Jammu, December 18
Taking a serious note of rioting by Pakistani inmates in the high-security jail at Kot-Bhalwal here yesterday, the Jammu and Kashmir government today removed the Director-General, Prisons, Mr. M.K. Mohanty, from the post.

Mr. R.K. Tikoo, Transport Commissioner, has been appointed as the new DG (Prisons) in place of Mr. Mohanty, who has been sent as Commissioner, Civil-Military Liaison.

The decision to remove Mr Mohanty was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet presided over by the Chief Minister.

The post of Commissioner, Civil-Military Liaison, has been upgraded to the status of that of the DGP.

The Cabinet is learnt to have taken a serious view of the happenings in the jail where Pakistani and Afghan terrorists were virtually ruling the roost for some time. Incidents of the jail staff being beaten up by them have become a common affair.

The ultras recently took into captivity jail superintendent and some warders.

The situation in the jail, although tense, remained under control today. CRPF and armed policemen were posted in strength within and outside the prison.

A Red Cross team that came to visit the jail this morning was not allowed to do so as the jail superintendent was not there. The team returned without meeting the inmates.

The call for Jammu and Kashmir bandh given by the hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and some other organisations to protest against the police action in the jail did not evoke any response here. Reports from other district towns of the Jammu division said that the people ignored the call.

The jail authorities took extra precautions and did not take the three ultras for court appearance in connection with the listed cases.

Activists of the Shiv Sena led by Mr. Ashok Gupta organised a demonstration outside the office of the DG (Prisons) to protest against the failure of the jail authorities to enforce discipline in the Kot-Bhalwal jail where mostly terrorists are lodged.

The Shiv Sena activists raised slogans against the state government for allowing the terrorists to take the law in their hands.

Srinagar, December 18
Life was partially affected in Kashmir valley today due to a strike called by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference to protest against the Kot Bhalwal incident.

Most of the shops in Lal Chowk, Residency Road and adjacent areas remained shut. Some shops in suburban areas of the city and other district headquarters also remained closed following the strike call, official sources said here.

However, transport services were unaffected.

Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference called for a strike after the clash in the jail yesterday.

Fifteen policemen and 21 detainees were injured in the clash between Pakistani prisoners and the police in the high-security Kot Bhawal jail in Jammu.

“We appeal people to observe complete shutdown tomorrow as protest against the harassment of inmates of Kot Bhawal jail, general secretary of the Hurriyat Conference Hulam Nabi Sumji said.

Kashmir High Court Bar Association President Mian Abdul Qayoom and Dukhtaran-e-Millat Chief Syeda Asia Indrabi also supported the strike call.

Work in Jammu and Kashmir High Court and subordinate courts was affected as lawyers supported the strike.

On going examinations being conducted by Kashmir University were held as per schedule, the sources added. — PTI

Kargil, December 18
Two persons were killed and five wounded when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a river near Lato in this border district of Jammu and Kashmir today, official sources said.

They said a Mahindra Bolero vehicle with at least seven persons on board skidded off the road and fell into the Drass river at Lato.

The vehicle was on its way from Drass to Kargil.

While five wounded were rushed to the District Hospital, Kargil in critical condition, two were killed.

Rescue efforts have been launched to recover the bodies of the two passengers from the river. — UNI