CRPF
driver, 3 militants killed in Qamarwari encounter From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, Dec 23: While as the suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militants have massacred a member of pro-India Ikhwan as also four other relatives of Ikhwan cadres in Kulgam area of south Kashmir, at least three militants and a CRPF driver got killed in a joint operation of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu & Kashmir Police and security forces at Qamarwari in the capital city. Three holed up militants, believed to be foreigners, were fighting the troops upto midnight even as the house, used by them, was up in flames. In other militancy-related incidents in Kashmir valley since last evening, four persons have got injured in a landmine explosion near Qazigund on the National Highway while as unidentified gunmen have shot dead the driver of a 3-wheeler at Zaindarmohlla in the capital city. Official sources told EXCEL-SIOR that during last night, a group of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militants struck in Kaimoh locality of Kulgam Police district in south Kashmir and massacred four relatives of the local counter-insurgents and a member of pro-India guerrilla outfit Ikhwan. Sources said that, almost simultaneously, militants appeared at Bichhroo, Gophabal and Redwani villages and selectively shot dead five persons They were identified as Ghulam Hassan Matoo and his son Mohammad Shafi Matoo (GhulamHassan Matoo's another son happens to be a member of Ikhwan) residents of Bichhroo, Mohammad Ramzan Bhat and his Ikhwani son Imtiyaz Ahmed Bhat residents of Gophabal, Kaimoh, and Gulzar Ahmed Laloo (whose brother is an Ikhwani) resident of Redwani. While as Ghulam Hassan Matoo and Mohammad Ramzan Bhat, alongwith their sons were gunned down at their homes, respectively at Bichhroo and Gophabal, Gulzar Ahmed Laloo was shot dead at the fellow villager Ama Khar's house at Redwani. However, police intelligence reports, which according to EXCEL-SIOR sources are not correct, put the number of those killed in Kulgam area as eight. A routine hand-out issued from the police headquarters here this afternoon identified the slain individuals as Ghulam Mohammad Bhat son of Ghulam Ahmed Bhat of Kaimoh, Gulzar Ahmed S/o Mohammad Ramzan of Kaimoh, Ghulam Hassan Matoo son of Mohammad Sultan of Bichroo, Mohammad Shafi Matoo S/o Ghulam Hassan of Bichhroo, Mohammad Ramzan Bhat S/o Wahab Bhat resident of Gubbal, Imtiyaz Ahmed Bhat S/o Mohammad Ramzan of Gubbal, Ghulam Nabi Matoo R/o Bichroo and Abdul Hamid Matoo S/o Mohammad Shafi resident of Bichroo. With today's massacre of five pro-India activists, the number of persons killed in the intensified hostility between pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahi-deen and pro-India Ikhwan, in the last four days, in Kulgam area has reached eleven. To begin with, suspected pro-Pakistan militants ambushed and shot dead two prominant Ikhwan members, namely Gulzar Ahmed Dar alias ‘‘DD-2’’ and Abdus Salam Dar alias ‘‘Salam Taxi’’ at Turk-Tachhloo on December 20. In, what seemed to be a re-action to the Turk Tachhloo incident, suspected pro-India militants gunned down two sympathisers of Jamaat-e-Islami, alongwith their sons who had been appointed as SPOs by a suspended SP of Anantnag, during preceeding night at Kujar-Kawdrang village. Taking their turn, suspected pro-Pakistan militants struck an ‘‘equaliser’’ and shot dead five Ikhwan cadres and their relatives at three close-by villages near Kaimoh. Reports from south Kashmir today suggested that considerable fear of reprisals had made hundreds of prominant Jamaat-e-Islami activists in several Kulgam villages flee their home. Kaimoh-Frisal belt in Homeshalibugh Assembly constituency has been a major stronghold of Jamaat-e-Islami for the last three decades. Considered to be completely militancy-free, upto January this year, this belt of south Kashmir has sign-boards of Rashtriya Rifles at every nook and corner announcing that ‘‘You are travelling in militancy-free zone’’. At Neepora near Qazigund on Jammu-Srinagar highway, an IED explosion blew up a Tata-Sumo Taxi, which was on way from Jammu to Srinagar, at 1530 hours today. While as the vehicle suffered extensive damage, four persons travelling in it sustained injuries. One of the passengers, with critical injuries, was rushed to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura. Three injured persons, who were admitted at District Hospital Anantnag, were admitted as driver of the vehicle Rajesh Kumar -- resident of Digiana, Jammu--, Constable Abdur Rash-eed (belt No. 1070) of JKAP 14 Bn and a 16-year-old boy Gurmeet Singh son of Pritpal Singh resident of Aloochibagh, Srinagar. SOG Srinagar, with the back-up support of BSF, CRPF and 13-Garhwal units of regular Army, cordoned Sher-e-Kashmir Colony (re-christened as Hilal Abad during militancy) of Qamarwari in the capital city outskirts here at 1500 hours today. The operation, according to official sources, was launched on the basis of specific information which suggested the presence of six Hizbul Mujahi-deen militants at the three-storeyed house of one Mohammed Amin Zargar. Sources said that immediately after four civilians -- three young girls and an elderly woman-came out of the house, militants opened fire on troops and triggered off a fierce encounter. This correspondent, who witnessed the fierce encounter from 1730 to 2300 hours, saw the holed up militants making desperate attempts to escape while putting up a tough fight. At 1830 hours, one of the militants broke the cordon and ran away towards Bemina Housing Colony while hurling a hand grenade on a CRPF armoured bunker. The grenade exploded under the bunker, burst its tyres and caused critical injuries to its driver Pawan Kumar. As the militant was running away, troops showered on him blitzkreig of search lights and LMG bursts. He collapsed and fired a burst of AK-56 rifle which hit the parked bullet-proof Gypsies serving as a shield for some police personnel and journalists, including this correspondent. Later troops fired mortars, grenades and rockets and the house caught fire. Even as two storeys of the house were razed to rubble, at least three militants were continuing automatic fire, intermittently, after two more of their associates got killed in their attempts to escape. Later the injured CRPF driver Pawan Kumar of 28 Bn, who was rushed to SMHS Hospital, succumbed to injuries. IGP Kashmir P S Gill, who was personally supervising the operation, told EXCELSIOR that according to the SOG's specific information, six armed militants of Hizbul Mujahideen, including the dreaded Hizb commander ‘‘Bul Hajam’’ of Ganderbal locality, were present at the house when the operation was launched at 1500 hours. He was confident that all the six would be eliminated as there was no chance left for their escape. Meanwhile, militants today lobbed two hand grenades on a BSF picket at Nabdipora in Hawal area which missed the intended target and exploded on road without causing any damage. Sources said that late last evening, an unidentified gunman fired upon a three-wheeler driver namely Muddasar Nisar Dhobi son of Nisar Ahmed Dhobi of Shalla Kadal at Malik Bagh, Zaindar Mohalla, in the capital city. He sustained critical injuries and died within a while on spot. |
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Work
paralysed, production comes to halt in PSUs Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: With Government sending no feelers of holding parleys with the striking employees on the fifth consecutive day of their strike today, the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) decided to extend the strike till December 28. The decision of extending the strike by five more days was taken in the General House Meeting of the EJAC which met at SMGS Hospital under the chairmanship of Mr Gafoor Dar, president National Trade Union Front (NTUF) a constituent of Joint Action Committee. Meanwhile the work remained totally paralysed in all the Government offices and public sector undertakings today. The employees in all Government offices after marking their attendance deserted the rooms to attend the gate meetings and dharnas in support of their demands and to show solidarity with the EJAC call. All the offices in the City wore a deserted look with files pilling on tables for days together. The pathetic condition was prevailing in the Government Medical College (GMC) and its associated hospital where except the emergency services all work was paralysed. The employees leaders have warned the Government to extend strike further in case the demands were not solved. They blamed the Government for its rigid stand which they said will precipitate the situation further. All the Government offices in the city including the offices in Old Secretariat Complex, colleges, Director School Education Office, Ravi Tawi Irrigation Complex, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Agriculture Department offices, PDD, PHE Complex, Sheep and Animal Husbandry offices wore a deserted look. The officers were very well present in these offices but there was no subordinate to assist them. No orderly was seen outside the chamber of their officers also to respond the ringing bells. Lateron addressing a demonstration of employees at Old Secretariat Complex, Mr Gafoor Dar declared that employees will continue strike in case no meaningful dialogue is held with them by the Government. He maintained that the employees do not want confrontation with the Government but it was the latter which has forced them to intensify the strike. He urged the Government that immediate steps be taken to hold negotiations with the employees so that the people are not put to further trouble and warned that there will be no compromise on arrears. The employees from the adjoining offices of the Old Secretariat took out a procession and later assembled in front of the Divisional Commissioner’s Office. They were shouting slogans against the State Government and in support of their demands. The demonstrators among others were addressed by Messrs Sawtantar Bakshi, Ravi Kumar Sharma and Anil Sharma all EJAC office bearers. These leaders took Government to task for its failure in redressing the genuine grievances of the employees including release of arrears of two DA installments in cash, payment of pay commission arrears, transfer of GP Fund to nationalised banks and regularisation of daily wagers. They alleged the backtracting of Government from its commitments has forced the employees to resort to agitation. The EJAC which is the amalgam of six federations is being supported by the 17 independent associations. An EJAC handout issued here today also claimed that total strike was observed throughout the Jammu Province today on Fifth day. It said work in all Government offices at Udhampur, Kathua, Poonch, Doda and Rajouri remained paralysed today also and employees staged dharnas and demonstrations in front of their respective offices. Also the demonstrations were held by employees at all the tehsil headquarters in response to EJAC strike call. The production in all the public sector undertakings has also come to a grinding halt on the third day of its indefinite strike today, the call for which has been given by the Public Sector Employees Joint Action Committee (PSEJAC). The State RTC buses were off the roads and no service plied on State and national routes. Even the RTC Bus service to Hardwar was also affected today. However, the SRTC buses from Srinagar to Jammu and Delhi plied as usual. According to a SRTC spokesman the organisation has approximately suffered a daily loss of Rs five lakh due to strike. The traffic on National Highway at Bari Brahmanah was blocked for two hours as the pubic sector employees staged a massive rally in the main chowk. A handout of PSEJAC claimed that total strike was observed in SRTC, State Forest Corporation, Agro Industries, Tourism Development Corporation, J K Cements, SICOP, SIDCO, JKPCC, Handloom Development Corporation, Wool Board, JK Minerals, JKPCCF, Willow Woolcombing, joinery Mills, Rosin Turpentine Factory and Willow Board. The workers staged demonstrations and held rallies in support of their demands which include release of COLA on restructured basis. The demonstration among others were addressed by Mr Suresh Sharma, chairman PSEJAC. Our Kathua correspondent adds that total strike was observed by the employees in the Kathua district and rural areas. The Medicare services remained affected in the district for the fifth day today with patients deserting the hospitals. The employees also staged a massive demonstrations in the Kathua Chowk in which full solidarity was shown with the EJAC call. Total strike was also observed in Rajouri district and the work in almost all Government offices including hospitals remained paralysed. The employees also staged a demonstration in the town in which it was resolved to take the present strike to its logical end. The work in all Government offices was paralysed in Udhampur as employees of all the departments participated in todays strike. The employees of PHE, Medical, PWD, Revenue, F&S, Education, Treasury, Mechanical Division, VLWs, Patwar Association, PDD and DIC participated in todays strike. Mr Som Nath president PHEEA while addressing the employees rally urged the Government to redress the genuine demands put forth by EJAC immediately. The speakers on the occasion appealed to all tehsil headquarters employees to observe total strike till the demands are conceded. It may be recalled that the EJAC of State Government employees have earlier given a three day strike call from Dec 19 to 21. Further it was extended by more two days on December 21 which has been further intensified by more five days today. However the PSEJAC has given a call for indefinite strike from December 21 which entered into third day today. Militants’ capacity to
fight wiped off, Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR,Dec 23: Contin-uous operations by the Army have rendered militants help-less and their capacity to fight has been totally wiped off. This was stated by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command (GOC-in-C), Lt Gen S Padhmanabhan in an interview after attending a Sainik Sammelan at Badami Bagh in Srinagar today. Mr Padhmanabhan said that as the Army continued to build-up the pressure on the militants,the later were losing teeth gradually. To a question whether the introduction of the foreigners has made the militancy more qualitative, he said that the people were fighting for something they believe in, in their own land then the quality of fight will be better and if they are fighting only for money as is the case of the foreign mercenaries, then it is for everybody to see that how many incidents they have created. The General said that "gossips are doing rounds that thousands of foreigners are flocking the Valley" and asked where they are and what exactly have they done that didn’t happen before". He added that more than fifty percent of the foreigners getting killed today are Pakistanis, The next bigger chunk is from residents of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), he said, adding that very few Afghans were getting killed indicative of the fact that less number of Afghanis enter Valley. Asked Army’s repeated denial of Taliban presence and Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah’s repeated statements regarding their presence in bulk, Gen Padhmanabhan said that " I don’t want to dispute the CM’s statement, but as far as I am concerned, I am yet to come across any Afghan variety of Taliban". Replying to a question regarding security scenario in Jammu division, he said that contrary to the earlier mass killings, the Army with the assistance of the State Police have been able to check these killings. Lauding the role of Village Defence Committees,the GOC said that militants were afraid of going to nearby villages where VDCs were positioned. Earlier while addressing the soldiers and jawans at a Sainik Sammelan, Gen Padhmanabhan urged upon the forces to perform their duties with sincerity, dedication, devotion and discipline. He stressed that soldiers during the course of their duties should have respect for the human rights and their public dealing should be in such a manner that goodwill for them is generated in common masses. Terming unfortunate and shameful the media reports wherein militants invariably seem to escape from security forces under the cover of darkness, the General asserted that once the militants or enemy has been traced, the forces should not leave the battle-ground without eliminating them. Before leaving to take over the charge of the Southern Command on January 4, Gen Padhmanabhan wished all the forces and their families a happy and prosperous new year. Lt Gen H M Khanna will take over as GOC Northern Command. Major fire in
Rajouri, shops gutted Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Dec 23: Two brothers showed exemplary courage and gunned down a militant at village Dalori, near here this afternoon while over a dozen shops in Auquaf market were extensively damaged in a devastating fire. According to official reports, two brothers—Krishan Singh and Kewal Singh sons of Lochan Singh noticed a militant carrying an assault rifles and moving in the village Dalori this afternoon. The duo turned suspicious and asked the militant to stop. However, the reports said, the militant started running from the village and tried to escape. The brother who had a licensed rifle chased the militant and gunned down him after a hot chase for half an hour. One AK-47 rifle, four magazines and 100 rounds were recovered from the possession of slain militant, whose identity hasn’t been established. Body of the militant remained in possession of the brother till security forces and police reached the spot and shifted the body to hospital for post-mortem and identification. Reports said that security forces tried to take credit of the killing but a number of local people gathered on the spot and appreciated the exemplary courage displayed by two brothers in killing the militant. They demanded that brothers be suitably rewarded for bravery. Meanwhile, a devastating fire broke out in Auquaf market this morning causing extensive damage to over a dozen shops and serious injuries to a youth. Reports said the fire broke out in Super Gas Company owned by Sanjay Sharma when his employee Iqbal Ahmed was re-filling the cylinders inside the shop. Iqbal was seriously injured. He sustained multiple burns all over his body and was rushed to the district hospital where his condition was stated to be critical. Soon the fire spread to adjoining shops in Auquaf market. The Regal Furniture House owned by Showkat Ahmed was also completely damaged alongwith the Gas Company. During the fire, two powerful cylinder explosions rocked the shop which further aggravated the fire. The blasts resulted into fire at Sandeep PCO and Verma Electrical Shop. These shops also suffered damage in fire and explosions. However, there was no casualty in the fire as shopkeepers and their employees had managed to flee towards safety. The Fire Brigades reached spot after more than 45 minutes and fought for over three hours to control the sky-rocketing flames. Reports said the total loss in the fire was estimated around several lakhs. Police teams also reached the spot for investigations. A case has been registered in the fire incident. Police said the illegal re-filling of gas cylinder was main reason behind the spread of fire. Meanwhile, youth leader Mr Shafiq Mir has flayed the delayed arrival of Fire Brigades at the spot. He demanded that Fire Brigade station should be shifted to Bus Stand so that it could reach the town immediately in case of an eventuality. RDX, time bombs seized in RS Pura sector Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Border Police today recovered yet another explosives consignment from border village of Avtaal in Suchetgarh area of RS Pura tehsil. This was third consignment seized by the Border Police during last fortnight. SSP Border Police Dr Kamal Saini said a Border Police party launched search operations in Avtaal and surrounding villages last night after getting an information from a recently arrested saboteur and an agent of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The saboteur—Dev Dutt alias Kaka son of Sain Dass, a resident of Ward No. 9 in RS Pura tehsil had recently been arrested by the Border Police. He was a prime accused in RS Pura Bus Stand explosion in which a number of buses had been damaged but there was no casualty. The searching police party also took saboteur with them to identify the site where the explosives consignment had been dumped. After night long search in the area, the police succeeded in recovering the consignment, which had been hidden beneath a field in forward village of Avtaal in Suchetgarh area. The consignment include five kgs RDX, two sophisticated time pencil bombs, one programme time device, one pistol with 10 rounds and two batteries of 9 volts besides some ammunition. With the recovery of this consignment, Border Police had recovered over 20 kgs RDX during the last about one month averting several major tragedies as RDX had to be planted by the militants at railway stations, bus stands and other crowded places. Police sources said Dev Dutt alias Kaka and another recently arrested ISI saboteur disclosed that they had been given explosives consignments by the ISI officers to engineer explosions at crowded areas and cause casualties among civilians. With the arrest of saboteurs and seizure of three consignments, Border Police have foiled ISI designs. However, sources said, there were reports that some more ISI agents were active in the border areas. The possibility of some explosives consignments lying in the possession of saboteurs at large was also not ruled out. Police said further interrogation of Dev Dutt was going on and some more clues about ISI network in the border areas were expected of him. Another ISI agent nabbed recently in RS Pura was also being interrogated. Border Police have intensified patrolling on second line of the iIternational Border to check ISI activities. The Border Security Force (BSF) was also maintaining a high alert along the International Border to check infiltration attempts by the Pakistan-sponsored militants. Pak has no plans to start war in sub-continent: Advani From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Dec 23: The Minister for Home Affairs , Mr LK Advani, has ruled out the possibility of Pakistan starting a war in the sub-continent. There is authentic information about Pakistan having any plan of launching a war, Mr Advani informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Mr Advani stated, during Question Hour while answering a question by Mr OP Kohli, that while it was true that Pakistan had been continuously trying to infiltrate terrorists including foreign mercenaries into Jammu and Kashmir, there was no authentic information about Islamabad having any plan of starting a war in the sub-continent. The Home Minister said that the Government had adopted a multi-pronged approach to tackle infiltration on the border. And the scheme of things included,among other things, strengthening the border management, gearing up intelligence machinery, improved interaction with border population, setting up of outposts of security forces, constituting village defence committees, modernisation and upgradation of police and security forces with advanced and sophisticated weapons and communication systems. In his written reply to a question by Ms Kamla Sinha, Mr Advani said that Pakistan had been resorting to unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate infiltration by terrorists and mercenaries from Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) into J&K. Pakistanis, Mr Advani regretted, also resorted to such firing to coincide with important international events and high level bilateral meetings between India and Pakistan with a view to vitiating the atmosphere of bilateral dialogue and sensationalising the issue. While taking strong exception to Pakistani firing, the Home Minister informed the House that it has been pointed out to Islamabad that unprovoked firing from across the LoC constitutes a violation of the status quo established in the State of Jammu and Kashmir under the Shimla Agreemdent. Mr Advani said that Pakistan had been repeatedly called upon to respect the Shimla Agreement, and to cease forthwith their support to cross-border terrorism and also stop unprovoked firing from across the border. Admitting that the Government had seen media reports that a leading Pakistani Islamic group planned to strike in India by including Himachal Pradesh in its list, Mr Advani told Mr Parameshwar Kumar Agarwala that the Government was aware that ISI of Pakistan "is involved in aiding,abetting and supporting terrorism in various parts of the country". He informed the House that available information indicates that this agency has been supporting and financing various militant organisations. He reiterated that the police and intelligence organisations were under instructions to neutralise Pak ISI modules and activities in all parts of India. Answering a question by Mr Anil Sharma, Mr Advani stated that 38 persons had been killed in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh by J&K militants in August last, and all of them belonged to Chamba sector. The mesasures taken by the Government, he pointed out, included keeping strict vigil over the areas in Chamba district bordering Doda and Kathua districts of Jammu region, gearing up the intelligence machinery, deployment of additional forces at strategic points , and coordinated action by the Himachal Pradesh and J&K Police. In his reply to a question by Mr KM Khan, Mr Advani stated that the number of terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir had decreased as a result of sustained pressure,vigil and concerted actions of security forces and the State administration, enhancing of intelligence capabilities, technological upgradation of the security forces and greater functional integration and coordinated action by security forces to curb infiltration and to counter militancy. "No", was Mr Advani’s reply when he was asked if incidents of explosion had been frequent in Kashmir during visits of VVIPs during the last one year. The Home Minister informed Mr Khagen Das that there are reports of Pakistani ISI providing training and arms to insurgents in India’s North-Eastern region. Mr Advani said that the police and intelligence organisations were under orders to neutralise Pak ISI modules. This apart, a series of steps, he added,had also been taken which include legal measures and diplomatic initiatives to curb and contain terrorist and criminal activities in India. Army Havildar killed,
3 jawans hurt Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Three hardcore militants including two foreign mercenaries, an Army Havildar, a jawan of Special Task Force (STF) and a minor girl were killed in stepped-up incidents of firing in Poonch and Rajouri districts today. Three Army jawans were seriously injured in mortar firing by Pakistani troops on the Line of Control (LoC). Official sources said the STF and CRPF personnel carried out a joint operation at village Galotha in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district in the early hours of this morning after getting a tip off from local people about militants’ presence in the area. An encounter ensued at 0600 hours when militants opened heavy volume of firing on the approaching STF and CRPF personnel, who returned the firing. The exchange of firing between the two sides continued for over two hours in which two militants, who were leading the group, were killed on the spot but their associates managed to give a slip to the searching parties and fled towards upper reaches. An STF jawan, who fought bravely during the encounter, also lost his life. He had been identified as Sarfaraz Ahmed. Identity of the slain militants couldn’t be established immediately. One of them was suspected to be a foreigner. Their bodies were lying at local police station for identification. A CRPF jawan and a five years old girl Sahida Kausar daughter of Arshad Ahmed were injured in the encounter. The girl was caught in the exchange of firing and sustained a gun shot. She was immediately evacuated from the firing site and was shifted to sub district hospital in Mendhar where she succumbed to her injuries. The injured CRPF jawan has been hospitalised. Meanwhile, additional re-enforcement of STF and CRPF personnel assisted by the security forces have rushed to village Galotha to continue the search operation to eliminate the militants, who escaped during the encounter. Sources said the encounter was going on when the reports last came in till late this evening and two more militants had been trapped by the security personnel. Meanwhile, an Army Havildar Janak Raj was killed and three others were seriously injured when Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing and shelling on Indian positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Mandi sector of Poonch last night. An 82 mm mortar fired by Pak troops exploded near troops’ location killing Havildar on the spot and wounding three Army jawans. The injured jawans have been admitted in the Military Hospital Rajouri in critical condition. Indian Army returned the firing and exchange of firing continued throughout the last night. Some casualties were also inflicted on Pakistan side but no details were available. Meanwhile, the BSF personnel gunned down a foreign mercenary during an encounter at Dalore in Danti forests of Kalakote in Rajouri district today. The slain militant was a Pakistani but his identity couldn’t be ascertained. One AK-47 rifle with four magazines and 100 rounds, three grenades and one wireless set was recovered from the possession of militant. Meanwhile, sources said, two militants killed in an encounter with security forces at Kunthal, Gandoh in Doda district on December 21 have been identified as Akhtar Hussain of village Bhargi and Abdul Majid of Gundana. Both were affiliated with Harkat-ul-Ansar outfit and were involved in a series of militant activities in Doda district alongwith their associates. They were being hunted by the security forces and police for quite longtime. Security forces had recovered two AK rifle, one pistol, three magazines, 29 rounds and one hand grenade from the possession of slain militants. Laden has links with J-K outfits: Jaswant Excelsior Special Correspondent NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Afghanistan-based "terror merchant", Osama Bin Laden, has links with terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Minister for External Affairs, Mr Jaswant Singh. Mr Jaswant Singh, in his written reply to a question by Mr Madhavrao Scindia, informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the Government is "aware" of Osama Bin Laden’s links with terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Scindia wanted to know the Government’s steps to ensure that Kashmiri militants did not get funds from foreign agencies. In his reply, the External Affairs Minister said that the Government was closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary steps. Mr Jaswant Singh informed Mr V Dhananjaya Kumar that the Government was also aware of the existence of terrorist training camps and facilities in the Taliban held territories in Afghanistan. The Government, he pointed out, knew that these facilities "are used by Pakistani fundamentalist groups to train and then undertake terrorist activities in J&K". Mr Jaswant Singh said in reply to a question by Mr KL Sharma that while Pakistan had been actively sponsoring terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India, Pakistani agencies had for several years recruited, financed, trained and armed terrorists before infiltrating them into India. Terrorists training camps and facilities have been set up by official Pak agencies in Pakistan, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Taliban held territories in Afghanistan. The External Affairs Minister stated that following the US bombing raids on terrorist camps in Afghanistan in August last there were credible reports of the presence of terrorists belonging to Pakistani extremist groups in these camps. These groups, according to Mr Singh, send their members to Jammu and Kashmir to undertake terrorist activities. On anti-tank missile developed by Pakistan, Mr Jaswant Singh informed Mr Jaysinhji Chauhan that the Government has seen reports in the Pakistani media that an anti-tank guided missile with a night vision capability has been tested by Pakistan in November this year. This has been described by Islamabad as "Bhaktar Shikan" . The Government, he pointed out, closely monitored and continuously assessed all developments with regard to Pakistan’s missile programme. He assured the House that the Government remained fully committed to effectively safeguarding the country’s security in keeping with its assessment of the national security requirements. Mr Mohan Rawale wanted to know if Urdu service of BBC had been reporting Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory for the last few years. Mr Jaswant Singh’s written reply let it be known that BBC has clarified that as per their guidelines, the term "disputed territory" is not used for Kashmir. Mr Singh stated that in view of the clarification given by the BBC, the question of New Delhi taking any step did not arise. Pakistan to set up bomb-proof bunkers along LoC in PoK ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: Pakistan will set up bomb-proof bunkers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to provide shelter to inhabitants of the area in the event of crossborder firing. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Majeed Malik said here today that the Government had decided to construct the bunkers after a large number of villagers along the LoC were forced to leave their houses in the wake of unabated firing and unprovoked shelling by Indian forces in recent times. The minister, while speaking to a Kashmiri delegation from Britain, said the Government after consultations with the Army had already sanctioned a sum of Rs 7.6 million towards building these bunkers. Heavy exchange of shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops along the LoC were witnessed in early July and a large number of people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were reportedly killed. The minister told the Kashmiri delegation that the climate was conducive for making investments in Pakistan and PoK, particularly in hydro-power projects. (PTI) UN plane refused to land in Iraq BAGDAD, Dec 23: Iraq refused to allow a United Nations plane to land at Baghdad airport today to take out the U N Special Representative Prakash Shah, a U N official said. There are no flights between Iraq’s Habbaniyah airport and Bahrain for the time being, the official said. Bahrain is used as a rear base by U N staff working in Iraq. Shah and U N humanitarian programme coordinator Hans Von Sponeck had to leave by road for Amman, the official said. They had remained in Baghdad with a skeleton crew of humanitarian staff during the Thursday-Sunday aerial bombardment of the country by Britain and the United States.(AFP) Two killed, 15 hurt in mishaps Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Two persons were killed and 15 others were injured in two separate accidents today. Reports said one person was killed and 15 others were injured when a bus No. 7863 JK02G met with an accident at village Jathi in Assar area of Doda district this morning. The injured have been hospitalised. A pedestrian Ganpati son of Puran Chand, a resident of Gurha Panditan, Hiranagar was knocked to death by an unidentified vehicle at Ujh river last night. His body was handed over to his family today after post-mortem. |