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Sunday,
February 2, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Militants’ infiltration routes to be sealed
Four
ultras killed in valley |
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BSF jawan
hurt in Pak firing J&K to
promote adventure tourism 2
arrested sisters in Baramula freed Pampore
land scam: govt orders probe Gulmarg
cable car project by year-end Hindu
Society’s appeal to CM Jammu
phone services hit
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Militants’ infiltration routes to be sealed Jammu, February 1 For this more than 12 BSF battalions deployed in the state for counter-insurgency are being moved to the border. Three months ago orders were issued to shift six BSF battalions, deployed in South Kashmir, to the border. These BSF battalions were to be replaced by the CRPF. But so far the orders have not been implemented because the CRPF companies, which were to be sent to Kashmir, had been deployed in Gujarat during the recent election. These companies were to be detailed for security arrangements during the Republic Day function. Four to five BSF battalions are to be shifted from the Jammu region to the border after CRPF jawans, trained in counter-insurgency operations, were posted in Jammu. Official sources said that the decision to shift BSF battalions to the border for checking infiltration and entrusting the anti-insurgency operations to the CRPF had been taken on the recommendations of the Ministers Group formed to review the security set-up. The group had recommended to the government to take effective measures to plug infiltration routes as porous border left scope for militants’ infiltration. In addition to this, the Ministry of Defence is keen to send back troops moved from West Bengal borders to Jammu and Kashmir last year during the military build-up. This could be possible once the BSF battalions were sent to the LoC. Another part of the strategy is to complete fencing of the 187 km-long International Border in the Jammu sector. Initially the fencing project was entrusted to the CPWD but owing to heavy firing by the Pakistani troops the CPWD engineers and labourers abandoned the work. The Union Home Ministry finally assigned the work to the BSF. Since the beginning of 2000 seven BSF battalions have been put on the job of raising a barbed wire fencing. Despite intermittent heavy firing by Pakistani troops the BSF jawans have succeeded in fencing 45 km of border stretch. According to Mr Dilip Trivedi, Inspector General BSF, by June next 85 km border stretch would be fenced. He said that since fencing of border helped check infiltration of militants in Punjab the Union Home Ministry decided to repeat the experiment in the Jammu sector. He said the stretch fenced did not witness infiltration in the past one year. Mr Trivedi told newsmen that militants were active in various segments of Rajouri district but the offensive launched by the BSF had prevented the rebels from indulging in subversion and sabotage. He said that in 2002 the BSF eliminated 141 militants and of them 67 in counter-insurgency operations, 72 along the LoC, two on the IB and recovered 123 assault rifles, 23 pistols, 317 grenades, 46 IEDs, 16000 rounds of ammunition and huge quantities of explosives. The BSF authorities seem to be happy over the decision of the government to shift the BSF jawans to the border because it would allow them respite from stress and strain on account of round the clock anti-insurgency duty. Mr Trivedi was hopeful that the CRPF jawans would do well in tackling militancy as every jawan has been imparted special training in counter-insurgency operations. And each CRPF battalion has been
modernised. |
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Separatists
decry scribe’s killing
Srinagar, February 1 Condemning the killing of the editor of the local news Agency NAFA, the Hurriyat Conference said “Unless the Kashmir issue is resolved, innocent lives will continue to perish”. However, a spokesman of the Amalgam said the killing Of any unarmed person — whether working in an office, in the Fields or just walking on the road — is a condemnable act. A meaningful dialogue was the only way out of this vicious Cycle of violence, he added. Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said the act could be the handiwork of those Who wanted to sabotage the freedom movement by diverting the Attention of the people from the real issue. He said the need of the hour was for the separatist Leaders to ponder over the recurring attacks on journalists And unite in exposing the men behind the masks. Describing Sultan as brave, courageous and objective, the Senior separatist leader said the void left by his death would Be difficult to fill. Jammu and Kashmir National Front Chairman Naeem Ahmad Khan said Sultan carried out his duties with utmost dedication and laid down his life for upholding professional responsibilities. Lauding the journalists in general, Khan said they were carrying out their duties despite facing several attacks in which many of them were killed. Majid Dar, a spokesman of the Hizbul Mujahideen, in a faxed statement said “Sultan’s killing was an act of cowardice and an irreparable loss to the freedom of press”. All leaders expressed solidarity and sympathy with the bereaved family. Sultan was shot dead from close range by two unidentified militants last evening at his office-cum residence at residency road here. He was laid to rest today at his native village of Khiram in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Almost the entire journalist fraternity of the valley and eminent personalities attended the funeral.
PTI |
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Four ultras killed in valley
Jammu, February 1 One unidentified militant, who had infiltrated into the Indian side, was killed by security forces during a brief encounter at Alfa Machal village in the Akhnoor sector around 0025 hours. The troops recovered one rifle with its three magazines and 68 rounds of ammunition from the slain militant, they said. Meanwhile, a militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Tujjar Sharief today, the sources said, adding that one AK assault rifle with four magazines and 90 rounds and four hand grenades were recovered from him. A jawan was injured in the gunfight and has been hospitalised. Two jawans were injured when militants detonated an improvised security device when a security vehicle passed the road at the Lasjan bye-pass on the outskirts of the city this afternoon. The device was kept on a bicycle by militants and detonated when the security vehicle passed the road, causing extensive damage to the vehicle besides injuring two jawans, who were removed to hospital. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.
PTI |
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BSF jawan hurt in Pak firing Jammu, February 1 Constable Ramesh Kumar sustained bullet wounds in has shoulder and fingers when Pakistani rangers opened firing with light machine guns on the Nikowal border outpost in the R.S. Pura sector around midnight last night, they said. The injured jawan, who is attached to the forward post as a driver, was later shifted to the Army hospital in Satwari. Pakistani troops also resorted to mortar shelling in the Jhangar area of Noushera sector of Rajouri district last evening, they said adding that Indian troops
retaliated after 30 mortar shells landed in the forward area from across the Line of Control. However, there was no loss of life or damage to property on our side, they added.
PTI |
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J&K to promote adventure tourism Jammu, February 1 Interacting with Mr Sylvain Saudan, a world renowned heli-ski expert of Himalaya Heli-ski Club, France who called on him the Chief Minister said high reaches of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and several other areas had beautiful slopes which provide ideal sites for adventure tourism. Since these remained snow covered up to May, these would prove a major attraction particularly for the foreign tourists. The Chief Minister discussed in details measures to be taken for promoting adventure tourism,
particularly heli-ski, in Jammu and Kashmir besides developing conventional tourism. He said feasibility would be explored to start heli-ski in other high altitude areas of the state of tap available potential, as adventure tourism was becoming more popular. Mountain slopes in Kashmir were among the best in the world. The Mufti assured all possible support and facilities to Mr Saudan in his effort to restart heli-ski in Jammu and Kashmir. The government, he said, was keen to promote tourism, the mainstay of the state’s economy which had suffered immensely due to
militancy. |
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2 arrested sisters in Baramula freed Baramula, February 1 Official sources said the two sisters were arrested by the security forces from their house at Mir Sahib in the downtown early today. The sources said they were released this afternoon. Life was paralysed in the town as thousands of people, mostly women, took to streets in protest against their arrest. The demonstrators, raising slogans against the coalition government and the security forces, alleged that personnel from the Army and the Special Operation Group of the state police arrested the two sisters and took them to a camp. They said that the two sisters had lodged a complaint recently with the district authorities that an Army officer was harassing them. The demonstrators criticised the coalition government for not taking any serious step to stop
atrocities by the security forces.
UNI |
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Pampore
land scam: govt orders probe Jammu, February 1 The Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Hakim Mohammad Yasin has issued orders for holding a probe into the alleged encroachment in the Pampore area of Pulwama, appointing Additional Commissioner, Kashmir, as an inquiry officer, the spokesman said. The probe report will be submitted within a week, the spokesman said. The minister has also issued instructions for immediate suspension of all employees involved in the scam, he said. It is alleged that government land was encroached upon by people with help from the revenue officials who made changes in the revenue records.
PTI |
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Gulmarg
cable car project by year-end Jammu, February 1 “The work on the second phase of Gondola Cable Car Project in Gulmarg is apace and likely to be completed by the year end”, Mir told PTI. The completion of the second phase of the project would connect more snow-capped peaks and valleys, attracting more tourists, Mir said. The minister informed that helicopter service would be launched to connect Srinagar with Gulmarg and Pahalgam on the lines of the services already operational between Jammu and Vaishno Devi.
PTI |
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Hindu Society’s appeal to CM Jammu, February 1 According to Mr A.K. Dewani, president of the society, several educational institutions in the valley, which had been run by organisations of Kashmiri Pandits, had forcibly been taken over by some individuals and organisations since 1990. He said the society had launched a fund collection drive to raise a composite education complex. |
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Jammu phone services hit Jammu, February 1 Outstation connections were snapped and STD service paralysed. The services could not be restored till late in the evening. |
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