Jammu, May 22: A gunfight erupted on Thursday between the joint security forces and the terrorists during a cordon and search operation (CASO) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.

Officials said that on specific information about the presence of a group of three to four terrorists, joint forces launched a CASO in Singhpora, Chatroo area of Kishtwar district.

“The cordon was tightened to engage the terrorists and to ensure that they are unable to escape. As the joint forces came closer, the hiding terrorists opened fire, triggering an encounter which is now going on. Three to four Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists are reported to be holed up,” officials said.

Naming the operation as ‘Op Trashi’, the White Knight Corps of the Indian Army in a post on its X handle said, “Contact has been established with #terrorists during a joint #operation with @JmuKmrPolice at #Chhatru, #Kishtwar today morning. Additional troops have been inducted, and operations are ongoing to neutralize the terrorists.”

Joint forces have started aggressive operations against terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers in J&K. These operations were intensified after April 22, when Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists segregated tourists on the basis of religion and killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

The cowardly terrorist act outraged the entire nation. India launched precision-guided targeted attacks on terrorist infrastructure in Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan responded by heavy mortar shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting civilian facilities.

A total of 200 houses and shops were destroyed in Pakistani shelling, while hundreds of border residents were forced to abandon their villages to run to safer locations.

The border residents have not fully returned to their homes yet as the security forces are still defusing unexploded Pakistan shells in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kupwara districts.

India agreed to a ceasefire arrived at by the DGMOs of the two countries on June 12.

But, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has made it clear that the understanding will be respected only as long as Pakistan does not allow any terrorist activity on its soil against India. he said that this was a probation period for Pakistan.

Jammu, May 21: J&K Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, on Wednesday announced government jobs to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in Pakistan shelling.

The Lieutenant Governor made the announcement while addressing families affected by the Poonch shelling.

The L-G expressed grief over the loss of lives due to Pakistan shelling and also expressed sympathy with the bereaved families.

“The loss of lives cannot be compensated. We stand with the families in this hour of grief. The next of kin of those who lost their lives will be given government jobs. This is in addition to the Centre’s support for the affected families. Both the Centre and state governments have been making efforts to provide compensation to the families. The damage assessment is being done, and once the report is completed, the measures will be taken accordingly,” he said.

“Community bunkers have already been constructed at many places, but the number of individual bunkers will be constructed soon to ensure the safety of border dwellers,” the Lt.Governor said.

In response to specific precision strikes against terror targets by Indian armed forces in Muridke near Lahore and Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) by India, Pakistan resorted to Indiscriminate mortar shelling on civilian facilities along the line of control (LoC) and the international border (IB).

Over 200 houses and shops were destroyed in Pakistan mortar shelling in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kupwara districts. Hundreds of civilians had to give up homes, livestock and agricultural fields. Over 38 civilians were killed as Pakistan shelled civilian areas.

The border residents are still not able to completely return to their villages because of unexploded shells in the border areas.

Notably, India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire understanding on May 10 as the DGMOs of the two countries spoke to each other on the hotline.

New Delhi, May 21: The political storm intensified on Wednesday after a report by a three-member committee of the Calcutta High Court exposed serious lapses by the state police in containing the communal violence that erupted in West Bengal’s Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district last month.

The BJP launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led government, accusing it of shielding extremists and failing to protect Hindu families.

The communal unrest broke out on April 8 in areas like Dhulian, Suti, and Samserganj, with the violence escalating over protests against the newly promulgated Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed only on the night of April 12, following an order from the High Court’s special division bench, which observed that the West Bengal government’s measures to curb the violence were inadequate.

Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar, addressing the Media, said, “The committee’s findings point towards the involvement of local councillor Mehboob Alam, MLAs, and other leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress. Despite his role as a principal conspirator, the police failed to act against him during the violence.”

According to sources, the report detailed how Mehboob Alam led the mob from 2 p.m. onwards on April 11, actively participating in the violence alongside miscreants while police personnel remained inactive.

The High Court committee also named one Amirul Islam, who allegedly directed the attackers towards Hindu homes that were yet to be vandalised and looted.

“Mamata Banerjee had blamed outsiders for the violence, but the report shows otherwise. This clearly proves she was lying and must apologise to the people of Bengal,” Majumdar said.

BJP National Spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told Media, “India is perhaps the only country where the majority community faces communal persecution. This happens because dangerous elements receive political protection and encouragement. That’s what fuels such horrific incidents.”

Calling West Bengal a “Taliban state,” BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh alleged that under Mamata Banerjee’s rule, Bengal was being governed not by constitutional principles but by terror and appeasement.

“The state is now under the grip of a ‘Modern Jinnah’ (Mamata Banerjee). When victims’ cries are ignored and murderers flourish under political protection, it becomes evident the system has collapsed,” Chugh said.

He added that the Murshidabad violence was not an isolated riot but a targeted attack on Hindus, orchestrated with the support of the state government.

“This massacre was carried out under the protection of Trinamool Congress leaders, and the state government must be held accountable,” he said.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said the committee’s report made it evident that Hindus were specifically targeted in Murshidabad.

“The police turned a blind eye while Trinamool Congress leaders incited and led the mobs. The silence of Mamata Banerjee on such targeted violence shows her cruelty and partiality,” he said, comparing the incidents to communal attacks from Pahalgam to Murshidabad.

The Janata Dal (United) also condemned the West Bengal government.

JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan told Media, “Mamata Banerjee cannot deny the High Court findings. Her government has become synonymous with anarchy, where political activists, criminals, and police function hand in glove.”

He added that the political environment in Bengal has become so toxic under the Trinamool Congress’s rule that the upcoming elections could see the party facing serious setbacks.

“The horror of Murshidabad has exposed how law and order have been sacrificed for political gains,” he said.

The High Court committee’s report further revealed that 113 houses belonging to Hindu families were damaged during the violence. Valuables worth lakhs, including jewellery, cash, livestock, and household items, were looted or destroyed, sources mentioned.

The victims reportedly made multiple calls to the police for help, but no action was taken. Shockingly, the local police station was situated just 300 meters from the scene of the violence.