Srinagar, April 19
The security forces today busted a militant hideout in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and recovered a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives.

A joint search party of the police and the 29 RR on specific information conducted a search operation in the Frasthal area in Kreeri and busted the hideout.

A police officer said: “The arms seized from the dump included one AK 47 rifle, five AK magazines, 111 AK 47 rounds, two Chinese pistols three Pistol magazines, 10 Pistol rounds, one cleaning rod, one AK 47 silencer, two RPG rounds and 27 UBGL grenades.”

“In addition, 27 Chinese grenades, 21 IED connectors, 16 IED circuits, 13 IED transformers, two IED batteries, one IED dynamo, one Kenwood handset, one spare battery, one Kenwood charger, four High explosive bombs, 804 pika rounds, three explosive sticks, one UBGL launcher and two 12-bore guns were also recovered from a dump in a stream,” the officer added.

Jammu: Following reports about two suspected ultras roaming in Army fatigues in the Birpur-Purmandal forest area of Samba district, the Army and police, including the Special Operations Group (SOG), launched a search-and-combing operation today. However, the security forces till this evening didn’t come across the ultras.

“From the past three days there had been reports about presence of two suspected ultras in the area. Though the Army and the Samba police had launched an operation, we rushed our party to the area this morning,” an officer of the SOG told The Tribune.

However, despite hectic searches in the area none of the two suspected ultras could be spotted so far, he added. When contacted, Samba district SSP, Raghubir Singh, refused to comment.

Sources said, some villagers had spotted two armed men in Army fatigues, who threatened to kill them. The villagers reported the matter to the police.

Jammu, April 19
The Shabnam episode took another turn today, when she along with her husband and two children tried to immolate themselves in front of the Relief Commissioner’s office for allegedly not getting relief under the surrender policy. Shabnam’s husband, Shafaqat Mohi-ud-Din Kuchey, is a surrendered militant. Luckily, no untoward incident took place.

However, the administration again told the aggrieved family to approach the Home Department as it had referred the case to the latter. “We had referred the case to the Home Department in 2009. Now, we can’t interfere in this matter,” Relief Commissioner Vinod Koul said, adding: “After getting the file of Shafaqat Mohi-ud-Din Kuchey verified from the CID, it was referred to the Home Department along with 18 other cases in September last year.”

The police was on guard to avoid any untoward incident. Police personnel were deployed at the Relief Commissioner’s office and outside the house of the aggrieved family to prevent it from resorting to any extreme step.

As soon as Shabnam and her husband reached the Relief Commissioner’s office, they shouted anti-government slogans and, thereafter, met the Relief Commissioner. When they threatened to immolate themselves, the cops intervened and the Relief Commissioner also rushed out of his office to control the situation. Following a meeting with him, Shabnam and her husband were given an assurance that the matter would again be put up before Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds portfolio of the Home Ministry.

Later, Shafaqat said over phone: “We will not budge from our demand. We will fight till our last breath and will approach the Chief Minister tomorrow.”

Jammu, April 19
Security forces today laid a cordon around Pak terrorists, said to be two in number, in a nursery near Chabechak village in Rajbagh area of Kathua district.

Earlier, the militants in a bid to escape had opened fire on the police.

“At least two militants have been spotted by the police in Bhagh Nallah in Rajbagh area and they had fired upon the troops. Now, we are laying a cordon to take an appropriate action,” IGP (Jammu zone) Ashok Kumar Gupta said.

However, official sources said, a group of five terrorists in Army fatigues sneaked into the state from Mardin post - the last pillar on the Jammu-Punjab border.

Following their intrusion, the Punjab Police had alerted the Jammu and Kashmir Police, they added.

Sources said the militants were hiding in a nursery in Chabechak village while the security forces had laid a cordoned off the area and further action would be taken with first light of the day.

The Army had so far not joined the operation, they added.

A high alert has been sounded on the Jammu-Pathankote national highway and vehicles are being put to through checking.

It may be stated that on May 8, 2008, Pakistani militants had struck Kaily Mandi in neighbouring Samba district killing six persons, including a politician, his wife, two soldiers, a woman and a photojournalist, besides injuring six others.

Similarly, on August 24, 2008, three militants had infiltrated from Kanachak sector after cutting the border fence under cover fire from Pakistani troops and on August 25 they had killed five civilians and three jawans in a 19-hour encounter in Chinore on the outskirts of the winter capital.

In both cases the BSF had initially denied intrusions by the Pakistani militants.

The Brigadier General Staff of the 16 Corps had recently told mediapersons about the heavy presence of militants in various launch pads across the International Border and the LoC.

Jammu, April 19
DGP Kuldeep Khoda today said a massive communication network project had been put in place for providing the state-of-the-art telecommunication facilities to the police in the state.

He was reviewing the status of the communication network project at a meeting here today.

He said: “In the present age of science and technology, communication is an essential tool for better functioning of any organisation and keeping this in view, a video conferencing facility between the police headquarters at Jammu and Srinagar and all district headquarters have been launched in the first instance.”

He added that the facility would supplement efforts of the crime and criminal tracking networking system that was launched by the Union Home Ministry last year.

The DGP further said efforts were on to extend video conferencing facility with the police headquarters of the neighbouring states in a phased manner for sharing data.

The state police chief added that CCTVs had enabled the police to prevent and detect crimes in the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu.

Srinagar, April 19
The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen VK Singh, will come here tomorrow on a three-day visit to the state.

This would be General Singh’s first visit to the state after taking over as the Army Chief earlier this month.

General Singh had earlier served on various important positions in Jammu and Kashmir.

He had commanded 2 Rajput on the Line of Control (LC) and was also Commander of the counter-insurgency force, Victor.He also remained the Chief of Staff of the Srinagar-based, 15 Corps.

He would also meet Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Jammu: After being briefed at Leh and Srinagar, General Singh will go to Udhampur for a round of discussions with the GOC-in-C,Northern Command, Lt-Gen BS Jaswal.

Nagrota is next on the itinerary. The Army Chief would also visit the forward areas of Poonch, Mendhar and Akhnoor

His wife,Bharti Singh, will interact with the staff involved in various initiatives and endeavours aimed at welfare activities.

She will also meet the wives of all ranks at various locations.

Jammu, April 19
Around three lakh executive and non-executive BSNL workers would go on an indefinite strike from tomorrow till their demands are fulfilled by the government.

The strike would be conducted against the proposed disinvestment of the public sector undertaking (PSU), retrenchment of one lakh workers through voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) and sharing of valuable BSNL infrastructure, including cables and towers, with private telecom companies.

The decision was taken in a joint action committee (JAC) meeting that was held today under the leadership of its convener Nisar Ahmad.

The workers also demanded that the management and the government should not take an adamant stand and settle the issues through discussion with the JAC.

The main demands of the workers include rejection of the recommendation of the Sam Pitroda Committee, absorption of 1,500 ITS officers in BSNL and pension revision of the retirees.

The workers demand that the “anti- workers” recommendations of the committee should be outrightly rejected.

They said the proposal for disinvestment and VRS were in violation of the earlier assurances given to the workers unions and it should be dropped.

While demanding absorption of 1,500 ITS officers in the company, the workers said: “Though it is more than 10 years, these officers are still on deputation without absorption. This is adversely affecting the growth and future of BSNL.”

They also stated that the government and the management should ensure that sufficient lines were made available to BSNL for serving the public.

Jammu, April 19
Following reports about two suspected ultras roaming in Army fatigues in the Birpur-Purmandal forest area of Samba district, the Army and police, including the Special Operations Group (SOG), launched a search-and-combing operation today.

However, the security forces till this evening didn’t come across the ultras.

“From the past three days there had been reports about presence of two suspected ultras in the area. Though the Army and the Samba police had launched an operation, we rushed our party to the area this morning,” an officer of the SOG told The Tribune.

However, despite hectic searches in the area none of the two suspected ultras could be spotted so far, he added.

When contacted, Samba district SSP, Raghubir Singh, refused to comment.

Sources said, some villagers had spotted two armed men in Army fatigues, who threatened to kill them.

The villagers reported the matter to the police.

Srinagar, April 19
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik and nine other senior leaders of the outfit were detained in Baramulla district of the state today.

The leaders were on their way to Kupwara to express solidarity with the family of 70-year-old Habibullah Khan, whose killing sparked a controversy, when they were detained at Mirgund, 25-km from here.

Malik, his deputy Bashir Ahmad Bhat and eight others were detained as the police apprehended their presence in Kupwara might result in a law and order problem, official sources said.

A murder case had been registered against some army personnel in connection with the killing of Habibullah allegedly in a fake encounter on Wednesday.

The killing triggered a controversy with the Army and the family making conflicting claims over the death of the elderly person.

The locals also staged protests over the killing, demanding an inquiry and speedy action against the guilty.

The body of the deceased was exhumed and handed over to his kin for re-burial at the family graveyard at Devar village in Lolab.

Condemning the detention of JKLF leaders, a spokesman of the outfit said: “It is unfortunate that the local administration is preventing us from visiting the bereaved family.”

Union Minister and ruling National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said the state government would take up the issue with the Army chief during his visit to the Kashmir valley.

“The Army chief is coming here and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will take up the issue with him," Farooq said on the sidelines of a function here yesterday. — PTI

Srinagar, April 19
Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has urged the international community to play its role for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

He has also sought mediatory role of a third country to impress upon the Central government for the resolution of the matter.

He said this in a meeting with a three-member delegation of European Union (EU) diplomats here today. The two sides also exchanged views on the prevailing situation in
the state, a spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference said.

The EU delegation included Lisa Valjento, deputy at the Finland Embassy in New Delhi; Aslak Brun of the Norwegian Embassy; and Andres Sjoberg of the Swedish Embassy.

Mirwaiz said there had been an increase in the tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. Mirwaiz also referred to the situation in the state in view of the recent statement by Army Chief Gen VK Singh in which he had opposed dilution of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

The Hurriyat Conference chief also expressed concern over the human rights violations at the hands of the security forces equipped with the special powers under the AFSPA.

The EU delegation, according to party spokesman, stressed the need for the resolution of the Kashmir issue through composite dialogue between India and Pakistan. The visiting members assured Mirwaiz of extending help in resolving the matter.

Mirwaiz, while expressing his views on the resolution of the issue, also referred to the four-point programme submitted by the APHC to the Centre. This included demand for the release of all political prisoners, withdrawal of special powers to the security forces, gradual withdrawal of troops, and end to human rights violations in the state.

Jammu, April 19
A deputation of the Shaheed Major Rohit Sharma Memorial Society, Mandi, Poonch, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhavan, here today and submitted a memorandum of their demands.

The demands presented included the launching of a special recruitment drive by the Army, paramilitary forces and the police for the youth of Mandi area, setting up of a degree college and the construction of a playfield and a community hall at Mandi.

Other demands highlighted by the deputation related to the need for speedy economic development of the Mandi area, conferring the Backward Area status on Mandi tehsil, the establishment of a free computer learning centre and opening of an ashram for the militancy-affected families at Mandi.

The deputation thanked the government for the construction of the Mughal road, adding that this would open up new vistas of economic development for Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Vohra enquired from the deputation about the activities being undertaken by their organisation. They said that their NGO had been organising cricket tournaments, seminars, debates and symposia and other activities in memory of Shaheed Major Rohit Sharma, who had made the supreme sacrifice while fighting militancy in the Mandi area in 1998.

Several other activities are also being organised by the society with a view to promoting peace and communal harmony, national integration and secular ethos.

The Governor gave a patient hearing to the deputation and announced that 50 sewing machines would be provided to this NGO for distribution among the widows of the area.

Jammu, April 19
In view of the prevailing heat conditions, the school timings in government as well as private schools have been changed.

As per a notification issued here by the Director, School Education, Jammu, schools would be opened at 8 am and would be closed at 2 pm from tomorrow.

Chief educations officers have been asked to monitor the timing and initiate action against violators.

Jammu, April 19
Reiterating the coalition government was determined to provide all basic amenities to people, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla yesterday said numerous development and welfare schemes had been launched in every nook and corner of the state to upgrade the living standards of the masses.

Addressing a public gathering at Sunjwan after inspecting the ongoing blacktopping and upgradation of the 20-km-long Bathindi-Sunjwan link road, coming up at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore, the minister said the government was committed to providing road connectivity, drinking water, power supply, medicare, sanitation and other facilities to the people. He said the Centre had provided liberal funding for developing the state on modern lines.

The minister said the government had already formulated a massive development plan for the facelift of Jammu and Srinagar. He said in view of the expansion of the city, there was urgent need to formulate a new prospective master plan. He assured that drains and lanes of the upcoming localities would be developed as per the requirement of the area.

Jammu, April 19
Asking officers to gear up for the panchayati elections, Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar today said that within months panchayats would be in place to ensure proper utilisation of funds for massive development of the rural landscape.

The minister was addressing a review meeting of officers of the Rural Development Department of Jammu division.

Sagar said the wage budget for MG NREGA had been allocated by the Centre to the tune of Rs 560 crore.

“It is heartening to know that Rs 139 crore have been spent on Jammu division, thereby registering 95 per cent utilisation of the funds earmarked for the scheme,” he added.

He further said 13,927 works had been completed under the scheme and asked the officers to speed up the pace of work and also ensure that the funds earmarked were properly utilised and the benefit reached the targeted populace.

Jammu, April 19
Students of Government Gandhi Memorial Science College here today held protest demanding external practical tests be conducted only after completion of annual examinations, which are scheduled on April 29.

The students alleged that the principal wanted to forcibly conduct external practical tests whereas they were not prepared for it.

Sanjay Sharma, a B.Sc-II student, said not even a single student was ready to give practical tests as per the issued date sheet.

“We have only a few days for the preparation of annual examinations and under such circumstances, we are not ready for giving practical tests,” he said.

Sharma further said usually the colleges conducted external practical tests a month before the commencement of annual examinations, but due to the strike of non-gazetted teaching staff, the tests were postponed this year.

According to sources, the college has ordered to conduct external practical tests from April 23-26.

However, principal MK Malhotra could not be contacted by the time of filing of the report.

Jammu, April 19
Thieves decamped with cellphones worth Rs 6 lakh from a Nokia mobile store at Gandhi Nagar here. The incident came to light today morning when the staff went to open the shop and found the locks broken. They immediately informed the police, which came to the spot within a few minutes and collected samples. A team of forensic experts also reached the spot.

A police official said nothing except the cellphones were stolen from the shop. “There might be an involvement of an insider as the thieves had spent spend much time in the shop while committing the crime. Moreover, the shop is opposite BSNL office, where security personnel are present round the clock,” he added.

Jammu SSP Basant Rath said: “Though the shop had an insurance cover of Rs 20 lakh, cellphones worth Rs 6 lakh were stolen. This also raises some doubts. It also points out the role of someone working there.” He, however, refused to divulge any further details, but assured that the case would be solved shortly.