Tag: Lashkar-e-Taiba

  • LeT militants, handlers booked for threatening journalists online

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Police on Saturday filed a case against militants and handlers belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and one of its offshoots for sending threat letters to journalists in Kashmir.

    “Case registered against handlers, active terrorists & OGWs of terror outfit LeT & its offshoot TRF for online publication & dissemination of a direct threat letter to Journalists & reporters based in Kashmir. FIR No.82/2022 U/S 13 UAPA, 505, 153B, 124A & 506 IPC in Shergari PS,” Srinagar Police wrote on Twitter.

    Case registered against handlers, active terrorists & OGWs of terror outfit LeT & its offshoot TRF for online publication & dissemination of a direct threat letter to Journalists & reporters based in Kashmir. FIR No. 82/2022 U/S 13 UAPA, 505, 153B, 124A & 506 IPC in shergari PS.
    — Srinagar Police (@SrinagarPolice) November 12, 2022
    TRF or The Resistance Front, which is believed to be a shadow of the LeT outfit, had issued an online threat to a few media houses in the valley “for their traitorous” acts and “nexus with fascist Indian regime.

    SRINAGAR: Police on Saturday filed a case against militants and handlers belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and one of its offshoots for sending threat letters to journalists in Kashmir.

    “Case registered against handlers, active terrorists & OGWs of terror outfit LeT & its offshoot TRF for online publication & dissemination of a direct threat letter to Journalists & reporters based in Kashmir. FIR No.82/2022 U/S 13 UAPA, 505, 153B, 124A & 506 IPC in Shergari PS,” Srinagar Police wrote on Twitter.

    Case registered against handlers, active terrorists & OGWs of terror outfit LeT & its offshoot TRF for online publication & dissemination of a direct threat letter to Journalists & reporters based in Kashmir. FIR No. 82/2022 U/S 13 UAPA, 505, 153B, 124A & 506 IPC in shergari PS.
    — Srinagar Police (@SrinagarPolice) November 12, 2022
    TRF or The Resistance Front, which is believed to be a shadow of the LeT outfit, had issued an online threat to a few media houses in the valley “for their traitorous” acts and “nexus with fascist Indian regime.

  • SC affirms death penalty of LeT terrorist in 2000 Red Fort attack case, rejects review plea 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Arif alias Ashfaq seeking review of its verdict awarding death penalty to him in the sensational 2000 Red Fort attack case that left three Army jawans dead.

    The apex court said there was nothing on record which can be taken to be a mitigating circumstance in Arif’s favour and the fact that there was a “direct attack” on the unity, integrity and sovereignty of India completely outweighs the factors which may even remotely be brought into consideration as the mitigating circumstances.

    Dealing with the issue raised by the petitioner that the courts concerned had erred in allowing call records to be admitted in evidence in the absence of an appropriate certificate under section 65-B of the Indian Evidence Act, a bench headed by Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit said the other circumstances on record do clearly spell out and prove beyond any doubt his involvement in the crime.

    The bench, also comprising justices S R Bhat and Bela M Trivedi, said it is well accepted that the cumulative effect of the aggravating factors and the mitigating circumstances must be taken into account before the death sentence is awarded.

    “Coming back to the instant case, there is nothing on record which can be taken to be a mitigating circumstance in favour of the review petitioner. The suggestion that there is a possibility of retribution and rehabilitation is not made out from and supported by any material on record,” it said.

    “On the other hand, the aggravating circumstances evident from the record and especially the fact that there was a direct attack on the unity, integrity and sovereignty of India, completely outweigh the factors which may even remotely be brought into consideration as mitigating circumstances on record,” the bench said in its 40-page judgement.

    According to the prosecution, on the night of December 22, 2000, some intruders had entered the area where the unit of 7 Rajputana Rifles of the Indian Army was stationed inside the Red Fort here. The police had said that in the firing that was opened by the intruders, who had thereafter left by scaling the rear side boundary wall of the Red Fort, three Army jawans had lost their lives.

    Arif was awarded death sentence by a trial court in October 2005 and the Delhi High Court had affirmed the view of the trial court in September 2007. He had then approached the apex court challenging the high court’s verdict. The top court had in August 2011 affirmed the death sentence awarded to Arif.

    Later, his review petition came up before a two-judge bench of the apex court which dismissed it in August 2012.

    The curative petition was also rejected in January 2014. Thereafter, he filed a petition submitting that review petitions in matters arising out of the award of death sentence be heard by a bench of three judges and in open court.

    ALSO READ | Nothing changes with death penalty

    A constitution bench of the apex court had in its September 2014 judgement concluded that in all cases in which a death sentence was awarded by the high court, such matters be listed before a bench of three judges.

    Before the September 2014 verdict, the review and curative petitions of death row convicts were not heard in open courts but were decided in chamber proceedings by circulation.

    In January 2016, a constitution bench had directed that Arif shall be entitled to seek a re-opening of the dismissal of the review petitions for an open court hearing within one month.

    In its verdict delivered on Thursday, the apex court noted that the challenge has been raised principally on four grounds, including that any possibility of retribution and rehabilitation of the review petitioner or that he would continue to be a threat to society, was not considered by the courts.

    It said one of the grounds raised by Arif was that his disclosure statements must be taken to be inadmissible on account of ill-treatment meted out to him during the intervening night between his actual arrest and his formal arrest.

    The bench noted that the basic submission advanced by Arif’s counsel was about the admissibility of electronic records being called data records (CDRs).

    The top court referred to some previous judgements delivered by the apex court including on the issue of admissibility of call records without there being an appropriate certificate under section 65-B(4) of the Evidence Act.

    “In conclusion, it must therefore be observed that even after eschewing circumstances ‘h’ and ‘j’ which were directly attributable to the CDRs relied upon by the prosecution, the other circumstances on record do clearly spell out and prove beyond any doubt the involvement of the review petitioner in the crime in question,” it said.

    The bench said the disclosure statement was held to have been proved by the courts in the matter and in review jurisdiction, it would not be possible to enter into questions regarding admissibility of such disclosure statement on issues of fact.

    It said the disclosure statement had led the police to hide out here and when the police team arrived with Arif, there was firing on the police and after one Abu Shamal alias Faisal had died in the encounter, certain fire arms and ammunition were recovered.

    “The submission that such recovery of ammunition or the encounter of Abu Shamal could not be associated with the disclosure statement of the review petitioner is not quite correct,” the apex court said.

    “Consequently, we do not find any merit in the instant review petitions, which are accordingly dismissed,” it said.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Arif alias Ashfaq seeking review of its verdict awarding death penalty to him in the sensational 2000 Red Fort attack case that left three Army jawans dead.

    The apex court said there was nothing on record which can be taken to be a mitigating circumstance in Arif’s favour and the fact that there was a “direct attack” on the unity, integrity and sovereignty of India completely outweighs the factors which may even remotely be brought into consideration as the mitigating circumstances.

    Dealing with the issue raised by the petitioner that the courts concerned had erred in allowing call records to be admitted in evidence in the absence of an appropriate certificate under section 65-B of the Indian Evidence Act, a bench headed by Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit said the other circumstances on record do clearly spell out and prove beyond any doubt his involvement in the crime.

    The bench, also comprising justices S R Bhat and Bela M Trivedi, said it is well accepted that the cumulative effect of the aggravating factors and the mitigating circumstances must be taken into account before the death sentence is awarded.

    “Coming back to the instant case, there is nothing on record which can be taken to be a mitigating circumstance in favour of the review petitioner. The suggestion that there is a possibility of retribution and rehabilitation is not made out from and supported by any material on record,” it said.

    “On the other hand, the aggravating circumstances evident from the record and especially the fact that there was a direct attack on the unity, integrity and sovereignty of India, completely outweigh the factors which may even remotely be brought into consideration as mitigating circumstances on record,” the bench said in its 40-page judgement.

    According to the prosecution, on the night of December 22, 2000, some intruders had entered the area where the unit of 7 Rajputana Rifles of the Indian Army was stationed inside the Red Fort here. The police had said that in the firing that was opened by the intruders, who had thereafter left by scaling the rear side boundary wall of the Red Fort, three Army jawans had lost their lives.

    Arif was awarded death sentence by a trial court in October 2005 and the Delhi High Court had affirmed the view of the trial court in September 2007. He had then approached the apex court challenging the high court’s verdict. The top court had in August 2011 affirmed the death sentence awarded to Arif.

    Later, his review petition came up before a two-judge bench of the apex court which dismissed it in August 2012.

    The curative petition was also rejected in January 2014. Thereafter, he filed a petition submitting that review petitions in matters arising out of the award of death sentence be heard by a bench of three judges and in open court.

    ALSO READ | Nothing changes with death penalty

    A constitution bench of the apex court had in its September 2014 judgement concluded that in all cases in which a death sentence was awarded by the high court, such matters be listed before a bench of three judges.

    Before the September 2014 verdict, the review and curative petitions of death row convicts were not heard in open courts but were decided in chamber proceedings by circulation.

    In January 2016, a constitution bench had directed that Arif shall be entitled to seek a re-opening of the dismissal of the review petitions for an open court hearing within one month.

    In its verdict delivered on Thursday, the apex court noted that the challenge has been raised principally on four grounds, including that any possibility of retribution and rehabilitation of the review petitioner or that he would continue to be a threat to society, was not considered by the courts.

    It said one of the grounds raised by Arif was that his disclosure statements must be taken to be inadmissible on account of ill-treatment meted out to him during the intervening night between his actual arrest and his formal arrest.

    The bench noted that the basic submission advanced by Arif’s counsel was about the admissibility of electronic records being called data records (CDRs).

    The top court referred to some previous judgements delivered by the apex court including on the issue of admissibility of call records without there being an appropriate certificate under section 65-B(4) of the Evidence Act.

    “In conclusion, it must therefore be observed that even after eschewing circumstances ‘h’ and ‘j’ which were directly attributable to the CDRs relied upon by the prosecution, the other circumstances on record do clearly spell out and prove beyond any doubt the involvement of the review petitioner in the crime in question,” it said.

    The bench said the disclosure statement was held to have been proved by the courts in the matter and in review jurisdiction, it would not be possible to enter into questions regarding admissibility of such disclosure statement on issues of fact.

    It said the disclosure statement had led the police to hide out here and when the police team arrived with Arif, there was firing on the police and after one Abu Shamal alias Faisal had died in the encounter, certain fire arms and ammunition were recovered.

    “The submission that such recovery of ammunition or the encounter of Abu Shamal could not be associated with the disclosure statement of the review petitioner is not quite correct,” the apex court said.

    “Consequently, we do not find any merit in the instant review petitions, which are accordingly dismissed,” it said.

  • Supreme Court affirms death penalty of LeT terrorist in 2000 Red Fort attack case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the plea of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Arif alias Ashfaq seeking review of its judgement awarding death penalty to him in the 2000 Red Fort attack case that left three people, including two Army jawans, dead.

    A bench comprising Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi said that it has accepted the prayers that electronic records be considered.

    “We have accepted the prayers that electronic records must be placed in consideration. His guilt is proved. We affirm the view taken by this court and reject the review petition,” the bench said.

    Arif was one of the accused, who had entered the Red Fort on December 22, 2000 and had opened indiscriminate firing leading to the death of three.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the plea of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Arif alias Ashfaq seeking review of its judgement awarding death penalty to him in the 2000 Red Fort attack case that left three people, including two Army jawans, dead.

    A bench comprising Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi said that it has accepted the prayers that electronic records be considered.

    “We have accepted the prayers that electronic records must be placed in consideration. His guilt is proved. We affirm the view taken by this court and reject the review petition,” the bench said.

    Arif was one of the accused, who had entered the Red Fort on December 22, 2000 and had opened indiscriminate firing leading to the death of three.

  • PFI spreads ‘disaffection’ against India: NIA report

    The report, which was submitted on September 22, also claims that the outfit had conspired to establish Islamic rule in India by committing terrorist acts as a part of violent jihad.

  • Two LeT terrorists overpowered by villagers; handed over to police in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Two heavily armed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including one of its most-wanted commanders, were overpowered by villagers and handed over to the police in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Sunday, officials said.

    LeT commander Talib Hussain, a resident of Rajouri district and the mastermind behind the recent IED blasts in the district, and Faizal Ahmad Dar, a categorised terrorist of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, were captured in Tuksan village, they said.

    Two AK assault rifles, seven grenades and a pistol were recovered from them, the officials added. Director General of Police Dilbag Singh announced a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh for the villagers for their bravery.

  • Pakistani LeT terrorist killed in Kupwara encounter; another gunfight underway in Kulgam

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist from Pakistan was killed in an encounter Sunday with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, while another gunfight was underway in Kulgam district, police said.

    They said the encounter in Kupwara started after the forces launched an operation in Lolab area of the north Kashmir on the instance of an arrested terrorist, Showket Ahmed Sheikh, During the search of the hideouts, the hiding terrorists fired upon the force personnel who retaliated, in which one terrorist was killed, the Kashmir Zone Police said on Twitter.

    “The arrested terrorist also got trapped,” the police said, adding the encounter was still underway.

    Inspector-General of Police Vijay Kumar said the killed terrorist has been identified as a Pakistani, linked with the proscribed LeT terror outfit. The IGP Kashmir tweeted, “2-3 more #terrorists along with arrested terrorist trapped in ongoing #encounter.”

    Another encounter is underway in Damhal Hanji Pora area of Kulgam in south Kashmir, the police said. They said the exchange of fire was going on but there were no reports of any casualty on either side so far.

    #Encounter has started at D.H Pora area of #Kulgam. Police and Army on job. Further details shall follow.@JmuKmrPolice
    — Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) June 19, 2022

  • Two terrorists killed in Kupwara encounter; another gunfight underway in Kulgam

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Two terrorists were killed in an encounter on June 19 with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, while another gunfight was underway in Kulgam district, police said.

    They said while one of the terrorists killed in the Kupwara encounter was a Pakistani affiliated with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the identity of the second was being ascertained.

    Police said the encounter in Kupwara started after the forces launched an operation in Lolab area of north Kashmir on the instance of an arrested terrorist, Showket Ahmed Sheikh.

    During the search of the hideouts, the hiding terrorists fired upon the force personnel who retaliated, in which one terrorist was killed, the Kashmir Zone Police said on Twitter. “The arrested terrorist also got trapped,” the police said.

    Inspector-General of Police Vijay Kumar said the killed terrorist has been identified as a Pakistani, linked with the LeT terror outfit. The IGP Kashmir tweeted, “2-3 more #terrorists along with arrested terrorist trapped in ongoing #encounter.”

    Encounter in Kulgam underway

    Another encounter is underway in Damhal Hanji Pora area of Kulgam in south Kashmir, the police said. They said the exchange of fire was going on but there were no reports of any casualty on either side so far.

    #Encounter has started at D.H Pora area of #Kulgam. Police and Army on job. Further details shall follow.@JmuKmrPolice
    — Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) June 19, 2022

  • Two LeT militants, one involved in bank manager’s murder, killed in Shopian gunfight: Police

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Two local Lashkar-e-Taiba militants including the one involved in the killing of Bank Manager Vijay Kumar from Rajasthan were killed in an overnight gunfight with troops in South Kashmir’s Shopian district, police said.

    A police official said acting on specific information about militants’ presence, a joint contingent of police, CRPF and army launched a search operation in the Kanjuilar area of Shopian late last night.

    He said during the search operation, militants fired on the troops. The fire was returned by the security men and in the ensuing gunfight, two local Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were killed.

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar identified the slain militants as Jan Mohammad Lone and Tufail Ganai, both locals.

    He said Lone was involved in the recent killing of Bank Manager Vijay Kumar of Rajasthan.

    Vijay Kumar, an Ellaqie Dehati Bank manager, was shot dead by militants inside the bank branch in Areh Mohanpora in Kulgam district on June 2.

    Police said an AK 47 rifle and a pistol were recovered from the encounter site.

  • LeT deputy commander among 3 militants killed in encounter in J-K’s Pulwama 

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Three militants, including a deputy commander of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday, police said.

    While the deputy commander of the Pakistan-based terror group was identified as Arif Hazar alias Rehan, the identities of the other two slain militants are being ascertained, they said.

    Based on specific inputs about the presence of militants in the Pahoo area of Pulwama in south Kashmir, security forces launched a search operation there, a police official said.

    He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon the security personnel, who retaliated.

    In the exchange of fire, three militants have been killed so far, the official said.

    In a tweet, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said, “Arif Hazar @ Rehan, deputy of LeT’s top cmdr (Basit) killed in Pulwama encounter. Involved in killings of Insp Parvez in front of mosque, SI Arshid & 1 mobile shop owner in downtown. Several FIRs against him in Sgr city. Identification of other 2 terrorists yet to (be) done.”

  • Civilian shot dead by terrorists in Kulgam in J&K; IED detected in Doda

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Terrorists shot dead a civilian in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said here.

    Satish Kumar Singh, a Rajput, was shot by terrorists in Kakran area of the south Kashmir district at around 7.30 pm.

    Officials said the two police personnel posted at his house rushed out after hearing gunfire and found Singh in a pool of blood.

    Fifty-five-year-old Singh, who received one bullet in the head and two in the chest, was taken to a hospital in Srinagar where he died.

    “Civilian Satish Kumar Singh, a resident of Kulgam, succumbed to his injuries at hospital. Terrorists involved in this gruesome terror crime will be neutralised soon. Search to track the involved terrorists in progress,” the police said in a tweet.

    Officials suspect that a new recruit of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group was involved in the attack.

    Kulgam and Shopian districts have small pockets with Rajput families who have not migrated out of Jammu and Kashmir.

    They are mainly into apple business.

    Terrorists have stepped up attacks on civilians in south Kashmir over the past 10 days.

    Four labourers hailing from outside Jammu and Kashmir were injured in two separate attacks in Pulwama last week, while a Kashmiri Pandit shopkeeper was shot and injured by terrorists in Shopian.

    A major tragedy was averted on Wednesday after security forces detected an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by terrorists on a busy road in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, police said.

    A police party noticed a suspicious polythene bag lying along the Gath road on the outskirts of Doda town late in the evening, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Doda, Abdul Qayoom told PTI.

    He said the traffic on the road was immediately suspended and the Special Operations Group of the local police, Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel reached the spot, along with the bomb disposal squad, which after inspection confirmed the presence of an IED inside the bag.

    The IED was subsequently neutralised by experts at a nearby isolated place without causing any damage, the SSP said.

    He said police have registered a case and launched a probe to identify those responsible for planting the IED on the road.