J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Remain alert, George exhorts troops
Jammu, October 21
Mr George Fernandes kept senior Army officers on tenter hooks as during the past two days he visited Siachen, Turtuk, Baramulla, Srinagar, Jammu and the forward areas of Poonch and Rajouri and reviewed security situation in these sectors.

19 militants shot in J&K

Srinagar, October 21 Twentyone persons, 19 of them militants, including two commanders of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) were killed in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours. An Army Officer looks at documents recovered from foreign militants who were shot by troops when they tried to cross back to PoK on Saturday in the Nougham sector of North Kashmir, 120 km from Srinagar. — PTI

A police officer carries the names of his fallen colleagues on a tray covered with black cloth, during a Police Commemoration Day parade in Zewan, on the outskirts of Srinagar, on Saturday. The parade was held to remember those personnel who lost their lives fighting separatist militants in Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities said nearly 120 police personnel have been killed while fighting guerrillas in the region since January 1, 2001. —Reuters

Remain alert, George exhorts troops
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 21
Mr George Fernandes kept senior Army officers on tenter hooks as during the past two days he visited Siachen, Turtuk, Baramulla, Srinagar, Jammu and the forward areas of Poonch and Rajouri and reviewed security situation in these sectors.

He interacted with jawans posted in the inhospitable terrain and appreciated their courage. In Srinagar, the Defence Minister had a long session of talks with the Chief Minister and in Baramula he was briefed about the ongoing anti-insurgency operations.

On reaching Jammu, senior officers briefed him on the latest security situation in the region. In the forward areas of Poonch and Rajouri, he met field officers and jawans and asked them to be fully prepared to meet any challenge from Pakistan. He said since the political scenario in Pakistan was disturbing, the enemy troops could kick up some trouble on the border to divert people’s attention.

The Defence Minister suggested the Army authorities to encourage youths in the border areas to join Army. He also favoured steps to accelerate development of border villages.

Mr Fernandes was informed about the measures taken by the troops in foiling enemy mischief on the LoC and the steps that were on for containing the activities of the militants. He was told that maximum number of militants had been killed in Poonch district during the past three months.

He asked the field commissioners and jawans to remain alert and carry out round-the-clock patrolling along the LoC and the international border to check infiltration.

Mr Fernandes, however, disappointed the newspersons and press photographers who had been invited to the technical airport for an interaction with him. The minister’s plane landed at the airport and instead of coming to the press enclosure he flew to Poonch and Rajouri on a helicopter.

19 militants shot in J&K

Srinagar, October 21
Twentyone persons, 19 of them militants, including two commanders of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) were killed in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman said the security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir police special operation group in a joint operation killed JeM Commanders Hafiz Farooq and Parbat at Marwah village in Doda district of Jammu region last evening. Two AK rifles, six magazines, 82 rounds and three grenades were found to be in the possession of the slain militants.

An encounter took place between the militants and the security forces at Dhara during a search operation in the wee hours today in which a militant and a security officer were killed.

A Defence Ministry spokesperson said the security forces killed three Al-Badr militants during a search operation at Arshipura village near Tral in Pulwama district last evening. Four AK rifle had been recovered from the slain militants.

In another incident, four more ultras were gunned down near Eagle complex in the frontier district of Kupwara.

One militant each was gunned down by the security forces at Kachhal sector near the LoC and Wurapash near Wusan. Some arms and ammunition were also recovered.

The body of a militant, Bashir Ahmad Hajam, a resident of Aloosa, was found from Raj Behak near Bandipora last evening.

He said the security forces killed five militants near the LoC in the northern sector last evening.

The police today found a body at Hangai Pawa village in Anantnag district.

A militant was apprehended from Chhungian-Mendhar village in the border district of Poonch today.

Meanwhile, Pakistani troops shelled border villages in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir last night injuring four persons and damaging two houses, sources said today, according to a PTI report.

They said Indian and Pakistani troops also traded fire at 12 places along the international border in Kathua and Jammu districts last night.

There was no loss of life or damage on the Indian side, the sources said.

They said Pakistani troops targeted civilian areas in Salotri and Jhallas villages in Poonch district using light arms and mortar shells, forcing Indian soldiers to retaliate.

The sources said the exchange of fire continued till mid-day today. PTI