11 students were taken by their teacher to her house in Namb village in Nowshera sector along LoC after shelling by Pak army.

Tribune News Service

Srinagar/Rajouri, July 18

Two soldiers were killed in the Pakistan army fire even as 217 students were evacuated from schools following heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in border districts of Jammu and Kashmir today. The security forces, meanwhile, thwarted an infiltration bid by gunning down two militants in Bandipore’s Gurez.A soldier was killed in Pakistan sniper fire in Nowgam sector of Kupwara district, 120 km northwest of Srinagar, this afternoon. “The soldier was critically wounded  and succumbed to injuries later,” a source said. His identity could not be established.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)One more soldier, Jaspreet Singh of Moga district in Punjab, was killed, while another got injured in heavy shelling by the Pakistan army in the Rajouri sector.A “war-like situation” prevailed along the LoC as the Pakistan army resorted to heavy shelling in the Bhimber Gali and Poonch sectors and Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.An Army spokesperson claimed the Pakistan army was using small arms, automatic weapons and 120 mm mortars to target civilian areas. At least 217 students were trapped in the “danger zone” along the LoC in the Nowshera sector when Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling in the area this afternoon. The district administration later evacuated them along with 15 teachers to safer places.At least 55 students belonging to Government Middle School, Sehar, had a miraculous escape when shells landed on a school building while they were being rescued. Around 150 students and staff of Government High School, Bhawani, were shifted to migrant camps, while the rest were handed over to parents.“Heavy mortar shelling in Nowshera, students trapped in two schools, Kadali and Sehar. Rescue operation launched,” Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, tweeted earlier in the day.Around 10,000 people in Nowshera and Rajouri sectors were still trapped inside their homes as the administration was unable to evacuate them.In north Kashmir’s Gurez, the Army foiled an infiltration bid by killing two unidentified militants in a gunfight. A group of militants was intercepted by soldiers near Kanzalwan, close to the Line of Control in Gurez sector, 180 km from Srinagar. “On being challenged, the militants opened fire, triggering a gunfight. Two militants have been killed. A combing operation is on,” a defence source said, adding three weapons were recovered from the scene. Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said two militants had been killed and the operation was under way.

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 13

The Punjab Police are reviewing all arms licences issued in the past decade after two modules of terrorists and criminals were found carrying licensed weapons.Senior police officials said norms were bypassed in issuing licences, allegedly under political pressure.“The number of licences doubled to 4 lakh from less than 2 lakh in 2007. Most of the new licences carried recommendations of the Akali legislators or halqa incharges. All cases will be probed,” the officer said.A senior officer said, “Last month, a terror module was busted. Two former terrorists and TADA detainees had a licence to carry weapons. We were astonished to find that persons with a criminal background had got arms licence. The licences were recommended by politicians.”The police also found that a former Akali MLA had recommended licences of many persons with a shady past.Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi and Amna Seth, named in last year’s murders of a Dera Sacha Sauda follower at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village (Faridkot) and a self-styled godman in Rajasthan, were found to have arms licences.“We are verifying the recommendations made in this case, besides looking into all arms licences issued in the past 10 years,” said an officer.The move follows an announcement by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in April that the arms licences issued by the SAD-BJP government would be reviewed.

Politician-gangster nexus being probed

Ferozepur: The police are zeroing in on several politicians of the border district who allegedly recommended the issuance of arms licences to gangsters. Over the past 17 years, thousands of fake arms licences issued by local licensing authorities have been recovered from criminals operating in Uttar Pradesh and other states. In 2000, an arms licence racket had been unearthed following the arrest of hardcore criminals by the Haryana Police. They had secured licences from Ferozepur under fake names. Later, after a writ petition was filed by then Congress MLAs Mohinder Rinwa and Hans Raj Jossan, a CBI inquiry was marked into the case. The CBI had scanned 27,188 arms licences issued between September 2000 and February 2001, of which around 15,000 were found fake. Six clerks in the licensing branch had been suspended. They had admitted to having made fake licences on the directions of leaders of the ruling party. In 2015, 53 illegal weapons were recovered by the district police, besides forged licences and fake stamps of district magistrates in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP. Gaurav Garg, SSP, said the police were probing how gangsters got the arms licences. — Anirudh Gupta

The ammunition recovered from the infiltrators in Kupwara.

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 10

Three unidentified militants were killed during a gunfight as the Army foiled a fresh infiltration in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.The gunfight erupted around midnight when the Army detected a group of militants close to the Line of Control in the Nowgam sector, 120 km northwest of Srinagar. They were trying to sneak into the Valley.“The militants were detected by the soldiers on duty close to the LoC. When they were challenged, the terrorists resorted to indiscriminate firing and were killed in the ensuing gun battle,” said Army Brigadier Neeraj Kumar Soni.Brig Soni said the search operation lasted over 18 hours resulting in elimination of militants and recovery of a large cache of war-like stores.The identity and the group affiliation of the slain militants could not be established immediately.This is the third infiltration that was successfully foiled in the Nowgam sector in the past two months.Militants have stepped up efforts to sneak into the Valley and sources said over 20 militants have managed to infiltrate ending May. Prior to the Nowgam gunfight, 32 militants were killed along the LoC in the Kashmir region by the Army.

Sandeep a welder-turned-LeT militant

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 10

Sandeep Kumar Sharma in his twenties is possibly the first Hindu militant from outside state to be booked by the J&K Police for being part of the Lashkar-e-Toiba group.Investigations by the J&K Police have revealed that Sandeep, alias Adil, of Muzaffarnagar tehsil in Uttar Pardesh, was a welder and first came to the Valley in 2012. Since then, he had been working as a welder in south Kashmir during summer.“During winter, he would go to Patiala for employment. While working in Punjab, he came in contact with Shahid Ahmed, a resident of Kulgam, who was also working in Punjab. This year, he along with some of his Kashmir-based associates came from Patiala to Kashmir to loot ATMs and carry out other robberies in south Kashmir,” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Muneer Khan said in Srinagar.“After coming from Punjab, Sandeep along with Shahid, Muneeb Shah and Muzaffar Shah (whom he met in Patiala) started living in rented accommodation at Wanpoh in Kulgam for carrying out the robberies. They later met hardcore terrorist Shakoor Ahmad Dar of the Lashkar. The meeting with Shakoor was arranged by Muneeb and his associates and that was the beginning of Sandeep’s criminal activities. The militant utilised the services of Sandeep for looting ATMs. Four ATMs were looted and the booty was shared with Lashkar militants,” the IGP said.“Thereafter Sandeep became a hardcore terrorist and participated in at least three militant actions.”Sandeep was nabbed from the same house where Lashkar commander Bashir Lashkari was killed earlier this month. There have been few instances in the past where Hindus from far-flung areas of Rajouri, Reasi and Doda districts of the Jammu region have joined militant ranks, mainly of the Hizbul Mujahideen. Muslim militants from outside the state have also been killed in Kashmir in the over two-decade-long militancy.

In between looted ATMs

• Sandeep, alias Adil, of Muzaffarnagar tehsil in Uttar Pradesh, was a welder and first came to the Valley in 2012. He worked as a welder in south Kashmir during summer
• During winter, he would go to Patiala for employment. This year, Sandeep along with some of his Kashmir-based associates came from Patiala to Kashmir to loot ATMs
• Thereafter, Sandeep became a hardcore terrorist and participated in at least three militant actions

People help in dousing the fire caught by a MiG-23 trainer aircraft of the IAF after it crashed in the Balesar near Jodhpur on Thursday. PTI

Yash Goyal

Jaipur, July 6

An IAF MiG-23 trainer plane on Thursday crash-landed at Gopasar, 60 km from Jodhpur district. The four occupants, including the two pilots, ejected out safely.The accident occurred around noon.After crash-landing in the field, the plane caught fire, SP Rural Ravi told The Tribune.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

All four occupants, including the two pilots, were safe as they bailed out safely, the SP said, adding that the fire was being doused. No civilian was affected either, he said. Cops from Balesar police post rushed to the spot, SHO Moolsingh Bhati said. A court of inquiry has been ordered.  People help in dousing the fire caught by a MiG-23 trainer aircraft of the IAF after it crashed in the Balesar near Jodhpur on Thursday. PTI Yash Goyal Jaipur, July 6 An IAF MiG-23 trainer plane on Thursday crash-landed at Gopasar, 60 km from Jodhpur district. The four occupants, including the two pilots, ejected out safely. The accident occurred around noon. After crash-landing in the field, the plane caught fire, SP Rural Ravi told The Tribune. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) All four occupants, including the two pilots, were safe as they bailed out safely, the SP said, adding that the fire was being doused.  No civilian was affected either, he said. Cops from Balesar police post rushed to the spot, SHO Moolsingh Bhati said.  A court of inquiry has been ordered.

MiG TRAINER AIRCRAFT CRASHES

A Chinese soldier and an Indian soldier at the Nathu La border crossing. File photo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5

In what possibly is the first sign of attempts to de-escalate India-China tension at Sikkim border, Beijing today said it was willing to consider alternative arrangements through other routes for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims who had planned the journey via Nathu La. “The official pilgrimage through Lipuleku Pass and non-official yatra through Lhasa and Purang are still on the rails,” Xie Liyan, spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in India, said here.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) “Indian yatra to Kailash Mansarovar is an important part of China-India people-to-people and cultural exchanges… The two sides agreed that a total of 350 yatris in seven batches would take part in yatras to Xizang through Nathu La this year,” she said. “However, days before the departure of the yatris, the Indian border troops crossed into the Chinese territory and obstructed the Chinese border troops’ normal activities in Doka La. To ensure the safe and smooth visit of Indian yatris, China had to halt their entry into Xizang through Nathu La,” she said.The spokesperson also said the Chinese side had notified the Indian side through diplomatic channels. “China consistently respects the Indian people’s religious sentiments and attaches importance to the pilgrimage,” she said. 

Pakistan slammed as “completely unjustified” the US’ designation of individuals supporting the right of “self-determination” of Kashmiris as terrorists, a day after America declared Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as a “global terrorist”.
“Pakistan shall continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support for the just struggle of the Kashmiri people for the realisation of the right to self-determination and the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions,” the Foreign Ministry said here in a statement.

“The designation of individuals supporting the Kashmiri right to self-determination as terrorists is completely unjustified,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement without naming Salahuddin.

The “70-year long indigenous struggle of Kashmiris remains legitimate,” the spokesperson claimed. “The gross and systematic violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people that have been recorded and reported by independent human rights bodies is a reality,” he said.

The Kashmiris remain undeterred and unbowed, he said. “Pakistan has demonstrated a longstanding commitment of combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The people and government of Pakistan have rendered immense sacrifices in both blood and treasure to end this scourge, which has been acknowledged by the international community,” the spokesperson added.

The US yesterday declared Salahuddin as a “global terrorist”, dealing a major blow to Pakistan.

In a notification, the State Department said Salahuddin, who hails from Kashmir and is based in Pakistan for the last 28 years, “has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism.”

The US took the step against the militant group’s 71- year-old head, whose original name is Mohammed Yusuf Shah, as he had “vowed to block any peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict, threatened to train more Kashmiri suicide bombers, and vowed to turn the Kashmir Valley into a graveyard for Indian forces”.

The US government’s decision to declare Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist would help in choking his movements and financing, union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said today.

Salahuddin, head of the Kashmiri militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, was a “coward” who had “run away” to Pakistan, Mehrishi said.

“He (Salahuddin) is a terrorist and he has now been declared so. This declaration by the US may help in impacting his movements and funding,” Mehrishi told reporters on the sidelines of an event of border guarding force

In a stern message to Pakistan, India and the US today asked the country to ensure that its soil is not used for cross-border terror with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump vowing to boost their fight against terror groups like ISIS, JeM, LeT and D-Company.

As the two leaders held their maiden meeting at the White House and displayed a lot of chemistry, the two countries also called on Pakistan to “expeditiously” bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot attacks and other cross-border terrorist assaults by Pakistan-based groups.

Modi and Trump vowed to strengthen efforts to fight terrorism and eliminate safe havens for terrorists.

“Eliminating terrorism is among the top-most priorities for us,” Modi told reporters in his joint press statement with Trump at the White House Rose Garden.

A joint statement issued after their meeting said the two sides “called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terror attacks on other countries.” Ahead of the meeting, the US State Department had set the tone for the summit by declaring Syed Salahuddin, chief of Kashmiri militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, as a ‘global terrorist’.

The State Department’s action sent out a strong message against the terrorism emanating from Pakistan which is hurting India.

During their meeting, the two leaders also “committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e- Taiba (LeT), D-Company (led by underworld don and terror mastermind Dawood Ibrahim), and their affiliates.” During the meeting, that was high on symbolism, there was no mention of contentious issues like the H-1B visa reform and climate change.

सुरेश एस डुग्गर
श्रीनगर, 6 जून

जम्मू-कश्मीर में एलओसी पर हाई अलर्ट जारी कर दिया गया है। जानकारी के मुताबिक, जम्मू कश्मीर में कई शीर्ष आतंकी और फिदायीन समूह घुसपैठ की कोशिश में है, जिसके चलते यहां अलर्ट जारी किया गया है। साथ ही हजारों अतिरिक्त सैनिकों को एलओसी पर तैनात करने के अतिरिक्त तोपखानों को भी स्थिति से निपटने की खातिर तैनात किया जा चुका है।
इससे पहले पिछले हफ्ते एलओसी के कई इलाकों में सेना ने कई आतंकियों को मार गिराया था। यहां बड़ी संख्या में हथियारों से लैस आतंकी सीमा पार करने की कोशिश कर रहे थे, लेकिन समय रहते सुरक्षा बलों को इनकी भनक लग गई थी। इसके बाद सेना ने अपनी घेराबंदी मजबूत कर दी और दोनों तरफ से कई घंटों तक भारी फायरिंग होती रही। पिछले कुछ दिनों से पाक सेना द्वारा बार-बार संघर्ष विराम के उल्लंघन की आड़ में घुसपैठ के प्रयास के साथ-साथ भारतीय सेना का ध्यान भटकाना भी माना जा रहा है। खुफिया एजेंसियों के अनुसार पाकिस्तानी सेना व पाक की बार्डर एक्शन टीम (बैट) हमले की योजना बना रही है।
रक्षाधिकारियों के बकौल, ऐसी कोई घटना पुनः न हो इसके लिए बर्फ के पूरी तरह से पिघलने से पहले ही पारंपारिक घुसपैठ के रास्तोें पर नजर रखने के लिए अतिरिक्त सुरक्षाबलों को तैनात कर देना जरूरी है। कितने अतिरिक्त सैनिकों को एलओसी और बार्डर पर भेजा गया है कोई आंकड़ा सरकारी तौर पर मुहैया नहीं करवाया गया है पर सूत्र कहते हैं कि ये संख्या हजारों में है। इतना जरूर है कि एलओसी पर घुसपैठ तथा कश्मीर के भीतर आंतरिक आतंकवाद विरोधी अभियानों के दोहरे मोर्चे पर जूझने के लिए अब सेना सैनिकों की कमी इसलिए महसूस कर रही है क्योंकि उसकी सूचनाएं कहती हैं कि आतंकवादी एकसाथ दोहरा मोर्चा खोल सेना के लिए मुसीबतें पैदा कर सकते हैं। इसकी खातिर सेना को आतंकवाद विरोधी अभियानों में जुटे सैनिकों को भी एलओसी पर भेजने की मजूबरी है।

सहयोगी के बजाय खतरा अधिक है पाकिस्तान

वाशिंगटन, 6 जून (एजेंसी)
अमेरिका के एक प्रमुख थिंक टैंक ने कहा है कि पाकिस्तान तालिबान और हक्कानी नेटवर्क के लिए अब भी पनाहगाह बना हुआ है और वह एक सहयोगी होने के बजाय खतरा अधिक है। थिंक टैंक ने इस बात पर जोर दिया कि ट्रंप प्रशासन को इस्लामाबाद को यह स्पष्ट करना चाहिए कि यदि वह तालिबान एवं हक्कानी नेटवर्क को समर्थन देना जारी रखता है, तो उसे प्रतिबंधों का सामना करना पड़ेगा। सेंटर फॉर स्ट्रेटेजिक एंड इंटरनेशनल स्टडीज (सीएसआईएस) ने एक रिपोर्ट में कहा, ‘अफगानिस्तान संघर्ष में और अपने सैन्य राजनीतिक, शासन एवं गरीबी, हर संदर्भ में बुरा प्रदर्शन कर रहा है। पाकिस्तान अब भी तालिबान एवं हक्कानी नेटवर्क की पनाहगाह बना हुआ है और वह सहयोगी होने के बजाय खतरा अधिक है।’ रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि अमेरिका को चीन को यह स्पष्ट करना चाहिए कि अफगानिस्तान और पाकिस्तान संबंधी समस्या से निपटने में चीन का सहयोग चीन और अमेरिका दोनों के हित में होगा।

पत्नी को आग लगाने के बाद जवान ने की खुदकुशी

जम्मू, 6 जून (एजेंसी)
बीएसएफ के एक हेड कांस्टेबल ने कथित तौर पर अपनी पत्नी को आग लगाने के बाद जम्मू-कश्मीर के कठुआ जिले में ट्रेन के सामने कूदकर खुदकुशी कर ली। पुलिस ने मंगलवार को कहा कि सांबा जिले में बीएसएफ की 97वीं बटालियन में तैनात नीलम कुमार ने सोमवार को कठुआ जिले के चडवाल इलाके में सेसवान स्थित अपने घर में पत्नी की हत्या के बाद उसे आग लगा दी। कठुआ के अतिरिक्त पुलिस अधीक्षक खलील पोसवाल ने कहा कि बीएसएफ के हेड कांस्टेबल का शव सेसवान में रेल की पटरियों पर मिला।
तीसरी शादी थी, पहली बीवी का हुआ था कत्ल : बताया गया कि रितु नीलम कुमार की तीसरी पत्नी थी। दोनों पिछले 7-8 सालों से साथ रह रहे थे। रितु का शव आधी जली हुई हालत में घर के पास मिला। पुलिस अधिकारी ने कहा कि रितु ने अपने पति के खिलाफ बीएसएफ अधिकारियों से शिकायत की थी कि वह उसे गुजारा-भत्ता नहीं दे रहा।
पुलिस के अनुसार कुमार की दूसरी पत्नी जम्मू के बख्शी नगर में पुलिस विभाग में काम करती है। उनके दो बच्चे भी हैं। अधिकारी ने कहा कि जवान की पहली पत्नी की 20 साल पहले उसके बड़े भाई ने हत्या कर दी थी। हत्या के बाद उसने खुदकशी कर ली थी।

Permit has been given to 100 more cars out of which 60% will be petrol and 40% diesel ones. File photo

New Delhi, June 21In some good news for those planning to visit the Rohtang Pass in Himachal to beat the heat, the National Green Tribunal has allowed 100 more tourist vehicles to pass through the eco-sensitive area.The panel, which had earlier permitted 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles to go beyond Manali on the Rohtang Pass road, has allowed more vehicles to the picturesque location to ensure that more tourists are accommodated.“We hereby permit 100 more cars out of which 60 per cent would be petrol cars and 40 per cent diesel cars. The applicants under this category will be only tourists driving their own vehicles from Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country.“Seventyfive per cent of such applications would be granted permit under outside tourist category i.e. the tourist driving their own vehicles from outside Himachal Pradesh. The remaining 25 per cent would be the tourist from other districts of the Himachal Pradesh,” the circuit bench headed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.The green panel announced that any vehicle, taxi or tourist, which is found to be violating any condition of the permit or directions of the NGT would be liable to pay Rs 5,000 as environmental compensation for such default.“This amount shall be payable to the administration through police and other executing departments. In addition to fact that as and when the department of transport issues regular permits for running of vehicle, it shall not issue such a permit if the person is found to be defaulting more than three times, that permit for running vehicle shall stand cancelled and will not be renewed and computer programmed to reject the request,” the bench said.On the issue of issuing permits, the bench held that online registration for permits to Rohtang should be opened at 10 am every morning and then again at 4 pm on the same day instead of 12 noon as done earlier.“In variation to the practice presently being adopted by the administration, all persons concerned would be allowed to login and submit their application online at least a week in advance. In other words the person desiring to have a permit could apply one week in advance to the proposed date of travel,” it said.It also directed installation of CCTV cameras on each check-post within a week for keeping a strict vigil in the area.“These cameras would be connected to the computer and due records would be maintained of the vehicles which cross the barriers and go up to Rohtang for tourism purposes or even otherwise,” the bench said. — PTI

Arms and ammunition recovered from the four militants at the encounter site in Sumbal area of Bandipora. Photo: Mohammad Amin War

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 5

The security forces today foiled a major fidayeen attack, killing four heavily armed foreign militants who tried to storm a CRPF camp. The militants tried to enter the camp of 45 Battalion at Sumbal in Bandipora district, 25 km from here, at 3.45 am. They lobbed grenades and fired indiscriminately. There were at least 150 CRPF men inside the camp.“The militants tried to enter the camp by cutting the wire fence. Alert CRPF sentries returned the fire and foiled their plans.  The CRPF was later joined by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and in the ensuing hour-long gunfight, four foreign terrorists were killed,” IG (Operations) Zulfiqar Hassan said.  “Four AK 47 rifles, a grenade launcher, seven UBGL grenades, nine hand grenades, 12 magazines of AK 47 and 147 rounds were recovered,” he said. The militants were carrying petrol. “The aim was to set the camp on fire and inflict maximum casualties,” a CRPF officer said.There was no collateral damage during the gunfight.Sources said the militants were killed close to the camp fencing and that they were first spotted by dogs. As the dogs started barking, the militants panicked and opened fire and lobbed grenades.“As the gunfight erupted, the power went off owing to the strong winds blowing at the time. The CRPF personnel, along with a Quick Reaction Team, engaged the militants, who were killed close to the main gate,” they said. Later, violent clashes broke out in the area. A shutdown too was observed. The authorities blocked cellular network to keep the situation under control.

Suicide attack on CRPF camp in J&K foiled, four militants killed