J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

3 militants killed, 5 hideouts busted
Srinagar, December 25
Three militants were killed and an equal number of persons, including a Special Police Officer, injured in Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces busted five militant hideouts and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition since last night, a police spokesman said today.

Kashmiri folk dancers entertain locals and tourists at Gulmarg, world's famous health resort and one of the best skiing slopes, some 51 km from Srinagar, on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Amin War

Attack by militants: PWD engineer held
Jammu, December 25
The police has arrested an executive engineer of the Power Development Department, Nazir Ahmed Jan, and his son Shoaib in connection with a terrorist attack at the BSNL, Telephone Exchange in the Army cantonment area of Indira Nagar at Srinagar on November 18.

Efforts to unite APHC factions
Jammu, December 25
After the Kashmir Mirwaiz and the Chairman of the Awami Action Committee, Maulvi Umar Farooq, failed to bring about a reconciliation between the two factions of the APHC — one headed by Maulvi Abbas Ansari and the other by Syed Ali Shah Geelani — the Kashmir Bar Association has stepped in for patching up the differences between the two groups of the separatists.

Minister apprised of farmers’ grievances
Jammu, December 25
A delegation headed by Mr Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, MLA, called on Revenue Minister Hakim Mohammad Yasin here today.

• Book of Dogri poems released

3 militants killed, 5 hideouts busted

Srinagar, December 25
Three militants were killed and an equal number of persons, including a Special Police Officer, injured in Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces busted five militant hideouts and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition since last night, a police spokesman said today.

Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Thanole village in Udhampur district, he said. An AK assault rifle, five magazines, 60 rounds, five hand grenades and a wireless set were seized from the slain militants.

In another operation, security forces killed a Lashker-e-Toiba militant, Bilal Ahma Khan, alias Abu Adil, in a gunfight at Sonabrari village in Kokernag area of Anantnag district, the spokesman said, adding that an AK assault rifle, four magazines and six rounds were seized from his possession.

Three militant hideouts in three houses in the village were also busted during the operation, he said.

A patrolling party of police was fired upon by militants at Zerpara village of Bijbehara in Anantnag today, but none was hurt in the ensuing shootout, the spokesman said. Militants also ambushed a police party at Malhan in Poonch district, injuring SPO Khursheed Ahmad and a 26-year-old woman.

He said militants shot at and injured one Altaf Hussain inside his house at Shiva in Doda district.

Security forces busted two more hideouts, one each at Mendhar in Poonch and Sheikhpora-Kraligund in Kupwara, seizing two rocket launchers, binoculars, two boxes of ammunition, six grenades, two chargers, two AK magazines with 53 rounds, a pistol magazine, four nine-volt dry batteries and a detonator. — PTI

Attack by militants: PWD engineer held
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 25
The police has arrested an executive engineer of the Power Development Department, Nazir Ahmed Jan, and his son Shoaib in connection with a terrorist attack at the BSNL, Telephone Exchange in the Army cantonment area of Indira Nagar at Srinagar on November 18.

An Army Major, two CRPF personnel and an employee of the BSNL were killed in the attack.

A police spokesman said here today that the interrogation of Mohammad Imran Chowhan, alias Abu Iqbal, a resident of Gujranwala, Pakistan, revealed that he himself along with Abu Umar, a Pakistani who was killed in the encounter and Janzeb Kashmiri reached Srinagar from the upper reaches of Bandipore on November 16 to carry out the attack. They went to the residence of Nazir Ahmed Jan at Lal Bazar, Srinagar. They were carrying weapons, ammunition and grenades in kitbags.

The spokesman said that the three terrorists stayed in the house till November 18. The terrorists finalised their plan of a fidayeen attack in the area of Indira Nagar. The general layout of Indira Nagar was also discussed with Executive Engineer and a site plan prepared which was recovered from one of the rooms of his house. The house of Jan was identified by an arrested terrorist, Abu Iqbal.

Efforts to unite APHC factions
Our Correspondent

Jammu, December 25
After the Kashmir Mirwaiz and the Chairman of the Awami Action Committee, Maulvi Umar Farooq, failed to bring about a reconciliation between the two factions of the APHC — one headed by Maulvi Abbas Ansari and the other by Syed Ali Shah Geelani — the Kashmir Bar Association has stepped in for patching up the differences between the two groups of the separatists.

The president of the Kashmir Bar Association, Mian Qayoom, has invited leaders of the two factions of the APHC for talks.

However, the leaders of the APHC (Abbas) are not optimistic since both Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the JKLF Chief, Mr Mohd Yasin Malik, had not attended the meeting convened by Maulvi Umar Farooq a month ago for bringing about reconciliation.

A senior APHC leader, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, told this correspondent today. “We welcome the plan of the Kashmir Bar Association, but its efforts can be described as digging a grave for a body that has already been buried.”

He said had Mr Geelani and Mr Malik been interested in unity they would have, at least, attended the meeting convened by the Kashmir Mirwaiz.

Meanwhile, a former Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has suggested Delhi to hold talks with everyone, including the leaders belonging to the APHC (Geelani) faction.

Minister apprised of farmers’ grievances
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 25
A delegation headed by Mr Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, MLA, called on Revenue Minister Hakim Mohammad Yasin here today.

The delegation apprised the minister of the damage caused due to hailstorm and drought in the Kulgam area during the past kharif season.

Mr Tarigami informed the minister that a number of farmers in Kulgam, Home Shalibugh and higher belts of the Shopian area had suffered due to hailstorm and drought. Mr Tarigami pleaded for immediate relief to the affected families.

Mr Hakim Mohammad Yasin assured the delegation that the government would consider all possible help to the people affected by hailstorm and drought.

Book of Dogri poems released

Jammu, December 25
The Minister for Education, Mr Harshdev Singh, said today that with the inclusion of Dogri language in the 8th Schedule of the country’s Constitution the best opportunity now was available to develop and spread the language through good literary works available in it. The minister was speaking at a function organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art and Culture to release the book ‘Sola Chan’ carrying the collection of poems and songs written by eminent writer and poet of Dogri Inderjeet Kesar. — TNS