J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Two PoK militants killed in encounter
Srinagar, November 5
Two militants hailing from Pakistan occupied Kashmir were killed in an exfiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) where ultras shot dead one person while security forces arrested two and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition since last night.

Security beefed up as secretariat opens tomorrow
Jammu, November 5
Security has been tightened here following the arrest of terrorists who are suspected to have come here to strike when the Secretariat reopens here on Monday after moving from Srinagar for the winter.

When VIPs ‘guard’ securitymen!
Jammu, November 5
The police authorities do not have a proper record of the postings of personal security guards and those escorting ministerial vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir because of interference by VIPs in their deployment.

VC nominated to task force on global developments
Jammu, November 5
Another feather has been added in the cap of Jammu University with its Vice-Chancellor, Prof Amitabh Mattoo, being nominated as a member of the prestigious task force on global strategic developments that has been set up by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

Air Vice-Marshal on visit to J&K
Jammu, November 5
Air Vice-Marshal S C Malhan arrived here today on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. During his stay here, he will be attending the 22nd anniversary of the 125 Helicopter Squadron, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

2 smugglers held in Akhnoor
Jammu, November 5
Two smugglers were arrested by the Army today near the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sub-sector, near here, while they were trying to cross over to Pakistan.

Gangraped girl kills self
Jammu, November 5
A girl has committed suicide after being gang raped by a group of Afghan terrorists in the Muradpur village of Rajouri district.

Truck falls into gorge
Jammu, November 5
A truck skidded off the road at Marog near Ramban on the Jammu-Srinagar road last night and fell into a gorge, resulting in the death of the driver.

Two PoK militants killed in encounter

Srinagar, November 5
Two militants hailing from Pakistan occupied Kashmir were killed in an exfiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) where ultras shot dead one person while security forces arrested two and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition since last night.

An encounter took place between security forces and militants at Mandoo in Keran sector of frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir early today resulting in the death of two ultras, a police spokesman said.

He said the killed militants were identified as Fayaz Ahmed and Ghlam Majaz, residents of the Athmuqam Domail area of PoK.

A pistol, three rounds, a wireless set, two wire cutters, 30 hand grenades and some Pakistani currency were recovered from them.

A Defence spokesman said the duo were attempting to cross over to PoK when they were confronted by the troops and killed in a gunbattle.

The spokesman said militants shot dead one Shabir Ahmed Mir in his village at Rajpora in the Handwara area of Kupwara last night. The motive behind his killing was not known immediately.

The police arrested two militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad from Bathindi in the Trikuta Nagar area of Jammu district yesterday and recovered one AK rifle, eight magazines, 200 rounds and eight hand grenades from them, the spokesman said.

In another operation, he said security forces recovered two AK rifles, two pistols, four under barrel grenade launchers, 43 hand grenades, three wireless sets, 3 kg explosives, 10 detonators from Bharam Khad Nalla near Samawali in the Boniyar area of Uri sector in Baramulla district. — PTI

Security beefed up as secretariat opens tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 5
Security has been tightened here following the arrest of terrorists who are suspected to have come here to strike when the Secretariat reopens here on Monday after moving from Srinagar for the winter.

At least five terrorists have been arrested in the past two days. One of them was allegedly involved in throwing a grenade in the crowded Jewel Chowk here recently.

Two terrorists, Mohammad Salim Wani and Farooq Ahmed Lone, were arrested at Bathindi on the outskirts of the town on Thursday.

One AK47 rifle, 8 grenades and 200 rounds of AK rifle have been seized from them.

A Lashkar-e-Toiba activist was also arrested in the same locality last week.

Security has been beefed up as a reception is awaiting Mr Azad when he arrives here tomorrow from Delhi for the first time after becoming the Chief Minister. He will be taken to his residence on the Residency Road in a big procession from the airport.

It is learnt that additional security has been provided to the close relatives of Mr Azad in his native Doda district, which is considered as a hot bet of terrorism. Mr Azad and his relatives are on the hit list of terrorists.

When VIPs ‘guard’ securitymen!
M.L. Kak

Jammu, November 5
The police authorities do not have a proper record of the postings of personal security guards and those escorting ministerial vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir because of interference by VIPs in their deployment.

According to official sources, the police authorities had recommended to the government that there was no need for the PSOs and the security personnel guarding ministerial vehicles to be part of the darbar move on the plea that policemen from the armed battalions would be available once the VIPs shifted from Srinagar to Jammu or vice versa with the shifting of government offices.

The sources told this correspondent today that most of the PSOs and the security personnel attached with the VIPs moved with the darbar on their own because of patronage of the ministers and other VIPs.

It is learnt that computers in the Police Headquarters and in other police offices are used for typing and Net surfing though these were meant to update the record of deployment and postings of police personnel.

A senior police officer said, “We in the headquarters do not know where PSOs function and from which office and under which head they draw salary.”

He said in several cases PSOs and other securitymen leave for the winter capital in Jammu much earlier than the closure of offices in Srinagar simply to ward off delinking from the darbar move.This has the blessings and support of VIPs.

The officer said if the PSOs of VIPs and the security personnel guarding their vehicles and residences were delinked from the darbar move it could save the government several lakhs they receive as TA and DA.

Meanwhile, intelligence inputs reveal that groups of militants have plans of carrying out gun and grenade attacks in Jammu with the opening of government offices here from November 7.

The police said the civil Secretariat in Jammu had been put under a three-tier security ring and special teams of police and paramilitary forces had been constituted for carrying out regular patrolling in sensitive areas.

VC nominated to task force on global developments
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 5
Another feather has been added in the cap of Jammu University with its Vice-Chancellor, Prof Amitabh Mattoo, being nominated as a member of the prestigious task force on global strategic developments that has been set up by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

The task force will examine various aspects of global trends in strategic affairs and submit its report to the government.

Professor Mattoo is the only Vice-Chancellor to be nominated on the committee that will be headed by the noted strategic affairs analyst, Mr K. Subrahamanyam. Among the other members are Dr P. Rama Rao, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Mr R.K. Pachauri, Director of the Tata Energy and Resources Institute, and Mr M.S. Ananth, Director, IIT, Madras.

Professor Mattoo has been a member of various national-level committees, including the National Defence Committee.

Air Vice-Marshal on visit to J&K

Jammu, November 5
Air Vice-Marshal S C Malhan arrived here today on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. During his stay here, he will be attending the 22nd anniversary of the 125 Helicopter Squadron, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

The Air Vice-Marshal is Commodore Commandant of the Helicopter Squadron, also known as gladiators, which is equipped with MI-25/35 gunships, the spokesman added.

He is one of the pioneers in this fleet of helicopters and was a member of the team which was trained in Russia in the early ’80s. The spokesman said The Air Vice-Marshal, who is here with his wife, would witness various programmes of the squadron, including cycling and trekking expeditions. — UNI

2 smugglers held in Akhnoor

Jammu, November 5
Two smugglers were arrested by the Army today near the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sub-sector, near here, while they were trying to cross over to Pakistan.

Police sources said Shamsher Singh and Amar Nath were heading towards the LoC to cross over to Pakistan when an Army patrol took them into custody at Pargwal in Akhnoor.

A sum of Rs 16,000 in Indian currency was seized from them, the sources added.

The duo were later handed over to the police for interrogation. — UNI

Gangraped girl kills self
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 5
A girl has committed suicide after being gang raped by a group of Afghan terrorists in the Muradpur village of Rajouri district.

According to delayed reports reaching here, a group of terrorists forcibly entered the house of the girl and beat up the male inmates on Wednesday last. Thereafter, they raped the school-going girl.

The girl consumed a bottle of pesticides and committed suicide.

Truck falls into gorge

Jammu, November 5
A truck skidded off the road at Marog near Ramban on the Jammu-Srinagar road last night and fell into a gorge, resulting in the death of the driver.

The truck was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar.

SSP (Ramban-Banihal) Gareeb Dass said a truck skidded off the road at Marog, about 170 km from here, at about 8 pm and fell into a 500-ft-deep gorge.

Truck driver Shanti Singh was killed on the spot, he added. — UNI