Jammu & Kashmir: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2014

Security Forces (SFs) on January 2 arrested two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), identified as Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and Manzur Ahmad Ganai, from Putshahi Kuloosa area of Bandipora District and recovered arms and ammunition from them, reports Daily Excelsior. One Chinese make pistol, 10 pistol rounds and two Chinese grenades were recovered from the duo. Sources said that the two are active for past 5-7 months and had come to Bandipora. Read less...

Fissures have surfaced in All-Party Hurriyat Conference- Mirwaiz (APHC-M), as its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq terminated the membership of some key constituents represented by some senior leader, The Hindu reported on January 4.“The APHC has terminated the representation of Shabir Ahmad Shah [Democratic Freedom Party], Nayeem Ahmad Khan [National Front] and Mohammad Azam Inquilabi [Mahaz-e-Azadi] for their indiscipline, anti-Hurriyat activities and continued absence from meetings for the last over 18 months. Following their differences with some of the APHC leaders, we constituted enquiries, called them for cooperating with the investigation and maintain the organisational disciple. As they chose to be not amenable and ignored all invites and opportunities, we were constrained to fulfil the constitutional requirements. They are no more members of the APHC,” the Mirwaiz commented on January 3. The Mirwaiz also confirmed having mailed a letter, to the APHC-M’s Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) convener Yousuf Naseem on December 27, 2013 following the APHC executive council’s decision, with the direction that the representatives of some constituents may no longer be invited to the group’s meeting in Muzaffarabad. Read less...

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 4 stressed peace efforts with Pakistan, the keystone of his foreign policy, reports The Hindu. He publicly acknowledged that secret envoys from the two countries had almost arrived at an agreed resolution to end the conflict in Kashmir. “At one time it appeared an important breakthrough was in sight. However, in Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf had to make way for a different set of [leaders]. I think that led to the process not moving properly. However, I still believe that good relations between India and Pakistan are possible.” Read less...

Accusing United Nations (UN) of succumbing to the pressure of super powers, Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on January 5 said the world body has miserably failed in Kashmir and now the Hurriyat will move ahead with “various alternatives” to find a solution to Kashmir issue, reports Greater Kashmir. He, however, said that for any solution- freedom, out of box idea or merger with Pakistan- people of all five regions of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have to be taken on board by India and Pakistan in both back-channel and open talks. “We have been keenly observing UN role in Kashmir ever since it was formed after World War II. The body succeeded in ensuring truce between India and Pakistan. As far its resolutions regarding holding plebiscite in Kashmir are concerned, it has failed due to its dual policies and the diktats it receives from super powers like US,” Mirwaiz added. Read less...

Two major hydro-electric power projects in Jammu and Punjab and a vital bridge have come under the radar of militants, according to an Intelligence agency report, which has prompted security agencies to further step-up their security, reported Daily Excelsior on January 6. Sources said that Ranjit Sagar dam also known as Thein dam in Shahpur Kandi town of Punjab, bordering Lakhanpur and Basohli towns of Kathua District in Jammu region, Baglihar hydro-electric power project in Ramban District and vital newly constructed bridge over river Chenab in Akhnoor town of Jammu District have turned out to be three major projects, which the militants sitting in Pakistan were planning to target. The militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), presently camping at a school building at Darman in Sialkot District of Punjab province in Pakistan opposite Samba and Hiranagar Sectors, have been provided with latest weapons and explosive devices. They have been asked to wait and watch at Darman till arrangements were made for their infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Read less...

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on January 6 said that reduction of footprints of Security Forces (SFs) and phased withdrawal only needs a "courageous statesman" and not referendum reports Outlook India. "Reduction of the footprint of security forces and phased revocation of AFSPA doesn't need a referendum, just a courageous statesman to decide," Omar said Twitter. He made it clear that Governments were elected to power for governance and decision making only. "Governments get a mandate to govern and decide, they don't need to conduct a referendum before every tricky decision. Leaders must lead," Omar added. Read less...

The leadership crisis in the Mirwaiz faction of separatist conglomerate All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) worsened on January 6 with a group of dissidents holding a separate meeting, challenging their expulsion by Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, reports The Hindu. On January 4, the APHC chairman has terminated the representation of Shabir Ahmad Shah [Democratic Freedom Party], Nayeem Ahmad Khan [National Front] and Mohammad Azam Inquilabi [Mahaz-e-Azadi] for their indiscipline, anti-Hurriyat activities and continued absence from meetings for the last over 18 months. Read less...

A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was killed in an encounter in Beighpora area of Awantipore town in Pulwama District on January 7, reports Daily Excelsior. Sources said that one Army personnel was injured in encounter. Read less...

An Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI), identified as Kafeel Ahmad, was killed and three Policemen were injured in a fierce encounter between Security Forces (SFs) and militants in Sopore town of Baramulla District on January 7, reports Daily Excelsior. Police sources said that acting on a tip off, a Special Operations Group (SOG) party raided house of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar in Chankhan Sopore. Militants hiding inside hurled a grenade on the SOG and fired at them from AK-47 rifles. A Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) spokesman while speaking to a local news service claimed responsibility for the attack on the SOG party at Sopore. Read less...

Three top separatist leaders Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan and Azam Inquilabi have quit Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led faction of the Hurriyat Conference after the amalgam's leader wrote a letter to its Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) chapter accusing the trio of "indiscipline", reports The Times of India. On January 4, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has terminated the representation of Shabir Ahmad Shah [Democratic Freedom Party], Nayeem Ahmad Khan [National Front] and Mohammad Azam Inquilabi [Mahaz-e-Azadi] for their indiscipline, anti-Hurriyat activities and continued absence from meetings for the last over 18 months. Read less...

Army on January 10 said that they arrested a militant from South Kashmir and recovered a weapon from him after locals lodged a complaint with the local unit of the Army, reports Daily Excelsior. Srinagar based defence spokesman said that one AK-56 rifle, a magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition and 10 toy pistols were recovered from the arrested militant. The statement issued by the defence spokesman said, “Locals solicited help of Army and Police in South Kashmir in apprehending a terrorist who was threatening them with dire consequences if the locals fail to pay a sum of Rs 50,000 for the cause of their Tanzeem.” On January 7, two masked men barged into the house of a local at night, took him at gunpoint to the outskirts of the village and threatened him to pay up INR 50,000 for their Tanzeem (organisation) cause or face dire consequences, the spokesman added. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 10 launched a massive operation in Cherhar forests of Marble area in Sopore town of Baramula District after receiving information about the presence of a group of militants in the forests, reports Daily Excelsior. Sources said that acting on information about the presence of a group of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, Army’s 27 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police cordoned off the area. The SFs during the searches busted a militant hideout and recovered large quantity of eatables, utensils and blankets. The search operation in the forest area is going on. Read less...

Security Forces on January 11 detected an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by militants by the roadside at Janbazpora in Baramulla District, reports Times of India. A bomb disposal squad was called in which destroyed the IED. Read less...

A ‘divisional commander’ of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was among three foreign militants killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) in Dooru village in the foothills of Cherhar forests in the Sopore area of Baramulla District on January 13, reports Daily Excelsior. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range, Abdul Gani Mir said that today Police received information about the presence of these militants in Dooru village of Sopore and they along with Army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) launched an operation against the militant group. During the searches of the encounter site three matrix sheets, three AK-47 rifles, three pouchs, seven magazine, four grenades, 120 rounds of AK ammunition, one wireless set and dry fruit and chocolates were recovered. Read less...

Army Chief General Bikram Singh on January 13 rejected allegations that the Indian Army was not retaliating strongly during ceasefire violations by Pakistan, reports Zee News. Speaking to media at the annual press conference on the enhancement of combat power and operational readiness in the Indian Army, General Singh said that the Indian Army makes attempts to control the situation at the border and not escalate it. Read less...

Army Chief General Bikram Singh on January 13 said that the circumstances prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) demanded that the armed forces stay on in the valley till the time situation improves, reports NDTV. "We should wait for conditions to improve in the valley before making changes in the national strategy on army deployment," Gen Singh added. Read less...

Army on January 13 foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati Sector of Poonch District forcing a group of three militants to retreat to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from where they had been launched, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Massive search operation continued in the Cherhar forests of Sopore area of Baramula District on January 14 against the group of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group, three members of which were killed in an encounter in Sopore on January 13, reports Daily Excelsior. The search operation against a 7-member group of JeM was launched by Police and Army on January 10. Sources said that the Army and Police continued searches in Cherhar forest against the 4 members of the JeM who they feel are hiding in the forest area. Read less...

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt. General Sanjiv Chachra on January 15 said that major challenge was ahead for the Army in the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in 2014, in view of forth-coming elections and also in the wake of pull out of foreign troops from Afghanistan while the militants reaching in J&K via Nepal are posing a major security threat, reports Daily Excelsior. “The situation in the neighbourhood is definitely going to have its impact on this part of the country as the terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan or North-West border of Pakistan can shift their focus to the Jammu and Kashmir to create violence, especially in view of the coming elections in 2014. But the Army is well prepared to frustrate their designs and keep check on any infiltration attempt along the Line of Control by them”, said Lt Gen Chachra. Also, Sanjiv Chachra said the talk of withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from J&K was "pre-mature", even as the state's political parties mounted their opposition to the law. Read less...

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad on January 16 said a well-planned strategy has been chalked out to thwart militant attacks in the State, reports Daily Excelsior. The DGP said, “their (militants) attacks are no longer affecting the public as they have changed their strategy and are now targeting police and security forces.” He further said the graph of militancy has come down considerably as Police and Security Forces (SFs) have neutralized many top militant commanders and added, “militants are trying to create sensation by attacking police and security forces but we are trying our best to curb their movement and attacks.” Read less...

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister (CM) Omar Abdullah on January 17 said perception about his State needs to be changed as there has been a constant decline in infiltration as well as violence, reports Daily Excelsior. “Year after year, there has been a decline in infiltration and violence. There are some areas of concern like death of Security Forces (SFs). We are looking into it and addressing it. But the fact remains that violence and infiltration has come down,” said Omar after meeting Union Minister of Home Affairs (UMHA) Sushilkumar Shinde. “The perception about Jammu and Kashmir needs to be changed,” he added. Read less...

Militants on January 18 opened fire on a Road Opening Party (ROP) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Hyderpora Bypass of Srinagar city of same District, reports Daily Excelsior. Police, Army and CRPF cordoned off adjacent localities to arrest the militants responsible for the firing. However, no one was arrested. Read less...

Pakistan Army has re-activated the Border Action Teams (BATs) along the Line of Control (LoC) opposite twin border Districts of Poonch and Rajouri with a view to commit some action in the forward areas, reported Daily Excelsior on January 19. Official sources said that Pakistan Army was frustrated over heavy losses suffered by it in retaliatory action by the Indian troops in last week of December and was desperate to cause an action on the Indian side. However, alert troops on this side of the LoC have not allowed the BATs to succeed. The BATs comprised Pakistan Army’s special commandos and militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) outfits. Read less...

A foreign militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was killed in an encounter with Police in Tral area of Pulwama District on January 20, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

One top Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander, identified as Javed Ahmad Mir alias Javed Salfi, was killed in an encounter with Police in Qazigund area of Anantnag District on January 20, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) on January 21 supported the strike call on January 26 given by All Parties Hurriyat Conference-Geelani (APHC-G) ‘Chairman’ Syed Ali Shah Geelani, reports Greater Kashmir. Read less...

Police on January 21 said that divisional commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is the brain behind killing of Station House Officer (SHO) of Chadoora area in Budgam District and arrested three militants who were responsible for his killings, reports Daily Excelsior. On December 2, 2013, SHO Shabir Ahmad and shopkeeper Ghulam Mohammad were killed when militants fired at Shabir in Chadoora market and two cops were injured. Superintendent of Police (SP) Budgam, Irshad Ahmad, said that conspiracy to kill SHO Chadoora, Shabir Ahmad, was hatched by Divisional Commander of the LeT Qasim, Basharat Ahmad Mir alias Ustad Umar, Lateef Ahmad Rather, Reyaz Ahmad Dar and Umar resident of Pakistan and an unidentified person in third week of November 2013. The SP said that three militants – Ashiq Hussain Bhat, Reyaz Ahmad Dar and Basharat Ahmad Mir were arrested while the fourth one Umar alias Zahid was killed in an encounter in Hushroo village of Chadoora area in Budgam District on November 25, 2013 with Police and 53 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army. During the investigation of the killing of the SHO, it surfaced that a group of LeT militants operating in the area was involved in his killing, SP added. The SP Budgam said that investigations reveal that the arrested militants are also involved in a variety of conventional criminal acts ranging from extortion to murder cases. Read less...

Army and Police on January 25 launched a search operation at Nathal village near Kaleeth area in Akhnoor tehsil (revenue unit) of Jammu District following reports given by the civilians that they had spotted movement of four suspected militants, reports Daily Excelsior. Army and Police personnel immediately rushed to the spot and cordoned off the village. Read less...

Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) at Balakote area of Mendhar sub-sector in Poonch District on January 25, reports Daily Excelsior. Sources said a group of nearly 7-8 heavily armed militants was noticed by the Indian troops near the LoC. The group taking advantage of darkness and thick forest tried to infiltrate into this side of Line of Control from Panjani nallah area of Balakote. Read less...

On the occasion of the Republic Day (January 26, 2014), Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Governor N N observed that till a peaceful environment emerges the Security Forces (SFs) shall continue to enforce constant vigil along the frontiers without lowering their guard, reports Daily Excelsior. The Governor observed that terrorism and militancy, which commenced in 1990, have resulted in large human and economic losses and caused prolonged miseries for the common man. The long period of unrest has also adversely affected the functioning of the administrative machinery and public institutions, and the erstwhile work culture and efficiencies have been seriously eroded. Read less...

Pakistan Army on January 26 violated the ceasefire and resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) at Kaman post of Uri Sector in Baramulla District, reports Deccan Chronicle. General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 19 Infantry Division Major General Anil Chauhan said, "Today at 6:15 AM, when it was dark, there was unprovoked firing from Pakistani side. They fired about three Rocket Propelled Grenade [RPG] rounds and small arms on to the Kaman post on the Indian side”. He further added, "In spite of continuous firing at the LoC for three hours, we have shown great restraint and did not retaliate at all. The idea basically is to maintain peace and tranquility along the LoC”. Read less...

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said there was no “recent evidence” to suggest that Pakistan wants to negotiate a permanent settlement to the Kashmir issue, reported Daily Excelsior on January 29. Omar also said that India and Pakistan do not have “good neighbourly relations” and that some people in that country would like nothing more than to see the “end” of him. On the issue of terrorism in his State, the Chief Minister said militants of 16 different nationalities including those from the US and the UK have either been caught or killed in J&K. At the same time, he made it clear that Pakistan was continuing to support militant groups across the Line of Control (LoC). Read less...

Pakistan on January 29 violated ceasefire by firing at Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Balakote Sector of Poonch District, reports Daily Excelsior. Reports said a group of four to five militants tried to infiltrate into the Indian Territory under the covering fire from Pakistani troops and taking advantage of darkness. However, the troops retaliated effectively to neutralize the militants. There were no reports of any casualties or damage on the Indian side. Read less...

Border Security Force (BSF) recovered Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) having face value of INR 2, 00,000 and approximately two kilo gram of Heroin worth INR 100 million along International Border (IB) in Brahman Bela area under Pargwal belt of Akhnoor tehsil (revenue unit) in the Jammu District on January 31, reports Business Standard. Read less...

One militant was killed in a fierce encounter and other was arrested at Kangun village in Muran area of Pulwama District on January 31, reports Daily Excelsior. The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said that one militant has been killed and we tried to recover his body but we were fired upon by another militant. The gun battle is going on and the entire village is under cordon. The DIG said that Police, Central Reserve Police Force and 55 Rashtriya Rifles are conducting the operation. “We will conduct the searches once the gun fight ends”, he added. Read less...

Suspected militants allegedly abducted a person, identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Changa (35) from Sopore town of Baramulla District on January 31, reports Zee News. Read less...