Abid Bashir

Srinagar, Oct 12: A top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander and his aide were killed in a fierce gun-battle at Barzulla area of Srinagar on Monday, police said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that after receiving the input about presence of militants in Barzulla area last evening, joint teams of police and CRPF laid a siege and today morning, the gunfight raged.

Witnesses said that since early morning, there was an exchange of fire between militants and security forces in the area. “Many locals living adjacent to the house where militants were hiding, left their homes and ran for cover. A few families were evacuated by the police,” they said. Today’s encounter was second in Srinagar since September 17, when three militants and a woman were killed during Batamaloo gunfight.

A police spokesman said that during the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given the opportunity to surrender after evacuating all civilians. “However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” he said.

The police spokesman said that in the ensuing encounter, two LeT militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of gunfight. “The slain militants were identified as top LeT Commander Saifullah (a Pakistani National) and Irshad Ahmed Dar alias Abu Usama, a resident of Pulwama who was active since May-2019.”

The spokesman said that as per police records, Saifullah infiltrated earlier this year and shifted his base from north to south Kashmir, two months ago.

“He was involved in planning and executing several major militant attacks on security forces which includes the killing of a CRPF officer at Chadoora on 24/09/2020 and 02 CRPF personnel at Kandizal area of Pampore on 05/10/2020,” he said.

The spokesman said that arms and ammunition and incriminating materials were recovered at the site of encounter. “Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from the inherent risk of contracting the infection, the bodies of the slain militants shall be sent to Baramulla for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities,” the police spokesman said. “The nearest family members of the slain local militant shall be allowed to participate in the last rites,” he said. “People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” said the spokesman—(KNO)

>Only 1 active militant in Srinagar
>26 youth brought back after joining militancy
>18 militants killed in 8 encounters in city this year
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Oct 12: This year 180 militants of various outfits were killed this year in 75 anti-militancy operations while as 26 youth who had picked up arms were re-united with their families, Director General of Police J&K Dilbag Singh said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference at Police Control Room Srinagar, the DGP Singh said that 75 anti-militancy operations were conducted this year in which 180 militants were killed. “All the operations against militants conducted this year were clean and conducted in a professional manner barring one that of Batamaloo where a woman lost her life,” the J&K Police chief said.
Asked whether Lashkar and other militants are trying to set their foot again in Srinagar city given killing of Lashkar’s top commander and his aide in Barzulla gunfight, the DGP said that this year eight encounters took place in the city in which 18 militants including a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander were killed. “Whenever any militant outfit tries establish its base in Srinagar, we successfully corner the militant with the help of our intelligence and other sources,” the DGP said.
On how many militants are active in Srinagar, the DGP said at present only one militant is active in the city who is involved in a couple of attacks. “We will bring him to justice very soon,” the DGP Singh said.
About how many security forces personnel were killed this year, he said police lost its 19 men and CRPF 21. “Army lost 15 soldiers and majority of them were killed on the LoC,” the DGP said.
Replying to a query as to how many youth were brought back after joining militancy this year, he said with the help of their parents and hardwork of police, 26 youth, who had joined militancy were reunited with their families. Asked whether police was sending the youth who shun militancy to outside J&K, the DGP said no youth has been sent out of UT. On whether there was any rehabilitation policy for the youth who quit militancy, he said: “Officially there is no policy as yet. When there would be one, details will be shared.” KNO

Death toll at 1335, total cases cross 84000 mark
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Oct 12: Jammu and Kashmir reported eleven more COVID-19 deaths and 398 fresh positive cases in the last 24 hours, officials said on Monday.
They said that the fatality count in J&K has mounted to 1335 and more than 84000 people have tested positive for the virus in the union territory till date.
Giving the details of the causalities, the officials said that five deaths were reported in Jammu division today, while six died in Kashmir where death count crossed grim milestone of 900-mark.
Official sources told GNS that among the deaths reported from Valley include a 65-year-old man from CS Pora Anantnag, a 45-year-old from Rainawari Srinagar, a 60-year-old man from Balgarden Srinagar, a 56-year-old man from Illahibagh Srinagar, a 70-year-old man from Gurez Bandipora and an 83-year-old woman from Tahab Pulwama. While deaths count has reached 901 in Valley, five casualties in Jammu division took the count to 434.
Srinagar district with 319 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (225), Baramulla (130), Budgam (89), Pulwama (75), Kupwara (71), Anantnag (70), Kulgam (43), Bandipora(42), Rajouri (43), Doda (40), Shopian (32), Ganderbal (30), Kathua (29), Samba (24), Udhampur (23), Poonch (22), Ramban (11), Kishtwar(11) and Reasi (6).

J&K reports 398 fresh cases

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir reported 398 new COVID-19 cases including nine security forces personnel besides doctor and a minor in last 24 hours, taking the total count to past 84000 mark.
Among the cases, 159 were reported from Jammu division and 239 from Kashmir Valley even as two districts— Kishtwar and Reasi reported no new fresh infection.
Giving district wise details, official sources told GNS that Srinagar reported 106 cases, Budgam 38, Baramulla 21, Pulwama 12, Kupwara 21, Anantnag 10, Bandipora 10, Ganderbal 13, Kulgam 1, Shopian 7, Jammu 113, Rajouri 7, Udhampur 7, Doda 1, Kathua 7, Poonch 12, Samba 11, Kishtwar 0, Ramban 1 and Reasi 0. The total tally of cases has risen to 84031—50382 in Valley and 33649 in Jammu division.
A number of these cases were confirmed at SKIMS diagnostic laboratory and include male (50) from Churmajro Budgam, female (38) from Nowgam Budgam, male (28) from Kanihama Budgam, male (56) from 54 Bn Crpf Nishat Sgr, male (54) from 75 Bn Crpf Indranagar Sgr, male (32) from 75 Bn Crpf Indranagar Sgr, male (23) from 43 Bn Crpf Dpl Budgam, male (33) 43 Bn Crpf Dpl Budgam, male (36) from 43 Bn Crpf Dpl Budgam, male (23) from 6rr Kupwara, male (37) from 6rr Kupwara, male (43) from 528 Asc Bn Zangli Kup, male (60) from Hadoora Ganderbal, female (31) from Saloora Ganderbal, male (39) from Gulbagh Ganderbal, male (18) from Kijpora Ganderbal, male (21) from Kangan Ganderbal, male (23) from Kangan Ganderbal, male (22) from Saloora Ganderbal, male (45) from Saloora Ganderbal, male (30) from Prang Ganderbal, male (80) from Shuhama Ganderbal, male (26) from Lalbazar, male (30) from Ellahibagh Sgr, male (38) from Hawal Sgr, male (66) from Ellahibagh Sgr, male (24) from Lalbazar Sgr, male (52) from Nowshera Sgr, male (04) from Ellahibagh Sgr, male (34) from Soura Sgr, female (52) (Na) from Hyderpora Sgr, female (26) from Hyderpora Sgr, male (60) from Ellahibagh Sgr, female (28) from Lalbazar Sgr, male (55) from Parraypora Sgr, female (85) from Ellahibagh Sgr, male (59) from Nasbal Anantnag, male (50) from Kreeri Baramulla, female (45) from Shirpora Kulgam, male (28) from Pattan Baramulla, male (23) from Pattan Baramulla, female (25) from Baramulla, female (75) from Sangry Colony Baramulla, male (27) from Pattan Baramulla, female (40) from Baramulla, female (28) from Khawajbagh Baramulla, female (50) from Khawjabagh Baramulla.
Moreover, 861 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals in J&K—326 from Valley and 535 from Jammu. (GNS)

Death toll mounts to 1,09,150

New Delhi, Oct 12: India’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 71 lakh-mark on Monday after recording a fresh spike of 66,372 Covid-19 cases during the past 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry update said here.

Overall case tally of the peninsular is now 71,20,539, according to the government data.

Also, the country registered 71,559 cured cases in the same duration which has pushed the total recoveries till date to 61,49,535.

Meanwhile, there were 816 deaths due to the highly contagious virus since yesterday, pushing the death toll to 1,09,150 so far.

Active case-load on the country has further decreased by 5,643 since Sunday and currently India is home to 8,61,853 active cases of the Novel Coronavirus.

In terms of percentage, the active cases are 12.10 per cent. Recovery rate stands at 86.36 per cent, while the death rate at 1.53 per cent.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), as many as 9,94,851 samples were tested in the past 24 hours, taking the total cumulative samples tested since the beginning of the pandemic till Sunday to 8,78,72,093.

Washington, Oct 12: The number of global Novel Coronavirus cases was nearing the 37.4 million mark, while the deaths have soared to more than 1,075,700 on Monday, the Johns Hopkins University said.
The total number of cases stood at 37,395,029 and the fatalities increased to 1,075,750, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.
The US is the world’s highest number of cases and deaths at 7,761,637 and 214,767, respectively, according to the CSSE.

India comes in second place in terms of cases at 7,053,806, while the country’s death toll soared to 108,334.
The other countries with the cases are Brazil (5,094,979), Russia (1,291,687) and Colombia (911,316) the CSSE figures showed.
Brazil currently accounts for the second highest number of fatalities at 150,488.
The countries with a death toll above 20,000 are Mexico (83,781), the UK (42,915), Italy (36,166), Peru (33,223) and Spain (32,929).