M A I N   N E W S

Russia: hand over ultras to India
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 7
Russia today backed India’s stand that Pakistan must put its words on rooting out terrorism into action.

Visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov asked Pakistan to hand over terrorists and criminals sought by it and disarm terrorists groups operating on its soil to prove on ground its recent commitments to root out terrorism.

Saying that military action was not the best way of resolving the current situation between India and Pakistan, Mr Klebanov appreciated the restraint shown by New Delhi so far.

“We absolutely agree when India tells Pakistan to do something on ground to show its sincerity. We want that terrorists should be disarmed, punished and where cases were made out to hand them over to India,” he told reporters after signing the protocol of the eighth session of the Indo-Russian inter-governmental commission on trade and economic cooperation.

He said Russia always unequivocally supported India in its stand on Kashmir.

Mastermind behind grenade blasts held

Srinagar, February 7
The BSF today arrested the kingpin of the militant outfit, Kashmir Islamic Front, who is considered to be an expert in planting bombs and throwing grenades, frustrating the outfit’s plans to intensify attacks here.

Farooq Ahmed Beig, alias Javed, the self-styled chief organiser-cum-launching commander of the outfit, was arrested from his house at Aloochibagh here, Deputy Inspector General of BSF (Operations) Desh Raj told reporters here.

Beig is the cousin of Bilal Beig, chief commander of the outfit, presently in the occupied Kashmir.

Beig told his interrogators that the outfit had drawn up plans to escalate activities, particularly to trigger IED and grenade blasts in and around Srinagar, on the directions from mentors in Pakistan and the PoK, Mr Raj said. For the purpose they had received a consignment from Pakistan which was seized by the BSF, he said.

The outfit was involved in IED and grenade blasts in many places, including Kak Sarai, Naqas Chowk, Boulevard, Bogibagh and Karan Nagar in which 18 persons, including five securitymen, were injured, he said. Meanwhile, ruling National Conference (NC) worker was among six persons killed, while a police patrol party was attacked by militants with grenades and automatic weapons in the Kashmir valley overnight. PTI, UNI