest has been made so far. Read less...

The armies of India and Pakistan exchanged gunfire along the line of control (LoC) at Macchil sector in Kupwara District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 6, reports Daily Excelsior.Official sources said, Pakistani rangers resorted to unprovoked CeaseFire Agreement (CFA) violation and targeted the posts of the Indian Army in the Macchil sector close to the fencealong the LoC. However, there is no report of damage from the sector. Read less...

Asserting that Jammu has always remained a target of Pakistan and its agencies, Director General of Police (DGP), Dilbag Singh, on February 7, said terrorists are planning to set up their hideouts here to receive arms and ammunition from across the border and smuggle it to Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior.However, the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) is alert to the challenge, he added. DGP, Singh said the arrest of Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) ‘chief’ from the Kunjwani area of Jammu on February 6, reflects the determination of the force to scuttle the nefarious designs of the neighbouring country (Pakistan) sponsoring terrorism and drugs in the Union Territory (UT).“Jammu has always remained a target of Pakistan, its sponsored terrorist outfits, ISI [Inter Services Intelligence's] and the agencies running militancy in J-K. In the past, religious places were repeatedly targeted and a grenade attack had taken place on a temple in Rajouri in the recent past.Police have got inputs and are taking action (to foil any attempt to disturb peace and harm the communal harmony),” DGP, Singh said. He further said, the recently floated Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) is an offshoot of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit and majority of its members were arrested in Kashmir or Jammu. “The questioning of its commander (who was arrested in Jammu city on Saturday) is going on and his disclosure suggests that they wanted to spread militancy to Jammu and set up hideouts so that they can dump the arms and ammunition received from Pakistan before smuggling to Kashmir or any other place,” DGP, Singh added. Read less...

The Special Operation Group (SOG) Jammu on February 7, detained Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) ‘chief’ Hedayatullah Malik’s wife Seeba, an LLM student of Kashmir University, from the residence of her sister at Ustaad Mohalla in Jammu city in Jammu District of Jammu and Kashmir in India, reports Daily Excelsior.However, Police clarified that Seeba has only been detained and not arrested so far.She has been subjected to questioning on her role as she was wife of Malik, who was arrested with pistols and grenade on February 6, and was planning terror attack in Jammu. Earlier, SATP had reported that in a joint operation by Jammu and Anantnag Police, Hedayatullah Malik, ‘chief’ of Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) terror outfit, has been arrested, from Jammu Districton February 6. Read less...

An unidentified Pakistani intruder was shot dead by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the India-Pakistan International Border (IB) near the Chak Faquira border post (border pillar no 64) in Samba District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 8, reports Daily Excelsior. Inspector General of BSF, Jammu frontier, N S Jamwal said the intruder could be a terrorist guide who had come for a reconnaissance or was carrying something to deliver on this side of the border. “Samba and Kathua sectors along the International Border (IB) in Jammu are witness to repeated infiltration attempts (by terrorists). This is the same area where an underground tunnel was detected in August and an intruder was shot dead on November 23 last year,” the IG BSF added. Read less...

Militants managed to escape after a very brief gunfight near Khanabal area in Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 8, reports Daily Excelsior. An official said that there was a brief encounter between militants and a joint team of Police and Army at around 1100 hours. He said there was a lull following which massive searches were launched. However, no second contact was established with militants nor any one was arrested which suggesting that the militant had fled from the spot. Read less...

Pakistani Rangers opened fire on forward posts and villages along the International Border (IB) in Karol Krishna border outpost area in Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 8, reports Daily Excelsior. The firing from across the border started around 10:20 pm last night, prompting strong retaliation by the Border Security Force (BSF), and the cross-border firing between the two sides continued till 5 am but there was no report of any damage on the Indian side. Read less...

An intruder was killed by Security Forces (SFs) at Dulanja post near Line of Control (LoC) in Uri area in Baramulla District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India in wee hours on February 10 (today), reports Daily Excelsior.A senior Police officer said that in night hours one intruder was killed at LoC on PaK (Pakistan Administered Kashmir) side near forward post Dulanja Uri by SFs.The officer further said that the body along with weapon is visible, however more clarity will come after we retrieve the body. Read less...

Police arrested a top The Resistance Front (TRF) militant from Samba District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 12, reports Daily Excelsior. Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar, said,following specific information,a team of Police from Anantnag arrested the militant, Zahoor Ahmad Rather alias Sahil alias Khalid of TRF who was hiding in Samba. The IGP further said Zahoor Ahmad was allegedly involved in the killing of three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, identified as Fida Hussain Yatoo, Umer Rashid Beigh and Umer Ramzan Hajam, and a Policeman at Furra in YK Pora locality in Kulgam District on October 29, 2020.Earlier, SATP had reported the incident on October 29. TRF is an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit, the IGP maintained. Read less...

Budgam Police and Indian Army arrested two terror associates of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) during naka(Police check) checking in Budgam District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 15 (today), Yahoo News. Incriminating materials, flags, banners and letter pads have been recovered from their possession. Read less...

The armies of India and Pakistan exchanged fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Tangdhar sector in Kupwara District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 15, reports Daily Excelsior, after Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing in violation of the CeaseFire Agreement (CFA) and targeted the posts of the Indian army. However, there were no immediate reports about injury or casualty. Read less...

Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) has seized 61 vehicles, attached houses and shops and recovered cash in 46 militancy related cases, an official spokesman said on February 16, reports Daily Excelsior. The official spokesman said JKP Headquarters has accorded permission in 46 cases for seizure and attachment of various moveable and immovable assets of individuals or associations to restrict the militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).He also said Police along with the other Security Forces (SFs) and investigation agencies is fighting the challenges of the militancy at various fronts.While the number of militants belonging to different outfits were neutralised in the sustained operations, the handlers are using motor vehicles and the proceeds of militants for furthering their evil designs. The spokesman further said following the due procedures of the law Police has in last couple of years or so accorded sanction for seizure and attachments of four wheelers, motorcycles, cash, land houses and shops through different orders to ensure that the militant activities are under check. Read less...

Militants triggered off an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on an old National Highway in Pazalpora area in Bijbehara in AnantnagDistrict of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 16, reports Daily Excelsior.The IED which was kept in a scrap in a dumper was triggered off in the Pazalpora area near Central Reserve Police Party (CRPF) party, which exploded with a bang. However, no injury was reported in the incident. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested one person with a toy pistol and live cartridges for Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs) in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 16, reports Daily Excelsior. Rafeeq Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of the Dalwach Khag area in Budgam District, was arrested by a patrolling party comprising Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in the Barsoo area in Awantipora in Pulwama District, a Police official said, adding, a toy pistol, a knife and four live cartridges for SLRs were seized from his possession.Sheikh was allegedly trying to extort money from some people in the area, the official said, adding that an inquiry is being conducted by the Police to ascertain how the cartridges came into his possession. Read less...

A major tragedy was averted with timely detection of a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted inside a pressure cooker on the busy highway in Manjakote area in Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 17, reports Daily Excelsior. The suspected IED was found on the roadside at Manjakote on Jammu-Poonch Highway and was subsequently destroyed by the Army’s Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), reports said.An Army officer said, “This morning a Road Opening Party of the Army found a suspicious object along the highway near Manjakote. Soon, traffic was controlled on the highway and a Bomb Disposal Squad was called in. The suspected material, packed in a fruit packing box, was destroyed through a controlled explosion.” Read less...

A civilian was injured after militants opened fire at him in the Durganag area in Srinagar District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 17, reports Daily Excelsior. Police said, the militants fired at Akash Mehraj son of Ramesh Kumar Mehra outside his famous eatery Krishna Dhabaat Sonwarin the Durganag area.Muslim Janbaz Force (MJF) has claimed responsibility for the attack. “We will target those non-J&K citizens who get a Domicile Certificate and those who will sell land to them and the property brokers involved in such deals”, said a statement issued by MJF. However, an official said that he was J&K permanent resident.This is the second attack on non-Kashmiri residents in the city after the abrogation of the special status of J&K. Earlier in January, a jeweller, identified as, Satpal, settled in J&K for the last five decades, was shot dead. The Resistance Front (TRF)aka JK Fighters, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit, had claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

Police arrested three militant associates of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) in Tral area in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 17, reports Daily Excelsior. Police said that acting on specific information of militant movement, Awantipora Police along with 42 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 180 Bn Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched search operations in Batagund and Dadsara villages in Tral, and during the search operations, arrested three associates of HM, involved in providing shelter, logistics and transportation of arms and ammunition to the HM militants in Tral and Awantipora areas.“During on spot questioning of the arrested associates IED[Improvised Explosive Device]material was recovered from the house of one of the arrested associates in Dadsara which includes 8 electric detonators, 7 anti-mechanism switches, 3 pressure switches/relay mechanism switches, one improvised switch and one anti-mine wireless antenna,” Police said.Those arrested have been identified as Shafat Ahmad Sofi, a resident of Batagund, Majid Mohammad Bhat and Umer Rashid Wani, both residents of Dadsara. Read less...

Police,on February 17, arrested top militant of JK Ghaznavi Force soon after he landed at Jammu Airport from Kuwait via Mumbai to further spread network of his outfit in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India, where he had already recruited many militants,reports Daily Excelsior. Police was keeping track on militant Sher Ali, a resident of Dhargloon in Mendhar area of Poonch District as his name had surfaced in motivating youth of twin border Districts of Poonch and Rajouri to join militancy, who had gone for work in Kuwait. The Police said, “Sher Ali was, in fact, running the terror network from Kuwait.” Poonch Police teams led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ramesh Angral, had developed specific information that Sher Ali is returning to Poonch to motivate more local youth to join Ghaznavi Force.Sher Ali reached Mumbai from Kuwait this morning. He boarded Jammu-bound flight at Mumbai at 11.30 am, and as he landed at Jammu Airport, a Poonch Police team already waiting there overpowered him and arrested him.Mushtaq Ahmad and Raskeem Akhter, father and sister of Sher Ali, are already under arrest for their involvement in militant activities.Sher Ali is the main coordinator and facilitator of militant activities of various terror groups involving facilitating infiltration, smuggling of arms and ammunition and narcotics from PoJK to Indian territory from Balakote area of Poonch District.Sitting abroad, Sher Ali was involved in sending two Pakistan militants from Dabbi area of Balakote sector on the intervening night of 24th and 25th November 2020 at the behest of Pakistani handler named Sultan.Sher Ali was also involved in drug smuggling along with arms and ammunitions and two kilograms heroine worth approximately INR 80million in the international market were also recovered from his terror network which was meant to be used for terror financing.So far from this network, Police have recovered five pistols, 13 grenades and one live Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Read less...

A newly recruited militant was arrested during a Security Forces (SFs) operation in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 18, reports Daily Excelsior.Based on specific information about the presence of militants, a joint operation was launched by Police and Army’s 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) at Main Town in Pulwama and during the searches one youth identified as Vilayat Aziz Mir alias Rasik son of Abdul Aziz Mir of Banpora Kakapora was arrested along with a pistol and a grenade.Vilayat was missing since January 15 and had joined the militant ranks. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered a huge cache of weapons from Makkhidhar forest area in Reasi District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 18, reports Daily Excelsior.The recovery included an AK 47 rifle with one sealed box of ammunition, one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), one 303 bolt rifle and two Chinese pistols with magazines and ammunition, a Police spokesman said, adding, the recovery is the outcome of ongoing efforts of Police and the Army to thwart and demolish any attempts to destabilise peace and development south of Pir Panjal ranges in Jammu region. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a harbourer and logistics provider of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) in KishtwarDistrict of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 18, reports Daily Excelsior.The militant arrested by NIA has been identified as Taraq Hussain Giri son of Ghulam Hassan Giri, a resident of Pachhal Kishtwar, who was involved in snatching of service rifle from PSO of former District Magistrate Kishtwar.Taraq Hussain was also wanted in providing logistic support to HM militants Osama bin Javed and Haroon Abba Wani in March 2019. The incident of weapon snatching was among four major terror acts committed by the HM from November 2018 to September 2019 in Kishtwar. Read less...

Three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter in Badigam area in Shopian District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 18, reports Daily Excelsior.A joint team of Police and army launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Badigam, and as the Security Forces (SFs) approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the SFs, triggering a gunfight. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Vijay Kumar, said, three militants have been killed in the gunfight. The identity of the slain militants is yet to be ascertained. Read less...

A Special Police Officer (SPO) of Police was killed while another Policeman was injured in an ongoing fierce encounter in Beerwah area in Budgam District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 19 (today), reports Daily Excelsior. The slain SPO was identified as Altaf Ahmad while the injured Policeman was identified as Manzoor Ahmad.A joint team of Police and army launched a cordon and search operation in Beerwah during which gun battle broke out. Read less...

Militants killed two Policemen who were on duty in Baghat area in Srinagar District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 19, reports Daily Excelsior. The CCTV footage of the shootout shared by Police shows a lone militant appearing at the spot hiding his AK-47 rifle under gown (Pheran). The militant suddenly fires at the Policemen who are standing at a shop front leaving them in a pool of blood. The attack causes panic and people are seen fleeing from the spot and so is the militant. The two slainPolicemen have been identified as Suhail Ahmed and Muhammad Yousuf, residents of Ashmuqam, Anantnag and Zurhama, Kupwara respectively. Read less...

Police arrested two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant associates and recovered two hand grenades from their possession in Papchan area in Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 19, reports Daily Excelsior.The arrested duo has been identified as Abid Waza son of Abdul Gani Waza and Shabir Ahmad Gojer son of Mohammad Abdulla Mir Gojer.Police said, during search two live hand grenades were recovered from their possession. Read less...

A Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) team with the help of Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Patna arrested an associate of Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) chief Hedayatullah Malik,who was reportedly supplying arms to the militants,from Deobahuara in Chapra District Bihar on February 20, reports Daily Excelsior. The arrested associate of Malik has been identified as Javaid Alam Ansari son of Mahfooz Alam Ansari, a resident of Deobahuara in Chapra District.Malik disclosed that the LeM outfit had been supplied seven pistols from Chapra in Bihar, so far.On the basis of disclosures, Police conducted raids at Chapra and with the help of ATS Patna arrested Javaid Alam Ansari, who was instrumental in supplying the pistols to the Kashmir militants. Read less...

Pakistani Rangers opened fire in violation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) at forward posts and villages along the International Border (IB) in Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 20, reports Daily Excelsior. Officials said,the firing from across the border targeting Border Outpost (BoP) Bobiya area in Hiranagar sector, drawing strong retaliation from the Border Security Force (BSF). However, there was no report of any damage on the Indian side. Read less...

Jammu Police arrested an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Al-Badr outfit from Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 21, reports Daily Excelsior. Rah Hussain Bhat, a resident of Batbagh-Hunipora village of Nehama in Pulwama, was arrested, who was in touch with Suhail Bashir Shah of the same District and was arrested few days back along with 6.5 kilograms of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which he was planning to plant at General Bus Stand or surrounding areas of the city. Nearly seven-kilogram IED was recovered from the possession of Shah, a Nursing student at Chandigarh when he was planning to set off an explosion at a crowded place on the second anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in the winter capital on February 14. “Rah is an OGW and motivator of Al-Badr terror outfit and is involved in conspiracy of providing logistic support to Al-Badr militant outfit. He was in direct contact with Pakistan handlers involved in conspiracy to carry out IED attack at Jammu,” sources said. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Budgam District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 21, reports Daily Excelsior. Following specific information about presence of militants, a joint CASO was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), and 53 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) at Shamusabad village in Khan Sahib area in Budgam and conducted house-to-house searches in the area. However, so far no militants have been arrested. Read less...

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted near Nowgam railway station in Srinagar District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 22, reports The Times of India. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar said, “The suspected explosive was spotted on Pantha Chowk-Nowgam road stretch by a road-opening party and a police team, following which the bomb disposal squad was called to check the suspicious item, which turned out to be an IED fitted in a tin box.” The IED was spotted on a day when rail services between Banihal to Baramulla resumed after a gap of 11 months. However, Later, the IED was defused safely. Read less...

Two militants were killed in an encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) in Shalgul Srigufwara in Bijbehara area in Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 24, reports Daily Excelsior. The slain militants are identified as Adil Bhat alias Gazi Baba, deputy chief of Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM), who was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) expert and was involved in recent IED blast in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district, and Junaid Shafi. Read less...

Two unidentified militants were killed by Security Forces (SFs) in Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 24, reports Daily Excelsior. Police, Army’s 3 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) based on specific information about presence of militants in the area. Police said that during the search operation, as the presence of militants was ascertained, they were given an opportunity to surrender. However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter. “In the ensuing encounter, two unidentified militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter”, Police said. Arms and ammunition including two AK rifles and other incriminating materials were recovered from the site of encounter. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) during a search operation busted a terrorist hideout in the general area of Dhargloon and Basooni under Mendhar Tehsil (revenue unit) in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 25, reports Daily Excelsior. “The recovery included four Chinese grenades, 10-AK rounds, and 15 pistol rounds,” a Poonch Police spokesperson said. Read less...

The armies of India and Pakistanhave agreed to ceasefiring along the Line of Control (LoC) and all other sectors with effect from midnight on February 24, reports Daily Excelsior. The historic ceasefire agreement was reached after Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries held discussions over established mechanism of hotline contact. The agreement has come into force from the intervening night of 24th and 25th February, an official statement released,on February 25, by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.“In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the DGMOs of India and Pakistan agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence,” the statement said, adding that both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other Sectors with effect from midnight 24th/25th February 2021.The statement said both sides reiterated that existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings will be utilized to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding.Sources also made it clear that Anti-Infiltration Grid will remain intact along LoC as well as International Border (IB) and there will be no let-up in anti-infiltration measures along the borders and anti-militancy operations in the hinterland.“The Anti-Infiltration Grid will continue to be strengthened. All measures aimed at thwarting infiltration attempts on the LoC and IB will remain enforced to ensure that the militants don’t manage to enter the Indian territory taking advantage of ceasefire,” sources said. Read less...

A joint team of the Army, Police, and CRPF’s 126 Bn recovered arms and ammunition, including explosives and automatic rifles, from a militant hideout in Reasi District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 26, reports Daily Excelsior. A Reasi Police spokesperson said, “Based on intelligence inputs, the team launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the Upper Sildhar forest area, Ranjati Top, Rousowali Top and Dagantop Hills. An underground hideout was discovered and an AK-47 with two magazines and 150 cartridges, one rocket launcher, 16Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) grenades, four hand grenades, and two Very High Frequency (VHF) radio sets with antennas were recovered.” Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested three Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of militants who were trying to cross the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 26, for arms training in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), reports Daily Excelsior. Police said that following specific information they arrested the trio who had established a contact with a militant ‘commander’ in Pakistan and were on their way to cross the LoC via Kupwara to meet him. The arrestees have been identified as Mohammad Rameez Rather (27), mechanic by profession, Javid Ahmad Rather (22), and Aijaz Ahmad Sofi (27), mechanic by profession, all residents of Kupwara. Read less...

Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted surprise checks and search operations in several parts in Srinagar District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 26, reports Daily Excelsior. The Security Forces (SFs) cordoned off Goni Khan and Hari Singh High Street area of Srinagar and conducted checks of vehicles and frisking of people. Those wearing Pheran were asked to remove it, while, surprise naka (Police check post) checking was also done at several places including Amira Kadal, Jehangir Chowk and Bypass. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of militants in Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 26, reports Daily Excelsior. Police said that acting on specific information, Bandipora Police along with 13 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 45 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)arrested two militant associates of theLashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in a joint operation at Bonikhan Mohalla area of Hajin Town and recovered arms, ammunition from their possession which includes two live hand grenades and eight live rounds of AK 47 rifle.The arrested OGWs have been identified as Ghulam Mohidin Khan of Paribal Hajin and Riyaz Ahmad Bhat of Bonikhan Mohalla Hajin in Bandipora.The Police said, “On preliminary enquiry, it was revealed that the accused were associated with LeT and were providing shelter, logistics and other material support to LeT militants in Sumbal and Hajin areas of Bandipora district.” Read less...

Akash Mehra (25), the scion of Srinagar’s Krishna Vaishno Dhaba, succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 28, reports The Times of India. On February 17 evening, three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants had shot Akash at the Dalgate eatery owned by his father Ramesh Kumar Mehra, leaving him with critical chest and abdominal injuries. Earlier, SATP had reported the incident on February 17. Soon after, the little-known Muslim Janbaz Force (MJF), owned responsibility for the strike in a statement, claiming it was in retaliation to “outsiders” being allowed to settle in J&K under the new domicile rules.On February 19, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar had announced the arrest of the newly recruited Lashkar trio, Suhail Ahmad Mir and Owais Manzoor Sofi from Anantnag, and Vilayat Aziz Mir from Pulwama, and recovery of the bike and weapon used in the crime.During interrogation, the trio also confessed that the attack was carried out to instil fear among tourists on a day when a 24-member European Union delegation was on a two-day visit to the Valley. The Resistance Front (TRF) ‘commander’ Gazi had lured and tasked them with attacking the Dhaba, which remains open even during strikes and always sees a rush of tourists.Although Ramesh Mehra, whose roots are in Jammu’s Janipora, is a permanent resident of the Valley, the MJF claimed the attack was just the beginning of its campaign against those who had newly acquired domicile certificates.The fledgling TRF, another Pakistan-backed terror group with moorings in Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), had been among the first to threaten and mount attacks on non-Muslim beneficiaries of the domicile law. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of militants in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India on February 28, reports Daily Excelsior.An official said that based upon the specific input about the movement of the militant associate at Laroo Jageer in Tral, the joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG) Awantipora and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched searches, during which one OGW was arrested.The arrested militant associate was identified as Muzamil Ahmad Bhat, who was working at Toll Plaza in Awantipora, and a hand grenade was recoveredfrom his possession. Read less...