The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan from Kupwara district in northern Kashmir drowned in a river in West Bengal on Thursday evening, officials said.

Reyaz Ahmad Rather, son of Ghulam Ahmad Rather of Macncher Lolab area, was posted in West Bengal when the incident occurred. The exact circumstances of the drowning are still unclear.

"The body was retrieved immediately, but he was declared dead on arrival," a BSF spokesperson said.

Rather's mortal remains are expected to arrive in his hometown today for last rites.

KATHUA — Security forces in Kathua district made a significant recovery on Thursday as they recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in a border area.

According to official sources quoted by a local news agency, alert troops from the Border Security Forces (BSF) in Jammu noticed drone activity in the depth area of village Manihari, located under the jurisdiction of Rajbagh Police Station in Tehsil Marheen of Hiranagar area Kathua, during the night. Responding swiftly, the troops engaged the drone with fire, prompting further investigation.

Following the drone encounter, thorough searches were conducted in the area, leading to the recovery of the IED believed to have been dropped by the drone.

An investigation into the incident has been initiated, with authorities working to ascertain the origin and intentions behind the placement of the IED.

SRINAGAR — Security forces successfully thwarted an infiltration attempt along the International Border in the Khour sector of Akhnoor, resulting in the elimination of a militant.

An official, while speaking to a local news agency, disclosed that the intervention came following the suspected movement of four militants detected via surveillance devices during the intervening night.

He said that swift and precise measures were implemented, resulting in effective suppression of the infiltration bid. "Visual evidence confirms terrorists attempting to retreat, seen dragging one body back across the International Border," the official stated.

The security forces' swift action prevented the group's infiltration, with one intruder neutralized during the encounter.

SRINAGAR — A total of 31 militants have been killed in joint operations in the Kashmir valley this year so far, police said here on Wednesday.

A top police official told the news agency KNO that the joint operations were carried out by the Army, Police, SSB, BSF and CRFP at different places in the Kashmir valley. He said that this year so far a total of 31 militants have been killed in joint operations.

“One terrorist was killed in joint operation with Police, Army & SSB, two terrorists were killed in joint operations with Police, Army & BSF, five terrorists were killed in joint operations by Police, Army & CRPF and 23 terrorists were killed in joint operations by Police & Army,” he said.

Earlier, this month two terrorists including top commander Uzair Khan were killed during a 7-day-long operation in Kokernag, in which three officers including a DySP, Army Colonel and a Major were also killed.

The official further said that "police and other security agencies have been dealing effectively with terror operatives and in the past few months several terror modules have been busted across the Valley that have dented the support base of terrorists in the region."

JAMMU — A Pakistani intruder was killed by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the Indo-Pak international border in Samba area of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.

"In the early hours of June 1, 2023, the alert BSF troops noticed a suspicious movement of a person who crossed IB from Pakistan side in Samba area," said a Jammu-based BSF spokesperson as per the news agency KNO.

He that the individual was challenged by the troops but he kept advancing towards border fencing, forcing troops to open fire on him.

"Later, he was shot dead near the border fence by a vigilant BSF trooper," officials said.