
Encounter in Kishtwar after security forces intensify search operations in Jammu
In a post on X, Army's White Knight Corps said: 'OP CHERJI. Based on specific inputs an operation was launched by #IndianArmy in the Hadal Gal area of #Kishtwar Sector. Contact has been established with #terrorists. The #operation is currently in progress'.
This comes amid searches in Jammu in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir where 26 people – mostly tourists but also one local pony operator – were shot dead. Searches have especially intensified in the areas south of the Pir Panjal range.
Although there are no details yet, sources said there were intelligence reports that '2-3 terrorists' were reportedly hiding in Hadal Gal and that security forces equipped with night vision devices are conducting searches even during night.
This comes nearly a month after a topmost commander of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad was killed in a joint operation by security forces and the police in the adjoining Dudu-Basantgarh area of Udhampur district. According to officials, the terrorist, identified as Haider and codenamed Maulvi, was from Pakistan and was part of a four-member group that is suspected to have entered Basantgarh from the adjoining Kathua district.
The police and security forces said thy had been tracking the group since last year after a village defense guard (VDG) and an Army soldier were killed in separate encounters.
While Haider was killed on June 26, his accomplices managed to escape into the thick forests.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Hindu
2 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Apple cites U.S. Supreme Court's birthright ruling in fight over Epic Games injunction
Apple is hoping a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling curbing the power of federal judges to issue nationwide orders will help the technology giant win an appeal in a lawsuit requiring it to revamp its lucrative App Store. In a court filing on Tuesday, Apple told the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the Supreme Court's June order in a case involving birthright citizenship bolsters the iPhone maker's arguments in a high-stakes standoff with 'Fortnite' game developer Epic Games. The Supreme Court limited when judges can issue so-called universal injunctions that apply broadly, and not just to the parties in a lawsuit. The justices did not rule on whether the Trump administration can legally terminate the right to citizenship for people born on U.S. soil, but the decision was a win for the administration, which had complained about individual lower courts blocking its policies nationwide. Even though the case at the high court had nothing to do with Apple, its appeal could test the scope of the justices' ruling. Apple and Epic did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Apple in its appeal is challenging a U.S. district judge's order in April that said the company must open its App Store to more competition, allowing all developers — not just Epic — more freedom to steer consumers to alternative payment options outside of an app. The appeal also challenges the judge's finding that Apple was in contempt for violating a prior injunction in the same case. Epic Games sued Apple in 2020 to loosen its control over transactions in applications that use its iOS operating system and how apps are distributed to consumers. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in 2021 said Apple must allow developers to more easily steer consumers to potentially cheaper non-Apple payment options. Apple defied that court order to maintain a revenue stream worth billions of dollars, Gonzalez Rogers ruled in April. Apple has denied any wrongdoing, and defended its compliance with the court's orders. Apple told the 9th Circuit that, after the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship decision, judges no longer have freestanding authority to issue universal injunctions. Apple also noted that Epic pursued its lawsuit on its own, not as a class action on behalf of a larger group. Epic told the appeals court in May that Apple's App Store changes will have wide-reaching benefits for the industry and consumers. 'The sky has not fallen. Instead, developers and consumers are finally beginning to see the long-awaited benefits of increased competition,' Epic said.


Mint
2 minutes ago
- Mint
Von Der Leyen Tells Xi EU-China Ties Are at ‘Inflection Point'
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Chinese leader Xi Jinping that the bloc's ties with his country 'have reached an inflection point,' opening a summit shadowed by tensions spanning trade to the war in Ukraine. 'As our cooperation has deepened, so have the imbalances,' von der Leyen said on Thursday, according to her prepared remarks. 'Rebalancing our bilateral relation is essential. Because to be sustainable, the relations need to be mutually beneficial.' The first in-person EU-China summit since 2023 is exposing a divide between the bloc and Beijing just months after earlier signs of a possible detente. In his opening remarks, Xi said their ties are 'at a historical juncture,' urging stronger trust and communication amid global uncertainty, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The messages come as the two sides mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. The meeting has been cut short from two days to one at Beijing's request, Bloomberg News has reported, with the venue changed from Brussels to the Chinese capital after Xi refused to travel to Europe for the talks. Von der Leyen and the head of the European Council, Antonio Costa, met the Chinese leader following the EU's summit with Japan held in Tokyo Wednesday. While there are no plans to issue a joint communique, the EU intends to release a statement listing the main messages it delivered, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The two sides are also preparing a landmark declaration on climate cooperation. Top officials will sign the document in Beijing on Thursday, according to people familiar with the plans, likely committing both parties to further emissions cuts and to deliver their climate plans to the United Nations before the COP30 summit in Brazil later this year. The tensions on display this week contrast with hope at the height of the trade war unleashed by Donald Trump for China to repair ties with the EU. Back then, Beijing appeared to be positioning itself as a more reliable partner as Trump alienated the bloc. Now, deep disagreements are once again marring the relationship. The strains flared into view in April with Beijing's decision to impose export controls on rare earth magnets, which shook European car companies and other sectors. Brussels also takes issue with what it considers as Beijing's support for Moscow. The EU on Friday sanctioned two Chinese banks and five China-based companies as part of its latest measures against Russia. Trade ties are another source of frustration. The Asian nation's goods trade surplus reached almost $143 billion in the first half of this year, a record for any six-month period, according to data released last week. The EU inflamed trade tensions when it imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles last year in a bid to ward off a flood of cheap imports. In response, China launched anti-dumping probes into European brandy, dairy and pork. 'I don't think that any of us are too optimistic in terms of any sort of grand agreement being reached — and I don't think that this is really what we should aspire to,' Jens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, said on Bloomberg TV Thursday. The 50th anniversary of ties offers an opportunity to ask how to 'ensure that we have a relationship going forward that continues to deliver benefits from both sides,' he said. 'And what we are seeing right now is this increase in trade tension and this perception in particular in Europe, that the benefits of the relationship are no longer being distributed in an equitable manner.' With assistance from Iain Rogers, Jorge Valero, Fran Wang, David Ingles, Yvonne Man and John Ainger. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.


Hans India
2 minutes ago
- Hans India
Over 3.42 pilgrims had 'Darshan' in 21 days, Amarnath Yatra to cross officially expected 3.5-lakh mark today
Srinagar: Since this year's Amarnath Yatra started on July 3, more than 3.42 lakh Yatris had 'Darshan' so far while a fresh batch of 3,500 pilgrims started their journey on Thursday from Jammu towards the two base camps, officials said. Officials said that more than 3.42 Yatris have performed the ongoing Amarnath Yatra during the last 21 days as the huge rush of pilgrims continues unabated. "The officially expected figure of 3.50 lakh Yatris performing the Yatra this year is likely to be crossed on Thursday only while 17 days are still left for the conclusion of this year's Yatra." "The Yatra has been going on peacefully, smoothly and this has encouraged the devotees to come in record numbers. As more than 3.42 lakh had Darshan in last 21 days, we had another batch of 3,500 Yatris, who left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Valley on Thursday." "Of these, the first escorted convoy of 45 vehicles carrying 832 Yatris left for Baltal base camp at 3:25 a.m. while the second convoy of 95 vehicles carrying 2,668 Yatris to Pahalgam base camp left at 4:01 a.m.," officials said. The Bhumi Pujan of 'Chhari Mubarak' (Lord Shiva's Holy Abode) was performed at Pahalgam on July 10. The Chhari Mubarak was then taken back to its seat at the Dashnami Akhara building. It will start its final journey towards the cave shrine from Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on August 4 and will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the Yatra. Authorities have made extensive multi-tier security arrangements for this year's Amarnath Yatra, as this takes place after the cowardly attack of April 22 in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. Additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been brought in to augment the existing strength of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB and the local police. The Army has deployed more than 8,000 special Commandos to secure the passage of the pilgrims this year. The Yatra started on July 3 and will end after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Yatris approach the holy cave shrine situated 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas either from the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route. Those using the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni to reach the cave shrine, covering a distance of 46 km on foot. This trek takes a pilgrim four days to get to the cave shrine. Those using the shorter Baltal route have to trek 14 km to reach the cave shrine and return to the base camp the same day after having darshan. No helicopter services are available to Yatris this year due to security reasons. The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.