Dozens of militants' houses raided in coordinated operation in J-K ahead of Independence Day
Police sources said that in a major clampdown in Kishtwar district on Saturday, multiple police teams simultaneously conducted raids at 26 houses of terrorists including that of a Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Mohammad Amin Bhat, alias Jehangir Saroori — one of the longest surviving terrorists in J-K.
Saroori had joined Hizbul Mujahideen in the 1990s.
Others whose houses were searched included terrorists who were operating from across the border and smuggling arms and ammunition into Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.
The raids in Kishtwar came a day after similar searches were conducted jointly by the police and security forces at various places in adjoining Doda district on Friday.
Sources said that the searches were held in connection with the ongoing investigations into cross-border terror networks carrying out activities aimed at disturbing the peace in the Chenab Valley region.
The raids are part of an intensified surveillance operation to detect and dismantle any sleeper cells or support networks aiding terrorist activities in the Chenab Valley region, they said.
However, there have been no reports of any arrest or seizures.
Those whose residential premises were searched include Talib Hussain alias Farhad Mochi and Reham Ali, both residents of Gandoh, besides Zakir Hussain of Darena Bhalla. All three were said to be in Pakistan.
The other three were alleged to be OGWs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Monsoon Session begins today: UP Assembly to hold 24-hour-long marathon debate on ‘2047 Vision Document' for ‘holistic development of state'
A special 24-hour-long marathon debate on the 'Vision Document 2047' will be held in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly during the four-day monsoon session, beginning Monday. This was decided at the all-party meeting, chaired by Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, on Sunday. The special debate is likely to take place on August 13 and 14, ahead of Independence Day. Speaking at the all-party meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh will be the first Assembly to hold a detailed discussion on the 'Vision Document 2047', which will include suggestions from all parties for a 'holistic development of the state'. The chief minister also said the special discussion 'will not be the agenda of any political party, but a common plan for the future of the state.' 'Till now, members used to talk about their respective areas. However, this special discussion will provide direction for the future of the entire state. The chief minister expressed confidence that this will make the state Uttam Pradesh (the best state),' Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said after the meeting. He also said that keeping in mind Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of 'Developed India 2047′, initiatives being undertaken in UP in this regard are a 'historic opportunity'. Speaker Mahana sought the cooperation of all party leaders for a smooth conduct of the session, and maintained that 'democracy is strengthened only by dialogue and positive discussion in the parliamentary system'. 'As the largest Legislative Assembly of the country, the proceedings here set an example for other legislatures,' he added. Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey (Samajwadi Party), Minister Sanjay Nishad, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader Om Prakash Rajbhar, Congress MLA Aradhana Mishra, BSP MLA Umashankar Singh, and independent MLA Kunwar Raghuraj Pratap Singh 'Raja Bhaiya' were present in the meeting. The Opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), however, said it would raise the merger of government schools, law and order, and floods, and target the BJP government for holding a brief session of four days. 'The four-day session is merely a formality. Samajwadi Party legislators as well as our alliance partners will try our best to raise all important issues strongly in the House in the given time,' said SP's Sangram Yadav. SP legislator Ravidas Mehrotra said, 'This government is bringing a vision document for 2047. The fact is that they are going to lose power in 2029 at the Centre. The BJP government in the state has failed to tell the public about its current vision for the development of the state, but is busy talking about 2047! There is unemployment, price rise, farmers are troubled, and there is a problem of electricity.' Speaking to mediapoersons after the meeting, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra said her party wanted a longer session. 'At least 10 days are needed to discuss different issues of significance affecting the state and people. But I fail to understand why the BJP government is shying away from the discussion despite being in the majority. They should have at least given more time for discussion on such an important issue,' Mishra added. Sources said the Opposition is preparing to corner the government on issues of merger of schools, clash between power minister and employees, law and order, women's security, farmers' issues, unemployment, as well as price rise. Earlier in the day, the CM inaugurated the newly constructed dome at the entrance of the Vidhan Bhavan and the Assembly hall. He also inaugurated the renovated Assembly hall number 15 and a VVIP canteen.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Third security breach in Red Fort mock drill in run-up to I-Day in Delhi
NEW DELHI Police termed the drills routine and said shortcomings will be addressed. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) A 'dummy terrorist' from the Delhi Police's Special Cell snuck into the Red Fort, carrying mock explosives up to the children's enclosure for the Independence Day celebrations, without being stopped. It marked the third security lapse over the past few days in mock drills being run on the premises in the run-up to August 15. The dummy operative, tasked with testing readiness, even took selfies and recorded videos among security personnel before leaving, an official aware of the matter said. Deputy commissioner of police (North) Raja Banthia said that the drills are a routine affair. 'We continue to do them to rule out any shortcomings and we have conducted several successful drills where the mock operatives were caught,' the officer said. An officer aware of the matter said that at least 15 mock drills have been successfully conducted. 'Three subversion attempt mock drills and two dummy infiltration drills by Special Branch, nine dummy infiltration attempts by local vigilance branch and one subversion attempt mock drill of Special Cell have been successful, in which the dummy suspects were caught,' the officer said. Another senior Delhi Police officer said the man entered the premises on Friday evening by scaling the wall near the petrol pump on Nishad Raj Road. He made his way to the high-security seating zone and 'spent considerable time loitering' before exiting. The Special Cell later sent photographs and videos of the breach to the police headquarters, after which the police took corrective measures. The communication was also sent to the Prime Minister's Security Unit, as per protocol. As of Sunday, no disciplinary action was taken against erring officials. Last week, seven police officials were suspended over the arrest of five Bangladeshi nationals allegedly living illegally near the fort, and the recovery of two live cartridges from the premises.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: 2 men open fire at Hoshiarpur YouTuber's house, none hurt
Two unidentified bike-borne miscreants fired gunshots at the house of a social media influencer (YouTuber), Simran Sikand, alias Sam, in Model Town locality on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. No one was injured in the incident. The assailants fled before a cop deployed in family's security could respond. Two used cartridges were recovered from the spot, sub-inspector (SI) Gursahib Singh from the Model Town police station said. Police at the spot where two unidentified bike-borne miscreants fired gunshots at the house of a social media influencer Simran Sikand's house in Hoshiarpur on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. (HT Photo) A CCTV footage showed the two bikers turning up outside Sam's house at 12.40 am and the pillion rider opening fire. Sam said he heard the gunshot but mistook it for firecrackers before he was informed by his security guard. SI Gursahib Singh stated that a few months ago, Sikand commented on a religious post on social media, which allegedly led to an online argument with Shahzad Bhatti, a Pakistani national, and Dalbir Singh of Hoshiarpur. Sikand claimed that Bhatti threatened him with a grenade attack at his house, following which the YouTuber was provided police security. He revealed that several attempts have been made on him and his family in the recent past and that he had received a threat from Pakistan-based don Shahzad Bhatti in March. 'In a video call, Bhatti had told me that I was his target,' claimed Sam. Bhatti had taken the responsibility for a grenade attack at the house of Jalandhar-based YouTuber Rozar Sandhu and senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia earlier this year. Sam alleged that he had conveyed his security concerns to senior police officers many times but he was not provided proper security. 'One of the two security personnel deployed at my house is physically challenged and incapable of defending my family,' he added. An FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act has been registered at the Model Town police station, said police, and further investigation is underway. (With PTI inputs)
