Army mounts vigil on routes to valley
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 27 — The modalities for massive operations against militants, especially foreign mercenaries, in Jammu region have been worked out. Centre agree to send additional companies of troops for Poonch and Rajouri districts.

Official sources said that soon after additional companies of troops started arriving in the Poonch-Rajouri belt, the BSF deployment was restructured in Rajouri district. The BSF jawans have been shifted from the alpine forest belts in Rajouri district to south of Kandi and Budhal areas leaving the northern segment of the border districts under the sole control of the Army.

The areas south of Kandi and Budhal including those that fall in Mohar belt of Udhampur district, have been the scene of a series of militants incidents during the past several months. Militants had become active because of meagre BSF force deployed in the area. The shifting of more than 20 companies of the BSF from north of Kandi and Budhal to the south will give the populace a breather.

The BSF has decided to set up at least 50 posts in areas south of Budhal and Kandi in Rajouri district and supplement Army operations so that the moment raids are conducted on the hideouts of militants the insurgents are not in a position to escape from one territory to another.

The security forces have been assigned the task of smashing the hideouts of militants and sealing inter-district routes to prevent insurgents hiding in Doda and Udhampur districts from escaping to the Kashmir valley.

The mountain routes connecting Kishtwar and Poonch with areas in south Kashmir are being kept under round-the-clock observation. The security forces have been asked to ensure that not a single militant manages to cross over to south Kashmir as that would create problems in the valley, where the situation is not yet fully under control.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and the Director General Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, have informed the Union Home Minister and the Defence Minister that elimination of militants in the Poonch and Rajouri would ensure peace in the Jammu region.

Hurriyat-led bandh in valley
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 27 — The police lobbed teargas shells and resorted to a lathicharge to quell protesting demonstrators at Lal Chowk this morning. The valley also observed a general strike in response to a call by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

The call for today’s bandh was given by the APHC in protest against what it described as "the forcible occupation of the state by Indian armed forces" on this day 51 years ago.

Most shops and business establishments in the capital were closed. the Educational institutions and some offices were also closed in response to the call and there was little traffic on city routes.

Reports from other areas of the valley said that a skeletal transport service plied on inter-district routes.

Senior separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah was taken into preventive custody by the police here this morning when he along with dozens of his supporters, tried to take out a protest demonstration from Lal Chowk towards the office of the UN Military Observers Group Office at Sonwar here. Over a dozen of his supporters were also held.

Senior APHC leader, Mohammed Yasin Malik and others held similar demonstrations in Lal Chowk. Other APHC activists along with him included Javed Ahmad Mir and Dr G.M. Hubbi. The police lobbed teargas shells and indulged in a lathicharge to quell the demonstrators. A ding dong battle went on for about an hour between the police and the demonstrators.

Infantry Day celebrated
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 27 — The Infantry Day was celebrated here today. Soldiers who laid down their lives while defending the country were remembered at a number of functions held in the corps sector.

Lt-Gen DS Chauhan, General Officer Commanding of the Nagrota Corps complimented the infantrymen for safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country.

General Chauhan commended the high degree of motivation and devotion towards duty shown by the infantrymen.

Jammu civic body gets 17 crore HUDCO loan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) has sanctioned a loan of over Rs 17 crore to Jammu municipality for improving the sewer system and environment conditions.

A press note, issued here, today said that till date HUDCO had sanctioned 97 projects worth Rs 175.14 crore to the state.

The loan commitment for these projects was to the tune of Rs 106.91 crore of which Rs 60.38 stood released.