<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>By Niloy Sengupta &amp; Rumela Sen*</p>

<p>Jammu &amp; Kashmir witnessed a dastardly attack on a group of Hindu pilgrims, resulting in several casualties, mostly women. This attack is significant and has to be seen in the context of the ongoing conflict in the region and the overall Hindu-Muslim relations in India. In politics, as FDR had once said, nothing happens by accident. If that&rsquo;s true, the attack on Hindu pilgrims was planned and wasn&#39;t just a case of innocent civilians being caught in the cross-fire between the security forces and the militants.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Madhumita Saha, in her poignant <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/is-militancy-in-kashmir-taking-a-new-turn-with-the-amarnath-attack-17826">piece in WION</a>, wonders if militants acted out of desperation and if militancy would take a new turn in the area. We would like to argue, on the contrary, this follows a familiar playbook of escalation of violence, and militants are provoking New Delhi to push the conflict towards more militarisation. We wonder why is New Delhi happily obliging? &nbsp;</p>

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<h5>The movement that started as an aspiration of people for their own national identity, &ldquo;Kashmiriyat,&quot; has steadily metamorphosed towards Jihad.</h5>
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<p>That an increased militarisation will be able to finish off the conflict is a mere pipe-dream. J&amp;K is already one of the most militarised regions of the world with around 7 lakh security forces personnel already posted there. A generation of Kashmiris has now seen only jackboots and AK-47s in their land. Still, the conflict goes on unabated, through peaks and troughs of violence, crippling the economy of the region and the well-being of the citizens. The movement that started as an aspiration of people for their own national identity, &ldquo;Kashmiriyat,&quot; has steadily metamorphosed towards Jihad. And the two sides that have benefited from this strategic stalemate have been the Islamic fundamentalists of the region, with a lot of the leadership staying in the relative security of Pakistan.</p>

<p>The incentive for militants to kill pilgrims is pretty evident. As the voices for more powers to the army grows shriller in New Delhi and elsewhere, there will be more human rights violations in Kashmir, which, in turn, will provide more oxygen and local support to the radical Islamic fighters. The militancy that started as a moral outrage of local Kashmiris taking up arms under the JKLF banner is now largely under control of Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. The Kashmiri&nbsp;jihadi groups are acting as conduits to draw in the global Jihadi elements like Al-Qaeda and ISIS in the region, who already have significantly increased their presence in neighbouring Afghanistan and are just waiting to escalate the conflict to a whole new label.</p>

<p>Given the strategic location of J&amp;K, a military conflict is not about to end anytime soon. In fact, the recent rhetoric of the Hindu chauvinists in India, that the army can finish off the job in the next two years has not gone unnoticed in the rest of the world. Iran, who has been sitting on the sidelines regarding Kashmir and had been a good ally of India, has now called for support to the Kashmiri cause. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Looking at extremist movements elsewhere, it is pretty evident that few have been vanquished militarily. Two exceptions in South Asia were the total trouncing of Tamil Tigers and Khalistan militancy. Neither is comparable to Kashmir as they did not fit into global geo-politics. It would have been difficult for Sri Lanka to succeed militarily against the LTTE unless India took a &quot;hands-off&quot; policy following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and the terrible setback for the IPKF. Nobody should expect that Pakistan and the global Jihad industry will sit back and relax on the matter of Kashmir. &nbsp;</p>

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<h5>The Kashmiri&nbsp;jihadi groups are acting as conduits to draw in the global Jihadi elements like Al-Qaeda and ISIS in the region</h5>
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<p>On the other hand, there is already a model for de-escalation of violence and transition to democracy as shown by the Nepal Maoists and the FARC in Colombia. These models are important, as were bi-partite efforts and did not require interlocutors, as any otherwise would be unpalatable to New Delhi. That leaves us with important lessons and templates for resolving the Kashmir conflict.</p>

<p>It is important to note that political settlement of the Kashmir question is critical but not a necessary pre-condition to initiate the de-escalation process. In fact, as peace settles in, and people experience its benefits, there will be pressure from below to force the hardliners to change stance and stick to the negotiations rather taking up the gun again.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That brings us to the central argument for grassroots peacebuilding in Kashmir. It might sound like a clich&eacute; beaten to death by overuse, but grassroots democracy is the only solution to an intractable ethnic conflict. The mechanism is quite intuitive: as long as the two communities routinely interact with each other on ordinary, dull, day-to-day issues, the breadth of civic engagement checks violence. Everything, from street corner gup-shup, theatre, art, films to various professional and trade associations and labor unions, count.</p>

<p>There is a wealth of empirical evidence to show that villages constitute a remarkably small portion of ethnic rioting compared to cities, where inter-ethnic communication is relatively sparse. Ashutosh Varshney has meticulously documented that between 1950-1995, rural India accounted for only 3.6 per cent&nbsp;of death in communal violence whereas eight cities representing merely 5 per cent&nbsp;of India&rsquo;s population, accounted for 46 per cent&nbsp;of such deaths. He concludes that routine inter-ethnic engagement among Hindus and the Muslims kills rumours, banish radical elements to the sidelines and makes neighbourhood level peace possible. These local peace committees can act as bulwarks against rebel recruitment and polarising rhetoric and actions that precipitate violence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Only when the two communities communicate, their respective leaderships and other stakeholders will experience a bottom-up demand to negotiate a political settlement. Of course, there are time-tested measures of counter-insurgency that needs to be integrated with this framework of grassroots peacebuilding. But spiteful bravado of rightwing fundamentalists, cheering violent repression by the Indian state, and baying for the blood of all Kashmiri Muslims as terrorists, is bound to polarise the two communities further into their belligerent clamshells. This will obliterate any possibility of neighbourhood intimacy and choke the limited democratic space that can be the site of inter-ethnic dialogue and peacebuilding.</p>

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<h5>Instead of using surrendered militants against the current militants, the state needs to integrate former rebels into grassroots peacebuilding initiatives, both formal and informal.</h5>
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<p>A thriving associational life will also create opportunities for rebels to retire and reintegrate back into the mainstream. We need the boys and girls to return to democracy. The vitriolic rhetoric of hate trickling down to towns and neighborhoods makes the prospect of return impossible and unattractive to rebels ready to quit extremist groups. As part of the counterinsurgency strategy, the Indian state needs to start to engage the local population, who are pro-democracy but sensitive to the rebels&#39; cause, to build both neighborhood peace committees. Instead of using surrendered militants against the current militants, the state needs to integrate former rebels into grassroots peacebuilding initiatives, both formal and informal. In other words, potent counterinsurgency strategy in Kashmir is building a thriving network of inter-ethnic grassroots associations, which will contribute to increasing the lure of democracy in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Of course, there are many spoilers in the Kashmir conflict who have vested interests in aggravating communal relations and continuing the bloodbath. But by eroding the very secular and democratic fabric that holds the country together, by advocating extreme repression and taking every communal outbreak as an excuse for attacking the entire Muslim community in Kashmir, we are playing into the very hands of these spoilers and militants. None of this is unknown to those in power in New Delhi and Srinagar. The question is simple: do we want a long-term peaceful solution in Kashmir or not?&nbsp;</p>

<p>In spite of provocations such as the Amarnath incident, rich associational life, replete with inter-ethnic civic engagement, both formal and informal, building a bottom-up democracy is our only hope against extremism. It is often referred to as &quot;iron fist, velvet gloves&quot; in counterinsurgency terms. We simply suggest what we already know: guns don&rsquo;t keep the peace. Rabindranath Tagore said it so well. &quot;Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where walls don&rsquo;t break the world into fragments, where we keep the clear stream of reason unhindered by baggage, can peace and freedom prevail&quot;.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>* Rumela Sen&nbsp;is Post Doctoral Fellow in Political Science at Columbia University. She is researching political violence in South Asia. Twitter: @rsen02</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In spite of provocations such as the Amarnath incident, building a bottom-up democracy is India's only hope against extremism.

By Niloy Sengupta & Rumela Sen* Jammu & Kashmir witnessed a dastardly attack on a group of Hindu pilgrims, resulting in several casualties, mostly women. This attack is significant and has to be seen in the context of the ongoing conflict in the region and the overall Hindu-Muslim relations in India. In politics, as FDR had once said, nothing happens by accident. If that’s true, the attack on Hindu pilgrims was planned and wasn't just a case of innocent civilians being caught in the cross-fire between the security forces and the militants. Madhumita Saha, in her poignant piece in WION, wonders if militants acted out of desperation and if militancy would take a new turn in the area. We would like to argue, on the contrary, this follows a familiar playbook of escalation of violence, and militants are provoking New Delhi to push the conflict towards more militarisation. We wonder why is New Delhi happily obliging? The movement that started as an aspiration of people for their own national identity, “Kashmiriyat," has steadily metamorphosed towards Jihad. × That an increased militarisation will be able to finish off the conflict is a mere pipe-dream. J&K is already one of the most militarised regions of the world with around 7 lakh security forces personnel already posted there. A generation of Kashmiris has now seen only jackboots and AK-47s in their land. Still, the conflict goes on unabated, through peaks and troughs of violence, crippling the economy of the region and the well-being of the citizens. The movement that started as an aspiration of people for their own national identity, “Kashmiriyat," has steadily metamorphosed towards Jihad. And the two sides that have benefited from this strategic stalemate have been the Islamic fundamentalists of the region, with a lot of the leadership staying in the relative security of Pakistan. The incentive for militants to kill pilgrims is pretty evident. As the voices for more powers to the army grows shriller in New Delhi and elsewhere, there will be more human rights violations in Kashmir, which, in turn, will provide more oxygen and local support to the radical Islamic fighters. The militancy that started as a moral outrage of local Kashmiris taking up arms under the JKLF banner is now largely under control of Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. The Kashmiri jihadi groups are acting as conduits to draw in the global Jihadi elements like Al-Qaeda and ISIS in the region, who already have significantly increased their presence in neighbouring Afghanistan and are just waiting to escalate the conflict to a whole new label. Given the strategic location of J&K, a military conflict is not about to end anytime soon. In fact, the recent rhetoric of the Hindu chauvinists in India, that the army can finish off the job in the next two years has not gone unnoticed in the rest of the world. Iran, who has been sitting on the sidelines regarding Kashmir and had been a good ally of India, has now called for support to the Kashmiri cause. Looking at extremist movements elsewhere, it is pretty evident that few have been vanquished militarily. Two exceptions in South Asia were the total trouncing of Tamil Tigers and Khalistan militancy. Neither is comparable to Kashmir as they did not fit into global geo-politics. It would have been difficult for Sri Lanka to succeed militarily against the LTTE unless India took a "hands-off" policy following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and the terrible setback for the IPKF. Nobody should expect that Pakistan and the global Jihad industry will sit back and relax on the matter of Kashmir. The Kashmiri jihadi groups are acting as conduits to draw in the global Jihadi elements like Al-Qaeda and ISIS in the region × On the other hand, there is already a model for de-escalation of violence and transition to democracy as shown by the Nepal Maoists and the FARC in Colombia. These models are important, as were bi-partite efforts and did not require interlocutors, as any otherwise would be unpalatable to New Delhi. That leaves us with important lessons and templates for resolving the Kashmir conflict. It is important to note that political settlement of the Kashmir question is critical but not a necessary pre-condition to initiate the de-escalation process. In fact, as peace settles in, and people experience its benefits, there will be pressure from below to force the hardliners to change stance and stick to the negotiations rather taking up the gun again. That brings us to the central argument for grassroots peacebuilding in Kashmir. It might sound like a cliché beaten to death by overuse, but grassroots democracy is the only solution to an intractable ethnic conflict. The mechanism is quite intuitive: as long as the two communities routinely interact with each other on ordinary, dull, day-to-day issues, the breadth of civic engagement checks violence. Everything, from street corner gup-shup, theatre, art, films to various professional and trade associations and labor unions, count. There is a wealth of empirical evidence to show that villages constitute a remarkably small portion of ethnic rioting compared to cities, where inter-ethnic communication is relatively sparse. Ashutosh Varshney has meticulously documented that between 1950-1995, rural India accounted for only 3.6 per cent of death in communal violence whereas eight cities representing merely 5 per cent of India’s population, accounted for 46 per cent of such deaths. He concludes that routine inter-ethnic engagement among Hindus and the Muslims kills rumours, banish radical elements to the sidelines and makes neighbourhood level peace possible. These local peace committees can act as bulwarks against rebel recruitment and polarising rhetoric and actions that precipitate violence. Only when the two communities communicate, their respective leaderships and other stakeholders will experience a bottom-up demand to negotiate a political settlement. Of course, there are time-tested measures of counter-insurgency that needs to be integrated with this framework of grassroots peacebuilding. But spiteful bravado of rightwing fundamentalists, cheering violent repression by the Indian state, and baying for the blood of all Kashmiri Muslims as terrorists, is bound to polarise the two communities further into their belligerent clamshells. This will obliterate any possibility of neighbourhood intimacy and choke the limited democratic space that can be the site of inter-ethnic dialogue and peacebuilding. Instead of using surrendered militants against the current militants, the state needs to integrate former rebels into grassroots peacebuilding initiatives, both formal and informal. × A thriving associational life will also create opportunities for rebels to retire and reintegrate back into the mainstream. We need the boys and girls to return to democracy. The vitriolic rhetoric of hate trickling down to towns and neighborhoods makes the prospect of return impossible and unattractive to rebels ready to quit extremist groups. As part of the counterinsurgency strategy, the Indian state needs to start to engage the local population, who are pro-democracy but sensitive to the rebels' cause, to build both neighborhood peace committees. Instead of using surrendered militants against the current militants, the state needs to integrate former rebels into grassroots peacebuilding initiatives, both formal and informal. In other words, potent counterinsurgency strategy in Kashmir is building a thriving network of inter-ethnic grassroots associations, which will contribute to increasing the lure of democracy in the region. Of course, there are many spoilers in the Kashmir conflict who have vested interests in aggravating communal relations and continuing the bloodbath. But by eroding the very secular and democratic fabric that holds the country together, by advocating extreme repression and taking every communal outbreak as an excuse for attacking the entire Muslim community in Kashmir, we are playing into the very hands of these spoilers and militants. None of this is unknown to those in power in New Delhi and Srinagar. The question is simple: do we want a long-term peaceful solution in Kashmir or not? In spite of provocations such as the Amarnath incident, rich associational life, replete with inter-ethnic civic engagement, both formal and informal, building a bottom-up democracy is our only hope against extremism. It is often referred to as "iron fist, velvet gloves" in counterinsurgency terms. We simply suggest what we already know: guns don’t keep the peace. Rabindranath Tagore said it so well. "Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where walls don’t break the world into fragments, where we keep the clear stream of reason unhindered by baggage, can peace and freedom prevail". * Rumela Sen is Post Doctoral Fellow in Political Science at Columbia University. She is researching political violence in South Asia. Twitter: @rsen02

Grassroots democracy is Kashmir's only hope against militancy

<p>China said today that it was willing to play a &quot;constructive role&quot; in improving relations between India and Pakistan, PTI reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, PTI reported, said India and Pakistan are important South Asian countries but the &quot;situation in Kashmir has attracted the attention of the international community.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Geng added, PTI reported, that &quot;the conflict occurred near the Line of Control of Kashmir. This will not only harm the peace and stability of the two countries but also the peace and tranquillity of the region. We hope the relevant sides can do more things that are conducive for peace and stability in the region and avoiding escalating the tensions and China is willing to play constructive role in improving relations between India and Pakistan.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Geng was talking to reporters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incidents Geng was referring to were most probably the Hizbul militants killed today in Kashmir in an encounter with security forces, and the two Indian Army soldiers killed in cross-border firing with Pakistan near the LoC in Kupwara&#39;s Keran sector.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And on Monday evening, terrorists had attacked a bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in Anantnag.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Seven pilgrims, six of them women, had died in the attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the reason for Geng&#39;s words is the current India-China standoff in Doklam in Bhutan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China claims Doklam and had begun building a road there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Bhutanese Army had tried to stop them but were unable to.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They then asked Indian troops for help, who intervened.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China has been threatening to use the same logic to intervene in the India-Pakistan imbroglio.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A recent article in the state-run Global Times (known for its hawkish views) said a &quot;third country&#39;s&quot; army could enter Kashmir at Pakistan&#39;s request using the &quot;logic&quot; India did in Doklam.&nbsp;</p>


The 'situation in Kashmir has attracted the attention of the international community,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said

China said today that it was willing to play a "constructive role" in improving relations between India and Pakistan, PTI reported. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, PTI reported, said India and Pakistan are important South Asian countries but the "situation in Kashmir has attracted the attention of the international community." Geng added, PTI reported, that "the conflict occurred near the Line of Control of Kashmir. This will not only harm the peace and stability of the two countries but also the peace and tranquillity of the region. We hope the relevant sides can do more things that are conducive for peace and stability in the region and avoiding escalating the tensions and China is willing to play constructive role in improving relations between India and Pakistan." Geng was talking to reporters. The incidents Geng was referring to were most probably the Hizbul militants killed today in Kashmir in an encounter with security forces, and the two Indian Army soldiers killed in cross-border firing with Pakistan near the LoC in Kupwara's Keran sector. And on Monday evening, terrorists had attacked a bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in Anantnag. Seven pilgrims, six of them women, had died in the attack. But the reason for Geng's words is the current India-China standoff in Doklam in Bhutan. China claims Doklam and had begun building a road there. The Bhutanese Army had tried to stop them but were unable to. They then asked Indian troops for help, who intervened. China has been threatening to use the same logic to intervene in the India-Pakistan imbroglio. A recent article in the state-run Global Times (known for its hawkish views) said a "third country's" army could enter Kashmir at Pakistan's request using the "logic" India did in Doklam.

China: Willing to play 'constructive role' in improving India-Pak relations

<p>Seven Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, six of them women, have been killed in a terror attack in Anantnag in Kashmir.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nineteen&nbsp;other pilgrims were injured in the attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Five of those killed were from Gujarat and two from Maharashtra.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash">#UPDATE</a>: Police confirms death of seven Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in terror attack in Anantnag, 15 injured</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884449414772703232">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>There were conflicting reports about the attack, with some reports saying the terrorists had first attacked a police party and then a bus carrying the yatris.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PTI however reported police as saying the terrorists first attacked a bullet-proof police bunker at Botengoo. The police retaliated, but there were no injuries on either side.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="et"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti visits the injured <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarnathYatra?src=hash">#AmarnathYatra</a> pilgrims in Anantnag hospital. <a href="https://t.co/jcGyst45ap">pic.twitter.com/jcGyst45ap</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884488853117063168">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The terrorists then fired at a police picket near Khannabal, said police.</p>

<p>When the police retaliated this time, the terrorists fled, firing indiscriminately.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And that the bus -- carrying yatris&nbsp;mostly from Gujarat -- was caught in the crossfire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bus number was reported as GJ09Z9976.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ANI reported one victim as saying, &quot;We were sleeping, there was firing from both the sides.&quot;</p>

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<p>Survivors talk about the Amarnath Yatra attack (WION)</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Scenes from the hospital in J&amp;K&#39;s Anantnag where injured <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarnathYatra?src=hash">#AmarnathYatra</a> pilgrims have been admitted post terror attack <a href="https://t.co/Kdn54adES5">pic.twitter.com/Kdn54adES5</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884477776077570048">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti met the injured in Anantnag hospital.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Terror attack: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti meets the injured <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarnathYatra?src=hash">#AmarnathYatra</a> pilgrims in Anantnag hospital. <a href="https://t.co/94cjM7CgXy">pic.twitter.com/94cjM7CgXy</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884487573069938689">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;I have no words to condemn this, hope those involved will be arrested and punished soon,&quot; she said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I have no words to condemn this, hope those involved will be arrested and punished soon: J&amp;K CM Mehbooba Mufti on Anantnag terror attack <a href="https://t.co/ItIFQM3JsP">pic.twitter.com/ItIFQM3JsP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884483470373789696">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Visuals from the hospital where injured <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarnathYatra?src=hash">#AmarnathYatra</a> pilgrims have been admitted in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Anantnag post terror attack. <a href="https://t.co/lqjL6fetfd">pic.twitter.com/lqjL6fetfd</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884472379581251584">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Prime Minister&nbsp;Narendra Modi tweeted: &quot;Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&amp;K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, &quot;India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks &amp; the evil designs of hate.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&amp;K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone.</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/884459474810843137">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks &amp; the evil designs of hate.</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/884459796165820417">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Both Modi and union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke with both the J&amp;K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Governor NN Vohra, assuring them of all possible help.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Defence minister Arun Jaitley said the &quot;terrorist attack on Amarnath Yatra is the most reprehensible act. This should add to our determination to eliminate terrorism.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Congress President Sonia Gandhi also expressed sorrow over the attack, asking for an investigation into lapses in security.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sonia Gandhi expresses sorrow over the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Anantnag?src=hash">#Anantnag</a> attack targeting <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarnathYatra?src=hash">#AmarnathYatra</a> pilgrims, asks for investigation into lapses in security. <a href="https://t.co/SvsZJ8qx0M">pic.twitter.com/SvsZJ8qx0M</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884466399371862016">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, &quot;India will never be intimidated by these terrorist cowards.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India will never be intimidated by these terrorist cowards</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/884470353333964801">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I share the pain &amp; anguish of families who lost loved ones in the terror attack on innocent Amarnath Yatris today</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/884470203962097666">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is a grave &amp; unacceptable security lapse. The PM needs to accept responsibility and never allow it to happen again</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/884470623539298304">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>PDP youth president Waheed Ur Rehman Para said, &quot;This is to create communal tension in the state of J&amp;K, darkest era we have seen in our life.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The PDP shares power with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is to create communal tensions in the state of J&amp;K, darkest era we have seen in our life :Waheed Ur Rehman Para, youth president of PDP <a href="https://t.co/Kq3BgGcnw7">pic.twitter.com/Kq3BgGcnw7</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884475937135263745">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s minister of state for education Priya Sethi, speaking to WION, said eight pilgrims had died, and that 14 had been injured.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PTI reported police as saying the bus should not&nbsp;have been out on the road; that buses on the Amarnath route are not allowed out after 7 pm.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The attack took place at 8.20 pm.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CRPF director general RR Bhatnagar told media that the bus had been behind a J&amp;K police jeep, that the terrorists fired at the jeep first, but that he could not be certain of who the target might have been.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhatnagar said the bus was not registered with the Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that the bus carrying registered Amarnath yatris was part of a convoy and had crossed the attack site during the day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added further that a CRPF camp located 3.5 km away from the attack site had also been attacked but that jawans had foiled the attack and that nobody had been injured. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, ANI reported that internet services had been blocked in Kashmir in view of the tense situation and that troops of 90 battalion and 40 battalion&nbsp;of the CRPF had been rushed to the attack site.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Watch video of visuals from the attack site below: </em>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Another 15 yatris were injured in the attack (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Security has been enhanced at Jammu-Srinagar National highway in Udhampur following terror attack on Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in Anantnag. <a href="https://t.co/9MKI46fglP">pic.twitter.com/9MKI46fglP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884448681017069568">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Former chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: &quot;The one thing we had all feared this year during the yatra. In spite of recent successes against militants &amp; unprecedented force presence.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added: &quot;Very sad news. The attack cannot be condemned strongly enough. My sympathies to the families &amp; prayers for the injured.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The one thing we had all feared this year during the yatra. In spite of recent successes against militants &amp; unprecedented force presence. <a href="https://t.co/NUkScKdGfl">https://t.co/NUkScKdGfl</a></p>
&mdash; Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) <a href="https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar/status/884437557064237056">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Very sad news. The attack cannot be condemned strongly enough. My sympathies to the families &amp; prayers for the injured.</p>
&mdash; Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) <a href="https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar/status/884437806252032003">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Gujarat chief minister condemned the attack and said that &quot;India will never get bogged down by such acts&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Condemn cowardly attack, India will never get bogged down by such acts: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on attack on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarnathYatra?src=hash">#AmarnathYatra</a> pilgrims <a href="https://t.co/gsZSXmVO5j">pic.twitter.com/gsZSXmVO5j</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/884480273886232576">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Six of the dead were women, 19 other pilgrims were injured in the attack

Seven Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, six of them women, have been killed in a terror attack in Anantnag in Kashmir. Nineteen other pilgrims were injured in the attack. Five of those killed were from Gujarat and two from Maharashtra. #UPDATE: Police confirms death of seven Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in terror attack in Anantnag, 15 injured — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 × There were conflicting reports about the attack, with some reports saying the terrorists had first attacked a police party and then a bus carrying the yatris. PTI however reported police as saying the terrorists first attacked a bullet-proof police bunker at Botengoo. The police retaliated, but there were no injuries on either side. #WATCH: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti visits the injured #AmarnathYatra pilgrims in Anantnag hospital. pic.twitter.com/jcGyst45ap — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 × The terrorists then fired at a police picket near Khannabal, said police. When the police retaliated this time, the terrorists fled, firing indiscriminately. And that the bus -- carrying yatris mostly from Gujarat -- was caught in the crossfire. The bus number was reported as GJ09Z9976. ANI reported one victim as saying, "We were sleeping, there was firing from both the sides." Survivors talk about the Amarnath Yatra attack (WION) × #WATCH: Scenes from the hospital in J&K's Anantnag where injured #AmarnathYatra pilgrims have been admitted post terror attack pic.twitter.com/Kdn54adES5 — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 × Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti met the injured in Anantnag hospital. Terror attack: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti meets the injured #AmarnathYatra pilgrims in Anantnag hospital. pic.twitter.com/94cjM7CgXy — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 × "I have no words to condemn this, hope those involved will be arrested and punished soon," she said. I have no words to condemn this, hope those involved will be arrested and punished soon: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti on Anantnag terror attack pic.twitter.com/ItIFQM3JsP — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 × Visuals from the hospital where injured #AmarnathYatra pilgrims have been admitted in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag post terror attack. pic.twitter.com/lqjL6fetfd — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 × Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone." He added, "India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks & the evil designs of hate." Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2017 × India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks & the evil designs of hate. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2017 × Both Modi and union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke with both the J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Governor NN Vohra, assuring them of all possible help. Defence minister Arun Jaitley said the "terrorist attack on Amarnath Yatra is the most reprehensible act. This should add to our determination to eliminate terrorism." Congress President Sonia Gandhi also expressed sorrow over the attack, asking for an investigation into lapses in security. Sonia Gandhi expresses sorrow over the #Anantnag attack targeting #AmarnathYatra pilgrims, asks for investigation into lapses in security. pic.twitter.com/SvsZJ8qx0M — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 × Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "India will never be intimidated by these terrorist cowards." India will never be intimidated by these terrorist cowards — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017 × I share the pain & anguish of families who lost loved ones in the terror attack on innocent Amarnath Yatris today — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017 × This is a grave & unacceptable security lapse. The PM needs to accept responsibility and never allow it to happen again — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017 × PDP youth president Waheed Ur Rehman Para said, "This is to create communal tension in the state of J&K, darkest era we have seen in our life." The PDP shares power with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir. This is to create communal tensions in the state of J&K, darkest era we have seen in our life :Waheed Ur Rehman Para, youth president of PDP pic.twitter.com/Kq3BgGcnw7 — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 × Jammu and Kashmir's minister of state for education Priya Sethi, speaking to WION, said eight pilgrims had died, and that 14 had been injured. PTI reported police as saying the bus should not have been out on the road; that buses on the Amarnath route are not allowed out after 7 pm. The attack took place at 8.20 pm. The CRPF director general RR Bhatnagar told media that the bus had been behind a J&K police jeep, that the terrorists fired at the jeep first, but that he could not be certain of who the target might have been. Bhatnagar said the bus was not registered with the Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board. He added that the bus carrying registered Amarnath yatris was part of a convoy and had crossed the attack site during the day. He added further that a CRPF camp located 3.5 km away from the attack site had also been attacked but that jawans had foiled the attack and that nobody had been injured. Meanwhile, ANI reported that internet services had been blocked in Kashmir in view of the tense situation and that troops of 90 battalion and 40 battalion of the CRPF had been rushed to the attack site. Watch video of visuals from the attack site below: Another 15 yatris were injured in the attack (WION) × Security has been enhanced at Jammu-Srinagar National highway in Udhampur following terror attack on Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in Anantnag. pic.twitter.com/9MKI46fglP — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 × Former chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: "The one thing we had all feared this year during the yatra. In spite of recent successes against militants & unprecedented force presence." He added: "Very sad news. The attack cannot be condemned strongly enough. My sympathies to the families & prayers for the injured." The one thing we had all feared this year during the yatra. In spite of recent successes against militants & unprecedented force presence. https://t.co/NUkScKdGfl — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 10, 2017 × Very sad news. The attack cannot be condemned strongly enough. My sympathies to the families & prayers for the injured. — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 10, 2017 × Gujarat chief minister condemned the attack and said that "India will never get bogged down by such acts". Condemn cowardly attack, India will never get bogged down by such acts: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on attack on #AmarnathYatra pilgrims pic.twitter.com/gsZSXmVO5j — ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017 ×

Seven Amarnath Yatra pilgrims killed in terror attack in Anantnag, Kashmir

<p>A Special Police Officer (SPO) suffered minor injuries after terrorists hurled a grenade on a temporary police post at Tral&#39;s Aripal in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir last night.</p>

<p>Yesterday, two army jawans were injured in a terror attack in Hajin area of Bandipora.</p>

<p>On July 3, terrorists opened fire on a Police patrol party in South Kashmir&#39;s Anantnag, in which one cop was injured.</p>


Yesterday, two army jawans were injured in a terror attack in Hajin area of Bandipora

A Special Police Officer (SPO) suffered minor injuries after terrorists hurled a grenade on a temporary police post at Tral's Aripal in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir last night. Yesterday, two army jawans were injured in a terror attack in Hajin area of Bandipora. On July 3, terrorists opened fire on a Police patrol party in South Kashmir's Anantnag, in which one cop was injured.

Special Police Officer injured in grenade attack in Kashmir

<p>Security forces shot dead two terrorists after an encounter at the Delhi Public School in Srinagar&#39;s Pantha Chowk on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Two Indian Army personnel were also injured in the&nbsp;gunbattle and have been taken to a hospital, an official said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Staff&amp; ppl inside building were evacuated y&#39;day. We&#39;ll hv room intervention done&amp; get these terrorists eliminated: J&amp;K DGP SP Vaid <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Srinagar?src=hash">#Srinagar</a> <a href="https://t.co/B0dmMfkqCe">pic.twitter.com/B0dmMfkqCe</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/878843262554984448">June 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The militants had entered the premises of DPS Srinagar last evening after carrying out an attack on the CRPF personnel deployed on road opening duty near the school on Srinagar-Jammu national highway.</p>

<p>One CRPF officer was killed and a constable of the force injured in the attack that took place in the high-security zone located less than a kilometre away from headquarters of Army&#39;s Chinar Corps.</p>

<p>Indian soldiers surrounded the school on Saturday evening as the militants continued firing on troops surrounding the campus, said Muneer Ahmed Khan, inspector general of police in Kashmir.</p>

<p>&quot;The operation is continuing. We are... searching floor by floor, and room by room. It will take time,&quot; he earlier told AFP.</p>

<p>&quot;The exchange of firing between security forces and militants began at around 3.40 am and is going on intermittently, &quot; a police official said.</p>

<p>Restrictions under Section 144 have been imposed in the area, Srinagar&#39;s Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad said.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The terrorists were holed up in the Delhi Public School building at Srinagar's Pantha chowk

Security forces shot dead two terrorists after an encounter at the Delhi Public School in Srinagar's Pantha Chowk on Sunday. Two Indian Army personnel were also injured in the gunbattle and have been taken to a hospital, an official said. Staff& ppl inside building were evacuated y'day. We'll hv room intervention done& get these terrorists eliminated: J&K DGP SP Vaid #Srinagar pic.twitter.com/B0dmMfkqCe — ANI (@ANI_news) June 25, 2017 × The militants had entered the premises of DPS Srinagar last evening after carrying out an attack on the CRPF personnel deployed on road opening duty near the school on Srinagar-Jammu national highway. One CRPF officer was killed and a constable of the force injured in the attack that took place in the high-security zone located less than a kilometre away from headquarters of Army's Chinar Corps. Indian soldiers surrounded the school on Saturday evening as the militants continued firing on troops surrounding the campus, said Muneer Ahmed Khan, inspector general of police in Kashmir. "The operation is continuing. We are... searching floor by floor, and room by room. It will take time," he earlier told AFP. "The exchange of firing between security forces and militants began at around 3.40 am and is going on intermittently, " a police official said. Restrictions under Section 144 have been imposed in the area, Srinagar's Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad said.

J&K: 2 terrorists shot dead after encounter with security forces in Srinagar school

<p>A police officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was lynched&nbsp;to death by an angry mob outside Srinagar&#39;s Jamia Masjid on Thursday night.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The officer, identified as the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Ayub Pandith,&nbsp;was apparently attacked because he had allegedly been taking pictures of people coming out of the mosque. He was reportedly in plainclothes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports said when the mob tried to catch the officer, he shot at them with a pistol.&nbsp;Three people are injured.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The officer&#39;s service revolver is reportedly missing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The attack occurred while a separatist leader was speaking inside the mosque amid tight security on Laylat al Qadr, one of the holiest nights of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, Reuters reported.</p>

<p>Witnesses said worshippers confronted Mohammed Ayub Pandith as he took pictures with his mobile phone outside the Jamia (Grand) Mosque in Srinagar during the festival of Lailat-ul-Qadr, when Muslims hold late-night prayers.</p>

<p>He drew out his pistol and fired, injuring three, as his colleague fled the scene, they said.</p>

<p>&quot;Some youths at that point immediately pounced on him, snatched his weapon and more people came and started beating him up,&quot; a witness told AFP, declining to give his name.</p>

<p>Some reports said the officer was stripped naked and then beaten to death.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Srinagar: Wreath laying ceremony of Deputy SP Mohammed Ayub Pandith of Security beaten to death by mob in J&amp;K&#39;s Nowhatta last night <a href="https://t.co/gtrmDY0xF0">pic.twitter.com/gtrmDY0xF0</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/878125836225847297">June 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Srinagar?src=hash">#Srinagar</a>: Family mourns the death of Deputy SP Mohammed Ayub Pandith, beaten to death by mob in J&amp;K&#39;s Nowhatta last night <a href="https://t.co/kjv6QtCvCa">pic.twitter.com/kjv6QtCvCa</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/878152063930122240">June 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti meanwhile told the people of Kashmir not to test the patience of the police.</p>

<p>&quot;Nothing can be more shameful than to kill someone who works for the welfare of the people. The Jammu and Kashmir Police are showing maximum restraint as they are dealing with their own people, but for how long? Someday when they will lose their patience, then it would become very difficult for the people,&quot; Mufti said after attending Pandith&#39;s wreath-laying ceremony.</p>

<p>She added,&nbsp;&quot;Our police is one of the best police force&nbsp;in the country, showing maximum restraint because they feel they&#39;re dealing with their own people.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>J&amp;K DGP SP Vaid said two of the people involved in the attack have been arrested, and a third person identified.</p>

<p>&quot;They will have to face the law,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Two people have been arrested, third person identified. They will have to face the law: J&amp;K DGP SP Vaid <a href="https://t.co/4Ab6bj1CCY">pic.twitter.com/4Ab6bj1CCY</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/878137652158971904">June 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>.</p>


The officer was reportedly attacked because he was allegedly taking pictures of people coming out of the mosque

A police officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was lynched to death by an angry mob outside Srinagar's Jamia Masjid on Thursday night. The officer, identified as the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Ayub Pandith, was apparently attacked because he had allegedly been taking pictures of people coming out of the mosque. He was reportedly in plainclothes. Reports said when the mob tried to catch the officer, he shot at them with a pistol. Three people are injured. The officer's service revolver is reportedly missing. The attack occurred while a separatist leader was speaking inside the mosque amid tight security on Laylat al Qadr, one of the holiest nights of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, Reuters reported. Witnesses said worshippers confronted Mohammed Ayub Pandith as he took pictures with his mobile phone outside the Jamia (Grand) Mosque in Srinagar during the festival of Lailat-ul-Qadr, when Muslims hold late-night prayers. He drew out his pistol and fired, injuring three, as his colleague fled the scene, they said. "Some youths at that point immediately pounced on him, snatched his weapon and more people came and started beating him up," a witness told AFP, declining to give his name. Some reports said the officer was stripped naked and then beaten to death. Srinagar: Wreath laying ceremony of Deputy SP Mohammed Ayub Pandith of Security beaten to death by mob in J&K's Nowhatta last night pic.twitter.com/gtrmDY0xF0 — ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2017 × #Srinagar: Family mourns the death of Deputy SP Mohammed Ayub Pandith, beaten to death by mob in J&K's Nowhatta last night pic.twitter.com/kjv6QtCvCa — ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2017 × Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti meanwhile told the people of Kashmir not to test the patience of the police. "Nothing can be more shameful than to kill someone who works for the welfare of the people. The Jammu and Kashmir Police are showing maximum restraint as they are dealing with their own people, but for how long? Someday when they will lose their patience, then it would become very difficult for the people," Mufti said after attending Pandith's wreath-laying ceremony. She added, "Our police is one of the best police force in the country, showing maximum restraint because they feel they're dealing with their own people." J&K DGP SP Vaid said two of the people involved in the attack have been arrested, and a third person identified. "They will have to face the law," he said. Two people have been arrested, third person identified. They will have to face the law: J&K DGP SP Vaid pic.twitter.com/4Ab6bj1CCY — ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2017 × .

Kashmir: Police officer lynched to death outside Srinagar's Jamia Masjid

<p>A civilian was killed by security forces&#39;&nbsp;firing pellets&nbsp;amid clashes with&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;in south Kashmir&#39;s Pulwama district in the&nbsp;Kakapora area Thursday, <a href="http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/kashmir-civilian-killed-in-kakapora-clashes/252947.html" target="_blank">Greater Kashmir</a> reports.</p>

<p>An official said the man who died, Touseef Ahmad Wani from the district&#39;s Tengpuna village, sustained multiple pellet injuries.</p>

<p>He was brought to the hospital, but was declared dead by the time he arrived.</p>

<p><strong>Different reports about the preceding events</strong></p>

<p>The Greater Kashmir referenced above reports that youth had taken to the streets after three militants were killed earlier in a gunfight.</p>

<p>The <a href="http://kashmirreader.com/2017/06/22/civilian-killed-south-kashmir-clashes/">Kashmir Reader</a> reports that the youth were attending the funeral of the militants killed earlier. They also say two militants died, not three.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, NDTV also reports that it was three Laskhkar-e-Taiba terrorists&nbsp;killed and one&nbsp;Army officer injured in what was a&nbsp;six-hour encounter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Touseef Ahmad Wani sustained multiple pellet injuries and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital

A civilian was killed by security forces' firing pellets amid clashes with protesters in south Kashmir's Pulwama district in the Kakapora area Thursday, Greater Kashmir reports. An official said the man who died, Touseef Ahmad Wani from the district's Tengpuna village, sustained multiple pellet injuries. He was brought to the hospital, but was declared dead by the time he arrived. Different reports about the preceding events The Greater Kashmir referenced above reports that youth had taken to the streets after three militants were killed earlier in a gunfight. The Kashmir Reader reports that the youth were attending the funeral of the militants killed earlier. They also say two militants died, not three. Meanwhile, NDTV also reports that it was three Laskhkar-e-Taiba terrorists killed and one Army officer injured in what was a six-hour encounter.

Civilian killed in clashes with Indian security forces in Kashmir

<p>UN chief Antonio Guterres has said he is engaged in bringing about a dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue through his meetings with the prime ministers of the two countries.</p>

<p>&quot;Why do you think I met three times the Prime Minister of Pakistan and two times the Prime Minister of India,&quot; Guterres said with a laughter, responding to a question during a press briefing here whether he is engaged in bringing about dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute.</p>

<p>&quot;For someone accused of doing nothing, it is quite a number of meetings,&quot; the Secretary General said, referring to criticism that he has been shying away and is reluctant to act to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.</p>

<p>Guterres, addressing reporters at his first press conference at the world body&#39;s headquarters since assuming office in January, was asked about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control and the ceasefire violations since he assumed office.</p>

<p>Guterres did not elaborate further but through his response he did not make any indication that he will act as a mediator between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.</p>

<p>Modi and Guterres had met in St Petersburg earlier in June on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. During the meeting, Modi had stressed on multilateralism to address global challenges such as terrorism.</p>

<p>Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the UN chief had met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos in January and again this month in Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.</p>

<p>Guterres&#39; spokesman Stephane Dujarric, when asked at press briefings about the Secretary General&#39;s response to the situation in Kashmir, has repeatedly said that Guterres is following the situation in the region closely.</p>

<p>The UN Chief has not made any direct intervention to resolve the issue, reiterating his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue.</p>

<p>Pakistan continuously raises the Kashmir issue at the UN seeking the world body&#39;s intervention in the dispute with India. But New Delhi has always maintained that Kashmir is a bilateral issue with Islamabad.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


He did not elaborate further, but also did not make any indication that he will act as mediator between India and Pakistan

UN chief Antonio Guterres has said he is engaged in bringing about a dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue through his meetings with the prime ministers of the two countries. "Why do you think I met three times the Prime Minister of Pakistan and two times the Prime Minister of India," Guterres said with a laughter, responding to a question during a press briefing here whether he is engaged in bringing about dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute. "For someone accused of doing nothing, it is quite a number of meetings," the Secretary General said, referring to criticism that he has been shying away and is reluctant to act to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. Guterres, addressing reporters at his first press conference at the world body's headquarters since assuming office in January, was asked about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control and the ceasefire violations since he assumed office. Guterres did not elaborate further but through his response he did not make any indication that he will act as a mediator between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. Modi and Guterres had met in St Petersburg earlier in June on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. During the meeting, Modi had stressed on multilateralism to address global challenges such as terrorism. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the UN chief had met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos in January and again this month in Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, when asked at press briefings about the Secretary General's response to the situation in Kashmir, has repeatedly said that Guterres is following the situation in the region closely. The UN Chief has not made any direct intervention to resolve the issue, reiterating his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue. Pakistan continuously raises the Kashmir issue at the UN seeking the world body's intervention in the dispute with India. But New Delhi has always maintained that Kashmir is a bilateral issue with Islamabad. (PTI)

UN chief Guterres says he is engaged in bringing about India-Pak dialogue over Kashmir

<p>Unidentified gunmen attacked an Army patrol party in Kashmir.</p>

<p>The Army responded to the firing by the gunmen&nbsp;and one civilian got&nbsp;injured, according to a statement by the Army.</p>

<p>(More details awaited)</p>


One civilian has been injured in the attack

Unidentified gunmen attacked an Army patrol party in Kashmir. The Army responded to the firing by the gunmen and one civilian got injured, according to a statement by the Army. (More details awaited)

Kashmir: Unidentified gunmen open fire on Army patrol party

<p>Army chief General Bipin Rawat said the human shield tactic&nbsp;cannot become the standard operating procedure in the Valley, the <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/human-shield-tactic-is-not-our-sop-army-chief-gen-bipin-rawat-says/articleshow/59198761.cms" target="_blank">Times of India</a> reports. The human shield&nbsp;tactic drew a lot of criticism after a Major, Leetul Gogoi, tied a civilian up to his jeep.</p>

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<p>A man was strapped to the front of a police jeep purportedly to be used as a human shield against stone pelters (DNA)</p>
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<p>This is something of&nbsp;a reversal for Rawat, who earlier said that Major Gogoi&#39;s decision prevented casualties and injuries. Rawat added that the armed forces are sensitive to issues of human rights, and have always maintained a good record.</p>

<p>Rawat&#39;s earlier support for human shields taken against this recent reversal makes it hard to peg down exactly where he currently stands: Is he in favour of human shields so long as they potentially protect against injuries or death? If so, when&nbsp;<em>isn&#39;t&nbsp;</em>he against them?&nbsp;He never said they are never acceptable,&nbsp;only&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;cannot become standard operating procedure.</p>

<p>After, he told the media that security force were working hard to bring normalcy to Kashmir, and said the situation was &quot;not deteriorating&quot;.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Earlier, General Bipin Rawat said Gogoi's use of a human shield prevented casualties injuries

Army chief General Bipin Rawat said the human shield tactic cannot become the standard operating procedure in the Valley, the Times of India reports. The human shield tactic drew a lot of criticism after a Major, Leetul Gogoi, tied a civilian up to his jeep. A man was strapped to the front of a police jeep purportedly to be used as a human shield against stone pelters (DNA) × This is something of a reversal for Rawat, who earlier said that Major Gogoi's decision prevented casualties and injuries. Rawat added that the armed forces are sensitive to issues of human rights, and have always maintained a good record. Rawat's earlier support for human shields taken against this recent reversal makes it hard to peg down exactly where he currently stands: Is he in favour of human shields so long as they potentially protect against injuries or death? If so, when isn't he against them? He never said they are never acceptable, only that it cannot become standard operating procedure. After, he told the media that security force were working hard to bring normalcy to Kashmir, and said the situation was "not deteriorating".

Human shield not to become 'standard operating procedure': Army chief

<p>Suspected militants shot a civilian Saturday night in the Pulwama district of south Kashmir, police said.</p>

<p>PTI reported police as saying Aijaz Ahmad Malik (27) was shot at and critically injured by militants outside his home in Arrubugh around 10.30 pm.</p>

<p>Malik was rushed to hospital&nbsp;but died from his injuries, police added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash">#UPDATE</a> Ajaz Ahmed Malik, the civilian who was injured in firing by terrorists in Pulwama has succumbed to his injuries</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/876253607170981888">June 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>It is not known why the suspected militants attacked Malik, but the killing is again indicative of the worsening situation in Kashmir.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Militants in Kashmir have of late taken to targeting local army and police personnel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In May this year, militants kidnapped and killed Lt Ummer Fayaz who was home on leave from the army.</p>

<p>Fayaz was Kashmiri.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was abducted from a cousin&#39;s wedding which he was attending at the time.&nbsp;</p>


27-year-old Aijaz Ahmad Malik was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries

Suspected militants shot a civilian Saturday night in the Pulwama district of south Kashmir, police said. PTI reported police as saying Aijaz Ahmad Malik (27) was shot at and critically injured by militants outside his home in Arrubugh around 10.30 pm. Malik was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries, police added. #UPDATE Ajaz Ahmed Malik, the civilian who was injured in firing by terrorists in Pulwama has succumbed to his injuries — ANI (@ANI_news) June 18, 2017 × It is not known why the suspected militants attacked Malik, but the killing is again indicative of the worsening situation in Kashmir. Militants in Kashmir have of late taken to targeting local army and police personnel. In May this year, militants kidnapped and killed Lt Ummer Fayaz who was home on leave from the army. Fayaz was Kashmiri. He was abducted from a cousin's wedding which he was attending at the time.

Kashmir: Suspected militants shoot dead civilian in Pulwama

<p>In a major&nbsp;success for security forces, two terrorists including Lashkar commander Junaid Mattoo have been killed in a joint operation by the Indian Army, SoG and CRPF in Kashmir&#39;s Kulgam district.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Two terrorists including Lashkar Commander Junaid Mattoo have been eliminated in the Kulgam encounter by Indian Army, SoG and CRPF. <a href="https://t.co/ikCblNx3V4">pic.twitter.com/ikCblNx3V4</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/875657161690370048">June 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The joint&nbsp;operation was carried out early on Friday morning after they received information that three terrorists were reportedly holed up in a building at Idgah Mohalla in Kulgam&#39;s Arwani village.</p>

<p>According to reports, a 22-year-old civilian was also killed during clashes between the security forces and the protesters.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">J&amp;K: A 22-year-old killed during clashes between security forces &amp; protesters in Kulgam&#39;s Arwani village</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/875634927928172547">June 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The civilians clashed with security forces to help the terrorists escape from the area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Junaid Mattoo was one of the most wanted terrorists operating in Kashmir.</p>

<p>The 20-year-old Lashkar commander was mentioned in the list of 12 most wanted terrorists released by the Indian Army in May.</p>

<p>The list also includes the names of Lashkar-e-Taiba&#39;s commander Abu Dujana and Hizbul Mujahideen&#39;s Zakir Musa.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The three terrorists were holed up inside a building in Kashmir's Kulgam district

In a major success for security forces, two terrorists including Lashkar commander Junaid Mattoo have been killed in a joint operation by the Indian Army, SoG and CRPF in Kashmir's Kulgam district. Two terrorists including Lashkar Commander Junaid Mattoo have been eliminated in the Kulgam encounter by Indian Army, SoG and CRPF. pic.twitter.com/ikCblNx3V4 — ANI (@ANI_news) June 16, 2017 × The joint operation was carried out early on Friday morning after they received information that three terrorists were reportedly holed up in a building at Idgah Mohalla in Kulgam's Arwani village. According to reports, a 22-year-old civilian was also killed during clashes between the security forces and the protesters. J&K: A 22-year-old killed during clashes between security forces & protesters in Kulgam's Arwani village — ANI (@ANI_news) June 16, 2017 × The civilians clashed with security forces to help the terrorists escape from the area. Junaid Mattoo was one of the most wanted terrorists operating in Kashmir. The 20-year-old Lashkar commander was mentioned in the list of 12 most wanted terrorists released by the Indian Army in May. The list also includes the names of Lashkar-e-Taiba's commander Abu Dujana and Hizbul Mujahideen's Zakir Musa.

Two terrorists including Lashkar commander Junaid Mattoo killed in Kashmir encounter

<p>Six policemen were killed when heavily-armed terrorists attacked a vehicle in which they were travelling in the outskirts of Kashmir&#39;s Anantnag district.</p>

<p>Those who were killed included the Station House Officer of Achabal area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The policemen were shot by the terrorists from close range. After killing them, they escaped with their weapons.</p>

<p>The terrorists had laid a trap on the&nbsp;Anantnag-Achabal road. The police party was not travelling in a bullet-proof vehicle.</p>

<p>All six policemen including&nbsp;Feroz Ahmed, a 2010 batch Sub-Inspector, died on the spot.</p>

<p>&quot;It is an unfortunate incident to have lost six men including Sub-Inspector Feroz, a resident of Pulwama. Their contribution to the police service will be remembered,&quot; Director General of Police S P Vaid told news agency PTI.</p>

<p>The combing operations are underway in the area.</p>

<p>The attack comes on a day when the security forces eliminated Lashkar commander Junaid Mattoo along with one more terrorist in Kashmir&#39;s Kulgam district.</p>

<p>Others who have been killed in the attack include constables Sharik Ahmad and Tanveer Ahmad (Budgam district), Sheraz Ahmad (Achabal), Asif Ahmad and Sabzar Ahmed (Anantnag).</p>

<p>Lashkar-e-Taiba has claimed responsibility for the attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The terrorists ambushed the vehicle in which the policemen were travelling and made off with their weapons after killing them

Six policemen were killed when heavily-armed terrorists attacked a vehicle in which they were travelling in the outskirts of Kashmir's Anantnag district. Those who were killed included the Station House Officer of Achabal area. The policemen were shot by the terrorists from close range. After killing them, they escaped with their weapons. The terrorists had laid a trap on the Anantnag-Achabal road. The police party was not travelling in a bullet-proof vehicle. All six policemen including Feroz Ahmed, a 2010 batch Sub-Inspector, died on the spot. "It is an unfortunate incident to have lost six men including Sub-Inspector Feroz, a resident of Pulwama. Their contribution to the police service will be remembered," Director General of Police S P Vaid told news agency PTI. The combing operations are underway in the area. The attack comes on a day when the security forces eliminated Lashkar commander Junaid Mattoo along with one more terrorist in Kashmir's Kulgam district. Others who have been killed in the attack include constables Sharik Ahmad and Tanveer Ahmad (Budgam district), Sheraz Ahmad (Achabal), Asif Ahmad and Sabzar Ahmed (Anantnag). Lashkar-e-Taiba has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Six policemen killed in terrorist attack in Kashmir's Anantnag district

<p>Army chief General Bipin Rawat, who has so far been very &quot;tough&quot;&nbsp;on Kashmir, seemingly began a bit of a Kashmir outreach program on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Rawat has so far said stone pelters in Kashmir getting in the way of army operations will be treated as &quot;overground terrorists&quot;. (The people of Kashmir have of late taken to pelting army personnel&nbsp;with stones, even as the armymen have been conducting military operations&nbsp;against militants.)&nbsp;</p>

<p>And Rawat has also awarded Major Leetul Gogoi -- the man who tied a local Kashmiri to the front of an army jeep, again to deter stone pelters -- the Army chief&#39;s commendation award for conter-insurgency services rendered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rawat has so far been backed by the central government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The intelligentsia however have taken the opposing view with one academic, the historian Partha Chatterjee, comparing him to General Dyer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But on Tuesday, Rawat tried to show his softer side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ANI reported that Rawat met Tuesday with Kashmiri students of the Super 40 programme who cleared their Joint Entrance Examination - Advanced (JEE - Advanced) this year.</p>

<p>The JEE is the entrance exam for the country&#39;s engineering colleges.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ANI reported that the Super 40 Programme, known as Super 30 in 2013-14, started with the aim of coaching 30 students from Kashmir preparing for IIT main exams. In 2016, the number rose to 40.</p>

<p>ANI reported that General Rawat congratulated the students, and said he hoped the students would serve Kashmir.</p>

<p>&quot;Few amongst you will become the District Magistrates and SDMs. And you will be able to help the other children,&quot; he told them.</p>

<p>ANI reported that Major General RP&nbsp;Kalitha, under whose supervision this initiative is being conducted, lauded the Kashmiri students for their exemplary handwork and dedication towards their studies.</p>

<p>&quot;The Youth of Kashmir are very intelligent and hard working, and with the facilities that were provided, gradually the results also improved from 2013. This year in the main exams, 26 boys and two girls cleared and in the Advanced phase, nine boys cleared the exam.</p>

<p>&quot;I think it is a great result since the institute is only three year old,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>General Kalitha further said that the programme was gearing up to intake 50 students, including 45 boys and five girls.</p>

<p>The initiative is jointly financed by the Corporate Social Responsibility Leadership and PETRONET LNG, Ministry of Petroleum.</p>

<p>The girls were coached at Noida and the boys in Srinagar.&nbsp;</p>


He has so far been very 'tough' on Kashmir

Army chief General Bipin Rawat, who has so far been very "tough" on Kashmir, seemingly began a bit of a Kashmir outreach program on Tuesday. Rawat has so far said stone pelters in Kashmir getting in the way of army operations will be treated as "overground terrorists". (The people of Kashmir have of late taken to pelting army personnel with stones, even as the armymen have been conducting military operations against militants.) And Rawat has also awarded Major Leetul Gogoi -- the man who tied a local Kashmiri to the front of an army jeep, again to deter stone pelters -- the Army chief's commendation award for conter-insurgency services rendered. Rawat has so far been backed by the central government. The intelligentsia however have taken the opposing view with one academic, the historian Partha Chatterjee, comparing him to General Dyer. But on Tuesday, Rawat tried to show his softer side. ANI reported that Rawat met Tuesday with Kashmiri students of the Super 40 programme who cleared their Joint Entrance Examination - Advanced (JEE - Advanced) this year. The JEE is the entrance exam for the country's engineering colleges. ANI reported that the Super 40 Programme, known as Super 30 in 2013-14, started with the aim of coaching 30 students from Kashmir preparing for IIT main exams. In 2016, the number rose to 40. ANI reported that General Rawat congratulated the students, and said he hoped the students would serve Kashmir. "Few amongst you will become the District Magistrates and SDMs. And you will be able to help the other children," he told them. ANI reported that Major General RP Kalitha, under whose supervision this initiative is being conducted, lauded the Kashmiri students for their exemplary handwork and dedication towards their studies. "The Youth of Kashmir are very intelligent and hard working, and with the facilities that were provided, gradually the results also improved from 2013. This year in the main exams, 26 boys and two girls cleared and in the Advanced phase, nine boys cleared the exam. "I think it is a great result since the institute is only three year old," he said. General Kalitha further said that the programme was gearing up to intake 50 students, including 45 boys and five girls. The initiative is jointly financed by the Corporate Social Responsibility Leadership and PETRONET LNG, Ministry of Petroleum. The girls were coached at Noida and the boys in Srinagar.

Army chief Rawat 'reaches out' to Kashmir, meets Super 40 students who cleared JEE exam

<p>One civilian was injured in a crossfire between terrorists and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel in the Qazigund area of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.</p>

<p>The injured civilian has been shifted to the nearby hospital.</p>

<p>Ammunition has also been recovered from the location.</p>

<p>On June 3, one Indian Army soldier was killed in an attack by terrorists on a convoy in Qazigund.</p>

<p>Two others have been injured while two other personnel are critically injured.</p>

<p>On the same day, one civilian was also injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Poonch sector.</p>

<p>Yesterday, at least five terrorists were gunned down, as the Indian Army continued to thwart cross-border infiltration along the Line of Control (LoC).</p>

<p>Yesterday&#39;s security operation took place in the Uri Sector of Jammu and Kashmir.</p>

<p>(ANI)</p>


The injured civilian has been shifted to the nearby hospital

One civilian was injured in a crossfire between terrorists and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel in the Qazigund area of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. The injured civilian has been shifted to the nearby hospital. Ammunition has also been recovered from the location. On June 3, one Indian Army soldier was killed in an attack by terrorists on a convoy in Qazigund. Two others have been injured while two other personnel are critically injured. On the same day, one civilian was also injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Poonch sector. Yesterday, at least five terrorists were gunned down, as the Indian Army continued to thwart cross-border infiltration along the Line of Control (LoC). Yesterday's security operation took place in the Uri Sector of Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)

Civilian injured in crossfire between terrorists and ITBP personnel in Kashmir

<p>Two militants and a soldier&nbsp;were killed as the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Naugam sector in north Kashmir&#39;s Kupwara district today.</p>

<p>This is the second successful anti-infiltration operation by the Army in the last 24 hours and the fourth such along the LoC in less than a fortnight in north Kashmir.</p>

<p>&quot;Indian troops foiled another infiltration bid in Naugam sector. Two terrorists were&nbsp;killed, while one soldier has been martyred,&quot; an Army official said.</p>

<p>He said the operation was on and further details are awaited.</p>

<p>Yesterday, three heavily-armed militants were killed in a gunbattle in the district as Army foiled a major infiltration bid along the LoC.</p>

<p>On May 26, the Army killed two Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) members who tried to infiltrate into Uri sector in Baramulla district to carry out an attack on the soldiers.</p>

<p>Six more militants were killed in the same sector next day when they attempted to sneak into the Valley from across the border.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


This is the second successful anti-infiltration operation by the Army in the last 24 hours

Two militants and a soldier were killed as the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Naugam sector in north Kashmir's Kupwara district today. This is the second successful anti-infiltration operation by the Army in the last 24 hours and the fourth such along the LoC in less than a fortnight in north Kashmir. "Indian troops foiled another infiltration bid in Naugam sector. Two terrorists were killed, while one soldier has been martyred," an Army official said. He said the operation was on and further details are awaited. Yesterday, three heavily-armed militants were killed in a gunbattle in the district as Army foiled a major infiltration bid along the LoC. On May 26, the Army killed two Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) members who tried to infiltrate into Uri sector in Baramulla district to carry out an attack on the soldiers. Six more militants were killed in the same sector next day when they attempted to sneak into the Valley from across the border. (PTI)

J&K: One soldier, two militants killed in gunbattle along LoC

<p>Two jawans were killed and four others injured when militants attacked an Army convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir&#39;s Kulgam district today.</p>

<p>The militants attacked the convoy near Lower Munda toll post in Qazigund area of the district, 100 km from here, injuring six army personnel, an army official said.</p>

<p>He said the injured were evacuated to Army&#39;s 92 base hospital here where two jawans succumbed to their injuries.</p>

<p>The other four are being treated, the official said.</p>

<p>He said a hunt is underway to nab the attackers.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


The attack happened on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway

Two jawans were killed and four others injured when militants attacked an Army convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir's Kulgam district today. The militants attacked the convoy near Lower Munda toll post in Qazigund area of the district, 100 km from here, injuring six army personnel, an army official said. He said the injured were evacuated to Army's 92 base hospital here where two jawans succumbed to their injuries. The other four are being treated, the official said. He said a hunt is underway to nab the attackers. (PTI)

Two soldiers killed as Army convoy attacked in Kashmir

<p>Authorities Sunday&nbsp;imposed curfew-like restrictions in many parts of Kashmir and partially cut telephone services, pre-empting&nbsp;protests following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat in an encounter with security forces.<br />
<br />
The lockdown in the mainly Muslim region crippled life on the first day of the Muslim Ramadan festival&nbsp;after widespread violence on Saturday over the killing of Sabzar Bhat.</p>

<p>Government forces in riot gear erected barricades in the main city, Srinagar, and other towns in southern Kashmir to prevent people from reaching Sabzar Bhatt&#39;s funeral.</p>

<p>But thousands of mourners defied the security curbs Sunday to attended the burial of the rebel commander in his hometown amid anti-India and pro-Independence slogans.</p>

<p>Chairman of the separatist Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Yasin Malik was arrested from his residence in Srinagar, police said. He had visited the residences of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen militants on Saturday.</p>

<p>Yasin Malik along with chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have called for a two-day shutdown in the Valley to protest the killing of the two militants and the use of &quot;brute force&quot; against the protestors.</p>

<p>In Srinagar, the restrictions have been imposed in seven police station areas, officials said.&nbsp;However, the district administration has said that the admit cards of students appearing in competitive examinations today would be treated as curfew passes, while the staff posted as invigilators can use their identity cards as curfew passes.</p>

<p>The district administration has also ordered closure of all colleges and higher secondary schools in Srinagar tomorrow.</p>

<p>Restrictions have also been imposed in Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian districts in south Kashmir and in the township of Sopore in north Kashmir,&nbsp;officials said.</p>

<p>They said restrictions on movement of people under Section 144 CrPc have been imposed in the districts of Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir to maintain law and order.</p>

<p>Elsewhere in the valley, normal life was hit due to strike called by separatist groups.</p>

<p>A civilian was killed and at least 30 persons were injured in violent clashes between protestors and security forces in various parts of the valley on Saturday following the killing of the two Hizbul Mujahideen militants.</p>

<p>Sabzar Bhat was buried this morning at a graveyard in Ratsuna area of Tral where hundreds of people had gathered.</p>

<p>The separatists have called for a two-day shutdown to protest the killing of the two militants.</p>

<p>The authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in the valley, while the outgoing call facility on prepaid numbers has also been snapped as a precautionary measure.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from agencies)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The lockdown in the mainly Muslim region crippled life on the first day of the Muslim Ramadan festival?after widespread violence on Saturday

Authorities Sunday imposed curfew-like restrictions in many parts of Kashmir and partially cut telephone services, pre-empting protests following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat in an encounter with security forces. The lockdown in the mainly Muslim region crippled life on the first day of the Muslim Ramadan festival after widespread violence on Saturday over the killing of Sabzar Bhat. Government forces in riot gear erected barricades in the main city, Srinagar, and other towns in southern Kashmir to prevent people from reaching Sabzar Bhatt's funeral. But thousands of mourners defied the security curbs Sunday to attended the burial of the rebel commander in his hometown amid anti-India and pro-Independence slogans. Chairman of the separatist Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Yasin Malik was arrested from his residence in Srinagar, police said. He had visited the residences of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen militants on Saturday. Yasin Malik along with chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have called for a two-day shutdown in the Valley to protest the killing of the two militants and the use of "brute force" against the protestors. In Srinagar, the restrictions have been imposed in seven police station areas, officials said. However, the district administration has said that the admit cards of students appearing in competitive examinations today would be treated as curfew passes, while the staff posted as invigilators can use their identity cards as curfew passes. The district administration has also ordered closure of all colleges and higher secondary schools in Srinagar tomorrow. Restrictions have also been imposed in Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian districts in south Kashmir and in the township of Sopore in north Kashmir, officials said. They said restrictions on movement of people under Section 144 CrPc have been imposed in the districts of Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir to maintain law and order. Elsewhere in the valley, normal life was hit due to strike called by separatist groups. A civilian was killed and at least 30 persons were injured in violent clashes between protestors and security forces in various parts of the valley on Saturday following the killing of the two Hizbul Mujahideen militants. Sabzar Bhat was buried this morning at a graveyard in Ratsuna area of Tral where hundreds of people had gathered. The separatists have called for a two-day shutdown to protest the killing of the two militants. The authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in the valley, while the outgoing call facility on prepaid numbers has also been snapped as a precautionary measure. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Kashmir under curfew after Sabzar Bhatt killing, separatist Yasin Malik arrested

<p>The United Nations has dismissed Pakistan Army&#39;s claim that its military observers came under attack from Indian troops near the Line of Control, saying there was &quot;no evidence&quot; of them being targeted.</p>

<p>UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres&#39; spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said there was no evidence that an UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) vehicle was targeted by the Indian Army along the LoC near the Khanjar sector.</p>

<p>&quot;I can say to you that this afternoon in Bhimber District, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, UNMOGIP military observers accompanied by Pakistani Army escorts heard gunshots in their vicinity. There is no evidence that the UNMOGIP military observers were targeted by the gunfire. No UN military observer was injured,&quot; he told reporters yesterday.</p>

<p>In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, had said that a vehicle carrying two officers of the UN military observer group came under attack by Indian troops during a visit to the LoC.</p>

<p>The Pakistan Army had claimed the vehicle was carrying UNMOGIP officers Major Emmanual of the Philippines and Major Mirko of Croatia.</p>

<p>Asked about the increasing tension between the south Asian neighbours and whether the UN secretary-general will look into the situation, Dujarric reiterated, &quot;we&#39;re obviously concerned at the situation in Kashmir, and it&#39;s an issue that the secretary-general is following closely.&quot;</p>

<p>According to the UN Security Council mandate of 1971, UNMOGIP observes and reports on ceasefire violations along and across the LoC and the Working Boundary between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as reports developments that could lead to ceasefire violations.</p>

<p>India has maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.</p>

<p>The observer group is headed by Major Gen Per Lodin of Sweden. It currently has 38 military observers and 73 civilian personnel.</p>

<p>(PTI)&nbsp;</p>


Pakistan had said a vehicle carrying two officers of the UN military observer group in Kashmir was targeted by the Indian Army

The United Nations has dismissed Pakistan Army's claim that its military observers came under attack from Indian troops near the Line of Control, saying there was "no evidence" of them being targeted. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said there was no evidence that an UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) vehicle was targeted by the Indian Army along the LoC near the Khanjar sector. "I can say to you that this afternoon in Bhimber District, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, UNMOGIP military observers accompanied by Pakistani Army escorts heard gunshots in their vicinity. There is no evidence that the UNMOGIP military observers were targeted by the gunfire. No UN military observer was injured," he told reporters yesterday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, had said that a vehicle carrying two officers of the UN military observer group came under attack by Indian troops during a visit to the LoC. The Pakistan Army had claimed the vehicle was carrying UNMOGIP officers Major Emmanual of the Philippines and Major Mirko of Croatia. Asked about the increasing tension between the south Asian neighbours and whether the UN secretary-general will look into the situation, Dujarric reiterated, "we're obviously concerned at the situation in Kashmir, and it's an issue that the secretary-general is following closely." According to the UN Security Council mandate of 1971, UNMOGIP observes and reports on ceasefire violations along and across the LoC and the Working Boundary between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as reports developments that could lead to ceasefire violations. India has maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control. The observer group is headed by Major Gen Per Lodin of Sweden. It currently has 38 military observers and 73 civilian personnel. (PTI)

UN says Indian Army did not target UN vehicle near LoC

<p>Army veterans today appeared to be divided over a commendation card which was awarded to Major Leetul Gogoi, who had tied a man to a jeep in Kashmir purportedly as a shield against stone pelters.</p>

<p>Lieutenant general (retd) H S Panag, former GOC-in-C, Northern Command, criticised the move saying Gogoi&#39;s action was unbecoming of the traditions followed by the Indian Army.</p>

<p>&quot;IA (Indian Army) traditions, ethos, rules &amp; regs swept away by the &#39;mood of the nation&#39;! I stand by my views even if I am the last man standing!&quot; Panag tweeted.</p>

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<p>Gogoi was on Monday honoured with army chief&#39;s commendation card for his &quot;sustained efforts in counter- insurgency operations&quot;.</p>

<p>Major general (retd) Ramesh Chopra came out in support of Gogoi.</p>

<p>&quot;With his innovative thinking, he saved lives of people and that has to be appreciated. I give him full marks for his presence of mind,&quot; Chopra said.</p>

<p>Col Anil Kaul (retd), who served in the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka, said Gogoi deserved more than a commendation card because of his &quot;out of the box thinking&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;He saved lives of people without even firing a bullet despite being attacked by stone pelters. His act should be applauded and he should be given a Shaurya Chakra,&quot; Kaul said.</p>

<p>Breaking his silence on Tuesday Gogoi said about 1200 stone- pelters had surrounded a small group of security personnel at a polling booth in Utligam village of Budgam district on&nbsp;April 9.</p>

<p>He claimed that if he had ordered firing, there could have been at least 12 casualties.</p>

<p>The mob, which included women and children, was threatening to set ablaze the polling booth, he claimed.</p>

<p>Amidst the mob, he claimed he saw a man who appeared to be the &quot;ring leader&quot; as he was &quot;instigating&quot; the stone-pelters at Utlgam on the day of bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


Major Leetul Gogoi had tied a Kashmiri man to the front of a jeep, purportedly as a shield against stone pelters

Army veterans today appeared to be divided over a commendation card which was awarded to Major Leetul Gogoi, who had tied a man to a jeep in Kashmir purportedly as a shield against stone pelters. Lieutenant general (retd) H S Panag, former GOC-in-C, Northern Command, criticised the move saying Gogoi's action was unbecoming of the traditions followed by the Indian Army. "IA (Indian Army) traditions, ethos, rules & regs swept away by the 'mood of the nation'! I stand by my views even if I am the last man standing!" Panag tweeted. IA (Indian Army) traditions, ethos, rules & regs swept away by the 'mood of the nation'! I stand by my views even if I am the last man standing!' Lt Gen HS Panag tweeted × Gogoi was on Monday honoured with army chief's commendation card for his "sustained efforts in counter- insurgency operations". Major general (retd) Ramesh Chopra came out in support of Gogoi. "With his innovative thinking, he saved lives of people and that has to be appreciated. I give him full marks for his presence of mind," Chopra said. Col Anil Kaul (retd), who served in the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka, said Gogoi deserved more than a commendation card because of his "out of the box thinking". "He saved lives of people without even firing a bullet despite being attacked by stone pelters. His act should be applauded and he should be given a Shaurya Chakra," Kaul said. Breaking his silence on Tuesday Gogoi said about 1200 stone- pelters had surrounded a small group of security personnel at a polling booth in Utligam village of Budgam district on April 9. He claimed that if he had ordered firing, there could have been at least 12 casualties. The mob, which included women and children, was threatening to set ablaze the polling booth, he claimed. Amidst the mob, he claimed he saw a man who appeared to be the "ring leader" as he was "instigating" the stone-pelters at Utlgam on the day of bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. (PTI)

Indian Army veterans divided over commendation given to Major Gogoi

<p>Supporting Bollywood actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Paresh Rawal`s controversial tweet where the latter took a jibe at noted writer Arundhati Roy, party leader Subramanian Swamy has said that the stone pelters would love to hit a woman who &quot;is not loyal to her own country.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;When you tie the leader of the pro-Pakistan movement, then the stone-pelters will give you a safe passage because they don`t want to throw stones on their leaders and injure them. But if you put Arundhati, then they will not care. They think that if the woman is not loyal to her own country then how she can be loyal with us. They will therefore enjoy throwing stones at her,&quot; Swamy told ANI.</p>

<p>He added that the BJP was not interested in stone-pelting at her.</p>

<p>&quot;We are a modern democracy and we will definitely act according to the rule of law,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Earlier, Rawal raked up a Twitter storm when he took to the micro-blogging site to post a seemingly out-of-context tweet that conveyed the idea of `tying` Roy to an Army jeep, drawing reference from a similar incident when a Kashmiri resident was tied to a jeep last month.</p>

<p>&quot;Instead of tying stone pelter on the army jeep tie Arundhati Roy!&quot;, the Lok Sabha member tweeted on late Sunday night.</p>

<p>Rawal`s tweet drew ire on the social media and people outrightly condemned the actor`s &quot;education.&quot;</p>

<p>Many of them even highlighted the irony of his statement vis-a-vis his powerful performances in the movies.</p>

<p>One of the Twitter users wrote, &quot;This tweet proves that lack of education ruins the ability of a Human to behave like a Human,&quot; while another tweeted, &quot;Your acting was often commendable but your prejudiced mindset is condemnable. Telling d army to hide behind a brave woman is shameful.&quot;</p>

<p>Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh also commented on the tweet.Digvijaya wrote, &quot;Why not the person who stitched PDP/BJP alliance?&quot;An award-winning writer, Arundhati Roy is known for her controversial views on Kashmir.</p>

<p>She has also widely criticised the Army`s role in the Valley.</p>

<p>In April, a Kashmiri resident, allegedly a stone-pelter, was tied to an Army jeep as a human shield. This incident sparked an outrage in the Valley and across the country, following which an inquiry was launched into the incident.</p>

<p>(ANI)&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


On Monday, Paresh Rawal had tweeted: 'Instead of tying stone pelter on the army jeep tie Arundhati Roy!'

Supporting Bollywood actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Paresh Rawal`s controversial tweet where the latter took a jibe at noted writer Arundhati Roy, party leader Subramanian Swamy has said that the stone pelters would love to hit a woman who "is not loyal to her own country." "When you tie the leader of the pro-Pakistan movement, then the stone-pelters will give you a safe passage because they don`t want to throw stones on their leaders and injure them. But if you put Arundhati, then they will not care. They think that if the woman is not loyal to her own country then how she can be loyal with us. They will therefore enjoy throwing stones at her," Swamy told ANI. He added that the BJP was not interested in stone-pelting at her. "We are a modern democracy and we will definitely act according to the rule of law," he said. Earlier, Rawal raked up a Twitter storm when he took to the micro-blogging site to post a seemingly out-of-context tweet that conveyed the idea of `tying` Roy to an Army jeep, drawing reference from a similar incident when a Kashmiri resident was tied to a jeep last month. "Instead of tying stone pelter on the army jeep tie Arundhati Roy!", the Lok Sabha member tweeted on late Sunday night. Rawal`s tweet drew ire on the social media and people outrightly condemned the actor`s "education." Many of them even highlighted the irony of his statement vis-a-vis his powerful performances in the movies. One of the Twitter users wrote, "This tweet proves that lack of education ruins the ability of a Human to behave like a Human," while another tweeted, "Your acting was often commendable but your prejudiced mindset is condemnable. Telling d army to hide behind a brave woman is shameful." Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh also commented on the tweet.Digvijaya wrote, "Why not the person who stitched PDP/BJP alliance?"An award-winning writer, Arundhati Roy is known for her controversial views on Kashmir. She has also widely criticised the Army`s role in the Valley. In April, a Kashmiri resident, allegedly a stone-pelter, was tied to an Army jeep as a human shield. This incident sparked an outrage in the Valley and across the country, following which an inquiry was launched into the incident. (ANI)

Swamy: 'Pelters will... enjoy throwing stones at' Arundhati Roy

<p>While taking a dig at Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh&#39;s remark on Kashmir, the Congress Party on Monday said that it is the pet dialogue of the ruling dispensation, adding that until it changes its &#39;Hindu rashtra&#39; mindset, the incumbent government would not be able to succeed at finding a solution to Kashmir.</p>

<p>Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar slammed the Centre for being unable to do anything for solving the &#39;Kashmir&#39; problem in the past three years.</p>

<p>&quot;I hope they do but I just cannot believe that they will be able to succeed because until fundamentally they change their mindset and not attempt to establish a &#39; Hindu rashtra&#39; by fair means or fowl, they cannot find a solution to Kashmir,&quot; Aiyar told ANI.</p>

<p>&quot;Certainly, nothing that they have done in the last three years gives any indication that they have any idea at all as to how to solve the problem. They certainly know how to aggravate it,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar also spoke on the same lines, mocking the government for only speaking but being unable to show the same in their actions.</p>

<p>Babbar further said that the Centre&#39;s foreign policy, security policy and policy towards Pakistan is a complete &quot;failure&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;They have two pet dialogues. One, this is age-old problem. They say this regarding everything, be it law and order, border policy, foreign policy etc. Second, this is condemnable and a befitting reply will be given soon. But, they have been unable to do anything in the past three years. At the time of demonetisation also, they said terrorism will end now. But gradually, terror activities started again,&quot; Babbar told ANI.</p>

<p>Assuring complete closure of the Kashmir issue on behalf of the government, Rajnath Singh yesterday made a strong statement that Kashmir, Kashmiris and Kashmiriyat belong to India.</p>

<p>&quot;We understand that Kashmir, Kashmiris and Kashmiriyat are ours. I assure you that we will come up with a permanent solution to end the issue,&quot; he said while addressing a gathering in Pelling, Sikkim.</p>

<p>In the hope of resolving the ongoing friction between India and Pakistan regarding territorial disputes in Kashmir, the Union Home Minister said it is time for Islamabad to mend its ways and come to a consensus on the issue, rather than prolonging the same.</p>

<p>&quot;Pakistan continues to carry out acts of violence in the name of Kashmir, just to destabilise us. It is time for Pakistan to end these and look into resolving the matter and extending cooperation,&quot; said Rajnath.</p>

<p>Developing on the importance of easing tensions along the border, Rajnath while drawing upon the reduction of border transgression with China, said Pakistan was invited to maintain friendly relations and not just bilateral ties.</p>

<p>&quot;There might be perceptional differences, but the border friction with China has declined now. Pakistan Prime Minister was invited to the oath-taking ceremony not just to join hands, but to be cordial hereafter,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>(ANI)</p>


'I hope they do but I just cannot believe that they will be able to succeed because until fundamentally they change their mindset,' Mani Shankar Aiyar said

While taking a dig at Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's remark on Kashmir, the Congress Party on Monday said that it is the pet dialogue of the ruling dispensation, adding that until it changes its 'Hindu rashtra' mindset, the incumbent government would not be able to succeed at finding a solution to Kashmir. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar slammed the Centre for being unable to do anything for solving the 'Kashmir' problem in the past three years. "I hope they do but I just cannot believe that they will be able to succeed because until fundamentally they change their mindset and not attempt to establish a ' Hindu rashtra' by fair means or fowl, they cannot find a solution to Kashmir," Aiyar told ANI. "Certainly, nothing that they have done in the last three years gives any indication that they have any idea at all as to how to solve the problem. They certainly know how to aggravate it," he added. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar also spoke on the same lines, mocking the government for only speaking but being unable to show the same in their actions. Babbar further said that the Centre's foreign policy, security policy and policy towards Pakistan is a complete "failure". "They have two pet dialogues. One, this is age-old problem. They say this regarding everything, be it law and order, border policy, foreign policy etc. Second, this is condemnable and a befitting reply will be given soon. But, they have been unable to do anything in the past three years. At the time of demonetisation also, they said terrorism will end now. But gradually, terror activities started again," Babbar told ANI. Assuring complete closure of the Kashmir issue on behalf of the government, Rajnath Singh yesterday made a strong statement that Kashmir, Kashmiris and Kashmiriyat belong to India. "We understand that Kashmir, Kashmiris and Kashmiriyat are ours. I assure you that we will come up with a permanent solution to end the issue," he said while addressing a gathering in Pelling, Sikkim. In the hope of resolving the ongoing friction between India and Pakistan regarding territorial disputes in Kashmir, the Union Home Minister said it is time for Islamabad to mend its ways and come to a consensus on the issue, rather than prolonging the same. "Pakistan continues to carry out acts of violence in the name of Kashmir, just to destabilise us. It is time for Pakistan to end these and look into resolving the matter and extending cooperation," said Rajnath. Developing on the importance of easing tensions along the border, Rajnath while drawing upon the reduction of border transgression with China, said Pakistan was invited to maintain friendly relations and not just bilateral ties. "There might be perceptional differences, but the border friction with China has declined now. Pakistan Prime Minister was invited to the oath-taking ceremony not just to join hands, but to be cordial hereafter," he said. (ANI)

'Will find solution to Kashmir' is pet BJP dialogue: Cong

<p>Amidst the ongoing unrest in India&#39;s Kashmir, a senior Indian minister said today that the Narendra Modi administration would find a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue.<br />
<br />
Addressing a public reception in Northeast Indian state of Sikkim, India&#39;s internal affairs minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for fomenting trouble in Kashmir.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But Singh said the attacks wouldn&#39;t derail the government&#39;s efforts to find a &quot;permanent solution to the Kashmir issue&quot;.</p>

<p>has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region.</p>

<p>The senior minister&#39;s statement comes at a time the Valley has been witnessing widespread unrest since April 9 when the bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was held.<br />
<br />
Eight people were killed in firing by security forces on the day. The turnout was a mere 7.14 per cent.<br />
<br />
The April 12 bypoll to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat had to be postponed by the Election Commission in view of the &quot;scary&quot; situation in Kashmir.<br />
<br />
Students in large numbers have hit the streets, staging protests against alleged atrocities by the security forces.<br />
<br />
Last year, around 80 people lost their lives in the unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani.<br />
<br />
&quot;Kashmir is ours, Kashmiris are ours and Kashmiriyat is also ours. We will find a permanent solution to Kashmir,&quot; Singh said.<br />
<br />
Referring to the 2014 swearing-in ceremony of the Modi government, the home minister said leaders of all neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, were invited to show that the new government wanted to have friendly relations with all countries.<br />
<br />
However, he said, there had been no change in Pakistan&#39;s attitude towards India and it wanted to destabilise India.<br />
<br />
&quot;We hope that Pakistan will change. If it does not change, we have to change them. After globalisation, one country can&#39;t destabilise another country as the international community will not forget it,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
The home minister is on a three-day visit to Sikkim during which he attended a conference of Himalayan states to review the security situation and development activities along the Sino-Indian border.<br />
<br />
He had also visited the Nathu La border post, besides visiting a few posts of Indo-Tibetan Border Police and SSB along the Sino-Indian and Indo-Nepal border respectively.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


India;s internal affairs minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for trying to create unrest in India's Kashmir

Amidst the ongoing unrest in India's Kashmir, a senior Indian minister said today that the Narendra Modi administration would find a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue. Addressing a public reception in Northeast Indian state of Sikkim, India's internal affairs minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for fomenting trouble in Kashmir. But Singh said the attacks wouldn't derail the government's efforts to find a "permanent solution to the Kashmir issue". has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region. The senior minister's statement comes at a time the Valley has been witnessing widespread unrest since April 9 when the bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was held. Eight people were killed in firing by security forces on the day. The turnout was a mere 7.14 per cent. The April 12 bypoll to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat had to be postponed by the Election Commission in view of the "scary" situation in Kashmir. Students in large numbers have hit the streets, staging protests against alleged atrocities by the security forces. Last year, around 80 people lost their lives in the unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani. "Kashmir is ours, Kashmiris are ours and Kashmiriyat is also ours. We will find a permanent solution to Kashmir," Singh said. Referring to the 2014 swearing-in ceremony of the Modi government, the home minister said leaders of all neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, were invited to show that the new government wanted to have friendly relations with all countries. However, he said, there had been no change in Pakistan's attitude towards India and it wanted to destabilise India. "We hope that Pakistan will change. If it does not change, we have to change them. After globalisation, one country can't destabilise another country as the international community will not forget it," he said. The home minister is on a three-day visit to Sikkim during which he attended a conference of Himalayan states to review the security situation and development activities along the Sino-Indian border. He had also visited the Nathu La border post, besides visiting a few posts of Indo-Tibetan Border Police and SSB along the Sino-Indian and Indo-Nepal border respectively. (PTI)

Indian PM Modi will find 'permanent solution to Kashmir issue'

<p>At least two militants were gunned down while trying to infiltrate in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Nowgam sector on Saturday.</p>

<p>During the gunbattle, two Indian soldiers also lost their lives.</p>

<p>The operation is still underway.</p>

<p>&quot;#JKOps Two terrorists attempting infiltration in Naogam Sect, Kashmir eliminated. Two soldiers martyred in ongoing op @adgpi,&quot; Indian Army&#39;s Northern Command tweeted.</p>

<p>This has come a day after Defence Minister Arun Jaitley met with the senior commanders and troops at a forward post along the Line of Control (LoC), where he reviewed the security situation.</p>

<p>He said that Indian Armed Forces were fully prepared to deal with the militants coming from across the Valley.</p>

<p>&quot;Our troops and our Army are fully ready to check any form of infiltration. Under no cost will India&#39;s territorial sovereignty be allowed to be infringed,&quot; Jaitley said.</p>

<p>(ANI)</p>


The operation is still underway in Nowgam sector, according to the Indian army

At least two militants were gunned down while trying to infiltrate in Jammu and Kashmir's Nowgam sector on Saturday. During the gunbattle, two Indian soldiers also lost their lives. The operation is still underway. "#JKOps Two terrorists attempting infiltration in Naogam Sect, Kashmir eliminated. Two soldiers martyred in ongoing op @adgpi," Indian Army's Northern Command tweeted. This has come a day after Defence Minister Arun Jaitley met with the senior commanders and troops at a forward post along the Line of Control (LoC), where he reviewed the security situation. He said that Indian Armed Forces were fully prepared to deal with the militants coming from across the Valley. "Our troops and our Army are fully ready to check any form of infiltration. Under no cost will India's territorial sovereignty be allowed to be infringed," Jaitley said. (ANI)

2 Indian troops, 2 militants killed during anti-infiltration bid in India's Kashmir

<p>Security forces looking for militants in the Heff-Shirmal area of Shopian in South Kashmir were again attacked by stone pelters Wednesday morning.</p>

<p>The forces had cordoned off the area after reports of militants hiding in the area, when they were attacked by locals.</p>

<p>The locals reportedly raised pro-freedom slogans and pelted stones at the security forces in an effort to disrupt the operation.</p>

<p>The security forces retaliated by lobbing teargas shells.</p>

<p>The clashes were ongoing when the last reports came in.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is not the first time the security forces have come under attack from locals as they been on the hunt for militants.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Army chief General Bipin Rawat was forced recently to publicly threaten to treat locals disrupting operations by security forces as &quot;overground terrorists&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rawat and defence minister Arun Jaitley will be in Srinagar today to carry out a review of the security situation. &nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


The security forces retaliated by lobbing teargas shells.

Security forces looking for militants in the Heff-Shirmal area of Shopian in South Kashmir were again attacked by stone pelters Wednesday morning. The forces had cordoned off the area after reports of militants hiding in the area, when they were attacked by locals. The locals reportedly raised pro-freedom slogans and pelted stones at the security forces in an effort to disrupt the operation. The security forces retaliated by lobbing teargas shells. The clashes were ongoing when the last reports came in. This is not the first time the security forces have come under attack from locals as they been on the hunt for militants. Army chief General Bipin Rawat was forced recently to publicly threaten to treat locals disrupting operations by security forces as "overground terrorists". Rawat and defence minister Arun Jaitley will be in Srinagar today to carry out a review of the security situation. (WION)

Kashmir: Troops looking for militants attacked by stone pelters

<p>Amid regular clashes between separatists and security forces in Kashmir,&nbsp;the J&amp;K government has re-introduced a fortnightly train service only for school children for excursion purposes.</p>

<p>Away from stone-pelting and sporadic noise of gunshots, about 450 school students from districts of Kashmir boarded the train at different railway stations and explored the countryside of their state.</p>

<p><em>&#39;Wadi Ki Sair,</em>&#39; a fortnightly train service, only for students, was introduced on December 12 last year, when chief minister Mehbooba Mufti travelled from Banihal with students of different schools.</p>

<p>The train service, which can be availed only on second and fourth Sunday of the month, was stopped after educational institutions closed down as winter vacation began in the valley.</p>

<p>The Jammu and Kashmir education minister Syed Altaf Bukhari re-inaugurated this service for children after schools re-opened.</p>

<p>Kashmir, which is surrounded by mountains on all sides, is yet to get connected to rest of the country through railway link. The ongoing project to connect the valley with the mainland India is likely to be completed in 2020.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Away from stone pelting and sporadic noise of gunshots, about 450 school students from districts of Kashmir boarded the train at different railway stations and explored the countryside of their state (WION)</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/jk-worlds-highest-rail-bridge-over-chenab-to-be-completed-in-2-years-15182"><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;J&amp;K: World&#39;s highest rail bridge over Chenab to be completed in 2 years</strong></a></p>

<p>Indian part of Kashmir has been simmering with protests since July last year, when a popular underground militant, Burhan Wani, was killed by security forces. There was a temporary lull in the valley owing to snowfall, however,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/jk-protesters-clash-with-security-forces-in-srinagar-15500"> the protests resumed this year with protesters clashing almost </a>regularly with security forces.</p>

<p>India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in the valley, which the latter denies.</p>

<p>(Reuters)&nbsp;</p>


School students from districts of Kashmir boarded the train at different railway stations and explored the countryside of J&K.

Amid regular clashes between separatists and security forces in Kashmir, the J&K government has re-introduced a fortnightly train service only for school children for excursion purposes. Away from stone-pelting and sporadic noise of gunshots, about 450 school students from districts of Kashmir boarded the train at different railway stations and explored the countryside of their state. 'Wadi Ki Sair,' a fortnightly train service, only for students, was introduced on December 12 last year, when chief minister Mehbooba Mufti travelled from Banihal with students of different schools. The train service, which can be availed only on second and fourth Sunday of the month, was stopped after educational institutions closed down as winter vacation began in the valley. The Jammu and Kashmir education minister Syed Altaf Bukhari re-inaugurated this service for children after schools re-opened. Kashmir, which is surrounded by mountains on all sides, is yet to get connected to rest of the country through railway link. The ongoing project to connect the valley with the mainland India is likely to be completed in 2020. Away from stone pelting and sporadic noise of gunshots, about 450 school students from districts of Kashmir boarded the train at different railway stations and explored the countryside of their state (WION) × Also Read: J&K: World's highest rail bridge over Chenab to be completed in 2 years Indian part of Kashmir has been simmering with protests since July last year, when a popular underground militant, Burhan Wani, was killed by security forces. There was a temporary lull in the valley owing to snowfall, however, the protests resumed this year with protesters clashing almost regularly with security forces. India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in the valley, which the latter denies. (Reuters)

Train trip for school children around J&K restarted

<p>Pakistani troops shelled, heavily, areas along the LoC in Rajouri district for the second consecutive day today, causing heavy damage to buildings and forcing the&nbsp;evacuation of 1,000 border dwellers.</p>

<p>The Indian Army effectively retaliated.</p>

<p>Pakistan Army had yesterday pounded civilian areas and forward posts along the LoC in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three.</p>

<p>&quot;Pakistani Army has resorted to indiscriminate firing of small arms, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 0645 hours along the Line of Control in Rajouri sector&quot;, a Defence Spokesman said.</p>

<p>&quot;The Indian Army posts are retaliating strongly and effectively. The firing is presently on&quot;, he said.</p>

<p>Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Shahid Iqbal Choudgary said fresh ceasefire violation has been reported in &#39;chitibakri&#39; area of Chingus in Rajouri today.</p>

<p>&quot;Heavy shelling started in Manjakote area of Rajouri at O620 hours. More than seven villages have been affected&quot;, the DC said.</p>

<p>Choudhary said there was massive damage to buildings.</p>

<p>He said the number of migrants at relief camps swelled to 978 overnight. Till now 259 families have been evacuated from three villages, he added.</p>

<p>51 schools in Nowshera sector have been closed for an indefinite period while 36 in Manjakote and Doongi zones have been closed for three days. 4,600 students study in 87 schools, he added.</p>

<p>After the Pakistani shelling, 1000 people were evacuated from various areas along the LoC in Rajouri district to safer places.</p>

<p>&quot;Risking their lives officials and police evacuated 996 people from various shelling hit villages and shifted them to various camps established by district administration where facilities of ration, cooking, drinking water, sanitation, first aid and proper accommodation have been provided,&quot; Choudhary said.</p>

<p>So far, three camps have been made operational and 28 others notified in wake of expected migration from affected villages, Choudhary said.</p>

<p>&quot;Six ambulances have been pressed into action for shifting of injured and treatment. One mobile medical unit was stationed at Nowshera and another deputed to forward areas,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Around 120 officers from various departments have been deployed to organise facilities at relief camp.</p>

<p>The district administration has provided immediate relief and financial assistance to the next of kin of the deceased and to the injured, he said.</p>

<p>A control room has been established in the office of SDM Nowshera for coordination.</p>

<p>The government had last month said that Pakistani security forces had violated the ceasefire 268 times in the last one year.</p>

<p>The ceasefire between India and Pakistan came into force in November 2003.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


Two civilians had been killed and 3 injured in cross-border firing on Saturday

Pakistani troops shelled, heavily, areas along the LoC in Rajouri district for the second consecutive day today, causing heavy damage to buildings and forcing the evacuation of 1,000 border dwellers. The Indian Army effectively retaliated. Pakistan Army had yesterday pounded civilian areas and forward posts along the LoC in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three. "Pakistani Army has resorted to indiscriminate firing of small arms, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 0645 hours along the Line of Control in Rajouri sector", a Defence Spokesman said. "The Indian Army posts are retaliating strongly and effectively. The firing is presently on", he said. Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Shahid Iqbal Choudgary said fresh ceasefire violation has been reported in 'chitibakri' area of Chingus in Rajouri today. "Heavy shelling started in Manjakote area of Rajouri at O620 hours. More than seven villages have been affected", the DC said. Choudhary said there was massive damage to buildings. He said the number of migrants at relief camps swelled to 978 overnight. Till now 259 families have been evacuated from three villages, he added. 51 schools in Nowshera sector have been closed for an indefinite period while 36 in Manjakote and Doongi zones have been closed for three days. 4,600 students study in 87 schools, he added. After the Pakistani shelling, 1000 people were evacuated from various areas along the LoC in Rajouri district to safer places. "Risking their lives officials and police evacuated 996 people from various shelling hit villages and shifted them to various camps established by district administration where facilities of ration, cooking, drinking water, sanitation, first aid and proper accommodation have been provided," Choudhary said. So far, three camps have been made operational and 28 others notified in wake of expected migration from affected villages, Choudhary said. "Six ambulances have been pressed into action for shifting of injured and treatment. One mobile medical unit was stationed at Nowshera and another deputed to forward areas," he added. Around 120 officers from various departments have been deployed to organise facilities at relief camp. The district administration has provided immediate relief and financial assistance to the next of kin of the deceased and to the injured, he said. A control room has been established in the office of SDM Nowshera for coordination. The government had last month said that Pakistani security forces had violated the ceasefire 268 times in the last one year. The ceasefire between India and Pakistan came into force in November 2003. (PTI)

Kashmir: 1,000 people evacuated from along LoC

<p>Six militants from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen were involved in the abduction and killing of a young Army officer in Shopian district of Kashmir and a massive manhunt has been launched to catch them, defence sources said today.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">J&amp;K: Posters of 3 terrorists (from LeT&amp; Hizbul Mujahideen), involved in killing of Army officer Lt. Ummer Fayaz, pasted by police in Shopian <a href="https://t.co/5q3UhKyT1F">pic.twitter.com/5q3UhKyT1F</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/862912390500831232">May 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The bullet-riddled body of 22-year-old Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz from Kashmir was found in Harmen area of Shopian yesterday morning, hours after he was abducted by militants from Batpura village.</p>

<p>&quot;We have identified six militants who were involved in the killing of Fayaz. The militants are from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen,&quot; a source said. Security forces are carrying out searches in various areas to nab the six militants, the source said.</p>

<p>Fayaz, son of a farmer and an avid sportsman, had gone to attend the wedding of the daughter of his maternal uncle at Batapura, about 74 kms from Srinagar, from where he was abducted by the militants around 10 pm on Tuesday night.</p>

<p>On his first leave since joining the Army, he was posted with 2 Rajputana Rifles in&nbsp;Akhnoor in Jammu region.</p>

<p>His killing has triggered anger among the locals who demanded action against the culprits.</p>

<p>The Army had yesterday vowed to punish the killers of Fayaz and said the incident marks a watershed moment in Kashmir Valley as people there will decisively turn the tide against terrorism.</p>

<p>Calling the attack a &quot;dastardly act of cowardice&quot; by militants, defence minister Arun Jaitley had said Fayaz&#39;s sacrifice reiterates the nation&#39;s commitment to eliminate terrorism from the valley.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz was abducted Tuesday night. HIs bullet-riddled body was found Wednesday morning.

Six militants from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen were involved in the abduction and killing of a young Army officer in Shopian district of Kashmir and a massive manhunt has been launched to catch them, defence sources said today. J&K: Posters of 3 terrorists (from LeT& Hizbul Mujahideen), involved in killing of Army officer Lt. Ummer Fayaz, pasted by police in Shopian pic.twitter.com/5q3UhKyT1F — ANI (@ANI_news) May 12, 2017 × The bullet-riddled body of 22-year-old Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz from Kashmir was found in Harmen area of Shopian yesterday morning, hours after he was abducted by militants from Batpura village. "We have identified six militants who were involved in the killing of Fayaz. The militants are from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen," a source said. Security forces are carrying out searches in various areas to nab the six militants, the source said. Fayaz, son of a farmer and an avid sportsman, had gone to attend the wedding of the daughter of his maternal uncle at Batapura, about 74 kms from Srinagar, from where he was abducted by the militants around 10 pm on Tuesday night. On his first leave since joining the Army, he was posted with 2 Rajputana Rifles in Akhnoor in Jammu region. His killing has triggered anger among the locals who demanded action against the culprits. The Army had yesterday vowed to punish the killers of Fayaz and said the incident marks a watershed moment in Kashmir Valley as people there will decisively turn the tide against terrorism. Calling the attack a "dastardly act of cowardice" by militants, defence minister Arun Jaitley had said Fayaz's sacrifice reiterates the nation's commitment to eliminate terrorism from the valley. (PTI)

India: Six LeT, Hizbul militants involved in killing of Army officer Ummer Fayaz identified, manhunt on

<p>Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can resolve the Kashmir problem as he has a strong mandate and appealed to him to pull the valley out of morass.<br />
<br />
Mufti, whose government is battling spiralling protests in the valley, said the situation is the result of pent up anger due to failure of the UPA government to continue with the policy started by the previous NDA government in Jammu and Kashmir during her father Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed&#39;s rule.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;I say today with authority and I will be criticised for it also. If anyone can find a solution to Jammu and Kashmir problem, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<br />
<br />
&quot;He (PM) has a strong mandate. Whatever decision he takes, the country will support him,&quot; said Mufti, whose party is running a government in coalition with the BJP.<br />
<br />
&quot;If anyone can take us out of the sticky spot, it is Prime Minister Modi. The nation will support whatever he decides...it is may earnest appeal...,&quot; she said.<br />
<br />
The CM was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a flyover here.<br />
<br />
Hailing the Prime Minister&#39;s decision to visit Lahore on December 25, 2015, she said that it was a sign of strength not weakness.<br />
<br />
&quot;He has the mandate of the people. This is his biggest power. He went to Lahore and met the PM of that country. This is not a sign of weakness but an indication of strength and power,&quot; she said.<br />
<br />
She took a dig at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he did not have the courage to visit Pakistan.<br />
<br />
&quot;Before him (Modi), a Prime Minister had also desired to go to Pakistan for over ten years. He wanted to see his home there,&quot; she said, with naming Singh.<br />
<br />
&quot;He also would have tried to end the confrontation between the two countries, and bring J&amp;K out of this unfortunate situation, but he had no courage to do that.&quot;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
She gave credit to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former chief minister Mufti Sayeed for starting the &quot;chapter of peace&quot; in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002.<br />
<br />
&quot;They tried their best to bring out Kashmir out of this unfortunate situation. He was successful to a large extent in shortest of period,&quot; Mehbooba said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;There was ceasefire (along Indo-Pak border) during Vajpayee&#39;s rule. There were talks with L K Advani (in Kashmir). There was beginning of the process of opening (cross -LoC) roads.&quot;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The chief minister said militancy declined during that period and there was peace on the borders.<br />
<br />
&quot;These were not small developments. But unfortunately Mufti was out of the government and Vajpayee ji left, and the process came to grinding halt,&quot; the PDP leader lamented.<br />
<br />
She alleged that the UPA regime at the centre and the state government did not carry forward the process thinking &quot;everything is peaceful and there is no need to do anything further&quot;.<br />
<br />
&quot;There was pent-up lava. It started to come out when the youths were out on the streets in 2008 and then 2009 and 2010.<br />
<br />
This lava has now spread to the streets and we are forced to face this situation,&quot; she said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The CM said while her government is trying to improve the situation in Kashmir, there are some forces which do not want it.<br />
<br />
&quot;Mufti sahib, who had seen a dream, shook hands with the Prime Minister of our country Narendra Modi, who has got the mandate of the people,&quot; she said.<br />
<br />
As the chief minister was speaking, former Minister and senior Congress leader Gulchain Singh Charak interrupted her speech and demanded setting up of two civil secretariat in Jammu and Srinagar capital cities.<br />
<br />
Charak, who later walked out of the hall in protest, was heckled by some workers after conclusion of the function.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir urged the Indian premier to use his mandate to stop the rot in the riven state

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can resolve the Kashmir problem as he has a strong mandate and appealed to him to pull the valley out of morass. Mufti, whose government is battling spiralling protests in the valley, said the situation is the result of pent up anger due to failure of the UPA government to continue with the policy started by the previous NDA government in Jammu and Kashmir during her father Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed's rule. "I say today with authority and I will be criticised for it also. If anyone can find a solution to Jammu and Kashmir problem, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "He (PM) has a strong mandate. Whatever decision he takes, the country will support him," said Mufti, whose party is running a government in coalition with the BJP. "If anyone can take us out of the sticky spot, it is Prime Minister Modi. The nation will support whatever he decides...it is may earnest appeal...," she said. The CM was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a flyover here. Hailing the Prime Minister's decision to visit Lahore on December 25, 2015, she said that it was a sign of strength not weakness. "He has the mandate of the people. This is his biggest power. He went to Lahore and met the PM of that country. This is not a sign of weakness but an indication of strength and power," she said. She took a dig at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he did not have the courage to visit Pakistan. "Before him (Modi), a Prime Minister had also desired to go to Pakistan for over ten years. He wanted to see his home there," she said, with naming Singh. "He also would have tried to end the confrontation between the two countries, and bring J&K out of this unfortunate situation, but he had no courage to do that." She gave credit to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former chief minister Mufti Sayeed for starting the "chapter of peace" in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002. "They tried their best to bring out Kashmir out of this unfortunate situation. He was successful to a large extent in shortest of period," Mehbooba said. "There was ceasefire (along Indo-Pak border) during Vajpayee's rule. There were talks with L K Advani (in Kashmir). There was beginning of the process of opening (cross -LoC) roads." The chief minister said militancy declined during that period and there was peace on the borders. "These were not small developments. But unfortunately Mufti was out of the government and Vajpayee ji left, and the process came to grinding halt," the PDP leader lamented. She alleged that the UPA regime at the centre and the state government did not carry forward the process thinking "everything is peaceful and there is no need to do anything further". "There was pent-up lava. It started to come out when the youths were out on the streets in 2008 and then 2009 and 2010. This lava has now spread to the streets and we are forced to face this situation," she said. The CM said while her government is trying to improve the situation in Kashmir, there are some forces which do not want it. "Mufti sahib, who had seen a dream, shook hands with the Prime Minister of our country Narendra Modi, who has got the mandate of the people," she said. As the chief minister was speaking, former Minister and senior Congress leader Gulchain Singh Charak interrupted her speech and demanded setting up of two civil secretariat in Jammu and Srinagar capital cities. Charak, who later walked out of the hall in protest, was heckled by some workers after conclusion of the function. (PTI)

Only PM Modi can resolve Kashmir issue: Mehbooba Mufti

<p>Pakistan has denied mutilating bodies of two Indian soldiers in the troubled state of Kashmir.</p>

<p>&quot;Pakistan Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on&nbsp;LoC (Line of Control) as alleged by India. Indian blame of mutilating Indian&nbsp;soldiers&#39; bodies is also false,&quot; a statement from the Pakistan&nbsp;Army&#39;s Inter-Services Public Relations wing said.</p>

<p>&quot;Pakistan Army is a highly professional force and will&nbsp;never disrespect a soldier,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>On Monday afternoon, Indian Army&#39;s Northern Command issued a press release today saying, &quot;in an unsoldierly act by the Pakistan army the bodies of our two Indian soldiers in the petrol were mutilated&quot;, the press release added, &quot;The Pak army will be appropriately responded&quot;.</p>

<p>India&#39;s defence minister Arun Jaitley condeming the incident, said, &quot;Bodies of soldiers being mutilated is an extreme form of barbaric act.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;The government of India strongly condemns this act. The whole country has full faith in our armed forces which will react appropriately to the act,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Reports said Indian Army targeted Pakistan army post along the Mendhar sector in south Kashmir with mortar fire and heavy machine gun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident comes after two soldiers were killed as Pakistan troops fired rockets in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district in Jammu &amp; Kashmir early today.&nbsp;The firing began at 8:30am local time (IST) as Pakistan used rocket launchers and automatic weapons on the Indian posts.</p>

<p>Reports said a BSF soldier and an army man were killed as Pakistan suddenly opened fire along&nbsp;the border area.&nbsp;Two people were also injured, reports said.&nbsp;Indian security forces retaliated immediately, gun battle is underway at the border.<br />
<br />
The Indian Army might just have walked into a death trap set up by Pakistan&#39;s Border Action Team (BAT), PTI quoted official sources as saying.</p>

<p>The incident occurred when a joint team of the army and BSF had gone to check the veracity of an intelligence report that landmines had been planted by Pakistani troops on the Indian side</p>

<p>As they were looking for landmines, the patrol was taken by surprise by the Border Action Team which had laid an ambush over 250 metres deep inside the Indian territory, official sources said.</p>

<p>&quot;It was a pre-planed operation by Pakistan army. They had pushed in the Border Action Team over 250 metres deep inside Indian territory and set up the ambush for a long period to carry out the attack,&quot; a senior officer said in Jammu</p>

<p>&quot;Their target was a patrol party of 7-8 members, which had come out of a post,&quot; the officer said, adding that as the posts were engaged, the patrol team members ran for cover.<br />
<br />
The BAT, the core of which is formed by the SSG (Special Services Group), is specifically employed for action across the LoC.</p>

<p>Its primary task is to dominate the LoC by carrying out disruptive actions in the form of surreptitious raids.</p>

<p>There have been several BAT attacks in the past in which jawans have been beheaded or their bodies mutilated.</p>

<p>On October 28, 2016, militants attacked a post and killed an Indian army soldier and mutilated his body close to the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector</p>

<p>In January 2013, Lance Naik Hemraj was killed and his body mutilated by BAT. It also beheaded Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh. Constable Rajinder Singh of the BSF suffered injuries in the attack.</p>

<p>In June 2008, a soldier of the 2/8 Gorkha Rifles lost his way and was captured by BAT in Kel sector. His body was found beheaded after a few days</p>

<p>During the 1999 Kargil conflict, Captain Saurabh Kalia was tortured by his Pakistani captors who later handed over his mutilated body to India.</p>

<p>In February, 2000, terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri had led a raid on the Indian army&#39;s &#39;Ashok Listening Post&#39; in the Nowshera sector and killed seven Indian soldiers.</p>

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<p>BSF head constable Prem Sagar who lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch (J&amp;K) (ANI)</p>
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<p>This is for the eighth time Pakistan has violated ceasefire in last two months by resorting to shelling and firing.</p>

<p>In 2016, 228 instances of ceasefire violations along the LoC were reported while there were 221 instances of ceasefire violations along International Border (IB).</p>

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<p>In an unsoldierly act by the Pakistan Army, two jawans were killed in unprovoked firing by Pakistan today morning and their bodies were mutilated. WION brings you more on this story (WION)</p>
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<p>The valley has been roiled by violence in recent months, with security forces opening fire on stone-throwing protesters.</p>

<p>Indian troops last week shot at a crowd of demonstrators outside an army garrison where militants had earlier killed three soldiers, hitting one civilian who later died.</p>

<p>(WION with agency inputs)&nbsp;</p>


India has warned of retaliation after a BSF soldier and an army man were killed during an unprovoked firing in Poonch district

Pakistan has denied mutilating bodies of two Indian soldiers in the troubled state of Kashmir. "Pakistan Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on LoC (Line of Control) as alleged by India. Indian blame of mutilating Indian soldiers' bodies is also false," a statement from the Pakistan Army's Inter-Services Public Relations wing said. "Pakistan Army is a highly professional force and will never disrespect a soldier," it said. On Monday afternoon, Indian Army's Northern Command issued a press release today saying, "in an unsoldierly act by the Pakistan army the bodies of our two Indian soldiers in the petrol were mutilated", the press release added, "The Pak army will be appropriately responded". India's defence minister Arun Jaitley condeming the incident, said, "Bodies of soldiers being mutilated is an extreme form of barbaric act." "The government of India strongly condemns this act. The whole country has full faith in our armed forces which will react appropriately to the act," he said. Reports said Indian Army targeted Pakistan army post along the Mendhar sector in south Kashmir with mortar fire and heavy machine gun. The incident comes after two soldiers were killed as Pakistan troops fired rockets in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district in Jammu & Kashmir early today. The firing began at 8:30am local time (IST) as Pakistan used rocket launchers and automatic weapons on the Indian posts. Reports said a BSF soldier and an army man were killed as Pakistan suddenly opened fire along the border area. Two people were also injured, reports said. Indian security forces retaliated immediately, gun battle is underway at the border. The Indian Army might just have walked into a death trap set up by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT), PTI quoted official sources as saying. The incident occurred when a joint team of the army and BSF had gone to check the veracity of an intelligence report that landmines had been planted by Pakistani troops on the Indian side As they were looking for landmines, the patrol was taken by surprise by the Border Action Team which had laid an ambush over 250 metres deep inside the Indian territory, official sources said. "It was a pre-planed operation by Pakistan army. They had pushed in the Border Action Team over 250 metres deep inside Indian territory and set up the ambush for a long period to carry out the attack," a senior officer said in Jammu "Their target was a patrol party of 7-8 members, which had come out of a post," the officer said, adding that as the posts were engaged, the patrol team members ran for cover. The BAT, the core of which is formed by the SSG (Special Services Group), is specifically employed for action across the LoC. Its primary task is to dominate the LoC by carrying out disruptive actions in the form of surreptitious raids. There have been several BAT attacks in the past in which jawans have been beheaded or their bodies mutilated. On October 28, 2016, militants attacked a post and killed an Indian army soldier and mutilated his body close to the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector In January 2013, Lance Naik Hemraj was killed and his body mutilated by BAT. It also beheaded Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh. Constable Rajinder Singh of the BSF suffered injuries in the attack. In June 2008, a soldier of the 2/8 Gorkha Rifles lost his way and was captured by BAT in Kel sector. His body was found beheaded after a few days During the 1999 Kargil conflict, Captain Saurabh Kalia was tortured by his Pakistani captors who later handed over his mutilated body to India. In February, 2000, terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri had led a raid on the Indian army's 'Ashok Listening Post' in the Nowshera sector and killed seven Indian soldiers. BSF head constable Prem Sagar who lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch (J&K) (ANI) × This is for the eighth time Pakistan has violated ceasefire in last two months by resorting to shelling and firing. In 2016, 228 instances of ceasefire violations along the LoC were reported while there were 221 instances of ceasefire violations along International Border (IB). In an unsoldierly act by the Pakistan Army, two jawans were killed in unprovoked firing by Pakistan today morning and their bodies were mutilated. WION brings you more on this story (WION) × The valley has been roiled by violence in recent months, with security forces opening fire on stone-throwing protesters. Indian troops last week shot at a crowd of demonstrators outside an army garrison where militants had earlier killed three soldiers, hitting one civilian who later died. (WION with agency inputs)

Pakistan denies mutilating bodies of two Indian soldiers in Kashmir

<p>Turkey&#39;s President Erdogan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday vowed to boost bilateral&nbsp;trade to $10 billion, with Erdogan offering&nbsp;his &quot;full solidarity&quot; in tackling militancy.</p>

<p>Turkey&#39;s $6.5 billion annual trade volume with India is &quot;not enough&quot; and should be boosted, said&nbsp;Erdogan, who arrived in India on a two-day visit on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a joint statement, the two countries agreed to encourage business efforts to achieve a level of at&nbsp;least USD 10 billion by 2020.</p>

<p>The Modi-Erdogan meeting came under the backdrop of the Turkish president&#39;s comments on Kashmir, made&nbsp;during his interview to WION ahead of his visit to India. (<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kashmir-a-bilateral-issue-between-india-pakistan-india-to-turkey-15135">Also Read:&nbsp;Kashmir a bilateral issue: India to Turkey</a>)</p>

<p>Erdogan had said, &quot;We should not allow more casualties to occur (in Kashmir). By having a multilateral&nbsp;dialogue, (in which) we can be involved, we can seek ways to settle the issue once and for all.&quot;</p>

<p>Asked if the Kashmir issue or Erdogan&#39;s proposal of multilateral dialogue figured during the meeting&nbsp;between the two leaders, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said India had made it&nbsp;clear to Erdogan that Kashmir was a bilateral issue and linked with the problem of cross-border&nbsp;terrorism.</p>

<p>&quot;We told them that we have been victims of cross-border terrorism and and state-sponsored terrorism for&nbsp;40 years. As far as Kashmir issue is concerned, we have always been ready to resolve it with Pakistan.&nbsp;Not only Kashmir but also all other bilateral issues should be resolved in a peaceful manner,&quot; Baglay&nbsp;said.</p>

<p>The two countries strongly condemned the &quot;use of double standards&quot; in combating terrorism, declaring in&nbsp;a joint statement &quot;that there could be no justification for terrorism anywhere&quot;.</p>

<p>Erdogan and Modi called upon all the countries to work sincerely to disrupt terrorist networks and&nbsp;their financing and stop cross-border movement of terrorists, in an obvious reference to Pakistan-based&nbsp;terrorist groups.</p>

<p>The two agreed to strengthen cooperation in effectively dealing with terrorism at the bilateral and&nbsp;multi-lateral levels.</p>

<p>Modi also thanked Erdogan for his country&#39;s support to India&#39;s aspiration for Nuclear Suppliers Group&nbsp;(NSG) membership as well as other export control regimes like Missile Technology Control Regime.</p>

<p>Turkey has been maintaining that the NSG should come out with a system to consider the entry of&nbsp;countries which are not signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It has also supported&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s case for NSG membership.</p>

<p>The heads of government stressed on the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN including expansion&nbsp;of its Security Council to make the body more inclusive, accountable and effective.</p>

<p>(<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/turkeys-president-erdogan-backs-indias-bid-for-permanent-seat-at-the-unsc-15134">Also Read: Turkey backs India&#39;s bid for permanent membership of the UNSC</a>)</p>

<p>India, with a population of 1.3 billion is not a part of the UNSC. Over 1.7 billion people live in the&nbsp;Islamic world but they too are not a part of the UNSC. A nation like Japan is not a part of the group.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
This is not a healthy sign. We need a fair and just world order by bringing in significant reforms in&nbsp;the UNSC,&quot; Erdogan said&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two also expressed their willingness to improve cooperation in the fields of hydrocarbons,&nbsp;renewable energy (solar and wind) and energy efficiency.</p>

<p>A number of MoUs were signed including one between Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), India&nbsp;and Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), Turkey.</p>

<p>Another agreement for cooperation was signed between Press Trust of India (PTI) and Anadolu Agency (AA)&nbsp;of Turkey.</p>

<p>Erdogan received an honourary degree on Monday from Jamia Millia Islamia, one of India&#39;s top&nbsp;universities that teaches the Turkish language.</p>

<p>The Turkish President extended invitations to President Pranab Mukherjee and to PM Modi for visiting&nbsp;Turkey at mutually convenient time.<br />
<br />
(WION with inputs from PTI)</p>

<p><br />
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The two countries agreed to boost trade to atleast least USD 10 billion by 2020

Turkey's President Erdogan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday vowed to boost bilateral trade to $10 billion, with Erdogan offering his "full solidarity" in tackling militancy. Turkey's $6.5 billion annual trade volume with India is "not enough" and should be boosted, said Erdogan, who arrived in India on a two-day visit on Sunday. In a joint statement, the two countries agreed to encourage business efforts to achieve a level of at least USD 10 billion by 2020. The Modi-Erdogan meeting came under the backdrop of the Turkish president's comments on Kashmir, made during his interview to WION ahead of his visit to India. (Also Read: Kashmir a bilateral issue: India to Turkey) Erdogan had said, "We should not allow more casualties to occur (in Kashmir). By having a multilateral dialogue, (in which) we can be involved, we can seek ways to settle the issue once and for all." Asked if the Kashmir issue or Erdogan's proposal of multilateral dialogue figured during the meeting between the two leaders, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said India had made it clear to Erdogan that Kashmir was a bilateral issue and linked with the problem of cross-border terrorism. "We told them that we have been victims of cross-border terrorism and and state-sponsored terrorism for 40 years. As far as Kashmir issue is concerned, we have always been ready to resolve it with Pakistan. Not only Kashmir but also all other bilateral issues should be resolved in a peaceful manner," Baglay said. The two countries strongly condemned the "use of double standards" in combating terrorism, declaring in a joint statement "that there could be no justification for terrorism anywhere". Erdogan and Modi called upon all the countries to work sincerely to disrupt terrorist networks and their financing and stop cross-border movement of terrorists, in an obvious reference to Pakistan-based terrorist groups. The two agreed to strengthen cooperation in effectively dealing with terrorism at the bilateral and multi-lateral levels. Modi also thanked Erdogan for his country's support to India's aspiration for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership as well as other export control regimes like Missile Technology Control Regime. Turkey has been maintaining that the NSG should come out with a system to consider the entry of countries which are not signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It has also supported Pakistan's case for NSG membership. The heads of government stressed on the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN including expansion of its Security Council to make the body more inclusive, accountable and effective. (Also Read: Turkey backs India's bid for permanent membership of the UNSC) India, with a population of 1.3 billion is not a part of the UNSC. Over 1.7 billion people live in the Islamic world but they too are not a part of the UNSC. A nation like Japan is not a part of the group. This is not a healthy sign. We need a fair and just world order by bringing in significant reforms in the UNSC," Erdogan said The two also expressed their willingness to improve cooperation in the fields of hydrocarbons, renewable energy (solar and wind) and energy efficiency. A number of MoUs were signed including one between Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), India and Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), Turkey. Another agreement for cooperation was signed between Press Trust of India (PTI) and Anadolu Agency (AA) of Turkey. Erdogan received an honourary degree on Monday from Jamia Millia Islamia, one of India's top universities that teaches the Turkish language. The Turkish President extended invitations to President Pranab Mukherjee and to PM Modi for visiting Turkey at mutually convenient time. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Trade, Kashmir, counter-terrorism feature in talks between Erdogan, PM Modi

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