Posted on 07/26/2003 9:11:53 AM PDT by swarthyguy
SRINAGAR, July 25: At least 12 militants, two soldiers and two civilians have died in different militancy related incidents in Kashmir valley since last evening.
Informed sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that troops of 12 JAK Rifles had laid an ambush near Manjoo Post at Nageena Bridge, close to LoC, in Karnah sector late last evening. After some time, a heavily armed group of infiltrating militants was noticed and challenged. Militants opened fire and made attempts to escape. However, troops directed heavy gun fire on the militants, killing five of them on spot. Five to eight militants are believed to have escaped. Operation was in progress in search of those militants who managed to escape.
Five AK-56 rifles, one wireless set and three hand grenades besides a huge quantity of assorted ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Even as none of the slain militants had been identified till late tonight, all of them were believed to be Pakistani cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Yet another fierce encounter took place between militants and troops of RR 31 Bn at Hachimarg, in close vicinity of a brigade headquarters in Kupwara district yesterday. Three Pakistani militans and two soldiers died in the clash while as two more soldiers sustained injuries. The militants killed in the gun battle were identified as Qamar Abbas of Bahawalpore, Mohammad Din alias Farooq and Khalid Zubair alias Tipoo, residents of Muzaffarabad, PoK. Three AK-56 rifles and two wireless sets were recovered from them. While as Qamar Abbas was identified as a member of Karwan-e-Jihad, two more are reportedly members of Hizb-e-Islami.
Early in the morning today, another group of infiltrating militants got trapped in an ambush of security forces at Thanda Pani near Juma Gund locality in Trehgam. Three unidentified militants died in the encounter. They too were believed to be Pakistani cadres of a Jehadi organisation.
In south Kashmir, security forces claimed to have eliminated a local militant of Hizbul Mujahideen in an encounter at Nowpora in Kulgam area. He was identified as Altaf Ahmed Bhat S/o Ghulam Hassan Bhat R/o Pomyu, Kulgam.
In south Kashmir again, unidentified gunmen, believed to be militants, dropped the dead body of a 24-year-old youth, namely Shakil Ahmed Bhat S/o Gulla Bhat R/o Panzar Mulla, Saliya at a deserted spot between Saliya and Rakh-e-Chandipora, during last night. With his throat slit, Bhat is believed to have been killed for allegedly working for security forces. He had been kidnapped on Thursday.
In close vicinity of the same locality, unidentified gunmen left the dead body of a 30-year-old youth, namely Abdur Rehman Khan S/o Abdur Rasheed Khan R/o Nagbal, Hapatnar. The body was recovered from Khandaypora village in the morning today. Khan had been reportedly kidnapped by militants from his village on Wednesday last.
Ultras had abducted another civilian Ashaq Hussain Dar from Kathsoo in Anantnag district two days back but released him in an injured condition today, the spokesman said adding Dar was injured due to severe thrashing at the hands of militants and was hospitalized.
Sources said security forces apprehended two militants belonging to Tehreek-e-Jehadi Islami from Rakh-i-Saloora in Ganderbal on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Two AK rifles, six magazines, 260 rounds, a wireless set, two hand grenades and two dry batteries were recovered from them, he said.
Appropriate lessons drawn from two attacks: Sinha *New strategies being devised to check fidayeen attacks
Excelsior Special Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Virtually admitting laxity during search operations at Tanda Army camp, Governor Lt General (retd) S K Sinha has said that "we have drawn appropriate lessons from two attacks on Army camps and another at Vaishno Devi pilgrims and new strategies are being devised to face such situation in more effective manner".
Talking to media-persons at Raj Bhawan here this afternoon, the Governor said "the incidents (attacks) do have lessons for us for revising our strategy in such a way that in future security forces would ensure minimum loss on their sides but inflict maximum causalities on the terrorists", adding "let the terrorists come in large number so that we can kill them together".
Gen Sinha said that security forces are fighting proxy war in this State and in long drawn proxy war such incidents could not be totally prevented. "When ever such incidents take place we should try and analyse as to what went wrong and how could we meet the situation in better manner", he further said, adding "our army and security forces are far superior to terrorists and can give a crushing blow to them".
Replying to a question, he said that the initial reaction from Army side at Tanda Camp was satisfactory as troops eliminated two Fidayeens within shortest possible time. But the action at later stage was not so good which led to Generals coming under fire from holed up terrorist.
More intensified searches should have been conducted and area cleared of wild grass to locate the hiding terrorist, he said and added that the belief of the troops that terrorist might have escaped was wrong as Fidayeens come to die and not to escape. These incidents, he opined, have taught security forces a lesson of being extra vigilant while dealing with Fidayeens.
About the criticism from certain quarters regarding visit of two Generals in Tanda Camp together, he said "Indian Army has tradition of Generals fighting on the front and not from their Headquarters. So there is nothing wrong in two Generals going to Tanda Camp together", adding "I don’t think criticism of such kind is justified".
Whenever the peace process starts such incidents do take place to derail the same but still positive developments are taking place, the Governor said. He added: "we have tourism picking up in Kashmir valley, we had Kheer Bhawani Yatra without any incident which shows that there is general sort of improvement in Kashmir valley. Whenever a VVIP comes or some movement towards peace takes place people with vested interests start creating hurdles. But we will not allow such things to take place and will carry forward the peace process".
Moreover, he said, the designs of the terrorists to target places of worships and establishment of security forces will be defeated at all costs and instructions have been given to army and para-military forces to revise detailed plans to tackle such situation in future.
Briefing about his visit to Katra and Tanda camp, the Governor said that he had gone there primarily to see things on the ground and added that he doesn’t believe in monitoring situation from ivory tower of Raj Bhawan. "Unless you realise ground realities you cannot get ideas of devising new strategies. I went to both the places and came to know that terrorists’ attack have failed to deter the people", he further said.
About decline in Amarnath and Vaishno Devi pilgrimage after the attacks, he said "it was heartening to know that half an hour after the attack, the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage was resumed and no decline was noticed", adding for Amarnath pilgrims security has further been beefed up and he is visiting Amarnath shrine for the fourth time to review the security scenario within next two or three days.
Questioned about Unified Headquarters, he said "I don’t want to enter into any discussion. But I still hold strong views on restructuring of Unified Headquarters as there is always a room for improvement".
Earlier, Governor, who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, visited the site of recent grenade attack by militants on the pilgrims at Banganga. The Governor also interacted with the visiting pilgrims who expressed their satisfaction about the arrangements throughout the Yatra.
Later, the Governor discussed the security arrangements made for the pilgrims from Katra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine with the concerned officers. The DIG, Mr. Naveen Aggarwal briefed the Governor about the occurrence of incident and further measures taken to beef up the security in the area.
He visited the Jammu Medical College hospital and enquired about the welfare of the persons injured in the hand grenade attack on pilgrims at Banganga langar.
At least they kept the head with the body this time
Great news...but WHAT is with the excessive use of hte word "militants"? Sounds like they caught a group of TERRORISTS sneaking in.
OK...so they don't want to use the word "terrorists" though that's what they are...maybe they could refer to them as "enemy combatants"? How about "Pakistani subversives" or something like that? Heck, even "the Enemy".
Bump to you, Allan.
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