J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Infiltration goes down due to snowfall
Jammu, December 28
The level of infiltration from across the LoC has further gone down following heavy snowfall in the border sectors of Poonch, Rajouri and Kupwara in recent days. Official sources said that during the past three months the rate of ingress of militants from across the LoC had declined owing to decreased support from the Pakistani agencies end on account of completion of the fencing project and improved border management by the Indian troops.

Donations for PM’s Relief Fund sought
Jammu, December 28
Several Sikh organisations of Jammu and Kashmir have urged the district gurdwara committees and individuals to liberally contribute towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the victims of the devastation caused by the tidal waves in various parts of country.

Snowfall cuts Gulmarg from rest of valley
Srinagar, December 28
The cold wave intensified in Jammu and Kashmir as the valley experienced a fresh snowfall and the mercury dipped to 0.5°C here this morning.

Hizbul militant arrested
Srinagar, December 28
A pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen militant has been arrested in Badgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said today.

Infiltration goes down due to snowfall
M.L. Kak

Jammu, December 28
The level of infiltration from across the LoC has further gone down following heavy snowfall in the border sectors of Poonch, Rajouri and Kupwara in recent days. Official sources said that during the past three months the rate of ingress of militants from across the LoC had declined owing to decreased support from the Pakistani agencies end on account of completion of the fencing project and improved border management by the Indian troops.

The sources said that during the past 10 days hardly any incident of infiltration had been registered because of heavy snow in the upper reaches of Kupwara, Poonch and Rajouri sectors.

According to eyewitness reports from Poonch, groups of militants had carved out their shelter in mountain caves, where arrangements for keeping the caves cosy during winter months had been made a month ago. These arrangements, including storing ration, had been completed prior to the snowfall.

These eyewitnesses said that till a month ago militants could be seen moving here and there with guns but after the upper reaches of Poonch were covered by snow and swept by chilly winds their movement had been restricted.

Police sources believed that several groups of militants may have gone back to Pakistan to avoid inconvenience caused to them by snow and rain.

The sources said that this was one of the factors responsible for a marked fall in the militancy-related incidents of violence. They were not prepared to believe that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir was ebbing out.

A senior police officer said that in view continuing talks between India and Pakistan the latter might have preferred to go slow as far as its support to militants was concerned.

In the meantime, the security agencies and those manning the intelligence agencies have been asked to coordinate their efforts so that militants, whatever their number may be, do not get time to strike.

Donations for PM’s Relief Fund sought
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 28
Several Sikh organisations of Jammu and Kashmir have urged the district gurdwara committees and individuals to liberally contribute towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the victims of the devastation caused by the tidal waves in various parts of country.

A meeting of the Sikh organisations was held here today under the chairmanship of Mr Mohinder Singh, chief organiser of the Bhai Kanahiya Jee Nishkam Seva Society.

The participants observed two-minute silence to mourn the death of thousands of people in the floods that were triggered by an earthquake.

They urged the Sikh community, in particular, to donate money for the relief of the victims in Andaman Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradash, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and other places.

Among those who participated in the meeting were, Mr Narbir Singh, president, Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Paramjeet Singh, president, AISSF, Mr Amar Singh, president, Sikh Welfare Society, Mr Jagdev Singh, president, State Akali Dal and leaders of various other organisations.

Snowfall cuts Gulmarg from rest of valley

Srinagar, December 28
The cold wave intensified in Jammu and Kashmir as the valley experienced a fresh snowfall and the mercury dipped to 0.5°C here this morning. Kupwara and Baramula districts of north Kashmir witnessed a heavy snowfall, while it was mild in Srinagar and south Kashmir areas, official sources said today.

Residents of Srinagar woke up to an intermittent light snowfall in the morning.

A five-inch thick blanket of snow covered the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramula district where it snowed well past noon today, they said.

Gulmarg, 55 km from here, is hosting winter games and the fresh snowfall has brought cheers to the participants camping there for the past week.

The fresh snowfall has, however, snapped Gulmarg from rest of the valley as the road leading to the hill resort was buried under snow and efforts were on to clear the road, the sources said.

Areas on the periphery of Gulmarg were covered under 1 foot of snow, while Tangmarg also witnessed five inches of snowfall till this afternoon.

The entire Kupwara district was covered by a snow blanket with six inches to 2 feet of snowfall recorded at several places, disrupting traffic and power supply in the border district, the sources said.

Many roads leading to the forward areas of the district were closed in view of the heavy snowfall, they said, adding the infiltration routes along the Line of Control also got blocked by the snow.

Gurez in Bandipora sector of Baramula district was cut off from the region by heavy snowfall, the sources said, adding a heavy snowfall was recorded in famous hill resorts of Sonamarg, Yousmarg and high altitude areas of Badgam district in central Kashmir.

Reports from south Kashmir said one to two inches of snowfall was recorded in the twin districts of Anantnag and Pulwama, including Pahalgam.

However, the traffic on the all-important Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, was plying normally.

Although a mild snowfall and rain lashed the 300-km long highway between Qazigund to Banihal. — PTI

Hizbul militant arrested

Srinagar, December 28
A pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen militant has been arrested in Badgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said today. 22-year-old Latief Ahmad Rather, a resident of Qasba Naugam and affiliated to the Hizbul Mujahideen group, was nabbed at Deobagh village adjacent to the old airfield last evening, the spokesman said.

He said a pistol, its one magazine, three cartridges, a damaged wireless set and Rs 97,000 were seized from the possession of the militant.

Earlier in a press release, the spokesman said the militant was killed. —PTI