Militant killed, 6 arrested

SRINAGAR, Feb 7 (PTI) — The security forces have shot dead a militant, nabbed six ultras and seized a large quantity of arms and explosives in the Kashmir valley.

The militant was killed in a gunfight at Bazipora-Ajas in Baramula district last night, an official spokesman said here today.

He said four militants were nabbed in Srinagar, while one each was caught at Badgam and Phulwama in search operations.

One AK rifle, two remote controls, a rocket booster, a digital decoder high frequency set, a solar high frequency set charger, 1 kg of RDX, a hand grenade and some ammunition were recovered from them, the spokesman said.

The security forces also seized two rifles, 10 magazines, four rifle grenades, 11 hand grenades, 10 RPG (rocket projectile gun) rockets, nine RPG boosters, three remote control devices, 2 kg of explosives, 1,141 cartridges 270 cells and some incriminating documents during search and cordon operations at Kinyal, the spokesman added.

JAMMU (PTI): Five militants, including a woman, have surrendered before the Army in Rajouri district, defence sources said here on Sunday.

The sources said the militants, who were operating in Rajouri district for the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashker-e-Toiba, surrendered with arms and ammunition before the Army in the Darhal area on Saturday.

They have been identified as Anwer Hussain, Yousef, Mayoor Hussain, Gulam Mohammad and Guddy.

New militant outfit formed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Feb 7 (PTI) — A new outfit has been recently formed by militants, mostly foreigners, to revive terrorism across the Kashmir Valley, a senior Army official has said.

Named "Al Badar", the outfit has been formed on the directions of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to foment trouble in the valley, General-Officer-Commanding, Victor Force, Maj-Gen R. K. Kaushal, told reporters at Khannabal, 50 km from here in South Kashmir last evening.

He said the upgradation of weaponry was part of the plan of the ultras to revive militancy in the valley.

Squarely blaming Pakistan for fomenting trouble in the state, General Kaushal said sophisticated weapons were being provided to the ultras to sustain terrorism even as militancy had shown a decline and normalcy was fast returning to Kashmir.

He said people in Kashmir wanted peace to return and were visiting parks, cinema halls and other places of recreation which he claimed were earlier banned by the militants.

JK raises medical allowance

JAMMU, Feb 7 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has increased the medical allowance for state government employees and pensioners and the wages of casual labour with effect from January 1.

The state Cabinet yesterday approved the enhancement of medical allowance from Rs 80 to Rs 100 per month and increase in remuneration of daily wage workers in all government departments, including seasonal labourers, from Rs 35 to Rs 45 per day, state Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitly said.

The state government had approved the reconstitution of the State Subordinate Services Recruitment Board (SSSRB) with serving officers as members, he said.

Mr B.R. Kundal would head the reconstituted SSSRB. The other members on the board were Mr M.S. Jamwal, Mr G.N. Ahangar, and Mr Syed Fazalullah.

The Cabinet also approved the report of the Godbole committee and constituted a sub-committee to ensure the implementation of economic reforms suggested by it.

The Farooq Abdullah government had soon after assuming power in October, 1996, appointed a committee led by former Union Home Secretary Dr Madhav Godbole to examine the status of the state’s economy and suggest reforms. The committee had submitted its report to the state government last year.

Protest against "custodial killing"

SRINAGAR, Feb 7 (PTI) — Noisy demonstrations rocked Tral township in south Kashmir today as villagers took to the streets in protest against the alleged custodial killing of a militant leader today.

Officials said villagers of Dadser-Tral, 40 km from here, held demonstrations as soon as the body of Ghulam Mohammad Paul was handed over to his next of kin in the town this afternoon.

Believed to be a top-ranking militant leader of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Paul was arrested from Srinagar today and later "killed in custody", the villagers claimed.

Senior officials of Pulwama district have rushed to Tral to control the situation, the officials said.