J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

4 CRPF men killed in group clash
JAMMU, Jan 7 — Four CRPF personnel were killed and two others were wounded when a fight broke out in a CRPF picket at Rambagh at Srinagar late last night. Those killed have been identified as Head Constable K.K. Pandey, Head Constable Maan Singh, constable K.L. Budhi and constable Popinder Ram.

Govt-staff talks fail
JAMMU, Jan 7 — The three-hour meeting between the cabinet sub-committee and the representatives of the state government employees union today failed to end the 17-day-long strike by the Government employees.

Huge cache of explosives seized
SRINAGAR, Jan 7 — Militants’ plan to disrupt Republic Day functions in the city was foiled with the recovery of a huge cache of explosives from an abandoned hideout here today.

4 CRPF men killed in group clash
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 7 — Four CRPF personnel were killed and two others were wounded when a fight broke out in a CRPF picket at Rambagh at Srinagar late last night.

Those killed have been identified as Head Constable K.K. Pandey, Head Constable Maan Singh, constable K.L. Budhi and constable Popinder Ram.

When people heard some gun shots it was presumed that :Fidayeen" had stormed the CRPF camp and killed security personnel. Even some official agencies told newsmen in the morning that three "Fidayeen had stormed the CRPF camp. While one provided fire cover from outside the gate two barged in the camp killing four CRPF personnel on the spot. After the task was executed the three escaped.

The police got suspicious as CRPF personnel did not cordon off the area which is normally done and there was no heavy firing even after the incident. Investigations later revealed that two groups of the CRPF personnel had an altercation after which one jawan open fired killing four of his colleagues and wounding two others.

Empty bullets had been recovered and it was further confirmed that they were fired from the service gun belonging to the CRPF.

Senior CRPF and police officers rushed to the spot and so far four CRPF jawans had been taken into custody for investigations.

However, a report from Srinagar said CRPF men who were witness to the scene confirmed the attack and said the militants managed to escape.

Meanwhile a large quantity of arms and ammunition has been recovered from the house of Maulvi Aslam, Imam of a mosque in Barakanna village in Rajouri in the past two days. The recovery includes 600 MM mortar, four mortar bombs, 12 bombs, AK-grenade launchers, 14 rifle grenades, 36 hand grenades and other explosives.

It is learnt that a group of militants tried to force 30 residents of the village to carry the arms and ammunition. When they refused they were beaten up and one was killed. The militants later took shelter in the house of the maulvi where they stocked the weapons and ammunition.
The police is investigating into the matter.

Govt-staff talks fail
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 7 — The three-hour meeting between the cabinet sub-committee and the representatives of the state government employees union today failed to end the 17-day-long strike by the Government employees.

The employees have been on strike in protest against the delay in releasing two instalments of DA and the arrears of the wage hike under the Fifth Pay Commission which would cost the State Government Rs 400 crore. The State Government explained to the employees leaders that since the State was faced with serious financial crisis it was not possible for it to concede the employees demands in one go.

At today’s meeting the members of the cabinet sub-committee offered two sops. First, the amount on account of two instalments of DA would be credited to the Provident Fund of the employees who could draw it after one year. Second, 20 per cent of the arrears of the Fifth Pay Commission would be released.

The employees representatives rejected the offer and decided not to call off the strike till January 15.

The State Law Minister, Mr P.L. Handoo, appealed to the employees to call off the strike. Work in Government offices and hospitals remained paralysed.

Huge cache of explosives seized

SRINAGAR, Jan 7 (PTI) — Militants’ plan to disrupt Republic Day functions in the city was foiled with the recovery of a huge cache of explosives from an abandoned hideout here today.

The explosives, weighing about 150 kg, were recovered by the Srinagar unit of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police in Bemina locality of the city, SP in-charge of the SOG, Srinagar, Manohar Singh said.

Concealed in three gunny-bags, the explosives were brought into Srinagar from the border district of Kupwara and was to be used by militants for causing large-scale disturbances on the eve of Id festival and the Republic Day celebrations, the police officer said.

The hideout, abandoned by militants, was raided following special information gathered by local intelligence early today.

The group, which had managed to smuggle in the explosive had, however, left the hideout before the police raid, he said.

The seizure comes close on the heels of a powerful blast at vegetable market, in close vicinity of Bemina locality of the city, on January 3 that left 16 persons killed and 38 wounded.

This is also being considered as the first major success of the SOG after militants stormed their headquarter at Haftchinar in the last week of December and engaged the cops in a 24-hour-long encounter which left three militants and 11 security personnel dead.