J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Srinagar, April 14 With the Asia’s largest tulip garden, Siraj Bagh, in full bloom since early spring, the Mughal Gardens were formally thrown open to the heavy rush of domestic and local tourists on the occasion of Baisakhi here today

5 top militants killed
Srinagar, April 14
Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, one of them a district commander, were killed in an encounter with the police and the Army at Wayil, Nowgam Shopian in Pulwama district today.

Hurriyat ‘willing’ to attend Pugwash conference
Jammu, April 14
While there are bleak chances of the moderate Hurriyat Conference to participate in the third roundtable conference on April 24, but they appear more than willing to participate in the two-day Pugwash conference in Cochin that begins on April 22.

Head constable kills Deputy Commandant
Jammu, April 14
A CRPF head constable shot dead his Deputy Commandant, Nawal Singh Rana on the premises of Jammu Airport today after a brief altercation. The incident occurred at around 8.30 pm today. Head constable Sukhan Seth has been arrested by the police. The officer as well as the accused belong to 50 Battalion CRPF. — TNS

Srinagar beckons tourists with tulips and more
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 14
With the Asia’s largest tulip garden, Siraj Bagh, in full bloom since early spring, the Mughal Gardens were formally thrown open to the heavy rush of domestic and local tourists on the occasion of Baisakhi here today.

The state’s Tourism Department has also offered more programmes with added facilities to attract larger number of domestic and foreign tourists to the valley this year to boost the shattered economy through the major tourism industry.

Thousands of tourists thronged the gardens of Nishat Shalimar, Cheshma Shahi, Pari Mahal and Harwan along the periphery of Zabarwan hills overlooking the serene waters of the Dal Lake here today.Long queues of visitors were seen at the Botanical Garden, Siraj Bagh, Nishat, Shalimar, Harwan and Cheshma Shahi since morning.

Deployment of police personnel and security forces was made to streamline the movement of heavy rush. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also visited Siraj Bagh today with a keen interest to further develop the tulip garden and make it more attractive for the tourists.

The tulip garden at Siraj Bagh, near the old Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden, has been the added attraction for tourists this year, while the authorities beckon Bollywood shootings in these locales. More attention is being given to the improvement of the basic facilities for tourists, according to the officials concerned.

“We are topping winter sports and golfing,” said Farooq Ahmad Shah, director, Tourism, Kashmir. He added that Royal Springs Golf Course had been graded among the top 10 golf courses in the world.

Different programmes like golf tournament, special bus services to tourist spots and prepaid taxi system from tourist reception centres (TRC) are some of the attractions for the tourists beginning today.

For the first time, the department is organising “donga cruise”, a special combination of Kashmiri music and cuisine at Dal Lake.

A national-level golf tournament is being organised at the Royal Springs Golf Course from April 16 to boost tourism, officials said.

5 top militants killed

Srinagar, April 14
Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, one of them a district commander, were killed in an encounter with the police and the Army at Wayil, Nowgam Shopian in Pulwama district today.

The police said acting on specific information the police and security forces cordoned of Wayil village in the Shopian district.

Two militants were killed in the encounter in which the house of Ghulam Qadir was damaged. The encounter ensued when the hiding militants opened fire and hurled a grenade on the search party.

Two AK 47 rifles and other ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who have been identified as Altaf Ahmad Malik, alias Pinto Malik, and Sheraz Ahmad Mir, alias Abu Serya, alias Imran, alias Doctor.

In another operation, conducted by the Rashtriya Rifles in the Navapachi area of Doda district, three militants were killed. A large quantity of arms, ammunition and other warlike stores has been recovered. — TNS

Hurriyat ‘willing’ to attend Pugwash conference
S.P.Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 14
While there are bleak chances of the moderate Hurriyat Conference to participate in the third roundtable conference on April 24, but they appear more than willing to participate in the two-day Pugwash conference in Cochin that begins on April 22.

The Pugwash has organised the conference two days before the RTC to discuss the issue of across the LoC cooperation between India and Pakistan to strengthen friendly relations.

It is learnt that leaders of the mainstream political parties, separatists and leaders from Pakaistan and PoK have been invited to the conference. This is second such attempt of the NGO to bring the Kashmiri leaders across the table in a bid to hammer out solution to the Kashmir problem.

It is learnt that among those on the list of invitees of the Pugwash are Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Omer Farooq, National Conference chief Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, PDF leader and transport minister Hakeem Yaseen and CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami. These leaders had participated in such a meeting earlier that was held in Islamabad last year.

Hakeem Yasin and Tarigami have said they will participate in the Cochin meeting. Democratic Liberation Front chief Shabir Shah said he might postpone some of his engagements to fly to Cochin. However, he would not attend the RTC a day later.

Hurriyat leader Syed Salam Geelani said the issue of attending the Pugwash conference would be discussed only after receiving an invitation.