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'World support growing for
New Delhi' ON BOARD PM’s Special Aircraft, Oct 14: Brushing aside Islamabad’s repeated denials about its involvement in the Mumbai blasts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India will test Pakistan only after giving it "credible evidence" about "elements" in that country being behind the July 11 terror strike. Returning from a six-day tour of Britain and Finland, he said world support was growing for New Delhi’s view that terror attacks cannot be justified by invoking "so-called root causes" and that no country should be used to "launch, aid and abet" terrorist acts directed against india. "Before we give them evidence, what is the use of talking about it?" he told reporters when referred to Pakistan’s repeated claims that there was no substance in India’s contention about the involvement of ISI and terror groups based in Pakistan in the Mumbai train bombings. "We have to give them evidence. We will give them credible evidence. We feel that there is involvement of elements (based) in Pakistan," Singh said. "We will test them once we have given them evidence," he added. Singh, who shared evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in the Mumbai blasts with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the European Union leadership during his visit to London and Helsinki, said, "there is great appreciation of India’s stand that you cannot have a situation where terrorist acts are justified by invoking so-called root causes." He was apparently referring to the Pakistani leadership’s repeated claims that "root causes" are responsible for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in India. "There is appreciation of the predicament India has been in...There is today strong support for India and what India pleads, that foreign territories should not be used to launch, aid and abet terrorist acts directed at our country," Singh said. Singh said he discussed the issue of terrorism with Britain and the EU and ways and means to jointly fight it through coordination of intelligence, information and measures to deny funding to terror groups. "This (coordination with Britain and the EU) is an ongoing process and we have to work closely with like-minded countries," Singh said, adding there is growing willingness in the world to work with India. He noted that the world has discovered terrorism only after the 9/11 attacks in the US, whereas India has been affected by the menace since 1989. To a question, the Prime Minister said any move to abolish the Armed Forces (special powers) Act has to be considered in view of the prevailing security situation in the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, he said, no action can be taken immediately on the Jeevan Reddy Committee’s report, which has reportedly recommended the scrapping of the anti-terror law. (PTI) |
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5 injured in
Bandipore militant strike Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 14: Security forces have killed four militants in two separate operations in Pulwama and Gurez areas even as five people have sustained injuries in a militant attack on army in Bandipore today. Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that over a specific information, troops of RR 55 Bn and Pulwama SOG swooped on a militant hideout at Senzan on Pulwama-Panjgam Road. During the search operation, two militants were spotted. Both the militants were killed in the gunbattle. While one of them was unidentified and was believed to be a resident of Tral area, another was identified as Tauseef Ahmed Bhat alias Kifayat S/o Ghulam Qadir Bhat R/o Jandwal, Pulwama. Official sources said that both were members of Hizbul Mujahideen. Sources said that the overnight search operation in Ismarg-Bagtoor area of Gurez sector, close to LoC in Kanzalwan, culminated in a gunbattle. Even as three of the infiltrating militants were believed to have escaped and a search was on to trace them in an adjoining forest area, sources said that two of the militants were killed by troops of 5 Para. Police officials in north Kashmir maintained that they had no information regarding this incident as no dead bodies had been handed over to Police for funeral and other formalities. Sources said that militants in ambush fired upon a patrol party of 2-Grenadiers at Nadihal in Bandipore area in the forenoon today. Troops, reportedly busy with shopping, retaliated but all the militants managed to escape. Officials confirmed that two soldiers and three civilians sustained injuries. All the injured were evacuated and rushed to hospital. A critically wounded Abdul Aziz Ganai of Kaloosa was rushed to Srinagar for specialised treatment. Residents alleged that minutes after the militants escaped and the exchange of gunfire subsided, troops thrashed some youth and took into custody an 18-year-old Altaf Ahmed Kandroo. He was allegedly subjected to severe torture and taken away for further interrogation. Residents said that the village population was subjected to mass beating after some women resisted Kandroo's arrest. Reports from north Kashmir added that militants caused an IED blast at Azad Gunj in Baramulla town this evening. Even as there was apparently no target, the IED exploded and caused fear in the whole town. |
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Administration agrees
to consider demands Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 14: All 64 people, who had migrated to Chamba in Himachal Pradesh from Sawara village in Gandoh area of Doda district, returned to Doda this evening after they were assured that their major demands will be considered by the authorities. DIG Udhampur-Doda range Lalat Indu Mohanty said the Sawara people, who include some members of Village Defence Committee (VDC) and their families, were persuaded to return by a team of Doda police, which was camping in Chamba for last one week. The migrants, who were led by Sub Inspector Chanchal Singh from Gandoh police station reached Geeta Bhawan here in two buses from Chamba in wee hours of this morning where they stayed toll this afternoon for medical examination. IGP Jammu Dr Shesh Pal Vaid met the migrants and assured that their problems will be attended to by the concerned authorities. The migrants left for Doda at 1 pm. At Batote, they were again assured on their demands by Mr Mohanty. The DIG said the VDC members have been assured that Investigating Officer (IO) probing the alleged murder of Farooq Ahmed of Sawara will be changed. Presently, the investigations are being conducted by Sub Inspector Irfan Wani. On the migrants’ demand for transfer of SHO Gandoh Farooq Ahmed, the authorities said it would be considered. On return of weapons to five VDC members, who were disarmed by SP Bhadarwah Ashok Sharma during investigations of the murder case, the authorities told the migrants that it will also be considered after verification. Authorities have, however, agreed to demand of the migrants that security at Sawara police picket will be strengthened and five-seven more Special Police Officers (SPOs) will be recruited from amongst the local villagers to guard them. As reported, 64 persons from Sawara had migrated to Chamba on October 1 and reached Nodhal Dhar of Chamba on October 2 night. They had left Sawara after five VDC members were disarmed in connection with Farooq Ahmed’s murder. According to sources, Farooq Ahmed was alleged killed in firing by the VDC members. The VDC members had opened firing, targetting a militant, who had snatched an AK rifle from Personal Security Officer (PSO) of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activist Mela Ram about four months back. The VDC members were approached by the BJP activist’s PSO after he was robbed of his weapon. In hunt for the militant, they had opened firing leading to the killing of Farooq Ahmed. It was during investigations of the killing of Farooq Ahmed that SP Bhadarwah Ashok Sharma had disarmed five VDC members and directed them to report at Gandoh police station. Next day, five VDC members along with their families and some other local people migrated to Chamba, the sources said. |
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90 beds only for 325
patients By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Oct 14: With daily arrival of patients in Emergency wing of Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu averaging 325 and scope of maximum admissions limited to 90, the hospital authorities have now decided to treat extra patients on trolleys. For the purpose, 30 extra trolleys have already been pressed into use and an order has been place for purchase of 50 more trolleys to accommodate the patients. "This (keeping the patients on trolleys) till they are shifted to the Wards had become a necessity as we can adjust only 90 patients on beds in all parts of Emergency at a given time. However, our requirement is increasing with every passing day forcing us to shift extra patients to trolleys", GMC authorities told the Excelsior. "We know this is not a good option as a patient, especially the one who comes for treatment in Emergency is required to be given comfort. But, we have no other option. Even after accommodation patients in Emergency, Disaster Management and Recovery Wards, we are left with several patients requiring admission in Emergency", the sources said. They added that 30 patients on an average are presently being treated on trolleys and mattresses put in the space earmarked for attendants of the patients within Emergency complex during the night. On almost all beds, two patients are accommodated, the sources admitted. "But, even after using every kind of available accommodation including the covered space meant for attendants of the patients, we are falling short of beds and trolleys. Therefore, we have placed an order for purchasing 50 more trolleys for the patients in Emergency. The trolleys are expected to come soon and would be kept at the disposal of Emergency wing", the sources said. According to them, there are 30 observation beds in Emergency and 60 beds meant for admission in Emergency Ward, Recovery Ward and Disaster Management Ward totaling 90. Daily arrival of patients in Emergency averaged 325. Sometimes, the number even crossed 350. Patients admitted in Emergency are referred to Wards, if required, the next day. Majority of patients, reporting to Emergency, are required to be kept under observation for a minimum of two to three hours. Some of the accident or other victims are also given first aid, which meant two to three hours observation, sources pointed out. Even on small observation beds, two patients had to be treated at a time, which can make the situation uncomfortable not only for the patients but also for the doctors and Medical Assistants, attending upon them as well. Sources said they were sieged of the situation that pressing 50 more trolleys into use in Emergency will create congestion as they had to be adjusted within the available space "though we will try to keep them within outer but covered premises". The trolleys will be used as and when required. To cope up with congestion, sources said, authorities were trying to keep minimum attendants with the patients. Authorities in the GMC hoped that Emergency will be de-congested with construction of a four-storeyed extra complex for it near the existing building. Construction will be part of Rs 120 crore project for upgradation of Government Medical College under a Centrally sponsored scheme. Under the project, a 50-bed extra accommodation will be generated in Emergency besides an eight bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU). In addition, there will be four operation theatres in new complex, sources said, adding the new complex is also proposed to be centrally air conditioned. |
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From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz SRINAGAR, Oct 14: Jostling over selective condemnation of the Chhanapora youth Irshad Ahmed Lone and outwitting one another in the currently hot 'Afzal Guru bachao campaign", Kashmir's politicians are still silent over the brutal killing of the Handwara dental surgeon Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Shah. Militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba's condemnation, which would have come as a cue for many politicians if issued earlier this week, has finally dismissed Dr Shah's killing as "inhuman and barbaric act". With all the political parties from Omar Abdullah's National Conference (NC) to Mehbooba Mufti's PDP and from Jamaat-e-Islami and JKLF to the Hurriyat factions of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani still deaf and dumb to the Sopore brutality, Lashkar-e-Toiba today came out with an unequivocal condemnation. Lashkar's chief spokesperson, Dr Abdullah Gaznavi, contacted EXCELSIOR through a satellite phone link and said: "Lashkar-e-Toiba is strongly condemning Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Shah's inhuman and barbaric murder. We strongly contradict Police claim that Lashkar is involved in this gruesome killing". The spokesman claimed that the guerrilla organisation's armed struggle was "strictly in accordance with the tenets of Islam, which allows neither the killing of any Muslim nor that of any other innocent human being". He added: "Those violating the dignity of women, kidnapping children, desecrating places of worship and indulging in bloodshed and arson can never be freedom fighters". He said that his organisation's "Jihad" was restricted to the security forces which would continue "until India allows the Kashmiris to determine their political future according to their aspirations". The Lashkar spokesman called for constituting "Kashmir Elders Council" (KEC) which would conduct a fair investigation into Dr Shah's killing and see whether it was the "handiwork of the Indian agencies" or "some others" were behind it. He proposed that representatives from Muttahida Jihad Council (an umbrella of 14 Kashmiri militant groups), Kashmiri intellectuals and associations besides "pro-freedom groups" and clergy, should form the Council, inquire Dr Mushtaq's killing and make the findings public. He said that there was no hope of fair investigation and justice from India and the world bodies. The spokesman took exception to the lately released report of Human Rights Watch and alleged that it was "completely partisan and of India's choice". Lashkar's belated condemnation of Dr Shah's murder in Sopore on October 7/8 has intensified challenge for Baramulla Police which had claimed that three militants of the organisation---Munna Janwari and Haji of Batpora, besides a Pakistani---had committed the ghastly slaying. Notwithstanding its claim, Police has till date failed to come out with a concrete evidence suggesting the involvement of the militants named. A breakthrough in the Police investigation appears to be still elusive. In fact, the wave of terror in Sopore had begun in April-May this year when posters had appeared in the name of "Lashkar-e-Qayamat" with the hit list naming 35 residents of the town. According to Police, six of the men mentioned in the hit list have been gunned down. They include two youth who had been simultaneously shot dead---one inside a ward at SKIMS and another at home in Sopore. SSP Baramulla Viplab Kumar claims that there has been no major incident in the town since August 14 when Police launched a manhunt for one Showkat alias Munna Janwari. He claimed that Munna and Haji had since gone underground alongwith their families and their houses were locked. He said that Police were conducting raids to apprehend the duo besides their Pakistani associate, Abu Warisan. SSP claimed that "Lashkar-e-Qayamat" was the front name of "Lashkar-e-Toiba" and many of its activists, including those who published the posters, had been arrested. He said that Police had also launched a manhunt for forest guard Abdul Rasheed Bhat of Shehlal, Handwara, who had also disappeared alongwith his family on the day Dr Shah was killed. "We have no doubt about it that Dr Shah was killed by these four people. We have accepted the challenge. We will get them and prove that they had tortured and slaughtered the dental surgeon to death", SSP asserted. Lashkar's KET and Police investigation apart, absence of the separatist as well as the mainstream politicians from bereavement of the Handwara family is being interpreted here as a subtle statement: That Dr Shah's killing was the handiwork of militants. "It's difficult to know who killed who. There are so many agencies at work in Kashmir. Every killer is masked and every killing shrouded in mystery. But, there's one way---right or wrong---to know the killers. If all the politicians and so-called human rights rush to the spot and people register a public protest; if the State Human Rights Commission takes a suo moto cognizance; if there's a call for shutdown, it's believed to be the act of government agencies, Police, renegades, BSF, CRPF or Army. If everybody shuts one eyes and turns his or her back to it, it's counted as militants' handiwork", said a shopkeeper in Sopore. |
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Azad meets Patil,
Munshi Excelsior Correspondent New Delhi, Oct 14: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today called on Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priyaranjan Das Munshi to discuss matter regarding rehabilitation of earthquake affected people and strengthening of Radio and Television networks in Jammu and Kashmir. In his meeting, with Mr Patil, the Chief Minister emphasized that time has come for launching a massive programme for building infrastructure in the earthquake hit areas particularly the construction of schools, hospitals, roads, PHE installations and other vital basic utility units which were destroyed in the deadly earthquake of 2005. The Home Minister assured Mr Azad of full support. The Chief Minister also took up the matter of doubling the ex-gratia relief to militancy victims from rupees one lakh to rupees two lakh. The Home Minister assured him that this recommendation will be given full consideration. In his meeting with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Azad emphasized for developing wide range transmission technology for Doordarshan and All India Radio in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister informed Mr Munshi that keeping in view the geographical location of the State, its topography and vast territory with mountainous ranges, it is necessary that transmission of TV and Radio is augmented so that people of far-flung areas of the State are able to view and listen the programmes conveniently. Mr Azad said that in present era of media globalization, Radio and Doordarshan have important role to play. In this competitive atmosphere both these modes of electronic media are required to be made people oriented. He said that all the stations, sub-stations and relay centres of Doordarshan and Radio require to be strengthened for smooth transmission. He informed the Minister that in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Radio and Doordarshan are the prime source of assimilation and dissemination of news and views and source of entertainment and information. The Chief Minister said that sub-stations of Radio and Doordarshan should be expanded and strengthened with full objective to make them not only production centres in far-off areas but also make them as source for generating employment. He hoped that these production centres could give impetus to local talent and culture. Mr. Priyaranjan Das Munshi appreciated the Chief Minister’s concern for augmenting Doordarshan and Radio in the State and assured him that immediate action would be taken in this regard. The Chief Minister invited Mr. Munshi to visit the State which he readily agreed. Both the Union Ministers during their respective meetings assured the Chief Minister that all possible steps will be taken by the Central Government for ushering the State into prosperity, progress and peace. |
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Farooq opposes Afzal's execution NEW DELHI, Oct 14: Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who is opposed to the execution of Mohammad Afzal, has said the death punishment for the Parliament terror attack convict is "too extreme" and fears for the life of the Judges who have sentenced him. Abdullah, who also headed the National Conference, initially told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN’s ‘devil’s advocate’ programme that Afzal was innocent but later said the sentence was "too harsh". "You want to hang him? Go ahead and hang him. But the consequences of hanging him must also be remembered. One of the consequences will be.....We have paid the price of Maqbool Butt’s hanging by the Judge who was shot in Kashmir. Those Judges will need to be protected like anything. "Some crook will come and will murder them. So my request is, for god’s sake, see that they are protected like anything. Some crook will come and will murder them," the Rajya Sabha member said. He referred to the gunning down of Neelkanth Ganju, who as the Sessions Judge in Kashmir had handed down the capital punishment for Butt in the early 80s. Abdullah also warned that the nation would "go up in flames" because terrorists would do things that would destroy the Hindu-Muslim relationship. He cited the case of Mumbai blasts "when thousands of Muslims were put in jail to extract information from them." "I don’t want such things to happen in India.....Because some crook, some bad man will go and do something in a temple. Somebody will do something in a mosque," he added. He also felt that the peace process with Pakistan would suffer because Gen Musharraf would have a tough time in trying to control his Army Chiefs of various regions. "...Some Army Chief might come up and throw him out and if that happens where will the peace process go? It will go back to zero." Abdullah said Azfal was innocent but it could not be proved because the lower court turned down his request for appointment of a lawyer for his defence. He maintained if Afzal had got the right lawyer in the lower court his case would have been proved that he was not directly involved. He maintained that the Supreme Court Judges were "also fallible" and the evidence put forward by the police "is not absolutely infallible". Later in the interview, the former Chief Minister said "the evidence put forward before the honourable Judges has been correrctly said (analysed) by them but the sentence passed by them is too extreme. Too harsh." Asked whether Afzal was no longer innocent and has be rightly convicted but the sentencing is wrong, he replied "yes, wrong." (PTI) |
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4 rifles snatched from VDC men Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 14: Militants snatched four rifles from four Village Defence Committee (VDC) members at village Tandar, Gundana in Keshwan area of Doda district last night. Official sources said a group of militants struck at village Tandar, Gundana in Keshwan area of Doda district and snatched rifles from four VDC members. They also took away two VDC members—Ghulam Mohd Bhat son of Lassa Bhat and Ghulam Hassan Dar son of Ahmed Bhat with them. Two other VDC members, who were robbed of their weapons, include Ram Lal son of Bhim Singh and Shadi Lal son of Lal Chand. Security forces and police have rushed to the spot and launched a search operation for the militants. Another encounter took place between a police party and the militants at Ashmar, Gool in Ramban police district. The militants managed to escape after an hour long gun-battle leaving behind one AK rifle, one magazine and 20 rounds, which were seized by the cops. |
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Court orders deportation of Afghani SRINAGAR, Oct 14: Holding that there is no case against him, a local court has ordered that an Afghan national arrested on the LoC 12 years ago be deported within a month. A City Magistrate directed the Senior Superintendent of Police of Counter Insurgency Kashmir (CIK) that since there was no case against the Man Nasiullah, he should be deported to his country within a month. Nasiullah of Panjsheer valley in Afghanistan was arrested by security forces on the Line of Control in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir in 1994. On conducting a body search, nothing incriminating or illegal was found on him. He was taken into custody and CIK filed a case against him on April 18, 2000. On September 19 this year, he was presented before the City Magistrate and during subsequent hearings accepted having crossed the border without valid documents. Nasiullah said he was ready for punishment and the court awarded him two years’ imprisonment and Rs 1,000 as a fine but deemed the sentence served as he was in jail since 1994. (PTI)
Azad says PDP's attitude has left him 'shocked' New Delhi, In his first reaction to the political controversy between the PDP and Congress that rocked Jammu and Kashmir last month, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said he was "shocked" at the charges levelled against PDP leader Muzzafar Hussain Beigh by his alliance partner and even hinted at a lack of coordination between the two parties. "I was shocked to hear the type of chargesheet against (former Deputy Chief Minister) Beigh. I was shocked at the way he was called by the PDP leadership and hit left and right for supporting the Chief Minister," Azad, who is in the national capital, told PTI in an interview. He was responding to a question about a perception that the Congress and PDP -- the partners in Kashmir's ruling coalition -- were not getting on well and there was a lack of coordination between them. The PDP's action of removing Beigh as its legislature party chief forced him to resign from the post of Deputy Chief Minister. "What impression does this chargesheet give? My every decision has been to pull the state out from the destruction that has been seen there over the years. Is it wrong?" asked Azad. To a pointed question on coordination between the two parties, Azad preferred not to give a direct reply but said, "We used to be very happy when Congress ministers accompanied the previous Chief Minister (PDP leader Mufti Mohammed Sayeed). "The previous Chief Minister was given complete support by all Congress ministers, which is not the case since the Congress took over the reins of the government in November last year," he said. The PDP had accused Beigh of supporting Azad on major issues like the creation of eight districts, double shifts to create infrastructure for the state devastated by over a decade of militancy, appointment of the former chief secretary as delimitation commissioner and the transfer of Senior Superintendent of Police Aashiq Bukhari from Anantnag to Budgam. On the militancy front, Azad said the Pakistan government "needs to put a heavy lid" on militancy and come down heavily on those who aid, abet and sponsor militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. On infiltration, he maintained it had increased two-and-a-half times in the past year in comparision to the previous year. Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent statement that infiltration had come down to a bare minimum level, Azad clarified that "the Prime Minister was referring to the last two months while I was giving a wholistic picture of one complete year". "In this full year, infiltration has gone up with the support of the Pakistan Army, ISI and other agencies," he said. "Infiltration and rhetoric on one side and talks on the other side do not go well. The Pakistan government should take all those who are aiding and abetting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir to task. "Should the Pakistan government do this, there will be no scope for misunderstanding," he said. (PTI) Navy chief lays foundation of paediatric ward in Kashmir Handwara, North Kashmir, Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash today laid the foundation stone of a 15-bed paediatric ward in the existing district hospital here. The ward would be constructed by the Navy in memory of 20 children and two staff members of the Burning Candle School, Handwara drowned in a boat capsize during a picnic in Wullar Lake on May 30 this year. Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Prakash the ward would be a small token of respect in memory of the drowned children. The ward would be completed by mid 2007 at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore, he added. ''We fully share the pain and anguish of families of these children and offer our heartfelt condolences. I was touched to know that the parents of the deceased children came out with a noble thought of setting up the much-needed Pediatric Ward that would be of immense help to the people of Handwara,'' he said. The Navy Chief said the ward on completion would be operated by the state medical authorities and the Army has also assured full support in this regard. ''It is our hope that peace and stability will soon return to the Valley to enable the children to enjoy the benefits of quality education and good medicare,'' said Admiral Prakash who was born in south Kashmir district of Anantnag in 1944. His father served about 40 years in the Kashmir Civil Service till he retired in 1965. Admiral Prakash said he has a special relationship with Handwara as his father's first posting was as naib-tehsildar of this town in 1936-37. He said the Navy has provided an interim relief of Rs one lakh each to the families of the deceased. (UNI) Four Hizb militants killed, Cong leader escapes ultras' attack Srinagar, Four Hizbul Mujahideen militants and a policeman were killed in separate incidents, while a senior Congress leader escaped a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces recovered unearthed a hideout near the Line of Control today. Two police personnel of Kothibagh police station who were on duty near Ghanta Ghar (clock tower) in Lal Chowk, nerve centre of Srinagar, were fired upon by unidentified pistol-borne militants from point blank range around 12.50 pm today, official sources said. Both the policemen were critically injured in the shooting, which created panic in the area, the sources said adding the ultras fled the scene immediately. The injured policemen were evaucated to SMHS hospital where one of them Constable Ghulam Mohiuddin, was declared brought dead, while the other constable Ghulam Hassan was battling for life, the sources said adding a hunt has been launched to nab the militants involved in the attack. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit claimed responsibility for the incident. This was the second major strike by militants in Lal Chowk this month. On October four, militants carried out a suicide attack at Badshah Chowk triggering a fierce 20-hour gunbattle which left ten persons including seven securitymen and two ultras dead and 20 others injured, prompting authorities to strengthen deployment in the area. The sources said two suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an encounter with security forces during search operations at Senzen village of Pulwama district last night. Two AK rifles, six magazines and some grenades were recovered from the slain ultras, they said. In another encounter in Pulwama, the sources said a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Mohammad Hafiz Kulas was killed in Donaro forest in keller area today. Another Hizbul Mujahideen militant Abdul Majid Mir was killed by security forces at Motigowran in Anantnag district this afternoon, the sources said. They said two AK rifles, two magazines, four under barrel grenade launchers with two grenades and 47 rounds of ammunition were recovered from him. Militants opened fire on the heavily-guarded resident house of block president of Congress Mohammad Maqbool Bhat at village Lajoora in Pulwama district last night, prompting his guards to retaliate, the sources said. However, no one was injured in the gunbattle which lasted for nearly half-an-hour, they said adding bhat was present in his house at the time of the attack. The sources said troops of 20 battalion Jammu and Kashmir light infantry regiment unearthed an arms dump during search operations at Gajnar forest near the Line of Control in Machil sector of north Kashmir Kupwara district this morning. A general purpose machine gun (pika) with an additional stand, four drum magazines, 400 rounds, an AK 56 rifle, five magazines, 700 rounds and a sleeping bag were recovered from the hideout, the sources said. They said the arms were apparently smuggled from across the border by arms couriers and dumped in the hideout before carrying these to various parts in the valley for subversive activities. However, no one was arrested during the operation, the sources added. (PTI) |
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