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Growing number of illegal immigrants in state cause for concern
Secret tunnel poses fresh challenges to security forces
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Anantnag blast: Tourist died with dream unfulfilled
Army ‘informer’ among 2 held
Local BJP leaders dodge truce with expelled members
Srinagar upbeat about ‘Snow Cabs’
Opposition ridicules Cong’s criticism of coalition regime
Separatist leader visits blast victims
Girl ends life for figuring in friend’s suicide case
BSF repatriates two Pakistani youths
Man shot at by
militants outside mosque
16 injured in Katra road mishap
Crisis control room set up in Leh
Annual Thajiwara yatra on August 2
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Growing number of illegal immigrants in state cause for concern
Jammu, July 29 “Though there is no recorded evidence of their involvement in any terror activity in the state so far but certainly they can be exploited,” said a senior Army officer, who insisted on anonymity. With terror outfit HuJI having its base in Bangladesh, they can be a threat to security, he added. The officer expressed regret that the “porous” border with Bangladesh, which has not been heavily guarded like the border in Jammu and Kashmir, has allowed illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar to scatter far and wide across India. “Though the dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir are altogether different from that of Assam, we cannot afford to remain complacent. “No doubt, they are located in certain pockets and can be put under surveillance. But their presence in a restive border state where Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorism should be a cause of concern for the helmsmen,” the officer said. Hundreds of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar continue to live in various slums in and around Jammu. HuJI, which enjoys the patronage of Pakistan’s ISI, can easily use them as couriers, said a source in an Intelligence agency. “We have been repeatedly expressing our concern over the presence of these illegal immigrants in the state,” the source added. The illegal immigrants are basically Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh and Myanmar, said the source, who put their number at over 1,000 in various slums across Jammu. “They have been issued a refugee card by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), New Delhi, and on the basis of that card they have settled in slums in and around Jammu, including the area close to the vital Jammu railway track. They do petty jobs to eke out a living,” said the source. Sources in the BSF, which guards the 192-km-long international border, said since HuJI has a connection with the LeT in Jammu and Kashmir,
possibilities of sleeper cells among this floating population could not be ruled out. “Quite often we catch these illegal immigrants close to the border when they try to exfiltrate to Pakistan in search of greener pastures. We hand them over to the police, which usually allows them to go scot-free,” they added. The state Home Secretary, BR Sharma, said the agencies concerned do keep an eye on suspicious elements, including illegal immigrants. “Wherever we find an illegal immigrant, necessary action, including deportation, is initiated. Still, police will be asked to look into the issue threadbare,” said Sharma. The IGP, Jammu zone, Dilbag Singh, said: They (illegal immigrants) are present in slums in and around Jammu and we do keep them under surveillance. However, so far their involvement in any disruptive activity has not been established. Influx from B’desh, Myanmar
Bid to cross over to Pak
Quite often we catch these illegal immigrants close to the border when they try to exfiltrate to Pakistan in search of greener pastures. We hand them over to the police, which usually allows them to go scot-free — BSF sources Threat to security
With terror outfit HuJI having its base in Bangladesh and enjoying the patronage of Pakistan’s ISI, illegal immigrants can be a threat to the security of J-K —
An Army officer What govt has to say
Wherever we find an illegal immigrant, the necessary action, including deportation, is initiated. Still, police will be asked to look into the issue threadbare — BR Sharma, state Home Secretary |
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Secret tunnel poses fresh challenges to security forces
Jammu, July 29 South of the Pir Panjal range, the Jammu region has 272-km LoC. Out of this, 224.5 km is being manned by the Army, 192 km of the international border is being guarded by the BSF and 14.5 km of the international border is under the Army’s control. “This has been the first of its kind of incident along the 192-km international border being guarded by the BSF,” said officiating IG of the BSF, Jammu Frontier, NS Jamwal. Though a strong anti-infiltration grid in the form of barbed fencing, strict vigil, night vision devices, sniffer dogs, sensors, floodlights, horse-mounted patrol and foot patrol by armed personnel is in place, the BSF as of today, has no capability to detect tunnelling activity beneath the ground at such a depth (25 feet), said Jamwal. Against the backdrop of this development, the BSF has asked its headquarters in New Delhi to help them out in Jammu and Kashmir. The BSF officer could not rule out the possibility of similar attempts by Pakistan in other areas along the international border. He admitted that the tunnel had certainly thrown up new challenges, not only for the BSF, but also for other security forces guarding the frontiers of the state. Jamwal attributed the development to sheer desperation on the part of Pakistan to push armed militants into the state. “For the past two years there has been no successful attempt of intrusion along the international border and it seems that Pakistan in sheer desperation started digging the tunnel,” he said. “We will certainly try to know its origin, which apparently is in Pakistan,” said Jamwal.Now, we are in the process of lodging a strong protest with the Pakistani Rangers, he added. A source in the Army said the DRDO had ground-penetrating radars to detect activities beneath the ground. “But they are effective up to a depth of two metres at the most,” he said. High frequency ground-penetrating radars are needed to meet the new challenge, the source added. |
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Antony briefed about infiltration pattern, winds up Kashmir visit
Srinagar, July 29 Antony was briefed about the infiltration pattern of militants in the sector and the measures being taken by the Army to prevent such attempts, a defence spokesman said. “Antony spent some time with the troops and asked about their welfare. He asked them about the quality of ration, clothing and shoes they were getting and whether they were satisfied with them. The Ministry of Defence has taken several measures in the last few years to improve the quality of supplies to the jawans posted in remote locations,” the spokesman added. Antony also urged the security forces to bring more synergy in their efforts that would foil infiltration attempts of the militants and also ensure peace in the state. The minister along with the Defence Ministry team returned to New Delhi after the Kupwara visit. The Defence Minister had attended the Unified Headquarters meeting and reviewed the security situation in the state yesterday. He also held a meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Governor N N Vohra. While he had assured them of the Army’s support in maintaining peace and normalcy in the Valley, Antony also discussed the Amarnath yatra-related security arrangements with Vohra, who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. |
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Anantnag blast: Tourist died with dream unfulfilled
Srinagar, July 29 The blast that took place in the vehicle they were travelling in also left five others injured. The driver of the vehicle, Ashok Kumar, a resident of Udhampur, told the police after he was discharged from the hospital, “I took the Bijbehara-Langanbal road in south Kashmir as the eight women passengers from Mumbai were keenly waiting to see apple orchards. Indu Bhai, who was killed, told me that they had never seen apple orchards and she wanted to dance under apple trees. So, I diverted the vehicle through the Bijbehara- Langanbal road rather than taking the Khannabal-Pahalgam road. The Bijbehara-Langanbal road is dotted with apple trees.” Ashok, who had received minor injuries in the blast, said the group comprising women between the age group of 45 and 60 years had been discussing apple orchards. “I took the group from Jammu to Katra, from where they undertook the pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine. They later spent three days in Srinagar and one night in Gulmarg. They had a booking in a hotel in Pahalgam for two days and were keen to see apple orchards,” the driver told the police. The Bijbehara-Langanbal road is also known as the apple valley road. The police said that the group had left Mumbai on July 19 for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage. Two members of the group had come from the United Kingdom especially for the pilgrimage. While the J&K Police yesterday maintained that it was a gas cylinder blast, the driver has reportedly told the police that something was thrown inside the vehicle which caused the blast. “We have collected samples and are conducting an analysis to determine whether it was an explosive device or LPG blast,” said a police officer in Srinagar. Deputy Inspector General of Police, south Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that a case had been registered. “The investigations are on in the case,” Kumar added. |
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youth’s killing
Srinagar, July 29 The police said one of the arrested persons was working as an “informer” for a local Army unit. “During the investigations, we found that Dar had been lured by his neighbour- whom he knew for a long time- into militancy. Dar had a soft corner for militancy,” said a police officer in north Kashmir. “On the evening, when Bhat was killed by the Army, his neighbour had fixed his meeting with a person in Aloosa, Bandipore. He also got an AK-47 rifle and gave it to the slain youth. The neighbour had simultaneously informed the Army about his movement,” he added. “The Army was alerted about the movement of the armed men. The Army opened fire, killing Bhat instantaneously,” the police officer said. “The police is investigating from where the Army informer had managed to get an assault rifle,” he added. Soon after Bhat’s killing on July 24, massive protests erupted in the area and residents said Bhat was not involved in any militant activity and was killed in a fake encounter. The Army claimed that the slain youth was a militant. |
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Local BJP leaders dodge truce with expelled members
Jammu, July 29 A BJP leader said a senior party leader has reopened the channel of communication with the expelled leaders so as to start the process to revoke their expulsion from the party but he was not getting an encouraging response from local leaders, who have been working overtime to oppose any such move. “Central leaders have realized that to strengthen the party in sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir, it is necessary to bring all the expelled leaders back because they have successfully lured a number of BJP leaders and workers,” sources said, adding, “Some neutral Sangh Parivar leaders, who are close to Chaman Lal Gupta, are also exerting pressure on the party to iron out the differences with the expelled leaders.” Sources said the Sangh Parivar has realized that the faction-ridden state unit of BJP was not in a position to oppose any move of the central government to implement recommendations of the report of three interlocutors, so there was a need of a united BJP in the state to scuttle any move to give further concession to Jammu and Kashmir. The Parivar has been suggested that instead of fighting the war separately, it was important to work under a single platform. A senior BJP leader disclosed that some leaders have established contact with the expelled leaders. He, however, admitted that some local leaders were trying to sabotage this move. “The state BJP leaders who are at the helm of affairs have vested interests because they want to ensure mandate from these seven assembly seats for their kith and kin in the next assembly elections,” he said, on the condition of anonymity. After the cross-voting episode of April 13, 2011, out of the total 11, seven BJP MLAs were expelled from the party. While former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta was expelled from the party on May 31, 2011, the other MLAs were expelled on November 18, 2011. During the Presidential election, all the expelled MLAs had voted in favour of PA Sangma so as to give a positive message to the high command. “It was only after the election that the BJP leadership has started communicating with the expelled leaders,” sources said, adding, “Some veteran BJP leaders who have personal relations with Chaman Lal Gupta have been assigned the jobs to hold discussions with the expelled leaders.” |
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Srinagar upbeat about ‘Snow Cabs’
Srinagar, July 29 “Srinagar has one of the most expensive airports of not only the country, but also Asia. If I do not have my own conveyance, I have to dish out Rs 450 for a cab to reach my home at Sanatnagar, which is 6 to 7 km from the airport,” said Imtiyaz A Wani, a local businessman dealing in Kashmir arts, who has to often travel out of the country. The cabs are expected to come to the rescue of locals like Wani, as they would charge Rs 20 per km. “About 100 cabs in white colour code will start in Srinagar city from Monday. They can also be hired on a shared basis. Trained local drivers in uniform will run the brand new comfortable cars installed with fare meters with on the spot printed receipts and ample luggage space. Taxis shall be available on a 24x7 basis by just dialing 2432432,” said Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon. Dr Amit Wanchoo, co-owner of the Kehwah Xpress Service Limited, a Kashmir-based company, which would provide the service, said the cabs would be formally inaugurated on Tuesday or Wednesday. The cars will have a global positioning system (GPS) for the safety of passengers. The GPS will be linked to a control room set up at Nowgam Tourist Centre on the city outskirts. Samoon also broke the news of ‘Snow Cabs’ being made operational from tomorrow on social networking site Facebook. His status generated a lot of buzz as people are not used to pay by a meter. “Nice. Hope printed receipts avoid unnecessary haggling,” said a local, Farooq Ahmad while welcoming the development. Another local said: “The fleet of cars is GPS-fitted having a vehicle tracking system, immobiliser, panic buttons, software run systems.... Kashmir goes global.” However, some were skeptical about the radio-taxi service. “Not a good job. There will be a mess again....a hundred more cars on road, which are already busy. There will be more jam now.....as per my view not a good step,” said Idrees
Bala. For A smooth ride
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Opposition ridicules Cong’s criticism of coalition regime
Jammu, July 29 The BJP ridiculed the Congress for staging protests at different places against scarcity of water and power, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the Congress was equally responsible for the prevailing chaos and rampant corruption in the state. Former Mayor and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta said the Congress was part of the government and so it was ridiculous on the part of Congress leaders to protest against the coalition regime. “If Congress leaders are so worried about the hardships being faced by the common man, they should force their leadership to withdraw support from this failed government,” he said, adding that the protests and resentment shown by Congress leaders and workers was nothing but a game-plan to fool the people. BJP state unit vice-president Chander Parkash Ganga dared the Congress to withdraw support from the government if the party was so concerned about the people of the Jammu region. He alleged that the Congress ministers had virtually succumbed before the National Conference for the lust of power. The PDP also took the Congress to task for not protecting the interests of the people of the state. “The National Conference and the Congress are two faces of the same coin and both parties are responsible for the hardships being faced by the people. The Congress is equally responsible for the prevailing situation because the coalition is surviving due to the support of the Congress,” said senior PDP leader and MLA Darhal Choudhary Zulfikar while addressing public meetings in Rajouri district yesterday. He said the Congress was also responsible for rampant corruption in the state. Choudhary Zulfikar said the war of words between the Congress and the National Conference leaders was nothing but a drama to divert the attention of people from the failure of the coalition regime. |
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Separatist leader visits blast victims
Srinagar, July 29 "Our hearts are weeping and minds disturbed for the families who have lost their loved ones in this terrible incident. Amarnath yatris and tourists are our guests and it is our duty to protect and help them,” Malik told the relatives of the injured tourists, while wishing the injured persons a
speedy recovery. Mohammad Yasin Malik was accompanied by senior JKLF leaders Noor Mohammad Kalwal and Altaf Hussein Khan on this visit. “The injured and their relatives informed Malik about the benevolence of the Muslim community, which despite observing fasts, helped and stood
by them,” a JKLF spokesman said. Three tourists were killed and five others injured in an explosion at Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district yesterday. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the blast, which took place in a vehicle, was caused by a gas cylinder. However, the police is probing
other angles. |
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Girl ends life for figuring in friend’s suicide case
Jammu/Rajouri, July 29 The police said the girl allegedly ended her life by consuming poison. Her name had figured in the suicide case of her friend who was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by four persons in Khargala village of Kalakote
on July 21. SP, Rajouri, Mubassir Latifee said the family members of the Class X girl had alleged Shabnam’s involvement in the crime and the police had registered a case against her. “She allegedly consumed poison to end her life,” the SP said. Earlier, the police had arrested four persons, Iftikhar Ahmed, Aurangzeb, Mohammad Zafar and his son, Waseem, whose names had figured in the crime. On July 24, residents of Panjnara carried the body of the Class X student and held a protest at Khargala, Kalakote, demanding the registration of an FIR. |
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BSF repatriates two Pakistani youths
Jammu, July 29 Nothing incriminating was recovered from their possession, said the sources. “Talib Ali and Tehzeeb Mohammed, both residents of Qamarawali in Sialkote district of Pakistan, had left their homes on a motorbike early morning today for a ride. Oblivious of the border, they entered into the Indian territory,
where we took them into custody,” said a BSF source. After questioning them, we established that they had crossed over to the Indian side inadvertently. Consequently, the
Pakistani Rangers were informed and the boys were handed over to them in the afternoon,
they added. |
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Man shot at by
militants outside mosque
Srinagar, July 29 “Malla was shifted to a hospital in
Srinagar where his condition is stated to be stable,” a police
spokesman said. Malla’s elder brother is an elected panch. A case
has been registered and the investigations are on. “During
investigations, the identity of the militants, who attacked Rafiq Malla,
has been established as Inam-ul-Haq Malla alias, Waseem, a resident of
Pahalpora, and Irshad Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Haripora,” the
spokesman said.
— TNS |
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16 injured in Katra road mishap
Katra, July 29 The injured were rushed to a hospital. Three of the injured passengers were stated to be in a critical condition and were referred to Government Medical College and
Hospital, Jammu. The critically injured patients have been identified as Sunil Kumar (25), a resident of Jammu, Mohammad Ashraf (24), a resident of Panthal, and Muni Lal (60) of UP. The driver of the bus fled from the spot while the bus was seized by
the police. A case of rash and negligent driving has been registered and the investigations are on. |
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Crisis control room set up in Leh
Leh, July 29 The Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Tsering Yangchok, who is the chairman of the District Crisis Management Cell, said a control room like this was one of the urgent requirements of the district to make the administration ever-ready to deal with any eventuality or disaster. |
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Annual Thajiwara yatra on August 2
Srinagar, July 29 “Preparations are on for the yatra which is expected to attract thousands of Kashmiri Pandit devotees from various parts of India and abroad,” said president of the prabandak committee Prof ML Malla. — TNS
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