J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

SOG HQ attacked again
SRINAGAR, Dec 31 — Militants launched an unsuccessful attack on Badgam headquarters of Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, while a Pakistan-trained militant, two counter-insurgents and a school teacher were among six persons killed and a security jawan wounded in the state since last evening, an official spokesman said here today.

Meeting to deal with Pak suicide squads
JAMMU, Dec 31 — At a meeting of the Unified Command here today stress was laid on dealing effectively with the activities of suicide squads which the Pakistani agencies had raised for striking against security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

7 die as bus falls into ravine
JAMMU, Dec 31 — Seven passengers were killed and 50 wounded when a bus falls into ravine, 4 km from Udhampur, today. More than 10 critically wounded passengers were airlifted to Jammu Medical College.

SOG HQ attacked again

SRINAGAR, Dec 31 (PTI) — Militants launched an unsuccessful attack on Badgam headquarters of Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, while a Pakistan-trained militant, two counter-insurgents and a school teacher were among six persons killed and a security jawan wounded in the state since last evening, an official spokesman said here today.

Militants blew up a BSF vehicle with a land-mine and clashed with security search parties, even as four militants of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen were arrested and two militants laid down arms during the period, he said.

A security jawan was wounded when the militants opened heavy fire on the group headquarters at Humhama in the Badgam district, on the outskirts of Srinagar last night, he said.

The attack at Humhama camp comes close to militant attack on SOG headquarters in Srinagar on Monday which left three militants and 11 securitymen dead.

The spokesman said the security guards at the Humhama camp returned the fire, forcing the militants to retreat.

In other militancy related incidents, an unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Marhote in Surankote area of Poonch, he said.

A highly-mutilated body of Shabir Ahmad, a youth was recovered from the Bagh-e-Mehtab area here today, the spokesman said adding details were yet to come.

However, official sources said the victim, a resident of Chadoora, was killed by the police. The Police, when contacted, said they asked Shabir to stop but he hurled a grenade and tried to escape forcing the policemen to fire at him.

The spokesman said militants shot dead a government teacher Rashida Begum in her house at Uahar in Kote-Dhara area of Rajouri district in Jammu late last night.

A counter-insurgent, Mohammad Farooq, was also shot dead by militants at Manka-Kalakote in Rajouri district, he said adding Farooq was working for the security forces.

Militants also gunned down another counter-insurgent of Ikhwan outfit, Farooq Ahmad Dar, at Nowpora village of Duroo in Anantnag district last evening. Dar was kidnapped from his Jaibalan residence and shot dead after severe torture, the spokesman added.

He said one Wali Mohammad Dar, who was injured in an explosion in Kupwara district two days back, died in a hospital today.

The spokesman said militants set off a land-mine blast around 10.30 a.m. near a culvert at Pujoo-Rajpora in Pulwama district today, blowing up a security vehicle. No casualty was reported, he said.

The police nabbed four Tehreek militants from Hassanabad area of Rainawari in Srinagar last evening, he said adding two AK assault rifles, a pistol and some ammunition were seized from them.

Two militants surrendered before the security forces at Ashmuqam area in Anantnag district. The militants affiliated with the banned Hizbul Mujahideen laid down two assault rifles, five magazines and 117 rounds of ammunition before the Army authorities, the spokesman said.

He said security forces recovered 35 kg explosives, four electric detonators and a remote control device during combing operations at Kanihama-Chadoora in Badgam district yesterday.

A sniper rifle, two pistols and some ammunition were also seized by the security forces during combing operations at Sadganga and Mahora forests in Baramula district yesterday, he said.

UNI: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, a counter insurgent and a government teacher were among seven persons killed while forces captured four militants and two others surrendered in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours.

Security forces recovered 35 kg of explosives, four electric detonators and one remote control device during a search operation at Kanihama in Badgam district last night.

One person was killed in a blast at Hyderpora,on the outskirts of the Srinagar city this afternoon.

A BSF driver was killed when militants fired upon his vehicle at Sopore this afternoon.BSF personnel also retaliated during which four persons were injured.

Meeting to deal with Pak suicide squads
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Dec 31 — At a meeting of the Unified Command here today stress was laid on dealing effectively with the activities of suicide squads which the Pakistani agencies had raised for striking against security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

Heads of several security agencies, including the police, Army, the BSF and the CRPF were urged to take suitable steps to contain the activities of the foreign mercenaries. The intelligence agencies were suggested to pool their field reports so that they could be verified further before an operation was launched against militants.

It was for the first time that the meeting of the Unified Command was held in Raj Bhavan where the Governor Mr G.C. Saxena was present. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, two corps commanders, Director-General Police, IG, BSF, IG, CRPF and heads of intelligence agencies including Mr A.S. Daulat, RAW chief were also present at the meeting. The meeting expressed concern over the step-up in militancy related violence in different parts of the state, especially in the Kashmir valley.

The Chief Minister and the Governor apparently were worried over the armed attacks by the men of suicide squads on police and security pickets and posts. The recent storming of the SOG headquarters by militants came in for detailed discussion. Senior functionaries of various security and intelligence agencies were advised to take measures for foiling plans of the suicide squads.

The Chief Minister pleaded for better coordination among different security and intelligence agencies. He said there was need for deploying additional forces in the state and it could be possible only if the Centre agreed to send more forces to the state or the Army authorities deployed additional battalions of the troops for counterinsurgency operations.

The Chief Minister called for alertness on the part of the security forces as they had to meet growing threat from the militants.

Others referred to the plan of killing VIPs and political activists and in this connection adequate measures needed to be taken to avert any tragedy. There was no room for slackness in any field and the security personnel need to adopt the mechanism of defending themselves against surprise militant attacks.

7 die as bus falls into ravine
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Dec 31 — Seven passengers were killed and 50 wounded when a bus falls into ravine, 4 km from Udhampur, today.

More than 10 critically wounded passengers were airlifted to Jammu Medical College.

Reports said five passengers were killed on the spot and two succumbed to their injuries while being shifted to Jammu. The Health Ministry has sounded an alert in Jammu Medical College and surgeons and other physicians were summoned to treat the wounded passengers. The doctors had to bear the entire brunt of attending to the wounded as the para-medical staff have been in strike along with state government employees in protest against non-acceptance of their demands.

J&K staff hold rallies

JAMMU, Dec 31 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir government employees today held massive demonstrations within and outside the secretariat premises in support of their charter of demands, including two instalments of dearness allowance and Fifth Pay Commission arrears, even as talks between their representatives and the government were deadlocked.

Leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir Employees Joint Action Committee (JKEJAC), which is spearheading the agitation, addressing the rallies warned to intensify the strike if their 17-point demands were not fulfilled by the government at the earliest.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah set up a Cabinet sub-committee yesterday under the leadership of Housing and Urban Development Minister, G.M. Shah, to discuss all issues with the representatives of the JKEJAC.

The committee had held preliminary round of talks with the JKEJAC yesterday and were scheduled to resume the talks today.

However, the talks ended in a deadlock today when representatives of the striking employees demanded to withdraw circular debarring gazetted officers to join the stir.

A spokesman of the JKEJAC said that the state gazetted employees were part of the strike and unless government withdrew these directions, no further talks would be held.

Functioning in all government departments, hospitals and civil secretariat continued to remain paralysed for the 12th consecutive day today.

The civil secretariat was wearing a deserted look with almost all offices were closed.