Month: September 2017

Split wide open within Hizbul Mujahideen & Al Qaeda Ranks

Editor

Did someone within Lashkar betray Abu Ismail by giving intel inputs to security forces? The Thursday encounter of Amarnath mastermind shows the deep divide between the terrorist organisations working in Kashmir. As security forces gunned down Abu Ismail, architect of the Amarnath terror attack, the conflict between Kashmir terror groups came out in open. The simmering tension between pro-Pakistan United Jihadi Council and pro-Islamic rule Al Qaeda has been going on since May when top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Zakir Musa was named Ameer (chief) of Al Qaeda-linked New Jihadist…

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Security forces wipe out LeT top brass, but militant outfit still enjoys vociferous support across Valley

Editor

Contrary to claims made by security forces, that a leadership vacuum has been created in the ranks of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) after the killing of its Kashmir chief Abu Ismail, the militant outfit still commands respect in the Valley and continues to draw local youth to its ranks. After the death of Ismail, police officials believed that two of his associates, Abu Furqan and Abu Mawya, who were also involved in the attack on Amarnath pilgrims in July that left seven dead, are capable of taking over as LeT commanders. Pakistan…

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Army takes note of video showing troops dishonouring militant’s bodies

Editor

The Army has taken cognisance of a video showing troops dishonouring the bodies of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants killed in an encounter, a spokesperson said on Saturday. LeT commander Abu Ismail and associate Abu Qasim were killed in Aribagh area of Nowgam on the outskirts of the city here on Thursday. A video in which soldiers can be seen trampling over the bodies went viral on social media. The video shows bodies being dragged from the site of the encounter into a lane. “Army has taken cognisance of the video…

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Advise you to not comment on India’s internal affairs: India tells OIC

Editor

At the UN yesterday, India firmly and unequivocally told the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that it would be better off not commenting on India’s internal affairs, reported ANI. India was replying to comments on Kashmir made by Pakistan, which was using the OIC to comment on the troubled state, as is its wont. Pakistan made its comments on behalf of the OIC, of which it is a member. India said this was out of line. “Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has no locus standi on India’s internal affairs, we strongly…

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As yet another militant meets gory end, rift among ranks is becoming apparent

Editor

On 13 August, Hizbul Mujahideen’s Jammu and Kashmir operational chief, Yasin Yatoo, had organised a meeting of different militant outfits including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) at Awneera in Shopian before the government forces received information about it and launched a swift operation. Yatoo was killed along with his two associates in the encounter. He tried to bring back estranged Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Musa, who is now heading the Al Qaeda cell in Kashmir — Ansar Ghazwatul Hind — into the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit. Yatoo was one of the most influential…

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Not averse to sincere, meaningful dialogue: Joint Resistance leadership

Editor

The joint separatist leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik on Friday said that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute but a human and political issue, even as it reiterated that it was not averse to a “sincere, meaningful and result-oriented dialogue among the three parties to the dispute.” In a joint statement, a spokesman of the joint separatist leadership said that Mirwaiz and Malik held a meeting with Geelani at his residence at Hyderpora on Thursday. “The meeting was held after initial reluctance by…

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BJP deputes Ram Lal to ‘Placate’ workers at grassroots level

Editor

Step taken after Rajnath Singh got ‘discouraging’ feedback about party ministers during his visit As Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has not received “encouraging” feedback about the performance of party ministers in the coalition, the BJP high command has decided to depute party national general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal to “placate” the workers at grassroots-level. During his visit to Jammu on September 11 and 12, Rajnath had received a large number of complaints against party ministers. Not only the civil society expressed anger over the performance of the BJP ministers,…

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Govt directs Admin Secys to file action taken reports on agenda of alliance

Editor

The government has directed the Administrative Secretaries to file the Action Taken Reports (ATRs) on the work done by departments on PDP-BJP coalition’s Agenda of Alliance (AoA). According to officials in a recent meeting which was convened by the chief secretary, B B Vyas, ATRs were sought as not much has been done on promises which were made out to people. The directions come after a cabinet sub-committee (CSC) headed by Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh, reviewed the AoA. The CSC had met in April following which the directions were…

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Blacktopping work picks up pace across Valley

Editor

After failing to deliver on infrastructure development due to the unrest in the Valley last year, the government is showing its presence by taking up blacktopping of roads across the state on a massive scale. Only 30.64 km of the road length was blacktopped last year in Kashmir. Officials say that the carpeting of roads in rural and urban areas had been given priority in the current financial year. “The macadamisation of roads is in full swing and 1,302.46-km road length has been blacktopped till August 28 against the target…

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Schools remain Shut, Curbs cripple Downtown: Ismail killing fallout

Editor

Friday prayers disallowed at Jamia Masjid for 2nd week A day after Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Abu Ismail and his aide were killed in a gunfight with government forces, most educational institutions in Kashmir remained closed while authorities didn’t allow congregational Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid to thwart possible protests against the killing of militants. The government also imposed strict curbs in majority of Downtown areas and placed Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest. Meanwhile, JKLF leaders and activists staged a protest in uptown here against the NIA…

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