Strange are the ways of the world. Is it conceivable that leadership prompting and backing solution of Kashmir issue through armed insurgency would need to be protected against their own gun-totting boys? Yes, precisely that is the situation. Their handlers have made substantive investment in effectively brainwashing militant cadres. They knew that local leadership will reason out many actions of the militants and seek their jurisprudence. This means that in the e chemistry of mentors and handlers, Kashmir leadership was to be held under siege; in fact the jurisprudence of violence as such had to be held under siege. The militants had to be the law unto them.
Truth became the first casualty of Kashmir insurgency. This happened partly owing to the dynamics of armed insurgency and partly to the machinations of sponsors of terrorism. There is no doubt that insurgents carried out disinformation campaign with remarkable success. Contradicting the truth and belying the facts are the articles of faith for a militant. Entire campaign is shrouded in a plethora of falsehood and it is made pervasive through make-believe process.
APHC emerged in 1992 as the voice of Kashmir dissident segment. It may have been amenable to undoing of status quo in Kashmir, but till date it has never been clear about the proposition of gun as the option of carrying forward the battle for “aazaadi”. In other words, the Hurriyat has always been sceptic about the fecundity of the gun to deliver the goods. That is why in the course of its two decade long history, the APHC could not openly declare itself either the diehard protagonist or antagonist of gun as the arbiter. All that it said was nothing more than aphorismic appreciation for conditional talks. The APHC could never muster courage to give a call for abandoning the gun and violence as the means of attaining any goal. In doing so, the organization created an impression in the minds of militant cadres that it had licensed their option of arbitration by the gun. This is the cumbersome baggage weighing on the conscience of introspective faction of Hurriyat leadership. Its first reverberations were suspected in the view of Abdul Ghani Lone and later on in subjective expressions of the former APHC President, Maulavi Abbas Ansari. Now, in the judgement of Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat, again a former Chairman of APHC, UN Resolutions on Kashmir —Hurriyat’s self-styled magical wand to unlock Kashmir juggernaut— are not implementable. This updated thinking causes confusion to the indoctrinated cadres among the dissidents and makes the position of their external handlers only vulnerable.
When a state is activated to provide security to the life of a leader, it does not take into account the ideology to which the leader subscribes. That is politics, and politics in a democracy is the life-line of that polity. The state is enjoined by the constitution to provide security of life to a threatened person. The foremost human right, as enshrined in the UN Charter of Human Rights is the right to life. The state has to secure that right for a citizen. It is in the light of this fact that the Government is under obligation to provide highest security to the moderate and rational segments of leadership. The point is not whether a public leader has or has not asked for security. The Government has to discharge its constitutional obligation, especially when it knows that the life of a leader is under threat. It is for the security establishment of the state to see to it that full proof security is provided in whatever way advisable.
One has to be positive in reacting to government’s alertness in beefing up security for the moderate elements of APHC. This is a forewarning to the security establishment as well as the underground militant organizations that they cannot take things lying low. People are now getting convinced that moderate and saner elements among the leaders of the movement should be fully protected so that the voice of sanity is not stifled. They are realising the damage done to the cause of peace and normalcy in Kashmir by those who unleashed the gun. Had not the handlers and militants conspired to snatch away leaders like Maulana Masudi, Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq, Abdul Ghani Lone and others, history of Kashmir would have been different today. Our appeal to militant leadership within and outside the sphere of APHC is that this is a moment of introspection and self-evaluation. Individuals can be liquidated but not the ideas not the truth. The truth must prevail —- satayameva jayati.
Security overt and covert
Revised package for KP migrants likely to get Cabinet nod on June 20
* After nod proposal to be sent to MHA
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 17: State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday morning, will accord approval to the proposal of the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department for modification in the Prime Minister’s Package for Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit (KP) migrants. Following the Cabinet nod, State Government would approach the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for necessary action to meet the aspirations of the migrants community.
Authoritative sources in the General Administration Department (GAD) told EXCELSIOR that as per the decision already taken by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, this time State Cabinet is meeting at Gurez, one of the remotest corners of the State, at around 12.30 pm on June 20.
“The Cabinet will consider the proposal of the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department for modifications in the PM’s Package for Return and Rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Pandit migrants as per the aspirations of the migrant community”, sources said.
“The necessity to carry out modifications in the package was brought to the notice of Union Ministry of Home Affairs by the State Government in the recent past and while giving positive indications the Union Government asked the State Government to get the same prepared in consultation with the migrants community”, sources further said.
Accordingly, the matter was taken up by the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla with the Apex Committee of the KPs’ representatives and after thorough discussion the proposal was approved.
“Now the matter is being placed before the State Cabinet and following its approval the same will be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for final decision”, sources said.
In the proposal of the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department, which has also received the nod of the Apex Committee of KPs’ representatives, it has been recommended that the incentives for construction and renovation of the houses should be enhanced from Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh keeping in view escalation in the prices of construction material, sources said.
Similarly, it has also been recommended that financial assistance for repair and renovation of the dilapidated and un-used houses should be enhanced from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, sources added.
As per the proposal, the incentives of Rs 7.5 lakh for purchase/ construction of houses in Group Housing Society in favour of those KP migrants who sold their property after 1989 and before the enactment of J&K Migrants Immovable Property (Preservation and Protection) Act of 1997, should be enhanced to Rs 20 lakh. Moreover, it has been recommended in the proposal that such benefit should also be extended to those migrants, who sold their land or property after coming into force of this Act.
The Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department proposal has further suggested that the cost of transit accommodation should be enhanced from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh for the construction of each dwelling unit on an area of 515 square feet instead of already approved area of 240 square feet, sources informed.
It has also been recommended that monthly cash relief should be enhanced from Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000 subject to maximum of Rs 2500 per head per family. Moreover, this relief should be continued at the same rate at least for two years even on return of migrants to Valley, sources said, adding “in the proposal one time financial assistance for restoration of orchards has been recommended at Rs 15,000 per kanal with the maximum ceiling of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10,000 per kanal with the maximum ceiling of Rs 3 lakh for agriculture land”.
“The State Government is also going to recommend that financial assistance should be provided to the KP migrants for the revival of those industrial units, which were set-up before migration”, sources said.
More cops may be involved, some officers under vigil
Central agencies given access of arrested policemen
Sanjeev Pargal/PTI
JAMMU/New Delhi, June 17: As police continued interrogation of four arrested police personnel amidst preliminary investigations that nearly a dozen constables could be directly involved in the militancy in Srinagar, the arrests had also caused concern to Central security agencies, which suspected that the constables might have been involved in gun-running and extortion. In view of their concern, police officers have provided access of all four constables to Central security and Intelligence agencies.
“We have provided access to all Central security and Intelligence agencies of four arrested constables though it was the Jammu and Kashmir police which blew the cover over this,” police spokesman said.
Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra said so far involvement of none of the senior officers has surfaced.
There had been reports that some police officers of the Kashmir valley might have facilitated the nexus between constables and Hizbul Mujahideen militants. Sources said detailed investigations into cop-militants nexus would open a pandora box as several senior and middle rung officers besides the police constables could be involved in it. The nexus was running for past quite sometime, they added.
Official sources confirmed that the police personnel had provided SIM cards to the militants in addition to specific information about deployment of police and CRPF in Srinagar City. The constables had been frequently changing their mobile phone numbers while passing on the information to Hizbul Mujahideen militants.
While three police personnel-Mohammad Abbas, Riaz Ahmad and Mohammad Ilyas were arrested yesterday morning, another constable, Mukhtiar Sheikh was arrested late last night on their disclosures. All of them were being interrogated by senior police officers after registration of a case against them at Shergarhi police station in Srinagar.
Sources said some recent attacks on the CRPF personnel by the militants could have been the result of information supplied to latter by the police constables.
Sources said Mukhtiar Sheikh was detained in the aftermath of 26/11 attacks in Mumbai for supplying SIM cards to Lashkar-e-Toiba militants. But the case was dropped against him later on the ground that he was trying to infiltrate into the terror group.
The constable ran short of luck when two of his other colleagues were picked up for interrogation after their conversation with members of banned Hizbul Mujahideen militants operating in Tral area of South Kashmir, sources said.
Besides Sheikh, those arrested were Mohammed Abbas, Riaz Ahmed and Mohammad Ilyas all of them have been booked under Section 10 (being member of an unlawful organisation), Section 13 (any form of assistance in unlawful activity) and Section 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Shergarhi police station.
Sources in the Central security and Intelligence agencies said attempts to question the constables immediately had earlier been turned down by the Jammu and Kashmir Police prompting them to send a detailed note to the Union Home Ministry explaining the ramification of the case which includes a possible involvement of some senior police officials.
However, this evening, police provided access of all four police constables to Central Security and Intelligence agencies to ensure that they too quiz the cops independently to ascertain extent of their involvement in terror arracks in Srinagar City and other areas.
The sources said that CRPF, which is assisting the Jammu and Kashmir Police in internal security duty in the state, also wanted to question the constables amidst allegations that they could have played active role in May 30 firing on its picket near Shiraz Cinema in downtown that left seven jawans injured. The CRPF has also been provided access of the constables, they added.
CRPF Director General K Vijay Kumar was briefed about the developments after which a request was forwarded for custodial questioning of the four accused constables, the sources said.
According to the sources, the four constables were allegedly helping Hizbul Mujahideen militants in reviving the militancy within the Valley as it was getting really difficult for the militants to smuggle arms into Srinagar city.
Their role in other terror-related incidents that took place in the Srinagar city was being looked into, sources said.
They pointed out that police focus was on to ascertain identity of more police personnel, who were in touch with Hizbul Mujahideen militants and were helping them in one way or the other.
“Not only the arrested and other cops were leaking information to the militants about deployment of police and para-military personnel but were also providing SIM cards to them. As constables, they were able to get SIM cards easily, which they gave to the militants”, sources said, adding that the cops had also used some of the SIM cards to inter-act with the militants.
Some more arrests of police constables, civilians and militants were on the cards as police expected to crack the nexus in the next few days, sources said.
Worthwhile to mention here that involvement of the constables in the militancy had surfaced few days back after attempt on the life of a former Hizbul Mujahideen militant Ghulam Hassan Mir alias Shabnam at Saderbal, Hazratbal on June 7. Shabnam was shot at by five to six persons but he had survived the attack.
Investigations by the police revealed that all five to six persons involved in the attack on the life of Shabnam were police and CID constables, who were affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen and had carried out the attack on the instructions of one of their commanders.
“It was from this attack that police started tracking calls made in Saderbal area and finally zeroed-in on three constables”, sources said, adding their interrogation was expected to lead to more arrests of the constables of police and CID, who were involved in militancy.
Arrest of the police personnel came at a time when just little over a week was left for the start of annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath ji shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas.
Sources said the police constables were being subjected to sustained interrogation after their arrest and registration of a case against them following specific inputs about their links with the HM outfit and reports that many more police and CID personnel could also be involved in the anti-national activities.
Couple among 7 killed in accident on NH
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 17: Seven persons including a couple were killed in two tragic road accidents on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district on the intervening night of June 16 and 17.
Police spokesman said that five persons were killed when a truck loaded with Food Corporation of India (FCI) ration plunged into 500 feet deep gorge at Khooni Nullah under the jurisdiction of Ramban Police Station at around 2 am.
The ill-fated truck bearing registration number JK01H-6412 was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar when met with accident due to the negligence of the driver. The accident was noticed by some cops on duty in the area and operators of some vehicles, which were passing through the Khooni Nullah stretch of the National Highway at that time.
Soon after getting information about the accident, police personnel from Ramban Police Station, Quick Reaction Team (QRT) and volunteers of Red Cross swung into action and started rescue operation.
Though search lights were pressed into service yet exact position of the truck in the deep gorge could not be located and rescuers had to wait till the daybreak. After the dawn, the rescuers reached the bottom of the gorge and found all the five occupants of the truck dead.
Later, the bodies were brought out of the gorge and shifted to District Hospital Ramban. After post-mortem, the bodies were handed over to the legal heirs.
The deceased have been identified as Parvez Ahmed (driver), son of Barkat Ali, Aamir Hussain, son of Ghulam Mustafa, both the residents of Qazigund, Mohd Iqbal, son of Allah Rakha of Nagrota, Jammu, Farooq Ahmed and Rehmta Bibi, children of Mohd Qasim of Tanda, Reasi.
In another tragic accident on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, a couple got killed after their Indica car rolled down into 400 feet deep gorge at Chambalbas under the jurisdiction of Banihal Police Station at around 3 am.
The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK01N-1949 was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar when met with accident. The accident was noticed by Road Opening Party (ROP) of the Army, which immediately flashed the message to Banihal Police Station.
Accordingly, rescue teams swung into action and brought out the bodies of car occupants from the gorge.
The deceased have been identified as Abdul Majid, son of Wali Mohd of Tulsibagh, Srinagar and his wife Saleema Begum. Their bodies were handed over to their family members after post-mortem in the District Hospital Ramban.
“It seems that these accidents took place after drivers felt drowsiness because of night driving”, the police spokesman said
Two more jawans injured in heavy firing at KG
Tension again escalates on LoC
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 17: Further escalating tensions on the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan army continued firing for fourth day today in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district using heavy fire arms besides mortars and rockets.
Tomorrow’s weekly cross-LoC bus service on Poonch-Rawlakote route has been suspended while trade for four days next week was also doubtful. Pakistan authorities had refused to open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh cross-LoC point due to firing during last two days of trade previous week forcing traders of this side to call back their trucks from the zero line.
Meanwhile, additional troops have been moved to forward posts of Krishna Ghati sector from Mendhar to counter that heavy firing by Pakistani troops, which left two more Army soldiers injured-one during last night and another one today morning.
Official sources said Pakistan army resorted to heavy firing in Krishna Ghati sector from 10 pm to 12.30 am last night and 5.30 am to 10.30 am today. Pakistan Army used mortars, rockets, Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), heavy machine guns and other automatic fire arms in targeting Indian posts.
“We are trying to de-escalate tensions on the LoC. We called for even a flag meeting but Pakistan army refused. When out jawans were getting killed or injured, we were left with no option but to retaliated firing. However, our actions are very controlled but effective. We have been compelled to act to silence the Pakistani guns”, sources said.
Two Army jawans, who were injured in the firing, have been identified as Sepoy Kundan Singh and Raj Mohan Singh. While Kundan has sustained gun shots in his right hand, Raj Mohan was injured in the shoulder. Both of them have been evacuated from the site of firing and admitted in the Military Hospital. Their condition was stated to be stable.
Prior to this, one Army jawan was killed and three others were injured in firing by the Pakistani troops in the same sector.
Sources admitted that more troops have been deployed in Krishna Ghati sector but described this as a “routine process”.
Pakistani troops had started heavy firing on Indian positions in Krishna Ghati sector on June 13 and continued it till June 14. There was no firing on June 15. However, Pakistani troops resumed firing last night and continued it till this afternoon, violating ceasefire agreement of November 2002.
Besides firing at the LoC, Pakistan authorities had also refused to open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh on Thursday and Friday, two last days of four days weekly trade, in view of firing leading to return of the trucks sent from this side by the traders on Poonch-Rawlakote route.
The weekly cross-LoC bus service, which operates between Poonch and Rawlakote every Monday, has also been suspended for tomorrow following no response from PoK authorities at Chakan-Da-Bagh. In such a scenario, sources said, an uncertainty loomed large over cross-LoC trade of next week.
According to sources, Pakistan authorities had been claiming that their troops have suffered at least four casualties while some civilians have been injured in the forward areas in retaliatory firing by the troops from this side.
Militants may target moderate Hurriyat leaders
*Police asked to increase security
SRINAGAR, June 17:
Central security agencies have asked Jammu and Kashmir Police to tighten security around moderate Hurriyat Conference leaders especially its former chairman Abdul Gani Bhat amid reports that terrorists may carry out assassination attempts to vitiate the atmosphere.
A threat assessment was recently carried out for the separatist leaders in the Kashmir valley following intercepts that banned Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed were planning to carry out the killing so that the peaceful atmosphere is vitiated in the region, official sources said today.
Bhat recently sparked off a controversy in the valley saying that United Nation resolutions on Kashmir were irrelevant prompting angry protests from separatists like Shabir Shah and Nayem Khan. Bhat later denied having made such a statement.
According to the sources, Bhat, who has blamed Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit for the killing of his brother Mohammed Sultan Bhat in 1995, was the prime target of terror groups.
Despite the Hurriyat leader having given in writing turning down the security of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, officials from State and the Centre favoured increasing of “shadow” security cover to him.
Shadow security cover is provided to unwilling protectees with policemen picketing near the premises and also keeping a watch as well as frisking visitors.
Other Hurriyat leaders including its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq enjoy security cover. Bilal Lone and Maulana Abbas Ansari have been provided with personal security guards besides policemen at their homes. The Mirwaiz enjoys ‘Z’ category protection.
Militants in the past have vitiated the atmosphere by killing separatist leaders beginning with Mirwaiz Farooq, father of the present Hurriyat chairman, which was followed by assassination of brother of Bhat in 1995 and later of Abdul Gani Lone in 2002.
The sources said that an attempt could be made on the life of Shabir Shah and his close aide Nayeem Khan and Jammu and Kashmir Police had been asked to make a fresh assessment for them.
According to Jammu and Kashmir police, Hizbul Mujahideen was responsible for killing of Mirwaiz Farooq while Jaish-e-Mohammed was behind the killing of Lone. (PTI)
Bandipora tense, 30 labourers released; 24 still in custody
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 17: Bandipora town in North Kashmir observed shutdown for the second day today in protest against the alleged desecration of a holy Quran while police released 30 labourers, who were detained yesterday for questioning while 24 are still in custody.
Shops and business establishments in Bandipora town remained closed while traffic was off the roads. Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police was heavily deployed at sensitive places to foil any attempt of disturbance.
Although the situation was tense but it was under control and no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere.
Police had detained 54 labourers working with Border Roads Organisation, for questioning in connection with the incident and today they released 30 of them while 24 are still in their custody.
Tension gripped parts of Bandipora district yesterday following alleged desecration of the holy Quran by unidentified persons in remote Tragbal village.
A Defence spokesman said here that the BRO authorities are very sad and disturbed due to the incident which took place in Bandipora.”
“Chief Engineer of the BRO’s project Beacon has clarified and confirmed that no person of Beacon is involved in this incident. It may be the act of some miscreants to cause disharmony and disturbance in the peace loving State and same is strongly condemned,” the Defence spokesman said.
The spokesman said that it is not possible that any person of Beacon is involved in such deplorable incident. The incident was widely condemned by the leaders across Kashmir.
NDA defends Prez decision
NEW DELHI, June 17: The NDA today failed to firm up a position on the Presidential poll as it was divided over opposing UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee and there was lack of clarity on extending support to P A Sangma.
With an intention of using the Presidential poll to rope in parties like AIADMK and BJD and possibly Trinamool Congress, the main opposition BJP-led alliance decided at a meeting here that talks would be held with these parties to have a common candidate against Mukherjee.
At a two-hour meeting of the NDA which was skipped by Shiv Sena, JD-U leader Shivanand Tiwari is believed to disfavoured a contest against Mukherjee because of his stature, reflecting a divide in the coalition.
BJP leaders L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj were said to be of the opinion that there should be a contest but there was no consensus as to whether to support Sangma, who has been propped up by AIADMK and BJD, or Kalam, who is being pushed into the race by Trinamool Congress.
There was a strong view that supporting Sangma would help NDA win back AIADMK and BJD. However, to finetune this, talks should be held with leaders of these parties before any decision is reached, sources said.
The NDA coalition was also not clear whether Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee would agree to shunning Kalam and supporting Sangma.
After the meeting at BJP leader L K Advani’s residence, NDA convener Sharad Yadav told reporters, “Various leaders put forth their views in detail. More discussions are required in this regard to arrive at the right decision.
“L K Advani will talk to Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states and all others. NDA will meet sometime later again to take a decision in this regard. Those outside (Delhi) will also be consulted.”
JD-U chief and NDA convenor Sharad Yadav did make the point against contesting Mukherjee but he was not averse to going with the BJP should it persist with a fight in the Presidential election.
However, Tiwari, the other JD-U leader considered close to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, strongly opposed a contest. This is seen as an attempt by Nitish Kumar to keep his options open.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Mukherjee had called Kumar on Friday seeking JD-U’s support for the UPA candidate.
Tiwari, whose party JD-U shares power with BJP in Bihar, was clear that no strong purpose would be served by contesting against Mukherjee, a tall leader with vast experience in Government and Parliament, and more so when the UPA has a clear edge in the electoral college.
However, Advani and Swaraj are understood to have argued that Mukherjee should not go uncontested, especially in view of the Lok Sabha polls due two years hence.
The BJP is said to be keen on supporting Sangma so that the alliance could rope in parties like BJD and AIADMK that could be valuable in the next Lok Sabha elections.
Sources in NDA said that a decision will be taken with the objective of strengthening the NDA coalition.
They said that while wider consultations will be held with all the Chief Ministers of NDA, informal talks will be held with BJD leader and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Mamata, whose role has become very important in the Presidential elections.
“The objective is to ensure that NDA gets more strength before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls,” a source said.
The NDA is closely watching the evolving situation with respect to Sangma as to whether he will remain in the fray.
The NDA sources said there would be no point in announcing support for Sangma unless it was certain that he would continue to be in the race.
Sangma, on his part, cleared any doubts by underlining that he continues to be in the race and that he had talked to Mamata also to get her support.
“I appealed to her to support my candidature. She was insisting on Dr Kalam. I said Dr Kalam had opted out of the race, therefore, you should support (me),” he said.
BJP leaders felt Advani should stay in touch with Jayalalithaa and Patnaik.
Shiv Sena, the oldest ideological ally of the BJP, skipped the key meeting of alliance leaders here, triggering speculation that the party was opposed to a fight due to lack of numbers.
“Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray will take a decision on the issue,” said party leader Sanjay Raut, when asked about speculation that the Sena was against fielding any candidate against Pranab Mukherjee, UPAs Presidential nominee.
Shiv Sena had not backed former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in the Presidential poll last time despite BJP and several others in the alliance supporting him.
At that time, it had backed Pratibha Patil—she being the first Maharashtrian to be nominated for the top post of President. (PTI)
3 CRPF men hurt in grenade attack
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 17: Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured in a grenade attack on their picket in Sopore town in North Kashmir district of Baramulla today.
The grenade was hurled on a 179 Battalion of CRPF picket this morning. Three CRPF men were injured in the attack, one of them is critically. The militants managed to flee from the scene after carrying out the attack.
The injured were admitted to nearby hospital while security forces have launched an operation to track down the militants involved in attack.
Sopore is militancy infested area where maximum number of attacks have taken place during past several years. Security agencies say that conducive atmosphere and proximity to the LoC is the main reason for the survival of militancy in the area.
12 pilgrims among 18 hurt
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 17: At least 18 persons including a dozen Shahdara Sharief pilgrims were injured in two separate road accidents in district Rajouri today.
Reports said a mini-bus bearing registration No. JK-14/8413 which was carrying 13 pilgrims from Udhampur to Shahdara Sharief shrine at Thanna Mandi in Rajouri met head on collision with a bus No. JK-12/3750 coming from Rajouri to Jammu at Thanda Pani near Sunderbani today. The mini-bus after collision with the bus fell into a gorge.
Immediately after the mishap, the people from Jammu bound bus moved out and rushed for the rescue of the injured. The locals of the area also joined. The police party from Sunderbani later reached there receiving information. The injured were removed to Sunderbani hospital. Five seriously injured passengers were referred to GMC hospital Jammu after providing preliminary treatment. They were identified as Shriya Begum, driver Mohd Arif, Shabnam, Ghulam Fatima-all from Kawa in Udhampur and Jamal Din from Finder in Bishnah.
Those admitted to Sunderbani hospital are, Ghulam Mohammed, Ruksana Begum, Aqib Javed, Ghulam Ali, Ahmed Ali and Mumtaz Bano, all hailing from Kawa, Udhampur. Three of them were also later shifted to Jammu. They had left for Shahdara Sharief pilgrimage in the morning from Udhampur. A few passengers in the bus sustained minor bruises. The police has taken cognizance.
Meanwhile, five passengers were injured after an auto-rikshaw overturned on the road near Kadli bridge in Rajouri today. All the five injured identified as Zubeda Begum of Sathri village, Shamima Choudhary and Nasreena Begum from Palma and Zaitoon Begum and Nasreen from Nagrota were admitted to district hospital Rajouri. The driver managed to escape from the spot after mishap.
The police has registered a case against him.