J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Eight ultras, SPO among 10 killed in J&K Srinagar, January 20 Eight militants, including three top commanders of different outfits, and a special police officer (SPO) were among 10 persons killed in Jammu and Kashmir, where ultras set off two IEDS while the security forces rescued a boy from the clutches of ultras since last night, a police spokesman said today.
An injured policeman is helped by a relative inside a hospital after he was wounded in a mine blast in Jammu on Tuesday. One policeman was killed and four others wounded in the blast. — Reuters photo

19-year-old youth’s killing sparks protests
Srinagar, January 20
A 19-year-old youth was shot dead, allegedly by the security forces, sparking off massive demonstrations in the Panzla area of Baramulla district in North Kashmir today, official sources said.

Fake ration cards of migrants to be cancelled
Jammu, January 20
Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Hakim Mohammad Yasin has ordered the cancellation of 516 fake migrant ration cards, which were being allegedly used to draw Rs 2.27 lakh as relief annually.

A Kashmiri supporter of the Congress holds a party flag with photographs of its leaders during a rally in Jammu on Tuesday. — Reuters

Solar power for health centres
Jammu, January 20
The government will install solar power plants at health centres in the remote areas of the state to provide uninterrupted power supply.

Probe ordered into custodial death
Srinagar, January 20
The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a Magisterial inquiry into the alleged custodial death of Ghulam Mohammad Hajam.

Doctor arrested in fake appointment letter scam
Jammu, January 20
A fake appointment letter scam was busted and a senior doctor arrested here today in this connection, official sources said.

Panel set up on regularising 13 colonies
Jammu, January 20
As a step towards the regularisation of 13 unauthorised colonies in Jammu, the government has decided to constitute a committee for suggesting the quantum of development charges payable by the dwellers for creating the civic infrastructure.

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Efforts are on to promote Gulmarg as a tourist destination. (28k, 56k)

Eight ultras, SPO among 10 killed in J&K

Srinagar, January 20
Eight militants, including three top commanders of different outfits, and a special police officer (SPO) were among 10 persons killed in Jammu and Kashmir, where ultras set off two IEDS while the security forces rescued a boy from the clutches of ultras since last night, a police spokesman said today.

Self-styled district commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen Sharie, alias Nadeem, was killed along with two of his associates, Umar Farooq of Pakistan and Nasarullah, in an encounter with the security forces at Targan-Budhal in Rajouri district. Three AK assault rifles, six magazines, 95 rounds and a wireless set were seized from his possession.

The security forces killed battalion commander of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, Abu Shoiab, in a gunbattle at Baadpawa-Shopian in Pulwama district. A jawan was also injured in the encounter, which yielded an AK assault rifle, four magazines, 63 rounds, two grenades, a wireless set and an underbarrel grenade launcher.

In another incident, a top commander of Harkat-ul-Jehadi-e-Eslami, Bashir Ahmad, alias Ansar, was killed in a clash with Hizbul Mujahideen militants at the Balna-Kashwan area of Kishtawar in Doda district. The cause of the group clash was not known immediately.

An unidentified militant was killed and a policeman was injured in an encounter at Sonabrari-Magam in Anantnag district today. The encounter broke out when a joint search party of the BSF and the police raided Lashkar hideout in the village. The security forces today detected and defused a powerful improvised explosive device planted at Bagh-e-Mehtab on the outskirts of the city.

Official sources said 50 kg of the explosives were found after a search of the entire area was conducted following an explosion earlier in the morning. The blast had not caused much damage.

Meanwhile, around 2,000 persons mostly women and children, took to the streets in Panzalla in North Kashmir in protest against the death of one Abdul Rashid, allegedly in firing by the security forces.

JAMMU: A special police officer was killed and six others, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector, were injured in three separate explosions in Jammu and Kashmir today, official sources said. On a tip-off about the planting of an improvised explosive device on a road in the Sangaldan area of Udhampur district, a police team reached the spot to defuse the device.

But the bomb disposal squad could not do so. Later SPO Hans Pal fiddled with the device, which went off killing him on the spot and injuring four others, including one ASI, two cops and a civilian, they said.

The injured, identified as Head Constable Nazir Singh, constable Ashok Kumar and civilian Balbir Singh, have been shifted to the hospital in the Gool area.

In another blast near the international border at Samba, 46 km from here, an Army jawan was injured critically in a landmine blast early today, sources said.

The right foot of a villager, Krishen Kal, was blown up in a powerful explosion at the Saina area of RS Pura near the border in Jammu. — PTI, UNI

19-year-old youth’s killing sparks protests

Srinagar, January 20
A 19-year-old youth was shot dead, allegedly by the security forces, sparking off massive demonstrations in the Panzla area of Baramulla district in North Kashmir today, official sources said.

Abdul Rashid Lone, a Class 12 student, was fired upon allegedly by troops of Rashtriya Rifles during an ambush at Shalikote village around 6.30 am after they received information about movement of militants in the area, the sources said.

Lone was immediately rushed to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

As the news of his killing spread, people in large numbers assembled at his residence and later took to streets, blocking the main road and demanding action against the security personnel involved in the killing, the sources said.

They said senior police and security officers had rushed to the scene to take stock of the situation. — PTI

Fake ration cards of migrants to be cancelled

Jammu, January 20
Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Hakim Mohammad Yasin has ordered the cancellation of 516 fake migrant ration cards, which were being allegedly used to draw Rs 2.27 lakh as relief annually. The fake cards were detected during inquiries made following some complaints in this regard, an official press note said here.

Ordering the early recovery of the amount drawn fraudulently by unscrupulous elements, the minister has also asked for the reverification of all migrant families registered after 1996.

The government had constituted a screening committee under the chairmanship of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, with the Additional Director-General of Police, CID and Relief Commissioner (migrant) as its members for the registration of new migrant families owing to threat perception certified by the CID, it said, adding that after confirmation in this regard the registration cases are placed before the screening committee.

The screening committee has met six times during the current year, cleared 75 cases and rejected 21 cases. The minister has also ordered the streamlining of the working of relief organisations so that deserving beneficiaries are not deprived of their rights and fraudulent cases are detected. — PTI

Solar power for health centres
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 20
The government will install solar power plants at health centres in the remote areas of the state to provide uninterrupted power supply.

This information was given at a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of the Minister for Finance and Planning, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Baig, to review the potential for renewable energy sources in the state.

Initially, four 8.4 kw capacity solar power plants have been installed at the hospitals in Uri, Kupwara, Mendhar and Darhal on experimental basis and more such plants are being installed at other hospitals in a phased manner. The scheme is being implemented by the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) with the help of the Union Ministry for non-conventional energy sources.

JAKEDA has prepared pre-feasibility report of 20 more hospitals, 10 each in Jammu and Kashmir regions, for the installation of 10 kv solar power plants. The Union Ministry will provide financial assistance to the tune of Rs 22.50 lakh.

Probe ordered into custodial death

Srinagar, January 20
The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a Magisterial inquiry into the alleged custodial death of Ghulam Mohammad Hajam.

An official spokesman said Additional Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, has been directed to probe into the circumstances that led to the killing of Ghulam Mohammad Hajam of Dharwan Bararipathri early this month.

He said the inquiry officer will record statements and collect evidence on January 22 at Dharwan Nowgam.

Persons with any knowledge about the incident can record their statement before the Magistrate.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people at Lolab in north Kashmir continued their protest against the killing of a local youth allegedly by counter insurgents working with security forces.

The demonstrators, who also blocked traffic on the main road, alleged that counter insurgents, also known as ‘Ikhwanis,’ shot at and critically wounded two villagers Lal Uddin and Sharief Uddin.

Sharief Uddin later died in the hospital. The demonstrators demanded disarming of all the ‘Ikhwanis’ and a probe into the incident. — UNI

Doctor arrested in fake appointment letter scam

Jammu, January 20
A fake appointment letter scam was busted and a senior doctor arrested here today in this connection, official sources said.

Jawahir Lal, formerly assistant professor of G.B. Panth Hospital, was held after the registration of an FIR against him and raids at his home, the sources said.

They said the matter came to light after an unemployed youth, Dhanantar Singh, who had gone to join Gandhi Nagar Hospital after obtaining an “appointment letter” from the doctor, filed the complaint.

Acting on the information, the police raided Lal’s Canal Road residence last night and recovered fake appointment orders, stamps and letter heads, they said.

The doctor allegedly charged between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000 for each “appointment letter”. — PTI

Panel set up on regularising 13 colonies
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 20
As a step towards the regularisation of 13 unauthorised colonies in Jammu, the government has decided to constitute a committee for suggesting the quantum of development charges payable by the dwellers for creating the civic infrastructure.

The colonies include Gorkha Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Jogi Gate, Mahesh Pura, Pul Par, Purani Boulki, Mana Basti, Bazigiran Basti (sitni), Chand Nagar, Christian Basti, Paloura, Bhatindly, Narwal and Sanjwa.

The three-member will also suggest measures for stopping the growth of such unauthorised colonies in future.