J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Grenade attacks rock Srinagar
SRINAGAR, May 22 — Militants fired nearly one dozen rifle grenades towards the Civil Secretariat here this afternoon, causing injuries to four persons, including a policeman, outside the complex, this being the first such attack attempt this year.

Successful propagation of medicinal trees
in J & K
SRINAGAR, May 22 — The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Research Institute has successfully conducted experiments for the propagation of rare medicinal trees like Brahmirukh, Rasount and Harar, which are used for manufacturing important medicines including anti-cancer drugs.

ATVs for Kargil
JAMMU, May 22 — Seven all terrain vehicles (ATVs) meant for security and surveillance purpose of Kargil hills have arrived in New Delhi, a top defence official said today.

Yasin Malik plans fast
SRINAGAR, May 22 — Senior Hurriyat Conference leader Mohammad Yasin Malik will begin a 36-hour-long fast from Wednesday against alleged excesses committed by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, he said today.

2 killed, 3 hurt in mishap
JAMMU, May 22 — Two persons were killed and three injured in a collision between a bus and a van on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway today, the police said here.

Grenade attacks rock Srinagar
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 22 — Militants fired nearly one dozen rifle grenades towards the Civil Secretariat here this afternoon, causing injuries to four persons, including a policeman, outside the complex, this being the first such attack attempt this year.

The rifle grenades, which, according to the police, were fired from the nearby Batamaloo locality, did not hit the Secretariat complex, and instead fell in the residential localities of Suthra Shahi, Balgarden and the adjacent Fire Services Complex, at 1.45 p.m. One policeman and two girls were injured in the grenade attacks. One grenade hit a residential house at Suthra Shahi, causing heavy damage to the house. Panic gripped the employees of the Secretariat after the incident.

A police spokesman stated here that “half a dozen rifle grenades” were fired from the interior Batamaloo area, two of which exploded near Fire Services headquarters, one in Suthra Shahi locality and one in Balgarden”. Three unexploded grenades were also recovered, the police said.

This is for the first time this year that militants attacked the Civil Secretariat building after it reopened here on May 8 last for the summer months. Tight security arrangements were made on the occasion of the shifting of the offices in the summer capital since last month.

The security forces and police swung into action and cordoned off Suthra Shahi locality on the backside of the Secretariat and started identification parades. One person was picked up for questioning soon after the incident, police sources said. The incident took place merely three days after the militants fired a rocket towards the Assembly complex here on Friday. The rocket missed the intended target and instead fell on the opposite bank of the Jhelum river where the Assembly complex is located. Three civilians were injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, tension gripped Sopore town of Baramula district today following a clash between the police and agitating groups of people. The police had to resort to a lathicharge to quell the demonstrators this morning in the town. They were demanding the handing over of the bodies of six youths killed in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district last week. For the fifth consecutive day today, all shops and business establishments remained closed in the town in protest against the killings.

The people alleged that six youths missing from the town since Sunday last had been picked up by the security forces and killed in a “fake encounter” in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district branding them as militants. The police on Tuesday had confirmed the death of six “intruders” in the Pragni area of Tangdhar-Karnah sector of Kupwara district. A police spokesman on Tuesday last said that the six militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces within two kms from the LoC. JAMMU: The troops of Romeo Force killed six foreign mercenaries two separate encounter near Thanamandi and Chingus in Rajouri district on Monday.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said that the Romeo Force and the police carried out a joint operation against militants who had taken shelter at Maharajpur near Thanamandi. As the security forces neared the hideout they came under heavy fire from the militants. A fierce encounter took place in which five foreign mercenaries were killed and five assault rifles, 14 magazines, 980 rounds of AK-47 and 20 hand grenades were recovered from the slain militants.

In another incident, BSF and Romeo Force jawans killed one top militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen, who was earlier injured in an encounter six days ago near Thanamandi.

During the past three days, the Romeo Force of the Army seized more than 75 kg of RDX, 20 IED detonators, 12 IEDs, four rocket projectile guns, four rifle grenades, six handgrenades, four rockets, 30 Chinese mortar bombs, 30 anti-tank rifles ammunition and large quantities of other explosives.

In a separate incident, a group of foreign mercenaries, equipped with assault rifles and other weapons, backed to death two Bakerwals, Talib Hussain and Lal Din, in Budhal village of Rajouri district on Sunday night.

UNI adds: At least three security force jawans and as many foreign militants belonging to Harkat-ul-Jehadi-Islami (HUJI) were killed in a fierce gun-battle in Banihal area of Doda district on Sunday evening.

Elsewhere in the border district of Rajouri, troops recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives.

Successful propagation of medicinal trees in J & K

SRINAGAR, May 22 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Research Institute (JKFRI) has successfully conducted experiments for the propagation of rare medicinal trees like Brahmirukh, Rasount and Harar, which are used for manufacturing important medicines including anti-cancer drugs.

For the first time, successful experiments have been conducted for propagation of Taxus Baccata or Brahmirukh through nine-inch cuttings, Mr S.D. Swatantra, Director, JKFRI said.

Drugs produced from these trees also have a huge foreign exchange earning potential, Mr Swatantra said.

To give a boost to the programme, the institute has undertaken a scheme to set up quality plant production unit at Tangmarg, where 7000 such medium-sized trees have been found with natural vegetation, he said, adding the leaves and bark of this tree produce Texol, used for curing cancer.

Experiments with different treatment of root promoting hormones are also being conducted to achieve 100 per cent success, the Director said.

Similar experiments have been successfully conducted on Barberis, roots of which are used for prepare “Rosount”, yet another species having medicinal value, he said.

The Director said that Harar medicinal plant has also been propagated at Nagbani research centre in Jammu by reducing the germination period of its seed from 70 days to 10-15 days.

Vegetative propagation by raising cuttings of these trees has been necessitated as natural re-vegetation of these medicinal and other trees has been a serious problem, Mr Swatantra added.

ATVs for Kargil

JAMMU, May 22 (PTI) — Seven all terrain vehicles (ATVs) meant for security and surveillance purpose of Kargil hills have arrived in New Delhi, a top defence official said today.

“These ATVs after technical tests and operational utility monitoring in New Delhi by defence experts will be flown to Leh for their use in defence and surveillance of Kargil heights”, Major-General P.P.S. Bindra, Northern Command, told PTI from Udhampur.

He said three ATVs have already been in use in Kargil since three months and these have proved useful in such heights.

“With 10 ATVs (including seven more) security set-up of Kargil spread from Tiger Hills to Turtuk-Thang will be strengthened”, the Major-General said.

For the Siachen sector, 15 snow scooters have arrived and were currently in use in the glacier area for patrolling and movement of troops in high altitude places, he said.

“They are working excellently in Siachen”, he said.

Besides, this 16 mine protected vehicles (MPVs) brought from Africa have arrived at the Northern Command and all of them have been distributed as per need.

Yasin Malik plans fast

SRINAGAR, May 22 (PTI) — Senior Hurriyat Conference leader Mohammad Yasin Malik will begin a 36-hour-long fast from Wednesday against alleged excesses committed by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, he said today.

A general strike will also be observed throughout the Kashmir valley on Wednesday and Thursday, Mr Malik, who was released from jail recently, told mediapersons here at the Hurriyat headquarters.

2 killed, 3 hurt in mishap

JAMMU, May 22 (PTI) — Two persons were killed and three injured in a collision between a bus and a van on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway today, the police said here.

The accident occurred when Tata Sumo on its way from Jammu to Pathankot collided with a state road transport bus coming from Pathankot at Logate Morh, 90 km from here, the police said, adding of the five passengers in Sumo, two were killed, while the remaining were injured.

The injured have been admitted to a hospital.