J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Imported snow blower clearing up the snow at the 3529 metre high Zojila pass on Srinagar-Leh national highway for normal traffic on Friday. — PTI photo

Five ultras among 7 killed in J&K
SRINAGAR, April 28 — Seven persons, including five militants, were killed while security forces recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from different places in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Leh highway re-opened
SRINAGAR, April 28 — The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway was opened to traffic today after the Beacon Project of a Border Roads Organisation cleared the strategic Zojila of the snow accumulated during the past six months.

Fernandes visits Kashmir
SRINAGAR, April 28 — The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, today paid a visit to Kashmir to acquaint himself with the problems of the employees of some Industrial units here.

Five ultras among 7 killed in J&K
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, April 28 — Seven persons, including five militants, were killed while security forces recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from different places in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Two militants, including a divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, were killed in an encounter with security forces at Kandi village in Kupwara district yesterday. They were identified as Abdul Majid Rather, alias Kana, a divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, and his associate, Bashir Ahmed Peer, alias Bilal, of the same area, the police said. Two AK rifles, two hand grenades, six rifle grenades and a wireless set were seized from the site of the encounter.

A police spokesman stated here this evening that the encounter took place when the joint operation group of the police and security forces was fired upon by the militants hiding in the village yesterday.

One foreign militant and two unidentified militants were killed in separate incidents in Doda district of Jammu division yesterday. The police said two unidentified militants were killed last night at Kulharn in Doda district. One AK rifle and a pistol were seized from the site of the encounter. A foreign militant identified as Abu Muslim was killed in an encounter were security forces at Tantraypore, Banihal, in Doda district last night. One AK rifle, six magazines, 120 rounds and a rifle grenade were seized from the site of encounter.

Unidentified militants shot dead an Ikhwani or a counter-insurgent, identified as Gulzar Ahmad Ganai at Kilam, Kulgam, in Anantnag district yesterday afternoon.

The police today recovered the dead body of Mohammad Amin Rather from the Rainawari area of the city. He is reported to have been hanged to death. The police has registered a case and further investigations are in progress.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition was seized by security forces during operation in Kupwara, Budgam and Rajouri districts.

Leh highway re-opened
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, April 28 — The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway was opened to traffic today after the Beacon Project of a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) cleared the strategic Zojila of the snow accumulated during the past six months.

Senior civil Army and Beacon officers were present on the occasion at Gumri to declare the road open. A fleet of trucks carrying essential commodities for supplies in the landlocked Ladakh region was flagged off by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mr Khursheed Ahmad Ganai. Maj-Gen J.R. Mukherjee, Chief of Staff of the 15 Corps Headquarters was among those present. Senior officers of the Beacon Project and its Chief Engineer, Brig K.S. Rao, Srinagar-Leh highway up to Gumri on Zoji La and other major roads in the valley, were also present.

This is for the first time that the strategic Zoji La that divides Ladakh from Kashmir during the winter months has been opened in April. The pass normally is opened by the middle of May. Last year, the road was opened in May.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Khursheed Ahmad Ganai said the road was re-opened in a record time this year. This would enable the authorities to supply essential commodities to Ladakh well in advance. The road was closed in November last year. The supplies for the next six months and the winter months next year would include 20,000 tonnes of foodgrains, 40 lakh litres of kerosene, diesel and petrol, fresh vegetables, mutton, butter and edible oils.

The early re-opening of the strategically important road would also tourist traffic in the region, he said .

Beacon Force of the BRO is responsible for the clearance and maintenance of the Srinagar-Leh highway and its greatest bottleneck, Zoli La, at an altitude of 3500 metres on the great Himalayan range. This pass experiences vicious winds and very heavy snowfall due to its funnel effect, very often in excess of 30 ft with minus temperatures. There are more than 60 dangerous avalanche sites on this road. The Beacon boys have to brace blizzards and extreme wind chill. Notwithstanding such inhuman conditions, the brave jawans of the BRO assisted by 120 civilians worked tirelessly to open the pass for the coming summer of 2000 in a record time.

Most supplies in Ladakh dwindle to barely sustainable levels in April and this early opening will prove to be a boon to all Ladakhis.

Fernandes visits Kashmir
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, April 28 — The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, today paid a visit to Kashmir to acquaint himself with the problems of the employees of some Industrial units here.

Accompanied by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mr Farooq Abdullah, the Defence Minister visited Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) and Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) units, an official spokesman stated here this evening. The Defence Minister assured the employees that he would take up their problems with the Prime Minister for early solution. The employees thanked the Chief Minister and the Defence Minister for the visit.

The employees praised the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr Omar Abdullah for his efforts to have the compensation amount of Rs 3.85 crore released to the ITI, Srinagar.

Mr Farooq Abdullah and Mr George Fernandes visited the Regional Engineering College (REC) and held a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University, Principal and staff of the REC on the affairs of the college.

An official spokesman said on their return they met a large number of people at Nehru Park, particularly those concerned with the tourist trade.

The Defence Minister assured them that the Union and state governments would take all steps to ensure that tourism was revived in Kashmir.