J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Eight detainees released from jail
Jammu, March 25
When eight detainees were released in Jammu today, it indicated that what the APHC leaders could not achieve in six months, mainstream political stalwarts and intellectuals achieved within less than a month.

Paraplegic soldier given tricycle
Srinagar, March 25
Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, who was rendered paraplegic in an IED explosion seven years ago, feels self-reliant after he was provided with a motorised tricycle by 15 Corps of the Army here yesterday.

Militants kidnap 3 civilians
Jammu, March 25
Militants kidnapped three civilians from a village of Rajouri district, official sources said here today. A group of militants swooped on Kheranso village on March 23 and kidnapped three civilians, identified as Mohammad Iqbal, Wahid Bakerwal and Bashir Bakerwal, they said.

2 buried under avalanche
Jammu, March 25
Two persons were killed and another injured when they were buried under an avalanche in Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, defence sources said here today.

Eight detainees released from jail
Our Correspondent

Jammu, March 25
When eight detainees were released in Jammu today, it indicated that what the APHC leaders could not achieve in six months, mainstream political stalwarts and intellectuals achieved within less than a month.

During the roundtable conference convened by Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in Delhi on February 25, he had assured Kashmiri leaders that those detainees, who were not involved in any heinous crime, would be released.

Slight delay in the implementation of the Prime Minister’s commitment had figured recently in the state Assembly, now in session in Jammu, and the Chief Minister had assured the House that the process of screening would be started soon and political detainees would be released by the end of the current month.

Accordingly, two teams of the Union Home Ministry and senior police functionaries visited Jammu between March 16 and 22 to initiate the process of screening.

A senior police official said here today “the screening process of the cases of 40 detainees has started and under this process a batch of eight detainees was released today”.

In fact when the APHC leaders had met the Prime Minister, in Delhi on September 5, they had demanded, besides other things, the release of political detainees, according to senior APHC leader, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, the Prime Minister had assured “us that the matter would be examined”.

Out of 40 detainees, six each are lodged in Jammu and Srinagar jails, three in Sangrur (Punjab), two in Hiranagar in Kathua district of Jammu.

Those released today were lodged in the Kot Bhalwal jail, where they had been kept under the Public Safety Act providing for detention without trial for two years.

According to the police, those released today included Abdul Rehman, Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Farooq Ahmed Itoo, Mohd. Taj, Irshad Khan, Farheed Ahmed, Mohd. Ashraf and Mohd. Aslam. There are 14 detainees still lodged in the Kot Bhalwal Jail and their cases were also under process.

Paraplegic soldier given tricycle
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 25
Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, who was rendered paraplegic in an IED explosion seven years ago, feels self-reliant after he was provided with a motorised tricycle by 15 Corps of the Army here yesterday.

Maj-Gen V.K. Singh, Chief of Staff, HQ 15 Corps, presented the tricycle to the soldier in a simple ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantt in the presence of the family members of the soldier.

Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles was serving in 3 Rashtriya Rifles at Ashmuqam. He suffered a serious spinal cord injury rendering him paraplegic in an IED explosion at Hapatnar near Ashmuqam in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on August 4, 1999. The incident claimed 26 casualties, including six fatal.

The soldier is a resident of Reshinagar village in the Shopian area of the adjacent Pulwama district in south Kashmir. He has a wife, two sons and two daughters. Being paraplegic he was in need of constant medical attention.

Militants kidnap 3 civilians

Jammu, March 25
Militants kidnapped three civilians from a village of Rajouri district, official sources said here today.

A group of militants swooped on Kheranso village on March 23 and kidnapped three civilians, identified as Mohammad Iqbal, Wahid Bakerwal and Bashir Bakerwal, they said.

The ultras took them to Barwari forest for questioning and released them yesterday, the sources said.

In a separate incident, security forces busted a militant hideout in Khanetar area and recovered from it 1200 rounds of assorted ammunition, two RPG boosters and four motor bombs, they said. — PTI

2 buried under avalanche

Jammu, March 25
Two persons were killed and another injured when they were buried under an avalanche in Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, defence sources said here today.

The three were moving together in Dholewali area of Loran when they were buried. Army personnel recovered the bodies later.

The injured was rushed to hospital by the troops for treatment. — PTI