J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

VDC members on ultras’ target
Jammu, August 17
Panic grips the border areas and isolated hamlets of the state following the killing of women, children and village defence committee members by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in the past few days.

Mother, daughter among 5 killed in J&K
Srinagar, August 17
Two women and a Special Police Officer were among the five persons killed in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

VDC members on ultras’ target
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 17
Panic grips the border areas and isolated hamlets of the state following the killing of women, children and village defence committee (VDC) members by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in the past few days. The ultras are targeting women and children in Udhampur, Doda, Poonch and Rajouri districts whereas in the Kashmir valley activists of various political parties were gunned down.

The terrorists were also on a lookout for militants who had surrendered before the security forces and were now trying to readjust themselves among the people. In the past few incidents, Hindus were killed probably in a bid to regenerate migration from the Muslim-dominated areas.

This is not a new phenomenon. Killing of innocent people aimed at creating scare among villagers who had become friendly with the security forces and were passing on to them information regarding the movement of ultras in the far-flung areas.

These attacks have started at a time when the results of the Operation Sadbhavana of the Army had started showing results with the people coming forward to provide information about terrorists in their areas.

The killing of VDC members in the past few days indicates the level of frustration among the terrorists. However, the condition of VDC members throughout the state is pitiable as the outdated arms and ammunition supplied to them by the government was no match with the sophisticated weapons that terrorists carry.

The house of VDC member Sawan Mal was recently attacked by terrorists in Sajroo village of Mahore where they killed five persons. The VDC member, Prem Singh and Sabaz Ram and Ishar Dass were among those killed.

Throats of VDC member Karnel Singh and his four relatives were slit in the Dhar Sakri area of Rajouri district.

A Special Police Official (SPO) Jugal Kishore and a police source, Karmani Ali, were gunned down by terrorists in Kishtwar and an AK-47 gun was taken away. Another SPO Khathem Hussain was kidnapped and killed near Buddal in Rajouri.

The terrorists struck last week in the Gool area of Doda where they shot Jamal Din, a VDC member and took away his 303 rifle. Earlier this week, ultras kidnapped VDC member Qasim from Rehana village in Ramban and later shot him. One Hasham Din, a surrendered militant, was kidnapped from the Gandoh area of Doda and later killed.

Mohammad Shafi and Mohammad Ghanai, both brothers of a surrendered militant, Chiragdin, were shot by terrorists in the Indh area of Doda recently.

Such incidents indicate that the ultras were also trying to mount pressure on their colleagues who were in the process of laying arms.

Mother, daughter among 5 killed in J&K

Srinagar, August 17
Two women and a Special Police Officer (SPO) were among the five persons killed in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

He said militants barged into the house of Ghulam Nabi Khan at Kanaspora village in Baramula district and indiscriminately fired upon the residents.

Khan’s wife and mother-in-law were killed in the firing.

Militants fired upon a search party of the security forces at Tunj Gali Palna Top in Doda district of Jammu region today.

The security forces also retaliated and in the ensuing encounter, SPO Amar Singh was critically injured. He later succumbed to his injuries.

A report from Jammu, quoting Superintendent of police (Ramban-Banihal) Gareeb Dass, said acting on a tip-off about the presence of four militants in Urnal, the police and Jammu and Kashmir Volunteer Force (JKVF) activists were rushed to the area.

During a search of a densely forest at about 7 a.m., the militants ambushed the personnel as a result of which JKVF activist Anaar Singh sustained critical bullet injuries.

He succumbed to his wounds on the way to hospital, Mr Dass said, adding the militants escaped after the exchange of fire.

In a firing incident at Daka in the Surankote area of Jammu’s Poonch district, one person was killed.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Reasi-Mahore) J. L. Sharma said the militants struck at Bhallar late last night and opened fire on the VDC members. They returned the fire and after a brief gunfight, the militants fled the spot.

There was no casualty on either side, he added.

Panic gripped on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway when it was blocked near the Bali nullah in Udhampur today after the Army detected a tape-recorder by the roadside, fearing it was a booby -trap.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Udhampur) Rajesh Kumar said a road opening party of the Army detected the tape recorder by the roadside near the Bali nullah, about 75 km from here, at about 8 a.m.

Fearing that there could be a bomb inside the tape- recorder, the troops stopped vehicular traffic on the highway and laid a cordon around the area, he added.

Mr Kumar said bomb disposal squads of the police and the Army later rushed to the spot and found that the tape-recorder did not have any bomb inside it. — UNI