Says Militants refused repeated surrender offers; All four slain are locals; 19 militants including two top commanders killed since January this year, 18 youth joined militancy this year, 5 were killed, 3 arrested, rest still active; House catch fire in congested localities, at times militants torch houses

Srinagar,  Mar 22 : Inspector General of Police Kashmir range Vijay Kumar Monday said that four Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed in a nocturnal encounter at Imamsahib area of Shopian in South Kashmir’s Shopian district and with the killing of four militants, 19 militants including two top commanders were killed since January this year.

Addressing a press conference at police control room here, the IGP Kashmir said that acting on a tip off, joint teams of army, police and the CRPF laid a siege at Imam Sahib area of Shopian. “When the suspected house was zeroed in, the militants fired indiscriminately triggering a gunfight. We brought family members of the trapped militants and even at 2 am, repeated surrender offers were made. The militants turned down the offer and fired at forces in which one soldier sustained bullet injury,” the Kashmir police chief said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

He said that in the ensuing gunfight, four militants were killed. “Some reports suggested that they belong to TRF, but for us TRF and Lashkar-e-Mustafa the fake names and are off shoots of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad. All four slain militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba and have been identified as Rayeed Ahmed, who was active since October last year, Amir Mir who joined militancy in February this year, Raqib Malik who picked up arms in December last year and Aftab Wani, who joined militancy in November last year,” the IGP said.

He said this year so far nine encounter have taken place of which only one was witnessed in north Kashmir. “In nine encounter, 19 militants were killed of which nine were killed in Shopian district alone. Among the slain were two top commanders that include Gani Khawja from north Kashmir and Sajad Afghani from South Kashmir,” the IGP said.

He said that this year so far 18 youth joined militancy of which five were killed and three arrested and rest are active. “Those active are being reached out and are being urged to return to mainstream,” the IGP Kashmir said.

He said that Standard operating Procedure (SoP) is being followed that entails offering surrender to local militants even during live encounters. “Security Forces are dealing with the anti-militancy operations professionally,” the IGP said. “In all these encounters, no civilian was killed. We lost four security forces personnel including a solider, a cop in Budgam, and two policemen in Barzulla, Srinagar.” He said that in today’s encounter a soldier was injured, who is stable.

Present on the occasion, General officer commanding (GoC) Victor Force Rashim Bali said that army’s 44 RR reached out to the parents and even to the wife and 4-year-old son of a militant Raqib. “But they refused to surrender. This is why the operation got delayed, otherwise it wouldn’t have last even for half an hour,” the GoC said. “We even brought brother in law of Raqib to the encounter site, but still he didn’t surrender.” The GoC reiterated that the army is ready to facilitate the surrender by local boys holding guns even at the last minute. “Our one soldier received bullet injury in a bid to try whether the militants may surrender,” he said.

Replying to a query that residential houses are getting damaged in encounters, he said that the security forces are working professional and at times houses where militants are hiding, catch fire due to the congested localities. “Recently, militants were caught in a concrete house, that was connected with two more houses. They shifted from one house to another. In some cases, militants themselves torch the houses in a bid to flee,” the GoC said—(KNO)

‘Wet Spell May Lead To Waterlogging In Low Lying Areas; Orchards May Be Damaged’

Srinagar, March 19  : Weatherman on Saturday issued ‘yellow and amber’ warning from March 21 to 24 in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Another spell of widespread moderate rain /snowfall most likely during March 22-24th with main activity on 23rd,” Sonam Lotus, Director Meteorological department said in a statement.

“Light rain /snowfall is likely to commence from March 21st from northwest Kashmir and increase gradually in intensity and distribution, affecting both Jammu and Kashmir,” he said as per GNS, adding, “It may lead to waterlogging of low lying area, landslide on sloppy area, disruption of Zojila, Banihal-Ramban and damage to orchards etc.”

Separately, in a daily statement about the forecast, the meteorological department issued a “yellow warning” for isolated thunder/hail/ gusty winds of 30-40 kmph in Kashmir as well as Jammu divisions on March 21 and 22. However, for March 23, the weatherman has issued ‘amber warning’ for “scattered heavy rain/snow/thunder/lightning” with likely disruption in Surface traffic Jammu-Srinagar highway and Srinagar-Leh highway due to landslides and water logging in low laying area.”

On March 24, there is no warning but the weatherman said that there may be disruption in surface traffic on both highways Due To Landslides.”

There are four types colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched), amber –government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies.
Meanwhile barring famous tourist resort of Pahalgam in South Kashmir’, mercury remained above normal in the Kashmir Valley.

A meteorological department official told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of 6.0°C against 5.8°C on the previous night. The minimum temperature was 1.3°C above normal for this time of the year in the summer capital of J&K, the official said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of 4.4°C against 5.7°C on the previous night while mercury settled at minus 0.2°C against 0.7°C on the earlier night at Pahalgam. It was minus 0.3°C below normal at the famous resort.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 4.3°C against previous night’s 6.0°C, the official said.

The minimum temperature settled at 2.8°C in Kupwara against 6.6°C on the previous night, the official said.

Gulmarg recorded minimum temperature of 0.5°C against minus 0.0°C on the previous night, the official said. The temperature at the world famous skiing resort which received nearly 3ft fresh snowfall last week is minus 2.3°C normal for this time of the year, the official said. (GNS)

Srinagar, Mar 19 : Reassuring commitment to closely work with various instruments of State and civil society to pursue peace in Kashmir, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps on Friday urged people to work jointly with security forces to address scourge of militancy in the valley.

Lt Gen Pandey, who took over as GOC 15 Corps on Wednesday, conveyed his best wishes to the people of Kashmir. “I’m committed to closely work with various instruments of State & Civil society to pursue peace in Kashmir,” he said and urged civil society to work jointly with security forces to address scourge of terrorism in Valley.

An Army official on Friday said that Lt Gen Pandey paid tribute at the Chinar War Memorial, to the gallant soldiers who have made the supreme Sacrifice. “Our flag flies high not because of the wind, but with last breath of every soldier who laid down their lives for the supreme cause,” the General said.

Meanwhile, the official said that Kashmiri people celebrated Rasool Mir Day at Doru in south Kashmir district of Anantnag on Thursday. Rasool Mir, renowned romantic poet of 19th century, is known for his captivating contribution in the field of poetry which has changed the dynamics for Kashmiri culture and Kashmiriyat.

He said over 1000 youth from all over the valley attended the festival. “Renowned artist like Shazia Bashir, Souwkat Sultanpuri, Raja Nisar, Mouiddin Arabali performed at the festival. GOC Victor Force was the Chief Guest of the festival, attended by multiple civilian dignitaries,” the official said.

Lt Gen Pandey, who is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, has been entrusted with the responsibility of handling vigilance along 343 km of the Line of Control (LoC) and hinterland operation in Kashmir Valley.

Prior to his appointment as the GOC Chinar Corps, the Lt Gen served as the First Director General of Territorial Army and GOC Kilo Force.
(UNI)