J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

War memorial coming up at Jammu
Chandigarh, September 3
A special war memorial for martyrs who died after Independence in battles and counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir is being built at Jammu. The memorial will be dedicated to the three services as well as paramilitary forces.

The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), pays homage to martyrs at the Sector 3 War Memorial in Chandigarh on Sunday. — Tribune photo  by Pradeep Tewari

Heavy snowfall in J&K areas
Srinagar, September 3 
Many high-altitude areas, including parts of Srinagar-Leh National Highway, in Jammu and Kashmir today received heavy snowfall, while incessant rains continued to lash low-lying areas of the state for the last four days.

Bus falls into stream; 40 rescued
Srinagar, September 3
As many as 40 persons were rescued after a passenger vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a stream in Badgam district today. An official spokesman said Transport Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, on hearing about the accident, rushed to Badgam where the passengers had fell into the flooded stream.

CDs of LeT chief recovered
Jammu, September 3
The security forces have seized CDs of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) chief Hafeez Sayeed from a group of infiltrators during an encounter in Poonch district recently, police sources said today.

3 jawans killed in mishap
Poonch, September 3
Three soldiers were killed and seven injured when an Army vehicle in which they were travelling skidded off the road and fell into a river in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today.

War memorial coming up at Jammu
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3
A special war memorial for martyrs who died after Independence in battles and counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir is being built at Jammu. The memorial will be dedicated to the three services as well as paramilitary forces.

"The memorial is special in the sense that it will have the names of civilians who have made the supreme sacrifice for the cause of Jammu and Kashmir inscribed on it," the Governor of J&K, Lt-Gen S K Sinha (retd), said today.

He was speaking to mediapersons after laying a wreath at the newly constructed War Memorial in Sector 3 here. He said remembering the war dead even after hanging up one's uniform had a special significance and sentiment in the life of a soldier.

On the issue of some reports stating that Mr Abdul Aziz Zargar of the PDP legislature party, who has been recommended for the post of the Deputy Chief Minister in the state, having links with terrorist outfits, General Sinha said that so far there was no evidence to substantiate this. He added that he would review the situation on reaching Srinagar.

A ceremonial guard from the Madras Regiment reversed arms while buglers sounded the Last Post as the General paid floral tributes at the memorial.

Earlier, he addressed Army officers at a function organised in Chandimandir. General Sinha had arrived here from Shimla after a visit to the Army Training Command.

Heavy snowfall in J&K areas

Srinagar, September 3
Many high-altitude areas, including parts of Srinagar-Leh National Highway, in Jammu and Kashmir today received heavy snowfall, while incessant rains continued to lash low-lying areas of the state for the last four days.

About six inches to 1 foot of snow had accumulated on the ground in the upper reaches, including the Aferwath range in the periphery of Gulmarg in North Kashmir, official sources said.

Drass to Captain Morh, a stretch of about 20 km on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, received about six inches of snowfall, while it was snowing heavily in Zojila.

The Amarnath shrine and its adjoining areas also experienced snow.

Mountain passes along the Line of Control in Kupwara and Baramula districts, including Sadna Pass, Z-Gali, Gurez and Bandipora were also covered by a thick layer of snow.

Snowfall was also reported in the periphery of famous hill resorts of Sonamarg, Yousmarg, Duksum, Kokernag, Verinag, Ahribal and Tousmaidan in the valley, the sources said. — PTI

Bus falls into stream; 40 rescued

Srinagar, September 3
As many as 40 persons were rescued after a passenger vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a stream in Badgam district today. An official spokesman said Transport Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, on hearing about the accident, rushed to Badgam where the passengers had fell into the flooded stream.

He mobilised the administration and monitored the rescue operation. The spokesman said as many as 40 persons were saved by the timely action of the district administration. — UNI

CDs of LeT chief recovered

Jammu, September 3
The security forces have seized CDs of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) chief Hafeez Sayeed from a group of infiltrators during an encounter in Poonch district recently, police sources said today.

They said that Al-Qaida supremo Osama Bin Laden’s provocative CDs were recovered from Gursai village in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district. Hafeez Sayeed, currently in a Pakistani jail, changed the name of his organisation to Jamaat-ud-Dawa after the LeT was banned by the USA and Pakistan.

“The Lashkar chief was clearly heard provoking youths of the state to join “jehad” and get arms training in Pakistan and occupied-Kashmir (PoK),’’ the sources added.

They said the CDs had been recorded and shot at Jamaat-ud-Dawa office at Chburgi, Lahore, bearing telephone numbers (042) 7240940, 7230549 and 7231106 and e-mail address www.Jamatdawa.Org.

This is for the first time that the audio and video CDs of Hafeez Sayeed had been seized from the possession of slain militants during the 17 years of militancy in the state, the sources said. — UNI

3 jawans killed in mishap

Poonch, September 3
Three soldiers were killed and seven injured when an Army vehicle in which they were travelling skidded off the road and fell into a river in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today.

The driver lost control of the vehicle, which was on its way from Bhilla to Mandi in the border district, on a slippery hill near Mandi, around 11 a.m. today and fell into the Mandi river, defence sources said here.

Three Army personnel were killed on the spot and seven sustained injuries, they said, adding a rescue team rushed to the spot and fished out the bodies. The injured were rushed to hospital. — PTI