Srinagar, July 27
Defence minister A.K Antony, currently on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, visited Kaman Aman Setu and troops on the LoC in Uri sector today.

He was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen J.J. Singh, GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt Gen H.S Panag, GOC 15 Corps, Lt Gen A.S Sekhon and Major-Gen Ramesh Halgali, GOC 19 Inf Div.

The defence minister was briefed by Commander 12 Inf Bde Brig N.P.S. Hira at Kaman Aman Setu about the situation on the LoC and various issues related to the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. Later he interacted with troops in Uri.

During his interaction, he lauded the efforts of the Indian armed forces for showing exemplary courage in guarding the country’s frontiers and at the same time fighting militancy against all odds. He made a special mention of troops in 19 Inf Div Sector for their success in checking infiltration through the LoC.

Interacting with troops during his first-ever visit to Uri, the defence minister said the Indian armed forces had stood the test of time by serving everywhere relentlessly whether at the heights of Siachen or in the deserts of Rajasthan.

He said he wanted to visit the area as he wanted first-hand information about the problems faced by the troops.

Jammu, July 27
Admitting that factionalism prevailed within the ruling Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today appealed to the party cadre to wipe out internal differences, keeping in view the next state Assembly elections.

It is our (Congress) achievement that political parties with different approaches shared a common table to discuss and resolve the  J and K issue

“We could not spread the message of the Congress-led coalition government’s developmental works among the masses if the party men kept themselves busy in pulling each other’s leg, and this has harmed the party image,” Azad said while addressing a convention of the party functionaries of Jammu province here.

Azad said he also agreed that the expectations of the grassroot Congress workers could not be met by the party leadership.

The Chief Minister, however, expressed hope that the Congress could win the next Assembly elections if the party cadre began working collectively now and rose above vested interests and differences.

“If we managed 20 seats in the 2002 Assembly elections when the prevailing conditions were hostile to the Congress because of the NDA government at the Centre at that time, then now we have chances of winning more number of seats as the Congress is presently ruling at the Centre, and this is our advantage,” he said.

Presenting the report card of the Congress, Azad hailed the UPA government’s initiative of the Round Table Conferences which, he added, were attended by all political parties.

“It is our (Congress) achievement that the political parties with varied and different approaches, whether it was the BJP, the People’s Democratic Party, the National Conference or the Left parties, shared a common table to discuss and resolve the J and K issue,” he said.

Azad said the peace process with Pakistan had slowed down due to the internal instability and disturbance in the neighbouring country for the past nearly six months. He expressed hope that the confidence building measures (CBMs) initiated by both the countries would gain momentum once again.

Earlier, during the convention’s morning session in the absence of Azad, J and K Pradesh Congress Committee president Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed faced the brunt of his senior colleagues Lok Sabha member Ch. Lal Singh and ex-MP Dharam Pal who raised the issue of grassroot party workers being neglected.

The convention, however, adopted a resolution extending full cooperation under the leadership of the PCC chief Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed to the state government headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad. 

Rajouri, July 27
The state government may be making tall claims about making e-governance a reality in the state, the fact remains that there are still many villages and hamlets in this border district which don’t have electricity.

As per a government document, a copy of which is with The Tribune, there are seven villages and 916 mohras/hamlets in the district which are non-electrified. It says that the electrification of these villages/hamlets will be done under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidut Yojna (RGGVY) scheme and completed in three years from the accord of sanction to the scheme. It further says that the estimated cost for the electrification of these villages and hamlets is Rs 69.10 crore.

However, as the government is a busy arranging funds for electrification of these villages, resentment among villagers is mounting with each passing day. “For the past 75 years, I have been hearing that our village will be electrified shortly, but till today we have no electricity”, said Muhammad Bashir.

Assistant executive engineer (M&RE), Division, Rajouri, Md Maqbool Naik confirmed the number of unelectrified villages and hamlets. “As soon as we receive the funds, the process of electrification will start”.

Udhampur, July 27
Resentment is brewing among villagers of Lamsora and the adjoining areas following the failure of the police to arrest a man who had raped his minor daughter four days back in the remote village of Reasi district.

“The special team constituted by the police has conducted raids at several places to nab the father involved in committing the heinous crime”, said station head officer (SHO), Reasi, R.K Bhaderwah. He, however, added that it was difficult for the cops to nab the culprit as the incident had taken place in a very remote area.

Meanwhile, a deputation of relatives of the victim and villagers of Lamsora met the deputy commissioner of Reasi and demanded that strict action against the culprit.

Four days ago Kamal Singh, a resident of Lamsora village, allegedly raped his 11-year-old daughter. Braving threats of Kamal Singh, the mother of the girl lodged a report with Reasi police station about the incident and demanded action against her husband.

A case was registered under Section 376 and medical examination of the girl conducted by doctors of Reasi Hospital.

Srinagar, July 27
At least four militants were killed in separate incidents across Kashmir valley since yesterday, while the police busted a module of Hizbul Mujahideen with the arrest of five persons.

Two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with the police and the Army at Ratnipora in Pulwama district today. Acting on a specific information about the presence of militants in the house of Bilal Ahmad Ganaie, the police and 55 RR cordoned off the area. On this holed up militants opened fire on the troops. Two hiding militants were killed in the retaliatory action, the police said. Minor damage was caused to the house. Those killed were identified as Mustaq Ahmed Sofi alias Burhan "Battalion Commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen, Pampore and Mohammad Safi Balla, alias Furkan.

Two AK 56 rifles, four magazines, 13 rounds of AK, two hand grenades and one mobile phone have been recovered from the site of encounter.

One militant of Hizbul Mujahideen, Gulzar Ahmad Mangoo, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the forest area of Naryan Nad Khanmooh in Pulwama district today. One pistol and a magazine with seven rounds of ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter.

A 24-hour-long encounter at Arin near Bandipore ended this morning with the killing of another holed up militant, while one militant had been killed yesterday, the police here said. Those killed have been identified as Sher Khan alias Fauji Cacha, District Commander of JeM, Bandipura and Abu Saad of JeM. One AK 47, one AK 56, three AK magazines, one UBGL launcher and seven UBGL grenades have been recovered from the site of encounter, a defence spokesman said.

The police busted a module of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen responsible for IED blasts and several incidents of violence. Those arrested, included Mubarik Ahmad Ganie, alias Major Saqib, a Pak trained militant and an IED expert, and four overground workers, Ali Mohd Ganaie, Reyaz Ahmad Ganie, Altaf Ahmad Ganie and Firdous Ahmad Dar. The recoveries included one Pika gun, 200 Pika rounds, 10 UBGL grenades, five detonators, one IED, 20 litres of picric acid and 20 kg of RDX.

Srinagar, July 27
An army jawan today committed suicide in Baramula district of Jammu and Kashmir, a day when defence minister A.K Antony was visiting the state, the police said.

Vijay Bali of 18 Dogra, shot himself dead with his service rifle at Churunda in Uri near the Line of Control, they said.

The reason behind Bali’s extreme step was not  known immediately.

Antony was on a tour of the forward area of  Baramula district.

The incidents of suicide and fratricide in the army  and other security forces continue unabated even as the defence ministry announced a slew of measures last year to curb the trend. — PTI

Jammu, July 27
Junior warrant officer N.R Choudhary and Sgt J. Singh were honoured by the station commander of the local Air Force station Gp Capt J.S Kler on their return from a successful mountaineering expedition in Nepal.

The IAF had launched a mountaineering expedition to attempt Mt Lhotse (8,516 m), which is the fourth highest peak in the world, during May-June, 2007, as a part of IAF’s platinum jubilee celebrations. The air warriors successfully reached up to the altitude of 7,400 m.

On their return, these air warriors achieved the distinction of scaling Mt Island Peak (6,189 m) in Nepal Himalayas. The team consisting of 15 members was led by Wg Cdr R.C. Tripathi. — TNS