J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Five Pak soldiers killed in firing
Jammu, June 6
At least five Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others wounded when Indian troops retaliated in the Poonch sector today. Defence Ministry sources said the Tetrinote Pakistani post suffered severe damage and four vehicles were destroyed, one of them set ablaze, when the Indian troops retaliated with artillery and mortar guns.

HuJI chief among 6 killed in J&K
Srinagar, June 6
The security forces killed the supreme commander of the Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami outfit in an encounter here last night. Elsewhere three persons, including two security force personnel, were killed and one person was injured in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday.

One of the 12 militants handing his gun to an officer at a surrender ceremony organised by the Army in the frontier district of Kupwara, in north Kashmir, on Wednesday. — PTI photo

Crossing LoC to meet kin
Jammu, June 6
When Kashmiri Muslim youth was recently recruited in the armed police his case was sent to the intelligence agency for verifying his antecedents and bona fides before a formal appointment order could be issued.

CM concerned over noise pollution
Srinagar, June 6
The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has expressed concerned over depleting water bodies, increasing noise pollution and eco-imbalance in the state.

Five Pak soldiers killed in firing
Tribune News Service and UNI

Jammu, June 6
At least five Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others wounded when Indian troops retaliated in the Poonch sector today.

Defence Ministry sources said the Tetrinote Pakistani post suffered severe damage and four vehicles were destroyed, one of them set ablaze, when the Indian troops retaliated with artillery and mortar guns.

The sources said the Pakistani forces resorted to unprovoked shelling from across Ghagrial and Saebjia posts in Poonch, damaging some civilian structures.

The Indian troops hit back and damaged several vehicles and killed at least five Pakistani soldiers.

Several Pakistani bunkers were hit by Indian shells across Nowshera, Karnah, Gurez, Kargil and Batalik areas. In these areas, the two sides exchanged intermittent artillery and mortar fire.

The sources said the Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling from across Kanachak in Akhnoor sector, forcing 50 families to migrate to safer places. According to the sources, about 500 persons fled from Dab Sudan and Panjore areas in Kanachak and were given temporary accommodation in the PWD complex at Jiri.

The Indian troops retaliated, effectively in Arnia and Hiranagar areas, causing heavy losses to the enemy troops.

Meanwhile, an Army jawan sustained injuries when Pakistani troops fired heavy-mortar shells on frontline Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) last night.

The sources said the Army jawan was injured in the Pakistani mortar fire in the Sunderbani frontier area last night. Indian forces retaliated through similar calibre guns and the exchange of fire continued for sometime before it simmered.

Indian and Pakistani troops were locked in an exchange of intermittent mortar fire at Jhangar, Laam, Kalsian and Kalaal areas along the LoC in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district since late last night. The intermittent cross-border mortar duel was on when reports last came in, the sources said.

Elsewhere, both armies exchanged mortar fire along the international border in the Samba sector late last night.

HuJI chief among 6 killed in J&K
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 6
The security forces killed the supreme commander of the Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami (HuJI) outfit in an encounter here last night.

Elsewhere three persons, including two security force personnel, were killed and one person was injured in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday.

The police here said the SOG and Army in a joint operation killed Mohammad Rafiq Lone in a fierce encounter at Lal Bazaar here last night. He was holding a meeting with his accomplices in a migrant’s house at Pandit Bagh in Lal Bazaar area here. His accomplices managed to escape under the cover of darkness, the police said. One AK rifle, two magazines and 45 rounds were recovered from the site of encounter.

Two security force personnel were killed when militants opened fire on a patrol at Pinjora, Shopian in Pulwama district yesterday.

Militants shot dead Gula Chopan when they intruded into his house at Gujjar Patti Darpatti in Kupwara district last night.

A former militant, Latif Ahmad Ganai, was critically injured when militants fired at him at Botengoo in Anantnag district today.

In another incident two masked gunmen looted Rs 44,480 from Kamraz Rural Bank, Sopore, in Baramula district yesterday.

In another encounter between the militants and security forces a foreign mercenary identified as Abu Usama of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was killed in Bandipora area of Baramula district today, official sources said adding that some arms and ammunition were recovered from him.

A police spokesman said a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Khurshid Ahmad Banday was arrested along with two grenades by the police from Beerwah area of Badgam district last night.

Crossing LoC to meet kin
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 6
When Kashmiri Muslim youth was recently recruited in the armed police his case was sent to the intelligence agency for verifying his antecedents and bona fides before a formal appointment order could be issued.

The investigating agency found that some of the close relatives had crossed over to Pakistan and occupied Kashmir, some for arms training and others for seeing their dear and near ones. This proved a minus point for the youth who otherwise has qualified for recruitment. He may not be issued the formal appointment order.

This is not an isolated case. Right from 1948 people living in the border areas have been crossing and recrossing the LoC to meet their relatives. The Partition divided close-knit families with sister on this side of the border and their brothers on the other side. Several houses on the border in Uri, Kupwara, Keran, Gurez, Poonch and Rajouri have backyards opening into the Pakistan territory.

According to a senior police officer, a number of families in the Uri and Kupwara sectors have been frequently crossing the LoC. They stay for a couple of months and return. Others cross the LoC, purchase cows and buffalos and sell them on a premium back in home.

In Poonch and Rajouri areas, cattle traders and lifters cross the LoC and sell the same at lucrative prices. This has been the regular feature on the border and the 13-year of the Pakistan proxy war had not affected any major change.

Security experts are of the opinion that sealing of over 1260 km long Indo-Pakistan border, dotted by mountains, deep ravines and thick forest belts, in Jammu and Kashmir was a difficult proposition. And if India and Pakistan agree on joint patrolling the rate of ingress may drop but it cannot be checked completely.

Even before the rise of militancy large groups of people would cross and recross the LoC very often, It was confined to cross-border smuggling, rice, garments and liquor from the Indian side, salt, cloth, electric and electronic gadgets besides opium from Pakistan.

If people on both sides of the border are allowed easy travel facilities, this could correct their misperceptions and results in a better understanding between the people of the two sides.

However, there are many in Jammu and Kashmir who are sceptical about the attitude of Islamabad. Relying on their experience they explain that successive rulers in Pakistan have played the Kashmir card fully to compensate for their lapses on the political and economic front.

CM concerned over noise pollution
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 6
The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has expressed concerned over depleting water bodies, increasing noise pollution and eco-imbalance in the state.

Speaking at a seminar on pollution hazards organised in connection with World Environment Week by the State Pollution Control Board here yesterday, the Chief Minister said noise pollution had attained alarming proportion much to the discomfort of ailing people and students.

The Chief Minister said some officials assigned with the job of the conservation of Dal Lake had submerged two deweeding machines instead of floating them causing a loss of Rs 2 crore to the exchequer. Though action had been initiated against manufacturers and officers responsible for negligence it reflected on lack of devotion and dedication, he said.