Kashmir Terrorism Index

Kashmir Terrorism Bulletin

Day-to-day details about Pakistan-aided terrorism in Kashmir

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  • September 26, 2001 US global drive against terrorism to cover Kashmir Indian Express reported that In a bid to address India's concerns over cross-border terrorism, the US has assured New Delhi that its global drive to combat the menace also covered Jammu and Kashmir and would not rest till it goes after every terrorist group and countries harbouring them. Though the immediate high priority was to hunt down terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and smash his network, the US would not rest until the scourge of terrorism is wiped out everywhere including, in Kashmir and elsewhere in India, top US officials are understood to have told National Security advisor Brajesh Mishra. Mishra, during his two-day visit in Washington, met Condoleezza Rice, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Trade Representative Robert Zoellick. They also made it clear that there would be no change in the Indo-US relationship in the wake of US seeking Pakistan's support for possible military operations against bin Laden and his network in Afghanistan, it is learnt. "US relationship with India is one of the most important ones that we have," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said while acknowledging that New Delhi was one of the first to offer full support for a global coalition against terrorism. "They themselves have experienced terrible acts of terrorism..... so there is a great deal to talk to India because of the role they play," he said.
  • September 26, 2001 Over 400 militants waiting to enter Kashmir Indian Express reported that over 400 Kashmiri militants are waiting at different launching pads to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir through the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB), where vigilance has been mounted over the week, defence sources said on Wednesday. Pakistan army, which has closed down training camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has segregated foreign mercenaries from Kashmiri militants and sent those of Kashmiri origin (trained as well as those under-training) to 15 prominent launching pads along LoC and IB with Jammu and Kashmir, particularly with Jammu sector, the sources said. These launching pads, where armed Kashmiri militants have been kept for a push back into Jammu and Kashmir are located opposite the Indian areas. The areas include, Nanga-Londi (Kathua Sector), Mukwal, Chimbiliyal, Ramgarh, Arnia, Checkenneck, Keri, Akhnoor East (Jammu Sector), Laam, Nowshera, Sunderbani (Rajouri), Poonch Gali, Galakote, Sabzian, Mendhar (Poonch), sources said. Most of the militants are being pushed into Jammu region to keep the pot of militancy boiling during the coming winter and in the event of a conflict in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, foreign mercenaries have been asked to leave Jammu and Kashmir and enter PoK immediately for helping the Taliban against the opposition Northern Alliance and for defending Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden who is hiding in Afghanistan in case of an American attack on the country, sources said.
  • September 26, 2001 Firing again on IRP camp Couple slaughtered in Rajouri Excelsior Correspondent reported that militants slaughtered a couple at their house in Manjakot last mid-night and again attacked IRP headquarters—second time during last two successive nights— in Draba area of Surankot in two separate incidents across Rajouri and Poonch districts. Reports said some unidentified militants entered into the house of Mohd Tariq, 42, son of Mohd Ismail at Morha Keri in Kotli Kalaban area of Manjakot last mid-night and asked Tariq to prepared food for them. Tariq and his family refused to oblige the militants and asked them to leave their house. Agitated militants slaughtered Mohd Tariq and his 28 year old wife Naseem Begum in front of their five minor wailing children. Stated to be four in number, the militants escaped after slaughtering the couple. Army and police officials visited the house of couple this morning for investigations. A search operation was carried out for the militants but they remained untraced. Local people resented the merciless killing of an innocent and poor couple by the militants, who were suspected to be the activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. Couple was laid to rest this afternoon. Meanwhile, two fidayeen made another attempt to attack IRP headquarters in Draba area of Surankot last night, which was repulsed by the jawans. A similar fidayeen attack on IRP headquarters was beaten-back by the sentries the previous night. Reports said that the fidayeen were suspected to be same in both the attack. Sentries posted in IRP camp lit up the area and didn’t allow fidayeen to come close to the camp. After an hour long exchange of gun-fighting, the fidayeen again managed to escape. No casualty was reported on either side. A civilian Mohd Ayub son of Ghulam Hussain, a resident of Kalaal was killed in exchange of firing between security forces and militants at Saikla river under Mandi police station in Poonch district last night. His body has been handed over to his family. A complete bandh was today observed in Thanna Mandi town of Rajouri in protest against alleged police excesses on a kerosene oil dealer. All shops were closed in the town and traffic was off the roads. Local people alleged that a kerosene oil dealer Mushtaq Ahmed Shawl, who also happened to be block president of National Conference, was being harassed by local police. They were demanding transfer of SHO Thanna Mandi and posting of his predecessor again on the same post. Bandh will continued tomorrow as well, the people said. District administration have deputed DySP Headquarters to Thanna Mandi for investigations in the matter.
  • September 26, 2001 Massacre attempt foiled in Mahore Two ultras killed, one surrenders Excelsior Correspondent reported that two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter with the Border Security Force (BSF) in Dhamkund area of Mahore late last night while another ultra laid down his arms before security forces today. BSF sources said the jawans of 161 battalion were camping at village Bolni in Dhamkund area of Mahore tehsil for last two days following Intelligence inputs that a group of militants might strike in the village to carry out massacre of minority community. At 2240 hours last night, the BSF jawans intercepted two militants moving towards the village from a surrounding small forest area. BSF jawans challenged the militants resulting into an encounter that lasted two hours. In the fierce exchange of fighting, both the militants were killed. They have been identified as Mohd Arif Sulfi alias Abu Hameed, a resident of Kulgam in Anantnag district and Noor-ud-Din son of Mohd Abdullah, a local of Dhamkund. Both of them were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. Recovery made from the possession of slain militants included one AK rifle with five magazines and 102 rounds, one Chinese pistol with one magazine and eight rounds, two grenades, one aerial wireless set and a pocket tape recorder. There was no casualty on BSF side in the encounter, the sources said and added that a major tragedy was averted with timely killing of both the militants. Meanwhile, a hardcore militant of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit surrendered before security forces after a six hour long encounter at village Marmatkat in Mahore tehsil. Sources said a total of four militants were trapped in the encounter by security forces early today. Exchange of firing between the militants and security forces continued for six hours. Three militants managed to escape during the cross-firing while fourth surrendered before security personnel alongwith his arms and ammunition. Sources identified the surrendered militant as Nazir Ahmed Tareekh son of Mehandia Gujjar, a resident of Kali Dhar in Akhnoor, presently putting up in Neoch area of Mahore. Nazir Ahmed was an active member of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and was operating in Mahore for last eight months. He handed over one AK rifle, 45 rounds, one grenade, a wireless set and four AK magazines to security forces at the time of his surrender. Security forces continued a search operation in Marmatkat to locate three absconding militants but they remained untraced. Operation was on till the reports last came in.
  • September 26, 2001 Two brothers kidnapped by militants in Kathua Excelsior Correspondent reported that intensifying their movement in the only peaceful district of Jammu region, the militants today kidnapped two youths from a field in village Ghati near Ujh river under the jurisdiction of Kathua police station last mid-night. Both the youths remained untraced till late tonight despite a joint search operation launched by army and police. Police identified kidnapped youths as Madan Lal and Mohan Singh, both brothers and sons of Madan Lal, residents of Ghati. According to eye-witness account and local police officials, both the brothers were sleeping in their field near a religious place in Ghati village to protect their crops. Around last mid-night, four militants were reported to have appeared in the village and held the duo hostage. As both of them didn’t return to their house till late in the morning, their family members rushed to the field only to find blankets and pillows. Both the youths were found missing. Local people and ex-servicemen reached the spot and informed Kathua police. Joint parties from Kathua, Rajbagh and Billawar police stations led by DySP Border Shiv Kumar Singh swung into action and started searches from three sides to track down the militants and rescue the hostages. Till late tonight, no contact had been established either with the militants or with the civilians. Circumstantial evidences, gathered by security agencies, revealed that a total of six people had crossed village Ghati to reach a surrounding forest area, leading to Billawar. "This indicated that the militants were four in number and two others with them were the kidnapped youths", the sources said. Chappals of one of the youth were also recovered from the same forest area. Foot marks of six people were noticed upto deep in the forest area. Sources opined that the militants appeared to have kidnapped the brothers in the absence of a guide to reach safely to Billawar forests for their onward journey to Udhampur and Doda districts. Few days back, the militants had kidnapped one RMP from village Dinga Amb in Hiranagar tehsil of this district and used him as a guide to reach a forest area. Later, they had released the RMP after getting instructions from their Pakistani masters on the wireless set. The other day, four militants had managed to cross Dinga Amb after an encounter with army in which two army jawans were injured. Fleeing militants had left behind a consignment of arms and ammunition, which was seized by police.
  • September 26, 2001 Suspects sent Rs 28 lakh to families Daily Excelsior reported that the two suspects from Hyderabad, Ayub Ali Khan and Mohammed Jaweed Azmath, who were held by FBI in connection with terrorist attacks in the United States, had together sent Rs 28 lakh to their families here last year, raising suspicion over their source of income. The city police, probing the antecedents of the two men following revelations that they had misrepresented facts while obtaining passports, have found that Ayub Ali Khan had remitted Rs 19 lakh while Azmath sent in Rs 9 lakh. "Going by the odd jobs they were doing, this is a big amount. We have passed on this information to the FBI," the City Police Commissioner P Ramulu told reporters. Police are keeping a tab on the families of the two suspects, living in Hussaini Alam area here, and verifying their records. Earlier, the police had registered cases against the two under Section 12 of the Indian Passports Act and Section 420 of IPC for furnishing wrong date of birth. The duo had obtained passports in 1992 by misrepresenting the facts, police officials said. Though both of them were born in 1966, Ayub Ali Khan had given his year of birth as 1950 while Azmath claimed he was born in 1954. Besides, Azmath had submitted a fake degree certificate to show that he was a graduate from Osmania University here. However, it was found that they did not have any criminal record before migrating to the US nine years ago.
  • September 25, 2001 Six militants, army jawan killed in Kashmir Indian Express reported that six militants and an army jawan were killed and another jawan was wounded in separate encounters, while a militant was arrested along with some explosives in Kashmir Valley since Monday night, official sources said. Four Pakistani militants were killed in an encounter with army at Akhar Post in Machil sector of Kupwara district in north Kashmir on Monday night, they said. Another militant belonging to Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba was killed by security forces at Pathribahak in Kupwara district. They said a militant and an army jawan were killed and a jawan wounded in a gunfight which broke out during search operations in Badgam district in central Kashmir. Security forces arrested a militant from Ranbirpora in Anantnag district of south Kashmir and recovered five KG of explosives from him, the sources said. Meanwhile, militants fired upon a BSF camp at Alamgunj in south Kashmir, but no casualty was reported.
  • September 24, 2001 Thirteen killed in Kashmir gunbattles Indian Express reported that thirteen people have died in separatist violence in Kashmir in the past 24 hours, but officials say militant violence has eased as ultras head for Afghanistan to prepare for a possible US attack. Militants on Monday hurled grenades at the intelligence headquarters of a paramilitary force in the heart of Srinagar, wounding two soldiers, an official said. "Militants fired four grenades towards the Border Security Force intelligence headquarters at Karan Nagar. One of them exploded inside the camp and wounded two soldiers," a paramilitary spokesman said. He added that three grenades exploded outside the intelligence complex but did not cause damage. A frontline Kashmiri militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Later on Monday a villager was killed and three soldiers were injured in another militant attack in southern Kashmir, the police said. They said security forces had shot dead nine militants in gunbattles in the strife-torn region since Sunday night. Elsewhere, unidentified militants shot dead three civilians on Monday in separate shootouts. Indian intelligence agencies reported last week the leader of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, Mullah Mohammad Omar, had appealed to militants in Kashmir to come to Afghanistan to help it stand up to a likely US strike.
  • September 24, 2001 Two BSF jawans injured in grenade attack in Srinagar Indian Express reported that militants attacked the intelligence headquarters of an Indian paramilitary force with grenades in Kashmir on Monday, wounding two soldiers, an official said. The attack took place in the heart of Srinagar, the state's winter capital. "Militants fired four grenades towards the Border Security Force (BSF) intelligence headquarters at Karan Nagar. One of them exploded inside the camp and wounded two soldiers," a paramilitary spokesman told Reuters. He said three grenades exploded outside the intelligence complex but did not cause damage. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. A dozen militant outfits—including fighters from Afghanistan, Pakistan and other Islamic countries—are fighting Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian intelligence agencies reported last week the leader of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, Mullah Mohammad Omar, had appealed to militants in Kashmir to come to Afghanistan to help it stand up to a likely US strike in wake of the air attacks on the US. Many of the militant groups in Kashmir have vowed to repulse any US retaliatory attacks on Afghanistan.
  • September 22, 2001 Two women among 12 killed in Kashmir gunbattles Indian Express reported that twelve people, including two women and six militants, were killed in separatist violence in Kashmir, where many militant groups have vowed to repulse any US retaliatory attacks on Afghanistan. Police said suspected militants attacked a security patrol on Saturday morning at Zachildar, an area of Kupwara district 87-km northwest of Srinagar. "One soldier died on spot and three others have were injured in the firing incident," a police official said. On Friday night a woman, two militants and a policeman were killed in a gunbattle in the Sogam area of the same district. In the neighbouring district of Baramulla, a woman and two militants were killed in another gunbattle on Friday night, police said. Elsewhere, two civilians and two militants were shot dead in separate shootouts in Kashmir since Friday evening, police said. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said that the leader of the Taliban had called on militants operating in Kashmir to head to Afghanistan to meet any US response to last week's attacks on New York and Washington. Several of the Islamic militant groups, some of which are based across the border in Pakistan, have vowed to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with their Afghan comrades.
  • September 21, 2001 Kashmiris burn US flag, vow support for Afghanistan Indian Express reported that the police fired tear gas shells on hundreds of demonstrators in Kashmir on Friday after they burned the American flag in protest against possible US strikes on Afghanistan. Demonstrators gathered outside the biggest mosque in Srinagar, vowing to defend Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden—the prime suspect of last week's hijacked airliner attacks on the New York and Washington—is believed to be hiding. "Afghan warriors, we are with you! Long live Afghanistan! Long live Pakistan!" they chanted as they burned and trampled upon the American flag immediately after Friday prayers in Srinagar. The Himalayan state was gripped on Friday by a general strike which was called by militant groups to express solidarity with the Afghan people. Shops, schools and government offices were shut across a state where more than 30,000 people—separatists say 80,000—have died in insurgency-related violence since 1989. One militant group said bin Laden was a holy warrior and vowed to repulse any retaliatory attacks on his home base. "An attack on Afghanistan will be considered an attack on the whole Muslim world," Al-Umar Chief Commander Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar said in a statement sent to newspaper offices in Srinagar. Zargar was one of the men India freed from its prisons in exchange for the release of passengers on an Indian Airlines plane hijacked to Afghanistan by Muslim militants in December 1999.
  • September 21, 2001 Taliban recalls fighters from Kashmir: Jaswant Hindu reported that Kashmir is a definite target of the Taliban's international terror network, the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, citing Intelligence reports, told a press conference here today. The Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, had exhorted his ``fighters'' in Kashmir to return to Afghanistan for a confrontation with the U.S. The Intelligence agencies had received several ``inputs'' regarding the appeal, Mr. Singh said, but declined to elaborate. ``Our information based on Intelligence resources of India is that Mullah Omar has issued an appeal that allterrorists currently (operating) in Jammu and Kashmir should quickly move towards Afghanistan, come to Afghanistan to stand up against what is apprehended.'' `Musharraf under pressure' Describing the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's observations on India during Wednesday's televised address as ``extremely regrettable,'' Mr. Singh said they could have been triggered by ``intense domestic pressure.'' ``I do not wish to say anything by way of reaction as it could further compound difficulties Gen. Musharraf faces domestically.'' The current focus was not on Indo-Pakistan relations but on terrorism. Asked to comment on the General's remarks that India should ``lay off'' Pakistan, Mr. Singh said he did not have to react to the ``flamboyant statements.'' Answering questions on the fall-out of the growing interaction between the U.S. and Pakistan, the Minister indicated that it need not have a negative impact on India. In this context, Mr. Singh read out the observations of the U.S. President, Mr. George Bush, that the present crisis might spin off benefits for resolving the West Asian crisis and restructuring Indo-Pakistan ties. On an earlier occasion, Mr. Singh had remarked that the nature of the Pakistani State might itself be transformed as a result of its involvement in the stand-off between the U.S. and the Taliban. He described Pakistan's readiness to join a counter-terrorism campaign as a ``good development'' - as Islamabad had nurtured the Taliban and sponsored terrorist training camps not only in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, but also in Afghanistan. On the reversal of its disposition towards the Taliban, Mr. Singh said it was as if ``a parent confronts his own child who has turned terrorist.'' Pakistan's admission into a grand coalition against terrorism would be credible only if it translated its ``declarations'' into ``action,'' Mr. Singh said. It was facing a difficult task of reckoning with the proliferation of extremist groups in the entire country. After a conversation with Iran's Foreign Minister, Mr. Kamal Kharazzi, over the phone, Mr. Singh was hoping to speak to his counterpart in Saudi Arabia. Apart from engaging key countries in the Islamic heartland, Mr. Singh had spoken to the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw, who ``acknowledged'' that India had been a victim of externally-aided cross-border terrorism for many decades. The war between an international coalition of nations and ``terrorist intenrationale'' was not imminent. The use of force was only one of the components in a ``basket of options.'' India was opposed to indiscriminate military strikes as it must target the ``perpetrators'' of terrorism alone. Replying to a query, he rejected suggestions about Iraq's involvement in the terrorist strikes in New York and Washington. PTI reports: Mr. Singh said he would visit the U.S. at the end of the month or early next month for consultations with leaders on measures to fight global terrorism.``The Prime Minister has told me that till a clear picture emerges in the region, it would not be advisable for you to go out of the country. That is why I have postponed my visit.'' `Will consider request' The Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, has said that India would ``consider'' a request from the U.S. to use its Air Force bases for possible air strikes on Afghanistan but felt it might not be required. ``There has been no specific request in that regard and no specific decisions have been taken by the Government. We will respond when the time arises. Our assessment is that they do not need it. If any request is made, it would be considered,'' he told Mr. Karan Thapar on BBC's `Hardtalk India.' He was responding to a question on media reports that New Delhi could allow the use of airbases in Avantipur, Adampur and Jamnagar.
  • September 21, 2001 Pak training camps dispersed, not closed down: Suri Excelsior Correspondent reported that the J&K Police Chief, Mr. A.K.Suri today said that militants’ training camps run by ISI of Pakistan across LoC/International Border have only been dispersed and not wound up. Addressing a meeting of prominent citizens here today, the DGP said that Pakistant has not closed its training camps for militants, rather the militants in these camps have been dispersed for the time being in view of the situation arising out of terrorist attacks in the USA and subsequent repercussions particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan, he said, is ‘Kashmir-centric’ and no militant is going to go back and leave us in peace. Instead there would be more influx of militants in the State once the pressure gets built up on Taliban and militants leave Afghanistan, Mr. Suri cautioned. The DGP said that Jammu is going to be centre of militant activities in the coming days. With the Darbar move next month, the city will be a hub of more activities. To carry out violence, blood shed and subversion, he said attempts are underway across to push more and more militants in Jammu region, adding that ISI of Pakistan is making all out efforts to communalise the situation in Jammu region. Regarding the preparedness of State police, the DGP said that State force is fully fit to fight militancy. He disclosed that 70 to 75 per cent of the militants are killed by local police directly or indirectly. The initiative of police has frightened the militants and there is every apprehension that militants will launch more attacks on police to demoralise it. The morale of the force, he said is very high and police is determined to fight militants to the finish. Mr. Suri once again commended the role of VDCs and SPOs and said that VDCs have been responsible in cutting down about 30 per cent of militants’ infiltration especially in the border belt. They have caught, fought and killed the sneaking militants and made the infiltration routes used frequently earlier as death traps for militants. He told the prominent citizens that as a recognition of their exemplary performance, 350 SPOs have been regularised as Constables in the last one year. Seeking citizens cooperation and suggestions for further improvement of police working and sound police-public relations, Mr. Suri stated that no success can be achieved without people’s cooperation. He said that tough times are coming ahead. People, he said, have extended their full cooperation in the trying times and hoped that the same will continue in future also. He assured the citizens that the menace of land grabbing in the periphery of Jammu city as also the menace of drugs will not only be checked but efforts will be made to completely wipe them out. Prominent citizens on the occasion putforth many valuable suggestions and assured DGP that they would fully cooperate with the police as and when their cooperation would be sought in any respect. IGP, Jammu Zone, Mr. Radhavinod Raju and DIG Jammu-Kathua Range, Dr.S.P.Vaid were present at the citizens’ meet. Earlier a two minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the martyrs of police and to those who lost their lives in terrorist attacks in America. The prominent citizens among others who attended the meeting included: Mrs. Zubaida Salaria, Mrs. Bimla Luthra and S/Shri Piara Singh, Ashok Khajuria (all MLAs), D.K.Kotwal, Bodh Raj Bali, Mangat Ram Sharma, Dharam Paul Sharma, Surinder Singh, Dr.R.K.Dubey, Dhanraj Bhargotra, Gulchain Singh Charak, M.R.Puri, Bashir Ahmed, Jugal Mahajan, Dewakar Singh and Romesh Gupta.
  • September 21, 2001 Militant, 2 BSF soldiers killed Excelsior Correspondent reported that while as one militant got killed in an encounter and a BSF soldier committed suicide, another BSF personnel died in a grenade blast in Kashmir valley today. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that late this evening, troops of RR 6th Bn and SOG Handwara eliminated an unidentified militant in an encounter at Hafruda forest area, near Vilgam, in Kupwara district. Constable Krishen Kumar of BSF 75 Bn committed suicide by pumping five rounds of his automatic weapon into his own chest at Trehgam, in Kupwara district. A BSF soldier sustained injuries in a colleague’s misfire at Baramulla bridge today. He was rushed to hospital. This morning, a soldier of BSF 124 Bn got killed when a grenade went off in his hand at Tral, in Pulwama district. He was identified as Tula Ram. An IED blast occurred at Achhabal in Anantnag district, causing splinter injuries to Sonaullah Mir, father of National Conference leader and MLA Shangas, Abdul Majeed Mir. He was rushed to hospital. A joint patrol of SOG and RR 15 Bn spotted a group of three militants and opened fire on them at Nusu in Bandipore. However, they retaliated and managed to escape. Late this evening, militants launched an attack on a security forces’ camp at Safapora, Sumbal. Troops retaliated and the militants escaped without causing or suffering any damage. 3 killed in mishap Meanwhile, a junior assistant working in Higher Secondary School Handwara, Ghulam-ud-din Tantray S/o Subhan Tantray R/o Hanga (Handwara), got killed alongwith his 3-year-old son, Shahid Rasool, and mother-in-law, Shah Begum W/o Ghulam Rasool Tantray of Chhotipora, when their Maruti car, JKD-8459, rammed into a speedy truck on Srinagar-Sopore road at Haigam today.
  • September 21, 2001 Mulla’s appeal to J&K militants Daily Excelsior reported that the Taliban supremo Mulla Mohammed Omar has issued an "appeal" to all terrorist groups that are currently operating in Jammu and Kashmir to "quickly move" out towards Afghanistan to assist the militia against impending American military strikes, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said here today. Singh told a press conference that Indian intelligence agencies have received several "inputs" regarding the appeal but declined to elaborate. "Our information based on intelligence resources of India is that Mulla Omar has issued an appeal that all terrorists that are currently in J and K should quickly move towards Afghanistan, come to Afghanistan to stand up against what is apprehended," Singh said. Replying to questions, Singh said relative calm existed on the Line of Control between India and Pakistan and that there was no "extraordinary movement of troops" of the two countries towards each other. "Relative quiet on the LoC continues to be maintained as a consequence of the Agra summit in July," he said. Singh, however, regretted that cross-border terrorism activities continued and that there was no let up despite the devastating terrorist attacks in the US. Singh said Pakistan must convert its declaration to fight terrorism into action and noted that it was a "new entrant" in the fight against terrorism. "Only time will tell how effectively Pakistan converts its statement of intent into action," he said. He did not agree with a questioner that Pakistan was a frontline state in combatting terrorism saying geographically it could have this status. "Pakistan conceptually is not a front line state (in the fight against terrorism)".
  • September 20, 2001 Pak beefs up positions along LoC Hinduatan Times reported that the Pakistan is strengthening its troop positions along the international border here. Pakistan Army regulars have replaced the Pakistan Rangers, and a slew of new bunkers and gun positions have been put in place. Troops have also moved closer to the line of control (LoC) on the other side. The Indian Army has noted with concern the increased pace of activity in the wake of last week's attacks in New York and Washington, and the US pressure on Islamabad to help deliver Osama bin Laden to them. "Something appears to have happened behind the scenes that has spurred this activity," said a senior officer posted on the LoC, "(it) is unusual." There has been small arms firing and even heavy shelling earlier, but the construction of new bunkers and trenches and strengthening of defences is a new phenomenon, he says. "If they were to do it as a matter of routine, they should have done it when there was (the Ramzan) ceasefire," the officer said. Pakistan is building concrete bunkers with 10 to 12 personnel to man each of them. Sandbagged pillboxes have come up on the rooftops of mosques. A BSF jawan showed this reporter a bunker and a pillbox atop a mosque in Kundal village across the border. The bunkers are all over the place. Mosque rooftops are being chosen for pillboxes because retaliatory firing that damages mosques can be used to build up anti-India sentiments. This would help divert attention from the issue of Islamic fundamentalism versus the war against terrorism, says a BSF officer who has been posted in this area for over 16 months. The Indian defence forces are discussing the possibilities of setting up an operations room to keep a close eye on the situation. There is the fear that Pakistan could attempt a bigger misadventure to keep a lid on its internal problems. "Anything can happen," says an officer of the northern command who reviews the border situation on a daily basis.
  • September 20, 2001 Osama linked group had a Kashmiri pilot Daily Excelsior reported that even after it became clear in 1999 that some guerrilla organisations—linked to Osama bin Laden, directly or indirectly—had trained pilots in their ranks, the world failed to perceive how dangerous the flying machines could turn one day. Much like the Indian security strategists and intelligence experts, elite Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of America too seems to have had no idea of the pan-Islamist militants’ plans of diversification—if, at all, they are found responsible for the Black Tuesday. It was during the night intervening February 19 and 20 in 1999 that three unidentified militants got killed in a fierce gunbattle with security forces at Budan village, in Mahore area of Udhampur district. Now under the jurisdiction of the newly created Police District of Riasi, Mahore locality is situated in the mountainous Pir Panjal range. The paramilitary company had a tip off regarding the presence of some "foreigners" in that ordinarily inaccessible terrain. It was well after the militants were killed that something sensational unfolded: One among the trio was holding a commercial pilot’s licence, issued in the United States of America. Officials did not bother an inch beyond the identification of the slain pilot and his organisation. Once they learned that he was Nadeem Ahmed Khateeb of Rawalpora locality in Srinagar, they exhumed the dead body and sent it to Srinagar for a proper funeral by the family. Nadeem was none among those who, according to the so-called Kashmir experts of New Delhi, have been joining militancy due to penury or after failing to get a job. His father, Inayatullah Khateeb, had retired as a Chief Engineer in J&K Government and later established a multi-million business. The Khateebs are originally an opulent and respected family from Bhaderwah area of Doda district. While his brother, Waseem Ahmed Khateeb, laid power transmission lines and developed his interest in timber, Nadeem reached London where he came in contact with some senior functionaries of the pan-Islamist Harkat-ul-Ansaar. Family sources say that, before going to Europe, he had taken an elementary course of flying in Haryana. Though it is still unclear, whether he was first a militant or a pilot, Nadeem flew to America and sought admission in a flying training institute. He completed a commercial pilot’s course and obtained a licence from the American aviation authorities. Some of his friends insist that Nadeem became a militant when he returned to London after working as a flying instructor in America. But, after the September 11th strikes in New York and Washington, a many here believe that his training as pilot could have been part of the militants’ plans to use aircraft as a weapon of mass destruction in the new phase of suicidal Jehad. Unlike Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba, Nadeem’s organisation Harkat-ul-Ansaar is known for its links to Afghanistan and the suicidal guerrilla groups operating from Kabul and Kandahar. It earned America’s wrath after its name figured in the kidnapping of six Western tourists in Pahalgam area of Kashmir, in July 1995. Two of the hostages—including the one who was let off—were American nationals. As the four hostages remained, and still are, untraced, Indians managed to convince Washington that Al-Faran (the group, which had owned the hostage taking,) was a front name for Harkat-ul-Ansaar. After a yearlong search, which yielded nothing, America’s State Department incorporated Harkat-ul-Ansaar in a long list of the world’s terrorist organisations. Later, organisers christened it as Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. When Harkat hijacked an Indian Airlines plane in Kathmandu, in December 1999, to seek the release of the organisation’s patriarch, Maulana Azhar Masood, it was titled as Jaish-e-Mohammad. However a faction continued its operations under the banner of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Immediately after his release, Azhar Masood married a Pakistani woman. He was so quick to reach Kandahar—seat of Taliban and all major contacts of Osama bin Laden’s Al-Quaeda—that he left his home on second day of his marriage. In addition to Pakistan-based Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, all the splinter groups of Harkat-ul-Ansaar have been taking indoctrination from clerics in Kabul and Kandahar. As Lashkar has its base in Punjab province of Pakistan, Harkat and its branches have recruited most of their cadres in Sindh and NWFP, bordering Afghanistan. A number of Afghan mujahideen is also prominent in these outfits in their Indian operations.
  • September 20, 2001 5 militants of new outfit among 6 gunned down Excelsior Correspondent reported that five militants of a newly formed outfit Hizb-ul-Islami were shot dead in a joint operation by army and police at village Gulad in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district today. A ‘group commander’ of the outfit Mohd Akram Jangri alias Amir Muava of Jang, Pakistan was among the fatalities. A house, where the militants took shelter during the encounter, caught fire and was extensively damaged. Another militant was killed in Gambhir Mugalan area of Manjakot in Rajouri district. Army and police sources said a police party cordoned off village Gulad at 0730 hours today after receiving an information from local people that five militants were hiding in village Gulad after intruding into Indian territory from Pakistan through Balakot sector. As militants played a hide and seek battle with police, the latter also took help of army. At about 1100 hours, security personnel succeeded in eliminating two militants inside a small forest area, about half a kilometer from Gulad. Three remaining militants fled into the village and took shelter in the house of Zaffar Hussain in Upper Gulad. Army and police made repeated appeals to the militants to come out of the house and surrender. However, according to sources, the trio used the house inmates as human shield and tried to escape. After about half an hour, Zaffar Hussain and his family members managed to rescue themselves from the clutches of militants and came out of the house. Later, troops blasted the house killing all three militants inside. An army jawan Naik Krishan Kumar was injured in the exchange of firing and has been hospitalised. All five militants were killed during about four hour long battle. Two of the slain militants have been identified as Mohd Akram Jangri alias Amir Muava son of Abdul Karim, a resident of College Chowk, Jang, Pakistan and Habib Ahmed alias Ibrahim son of Mohd Sadiq of Dham, Lake Musa in Gujarat district of Pakistan. Identity of three other slain militants couldn’t be established immediately but they too were suspected to be Pakistanis. Letter heads of a newly created militant outfit Hizb-ul-Islami were recovered from their possession. This indicated that militants were part of this outfit, the sources said. Recovery made from the scene of encounter included four AK-56 rifles, 1578 AK rounds, 440 Pika rounds, two grenades, eight hand grenades, 27 kg explosives, one 7 mm rifle with one magazine and 16 AK magazines. Besides, the sources said, the militants had several Indian currency notes in the denomination of 1000 and 500 which they tore off before being killed. According to sources, this appeared to be first group of the militants of Hizb-ul-Islami outfit, which was pushed into Indian territory from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar tehsil. The group had crossed over only yesterday from Pakistan and was looking for a hideout when they were trapped. Another encounter took place between army and militants at Gambhir Mugalan in Manjakot area of Rajouri district this morning in which one ultra was killed. Two other militants managed to escape. Slain militant has been identified as Abu Baseer of Gujranwalla, Pakistan, an activist of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. One AK-56 rifle, two magazines, 28 rounds, one plastic grenade and a pouch were recovered from the encounter site. No casualty was reported on army side in the exchange of firing.
  • September 20, 2001 3 militants killed in Kupwara encounter Excelsior Special Correspondent reported that three foreign militants and a civilian were reported killed in two different incidents of violence in Kashmir valley today. Informed sources in north Kashmir told Excelsior that troops of 68-Mountain Brigade launched a massive combing operation in Rishigund forest area near Trehgam in Kupwara district today. Troops intercepted a vital radio communication of militants’ network in which militants were asking their associates in Kupwara forests to send two drivers for 25 passengers. It was decoded that 25 militants were going across the LoC and they were in need of two guides. Immediately contingents of 1/4 GR and 1/9 GR rushed towards Rishigund and Darsun forest area for a combing operation. The troops were ambushed by militants near Rishigund and a fierce gunbattle began between two sides. Troops fired rockets and mortars killing three unidentified militants on the spot. All three are believed to be Pakistani nationals. Operation was still going on when reports last came in from Kupwara. Officials are expecting more casualties in the encounter. Official sources in Budgam district said that some unidentified gunmen shot dead a civilian namely Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din of Daharmuna at Wuhangam in Beerwa area today. At Handwara town, troops opened indiscriminate gunfire in the afternoon today. Whileas officials said that it was a militants’ attack and retaliated thereto from security forces, civilians claimed that there was no militants’ attack. Last evening gunshots were also heard near a security forces’ camp at the cinema hall in Handwara. However, there was no casualty. Militants in ambush fired on a convey of security forces at Nutnusa of Kupwara-Sopore road. Troops retaliated but there was no casuality. Last evening militants hurled a grenade near Fire Service Station at Sayeed Hameed Pura Nawab Bazar in Srinagar causing injuries to a Fireman. Militants also hurled a grenade towards a security forces picket on Alijan road in Soura which missed the intended target and exploded on road causing injuries to two pedestrians. They were rushed to hospital.
  • September 17, 2001 Militants attack Kashmir police camp, kill 9 Times of India reported that the suspected Islamic militants stormed a police camp in troubled Kashmir, killing nine policemen and wounding 10 others, police said on Monday. Hurling grenades and firing from automatic weapons, the guerrillas on Sunday night entered the camp of the state police's special operations group, which is charged with fighting militancy in the region. One suspected guerrilla also was killed in an exchange of gunfire at the camp in Kupwara, a town 90 km north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu-Kashmir state, police said. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. But police believed the attackers were from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group.
  • September 17, 2001 'US should support India's fight against terrorism' Times of India reported that the BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said if United States is serious about waging a war against terrorism then it should also support India's fight against the menace in Jammu and Kashmir and the north-east. "The terrorist attack in New York and Washington was as dangerous as what has been happening in Kashmir and north-eastern states of this country. We have been fighting this menace for over two decades now and it is unfortunate that this proxy war is being defined by some as freedom struggle and the same people are now wanting to appear as heroes in America's war on terrorism", he said here. The BJP national secretary said it was also very dangerous to define terrorism as "Islamic" and thus, giving it a religious colouring since such "inhuman acts should not be categorised on religious basis. No Muslim would support such acts of terrorism". Naqvi said the so-called "jehad" being waged by Osama Bin Laden was "his own war".
  • September 17, 2001 74 killed in Jammu militancy in 15 days 10 IED explosions, 28 security men, 40 ultras dead Kashmir Times reported that with the increase in the attacks of the militants on the security forces at least 74 people including 28 security personnel and 40 militants were killed in the stepped up violence in trouble torn Jammu region, during last fifteen days of the month. Hizbul Mujhaideen, which is still believed to be the most organised militant outfit in the state once again emerged and claimed the responsibility of most of the attacks on the security forces. At least 10 IEDs were blasted targeting number of vehicles of security personnel, Darhali bridge, connecting Rajouri with Thanamandi and other areas, was also partially damaged Official sources claimed that security forces had already received intelligence inputs that Hizbul Mujahiden has directed its cadres to intensify their operations against the security forces from September 1 to 13. The most dared attack of the militants was on the District Police Lines Doda in which one Sub Inspector and one Inspector lost his life while over a dozen others were injured. Interestingly militants entered the premises almost guarded from all sides and later managed to escape unhurt. Beside this ultras also attacked number of other security installations including SSP Poonch office. In all attacks the militants dominated themselves and inflicted casualties on the security forces. During the whole month, the ultras attacked District Police Lines Doda, Poonch Police Lines, police station Rajouri, security forces’ camp in Chatroo, Kishtwar and a patrol party of BSF in Udhampur district. With these attacks the militants once again started targeting the police personnel. It is pertinent to mention here that early this year the militants killed some police personnel in Poonch, Kathua and Doda districts. At that time the dreaded militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba had warned the police personnel that if they continued their "atrocities" on the civil population the operations against the police will be started again. Sources in the police department said that with the increase in the attacks on the police stations the higher authorities have issued guidelines to the concerned police officers to intensify the security measures in and around the police stations. After the militants managed to enter in the police station Poonch and killed at least seven cops without any retaliation, the cops have been directed not to sleep in the police station without the official weapon. Security forces in Rajouri and Poonch claimed that during these days they intensified their combat operations and achieved some major successes. The security forces got the biggest success on the intervening night of September 3 and 4, when at least 12 ultras, including some top guns of HM and LeT were killed in the twin border districts.

    Chronology of events

    Sep 1 : Five Pakistani soldiers and a subedar were killed in cross border firing in Akhnoor sector, one militant was killed in Doda while three police personnel were injured in an IED explosion that took place behind the office of SSP Poonch.
    Sep 2: One Sub Inspector was killed and over a dozen police personnel including an inspector were injured, eight of them seriously when three members of a fidayeen group (suicide squad) barged into the Police Line Doda and opened indiscriminate firing on the police personnel. Militants also attacked a picket of Special Police Officers (SPOs) in village Sarronda, about 30 Kms from Doda town, while two foreign ultras were killed by the security forces in a fierce encounter. A selection grade constable was killed by some unidentified militants inside his residence in Poonch district. The security forces arrested a militant sympathiser and handed him over to police in a separate incidents in the same area. .
    Sep 3 : Exactly after 24 hours of the Fidayeen attack on Doda police lines, a group of heavily armed militants struck the Poonch Police Lines. At least nine militants, suspected to be foreigners, were killed by the police and security forces in three separate fierce encounters across the border districts of Poonch, while the army claimed to have arrested a sympathiser of militants at Gurdan Bala. .
    Sep 3: Border Security Force (BSF) killed a Bangladeshi who was trying to infiltrate to this side of the border in Hiranagar Sector, while the troops on both sides exchanged small arms fire on a number of forward post in Kathua and Jammu districts. .
    Sep 4: Twelve militants, including some top guns of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HMPPR) Peer Panchal Range, two army jawans and a civilian were killed in different militancy related incidents across the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. .
    Sep 4: Two persons including a woman and a Special Task Force jawan were killed in a fierce encounter between militants and security forces at Dachan in Kishwtwar area, while one militant was injured in a cross fire with army in Banihal. .
    Sep 5: Police claimed to have foiled the attempt of the militants to attack on police station Rajouri, late last night, while one Special Police Official (SPO) was killed in an encounter at Chatru in Kishtwar area. One jawan of Border Security Force (BSF) lost his life in an IED blast in Gandoh. .
    Sep 6: Four army jawans were killed and 17 others were injured when militants blasted a civil bus carrying army jawans at Badoon near Khooni Nullah. The bus was blown up with the IED, planted by the militants. Three jawans were injured in a blast in Mahore area. .
    Sep 7: An army jawan was killed in a fierce encoutner with the militants in Gandoh area of district Doda, while an army vehicle had a narrow escape when militants triggered an IED the same district. .
    Sep 8: Six jawans of Border Security Force (BSF), including a commandant of 161 Battalion were killed when some unidentified militants triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Sangaldan-Dharmkund road, near Gool in district Doda, while the DSP District Armed Rerserve (DAR) Udhampur had a close shave when an IED exploded near Sudhmahadev. Elsewhere, the troops detected two IEDs planted by the militants on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. .
    Sep 8: Two civilians were killed by some unidentified militants in two separate incidents in district Doda and Poonch. .
    Sep 9 : Five army men were killed and another injured critically when some unidentified militants blew up the jeep they were travelling in with a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Mahore area of district Udhampur. .
    Sep 10: Four army jawans were killed and two others were injured when a jawan on guard duty at Head Quarter Northern Command Udhampur ran amok and fired indiscriminately. The jawan later also shot himself dead. .
    Sep 10: Eight militants, including an area commander of Al Bader, were killed in separate fierce encounters, while an army vehicle had a narrow escape when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), planted by the ultras, went off on Doda-Baderwah road. .
    Sep 11: Two militants were killed in a fierce encounter between the security forces and the ultras in Mahore area of district Udhampur, while the BSF troops repulsed an attack of the militants on a patrol party in the same area. Unidentified militants set on fire three residential complexes included the two houses of an ex-service man and an SPO in Mandi area of district Poonch. .
    Sep 12: Security forces repulsed an attack of the militants on a camp at Chetral in district Poonch, while an ultra was killed and two persons including an ITBP jawan were injured in separate militancy related incidents. .
    Sep 13: A Special Police Official (SPO) and a police personnel were injured when ultras triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Kishtwar area of district Doda, while some unidentified gun men killed a civilian in Surankote area of district Poonch. .
    Sep 14: At least four militants were killed in two separate fierce encounters between ultras and security personnel in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. Due to intensified firing and shelling on the International Border about 17 families of Suchetgarh Kullian were forced to migrate from their village and to take shelter in a school building at Samba. .
    Sep 15: One constable of Border Security Force (BSF) was killed and four others injured when their patrol vehicle was blown up by the militants in Udhampur, one infiltrator was killed in RS Pura while a girl was injured due to Pakistani firing from across the border.

  • September 17, 2001 Golden opportunity for India to wipe out terrorism: Farooq Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullaha today said that there would not be better opertunity for India to root out terrorism by whole heartdly supporting all actions in this regard and hoped the "Lion" USA which had woken up after second Pearl Harbour will remain awake. Dr Abdullaha who had brief stop over at Shimla air port on his way to Reckong Peo, headquarter of border district of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh to inagurate the two day "Budha festival" told newsmen that entire world community and United Nations were behind the USA at this juncture and India should take lead to put an end to this phase of terrorism. "No country can stay away from fight against terrorism. If any country opposes any proposed action against terrorism, it will be isolated", he said. He, however, added that any action against this crime against humanity be carefully worked. When asked about the possible fall out of the USA action, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that things were still under investigation and fallout would be known only after the action. India, he said, had been facing terrorism for past 12 years and it had been repeatedly telling the world that "Today it is in India but tomorrow it can be any other country". These warnings had proved to prophetic, he added. Referring to the Taliban threat to retaliate any military action, Dr Farooq Abdullah said "What retaliation it can offer, I will like to see them retaliate against the world". He said that Pakistan was under tremendous pressure and it had no option but accept the conditions put forth by the USA. "Our neighbour is afraid of possible fall out and it is good signal". The chief minister observed that violence had come down in Jammu and Kashmir during past two-three days. When asked about the possible repercussions in case Taliban refused to handover Osama Bin Laden, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that it would have to face the wrath of the United States and the world community. Replying to a question he ruled out the possibility of early assembly polls in his state, but added that he was keeping his powder dry and would not tell anything in advance even if there was any such move.
  • September 14, 2001 Pak to back US only if it has UN mandate Hindustan Times reported that expressing doubts over the involvement of renegade Saudi billionaire Osama Bin Laden in terrorist strikes in US, Pakistan has said it would back American actions against him only if they have UN mandate. Islamabad is doubtful about bin Laden's role in the strikes, Pakistan ambassador to Russia Ifthikhar Murshed was on Friday quoted as saying by Vremya Novostyei. "When we receive absolute proof of the guilt of an individual or a group of individuals, Pakistan would cent percent cooperate with the US, NATO, international community, with every one to punish these people," he said. Stating that Pakistan has always opposed unilateral operations against someone, he said Islamabad would back the US retributions only if they have UN mandate. He said "so far the international community has been closing eyes on Islamabad's flirting with Taliban and is not paying any attention to the Pakistani logic: we support Taliban, but we are not helping them," he said. In another interview to liberal daily Izvestia, the ambassador said Pakistan has "very limited" influence on Afghanistan's Taliban militia.
  • September 14, 2001 Pak based ultras threaten to attack Indian-nuclear installations Kashmir Times reported that in a sudden escalation of anti-India tirade, some half a dozen Pakistan-based militant outfits have threatened to target nuclear and military installations all over India. According to Pakistan’s Online news agency, Sheikh Jamilur Rehman, leader of Tehrukul Mujahideen that is active in Jammu and Kashmir, has vowed to attack Indian political leaders as well as the country’s nuclear and military installations. Asserting that the attacks would be carried out if India "does not cease atrocities on Kashmiris immediately," he warned that his group would attack these installations to avenge Indian military operations in Kashmir. "We have a very effective network throughout India and nothing is out of our reach," he told Online. Lashker-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed said ‘jehad’ would not be limited to Jammu and Kashmir. "There is no limit to it. If someone is going to stop us from carrying our mission, we will declare jehad against him as well," he said, adding, "We plan major operations against the Indian military installations in Kashmir and would continue to carry such actions until liberation." The United Jehad Council, a Pakistan-based alliance of Kashmiri separatist groups, has threatened to target "sensitive installations" in India if New Delhi did not halt its "repression" in Kashmir. Its vice-chairman Muhammad Usman said his group might open "another war front like Kargil." He said the Kashmiri separatist campaign, which has claimed more than 25,000 lives since 1989, "has entered a decisive phase. We are weighing the option of an open war with India by capturing a part of Kashmir." Hizbul Mujahideen deputy supreme commander Maulana Muhammad Javed Qasoori has also threatened to extend military attacks throughout India, while Al Badar Mujahideen chief Bakht Zameen has urged Islamabad to concentrate on strengthening the separatist campaign instead of "wasting time seeking a negotiated settlement". Hizbul Mujahideen supreme commander Syed Salahuddin said the armed struggle in Kashmir was gaining momentum and warned that if big powers did not realise their responsibilities, South Asia could plunge into a nuclear war. At a seminar organised by Al Bader Mujahideen, separatist groups pledged to launch massive attacks against "sensitive" Indian military installations and target important personalities. Online quoted Al Bader Mujahideen deputy head Amir Hamza as saying that ‘jehadi’ activities will continue till Kashmir was liberated.
  • September 14, 2001 Six gunbattles in north Kashmir 18 militants, 2 civilians killed in Valley Excelsior Special Correspondent reported that while as security forces eliminated at least 18 militants in Kashmir valley since last evening and eight gunbattles took place in north Kashmir alone, militants gunned down a civilian and yet another died in an incident of crossfiring. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that troops of 18-Madras intercepted a group of militants near Eagle Post in Karnah (Tangdar) sector, in Kupwara district. Heavy exchange of gunfire took place between the two sides and six militants got killed. All of them remained unidentified till late tonight. The operation was still in progress and no dead bodies or weapons had been recovered till reports last came in. On a specific information, troops of 1/9 GR and SOG Kupwara swooped on a group of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants at Kunan Poshpora, in Kupwara district. A fierce encounter took place in which four Pakistani cadres of the organisation got killed. They were identified as Abu Rafeh, Abu Nasir Hazarwi, Abu Talaha alias Saif alias Zulfiqar and Mohammad Ishaq alias Abu Usama alias Salfi alias Ashfaq. Four AK-56 rifles, four hand grenades, one UBGL and 15 UBGL grenades were recovered from the site of encounter. Sources said that troops of 8-Grenadiers eliminated an unidentified militant near Shirin Tari picket, in close vicinity of LoC, in Machhil sector of Kupwara district. Seventeen hand grenades are claimed to have been recovered from the possession of the militant killed. Yet another unidentified militant was gunned down by troops of 3/5 GR in Nowshera area of Gurez sector, in Baramulla district. Late this evening, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 6th Bn and SOG Kupwara laid siege to Punzwa village of Kupwara district. According to the tip-off, a thick group of militants was present in the village. Gunbattle ensued between the two sides. However, no casualties had been reported till late tonight. Troops of Rashtriya Rifles 24 Bn raided a militant outfit at Chak Pazipora in Kupwara this evening. An exchange of fire began immediately which was going on when reports last came in. Troops of 1/4 GR and SOG Kupwara swooped on another militant concentration in Meelyal Bahak, in Keran sector of Kupwara district this evening. Troops zeroed in on a thick group of militant in the Bahak and set on fire the bushes girdling the hideout. Officials said that casualties were certain in the operation but no details were available even at midnight. Sources said that troops of 1/4 GR and SOG Kupwara intercepted and engaged a group of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in an encounter at Raj Ram ki Ladi, near Rashanpora village, in Kupwara district. Five Pakistani cadres of the outfit got killed. Two of them were identified as Mohammad Tahir S/o Mohammad Sarwar and Mohammad Sajjad Abbas S/o Azhar Abbas of Rawalpindi. Three remained unidentified. Five AK-56 rifles, two wireless sets, 13 hand grenades, 103 rifle grenades, 23 Kg of RDX, 11 rockets, two UBGLs, three disposable rockets and 28 detonators were recovered from the spot. Reports from south Kashmir said that, on a tip off, troops of RR 36 Bn and 17-Punjab raided a militant hideout during last night at Gutligund village, in Dooru area of Anantnag. During the operation, four residential houses gutted and one unidentified militant got killed. He is believed to be a member of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

    Anantnag protest

    Informed sources in south Kashmir added that a driver of a private minibus, namely Sabzar Ahmed Mir S/o Ghulam Rasool Mir R/o Gund-e-Jaffar, Kulgam, got killed when militants ambushed the vehicle at Qazigund. Troops of RR 9th Bn had lifted the minibus from Vesu bus stand and ordered the driver to take them for a search operation. Even as four soldiers sustained injuries, all the militants managed to escape unharmed. A large number of people in Anantnag participated in the funeral of the driver and put up a demonstration in protest against the lifting of passenger buses and drivers by security forces on gun point. A number of civilians and troopers had already died when militants blew up a passenger bus at Hapatnar, in Anantnag district, in August, which had also been forcibly lifted by the security forces. Sources said that militants also ambushed a BSF patrol at Khudwani in Anantnag district. Two soldiers sustained injuries. Troops retaliated but all the militants managed to escape without suffering any damage. Reports from Baramulla said that unidentified gunmen appeared at Dangarpora, in Sopore, and shot dead a blacksmith, Ghulam Rasool Ahangar, today.

  • September 14, 2001 Saints go berserk, clash with cops Militants attack Sadhus; 4 injured *12 ultras involved in firing trapped Excelsior Correspondent reported that: militants opened firing on a gathering of Sadhus, who were performing a bhandara on the occasion of 17 days of two Pujaris, beheaded by the militants on August 27 night, in Dundak area of Surankot tehsil in Poonch district. Three Sadhus and a civilian were injured in the firing. After the militants firing was over, a group of agitated Sadhus went on rampage and clashed with police officials. They subjected cops to heavy stone pelting and tried to attack a police picket in Dundak. Situation was controlled with the help of security officials. Meanwhile, a total of 12 militants, involved in firing on Sadhus, were trapped by army and police in a forest area in the vicinity of Dundak late this evening. Fierce exchange of gun-fighting was going on between the two sides till late this evening when reports last came in. However, casualties on militants side couldn’t be ascertained immediately. Official sources said about 300 Sadhus from different parts of Jammu region had descended on Dundak since yesterday afternoon to organise a bhandara in connection with 17th day of Pandit Narotam Dass, pujari of historic Kali Mata temple at Dundak and Baba Devi Dass, pujari of Laxmi Narayan temple, Sunderbani, who were beheaded by the militants inside Dundak temple on the intervening night of August 27 and 28. Today afternoon when the Sadhus were performing bhandara and other rituals of deceased pujaris’ 17th day, the militants opened firing on them from atop a hill, looking straight to Dundak temple, creating panic among scores of religious persons. A passenger bus, which was on way from Surankot to Poonch, was also caught in the militants’ firing. Police and security personnel, who had been deployed in strength to protect Sadhus, retaliated and repulsed the attack after about 20 minutes exchange of firing. Three Sadhus and a civilian, travelling in the bus, were injured in the firing. Initially, the militants managed to escape without any casualty. Of three injured Sadhus, one was identified as Mahant Ram Saran. Injured bus passenger was named as Mohd Rafiq, a resident of Dundak. He was returning to his house from Surankot in the bus. Other passengers on board the bus had a narrow escape in the firing. Seeing their three colleagues lying injured with gun shots, the Sadhus went berserk and attacked police officials and jawans. They shouted slogans against police for their failure to protect the lives of religious persons. Injured Sadhus and civilian were admitted to district hospital of Poonch in serious condition. It may be recalled that the militants had also resorted to indiscriminate firing on funeral ceremony of Pandit Narotam Dass in Dundak but failed to cause any casualty or injury. After completion of bhandara, army jawans fanned out in Dundak forests this evening to hunt the fleeing militants, involved in firing on Sadhus. Latest reports indicated that a big group of 12 militants, majority of whom were foreign mercenaries, were trapped by army and police in Dundak forests this evening. An encounter between army and militants was going on till late tonight but there was no report of any casualty on either side. Details of the gun-fighting were awaited. Meanwhile, a civilian was kidnapped and killed by the militants at Dhara Morh in Surankot area last night. Victim has been identified as Wazir Mohd son of Mithu, a resident of Dhara. Reports said that Wazir Mohd was kidnapped from his house by three militants late last night and taken to Suran river near Ratiana Pasian village, where he was shot dead. His bullet-riddled body was recovered by police this morning and handed over to his family after post-mortem. Reason behind the killing couldn’t be ascertained.
  • September 14, 2001 Two HuM militants held with explosives Plot to cause blasts in Delhi foiled Daily Excelsior reported that frustating yet another attempt of ISI-backed militants to carry out blasts in the National Capital, Delhi Police arrested two Pakistani nationals, owning allegiance to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), alongwith explosives in South district, official sources said here today. Sleuths of Intelligence Bureau and Delhi Police’s special cell had been working on some intercepts that Pakistan’s ISI was planning to carry out blasts in the Capital and other major cities of the country, official sources said. The joint operation bore fruit when a police team arrested two persons identified as Sayeed Mohammad alias Hamza alias Tallah, a resident of Lahore, and Maksood Ahmad alias Abdul Rahman, a resident of Karachi, from a parking lot near Grandlay Cinema in South Delhi last night. Police also recovered two kilograms of RDX, one hand grenade and a cell phone from the duo. Sayeed had come to deliver this consignment to Ahmad, who had arrived in the Capital a week earlier after entering the country through Kupwara border in north Kashmir. The sources said that Pakistan’s ISI had switched over to dreaded outfits like HuM after smaller outfits like Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front (JKIF) failed to make any dent in the security ring around the Capital. Delhi Police’s special cell headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Chand and sleuths of Intelligence Bureau had arrested several JKIF activists from the Capital, who had been responsible for planting of explosives near high security Prime Minister’s Office, North Block, Army headquarters and caused a minor blast at the BSF headquarters here. Police raided the house of Ahmad at Taimur Nagar in Okhla immediately after the arrest and claimed to have recovered another six kilograms of explosive from there. During preliminary interrogation, the sources claimed Ahmad had confessed that he had entered India with a task to carry out blasts in the National Capital. Ahmad had been provided the hideout at Okhla by a person identified as Asad, who is since absconding, the sources said and claimed that cases against Asad were already pending in various police stations of the Capital. Al-Faran, which kidnapped foreign tourists from the tourist resort of Pahalgam in Kashmir in 1995, is also alleged to be a shadow group of HuM. The fate of the tourists which included an American continues to be unknown.
  • September 12, 2001 Kashmir is our focus: LeT Hindustan Times reported that denying that it has any hand in the terrorist attack in the United States, the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) on Wednesday said its main focus remained on the activities in Kashmir. On their tactics in Kashmir, LeT chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed said over phone from Lahore that "whatever the organisation does, it announces it. The methods which LeT has used in Jammu and Kashmir .... Are better as we have been able to release the pressure by Indian army of late". "The issue of Kashmir and America are two different matters and one should not be associated with the other," he said. Describing as "wrong and baseless" an earlier claim in the name of LeT for attacks in us, he said "these are aimed to defame LeT, which was involved in the jihad (holy war) in Jammu and Kashmir." Asked who he thought was behind these attacks, Saeed said "America has harassed and harmed a lot of people. It has conflicts with nations like Iraq. So the matter should be investigated thoroughly, instead of indulging in baseless allegations."
  • September 12, 2001Israel, India next? Hindu reported that Israel has evacuated all diplomatic missions around the world fearing that the attacks in the U.S. might not mark the end of today's tragedies. The Palestinian Authority President, Mr. Yasser Arafat, has been amongst the first to issue a statement condemning the incident. There are stray reports of signs of celebration in the Arab world accompanied with statements to the effect that ``Israel and India should be next''.
  • September 12, 2001 Powerful blast blows up vital Darhali bridge Excelsior Correspondent reported that the militants triggered two explosions under old Darhali bridge right under the noose of a police picket in the heart of town last mid-night causing extensive damage to the bridge and resulting into suspension of traffic on Rajouri-Thanna Mandi road. Two other IEDs were defused under the bridge. Militants also fired rockets on degree college last night but failed to hit the target accurately. Official sources said the militants had planted four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) under old Darhali bridge linking Rajouri with Thanna Mandi in the town. Surprisingly, a police post was also located right at the Darhali bridge but the militants succeeded in planting IEDs under it, clearly indicating lacklusture approach of police. At about 0120 hours today, two IEDs planted under the bridge exploded causing extensive damage to it. Two pillars of the bridge collapsed, the sources said, adding police personnel in Darhali bridge picket had a narrow escape. Army rushed to Darhali bridge immediately after the attack. During searches, a Bomb Disposal Squad of army defused two more IEDs, planted under the bridge. "Had these two IEDs too exploded, the bridge would have collapsed", the sources asserted. Militants had blasted new Darhali bridge few months back and old bridge was only road link left between Rajouri and Thanna Mandu. Traffic on Darhali bridge remained suspended throughout the day today and there was no hope of an early restoration. Efforts were being made by local administration to repair the bridge on war footing and restore traffic on Rajouri-Thanna Mandi road. Over-night explosions created panic in the town. Police and security officers visited the spot this morning for investigations. This was fourth attack by militants on Darhali bridge during past few months. Previous three attacks had failed to cause any damage to the old bridge though the new bridge was completely damaged and hadn’t been repaired so far. Besides blasting the bridge, the main aim of the militants was to inflict casualties on police personnel in their picket, located close to the bridge. However, they couldn’t succeed. According to sources, after causing damage to bridge, the militants opened firing on bridge and degree college at 0130 hours and continued it till 0300 hours. In the morning, army with the help of police and para-military started a search operation in the hilly areas, from where the militants attack bridge and other important installations.
  • September 12, 2001 Several grenade, IED attacks Militant, 3 civilians killed Excelsior Correspondent reported that while as one "company commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen and a civilian have been reported killed, several people sustained injuries in a series of low intensity grenade and IED attacks on security forces in Kashmir valley today. A girl and a boy died in two other incidents in Kupwara. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on the basis of a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 13 Bn and SOG Ganderbal raided a militant hideout at Ajas, in Bandipore area, early this morning. Troops and militants exchanged fire in which one militant got killed and two are believed to have escaped. The militant killed in the encounter has been identified as Javed Ahmed Lone alias Imran S/o Ghulam Ahmed Lone of Ajas. Officials claimed that he was the "company commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen. This evening a joint contingent of RR 13 Bn and SOG Ganderbal was ambushed by militants in Ajas locality. Troops retaliated and launched a massive search operation which was in progress till late tonight. Reports from Budgam said that unidentified gunmen, believed to be militants, appeared at Hataharan hamlet of Soibug and shot dead a civilian, namely Mohammad Shafi Bhat S/o Gul Bhat. A wrestler-turned-Jamaat-i-Islami activist, Khizar Mohammad, had been shot dead in the same locality in August, allegedly by local helpers of security forces. In Kupwara district, suspected militants torched the deserted house of a counter-insurgent, Ghulam Ahmed Lone S/o Gaffar Lone at Gazriyal, Trehgam. Five members of a family, which had occupied the house, sustained burn injuries while as a 10-year-old boy, Tahir Ahmed Dar S/o Habibullah Dar R/o Kunan Poshpora was charred to death. At Batpora, in Handwara area of Kupwara district, an explosive device went off in a field. An 8-year-old girl, Mehmooda D/o Ghulam Rasool Dar got killed while as her brother, Shabir Ahmed Dar, and another boy, Altaf Ahmed Dar S/o Abdul Karim Dar R/o Khanpora, sustained injuries. They were rushed to a hospital. Here in the capital city, militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a paramilitary bunker near Exhibition Crossing which fell short of the intended target and exploded on road. One Traffic Police constable Mohammad Yusuf and four civilians sustained injuries. The civilians were identified as Tanvir Ahmed, Bilal Ahmed and Fayaz Ahmed of Hazrtabal,and Assadullah of Baramulla. Militants also launched a rifle grenade attack on Police Station Soura which also houses a company of paramilitary forces. Two grenades exploded and two more were seized. However, there was no damage. Earlier, late last night militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a formation of BSF 54 Bn at Khankah, in old town of Sopore. Two soldiers are said to have sustained injuries in the attack. Militants also caused yet another IED blast on the heavily-guarded national highway near Zig, at Qazigund. An ITBP vehicle, which was the target, suffered damage. However, officials claimed that there was no casualty.
  • September 11, 2001 Woman attacked for not wearing burqa Times of India reported that a woman was attacked on Tuesday by Lashkar-e-Jabbar (LeJ) activists Tuesday afternoon in the heart of Srinagar for defying the controversial burqa order. The woman, identified as Kulsooma, a resident of M F Badyari locality in interior Srinagar, was stopped by two youths at Nai Sarak in Kralikhud police station area and sprinkled coloured water on her face, they said. Policemen deployed in the city immediately arrested a suspected youth, identified as Fayaz Ahmad, from the scene after the incident. However, local residents said Fayaz was an innocent auto-driver, while the two unidentified youths involved in the attack had fled. This was the first action carried out by the LeJ against women not wearing burqa after its deadline for enforcement of the burqa order ended on Monday. LeJ is a lesser known militant outfit which made its mark in Kashmir only last month when it launched the burqa drive by carrying out acid attack on two unveiled women in downtown Srinagar and later set the deadline. Barring a few radical secessionist outfits, all political, social, militant and secessionist outfits strongly criticised the group for its diktat and the acid attack. Even the radical outfits which supported the burqa campaign, described the acid attack as an "unIslamic action".
  • September 11, 2001 3 IED blasts in Baramulla, Kupwara JCO, militants, 3 civilians killed in Valley Excelsior Correspondent reported that while as militants caused three IED blasts in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, one JCO of Army, one militant and three civilians have been reported killed in different militancy-related incidents in Kashmir valley since last evening. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that militants caused an IED blast outside a camp of Rashtriya Rifles 18 Bn at Rednag, in Lalpora area of Kupwara district. One JCO got killed while as seven more soldiers sustained injuries. They were rushed to a hospital. Sources said that two soldiers were critical. Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen has claimed to have killed five soldiers in the strike which occurred early this morning. Officials confirmed death of only one soldier. Late last night, an encounter took place between militants and troops of RR 32 Bn at Sogam, in Kupwara district. One militant, namely Farooq Ahmed Kalas S/o Saif-ud-din Kalas of Gujjarpati, Sogam, got killed. Late last evening, militants kidnapped a surrendered militant, Bashir Ahmed Malik S/o Rehman Malik R/o Payarpora from the house of his brother Ghulam Ahmed Malik. As they disappeared into woods, gunshots were heard. Residents searched the area but there was neither any dead body nor any blood stains. A civilian shot dead by militants at Ootligam, Beerwah, last evening has been identified as Mohammad Shaban Gujri S/o Abdul Aziz Gujri R/o Suchen Banet, Beerwah. Sources said that dead body of a civilian, Mohammad Akbar Sheikh S/o Subhan Sheikh R/o Binripora Bandipore was recovered today from the same village. He had been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen late last evening from his home and later slaughtered to death. Late last evening, an IED exploded at main Chowk Bandipore. Delight Watch House, Hotel Shan, buildings of State Bank of India and Kamraz Rural Bank, besides nine other shops suffered extensive damage. Militants targetted a Police Gypsy at Wusan Morh, on Srinagar-Tangmarg road with an IED blast. The vehicle suffered minor damage and head constable Nazir Ahmed sustained minor injuries. The Gypsy was reportedly escorting an executive of Tata Group, B Chander Shekhar and his family, to Gulmarg. However, they are all unharmed. Reports from Kulgam said that, during last night, militants hurled three hand grenades on the residence of Minister of State Tourism, Ms Sakina Itoo, at Damhal Hanjipora. However, there was no damage. Late this evening, militants launched an attack on a formation of RR 29 Bn at Watirgam, Baramulla. Troops retaliated and there was no damage from either side.
  • September 11, 2001 Pak hesitates to rein-in J&K bound jihadis Daily Excelsior reported that the Government of India has taken strong exception to Islamabad’s unwillingness to come down heavily on anti-India jihadi outfits openly operating on the soil of Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). What has perturbed New Delhi is relatively "mild effort" by Islamabad to rein in Kashmir-bound jihadis. As against this, the crack down on the sectarian groups across Pakistan has been quite severe. True, Pakistan-based fundamentalists see no room for a compromise on Kashmir. But New Delhi wants Pak President and military ruler, Gen. Parvez Musharraf, to move forward and ensure that stringent measures were taken to rein in jihadis ,particularly the ones trained so far for participating in anti-India activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Gen. Musharraf’s emissaries have, in recent days, sought to apprise the Government of India of Islamabad’s move, proscribing the jihadi outfits from collecting funds. But the most significant aspect of the move is that the ban on collection of funds, as of now, is limited to the Sindh province. There is considerable ambiguity about Islamabad’s seriousness. Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. Moinuddin Haider, has, according to classified intelligence inputs, informed the leadership of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Hizbul Mujahideen that there was no intention to ban the activities of these jihadi organisations. Intelligence inputs reveal that while almost all jihadi groups are in a defiant mood following the ban on their fund raising and other related activities, Islamabad has a tough job on its hands enforcing the restriction and keeping religious fanaticism and militancy under control. The United Jehad Council’s senior member, Abdullah Shah Mazhar, has placed himself on record as asserting: "Our fund raising boxes are kept in public places. People have refused to return them despite the Government order, which shows their level of commitment to the Kashmir cause". And Harkat-ul-Mujahideen leader, Hafiz Mohammed Idrees, has been quoted as saying: "Can they stop the people from joining the jihad or donating funds evens if they remove the signboards and boxes? We have not started the jihad on the orders of the Government, and similarly no ruler can ask us to stop it". Some media reports from Lahore and Karachi have confirmed that the religious extremists have, following the ban placed on two sectarian militant organisations, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Mohammad, regarded the ban on collection of funds as a crackdown on religious and sectarian militancy generally. Significance requires to be attached to the statement of the Corps Commander of Sindh, Lt. Gen. Tariq Waseem Ghazi, categorically denying the intention of a general crackdown. The ISI Public Relations Department head has also contended that there is no jihadi activity in Pakistan. He maintains that certain individuals have placed fund collection boxes at various places and were misusing the funds collected in the name of jihad. The Pak authorities, he has stated, have had these boxes removed. A number of organisations, based in Pakistan and PoK, working in support of jihadi forces in Kashmir have been angered by Islamabad’s action. According to Pakistan’s influential English daily, Dawn, an alliance of several Mujahideen groups based in PoK has declared the ban on collection of funds as "harmful" to the "liberation movement" in Kashmir. They believe that the action has been taken under powerful external pressure, such as from America, which has led to Islamabad’s move to prohibit fund collection. The United States and some other Western Governments have held Pakistan responsible for encouraging religious militancy in the country. Because of the rapid spread of religious extremism in Pakistan, they have often expressed the apprehension that Pakistan might be going the way of the Afghan Taliban. The Pakistani publication has observed: "It is important for Pakistanis generally, and the jihadi outfits particularly, to realise that any attempt at seeing or presenting the Kashmiri people’s struggle for self-determination in a purely religious and communal light is bound to prove counter-productive; it will lead to a hardening of attitude on the part of the authorities in New Delhi who would perceive it as a challenge to their professions of secularism".
  • September 11, 2001 Dukhtaraan, Jamiat support Purdah campaign Women being asked to quit jobs, education Daily Excelsior reported that the radical militant outfit, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, which had earlier described the acid-throwers as "Indian agents", has now extended support to the so-called Lashkar-e-Jabbar’s campaign of imposing the Islamic dress codes in the Valley. The Jamiat volte face has come a day after its sister concern, Dukhtaraan-e-Millat, did not only approve of the drive but also indicated plans of greater Talibanisation. In a statement, issued from its Muzzafarabad headquarters today, the Jamiat spokesman Jamil Ahmed urged the Kashmiri women to strictly adhere to the Islamic dress codes. "Any voice against indecency has to be taken as legitimate. We must support it wholeheartedly", the spokesman clarified. He, however, remarked that throwing acid on the countenance of women was "not right". Jamiat has changed its heart a month after it denounced the campaign and claimed that Lashkar-e-Jabbar was no bona fide militant outfit. Almost similar was the opinion of two formidable organisations — Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba — which have not, till date, endorsed the Purdah campaign. Senior Jamaat-e-Islami functionary and Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was the first separatist politician who lent his approval to the imposition of dress code. He, however, did not endorse use of Un-Islamic methods in its implementation. In a newspaper interview on Sunday, Dukhtaraan-e-Millat chairperson, Asiya Andrabi, extended her unequivocal support to the campaign. She went a step further and asked the Kashmiri women to stay away from Government jobs. She described earning of livelihood as the exclusive liability of the man and asserted that the current campaign was "beginning of a comprehensive social reform movement based on true Islamic thought". With the Dukhtaraan chief’s open support to the Purdah campaign, observers here believe that the stress on Burqa was just the beginning of a greater plan of Talibanisation. They even claim that the whole campaign was being sponsored by the Dukhtaraan and Lashkar-e-Jabbar was neither any militant outfit nor a front name. After Islamic revolution, Iran and Afghanistan have implemented dress codes and imposed ban on "mixing of men and women". Asiya’s statement is clearly suggestive that all these diktats are being sought to be implemented in Kashmir. Since there is co-education in all professional colleges and universities in Kashmir, Lashkar-e-Jabbar’s "ban" on mixing of two sexes is now expected any moment. Lashkar-e-Jabbar has already pronounced two more edicts: There should be separate seats for women in passenger buses and non-Muslim females must put on yellow colour outfits. Since the first diktat has evoked some response in the capital city and three major towns of Anantnag, Baramulla and Sopore, the group is visibly emboldened to issue more edicts. Women working in private and Government offices seem to have succumbed to the Lashkar diktat as about 30% of them (compared to just 5% before) are now seen wearing either an Abaya or a Burqa. However, there has been little impact among the girl students of schools, colleges and Universities as less than 10% of them make movement in Purdah. Over 90% of the women in countryside have remained indifferent to the campaign, be that the one launched by Dukhtaraan in 1989-90 or the current one unleashed last month with sprinkling of diluted acid on two lady teachers. As the State administrative machinery has maintained its total helplessness in the campaign of coercion and the Police and intelligence officials are still groping in the dark, experts in social sciences believe that the Valley was clearly in for a social transformation. "It has begun with the Burqa and it will end up with an order that no shopkeeper should sell merchandise to the women customers not wearing a veil", says a scholar at the Department of Sociology at University of Kashmir. However, a many experts believe that obeying diktats on wearing an Abaya was different from quiting the Government jobs and educational institutions. "Come what may, it’ll fail", they assert with the argument that taking home salaries and getting education was a "stronger compulsion" of all Kashmiris. Meanwhile, there was not any significant impact among the women here as the final deadline of Lashkar-e-Jabbar expired today. Official sources disclosed that the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah had taken a serious note of the Lashkar-e-Jabbar threats and had categorically warned Police officials that they would be liable to "furious action" in case any incident of acid-throwing occurred in their jurisdiction. Officials are said to be thinking on the pros and cons of a massive crackdown on Dukhtaraan-e-Millat.
  • September 10, 2001 Pak providing shelter to Dawood Ibrahim Indian Express reported that virtually calling Pakistan government's denial that it has not sheltered Mumbai's underworld don Dawood Ibrahim "a bluff", a magazine in Islamabad has come out with startling disclosures of high profile lifestyle of the "king of crime" in Karachi, which, it alleges, has became cauldron of violence ever since he set his foot on it. Pakistan's Newsline magazine, in its latest edition, carries a cover story on Dawood's activities under the title 'Karachi's underworld king' with pictures of his palatial 6,000 sq ft house with facilities like swimming pool and tennis courts in the posh clifton area of southern metropolis. The story pinpointing the residences and unsavoury activities of Dawood and his underworld gang contradicts the official denial by President Pervez Musharraf during his July visit to India. The issue of extradition of Dawood and his gang was raised by Home Minister L.K. Advani during his meeting with Pakistan President. Musharraf denied the presence of Dawood and his henchmen in Karachi. The Newsline story, however, conclusively establishes that Dawood, his close associates Chhota Shakeel, Tiger Memon and a host of others besides his family lives under official protection in Karachi. The report says Dawood is allowed to operate with impunity in Karachi as he emerged as Pakistan's number one espionage operative.
  • September 10, 2001 6 Armymen killed in Udhampur blast Hindu reported that six Army personnel were killed and another injured in yet another devastating landmine blast in the Udhampur district today. A seven-year old girl, five militants and two soldiers were killed in other militancy-related incidents. Police sources in Udhampur said that militants detonated the landmine at Mahore, near Angrala, when the vehicle in which the Armymen were travelling was passing through. The blast was so powerful that the vehicle was completely damaged and thrown into a deep gorge nearby. Six Armymen died on the spot and another was injured, the sources said. The injured soldier was later airlifted to Udhampur for treatment. The blast took place around 8 km. from Sangaldan where a similar blast on Saturday claimed the lives of six BSF men, including a Commandant. A massive combing operation has been launched by security forces to nab the militants responsible for the blast. Reports said that militants had sneaked into the area in large numbers and the security forces were on the defensive.

    Civilians die

    Two civilians were killed and 15 injured in Kupwara town this evening. Police sources said that militants hurled a grenade towards a BSF patrol. The BSF retaliated and in the crossfire, Mr. Khurshid Ahmed Tantray and Mohammad Ramzan were killed. Fifteen other injured were admitted to hospital; later four of the seriously injured were shifted to Srinagar. Even as the police said in Srinagar that Mr. Khurshid Ahmed was a militant and was killed in an encounter, officials in Kupwara said he was a civilian from Rohama Rafiabad. The grenade explosion damaged 13 shops, reports said. Late in the evening, an improvised explosive device fitted in a bicycle went off near a BSF vehicle in the Bemina locality here. It exploded with a big bang, injuring four BSF jawans and six civilians. The condition of two BSF men and two civilians is reported to be critical. A number shops were also damaged in the explosion. In an encounter at Super Naghama in Handwara, a jawan and two militants were killed, police said. Two militants of the Lashkar- e-Taiba were killed in an encounter with security forces in the central district of Badgam. According to a police spokesman, a jawan and a militant were killed in a fierce gunbattle in Larnu Kupwara.

    Rocket kills girl

    A seven-year old girl, Choti, was killed when militants fired a rocket towards security forces at Rampura in Kupwara on Saturday. The rocket missed its target and hit a house. The girl, who was inside the house, died on the spot. Seven Army personnel were also injured in the attack and the condition of some is stated to be critical. People have protested against the killing of the child.

  • September 10, 2001 Hurriyat flays Lashkar’s ‘bindi’ diktat DH News Service reported that the Hurriyat Conference today described Lashkar-e-Jabbar’s fresh fiat asking non-Muslim women to apply bindi on foreheads and don saffron coloured duppattas for easy identification, as a reflection of ‘Talibanisation’. Senior Hurriyat leader and prominent Shia cleric Moulana Abbas Ansari while reacting to the Lashkar-e-Jabbar’s order, said it might be due to some agents of Taliban who had entered the valley and now gearing up to impose their native system on Kashmiris as well. He said Islam is a very tolerant and flexible religion and it does not preach force or brazen violence. “Islam does not believe in force. I fail to understand what is LeJ up to,” fumed the Moulana. “Today it is non-Muslims, tomorrow it may be Shias”. Meanwhile, Burqa and ‘abhiya’ (loose gown with a detachable scarf used to cover body and head) dealers are witnessing a huge rush of womenfolk as the deadline for adopting the prescribed dress code comes nearer. Lashkar-e-Jabbar’s (LeJ) second deadline for dress-code expires on Monday. Despite being a Sunday, several Burqa dealers today kept their shops open in order to fulfil the commitment made to the women folk. The LeJ has warned of stern action against those women who will not observe purdah from tomorrow. Self-styled chief commander of the outfit Irfan Jameel said if people fail to cooperate, the militants will be forced to resort to acid splashing or even can shower bullets on the violators. The outfit, it may be recalled here, splashed acid on two school teachers here recently for not observing purdah. The self-styled commander said it has become imperative to impose the dress-code because the Kashmiri society has become deviated and “the purdah drive is aimed at instilling Islamic values among the Muslim populace. Kashmir society predominately being a Muslim, should adopt a dress code according to the Islamic values. We are trying to cleanse the society from evils”, he claimed. Three days ago, Lashkar-e-Jabbar outfit issued another order demanding segregation of genders in passenger buses across the Kashmir valley. Irfan Jameel asked the passenger bus operators to reserve some seats for ladies in buses.
  • September 10, 20014 ultras killed, 5 held in J&K Hindustan Times reported that the four Pakistani intruders and a soldier were killed and five ultras arrested in separate incidents on Monday. The Pakistani ultras were killed when Army foiled an infiltration bid into the Kashmir Valley and attempts to smuggle out some youth for arms training to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), official sources said on Monday. Troops detected a group of militants trying to sneak into the valley from Machil sector of Kupwara district in north Kashmir late last night. The infiltrators were challenged and in the ensuing gunfight, a Pakistani militant was killed at Gogaldar and a big cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from him, the sources said. The sources said three more militants who tried to flee towards Kalaroos were gunned down by troops today. Troops intercepted a group of youth who were being taken for arms training to PoK at Tangdhar sector of Kupwara last night, they said adding while five of them were nabbed, three others including a guide escaped. In yet another strike on security personnel, militants on Monday ambushed an army patrol with a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Ratnag in Kashmir, killing a soldier and wounding six others, defence sources said. Militants had planted the IED on a link road and detonated it when an army column was patrolling Ratnag village of Lolab in Kupwara district of North Kashmir in the wee hours, they said. Elsewhere, three persons including a militant were killed in separate incidents in the valley since last night. The militant identified as Farooq Ahmad Gojri was killed in an encounter with the army at Sogam in Kupwara early today, an official spokesman said. He said militants shot dead one, Mohammad Shaban, inside his house at Suchanwalgali in Badgam district last night. A six-month-old baby, who was among ten persons injured in a powerful IED blast at Gosia colony in Bemina locality here, succumbed to injuries in the hospital last evening, official sources said. Meanwhile, Kupwara district today observed a complete shutdown in protest against the alleged killing of two civilians by security forces after two powerful explosions by militants last evening, sources said.
  • September 7, 2001Hizbul claims killing 51 Indian troops in a day in Kashmir Indian Express reported that the frontline militant out fit, Hizbul Mujahideen, said on Friday it had killed at least 51 Indian troops in attacks in Kashmir a day earlier to mark a war anniversary in neighbouring Pakistan. Hizbul said in a statement faxed to Reuters, in one attack, its members blew up a troop-filled bus near Ram Ban on the Srinagar-Jammu highway by a remote-control device, killing 28 of them. It said 23 other soldiers were killed in attacks elsewhere in the strife-torn Valley, including six Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who it said died in a vehicle blown up by a mine at Qazighund. There was no independent confirmation of the attacks, which Hizb said were carried out on the occasion of Defence Day, observed in Pakistan to mark the anniversary of the country's 1965 war with India over Kashmir. Indian police on Thursday confirmed an attack by a Hizb suicide bomber who they said died in the explosion of a truck he drove outside a paramilitary camp that also killed an Indian CRPF soldier. But the Hizb statement said the truck explosion at Magam, west of the Indian-ruled Kashmir summer capital Srinagar, destroyed two military buildings, killing troops inside "whose number is still not known".
  • September 7, 2001 Bloody 24 hours in Kashmir, 21 killed, 13 injured Indian Express reported that the last 24 hours in Kashmir was a bloody one as violence escalated at various places across the Valley. In all, 21 people were killed, including seven Pakistani infiltrators and three top LeT counter-insurgents since Thursday evening. Thirteen others were injured. In the second such suicide attack, an unidentified militant drove an explosive-laden truck into the main gate of the Special Operations Group (SOG) camp at Magam in Badgam district of central Kashmir on Thursday evening. The blast killed the militant, a CRPF jawan and a civilian, besides injuring seven personnel of the paramilitary force. The militant drove the truck carrying heavy explosive material after crossing the barricades and triggered the blast near the main gate of the camp damaging the security picket. In a similar incident last year, a militant of Jaish-E-Mohammad outfit had blown himself up in Badamibagh cantonment outside Army headquarters. In another incident, a defence spokesman said, seven Pakistani infiltrators were killed in an abortive attempt to sneak into the Valley through Razdan Pass in Kupwara sector on Friday. Troops guarding the northern borders laid ambush along a route following information of infiltration by a group of militants across the LoC. The spokesman said the troops challenged the infiltrators soon after they sneaked into Indian territory and in the following gunfight, seven militants were killed. A huge cache of arms and ammunition recovered from them. In another operation, troops gunned down three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants during search operations at village Trigam in north Kashmir on Thursday night. One of the slain militants was identified as Abu Hafiz of Karachi, Pakistan. Troops of Rashtriya Rifles also killed an unidentified militant during search operations at Kreeri in Sangrama area of Baramulla in north Kashmir on Friday, the spokesman said. Unidentified militants at Satkuji-Rajwar in Handwara area of Kupwara district killed a truck driver and his assistant on Thursday night, he said. The spokesman said two civilians identified as Abdul Ahmad Mir and Abdul Gani Tantray were killed and six others, including three BSF personnel, injured in three separate IED explosions at Sofigund, Amirabad and Pohu in Pulwama district of south Kashmir since Thursday evening. Militants had laid the IEDs and triggered them when the BSF troops were patrolling the villages, the spokesman said. He said a top counter-insurgent leader associated with Ikhwan, Ghulam Hassan Mir was shot dead by militants along with his close associate Munir Hussain at Arigoripora in Kangan area of Srinagar early on Friday. Militants reportedly took away their weapons after killing them from point blank range, official reports said. The spokesman said militants also shot dead a top counter-insurgent, Jan Mohammad Bala at Chrar-e-Sharief in Badgam district on Thursday night.
  • September 6, 2001 After burqa, militants order men, women apart on buses Express Indai reported that after threats of spraying acid on women for not adhering to Islamic dress code, militants in the Valley have now ordered men and women in the region to sit apart on buses, a newspaper said on Thursday. "It is necessary for men and women not to sit together in buses while travelling. Bus operators are ordered to keep 50 per cent of the seats reserved only for women," the newspaper quoted the Lashkar-e-Jabar outfit as saying. The statement by the militant group, which until last month was little known in Kashmir, was published by the Daily Alsafa, the main Urdu-language newspaper in Kashmir. Last month, members of the group attacked two women with acid for violating the Islamic dress code. The assault spread panic among women across Kashmir and led to a sharp rise in the wearing of veils and cloaks. Last weekend, the group extended its deadline by 10 days for women to adopt the dress code. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a leader of Kashmir's main separatist alliance, urged women to adopt the dress code but said he was opposed to the use of violence to enforce the order. Earlier, Dhukhtaran-e-Milat, a Kashmiri separatist women's group, supported the violent campaign to enforce the dress code. However, other militant groups have condemned the acid attack and blamed the assault on Indian agents seeking to discredit them. Militants banned beauty parlours, cinemas and wine shops and demanded that women adopt Islamic dress after rebellion broke out in Kashmir in 1989. But the acid attack was the first of its kind. Previously militants had sprayed paint or shot women in the legs for wearing Western-style dress.
  • September 6, 2001 Four armymen killed, 13 injured in Srinagar explosion Rediff reported that four armymen were killed, while 13 others were wounded in a massive explosion near Khoni Nallah on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. Police sources said a passing army vehicle hit an improvised explosive device resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle. Army sources said the four soldiers sources died on the spot, while 13 injured have been shifted to the Udhampur hospital. Condition of four of the injured is stated to be critical. The sources added that army and police officers from nearby areas rushed to the spot immediately. No one has yet admitted responsibility for the blast. Troops mounted searches in the nearby hills and traffic on the highway remained disrupted. Meanwhile, Lashkar-e-Jabbar, which has been spearheading the purdah campaign in Kashmir Valley on Thursday asked bus drivers to reserve separate seats for the women in their vehicles. In a statement Jabbar said, "Women and men should not sit together and there should be separate seats for the women travelling in buses." The outfit said, "There should be 50 percent reservation of seats for the women in each bus in Kashmir."
  • September 5, 2001 2 children die in J&K landmine blast Hindu reported that in a shocking incident, two children were blown to pieces and five were injured when a landmine went off in Janbazpora locality of Baramulla town in north Kashmir today. Reports reaching here said a group of children from a local public school were playing in the compound when a landmine planted in the sand went off killing two boys Merjauddin and Abdul Majid instantly. Five others, who were injured were rushed to Srinagar for treatment. The news of the blast sent shockwaves in the town and a few hundred people from the locality took out a procession shouting slogans against militants. Meanwhile, police have arrested the SHO Dooru, Mr. Ghulam Haider Khan, and four other policemen who laid down their arms when militants surrounded a police party, including the Additional Deputy Commissioner, in Batagund village yesterday. In another development, the Government today ordered the dismissal of Mr. B. L. Sharma, SHO Poonch, from service for gross dereliction of duty.
  • September 5, 2001 Militants entering India via Bangladesh TIMES NEWS NETWORK reported that Pakistan militants are now using a new corridor to enter the country. According to a recent report of the intelligence agencies sent to their Delhi headquarters, a route through Bangladesh surfaced during investigations into the movement of three Jaish-e-Mohammed ultras, who were killed in Lucknow, and one Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, who was shot dead in Faizabad recently. Similar details came to light during the grilling of two Pakistan-trained ISI agents arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) last month. Seen as the safest passage to India till recently, the Indo-Nepal border is being avoided by the ultras owing to the heightened Maoist activity in the Himalayan Kingdom and the extra-alert security forces of the two countries. Heightened vigil along the Rajasthan and Gujarat borders has also forced the militants to opt for the Bangladesh route, revealed an officer citing information gathered during the interrogation of Altaf Husain and Salim Qamar, the two Pakistan-trained militants owing allegiance to the LeT who were arrested in Lucknow on August 13, and from whom RDX, firearms and ammunitions were recovered. The West Asia route via Mumbai too is no longer considered viable as the intelligence agencies there are exploiting the Dawood-Chhota Rajan rivalry to their advantage, sources said. The Bangladesh route came to light when the route taken by the three JeM ultras killed in Lucknow on April 18 last was traced. Two of the militants were from Sindh, and the third from Lahore. Investigating their movements in India, the intelligence agencies managed to locate the house which they had rented in West Bengal soon after they landed in India via Dhaka. Further investigations revealed that the three were on a suicide mission and had planned to load RDX on a truck and then ram the vehicle into the disputed structure at Ayodhya. The intelligence agencies, sources said, discovered that the three had already bought a truck from a small-time transporter in Cuttack (Orissa) before they moved to UP. Interestingly, in the Godbole report recently submitted on the security and porosity of the international borders, particularly those accessible to Pakistani agents, it was feared that the Bangladesh route was one sector which needed more attention.
  • September 5, 2001 6 ultras killed in J&K Hindustan Times reported that in a major operation, security forces gunned down six militants in an encounter in Kashmir where militants blew up a bridge and attacked a security picket since Tuesday evening. Official sources said militants shot dead an alleged informer of security forces in Baramulla district. The encounter between heavily-armed militants and joint search parties of army, BSF and police in Kokernag in Anantnag district broke out in the early hours today in which six militants were killed, the sources said. The joint search parties moved in last night following specific information about presence of a large group of foreign mercenaries in Magam forest, the sources said. The troops confronted the hiding militants early today and asked them to surrender. Instead, they opened fire triggering a fierce encounter.
  • September 5, 2001 They have no love for Kashmiris & only want 3 rivers’ Pak trying to alter IB status : Lt Gen Yadava *Neither it’s militancy nor insurgency but only terrorism Excelsior Correspondent reported that General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps Lt Gen J B S Yadava today said Pakistan was trying to alter the status of International Border by resorting to firing and trying to disrupting fencing work. "They (Pakistan army) want to give the status of ‘disturbed border’ to international boundary. We won’t allow that to happen", Lt Gen Yadava said addressing his maiden press conference after he took command of 16 Corps about five months back. "Our methods are quite effective to meet enemy challenge on the borders but we can’t elaborate", he said. Asserting that defence works on both sides of the border can be constructed as per a treaty between two countries, he observed that fencing of IB in Jammu sector was a legitimate construction and interference by Pakistan wouldn’t be tolerated. Replying to a question, Lt Gen Yadava said :"fencing of IB was a BSF project. Army can intervene only is interference from across the border is very severe. As of now, the interference was not so severe that needs our (army’s) intervention". "Should the need arise, we will definitely intervene", he said, adding ‘the BSF was adequately equipped to deal with incidents of sabotage that were being carried out to thwart border fencing. He disclosed that talks were also held recently between BSF and Rangers regarding border fencing. Rangers were categorically told that any attempt to sabotage fencing will be replied with adequately and effectively, he added. "We stand committed to fencing but there was presently no requirement of army to come to the assistance of BSF in physical terms or security cover", the GOC Nagrota Corps told a questioner, who reminded the General of his predecessor’s observation that army will assist BSF in fencing work. Lt Gen Yadava said the increase in level of firing and upgradation of weapons, used in firing by Pakistan, was definitely a cause of concern for army. "Earlier, they used to fire with small arms, later they used heavy caliber weapons and now they were using mortars. Next it could be artillery fire", he asserted. "Why Pakistan was doing so and what are their intentions remains a question and a cause of concern for us", he said. "If they (Pakistan army) fires a mortar, we will fire a mortar, if they fire heavy caliber, we will fire heavy caliber more accurately and effectively", the Lt Gen said, adding ‘we have a right to retaliate and we will exercise that right whenever Pak army tries to push infiltrators’. He said Pakistan was actively abetting infiltration on LoC as well as IB. "There has been no let up as far as infiltration of militants is concerned. We are responding to the situation adequately in equal measures". Lt Gen Yadava opined that there was no insurgency or militancy in any part of Jammu and Kashmir, as was being projected through some quarters. "There is militancy in isolated areas of Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar. In rest of the State, it’s only terrorism. Majority of people were neither participating nor supporting terrorism. However, the terrorists were trying to impose their will on the people", he maintained. Asserting that Pakistan has no love for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the GOC said they want to forcibly capture the State with ‘strategic interests’ in mind. "Pakistan was eyeing water of Chenab, Jehlum and Sindh rivers to sustain economy in its Punjab province. Otherwise, it was difficult for them to survive as they were not satisfied with Indus Water Treaty", he said. Moreover, he pointed out, Pakistan wants to enlarge its boundaries in east after doing the same in west with the help of Talibans. He declared that evil designs of Pakistan will never succeed. "Pakistan tried to capture J&K by force on four occasions by fighting direct wars. As it failed all the times, it now started proxy war and was bound to fail in it as well", he said. According to GOC, level of terrorism has increased after Agra summit. Describing the incidents like militants’ attacks at Railway Station and killing of unarmed civilians as ‘cowardly acts’, Lt Gen Yadava said :"we can’t guarantee 100 per cent protection to people but we are doing our best to ensure that minimum of such incidents take place". He said even if soft targets decide to take cudgels against militants, the terrorists won’t venture out and stressed the role of press to educate masses. Admitting that some concrete bunkers were detected by army in Surankot and other areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts, Lt Gen Yadava said the bunker were constructed by the militants by pressurizing local people. He categorically denied that bunkers were constructed by Pakistan army. "The bunkers were well furnished with all necessary facilities", the GOC said, pointing out that one such bunker was destroyed by army only yesterday in Pritpal forest area of Rajouri. Maj Gen HS Kunwar, Chief of Staff, who was also present in the press conference, referred to a news report and said the bunker in question were Indian army bunkers and were not constructed by Pakistan. Maj Gen Kunwar also denied that a Kargil like situation was prevailing in Poonch. "We tried to see Kargil in Poonch as reported by a newspaper. Where was that. Where were the bunkers", he asked the reporter. The reporter replied that he has a cassette to prove his point. Saying that Special Armed Forces Act was a mandatory requirement for forces to function, he opined that only some sympathisers of the militants were opposing it. He assured people that the act will never be misused.

    'Follow Guru Govind Singh'
    GOC Nagrota Corps Lt Gen J B S Yadava today asserted that people will have to change themselves with time. "People should defend themselves like Guru Govind Singh did by raising the army of Sikhs", he said replying to a question at the press conference as to how safe a common man was in Jammu after recent spurt in militant activities. "Techniques used by Guru Govind Singh are more required today", he said, adding ‘the people, especially those living on border areas, will have to change their lives. He, however, asserted that evolution in society will take time. The GOC said the people will have to come and live together as was done by the people of Punjab. He referred to the constitution of Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and said the VDC system was one of the best system of self-defence. "If organised properly, the system can prove very effective", he added. Even out of the VDCs, Kishtwar Scouts can be created, he said. He said a report on Kishtwar Scouts has been submitted to Unified Headquarters, who will discuss it with the State Government and make the recommendation to Centre.

  • September 5, 2001 Civilian, 2 counter-insurgents among 5 killed 2 students killed, 4 wounded in Baramulla blast Excelsior Special Correspondent reported that two young students of a private school got killed and four others wounded in a grenade explosion at Janbazpora outskirts of Baramulla town this afternoon. In other militancy-related incidents, a civilian has died in Pulwama district while as gunmen have shot dead two counter-insurgents in Srinagar and Kupwara, since last evening. Informed sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that a grenade went off in the hand of a 9-year-old student, Meraj-ud-din Bhat S/o Ali Mohammad Bhat, at the premises of Janbaz Wali Memorial School, at Janbazpora Baramulla, at 2.50 p.m today. He had probably picked up the explosive device while playing with fellow students and begun fiddling with it. The 3rd standard student died on spot alongwith 10-year-old Abdul Majid Mir S/o Manzoor Ahmed Mir. Four more students sustained multiple splinter injuries and they were all rushed to hospital for medical treatment. They were identified as 8-year-old Shayista Mir D/o Nazir Ahmed Mir, 9-year-old Ruqayya D/o Ashiq Hussain Sheikh, 10-year-old Faisal Sheikh S/o Ashiq Hussain Sheikh and 10-year-old Rifat D/o Abdul Hameed Ganai, all residents of Janbazpora. Later, Shayista and Ruqayya, who had sustained grievous injuries, were referred to a Srinagar hospital. Today’s blast has come within a fortnight of the explosion which had left five students wounded at Ziran forest area of Tangmarg. A local news agency reported that people in Baramulla put up a demonstration while shouting slogans against militants and holding them responsible for the blast. However, both, officials as well as civilians, available on telephone in Baramulla insisted that there was neither any demonstration nor any slogans against militants. However, at Achhabal village in Sopore-Rafeeabad belt, people came out on streets and put up a demonstration against the alleged atrocities of Rashtriya Rifles 22 Bn. They shouted slogans against RR 22 Bn while alleging that troops had made the life of all civilian miserable in that apple-rich belt. Official sources in south Kashmir added that during last night militants shot dead a counter-insurgent, namely Mohammad Shafi Dar S/o Ghulam Rasool Dar R/o Cherkoot (Kupwara) at Lashtiyal in Kalaroos area. Here in the capital city, militants appeared at Dukaan-e-Sangeen, in Khankah-e-Moula locality of downtown, late last evening and shot dead Riyaz Ahmed Koul alias Jeela Kachru S/o Abdul Ahad Koul, resident of Bemina. Reportedly a counter-insurgent, Koul had called on a relative when militants spotted him and fired upon him. With critical injuries, he was rushed to SMHS Hospital where he was declared dead. Two civilians, namely Fayaz Ahmed Mala of Narparistan (an auto driver) and Kaneeza of Chhanapora, sustained injuries in the shootout. Lashkar-e-Toiba has reportedly claimed responsibility. Reports available from south Kashmir said that last evening, troops of RR 01 Bn were fired upon by militants at Panzgam, in Pulwama district. The patrol was on way to a Pulwama village from the company headquarters of Batpora. Troops stopped and took five civilians to lead them to the nearby locality of Astanpora. As they launched a search operation, militants opened fire and leader of the patrol party, Maj Thapa, sustained injuries. In the exchange of fire, one civilian, namely Mohammad Maqbool Sofi S/o Abdul Gani Sofi R/o Lidarmar, got killed. However, residents of the area alleged that troops had killed Sofi in custody as all the militants managed to escape. They said that Sofi, a former militant, had been married only last week.

    5 ultras surrender
    Meanwhile, a Defence spokesman claimed that five militants of Hizbul Mujahideen, Al-Fatah, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Tehreek-e-Jihad-e-Islami laid down their arms before the deputy Sector Commander of Sector-5 Rashtriya Rifles at Manasbal in north Kashmir. Sources said that three militants of Hizb and TJI have also been apprehended at Wongam and Dabran forest in Baramulla district. BSF 71 Bn has arrested one Sajjad Hussain at Sanmari village, on LoC, who expressed himself as a militant of Muzzafarabad.

  • September 5, 2001 Brigadier, 3 soldiers injured in Nowshera 3 more massacre accused killed Excelsior Correspondent reported that army today killed three more militants, involved in the killings of four minority community members in Chowkian Handan last week, taking toll of the group to 10. With these killings, only one militant of the group of 11, was absconding and was expected to be eliminated anytime. Brigadier Vijay Singh and three other soldiers including a Subedar were injured in the operation. Injured Brigadier continued to lead his troops till all three trapped militants were killed. Defence sources here said that troops of 16 Raj Rifles, 17 Sikh and 6 Dogra were on the look out for four Pakistan militants, who were hiding in Brooti forest area near Kanara village after seven militants of their group were killed in two operations. All these militants were involved in the massacre of four civilians last week end. According to sources, the militants were trapped in Brooti forests by army jawans this morning. Militants were moving towards the Line of Control (LoC) in a bid to cross over to Pakistan when they were intercepted by troops. Exchange of firing between army and militants continued throughout the day today. By this evening, army jawans killed all three militants. Four soldiers were injured in the day long gun-battle. Two slain militants have been identified as Hafeez Shaheed Hamid, a district commander and Ghulam Mustafa alias Sher Khan son of Hafiz Mohd Rafiq, both Pakistanis and activists of a new outfit ‘J&K Takrere Jehad’. Identity of third militant couldn’t be established but he too was stated to be a Pakistani. Injured soldiers included Brig Vijay Singh, Subedar Bahadur Singh of 16 Raj Rifles, Sepoy Gagandeep of 6 Dogra and Ajit Singh, an ex-serviceman, a resident of Kanara. Operation was led by Brig Vijay Singh. Deputy Commandant A K Mohan and SHO Nowshera Vinod Kumar Sathu led the operation. It may be recalled that five militants of the group were gunned down by army on the same day of civilians’ massacre while two other ultras were killed on Sunday. With the killing of three more militants today, now only one militant of the group was absconding. Sources said the lone surviving militant was suspected to be hiding in Brooti forest area. A search operation was on to eliminate him. Meanwhile, Tehsildar Nowshera Mrs Vivek Sharma and Naib Tehsildar Girdhar Kumar have distributed relief cheques of Rs one lakh each among the kins of four massacred civilians. DC Asfandyar Khan was also present. Besides this, Brig Vijay Singh distributed Rs 25,000 each to the kins of killed persons from army side.
  • September 5, 2001 9 ultras, porter killed in Poonch Romeo Force eliminates killers of 2 pujaris Excelsior Correspondent reported that Romeo Force and Poonch Police today eliminated nine militants, including a group involved in the killing of two priests in Dundak temple, in two separate operations at Surankot and Mendhar tehsils of Poonch district taking last two days toll to 20. An army porter was also killed during the day in Gursai area of Mendhar. Defence sources said troops of Romeo Force carried out a search operation in Sanji Wali Dhok near Suranthal in Surankot tehsil this afternoon after developing specific inputs about militants’ movement. Militants abandoned their hideout on observing the approaching columns of army, rushed to a surrounding forest area where they took positions and opened heavy firing using assault rifles. Militants also lobbed grenades on troops. The operation was also joined by local police, which had developed the information of militants’ movement in Sanji Wali Dhok, where they were hiding after the killing of two pujaris-Mahant Narotam Das and Baba Devi Das last Monday night. After an hour long fierce gun-fighting, troops eliminated three militants while two others fled deep into the forests. They too were chased and shot dead by army late this afternoon. Army or police didn’t suffer any casualty in the operation. Slain ultras have been identified as Mohd Karim Khan, divisional commander of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) for Surankot, Ismail Khan, logistic commander, Wasim Abbas, Sarwar Khan and Karamat Khan. All of them were Pakistanis and activists of HuM outfit. Sources said all five militants were Pakistanis and were affiliated with HuM outfit. All of them had executed the killings of two pujaris at the behest of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and were being hunted by army since then. In the second incident, troops of Romeo Force launched a search operation for the militants in Sarhuti area of Mendhar after an army porter Razak Hussain Shah son of Hakim Zanat Hussain Shah was shot dead by the ultras in an ambush this morning. Troops chased the militants, who were fleeing after the killing of army porter and trapped them in a forest area late this afternoon. After one and a half hour long exchange of firing, army soldiers succeeded in killing all four militants. Slain ultras have been identified as Islan Niazi, area commander of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Pir Panjal Regiment (HMPPR) for Mendhar, Wahir Ali, Islam Mohd and Mir Ali, all residents of Pakistan. HMPPR has suffered a major setback in Mendhar tehsil with the elimination of Islam Niazi, HMPPR’s commander. Recoveries made from the possession of nine militants included eight AK-56 rifles, one pistol, 24 AK magazines, 305 AK rounds, two magazines and eight rounds of pistol, 39 hand grenades, 26 UBGL, one Kenwood radio set and some incriminating documents.
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