News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir Police

  • CRPF DG in Kashmir Valley to expedite work on safe camps for labourers

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Aiming to accelerate construction of special security camps for migrant workers in Kashmir, the DG of CRPF, who also happens to be the DG of NIA, flew to the Valley on Monday to review the arrangements. 

    Sources said the main purpose of his visit, which comes in the wake of a spate in targeted killings of non-locals, is to review the final arrangements made for the proposed security camps, the construction work on which is likely to begin soon.  

    Highly placed sources said that the DG, Kuldeep Singh, asked agencies to compile data on the number of non-locals in the Valley and the present security arrangements available for them. Singh, who would be camping in the Valley for next few days, would apprise the home ministry about the number of camps that would be required, the timeline in which these camps could be readied and the necessary resources that would be required to build these camps, a top government functionary told this newspaper.

    “The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is likely to deploy more CRPF companies in the Valley for the protection of these camps. Orders to this effect may be issued soon,” the official said. Sources said that for the time being, senior security officials were toying with the idea of converting schools that were not in use into temporary shelters for the non-locals. “Details such as the number of non-locals are being compiled along with the security arrangements that have been made for Pandits, Sikhs and non-locals  living in Kashmir,” said a senior security official. A similar plan to secure non-locals in Kashmir had been put in place right after the abrogation of Article 370.

  • Civilian killings by militants aimed at spreading fear, damaging communal harmony: J&K DGP

    The killing of the teachers took the number of civilians killed in the Kashmir Valley in the last five days to seven, including four from the valley #39;s minority communities.

  • Police foil terror attack plot in Jammu, TRF man held

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday arrested a terrorist affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba near the Jammu Railway station, foiling a plan by the ultras to carry out an attack in the city.

    Sheikh Sunain Yousuf alias “Raja” alias “Sultan”, a resident of Gadapora village of south Kashmir’s Shopian, was arrested and a pistol and seven rounds were recovered from him.

    A hunt has been launched to nab two of his associates who provided support to him for reconnaissance, a police spokesman said.

    On the basis of credible inputs about the movement of Kashmir-based terrorists to Jammu for a specific task to create terror in the area, he said Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) Jammu laid ambushes at different locations in Jammu city.

    During checking near railway station Jammu, a two-wheeler driver dropped a pillion rider about 50-60 metres behind the checkpoint and sped away, the spokesman said.

    He said the suspected person, carrying a bag, started moving fast towards a nearby bylane but was chased by police and overpowered at some distance.

    The search of the suspect led to the recovery of a pistol loaded with seven cartridges, the spokesman said, adding he was put under sustained questioning on the spot by officials of SOG Jammu which revealed that he is an active terrorist of TRF and had come to Jammu for a specific task.

    However, he said the task was not yet conveyed to him by his handlers.

    “He had come to Jammu on directions of handler Ahmed Khalid alias Hamza alias Haqparast, a Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) based active handler of the TRF outfit,” the spokesman said.

    He said the terrorist was also in touch with valley-based handlers through telegram and signal apps.

    “The questioning of the arrested terrorist is going on. A hunt has been launched to nab two of his associates who provided support to him for reconnaissance,” the spokesman said, adding more arrests and recoveries are expected at his disclosure.

    A case under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act was registered in Bahu Fort police station and further investigation is on, the spokesman said.

  • J&K: Militants shoot cop from behind in Srinagar, killed

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Militants killed an sub-inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police in downtown Srinagar on Sunday, with the attack being caught on  CCTV cameras. It was the second such attack in Srinagar in the last three days after the grenade attack in Chanapora area on Friday. A CRPF jawan and a  woman were injured in the grenade blast.

    Sub Inspector Arshid Ashraf Mir at Khanyar area was shot twice from a close range in downtown Srinagar at around 1.40 pm. Mir was evacuated to Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences-Soura, where he succumbed to injuries. Immediately after the militant attack, police and CRPF men launched a search operation to track down militants responsible for the attack. However, no arrests were reported during the hour-long search operation.

    In a CCTV footage, which has gone viral on social media, a militant is seen firing from behind at Mir, who hailed from Handwara area of border district of Kupwara. J&K Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said the perpetrators involved in the attack were identified and will be brought to justice. All investigating agencies and special teams are investigating today’s attack, he told reporters at the wreath laying ceremony aat District Police Lines. “Soon we will crack it (the case).”

    He, however, refused to name the militant group involved in the attack. “In Srinagar, dozens of militant modules involved in grenade attacks and killing of security men and civilians have been busted. When an old team is busted, a new team tries to take over their place. We have identified the members of the new module and they will be brought to justice soon,” the J&K police chief said.

  • J&K Police carries out searches at houses of four journalists

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday conducted searches at the houses of four journalists here, officials said.

    Raids were conducted at the residences of editor-in-chief of a weekly magazine, a reporter working for a Turkish media outlet, a freelance reporter and a reporter who has been associated with several local publications, they said.

    While police is tight-lipped about the searches, it is believed that the raids were part of an investigation into a blog post that instigates people against the country and also seeks to malign the image of nationalists in Kashmir, official sources said.

  • ‘Situation fully normal, keeping close watch’: J-K DGP on Valley scenes post Geelani death

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh on Tuesday complimented the cops, Central Armed Paramilitary Forces and the Army for handling the situation professionally following the death of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

    Geelani died last Wednesday night at his residence here after a prolonged illness.

    The body was laid to rest at a graveyard in a nearby mosque.

    “The DGP has complimented the police, CAPF and Army deployments for highly professional handling of ground situation over the last five days. Special restraint shown by police and security forces and a very responsible conduct of the local people especially the youth is highly appreciated,” a police spokesperson said.

    Singh said all stakeholders have to move together in strengthening peace.

    “We have to move forward together to strengthen peace, identifying the enemies of peace and weaning out mischievous elements, and strictly deal with them under law,” he added.

    The DGP said most of the restrictions in the valley have been eased, including internet curbs.

    “The situation is fully normal in both regions of Kashmir and Jammu, but under close watch,” he said.

  • ‘Anti-national activities’: JK cops release videos of what happened at Geelani home post his death

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police Monday said its officers were made to wait for three hours at separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s home when they went there for his burial after his death, and that the family resorted to anti-national activities “probably under pressure from Pakistan and miscreants”.

    Refuting rumours allegedly being floated from across the border, the Jammu and Kashmir Police also released four videos through its twitter handle to show that 91-year-old Geelani was laid to rest as per the rituals in the intervening night of September 1 and 2.

    “After the death of SAS Geelani, IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar met both of his sons at their residence at 11pm, condoled them and requested for burial in the night for the larger interest of the general public due to potential major L&O (law and order) situations. Both agreed and asked to wait for two hours until relatives reached,” the police said on its Twitter handle.

    The IGP Kashmir personally spoke to a few relatives and assured them of safe passage, it said.

    “However, 3 hrs later probably under the pressure from Pakistan and miscreants they behaved differently and started resorting to anti-national activities including wrapping dead body in Pakistani flag, making loud sloganeering in favour of Pakistan and instigating neighbours to come out,” the police said.

    It said that after persuasion the relatives brought the body to the graveyard and performed all rituals “with due respect in presence of members of Intizamia Committee and local Imam”.

    “The refusal of both his sons to come to the graveyard indicated their loyalty to the Pakistani agenda rather than their love and respect for their departed father,” it added.

    The sons had later offered Fathia (prayers offered at the funeral) at 11 AM on September 2.

    The J&K police has already filed a case under the stringent UAPA over the draping of Geelani’s body in a Pakistani flag and the alleged raising of anti-national slogans at his home.

    PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said denial of last rites to the family of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was against humanity and had saddened the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The 91-year-old was buried in a graveyard located in a mosque near his residence.

    “We had our differences with Geelani. A fight is with a living person but once a person dies, the differences should end. The deceased is entitled to dignified last rites,” Mehbooba said after a party meeting here.

    The former chief minister said the news reports about the denial to Geelani’s family to perform his last rites had saddened the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

    “The family has a right to perform the last rites of a dead person. What we heard and came to know through media reports about disrespect to the deceased, is against humanity. You have to respect your opponent after death like you would respect anyone,” she said.

    She said Geelani’s wish to be buried at Eidgah graveyard should have been granted.

    “Even a convict sentenced to death is granted one last wish before execution,” Mehbooba said, referring to Geelani’s wish.

    The PDP president condemned the alleged misbehaviour with womenfolk of Geelani’s family at the time of his death.

    “India is held in high esteem globally for its civilisation and culture. But what has happened does not fit the image of the country,” she added.

    Mehbooba said people cannot be forced to like or dislike a leader at gunpoint.

    “What happened with the dead body of Geelani has probably generated sympathy among even those who might have had differences with his politics. There was no call, yet the markets were shut down after people came to know about what had happened (on Wednesday night),” she added.

  • J&K Police registers FIR against Syed Ali Geelani’s family for draping his body in Pak flag

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Three days after the death of senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday registered an FIR against his family for draping his body in Pakistani flag and resorting to anti-India sloganeering.

    A police official said FIR No 227/ 2021 under section 353 of Indian penal code, 13 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was registered at Police Station Budgam against the family members of Geelani.

    The FIR was filed against the family members for chanting anti-India slogans and draping Geelani’s body with a Pakistani flag.

    Geelani, 92, died at Hyderpora residence in Srinagar on September 1 evening. His body was buried quietly in a graveyard near his residence before sunrise.

    However, his son Naeem Geelani alleged that police had forcibly taken away Geelani’s body, dug the grave, gave the last bath to the body and buried it in the grave without any of the family members being present during the burial.

    The family had alleged the police stormed the house, misbehaved with people present inside including women and forcibly took away Geelani’s body.

    Police, however, denied the charge saying “police instead facilitated in bringing the dead-body from house to graveyard as there were apprehensions of miscreants taking undue advantage of the situation.  The relatives of the deceased participated in the burial”.

    The videos of Geelani’s body draped in a Pakistani flag have gone viral on social media.

    In the videos, there is commotion and sloganeering in the room where Geelani’s body is lying and armed policemen can also be seen.

    The videos have gone viral after the restoration of broadband internet yesterday evening. The mobile and internet services were suspended after Geelani’s death and mobile internet service is still suspended.

    DGP Dilbagh Singh said people at Geelani’s residence misbehaved with SSP and other policemen.

    “There was a lot of anti-national sloganeering and attempts to instigate people by using social media and phone calls,” he said.

    After Geelani’s death, authorities imposed restrictions and suspended mobile and internet service to maintain law and order.

    Situation remained peaceful

    A police spokesman said the situation across Kashmir remained peaceful today and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere except one minor pelting in Narkara area of Budgam.

    “Several preventive measures have been taken to maintain L&O situations including preventive arrests of dozens of miscreants so far,” he said.

    IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar appealed to public not to pay any heed to the rumours being maliciously spread by anti-national elements especially across the border with an objective to disturb the prevalent peaceful atmosphere in the valley.

    “Several social media platform running from Pakistan have been trying to spread fake news and videos to instigate miscreants to disturb situations. Even a few local media persons and channels have been found spreading fake news. We are observing it, maintaining evidence and appropriate actions shall be taken against them. Such elements are advised not to spread fake news without consulting law enforcement agencies,” he said.

    The IGP said all police and security forces personnel have been sensitised regarding facilitating students appearing in different examinations. 

  • Three over ground LeT workers held for grenade attack on CRPF camp in J&K’s Kupwara

    By ANI

    KUPWARA: Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday arrested three overground workers (OGWs) for a grenade attack on the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) camp in the Langate area of Handwara in Kupwara district.

    As per a statement released by the police, in a joint cordon-and-search operation (CASO) of Special Operations Group (SOG) and regular recruits, an OGW named Ishfaq Ah Dar was apprehended and the CASO team recovered arms and ammunition from his possession.

    “On further interrogation, the involvement of two more OGWs namely Jamsheed Ah Shah and Javed Ah Khan came forth and they were also apprehended along with arms and ammunition,” read the statement.

    The police informed that all three OGWs are associated with LeT Tanzeem and were involved in supporting terrorist activities. The accused have accepted their involvement in the grenade attack incident at Langate.

    Earlier on August 16, a CRPF jawan was injured after terrorists hurled a grenade at security forces in the Langate area of Handwara.

    “All three OGWs have been booked under section 307 of Indian Penal Code and sections 3 and 4 of Explosive Substances Act,” said the police. 

  • J&K Police busts LeT terror module in Anantnag, nabs 4 involved in developing IEDs

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police has busted a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror module in Anantnag district by arresting four people involved in developing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), officials said Monday.

    The busting of the IED terror module has helped the police avert a major attack in Anantnag town and also saved the gullible youths from falling prey to the propaganda of this online module, they said.

    “Police in Anantnag have busted a terror module linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and arrested four accused persons involved in developing an IED to carry out blasts in Anantnag town,” a police spokesman said.

    He said the accused were also involved in motivating gullible youths to join the terror fold by using social media and online platforms.

    Incriminating material including hand grenades have been recovered from their possession, the spokesman said.

    Giving more details, the spokesman said acting on a specific input one militant associate identified as Aamir Reyaz Lone, a resident of Baramulla, was arrested and incriminating material including electronic devices were recovered from him.

    During analysis, it came to light that he was in contact with an active LeT terrorist namely Hilal Sheikh, also resident of Baramulla, he said.

    During the course of investigation and on Lone’s disclosure, it came to light that another militant associate identified as Owais Ahmad Shaksaz, a resident of Seer Hamdan, is in the process of making an IED with the help of information from internet platforms, the spokesman said.

    Ahmad was arrested based on this tip off, he said.

    “Further investigation into the matter revealed the involvement of two more terrorist associates who were subsequently arrested,” he said.

    He identified them as Suhaib Muzaffar Qazi alias Tamil, a resident of Rajpora Pulwama, and Tariq Dar.

    Qazi was in direct contact with active terrorist Aaqib Dar (LeT) of Pulwama who provided a hand grenade to him in order to attack security forces, the spokesman said, adding the grenade was recovered at his instance.

    He said Dar was found in contact with another active terrorist namely Aslam Dar of Kulgam and was providing logistic support to the said terrorist.

    “Preliminary investigation into the matter revealed that the busted module was working for active terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT and were in process of developing IEDs to carry out blasts in Anantnag town,” the spokesman said.

    They were also involved in motivating gullible youth of the valley to join the ranks of proscribed terror outfit LeT and HM, he said.