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Says aren’t against development, but GoI should accept Kashmir as a dispute

Srinagar, May 19: APHC Chairman and Mirwaiz, Umar Farooq on Sunday said they were ready to support the dialogue provided India and Pakistan initiate the process of talks afresh on Kashmir.

He said they were not against development of talks but India should accept Kashmir as a disputed territory “We aren’t against the people of India, we are against the policies of India which are being implemented here,” he told KNO while addressing a seminar at Hurriyat headquarters at Rajbagh here .

Mirwaiz said that it was unfortunate that New Delhi has choked all means of peaceful protests, seminars and even pro freedom leaders aren’t allowed to meet people. “How can ideas come up when all space stands choked,” he said.

He said there is no military solution to the Kashmir dispute as even late Atal Bihari Vajpayee too realised that dialogue was the only solution to resolve Kashmir. “That’s why he advocated solution within the ambit of humanity,” he said.

Mirwaiz said that the GoI must roll back all the decisions especially ban on organisations, CBMs, and should also release all leaders without any pre-condition.(KNO)

Srinagar: No civilian traffic movement was allowed on Sunday on the National Highway, the only all weather road connecting Valley with the rest of the country when only security force convoy will ply.

No civilian traffic was allowed on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Sunday, when only security force convoy will ply.

Officials say 12 militants killed in six encounters in fasting month, Successful Ops because of stepped up human source base across South, North.

Srinagar, May 18: In the fasting month of Ramadhan, encounters between government forces and the militants showed a steep rise with as many as 12 militants getting killed in six gunfights in south and north Kashmir. The north Kashmir, however, registered only one encounter resulting in the killing of one militant, officials told KNO.

Today’s encounter started at Panzgam area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. According to police spokesman, acting swiftly on the credible lead, joint teams of security forces that include army’s 55 RR and special operations group of police cordoned off the Bonpora, Panzgam village of Pulwama.

“In the initial exchange of gunfight, one militant was gunned down and as the encounter was taken into an advanced stage, two more militants were killed,” a senior police officer told KNO. He said that the operation was conducted in most professional manner and there was no collateral damage.

A police spokesman said identified the three slain militants as the members of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit—Shokat Dar of Panzgam, Irfan War of Wadoora, Sopore, and Muzaffar Sheikh of Tahab, Pulwama. Soon after the Panzgam encounter, a siege was laid at Dehruna village of Anantnag district. However, after initial exchange of fire, militants managed to flee. However, another encounter broke out in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

A police officer revealed to KNO that acting on a specific human intelligence, a cordon was laid at village Hathlangoo, Sopore. “As the suspected house was zeroed in, the hiding militant opened fire resulting in an encounter. In the ensuing gunfight, a militant was killed,” the police said. “It was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place in the gunfight.” The slain militant was identified as Waseem Sheikh, a resident of Barsoo, Awantipora.

Ever since the first shoot-out on May 10 at Shopian, in which an ISJK militant Ishfaq Sofi was killed, there has been no let up in the encounters even though the South Kashmir districts witnessed five encounters while north Kashmir witnessed one encounter at Sopore today. In total six encounters, 12 militants were killed in just eight days, which is highest since 2017 Ramadhan. In 2018, no militant was killed due to the Non Initiation of Combat Operations (NICO).

Security officials told KNO that stepped up human and technical intelligence was major reason for the clean anti-militancy operations. “Of late, human and technical intelligence has increased manifold. We are getting very accurate information about the presence and the movement of militants. Operations are being carried out in a way that no collateral damage takes place or the prayers or religious gatherings of people in view of fasting month doesn’t get affected,” a senior official revealed.(KNO)

Srinagar, May 18 : Clashes broke out at the encounter site in Hathlangoo village of Sopore after a militant was killed in an encounter with government forces.

A police official confirmed to KNO that one militant was killed in the encounter.

“Searches are going on at the encounter site,” the official said. (KNO)

Says one among them was involved in killing of army soldier Aurangzeb

Srinagar, May 18 (GNS): Police on Saturday said that one among the three militants slain on Saturday morning in a gunfight at Panzgam area of Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district was involved in killing of an army soldier Aurangzeb last year.

SSP Awantipora Tahir Saleem told GNS that the three militants who were killed in Panzgam today were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

He identified the slain trio as Showkat Ahmad Dar of Panzgam Pulwama, Irfan Ahmad of Sopore and Muzzafar Ahmad of Tahab Pulwama.

The officer said that Showkat Dar was directly involved in the killing of the army soldier Rifleman Aurangzeb.

Earlier, the encounter broke out in Panzgam village after a joint team of army’s 55 RR and SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation following inputs about the presence of some militants.

On June 14, 2018, Aurangzeb, a rifleman with 44 Rashtriya Rifles – was kidnapped and shot dead by militants in south Kashmir’s Pulwama when he was travelling in a private vehicle, on his way home in Poonch.

Aurangzeb was part of an officer’s team which killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sameer Tige on May 1, 2018. (GNS)

Srinagar, May 17 (KNO) : Suspected militants on friday evening lobbed a grenade towards police post Keegam.

An official told KNO that the grenade was thrown towards the post which however exploded outside.

“Th genade exploded near a house, due to which the house caught fire,” he said.

The official however said there were no injuries to any and the fire was also doused off. (KNO)

Kunzer, May 17: Government forces on Friday evening launched a cordon and search operation in Adipora village of Kunzer area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Reports reaching KNO said that Army’s 2 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched the operation in the village after inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

He said door to door search operation was initiated and all the entry and exit points of the village have been sealed.

The search operation was underway in the village when this report was filed.

However, there were no immediate reports of any untoward incident.

Earlier, a CASO was also launched at Rambal area of Kunzer in Northern Kashmir’s Baramulla district which ended peacefully later.(KNO)

Says, would withdraw support, and accuses Governor of attempting to disintegrate J&K

Srinagar, May 17: Stating that SMC’s Deputy Mayor Sheikh Imran was forced to join People’s Conference , Congress on Friday said that it will withdraw its support to him and would filed some other candidate for the Deputy Mayor’s post. The party accused Governor Satya Pal Malik of attempting to disintegrate the state by encouraging defections and other such tactics. Speaking to RNA, Congress State President G. A Mir said that they had credible reports that Imran was taken to Governor House and warned of consequences owing to his alleged J&K bank issue and other problems following which he was forced to join the People’s Conference.
“We have credible reports that he was taken to Raj Bhawan where he was warned about the possible consequences of his problems with J&K Bank and other issues.” Mr. Mir told RNA, adding that his party will withdraw support to the Deputy Mayor.
“The governor wants to disintegrate the J&K by such tactics and he is completing the unfinished agenda of the BJP in the state. That is why the assembly elections are not being held here.” The congress state Chief told RNA. Mr. Mir added that the ongoing lok Sabha polls were being fought with this idea only that the BJP’s ‘ dirty tricks’ are put to halt and a change in the country must come. He said the congress was even willing to support others to keep BJP away from the power which would ensure that such ‘ dirty tricks’ are stopped for the good of the country.
G.A Mir accused the Governor of implementing l the ‘ Modi Ideology’ in Kashmir and said time was not far when the entire system would undergo change . He said he will call all the party councilors and other independents who have pledged support to the party tomorrow afternoon and would formally withdraw support to the Deputy Mayor.
Earlier in the day the Deputy Mayor Sheikh Imran joined Peoples’ Conference in presence of its Chairman Sajad Gani Lone, General Secretary Imran Raza Ansari and its senior leader and SMC Mayor Junaid Azim Matoo. (RNA)