Udhampur, January 25
With the killing of two terrorists, including one self-styled commander of the Laskher-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit near Banihal this evening, security forces foiled design of militants to execute attacks on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

Although the bodies of the slain terrorists have not yet been recovered, it is believed that LeT self-styled commander Qari Zubiar, alias Saifullah, along with one Sayeed Kiki have been killed in the fierce encounter which lasted for more than 12 hours. Huge quantity of rations, some documents and arms and ammunition have been seized before the operation was suspended.

Doda-Ramban range DIG Hemant Kumar Lohia told The Tribune that operation had been suspended due to heavy rain and darkness in the area. “We have cordoned off the entire area with the deployment of additional forces”, Lohia said and added that search and combing operation would be started before dawn in the area. The DIG admitted that exchange of firing had been stopped but bodies of the slain militants were not yet recovered. He further said Zubair, who had been involved in a large number of militancy incidents, was trapped in the firing.

Zubair had let loose a reign of terror in this belt. He had masterminded various militant acts outside the state also.

According to the police, they started the search operation at Bogan village at Sher Bibi, just 2km away from Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The cops had information that some militants were planning to execute attacks on the eve of Republic Day. As soon as the cops reached the hideout, militants resorted to indiscriminate firing. The cops retaliated and the firing continued till 6.30 pm.

It is believed that two militants hiding have been killed but security forces have decided to restart the operation in the morning.

Jammu, January 25
The police today arrested a person and recovered fake currency worth Rs 2,100 from his possession.

Rajeev Sharma, son of Satpal Sharma, a resident of Peer Mitha, was arrested by a police party, while he was smuggling the fake currency from one place to another.

“When he was being frisked he threw a packet in the canal, the police team got suspicious and found that he was carrying fake currency with him.” The SDPO of Bakshi Nagar police station said. He said the accused had recently ventured in the profession of making fake currency and was proficient in making Rs 100 currency notes.

He made Rs 100 currency notes using a latest printer and used to exchange the amount for petty items with hawkers and shopkeepers.

The police has recovered the printer used for making the fake currency.

Jammu, January 25
The age of Meera Bai- the domestic help, who was reportedly beaten up by a Jammu University hostel warden - has been ascertained as more than 18 years by the radiological bone age determination test that was conducted at Government Medical College Jammu on Wednesday, January 21.

Meera had alleged that she was getting “inhuman treatment” at the hands of her employer, Amisha Gupta, the warden of Sarojini Naidu Girls Hostel of Jammu University (JU), for the past two years. She had claimed before the media on January 20 that she was 16 years old and was 14 years when her employer brought her to Jammu by giving Rs 4,000 to some agent in Delhi.

However, a new dimension has been added to the entire case as the police today said the copy of the contract signed between the maid-providing agency and the concerned employer mentions Meera's age as 18 years, two years back, that is when Meera was bought by her employer.

Therefore, going by the copy of contract, which is available with the police station Gandhi Nagar, Meera should be 20 years at the moment. It further puts a question mark on the authenticity of functioning of the maid-providing agencies.

Gandhi Nagar SHO Sultan Mirza said, “The medical report of the girl maintains that she is 18 plus. Meera is still putting up with the hostellers.”

“We have established contact with her parents in Chattisgarh and they will be coming in a day or two and she will be restored with the family.”

Meanwhile, the police said, “We have contacted the Aryan Lucky Maid Bureau in New Delhi, which had provided the girl to the warden. Its owner NK Tyagi has been summoned.”

Jammu, January 25
With the NC-Congress government exhibiting its keenness to promote tourism in Jammu province through concepts like ecotourism, heritage tourism and golf tourism, the tourism industry in the region, which till now banked only on religion tourism on account of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, can look towards sunny days ahead.

In heritage tourism, the government is expecting the Mubarak Mandi Complex, the seat of power of erstwhile Dogra rulers, to be the biggest draw in the region. The Mubarak Mandi Complex is being developed as a heritage site at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore. The Union Tourism Ministry has released Rs 3 crore out of Rs 4.37 crore sanctioned for the first phase involving the conservation work of the complex. The conservation work includes restoration of pristine glory of the monument so that it is developed as a Dogra Heritage Site as the complex has the potential to attract large number of domestic as well as international tourists once the project is completed.

Conservation and renovation works of Maharaja’s Army Headquarters, Foreign Office, Darbar Hall, Royal Court, Baddi Deodi, Raja Ram Singh Palace, Marbal Hall and Darbar-e-Aam Buildings were proposed to be taken up in the first phase of the project. A project report of Rs 30 crore has also been submitted to the Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture for approval.

On ecotourism front, Rs 20 crore are being spent for development of tourist-related infrastructure at Surinsar and Mansar Lake, 30 km from Jammu. A children’s park, public park and viewpoints are also being developed at a cost of Rs 70 lakh at the site.

In the field of golf tourism, an 18-hole course, spread over 1,400 kanals, is coming up at an estimated cost of Rs 44 crore at Sidhra in Jammu. In the first phase, the nine-hole golf course will become operational in June this year. A recreational club at an estimated cost of Rs 6.50 crore is also being made. At present the ground floor which will have facilities of restaurant, office and party hall is under construction.

Srinagar, January 25
Kashmir is likely to be closed, as has been the norm since the eruption of militancy, on Republic Day tomorrow on the call given by separatists but the authorities believe that the bandh would be much less this time than earlier.

Rainy and cold conditions have come as a dampener and remind one of previous year celebrations when snow was steadily falling even as the official function started at Bakshi Stadium.

The police and the CRPF carried out intensive checking in parts of the city and vehicular traffic towards the stadium was regulated. "Many vehicles were stopped and everyone was frisked. At many places, they frisked pedestrians," Abdul Malik, a resident of Nowhatta, one of the most sensitive locations in the city, said. He, however, added that security difficulties for residents have relatively eased.

Hurriyat Conference and its affiliates have meanwhile asked people to observe a black day tomorrow. Reports say there is little support for separatists among the masses but they would stick to the bandh call.

Srinagar, January 25
Rains lashed the Kashmir valley today while snow fell in higher reaches of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, though respite from the chilling conditions continue for people as temperatures hovered comfortably above 0°C in all towns in plains.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar was 3.8°C against a maximum of 7.4°C while it received 74 mm of rains. The gateway to Kashmir, Qazighund, received 68 mm of rains and Pahalgam 61 mm and minimum temperature even in Pahalgam, considered one of the coldest destinations, was 1.6°C. The scenic town also received snow. Met officials said they did not have figures but Gulmarg had also experienced snowfall.

However, there was no disruption in traffic on the National Highway, and traffic officials said it plied through the day without hiccups. The temperature in the valley has been surprisingly on the higher side these days, which are traditionally regarded coldest in the season.

In Srinagar, the minimum temperature was five degree above the normal and the city had been glowing in winter sun for several days until yesterday when sky turned cloudy.

Srinagar, January 25
As part of the drive launched by the traffic police in Kashmir against violations of road rules, 404 violators have been challaned and a total fine of Rs 74,050 realised from offenders, the police said today.

The drive had started a week back to streamline traffic. The police challaned 317 violators yesterday. A majority of the violations were of simple rules like wearing helmet or carrying driving licence and other relevant documents. Many were punished for not wearing the seat belts or for over-speeding.

The police would tighten the screws on violators in the coming days. One of the most common complaints is the absence of meters in auto-rickshaws. Locals said they charged exorbitantly and tourists, who arrive in the summer capital in large numbers, are often at the receiving end.

Under the rules, lack of meters is an offence but the authorities have been lenient on auto-drivers, who are a major sources of traffic in Srinagar. A senior traffic official said any drive against auto-drivers would require a decision at a senior level because it was bound to invite protests.

Jammu, January 25
The Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene in the Rajya Sabha election process in the state has come as a jolt to opposition parties, which are eyeing at least one of the four Rajya Sabha seats going to the polls on February 13.

Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh had filed a petition submitting that conducting elections in different phases would only benefit the ruling NC-Congress combine, as the Rajya Sabha polls were held on the basis of a single transferable vote. He contended that if the elections were held in separate phases, all four seats would go to the ruling coalition, as the system of a single transferable vote would not serve the purpose.

Whereas, if the elections were held in a single phase it would enable smaller parties also to win seats through the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

Talking to The Tribune, Bhim Singh said now the two seats, which would go to the polls in two different phases, would certainly go to the ruling coalition, while the third phase with two seats would require a party to have 29 MLAs to win a seat. “However, none of the parties in the Assembly has 29 MLAs and the combination is such that it will not be possible for a party to support the other,” he said, adding that even for filing nomination the signature of at least 10 MLAs would be required.

BJP legislature party leader Chaman Lal Gupta said though they respected the apex court’s ruling, the holding of elections for four Rajya Sabha seats in three phases would reduce the relevance of smaller groups and individual MLAs who otherwise had an equal say in democracy.

Interestingly, he said all opposition parties should unite and field their candidates. He added that they were even open to talks with the PDP over the issue. “We want that the Opposition’s viewpoint should also reach Parliament,” he averred. 

Leh, January 25
The Leh SSP at a press conference here today claimed that the police has solved a murder case and the accused has been arrested.

The case came in to light on January 1, within the 24 hours of the crime, at Mangu village, a remote place in Khalsi block of the district. The police found the body of Rigzin Dorje (50) of Mangu village under mysterious circumstances and suspected a murder case.

The prime accused identified as Manla Tundup (63) of Mangu village was allegedly having an illicit relationship with the deceased’s wife, Tsering Dolker.

The accused with the wife of the deceased conspired another theory in which they claimed that Rigzin died because he fell from a ladder. On January 19, the police received the post-mortem examination report and registered a murder case under Section 302 of the RPC against the accused.