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City figures on HuJI’s radar after Jaipur
2 LeT militants killed
Mufti’s Doda visit may see many switch overs |
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Samba: Govt sanctions relief for victims’ kin
Samba Fallout
Encounter hits tourism industry
Anti-terrorist military code sought for state
Farooq wants trade ties across LoC
Azad for greater interface between KU, society
State set for big stride in education: Sinha
Centre soft on terror, claims BJP
Sodhi’s death mourned
JE, others “manhandle” CEO
Amarnath: Rebuilding of track underway
Water shortage irks residents
Unemployed forestry graduates on hunger strike
VDCs back in business
Shah-led ANC jumps into poll fray
‘Recruit unemployed’
BSF man kills himself
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City figures on HuJI’s radar after Jaipur
Jammu, May 14 Highly-placed intelligence sources told The Tribune, backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), militant outfit HuJI having strong base in northeastern Bangladesh has been instructed to explore possibilities in Jammu. “HuJI that continues to push Bangladeshis into Jammu and Kashmir has been using them as couriers and on the directions of ISI has been trying to establish its sleeper cells in Jammu and Kashmir,” they said. HuJI and United Liberation Front of Assom (ULFA) have been working in tandem in Bangladesh. Intelligence inputs clearly indicate that HuJI has been asked by the ISI to establish its sleeper cells in Jammu so as to strike in crowded areas in election year, they added. Though the Samba attack had been carried out by Al-Mansoorian, an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba in which six people were killed, intelligence sources say that ISI in a bid to step up violence in the state has asked HuJI to establish its network in the state. Serial bomb blasts using ammonium nitrate and RDX not only inflict heavy casualties but also ensure smooth mission to the militants, said an Army officer, who felt that the state police besides the BSF should effectively tackle the menace of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Going by the presence of Bangladeshis in slums around Jammu, he didn’t rule out the possibilities of a similar strike in crowded areas of the walled city in near future using modus-operandi akin to Jaipur. “The Intelligence Bureau and the RAW are also aware of a big danger lurking over Jammu and Kashmir but the state government has so far has not taken their warnings seriously,” he said. A senior police officer on the condition of anonymity admitted that big number of Bangladeshis including men, women and children, who get arrested near the IB and have literally become a headache for the state police. “Several among them continue to live in the state and pose a threat,” he said but cited infrastructural constraints to check the problem. He, however, claimed that the Jammu and Kashmir Police has been devising a proper mechanism so as to check their influx into
the state. A senior Army officer of XVI Corps said, the state police has turned a blind eye towards these Bangladeshis and seldom registers a case against them under Foreign Nationals Act. In and around the winter capital, hundreds of Bangladeshis with suspected credentials have been living in slums and pose a threat to the state, he asserted. He said, “With the government burying its head under sand Ostrich like, Jammu has all the ingredients for HuJI to repeat another Jaipur here.” |
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2 LeT militants killed
Udhampur, May 14 The slain foreigner has been identified as Saifullah of Pakistan, a self-styled chief commander of the LeT in Doda district. Saifullah, who had been active in Doda district for the past one decade, was involved in more than 50 killings, including massacres of minority community in this mountainous belt. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Doda-Ramban Range, Hemant Kumar Lohia told The Tribune that killing of Saifullah was a big setback to the LeT in Doda district. Lohia said that today's operation was one of the most successful and clean operations in this area. The DIG said Saifullah was involved in a large number of killings and had master-minded some massacres in erstwhile Doda district. He further said Saifullah had let loose a reign of terror in the Gandoh belt. On specific information about the presence of Saifullah in Palia village of the Gandoh area, the police in the disguise of civilians entered the hamlet and started search operations. Policemen posing as civilians knocked the door where Saifullah had taken shelter. As soon as cops entered the house, they took positions and asked the militants to surrender. Instead of responding to the call of the security personnel, the militants resorted to firing with sophisticated weapons. As the policemen had already taken positions, they eliminated the terrorists who had taken shelter in the house. Bodies of two militants were found from the encounter site. Identity of the other militant has been identified as Abu Umar, a local who was a bodyguard of Saifullah. As part of the intelligence warfare, the Doda police has devised a new strategy to eliminate dreaded terrorists in the disguise of civilians. Some time policemen, posing as milkmen, had eliminated two top commanders of LeT. This new type of surgical operation has been proved successful to avoid collateral damanges. |
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Mufti’s Doda visit may see many switch overs
Udhampur, May 14 With the proposals of self-rule and dual currency, the PDP has devised a comprehensive strategy to make inroads in this mountainous belt before the upcoming Assembly elections. Former chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is himself visiting this area in the first week of June to educate the party cadre about various proposals being mooted by
the party. Although the party has announced to field candidates on maximum Assembly seats of Doda district, the PDP has been concentrating more on Kishtwar and Banihal constituencies. Visit of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is aimed at roping in some prominent persons of this belt. In connection with the preparations of the forthcoming visit of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in this belt, party MLC and vice-president Ved Mahajan along with minister of state for health and education Peer Mohammed Hussain today visited Banihal and addressed series of public meetings. Addressing a public meeting at Banihal, Ved Mahajan asked the party workers to make forthcoming visit of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed a historic event. He cautioned the people against vicious campaign launched by some vested interests against the party. “Policies being propagated by the PDP, for restoring peace, have been accepted at national and international forums,” he said terming Mufti Mohammed Sayeed as a crusader of peace and said it was high time to strengthen hands of PDP patron and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti for restoring lasting peace in Jammu
and Kashmir. “Since its inception the PDP has been suggesting that gun is no solution of any problem,” he said and adding, “Peaceful political mean is the only mechanism to solve vexed problems.” Cautioning people against those who have been exploiting sentiments of the people, Mahajan said, “Our biggest strength is our democracy. We have to adopt democratic means to get our problems redressed,” he said. |
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Civilians injured in Army firing, inquiry ordered
Srinagar, May 14 “An FIR has been registered against the concerned Army unit and the legal procedures are being completed in this regard,” superintendent of police Baramulla Anand Jain said. He said a magisterial inquiry has also been ordered into the incident, which occurred in Rafiabad area of the district last night. According to sources, the injured persons were workers of People’s Democratic Party and were returning home around 10 pm from the residence of party leader Mohammad Dilawar Mir who was scheduled to hold a public meeting in the area today. The party workers allegedly came under fire from an army column which had ambushed the area. However, a defence spokesman said the civilians were not injured by the Army as the jawans had not opened fire at all. “The concerned army unit received a tip-off about the presence of some militants of Al Badr outfit including a self-styled commander Tamim in the area. As the Army zeroed in on the house where the militants were hiding, they opened indiscriminate fire on the jawans in which the civilians were injured,” defence spokesman
Lt-Col A.K. Mathur said. — PTI
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Samba: Govt sanctions relief for victims’ kin
Jammu, May 14 When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Samba, Saurabh
Bhagat, said, “Three cheques of Rs 1 lakh each have been given to the kin of those killed in the militant attack.” It may be mentioned here that prominent politician Hoshiyar Singh, his wife Shashi
Bala, another woman Madhu Sharma besides a senior photojournalist of a state daily and two soldiers were killed in the encounter. The cheque of same amount would be given tomorrow to the family of photojournalist Ashok Sodhi by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sudhanshu
Pandey, here tomorrow. Besides Rs 5000 each has been given to seven persons, who were injured in the attack, said
Saurabh, adding that through the Red Cross Society an amount of Rs 10,000 each has also been given to Suresh Singh and the family of Madhu Sharma for undertaking repairs of their damaged houses. The district administration has also provided free ration to the families of Suresh Singh and Madhu Sharma for a period of six months,
he added. Besides distributing essential commodities to the affected families, Bhagat also asked officials to prepare relief cases immediately and also constituted a committee to assess the damages suffered by the locals. He said apart from Rs 1 lakh ex
gratia, kin of those killed in the attack would also be entitled to a government job as per SRO 43. “Soon after next of kin of those killed in the attack attain age of 18 years, the government would provide them a job,” he said. The Deputy Commissioner also said that the National Foundation for Communal Harmony in Delhi would be approached for appropriate assistance to all the victims and affected families. Meanwhile,
IGP, Jammu Zone, K Rajendra Kumar today visited the residence of Sodhi and expressed his heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family. He assured all possible help to the family members. Rajendra was accompanied by
SSP, Jammu, Alok Kumar. The IGP has urged the people to pass on the information of suspected people on telephone numbers 100, 2544581, 2560401, 2542000 and 2542001. |
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Samba Fallout
Jammu, May 14 In view of the recent “failure” of the BSF in foiling the infiltration bid on the international border in Samba sector, Jammu, the ministry has now decided to give a new facelift to the force. With a total strength of 74 battalions manning the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh border, the ministry has decided to raise 68 additional battalions. According to highly placed sources in the MHA, the ministry has been planning to de-induct five BSF battalions from counter insurgency grid in the valley and replace them with the CRPF. “This move can take place anytime before September this year,” the sources said. The ministry has also been proposing to construct 697 border outposts (BoP) on entire Indo-Pakistan border and 1,185 BoPs on Indo-Bangladesh border. To further modernise the BSF, the ministry has already procured 10 long-range reconnaissance and observation system (LORROS), whereas 10 are in the process of being procured. “All systems will be delivered by an Israeli firm,” the sources said. According to the sources, 33 mobile surveillance vehicles at a cost of Rs 3 crore each would be inducted into the force shortly. “These vehicles fitted with modern surveillance equipments will be capable of carrying out 24 hours surveillance and operational in all types of climate and all types of terrain,” the source said. “The BSF will also be equipped with battle field surveillance radars system (BFSR),” the source added. The BFSR will have auto detection, auto tracking capability and will function at a distance of 12 km and can scan the area at 350 degrees. To fill up the gaps on the International border, the BSF will also be equipped with 10 unattended ground sensors. The BSF till date possesses 946 hand-held thermal devises, and will soon get another 671 such devices at an estimate cost of Rs 231.97 crore. |
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Encounter hits tourism industry
Jammu, May 14 Talking to The Tribune, Jammu Province Tourist Taxi Operators Federation president Anchal Singh Manhas said, “We are flooded with phone calls for cancellation of booking in the aftermath of the Samba encounter. The high alert sounded in the state has added to our woes.” He said the decline in militant activities and the improvement in the state’s situation had rekindled a ray of hope for the tourism sector and there was a surge in booking of taxis for various tourist destinations in Kashmir after a gap of 20 years. “However, all our hopes of a good season have dashed with the Samba encounter. Now, the tourists will flock to Himachal Pradesh,” he rued. Manhas felt that irrespective of the location, a single incident was enough to trigger fear psychosis among
the tourists. Charanjeet Singh, vice-president of the Taxi Operators Union at the Jammu railway station said they depend heavily on the earnings in the summer vacation and the Samba incident has dealt a major blow to their livelihood. “Earlier, a majority of the tourists would hire us for visiting Vaishno Devi. This was the first time in many years that our area of operation was set to increase,” he added. Avinash Sathe, a tourist from Mumbai, said, “I had initially planned to head towards the valley. However, I have now decided to return after paying obeisance at Vaishno Devi in the wake of militant activities and reports of
infiltration.” Avtar Singh of Trendz Travels also confirmed that they have started receiving calls from the tourists, who are seeking diversion to Himachal Pradesh. “Whenever there is any terrorist activity during summers the tourists request for diversion from Pathankot to the neighbouring hill state,” he added. When contacted, deputy director Tourism R.S. Mehta said they haven’t received any such reports as of now. However, he added that being a private business tour operators don’t inform the department about cancellations,
if any. |
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Anti-terrorist military code sought for state
Jammu, May 14 Addressing mediapersons here today, he said the Samba attack had again proved that Pakistan would not mend its ways. “The Samba encounter is just an indicator of what Pakistan has in store for the people of this state which has to go into assembly elections this year,” he said, adding that in the absence of an effective policy to tackle terrorism Jammu-Pathankote national highway may not remain a safe passage for the people. Putting up a slew of pre-conditions, Bitta said no trans-border trade and no other facilities like Samjhauta Express be continued with Pakistan unless and until it released 1971 PoWs, extradited Maulana Masood Azhar, underwold don Dawood Ibrahim and closed down militants’ training camps in PoK. He said that to crush militancy, anti-terrorist military code should be clamped in the state. Expressing shock and grief over the untimely death of senior photojournalist Ashok Sodhi in Samba encounter, he said he would shortly file a PIL in the apex court seeking reservation for kith and kin of militancy victims in jobs, education besides demanding their rehabilitation. He felt the need of a separate law or a provision for journalists working in conflict zones, saying, “in case of any eventuality at least their families shouldn’t suffer.” |
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Farooq wants trade ties across LoC
Rajouri, May 14 Abdullah, who was addressing a public meeting at Kotranka here yesterday, said that both India and Pakistan should work for creating an atmosphere of understanding and confidence among each other for a long lasting peace in the sub-continent. Referring to the visit of Union Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee to Pakistan, the NC patron hoped that the two sides will move ahead with the peace process, which will not only help in resolving the decade-old Kashmir issue but will help building a strong bi-lateral relationship between the two nations. Expressing optimism regarding ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan, NC patron urged the two countries to give final shape to the much-awaited trade links across the Line of Control. "We are waiting for the day when trucks will be allowed to move between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot route", he said. He said even though the state had witnessed an unprecedented price hike of essential commodities, the government was sleeping over the issue. |
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Azad for greater interface between KU, society
Srinagar, May 14 Interacting with the teachers from the University of Kashmir led by vice-chancellor Riyaz Punjabi here yesterday, the Chief minister, who is also the pro-chancellor and alumnus of the university, felt that there was a certain level of disconnect between the university and the society and that need to be removed. He said scholars could not pursue their academic activities oblivious of the society and interface between the two was imperative. He said the state’s oldest university was once the hub of cultural activities besides a place of serious academic pursuits and desired the scenario to be revived. He said the vibrant academic atmosphere in the university had been disturbed by long turmoil and expressed satisfaction that things were changing for the better now. The Chief Minister appreciated the improved academic scenario in the university but said he wanted to see it catching up with the outside world in terms of research and scholarship. He said excellence in these areas was very important for the forward movement of a society. He said there was no dearth of talent in the society. The need, he added, was to properly harness and channelise it and asked the university teachers to rise to the occasion. He hoped that the new VC would be able to take the institution to academic heights and assured him of his fullest support to make it a model university. Vice-chancellor Riyaz Punjabi briefed the Chief Minister about the academic activities in the university and assured him that his dream of making the institution a seat of excellence would be realised. He said the faculty was seriously engaged in improving the academic standard, which in several cases was higher than the national average. He said no effort was spared to reach the global standards. |
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State set for big stride in education: Sinha
Srinagar, May 14 With eight varsities for a population of 10 million, the educational scenario was favourable, which needed to be sustained and taken to pinnacles of excellence of international standards, the Governor said while addressing the students, staff, faculty and board of directors of
Islamic University of Science and Technology at Awantipura in Pulwama district this morning. The Governor said public-private participation in the spread of education in the state has been far better than any other state of the country, as four of these universities are run in the private sector. He referred to the setting up of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University in Katra, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in Rajouri and Islamic University of Science and Technology in Awantipur and the upcoming International Islamic University in Budgam district. Vice-chancellor Siddiq Wahid gave an overview of the university and said concerted efforts were underway to upgrade its infrastructure within available funds. |
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Centre soft on terror, claims BJP
Jammu, May 14 Led by BJP district president Rajesh Gupta and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) East Mandal president Sanjiv Gupta, the activists held a massive protest demonstration at Kachchi Chhawni. Shouting slogans against the UPA government they castigated the Centre for its soft approach towards the militants. The BJP leaders said the recent militant attack in Samba and killing of a number of innocent civilians and army personnel was an indication that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had no clear-cut policy to check militancy. |
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Sodhi’s death mourned
State BJP president Ashok Khajuria along with other leaders of the party today visited the residence of senior photojournalist Ashok Sodhi, who was killed in the Samba encounter.
Khajuria also handed over a cheque of Rs 25,000 to Sodhi’s wife, Varsha, as a token of help to the bereaved family. Khajuria while expressing his heartfelt sympathies said the sad and untimely demise of Sodhi had created a void which could not be filled. Khajuria said in this hour of grief, the BJP was with the media fraternity. The party leaders prayed for peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss. Later, BJP leaders also visited the residences of Dwarka Nath Sharma and Hoshiyar Singh to express sympathies with the bereaved families. |
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JE, others “manhandle” CEO
Udhampur, May 14 The miscreants also ransacked the CEO’s office and misbehaved with some employees of the education department. Chanchal Singh, SHO, Doda, told the Tribune that a case had been registered and JE Jamshed and his cousin Rehmat-ullah had been arrested. Police sources said some miscreants entered into the CEO’s office and asked him to modify the transfer orders of some teachers. As the CEO refused the accept the demands of the miscreants, they resorted to shouting slogans against the officers. Later, some persons allegedly attacked the CEO. Some employees who intervened to protect the CEO were also manhandled by the miscreants. JE Jamshed and his cousin Rehmat-Ullah were arrested by the police. The CEO has a lodged written complaint against them. Both of them were later released on bail. Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir United School Teachers Federation, Doda, was today held under the chairmanship of its president Firdous Ahmed Wani and provincial member, Mohd Asraf Kelu. The meeting, while condemning the attack on the CEO, urged the police to punish the miscreants so that such incidents did not occur again. |
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Amarnath: Rebuilding of track underway
Jammu, May 14 Asked whether the road clearance and upgradation between Pahalgam, base camp for the pilgrimage and the holy cave were also being undertaken by the board, an official said this task had been entrusted to the Pahalgam Development Authority which had started the operation. He said in case there was no fresh snowfall both the routes would be ready by the middle of next month so that the first batch of pilgrims left Jammu for the cave on June 18. The annual yatra will end on August 16. Sources said at each camping site, including Baltal, Nunwan, Chandanwari and Sheshnag, lodging in prefabricated would be made available for 1,400 pilgrims. |
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Water shortage irks residents
Sunderbani (Rajouri), May 14 The residents said despite having so many springs and streams flowing through the area, the water supply department had failed to tap the potential and supply sufficient water in the town. Residents complained that even as the water supply department (WSD) acknowledged every year that there was going to be a water crisis and despite having so many untapped water sources (streams and springs), nothing had been done on the issue. Residents added that by not supplying water on a regular basis, the department made their life hell. “Summer has started and the temperature is rising everyday. The demand for water has increased, but the department supplies water once in three days. They are simply torturing us”, Vijay Sharma, a resident said. “The Thanda Pani river flows from here besides, there are so many springs which can act as water sources, but the department concerned has failed to tap these sources,” he added. Sources in the department revealed that of the 4, 10,000 gallons required daily for the town, the department managed with 3,00,000 gallons and there was shortage of 1,10,000 gallons. “About 1,20,000 gallons of water is drawn from dug wells, gag source gives 20,000 gallons besides, 1, 60,000 gallons are managed from other sources,” said a source. Ashok Gupta, superintendent engineer, WSD, Rajouri division, while acknowledging the shortage of water, said measures were afoot to meet the shortage of water. “We are working on a scheme wherein we will draw water from the Thanda Pani river which will supply us 30,000 gallons water per hour,” said Gupta. |
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Unemployed forestry graduates on hunger strike
Srinagar, May 14 About 25 students of the Jammu and Kashmir Unemployed Forestry Graduates Association today started what they claimed to be an “indefinite hunger strike.” Their leaders said the government had promised them in the past that they would be absorbed in the forestry department. “It’s been months now that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and forest minister gave us assurance but nothing has happened so far,” Suja Andrabi, association’s general secretary said. The unemployed graduates said the forest department was among the few government bodies to make revenue. “It should utilise their knowledge at a time when forest resources are threatened by human expansion and illegal felling of trees for smuggling and other purposes,” they added. Andrabi said the recent drive by the government to employ over 16,000 jobless youths had not benefiting them either. He added that unemployed youths must be employed on the lines of the Rehbar-e-Taleem (contractual teachers with a starting salary of Rs 1,500) as the Rehbar-e-Janglaat. Andrabi said when they met the Chief Minister on January 21, 2007, he forwarded their request to the forest minister with recommendations that he “may work out some schemes on the basis of the Rehbar-e-Taleem...”. However, these graduates see little chance of the fructification of the CM’s assurance. |
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VDCs back in business
Jammu, May 14 According to sources, there are about 20 VDCs in border areas of Samba with each one of them having six members. These VDCs comprise people from different age groups like unemployed youth and ex-servicemen. Some of the villages where the VDCs exist are Mawa, Babbar Nalla, Bein Gular, Pangdu, Rajpura, Jitwal and Chilla Danga. While some of these VDCs are paid for their services, others are working voluntarily. The members of paid VDCs are drawing an amount of Rs 1,000 each
per month. Samba SDPO Ram Singh Charak said an additional workforce of 120 persons from 20 VDCs has been of great help to them these days. |
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Shah-led ANC jumps into poll fray
Srinagar, May 14 This decision was taken at the party’s working committee meeting yesterday. According to the ANC spokesperson, the party decided to contest all the 87 Assembly seats in the state. Shah, who had been a close associate of the National Conference founder leader, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, took over the reigns of power in 1984, after throwing out his brother-in-law Farooq Abdullah’s government. The working committee, has also put forward a suggestion before the party president G.M. Shah that in order to have free and fair polls, he should seek direct assurance from the Prime Minister and also apprise him about the intra-Kashmir peace conference to be held here. |
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‘Recruit unemployed’
Srinagar, May 14 Addressing a public meeting at Sopore yesterday, she said there were tough challenges before her party since it came into power as the state was in financial ruins and a decade-old insurgency had destroyed much of Kashmir’s economy. The PDP president urged upon the government to initiate a transparent fast track recruitment of unemployed physical education, forest and tourism graduates on priority basis.
— TNS |
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BSF man kills himself
Srinagar, May 14 The deceased had been identified as Mohan Lal, an upper division clerk in the Kendriya Vidyalaya. Mohan Lal’s deputy commandant Arun Kumar reported the matter to the police. The police has registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPC and begun inquest proceedings. However, it was trying to ascertain the reason behind the incident.
— TNS |
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