J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Two jawans hurt in Pak shelling
JAMMU, Aug 28 — Two Army jawans were injured in Pakistani shelling from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Noshehra sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday, a Defence spokesman said today.

Fake currency racket busted
SRINAGAR, Aug 28 — The BSF has busted a gang involved in the circulation of fake currency worth Rs 31 lakh with the arrest of five persons and seizure of over Rs 5 lakh here since last week.

Two PDP workers killed in ambush
SRINAGAR, Aug 28 — Two People’s Democratic Party (PDP) workers were killed and another injured in a militant ambush in Pulwama district of south Kashmir today, an official spokesman said today.

Army directive irks BSF
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Aug 28 — Which is the competent authority to grant permission to mediapersons for visiting villages on this side of the international border? This issue has generated conflict between the BSF and the Army authorities in Jammu.

The BSF authorities have lodged a protest against the direction from the Army that mediamen interested in visiting villages on this side of the international border, which extends from Kathua to Akhnoor, have to seek prior permission from the Army authorities and not from the BSF.

Informed sources said the Army directions to the BSF were contained in a letter in which the former had clearly stated that without the permission from the Army no mediaman should be allowed to visit the international border (IB). The BSF authorities had been asked to stop granting permission to newsmen on their own.

The sources said the Army’s letter was discussed at a meeting of senior BSF officers who protested against it. The BSF officers stated that since the 187-km long border was guarded by the BSF there was no logic in Army granting permission to newsmen.

The trouble arose when a group of mediamen, including those connected with electronic media from Delhi, were taken into custody after they returned from border villages. These mediamen had permission of the BSF. Even senior BSF officials had interacted with the mediamen.

The mediamen were released following telephone talk between senior BSF and Army personnel. The mediamen sent a letter to the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, protesting against the odd behaviour of a colonel. The Defence Ministry informed the Corps Headquarters here. The Corps Headquarters decided that the Army should have the final authority for granting permission to newsmen visiting the border on the plea that the BSF was under its operational command.

The BSF has contested the Army’s claim on the ground that BSF personnel risked their lives to check infiltration, incursion and arms smuggling.

However, insiders fined the roots of conflict in the race between the BSF and the Army for taking credit for successful anti-insurgency operations. BSF sources said on several occasions the Army authorities took the credit for successful anti-infiltration operations on the border when the work had been carried out by the BSF. On other occasions the BSF contribution, during joint operations, was ignored.

The matter was being referred to the Central Government where the senior officials of Defence and Home Ministries were expected to sort out the dispute. 

Two jawans hurt in Pak shelling

JAMMU, Aug 28 (PTI) — Two Army jawans were injured in Pakistani shelling from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Noshehra sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday, a Defence spokesman said today.

Pakistani troops fired mortar shells all through the day targeting villages of Sair, Makri and Namb and forward posts in the sector, he said.

Two jawans at a forward post received splinter injuries and were admitted to a hospital in Rajouri, he said.

Indian troops retaliated and the exchange continued till evening. However, it could not be ascertained if there was any casualty on the Pakistani side, the spokesman said.

Reports were received of light arms shoot out in some areas along international border and the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts last night, he said. However, no casualty had been reported.

Security forces killed seven hardcore militants in encounters and arrested three Pakistani intruders since yesterday, official sources said today.

Army troops averted a major tragedy with timely detection and neutralisation of an improvised explosive device (IED) on a village track from Gharad to Ojhan in Rajouri district last evening. The IED was kept in a tiffin carrier and was fitted with battery and transistor, the sources said.

One ultra was killed and another injured in two separate encounters with security forces at Molasar and Patharban in Poonch district today. A huge cache of arms and explosives were recovered from them, they said.

Security forces shot dead two militants of the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) in an encounter at Bachaiwali village of Poonch district yesterday, the sources said.

One militant of the Hizbul Mujahndeen Pir Panjal regiment (HMPPR) was shot dead by troops at Naka Majari village, they said.

Troops gunned down three hardcore ultras at Ludharmar and Khour forests in Udhampur district last evening.

Fake currency racket busted
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 28 — The BSF has busted a gang involved in the circulation of fake currency worth Rs 31 lakh with the arrest of five persons and seizure of over Rs 5 lakh here since last week.

Disclosing this here today, the DIG BSF, Mr R.P. Singh, told mediapersons that the fake currency was being circulated among families of militants killed in encounters with the security forces.

The currency was also being used by an unidentified Ladakhi youth for circulation in the North-East. He said some bankmen were also involved in this racket who facilitated the circulation of these notes. However, no one had been identified so far.

BSF personnel also recovered a computer with colour printer, scanner, keyboard and other allied equipment used by the racketeers in the manufacture of fake currency notes. The total cash seized by the 63 Bn amounted to Rs 5,36,500. A motor cycle was also seized by troops and efforts were on to nab others involved in the racket.

The DIG stated that this followed the seizure of heroin and cash over Rs 4 lakh from suspected militants earlier this month.

Mr R.P. Singh, giving details, said following the arrest of a person in connection with fake currency on August 27, Nassir Hussain Khan was held here yesterday with a fake currency of Rs 37,500 . On his disclosure, Nissar Ahmad Khan (with fake currency of Rs 65,000) and Ajaz Ahmad Sofi of Kreri, Pattan area of Baramula district were apprehended last night. As a follow-up action, another person with fake currency worth Rs 2,20,000 was held with the help of a decoy customer from Hawal last night. On further inquiries, Javed Iqbal Qureshi was arrested from his house at Soura early this morning from whom the computer used in the printing of the notes was seized. He had been forced by militants to print the notes, the DIG said.

Two PDP workers killed in ambush

SRINAGAR, Aug 28 (PTI) — Two People’s Democratic Party (PDP) workers were killed and another injured in a militant ambush in Pulwama district of south Kashmir today, an official spokesman said today.

He said militant opened fire on a propaganda vehicle of the PDP at Naina village near Pulwama district town around killing two PDP activists and wounding another.

The spokesman identified the victims as Zameer Ahmed hailing from Srinagar and Ghulam Mohiuddin Ahangar of Pulwama.