J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

6 militants among 7 shot in Kashmir
Srinagar, March 12
Six militants were among seven persons killed in the Kashmir valley since yesterday, while the security forces recovered an IED in Banihal area of Doda district of Jammu region.

Ministerial team to visit Uri today
Jammu, March 12
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig, Food and Supplies Minister Taj Mohiuddin, and Minister for Tourism G.H. Mir, are scheduled to visit Uri tomorrow for an on-the-spot assessment of the Srinagar-Uri road upgradation project and of the facilities that were being developed in the border town for the passengers travelling to Muzaffarabad and back.

6 hurt in Army search operation, villagers protest
Srinagar, March 12
Protests were held in Kangan township today against the Army for allegedly beating up several villagers and injuring at least six of them during a search operation launched to flush out militants in a nearby village.

409 given security in J&K
Jammu, March 12
As many as 409 persons have been provided security of various types in Jammu and Kashmir in the past year. This includes various types of security, including Z plus, Z, Y and X.

Mrs Rani Beloria with her supporters after assuming the office of Deputy Mayor of the Jammu Municipal Corporatioon on Saturday. — Photo by Madan

PoK delegation visits Assembly
Jammu, March 12
For the first time after the independence, a four-member delegation from Pakistan occupied yesterday visited the J&K Legislative Assembly here yesterday to watch the proceedings of the House.

Pvt teachers protest against pay disparity
Jammu, March 12
Agitated over the continued disparity in payscales, private school teachers today staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Divisional Commissioner here today.

BSF organises medical camp
Srinagar, March 12
More than 1,600 villagers were provided with free medical assistance at a medical camp organised by the Border Security Force in the Tral area of Pulwama district today.

6 militants among 7 shot in Kashmir
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 12
Six militants were among seven persons killed in the Kashmir valley since yesterday, while the security forces recovered an IED in Banihal area of Doda district of Jammu region.

Two militants of the Hizbul Mujahiddeen were killed in an encounter with security forces at Machipora, Handwara in Kupwara district, today. They were identified as Farooq Ahmad, district commander, and Mohammad Iqbal Dar, both of them of Handwara area. Two AK rifles, six magazines, 140 rounds, four handgrenades, one UBGL, two UBGL grenades and a wireless set were found from the site of the encounter.

The police here said three militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Hablish in Kulgam area of Anantnag district yesterday. Two of them were identified as Khursheed Ahmad Shah of Razlu Kund of Qazigund and Manzoor Ahmad of Banihal. The recoveries made from the spot included three AK rifles, six magazines, 137 rounds, a Chinese pistol, two pistol rounds, one wireless set, 12 handgrenades, 10 UBGL shells and two RPG rounds.

A militant of the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit, identified as Bashir Ahmad Malla, was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Lihim Dajan in Pahalgam area of Anantnag district. One AK rifle, two magazines, 20 rounds and four grenades were seized from the site of encounter, the police said.

Meanwhile, militants shot dead Fayaz Ahmad Bhat of Chak Arsala Khan, a sepoy, in the Territorial Army, in Bandipore bazar, Baramula district, yesterday.

The Army found an IED on a track near Harnia Manjosh in Banihal area of Doda district yesterday, the police here said.

Ministerial team to visit Uri today
Our Correspondent

Jammu, March 12
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig, Food and Supplies Minister Taj Mohiuddin, and Minister for Tourism G.H. Mir, are scheduled to visit Uri tomorrow for an on-the-spot assessment of the Srinagar-Uri road upgradation project and of the facilities that were being developed in the border town for the passengers travelling to Muzaffarabad and back.

The visit of the ministerial team follows the tour of Uri border area by senior functionaries of the state and Central Government agencies yesterday.

Chief Secretary S.S. Beloria, Director General of Police Gopal Sharma and senior officers of the IB, RAW, Passport and Customs Departments, all from Delhi, visited Uri for finalising the arrangements for passengers after the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road is thrown open to traffic on April 7. Chief Engineer GREF, and senior officials of the BSNL, besides the Divisional Commander of the Army stationed in Baramula, accompanied the team.

According to the GREF Chief Engineer, the upgradation of the road to Uri will be completed by April 1. The BSNL authorities said a telecommunication system linking Uri with rest of the country and with Muzaffarabad would be ready after the completion of the upgradation.

The BSNL has also decided to install a PCO and a computer network at Uri for the convenience of passengers.

At present a structure was being built with the help of the Army at Uri where passport and Customs offices would be housed. In addtion, offices of the IB, state intelligence agencies and the RAW were also being established for scrutiny of travel documents.

The ministerial team, according to official sources, will find out ways and means for developing Uri into a tourist resort. In this connection an expert team will carry out a survey.

6 hurt in Army search operation, villagers protest
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 12
Protests were held in Kangan township today against the Army for allegedly beating up several villagers and injuring at least six of them during a search operation launched to flush out militants in a nearby village.

Villagers of Thune, near Kangan, about 40 km from here, raised slogans against the security forces.

The Army had early today cordoned off Thune village on specific information about the presence of militants. As the Army launched search operations without police assistance, there were charges of molestation and beating up of the villagers.

Senior police and Army officers reached the spot and brought the situation under control, police said. Police has also registered a case against six injured villagers.

409 given security in J&K
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 12
As many as 409 persons have been provided security of various types in Jammu and Kashmir in the past year. This includes various types of security, including Z plus, Z, Y and X.

The Minister of State for Home, Mr Abdul Rehman Veeri, told Mr Bhim Singh (Panthers Party) in the Legislative Council today that separatist leaders, Sajjad Lone, Bilal Lone, Moulvi Abbas Ansari and Omar Farooq had also been given security with vehicles.

Nearly 522 bulletproof and other vehicles had been allotted to 328 persons in the state.

The minister did not reveal the names of the protected persons because of security reasons.

He said funds for security had been provided by the Central Government under the security-related expenditure.

PoK delegation visits Assembly
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 12
For the first time after the independence, a four-member delegation from Pakistan occupied (PoK) yesterday visited the J&K Legislative Assembly here yesterday to watch the proceedings of the House.

The delegation led by Mr Riyaz Inquilabi, president of the Mirpur Bar Association, watched the proceedings of the House for about an hour from the Speaker’s gallery.

Other members of the delegation included Mr Munir Hussain Choudhary from Mirpur, Mr Mohammad Asgar from Kotli and Prof Shafiq-ur-Rehman from Muzaffarabad.

The delegation is on a seven-day tour of the state. It had earlier visited Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Due to the ongoing dispute over Kashmir 24 seats in the Assembly here have been kept vacant for the PoK. Besides, there are 87 elected members while two are nominated.

Pvt teachers protest against pay disparity
Our Correspondent

Jammu, March 12
Agitated over the continued disparity in payscales, private school teachers today staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Divisional Commissioner here today.

Raising anti-establishment slogans the teachers wanted their payscales to be brought on a par with those working in government schools. President of the Private School Teachers Association, Sushila Jamwal, told this correspondent today that “teachers who had put in 10 to 20 years of service in private schools in the state were receiving a monthly salary between Rs 1200 and Rs 1500.”

She said those working in the government schools and having the same tenure were getting over Rs 12,000 per month.

She said, “Even those schools which are government-aided were violating rules by giving a paltry salary to qualified teachers.”

Association leaders, appealed to the Chief Minister, to intervene.

BSF organises medical camp
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 12
More than 1,600 villagers were provided with free medical assistance at a medical camp organised by the Border Security Force (BSF) in the Tral area of Pulwama district today.

The camp was inaugurated by Mr K.C. Padhi, DIG, BSF, at Kahleel, Tral, catering to the needs of a large number of people living in the adjacent villages of Kanglura, Muchhama, Nagbal, Brain Pathri, Wagendra, Zara-re-Hut, Pir Takiya, Pahal Chak, Dudmarg, Vary Kund and Nag Pathri.

Three BSF doctors, including one lady doctor and one civil doctor from Pulwama, rendered medical opinion and medicine to the needy patients.