The Kashmir Pulse

KUPWARA — Three militants were killed in joint operations by J&K Police and Indian Army in northern Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday.

These successful operations, as per the security forces, are attributed to the seamless coordination between the two forces, focusing on maintaining close surveillance and enhancing human intelligence regarding infiltration attempts from the Line of Control (LOC) in Kupwara.

On August 27, specific intelligence inputs were received by the forces about simultaneous infiltration attempts in the Karnah and Kumkadi sectors of Kupwara. This information, as per the statement, was promptly shared with the respective army units, and joint ambushes involving J&K Police and the Army were strategically deployed.

The statement added that suspicious movement was detected around 19:30 hours on August 28 in the Kumkadi sector, leading to an exchange of fire that continued until the early morning hours of August 29. A subsequent search operation revealed two dead bodies of militants at the site.

Similarly, in the Karnah sector, suspicious movement was observed around 21:00 hours on August 28. The ensuing gunfire lasted into the early hours of August 29. The search operation conducted later resulted in the recovery of one dead body. Further search operations are ongoing in both sectors, and legal formalities are being completed. This marks the sixth counter-insurgency operation in Kupwara district this year, bringing the total number of militants killed in the district to 10, all of whom were foreign militants.

SRINAGAR — Three persons were detained as security forces busted a 'narco-terror' module in northern Kashmir's Kupwara district on Saturday.

An official quoted by the news agency Kashmir Scroll said that after receiving input that a person was trying to find purchasers for heroin, a trap was laid by Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army in Karnah.

He said that two persons were later apprehended with approximately 500 grams of heroin. They have been identified as Shafeeq Ahmad Sheikh son of Late Mohammad Shafi Sheikh, a resident of Khawarparab Karnah and Tariq Ahmad Malik son of Ghulam Ahmad Malik, a resident of Baghballa.

"Further investigation revealed the presence of three pistols with a person identified as Parvez Ahmed Pathan, a resident of Sadhpura," he said.

Immediately, Parvez was apprehended in a joint raid by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army. "Three pistols, 76 pistol rounds, six pistol magazines and approximately, five kilograms of suspected explosives were recovered from his possession," the official said.

In this regard, the official added, an FIR was registered and further interrogations and investigations are going on.

SRINAGAR — After the recent snowfall, authorities reopened the Kupwara-Karnah road on Tuesday, allowing the resumption of vehicular traffic along the route.

The closure was imposed due to the adverse weather conditions and accumulation of snow on the road.

An unnamed official, quoted by a local news agency, said that with the precipitation subsiding and the concerted efforts of men and machinery to clear the road, authorities have given the green light for the resumption of traffic movement.

KUPWARA — In a significant breakthrough, security forces in north Kashmir's Kupwara have successfully dismantled a cross-border militancy module, resulting in the arrest of five militant associates and the recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition.

A senior police officer revealed that a joint operation conducted by the local police, supported by the 09PARA Field Regiment, led to the apprehension of the militant associates in Karnah. The operation targeted a network involved in smuggling arms and ammunition, with credible information guiding the forces.

Acting on the intelligence, corroborated by multiple agencies, the police arrested the main operative, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, during the operation. Bhat was in contact with two militant handlers based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), identified as Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh and Qazi Mohammad Khushal.

From Bhat, the police recovered a significant cache of weapons, including an AK rifle, pistol, and ammunition. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of four more militant associates – Khursheed Ahmad Rather, Mudassir Shafiq, Ghulam Sarwar Rather, and Qazi Fazal Illahi – and the seizure of additional weapons, including five short AK rifles, magazines, and ammunition.

The arrested individuals are believed to be part of a broader conspiracy, operating under the guidance of the PoK-based handlers. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and the smuggling network involved.