M A I N   N E W S

Bid on DSP’s life; minister’s house bombed

SRINAGAR, Jan 13 (PTI) — Militants attacked the house of Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar and made a bid on the life of a police officer in Jammu and Kashmir, where six militants were among eight persons killed in separate incidents since last night.

Pro-Pakistan Al-umer-Mujahideen ultras hurled two grenades at the house of Minister for Works at Nawab Bazar in downtown Srinagar last night, the second such attack on a Minister’s house in the past three days in the state, official sources said here today.

Sagar was not in his house when the grenades exploded, they said, adding that no one was injured.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Vinay Kumar Gupta escaped unhurt when militants detonated a landmine at Palhalan in north Kashmir this morning, damaging his vehicle.

Gupta’s bodyguards travelling in the vehicle also escaped unhurt in the explosion, which took place around 11 a.m.

Two Lashker-e-Toiba militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Surankote in Jammu region’s Poonch district.

The slain ultras hailed from Afghanistan, the sources said, adding some arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene.

Two militants were killed in a gunbattle with Rashtriya Rifles at Turkpora in Kupwara. One of the killed ultras was identified as Abu Syed Mayam of Pakistan.

A Pakistani intruder was killed when Army troops foiled an infiltration bid in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.

A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Dhoke village in Poonch district while a village chowkidar, who was kidnapped by militants, was found murdered in Doda district. One body was recovered in the Hatmurah forest area of Anantnag district. Tension gripped the area as residents alleged he was killed by security forces.

Militants hurled a grenade at a security bunker at Sarafkadal here last night, but there was no loss of life or damage to property.

Our Correspondent adds from Jammu: The Army foiled yet another infiltration bid by the militants when one militant was killed in Nowshera sector in Rajouri district on Saturday.

A patrol party suspecting movement in the dense bushes challenged the intruders. In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed while others escaped. The Army did not suffer any casualty.

Kidnapped boy found murdered
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Jan 13 — The body of six-year-old Amit, who went missing on Thursday afternoon from his residence in the Kote Alamagir area in the old city, was recovered from the desolate and dilapidated building of the Old Jail here today.

Amit had apparently been murdered by the kidnappers.

The Station House Officer of the Police Station Division Number 2, Inspector Randhir Singh, has been placed under suspension. It was by chance that the body was found, when some children who were following a kite saw the body lying in one of the rooms and informed the police.

According to the local people, it took the police more than an hour to recover the body, although the spot is not more than 100 metres away from the police station.

While the police had claimed to have launched a massive manhunt to trace the missing boy, his body was found late in the evening from near the Police Station only. The Old Jail complex is hardly 100 metres from the police station.

The body was taken to the Civil Hospital for a postmortem, which would be performed tomorrow.

Apparently, the boy has been strangulated to death. No clothes were found on his body. His sweater was seen tied around his neck with a knot on it.

As the news of his murder spread, people came out of their houses and rushed to Civil Hospital.

The parents of Amit were too shocked and stunned to react to the tragedy. They have another son and three daughters.

Heart-rending scenes were witnessed at their residence.

Earlier during the day, a massive demonstration was held against the police inaction at the Jagraon Bridge on the G T Road. People shouted slogans against the police. They demanded that the Old jail building which was serving as a hideout for criminals and anti-social elements be demolished.

The relatives of Amit, who are in the shoe business, maintained that they did not suspect the involvement of anyone in particular as they did not have enmity with anyone. However, about two weeks ago, the 10-year-old son of their servant was kidnapped. But he was let off with minor injuries in his hands and eyes.

The police is working on the theory that the same people may have kidnapped Amit this time as earlier they had mistaken the servant's son to be Amit.

About 200 persons gathered outside the Civil Hospital. They were demanding the arrest of the culprits and were angry over the police inaction during the two days.

Senior police officers visited the aggrieved parents and assured them that the guilty would be immediately brought to the book.

While the police officers announced that the SSP Ludhiana had ordered the suspension of the SHO for his negligence, the people felt that it was an eyewash only.

Despite the cold and darkness, hundreds of people staged a dharna again at the Jagraon bridge on the GT Road, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits.