Islamic State starts referring its operation in Jammu and Kashmir as 'Hind Province'

SITE Intelligence Group Director Rita Katz tweeted: "#ISIS declares its new "Hind Province" while claiming clashes with Indian forces in Amshipora. Of course, the establishment of a “province” in a region where it has nothing resembling actual governance is absurd, but it should not be written off."

In a statement, SITE said: "Now using the name "Hind Province" for its operations in Jammu & Kashmir, rather than Khorasan Province as it had done in the past, the Islamic State (IS) claimed inflicting casualties among Indian forces in a clash in Amshipora."

Normal life hit in Kashmir after Shopian incident:

Normal life remained crippled for the second day on Saturday in Sopore in this north Kashmir district against the killing of a local militant in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian.

Police said that there are no restrictions in any part of the Baramulla though security forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive areas in apple township of Sopore and adjoining areas to maintain law and order.

Even though there was no strike called by any separatist organisation, shops and business establishments remained closed in the apple township of Sopore and adjoining areas.

Traffic was also off the roads, official sources said, adding that some private vehicles and cabs were seen plying on some routes.

Authorities have suspended class work in all educational institutes, including Higher Secondary Schools (HSSs) and colleges, as a precautionary measure.

A top commander of Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK), Ishfaq Ahmad alias Abdullah Bhai, was killed on Friday by security forces in a brief encounter in south Kashmir district of Shopian.

Ishfaq, a resident of Sopore in Baramulla, had joined Harktul-ul-Mujahideenin 2015 before shifting to ISJK. He was probably the lone militant of IJSK in the state.