Jammu:

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday sacked three government employees, including a police constable, a teacher and an orderly in the forest department, days after vowing to take “strongest possible action” against those providing logistical and financial support to terrorism.

According to sources, the Lieutenant Governor’s action came after an investigation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies established their terror links.

The terminated employees have been identified as Firdous Ahmad Bhat, the Jammu and Kashmir police constable who was arrested in May 2024; Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, a teacher lodged in a district jail; and Nisar Ahmad Khan, who was posted as an orderly at the forest range office.

While Firdous Ahmad Bhat and Mohammad Ashraf Bhat worked for the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, Nisar Ahmad Khan helped Hizbul Mujahideen, sources said.

Lieutenant Governor Sinha this week had chaired two security review meetings amid a series of incidents along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu division in recent days.

Two army personnel, including a captain, lost their lives in a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion triggered by the terrorists in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu on February 11. A soldier was also injured in cross-border firing in the Rajouri sector a day earlier.

In a meeting on February 13, Mr Sinha had directed the officials to take “effective steps to wipe out” terrorism in the Jammu region. He also told them to “completely dismantle” the infrastructure and local support of terrorism.

“We need to take the strongest possible action against those providing logistical and financial support to terrorism. Make sure that acts of individuals or groups trying to create fear in society are termed as terrorist actions and they should be punished as per the law,” he said.

We need to take strongest possible action against those providing logistical and financial support to terrorism. Make sure that acts of individuals or groups trying to create fear in the society are termed as terrorist action and they should be punished as per the law.

— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) February 13, 2025

“Every perpetrator and supporter of terrorism must pay the price. We need to equip ourselves with credible intelligence and act more effectively to neutralise the terrorists and ensure the security of citizens. We must be prepared for conventional as well as non-conventional threats,” Mr Sinha said.

In a meeting a day earlier, he had directed officials to follow a “zero-tolerance policy” to tackle terrorism.

He also said he had given Jammu and Kashmir police and security forces a “free hand to neutralise terror ecosystem operating in the shadows”.

Directed officials to follow zero tolerance policy to tackle terrorism. I have given JKP & Security Forces free hand to neutralise terror ecosystem operating in the shadows. Those supporting & financing terrorism will have to pay a very heavy price.

— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) February 12, 2025

“Those supporting and financing terrorism will have to pay a very heavy price,” he said.

New Delhi:

Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, have been killed in action in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Monday, taking the total number of Army personnel killed in the past 32 months to 48 in the Jammu region.

According to officials, the encounter broke out when a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched in the Desa area of Doda based on specific information about the presence of terrorists.

“Contact with terrorists was established at about 9 pm in which heavy firefight ensued,” Army’s 16 Corps posted on X on Monday night.

Timeline Of Major Attacks In Recent Past

July 16, 2024: Four Army soldiers were killed in action in Doda.

July 8, 2024: Five Army personnel were killed in action and five others injured after terrorists attacked a military convoy in Kathua district.

ALSO READ | “Lost 2 Sons In 2 Months”: Family Of Soldier Killed In Action In Convoy Attack

June 11-12, 2024: Six soldiers injured in twin attacks.

June 9, 2024: Nine people were killed and 33 injured after a bus full of pilgrims, attacked by terrorists, plunged into a gorge in Reasi.

May 4, 2024: One soldier of the Indian Air Force was killed in action and five others were injured when two vehicles, including one of the IAF, came under heavy terrorist fire in Poonch district.

ALSO READ | South Of Pir Panjal, Terror’s New Address In Jammu And Kashmir

December 21, 2023: Four soldiers killed in action.

November 2023: Five soldiers, including two captains, were killed in action.

April-May 2023: 10 soldiers martyred in twin attacks.

May 2022: Four persons were killed after a pilgrim bus was attacked in Katra.

December 2021: Four soldiers were killed in action.

PM Modi Reviews J&K Security

Amid rising terror incidents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month chaired a review meeting to assess the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

He spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and was given a full overview of the security-related situation of the Union Territory and the counter-terrorism operations being undertaken by the armed forces.

He also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and was briefed on the efforts being undertaken by the local administration.

Sources told NDTV that the Prime Minister has asked the authorities to deploy the full spectrum of the armed forces’ counter-terror capabilities.

New Delhi:

Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, have been killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Monday.

According to officials, a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched based on specific information about the presence of terrorists.

“Contact with terrorists was established at about 9 pm in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our bravehearts,” the Army had posted on X on Monday night.

Op KOTHI – 2

Based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation by #IndianArmy and JKP was in progress in General area North of #Doda.

Contact with terrorists was established tonight at about 2100h in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our…

— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) July 15, 2024

At least five soldiers were critically injured in the encounter, officials had said.

Second Major Attack In Jammu Region In One Week

This was the second major encounter in the Jammu region after five soldiers were killed in action in Kathua last week.

The attack, in which five soldiers were also injured, was a coordinated strike on two trucks carrying at least 12 troops.

The terrorists targeted the trucks, which were around 500 metres apart, with grenades and, in worrying signs, used armor-piercing bullets (those tipped with hardened steel) and an M4 assault rifle.

Terrorist attacks, which started in Poonch and Rajouri districts, have now spread across Jammu, the region that was free from terrorism till a few years ago.

Over the last 32 months, 48 soldiers have been killed in action in the Jammu region. 

There are reports over 60 foreign terrorists – trained in jungle warfare – may be operating in the Jammu region alone, even as the shadow of fear has spread across all 10 districts of the province.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the Army to deploy the full spectrum of its anti-terrorist capabilities to eliminate terrorism in the Jammu region.