Terrorism

T S Tirumurti,  India’s permanent representative to UN, on Thursday, pointed out that the UN has been highlighting certain kinds of religious phobias like Islamophobia, Christianophobia, and anti-Semitism but it has not recognized new forms of religiophobia including Hinduphobia as well as anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh phobias.

The sources, quoting intelligence inputs, said that at least seven militants of LeT and five of Al Badra are trying to cross over to Jammu and Kashmir from two different areas located in PoK. The intelligence alert has specifically said that from one place in PoK, the LeT ultras will be trying to infiltrate with help of a launch pad commander, while the five Al Badr terrorists are located near a launch pad in Balakot, who are being escorted by a local guide to infiltrate from the Bhimber Gali side in Poonch district of J&K.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN,  Ambassador T S Tirumurti said that the crime mafia gang responsible for the deadly March 1993 Mumbai blasts was given state sanctuary as well as enjoyed the generosity of its host, in an obscure reference to D-gang (Dawood and co.) and Pakistan respectively. “We have seen the crime syndicate responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts not just given state protection but enjoying 5-star hospitality,” Ambassador Tirumurti said while speaking at the International Counter Terrorism Conference 2022 organised by the Global Counter Terrorism Council.

The embassy officials are also in touch with the immediate family members of the deceased Indians. The embassy, however, has not revealed their identity. Among the six injured in the blast on Monday, two are Indian nationals, who were treated at an Abu Dhabi hospital and later discharged. "@IndembAbuDhabi officials are in touch with their family members. The Mission is working closely with UAE authorities, including ADNOC, for early repatriation of mortal remains," it tweeted.

The sources in the security set up, quoting the intelligence inputs, said that the ISI sponsored Sikh terror outfits may target the election rallies and may attempt to hit some important leaders or VVIP during the electioneering process in Punjab, parts of UP and Uttarkhand. Considering Punjab election as an apt opportunity to reactivate the Khalistani movement in the state and also in other poll bound states wherein the Sikh voters are in large numbers, the ISI has activated all small or big terror groups which have been tasked to derail the poll process in the state, the sources further said.

"During checking, it was noticed that three persons coming from Gund Brath village towards Bomai village were roaming in suspicious conditions, and were subsequently asked to stop, but they tried to flee. However, they were apprehended by the vigilant security forces," a police officer said. The arrested individuals have been identified as Arafat Majeed Dar, Tauseef Ahmed Dar, and Momin Nazir Khan.

While interacting with media in Kulgam after the killing of Pakistani terrorist Babar Bhai linked with proscribed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohmmad, the IG Kashmir said the owner and his family with whom the slain terrorist was hiding, had deliberately misled the search team by saying that no terrorist was hiding in their house which led to collateral damage. Therefore, action under the terror law will be taken against them.

The SBS Nagar police have also recovered six hand-grenades, one pistol (9 mm), one rifle (.30 bore) along with bullets and magazines from their possession, Director General of Police (DGP), V.K. Bhawra, said here on Monday. Those arrested have been identified as Amandeep, Gurwinder Singh, Parminder Kumar, Rajinder Singh, Harpreet Singh and Raman Kumar, all from Gurdaspur.

The police said that based on specific inputs regarding the presence of terrorists in Zolwa Chadoora village area of Budgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched on Thursday evening by the police and the army. During the search operation, the terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. Later on, the CRPF also joined the operation.

The firefight between terrorists and security forces began after a joint team of police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists.