J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

2 Army men among 12 killed in J&K
SRINAGAR, May 6 — One person was killed while two others were injured due to the shelling by Pak troops from across the LoC in Karnah-Teetwal sector of Kupwara district today, the police here said.

3 dead as militants implement threat
JAMMU, May 6 — Pro-Pak militant outfits have started implementing their threat of eliminating those who do not resign from police village defence committees and from the posts of Special Police Officers. During the past three days six persons, four belonging to the police and the VDC, have been killed by militants in Udhampur and Doda districts.

Chief Secy visits Secretariat
SRINAGAR, May 6 — The government has decided not to impose any restrictions like blockade of traffic during peak hours with the reopening of Civil Secretariat here from Monday for the summer months. There would, however, be only "diversion or regulation of traffic wherever required".

20 CRPF jawans hurt in mishap
UDHAMPUR, May 6 — At least 20 Central Reserve Police Force jawans were injured, six of them seriously, when a vehicle in which they were travelling skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Batote on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway this afternoon.

2 Army men among 12 killed in J&K
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 6 — One person was killed while two others were injured due to the shelling by Pak troops from across the LoC in Karnah-Teetwal sector of Kupwara district today, the police here said.

A number of houses and a building of the Power Development Department (PDD) was also damaged in the shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops. The deceased has been identified as Ghulam Sarwar of Chinipora in Teetwal sector.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Salim a minor who was seriously injured in shelling by Pak in Uri sector on May 3 succumbed to his injuries in the hospital here today. With this the death toll in Chatoli sector firing on Wednesday last has gone up to seven. Earlier at least three persons, including a woman, were killed in shelling by Pak troops from across the border in Keran sector on April 30.

In other militancy related incidents, at least 12 persons, including five militants, have been killed in separate incidents while the security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Two militants and two security force personnel were killed in a fierce encounter at Aloosa in the Bandipora area of Baramulla district this morning. One of the slain militants was identified as Farooq Ahmad Dar a "battalion commander" of the Hizbul Mujahideen. Two AK rifles, 40 rounds of ammunition, six hand grenades, one wireless set and six AK magazines were recovered from the site of the encounter, the police said.

Three militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Chinyas, Gandoh in Doda district of Jammu region. Those killed were identified as Abdul Wahid of Gandoh, Abdullah Mughal and Abu Taees from Pakistan. Three AK rifles, 120 rounds and four hand grenades were recovered from the site of the encounter, the police said. The encounter ensued when Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel along with security forces conducted search operations in the area and were fired upon by the hiding militants.Two intruders were killed at Pansar in Kathua district of Jammu region. The police said that their identity was yet to be ascertained.

An SPO and his brother were killed and another was injured when militants fired upon them at Chil Dhara, Cool in Doda district. The SPO was identified as Nazir Ahmad and his brother as Bashir Ahmad, who died on the spot. The injured Habibullah was shifted to a hospital.

Militants shot at and killed an SPO while another was injured at Kahlil, Tral in Pulwama district of south Kashmir. The police here said that the SPO was identified as Ghulam Nabi Gujjar, while the injured person, a civilian, was identified as Jamad Ali Gujjar. The militants fled with the AK rifle of the deceased.

The security forces apprehended one person from the Nishat area here today and a pistol was recovered from him. However, his identity was not disclosed. The security forces also conducted searches at different places in Kupwara district and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition during the searches. These recoveries included four AK rifles, eight magazines, 67 rounds, 60 kg explosives and other ammunition.

Unidentified persons have stolen two cars from different places in the city since yesterday. Reports in this connection have been lodged in the police stations concerned. The police has taken cognizance of these thefts in the wake of the recent car bomb attack in front of the Badami Bagh Cantonment here on April 19.

UNI adds: People at Bemina took to streets to protest against the alleged custodial death of a youth Irshad Ahmad. The demonstrators, mostly women, alleged that Irshad was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operation Group and tortured to death.

Similar demonstrations were witnessed in the down town area recently where three youths, including a former photo journalist Mehraj-Ud-Din Hafiz, were allegedly killed by SOG after their arrest.

Separatist alliance all party Kashmir Hurriyat Conference and some local human rights organisations have expressed concern over increase in custodial deaths in the valley.

Meanwhile, state high court has directed a city police station to register a case and start investigation in connection with the alleged custodial death of one Mohammad Shaban Dar.

Justice G.D. Sharma gave these directions on a case filed by Dar’s family members, who alleged Dar was arrested by forces in July 1990 and later killed in custody.

3 dead as militants implement threat
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, May 6 — Pro-Pak militant outfits have started implementing their threat of eliminating those who do not resign from police village defence committees and from the posts of Special Police Officers (SPOs). During the past three days six persons, four belonging to the police and the VDC, have been killed by militants in Udhampur and Doda districts.

This morning a group of militants barged into the house of one Habibullah, in Salidar village in Udhampur district, a chowkidar, and opened fire killing his two sons, Nazir Ahmed, a constable and Bashir Ahmed. Habibullah was critically wounded and later succumbed to injuries.

Reports said over a week ago militant outfits gave threats to those working in the police, the VDCs or working as SPOs that if they did not quit and join their outfits they and their relations would be killed. They had reportedly also directed them that in case they could not join the militant outfits they should resign and not act as hurdle in operations being carried out by the militants. This threat had been sent to Nazir Ahmed also.

Nazir Ahmed proceeded on leave unmindful of the threats. The militants had kept a watch and in the early hours of this morning the rebels attacked Nazir’s house and killed him, his father and brother.

In Kohal Jagasu village of Doda district militants had kidnapped three VDC members. Their mutilated bodies were thrown on the road on Thursday. This was done to create scare among the youths who had joined the VDCs or the police because militants have found that the police had forced the rebels to be either on the run or on the defensive in various areas of the state.

The state functionaries have issued instructions to the police authorities in each district to carry out sustained operations against the militants so that they were in a position to strike at the VDC members or at the SPOs. The VDCs and SPOs are being given better weapons to ensure their safety and fight the rebels in the rural areas.

The militants have also intensified their armed campaign against police informers and political activists so that there was added fear among the people which was needed to discourage civilians from helping the security forces in their anti-insurgency operations.

Chief Secy visits Secretariat
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 6 — The government has decided not to impose any restrictions like blockade of traffic during peak hours with the reopening of Civil Secretariat here from Monday for the summer months. There would, however, be only "diversion or regulation of traffic wherever required".

This information was given to the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly, who was on a visit to the Secretariat here today to take stock of the arrangements made in connection with the reopening of the offices on Monday. He was accompanied by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Mr Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, the Director, Estates and other officers.

Mr Jaitly was told that elaborate security arrangements had been made. These include frisking of visitors and employees at different places, an official spokesman stated here this evening.

The Chief Secretary took a round of the Secretariat building and inspected arrangements for the accommodation of employees. He was told that all official records had arrived from Jammu.

Mr Jaitly also took a meeting to review arrangements for residential accommodation of officials. He was informed that apart from residential colonies, accommodation had been hired in 36 hotels for employees.

20 CRPF jawans hurt in mishap

UDHAMPUR, May 6 (UNI) — At least 20 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were injured, six of them seriously, when a vehicle in which they were travelling skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Batote on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway this afternoon.

Official sources said the vehicle was on its way from Doda to Jammu when the mishap occurred.

Sources added the driver of the vehicle lost control while negotiating a sharp curve near Batote and plunged into a 200-deep gorge.

Sources said the six who were seriously injured have been shifted to the military hospital in the city while the remaining were admitted to the Batote sub-district hospital.