J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

24-hr patrolling on Samba-Jammu track
JAMMU, Dec 30 — Following a threat from Lakshar-e-Toiba to blow up trains, the bomb prone track between Samba and Jammu has been placed under round the clock patrol by the security forces. For the time being, all incoming and outgoing trains from Jammu to Pathankot will have a pilot engine running half an hour before the departure of trains from one station to the other to ensure that the track was fit and had not been damaged by any blast.

8 militants killed in J & K
SRINAGAR, Dec 30 — five militants and two security personnel were killed and two others injured in an intense gun-fight in a forest area of Kashmir today, while four persons were killed in separate militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening. A police party while chasing a group of timber smugglers came under militant fire in Saidgund forest in the Kandi belt of Kupwara district today, official sources said.

24-hr patrolling on Samba-Jammu track
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Dec 30 — Following a threat from Lakshar-e-Toiba to blow up trains, the bomb prone track between Samba and Jammu has been placed under round the clock patrol by the security forces.

For the time being, all incoming and outgoing trains from Jammu to Pathankot will have a pilot engine running half an hour before the departure of trains from one station to the other to ensure that the track was fit and had not been damaged by any blast.

The state authorities manning the railways and the Crime department had suggested to the Ministry of Railways the flood lights should be installed on either side of the track between Jammu and Samba to prevent militants from taking advantage of darkness while cartying out blasts. The ministry had sanctioned over Rs 8.5 crore and work had started on it.

However, another recommendation to raise a barded wire fence around all major stations between Jammu and Pathankot was still to be implemented. The third recommendation was to establish shelter sheds so that security personnel could keep a watch during inclement weather. It had been seen that during inclement weather, the security personnel would move to safer places leaving the track vulnerable.

During the past five years, more than seven explosions had resulted in the loss of 12 lives and injuries to over 75. These blasts had damaged the track and coaches. To avoid it, each night train will have a pilot engine which will monitor the track in advance.

A close circuit TV with seven cameras has been installed at the railway station here. A sophisticated X-ray plant for checking passengers’ baggage has also been installed. The machine has, however, remained out of order for a long time. The railway and crime authorities have asked the Railway Minister to install another machine.

In addition to this, the department has started engaging special police officers and ex-servicemen who would be entrusted with the task of patrolling the track from Jammu to Samba. They will be deployed in strength at Samba, Vijaypur, and Bari Brahmana Stations where the militants have carried out bomb blasts during the past five years.

8 militants killed in J & K

SRINAGAR, Dec 30 (PTI) — five militants and two security personnel were killed and two others injured in an intense gun-fight in a forest area of Kashmir today, while four persons were killed in separate militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Officials said unidentified gunmen abducted a PCO owner at Magermal Bagh in Srinagar.