SVO's recommendations against officers
Govt sets up high level committee for action

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 27: The Government has set up a high level Committee to act against Government officers/officials against whom action has been recommended by the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) after holding inquiry.

The Committee is headed by Chief Secretary C Phunsog and comprised Principal Secretary General Administration Department (GAD) Khurshid Ganai and Vigilance Commissioner Dr Ashok Bhan.

Official sources told the Excelsior that the Committee has been asked to hold periodical meetings and examine the cases of officers against whom action is recommended by the SVO.

The high level Government panel will be empowered to take action against the officers/officials on the basis of Vigilance Commissioner’s report while in case of senior officers, the Committee will report to the Government to take action, sources said.

Setting up of the Committee, according to sources, was necessitated as for last about one year, the Vigilance Organisation has decided not to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) in all cases of corruption and misappropriation of funds by the Government officers/officials to reduce burden of investigations and subsequent challan.

The SVO has been holding time bound inquiries against the officers/officials of different Departments on the basis of complaints and, if found guilty, the Vigilance Commissioner has been writing to the Government to initiate action against the accused.

New strategy has proved very successful, sources said, adding the Government had immediately acted and quashed a selection list of nearly 43 appointments in Women Development Corporation, about 60 liquor licenses and taken action against several officers including Poonch relief fire accused. Similarly, action has also been taken against several other officers/officials on the basis of SVO report.

However, according to sources, due to busy schedule of some top brass of the Government, empowered to take action on the Vigilance Commissioner’s reports recommending action against officers after holding random checks or discreet inquiries, the Government decided to set up the Committee with powers to take action on the SVO report upto officers of some ranks. For senior officers, they will recommend action which will be taken by the Government.

This will lead to speedy disposal of the SVO recommendations, sources said.

Presently, the Vigilance Commissioner’s recommendations for action against more than a dozen Government officers are pending. The officers belonged to Transport, Excise, Social Welfare and Housing and Urban Development Departments etc.

It may be recalled that the Vigilance Organisation, in a major step to curb corruption, had taken an important decision not to lodge FIR, unless absolutely necessary, in corruption and misappropriation of funds cases against the Government officers. Registration of FIR not only puts extra burden on the SVO Investigating Officers (IOs) but also required a lot of time to collect evidence for judicial determination and in the process, many officers get retired.

"This, however, doesn’t mean that we are shying away from registration of FIRs. Wherever necessary, FIRs will be registered against the accused officers", sources said.

Two Kulhand massacre main accused shot dead
*One of slain ultra is cop's son

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 27: In a major success, Doda police and Army today gunned down two main accused on April 30 night Kulhand massacre in which 19 civilians of minority community were mowed down by the ultras, in an encounter at Udhianpur in Doda district.

Mohd Ashraf Ganai, who had escaped from several encounters in Doda after Kulhand carnage, was finally eliminated by troops of 8 Rashtriya Rifles, Doda police and Special Striking Reserve (SSR) at village Kora in Udhianpur area of Doda district at 4 pm, SSP Doda Manohar Singh said.

Ganai son of Abdul Rahman Ganai, a resident of Daliyog Udhianpur, was killed along with his associate Mohd Yunus R/o Kotal Sajan, Doda after a fierce two hour long gun-battle, he said.

Mohd Yunus was son of a police head constable Ghulam Hussain, posted at Gool in CID wing.

DIG Udhampur-Doda range Lalat Indu Mohanty supervised the operation.

Official sources said Army and Doda police along with SSR launched a search operation at Kora after developing a specific information that Khurshid Mohd Ashraf Ganai, an ‘A’ category militant carrying a reward of Rs one lakh on his head, who was a prime accused in Kulhand killings, had taken shelter in an abandoned dhok at Kora.

The hide-out was surrounded by troops and police this afternoon and Ganai was asked to surrender along with his associate. However, both of them opened heavy firing from their hide-out which was replied by the security personnel. In heavy exchange of firing, both the militants were gunned down.

Army or police didn’t suffer any casualties in the operation.

Recoveries made from the possession of Mohd Ashraf Ganai and Mohd Yunus include two AK rifles, six magazines, 38 AK rounds, six grenades, two UBGL grenades, a large quantity of incriminating documents and some eatables.

Besides Kulhand massacre, Ganai was also involved in a series of killings at Bharat, Bhagwa and Gundana areas, where he was operating for last seven to eight years, sources said. Presently, he was operating as a ‘district commander’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.

It may be recalled that on April 30 night, a group of five LeT militants had struck at Kulhand in Doda district and gunned down 19 members of minority community.

The case was challaned in the court of law few days back with the arrest of one accused, Khurshid Ahmed. Mohd Ashraf Ganai and Mohd Yunus were among four more accused named in the challan. With the killing of Ganai and Yunus, two accused are still wanted in the massacre case. Both of them, according to sources, were Pakistanis.

After the massacre, Ganai was trapped at least in three encounters with security forces and police but he had managed to escape all the times.

In another search operation, police today apprehended two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) from Dhaggal Halal in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district. They have been identified as Mohd Aslam and Mohd Latif, both brothers and sons of Abdul Rehman R/o Dhaggal Halal.

Mob bid to torch Marwah PS
Civilian killed, 12 others injured in firing, stoning

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 27: A civilian was killed and over a dozen others including two Special Police Officers (SPOs) were injured as police opened firing on a violent mob of villagers which repeatedly tried to set Marwah police station on fire in protest against alleged custodial killing of a civilian at village Darerna in Marwah area of Doda district today. Police, however, said that the civilian was not killed in custody as he had already escaped police custody three days back after his arrest.

DIG Udhampur-Doda range Lalat Indu Mohanty, who was monitoring tense situation in Marwah, said over 500 villagers attacked Marwah police station at 12 noon soon after the recovery of dead body Mohd Ramzan Sheikh, a resident of Darerna from a forest area in Darerna.

While people described Sheikh as a civilian, police said he was an Over Ground Worker of the militants and was arrested three days back following questioning of three militants, who had surrendered at Marwah few days back, that a Light Machine Gun (LMG) was lying with him.

When Sheikh was being shifted to police station after his arrest, he escaped police custody, Mr Mohanty said, adding there were reports that he was killed by the militants in forest area to ensure that he didn’t reveal facts to police.

Initially, the mob was persuaded by Army personnel and they retrieved.

However, at 3.30 pm, the mob re-grouped and again attacked Marwah police station. They made repeated attempts to set police station on fire. As they didn’t relent, police opened firing on the mob in which one civilian was killed and 10 others were injured. Two of them had bullet injuries. Two SPOs were also injured in stone pelting by the mob.

Troops provided protection to Marwah police station. Though people retrieved after firing, situation in the area remained tense. Authorities have directed security forces and police to move to Marwah from nearby locations. SSP Doda Manohar Singh and Deputy Commissioner Doda Pawan Kotwal are also flying to Marwah tomorrow.

Authorities have also made arrangements to airlift two civilians, who sustained bullet injuries in police firing tomorrow morning.

Situation was stated to be ‘very tense’ in Marwah, sources said.

A civilian, who was killed in police firing today, has been identified as Mohd Hussain son of Abdul Aziz, a resident of Darerna. Two injured with bullet injuries include Ghulam Ahmed son of Abdul Aijaz R/o Chanyal and Mohd Abbas son of Ghulam Nabi R/o Kadarna. Two other injured civilians were Ghulam Ali son of Subhan Mattoo R/o Rainai and Abdul Rashid son of Mohd Abdul R/o Navapachi. Two SPOs with serious injuries were identified as Showkat Hussain and Mohd Sultan.

All injured have been admitted in local hospital.

Minister, Cong MLA clash over Education transfers

By Dinesh Manhotra

JAMMU, Dec 27: A piquant situation today emerged in Civil Secretariat when Minister of Education, Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed and Congress MLA from Akhnoor, Sham Lal Sharma clashed over transfers and postings of Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and Principals in the Education Department.

As both the leaders were engaged in loud verbal duel, large number of employees of Civil Secretariat thronged the chamber of Education Minister. Before the situation could take an ugly turn, some senior Congress leaders, who were present in the office chamber of the Minister, pacified both the leaders and saved the situation from further worsening.

Sources said that Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed had called meeting of senior officers of his department to execute transfers and promotions of Principals and ZEOs.

Getting information about the on-going exercise of appointing Principals and ZEOs, MLA Akhnoor, who was also in the Civil Secretariat, went to the chamber of the Education Minister to inquire about new postings in Akhnoor and Khour constituencies.

The MLA got infuriated when he was informed that no officer has been posted as ZEO and Principal in both the constituencies.

The MLA loudly charged the Minister with deliberately neglecting both the constituencies while his allegation was strongly countered by Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed. The Minister objected to the way the MLA was inquiring about postings in his constituency and the ‘tone’ in which he was asking.

Talking to the EXCELSIOR, Sham Lal Sharma said that posts of ZEO Akhnoor and Principals of two schools namely Higher Secondary School Khour and Higher Secondary Takhar have been laying vacant since long. Furthermore one High School at Ra Seoet and 18 middle schools of Akhnoor constituency are headless since long but authorities seemed to be non-serious, he alleged.

The MLA further said that education has been badly suffering due to casual approach of the higher-ups regarding filling up these posts. Mr Sharma said that the Minister did not respond properly when asked about fillings of these posts. "As an elected representative of Akhnoor I have every right to know,’’ he said and strongly refuted the allegations that he ‘misbehaved’ with Minister.

Meanwhile, Education Minister, who is also chief of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) said that 40 posts of principals were lying vacant in different schools. "Today we have executed promotions of 79 Principals and with these promotions all vacant posts will be filled up’’, he said.

Strongly opposing allegation of the MLA, the Minister said that there was a procedure for every system. "We can not fill vacant posts with one stroke of pen. There should be available staff for filling these posts’’, he observed. The Minister said that the way Mr Sharma inquired was absolutely wrong. He inquired in uncivilized manner, Peerzada said

Pathribal killings
HC to hear Army officers' petition tomorrow

SRINAGAR, Dec 27: The State High Court today deferred till Friday the hearing of a review petition filed by five Army officers chargesheeted by the CBI for allegedly killing five civilians in a fake encounter at Pathribal after the Chittisinghpora massacre.

Justice J P Singh put off the hearing after the CBI counsel pleaded that since the review petition filed by the Army was listed for hearing on December 29, the instant petition of the accused should also be heard on the same day.

The Judge also extended the stay on the proceedings of the case before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar till the next date of hearing.

The CBI filed a chargesheet on May 11 before Chief Judicial Magistrate M Y Akhoon against Brig Ajay Saxena, Lt Col Brahendra Pratap Singh, Major Saurabh Sharma, Major Amit Saxena and JCO Idrees Khan for allegedly killing five civilians in a fake encounter at Pathribal after the Chittisinghpora massacre of 35 Sikhs in March 2000.

The Army counsel had contested the CBI chargesheet saying it was not maintainable in the court of law without prior sanction for prosecution of the accused officers from the Centre.

However, the court on August 24, set aside the objections raised by them, observing that the issue of seeking sanction can be decided during the course of the trial or even at its conclusion.

The order was challenged by the Army and the defence counsel in the Sessions Court, which upheld the lower court order.

In his application to the High Court, the defence counsel maintained that the accused were operating in their area of jurisdiction and any action taken by them was in the line of duty.

He also pleaded that prior sanction from the Centre for prosecution was necessary for trying the accused officers as provided under section seven of the Army Act.

The Army has also sought prior sanction from the Centre for exercising the option of court martial against the accused.

Army personnel killed five civilians few days after the Chittisinghpora massacre in March 2000 and claimed that they were foreign militants responsible for the cold blooded murder of the Sikhs.

A public outcry forced the Government to order a probe into the killings. The bodies of the youths were exhumed and it was established through DNA tests that they were local civilians who had no links with militancy and had been killed in a stage-managed encounter.

The case was later handed over to CBI which filed a chargesheet against the five Army officers holding them responsible for killing the civilians in a fake encounter. (PTI)

Saddam hanging may not require President approval

BAGHDAD, Dec 27: President Jalal Talabani might not be required to approve an appeals court decision upholding Saddam Hussein’s death sentence, but he is waiting for the court ruling on whether his ratification is needed, a Presidential spokesman said today.

"Some people believe there is no need for his approval," said Hiwa Osman, Talabani’s Media Adviser. "We still have to hear from the court as to how the procedure can be carried out."

Earlier, Osman had said the President’s approval was not required and that the court’s decision was final.

If Talabani’s approval is not required, Saddam would lose his last legal means of avoiding execution.

Iraqi officials had said prior to the appeals court ruling yesterday that any decision to impose the death penalty must be ratified by Talabani and Iraq’s two Vice Presidents.

But lawyers were debating whether an Iraqi high tribunal provision mandating imposition of the death penalty could take precedence over a law in the constitution that requires the President to approve death sentences.

Osman said the presidency respected the ruling of the appeals court, which yesterday rejected Saddam’s appeal and said the former dictator must be hanged within 30 days for ordering the killing of scores of Shiite Muslims in 1982. (AP)

Golf course comes up at Sanasar
Govt clears Rs 60-cr Gondola project for Patnitop

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Dec 27: To attract more tourists at Patnitop, the State Government has cleared Gondola Project for this picturesque picnic spot of Jammu region.

The work on this Rs 60 crore prestigious project, which was cleared few days back due to the keen interest of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, will start shortly and will be completed within two years. The project includes ancillary facilities too.

Disclosing this to the EXCELSIOR, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) Kamal Kant Gupta said that the project has been cleared by the Government on the basis of Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) policy.

He informed that renowned construction company of the country—M/s Naga Arjun Construction Company Limited has been awarded the project and the directions have been issued to complete the Gondola Project within a period of two years as Chief Minister wanted the same to come up as early as possible.

Mr Gupta said that after completion of the project the company will operate the Gondola for about 35 years and then transfer the same to Patnitop Development Authority (PDA). "In the meantime, the company will pay 3.25 per cent of the total revenue to be generated by operating Gondola every year to the PDA under revenue-sharing pact", said the CEO of PDA, which is responsible for the development of this and Sanasar picturesque tourist resorts.

Giving more details about the project, he said that Gondola which will have a length of four kilometres will connect Kud with village Sangote and then Patnitop. It will form a triangle and help the tourists to view most beautiful scenic spots, he added.

The CEO of PDA said that apart from Gondola several other facilities like amusement parks, children club and telescopes are also being made available within two to three months. The telescopes will be placed at such a places from where the tourists can view heart touching distant scenic beauties, he added.

The Government has desired that all modern facilities should be made available at Patnitop so that more and more Valley-bound tourists can be contained for maximum period at this tourist resort, he further said.

He disclosed that a golf course at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore has recently been laid at Sanasar and the same will be thrown open for golfers in the next summer season.

The entire meadow has been fenced and alternate routes provided to the villages of Sanasar by involving local Panchayat. Moreover, the people, who were affected due to golf course, have also been rehabilitated.

As large number of golfers would prefer to play this royal game at Sanasar during summer when temperature at this tourist resort is pleasent as compared to other parts of Jammu region, the PDA has also widened the bus stand which has now parking place for over 100 vehicles at a time.

State Cabinet meets today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 27: The State Cabinet is meeting here at 9.30 am tomorrow under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

No specific agenda has been fixed for the meeting, authoritative sources said.

However, Roshni Act and budget session of the Legislature, beginning on January 8, are expected to come up for a discussion in the meeting, sources said.

2 injured in IED blast in Baramulla

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 27: Militants today caused an IED blast near Degree College in Baramulla even as Chairman of Municipal Committee Dooru sustained injuries in a misfire.

Informed sources said that militants caused an IED blast on Srinagar-Baramulla highway near Degree College of Baramulla. However, it failed to hit any target. Officials said that a tractor driver, Mushtaq Ahmed Ganai, lost control and his vehicle rammed into a tree. He sustained injuries with another civilian.

Sources said that Chairman of Municipal Committee Dooru, Abdul Gani Rather, sustained a gunshot injury due to a misfire from his PSO's rifle during the pre-Eid market checking in Dooru, in Anantnag district.

Meanwhile, several localities in Pulwama-Shopian belt observed a shutdown in protest against the killing of a Tata Sumo driver of Batpora, Shopian, who had died in a militant strike at Aglar Littar in Wachi area last evening. As already reported, the civilian driver Mukhtar Ahmed Sheikh S/o Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh R/o Shah Hamadan Colony, Batpora Shopian, had died alongwith a soldier of RR 55 Bn near Rakh-e-Littar in Wachi area of Pulwama district when militants had ambushed the Tata Sumo carrying troops last evening. Two soldiers and another civilian had sustained injuries.

Today's reports said that people in Shopian enforced a shutdown in protest against "forcible hiring" of Sheikh's Tata Sumo by security forces. They alleged that troops were directly responsible for the death of Sheikh who was the only support to his father, a poor tailor. A large number of Tata Sumo taxis, holding black mourning flags, converged on the south Kashmir township to register the protest of transporters.

Residents at Aglar and Littar alleged that troops picked up about 20 youngsters after yesterday's militant attack on them and forced them all to severe physical and mental torture. They alleged that over a dozen civilians were left injured in third degree torture by troops of RR 55 Bn. Officials, however, maintained that security forces had conducted a routine search operation. They claimed that nobody was injured in the "interrogation process".

Down convoy on NH today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 27: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which was closed for vehicular traffic yesterday afternoon following massive shooting of stones at Panthal, reopened this morning.

Deputy Inspector General of Traffic Police Mohd Amin Shah told the EXCELSIOR that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel pressed its men and machinery into service this morning and cleared accumulated stones and debris at around 11 am.

"After the reopening of highway, stranded vehicles from both sides were allowed to cross the highly vulnerable 300 metre stretch at Panthal and by this evening all the stranded vehicles were cleared", he said.

Later, fresh vehicular traffic from Jammu towards Srinagar was also allowed and about 300 vehicles crossed Panthal when the movement of vehicles was stopped as per the already taken decision that vehicles would not be allowed to ply in night hours.

According to the DIG Traffic, down convoy—from Srinagar to Jammu will be allowed tomorrow.

Air Marshal calls on Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 27: Commander-in-Chief Western Air Command, Air Marshal A. K. Singh called on Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here today.

Chief Minister appreciated the role of Air Force for operationalizing Kargil airfield for landing of aircrafts which was the long-pending demand of people of Kargil.

Mr Azad had taken up the matter with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and on the intervention of Prime Minister work for operationalizing Kargil airfield was intensified.

The Chief Minister thanked Air Marshal A. K. Singh and his team of Air Force for providing full cooperation to the State Government in this matter which has helped in carrying essentials as well as people of Kargil in a regular manner through these aircrafts.

Mr. Azad recalled the role of Air Force during calamities particularly during earthquake of last year for timely launching the rescue operations.

Air Marshal informed Chief Minister that Air Force has adopted and developed nine earthquake-affected villages including Uroosa, Isham, Gwalta, Chakra, Khalsa Patti-A, Khalsa Patti-B, Mandra Patti, Dharian and Mohri Patti. He said that nine school buildings, four community centres and five mini-hydel plants have been constructed in these nine villages besides supplying 2030 tonnes of relief material to the people of these villages.

Mr. Azad emphasized that two weekly flights between Srinagar and Kargil be made a regular feature without any break for carrying the people and the essentials till Srinagar-Kargil road reopens.

CBI charge-sheets Jaya Jaitly

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: The CBI today filed a chargesheet against three persons, including former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly, for allegedly taking a bribe from reporters of tehelka portal posing as representatives of a fictitious UK-based arms firm to influence then Defence Minister George Fernandes.

The chargesheet was filed in the CBI court here against Jaitly, Major General (retired) S P Murugai and Samata Party leader Gopal Pacherwal under section 120-b (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and section 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI made the fourth accused — Surender Kumar Surekha, an industrialist from Kanpur — turn approver in the case. The case was registered against all the four on December 6, 2004.

During its investigation, the CBI alleged that the reporters of the portal had sought assistance from Jaitly through Murugai and Surekha to obtain orders for equipment from the Defence Ministry.

In this connection, Rs two lakh was allegedly handed over to Pacherwal at the instance of Jaitly during a meeting at the then Defence Minister’s (George Fernandes) official residence, the CBI said in the chargesheet, its 7th filed in connection with the tehelka case.

In the video footage secretly filmed by the tehelka reporters, Jaitly was purportedly shown saying that she would put in a word to "sahib’s office" if the firm was not considered, the CBI said.

Murugai and Surekha were present when the meeting between Jaitly and the reporters took place. Surekha was allegedly paid Rs one lakh separately for services rendered by him in facilitating the meeting while payments were allegedly made to Murugai at regular intervals, it said. (PTI)

Operational preparedness of Army at 95 pc: VCOAS

NEW DELHI, The Indian Army is at its "highest stage" of defence preparedness, and set to meet any challenge, outgoing Army Vice Chief Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman today said.

"I’m leaving the Army in good condition... The force’s operational preparedness is at the highest stage. This can be gauged by the percentage of the men, material and equipment ready for any eventuality... The figure is currently 95 per cent," the vcoas, who demits office on December 31, told mediapersons after inspecting a Guard of Honour here.

Lt Gen Pattabhiraman — the first Engineer Officer to become Vice Chief — noted he had been closely associated with the efforts to increase the force’s efficiency and in its modernisation for the last few years.

"In the last five years, I dealt with these issues and modernisation in an array of posts — Additional Director-General Military Operations, XI (‘Vajra’) Corps GoC, Director General Information Systems, and GoC-in-C, Western Command, prior to this," he said, adding that modernisation was ‘firmly on track’ while the force’s firepower would soon get a massive boost with the selection and induction of the new 155-mm Howitzer set to begin "very shortly."

On the recent spate of suicides and fratracidal killings in the force, especially in high tension-areas such as J&K, Lt Gen Pattabhiraman, terming all these incidents as "saddening," said a range of measures were being implemented, with the active support of the Defence Ministry, to deal with the situation.

"In the last two to three months, there have been several such cases... We feel sad... However, the Army has a lot of resilience and I am sure we will get over the problem," he said.

To a query on the "increasing" infiltration from the soft and porous borders with Nepal and Bangladesh, he said that the trend had been noticed and was being dealt with.

"So long as the terrorist infrastructure is intact, there is bound to be infiltration. They are not succeeding in J&K because of the fence, the surveillance devices and heightened guard, so they have to try elsewhere," he said.

However, Lt Gen Pattabhiraman noted that there was no "reason for alarm," as both the civil intelligence agencies and military intelligence were tackling the situation.

"Mi, as well as intelligence agencies under the MHA, are working on this jointly," he said, adding that they were undertaking "intelligence-based operations to deal with the situation." (UNI)

Three Pak infiltrators killed

SRINAGAR, Alert troops foiled yet another infiltration bid when they gunned down three heavily armed foreign militants in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

Troops guarding the Line of Control (LoC) noticed a group of militants sneaking into India from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) under the cover of darkness, he said.

A close watch was maintained on their movement throughout the night, he added. However, with the first light, troops challenged them and asked them to surrender. Militants opened fire and also hurled grenades at the troops, forcing them to retaliate, he said adding all the three militants were killed.

Three ak rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

A senior army officer recently said that a large number of militants, mostly foreigners, were waiting at different launching pads to infiltrate.

Militants from Pakistan as well as other countries, besides Kashmiris, are being trained in the camps still functioning across the border.

More than 100 militants have so far been killed by the security forces immediately after they infiltrated into India from POK since January this year.

However, 120 other militants also surrendered before the security forces near the LoC after their return from POK during the same period.

(UNI)