News Analysis India

Tag: Jammu and Kashmir Police

  • J&K police shoots down drone carrying IED material in Jammu, averts terror plot

    By PTI
    JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir police averted a cross-border terror plot by shooting down a drone carrying improvised explosive device (IED) material weighing five kg in the border belt of Jammu district on Friday, officials said.

    Following information about a drone flying over the border belt of Kanachak along the International Border (IB), a quick reaction team (QRT) of the police swung into action and shot it down using anti-drone strategy in the early hours, they added.

    “At about 1 am, the drone made a low flight to release the payload (IED), when it was shot down,” Additional Director General of police (ADGP) Mukesh Singh told reporters here.

    He said the drone was carrying a payload of five-kg IED material in a semi-assembled state and only wires had to be connected to it to trigger a blast.

    According to a preliminary analysis, the flying object was a hexa m-copter with six wings and had a GPS device and a flight controller, the officer said.

    “A possible IED blast has been prevented,” he added.

    There is a one-digit difference in the serial number of this drone and the drone shot down in Kathua last year, which points towards the fact that terrorist organisations across the border such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) have acquired flight controllers and are sending drones with arms and IEDs to the Indian side, the ADGP said.

    He said the drone shot down on Friday was an assembled one made up of equipment from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

    Another interesting information is that the string used to drop the payload from the drone was similar to the one found from the crater site of the Jammu Air Force station, which confirms that a drone was used to drop an IED at the airport, the officer said.

    According to the ADGP, the drone used in Kathua had entered 30 kilometres inside the border and the distance travelled by such flying objects depends on the weight of the payload.

    The drones that dropped consignments of AK-47 rifles earlier in the border areas had a range of 0-12 kilometres from the border.

    The recoveries of weapons dropped from drones in the border areas over the last one-and-a-half years included 16 AK-47 rifles, four M4 US rifles, 24 pistols, 15 grenades and 18 IEDs, he said, adding that currency notes were also seized.

    Replying to a question, the officer said the IED material was well packed and someone had to pick it up from the Indian side and trigger a blast.

    “We waited for the person, but nobody came,” he added.

    The ADGP said the JeM and the LeT are using drones for terror attacks and sending weapons to their operatives on the Indian side of the border.

    This information was obtained from those arrested in connection with around 24-25 such drone sorties in the last one-and-a-half years, he added.

    According to the officials, the drone was flying seven to eight kilometres inside the border.

  • Kashmiri journalist Aakash Hassan alleges assault by policemen

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: A journalist on Saturday alleged he was assaulted by Jammu and Kashmir policemen in Anantnag district.

    Police said they have taken cognisance of the matter and the circumstances of the incident are being looked into.

    Taking to Twitter, Aakash Hassan, an independent journalist, said he was beaten up by policemen at Sangam while he was on the way home.

    “A sub inspector named Zahid and his one PSO came in front of my car and slapped and beat me up by batons, and the barrage of abuses,” he wrote on Twitter.

    Acting promptly, police said it has taken cognisance of the incident.

    “Cognisance taken. Circumstances that led to this being looked into. During rush evening hours, a loaded truck got stuck due to mechanical fault on Sangam bridge leading to heavy traffic jamming. Been working hard to clear it. Request all to cooperate with police & avoid confrontation,” Anantnag police wrote on its official Twitter handle.

    PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said it was unacceptable and “disgraceful” to see Jammu and Kashmir police officers “assault” journalists.

    “They act with impunity knowing all too well that they will get away with it. Hope IG Vijay Kumar ji takes strict action against this policeman,” Mehbooba said in a tweet.

  • Mobile phones, SIM cards seized from inmates in Jammu’s high-security Kotbalwal Jail

    By PTI
    JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir police have seized mobile phones and SIM cards from some inmates of the high-security Kot Bhalwal Central Jail here during a surprise search operation on Thursday, officials said.

    The raid was conducted by a team of police and CID wing this morning after specific inputs were received that mobile phones were being used by terrorists lodged in the jail.

    Twelve mobile phones and SIM cards have been seized from them, they said.

    Some more items have been recovered as well, reports said.

    The team are conducting further searches and questioning inmates and jail staff about how mobiles and SIM cards reached inside the complex, they said.

  • Two LeT terror associates arrested in Budgam, ammunition recovered

    By ANI
    BUDGAM: Two terror associates linked with the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) have been arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police during checking at Railway Bridge, Mohanpora in Budgam.

    The police, in a press release on Wednesday, informed that they have also recovered incriminating materials and live ammunition from their possession.

    As per the release, the terror associates have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Shaksaz and Mursaleen Maqbool Bhat.

    Preliminary investigation has revealed that they were providing shelter, logistics, and other material support including transportation of arms and ammunition to the terrorists of LeT in various areas of Budgam, the release stated.

    The investigation also revealed the arrested accused have been in touch with Pakistani terror commanders through various social media platforms and were also in constant touch with LeT self-styled terror commanders in Kashmir.

    As per the release, incriminating material, including posters of LeT and live ammunition 30 rounds of AK 47, and 7 rounds of Chinese pistol were recovered from their possession.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law.

    An investigation into the matter has been initiated.

  • Top Hizbul chief who ‘misused’ social media for militancy gunned down in Handwara encounter

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Handwara district of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. 

    Identified as Mehraj-ud-Din Halwai alias Ubaid, he was one of the oldest militants and a contemporary of slain Hizb commander Burhan Wani. It may be recalled that Burhan was gunned down in an encounter on July 8, 2016.

    The encounter started at Pazipora-Renan area of Kralgund, Handwara during the preceding night following a search and cordom operation launched by troops in the area after receiving inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official informed. 

    “While Burhan was active in south Kashmir, Mehraj, who had joined militancy in 2011, was active in north Kashmir and was involved in a series of attacks on security forces and civilians,” a police spokesman said.

    “A diploma holder in computer application, he had been responsible for misusing social media and new methods of communication for militancy.”

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar termed the killing of Mehraj as a big success for security forces.

  • 13 security forces killed in Jammu & Kashmir in 2021

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: Though officials have claimed that the security forces have an upper hand against militants and that the militancy is on a decline, as many as 13 security personnel lost their lives to violence by militants this year.  

    Of them, seven were from Jammu and Kashmir Police, three from the CRPF and three from the Army. They were killed in nine separate incidents in the Valley, three of which took place in south Kashmir, three in Srinagar, two in Sopore and one in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

    According to the statistics, of the 13 security force casualties in Valley in militancy violence this year, only two were killed in encounters. An army man and a Special Police Officer (SPO) of J&K police were killed in two separate encounters.

    The SPO was killed in an encounter with militants in Beerwah area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on February 17 while the army man was killed in a firefight with militants in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

    Eleven security men were killed in seven militant attacks across the Valley including in south, central and north Kashmir. An Army soldier was killed and three others were injured in an IED blast carried out by militants at Shamsipora area.

  • Two JeM terrorists arrested in Jammu and Kashmir

    By ANI
    SRINAGAR: Two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists, along with three over ground workers (OGWs), have been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Wednesday.

    Inspector-General of Kashmir police Vijay Kumar informed that JeM terrorists Zaheen Javaid Dar and Javaid Ahmed Dar along with three OGWs have been arrested by Kulgam police.

    More details awaited.

  • Jammu and Kashmir Police opposes Mehbooba Mufti’s passport renewal citing ‘adverse report’

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police has opposed giving passport to former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti citing “adverse report” against her, officials said on Thursday.

    A report has been submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court which is hearing a petition filed by Mehbooba over the delay in clearing her passport application.

    Mehbooba had applied for a fresh passport in December last year after the previous one expired on May 31, but the application has not been cleared till date in the absence of a police verification report.

    The officials said that “an adverse report” has been filed against her by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), but refused to elaborate saying the matter would be taken up before the high court.

    ALSO READ | PMLA case: Mehbooba Mufti appears before ED in Srinagar

    Hearing the petition on March 23, Additional Solicitor General T M Shamsi, representing the Ministry of External Affairs and the Regional Passport office, sought a short adjournment after the counsel representing the Jammu and Kashmir CID informed Justice Ali Mohammed Magrey that the verification report on her passport application had been submitted on March 18.

    However, Shamsi informed the court that he had received a communication from the Passport Officer in Srinagar on March 22 and the contents “reveal that the verification of the petitioner is under process and as soon as verification process is completed, the requisite report will be submitted immediately for further course of action”.

    “Communication further reveals that CID verification report in respect of the petitioner is still awaited from the JK CID. Copy of communication so produced by Shamsi is taken on record,” Justice Magrey said while posting the matter for further hearing on March 29.

    The counsel for Mehbooba had submitted that the stand taken by the Regional Passport Officer, Srinagar with reference to non-availability of report from the JK CID, has delayed issuance of passport in favour of the petitioner.

    In the petition, Mehbooba said her passport expired on May 31 last year and accordingly she applied for issuance of a fresh passport before the authorities concerned on December 11, 2020.

    Mehbooba’s counsel submitted that according to instructions issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the passport of an individual is to be issued within 30 days but in the instant case, despite lapse of three months, passport has not been issued to the petitioner due to the pending police verification.

    The 61-year-old politician was put under preventive custody on August 5, 2019, the day the central government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into union territories.

    She was released in October last year after the Union Territory administration revoked the charges under the Public Safety Act against her.

  • J-K Police busts terrorist hideout of Hizbul Mujahideen in Awantipora

    By ANI
    AWANTIPORA: A terrorist hideout of proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was busted and destroyed in Awantipora, police said on Wednesday.

    “Upon information of terrorist hideout in the forest area of Seer/Pastoona, Police along with 42 RR and 180 Bn CRPF launched a search operation in the said area. During search one hideout of the proscribed outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen was busted and subsequently destroyed,” read a release by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

    The police said the size of the hideout is approximately 5 feetx7 feetx4 feet.

    Incriminating material of proscribed outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and other materials including utensils, food items have been recovered from the hideout.

    All the material has been taken into police custody for investigation purpose, police said.

    A case under relevant sections of law has been registered at Tral police station. 

  • JeM terror associate arrested by security forces in J-K’s Pulwama

    By ANI
    AWANTIPORA: One terror associate Muzamil Qadir Bhat, who was in touch with terrorist commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad, was arrested in a joint operation by security forces from Lorow Jagir Tral village in Pulwama on Sunday.

    The operation was carried out by Jammu and Kashmir Police, 42 Rashtriya Rifles and 180 battalions of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

    During questioning, the forces seized incriminating material of Jaish-e-Mohammad and one hand grenade was recovered from him that he has kept concealed in the compound of his home.

    A case under relevant sections of the law has been registered in Police Station in Tral.

    Further investigation is going on.