M A I N   N E W S

3 ballistic missiles found in Rajouri
Bijbehara curfew goes

JAMMU, April 8 (PTI) — For the first time in the decade-long militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, three ballistic missiles have been found by the security forces from a militant hideout in the higher reaches of Rajouri district here, official sources said today.

Elsewhere, four militants were killed in Udhampur and Rajouri districts of Jammu Division and arms, ammunition and explosives recovered from different militant hideouts since yesterday.

The BSF on specific information launched a search operation in the higher reaches of Rajouri early yesterday under the command of DIG, G.S. Shikawat and busted four hideouts near Kunda, Dudan, Balla and Gai Chopatta villages.

Recoveries from these hideouts included three 107 mm ballistic missiles, 27 fuses, a missile launcher, 40 bombs, two anti-tank rifles grenades, 14 shell grenades, 29 kgs RDX, six RPG rockets along with five rocket boosters.

The BSF also shot dead two foreign mercenaries identified as Abu Bilal and Bilal Afghani of the Hizbul-Mujaheedin Peer Panjal group at Launcha village in Udhampur district.

Two militants were shot dead by the Army in Dudassan area of Rajouri district.

Pakistani troops shelled several areas in the Keran sector throughout the night, forcing the Indian troops to retaliate, official sources said here today.

There was no report of loss of life or damage to property in the exchange of fire at Titwall, Tad, Tangdhar and Keran, the sources said.

The body of Ghulam Mohammad Kooli, who was kidnapped by militants a few days back, was recovered today from Anantnag district with the throat slit.

Curfew was lifted in Bijbehara town and relaxed in Dooru town of Anantnag this morning, but the restrictions in Brakpora, imposed after Monday’s police firing that claimed eight lives, continued.

Vehicles have begun plying in Srinagar and other district towns in Kashmir. However, the curfew restrictions imposed in the wake of the police firing at Brakpora on Monday continued without relaxation in Anantnag town of south Kashmir for the sixth consecutive day today.

The Hurriyat Conference said exhumation and subsequent identification of the bodies of five civilians at Pathribal yesterday had negated the government claim that these were of militants involved in the Chatti Singhpora massacre.

“This would serve as an eye-opener for the rest of the world”, acting Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said.

He claimed the Chatti Singhpora massacre could not have been the handiwork of a pro-movement group or individuals.

Anantnag SSP suspended
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, April 8 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the suspension of Senior Superintendent of Police, Anantnag, Farooq Khan, and SHO Gazanfar Syed of Acchhabal.

An official spokesman said here the suspension orders had been issued today in view of the government decision to hold a judicial inquiry into the incident at Brakpora on April 3 in which at least eight persons were killed and several injured in police firing.

The state government has already appointed Mr S.R. Pandian, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, to probe the killing of eight persons at Bulbul Nowgam-Brakpora on April 3.

The incident took place when a procession of over 2000 people from various villages in Acchhabal area was proceeding towards Anantnag town to protest against the “disappearance” of five persons on March 25.