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J&K encounter: 13 militants killed in three encounters in one day

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8 years ago

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J&K encounter: 13 militants killed in three encounters in one day

Security forces gunned down 13 militants, including the killers of Lieutenant Umar Fayaz, in three counter-insurgency operations that began at night and went on till late Sunday afternoon in Anantnag and Shopian disricts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Three army jawans and four civilians also lost their lives and more than 50 others were injured in the operations. As reports of the pre-dawn crackdown by a joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force spread, several civilians came out of their houses and tried to shield the terrorists, clashing with security forces, according to police. In retaliatory firing by security forces, four civilians were killed and over 50 others were wounded. Some of them received pellet injuries and were admitted to hospital in Shopian, the police said.

The encounters took place in three different areas — Draggad, Kachdoora and Dialgam — in the two districts, in which a total of 13 terrorists was killed, said J&K DGP Shesh Paul Vaid. Seven terrorists were killed at Draggad and five at Kachdoora in Shopian, while one was killed at Dialgam in Anantnag, Vaid was quoted as saying in a Times of India (TOI) report.

In a major success, security forces eliminated two terrorists, identified as Ahmad Malik and Rayees Thokar, who abducted and killed Lt  Umar Fayaz in May 2017 when the Army officer had gone to his hometown in Shopian to attend a wedding, Vaid said.

DGP Vaid told reporters that the security forces began operations based on specific information about the presence of militants at three places in south Kashmir. Operations were launched in Peth Dialgam in Anantnag district on Saturday evening after learning that two local militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen were hiding in a house in the area.

The Anantnag SSP tried to convince the militants to surrender. “He called the families of the two militants and let them speak to the ultras on phone to convince them to give up,” the DGP said. But the militants refused to yield and opened fire.

“In the retaliatory fire, a militant identified as Rouf Khanday was killed while another was captured,” he said. Rouf had joined militancy early this year and his picture with an AK-47 rifle had gone viral in the last week of March.

The army lost three soldiers in Kachudoora – Sepoy Hetram of Sonigasar Godard in Bikaner; Gunner Nilesh Singh of Nagri, in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh; and Gunner Arvinder Kumar of Sariana in Hoshairpur, Punjab.

Top security force officials said anti-militancy operations would continue in Valley and again asked the local militants to surrender. “I will like to make it clear that our operations against militants will not stop,” IG CRPF Zulfiqar Hassan told reporters while addressing a joint press conference with GoC 15 Corps Lt Gen AK Bhatt and DGP Vaid, said media reports.

Referring to people marching to encounter sites, IG said some people under the influence of anti-national elements go near the encounter sites and try to disturb the operations and appealed to them to  stay away from the encounter sites. “At encounter site, anybody can get killed or hurt,” he said, adding, “We will tackle the crowd with restraint but won’t shy away from taking very strict action.”

In all the three encounters in south Kashmir, people, mostly youth, attempted to march towards the encounter sites and pelted stones on the security force personnel in order to pave way for militants to escape.

Lt Gen AK Bhatt appealed young people of Kashmir not to get carried away by Pakistan or their proxies to the path of violence. DGP Vaid appealed the local militants to surrender saying, “It is painful to all us of to see the loss of young lives.”

“I appeal the parents of boys, who have taken the wrong path, that they should convince their wards to leave path of violence and come home,” he said.

Security officials have in the past also appealed the local militants to give up violence, return to their homes and join mainstream. The CRPF has also set up a helpline “Madadgar” to facilitate surrender of the local militants.

Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti expressed grief over the death of two civilians during security operations in south Kashmir. She has also sympathised with those injured during these operations.

Mehbooba also paid tributes to three army men killed during these operations and conveyed her sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls.

Authorities have suspended mobile Internet and train services and ordered the closure of all colleges and schools in the Valley on Monday while separatist leaders called for a shutdown on Sunday and Monday.

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12 Maoists killed, 3 security personnel lose lives in major anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh

A major anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s West Bastar region resulted in the killing of 12 Maoists, while three DRG personnel lost their lives amid intense gunfire.

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11 hours ago

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December 3, 2025

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Security forces have intensified their combing operations in the dense West Bastar forests after a fierce encounter left 12 Maoists dead and claimed the lives of three DRG personnel.

A coordinated offensive involving teams of DRG Bijapur-Dantewada, STF, CRPF and CoBRA unfolded deep inside Maoist-dominated terrain early Wednesday. According to Bijapur SP Dr Jitendra Yadav, the forces came under sustained Naxal gunfire around 9 am, triggering a prolonged encounter.

By afternoon, the bodies of 12 Maoist cadres had been recovered, while weapons seized from the area included SLR rifles, INSAS rifles, .303 rifles and other ammunition. Bastar Range IG Sundarraj P confirmed that identification of the deceased Maoists is still underway.

Three DRG personnel killed, two injured

The operation came at a grave cost, with three DRG personnel — Head Constable Monu Waddi, Constable Dukaru Gonde and Jawan Ramesh Sodi — losing their lives. Two others sustained injuries but are reported to be out of danger after receiving medical care.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute to the fallen personnel and lauded the forces, stating that the action reflects a clear weakening of Maoist networks in the region. He said arrangements for treatment of the injured have been ensured and reiterated the government’s commitment to ending Maoist violence.

Forces strengthen search and area sealed

SP Yadav said additional reinforcements have arrived and the encounter zone has been fully cordoned off for intensified operations. Continuous combing is underway to locate remaining Maoist cadres.

Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma noted that forces have been consistently making gains in anti-Naxal missions, calling the latest action a significant strike against Maoist groups.

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IndiGo flight cancellations cross 200 as crew shortage and new duty norms hit operations

IndiGo’s operations witnessed major disruption for the second day, with over 200 cancellations and severe delays triggered by crew shortage under new duty norms.

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11 hours ago

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December 3, 2025

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India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is grappling with widespread disruption across major airports as flight delays and cancellations continue for the second consecutive day. With operations strained and punctuality plunging sharply, thousands of passengers have been left inconvenienced across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

IndiGo’s on-time performance dips sharply

Government data showed the airline’s on-time performance had dropped to 35%, a rare slump for the carrier known for punctuality. IndiGo, which operates more than 2,200 flights daily, saw over 1,400 flights delayed on Tuesday, followed by around 200 cancellations by Wednesday afternoon.

Mumbai Airport issued an advisory alerting passengers to check their flight status, citing airline-related operational issues impacting departures and arrivals.

New duty norms trigger severe crew shortage

A major factor behind the disruptions is the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules last month. The updated norms mandate longer rest hours and more humane rosters for pilots and cabin crew. Sources indicated many flights were grounded over the past 48 hours as crew availability dipped sharply.

IndiGo acknowledged a “multitude of unforeseen operational challenges” including technology glitches, winter schedule adjustments, weather-related issues and the new rostering norms. The airline said it has begun calibrated schedule adjustments for the next 48 hours to restore normalcy.

FDTL rules cap crew flying to eight hours a day and mandate a minimum rest period of 10 hours within a 24-hour window, with rest time amounting to twice the flight duration.

Airports across India see cancellations

The ripple effect of IndiGo’s disruptions has been felt nationwide:

  • Hyderabad’s RGIA reported 33 cancellations, leading to long queues and disrupted travel plans.
  • Bengaluru Airport saw 42 cancellations, including 22 arrivals and 20 departures, impacting routes to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Goa and Kolkata.
  • Delhi Airport also saw congestion as a slowdown in the Amadeus system, used for check-ins and reservations, added to delays.

Passengers vent frustration

Several passengers took to social media to share their ordeal.
One traveller stranded in Hyderabad since early morning said they missed an important meeting due to continuous delays. Another flyer complained their Udaipur-bound flight was repeatedly delayed, calling the experience “a joke”.

IndiGo issues apology, offers rebooking

IndiGo said it is offering alternate travel options or refunds to affected travellers and urged passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. The airline reiterated its commitment to stabilising operations “as quickly as possible”.

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Centre withdraws order on mandatory Sanchar Saathi pre-installation after protests

The government has withdrawn its order making the Sanchar Saathi app mandatory on smartphones, following two days of intense criticism from opposition leaders and civil rights groups over privacy concerns.

Published

16 hours ago

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December 3, 2025

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sanchar sathi app logo

The Centre has reversed its directive that required all smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app, following backlash from opposition leaders, civil rights groups and users who raised concerns over privacy and potential misuse.

Government cites rising downloads, public feedback

According to the government, the order was rolled back as user downloads had surged — with over six lakh installations within 24 hours and 1.4 crore total users. Officials said the mandate was originally intended to push wider adoption, but public feedback prompted a re-evaluation.

The official statement reiterated Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s earlier assurance in Parliament that the app is deletable and does not enable snooping. The minister emphasised that in a democracy, every user has the right to remove applications they do not wish to use.

Opposition slams move, flags privacy concerns

Several opposition leaders criticised the initial directive, claiming it risked turning the app into a surveillance tool, echoing earlier privacy controversies. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called the decision “ridiculous”, while Karti Chidambaram compared the mandate to practices in authoritarian countries. Leaders from other parties also raised objections, describing it as a move that could compromise personal data.

What the Sanchar Saathi app offers

Sanchar Saathi, developed by the Department of Telecommunications, is designed to help users secure their digital identities, report suspicious activity and access cyber safety awareness material. It is available both as a mobile app and a web portal. The government maintains the app has no function beyond safeguarding users from cyber threats.

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