Jammu & Kashmir: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2002

Earlier, on the evening of January 1, two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed in an encounter in Khudwani, Anantnag district. One of them was a Pakistani mercenary and the other a Kashmiri. In another encounter in Keri, Rajouri, an SF personnel was killed and another injured. Meanwhile, unidentified terrorists accused a civilian of being an SF informer and killed him in Bandipore, Baramulla district. In another incident, an SF personnel was injured after unidentified terrorists ambushed a patrol party at Bhimdasa, Udhampur. The terrorists managed to escape after the ambush. Read less...

In a separate encounter at Kalsari, Baramulla district, three HM terrorists were killed. In the same district, two security force (SF) personnel were killed and four others injured when unidentified terrorists ambushed an SF convoy at Chapdaji, Baramulla district. The terrorists managed to escape after the ambush. In a third incident in the district, a civilian was killed and another abducted by unidentified terrorists in Bandipore. In Budgam district, two civilians were abducted and killed by unidentified terrorists in Poshkar. Read less...

In a separate incident, unidentified terrorists killed a civilian in Shalimar, near Srinagar. Meanwhile, unidentified terrorists fired rockets at the Rajouri residence of a former State Minister and leader of the ruling National Conference (NC), Talib Hussain. Hussain was not present at his residence at the time of the attack. This was the second attack on his residence. Earlier, on December 24, 2001, unidentified terrorists snatched eight rifles from SF personnel guarding the leader’s residence. Read less...

Three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed during an encounter in Machhipora, Kupwara district, on January 1, 2002. Read less...

A top terrorist of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM), Master Ghulam Hassan, and four associates were killed in an encounter in Zab Khurhama, Kupwara district, also on January 2. Ghulam Hassan was the JuM ‘divisional commander’ and was reportedly the right hand man of the JuM chief ‘General Abdullah’. In the same district, an unidentified terrorist was killed in a separate encounter in Badarhar. In a third encounter in the district, a terrorist of the Tehreek-e-Jehad-e-Islami was killed at Lakhihakar. In Pulwama district, two suspected JeM terrorists and an SF personnel were killed in an encounter in Pinjora. SF sources suspect, while one of the slain terrorists was a Pakistani mercenary, the other was a Kashmiri. Two civilians were reportedly injured as they were trapped in the encounter. Read less...

In Kupwara district, unidentified terrorists abducted and killed a civilian in Potshai on January 2. Read less...

In Srinagar, 10 security force (SF) personnel and 15 civilians were injured when unidentified terrorists lobbed a hand grenade at Jehangir Chowk. News reports said a defused grenade was lobbed first, prompting many civilians to run away. As policemen gathered to investigate, a live grenade was lobbed which exploded and caused the injuries. Two of the injured personnel died later at a hospital. In a second grenade attack the city, two SF personnel were injured when a grenade was thrown on a patrol party. There were no arrests in either attack. Unconfirmed news reports added that two SF personnel were killed and seven others injured when unidentified terrorists attacked an SF camp in Darhal, Rajouri district; the terrorists managed to escape after the attack. In the same district, a civilian was abducted and killed by unidentified terrorists at Jamola. Read less...

In Udhampur district, a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist was arrested after an encounter in Chanakot. A civilian died after being trapped in the encounter. Read less...

Seven Pakistani mercenaries of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in a raid by security forces (SFs) on their hideout in Hill Kaka, Poonch district, on January 2. In the same district, two more Pakistani LeT mercenaries were killed in another encounter at Phagla. Read less...

SF sources clarified that four security force (SF) personnel were killed and eight more injured when a convoy was ambushed by unidentified terrorists at Darhal, Rajouri district, on the night of January 2. Earlier reports said two SF personnel were killed when their camp was attacked. On the same night, an SF personnel was killed and another injured in an encounter in Keri, Rajouri. In a third incident in the district on the night of January 2, unidentified terrorists made an attempt to destroy the Thanna Mandi Electricity Grid Station. SF personnel guarding the site repulsed the attack and there was no damage. The terrorists managed to escape after the attack. A group of terrorists had made a similar unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Grid Station the previous night. In Kupwara district, unidentified terrorists abducted and killed a civilian in Potshai on January 2. Read less...

The Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) said on January 2 that it was shifting its offices to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to escape a crackdown by Pakistani authorities. JeM leader Mohammed Abdullah said the outfit’s leaders would infiltrate into J&K, despite heavy Indian security. "We have decided to shift offices to held Kashmir… We will open offices on the mountains of Kashmir and no one can stop us from doing so," he said. Read less...

In Doda district, a Special Police Officer (SPO) was injured in a grenade attack at Thatri. The lone terrorist who lobbed the grenade managed to escape. Read less...

on the night of January 3, the residence of an elected village official was burnt down by unidentified terrorists at Sailan, Rajouri. There were no casualties. In another incident, a civilian was abducted and killed by unidentified terrorists at Badran, Budgam. In Anantnag district, a civilian was abducted and killed by unidentified terrorists at Kulgam. Read less...

The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist outfit in a statement released from Muzaffarabad, on January 3, indicated that there would be no scaling down of its terrorist operations in India’s Jammu and Kashmir despite a clampdown by Pakistan authorities. "I declare on behalf of my organisation that our Jihad will continue in occupied Kashmir as long as our last fighter and India's last soldier is there," JeM spokesperson Rana Farooq Tahir said in Muzaffarabad. "We are not afraid of war. Rather we want it to take place because Kashmir can only be liberated from Indian slavery by military means," Tahir said. Read less...

Three terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), including a Pakistani mercenary, were killed in an encounter in Rainather, Anantnag district, on January 3. In another encounter in Bandipore, Baramulla district, a ‘battalion commander’ of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM) was killed Read less...

Unidentified terrorists attacked the residence of Abdul Gani Lone, a senior leader of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) at Srinagar. SF personnel repulsed the attack and there were no casualties or arrests. Read less...

In Kupwara district, a group of LeT suicide terrorists, fidayeen, launched an attack on an SF camp at Gujjar Patti. The attack was repulsed and the fidayeen escaped without causing any casualties. Read less...

In Poonch district, two Pakistani mercenaries of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were killed in an encounter at Kalaban. Read less...

Meanwhile, a suspected terrorist was arrested from Narola, Rajouri on January 4. A gun was seized from the arrested suspect and he was being questioned. Read less...

Meanwhile, an SF personnel who was injured the January 2 ambush, died of his injuries on January 4. Four SF personnel had been reported killed immediately after the ambush. In the same district, two Pakistani Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) mercenaries were killed during search operations at Mehari. Read less...

Three more JeM terrorists were killed in an encounter at Kawoosa in Budgam district on January 4. While two of the slain terrorists were identified as Pakistani mercenaries, the third was a Kashmiri. Read less...

Three suspected foreign mercenaries of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter at Malut near Darhal in Rajouri district on January 4. The three were part of a group of seven LeT foreign mercenaries who ambushed a security force (SF) convoy at Darhal on January 2. Search operations were on for the four mercenaries who escaped during the Malut encounter. Read less...

Three terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were killed in an encounter at Magam in Budgam district on January 4. Read less...

In Srinagar, security forces (SFs) raided a bus and seized 72 kg RDX explosives. Read less...

On the night of January 5, an unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter at Mattan Chowk in Anantnag district. In Sogam, Kupwara district, an unidentified terrorist was killed. Read less...

The body of a civilian, abducted earlier from Budgam District, was recovered on January 5. Read less...

The body of another civilian, was recovered from Khaloora in Anantnag district. In Sogam, Kupwara district, two civilians were injured after being trapped during an encounter which was continuing till last reports came in. Read less...

In the same district, two persons were killed by unidentified terrorists at Kakora Top on the night of January 6. While one of the victims was a counter-insurgency source, the other was a former SF personnel. Read less...

In two massacres by unidentified terrorists in Doda district on the night of January 6, seven people were killed. In the first massacre, unidentified terrorists first lobbed grenades into the residence of a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member at Luddu. As the residents rushed out in panic, the terrorists opened fire killing three family members. Consequently, other VDC members engaged the terrorists until security force (SF) reinforcements reached. A civilian was killed and four people, including a Special Police Officer (SPO), were injured in the encounter. The terrorists managed to escape without suffering any casualties. In the nearby Ramsu village, another group of unidentified terrorists attacked the residence of a VDC member. Three brothers, two of who were VDC members, were killed and 12 others injured in the attack. The terrorists also took away the weapons of the slain VDC members and burnt down five residences before escaping. Quoting eyewitness accounts news reports said the terrorists were suspected to be Kashmiris and members of either the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) or the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Read less...

The body of an LeT terrorist was recovered from Halaran in Doda district. The identity of the killers is not known and investigations are on. Read less...

Three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed in an encounter at Branawar in Budgam district, on January 6. In Poonch district, three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter in the Kalaban forests. Read less...

Two security force personnel were killed and three others injured, when unidentified terrorists ambushed them at Mahore in Udhampur district. Read less...

Two unidentified terrorists were killed at Chingus in Rajouri district. Read less...

In Baramulla district, an activist of the ruling National Conference (NC) was killed and a civilian injured when SFs opened fire while carrying out a search operation at Chak-e-Sodal, also on January 7. News reports said local residents alleged that SFs opened fire when they objected to open interrogation of a suspect in the village. SF sources, however, denied the allegation, saying the SFs opened fire to prevent the escape of some terrorists hiding there. They added that the casualties were a result of cross-firing. Read less...

In Kupwara district, two civilians were injured after being trapped in the cross-fire during an encounter at Gagal. Read less...

In Poonch district, seven JeM terrorists, including a ‘district commander’, were killed in an encounter at Golad, on January 7. The other slain terrorists included a Kashmiri ‘area commander’ and five Pakistani mercenaries. Read less...

On the evening of January 7, unidentified terrorists abducted and killed a former terrorist at Waripora in Baramulla district. News reports described the deceased as a counter-insurgency source for SFs. Read less...

SFs raided and destroyed a terrorist hideout at Bonala, in Rajouri district, on January 7. A gun, some ammunition, rifle grenades and timer devices were seized during the raid. No arrests were made. Read less...

Speaking in New Delhi, on January 7, Jammu and Kashmir State Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said Al-Qaeda terrorists had started trickling into the State. He was speaking to newsmen after a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The Chief Minister added that the international community must understand that Al Qaeda activists, driven out of Afghanistan, "cannot be militants in one part of the globe and freedom fighters in another". Commenting about the withdrawal of troops from the counter insurgency grid in the State, Farooq Abdullah said the Union government would be sending additional para-military forces to the State to fill the gap. He added, "The State as well as the [Union government] realises the fact that the noose around the militants cannot be allowed to be loosened even by an inch". Read less...

A news report on January 8 cited a leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Imtiaz Salim Chaudhry, as saying in Kotli that if the outfit’s chief, Amanullah Khan was handed over to the Interpol, "severe panic will be created in the region." Imtiaz Chaudhry added that "Kashmir freedom struggle would suffer negative impact if movement leader Ammanullah Khan was handed over to the Interpol on Indian demand." He also claimed that to hand over a Muslim leader to a foreign government is against the constitution and law of the country. Read less...

Another former terrorist was attacked and injured by unidentified terrorists at Mohanvij in Pulwama district. Read less...

In Jammu, a Special Police Officer (SPO) whose legs were cut off by unidentified terrorists on January 7 succumbed to his injuries on January 8. An unconfirmed news report citing SF sources said that two terrorists involved in the attack were killed by SFs. Read less...

In Srinagar, three terrorists involved in lobbing grenades, were arrested by SFs. Read less...

On the night of January 8, a suspected terrorist and an SF personnel were killed in an accident at Gandoh in Doda district. The terrorist, who was arrested earlier, was being brought to the local police station when he tried to escape and fell into a gorge. The SF personnel also fell into the gorge while pursuing him. Read less...

SF sources had said that radio messages had been intercepted where local ‘commanders’ of LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Jammu & Kashmir were told that that they should not claim responsibility for any suicide strikes, particularly those carried out in New Delhi and other places "as the same could trigger off war". These intercepts also instructed ‘commanders’ that strikes carried out by LeT and JeM would be claimed by Kashmiri terrorist groups like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), JuM and Al-Omar Mujahideen. Read less...

Two JeM terrorists were killed when SFs intercepted them at the Lam sector of the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district while they were attempting to infiltrate into India on January 8. A third JeM terrorist managed to escape back to Pakistan. A SF personnel was injured in the encounter Read less...

Two suspected Pakistani mercenaries of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and a security force personnel were killed in a suicide attack on a SF camp at Trehgam in Kupwara district on January 8. News reports said that three fidayeen (suicide terrorists), approached the camp in SF uniforms with one of them posing as a Major. Even as the sentry of the camp was questioning them on their identity, one of the terrorists barged into the camp and another lobbed a grenade. The third terrorist fired a grenade killing a SF personnel and injuring two others. In retaliatory firing, two terrorists were killed while the third managed to escape. SF sources said that later in the day, a LeT radio message was intercepted which said that two of its members were killed and a third returned to his hideout. However, the spokesman of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM), Jameel-ur-Rehman, told certain Srinagar-based journalists over telephone that the terrorists of his outfit had carried out the attack, killing 10 soldiers. Read less...

A Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist was killed and another who was injured surrendered following an encounter at Tangmarg, Baramulla district, on January 9. The two terrorists had taken refuge in a local mosque after attacking a security force (SF) patrol party. Read less...

An encounter was continuing in Poonch when last reports came in. News reports said that three unidentified terrorists escaped after opening fire at an SF camp in the area. SF units chased the terrorists and trapped them. Read less...

An HM terrorist was arrested from Srinagar and some explosives and other equipment seized from his possession. Read less...

In a separate encounter at Gujarnar in Anantnag district, three suspected LeT terrorists were killed. In Kupwara district, an LeT terrorist was killed in an encounter at Haril. Read less...

In Pulwama district, a civilian was killed when SF personnel opened fire after unidentified terrorists lobbed a grenade on their picket at Tahab. Read less...

In the same district, a Pakistani mercenary of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed in another encounter at Chak Dhudhkal. Read less...

Meanwhile, a delayed report said an SF personnel was killed and three others injured during an encounter in Gujarnar, Anantnag on January 9. Earlier reports said three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists had been killed in the encounter. Read less...

On the night of January 9, an activist of the ruling National Conference (NC) was killed by unidentified terrorists in Kalaroos, Kupwara. Read less...

In Anantnag district, a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist was killed and his associate arrested after being injured during an encounter following a raid by SF units on their hideout in Krangsoo. Read less...

In another incident, two SF personnel were injured when unidentified terrorists set-off an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near an SF post in Sadak, Doda district. In search operations that followed, SF units engaged the terrorists but there were no casualties on either side. Read less...

In Kupwara district, a Kashmiri terrorist was killed in Tarhama. SF sources said the slain terrorist was a member of Ansaar-ul-Islam. Local residents, however, alleged that the SFs had captured the terrorist and killed him later. Read less...

On the night of January 10, a village official was killed by unidentified terrorists in Bafliaz, Poonch district. In the same district, unidentified terrorists burnt down five houses in Sangla. SF personnel occupied these houses till recently, before they were shifted to border areas. Read less...

Two suspected foreign mercenaries were killed and another injured in an encounter in Fatehpur in Rajouri district, on January 10. Three security force (SF) personnel were also injured in the encounter. The injured terrorist managed to escape with other colleagues. Read less...

Unidentified terrorists burnt down a wooden bridge in Pyasa, on January 10, thus snapping a vital road link between Galar and Padyaran, in Doda district. Local residents said three suspected foreign mercenaries were involved in the incident. The district administration has initiated steps for reconstructing the bridge speedily. Read less...

In a third encounter in the district, a terrorist was killed at Mattan. Another terrorist was arrested in a separate operation in the same area. Read less...

In Pulwama district, two terrorists were killed in an encounter at Aayingling. While one was identified as a Kashmiri, the other is yet to be identified. Read less...

In the same district, an SF officer and an unidentified terrorist were killed while another SF officer was injured during an encounter in Shadipora. Read less...

In the same district, two terrorists, including a Pakistani mercenary, were killed in an encounter at Kapran. An SF personnel and a civilian were also killed during the encounter. Read less...

Six terrorists holding a meeting at a hideout in Behak dhok, Anantnag district, were killed when security forces (SFs) conducted a raid on January 11. The slain terrorists included two ‘district commanders’ of the Harkar-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HUJI) and the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), and two ‘commanders’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). Read less...

The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) on January 11 warned Pakistan authorities that the handing over of its leader in line with Indian demands "would be a betrayal of their cause." "We are carrying out a legitimate freedom struggle because Kashmir is a disputed territory under the UN Security Council resolutions," said Hizb spokesperson Saleem Hashmi. Syed Salahuddin, the ‘supreme commander’ of HM, is on the list of India's 20 most wanted men. "Pakistan supports the Kashmiris' right to self-determination and any such move would mean a deviation from this position," Hashmi said. While declining to provide details on the whereabouts of Salahuddin, Hashmi added, "The commander lives in his own territory because both Azad Kashmir and held Kashmir are our own territories." Read less...

Unidentified terrorists lobbed a grenade at an SF vehicle near the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in Srinagar on January 11. The grenade, however, missed the target and exploded inside the court premises. There were no casualties. Read less...

A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was killed and three others injured when two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) exploded in quick succession at Gulwan village in the Basantgarh area, on the same day. Read less...

A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed by unidentified terrorists at his house in Mendhar, Poonch district. The terrorists managed to escape from the incident site. Read less...

At Kriri area of Dooru block in Anantnag district, two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed in an encounter after SFs raided their hideout at Matti-Gawran, in Kokernag. Read less...

In another incident, a Pakistani terrorist of the JeM was killed in Godsathu village, near the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Budgam district. Reports from north Kashmir have indicated that a Pakistani militant of the Al Badr was killed in an encounter at Nagri Malpora, in the Kupwara district. Meanwhile, a police personnel was killed by unidentified terrorists near Cement Bridge, in Qamarwari, Srinagar. Read less...

In the same area, two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed in an encounter after SFs raided their hideout at Matti-Gawran, in Kokernag. Read less...

Media reports have indicated that the BSF had seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition from a terrorist hideout in the Chrar-e-Sharif area of Budgam district. Read less...

On a tip-off, SFs raided a terrorist hideout in Tuli Naupora, Dooru, Anantnag district, and killed two terrorists of the HM in the ensuing encounter. An SF personnel was injured in the encounter. Read less...

On another tip-off, SFs raided a terrorist hideout at Kriri, Dooru, in Anantnag district and, in the consequent encounter, two Al Badr terrorists were killed. Also, four SF personnel were injured in the encounter. Read less...

On the night of January 12, two unidentified terrorists were killed in an encounter at Watherkhul in Kupwara district. In the same district, a third unidentified terrorist was killed in a separate encounter at Wangbal. In Srinagar, an SF personnel was killed by unidentified terrorists. In another terrorist attack at Chilli Pain, Doda, a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member was injured. The terrorists managed to escape after the attack. Read less...

Three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists, involved in the massacre of eight civilians, earlier on January 6, at Luddu and Sohnwa in the Ramsu area, Doda district, were killed on January 12. Security forces (SF) sealed village Parihander Zaari in Neel Top after receiving information that the HM terrorists had taken shelter there. In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists, including a foreign mercenary, were killed. Five other terrorists managed to escape from the encounter site. Some arms and ammunition were also recovered from the encounter site. Read less...

In another encounter, two foreign mercenaries were killed at Mati Gawran. Read less...

A civilian, reported to be an SF informer, was killed by unidentified terrorists at Beerwah in Badgam, on January 13. Read less...

On the night of January 13, three SF personnel, including an officer, were killed and three other personnel injured when unidentified terrorists attacked their picket at Khanetar, Poonch. SF sources described the attackers as suicide terrorists, fidayeen, who fired on the picket from a distance and escaped before retaliatory action could be launched. In Baramulla, a SF personnel was injured when unidentified terrorists attacked a search party. One of the attackers was later arrested. A civilian was killed by suspected HM terrorists at Kaintli, Udhampur. Another civilian was killed by unidentified terrorists at Mangat, Doda. Read less...

On the political front, the secessionist All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), in a statement, on January 13, welcomed the stand taken by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf during his speech on January 12. APHC chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat, speaking in Srinagar, while welcoming the President’s statements on Kashmir asked India’s Union government to respond positively to find a solution. Meanwhile, in a separate statement, senior APHC leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, while reacting to President Musharraf’s remarks, said "… the speech is a realistic one if viewed in its totality" and added "… the speech is appreciable as far as Musharraf’s stance vis-a-vis Kashmir is concerned." However, referring to the ban imposed by Pakistan on the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), he said "Nobody has the right to ban such individual acts where Muslims come to help their brethren." Read less...

On the same night, two terrorists of the HM, including a ‘district commander’ were killed in an encounter at Krewa Manloo in Pulwama district. The encounter ensued after the two terrorists attacked a patrol party in the area. Read less...

Reacting to President Musharraf's speech of January 12, Muttahida Jehad Council (MJC) Chairman Syed Salahuddin said the ban on the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were shocking. In a statement released on January 13, Salahuddin demanded President Musharraf to review the decision and defer the ban till India provided clear proof of their involvement in the December 13, 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament. He also said the proscription would have no effect on the ongoing terrorist activities of these outfits in Jammu and Kashmir. The MJC Chairman described President’s Musharraf's statement on Kashmir as "historic and spirit-infusing." Read less...

Security forces in Srinagar killed two Dutch nationals on January 13. SF sources said the foreigners, who were suspected to be of Arab origin, were killed after they attacked members of an SF patrol party. Three SF personnel were reported to have sustained injuries in the attack. Two terrorists of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) were killed in another encounter at Manloo Karewa near Shopian in Pulwama district. In Doda district, a suspected Pakistani HM mercenary was killed in an encounter at Harray. Read less...

In the same district, unidentified terrorists exploded a bomb near the boundary wall of a school at Mendhar. However, there were no casualties. Read less...

A former terrorist was killed by unidentified terrorists at Barigund in Budgam district on January 14. Read less...

A Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist was killed in an encounter at Mahakund in the Udhampur district on January 14. In another encounter, an unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter at Sarthal in Doda district. Read less...

In Poonch district, a civilian was abducted by unidentified terrorists from Behram Kund and later killed. The abductors alleged that the civilian had aided security forces (SFs) with information on terrorists. Read less...

On the political front, a three member delegation of secessionist All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) are reported to have left New Delhi on January 14, abandoning proposed meetings with the foreign diplomats. The three members are reported to have decided to abandon meetings in protest against the arrest of fifty Hurriyat activists in Jammu and Kashmir on January 13. Read less...

A SF officer was injured when unidentified terrorists attacked a patrol party at Bandi Devalgam in the Anantnag district on January 15. The terrorists managed to escape after the attack without suffering any casualties. Read less...

On the night of January 15, a patrol party was attacked by unidentified terrorists who managed to escape after the attack. There were no casualties. In another incident, a ‘district commander’ of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) was arrested from Srinagar. In Kupwara district, a terrorist was arrested and some explosives seized from his possession at Shah Nagri. Read less...

On the night of January 15, a SF personnel was injured when unidentified terrorists lobbed a grenade on a SF picket at Srinagar. The terrorists managed to escape after the attack. Read less...

Security forces (SFs) at Keri in Rajouri district recovered three bullet-ridden bodies on January 15. SF sources said that one body appeared to be of a terrorist while the other two were probably locals. Read less...

SFs reported that three bodies found at Keri in Rajouri district on January 15 were identified as that of a local Village Defence Committee (VDC) member, his wife and a suspected foreign mercenary of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Read less...

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah said on January 15, that the State government is inquiring into the killing of two Dutch nationals in Srinagar on January 13. A patrol party of the Border Security Force (BSF) killed the two Dutch nationals. BSF sources said that the Dutch nationals were killed after they attacked the patrol party with swords and injured two personnel. Local sources, however, disputed the BSF version alleging that the two were killed when they objected to the behaviour of the patrol party personnel. Read less...

A ‘battalion commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) was killed in an encounter at Kandipora in the Anantnag district on January 16. The encounter ensued when a security force (SF) patrol party in the area was attacked. Read less...

A second HM terrorist was killed in a separate encounter at the Madmadu forests of the Kupwara district. Read less...

Four terrorist hideouts were raided and destroyed by SFs in separate operations at Kungri nallah and Hardoop-Wagub, Baramulla district, Wourapachnar in Srinagar and Sheltu-Shopian in Pulwama district. Some guns, grenades, rockets, explosives and other equipment were seized from the hideouts during these raids. Read less...

In Srinagar, Justice O P Sharma presented the report of one-man Commission of Inquiry on a firing incident at Haigam, Baramulla to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on January 16. After receiving the report, Farooq Abdulla said, "… a follow up action will be taken after examination of report at an appropriate level". The Chief Minister ordered the Commission on February 19, 2001, to inquire into the incident where SFs fired on a procession at Haigam on February 15, 2001. The commission was specifically asked to enquire into the causes and circumstances which led to the event of firing resulting in the death of seven persons and causing injuries to others; to probe whether the firing opened by SFs on the crowd was justified or not; and fix responsibility for using excessive force, if any. Read less...

On the night of January 16, a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist was killed in an encounter at Kalaroos in the Kupwara district. In the same district, a counter-insurgent aide was killed when unidentified terrorists ambushed a patrol party at Lolab. The terrorists managed to escape after the attack. Read less...

In Udhampur district, a civilian was killed after being trapped in an encounter between terrorists and security forces (SFs) at Gool. In Anantnag district, a civilian was attacked and injured by unidentified terrorists at Ashajipora. Read less...

On the night of January 17, two children were injured when unidentified terrorists lobbed a grenade on a civilian residence at Budhan. In another incident, a civilian’s residence was attacked and burnt down by unidentified terrorists at AMohu, Doda. However, there were no casualties. Read less...

Three terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter at Bandipora in Baramula district on January 17. The encounter was continuing when last reports came in. A civilian was injured after being trapped during the encounter. Read less...

Two civilians were killed and eight others injured, when a bomb exploded in the Kanak Mandi area of Jammu city. Read less...

In Kupwara district, an unidentified terrorist was killed at Khanagund. In Udhampur district, a security force (SF) personnel was killed when suspected foreign mercenaries ambushed a patrol party at Karasi. Read less...

Three foreign mercenaries of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter at Kither in Doda district on January 18. Read less...

In the January 19 ambush, a civilian was injured. In another incident on the night of January 19, a HM terrorist was killed at the Dedikote forests, Kupwara. Read less...

A civilian was killed after being trapped in the cross fire during an encounter at Gambhir Mugalan area in Rajouri district on January 20. The encounter ensued after SF personnel encountered a group of unidentified terrorists during search operations launched after the terrorists had attacked a convoy on the night of January 19, in the area Read less...

In Anantnag district, two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed in a separate encounter at Gopalpur-Mattan. Read less...

In Kupwara district, three unidentified terrorists and a security force (SF) personnel were killed while another SF personnel was injured during an encounter at Keegam. In Udhampur district, a suspected HM terrorist and a SF personnel were killed during an encounter at Thuru. Read less...

In Poonch district, two unidentified terrorists were killed in an encounter at Tila Malhan. Read less...

In the same district, two HM terrorists were killed in an encounter at Gopalpora in Anantnag district on January 20. Read less...

In the third encounter in Anantnag district, an unidentified terrorist was killed at Dayalgam-Manihama. The encounter was continuing when last news reports were filed and two more terrorists are suspected to be trapped. Read less...

Suspected terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) including a former Special Police Officer (SPO) massacred 11 civilians including eight children and a woman and injured three others at Behra in Poonch district on the night of January 20. News reports citing eyewitness statements said that the group of terrorists was led by a native of the district, Mohammed Najeeb alias Nadeem who was a former SPO. Following these eyewitness statements, security forces arrested three close relatives of Nadeem including his father on January 21. The terrorists first attacked the residence of Zakir Hussain and killed him when he came out. They subsequently fired upon all who came out of the residence and other near-by residences before escaping. Read less...

Two HM terrorists were arrested from Jammu on January 20. Police sources said that the two were conspiring to carry out a series of bomb blasts in the city. Read less...

Two terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were killed during an encounter at Mowbug in Anantnag district on January 20. Read less...

An unidentified terrorist was killed at Nelow in Anantnag district on January 21. Read less...

In another encounter, a ‘battalion commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) was killed at Hatipora in Baramulla district on January 21. Read less...

In Pulwama district, two unidentified terrorists were killed at Batapora. In a related encounter, which broke out at the nearby Kundlan, a third unidentified terrorist was killed and an SF personnel injured. Read less...

On the night of January 21, a civilian was killed by unidentified terrorists at Mohra Bachchai, Poonch. Read less...

The shop of a civilian was burnt down by unidentified terrorists at Bhathean, Rajouri. Read less...

The USA is to assist India in improving the latter’s border security in order to deny access to infiltrating terrorists as part of the global campaign against terrorism. Referring to the pilot project in Jammu and Kashmir in this connection, the US Co-ordinator for Counter-terrorism, Ambassador Francis Taylor, said on January 21 that this was "a key part of efforts to enable nations to protect themselves" against terrorism. The declared objective is to "end terrorism as a political tool". "The fact that terrorists can cross and not be identified is a big challenge. September 11 too is a reflection of this, and we have constituted a group on border security for the US as well," he added. Read less...

A ‘local commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) surrendered before SFs at Pulwama on January 22. He also handed over a rifle, grenade launcher, grenades, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other explosives. Read less...

Four terrorists were killed during an encounter at Gambhir in Rajouri district on January 22. Two civilians were also killed when they were trapped in the crossfire during the encounter. Security forces said that two of the slain terrorists were suspected to be foreign mercenaries of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) while the others are yet to be identified. Read less...

In another encounter at Solian, Poonch, five foreign LeT mercenaries were killed. Read less...

On the night of January 22, a civilian was killed by unidentified terrorists at Sagam in Anantnag district. Read less...

On the same day, an SPO was injured during an encounter with unidentified terrorists at Pahalpura in the Doda district. The terrorists managed to escape without suffering any casualties. Read less...

Police recovered two more dead bodies of terrorists from village Gambhir Mugalan in the Manjakot area of Rajouri district. Four terrorists and two civilians were killed in Gambhir Mugalan on January 22 and with the recovery of two more bodies, the death toll of terrorists has risen to six. One AK rifle, one IED, three grenades and a wireless set were also recovered alongside the bodies of two slain terrorists, media sources added. Read less...

Suspected terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) killed Mohammed Najeem alias Nadeem at Salwa in Poonch district on January 22. Nadeem, a former Special Police Officer (SPO) and a LeT activist, was suspected to have led a terrorist group that massacred 11 civilians at Behra on January 20. SF sources said that Nadeem was killed by his associates fearing that his arrest would implicate the outfit. SF units continued search operations to locate other terrorists who participated in the massacre. Three close relatives of Nadeem had been arrested on January 21 on charges of participating in the massacre. Read less...

Two HM terrorists were killed in separate encounters at Adoora and Wanihama in Anantnag district. In Pulwama district, a LeT terrorist was killed at Dangam. Read less...

Two Pakistani mercenaries of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were killed and three security force personnel injured during an encounter at Khanpora in Doda district on January 22. Read less...

Another HM terrorist surrendered in Pulwama. In the same district, two security forces (SF) personnel guarding a bridge at Naina-Sangam were overpowered by a group of unidentified terrorists who took away their weapons. There were no casualties. The two personnel have been suspended and a probe was ordered into the incident. Read less...

In another operation, a civilian was arrested after SFs raided his residence at Chagimullah, Kupwara and seized rifles and ammunition. In the same district, a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist surrendered before SFs at Natnoosa. Read less...

In Budgam district, a ‘commander’ of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen was arrested from Narkara. Read less...

Pulwama district, an unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter at Mantarbug. Read less...

Two civilians were abducted and killed by unidentified terrorists at Donipora-Kantpora in the Kupwara district on January 23. Read less...

A powerful 55-kg IED, concealed in a plastic bucket, was detected and successfully defused by security forces at the Jangalwar Bridge on Thathri-Kishtwar road. Meanwhile, a transistor IED was defused by bomb experts of the army at Nashri nullah, near the 132 kms milestone on Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Read less...

A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed and three others injured in an attack on their picket by unidentified terrorists at village Sathra in Poonch district on January 24. The terrorists also snatched four weapons of the SPOs. Official sources said a group of terrorists stormed the SPO post in Sathra and opened indiscriminate firing. Media reports have indicated that the SPOs were unable to match the strength of the terrorists, who were in possession of sophisticated weapons as compared to obsolete weaponry with the policemen. Security forces to track down the terrorists, stated to be more than 10, have launched a search and cordon operation. This is the second major terrorist attack in this district this week after January 20 massacre of 11 civilians including eight children and a woman in the Salwa area of Mendhar. Read less...

In another incident, three terrorists, including two foreign mercenaries, were killed in an encounter on the same day at village Sailan in Surankot. The operation was going on till last reports emerged. Four more terrorists of the group are reportedly still hiding in the village. Four AK-56 rifles, one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), two radio sets and five hand grenades were recovered from the encounter site. Read less...

Media reports have indicated that Awantipora Police detected and defused a powerful IED that had been planted by terrorists in a LPG cylinder at Awantipora, on the national highway. Read less...

On the political front, the Centre’s interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), K C Pant, asked terrorist groups to shun violence in order to ensure free and fair elections to the State Legislative Assembly, which he said, would provide an opportunity to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to prove its "much acclaimed" representative character. "If free and fair elections are to be held in Jammu and Kashmir, violence must stop. Power of the bullet must be replaced by the strength of ballots", Pant said in New Delhi on January 24. Pant added that those who claim to be the true representatives of the people of J&K would get a chance to prove their character by participating in the polls. Read less...

Reports from south Kashmir said that a terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces at the Matre-Chak village in Shopian area. However, residents have alleged that the terrorist was captured in an injured condition and later killed in a fake encounter. Read less...

Security forces said that five terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), including a suspected "operational commander" were killed in the January 24 encounter at Darwan in Budgam district. Earlier, reports had put the terrorist casualties at two. A security force personnel was also killed in the encounter. Read less...

The residences of two politicians were attacked by unidentified terrorists at Lalad in Barmaulla district on the night of January 24. There were no casualties. The two politicians were activists of the ruling National Conference (NC). Read less...

Two terrorists and a security force personnel were killed in an encounter in Budgam. According to media reports, acting on a tip-off, security force personnel raided the house of a village headman at Dalwan village in the Chrar-e-Sharif area of Budgam district and found a group of five terrorists in the house. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed. Three other terrorists are reported to have escaped. One AK-56 rifle was also recovered from the incident site. Read less...

Unofficial reports have indicated that a civilian, resident of Chadoura was arrested from the Rawalpora area and his dead body was later handed over to the police. Residents of the area have claimed that he was an innocent civilian and was killed in police custody. Police officials while admitting that he died in custody added that he died a natural death. Separately, residents of Tengpora in Batmaloo have alleged that police in Anantnag district were responsible for the custodial killing of a civilian. They claimed that the Anantnag Police had arrested him on December 22, 2001 along with 21 others in connection with a fake currency racket. Police officials have indicated that he died "due to some severe stomach ailment". Read less...

A mobile television transmitter was damaged when unidentified terrorists attacked the state-run Doordarshan’s Outdoor Broadcasting (OB) van with grenades and rockets in the Bandipora area of Baramulla district on January 26. According to official sources, a group of heavily armed terrorists lobbed a number of grenades and fired rockets at the OB van that contained the Low Power Transmitter (LPT) at Garoora in Bandipora. However, no one was injured in the attack, the sources added. Read less...

A Special Police Officer (SPO) and his mother were killed by a group of five terrorists at their residence in village Hala under Gool police station jurisdiction. The terrorists managed to escape from the incident site. No arrests have been made so far in connection with the killing. Read less...

A terrorist was injured when security forces posted at the Ribbon area of Sopore opened fire following some suspicious movement near their camp. The terrorist managed to escape with the help of his associates. Read less...

In another incident, terrorists fired two rocket propelled grenades towards a security forces camp at Qazigund in the Anantnag district of south Kashmir. However, no one was injured in the attack. Read less...

One unidentified terrorist was killed and another injured in a joint operation launched by the Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) in the Kupwara sector on January 26. An AK assault rifle, five magazines, 37 rounds and four grenades were recovered from the encounter site. Read less...

Unidentified terrorists also fired three rifle grenades towards security force personnel posted at the Sangam bridge in Anantnag district, which however missed the target and exploded along the river Jhelum without causing any damage. Read less...

Earlier, on the night of January 27, two civilians were killed by unidentified terrorists at Pingla Dai in Udhampur district. Read less...

Five security force personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were injured in an attack on their picket by unidentified terrorists at village Bafliaz in Surankot, Poonch district on January 27. Media reports said that a group of terrorists fired rockets and opened indiscriminate firing on a CRPF picket at Bafliaz. The terrorists managed to escape after the attack, reports added. Read less...

On the same night, unidentified terrorists fired rockets on a police post at Dachan, Doda. There were no casualties. In another incident, SFs detected and defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Pampore. Read less...

Security forces arrested one terrorist at Chowgam-Utrasoo in the Anantnag district and recovered two grenades and some ammunition from him. Read less...

Terrorists caused two explosions using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and a grenade on the same day. However, no one was injured in these explosions, which took place at Manchihama-Tral at Pulwama district and Bemina locality in Srinagar. Seven youths were detained by security forces from Tral after the explosion, while a suspected terrorist was arrested from Gousia colony in Bemina. Read less...

In another incident, three unidentified terrorists looted a local bank at Murran in Pulwama district and escaped with cash worth Rs. 2,12,970. Read less...

In a search operation conducted at Malanu in Doda district on January 28, security forces (SFs) rescued three brothers who were abducted on January 27 by a group of five terrorists earlier in the day. One of the five terrorists were killed while the other four, including one who sustained injuries, managed to escape. Read less...

In a separate development, a suspected terrorist was arrested, In a separate operation, two suspected terrorists were arrested from Rafiabad in Baramulla district. Read less...

In another incident, a civilian was attacked and killed by unidentified terrorists at Marah, Poonch. Read less...

In Poonch district, an encounter was reported to be continuing at the Khanater-Dara area. News reports said that while three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed, four more are suspected to be hiding inside a concrete bunker. Read less...

In Rajouri district, SFs raided a terrorist hideout at Jandi Dhara and seized ammunition, grenades and explosives. There were no arrests. Read less...

In Srinagar, six SF personnel and a civilian were injured in a grenade attack by unidentified terrorists at Kyanyar on January 28. Read less...

In Udhampur district, a civilian was abducted by unidentified terrorists from Tuli and injured by his abductors before being set free. Read less...

On the night of January 28, two unidentified terrorists were killed in an encounter at Sehpora in Kupwara district. Read less...

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, while addressing a public meeting in Raipur, Chhattisgarh ruled out talks with Pakistan until it returned Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). He said, "If Kashmir is the central issue, then one third of Kashmir is occupied by Pakistan illegally. Therefore, they should return that to India first and then start talks". The Prime Minister said, "one of our neighbours is exporting terrorists into the country but we are determined to root them out as was done in Punjab". Declaring that the people of Jammu and Kashmir joined India of their own volition, he said Pakistan is sending its people with arms to attack them but "now no one can separate Kashmir from us". Read less...

Three more Pakistani mercenaries, cadres of the Al Badr, were killed in an encounter at Srinagar that began on the night of January 28 and continued till the next day. Earlier, the mercenaries had killed a security force (SF) personnel and injured five others before fortifying themselves in a civilian’s residence. Read less...

Three Pakistani mercenaries of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter at Dachi in Poonch district on January 28. Read less...

Two foreign mercenaries of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter at Check Sarai in Budgam district on January 28. Read less...

Union Home Minister LK Advani, in an interview to Newsweek, said that a halt to infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir and ending their training would be the litmus test by which India would judge whether Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had abandoned the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Read less...

Five suspected foreign mercenaries of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter at Nagoon in Rajouri district. Two security force (SF) personnel were injured during the same encounter, which began on the night of January 29 and continued till the next day. Read less...

In another encounter on January 29, an unidentified terrorist was killed and a SF personnel injured at Gujar-Patheri in Baramulla district. Read less...

In another encounter on January 29, two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed at Haran Chogal in Kupwara district. In the same district, two LeT terrorists were killed in an encounter at Shehpora. In Baramulla district, a HM terrorist was killed. Read less...

In Doda district, a Special Police Officer (SPO) was injured when unidentified terrorists attacked a SF picket at Zullu on the night of January 29. Read less...

Earlier, on the night of January 30, an SF personnel and his relative were killed by unidentified gunmen at Lachipora in Kupwara district. News reports said that the SF personnel, posted in the intelligence wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police, was arrested on January 11 for suspected links with terrorists. He was subsequently released. Locals of the area alleged that personnel of the Special Operations Group (SOG), J&K police, were behind the killing. Read less...

In another incident, a Special Police Officer (SPO) was attacked and killed by unidentified terrorists at Warpora, Baramulla. Read less...

On the same night, two terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) surrendered before SFs at Tral in Pulwama district. Read less...

SFs detected and defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by terrorists at Jambhar Pattan in Kupwara district. Read less...

In Anantnag district, an unidentified body bearing bullet marks, was recovered from Damhalhanjipora. Read less...

In the same district, three children were killed and a fourth injured when an abandoned grenade, they found and were playing with, exploded. Read less...

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, a Hurriyat constituent, Jammu and Kashmir People’s League (JKPL) strongly objected to the decision of having polls under Hurriyat’s own election commission. The statement said that "Hurriyat’s dramatic announcement has raised doubts about its representative character thereby putting the whole leadership of the movement into crisis". A Hurriyat spokesperson clarified that the statement issued by JKPL was that of rival faction of the League headed by Pakistan-based Mohammad Farooq Rehmani. Six constituents of the alliance namely Kashmir Mass Movement, Traders Federation, Khawateen Kashmir, Khawateen-e-Markaz, Bazam-i-Tawheed and Tahreek-e-Alhahlihadees, boycotted the January 31 meeting. Read less...

On the same day, an unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter at Ikhwanpora in Baramulla district. Read less...

The General Council of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) met in Srinagar on January 31 and endorsed the APHC Executive Committee to have elections in Jammu and Kashmir under Hurriyat’s own election commission to prove its representative character. News reports citing Hurriyat members who attended the meeting said that the alliance’s leadership overcame stiff resistance from members of the general council before the controversial January 28 decision of Hurriyat’s executive was ratified. The dissenting members were reported to be agitated over the manner the decisions are taken by the executive without taking them into confidence. Read less...

Three civilians, including two infants, were killed and five others injured when an unidentified terrorist lobbed a grenade on a group of migrant labourers at Reasi in Udhampur district on January 31. Security forces (SFs) launched search operations to locate the terrorists and several suspects have been arrested for questioning. Read less...