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United News of India
4 days ago
- United News of India
IGP Kashmir reviews security ahead of Kheer Bhawani mela
Srinagar, May 31 (UNI) Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Vidhi Kumar Birdi on Saturday reviewed the security arrangements ahead of Kheer Bhawani Mela. The main function of Mela Kheer Bhawani is scheduled to be held on June 3 at the village of Tulmulla in the Ganderbal district. 'All arrangements are in place to facilitate the devotees while tight security arrangements are also put in place,' the IGP said. He said that necessary arrangements, along with heightened security, are made for the devotees expected to visit the temple not only from within the parts of Jammu and Kashmir but from across the country. A batch of Kashmiri Pandit devotees will also be flagged off for Ganderbal district from Jammu on Sunday. UNI VBH BD
United News of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Recalibrated strategy post-Pahalgam led to killing of 6 militants: Forces
Srinagar, May 16 (UNI) After Pahalgam terror attack, security forces recalibrated their counter-terrorism strategy that helped them to eliminate six local militants, including two commanders, in south Kashmir in 48 hours. Since Tuesday, three militants each of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad were killed in two separate encounters in south Kashmir's Shopian and Awantipora. In a joint media briefing by the police, Army and the CRPF, the officers said the success of these two operations was due to the 'seamless coordination' between the security and intelligence agencies. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi said the Pahalgam terror attack prompted a comprehensive review of the existing security strategy. "In the wake of heightened terror activities in Kashmir Valley, all the security forces deployed here reviewed their strategies. Following the review, there was an intensified focus on operations. On the basis of this intensified focus and coordination, we conducted two successful operations in the last 48 hours during which we had significant achievement. Six terrorists were neutralised in both the operations,' said Birdhi who was flanked by General Officer Commanding of Army's Victor Force, Major General Dhananjay Joshi and IG CRPF Mitesh Jain. Birdhi said the operations -- one in Shopian and another in Tral Awantopora -- were due to the seamless coordination among the CRPF, the Indian Army, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. He also acknowledged the vital role played by intelligence agencies. IGP Kashmir said all security agencies were determined here to end the terror ecosystem or any terrorist activity. GOC, Victor Force, Major General Joshi said while briefing on Operation Naddar Tral and Keller Shopian said after the Pahalgam terror attack security forces targeted certain areas in a focused way. He said both operations were carried out in different terrains — one in the dense high-altitude forests of Shopian, and the other in the populated village of Tral in Pulwama district. 'As we were receiving intelligence inputs that the terrorist groups have now shifted to higher reaches in the jungles after the melting of the snow. And keeping this in mind, our domination parties were continuously deployed there,' the Army officer said in the press conference. He said on the night of the May 12, they got an input about the presence of a terrorist group in the upper reaches of Kellar , in Shopian. 'Parties were already deployed in these areas repositioned themselves. On the morning of May 13, our troops noticed suspicious movement in the high-altitude forests of Kailar. When challenged, the terrorists opened fire, triggering an encounter," the officer said. Despite the treacherous terrain and difficult operating conditions, the troops successfully neutralized the militants after a fierce gunfight, he said. In the second operation in Tral, the officer said the challenge was different. 'Acting on specific intelligence that a group of terrorists was hiding in a village, security forces quickly cordoned off the area. The terrorist tried to exploit the presence of civilians by taking up positions inside multiple houses. Our primary concern was to evacuate the villagers, including women, children, and elderly, without any harm," the officer said. 'After ensuring the safe evacuation of civilians, security forces conducted a systematic house-to-house search, ultimately neutralizing the hiding terrorists in separate locations within the village,' he added. He said the two operations underline the adaptability and resolve of troops, whether in challenging high-altitude forests or densely populated villages He said one of the slain militants, Shahid Kuttay, a local commander of the Lashkar, was involved in multiple attacks, including the killing of a sarpanch and an attack on a foreign tourist at a resort. His associate, killed alongside him in the Shopian operation, was also wanted for the killing of a local non-migrant civilian, the officer added. The Army officer said that the elimination of these two terror modules will severely dent the operational capabilities of militant groups active in the region. The IG CRPF said these two operations have been possible because of the coordination and professional execution of security forces. 'I would like to assure you all that this coordination will remain the same in the future and, through this, we will be able to eradicate the terrorism completely from Jammu and Kashmir. I would also like to thank the public for its support, which proves that people want terrorism to be eradicated from Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
India Gazette
15-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
J-K: Encounter still ongoing in Awantipora, says Kashmir IGP; identities of 3 killed terrorists being ascertained
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 15 (ANI): The encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Nader, Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora is still ongoing, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Vidhi Kumar Birdi confirmed on Thursday, following a fierce exchange of fire that left three terrorists dead. IGP Birdi said, 'Security forces got specific information regarding the movement of terrorists in that area (Nader, Tral, Awantipora). Accordingly, a cordon was laid, and it led to an encounter between security forces and the hold-up of terrorists. So far, we have observed three bodies of terrorists. The operation is still ongoing.' He added that the identities and affiliations of the terrorists have not been ascertained yet. 'Identities and affiliations could only be divulged after it concludes.... This (encounter) is part of an all-out effort to decimate that terror ecosystem. It is the swift resolve of the security forces to neutralise them so that things are kept under control,' he added. Meanwhile, in a separate post on X, the Kashmir Zone Police said that efforts are underway to confirm the identity and affiliation of the three terrorists killed, as the search operation continues. Kashmir Zone Police said, 'Three #terrorists have been neutralised in the Tral #encounter. Identification & affiliation being ascertained. Search operation in progress. Further details shall follow.' On being asked if the terrorists involved in the encounter had a hand in the Pahalgam terror attack, the Kashmir IGP also noted, 'The operation is yet to conclude. We will divulge the identity and affiliation (of the terrorists) only after that.' Earlier on Thursday, the Indian army confirmed that three terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Nader area. The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army shared a post on X, 'Three hardcore terrorists have been eliminated in the ongoing Operation at Nader, Awantipora. Identity of terrorists is being ascertained.' On the basis of special intelligence input, a joint operation was launched by Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Nader area of J-K's Tral in Awantipora in the morning hours of Thursday. Suspicious activity was observed by the troops and on being challenged, the terrorists opened heavy fire on the forces and a fierce gunfight ensued. The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army earlier today shared a post on their official 'X' handle and informed about the 'Operation Nader'.'On 15 May 2025, based on specific intelligence input from Int agency, a Cordon & Search Operation was launched by Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF at Nader, Tral, Awantipora. Suspicious activity was observed by vigilant troops and on being challenged, terrorists opened heavy fire and fierce gunfight ensued. Operation is in progress', the 'X' post read. Following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, including a Nepali national, were killed, the Indian forces have intensified their operation against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. In retaliation for the terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor in which precision strikes destroyed terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) and eliminated nearly 100 terror operatives at key bases in Pakistan. Among the targets were Bhawalpur, the headquarters of Jaish, and Muridke, a key training base of Lashkar. (ANI)
