Nagrota, July 26
Amid regular firing by Pak troops and spurt in intrusion bids from across the border, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps Lt Gen KH Singh today said “150 to 200” ultras were waiting at various launch pads on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) to sneak into the Indian side.

“But, let me assure you that our counter-infiltration grid is firmly in place and I can say with a lot of confidence that our troops are giving them a befitting reply and the troops would continue to do so. Our troops are highly motivated and any nefarious design of the enemy or the militants will be defeated squarely,” Lieutenant General Singh said after paying tributes to the fallen heroes on the 15th anniversary of ‘Kargil Diwas’ here.

“Ceasefire violations around this time generally increase because of the undergrowth (wild vegetation in monsoon) and then there is internal situation of Pakistan and coming Assembly elections in the state,” the GOC said.

“But it’s quite normal. Going by the number of ceasefire violations last year, the figures this year are almost the same. A marginal increase of three or four or so could be there,” he said.

“It has been a trend for the ultras to attempt intrusions from July onwards till the onset of winter,” Lieutenant General Singh said, adding that they (ultras) were definitely present in various launch pads to which the Army was fully alive.

The officer, however, said the ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops on the LoC under his jurisdiction were “normal”.

On the attack in the Akhnoor sector on July 22, in which a soldier Mongchon P of Nagaland was killed after “suspected ultras” breached the LoC and entered 700 metres inside the Indian territory, Lieutenant General Singh stopped short of calling it a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) attack.

“I will not say whether it was a BAT or something (else), but yes in the Akhnoor sector there were two such incidents in the last two months, which I would say were possibly carried out by suspected militants and we are 
taking adequate action,” he said.

On May 18 also, a soldier was killed in a suspected BAT attack in the Jogwan forward area in the Akhnoor sector.

When asked about the Pak army’s involvement in aiding these “suspected” ultras, the GOC said: “We can’t confirm or deny involvement of the Pak army, but we have reasons to believe that if they are serious than the Pakistan army can discourage such elements coming from across the border.” 

Jammu, July 26
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Pallanwala area of the Akhnoor sector in Jammu district late last night, even as the Army foiled another intrusion bid along the Mendhar sector in Poonch district.

“Pakistani troops opened unprovoked small arms firing at forward posts in the Pallanwala sector around 11.10 pm late last night,” Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said here today, adding the Army took positions and effectively retaliated to the Pakistani firing.

There was no loss of life or damage to property on the Indian side, he said.

This was the second ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in less than seven hours and eighth in July.

During the current year, so far there have been 58 truce violations along the LoC and international border.

Pakistan had violated the ceasefire as many as 251 times in 2013, with 199 of them taking place along the LoC alone.

Indian troops, meanwhile, also foiled another infiltration bid along the Mendhar sector of Poonch district during the intervening night of last night.

“Last night around 9 pm a group of 10 to 15 ultras made an intrusion bid in the Mendhar sector but the alert troops of 5 Grenadiers immediately opened fire and a gun battle lasted till 12 midnight,” said an Intelligence source.

Thereafter, intermittent fire between troops and ultras continued till 4 am today, the source said, adding there were no casualties or injuries on the Indian side.

The source said a group of 15 to 20 ultras has been moved close to the LoC in the Mendhar and Balakote sectors, which has been opening fire and being helped by Pak troops to sneak into the Indian side.

Meanwhile, based on the specific intelligence inputs about the presence of a hideout, a joint operation was launched by the Rashtriya Rifle Battalion and the police in Gudber area of Ramban district today.

The operation resulted in the recovery of two pistols, ammunition, equipment and war like stores.

Doda, July 26
An Army officer along with soldiers of the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, Doda, rescued a man from a house engulfed in flames in Badi village of Doda district last night.

The incident took place yesterday around 9 pm in Badi village, nearly 700 metres from an Army unit, when the house of Ram Prasad (32) was engulfed in flames. The man was screaming for help.

Reports said Lt Col Kelash Jha and some soldiers of the Rashtriya Rifles arrived immediately on the spot and started a rescue operation.

They managed to pull the injured man to safety and took him to a nearby Army unit for first aid.

Lt Colonel Jha said, “I took him to district hospital for treatment, but doctors referred the patient to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, for improved treatment after observing his critical condition.”

“We managed a vehicle for him and took him to Jammu for improved treatment. Now, he is under treatment in the intensive care unit of Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu,” he said.

“Our soldiers have done tremendous work. We are feeling happy that we managed to save a precious life,” the Army officer said.

Srinagar, July 26
The Vijay Divas celebrations on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Kargil war concluded at Dras in Kargil district of Ladakh today.

Earlier in the day, a solemn wreath laying ceremony, led by Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC-in-C Northern Command, was held at the Dras War Memorial, a Defence spokesman said here.

Gallantry award winners of the Kargil conflict and next of kin to martyrs, veer naris, senior Army officers and civil dignitaries also paid tributes to the martyrs. This was followed by a pledge taken by all present at the function to rededicate themselves to the cause of the nation, the spokesperson said.

The somber mood at the ceremony brought home memories of the losses borne so proudly by the martyrs’ families in the summer of 1999. Many in the audience were moved to tears when the buglers played the poignant tune of “the last post” after the wreath laying ceremony, the spokesperson added.

Lieutenant General Hooda while talking informally to the media thanked them and the families of martyrs for their presence at Dras for the event.

Chief of the Army Staff General Bikram Singh had paid homage to the martyrs at the Drass War Memorial yesterday.

Lt Gen Hooda, meanwhile, on his way to Udhampur after attending the Vijay Diwas function at Kargil, halted at Srinagar and carried out review of security situation.

On his arrival, the Army Commander was received by Lt Gen Subrata Saha, General Officer Commanding, Chinar Corps.

“After being briefed on the current operational situation along the Line of Control and internal security prevailing in the hinterland, the Army Commander visited forward post in Lolab, Kupwara,” a Defence spokesman said. 

Srinagar, July 26
As per the tradition, the holy mace of Lord Shiva or Chhari Mubarak was today taken to the historic Shankaracharya temple on the occasion of Shravan Amavasya in connection with the annual Amarnath yatra.

A procession, led by Mahant Deependra Giri, took the holy mace from its abode, Dashnami Akhara, to the Shankaracharya temple for prayers. Chanting Vedic hymns, the puja was performed at the temple. A sizable number of sadhus and pilgrims participated in the prayers that lasted for more than an hour.

The True Trust, founded in 2004 by Mahant Deependra Giri, will make all the arrangements for food, accommodation and transportation for sadhus and needy from the general public coming from across the country to join the Chhari Mubarak procession.

Chhari Mubarak would also be taken to the Sharika-Bhawani temple, Hari Parbat, to pay obeisance to the goddess here tomorrow.

The holy mace would start its journey for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage on August 6 towards the holy cave for conclusion of the annual yatra on August 10, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.

The Chhari Mubarak procession, led by Mahant Deependra Giri, would be halting at various places — Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni — so that it reaches the holy cave shrine on the morning of August 10.

The annual yatra to the holy cave began on June 28 this year. However, the yatra via the traditional route of Pahalgam got delayed by four days due to snow on the treacherous track. The yatra started as per schedule via the shortest route of Baltal on June 28.

A total of 3,31,929 pilgrims paid their obeisance at the holy cave till Friday evening, while the pilgrims have been moving towards the cave on both the tracks since this morning.

Srinagar, July 26
Restrictions have been imposed in the Tulmulla area of Ganderbal district after overnight clashes between groups of agitated residents and the police that left over a dozen injured.

The clashes broke last night after locals accused the police of being lax in a case wherein a government employee was caught with a girl inside a government office allegedly in a compromising position.

“We have imposed restrictions to ensure peace in the area,” said Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal Sarmad Hafeez.

He said on Friday locals caught an employee of the Education Department Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh allegedly in a compromising position with a girl in the office when it was a public holiday. The girl, however, managed to escape.

“The police intervention saved him from public fury and he was taken into custody. A mob chased them prompting them to take refuge in a CRPF picket in Tulmulla. The youths threw stones at the CRPF picket and also burnt the motorcycle of the accused. They demanded the accused be handed over to them. However, the situation was brought under control,” Hafeez said.

The mob had also tried to set the office building on fire, but the police foiled its attempt. A case was registered against the accused.

The situation deteriorated during the night when a large group of people clashed with the police and CRPF personnel deployed at Tulmulla.

Over a dozen policemen were injured and police had to fire dozens of tear smoke shells and use force to quell the protest.

The police said a local “imam” of a mosque incited the locals in the evening which led to the clashes.

“During the Shab-e-Qadr prayers, the molvi of Mohsharpora, Tulamulla, used the mosque loudspeaker to incite people against the police and said why had the police saved the life of the errant youth. The use of the loudspeaker encouraged and incited people to indulge in more severe stone-throwing,” a police spokesman said.

However, locals alleged that security forces personnel barged into several houses in Tulmulla and thrashed the inmates. Residents said a local imam was also injured in police action.

“Four persons have been arrested so far,” a police spokesman said.

Reports said there were clashes in the area today morning. 

Srinagar, July 26
Lailatul Qadr, also called Shab-e-Qadr, was observed with religious fervour across Kashmir, with people offering special prayers for Palestinians.

Across the mosques and homes in the Valley, devotees remained engrossed in night-long prayers and supplications till the dawn today.

Shab-e-Qadr, also called the night of power and honour, is considered the holiest in Ramadan.

The largest congregation in Srinagar city was held at Jamia Masjid in the city and at the Hazratbal Shrine on the banks of the Dal Lake.

At Jamia Masjid, the night-long prayers were led by separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also a religious head.

Mirwaiz also prayed for the people of Palestine where Israel has launched an offensive on Gaza. Mirwaiz has urged the people to celebrate Eid with simplicity, keeping in view the large number of civilian killings in Palestine.

Meanwhile, in a statement, hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Geelani, while calling for the release of all political prisoners on the eve of Eid, has told the people to hold “fifteen (15) minute” demonstrations after the Eid prayers to show solidarity with Palestinians.

Srinagar, July 26
Ridwana Sanam, who hails from Pahalgam village of Anantnag district has been conferred the All India Economy Survey Council (AISEC) award for running the most promising physiotherapy clinic in the country.

Ridwana runs a chain of physiotherapy clinics under the banner of ‘KRV Healthcare’ and received the award in the “super quality crown” category in Delhi on July 20.

Ridwana runs seven physiotherapy centres and 11 mobile clinics across India and is now planning to start a health campaign in J&K.

“I am planning to provide free of cost physiotherapy services to people with disc problem, besides providing artificial limbs and wheel chairs to the needy people in J&K,” Ridwana said.

“Due to my busy schedule I might not have been able to provide services to the people back home, but I am looking forward to do something as soon as in August,” she said.

She has also been awarded the ‘Global Business and Service Excellence Award — 2013. Ridwana believes in healing people through “non-medicinal approach” and has been instrumental in relieving hundreds of people across the globe of various ailments.

Daughter of a former National Conference legislator, Ridwana received her educational qualifications from Japan, the United Kingdom and Mangalore.

Srinagar, July 26
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today condemned the latest crackdown on youth of Srinagar city. the party said it was the height of arrogance and insensitivity that the people were not even being allowed to live in peace in Ramadan.

“Apparently on the instructions of ruling party politicians, hundreds of youth across the city have been rounded up and locked up on false pretexts over the last many weeks in Srinagar, which has created an atmosphere of fear and terror amongst people,” PDP general secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir said in a statement. — TNS