The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, June 5, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

Four dead in blast at bus stand
Eleven intruders shot dead in encounters
Tribune News Service

A BSF jawan watching pedestrians after a grenade explosion at Batmaloo Bus Stand in central Srinagar in which four persons including two women were killed and 18 others were injured on Monday. — PTI photo

Srinagar, June 4
At least seven persons, including a BSF officer and four civilians, were killed and 18 injured in separate incidents of violence in the Kashmir valley since yesterday.

In other militancy-related incidents across the state, a junior engineer were among 13 persons killed.

Four civilians were killed and 14 injured when unidentified militants hurled a grenade at the bus stand in Batamaloo here this morning. Those killed included two women, the police said, adding that all four died on the spot.

At the time of the incident at 10.45 a.m., there was a heavy rush of commuters. Those killed were identified as Mohammad Yusuf of Pakharpora, Jana Begum and Ghulam Mohiuddin, all residents of Budgam district.

An officer of the Border Security Force (BSF), R.S. Ahlawat, CO, 41 BSF, Kokernag, was killed when militants fired at a patrol party in Ichoo, Gadole, near Kokernag area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir last night.

Officials here said the militants opened fire at the patrol party at 10.30 p.m. A bullet hit the officer. He succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital. The body was flown to Delhi today for being carried to his home in Rohtak, Haryana. A civilian was injured in the retaliatory fire.

A report from Baramula said a militant and a security jawan were killed in an encounter at Ashapora today.

The spokesman said militants shot dead a junior engineer associated with the PWD at Janglat Mandi in Anantnag district today. The slain was an activist of Awami League.

Two more militants were killed during search operations at Jungle and Kalaban sectors of Rajouri district today. The operations in the area were continuing.

Unidentified militants shot at and killed Mohammad Altaf of Murran at Kadlabal, Pampore in Pulwama district this afternoon.

An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Warun forests in Kupwara district during search operations.

JAMMU: At least 10 intruders, equipped with weapons and explosives, were killed in the Nowshehra sector of Rajouri district on Monday.

Another was killed in Poonch in an encounter with the security forces, a Defence Ministry official said.

Meham officer killed in J&K
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, June 4
Mr Rajinder Singh Ahlawat, officiating Commandant of 41st Bn, BSF, who was killed in an encounter with militants in the wee hours today at Anantnag (Kashmir), will be cremated tomorrow at his native village Kharkhara in Meham subdivision. Mr Ahlawat (36), a graduate from Government College, Chandigarh, joined the BSF in 1986, the year when his father, Major Raghbir Singh Ahlawat, retired.

Mr Rajinder Singh Ahlawat was commanding his battalion in the absence of the regular Commandant when he received orders to conduct ‘cordon and search operations’ in a village near Anantnag. He sustained a bullet injury in his chest during the ensuing cross-fire with the militants.

He succumbed to the injury while being taken to hospital. The body which will reach Palam by air will be taken to his native village for last rites.