Outfits re-organised after Kargil war
Suicidal squads sneak into Jammu for violence : IG BSF

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: Dreaded ‘Fidayeen’ groups (Suicidal squads) of hard-core militants have sneaked into the Jammu region and were waiting for appropriate time to resort to high level sabotage activities by attacking security forces camps or soft targets around Jammu city.

This startling revelation was made by Inspector General of Border Security Force-Jammu Frontier, Mr Updesh Chander Chabbra while talking to media-men here today.

"At the behest of Pakistan’s notorious ISI, militants are reportedly spotting youth from border areas and motivating them to join militancy to accomplish their nefarious designs", he said, adding," after Army have taken over in Pakistan, militants out-fits are being re-organised in order to step up the militants activities in Jammu region".

Mr Chabbra said that recently militants have carried out surprise operations against security forces which made security forces to review their strategy. "ISI intends to maintain Rajouri and Poonch belt as logistic region to ultimately push militants into Kishtwar, Doda and Kashmir valley", he disclosed and added that in the recent past militants have carried out operations against security forces and have surprised them at many places.

"Some of their present action like attacking camps of the security forces, carrying out harassing fire simultaneously on many security forces posts, making ‘suicidal squads’, smuggling more explosive materials and sophisticated weapons are indicative of their nefarious designs", IG-BSF said and further disclosed that with the help of ‘Fidayeen’ groups, the ISI intends to increase its activities around Jammu and Jammu City.

Mr Chabbra revealed that militants are planning to resort to suicidal attacks and low key sneak attacks, intensify their activities and indulge in high level sabotage by attacking security forces camps, killing their informers, attack on soft targets, attack on security forces and VIPs. He, however, made it clear that due to effective operations launched by the Border Security Forces, the situation is very much under control.

Mr Chabbra said dreaded foreign militants out-fits namely LeT, HUM, HUJI, TJA and Al-Badr have controlled the entire militants’ operation in Jammu region and they are constructing hide-outs in high reaches of Pir Panjal, where they have a sizable strength. He said that more than 400 militants, including a large number of foreigner mercenaries, have been active in Udhampur and Rajouri districts.

BSF Inspector General further disclosed that after Kargil Operation, Pakistan has been making desperate attempts to intensify militants activities in Jammu and Kashmir State and to revive Sikh militancy in both Jammu and Punjab. "As the entire border of Punjab and Rajasthan has been fenced, ISI has now shifted its activities towards Jammu border for infiltrations.

"ISI has planned to open new area of infiltration particularly from Samba border to accomplish its evil designs", he said and added that interrogations of some militants have established that ISI has established ‘launching pads’ at Lehri Kalan, Bhoi Brahamna, Glahat Tanda, Sukhmal, Lambriayal, Abaibal Dongar areas to infiltrate militants. "Basantar, Ben Nullah, Shap Nullah, Basera Nullah, Fag Nullah, area of Choor Gali and some other areas of Samba border have been used as safe passage by the intruders", he said. According to him, militants were using Tanda, Lovely, Khedhi Naagar and Chilla-Danga areas as their transit camps.

"Intelligence reports revealed that militants after making safe infiltration from Samba border have been using two passage to reach Doda district", he disclosed. He said the militants were using Nai Kali, Majalata and Basangarh to Doda while as another route being used by the militants for sneaking into Doda is through Duddo Basantgarh, Gohu to Marbhat area of Doda".

Confirming the reports that ISI have been using Jammu border to resume Sikh militancy in Punjab, Pakistani agencies have been using Paharpur, Tarna and Bobyal areas of Kathua district to infiltrate Sikh militants. He said that after Army have taken over, ISI has been making desperate attempt to revive Sikh militancy in Punjab and Jammu. He also disclosed that about 500 militants have been waiting across the border to cross over this side.

While candidly admitting that infiltration has not totally stopped, Mr Chabbra said Border Security Force manning about 198 kilometers of Jammu border has made elaborate security arrangements to keep a check on infiltration. "We are taking effective measures to strengthen the border by going in for modern surveillance equipment to promptly detect any attempt on the part of the infiltrators to cross Jammu border",, he said, adding, " gathering of intelligence and vigilance on the border has been geared up so that the nefarious plans of ISI do not materialise".

IG-BSF said that Village Defence Committees have been established in all the 17 villages adjoining routes of the infiltrators and nakas have been intensified. "Beside making coordination between civil administration, local villagers and other security forces, BSF has developed additional troops all along the border to plug the infiltrators’ routes", he said.

Highlighting achievements of the Border Security Forces during the last one year, Mr Chabbra said that during the last one year 33 infiltrators and 88 militants were shot dead while 737 smuggler, saboteurs and other anti-national elements were apprehended. "During the last one year 20 BSF personnel have sacrificed their lives in Jammu region while fighting with militants and curbing trans-border crime. 103 bordermen were injured while countering insurgency", he said and added that during the last one year BSF has recovered 130 sophisticated arms including 83 AK Riffles, 3 UMG, 26 pistols, 373 hand grenades and large quantity of explosive and ammunition.

Satellite phones for militancy infested areas
Paswan announces special package for J&K Telecommunication

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: Union Communication Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan today said that package on the pattern of insurgency plagued Northeasterns states would be given to the employees of the Telecommunication Department of Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to reporters, Mr Paswan, who was here to review the functioning of Department of Communication and Posts at a high level meeting, said that he was aware of the problems of the employees of the Telecommunication Department who are working under many strains in J&K. But added that this will not deter his Ministry to provide efficient telecom service to the people of J&K State.

He said that Department of Telecommunication will in J&K make every possible effort to achieve the targets which it has set for itself and added that Internet facilities will be provided in all the districts headquarters in the near future. He added that Ministry has not yet made plan to provide cellular phone facility but added that the Ministry can give a serious thought to it if private sector will not enter into this field of providing cellular phone facilities.

Mr Paswan said that beside providing telephone on demand from March 31, 2000, telephone connection will reach to every village of the State before March 31, 2002.

Minister added that he has opened a grievance cell under his personal supervision and any type of complaint can be made to this cell. He said that he has given the instructions that the consumers can make complaints to this cell in case their complaints are not attended duly in time by the concerned authorities. He said that main aim of his Ministry was to provide better and efficient services to the customers and added that his Ministry was quarterly reviewing the target fixed by the Ministry. He said that for better coordination between press and the Telecom Department, Chief General Manager, Telecommunication will be meeting press persons on every 2nd of the month.

Referring to the Postal Department, the Union Minister added that forJ&K State Speed Post centres will be set up at Leh, Baramullah and Anantnag so as to provide Speed Post services to the valuable customers. He added that five post offices in J&K will be modernised and multi-purpose counter machines will be installed at 18 more Post Offices in J&K State. He said that his Ministry has taken a decision that there should be a letter box for a population of 300 and Post Office within a radius of 3 kms for the convenience of the people. He said that his Ministry will ensure that Panchayat Telephones are provided in all the Village Panchayat of the country by 2002.

Earlier while reviewing the performance of the Department of Telecommunication, Minister asked the Department to complete the target fixed for the current financial year. He urged the Department to complete all the pending works before the end of the financial year. He directed the authorities to complete all pending works before the end of the financial year. He urged the authorities to complete target of providing telephones in all villages by 2000 and asked the Department to provide Internet facilities in all the district headquarters by January 2000. He said that his Ministry will provide all possible assistance and other equipments to meet the demand of the Telecom authorities in J&K State so as to provide latest facilities to the consumers. He said that 300 Satellite phones will be provided to the J&K Telecom Circle, however, the Minister added that in the first phase 150 INMARSAT (Satellite phones) will be provided to J&K Circle. He asked the Telecom authorities in J&K to ensure that all the exchanges which were closed in the wake of militancy in the State are reopened and manned by adequate staff so as to provide better service to the customers. He said the aim of his Ministry was to connect people in nook and corner of the country with each other through telephones.

Expressing satisfaction over the function of Department of Posts in J&K, Minister said that he will take up the matter of granting status of Government employees to the Extra Departmental Employees of Postal Department with the Union Cabinet.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, Secretary Posts, Mr RUS Parsad, Secretary Department of Telecom Service, Mr P S Saran, Advisor Operations Department of Telcom Services, Mr N R Mokhariwale, BJP MP Vaid Vaishno Dutt were among those present on the occasion.

Earlier, Mr Paswan was given a rousing reception by the employees of Communication and Post Department, Chief General Manager Telecommunication, J&K Circle, Mr Ramesh Lalwani earlier gave a resume about the performance of the J&K Telecom Circle and apprised the Minister about the future development plans of the Telecom Department.

Panel favours interrogation of Ansari, PA, relatives
Govt confirms corruption charges against
Ansari with evidence

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: The State Government today confirmed that Housing and Urban Development Minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari in his capacity as Chairman, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has received kickbacks of Rs 60.25 lakhs from Infrastructure Projects Private Ltd (IPPL), a firm involved in cheating JDA.

An official statement, circulated to press tonight quoting RV Raju Commission report, said a number of sensitive documents seized from the offices of IPPL and M/s Alchemy Enterprises necessitate the questioning of Mr Ansari and his close relatives besides Private Secretary of the Minister. The statement drops enough hints that some arrests were round the corner in the scam.

The spokesman said custodial interrogation statement of Jayant Bhutta, a Director of IPPL, recorded under 27 Evidence Act, clearly stated that Bhutta paid Rs 60.25 lakhs to Mr Ansari through the business concern of his family members and brothers known as M/S Classic Inn, Delhi as demanded by him (Mr Ansari) through cheques issued from the account of his proprietorship concern M/S Alchemy Enterprises Delhi.

Scrutiny of connected bank documents revealed that Rs 49.25 lakhs had been paid by cheques in the name of M/S Classic Inn, Delhi while the remaining amount of Rs 11 lakhs was paid to Mr Ansari in cash by Jayant Bhutta.

Infact, these cheques were paid in favour of M/S Classic Inn, which is a partnership firm of Ansari and his relatives. Their names are Imran Raza and Irfan Raza sons of Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Sakeena Hussain wife of Syeed Arshad Hussain, Qumail Ansari son of Abid Hussain Ansari, Ms Nazia daughter of Abid Hussain Ansari, Ms Zehra daughter of Amjad Abbas Ansari and Mohd alias Ali son of Mohd Amjad Abbas Ansari.

M/S Classic Inn had an account in the Oriental Bank of Commerce, Mahipalpur, New Delhi. The spokesman said investigations disclosed that proceeds of the cheques for Rs 49.25 lakhs issued by Jayant Bhutta were credited into this account. Further, the account of M/S Classic Inn was opened in Oriental Bank on 17.2.1998 and the first cheque issued by Jayant Bhutta favouring Ansari’s firm is dated 23.2.1998. This is a strong piece of circumstantial evidence to show that this account was opened to receive the kickbacks, the spokesman said.

He said M/S Classic Inn, in order to create some confusion, made a record that they have returned more than Rs two lakh to M/S Alchemy Enterprises from January 1999 to July 1999 after registration of the case against IPPL and others. This was, however, done after the investigations had established the fraud.

The spokesman said the Raju Commission report has also indicted the officials of Jammu and Kashmir Bank. The fact that so-called bank guarantee, for a loan not received by the JDA Jammu, was issued in the form of almost a bearer cheque by the J&K Bank, also necessitates the questioning of concerned Bank officials, who may be a party to the fraud. Similarly, the inquiry committee also called for questioning of senior officers/Board members of JDA regarding certain aspects which made JDA reach an agreement to issue such guarantee.

Giving details of the scam, the investigation report said a case was registered under No. 175/98 in Police Station Trikuta Nagar on a complaint of Vice Chairman JDA in which it was alleged that a letter dated 2.6.1998 has been forged in the name of Vice Chairman which has serious consequences. As this was a case of serious nature, it was transferred to the Crime Branch.

Investigation conducted by the Crime Branch revealed that during March 1997, a firm M/s Infrastructure Projects Pvt Ltd (IPPL), New Delhi was holding discussions with the JDA for advancing the latter a loan of Rs 150 crores in three equal instalments for development of a Satellite Town Project at Sidhra, Jammu. Jayant Bhutta, ML Kalra and N Trehan were representing the said private firm. Later, sometime in July, even before the JDA entered into a formal understanding with the private firm, J&K Bank issued a so-called bank guarantee of Rs 4.75 crores favouring M/s IPPL, ostensibly to cover the annual interest on the first instalment of Rs 50 crores of the above loan. As mentioned, no formal agreement had been entered into at this stage by the JDA with M/s IPPL and no advance had been paid by M/s IPPL to the JDA. Therefore, there was no case for giving any interest or guarantee for that interest.

Investigations till date have revealed that this was decided in a meeting between the Chairman of the JDA (Minister of Housing and Urban Development Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari), Jayant Bhutta, Director M/s IPPL and the Chairman J&K Bank on 18.7.1997. The so-called bank guarantee was issued on 23.7.1997. The format of the so called bank guarantee was provided by Jayant Bhutta. The Vice Chairman of the JDA was also present at this meeting. The matter was put up before the Board of Directors of JDA a month later as per proceedings.

Investigation revealed that this so-called bank guarantee was misused by Jayant Bhutta in the following manner:

Jayant Bhutta floated a company titled M/s Alchemy Enterprises of which he claimed he was the proprietor. Certain sale documents were then fabricated which would show that M/s Alchemy Enterprises had sold to M/s IPPL project related material like torque steel bars, steel pipes and cement running to over six hundred truck loads and costing Rs 4.75 crores, the amount of the so-called bank guarantee. Another document was fabricated by Bhutta which would show that they were supplying materials required by M/s IPPL for their infrastructure project considered to have been given to them by the JDA, which as per investigation was absolutely false.

The sale documents were then discounted by the principals of M/s IPPL, M/s Klen & Marshalls, who had an account with M/s ICICI at Chennai. More than Rs 30 lacs was charged by M/s ICICI towards discounting charges and about Rs 70 lacs was deducted by M/s Klen and Marshalls as their handling charges. The remaining Rs 3.72 crores was to be sent to M/s IPPL. However, as per investigation M/s IPPL have received only Rs 2.29 crores.

Investigations further revealed that M/s Alchemy Enterprises is only a paper firm with no assets. The documents had shown that they had supplied project related material to M/s IPPL and that these materials had been transported to Jammu in their own trucks. However, no project material has ever come to Jammu from M/s Alchemy Enterprises in the name of M/s IPPL, as per records of the sales tax office Lakhanpur. The above documents were discounted with M/s ICICI, Chennai and proceeds drawn sometime towards the end of 1997.

In the meanwhile a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been entered into by the JDA and M/s IPPL in November 1997. As per the terms M/s IPPL was to advance Rs 50 crores during the Ist year against a bank guarantee of J&K Bank to the tune of Rs 57 crores, confirmed by a prime bank. The J&K Bank issued the bank guarantee on 18.1.1998. However, it could not be reconfirmed by any prime bank. It had been desired to verify the antecedents of M/s IPPL. This was to be done by the J&K Bank.

During verification, it was found that M/s IPPL was registered as a company only in May 1997 with a capital of only Rs 5 lacs. There are indications that this verification report was suppressed in J&K Bank for a period of one and half months. Investigations into this aspect are still going on. The prime bank which was contacted for getting counter guarantee insisted on knowing the credit worthiness of M/s IPPL and M/s Klen & Marshalls. However, this was not provided by M/s IPPL.

Army jawan killed, another injured in Doda
RR, 5 Jat kill 5 LET, HM activists in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: Troops of 4 Sector Rashtriya Rifles gunned down two more top militants of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and wounded two others but suffered a casualty during a massive search operation in Chharot area of Doda district. A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene of encounter.

Meanwhile, 5 Jat battalion, deployed north of Bharat ridge, six kms south of Keshwan gunned down three militants at Ingwan Gali late last night. Two militants were killed on the spot while the third one succumbed to his injuries after being critically wounded in the encounter.

Two militants killed in the encounter have been identified as Abu Vakas, an electronic engineer from PoK and Ghulam Mustafa of Bawalpur. Identity of the third slain ultra couldn’t be established. All of them were activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba group.

Meanwhile, a Defence spokesman identified the two militants killed in Chharot encounter as Shaukat Ali alias Gulshan, a section commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit for Gundana area and Abdul Qayoom alias AQ, a front ranking activist of the outfit.

The spokesman said troops of 4 Sector Rashtriya Rifles launched a massive search and cordon operation in Chharot area after getting an information from the local people about the presence of a group of Hizbul Mujahideen activists in the area.

Troops spotted the movement of militants this morning in Morcha Dhar area after conducting night long searches in the area. Militants started firing on the approaching army personnel from a forest area. Army jawans returned the firing.

After a fierce encounter, militants fled from Morcha Dhar area and took shelter in adjoining Banshal. Troops followed the militants, who had taken shelter behind big boulders. Again militant escaped towards Udianpur village where they were followed by the columns led by Major R Gurung.

The encounter came to an end late this afternoon when troops gunned down two militants and injured two others, the spokesman said, adding an army jawan also sacrificed his life during the encounter while another was seriously injured.

Bodies of both the slain militants were recovered from the encounter site and were identified by the local people. Two militants, who were injured in the encounter, managed to escape but were being chased by the determined troops and were likely to be eliminated. The injured army jawan has been hospitalised while body of the deceased jawan, whose identity wasn’t known, was shifted to a local hospital.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the possession of slain militants. Exact details of the recovery were being worked out by the troops.

The spokesman said the slain militants Shaukat Ali alias Gulshan and Abdul Qayoom alias AQ, both locals, were involved in a series of subversive activities in Bharat area of Doda district. They were wanted in a number of killings, kidnappings, extortions and other such activities across Bharat area. Local people have heaved a sigh of relief with the killings of two top militants by the army personnel.

It may be reported that only the other day, army troops had shot dead three hardcore militants of the same outfit in Gundana area of Banihal tehsil in Doda district.

7 arrested in Arnia
4 intruders shot dead in Ramgarh sector

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead four intruders, reportedly Bangladeshis, at forward area of Majra on Nanga post in Ramgarh sector late last night. Seven other Bangladeshis were arrested from another forward area in Arnia.

Official sources said the security personnel, on duty in the forward post of Nanga, noticed the movement of eight infiltrators trying to cross the International Border and enter into Indian territory. They said BSF jawans challenged the intruders when they came within this side of the border and asked them to surrender.

The unarmed intruders, however, tried to escape back into Pakistan ignoring the warnings of BSF jawans. The securitymen opened firing killing four infiltrators on the spot while four others fled back to Pakistan.

In the morning, security forces recovered the dead bodies of slain intruders and handed them over to police. No incriminating document or weapons could be recovered from the possession of infiltrators. Police sources said all slain persons appeared to be Bangladeshis, who generally cross the border in search of livelihood. All the killed youths were in the age group of 20-25, the sources said.

They said seven other Bangladeshis were taken into custody by the BSF jawans when they crossed the International Border from Chenas area in Arnia sub sector and entered into this side. After preliminary questioning, they were handed over to local police.

BSF sources said there were reports that militants were being trained in Lehrikala village of Pakistan and being pushed into this side from forward camp of Sarkoti.

Rocket fired on migrants’ camp

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: Close on the heels of an explosion near Food and Supplies office, Pakistani troops today fired a Chinese solar timer rocket in Pargwal island of Akhnoor tehsil.

The rocket exploded at Gujjar Peer, about 500 meters east of Rampur migrant camp and about five kms west of Akhnoor township. The rocket exploded harmlessly.

Official sources said migrant camp was said to be the target of Pakistani troops but they missed the intended target.

Yesterday morning, a bomb blast had occurred outside the Food and Supplies office in Pargwal but failed to cause any casualty or damage.

Probe ordered into Exchange Road incident

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: Jammu Police today wrote to Security wing for taking stern action against body-guards and other cops, who had beaten-up shopkeepers at Exchange road on Thursday at the behest of Mirza Safdar Ali, son of Minister of State for Revenue Mr Safdar Ali Beg and Minister’s Private Secretary, Mr Hamdani.

A Departmental inquiry has been initiated against the body-guards and police and CRPF jawans of the Minister, who misused their official position and resorted to beating of shopkeepers at the instance of heavily drunk son and Private Secretary of the Minister.

A police spokesman said since the shopkeepers were reluctant to lodge a formal complaint with the police, the son and Private Secretary of the Minister couldn’t be arrested so far. However, as soon as the complaint was received both will be put behind the bars for creating nuisance at public place under the influence of liquor.

Meanwhile, police said, a kidnapped girl, Veena Devi of Paloura has been rescued from Vijaypur. The kidnapper, Harbans Lal of Raipur, has been arrested. The girl was restored to her family.

2 civilians killed, 6 injured

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 4: Two civilians have got killed and six others, including three CRPF personnel, injured in different militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening.

Reports available from Kupwara said that police recovered the dead body of a civilian, namely Abdul Khaliq son of Abdul Gaffar resident of Krempora, Kakroosa, who had earlier been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on November 11 last.

Today’s reports from Kupwara said that the civilian, Ali Asgar son of Mohammad Miskeen of Wokbal Gushi, who died of severe torture had been arrested by troops of Rashtriya Rifles 24 Bn and not by militants as reported in this newspaper. According to these reports 65-year-old Ali Asgar as also 60-year-old Fazal-ud-Din Khatana son of Raj Mohammad had been picked up by troops and interrogated with the allegation that they were harbourers of militants. Later Ali Asgar succumbed to torture and Fazal-ud-Din was rushed to a Srinagar hospital with critical injuries.

However, an official bulletin claimed that the two civilians had been mercilessly beaten by militants when they refused to provide them food. "Both the persons were seriously injured and were shifted to hospital but on way Ali Asgar son of Miskeen succumbed to his injuries," said the bulletin.

When asked for his comments, DC Kupwara Mohammad Yasin Shah this evening said that he had absolutely no knowledge of the incident as police had not passed on any such information to him till late tonight.

Informed sources said that during last night, militants attacked the Behrampora camp of RR 28 Bn in Sopore-Rafiabad belt in which two soldiers got killed. However, officials said that no such incident had taken place.

Here in the capital city, militants hurled a hand grenade on a vehicle of CRPF 71 Bn at 1140 hours today. It exploded causing injuries to three civilians and an equal number of paramilitary personnel. Two of the three wounded civilians, who were rushed to hospital, were identified as Parvez Ahmed Parray of Shergarhi and Javed Ahmed Sheikh of Rajbagh. Minor damage was caused to a Gypsy and another vehicle of CRPF.

Meanwhile, an official handout said that SOG Srinagar apprehended Nisar Ahmed Rawa of Sidiq Abad Sopore who was described as Hizbul Mujahideen’s "financial commander". It added that SOG also raided a militant hideout at Padshahi Bagh and recovered one Universal Machine Gun.

Picnic bus rolls down
3 killed, 25 injured in Mendhar bus mishap

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Dec 4: Three persons including a students were killed and 25 others were injured, 13 of them seriously, when a bus carrying an excursion party of a private school and some civilians, rolled down into a nullah near Dargaloon in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district this evening.

The driver was among the fatalities.

Official sources said a bus No. 6947 JKU on way back to Mendhar after picnic of Shella Ziarat and Chote Shah skidded off the road at a curve and rolled down about 200 feet deep into a nullah. The bus was carrying students of National Academy, Dargaloon and some civilians.

Three persons were killed on the spot and 25 others seriously injured. Local people, assisted by army and police, launched a search operation and shifted the victims to Mendhar hospital from where 13 seriously injured persons were referred to district hospital of Rajouri.

The deceased have been identified as Rafia Khatoon daughter of Shamim Akhter, Nafisul Rehman son of Vakil Khan, an eighth class student of National Academy and bus driver Kaka of Mankote. Their bodies have been shifted to Mendhar hospital and will be handed over to their families tomorrow morning.

The injured admitted in the district hospital here include Wasif, Jafar Iqbal, Tariq Aziz, Saidullah Khan, Nafisa Akhter and Nazia, all students of National Academy, Mohd Ishfaq, a head constable, Mohd Ayub of Dargaloon, Shamim Akhter of Sanjot, Diljan of Sanjot, Mohd Sadiq of Manjakote, Parveen Akhter of Balakote, Mohd Rafiq and Mohd Akram of Ari. Their condition was serious but they were responding to treatment, the sources said.

Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Mr B A Runyal and SSP Rajouri, Mr Parminder Singh visited the district hospital and met the injured. However, power supply in the hospital went off when doctors were treating the patients. The power supply was restored after 15 minutes.

Girl recovered, kidnapper escapes

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: Mystery shrouded the disappearance of a kidnapped, Abdul Qayoom of Bari Barahamana while a young girl, kidnapped by him, has been recovered.

Sources said instead of deputing a police party to recover the kidnapped girl, the Bari Barahamana police asked girl’s family to themselves trace the girl.

When both boy and girl were being brought to Jammu, the boy boarded off train at Lakhanpur and managed to escape. Sources said it was due to failure of Bari Barahamana police that kidnapper managed to escape.

Bomb defused in Ramban

Excelsior Correspondent

RAMBAN, Dec 4: Police today detected and defused a powerful bomb, planted near Sericulture complex near Bus Stand and averted a major tragedy.

Two explosions had occurred at the same spot on Wednesday afternoon wounding a woman and caused damage to rehris.

Police said during stepped-up search operations, police this afternoon detected another bomb planted near the same spot. Police and 20 RR officers rushed to the spot alongwith a Bomb Disposal Squad and defused the bomb without any damage.

Security has been further stepped-up in the town to check the nefarious activities of militants.

BJP Mandal president, Mr Om Parkash and Minority Cell chief Mr Abdul Aziz Katoch have condemned blasts in Ramban and demanded deployment of more forces.

 

 

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