‘One among them was involved in Zeewan Police bus attack’

Srinagar: Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Friday said that one among the three militants killed in overnight gunfight at Panthachowk was Suhail Ahmad Rather who according to him was the last of the three JeM cadres involved in attack on a police bus at Zewan in outskirts of Srinagar.

Three policemen were killed and 11 others injured when the militants carried out the attack on the bus of armed police with 25 personnel on board it on the evening of December 13.

In a tweet IGP Kashmir said that one of the killed militants at Panthachowk has been identified as Suhail Ahmad Rather. “As revealed during yesterday’s Press Conference, militant Suhail was also involved in Zewan attack. All militants involved in (the) attack have been neutralized,” IGP Kashmir was quoted as saying in the official police twitter handle as per GNS. As per police, three policemen and a CRPF personnel were injured in the initial phase of the shootout at Pathachowk. (GNS)

‘Counting votes on dead bodies mission for some’

Jammu: Patting the police personnel and other security agencies, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Friday said 182 militants, including 44 top commanders, have been killed in 100 operations across Jammu and Kashmir.

“We have conducted 100 successful operations this year in Jammu and Kashmir and eliminated 182 militants including 44 top commanders,” he told a traditional press conference on the last day of the outgoing year.

Singh said that all militants who were involved in different killings have been neutralised barring two and they will meet the same fate soon.

He said that this year 43 security personnel lost their lives in militancy related incidents, out of which 20 were from Jammu and Kashmir Police. In the last 36 hours, security forces gunned down nine militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad.

On the Hyderpora incident in which four persons were killed on November 15, the police chief said: “We feel hurt at the kind of utterances made especially by people who do not know about the situation and ground realities.

“Counting votes on dead bodies is a mission for some but we will not allow them to succeed and no one is above the law,” said Singh.

Many Kashmir-based political leaders have termed the investigation by the Special Investigation Team into the Hyderpora incident as an “eyewash”.

Mohammad Latief Magray, father of Arif Magray who was among those killed, filed a petition in the High Court on Thursday seeking the body of his son for burial with all rituals.

Singh said that infiltration and recruitment had come down as compared to previous years in Jammu and Kashmir and that militancy will definitely be wiped out soon.

He said that Pakistani agencies used drones and tunnels to carry out activities in Jammu and Kashmir. “The tunnels issue has been settled to a larger extent. We have a well placed mechanism to counter and foil all nefarious designs from across the border.

“Sticky bombs were also sent by the Pakistani agencies for militant activities but we have made large seizures in the recent past.”

Asked whether Taliban may assist Pakistan against India, Singh said: “There are no apprehensions as of now that militants from Afghanistan on behalf of Pakistan are engaged in any militant activities. In the future as well no such thing is expected.”

But he said that a close vigil is maintained all along the borders and hinterland.

Singh said that of the 30,000 cases of crime registered this year in J&K, 13,000 cases have been disposed off.

Due to Covid-19, he said 2,500 police personnel tested positive and 12 died.

Singh said that stone pelting, agitations and shutdown calls have stopped. In 2021, 134 youths joined militant outfits but 72 were killed, 22 arrested and the remaining were active.

“The shelf life of new recruits has decreased to 24 hours to 4 months.” he said.

Says only court can decide SIT probe

Srinagar: Terming the funeral of separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani as the “biggest challenge” of 2021, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar on Friday said next year’s challenge would be to deal with the “hybrid” militants.

He said 25 “hybrid militants have been identified who would be cateogroised soon. The challenge is a ‘hybrid’ militant. We have coined this name in January 2021 and Google has accepted it. There is no record about them in police stations or with any sister agency. Even parents have no idea about them. We are now identifying them. Their digital equipment is analyzed and we get to know about him. The challenge next year would be these hybrid militant,” Kumar said at a press conference in Srinagar.

He said it was observed that through digital equipment young boys carry out attacks on police men and security forces.

“These boys aren’t categorized anywhere neither do we have their photographs in police stations,” the IGP said.

The IGP Kashmir said that the second major challenge will be to prevent policemen from becoming soft targets.

The IGP said the other priority would be neutralizing the foreign militants.

“Neutralization of foreign militants and demolition of militant infrastructure would the priority in 2022,” he said.

Kumar said as of now there are total 168 active militants in the Valley and among them 83 are foreigners and 85 are locals.

“The active strength of militants in north Kashmir is 65, in central Kashmir, there are 16 and in south Kashmir, there are 87,” he said.

The IGP said the biggest challenge this year was holding the peaceful funeral of Syed Geelani

“There was no law and order incident and the burial remained peaceful. So I count this as the major achievement for the year 2021,” the IGP said.

Only court can decide SIT probe: IGP

Amid widespread criticism over the Hyderpora gun battle in which two civilians were killed, IGP Kashmir advised politicians not to incite people on the issue.

The Inspector General of Police said the Court is the only authority to decide on the Special Investigation Team report.

“In a democratic set up, politicians, family members and the media can say to the court that they are not satisfied with the investigations and can demand a probe by a higher agency. But they have no right to term the police probe as false,” Kumar said.

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, has greeted the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the joyous occasion of New Year.

In a message, the Lt Governor said that as we welcome the dawn of a New Year, we should build upon the achievements of the past year in striving for the realization of our dreams.

“On the eve of the New Year, I want to assure all the citizens that Jammu and Kashmir administration will work with renewed resolve for the welfare of the people. We are entering 2022 with a sense of confidence and purpose to sustain the upward curve of inclusive socio-economic development in the UT. May the New Year bring peace, progress, prosperity, health and happiness to all,” the Lt Governor added.

On this occasion, we should also remember and pay homage to all the brave hearts who sacrificed their present for our future, said the Lt Governor.