Chetan Kumar Cheetah, the CRPF commandant who slipped into a&nbsp;coma two months ago after being hit by nine bullets in a gunbattle in Kashmir, has regained consciousness and is talking again, a report in the Times of India said. &nbsp;

Doctors treating him at the AIIMS Trauma Centre in Delhi are describing it as nothing short of a miracle.

Doctors added that Cheetah is fit to be discharged, the Times of India report added.

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Delhi: Chetan Cheeta with wife Uma Singh at AIIMS, his wife says he may be discharged today. Cheeta was injured in Bandipora (J&amp;K) encounter <a href="https://t.co/ZNSg1LqjQD">pic.twitter.com/ZNSg1LqjQD</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/849503727224590341">April 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Cheetah was critically injured in an encounter in Kashmir&#39;s Bandipora district on February 14, in which at least three soldiers and one militant were killed.

Cheetah&#39;s wife Uma Singh said, in the report, that it wasn&#39;t the medical intervention alone that helped him recover. That his willpower and his love for fitness helped too.&nbsp;

(WION) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The doctors treating him at AIIMS Trauma Centre in Delhi said it was nothing short of a miracle

Chetan Kumar Cheetah, the CRPF commandant who slipped into a coma two months ago after being hit by nine bullets in a gunbattle in Kashmir, has regained consciousness and is talking again, a report in the Times of India said. Doctors treating him at the AIIMS Trauma Centre in Delhi are describing it as nothing short of a miracle. Doctors added that Cheetah is fit to be discharged, the Times of India report added. Delhi: Chetan Cheeta with wife Uma Singh at AIIMS, his wife says he may be discharged today. Cheeta was injured in Bandipora (J&K) encounter pic.twitter.com/ZNSg1LqjQD — ANI (@ANI_news) April 5, 2017 × Cheetah was critically injured in an encounter in Kashmir's Bandipora district on February 14, in which at least three soldiers and one militant were killed. Cheetah's wife Uma Singh said, in the report, that it wasn't the medical intervention alone that helped him recover. That his willpower and his love for fitness helped too. (WION)

Shot nine times, CRPF commandant Chetan Kumar Cheetah out of coma after two months

One policeman died and at least&nbsp;11 security personnel were injured on Sunday in a grenade attack by militants in northern Indian state Kashmir&#39;s capital Srinagar.

Militants hurled the grenade on a party of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in old Srinagar&#39;s Nowhatta area. &nbsp;

The attack took place at around 7.00 pm, agencies reported.

The injured cops were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

An&nbsp;official told PTI that miscreants had engaged the cops by pelting stones on them in the same area.

The attack occurred the same day that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country&#39;s longest tunnel in Udhampur, around 200 kms from Srinagar.

Armed security personnel lined the streets and maintained strict vigil to prevent any untoward incident.

Separatists earlier called for a shutdown against Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s visit. Shops remained shut and normally busy streets bore a deserted look in Srinagar today.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety.

Rebel groups have for decades fought roughly 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the region, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan.

The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

The attack took place at around 7.00 pm, agencies reported

One policeman died and at least 11 security personnel were injured on Sunday in a grenade attack by militants in northern Indian state Kashmir's capital Srinagar. Militants hurled the grenade on a party of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in old Srinagar's Nowhatta area. The attack took place at around 7.00 pm, agencies reported. The injured cops were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. An official told PTI that miscreants had engaged the cops by pelting stones on them in the same area. The attack occurred the same day that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country's longest tunnel in Udhampur, around 200 kms from Srinagar. Armed security personnel lined the streets and maintained strict vigil to prevent any untoward incident. Separatists earlier called for a shutdown against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. Shops remained shut and normally busy streets bore a deserted look in Srinagar today. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety. Rebel groups have for decades fought roughly 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the region, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan. The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Kashmir: One policeman killed, 11 injured in grenade attack on CRPF near Srinagar

A fierce gunbattle has broken&nbsp;out between militants and Indian security forces in north Kashmir&#39;s Bandipora district today.

Indian security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Parray&nbsp;street in Hajin district this morning after getting intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

&quot;Three soldiers were killed during a gunfight with militants that broke out at Hajin in Bandipora district,&quot; army spokesman Rajesh Kalia told AFP, adding that five other soldiers were injured.

He added that nine soldiers were injured in the initial attack and were immediately shifted to army hospital.&nbsp;&quot;Three among them later succumbed to their injuries,&quot; he added. <centre><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HteK__1AvyQ" width="560"></iframe><centre> </centre></centre>

One militant, whose identity was not yet known, was also killed in the operation, he added.

Security forces said while the forces were conducting a search operation when&nbsp;militants fired upon them from their hideout, leading to an encounter.

&nbsp;

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CRPF soldiers in a vehicle after a gunbattle in Hajin area of north Kashmir, 38 kilometres north-east of Srinagar. (AFP)
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CRPF commanding officer of the 45th battalion, Chetan Kumar Cheetah, suffered &quot;multiple gunshots&quot; wounds during the encounter and has been shifted to a base hospital in Srinagar.

The encounter was going still going on when last reports came in.&nbsp;

(WION with agency&nbsp;inputs)

CRPF commanding officer, Chetan Kumar Cheetah, suffered wounds during the encounter which is still going on

A fierce gunbattle has broken out between militants and Indian security forces in north Kashmir's Bandipora district today. Indian security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Parray street in Hajin district this morning after getting intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area. "Three soldiers were killed during a gunfight with militants that broke out at Hajin in Bandipora district," army spokesman Rajesh Kalia told AFP, adding that five other soldiers were injured. He added that nine soldiers were injured in the initial attack and were immediately shifted to army hospital. "Three among them later succumbed to their injuries," he added. One militant, whose identity was not yet known, was also killed in the operation, he added. Security forces said while the forces were conducting a search operation when militants fired upon them from their hideout, leading to an encounter. CRPF soldiers in a vehicle after a gunbattle in Hajin area of north Kashmir, 38 kilometres north-east of Srinagar. (AFP) × CRPF commanding officer of the 45th battalion, Chetan Kumar Cheetah, suffered "multiple gunshots" wounds during the encounter and has been shifted to a base hospital in Srinagar. The encounter was going still going on when last reports came in. (WION with agency inputs)

Gunbattle between militants, Army in north Kashmir, 3 soldiers killed

By Abhishek Bhalla

Stressing that the armed forces cannot afford a communication breakdown between the officers and ranks, Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat defended the &lsquo;buddy system&rsquo; or the use of Sahayaks in the Army wherein a soldiers is attached to an officer.

The practice has often been condemned as the &ldquo;buddy&rdquo; is required to run personal errands for the officer.

&ldquo;This is an integral part of the Force as the buddy is actually a confidant of the officer and someone you can open out to,&rdquo; General Rawat said on Friday, adding that the Army has recommended that it can be done away with in peace stations.

General Rawat was answering questions about the controversy over the quality of food and facilities being provided to soldiers in the army and paramilitary forces.

Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, and army jawans had recently taken to social media to air their grievances about the poor quality of food and facilities being provided to them.&nbsp;

And a soldier had alleged in a YouTube video that he was forced to &quot;wash clothes, polish boots and walk dogs&quot; for his seniors, and that he was being hounded for flagging the menial jobs he had been made to do.&nbsp;

General Rawat said that he would want the soldiers to complain directly to him rather than use social media. He said that he has decided to place suggestion-cum-complaint boxes at army headquarters and every camp, and that they will be monitored by his office. He said the identity of the person complaining would be kept secret and in case of a leak, people in his office will be held accountable.

&ldquo;A soldier is a soldier. He should not shy away from penning his name as the identity will be kept secret. They should come directly to us. If they are dissatisfied with the action they can use other means,&rdquo; General Rawat said.

General Rawat clarified that the &ldquo;buddy&rdquo; system does not mean that the person is required to do menial jobs, adding if he is not comfortable he can refuse. &ldquo;It has been recommended that in field areas, a buddy is needed since he also assists the officer in operations. In other areas, we can do away with the system and even accept civilians to assist,&rdquo; he added.

Soldier vs soldier

Speaking of grievances while answering a question about Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Parveen Bakshi, whom he superseded, Gen Rawat said he will look into it if the former brings his grievances to his notice.

General Rawat&rsquo;s remarks came after Lt Gen Bakshi, while addressing the soldiers of Eastern Command on New Year&rsquo;s Eve, alleged that a &ldquo;malicious campaign&rdquo; was carried out to stop him from becoming the Army Chief.

&ldquo;If there is anything that needs to be investigated, as I said, if it is brought to my notice, we will look into it,&rdquo; he said, adding he came to know of Lt Gen Bakshi&rsquo;s allegations through the media. Gen Rawat said after his name was announced as the new chief, both of them, he and Lt Gen Bakshi, had reached out to each other.

(This report first appeared in DNA)

His comments come after soldier alleges in YouTube video that he was forced to 'wash clothes, polish boots and walk dogs'

By Abhishek Bhalla Stressing that the armed forces cannot afford a communication breakdown between the officers and ranks, Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat defended the ‘buddy system’ or the use of Sahayaks in the Army wherein a soldiers is attached to an officer. The practice has often been condemned as the “buddy” is required to run personal errands for the officer. “This is an integral part of the Force as the buddy is actually a confidant of the officer and someone you can open out to,” General Rawat said on Friday, adding that the Army has recommended that it can be done away with in peace stations. General Rawat was answering questions about the controversy over the quality of food and facilities being provided to soldiers in the army and paramilitary forces. Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, and army jawans had recently taken to social media to air their grievances about the poor quality of food and facilities being provided to them. And a soldier had alleged in a YouTube video that he was forced to "wash clothes, polish boots and walk dogs" for his seniors, and that he was being hounded for flagging the menial jobs he had been made to do. General Rawat said that he would want the soldiers to complain directly to him rather than use social media. He said that he has decided to place suggestion-cum-complaint boxes at army headquarters and every camp, and that they will be monitored by his office. He said the identity of the person complaining would be kept secret and in case of a leak, people in his office will be held accountable. “A soldier is a soldier. He should not shy away from penning his name as the identity will be kept secret. They should come directly to us. If they are dissatisfied with the action they can use other means,” General Rawat said. General Rawat clarified that the “buddy” system does not mean that the person is required to do menial jobs, adding if he is not comfortable he can refuse. “It has been recommended that in field areas, a buddy is needed since he also assists the officer in operations. In other areas, we can do away with the system and even accept civilians to assist,” he added. Soldier vs soldier Speaking of grievances while answering a question about Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Parveen Bakshi, whom he superseded, Gen Rawat said he will look into it if the former brings his grievances to his notice. General Rawat’s remarks came after Lt Gen Bakshi, while addressing the soldiers of Eastern Command on New Year’s Eve, alleged that a “malicious campaign” was carried out to stop him from becoming the Army Chief. “If there is anything that needs to be investigated, as I said, if it is brought to my notice, we will look into it,” he said, adding he came to know of Lt Gen Bakshi’s allegations through the media. Gen Rawat said after his name was announced as the new chief, both of them, he and Lt Gen Bakshi, had reached out to each other. (This report first appeared in DNA)

Don?t use social media, come to me, Indian Army chief tells soldiers

The deployment of India&#39;s federal police force&nbsp;to provide security to&nbsp;taxmen while conducting raids in India&#39;s eastern state of West Bengal has been condemned by the state&#39;s chief minister Mamata Banerjee as unconstitutional and illegal.

This comes after the federal government, which is based out of India&#39;s capital New Delhi, decided to install 15 central police personnel -- the CRPF -- to protect taxmen during raids in the state.

In a terse letter sent by CM Banerjee to India&#39;s home minister Rajnath Singh on December 23, she said: &quot;It has come to our notice that the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to make available 15 personnel of the CRPF for apparently providing &lsquo;security&rsquo; to&nbsp;Income Tax officials and staff deputed for operations&nbsp;in West Bengal. No communication&nbsp;in this regard has been received by the state government. The State Government objects strongly to this decision, which&nbsp;is blatantly unconstitutional,&nbsp;illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism.&quot;

But an advisory sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Central Board of Direct Taxes on December 20 had mentioned that the central police would be deployed in the state.

&ldquo;The matter has been considered&nbsp;in this Ministry and&nbsp;it has been decided that CRPF shall make available 15 personnel to&nbsp;Income Tax Department, Kolkata for providing security to officers and staff deputed for search and seizure operations to be carried out by the&nbsp;Income Tax Directorate,&quot; the advisory had said.

However, when contacted, CRPF officials remained tight-lipped when asked if the deployment plan was shared with the state government.&nbsp;

(WION) 
&nbsp;

The West Bengal chief minister said her administration was not intimated about installation of CRPF personnel to protect taxmen during raids

The deployment of India's federal police force to provide security to taxmen while conducting raids in India's eastern state of West Bengal has been condemned by the state's chief minister Mamata Banerjee as unconstitutional and illegal. This comes after the federal government, which is based out of India's capital New Delhi, decided to install 15 central police personnel -- the CRPF -- to protect taxmen during raids in the state. In a terse letter sent by CM Banerjee to India's home minister Rajnath Singh on December 23, she said: "It has come to our notice that the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to make available 15 personnel of the CRPF for apparently providing ‘security’ to Income Tax officials and staff deputed for operations in West Bengal. No communication in this regard has been received by the state government. The State Government objects strongly to this decision, which is blatantly unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism." But an advisory sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Central Board of Direct Taxes on December 20 had mentioned that the central police would be deployed in the state. “The matter has been considered in this Ministry and it has been decided that CRPF shall make available 15 personnel to Income Tax Department, Kolkata for providing security to officers and staff deputed for search and seizure operations to be carried out by the Income Tax Directorate," the advisory had said. However, when contacted, CRPF officials remained tight-lipped when asked if the deployment plan was shared with the state government. (WION)

Bengal tax raids: CM Mamata Banerjee flays central police deployment

At least nine people were injured, including two Indian security personnel, when a grenade was launched at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) patrol group in the Shopian district of southern Kashmir.&nbsp;

The grenade attack took place around 11:40 am, the Press Trust of India quoted a police official saying.&nbsp;

The official said the injured were admitted to the Shopian district hospital while security forces search for the militants.&nbsp;

The attack comes even as security forces battle militants who are holed up inside a building in the Pampore district of the state. The encounter has been going on since Monday morning after an unspecified number of militants stormed into the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) and took up positions inside one of the buildings.&nbsp;

An Indian soldier was injured in the gunfight. The Army&#39;s para commandos have been called in but have avoided rushing in to prevent casualties. Intermittent firing and explosions have been heard from inside the building.

(WION with inputs from PTI) 
&nbsp;

Police said the injured were admitted to the hospital, while security forces searched for the militants?

At least nine people were injured, including two Indian security personnel, when a grenade was launched at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) patrol group in the Shopian district of southern Kashmir. The grenade attack took place around 11:40 am, the Press Trust of India quoted a police official saying. The official said the injured were admitted to the Shopian district hospital while security forces search for the militants. The attack comes even as security forces battle militants who are holed up inside a building in the Pampore district of the state. The encounter has been going on since Monday morning after an unspecified number of militants stormed into the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) and took up positions inside one of the buildings. An Indian soldier was injured in the gunfight. The Army's para commandos have been called in but have avoided rushing in to prevent casualties. Intermittent firing and explosions have been heard from inside the building. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Nine injured in grenade attack against Kashmir police

Indian security forces and suspected militants exchanged heavy firing in South Kashmir&#39;s Pulwama district, roughly 40km from summer capital of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, on Friday night.&nbsp; 
 
Armed men attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp from both sides at 11pm.&nbsp; 
 
The firing lasted 30 minutes, an unnamed police officials told Greater Kashmir. No casualties were reported, however, the suspected militants managed to escape, a source told WION.&nbsp; 
 
The search operation was still going on when the last reports were reports were recieved.&nbsp; 
 
The attack comes hours after India reportedly decided to deploy thousands&nbsp;of more soldiers in the embattled state.&nbsp; 
 
Kashmir has been on the boil ever since Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani was killed by Indian security forces on July 8.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Suspected militants attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp from both sides late on Friday night

Indian security forces and suspected militants exchanged heavy firing in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, roughly 40km from summer capital of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, on Friday night. Armed men attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp from both sides at 11pm. The firing lasted 30 minutes, an unnamed police officials told Greater Kashmir. No casualties were reported, however, the suspected militants managed to escape, a source told WION. The search operation was still going on when the last reports were reports were recieved. The attack comes hours after India reportedly decided to deploy thousands of more soldiers in the embattled state. Kashmir has been on the boil ever since Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani was killed by Indian security forces on July 8. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Militants attack Indian security camp in South Kashmir

After much soul-searching, the Indian government has reportedly found an alternative to the pellet guns that have left such mayhem in their wake in the state of Kashmir -- chilli-filled PAVA (Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide) grenades. The euphemistically-called &quot;pellet guns&quot; are basically shotguns, and have blinded hundreds of protesters over the last seven weeks. 
 
Kashmir has been on the boil ever since July 8 when the Indian army killed the militant separatist and South Kashmir&nbsp;Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Mass protests broke out the following morning and have continued ever since. And as many as 400,000 people attended Wani&#39;s funeral. 
 
The government&#39;s decision however has not found favour with the central reserve police force (CRPF), which has been at the forefront of dealing with the unrest in the Valley. 
 
Trying to put the humane face of the government forward, home minister Rajnath Singh had declared in Srinagar on Thursday that the Centre was keen on finding an alternative to the pellet guns. &quot;When I came here last time I said I&#39;ve set up an expert committee, which will submit its report in two months... I want to inform you that one month has passed and within three-four days expert committee will submit its report. Within a few days we will give alternative to the pellet gun,&quot; Singh had said. 
 
Sources say the committee zeroed in on the chilli-filled PAVA grenades since simulation tests of the munition have been carried out even on children as young as 12 and that they have &quot;proved to be safe&quot;. The grenades have been under trial for over a year now at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory, in Lucknow. 
 
Sources close to the committee said it has recommended that the Tear Smoke Unit (TSU) of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Gwalior be tasked with bulk production of shells -- the chilli can also be inserted into shells -- &nbsp;&quot;immediately&quot;, with the first lot produced being no less than 50,000 rounds. 
 
PAVA is categorised as &quot;above peak&quot; on the Scoville scale, meaning it will severely irritate and paralyse humans, but temporarily. 
 
Once fired, the shells burst and temporarily stun and immobilise their targets in a &quot;more effective way&quot; than tear or pepper gas. The panel noted that PAVA is &quot;biosafe, better than chilli grenade or tear smoke shell and can also be used in combination with stun and tear shells&quot; by security forces. The committee is also understood to have recommended the supply of a few other non-lethal/ less-lethal munitions. 
 
 
Too soon, says the CRPF 
 
The CRPF however thinks the announcement has come too soon and without any proper preparation. &quot;We are not yet ready for any other alternative yet. It is one thing to espouse ban on pellet guns and another to be on the streets and face bloodthirsty mobs of hundreds. The pellet guns are the least lethal weapon we can use to handle such mobs that are ready to overrun police stations and secure camps,&quot; said a senior CRPF official. 
 
CRPF officials, who are handling the situation on the ground in the Valley, say these alternatives are going to be of little use against the fury of the crowd and are not foolproof against overzealous mobs that use their knowledge of the local geography to their advantage. &quot;Committed agitators who are ready to risk their lives will find ways to outwit the alternatives. In such a scenario we may have to turn back to the safety of regular service weapons that will increase casualty rate,&quot; said the official. 
 
From July 9 to August 11, the CRPF fired over 3,000 pellet cartridges containing 1.6 million pellets. Pellet or shotguns were first brought to Kashmir by duck-hunting Englismen. They have caused a number of fatalities since they were reintroduced in the Valley in 2010 and have blinded hundreds. 
 
(Wion, this story first appeared on the DNA website)&nbsp;

The grenades stun and render their targets immobile for a few minutes but the police say they're still not keen on giving up pellet guns

After much soul-searching, the Indian government has reportedly found an alternative to the pellet guns that have left such mayhem in their wake in the state of Kashmir -- chilli-filled PAVA (Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide) grenades. The euphemistically-called "pellet guns" are basically shotguns, and have blinded hundreds of protesters over the last seven weeks. Kashmir has been on the boil ever since July 8 when the Indian army killed the militant separatist and South Kashmir Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Mass protests broke out the following morning and have continued ever since. And as many as 400,000 people attended Wani's funeral. The government's decision however has not found favour with the central reserve police force (CRPF), which has been at the forefront of dealing with the unrest in the Valley. Trying to put the humane face of the government forward, home minister Rajnath Singh had declared in Srinagar on Thursday that the Centre was keen on finding an alternative to the pellet guns. "When I came here last time I said I've set up an expert committee, which will submit its report in two months... I want to inform you that one month has passed and within three-four days expert committee will submit its report. Within a few days we will give alternative to the pellet gun," Singh had said. Sources say the committee zeroed in on the chilli-filled PAVA grenades since simulation tests of the munition have been carried out even on children as young as 12 and that they have "proved to be safe". The grenades have been under trial for over a year now at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory, in Lucknow. Sources close to the committee said it has recommended that the Tear Smoke Unit (TSU) of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Gwalior be tasked with bulk production of shells -- the chilli can also be inserted into shells -- "immediately", with the first lot produced being no less than 50,000 rounds. PAVA is categorised as "above peak" on the Scoville scale, meaning it will severely irritate and paralyse humans, but temporarily. Once fired, the shells burst and temporarily stun and immobilise their targets in a "more effective way" than tear or pepper gas. The panel noted that PAVA is "biosafe, better than chilli grenade or tear smoke shell and can also be used in combination with stun and tear shells" by security forces. The committee is also understood to have recommended the supply of a few other non-lethal/ less-lethal munitions. Too soon, says the CRPF The CRPF however thinks the announcement has come too soon and without any proper preparation. "We are not yet ready for any other alternative yet. It is one thing to espouse ban on pellet guns and another to be on the streets and face bloodthirsty mobs of hundreds. The pellet guns are the least lethal weapon we can use to handle such mobs that are ready to overrun police stations and secure camps," said a senior CRPF official. CRPF officials, who are handling the situation on the ground in the Valley, say these alternatives are going to be of little use against the fury of the crowd and are not foolproof against overzealous mobs that use their knowledge of the local geography to their advantage. "Committed agitators who are ready to risk their lives will find ways to outwit the alternatives. In such a scenario we may have to turn back to the safety of regular service weapons that will increase casualty rate," said the official. From July 9 to August 11, the CRPF fired over 3,000 pellet cartridges containing 1.6 million pellets. Pellet or shotguns were first brought to Kashmir by duck-hunting Englismen. They have caused a number of fatalities since they were reintroduced in the Valley in 2010 and have blinded hundreds. (Wion, this story first appeared on the DNA website)

India finds alternative to Kashmir pellet guns: Chilli-filled grenades

Suspected Maoist rebels today killed 10 paramilitary commandos in the eastern Indian state of Bihar after ambushing their convoy in a forested area and setting off a series of bombs, in one of of the deadliest attacks this year. 
 
The Maoist rebels detonated homemade bombs on Monday afternoon as members of an elite police unit, the Central Reserve Police Force were conducting an anti-Maoist operation in the dense forests.&nbsp; 
 
The force was responding to a tip-off that a group of rebels had gathered at the top of a hill in the remote forest in Aurangabad district bordering Jharkhand state, when they found themselves trapped at lower ground.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The police party had almost 100 troops. The first group got trapped in an area of land mines and there were serial blasts. The terrain is very difficult there and the extremists were on higher ground,&quot; detailed P.K. Thakur, the state&#39;s director general of police. 
 
The Maoists triggered improvised explosions were followed by a gun battle between the CRPF forces and the rebels that lasted well into the night.&nbsp; 
 
Thakur said eight police died on the spot in the ambush and two more men succumbed to their injuries on the way to hospital. The five wounded officers were evacuated by helicopter. 
 
The CRPF gunned down at least three rebels in the subsequent gunfight before the Maoists fled deeper into the forests.&nbsp; 
 
Police and paramilitary reinforcements were rushed to the area but the operation was later called off.&nbsp; 
&quot;We called off the operation late at night as we suspect more mines were planted in the area,&quot; Saurabh Kumar, deputy inspector general of police in the region told. 
 
Police were investigating whether the commandos were drawn into the forest by a false tipoff about Maoist movements in the area. 
 
State struggles&nbsp;with decades of insurgency&nbsp; 
 
In December 2014, Maoists killed 13 police and wounded another 12 in an ambush in a remote part of Chhattisgarh. The troops were carrying out an operation deep in a forest when the gunmen attacked. 
 
Maoist insurgents seeking the violent overthrow of the Indian state have been fighting for decades, launching hit-and-run attacks against security forces from jungle camps across swathes of poor and rural central and eastern India. 
 
Tens of thousands of paramilitary troops and police are stationed in central and eastern India, fighting thousands of armed insurgents. 
 
The number of attacks has fallen in recent years but the Maoists, who say they are fighting to free the poor and landless from exploitation of their land, continue to enjoy some support among the poor and violence remains common. 
 
According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, left-wing extremist violence has left 236 people dead this year, almost the same as for the whole of 2015. Almost half of the dead have been killed in mineral-rich Chhattisgarh. 
 
The Maoist rebels claim to be fighting for jobs, land and other rights for mainly tribal minorities who suffer grinding poverty. 
 
The rebels regularly launch attacks on security personnel in dozens of districts in the so-called &quot;Red Corridor&quot; which stretches through the country. 
 
The insurgency has claimed thousands of lives, and the government describes it as the country&#39;s most serious internal security threat.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

The country's Maoist insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and the government describes it as the most serious internal security threat

Suspected Maoist rebels today killed 10 paramilitary commandos in the eastern Indian state of Bihar after ambushing their convoy in a forested area and setting off a series of bombs, in one of of the deadliest attacks this year. The Maoist rebels detonated homemade bombs on Monday afternoon as members of an elite police unit, the Central Reserve Police Force were conducting an anti-Maoist operation in the dense forests. The force was responding to a tip-off that a group of rebels had gathered at the top of a hill in the remote forest in Aurangabad district bordering Jharkhand state, when they found themselves trapped at lower ground. "The police party had almost 100 troops. The first group got trapped in an area of land mines and there were serial blasts. The terrain is very difficult there and the extremists were on higher ground," detailed P.K. Thakur, the state's director general of police. The Maoists triggered improvised explosions were followed by a gun battle between the CRPF forces and the rebels that lasted well into the night. Thakur said eight police died on the spot in the ambush and two more men succumbed to their injuries on the way to hospital. The five wounded officers were evacuated by helicopter. The CRPF gunned down at least three rebels in the subsequent gunfight before the Maoists fled deeper into the forests. Police and paramilitary reinforcements were rushed to the area but the operation was later called off. "We called off the operation late at night as we suspect more mines were planted in the area," Saurabh Kumar, deputy inspector general of police in the region told. Police were investigating whether the commandos were drawn into the forest by a false tipoff about Maoist movements in the area. State struggles with decades of insurgency In December 2014, Maoists killed 13 police and wounded another 12 in an ambush in a remote part of Chhattisgarh. The troops were carrying out an operation deep in a forest when the gunmen attacked. Maoist insurgents seeking the violent overthrow of the Indian state have been fighting for decades, launching hit-and-run attacks against security forces from jungle camps across swathes of poor and rural central and eastern India. Tens of thousands of paramilitary troops and police are stationed in central and eastern India, fighting thousands of armed insurgents. The number of attacks has fallen in recent years but the Maoists, who say they are fighting to free the poor and landless from exploitation of their land, continue to enjoy some support among the poor and violence remains common. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, left-wing extremist violence has left 236 people dead this year, almost the same as for the whole of 2015. Almost half of the dead have been killed in mineral-rich Chhattisgarh. The Maoist rebels claim to be fighting for jobs, land and other rights for mainly tribal minorities who suffer grinding poverty. The rebels regularly launch attacks on security personnel in dozens of districts in the so-called "Red Corridor" which stretches through the country. The insurgency has claimed thousands of lives, and the government describes it as the country's most serious internal security threat. (AFP)

Maoist ambush in east India kills 10 police commandos

The ongoing violence in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has left several security personnel injured, as wounded soldiers line up for beds at an army hospital in Srinagar city. 
 
Kashmir has been on the boil after forces gunned down Burhan Wani, a militant commander of the separatist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, on July 8. 
 
Post Wani&#39;s death, the Valley has been rocked by violent protests. At least 37 people have been killed and about 1500, including hundreds of security personnel, have been injured in clashes. Curfew was in force today for the sixth day. 
 
Brigadier, Commander 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, MS Tevatia said around 14 casualties have been admitted to the hospital so far. 
 
&quot;We have received 14 casualties so far over a period of three-four days. In all, out of these 14 casualties, 12 are of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and two are from J&amp;K (Jammu and Kashmir) police. The mostly the injuries are from the splinter as a result of a grenade throwing and few of the injuries are because of the stone pelting on to these individuals,&quot; said Tevatia. 
 
Four of the injured are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while 10 have been operated on. 
 
Violent mobs have taken to stone pelting and grenade throwing, while forces have been retaliating with tear gas shells and pellets. 
 
&quot;We were trying to control the mob which was pelting stones at us. Somebody from the ground then threw a hand grenade. A few of my colleagues and I got injured in the incident,&quot; said one of the injured soldiers at the hospital. 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as state chief Mehbooba Mufti have appealed to the people for peace. 
 
Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. 
 
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. 
 
India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. 
 
(Reuters)

Violent mobs have taken to stone pelting and grenade throwing, while the forces have retaliated with tear gas shells and pellets

The ongoing violence in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has left several security personnel injured, as wounded soldiers line up for beds at an army hospital in Srinagar city. Kashmir has been on the boil after forces gunned down Burhan Wani, a militant commander of the separatist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, on July 8. Post Wani's death, the Valley has been rocked by violent protests. At least 37 people have been killed and about 1500, including hundreds of security personnel, have been injured in clashes. Curfew was in force today for the sixth day. Brigadier, Commander 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, MS Tevatia said around 14 casualties have been admitted to the hospital so far. "We have received 14 casualties so far over a period of three-four days. In all, out of these 14 casualties, 12 are of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and two are from J&K (Jammu and Kashmir) police. The mostly the injuries are from the splinter as a result of a grenade throwing and few of the injuries are because of the stone pelting on to these individuals," said Tevatia. Four of the injured are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while 10 have been operated on. Violent mobs have taken to stone pelting and grenade throwing, while forces have been retaliating with tear gas shells and pellets. "We were trying to control the mob which was pelting stones at us. Somebody from the ground then threw a hand grenade. A few of my colleagues and I got injured in the incident," said one of the injured soldiers at the hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as state chief Mehbooba Mufti have appealed to the people for peace. Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. (Reuters)

Violence in Kashmir leaves several security personnel injured, lining up for hospital beds

As clashes continue over the killing of 22-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, a police post was set on fire today in Romu of Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Pulwama district. 
 
However, no injuries or casualties were reported from the attack. 
 
The security forces have been under attack after Wani was killed in an encounter. 
 
Earlier today, the militants attacked a police party at Warpora area of Sopore town in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp; 
 
Three CRPF jawans were injured in a grenade attack yesterday. The death toll in the clashes between the protesters and the security forces in Kashmir has reached 30, as normal life remains paralysed in the valley due to curfew-like restrictions and separatists-sponsored strike in the wake of Wani`s killing in an encounter earlier on July 8. 
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today chaired a high-level meeting in the national capital where he appealed to maintain peace and calm in the valley. &quot;The Prime Minister has hoped for peace and appealed that innocent lives are not disturbed,&quot; minister of state in Prime Minister`s Office, Jitendra Singh told the media after the meeting. 
 
Meanwhile, the United Nations has taken note of the unrest in Kashmir and issued a statement calling on restraint to avoid further violence.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

No injuries or casualties were reported from the attack

As clashes continue over the killing of 22-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, a police post was set on fire today in Romu of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. However, no injuries or casualties were reported from the attack. The security forces have been under attack after Wani was killed in an encounter. Earlier today, the militants attacked a police party at Warpora area of Sopore town in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. Three CRPF jawans were injured in a grenade attack yesterday. The death toll in the clashes between the protesters and the security forces in Kashmir has reached 30, as normal life remains paralysed in the valley due to curfew-like restrictions and separatists-sponsored strike in the wake of Wani`s killing in an encounter earlier on July 8. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today chaired a high-level meeting in the national capital where he appealed to maintain peace and calm in the valley. "The Prime Minister has hoped for peace and appealed that innocent lives are not disturbed," minister of state in Prime Minister`s Office, Jitendra Singh told the media after the meeting. Meanwhile, the United Nations has taken note of the unrest in Kashmir and issued a statement calling on restraint to avoid further violence. (ANI)

Police post set on fire in Kashmir as unrest continues

A police driver was killed today after a mob pushed his mobile bunker vehicle into river Jhelum in Anantnag district of Kashmir even as there was no trace of three cops reported missing since yesterday following a mob attack on a police station. 
 
In another incident, a head constable of police was shot in both legs by militants last night at his residence in Tral area of Pulwama district, a police official said. 
 
&quot;A mobile bunker of police was pushed into river by protestors and the driver (SPO Feroz Ahmad) in it has died,&quot; Education Minister Naeem Akhtar told reporters here. 
 
Referring to yesterday&#39;s incident in which a large mob attacked a police station, he said, &quot;Three policemen are still kidnapped. Although many were taken (hostage), some have returned.&quot; 
 
During that attack at Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir, the mob had taken 20 policemen hostage, snatched their weapons and shot at and injured three cops using those firearms. 
 
Nearly 100 policemen and paramilitary CRPF personnel were injured in stonepelting by protestors across Kashmir in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on Friday. 
 
(PTI) 
&nbsp;

In a separate incident, militants enter a head constable's home and shoot him in both legs

A police driver was killed today after a mob pushed his mobile bunker vehicle into river Jhelum in Anantnag district of Kashmir even as there was no trace of three cops reported missing since yesterday following a mob attack on a police station. In another incident, a head constable of police was shot in both legs by militants last night at his residence in Tral area of Pulwama district, a police official said. "A mobile bunker of police was pushed into river by protestors and the driver (SPO Feroz Ahmad) in it has died," Education Minister Naeem Akhtar told reporters here. Referring to yesterday's incident in which a large mob attacked a police station, he said, "Three policemen are still kidnapped. Although many were taken (hostage), some have returned." During that attack at Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir, the mob had taken 20 policemen hostage, snatched their weapons and shot at and injured three cops using those firearms. Nearly 100 policemen and paramilitary CRPF personnel were injured in stonepelting by protestors across Kashmir in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on Friday. (PTI)

Police driver dies after mob pushes his mobile bunker into Jhelum river

Security forces gunned down what they claimed was a top militant commander in India&#39;s Kashmir after a prolonged firefight today. 
 
The gun battle broke out after army and police launched a joint search operation in Kupwara district following a tip-off about the presence of the militant. 
 
The militant opened fire on the security forces as they zeroed in on the house he was hiding in. A heavy exchange of fire followed. 
 
Brigadier Rajeev Puri of the Indian army&#39;s Rashtriya Rifles said the militant belonged to the&nbsp;Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen&nbsp;group. 
 
&quot;We have recovered his body. We have been told that his name is Sameer Wani. Identification process is underway. He was a top commander of Hizbul (Mujahideen),&quot; Puri said. 
 
&quot;He had grenade and a pistol and other recoveries are being made. Parties (forces) have come out. We will give more information later. Operation is over,&quot; Puri added. 
 
Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. 
 
Militants killed eight paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and injured 20 others when they targeted a security convoy in Pampore town of the state on June 25. 
 
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack. 
 
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. 
 
India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them over to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. 
 
(Reuters)

Extremists had also attacked a security convoy on Saturday, killing 8 police officials and wounding 20

Security forces gunned down what they claimed was a top militant commander in India's Kashmir after a prolonged firefight today. The gun battle broke out after army and police launched a joint search operation in Kupwara district following a tip-off about the presence of the militant. The militant opened fire on the security forces as they zeroed in on the house he was hiding in. A heavy exchange of fire followed. Brigadier Rajeev Puri of the Indian army's Rashtriya Rifles said the militant belonged to the Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen group. "We have recovered his body. We have been told that his name is Sameer Wani. Identification process is underway. He was a top commander of Hizbul (Mujahideen)," Puri said. "He had grenade and a pistol and other recoveries are being made. Parties (forces) have come out. We will give more information later. Operation is over," Puri added. Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. Militants killed eight paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and injured 20 others when they targeted a security convoy in Pampore town of the state on June 25. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them over to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. (Reuters)

Security forces gun down militant in Indian Kashmir, say he was top commander

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