J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Lone killers identified
Srinagar, December 3
With the arrest of three persons in connection with the bank robbery case at Rajouri Kadal here last Wednesday, the police has identified the killers of a former minister in the Tulsi Bagh area last month.

Haj pilgrims leave for Jeddah

Srinagar, December 3 The first batch of 215 pilgrims, including 107 women, from Jammu and Kashmir left for Jeddah today to perform the annual Haj. The pilgrims, including former minister and senior PDP leader Javid Mustafa Mir, assembled at the tourist reception centre here from where they were taken in special buses to the airport for their onward journey, official sources said.
A pilgrim hugs her daughter as they leave for Haj pilgrimage in Srinagar on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Amin War

Security camp attacked, 3 soldiers hurt
Srinagar, December 3
A top commander of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba was among three militants killed while timely action by the police saved the lives of five Village Defence Committee members who had been abducted in Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

Disabled seek quota in promotions
Jammu, December 3
Groups of the handicapped youth today marched on tricycles and wheel chairs shouting “we want justice” to the office of the Divisional Commissioner where a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister was submitted.

Women corporation MD removed
Jammu, December 3
In a swift action on the report of the vigilance organisation regarding illegal appointments and promotions in the Women’s Development Corporation, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today removed the Managing Director of the corporation, Ms Masooda Yasin, from the post and cancelled the 42 fresh appointments and promotions.

Lone killers identified
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 3
With the arrest of three persons in connection with the bank robbery case at Rajouri Kadal here last Wednesday, the police has identified the killers of a former minister in the Tulsi Bagh area last month. Former Minister of State for Education Ghulam Nabi Lone was killed while CPM state secretary M.Y. Tarigami escaped a bid on his life when unidentified militants sneaked into the high security zone on October 18 last.

Police sources said here that the identity of the killers of Dr Lone was disclosed by three persons apprehended in connection with the bank robbery case here this week.

According to the disclosures made by the arrested persons, the suicide attack on October 18 at Tulsi Bagh had been masterminded by Shakeel Ahmad Sofi and Shabir Ahmad Bukhari, along with three other Pak militants. It had also been disclosed that CPM leader and MLA, M.Y. Tarigami had been the target, but mistaken identity had led to the killing of Dr Lone living in the locality. However, Tarigami’s security guard was killed in the attack by the militants, while he himself escaped unhurt.

Haj pilgrims leave for Jeddah

Security camp attacked, 3 soldiers hurt

Srinagar, December 3
A top commander of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) was among three militants killed while timely action by the police saved the lives of five Village Defence Committee (VDC) members who had been abducted in Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

Militants also attacked a security force camp, injuring three soldiers and also made an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap an advocate in the valley, official sources said.

An official spokesman said security forces killed a self-styled launching chief of LeT at Machoo in the central Kashmir district of Badgam late last night.

The militant was responsible for recruiting boys and sending them for arms training. One pistol, one magazine, two hand grenades and two rounds of ammunition were seized from the slain militant identified as Abdul Rehman, a resident of Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Official sources said militants attacked a security force camp at Yaribal Banipora in north Kashmir district of Baramulla with automatic weapons. The fire was returned and in the fierce clash which lasted for about 20 minutes, three soldiers were wounded. The militants, however, managed to escape.

A defence spokesman said security forces killed a foreign militant Abu Umar of LeT in an encounter at Sopore in north Kashmir last night while another militant was gunned down at Sangrampora.

Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were seized from the slain militants. — UNI

Disabled seek quota in promotions
Our Correspondent

Jammu, December 3
Groups of the handicapped youth today marched on tricycles and wheel chairs shouting “we want justice” to the office of the Divisional Commissioner where a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister was submitted.

The march was organised by the Handicapped Welfare Association, headed by Mr D.S. Kukreja. The association, in its memorandum, demanded the implementation of the 1988 Act providing for equal rights and opportunities for the disabled people.

It said the promotion policy should be reframed and 3 per cent reservation in promotions in government departments should be there for disabled and handicapped people. A demand was made that physically handicapped government employees should be posted near their homes so that they could perform their duties without any hindrance.

The association also demanded that one seat in the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council should be reserved for the physically handicapped people. In the memorandum, leaders expressed concern over a government decision under which no relaxation was given to people having less than 40 per cent disability.

The association wanted the government to provide soft loans with minimum interest for the physically handicapped people so that they could open small-scale units.

It said the government had recruited about 33,000 educated youths under the Rehbr-i-Taleem scheme but not a single disabled person had been appointed. It demanded 3 per cent reservation for the disabled people in this scheme too.

Women corporation MD removed
Tribune News Service