The Border Security Force (BSF), which is in charge of ensuring safety of commuters on the bridge, has written a letter to the Police department expressing disappointment over the issue.
Subsequently, Odisha Police ADG (Operations) has urged the State government to take immediate steps to fix the problem.
Meanwhile, the engineer in-charge of Public Works Department, Arun Sahoo said "One phase has some trouble that's why lights are not working. It will be fixed soon as I have informed the staff. Electricians have been asked to fix the CCTVs as well."
The security forces are on high alert on account of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) week being observed by the Maoists.
Combing and anti-insurgency operations have been intensified in various Maoist-dominated districts and in the bordering areas of Odisha because of the PLGA week.
Acting on a tip-off, security forces targeted the dreaded PLFI commander, who was hiding in the forest. He was a resident of Rayabaga village of Sundergarh.
Sources said that an associate of Dang accompanying him also received bullet injuries during the encounter, however, he couldn't be traced.
As per reports, Dang is involved in several criminal cases including extortion and murder in Rourkela, Biramitrapur, Sundergarh and Rajgangpur areas and was active on Chhattisgarh-Odisha border for quite some time.
The committee approved the SRE budget ahead of a crucial meeting of the Central government on December 11.
Usually the State government spends money for anti-Maoist operations and the Centre reimburses 60% of the total spending. “Today the State level committee approved the budget,” said Asit Tripathy, Home Secretary.
The SRE scheme fund is utilized by the State to fortify police station, construct boundary wall of police stations, train police personnel and meet arms and ammunition expenses of paramilitary forces.
The fund is also utilized to provide ex-gratia to families of civilians or security personnel killed during anti-Maoist operations.
According to reports, the rebels have painted the structure they have constructed 'red' and have also cordoned off the place with proper barricades. Sources said, the ultras have plans to inaugurate the suspected camp office on the first day of the PLGA week starting from December 2.
Also Read: One SOG jawan injured in Maoists attack in Bolangir
Sources said, the left-wing extremists are now keen on recruiting tribal youths in remote and inaccessible parts of Odisha as their base has started to crumble following massive combing operations along the borders by security forces.
The construction of a permanent structure is certainly a matter of concern as there have been precedence of the ultras observing the PLGA week by setting up temporary structures in the form of 'martyrs memorial' in the past.
The Maoists had set up a temporary camp at Gora Setu in Chitrakonda last year and this time they have come up with a permanent structure in the district.
https://youtu.be/zDOTbir6RRI
According to sources, militants open fired at the District Voluntary Force (DVF) in the forest during anti-Maoists operations undertaken following the April 24 attack on the CRPF in Chhattisgarh.
The police suspect that some Maoists may have been injured or killed in the gun battle.
Meanwhile, the Maoists killed a suspected police spy by slitting his throat in Tamaguda village in Malkangiri district.
Sources said, the maoist camp was destroyed following a fierce exchange of fire between security forces and the combing operation was still continuing in the areas till the last reports came in.
Confirming the development, Police DG KB Singh said there were 15 Maoists in the group while the exchange of fire is still continuing today.
A huge cache of arms and ammunition have also been seized from the spot while further detail on the exchange of fire is still awaited.
Khalifa Barq was taken from his home by a special security force, the official of Sirte security department told Xinhua news agency on Friday.
"The operation was based on intelligence information about presence of Barq in central Sirte. He is one of the founders of IS in Sirte who is wanted by the Attorney General," the official said of the arrest made on Thursday.
Sirte, located some 450 km from here, has witnessed months of fighting between forces allied with the UN-backed government and IS militants that ended in December 2016 with the government forces taking over the city.
The IS continues to remain a threat to national security, the government has said.
A soldier was also injured in the gun battle.
Police said in a statement that the dead militants in Bugoo village in Arizal area of Badgam were identified as Mukhtar Ahmad of Badgam and Muhammad Amin Mir of Pampore.
Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site. "They were both involved in a series of attacks on security establishments," the statement said.
The militants were killed after the security forces started a cordon and search operation following a tip off.
"The militants fired at the security forces, triggering the gunfight," a police officer said.
As news of the killings of the militants spread, slogan-shouting civilians poured out of their homes in Arizal in Badgam and pelted security forces with stones, police sources and witnesses said.
Young men also smashed the windshield of a media OB van when reporters reached the village.
Simultaneous protests broke out in Pampore town in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.
In Pampore, stone-throwing youths blocked traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. Security forces used tear smoke to disperse the demonstrators.
A woman was hit by a stone on her head during the protests in Pampore town. She was shifted to a hospital, police said.
Authorities urged civilians not to venture inside the encounter zone "since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.
"People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any," the statement said.
One militant identified as Shabir Ahmad Dar from Samboora village was killed in the gunfight that took place at Babgund village earlier in the day.
The other victim, Showkat Ahmad from Muran village, was critically injured in the gunbattle but managed to escape the security cordon.
He was later admitted by unidentified persons in Srinagar's S.M.H.S hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
As a precautionary measure authorities have imposed curfew in Pulwama town.
According to paramilitary Frontier Corps Balochistan spokesperson, the forces carried out an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Kohlu, a district in Balochistan province. During the operation, huge amount of explosive material, mortar bombs, rocket-propelled grenade and bullets were recovered from hideouts of terrorists, said the official.
The operation was part of the ongoing operation "Radd-ul-Fassad" in Balochistan province, a military offensive against the "latent threat of terrorism" across the country, which was launched in February 2017.
Earlier on September 11, a major terrorist bid was averted in the province after FC personnel conducted an IBO and recovered 21 improvised explosive devices, which were to be used to target Muharram processions, the statement from the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said.
The militant's body was recovered from the gunfight area in Gandole village of Kokernag area.
"Firing has now stopped, but a search operation is ongoing. Identity of the victim is being ascertained," the police said.
Upon receiving a tip-off about the holed-up militants, the security forces earlier on Friday cordoned off the village.
"As the cordon was tightened, the militants fired at the security forces triggering the ongoing gunfight," police sources said.
Up to three militants were reported to be hiding in the village.
As a precautionary measure, authorities have suspended mobile internet services in the district.
"Five terrorists have been killed so far in the operation that began on Friday evening in Kiloora village," Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told the media here.
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief S.P. Vaid tweeted: "Four more bodies of terrorists visible at encounter site (in) Kiloora, Shopian, taking the total to five terrorists killed. Good Job boys, good for peace."
The identities of the slain militants were not immediately known.
Following a tip-off about the presence of militants in the area, security forces including state police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel surrounded Gasi Mohalla.
"One holed-up militant is still engaged in the gunfight with the security forces," police sources added.
A CRPF officer has been injured and internet services were suspended across the Srinagar district.
Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants are holed up inside an under construction building in Karan Nagar area since Monday after they were forced to withdraw and later trapped inside the building following their failed terror bid on a CRPF camp.
The militants had entered this building after an alert sentry at the observation post of 23 battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) spotted them and fired.
One CRPF trooper was killed during the gunfight while a constable of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was injured.
Sub-Inspector Amit Malik was fatally shot in a forested area close to Gurung's residence at Patlebas, when the forces were marching towards his operational headquarters.
"The GJM workers, who were armed, started firing. While Malik died of bullet injuries, three other policemen were also injured," Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Anuj Sharma told IANS.
The security forces were moving towards Patlebas after receiving specific inputs that GJM president Gurung was camping in the area.
Directly implicating Gurung for the death of the cops, Sharma said: "It all happened under Bimal Gurung's leadership."
Sharma conceded that the heavy and sudden firepower caused casualties among the police contingent.
The clashes went on for hours. Later, police recovered six AK 47 rifles, a pistol, and 500 rounds of cartridges and explosives from the spot, he said.
As the day wore on, the GJM activists torched a police vehicle. Sharma said, during the clashes, Gurung and his close associates fled to the neighbouring state of Sikkim. Accusing Gurung of having links with Maoists and northeastern insurgent groups, Sharma said the beleaguered GJM leader wanted to disturb the peace process.
"Since he is cornered in the region, he wants to disturb the process of peace and development in the area," he said.
Gurung has been on the run for quite some time, with the state police slapping cases under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, as also for waging war against the government and organising terrorist camps.
The GJM, that has been spearheading the revived movement of Gorkhaland in the hills, is now a divided house, with a section of activists remaining with GJM chief Gurung while another faction has shifted allegiance towards expelled party leader Binay Tamang.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police called the killing of Abu Dujana, whom they described as Lashkar-e-Taiba commander active in southern Kashmir since 2012, as a "huge achievement".
His local accomplice was identified as Arif Lalihaari. They were killed in Hakripora village. "(A) huge achievement for the police and security forces," the police tweeted.
Dujana, a resident of Gilgit-Baltistan region in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir, was said to be responsible for a number of attacks on Indian security forces, including the August 2015 Udhampur strike that left two Border Security Force troopers dead and 12 injured.
An LeT terrorist was killed in that attack.
"The killing of Abu Dujana and Lalihaari is a big success for the security forces and a huge setback to terrorist activities in south Kashmir," a police official said.
Acting on information about the presence of Dujana and Lalihaari, the security forces surrounded the Hakripora village at about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, triggering a gunfight.
"The operation ended after bodies of the two militants were recovered from the site and identified," the police officer said.
Two houses in the village were destroyed in the gunfight.
Meanwhile, clashes broke out between the security forces and stone-pelting protesters as news of Dujana's death spread.
Three protesters were admitted to hospitals with bullet injuries and several others sustained pellet injuries in the clashes.
Authorities have suspended Internet services in south Kashmir.
Train services between Bannihal town in Jammu region and Baramulla in the Kashmir Valley were also suspended.
The police, however, said Dujana had broken loose from the LeT in last few months after which he established close proximity with Zakir Musa, another Pakistani who was recently appointed the head of Al Qaeda terror outfit in the Kashmir Valley.
Dujana was replaced by Abu Muhammad Ismail as the Divisional Commander of the LeT, a Pakistan-based group that masterminded the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 Indians and foreigners.
Ismail had carried out the July 10 attack on an Amarnath Yatra bus in Anantnag district which killed eight pilgrims.
Authorities here and in all other district headquarters made sufficient deployment of police and paramilitary forces to maintain law and order.
"Adequate deployments of security forces have been made in law and order sensitive areas," a senior police official told IANS.
"No curfew has been imposed anywhere," the official said.
Shops, public transport, other businesses and education institutions remained closed in Srinagar city and elsewhere in the valley although private vehicles movement could be seen on roads.
Train services between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and the Jammu region's Bannihal town have been suspended.
Kashmir University has postponed all exams scheduled for Wednesday.
Three civilians were killed in firing in Durbugh village of Budgam district during clashes between protesters and security forces on Tuesday.
The clash followed a gunfight raging between the security forces and a holed up militant in the village.
Srinagar: An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.
The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Aripal village of the south Kashmir district this morning following specific information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire at the search party, who retaliated.
The gunfight was on, the official said, adding further details were awaited.
Security forces launched a search operation and busted the hideout in the forest area of Kupwara, a police official said.
He said one AK-47 rifle, one LMG, two pistols, one rocket projectile gun, an IED, one wireless set and several dozen rounds of ammunition were recovered from the hideout.
Police has registered a case in this regard, the official said.
Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today congratulated the Odisha Police, a day after 24 Maoists, including their top leaders, were killed in a fierce gun-battle with security forces in Malkangiri district, giving a major blow to the ultras.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh took stock of the situation along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border where 24 Maoists were killed by security forces.
The Home Minister has assured the Chief Minister of providing all the central assistance in its fight against the Naxals, officials said.
Yesterday's encounter has come as a major setback to the red rebels as they have lost the three-decade old strong hold in the forests of the cut-off areas of Malkangiri district.
By Sandeep Sahu
For once, security forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations have something to rejoice about. On the receiving end of Maoist depredations for long, they have registered a spectacular success in an area that has proved to be a graveyard for them over the years.
The killing of as many as 24 Maoist cadres - among them dreaded Maoist leaders like Garjala Ravi alias Comrade Uday and Comrade Daya - in the Beijingi forests in what is known as the 'cut off' area may well have tilted the scales decisively in favour of the security forces in the Maoist bastion of Malkangiri. True, with hundreds of desertions and several reverses in the recent past, the Maoists are not quite the force they used to be in their erstwhile stronghold. But that doesn't take anything away from the success of the Monday morning encounter because the Maoists are still capable of mounting audacious attacks on the security forces.
What has apparently turned the tide decisively against the Maoists and in favour of security forces is the dwindling support of the tribals in the cut off area. Exasperated after wanton killings of innocent tribals on the mere suspicion of being police informers, the locals have now turned against their former benefactors. This became obvious in two recent cases: first when hundreds of Maoist sympathisers surrendered to police in March-April this year and then again on October 1 this year when Maoists hijacked two motor boats run by the government to ferry people across the Chitrakonda reservoir to force people of six panchayats to attend a meeting convened at Jantri village where they were exhorted to boycott the panchayat polls scheduled in February next year.
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It is a measure of the falling fire power of the Maoists that work on the Gurupriya bridge, repeatedly stalled over the years because of the Maoist threat, is now going apace and looks like being completed by the revised deadline of the winter of 2017 - or may be even earlier. Attempts by them to mobilise people's support against the bridge have come a cropper as the people in the cut off area appear to have realised that it could end their isolation for good.
Once completed, this all -important bridge would provide access to the inaccessible cut off area, a cluster of 150 odd villages where the benefits of government schemes are yet to reach. Besides, it would also make the forests of the cut off area, a safe haven for Maoists for years, highly vulnerable to an attacks by the security forces.
Monday's operation was a perfect example of perfect coordination between security forces of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. It was certainly not the first joint operation by the forces of the two neighboring states. But this was the first time when everything from intelligence sharing to back up support went with clinical precision.
While the encounter has certainly boosted the morale of the security forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations in a difficult terrain, it could prove suicidal to believe that the enemy has been decimated. Maoists have taken such reverses in their stride and bounced back with spectacular ambushes on security forces in the past and there is no reason to believe they cannot do so again, especially since the cut off area borders Chhattisgarh where the Red Rebels are still a mighty force to reckon with. The need of the hour, therefore, is not to lower the guard and to be on the alert all the time.
While the first gunfight erupted in Sopore town, two gun battles were reported later from Bandipora and Baramulla districts.
Police sources said firing exchanges between the security forces and militants have stopped in Kandi area of Baramulla district.
Sources said two militants had been killed while seven others - a para commando of the army, four policemen and two civilians - have been injured in this gunfight. However, the killing of two militants has still not been confirmed by officials.
Police said one militant was killed in the exchange of fire between security forces and the militants in Mir Mohalla of Hajin area in Bandipora.
"One militant has been killed so far. Another militant is still holed up inside a house where a 12-year-old boy is also believed to be stuck. Another civilian was safely evacuated from the house during the operation," a police officer said.
According to a tweet by the police, the two civilians were being held hostage by the hiding militants. While one was rescued safely with the assistance of security forces and community members, the other, reportedly a minor, was still trapped.
Police said security forces started a cordon and search operation in Hajin - once considered a zone "liberated" from militant control - following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants there.
The militants who were in hiding opened fire at the security forces in Mir Mohalla, sparking off the gunfight.
Another gunfight started in Kandi area of Baramulla after security forces resumed on Thursday morning a search operation which was suspended due to darkness on Wednesday evening.
"As the search operation was resumed, militants fired at the security forces, triggering an encounter," the officer said.
In the third incident, two policemen - a Station House Officer (SHO) and his security guard - and a civilian were injured earlier on Thursday when militants hurled a grenade at security forces in Warpora area of Sopore town and then opened fire.
"Both the policemen have been shifted to Srinagar for specialized treatment. The operation against the militants is going on," a police officer said.
A civilian sustained bullet injury in his leg in the Sopore gunfight. He too was shifted to hospital and his condition was stated to be stable.
As a precaution, authorities suspended mobile Internet service in Sopore town.
As per reports, a polling party was on its way to Mugunipadar booth under Phiringia Police limits when a group of Maoists stopped their vehicle. The Maoists then dragged the polling officials out and torched their vehicle, informed sources.
Senior police officials have confirmed that the polling staffs were safe as they were dragged out before their vehicle was set on fire.
Following the incident, security forces have been deployed on the spot and the forces have launched a combing operation in the area.
Five Lok Sabha and thirty five Assembly seats will go to polls in the second phase tomorrow.
Police sources said a patrol party of 32 Rashtriya Rifles was fired at by militants in Watergam area of Baramulla and they retaliated, resulting in a brief shoot-out after which the security forces recovered the body of one militant.
"The gunfight took place in an orchard area. Another militant is also believed to have been killed in this operation and searches are still going on to trace the body," a police source said.
Hundreds of civilians were rescued from the Afghan Ministry after an explosion followed by the sound of sporadic gunfire had been heard in the complex, said Interior Ministry spokesperson Nasrat Rahimi. Six people were injured in the assault and taken to hospital.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but it follows the suspension of talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents. The outfit's spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, however, said it was not behind the attack.
The Interior Ministry spokesperson had tweeted earlier in the day that three suicide bombers had launched the attack on the Ministry complex and the post office building at 11.40 am, "taking advantage of a holy shrine".
The BBC said that the attack happened near the heavily fortified Serena Hotel -- one of the very few hotels in Kabul still used by foreign visitors -- a couple of other ministries and the presidential palace.
The area around the building was sealed off as the attackers battled security forces for over six hours. Two of them were later shot and the attack was finally over in the late afternoon, Rahimi said.
"Hundreds of civilians have been rescued," he said, adding that police and special forces were combing the area.
Local television broadcast video images showing some smoke emerging from somewhere near the Ministry and people climbing out of windows.
Saturday's attack came after the government of Qatar cancelled the first-ever peace talks between the Taliban and representatives of the Afghan government in the presence of a US delegation.
The meeting was set to be held this weekend but was cancelled after the host, Qatar, rejected a list of 250 participants provided by the Afghan government.
The face-off took place around 5 am at a forest in Gonderas village when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF) was out on an anti-Maoist operation, Deputy Inspector General (anti-naxal operations) Sundarraj P told PTI.
The patrolling team was moving through Gonderas, located along the border of Dantewada-Sukma districts, when a group of the ultras fired at them, leading to the gun-battle, he said.
After the exchange of fire stopped, bodies of two Maoists, including a woman, were recovered from the spot along with an Insas rifle and a 12 bore gun, the DIG said.
Besides, some ammunition, Maoist literature, items of daily use and other Naxal-related material were also seized from the spot, he said.
Those killed are yet to be identified, he said.
The incident took place around 450-km from state capital Raipur.
"No harm was reported to the security personnel in the gunfight. Search operation is underway in the area," he added.
The incident sparked off clashes in Sopore town between stone-pelting youths and security forces as the news spread.
Security forces began a cordon and search operation in Amshipora village of Shopian following an information about the presence of militants there, police said.
"The hiding militants fired at the security forces triggering an encounter in which one militant was killed," a police officer said.
"The slain militant has been identified as Ishfaq Ahmed Sofi alias Abdullah Bhai, belonging to Sopore in Baramulla district," he said.
While police said that Sofi, who joined the militant ranks in in 2015, was associated with the Harkatul Mujahideen outfit and involved in a number of attacks on the security including some in Srinagar city, the state police chief identified him as a member of the IS-inspired group.
Talking to media, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said Sofi had been once been arrested when he was associated with the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen but later on, he had joined the Islamic State-inspired group.
He also said that during the gunfight in Amshipora, another militant had managed to escape.
While authorities closed all educational institutions in Sopore as a precautionary measure, clashes broke out in the Model Town area after news about Sofi's death spread.
Youths engaged security forces in pitched clashes while the latter used tear smoke shells to disperse the mob.
Clashes also broke out between stone-pelting protesters and security forces in the old city areas of Srinagar after the congregational prayers ended at the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta.
The clashes continued for over two hours during which six youths sustained injuries.
An official statement said an Assistant Commander of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was hit on the head by a stone during the clashes and he sustained a critical injury.
The mobs took to the streets to denounce the horrific rape in Bandipora district last week. The accused has already been arrested.
A police statement said: "Miscreants pelted stones on security forces deployed on National Highway at Mirgund, Chainabal, Harthrath, Singhpora, Jheel bridge, Kripalpora Payeen and Hanjiwera areas of Baramulla, resulting in injuries to 47 security forces personnel including one Assistant Commandant of SSB 2nd Battalion who was hit on his head.
"Utmost restraint was maintained by the forces on ground. However about seven miscreants got injured (and) are all stable."
Clashes also occurred at a dozen other places between the security forces and stone throwing mobs during the day.
In Badgam district, 20 youths were injured in clashes with the security forces.
After receiving information about the presence of militants in the Yarwan forests of Keller area, the security forces launched a search operation.
As the security forces tightened the cordon, the militants started firing which triggered the ongoing gunfight, police sources said.
Delivering the Eid prayer sermon at the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of Srinagar, senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said India and Pakistan need to sit across the table to resolve the Kashmir issue.
"Our people have made huge sacrifices and unless India and Pakistan engage in a meaningful dialogue, the problem will persist," Mirwaiz Umar said.
Immediately after the Eid prayers, dozens of youths displayed flags of various militant outfits after which they marched on the road.
The protesters were intercepted by police, resulting in clashes in which many youths were reportedly injured.
Similar protests were reported from Sopore, Anantnag and Kupwara towns.
Immediately after the Eid prayers, scores of them came out carrying the IS, Lashkar e Taiba flags and raised slogans like "Musa, Musa, Zakir Musa", "Hum Kya Chahte Azadi, Azadi", "Pakistan Zindabad" and displaying posters carrying pictures of militants.
They marched through the streets, and dozens of other youths joined them until security forces intercepted them after half a kilometre from the Jamia Masjid.
In response the marchers pelted stones at the security forces, who resorted to tear smoke and pellet gunshots to disperse the crowd.
These clashes were witnessed in Srinagar, Sopore, Anantnag and Kupwara towns in the Kashmir Valley after the Eid prayers.
"Our people have made huge sacrifices and unless India and Pakistan engage in a meaningful dialogue, the problem will persist," Mirwaiz Umar said delivering the Eid prayer sermon at the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta.
He urged the new political dispensation at the Centre to stop what he called the military approach to resolve the Kashmir issue.
After receiving a tip-off about presence of Maoists in Sahedapat jungle, the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a joint operation.
On spotting security forces, Maoists started firing. The security forces retaliated, killing three of them, said Alok Priyadarshi, Lohardaga Superintendent of Police.
On being tipped off, the police launched a special operation and caught Majhi around Tuesday midnight when he was proceeding to deliver the explosives to the red rebels.
"Following an interrogation, it was found that he was engaged in movement of arms and ammunition and explosive materials to be delivered to the ultras in their hideouts," said IB Gangadhar, Kalahandi SP.
Majhi used to pass information to the Maoists about movement of security forces and also supplied them grocery and other articles, the SP added.
On the other hand, panic has gripped local residents in Simanbadi area under Daringbadi police limits in Kandhamal district after several posters allegedly pasted by the members of the Baghuni division committee of the banned outfit were found today.
Through the posters, the red rebels have asked the locals to observe Martyrs' Week and also to join and work with them.
"Restrictions on the movement of people have been eased in most parts of the Valley. The situation so far has remained peaceful," a senior official of the state administration said here.
He said while the deployment of security forces on the ground remains as earlier, people were allowed to move around the city and other towns.
Kashmir was placed a under a total clampdown on August 5, hours before Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Rajya Sabha that the special status for the state had been revoked.
The state administration has directed government employees to report at work from Friday through a radio announcement.
However, the communication clampdown continues as all telephone and Internet services remained suspended.
While schools are closed for the past two weeks, shops and other business establishments too remained shut since August 5.
The official said the situation in the Valley was being monitored on a real-time basis and the decision to remove the forces would depend on the ground situation.
"The threat of cross-border terrorism continues to exist. The security forces are maintaining a state of high alert," Principal Secretary, J-K government, Rohit Kansal, who is also the state government's spokesman, said.
Kasnsal was briefing the reporters about the situation in the state.
He said the day-time restrictions have been lifted from 69 police station areas in the Valley.
"The day time restrictions have been lifted from 69 police stations across the length and breadth of the valley, while 81 police stations in Jammu region are without any day-time restrictions," Kansal said.
Except for sporadic terror attacks targeting civilians and some stone pelting incidents, the Kashmir Valley has been peaceful, according to the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the Army.
On August 6, Parliament approved abolition of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory with a legislature and Ladakh Union Territory without a legislature.
In apprehension of trouble because of the Centre's historic step, Jammu and Kashmir was placed under unprecedented security cover, involving deployment of about 28,000 additional personnel of central paramilitary forces.
The restrictions have since been eased to a significant extent but the security forces have not allowed any major incident to disrupt peace despite attempts.
The Jammu and Kashmir police on September 12 foiled possibly a major terror attack when it intercepted a truck on the basis of a specific input and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including 6 AK assault rifles, six magazines and 180 bullets.
The truck was on its way from Pathankot in Punjab to Kashmir Valley when it was intercepted in Kathua area of Jammu region.
The police also arrested three activists of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) who were travelling in the truck. JeM was the terror group that carried out the ghastly suicide bomb attack on a CRPF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Pulwama district of Kashmir on February 14, killing 40 personnel of the force.
There have been five civilian deaths during this period, either in terror attack or in stone-pelting incidents, according to the J&K administration and the Army.
In the third week of August, two nomads belonging to the Bakarwal community, Abdul Qadir Kohli and Manzoor Ahmad Kohli, were abducted and killed by the terrorists.
A 42-year-old lorry driver, Noor Mohammed Dar, was killed by stone pelters in Anantnag on August 25.
On August 29, terrorists killed a shopkeeper Ghulam Mohammed (65) in Parimpora, Srinagar.
Another civilian, Asrar Ahmad Khan, was injured in stone-pelting on August 6. He was hospitalized and succumbed to injuries on September 4.
An apple trader's family was targeted by terrorists in Sopore in Kashmir, leaving four of its members, including a minor girl, injured.
Within days, security forces killed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Asif Maqbool Bhat in an encounter on September 11, saying he was responsible for the attack on the trader's family.
The encounter took place two days after the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with the Army and other security forces, arrested eight LeT terrorists from the Sopore region, busting a module of the Pakistan-based terror outfit.
Even though violence in the hinterland of Jammu and Kashmir has been contained, there is military escalation on the Line of Control (LoC) because of the surge in ceasefire violations by Pakistan and its attempts to push in terrorists.
As per the data available till August 30, there were 222 ceasefire violations since the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was withdrawn.
Prior to this, the highest number of ceasefire violations (296) was recorded in the month of July.
According to security agencies, the ceasefire violations by Pakistan are mostly intended to give cover fire to the terrorists infiltrating into India.
On Saturday, the Commander of Army's Northern Command, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, reviewed security preparedness along the LoC in the light of military threat from Pakistan. Earlier, Army chief General Bipin Rawat had also visited the valley to review India's preparedness at the LoC.
In the first week of September, Pakistan moved a brigade-sized force to a location 30km away from the LoC within its own territory as was reported by the Army quoting intel sources.
The troops numbering around 2,000 soldiers has been placed at the Bagh and Kotli sector opposite PoK in Pakistan.
Pakistan has also scaled up ceasefire violations on the LoC.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been aggressive against India over the political developments in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has also been desperately trying to drum up international support against India in its rhetoric on Kashmir.
A day after the historic decision on Jammu and Kashmir on August 6, Imran Khan had made veiled references to a possible war with India while addressing a joint session of the Pakistan parliament.
"Attacks like Pulwama are bound to happen again. I can already predict this will happen. They will attempt to place the blame on us again. They may strike us again, and we will strike back … What will happen then? Who will win that war? No one will win it and it will have grievous consequences for the entire world. This is not nuclear blackmail," Khan had said.
Khan reiterated his veiled threats about a possible nuclear war with India in an interview to Al Jazeera channel on Saturday.
"Pakistan would never start a war, and I am clear: I am a pacifist, I am anti-war, I believe that wars do not solve any problems... (But) when two nuclear-armed countries fight, if they fight a conventional war, there is every possibility that it is going to end up into nuclear war. The unthinkable," said Khan.
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was a two-nation tour of East Asia during that period of time, also retorted strongly, making India's stance clear about its response to any military misadventure by Pakistan.
"India has never been an aggressor in its history nor will it ever be. But that does not mean that India would balk at using its strength to defend itself," Singh said in South Korea.
Pakistan has been playing a double-pronged game in trying to rake up international support against India over the Kashmir valley while at the same time aiding infiltrators in crossing over the LoC to enter Indian territory.
Security sources have assessed that at least 40 to 50 trained militants have crossed over into India over last one month or so.
It is also estimated that around 200 to 250 trained militants are waiting to enter India particularly because outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba have activated terror launch pads along the LoC.
The Indian Army has said it is ready to foil any evil designs of Pakistan.
Mohsin Manzoor Salhea, a resident of Old Town Baramulla, was arrested along with arms and ammunition on Sunday.
He was part of a newly-raised group of three terrorists aimed at conducting terror activities in Baramulla district, the police said.
Earlier, one member of the group was killed a month ago in an encounter with police during which special police officer Bilal Bhat was killed and police SI Amardeep was seriously injured.
The second terrorist was arrested some time ago in an operation.
With the arrest of the third and last member, this terror group was smashed and a terror plot to target security forces and civilians has been neutralised, the police added.
No arrest was made during the operation, the officials said.
The hideout was unearthed in Sheri area of Mughal Maidan by a joint search party of the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of local police, they said.
During the search, a Chinese pistol, two magazines with two rounds, one AK magazine with 27 rounds, 8.1 kg explosives, 10 electronic detonators and five switches with battery used in triggering improvised explosive devices were seized.
Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Gulshanpora area of Tral in the south Kashmir district Sunday morning after receiving specific intelligence about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said as the forces were conducting searches, the militants fired at them, triggering an encounter.
In the encounter, three militants were killed, the official said, adding further details were awaited.
(PTI)
"Five terrorists have been eliminated in operation Reban in Shopian," defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said.
He said good drills ensured no collateral damage took place during the operation.
A police official said the security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Reban area of Shopian, in South Kashmir, this morning after receiving specific information about the presence of militants in the area.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fired at a search party of the forces, who retaliated.
The identity and group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained.
Furthermore, Army has foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Naugam sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
On the night of June 3, a patrol team of the Indian Army along the LoC spotted a group of Pakistani terrorists trying to infiltrate into Indian territory, an army spokesperson said.
He said on being challenged, the infiltrators retrieved back under the cover of darkness and inclement weather.
"In a hurry, the infiltrators left behind their rucksacks with winter clothing, batteries and other equipment to be used for their attempted crossing of the fence," he said.
The spokesperson said repeated attempts of infiltration in north Kashmir continue to be foiled by the alert and watchful Army units based on sound intelligence, thus blunting the nefarious designs of Pakistan to foment trouble in the Valley.
Meanwhile, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire and resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran and Rampur sectors of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, the Army said.
At about 11:00 am and 12:40 pm, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LoC in Keran and Rampur sectors of Kupwara and Baramulla districts respectively, an Army spokesman said.
He said the Army is retaliating befittingly to the Pakistani aggression and the enemy positions have been targeted with high precision.
Earlier on May 5, an army soldier was killed in action after Pakistan army resorted to an unprovoked ceasefire violation on the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani Sector of J&K's Rajouri district on Thursday night.
Army said the Pakistani aggression drew a strong response from the Indian side.
"Own troops responded strongly to the enemy fire," an army statement said. "In the incident, Hav Mathiazhagan P. was critically injured. The soldier was evacuated to Army Hospital, where he succumbed to the injuries".
Hav Mathiazhagan P. belonged to Village Sreerangai Kadu, Tehsil Idappadi, District Salem, Tamil Nadu.
"Hav Mathiazhagan P. was a brave, highly motivated and a sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the statement added.
(With Agency Inputs)
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Kashmir Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar told IANS that the encounter began at Sugoo village on Wednesday morning after security forces came under fire from hiding terrorists.
Police said earlier Sugoo village was cordoned off by a joint team of Army and police after a specific intelligence input about the presence of terrorists.
As the security forces zeroed in, the terrorists fired at them. In the ensuing gun battle, five ultras belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed.
This is the third major encounter in Shopian district in less than a week.
On Sunday, five terrorists were killed in an encounter at Reban village whereas four terrorists were killed in Pinjura village of Shopian on Monday.
Meanwhile, Pakistan today once again resorted to a ceasefire violation on the Line of Control (LoC) using intense shelling and firing in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.
Defence Spokesman Colonel Devender Anand said Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along the Nowshera sector around 7.30 a.m.
"The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly," the spokesman said.
For over a fortnight, Pakistan has been violating the bilateral ceasefire on a daily basis by targeting defence and civilian facilities along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
This has created panic among thousands of border residents in Jammu and Kashmir whose life and livelihood are threatened by firing and shelling along the LoC.
(IANS)
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Can be rightly called the village of valour, Gopalpur under Bhadrak’s Chandbali block has earned the distinction of ‘home of the soldiers’ thanks to the 70 odd men from the total strength of 50 households who are currently serving the Indian Army in various positions.
Every household in the village has a military connect. Some have as many as 3 to 4 members serving in the Army or para-military forces.
Bhimasen Das, an ex-Serviceman from the village who retired from active services some eight years back said, “We are four from our family to serve the nation. Almost 99% of youths in our village are in the defence forces.”
“By God’s grace the youth’s are both physically and mentally fit and I am proud of them,” added Das.
Similarly, Subasini Barik, a war veteran’s wife from the same village rues the fact that her younger son could not get into the Army owing to a disqualification in the last phase of the entrance test. “We encourage our lads to get a job in the Indian Army, as this is what we are meant to do,” said Barik.
Thanks to the army jobs, the village boasts of a healthy economy with almost all households having a concrete roof over their heads.
Taking pride on the feat, an elderly man from the same village said, “Our people believe that defence services are the best services one can offer to the nation. By joining army the lads are not only serving the nation in the best way possible, they are also supporting their family quite well.”
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"One unidentified terrorist killed in encounter at Kakpora in Pulwama. Operation is underway," the police said.
Related Story: Kashmir Encounter: One Terrorist Killed In Ongoing Gunfight
The gunfight between terrorists and a joint team of police, army and the CRPF took place on Tuesday afternoon after security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of a specific information about presence of terrorists.
As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter. In the ensuing gun battle one terrorist was killed.
Also Read: Two Terrorists Killed In Srinagar Encounter
Later in the day, with the killing of two more terrorists, a total of three militants have been killed in an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Tuesday.
Three AK-47 rifles have been recovered from the slain terrorists as search operation continues in the area.
"One more terrorist eliminated (total three) in the encounter at Hakripora in Pulwama. Joint operation over," the army said.
The firefight between terrorists and a joint team of the police, the army and the CRPF took place on Tuesday afternoon after security forces cordoned off the area and launced a search operation on the basis of a specific information about the presence of terrorists.
As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where the terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter. In the ensuing firefight, three terrorists were killed.
This is the second encounter in Kashmir in less than 24 hours. Earlier on Tuesday, two terrorists were killed in an encounter between the militants and security forces at Melhora area in south Kashmir's Shopian district.
(IANS)
According to sources, an anti-Naxal operation was launched by the SOG and DVF teams of Odisha Police and BSF teams of Andhra Pradesh Police on Tuesday.
When the operational parties were combing the jungle area near Gunamamudi village on Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, suddenly unprovoked firing came upon them from the Maoists side.
In order to save their lives, the security forces retaliated and started controlled firing over Maoists. However, the Maoists managed escape that area taking benefit of jungle and hilly terrain.
After exchange of fire, the area was thoroughly searched and huge quantity of arms, ammunition and Maoist articles including one IED, 11 7.62 mm SLR live rounds, four 7.62 mm AK rounds, one 5.56 mm INSAS rounds, one SLR magazine, 32 numbers of detonators, one camera flash, radio, 11 number of kit bags, three pairs of Maoist uniforms, Maoist literatures, utensils, medicines, daily used articles and cloths were seized.
Speaking about the operation, Malkangiri SP said, "It is a huge success for police. The combing operations will continue in the area in coming days."
(Edited by Ramakant Biswas)
Apart from the landmine, the BSF jawans have also recovered Maoist uniforms, walkie-talkies and other articles from the spot.
Following the detection of the landmine, BSF jawans have intensified combing operations in the region. The landmine has been successfully diffused.
Already on the backfoot, the Maoists are reportedly trying all possible means to target the security forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations in Odisha.
Earlier on January 8, the security forces had seized huge haul of arms and ammunition including hand grenades and other explosives after busting a major Maoist hideout in Kandhamal district.
The Maoist camp was busted during a joint combing operation by SOG jawans and DVF.
Last year, a country-made revolver, claymore mine and other explosives were also seized from a Maoist dump in Malkangiri district.
The Maoist dump was unearthed on October 26, 2020 during a joint combing operation launched by SOG and BSF jawans at several places under Jodamba police limits in the district.
(Edited By Pradeep Singh)
No casualty was reported from either side due to the gunfight that broke out on Monday night near Raighara village under Gochhada police station area.
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Force of Kandhamal launched an operation, Superintendent of Police Vinit Agarwal said.
When the Maoists noticed the security personnel, they started firing at the security personnel who asked them to surrender.
As the ultras did not pay heed to the order, personnel of the joint team returned the fire, the SP said.
The rebels then fled the scene leaving behind their belongings, Agarwal said.
Articles such as a 12 volt battery, flexible wire and some raw food materials were recovered from the spot.