New Delhi: India on Thursday responded to Imran Khan’s allegation over the recent Lahore blasts. The Pakistani Prime Minister had alleged that India was being the explosion that took place recently near the residence of terrorist Hafiz Saeed.

In a stern response, India said that Pakistan must put its house in order and act against terrorism emanating from its soil.

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“It is not new for Pakistan to engage in baseless propaganda against India. Pakistan would do well to extend the same effort in setting its own house in order and taking credible and verifiable action against terrorism emanating from its soil and terrorists who have found safe sanctuaries there,” said the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during the weekly briefing.

The Indian response added that the world knows about Pakistan’s terror links and its own leaders are glorifying Osama bin Laden.

“International community is well aware of Pakistan’s credentials when it comes to terrorism. This is acknowledged by none other than their own leadership which continues to glorify Osama bin Laden as a martyr,” the MEA spokesperson said.

Pakistan’s Allegations

3 persons were killed and 24 others injured when the powerful car bomb exploded outside Saeed’s residence at the Board of Revenue (BOR) Housing Society in Johar Town in Lahore on June 23.

Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Moeed Yousuf had accused India of the June 23 bomb blast outside the house of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed. Pakistan alleged that the mastermind of the attack is an Indian national and is linked to RAW (Research and Analysis Wing).

Prime Minister Imran Khan also tweeted to allege that “planning & financing of this heinous terror attack has links to Indian sponsorship of terrorism against Pak”. He appealed to the global community to unite international institutions against this behavior. 

 

Indian Envoy’s Meet With OIC Chief

Meanwhile, the External Affairs Ministery also shared details of a recent meeting between the Indian envoy and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretary-general.

The meeting between the Indian envoy, Saudi ambassador, and OIC secretary-general was held earlier this week on 5 July wherein India asked the cooperation to correct misperceptions about the country perpetrated by Pakistan.

“During this meeting, a wide range of issues were discussed. Our ambassador conveyed the need to correct the misperceptions about India that are perpetrated by vested interest in the OIC. Further, he conveyed that OIC should be watchful that their platform is not subverted by these vested interests for comments on internal affairs of India or for anti-India propaganda through biased and one-sided resolutions as regards Pakistan already referred to a vested interest in my comments,” Arindam Bagchi said. 

Srinagar: In a joint operation, the police and CRPF busted a hideout belonging to the banned terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore on Thursday (July 8).

One over ground worker (OGW) was arrested during the raid. The security said that they recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

“Today on specific information a cordon and search operation was launched at Ganai Mohalla Doabgah Sopore by Police Sopore and CRPF. A terrorist hideout belonging to banned terrorist organisation Hizbul mujahideen was busted in the basement of a single-story house,” a police handout read.

“Inside the hideout, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered, which was to be used to cause a major attack (fidayeen) on the security forces. The hideout was destroyed on spot in presence of Executive Magistrate,” it added. 

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New Delhi: The National Security Advisor of Pakistan, Moeed Yousuf, on Sunday (July 4) alleged that the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was behind the bomb blast outside Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed’s house in Lahore last month.

Three people were killed and several injured in the explosion which occurred on June 23. No group claimed responsibility for the blast.

NSA Yousuf alleged that the mastermind of the attack was an Indian national linked with RAW.

“Through the forensic analysis, electronic equipment, which has been recovered from these terrorists, we have identified the main mastermind and the handlers of this terrorist attack and we have absolutely no doubt or reservation in informing you that the main mastermind belongs to RAW, the Indian intelligence agency, is an Indian national, and is based in India,” NSA Yousuf said while addressing a press conference alongside the Punjab police chief Inam Ghani and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.

Following the presser, Prime Minister Imran Khan blamed India for “sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan”.

“This coordination led to identifying the terrorists & their international linkages. Again, planning & financing of this heinous terror attack has links to Indian sponsorship of terrorism against Pak.  Global community must mobilise int institutions against this rogue behavior,” Khan said in a tweet.

Hafiz Saeed, a UN-designated terrorist, is on India’s list of five most wanted terrorists. He played a key role in carrying out the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. In 2020, 70-year-old he was sentenced to 15-and-a-half years in jail in Pakistan.

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New Delhi: An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists at Hanjan village of Rajpora area of district Pulwama in south Kashmir on Friday (July 2, 2021) morning. 

Kashmir zone police tweeted: “#Encounter has started at Hanjin Rajpora area of #Pulwama. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice”

#Encounter has started at Hanjin Rajpora area of #Pulwama. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) July 1, 2021

A police officer said, “Joint team of Police, army and CRPF launched a cordon and search after a specific input about the presence of terrorist in the area.”

He added that the “searching team came under fire as they cordoned the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated and an encounter started.”

Additionally, sources in the police said that they have input about 3-4 four terrorists are hiding in the area. It’s to mention that in the last six months this year 61 terrorists are killed by security forces. 

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New Delhi: In view of the escalating violence, the Indian embassy in Afghanistan on Tuesday advised all Indians visiting, staying, and working in Afghanistan to exercise the utmost caution with regard to their security and avoid all types of non-essential travel. 

In an advisory, the embassy said the security situation in Afghanistan remains “dangerous” and that terror groups have carried out a series of complex attacks, including targeting civilians, adding that Indian nationals additionally face a “serious threat” of abduction.

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Afghanistan witnessed a series of attacks in the last few weeks as the United States looks to complete the withdrawal of its forces from the war-ravaged country by September 11, ending nearly two decades of its military presence there. 

“The security situation in Afghanistan remains dangerous in several provinces. Terror groups operating in Afghanistan have escalated violent activities and carried out a series of complex attacks in various parts of Afghanistan, including targeting Afghan defence and security forces and Afghan government institutions and even civilians,” the embassy said.

The embassy “strongly advised” all Indians to avoid all types of non-essential movements and urged them to keep essential movements as discrete as possible. The embassy also strongly advised the Indian companies operating in Afghanistan to take up necessary security measures for their Indian employees deployed at project sites.

“Indian nationals are not exceptions, and they additionally face a serious threat of kidnapping,” it said in the 13-point advisory.

“In recent weeks, targeted attacks that are on the rise in various provinces and districts, directed against government establishments and security posts, have seen civilians caught in the middle of the conflict. Incidents of roadside IED (improvised explosive device) blasts and magnetic IEDs used to target vehicles of civilians continue to be reported from many parts of the country,” it said.

In view of the heightened security threats, it said movements, especially during peak commuting hours, should also be avoided.

“While travelling on roads, maintain distance from possible targets like military convoys, vehicles of government ministries/offices, high-ranking officials, law-enforcement agencies, and avoid visiting crowded markets,” it said. The embassy also advised people to avoid visiting crowded markets, shopping complexes, mandis, restaurants and other public places.

The embassy said travelling outside the main cities should be avoided, adding that essential travel should be undertaken by air as many highways and roads are unsafe and prone to attacks.

“All Indian nationals arriving in Afghanistan are advised to register with the Embassy/Consulates on the website or by email to. Those who are already present but have not registered or updated their contact details are also requested to do so immediately,” it said.

According to official data, over 3,000 Indians are staying in Afghanistan currently.

(With agency inputs)

New Delhi: A day after a drone was used to drop an IED at the Air Force base in Jammu, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Dinkar Gupta held a high-level meeting on Monday (June 28) with senior officials of Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police to chalk out a strategy to deal with the national security challenges posed by drones.

The DGP asked the officials to use the last two years’ data to narrow down and pinpoint the areas which are conducive for the operation of drones.

While proposing to install infrared CCTV cameras on the road network in the border villages, Gupta also directed the officials to list out the possible camera points in the vulnerable areas.

ADGP Internal Security RN Dhoke, ADGP STF B Chandrashekhar and IG Border Range SPS Parmar were among the senior officials from Punjab Police who attended the meeting, IG BSF Mahipal Yadav and DIGs of different BSF sectors of Punjab were also present. CP Amritsar Sukhchain Singh Gill, SSP Majitha Gulneet Singh and SSP Tarn Taran Dhruman Nimbale also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Gupta directed CP Amritsar and SSPs to launch a crackdown against the drug smugglers and suppliers in their concerned areas. He directed them to identify hotspots infamous for drug smuggling in their concerned areas and launch suitable operations to nab all those smuggling drugs.

Meanwhile, the DGP also ordered district chiefs to nab all the proclaimed offenders (POs) and bail jumpers of NDPS cases in their jurisdiction at the earliest.

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Srinagar: The incidents of violence across the valley have increased since the all-party meet of Jammu and Kashmir politicians with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi last week.

The meeting mostly stressed on restoring the democratic setup in the union territory.

Three major attacks and killings have taken place in the last few days after the meet. Yesterday, a cop along with his wife and daughter were killed in cold blood by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists after entering their house in the Tral area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir police SPO was identified as Fayaz Ahmad.

Police said that two Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists involved in the incident have been identified. One is a local while the other one is said to be a foreigner.

”Two terrorists came late evening and knocked on the door of Fayaz Ahmad and started indiscriminate firing on them. Two terrorists are behind the attack, one is a foreigner. We are in search of attackers,” said IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar.

Earlier, a grenade was lobbed by terrorists in Srinagar’s Barbarshah area on Saturday afternoon. A civilian was killed in the attack while three others were injured in the same incident.

Meanwhile, In south Kashmir’s Shopian district, one terrorist was killed while another one surrendered during an encounter on Friday. Both the terrorists belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba. One AK-56 rifle was recovered from the surrendered militant.

”One terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter. Meanwhile, the family members of the other trapped terrorist were called to the encounter site to persuade the other one to surrender. It was due to the great efforts and utmost patience of Police, security forces and repeated surrender appeals with the help of his family members, the trapped terrorist identified as Sahil Ramzan Dar son of Mohammad Ramzan Dar resident of Beminipora linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT ultimately surrendered and laid down his arms before the joint security forces. As per Police records, Sahil Ahmad was active since March 2021, said JK Police in a release.

A top LeT commander Nadeem Abrar was arrested in Srinagar’s Parimpora area on Monday. He was travelling in a car. Nadeem was involved in many incidents related to the killings of security forces. 

Jammu and Kashmir has been put on high alert after these incidents. The security has been beefed up across the valley. The IG Kashmir took a high-level emergency security meeting in Srinagar to discuss the security of airports and security installations.

An encounter is underway in Srinagar’s Maloora area at the time this report is being filed.  Two militants were trapped and firing on from both sides.

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Dushanbe: Condemning “terrorism in all forms and manifestations”, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has proposed an “action plan” against Pakistan-based terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Doval, who attended a meeting of the Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) National Security Advisors in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, earlier on Wednesday, called for an action plan against Pakistan-based terror groups stating the perpetrators of terrorism, including cross-border terror attacks, should be expeditiously brought to justice.

Asserting there is a need to monitor the new technologies used by the terrorists, Doval said there is a need for full implementation of the UN resolutions and targeted sanctions against the UN designated terrorist individuals and entities.

He also laid stress on adoption of international standards to counter terror-financing, including an MOU between the SCO and Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The National Security Advisor’s remarks came as Pakistani counterpart Moeed Yusuf was also in attendance during the SCO meet where the members pledged cooperation in the joint fight against international terrorism, extremism and separatism.

The members also discussed key regional security issues, including the situation in Afghanistan which has been witnessing an increase in Taliban violence.

Commenting on Afghanistan, Doval called for giving top priority to the welfare of its people and stated there is a need to preserve gains made in the last two decades.

New Delhi: Unidentified terrorists on Tuesday (June 22) opened fired and shot down a police officer of CID wing at Kanipora in the outskirts of Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports, the CID Inspector has been identified as Pervaiz Ahmad Dar and was posted at Parimpora police station.

Dar was returning home after performing the evening prayers at a mosque in Nowgam area when he was shot down by terrorists. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead by doctors. 

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Shopian: Unidentified terrorists opened fire at a Naka party of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Zainapora area of Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday (June 21). 

The CRPF officials confirmed the incident and said no injuries or casualties were reported in the attack. “Terrorists fire shots at Naka party of CRPF at Babapora, Zainapora in Shopian District, no injury reported,” CRPF said in a statement. 

The development came hours after an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Sopore area of Baramulla district. The gunbattle between security forces and terrorists broke out in the Gund Brath area.

Earlier on Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir Police busted a narco terror module in Uri area of Baramulla and arrested 10 people with a huge quantity of heroin, worth Rs 45 crore, along with arms and ammunition. “These arms and ammunition were hidden under cavities in vehicles. We are investigating how they were transporting it. We have some leads that point to people from outside the Union Territory. We have so far arrested 10 people,” Rayees Mohammad Bhat, SSP Baramulla told ANI.

Kashmir Zone Police informed that four pistols, 10 grenades and four vehicles were seized from the arrested people. Baramulla Police also seized Rs 21 lakh cash and 9 kg heroin which has market value of approximately Rs 45 crore.

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Srinagar: Terrorists shot at and injured a man in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday (June 18), police said. The incident took place in Hasanpora Arwani area of Bijbehara in the south Kashmir district, a police official told PTI. The injured has been shifted to a hospital, the official added.

He said that further details are awaited. 

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New Delhi: The Indian government said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of it and no amount of questioning can change the reality, an assertion that came following a letter by the Pakistan foreign minister to two top UN officials over alleging a design by New Delhi to change the demographic composition of the region.

Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Arindam Bagchi, in an address on Thursday (June 17), also said that cross-border terrorism is “unacceptable”.

“The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. No amount of questioning can change the reality. Also cross border terrorism is unacceptable and no amount of justification can make it acceptable,” he said at a media briefing.

Bagchi was asked to comment on Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s latest letter to the president of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Secretary-General.

In the letter, Qureshi alleged that India was changing the demographic structure of Kashmir through the issuance of fake domicile certificates and other measures.

He urged the UN Security Council to call upon India to reverse its actions, including those initiated on and after August 5, 2019.

Pakistan has been making concerted efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue. The neighbouring country stepped up an anti-India campaign after New Delhi announced in August 2019 its decision to withdraw special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the state into two union territories.

India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

India has been maintaining that the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.

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Srinagar: An improvised explosive device (IED) was detected by the security forces on Monday (June 7) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Police sources said an IED weighing 5-7 Kgs was detected by the security forces in Saimu area of Tral tehsil.

“Bomb disposal squad has been called to defuse the IED. The area has been cordoned off,” sources said.

Seven people were injured on Sunday in a grenade explosive which was hurled by the militants towards a party of the security forces in the bus stand area of Tral town.

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Srinagar: General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is on a two-day visit to Kashmir to review the prevailing security situation in the UT.

On arrival at Srinagar, the Army Chief, accompanied by Lt Gen YK Joshi, the Northern Army Commander and Lt Gen DP Pandey, Chinar Corps Commander visited units and formations in the hinterland where he was briefed by the local Commanders on the existing security situation and the measures being taken to identify and target the over ground workers (OGWs) network involved in radicalisation and recruitment of youth into terrorist ranks. Efforts to prevent local recruitment and facilitate the surrender of local terrorists were also discussed.

While interacting with troops, the COAS expressed his appreciation to the jawans and commanders who are relentlessly battling the dual challenges of Pakistan abetted terror and the global pandemic. He further reinforced the need to be prepared to meet emerging security challenges effectively. Later, the COAS was briefed by the Chinar Corps Commander on the overall situation pertaining to the Line of Control and the hinterland.

The Army Chief complimented the excellent synergy exhibited by all sections of the Civil Administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces and other Security agencies in projecting a ‘Whole of Government’ approach that has resulted in improvement in the security situation conducive for fostering a new era of development in the UT.

In the evening, the COAS called on the Hon’ble Lt Governor Shri Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan and discussed the emerging challenges and road map for long term peace in J&K. The LG appreciated the role played by the Indian Army in restoring and preserving peace in the UT and providing aid to the civil authorities against the COVID 19 pandemic.

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Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina on Thursday (June 3) blamed Pakistan for the killing of party’s councillor Rakesh Pandita a day before.

Calling the terrorists who killed Pandita coward, he said that his martyrdom would not go in vain.

“Pakistani terrorists have once again bled the Kashmir valley. The coward Pakistanis attacked Pandita, a dedicated and committed BJP worker who always dared Pakistanis in the valley, in the darkness of the night. Pandita’s martyrdom will not go in vain,” Raina was quoted as saying by PTI.

“The terrorists causing a bloodbath in the valley will be eliminated. It is a murder of humanity and Kashmiriyat,” he added.

Pandita was killed by unidentified militants in the Tral area of Pulwama district late on Wednesday evening. Pandita, the municipal chairman of Tral, was visiting a friend, Mushtaq Ahmad, when three militants opened fire at them. Ahmad’s daughter was also injured in the incident.

The mortal remains Pandita reached his Roopnagar residence in Jammu at around 8.45 am. Many people including several BJP leaders gathered at his home amid the chants of “Rakesh Pandita amar rahe” (long live Rakesh Pandita).

MP Jugal Kishore Sharma and former legislator Ajay Bharati were also present.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed anguish over the death of the leader.

“Shocked to hear that BJP leader Rakesh Pandita has been shot dead by militants. These senseless acts of violence have brought only misery to J&K. My condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace,” Mufti tweeted.

Last year, a Kashmiri Pandit sarpanch was shot dead by militants in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Ajay Pandit (40), who was a Congress member and the sarpanch of the Lukbawan Panchayat halqa in Anantnag’s Larkipora area, was shot dead by the militants in his native village, police had said. 

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New Delhi: Unidentified terrorists on Wednesday (June 2) shot dead a BJP councillor in the Tral area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. 

The terrorists opened fire on Rakesh Pandit at his home in the evening, they said. Pandit was rushed to a hospital where he died, the officials said.

They said a woman, his friend’s daughter, also sustained injuries in the firing by terrorists. Pertinently, the said councillor was residing in a secure accommodation at Srinagar and was provided with two PSOs. The said Councillor was not accompanied by the PSOs during his visit to Tral.

A top police official said, “Late in the evening today, 3 unidentified terrorists fired upon Municipal Councillor, town Tral Sh. Rakesh Pandita s/o Somnath Bala r/o Tral Bala who was visiting his friend at Tral Payeen.”

Police and security forces have cordoned the area and massive search operation has been launched to nab the assailants.

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Jammu and Kashmir

Acting on specific information, a special joint checkpoint was established by police and CRPF at Harren Saibug area of Budgam. During checking, officers apprehended a terrorist associate identified as Fayaz Ahmed Bhat.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar will on Tuesday chair a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Ministers of Foreign Affairs/ International Relations via video conferencing during which the leaders will exchange views on the Covid-19 pandemic situation and countering terrorism besides other global and regional issues of concern.

 “India as the current BRICS Chair will convene the standalone meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/ International Relations on 01 June, 2021,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official release earlier.

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“The ministers are expected to exchange views on the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the need for strengthening and reforming the Multilateral System with a view to enhancing its capacity to effectively address the diverse challenges of our time and to adapt them to contemporary realities, on global and regional issues of concern, sustainable development, Countering Terrorism besides discussing ways to enhance intra-BRICS cooperation, especially people-to-people cooperation,” the MEA added.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto Franco França, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor are expected to participate in the meeting.

Pakistan

The troops recovered one AK -47 rifle, one pistol, one magazine, 15 pistol rounds round of 9 mm bullets and one wooden frame used to attach payload with drone.

Kupwara: In a joint operation, the Territorial Army and the police on Tuesday (May 11) arrested a terror associate in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

The security officials recovered ten grenades and 182 rounds of AK-47 rifle from the accused who has been identified as Abdul Ahad Lone.

Lone was nabbed in Kralpora area in the district after the officials acted on specific information.

“Territorial Army and SOG Kralpora arrested the militant associate Abdul Ahad Lone based on specific information,” the officials said.

“10 grenades and 182 AK-47 rounds have been recovered from his possession,” they added.

They further said that the middle-aged man was formerly associated with Al-Badr. The police are investigating the case further.

Earlier today, at least three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The police recovered arms and ammunition including 1 AK-47 rifle, 2 pistols and incriminating materials from the site of encounter.

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New Delhi: At least three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday (May 11), police said. The police recovered arms and ammunition including 1 AK-47 rifle, 2 pistols and incriminating materials from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Vailoo in Komernag area of the district early on Tuesday following information about presence of militants there, a police official said. “During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender. However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the official said.

He said the joint teams of security forces also rescued all the civilians trapped in the gunfire and halted the operation for the time to ensure safe evacuation of people from the area of gunfight. “After ensuring all civilians are safe, the operation was resumed and all the terrorists were eliminated in the ensuing encounter. Bodies of the killed terrorists were retrieved from the site of encounter,” the official said.

The slain terrorists were identified as Ilyas Ahmad Dar alias Sameer, Ubaid Shafi alias Abdullah and Aqib Ahmad Lone alias Sahil. “As per police records, all the killed terrorists were linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and part of the groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and security establishments,” he added. 

Terrorist involved in attack on BJP leader’s house killed in Anantnag encounter

One of three terrorists killed in the encounter was involved in the Aari Bagh terror attack on the house of a BJP leader last month. The terrorist has been identified as Ubaid Shafi. “One of the killed terrorists Ubaid Shafi was involved in Aari Bagh terror attack which was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) on the house of a BJP leader on April 1. In that attack, J&K Police cop Rameez Raja was martyred,” the police said. 

The encounter between terrorists and security forces had broken out in the early hours of Tuesday at Vailoo in Kokernag area. All three terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit were killed.

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New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Wednesday filed the first supplementary chargesheet against three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, including an absconding Pakistani woman, in an online recruitment case registered last year in West Bengal.

The chargesheet was filed in the NIA special court, Kolkata against Tania Parveen alias Isranoor and Refite of Malayapur-Baduria (North 24 Parganas), Sayyad M Idris alias Munna of Anganavadi (Karnataka), and absconding accused Ayesha alias Ayesha Burhan and Ayesha Siddiqi of Gali Brahwali village of Sargoda in Punjab (Pakistan), an NIA spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the case was initially registered on March 18 last year at the Baduria Police Station in North 24 Parganas district following the arrest of Parveen, a member of the proscribed Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.

The NIA had re-registered the case after taking over the investigation on April 5, 2020 and had already filed a chargesheet against Parveen under various sections of the stringent UA(P) Act.

“Parveen was a college student and was radicalised and recruited in cyberspace by Pakistan-based cadres of LeT. She was co-admin of various social media groups espousing secessionist ideas on Kashmir with accused Ayesha Burhan, a Pakistan-based cadre of LeT’s women’s wing,” the spokesman said.

The spokesperson said Parveen in association with other accused members of LeT in India and Pakistan indulged in unlawful activities, radicalised, recruited and motivated other people through cyberspace for a violent ‘Jihad’ (holy war) against India.

“She and other accused were brainwashing impressionable youth and propagating the ideology of LeT, thus conspiring to wage war against the State,” the spokesperson said as more charges were framed against her in the latest chargesheet.

On Apr 15, the NIA arrested schoolteacher Altaf Ahmad Rather from his residence in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district in the case.

“Investigation has revealed that Rather is a schoolteacher in Bandipora and was a sympathiser of the LeT. Parveen had come in contact with him over social media platforms and he was instrumental in introducing her to LeT members based in Pakistan, in pursuance of a conspiracy to radicalise, motivate and recruit youths for violent ‘Jihad’ (holy war) on India,” the NIA had said.

However, Rather was not named in the chargesheet as further investigation in the case is still going on, officials said.

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Jammu and Kashmir

The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorists are yet to be ascertained, a senior police officer said, adding that a foreign terrorist involved in the killing of two councillors and a policeman in Sopore on March 29 was among those trapped at the site.

Jammu and Kashmir

A gunbattle brotke out between terrorists and security forces at Nathipora area of Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir. Police and security forces are on the job. A foreign terrorist, believed to be involved in the killing of two councillors and a policeman, is said to be trapped in the encounter, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Vijay Kumar said in a tweet.