Srinagar, May 17
Pro-Pakistan Jaish-e-Mohammed suffered a major blow today when six militants of the outfit, including four Pakistanis, were killed after an 18-hour-long encounter with the security forces.

The gun battle broke out in Lurgam-Tral village, 45 km from here, last evening and lasted for about 18 hours, officials said here.

The intelligence input about the movement of the JeM militants was gathered by the CRPF, which was shared with other agencies and the state police following which a team of the CRPF, the Army and local police cordoned off the area.

The militants resorted to indiscriminate firing after they found themselves trapped. In the ensuing encounter, six Jaish militants, also including a Kashmiri commander, were killed.

Security forces recovered six AK-56 and two AK-47 rifles besides ammunition and sophisticated communication devices, the officials said.

CRPF Director General V.K. Joshi complimented the CRPF personnel involved in the operation and said they would be suitably rewarded.

The operation comes four days after two CRPF constables engaged in intelligence gathering were killed by militants in Pulwama district.

Elsewhere in the valley, one more militant was killed by the security forces in Kutta forest of Bandipore in north Kashmir. The encounter was still on, officials said. — PTI

Udhampur, May 17
Five members of a family including two minors were killed when militants reportedly threw a grenade at a house of a special police officer (SPO) at Gornal village near Banihal in Ramban district today.

SPO Haroon Rashid posted at the Banihal Police Station was not at home at the time of attack.

Police parties have been rushed to the spot, said deputy inspector general (DIG) Doda-Ramban range Hemant Kumar Lohia while talking to The Tribune.

“As the village is located in a remotest area, police parties are likely to reach there late tonight,” he said and confirmed that five members of the family were seriously injured in an explosion and later they succumbed to their injuries.

“Real cause of the explosion is yet not known. The Ramban SP is himself on the spot to ascertain the exact facts about the incident,” Lohia said.

Owing to lack of circumstantial evidence, the police was finding it difficult to arrive at a conclusion that how this tragic incident happened. One report suggested that explosion took place in the house while other report said some persons threw a grenade in the premises.

Initial reports said some militants lobbed a grenade in the house of SPO Haroon. The grenade exploded in the premises of the house, which later caved in due to explosion.

After throwing a grenade, militants managed to run away from the site. All inmates received severe injuries in the explosion. Before the police reached the spots, locals immediately swung into action and retrieved the injured. All the five inmates in the house succumbed to their injuries before they were taken to the hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Abdul Rehman, his son Bashir Ahmed, daughter Rubina Bano, Sadam-ur-Rehman and Haroon’s minor son Bakr.

Police sources said militants had given a warning to Haroon as he was working as a SPO with the Banihal Police. Haroon has helped the police in launching some successful operation in this belt.

Police teams have started investigations on different theories. Police officers have not ruled out possibility of these killings as accident. Some unconfirmed reports said kids were fiddling with a grenade, which later exploded. However, it was not known from where they had got that grenade.

Suchetgarh, May 17
Apprehending a Samba-like infiltration and subsequent tension at the international border, the farmers of this border village have harvested their crop cultivated on the land across the fence.

“I have four acre of land out of which one acre is on the other side of the fence, right up to the zero line. I recently harvested my entire crop,” said Darshan Singh, a farmer, while talking to The Tribune.

He said the BSF personnel provided protection to all the farmers owning land across the fence so that they could harvest their crop without any hassle.

Recalling an untoward incident, he said his entire harvested crop was destroyed in the firing from Pakistani side a few years back. “At that time I could do nothing but rue my fate. However, this time as soon as I came to know about Samba incident the first thing that I did was to reap my harvest on both the sides of the fence,” he said.

Bachan Singh, a farmer owning four acres of land across the fence, too has harvested his wheat crop. “We were a little relaxed this time and were delaying harvesting of crop, as the situation here had been peaceful for long. However, the Samba incident prompted us to go all out for it. We have no other source of income but for these small landholdings and hence we could not afford to lose it due to any eventuality on the border.”

A group of villagers told that though there is no movement along the fence as of now, the increased vigil by the Border Security Force (BSF) has fuelled speculations that the border may witness some activity in the days to come.

“We have also been told by the BSF to inform them in case we spot any stranger loitering in the village,” they said.

Meanwhile, reacting to the BSF’s move of realigning the fence, the farmers said it augurs well for them as it would bring in most of their land inside the fence, making it more safe for them to cultivate crop.

Jammu, May 17
With the Indo-Pak dialogue process set to resume next week, the trade circles are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that both the countries agree to throw open cross-LoC trade, a dream they have been waiting to come true for long.

Talking to The Tribune, the Secretary General of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abdul Hamid Punjabi, said cross-LoC trade would be beneficial for both the countries, as it would open new economic vistas in the region.

He felt that the move would also strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. Terming the delay as “unfortunate”, he said they had been expecting it for the last three years as a part of confidence building measures (CBM).

He hoped that the move would help both the countries in emerging as strong economies. “A CBM like this will go a long way in sorting out other bilateral issues as well,” he added. He said both the governments should not allow the incidents like Samba and Jaipur to affect the dialogue process.

The president of Fruit Association, Srinagar, G.M. Imtiaz, said opening of the cross-LoC trade would do a world of good to the business community on both the sides. He said the step would facilitate export of 10-15 per cent of their produce to the neighbouring country.

“If we can send perishable fruit to as far as Mumbai so we can to Rawalpindi,” he added. Imtiaz said they had also given representation to the government in this regard long time back. He said the government should also ease restrictions for cross-LoC movement of the people.

The Chairman of Traders and Manufacturers Federation, Srinagar, Jaan Mohammad, said those at the helm of affairs in both the countries should now understand that the people were fed up with the atmosphere of conflict and they strongly advocated a tangible change not only in the bilateral ties but also in terms of free movement and trade in the region.

He said the Central government must initiate a time-bound conclusive dialogue with Pakistan to facilitate cross-LoC trade. 

Jammu, May 17
Security experts have suggested to the central government to adopt Punjab pattern of having “live” border fence on the international border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

These experts argue that once the tall fence was electrified it could further help the security forces in checking infiltration from across the border. They said at present the border fence was being snapped by cutters, as was the case in Samba where a group of infiltrators sneaked into the Jammu sector after cutting the fence, and at times used ladders in crossing over the fence.

According to these experts, “Once we have live border fence, an attempt at snapping the wires could be detected by the hooters that are attached with it.” They said in addition to this there was immediate need for installing additional sensors on the IB and the LoC.

However, a senior police officer of the rank of DIG said, “There are practical difficulties in connecting the border fence with live power wires.” Explaining it, he said in number of border villages in Uri, Kupwara, Tangdhar, Poonch, Rajouri, R.S. Pora, Samba, Hiranagar and Akhnoor farmers had some land across the fence. Invariably they cross the fence for carrying out limited farming exercises. Once there was live border fence it could result in casualties.

He said besides there were number of villages where the backyard opened in Pakistan. He said major areas on this side of the LoC witness heavy snowfall in the winter season, which could pose heavy risk to peoples’ lives. In Punjab the experiment proved a success because there was no snow prone belts on the border in that state.

On the other hand, a senior Army officer of the rank of a colonel, who is engaged in monitoring the security activities on this side of the IB, said the power supply to the fence in snow prone areas could be disconnected during the winter months when the border routes were not passable.

He said there was also the need for strengthening the security grid and round-the-clock patrolling in the border belts where fencing could not be carried out on account of nallahas and rivulets.

He said the Punjab pattern could at least be introduced on the 187-km-long international border from Akhnoor and Kathua, which is not a snow prone belt.

Srinagar, May 17
Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar, member, Planning Commission, currently on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, reviewed the functioning of various departments, including education, youth services and sports, during a high-level meeting here.

In the education sector, he was briefed about the presence of teachers in schools, mid-day meal and projects, which had been taken up in private-public partnership. Around 13 lakh children were being provided mid-day meal and 10 projects had been taken in private-public partnership, the meeting was informed.

Besides 29 trades available in the existing ITIs, he was also told that the government was contemplating to introduce 22 more trades in the technical institutions.

Dr Mungekar was informed that 501 cases for employment have been registered and Rs 761.23 lakh assistance has been provided in 2006-08 under employment scheme.

Dr Mungekar appreciated the schemes launched for the welfare of the people in the state. The Planning Commisison member said the Centre was pondering in establishing separate financial institutions for the development of the minority communities in the state.

Poonch, May 17
Planning to give a boost to the economy of Poonch and Rajouri districts, the state government with the help of the Centre has decided to bring these border districts on the tourism map.

Addressing a gathering in a public meeting at militancy-infested area of Seri Khwaja, just 20 km from here, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the state government was paying special attention to far-flung areas to have a speedier development.

New district hospitals were being constructed in Poonch and Rajouri on fast track basis, which would provide the best possible medicare facilities in the region, he said.

Azad said road connectivity being essential characteristic for development of any area, 35 roads with a total length of 150 km costing Rs 73 crore have been taken up in Poonch district in the past two and a half years.

“A network of roads, bridges, educational and health institutions is being created along with ensuring power and drinking water supply even in the remotest areas of the state,” he said.

He said a number of district level and other hospitals with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities are being constructed while the government medical college hospitals at Jammu and Srinagar are being upgraded to the AIIMS level to provide best possible medicare to the people nearer to their homes.

He said the Bufliaz-Mandi road would also be constructed thereby fulfilling a long pending demand of the people of the area.

The Chief Minister said to provide facilities of higher education to the youths, a university campus is being setup at Poonch. He said the land for construction of the campus has been acquired and it would be ready within next two years.

However, he said, to facilitate higher education of the youth without any delay, the post-graduation classes have already been started at Poonch recently.

Union minister for water resources Saif-ud-Din Soz said Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi have taken keen interest in the speedy and all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that several schemes were in the pipeline to provide succour to the people of the state. He announced Rs 2 lakh out of his MPLAD fund for computer and science laboratory of high school at Seri Khawaja.

Jammu, May 17
A strong mob, including family members of a youth, who died due to alleged negligence of a doctor, stormed a government hospital and manhandled the staff at Sarwal here today. Rajesh Gupta, 31, a resident of Rehari, had died on May 14, a day after he was operated upon by a surgeon for gall bladder stone at the hospital.

This morning a strong mob of men, women and family members of the deceased led by Jammu Municipal Corporation corporator Surinder Singh Shingari stormed the hospital and smashed a couple of windowpanes in protest against what they claimed “sheer negligence” on the part of the doctor, which resulted in death of the youth.

Family members of the deceased alleged that the doctor while performing surgery on May 13 had cut blood vessels of Rajesh Gupta, which caused his death.

They demanded sacking of the doctor and lodging a case against him under Section 302 RPC besides a compensation of Rs 20 lakh from the doctor to the family of the deceased. Soon after getting information, a police party led by SP North, Sanjay Kotwal, Dy SP Mohan Lal Kaith, SHO Bakshi Nagar Sanjeev Mahendru reached the hospital and pacified the agitating people. A case against the medico under Section 304-A stands registered at the police station.

He has already been suspended by the Director, Health Services, Dr Jasbir Singh and a two-member committee of Dr RK Chrangoo and deputy director headquarters, TR Gupta.

Chandimarh (Poonch), May 17
Even as the Mughal road project is yet to be completed, land prices along the road in Jammu region, have kyrocketed.

The Mughal road project is an alternative route to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway 1A is often closed due to avalanches and landslides. Work on the project started in 2005 and since then the prices of land have shot up by 50 to 80 times in smaller towns lying like Behram Gala, Bufliaz and this tiny town along the road.

Residents said the rate per kanal of land had increased by 50 to 80 times in villages along the road, while in less inhabited villages like Poshana and Dograby, it had increased by 5 to 10 times.

The Mughal road takes off from Bufliaz in this border district road and has smaller towns like Chanidmarh and Behramgala besides, villages like Dogra, Poshana on this side in Jammu region. It ends at Shopian in the Kashmir province.

The construction on the 89-km-long road from Bufliaz to Shopian costing Rs 250 crore (present estimate) is going on since 2005 and is likely to be completed in April, 2009. Presently the 30-km road each from Bufliaz in Jammu province and Shopian in Kashmir province sides has been constructed and work is going near Pir Ki Gali area of Pir Panjal pass.

The road is being constructed from Bufliaz (28 km from the district headquarter) through Behramgala, Chandimarh, Dogra, Poshana, Pir Ki Gali and Hirpura to Shopian. The road being an alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu Highway will connect Rajouri, Poonch and Jammu with Kashmir.

Muhammad Din (42) a farmer owning 20 kanals along the road said, “The rate per kanal of the land here in 2004 was Rs 20,000, but presently I have got customers from Srinagar and Jammu who are ready to pay Rs 20 lakh per kanal.”

“I won't sell the land at this time. Let the Mughal road open, the rates will register further increase. We thank Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah for conceiving such a great project besides, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed for restarting the work on it,” he added.

He said the road project once completed would boost trade in this backward region and would elevate the economic status of the people here.

Udhampur, May 17
With about 100 persons having lost their lives in road accidents during the past two months, the authorities have finally started a “comprehensive” campaign to check overloading and rash driving in different parts of Doda district.

Deaths due to road accidents have became a routine affair in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts. Although dilapidated road conditions and plying of outdated buses were the main reason for repeated road accidents, residents alleged that the authorities concerned were equally responsible as there was no checking of passenger vehicles. During the past two months, about 100 persons have died in road accidents. It was only after residents demanded that the authorities started a campaign to check overloading.

Rajeshwar Singh Charak, assistant regional transport officer (ARTO), Doda, laid nakas at various places namely Pul Doda, Bhalla, Khelani, Bhaderwah and Thakri and checked the passenger vehicles plying on roads.

During checking it was found that most of the passenger vehicles were overloaded and some of the drivers were not qualified.

About 35 drivers were fined over violating traffic rules and some vehicles were seized by officers as their operators failed to produce the required documents.

Rajouri, May 17
Even as the state government is claiming taking active steps to upgrade power infrastructure, hanging electric wires from the poles are posing great threat to the lives of residents here in this border township.

Residents complained that despite repeated requests, the concerned department is not taking the matter of hanging electric wires in the town area seriously and is putting them to great risk. They said that at many places in the town area, the electric wires were hanging at just six or seven feet height from the ground and could kill a person with shock.

Residents further said that the areas where the electric wires remained very close to the ground were old city, DC Colony, Jawahar Nagar , Bela Colony and Kheora.

"More than a dozen numbers of times, we urged the Superintendent Engineer and the Executive Engineer to take notice of this issue, but they failed to act. They only give assurances and are putting human lives to great risk,” fumed Rajinder Sharma, a resident of the old city area.

"We urge the state government to take the matter seriously as it involves the precious human lives. We have also decided to take up this matter with Chief Minister so that he gives strict instructions to the officers concerned. Only then they will wake up".

Another resident, Ehsan-Ul-Haq, a student living in DC Colony area said "See the electric wires here are just six to seven feet high from the ground. If at night, some tall person passes from here, he can get a shock. It is also risky during rainy season".

Repeated efforts to contact local Power development Department (PDD) officers failed since they didn't attend to the repeated calls.

However, sources in the department admitted that hanging wires were posing a great risk to human lives. However, it is learnt that the department has written to higher authorities for funds for rectifying the problem".

Rajouri, May 17
Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri, has launched its Arabic Satellite Channel (ASC) which was inaugurated by former chief minister and founder Chancellor of the university, Dr Farooq Abdullah yesterday. Vice-chancellor of the university Masud Ahmed Choudhary was also present on the occasion.

“During the tenure of Dr Farooq Abdullah as the chief minister, the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Act was passed in the Assembly”, a press statement said.

A statement also issued that the facility would have access to 20 satellite channels - Syria TV, Yemen TV, Abu Dhabi TV, Oman TV, Kuwait TV, Saudi TV, Qatar TV, Sudan TV, Sharjah TV, Libya TV, Saudi Arabian TV, Al-Jazeera Channel, Al-Emarat TV, Asia Pacific, Shamshad TV, Nile Channel, Press TV Promo, Al-Alam TV, Alkass TV and IRB3 TV. Most of these are news channels in Arabic, English and Persian.

University authorities said the facility would help students to achieve language proficiency in Arabic by listening to the lectures of experts from the Arab countries.

“Students can watch conferences, news, discussions and translation lectures in Arabic language and it will help the students. The channel will also help in placement of students in Arab countries.