Major reshuffle in J&K administration
SRINAGAR, Oct 31 — In a major reshuffle the J&K Government yesterday ordered transfers and postings of 50 IAS and KAS officers.

Ex-MLA escapes attempt on life
SRINAGAR, Oct 31 — A former MLA, Ghulam Ahmad Beg, escaped an attempt on his life in Jammu and Kashmir while 10 persons were killed and three others wounded since last evening.

32 militants surrender
SRINAGAR, Oct 31 — Thirty-two militants belonging to different militant outfits surrendered today along with arms and ammunition before Director General of Police, Gurbachan Jagat at Kupwara today.

'Probe' Kotbalwal jailbreak
JAMMU, Oct 31 — Mr Gulchain Singh Charak, president of the Dogra Saddar Sabha and MLC, Council, has demanded a high-level probe into the mismanagement of jails in the state and fix responsibility for the recent jailbreak in which three Pakistani militants escaped from Kotbalwal prison.

Major reshuffle in J&K administration
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 31 — In a major reshuffle the Jammu and Kashmir Government yesterday ordered transfers and postings of 50 IAS and KAS officers within one week of the transfers of over 10 officers. These orders were issued on the last working day of the civil secretariat in summer Capital. The secretariat and other state government offices will now reopen in Jammu, the winter Capital on November 9.

Mr Mohammad Amin Khan, IAS, awaiting orders of adjustment has been posted Secretary, J&K Legislative Council vice Mr Inderjit Singh. Mr Inderjit Singh shall report to the General Administration Department for further adjustment. The post of Secretary J&K Legislative Council has been declared equivalent in status and responsibility to the cadre post of IAS.

According to an official spokesman here on Friday Mr G N Mir, KAS, Deputy Commissioner (Central FC's office) has been transferred and posted Additional Secretary in the Revenue Department against a vacant post. Mr M S Rather, KAS, Assistant Commissioner (R) Kupwara, has been transferred and posted Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar in his own pay and grade.

Mr Altaf Hussain, KAS Assistant Settlement Officer, Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag. Mr Janaki Nath Dhar, KAS, Assistant Commissioner, Relief (FC's office) has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Central in the office of Financial Commissioner, Revenue, vice Mr G.N. Mir.

Mr M. Abbas Dar, KAS, Deputy Commissioner, Excise (Executive) Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Mr Raj Kumar Bhagat, KAS, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue Attorney) with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag.

Mr O P Kalandria, KAS, SDM Katra, (Bhawan) has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner Kathua, vice Mr Joginder Kumar Sawhney. Mr Joginder Kumar Sawhney, KAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Poonch.

Mr Abdul Majid Mir, KAS, SDM, Srinagar, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama. Mr Mohammad Ramzan Thakur, KAS, SDM, Tangdhar, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Budgam.

Mr Mohammad Yusuf Dar, KAS, Assistant Commissioner (Central) with Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Joint Agrarian Reforms Commissioner, Kashmir. Mr Gazi Ahmad Pandit, KAS, Collector, Upper Sind Hydel Project, has been transferred and posted SDM, Tangdhar, vice Mr Mohammad Ramzan Thakur.

Mr Mohammad Maqbool Wani, KAS, Collector, NHPC, Uri has been transferred and posted Assistant Commissioner, (R) Kupwara vice Mr M S Rather. Mr Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, SDM, Khaltsi, has been transferred and posted SDM Srinagar, vice Mr Abdul Majid Mir.

Mr Ali Raza, General Manager, DIC, Kargil, has been transferred and posted SDM Khaltsi vice Mr Ghulam Rasool Sheikh. Mr Zaffar Ahmad, KAS, Trade Agent, Bombay, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Secretary in the Chief Minister's Office against a vacant post.

Mr Shahid Inayatulla, Deputy Commissioner, Sales Tax, (Adm) Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Joint Director, Handicrafts vice Mr D K Sharma. Mr D K Sharma has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Sales Tax (Headouarters), Jammu vice Mr R K Sharma. Mr R K Sharma has been transferred and posted Deputy Commissioner, Sales Tax (Judicial) Jammu vice R K Kaul. Mr R K Kaul, KAS, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Sales Tax (Adm) Jammu vice Mr Shahid Inayatullah.

Ex-MLA escapes attempt on life

SRINAGAR, Oct 31 (PTI) — Ten persons, including two members of a family, a special police officer and five militants, have been killed and three others wounded while a former MLA, Ghulam Ahmad Beg, escaped an attempt on his life in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

An official spokesman said today that militants equipped with sophisticated weapons, attacked the house of former National Conference MLA, Ghulam Ahmad Beg alias Nuna Beg, at Kralveth-Tangmarg, 45 km from here, in north Kashmir last night.

The grenade attack was followed by firing on the house prompting the guards posted there to return the fire. However, in the exchange of fire no one was hurt the spokesman said, adding militants snatched a rifle and 10 cartridges from the guards and fled.

He said two members of a family were killed and another person received gun shot wounds when militants intruded into the house of Ghulam Nabi at Pochhal-Kishtwa in Doda district last night. The killed were identified as Farooq Ahmad and Ghulam Rasool Wani, son and son-in-law of the house owner, respectively.

In another incident in the same district, a special police officer, Naseeb Singh, was killed in an encounter with militants at Khooni near Bharat in Doda district yesterday, the spokesman said.

Ahmadoo, a Gujjar, was injured critically when militants shot at him while he was on his way home from Mugal maidan in Doda district last night.

The spokesman said three foreign mercenaries, who were attempting to sneak into the occupied Kashmir were shot dead by the security forces near the line of control in Kupwara district yesterday.

The fleeing militants were carrying three AK assault rifles, three hand grenades, two rocket launchers, a remote control device, three rucksacks and some rounds of ammunition which were seized by the security forces, the spokesman said.

An unidentified militant was killed in a gun-battle with the security forces at Brenwar in Badgam district, the spokesman said, adding a rifle, two hand grenades and some ammunition rounds were seized.

He said a released militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen Abdul Rashid Wani, was gunned down by militants after kidnapping him from his Arath-Badgam residence last night. His body was recovered from Rakh Maidan-Cheerpora.

Militants gunned down Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh, near his house at Reshipora in Badgam district last night, the spokesman said.

He said the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified person was picked up from Kulgam in Anantnag district last night.

The spokesman said the security forces recovered an anti personnel mine, two detonators, several rounds of ammunition and two metres of fuse wire from a migrant’s house at Pandithpora Rainawari and a graveyard at Narawara in interior Srinagar yesterday.

32 militants surrender

SRINAGAR, Oct 31 (UNI) — Thirty-two militants belonging to different militant outfits surrendered today along with arms and ammunition before Director General of Police, Gurbachan Jagat at Kupwara today.

An official spokesperson said the militants, some of them hardcore, handed over a large quantity of arms and ammunition to Mr Jagat at a function.

Mr Jagat later handed cash incentives to the former militants.

While addressing the former militants Mr Jagat said the government would help them start a normal life.

'Probe' Kotbalwal jailbreak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 31 — Mr Gulchain Singh Charak, president of the Dogra Saddar Sabha and MLC, Council, has demanded a high-level probe into the mismanagement of jails in the state and fix responsibility for the recent jailbreak in which three Pakistani militants escaped from Kotbalwal prison.

He underscored the need for inducting young and experienced Army personnel in to jail services so that the working of prisons was improved with a specific reference to the security system.

He demanded that the CBI be asked to inquire into the Kotbalwal jailbreak and those employees found guilty be given harsh punishment. He suggested the rotation of staff every three years.

Mr Charak also called for regular inspection by senior officers to ensure that militants and other criminals lodged in different jails were not allowed to run the show there. He referred to a series of events in different jails during the past eight years which had clearly indicated that the prison staff was not properly trained to maintain discipline.

In recent past, militants had managed to write objectionable slogans on prison walls in Kathua on Republic Day in 1992, militants had managed to smuggle in the Pak flag in Hiranagar sub-jail. During one inspection, Rs 1 lakh, weapons and other incriminating documents had been seized from militants and criminals at Udhampur district jail.