Most wanted No-1 of Hyderpora attacker guned down by Army & Police

A Lashkar-e-Toiba militant was killed during a fire fight in South Kashmir Pulwama district, some 60 kms from summer capital Srinagar, sources said late on Tuesday.

A senior army official said militants at around 6:50 pm opened heavy fire upon army’s patrolling party of 55 Rashtriya Rifles near railway track in Beighpora area of Awantipora.

However, no one was injured in the attack, the officer said. Soon after the attack, army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police  cordoned off the area and its adjoining villages.

During the search operation forces zeroed down on a local LeT militant, Irshad Ahmad Ganie.

Irshad ahmad Ganie, a resident of Larkipora in Awantipora was active with the LeT since past two years. An AK-56 rifle has been recovered from the spot.

Story :http://writerasia.blogspot.in/2013/10/faces-behind-hyderpora-attack-revealed.html
See live pics : faces Behind Hyderpora attack
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Most wanted L&T militant killed in encounter at Hushroo, Budgam.

J&K's most wanted L&T militant killed in encounter at Hushroo, Budgam.

A most-wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba militant died in a fierce encounter with Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces in Budgam district of central Kashmir on Thursday.

On Nov 8,  Shoukat ahmad Lone @ Bilal Lone  r/o Lelhara, Kakpora was behind the striking in the garrison township of Awantipore on the Srinagar-Jammu highway,  militants on Thursday evening shot dead two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

Accarding to  The Hindu that two gunmen carrying AK-47 rifles fired at two constables of the CRPF 130th battalion close to a revered saint’s shrine at Awantipore, 25 km from Srinagar, at 6 p.m.

The constables, Pradeep Ganna of Odisha and Mahesh Kumar of Maharashtra, died on the spot.

Senior officials rushed to the spot and launched a search operation. The officials were surprised that the attack had taken place near the battalion headquarters and the CRPF Deputy Inspector General’s office. Mr. Mir said the police got certain clues which indicated that a group of  Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) cadres had carried out the operation.

South Kashmir Deputy Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar told The Hindu that LeT’s local operative Irshad Ahmad Ganai of Larkipora Padgampora  (Awantipora ) had attacked the CRPF men. He said the militant escaped towards the Jhelum and crossed the river using a small boat.

An operation has been launched to trace Irshad Ahmad Ganai and other members of the group, identified as Showkat Tak, r/o Punzgam, Pulwma distriect. Sajjad  Ahmad  of Aripora (Pantha Chowk ) and Showkat Ahmad Lone @Bilal Lone of  Lelhara. The DIG said the same group of militants had shot dead a soldier last year, taken away his gun and left another soldier injured at Pampore. Irshad Ahmed Ganai was allegedly involved in killing eight Army soldiers in a daring attack at Hyderpora on the eve of the Prime Minister’s visit in June. Bilal, according to the police, had shot dead a India's noted cardiologist ( Dr Sheikh JALAL sahib ) and two of his personal security officers at Pampore earlier this year.

Superintendent of Police Mohammad Irshad, who led the operation with senior Army and CRPF officials, confirmed the militant’s death and told The Hindu that Omar was the man who had shot dead Station House Office (SHO) of Chadoura, Sub-Inspector Shabir Ahmad, inside a shop in Chadoura township on December 2, 2013. He said that Omar was one of the most wanted militants of Budgam-Pulwama belt who had planned and executed a number of guerrilla strikes and played key role in reviving militancy in that area.

External Forces increased funding of separatists: J&K Police chief

Arrests and killings of militants not our objective
External Forces increased funding of separatists
Geelani and other separatist leaders have no base in Kashmir: Ashok Prasad

Srinagar : Director General of Police Ashok Prasad Friday said that latest developments along the Line of Control are the source of concern and they are minutely assessing the situation and trying to figure out whether the strategy adopted by militants are short or long term.

“As per intelligence reports External Forces have increased the funding of separatist leaders and they are getting huge amounts from across the border while the militants along the Line of Control have become more aggressive now which is a cause of worry for us,” Prasad told Srinagar based news gathering agency CNS adding that such changes can create problems for us in future.

He said militants have changed their strategy now and instead of infiltrating during the dead of night, they have started sneaking into our side openly and frequently they resort to heavy firing on Indian posts.“Militants have changed their strategy and we are keenly assessing the situation. As per our reports there are at least 400 militants keen to infiltrate into Kashmir Valley,” Prasad said.

DGP said that at least 80 militants have managed to infiltrate successfully in recent times and they are present in different parts of Kashmir Valley. “Last year as per intelligence reports, this number was 120 but this year it diminished to 80. There is no need to panic as police and security agencies have ability to neutralize them,” he said.

Prasad told CNS that although the number of militants present in Valley is about 180 but, “only 7 to 8 militant leaders of Hizbul Mujhadeen are enthusiastically active in North and South Kashmir. Once these 7 to 8 militants are neutralized, militancy would almost disappear and even stray attacks on security and police personnel would stop,” he said.

“Militants of HM are present in Sopore area while in South Kashmir a group of Lashkar Toiba headed by Commander Qasim is active. Militants in Lolab, Rajwar and Tral are leaderless and no threat to us,” he said adding that militants have started targeting policemen,  and security personnel to demoralize them.

Ashok Prasad said that after failing to achieve their objective in attacking Sarpanchas and Panchas, militants changed their strategy and they have two objectives behind targeting security personnel. “One is to demoralize them and the other is that they should over react after every attack. “We are consciously avoiding both and are not giving them open hand,” he said.

He said that LeT, HM and Jaish Muhammad are providing logistic support to each other and carry out joint operations.

While replying to a question, Prasad said on the eve of Zubin Mehta’s musical concert, militants had planned to strike in Srinagar, Shopian and Pulwama. “Militants managed to strike in South Kashmir, however, we neutralized them in Srinagar and arrested 4 of them who during interrogation confessed that they were involved in several militancy related incidents,” he said.

He said we are following three fold-strategy which includes minimum visibility of security personnel, low profile and zero collateral. “If this policy could be reversed, militancy would come down to zero level but common people would feel the burnt which we don’t like,” he said.

“Arrests and killings of militants is not our objective. Our objective is that peaceful and conducive atmosphere should prevail in the State so that people could participate in electoral process and elect their representatives who could sit across and resolves all the issues politically and amicably,” he said.

While replying to a question, Director General of Police Ashok Prasad said that he has not placed Syed Ali Geealni under house arrest. “It is Code of Criminal Procedure which has imposed restrictions on Geelani. Geelani is free to offer Friday prayers at Hyderpora Masjid but he always insists that he would offer prayers at those places where chances of violence are maximum.

“Geelani should contest elections and prove his representative character. Geealni and other separatist leaders have no base in Kashmir and they knew it well they would not not be able to make it if they contest elections,” he said.

Prasad further said that the matters relating to police department particularly about releasing of ration money and police promotions have been taken up with higher ups and these would be resolved soon. (CNS)

Red alert in Srinagar

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Jammu and Kashmir Police Saturday sounded an alert after several cases of motorcycle thefts were reported from various parts of the Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital - Srinagar.

"Police have started investigations into bike lifting cases that have occurred in the past few days in Srinagar. Four bikes were reported to have been stolen from different places in the city," a police spokesman said.

Security agencies are looking into the possibility of militants having stolen the motorcycles for use in subversive activities, police sources said.

In the past, militants have used stolen bikes to carry out attacks on security forces in Srinagar and elsewhere in the valley.

The attack on an army convoy at Hyderpora here on June 24 which left eight soldiers dead and several others injured was also carried out using a motorcycle snatched by militants from two students in a nearby locality, the sources said.

The common pattern in the four theft cases reported over the past few days is that all the stolen bikes are at least 13 years old. (PTI)

Militants involved in Hyderpora attack identified: J&K Police

J&K Police has identified the three militants believed to be involved in the attack on an Army convoy in Hyderpora area of the city that left eight armymen dead and over a dozen others injured. The posters of the three militants, one of whom is a Pakistani, has been circulated as investigations have revealed their involvement in the attack on June 23, a day ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairpersons Sonia Gandhi arrived for a visit to the state, Deputy Inspector General of Police S A Mujtaba said."Anyone who provides information about these wanted persons would be suitably rewarded," the posters in Urdu, with the photographs of militants, read. According to the poster, the militants have been identified as Irshad Ahmad Ganaie R/o. Larkipora Awantipora, Sajad Ahmad Bhat R/o. Aripora Pantha Chowk,(both locals) and Qasim from Pakistan. (PTI)

Insider’s info on Hyderpora attack can’t be ruled out: J&K Police

Dr. S.Jalal

Militants change strategy, carry out lethal attacks

“Security forces are investigating the possibility of insider’s information about the movement of an Army convoy that was attacked at Hyderpora in Srinagar last month in which eight Army personnel were killed and over a dozen were injured”, a senior police officer said here.

Militants chose an Army vehicle in the convoy with un-armed soldiers for the lethal attack on Hyderpora Bypass, a day before Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh visited Srinagar last month.

“We can’t rule out insider’s information about the particular vehicle of the convoy in which the Army men were without weapons. The attack was targeted at that vehicle only when there were up and down convoys plying on the highway. We are investigating various angles about what led to the targeting of that particular vehicle”, the officer said.

He added that militants have infiltrated into security forces ranks but police have been able to identify and nab them. The officer cited the example of Constable Abdul Rashid Shigan and Sub-Inspector Shiv Kumar Sharma alias Sonu who were working at the behest of the militants and were involved in the militancy related incidents in the State.

“We were able to identify and arrest them. We can’t rule out more infiltrations in police. Such infiltrations do take place in the security force ranks in conflict situations”, the officer said.

The officer said that militants in Kashmir have changed their strategy with the aim to inflict more casualties on security forces and in return incite them for collateral damage that could lead to public anger against the Government and street protests.

“Two police men were killed at point blank range in Hari Singh Street, Srinagar on June 22 in busy market place but we didn’t fire back as it could have caused civilian casualties”, the officer said.

The officer said that such type of provocative attacks where they were expecting collateral damage was Bemina attack on CRPF camp in March this year where children were playing cricket, Hyderpora attack on Army convoy, and attack on Dr. Sheikh Jalal in busy street at Pampore where two police men were killed and the doctor was critically wounded.

“The aim of these attacks at public places was to incite the security forces for collateral damage so as to incite people against the Government and trigger street protests”, the officer said. “But security forces didn’t fell prey to the militant designs and maintained utmost restraint during recent attacks on the security forces”, he added.

The officer said that soon after the attack on Army convoy in Hyderpora, Police directed the Army not to open fire. “We told the senior Army officers that there was no point to fire back as the militants had fled and the firing can only cause civilian casualty”, he added.

The officer said that this year there were more lethal attacks on the security forces in Kashmir valley in which casualty figure on security forces is higher than the previous years.

With the changing strategy of carrying out lethal attacks on security forces, so far 33 security men were killed in militant attacks since March this year. The biggest one being the Hyderpora attack of last month in which 8 Army personnel were killed and over a dozen injured.

Militants in most of these lethal attacks took security forces by surprise. In March 13 this year, 5 CRPF jawans were killed when militants attacked them at Bemina and most of the jawans were without weapons as they were on law and order duty.

In Hygam Sopore, militants on April 26 attacked a police party and killed four police men. The police party had gone to investigate a theft case which militants had faked.

In Tral on May 25, four Army men were killed when militants took them by surprise after trapping them in their drag net.

(Fayaz Bukhari in Dailyexcelsior )