LUCKNOW, Mar 14: Condemning the fidayeen attack at the CRPF camp at Srinagar yesterday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav tonight announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family members of the martyr CRPF jawan of Jalaun in the attack.
In a statement here, Mr Yadav has condemned the incident and conveyed his condolence to the family members of CRPF jawan Awadh Bihar Singh, a native of Jalaun, who was among the five jawans killed in the attack.
The CM also announced Rs 20 lakh for the family members of the CRPF jawan.
In Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh, a Government job and land for the kin of CRPF jawan Omprakash Mardaniya, who died in the terrorist attack in Srinagar yesterday.
Mardaniya hailed from Shahpura village in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh.
Chouhan announced the aid for his family after taking the salute from newly recruited CRPF contingent at passing-out parade at Bangrasia near here.
Chouhan said on this occasion that it was high time the country taught a lesson to those who toyed with India’s security.
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced a solatium of Rs five lakh to the family of a martyr from the State.
In a statement here, she expressed shock and grief over the death of CRPF man Perumal in the terrorist attack.
Perumal hailed from Thummanaikenpatti village near Peraiyur in Madurai district.
Expressing grief over his death, the Chief Minister said all steps were being taken to bring the body of Perumal to his native place.
Ms Jayalalithaa said she had also deputed the Cooperative Minister and the Madurai District Collector to pay their respects to the mortal remains of the CRPF man and console the bereaved family.
Expressing her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, Ms Jayalalithaa announced a solatium of Rs five lakh to the family of Perumal.
In Karnataka, the body of Satish Shetty (27), a CRPF soldier from Alambadi village in K R Pet taluk of Mandya district, who was among five CRPF personnel killed in a fidayeen attack in Srinagar yesterday, was brought to native village today.
Satish, was serving in the CRPF from 2007 after completing his ITI course.
Incidentally, his brother Harish Shetty is also serving in the CRPF.
His mother Savithramma said after losing her husband, she struggled to raise her two sons but was happy when they decided to serve the nation. ‘Today I am proud that my son Satish has sacrificed his life for the country,’ she said amid tears.
The body which is likely to be brought to his native village Alambadi, 19 kilometers from K R Pet, later today, will be cremated with full state honours.
Meanwhile, the entire village of Alambadi plunged into grief as the news of Satish’s death spread like wildfire. Satish had come to the village two months ago when his father Narayana Shetty had passed away.
MLA K B Chandrashekar, former Speaker Krishna, ex-MLA B Prakash expressed grief over the death of the soldier.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Janata Paksha President B S Yeddyurappa has announced in Bangalore that his party would provide Rs two lakh to Satish’s mother. (Agencies)

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 14: Ruling National Conference MLAs today protested in the Legislative Assembly against the killing of Altaf Ahmad Wani at Saidpora, Srinagar in firing by the paramilitary CRPF yesterday in retaliation to stone pelting forcing the Government to give a reply on the incident while the Opposition MLAs from BJP, NPP and JSM strongly condemned the killing of five CRPF jawans in a fidayeen attack at Bemina and staged a walk-out after protests and sloganeering as Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni rejected the NPP’s adjournment motion to discuss the issue arising out of the killing.
Speaker Mubarak Gul was not present in the House today as he had gone to Srinagar to pay tributes to Altaf Ahmad Wani, who happened to be his close associate. The PDP members were also absent as the principle opposition party had yesterday announced boycott of rest of the budget session in protest against Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s statement refusing to handover body of 2001 Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru to his family in Sopore.
As soon as the House assembled for the day, all NC MLAs including, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Abdul Gani Malik, Radhey Shyam Sharma, Peer Afaq, Irfan Shah, Aijaz Jan, Mohammad Ashraf Ganaie and Yasin Shah among others were on their feet. CPM member MY Tarigami and PDF MLA Hakim Mohammad Yasin also stood up from their seats. Independent MLA Engineer Rashid protested from his bench.
Deputy Speaker, Sartaj Madni, who was in the chair asked the MLAs to take their seats and assured them that the Government would give its reply on the killing. However on being insisted upon by the MLAs to speak, Mr Madni allowed some members to make their point.
Immediately thereafter, NPP MLAs—Harshdev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal, BJP MLAs—Ashok Khajuria, Jugal Kishore, Sukhnandan Choudhary and Sham Choudhary and Jammu State Morcha (JSM) legislator Ashwani Sharma were on their feet and strongly condemned the killings of five CRPF personnel by the terrorists at Bemina in Srinagar.
Asserting that law and order machinery has totally collapsed and CRPF and police have been disarmed and given sticks in their hands, Harshdev Singh said the Government has no right to stay in power and should resign. Mr Singh and Mr Mankotia wanted their adjournment motion to be admitted. However, Mr Madni rejected it on the ground that Leader of the House and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already made a statement on the incident and has condemned the incident along with Speaker Mubarak Gul.
“Five CRPF jawans have been killed. There is total collapse of law and order authorities. Our jawans have been disarmed and lathis (sticks) have been given in their hands. How would they protect them and the people with the lathis’’? Harshdev asked and said the Government has no right to ask for withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). He sought resignation of the Government.

“The Government failure and repeated demand of AFSPA withdrawal has demoralized the security forces. The security personnel have been equipped with lathis and disarmed’’, he said recalling that earlier also two police unarmed police constables were killed at Handwara.
BJP Legislature Party leader Ashok Khajuria said the drama enacted during last few days by both ruling party (NC) and Opposition (PDP) on the issue of Guru had boosted the morale of terrorists and disheartened the jawans.
“Such talks shouldn’t take place in the Assembly’’, he said.
Engineer Rashid (Independent) wanted to know from where the militants were coming as Army and BSF were manning the borders. “We must admit that AFSPA has failed to stop the attacks’’, he said.
Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, MLA Jammu West said five CRPF jawans have been killed. Also, he added, there had been thefts in six temples in his Assembly constituency. ‘‘These incidents reminded me of 1989-90 situation as the militancy has started in similar way’’, Prof Gupta said.
Ashwani Sharma (JSM) said the talks for withdrawal of AFSPA have been sending wrong message and encouraging militancy. He said the House should express sympathies with the families of martyr jawans, who died while protecting the civilians. He added that the Government should have a strong policy to tackle militancy.
Mr Sharma strongly condemned the “new Government policy’’ of arming paramilitary and police with sticks only.
Jugal Kishore (BJP) charged the NC and PDP with supporting militancy by calling the militants as martyrs, thus, boosting their morale. He declared that the BJP, at no cost, would allow withdrawal of AFSPA from the State.
Former Minister and Congress leader Mohammad Sharief Niaz called for a probe into the charges that paramilitary and police jawans had been disarmed and given sticks to defend them.
“This is very bad report if it is true (the disarming of jawans and equipping them with sticks),’’Mr Niaz said and also strongly condemned the killing of Altaf Ahmad Wani. He said the killing of two Army soldiers, one of whom was beheaded on the Line of Control (LoC) should also be condemned strongly.
“It is very sad that we cannot raise the issue of martyrs and discuss them here. The adjournment motion brought by us was rejected on martyrs but the adjournment motion on Guru by opposition PDP, ruling NC and CPM was admitted and discussed,” NPP member Balwant Singh Mankotia said.
“You (the Government) have disarmed the police and security personnel and made them targets of the militants. Government is responsible for the CRPF killings,” Mr Mankotia said.
After the rejection of adjournment motion, all MLAs of BJP, NPP and JSM staged a noisy walk-out in the Assembly shouting ‘Mulak Kay Khilaaf Saajish Bandh Karo, Bandh Karo’, ‘Security Forces Ki Hatya Bandh Karo, Bandh Karo’ and ‘Security Forces Kay Khilaaf Bolna Bandh Karo, Bandh Karo’.
BJP breakaway group legislators, however, didn’t join the walk-out.
CPM member M Y Tarigami said they had condemned the incident of killing of the CRPF jawans and the Government had given an elaborate reply on it.
“We also demand the reply from the Government on the killing of Altaf Ahmad Wani in the firing,” he said.
Asserting that the killing of CRPF jawans was ‘shocking’’, Mr Tarigami wanted to know from the Opposition members, who had walked-out, “whether Altaf Ahmad Wani is not a citizen of India. They didn’t say a single word about him. Don’t communalise death. Just because the victim’s name is Altaf, they have not condemned his death. Why this discrimination’’?
Hakim Mohammad Yasin (PDF) said they condemned the killing of 5 CRPF jawans but in the second incident an innocent youth going to his house was also killed in the firing. The Government should make a statement on the incident, he added.
The Question Hour remained disrupted for 23 minutes till the Opposition members walked-out of the House.
The National Conference MLAs were again on their feet after the Question Hour and wanted the Government to react on the killing of Wani. The Deputy Speaker assured the House that Law Minister Saifullah Mir make a statement in the Assembly.
Later, in his brief statement, Saifullah said the CRPF men rushing for blood donation to their injured colleagues came under attack by the group of stone pelters and opened fire at Saidpora in which one youth was killed.
“Men of 73 battalion of CRPF were on way to SKIMS to donate blood for the CRPF personnel, who had been injured in the Bemina attack earlier in the day,” Mr Mir said.
“They were reportedly attacked by an alleged group of stone pelters at Saidpora Eidgah, Srinagar, the Minister said.
The CRPF men retaliated and opened the fire in which 35-year-old Altaf Ahmad Mir was killed, he said.
Minister of State for Home Sajad Kitchloo, while intervening, informed the House that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand are in Srinagar and reviewing the situation and hoped they would take an appropriate decision regarding Saidpora incident soon and could order an inquiry.
Speaking to media persons outside the Assembly, Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo denied allegations of disarming of CRPF.
Speaking to reporters, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control and Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma termed the issue of disarming as sensitive and said it would be discussed in the Cabinet and there was a need to revisit this policy.
Two unarmed Constables Santosh Kumar and Azad Chand of Indian Reserve Police (IRP) were shot at by militants from point blank range in Handwara town of Kashmir valley on March 2. They were carrying non-lethal arms at the time.
“The policy need to be reviewed,’’ Mr Sharma said.
“We will discuss it (disarming of Police and CRPF under SOP) in the Cabinet meeting. I think there is a need to re-visit this policy once again— it is needed to be reviewed”, Mr Sharma said.
Sharma was replying to the volley of questions about disarming of CRPF and policemen and making them targets of the militants in Kashmir valley, revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the happenings in the State Assembly over Afzal Guru issue.
Commenting on revocation of AFSPA, the Minister said: “If we say militancy from Jammu and Kashmir has been wiped out— but this type of incident (Yesterday’s fidayeen attack) showed that militancy has not been fully stamped out from J&K”.
“I condemn the fidayeen attack on security forces— I do not feel our forces- Army and Para-military forces- are demoralised— our jawans are brave and they are moving forward (to stamp out terrorism)”, Mr Sharma said.
Replying to the question on opposition and ruling National Conference raising the issue of Afzal Guru in the House, he said “State is moving towards political bankruptcy— may be I am also coming in it”.
He further said: “as the elections are coming close— we are doing issue based politics— the situation that is emerging in Jammu and Kashmir, the political people are undermining it”.
Replying to the another question about politics being done by PDP and NC on selective deaths on the basis of religion, he said “yesterday’s killings which took place in Kashmir— death is a death— we should in totality condemn all of them— If we take these issues on the basis of caste, creed and religion, I condemn it”.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 14: The National Conference today said the ball was in the court of PDP on returning to the Assembly after yesterday’s decision to boycott the House for rest of the session over Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s decision not to return the mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.
Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir raised the issue in the Assembly saying it was a matter of concern for the Legislative Assembly that single largest opposition party was not present in the House.
“The House should send a request to the PDP that it was not proper for them to boycott the entire session. The PDP should reconsider their decision in the interest of democracy’’, Mr Mir said.
PHE Minister and Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma, endorsing the view point of Mr Mir, said he himself and on behalf of his party urge the PDP to participate in proceedings of the Assembly session and raise the issues of problems faced by the people.
Rural Development Minister and National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar said they have repeatedly been asking the PDP to play responsible role of the opposition party.
“Whenever the Chief Minister speaks in the House, they walk-out’’, Mr Sagar said, adding the ball was in their court on returning to the House.
“It was the task of opposition to keep the Government on tenterhooks and not to boycott the session. The opposition is backbone of democracy. They should understand their role’’, he added.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saifullah Mir said the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which met yesterday was not aware then whether the PDP had boycott the full remaining budget session or for a day.
“The BAC decided to ascertain the position and meet again to devise a strategy on talks with the Opposition party’’, Mr Mir said.

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 14: In a surgical operation, police this evening arrested a Pakistani militant who they suspect was an associate of the two Fidayeen who carried out an attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Bemina locality of Srinagar and killed 5 of them and injured 10 others.
Inspector General of Police, Abdul Gani Mir confirmed arrest of a Pakistani militant from Chattabal area of Srinagar but didn’t confirm his involvement in the Fidayeen attack at Bemina. “We are questioning him and trying to find out details of his activities”, he added.
Police and Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police this evening cordoned off Chattabal area of Srinagar and arrested a Pakistani militant identified as Riyaz Ahmad alias Abu Talha.
Police sources said that Abu Talha has been taken to SOG headquarters Srinagar for questioning. He was arrested from the house of one Ghulam Nabi, a visually challenged person and a pistol which he had concealed in a wardrobe of the house was recovered from him.
Sources said that Abu Talha travelled to Narbal in the Northern outskirts of Srinagar in a Sumo around 15 hours before the Fidayeen attack took place at Bemina and received the two Fidayeen. “The duo stayed with him in Chattabal for the night and in the morning he dropped them at Bemina where they carried out the attack”, police sources added.
The sources said that the two Fidayeen who were killed at Bemina were Pakistani nationals and had infiltrated into Kashmir valley recently. “They were in Pattan area of Baramulla district before they came to Srinagar on Tuesday night for carrying out the attack”, sources added.
Bodies of the two Fidayeen have not been buried yet and Police may take their DNA samples before their burial. Police sources said that no one claimed the bodies yet and it clearly indicates that they are Pakistani nationals.
Police besides recovering medicine of Pakistan make had recovered 2 AK-47 rifles, 5 AK magazines, 60 AK rounds, 2 Chinese pistol, 2 pistol rounds, 1 UBGL, 3 UBGL grenades, 4 hand grenades and 2 pouches from the encounter site.
Police sources said that the medicine of Pakistani make suggested that the duo had infiltrated into Kashmir recently. Sources said that the duo was part of a group of 9 militants who have recently infiltrated into Kashmir to carry out targeted attacks.

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: India today reacted sharply to the resolution passed by Pakistan Parliament to condemn the hanging of terrorist Afzal Guru, saying it was “highly improper” with Foreign Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid tersely asking Islamabad not to dabble in internal matters of this country.
“They should address matters of their own country. They should let us address the matters of our country,” Khurshid told reporters when asked about the resolution.
Trying to fish in troubled waters, Pakistan’s National Assembly today passed a resolution condemning the hanging of Parliament attack convict Guru and demanded the return of his body to his family.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath also said that India has taken the step to hang Guru as per its law.
“India, as a responsible country, is doing things constitutionally, and as per the law. For the Parliament of Pakistan to pass such a resolution is highly improper,” he said.
The National Assembly or Lower House of Pakistani Parliament today passed a resolution moved by Jamiat Ulema- e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who heads a special Parliamentary Panel on Kashmir.
Besides condemning the hanging of Guru, the resolution expressed concern at the situation created in Jammu and Kashmir by the execution.
Guru was hanged and buried within Tihar Jail in Delhi on February 9.
BJP today strongly condemned Pakistan Parliament’s resolution demanding handing over of Afzal Guru’s body to his relatives and said this proves the neighbouring country is a “terror State” where its own Lower House legitimises terrorism.
“BJP would like to say that the world needs no confirmation now that Pakistan is a terror State and Pakistan Parliament pleads for terrorists. It is a failed State and the resolution should be condemned in no uncertain words by every country across the world,” party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters.
He said Pakistan had harboured Osama-bin Laden, responsible for the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre, in the backyard of a military camp.
“Pakistan has no business to pass such a resolution in its Parliament and interfere in the internal matters of India. This act of Pakistan Parliament deserves the severest condemnation,” he said.
“The world needs to understand that Pakistan is the den and source of world terror where its Parliament itself legitimises terror,” Rudy said.
In Islamabad, trying to fish in troubled waters, Pakistan’s Parliament today passed a resolution condemning the hanging of Afzal Guru and demanded the return of his body to his family.
Two days before it completes its five-year term, the National Assembly or Lower House of Parliament passed the resolution moved by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who heads a special Parliamentary Panel on Kashmir.
Besides condemning the hanging of Guru, 2001 Parliament attack convict, the resolution expressed concern at the situation created in Jammu and Kashmir by the execution.
The House called for Guru’s body to be handed over to his family. Guru was hanged and buried within Tihar Jail in Delhi in February.
His execution triggered protests in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan-based terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have vowed to take revenge for the hanging.
The Parliamentary resolution further said the international community should not remain as silent spectators in efforts to find a solution to the Kashmir dispute.
It said steps should be taken to implement the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions on the Kashmir issue.
The resolution called for an end to alleged killings in Jammu and Kashmir and the removal of the Army from towns and cities of the Kashmir Valley.
It further said all prisoners should be freed, “black laws” repealed and curfew withdrawn from the region.
The resolution also said authorities should end curfew, lift a “blackout” of the media and free jailed Kashmiri leaders and youth.
There should be no restrictions on religious activities and international human rights groups should be allowed to visit Jammu and Kashmir, the resolution said.
It contended that the Kashmiri people were engaged in a movement for their right to self-determination.
The House said Kashmiris were “not alone in this movement as the whole of Pakistan was with them’.
The resolution reiterated Pakistan’s diplomatic, political and moral support for the Kashmiri people.
It further contended that the Kashmir region was a disputed area and not an “internal issue of India”. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Mar 14:Amid the Government’s keenness to enact a tough law to tackle crimes against women, the Union Cabinet today cleared a bill providing for stringent punishment for rape, acid attack, stalking and voyeurism besides reducing the age of consent for sex to 16 years.
The approval of the Cabinet paves the way for introduction of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013 in Parliament before it goes into recess on March 22, which is necessary as it will have to replace an Ordinance which will expire on April four.
The bill, brought against the backdrop of the December 16 Delhi gang-rape, provides for minimum jail term of 20 years for rape which may be extended to ‘natural life’ of the convict in jail or even death if the victim dies or is left in a ‘persistent vegetative State’.
The bill also provides for lowering the age of consent for sex from 18 to 16 years, one of the contentious provisions which held up the proposed legislation briefly and had to be referred to a Group of Ministers for consensus.
The Ordinance had maintained the consent age as 18 years.
The bill also uses the term ‘rape’ which will be gender- specific, in contrast to the gender-neutral ‘sexual assault’ as proposed in the ordinance. This means only men can be booked for the crime.
Stalking and voyeurism have been defined as criminal offences in the bill. Sustained stalking will be a non- bailable offence.
The bill had divided the Cabinet at its special meeting on Tuesday and was referred to a GoM to sort out differences on various aspects of the proposed law.
The GoM finalised the draft yesterday amidst the Government’s keenness to expedite the bill that will replace an ordinance promulgated on February 3.
The measure, on the lines of the ordinance, has not touched on the issue of making marital rape a separate offence.
Against the backdrop of parties like the Samajwadi Party having serious reservations on certain provisions of the ordinance claiming they are prone to misuse, the Government has convened an all-party meeting next week to discuss the bill cleared by the Cabinet today. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 14: Body of Chamel Singh, a prisoner who was beaten to death in Kot Lakhpat Rai jail at Lahore, Pakistan on January 15, was cremated at his native village at Bhalwal Molu in Pargwal area of Akhnoor tehsil this afternoon after post-mortem was conducted on the body at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu this morning.
A Board of Doctors comprising Deepa Hans from Forensic Medicines, Dr Shehzad Qureshi from Medicines, Dr Mohammad Farooq from Orthopedics, Dr Vikrant from Surgery and Dr Sindhu Sharma from Pathology under the supervision of Forensic Medicines HoD and Professor Bhupesh Khajuria conducted the post-mortem in the GMC Jammu and handed over the body to the family members.
Sources said the doctors through diplomatic channels would seek first post-mortem report from Jinnah hospital in Lahore before giving their opinion on reasons behind the death of Chamel Singh.
Meanwhile, people held protest demonstration and burnt Pakistani flags during cremation of Chamel Singh at Bhalwal Molu this afternoon. Shops in the area remained close during cremation.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 14: Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir valley were put under strict curfew today after the killing of a man in Srinagar’s old city area in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing yesterday. Barring few incidents of stone pelting and protests situation across remained peaceful.
Curfew was imposed in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, Sopore, Pulwama, Pampore, Awantipora, Tral, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Mattan, Kulgam and Shopian towns as authorities apprehended trouble in Kashmir valley in the aftermath of killing of a man in Srinagar.
Altaf Ahmad, a close associate of Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul and worker of ruling National Conference was killed as CRPF men fired after they came under stone pelting attack in Zoonimar area of Srinagar yesterday.
Major roads across Kashmir were blocked with steel barricades and coils of concertina razor wire to prevent any movement of vehicles and people. However, in Civil lines areas of Srinagar police deployed at the barricades allowed movement of people and vehicles who were facing emergencies.
Defying curfew, protests and clashes were reported from Hajin and Bandipora in North Kashmir where protesters pelted stones on a Police Chowki and Army Goodwill School. Police charged batons and fired tear some to disperse the protestors.
Protests and clashes were reported from Khanpora Bridge and Cement Bridge in Baramulla town during curfew. Protesters pelted stones on security forces leading to clashes. Police and CRPF fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
In Kralkhud Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara protesters who were marching on the streets were intercepted by police and CRPF leading to stone pelting and clashes. Police and CRPF fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
Stone pelting was also reported from Langate in Handwara in Kupwara district, however, the youth were chased away by police.
A police spokesman said here today that situation remained largely peaceful throughout the Kashmir valley, though there were isolated incidents of stone pelting at few places.
“Miscreants pelted stones at Kurhama, Badergund in Ganderbal and Safakadal in Srinagar. Police and security forces exercised maximum restraint while dealing with the law and order situations. Eight police personnel were injured during these incidents”, police spokesman said.
Both the factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Omar Farooq had called for strike today against killing of a man in Srinagar. Sensing trouble, authorities had put Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir valley under strict curfew.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 14: Lt. Gen. K. T. Parnaik, Northern Army Commander, called on Governor, N N Vohra at Raj Bhavan, here this evening.
During their meeting, the Governor and the Northern Army Commander discussed issues relating to the obtaining internal and external security situation.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 14: The State Cabinet, which is meeting here at 6 pm tomorrow under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was likely to order a major reshuffle in the police administration as four IGPs including IGP Kashmir SM Sahai and IGP Jammu Dilbagh Singh are being promoted to the rank of Additional DGPs.
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that IG CID Dr B Srinivas was likely to continue on the same post.
IGP Crime Abdul Gani Mir, who was yesterday asked to officiate as IGP Kashmir by the Government after SM Sahai proceeded on leave, was likely to be confirmed on the same post after the elevation of Mr Sahai as ADGP even though the names of IGP Traffic Munir Khan and IGP SJM Gilani were also under consideration for the post.
For the post of IGP Jammu, the probable included all three direct IPS officers including Deepak Kumar, IG Vigilance, Hemant Lohia, Director Special Security Group (SSG) and Rajesh Kumar, DIG Baramulla range to be promoted as IGP tomorrow.
In the event of Abdul Gani Mir being confirmed as IGP Kashmir, Mr Gilani, who had worked with the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) could be posted as IGP Crime Branch.
A Regular Recruit (RR) could be posted as SSP Jammu, a post that was lying vacant since January 31 after the retirement of Prabhat Singh. The post of SSP Kishtwar was also vacant as Bhim Sen Tooty had proceeded on deputation.
Sources said four IGPs including VK Singh, IGP CIV, IGP Kashmir SM Sahai, IGP Jammu Dilbagh Singh and IGP Personnel/Training, Police Headquarters Sheikh Owais would be posted as Additional DGPs, leading to a reshuffled at the level of Additional DGPs and IGPs.