Jammu & Kashmir: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2016

Police arrested a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militant, identified as Towheed Ahmad Mir, who was wanted by Police for killing of a former militant, Bashir Ahmad and his three year old son Burhan Ahmad in September 2015, from Sopore area in Baramulla District of Jammu and Kashmir on January 2, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Separately, in South Kashmir’s Pulwama District, after days of violent protests against the militant killings, Police arrested 10 youths accused of being behind the stonethrowing incidents on January 2, reports Daily excelsior. The parts of the District continued to shut for the third day amid incidents of stonepelting. Six youth were arrested from Pulwama Town, while four were arrested from Kakapora hamlet of the District. Read less...

Meanwhile, shutdown in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town in Pulwama District and its adjoining areas continued for the sixth day on January 4, as the youth of the area are adamant on installing the insignia of local and foreign militants killed in gunfights with SFs. All the shops and commercial establishments were closed while the public transport was also off the roads. There was, however, no incident of stonepelting and the situation remained peaceful throughout the day, a Police official said. To prevent the violence the Police arrested more than a dozen youths from different parts of Pulwama over the charges of stonepelting and made it clear that the installation of insignia of militants won’t be allowed Read less...

Protesters pelted stones on Security Forces (SFs), which left seven of them, injured in Srinagar District on January 4, during clashes that triggered when the Shias’ Protested against the execution of top Shia cleric, Sheikh NimralNimr by Saudi Government last week, reports Daily Excelsior. Authorities’ clamped curfewlike restriction in several Shia dominated areas of city falling under two Police Stations in the District after violent protests on January 3, against the execution of NimralNimr. Hundreds of Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed across the areas falling under Zadibal and Rainawari Police Stations to prevent Shiites from holding protests. Despite stringent restrictions the Shia protesters took to streets at Alamgari Bazar, Zadibal, Hawal, Kanikach and Saida Kadal and attempted to take out antiSaudi rallies. Police and CRPF personnel, however, foiled their attempt and lobbed scores of teargas and pepper gas shells at all these places to disperse the demonstrators. A peaceful protest against the Saudi execution was also held in central Kashmir’s Budgam District. Read less...

There have been 136 terror attacks in India in last 27 years, according to Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), First Post reports on January 5. The state of Punjab has witnessed 34 terror attacks over the, the highest. The majority of the attacks occurred during the 1990s, with the latest attacks reinforcing a view that India’s security forces cannot cope with small bands of terrorists. Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Delhi have witnessed 27 and 18 attacks, respectively, during the same period. A majority of the 34 attacks in Punjab over 27 years were between 1990-1992, a time when Sikh militancy was at its peak; 31 of 34 attacks took place in the 1990s, while the 16 years between 2000 and 2015 saw three attacks in Punjab. Maharashtra (primarily Mumbai) and Jammu and Kashmir have seen more attacks over this period.More than 2,000 people died in these attacks, and more than 6,000 were injured, of the 135 attacks, 121 attacks were on civilians and 14 attacks on VIPs. There were more attacks in 2004 than any other year. In 17 attacks that year, more than 170 people were killed and more than 350 injured. Read less...

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) will deploy around 2,000 additional personnel along the Punjab and Jammu borders in order to plug unfenced riverine and forest gaps even as it submitted a fresh report to the Government on January 6, stating there was no evidence of infiltration along the International Border (IB) in the wake of the terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot in Punjab, reports Daily Excelsior. Officials said BSF submitted a report to the Union Home Ministry (UHM) after force Director General D K Pathak undertook a forward area tour along the IB on January 5, including at Bamiyal, a border village in Pathankot, which is believed to have been used by terrorists to infiltrate into the country and attack the air base. Read less...

Militants hurled a grenade at Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp at Momin Abad in Anantnag District on January 6, reports Daily Excelsior. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded outside without causing any harm. Senior Police and CRPF officials rushed to the spot and area was cordoned off and searches were conducted for the militants responsible for the attack, but no one was arrested. Read less...

Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) personnel busted a hideout in Samote area and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from a natural cave hideout in Kuliwala Forest in Chasana in Reasi District on January 8, reports Daily Excelsior. Based on specific information, Rashtriya Rifles (RR) Battalion at Samote under the aegis of RR Force Headquarter based at Reasi and JKP personnel from Police Station Chasana recovered a cache of arms and ammunition. The cache included one AK56 rifle, one 7.63 mm pistol, one 303 rifle, one sniper rifle Dragunov, five magazines of AK 56, one magazine of pistol, 75 rounds of AK 56 rifle, 55 rounds of Pikka, two rounds of pistol, six rounds of sniper, rifle, one grenade Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), one rotating bolt of AK 56 rifle, 11 fired cases of AK 56 and two fired cases of sniper rifles. Read less...

Meanwhile, two civilians, working with Army, were injured when a landmine exploded near LoC in Keran sector in the frontier District of Kupwara on January 10, reports Daily Excelsior. The landmine exploded accidentally when repair work on fencing was going on near LoC resulting in injuries to Parvez Ahmad Mir and Abdul Majid Mir, resident of Keran. Read less...

Three persons including an Army trooper were injured in mine blasts on Line of Control (LoC) in Guntrain area of Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir on January 10, reports Daily Excelsior. As per Police sources, a trooper identified as Shiv Ram Lingam of Field Regiment got injured in an accidental mine blast, while on patrolling duty near the LoC. Read less...

A top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) ‘commander’ was killed during an encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) in the outskirts of Srinagar on January 11, reports Daily Excelsior. Police and SFs received information about presence of Sajjad Ahmad Bhat alias Peer in Gossu village of Zakura in the outskirts of Srinagar. They cordoned off the Gossu village and during searches Sajjad fired at them and tried to escape from the security cordon but SF personnel fired at and killed him on the spot. As the SFs shot dead Sajjad Ahmad in a brief gun battle in the village, his associate managed to escape from the encounter site under the cover of darkness. Sajjad Ahmad was one of the main architects of setting up of LeT bases in South Kashmir since 2007. Police had announced a reward of INR one million to the informants leading to his arrest or killing. Read less...

At least six persons including two Policemen were injured during clashes in the outskirts of Srinagar in Pantha Chowk area on January 12, as Police fired scores of tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters who had blocked the SrinagarJammu National Highway over the killing of top LashkareToiba (LeT) ‘commander’ Sajjad Ahmad Bhat, who was gunned down on January 11 in Zakura area of Srinagar, reports Daily Excelsior. The mourners attempted to hold the funeral along SrinagarJammu National Highway but a large contingent of Police intercepted the procession holding body of the militant commander and resorted to heavy teargas shelling. Police fired tear gas on youth who retaliated by pelting stones, triggering clashes. A Police official said two persons received injuries in the clashes while at least 4 protesters were also injured. A complete shutdown was observed in Pantha Chowk, Pampore, Zewan and adjoining areas against the Sajjad’s killing.  Read less...

Constable Shakoor Ahmed Parrey (belt number 689) fled away with four AK47 rifles from SubDivision Police Office (SDPO) office in Bijbehara in Anantnag District and is said to have joined LashkareToiba (LeT) militant outfit, reports Daily Excelsior. Shakoor, a resident of Kundalan in Shopian District, was posted as a Personal Security Officer (PSO) to SDPO Bijbehara, Irshad Ahmad Bhat, in Bijbehara area of Anantnag District. Shakoor fled along with the rifles on January 13 with two more youth – Gazi Fayaz Dar (20) and Aqib Bashir, both the residents of Kundalan in Shopian. Reports said that Shakoor didn’t report to duty since January 13 and when the room in SDPO office where he was living with his colleagues was checked, four AK47 rifles were found missing. Reports said that all the three have joined LeT. Shakoor had links with the militancy in the past and was appointed as Special Police Officer (SPO) and later promoted as constable. Read less...

A Police officer was injured during stone-throwing clashes between protesters and Security Forces (SFs) in Old City area in Srinagar after Friday prayers on January 15, reports Daily Excelsior. Dozens of masked youth, waving flags of Islamic State (IS), assembled at Nowhatta outside Jama Masjid post-Friday congregational prayers and started sloganeering. The youths resorted to heavy stone-pelting on SFs deployed additionally in the area, triggering violent stand-off between the two sides. The Police fired scores of teargas shells, pepper grenades and also used pellet gunfire against the protesters. During the clashes, a Police officer identified as Suhail Ahmad was injured after a stone hit his head. Several protesters were also injured due to pellet gunfire during the ensuing clashes. Read less...

Meanwhile, a tragedy was averted as SFs found and defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by suspected militants in Shopian District of south Kashmir on January 15, reports Daily Excelsior. Jawans of the 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) detected the IED fitted in a five-kilogram gas cylinder lying by the roadside at Gulab Taing in the Keller area of Shopian, a Police official said. A bomb disposal squad was rushed to the spot and the explosive was destroyed in nearby fields, they added. Read less...

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved one more battalion for deployment along the International Border (IB) exclusively in Jammu sector comprising three districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua to thwart possibility of any infiltration attempt by the militants from Pakistan even as the Border Security Force (BSF) has deployed its entire fleet of reserves on the borders, reports Daily Excelsior on January 17. The battalion comprised about 1000 troopers, who would be deployed at sensitive points along the IB to further enhance the security surveillance system in Jammu region, which was already on high alert. Official sources told the Daily Excelsior that all 2000 additional BSF personnel (equivalent to two battalions), which were approved by the MHA immediately after Pathankot attack, have been deployed along the Punjab border to plug the gaps, which had been exploited by the militants twice to infiltrate and carry out Pathankot air base attack on January 2 and Dinanagar Police Station attack on July 27, 2015. Pointing out that one additional battalion of the BSF for Jammu sector, which runs from Lakhanpur to Akhnoor covering about 192 kilometers area, would prove very useful in checking infiltration attempts, sources said the BSF. Read less...

Police arrested an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Al-Badar militant outfit in Handwara area in Kupwara District on January 18, reports Daily Excelsior. A Police spokesman said acting on tip off about the movement of “Anti National Elements (ANEs) in the area, Police along with 27 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army laid a Naka at Sagipora Crossing. “During checking one suspect who tried to hide himself and give slip to the Naka party was apprehended and later identified as Bashir Ahmad Dar resident of Pohru Peth,” the spokesman said, adding:  “On his search, one Chinese pistol along with ammunition was recovered from his possession.” Read less...

Around 2-3 militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) were trapped in a village in Pulwama District on January 19, after they were surrounded by Security Forces (SFs) leading to an exchange of fire, reports Daily Excelsior. Acting on specific information about the presence of 2-3 militants including HM ‘commander’ at Naina village, Army’s 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 183 central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) cordoned off the village. As the SFs intensified the searches and fired few shots, militants hiding in the area fired indiscriminately at the SFs and tried to break the cordon and run away. However, reports said that two HM militants Latif Ahmad Dar and Shakir are trapped inside. Read less...

Separately, SFs recovered a pressure cooker Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from village Salhutri in Poonch District in the night of January 19, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

Meanwhile, Police on January 20 arrested 20year old Gazi Fayaz Dar from Kundlan village in Shopian District, reports Daily Excelsior.  An AK47 rifles as well as 90 bullets were recovered from him. This was one of the four AK47 rifles that Constable Shakoor had fled with from SDPO office in Bijbehara in Anantnag District. Constable Shakoor Ahmad and another youth Aqib Bashir are absconding since January 13. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) shot dead a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militant, identified as Shariq Ahmad Bhat, in an encounter at Naina village in Pulwama District on January 20, reports Daily Excelsior. Bhat was a resident of Brow Bandana village of Awantipora in Awantipora District.One AK 47 rifle and “some other war like stores” were recovered from the encounter site. Reports said that two other militants managed to escape from the security cordon. The encounter had begun on January 19. Following the encounter, protesters pelted stones on SFs and they fired dozens of teargas shells. As the clashes turned intense, the SFs allegedly opened fire on protesters, leaving three injured. One of the inured, identified as Parvaiz Ahmed Guroo resident of Naina, succumbed to his injuries. Soon after the news about the death of a civilian reached Naina and its adjoining areas, hundreds of people took to streets and held protests. Protesters clashed with SFs at multiple places and also set ablaze an armoured vehicle of police – Rakshak – on fire at Naina. During clashes four civilians sustained injuries while a police official said 17 SF personnel were also injured. Read less...

The State Government will have either to carry out further amendment in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Panchayati Raj Act or constitute State Election Commission well before February 2016 ending to ensure timely elections to Panchayats otherwise these grass root level democratic institutions in rural parts of the State will meet the fate as that of Urban Local Bodies whose elections have not been held during the past several years, reports Daily Excelsior. This has become imperative in view of the legal complications, which restrict the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of J&K from starting any sort of exercise for Panchayat elections, which will become due in MayJune 2016. “Even after holding elections to the Panchayats in 2011, there was no focus on establishment of State Election Commission and the same situation persists at present despite lapse of five years”, official sources said, adding since the Amendment was carried out to facilitate Panchayat elections in 2011 only, the polls, which will become due in MayJune following completion of five years term of the present Panchayats, cannot be held either without carrying out further amendment for vesting powers on Chief Electoral Officer or without framing State Election Commission.CEO of the J&K, Shantmanu said, “We are ready with the Master Electoral Roll after completion of Summary Revision exercise but we cannot go ahead with segregation of rural voters for Panchayat elections because at present we don’t have the mandate for the same as per the provisions of the Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2011”. In response to a question, Shantmanu said, “Decision either in favour of establishing State Election Commission or for holding elections through Election Department is required to be taken well before ending February as before elections rural voters would have to be segregated besides conducting a small Special Summary Revision”. Read less...

Separately, army busted a militant hideout near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara District on January 21, and recovered five Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), reports Daily Excelsior. Reports said that troops of 12 Maratha Regiment of the Army unearthed a hideout during search operations in Amrohi forests of North Kashmir’s Kupwara District. The items recovered from the hideout during the operation include five IEDs weighing 500 grams each, 35 metres of electric wire and three detonators. Read less...

In addition, five militants of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) who were planning attacks on VIPs and SFs were arrested by the SFs in Sopore area in Baramulla District on January 22, reports Daily Excelsior. The SFs also busted the network of HuM in Sopore area of North Kashmir. Sources said that Police in Sopore and Army’s 52 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) conducted searches in Sangrama area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla District and arrested a wanted militant of HuM outfit, Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi of Sopore and his accomplice and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession. Sources said that the HuM was in the process of reviving its network in Kashmir valley and were planning attacks ahead of Republic Day in Kashmir by targeting SFs and VIPs. Read less...

Meanwhile, a rusted anti-personnel mine was recovered near forward Border Out Post (BOP) along International Border (IB) in Samba District on January 22, reports Daily Excelsior. Official sources said one old rusted anti-personnel mine was recovered this morning from Basantar Nullah near Band Tip BOP by a patrolling party of the Border Security Force (BSF). Read less...

Stone-throwing clasheserupted in parts of Old City in Srinagar and in Sopore town in Baramulla District on January 22, after Friday congregation prayers, reports Daily Excelsior. Scores of youth assembled outside historic Jama Masjid in Nowhatta area of Old City and staged a protest. The protesters later marched towards Nowhatta Police Station and pelted stones on Security Forces (SFs) including Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), ensuing clashes between the two sides. The Police fired dozens of teargas shells and pepper gas canisters towards stone-throwing youths. However, the youth, continued pelting stones on the SFs. The clashes later spread to Gojwara and Hawal localities of the Old City. The rock-throwing clashes meanwhile also erupted in Sopore town in north Kashmir. Witnesses said groups of youth in Sopore Main Chowk pelted stones on 179 Battalion CRPF bunker after Friday prayers after which clashes ensued. The situation, however, returned to normal within an hour. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 23 busted a network of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) in Sopore area in Baramulla District of North Kashmir and arrested five HuM militants including a wanted militant, Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi and his accomplice along with arms and ammunition, reports The Times of India. "We arrested the terrorist based on our sources. He belonged to the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. He has been doing some underground activities for the last three-four years," said District Inspector General Garib Das. Sofi was in constant touch through WhatsApp with his handler Sajjad Shaheen alias Sajjad Afghani, an Afghan war veteran, who was handler of the group, adds the report. Read less...

Meanwhile, army recovered a consignment of explosive material and ammunition from Seri Hatti forests in Gambhir Mugalan area of Keri sector in Rajouri District on January 24, reports Daily Excelsior. Official reports said a joint team of 38 RR and Police conducted search operation in Seri Hatti forest area of Gambhir Mugalan and recovered the consignment, which comprised three Chinese grenades and 691 rounds of Pika ammunition. The grenades and Pika rounds had been wrapped in polythene bags and hidden in a small natural hideout, reports said. However, no arrests were made from the spot. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) foiled an attempt by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit to carry out attacks on the occasion of Republic Day (January 26) by arresting a LeT militant along with arms and ammunition in the orchards of Qasermulla Chadoora village in Budgam District on January 24, reports Daily Excelsior. A senior security official said that as per information received regarding movement of a militant towards Central Kashmir District of Budgam for carrying out attack on SFs on the eve of Republic Day celebrations, Police, Army’s 53 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 178 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched search operation to arrest him. During the search operation a suspect who was carrying a bag, was challenged, when he started running towards orchard area and was chased. “This suspect person was apprehended by the security forces and on searching his bag one AK-47 with two magazines, 60 rounds and one grenade were recovered”, said, the official. The official identified the militant as Basharat Ahmad Shah alias Furkan of LeT resident of Nillora, Litter in South Kashmir District of Pulwama. “He was a close accomplice of Wasim Hef alias Osama and Majid Zargar alias Talha of LeT. Read less...

An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) in Anantnag District on January 26, reports DNA. An encounter broke out at 4 AM in Kokernag town in the District. A militant was killed and his identity is yet to be ascertained, Police said. One AK 47 and three magazines were also recovered from the slain militant. Read less...

Meanwhile, Army officials of India and Pakistan met at ChakanDaBagh along PoonchRawlakote route and MendharHot Spring crossing points in Krishna Ghati of Poonch District to celebrate the Republic Day on January 26, reports Daily Excelsior. The Army officers of two sides expressed commitment to keep peace on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) and exchanged sweets and gifts at both the places. The Border Security Forces (BSF) and Rangers also met at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh sector of RS Pura and various other points along the IB in Jammu sector to exchange greetings on the occasion. Read less...

Meanwhile, on the occasion of India's 67th Republic Day, on January 26, a complete shutdown was observed in Jammu and Kashmir as the valley was swathed in a blanket of heavy security, reports DNA. The shut down call was given by Hardline All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani as he had asked the people of the valley to observe 26th January as a 'black day' and observe a complete shutdown. Read less...

Separately, Centre on January 27, approved the raising of three India Reserve Battalions (IRBs) in Odisha, reports Prameya News7. At present, there are eight IRBs in Odisha. While Odisha got three along with neighbouring Jharkhand, five in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Chhattisgarh and two in Maharashtra were approved by Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Cabinet also approved seventy five percent of the vacancies of constables to be filled up from 27 core Districts in the four LeftWing Extremism (LWE) affected states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme. Read less...

Meanwhile, the Police arrested a militant in Shopian District, reports The Hindu on January 29 (today). According to the Police, he was among the four youth who joined militants along with a cop recently. Read less...

On January 28 General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army’s 15 Corps, Lieutenant General Satish Kumar Dua while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at the inauguration of Nawjawan Club for Youth at High Ground Anantnag in South Kashmir said that over 200 militants are active in Kashmir Valley, but Security Forces (SFs) are maintaining pressure on them to ensure peaceful conduct of various functions in the Valley, reports Daily Excelsior. “There are around 220 militants, over 200 militants in Kashmir”, he said. The GOC also said that the counterinfiltration grid along 400 kilometer long Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir is robust and in multi tiers to foil any infiltration attempt. Read less...

Troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Territorial Army (TA) and Reasi Police recovered a consignment of arms and ammunition from village Bajali in Dandihalya area of Reasi District on January 28, reports Daily Excelsior. Official reports said a joint team of the Security Forces (SFs) carried out search operation in Bajali and destroyed natural hideout of the militants. Recoveries made from the hideouts included one AK47 rifle with one magazine and 249 rounds, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), one 9mm pistol with magazine, five rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, 23 Pika rounds, one radio set and war like stores. Army and Police conducted searches in the area after effecting the recoveries but no arrests were made from the spot. Read less...

A militant was killed in an encounter that broke out between militants and Security Forces (SFs) in Lolab area in Kupwara District on January 29, after SFs launched an operation, reports Daily Excelsior. Police said that acting on specific information about presence of at least twothree militants of LashkareToiba (LeT) in Lohar Mohalla, Dardpora in the frontier district, 28 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army and Special Operation Group (SOG) Kupwara launched the joint operation. Reports said that during the cordon, militants fired on the SFs leading to a gun battle in which one militant was killed and one AK47 rifle was recovered from the dead militant. Read less...

Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed during an encounter in North Kashmir’s Lolab area in Kupwara District on January 30, reports Daily Excelsior. The militants have been identified as Abu Mushtaq Hyder and Abu Rashid Suliaman Qadri. Bodies of both the militants were retrieved and two AK-47 rifles, 15 magazines,  hundreds of bullets, 4 wireless sets, three grenades, one pistol, two GPS devices, one Thuraya, one matrix sheet, clothes, medicine and ration were recovered from them. Read less...

Three teenagers were arrested by Police from Sazgaripora locality of Hawal in Kupwara District on January 31, on the charges of stone-pelting reports Daily Excelsior. The youths were detained for taking part in frequent stone-throwing protests in Old City localities, said an official. Read less...

Two persons were injured in Lolab area in Kupwara District, after violent stone-throwing clashes erupted between locals and Security Forces (SFs) over the killing of three LeT militants on January 31, reports Daily Excelsior. The clashes erupted soon after the funeral-in-absentia for two militants as locals resorted to massive stone-pelting on Lalpora Police Station. The residents of Dardpora and Lalpora areas offered the absentia funeral at Jindyal village as Police didn’t handover bodies of two militants to them. Read less...