News Analysis India

Tag: Rajouri

  • Three army officers injured as colleague opens fire, explodes grenades inside camp in J-K’s Rajouri 

    By PTI

    RAJOURI: At least five army personnel, including three officers, were injured when an officer allegedly opened fire and exploded grenades inside a camp in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, official sources said.

    The officer said to be of the rank of major, opened fire on his colleagues without provocation during a shooting practice session and then took shelter in the armoury of the unit and lobbed grenades at his superiors who moved near the building in an effort to persuade him to surrender, the sources said.

    The tense situation lasted nearly eight hours before the officer was overpowered inside the armoury.

    The incident took place at the Neeli post near Thanamandi in the district.

    The army evacuated a village in the close vicinity of the armoury as a precautionary measure, they said.

    The army, however, claimed that an officer was injured in a likely grenade accident at a post in Rajouri.

    “On 05 Oct 23 one officer was injured in a likely grenade accident at a post in Rajouri sector. The officer was evacuated and stable post-initial treatment. Further investigation of the incident in progress,” the White Knight Corps of the army posted on X.

    Sources said there was a firing practice going on at the camp for the past several days and the accused officer started firing on his colleagues and subordinates without any provocation on Thursday.

    Later, he took shelter inside the armoury of the camp and hurled grenades when the commanding officer, along with his deputy and medical officer, moved near the building in an effort to persuade him to surrender, the sources said.

    All three officers were injured when a grenade, hurled by the accused, exploded near them, they said, adding the condition of the second-in-command of the unit was stated to be “critical”.

    Two other soldiers were also injured in the indiscriminate firing by the accused who was overpowered around 11 pm, the sources said.

    On the incident, Jammu-based defence PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said in a message, “I have received calls about some firing/terrorist attack on an army camp in General Area Rajouri. I would like to inform you that no terrorist attack has occurred, it is an unfortunate internal incident of the camp.”

    RAJOURI: At least five army personnel, including three officers, were injured when an officer allegedly opened fire and exploded grenades inside a camp in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, official sources said.

    The officer said to be of the rank of major, opened fire on his colleagues without provocation during a shooting practice session and then took shelter in the armoury of the unit and lobbed grenades at his superiors who moved near the building in an effort to persuade him to surrender, the sources said.

    The tense situation lasted nearly eight hours before the officer was overpowered inside the armoury.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The incident took place at the Neeli post near Thanamandi in the district.

    The army evacuated a village in the close vicinity of the armoury as a precautionary measure, they said.

    The army, however, claimed that an officer was injured in a likely grenade accident at a post in Rajouri.

    “On 05 Oct 23 one officer was injured in a likely grenade accident at a post in Rajouri sector. The officer was evacuated and stable post-initial treatment. Further investigation of the incident in progress,” the White Knight Corps of the army posted on X.

    Sources said there was a firing practice going on at the camp for the past several days and the accused officer started firing on his colleagues and subordinates without any provocation on Thursday.

    Later, he took shelter inside the armoury of the camp and hurled grenades when the commanding officer, along with his deputy and medical officer, moved near the building in an effort to persuade him to surrender, the sources said.

    All three officers were injured when a grenade, hurled by the accused, exploded near them, they said, adding the condition of the second-in-command of the unit was stated to be “critical”.

    Two other soldiers were also injured in the indiscriminate firing by the accused who was overpowered around 11 pm, the sources said.

    On the incident, Jammu-based defence PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said in a message, “I have received calls about some firing/terrorist attack on an army camp in General Area Rajouri. I would like to inform you that no terrorist attack has occurred, it is an unfortunate internal incident of the camp.”

  • ‘Please come back, papa’, pleads 10-year-old daughter of soldier killed in Rajouri blast

    By PTI

    DALPAT: “Why are you not getting up? I don’t want anything, papa. Please come back,” 10-year-old Pawana Chib cried as she stretched out her hand to touch the face of her father, paratrooper Neelam Singh, who lay in a coffin before her on Saturday.

    Standing next to her, Chib’s mother Vandana is staring in disbelief at her husband’s lifeless face held between her hands before she breaks down.

    The paratrooper’s seven-year-old son Ankit is also inconsolable.

    READ MORE| Blast during ops in Rajouri: Three more Army men succumb to injuries, death toll now five

    Singh was among the five soldiers who died in an explosion triggered by terrorists on Friday in the thickly forested Kandi area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district where an operation is underway to flush out terrorists.

    As Singh’s mortal remains reached his Dalpat-Chak Kripalpur village here in a Tricolour-wrapped coffin, some wept and others tried to make their way through a crowd of hundreds who had gathered to catch one last glimpse of the “brave son of soil”.

    The mortal remains were brought in a cavalcade from the Indian Air Force station in Jammu, where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, among other top Army, police and administration officials, paid homage to the slain soldier at a wreath-laying ceremony.

    Chants of “Neelam Singh Amar Rahe” echoed through the village as Vandana saluted her husband one last time.

    Singh was cremated with full military honours. His brother and CISF jawan Angad Singh lit his pyre amid chants of “Jai Shaheed, Jai Army, Jai Hind”.

    Recalling the last time Singh visited home, his father Hurdev Singh Chib said he is proud of his son.”I am proud of my son. He was a brave commando who laid down his life-fighting terrorists. He was born a warrior. As a child, he always wanted to join the Army,” Hurdev told PTI.

    A few days ago, he had come home for a while, the distraught father recalled, adding,

    “He was so dutiful that he just had tea and left. According to Hurdev, Singh was inducted into the Army in 2003. Singh’s father-in-law Captain Raghvir Singh Bhau (retd) echoed Hurdev’s sentiments.”He was brave and never feared anything. He was part of dozens of successful operations in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir. He brought laurels to the para unit and the Army,” he said.

    Singh’s cousin Suresh, however, was angry.”There is an attack every six months. How many homes will be destroyed? The forces retaliate and there will be a lull but then there will be another attack and another family will lose its son,” he said.

    Villagers described Singh as a helpful man. “I joined the armed forces just because Singh encouraged and helped me. I am indebted to him,” said a villager, Rameshwaram Singh.

    Another villager Sarita Devi recalled that Singh brought her medicines and other items whenever she was in need.

    DALPAT: “Why are you not getting up? I don’t want anything, papa. Please come back,” 10-year-old Pawana Chib cried as she stretched out her hand to touch the face of her father, paratrooper Neelam Singh, who lay in a coffin before her on Saturday.

    Standing next to her, Chib’s mother Vandana is staring in disbelief at her husband’s lifeless face held between her hands before she breaks down.

    The paratrooper’s seven-year-old son Ankit is also inconsolable.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    READ MORE| Blast during ops in Rajouri: Three more Army men succumb to injuries, death toll now five

    Singh was among the five soldiers who died in an explosion triggered by terrorists on Friday in the thickly forested Kandi area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district where an operation is underway to flush out terrorists.

    As Singh’s mortal remains reached his Dalpat-Chak Kripalpur village here in a Tricolour-wrapped coffin, some wept and others tried to make their way through a crowd of hundreds who had gathered to catch one last glimpse of the “brave son of soil”.

    The mortal remains were brought in a cavalcade from the Indian Air Force station in Jammu, where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, among other top Army, police and administration officials, paid homage to the slain soldier at a wreath-laying ceremony.

    Chants of “Neelam Singh Amar Rahe” echoed through the village as Vandana saluted her husband one last time.

    Singh was cremated with full military honours. His brother and CISF jawan Angad Singh lit his pyre amid chants of “Jai Shaheed, Jai Army, Jai Hind”.

    Recalling the last time Singh visited home, his father Hurdev Singh Chib said he is proud of his son.”I am proud of my son. He was a brave commando who laid down his life-fighting terrorists. He was born a warrior. As a child, he always wanted to join the Army,” Hurdev told PTI.

    A few days ago, he had come home for a while, the distraught father recalled, adding,

    “He was so dutiful that he just had tea and left. According to Hurdev, Singh was inducted into the Army in 2003. Singh’s father-in-law Captain Raghvir Singh Bhau (retd) echoed Hurdev’s sentiments.”He was brave and never feared anything. He was part of dozens of successful operations in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir. He brought laurels to the para unit and the Army,” he said.

    Singh’s cousin Suresh, however, was angry.”There is an attack every six months. How many homes will be destroyed? The forces retaliate and there will be a lull but then there will be another attack and another family will lose its son,” he said.

    Villagers described Singh as a helpful man. “I joined the armed forces just because Singh encouraged and helped me. I am indebted to him,” said a villager, Rameshwaram Singh.

    Another villager Sarita Devi recalled that Singh brought her medicines and other items whenever she was in need.

  • Militant killed, another injured in J&K’s Rajouri encounter

    Express News Service

    SRI NAGAR: A militant was killed and another injured in an ongoing encounter with security forces on Saturday in the Kandi forest area of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after five soldiers were killed in an explosion during the anti-militancy operation in the forest area.

    Defence spokesman in Jammu Lt Col Devender Anand said the contact was established with the militants hiding in the Kandi forest area of Rajouri at midnight.

    “The militants fired on the security personnel, who retaliated. In the ensuing gunfight, a militant was killed and another injured,” he said.

    The security men recovered one AK 56 rifle, 4 magazines, 56 rounds,  1 x 9mm Pistol with magazine, three grenades and one ammunition pouch. 

    The identity of the slain militant and the outfit to which he owed allegiance is being ascertained.

    The cordon and search operation in the forest area is going on, he said.

    Army is being assisted by specially trained para-troopers, J&K police and paramilitary personnel during the search operation.

    Five soldiers identified as L/Nk Ruchin Singh Rawat R/o Kunigad, Uttrakhand; Paratrooper Siddhant Chettri R/o Pulbazar, West Bengal;  Naik Arvind Kumar R/o Marhoon, Himachal Pradesh; Havaldar Neelam Singh  R/o Akhnoor, J&K and paratrooper Pramod Negi R/o Shillai, HP were killed in a powerful explosion triggered by militants in the dense forest area during an encounter yesterday.

    Army has pressed drones, helicopters and sniffer dogs into service to track down the militants hiding in the forest area.

    Army has been conducting a relentless cordon and search operation in the forest area of Rajouri and Poonch to track down the militants involved in the April 20 ambush on an army truck in Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Poonch district in which five soldiers were killed.

    In the April 20 attack, militants had used steel coated bullets to pierce the Bullet Proof (BP) vests of the army men and planted an IED in the army vehicle.

    The militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad’s offshoot People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) had claimed responsibility for the April 20 attack.

    LeT militant killed in Baramulla encounter

    An encounter also broke out between militants and security forces during a search operation in Karahama Kunzer area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district in the early hours today.

    A police official said a Lashkar militant identified as Abid Wani R/o Kulgam in south Kashmir was killed in the encounter.

    He said an AK 47 rifle was recovered from possession of the slain militant.

    The combing operation in the area was going on when reports last poured in.

    SRI NAGAR: A militant was killed and another injured in an ongoing encounter with security forces on Saturday in the Kandi forest area of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after five soldiers were killed in an explosion during the anti-militancy operation in the forest area.

    Defence spokesman in Jammu Lt Col Devender Anand said the contact was established with the militants hiding in the Kandi forest area of Rajouri at midnight.

    “The militants fired on the security personnel, who retaliated. In the ensuing gunfight, a militant was killed and another injured,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The security men recovered one AK 56 rifle, 4 magazines, 56 rounds,  1 x 9mm Pistol with magazine, three grenades and one ammunition pouch. 

    The identity of the slain militant and the outfit to which he owed allegiance is being ascertained.

    The cordon and search operation in the forest area is going on, he said.

    Army is being assisted by specially trained para-troopers, J&K police and paramilitary personnel during the search operation.

    Five soldiers identified as L/Nk Ruchin Singh Rawat R/o Kunigad, Uttrakhand; Paratrooper Siddhant Chettri R/o Pulbazar, West Bengal;  Naik Arvind Kumar R/o Marhoon, Himachal Pradesh; Havaldar Neelam Singh  R/o Akhnoor, J&K and paratrooper Pramod Negi R/o Shillai, HP were killed in a powerful explosion triggered by militants in the dense forest area during an encounter yesterday.

    Army has pressed drones, helicopters and sniffer dogs into service to track down the militants hiding in the forest area.

    Army has been conducting a relentless cordon and search operation in the forest area of Rajouri and Poonch to track down the militants involved in the April 20 ambush on an army truck in Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Poonch district in which five soldiers were killed.

    In the April 20 attack, militants had used steel coated bullets to pierce the Bullet Proof (BP) vests of the army men and planted an IED in the army vehicle.

    The militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad’s offshoot People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) had claimed responsibility for the April 20 attack.

    LeT militant killed in Baramulla encounter

    An encounter also broke out between militants and security forces during a search operation in Karahama Kunzer area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district in the early hours today.

    A police official said a Lashkar militant identified as Abid Wani R/o Kulgam in south Kashmir was killed in the encounter.

    He said an AK 47 rifle was recovered from possession of the slain militant.

    The combing operation in the area was going on when reports last poured in.

  • Infiltration bid foiled in Rajouri, two infiltrators killed: Army

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: The Army on Tuesday said troops have foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera sector of the border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

    An army official said troops deployed at LoC in the Nowshera sector detected some suspicious movement last night. “Army men challenged the infiltrators and fired on them,” he said.

    The official said during the reconnaissance of the general area of the attempted infiltration site by quadcopter, two bodies of infiltrators have been observed. He said the area is being scanned further.

    More troops were rushed to the area and they launched a search operation along the LoC. The operation was going on when reports last poured in.

    The infiltration bid has taken place 12 days after two militants were killed in a fidayeen (suicide) attack on an army camp close to LoC in Rajouri. In the fidayeen attack, five soldiers were killed and a few others injured.

    The security in and around the LoC was further tightened by troops after the August 11 fidayeen attack.

    SRINAGAR: The Army on Tuesday said troops have foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera sector of the border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

    An army official said troops deployed at LoC in the Nowshera sector detected some suspicious movement last night. “Army men challenged the infiltrators and fired on them,” he said.

    The official said during the reconnaissance of the general area of the attempted infiltration site by quadcopter, two bodies of infiltrators have been observed. He said the area is being scanned further.

    More troops were rushed to the area and they launched a search operation along the LoC. The operation was going on when reports last poured in.

    The infiltration bid has taken place 12 days after two militants were killed in a fidayeen (suicide) attack on an army camp close to LoC in Rajouri. In the fidayeen attack, five soldiers were killed and a few others injured.

    The security in and around the LoC was further tightened by troops after the August 11 fidayeen attack.

  • Terrorist killed as Army foils infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri

    By PTI

    JAMMU: A terrorist was killed on Saturday as the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.

    An alert Army patrol noticed the movement of the terrorist attempting to cross the border in the Lam sector of Naushera and challenged him, the spokesman said.

    The terrorist opened fire and was killed in the ensuing gunfight, the spokesman said, adding the body has been retrieved.

    Officials said reinforcements were rushed to the site of the encounter and a counter-infiltration operation was underway.

  • Terror plot foiled as security forces destroy improvised explosive device in J-K’s Rajouri

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Security forces detected and destroyed an improvised explosive device planted alongside the Rajouri-Gurdan road early on Saturday, thus foiling a terrorist plot, police said.

    According to a police spokesperson, information was received about some suspicious movement in Gurdan Chawa village on Rajouri-Gurdan road the previous night.

    Joint teams of the police and Army personnel launched a cordon and search operation and found a suspicious object lying on the roadside, he said.

    On inspection, the object turned out to be an IED.

    The bomb squad of the police later took it in their possession and destroyed it following standard operating procedure.

    The police have registered a case and further investigation was underway, the spokesperson said.

  • Teacher booked for thrashing Class 4 students in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, suspended

    By PTI

    JAMMU: A teacher has been booked and suspended for severely beating a class 4 student of a government school in Rajouri district, officials said.

    The teacher, Nisar Ahmed, allegedly thrashed two girls in the school’s classroom.

    The incident drew attention of the administration and police after it was highlighted on social media.

    The people in the area also expressed anger over the incident.

    “Today an information through reliable source was received at Police Station Budhal that a girl of Draman, studying in 4th class in government middle school, was severely beaten by a teacher in the class room,” a police officer said.

    Following the information, an FIR was lodged under section 342 (wrongful confinement), 352 (assault), 323 (causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act, he said.

    Taking strict view of the matter, Rajouri Additional Deputy Commissioner Sachin Dev Singh ordered suspension of the teacher.

    The matter is under probe.

  • Twin blasts cause panic in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, none injured

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Two explosions in quick succession sparked panic among the people in a busy market in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday evening, officials said.

    No one was injured, they said. The first blast was heard around 8.15 pm near a garbage dump in Kotranka market, the officials said.

    Police and other security personnel rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area to investigate the cause of the blast.

    As the investigation was underway, another blast occurred 10 minutes later, the officials said, adding the whole area has been cordoned off. The officials did not rule out terror angle in the incident.

  • Two arrested on espionage charges in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Two persons were arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan in a village in border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

    A man working as a porter with the Army and his relative, both residents of Nowshera, were picked up by a joint team of the Army and police on a specific information late Saturday night, they said.

    They said the duo is accused of taking videos of vital and sensitive security installations and sharing these with their handlers outside the country in lieu of money.

    A case under relevant sections of law was registered and further investigation is going on, the officials added.

  • People asked to stay indoors as anti-terror operation enters day 9 in Poonch-Rajouri forest

    By PTI

    JAMMU: As the counter-insurgency operation in the forest belt of Jammu and Kashmir’s twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri entered the ninth day on Tuesday, public announcements were made in Mendhar asking local residents to stay indoors for their safety, officials said.

    The people were alerted through the public address system in local mosques in Bhatta Durrian and adjoining areas as the security forces were preparing a final assault against the terrorists believed to be hiding in the forest area of Mendhar in Poonch district, the officials said.

    They said the people were asked not to venture into the forest area and also keep their livestock at their homes in view of the ongoing operation.

    Those who have gone outside were asked to return to their homes along with their animals, the officials said.

    While a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and four other security personnel laid down their lives in a fierce gunfight during the start of the counter-insurgency operation in Surankote forest of Poonch on October 11, four other soldiers including another JCO lost their lives in another encounter in Nar Khas forest in Mendhar on Thursday evening after the security forces extended the cordon and search operation.

    An encounter was on in the adjoining Thanamandi forest in Rajouri district on October 11 when the security forces confronted the fleeing militants who, however, managed to escape.

    The entire forest belt is still under tight security cordon to neutralise the terrorists, the officials said, adding the area is mountainous and the forest is dense, making the operation difficult and dangerous.

    Eight suspected persons including a mother-son duo were detained for questioning from Bhatta Durrian in connection with providing logistic support to the terrorists.

    However, it is to be seen whether the support was given voluntarily or under duress, the officials said.

    Earlier on Saturday, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Rajouri-Poonch range, Vivek Gupta said the presence of terrorists in the forest area connecting Poonch and Rajouri was observed two and a half months ago and accordingly tactical operations were launched to track them down.

    “The joint security grid was tracking different groups of terrorists but sometimes operations take time, depending on the topography of the area. The contact with the terrorists was established on three occasions during the start of the operation, based on the intelligence inputs,” the officer had said, adding the terrorists are holed up and the joint forces are on the job to take the operation to the logical conclusion.

    The army has already deployed para-commandos and a helicopter was also seen hovering over the forest area on Saturday for surveillance.

    The traffic between Mendhar and Thanamandi along the Jammu-Rajouri highway remained suspended as a precautionary measure for the fifth day on Tuesday in the wake of the ongoing operation.

    Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters.