Security tightened for R-Day
SRINAGAR, Jan 24 — Security agencies, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police, have launched a joint operation in and around Bakshi Stadium, the venue of Republic Day function here.Paramilitary forces have started sanitising the localities around the stadium.

BJP leader, 2 others killed
SRINAGAR, Jan 24 — Militants made an attempt on the life of a senior BJP leader and gunned down three persons including a senior BJP activist, in separate attacks in Kashmir valley since last evening.

Security tightened for R-Day
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Jan 24 — Security agencies, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police, have launched a joint operation in and around Bakshi Stadium, the venue of Republic Day function here.

Paramilitary forces have started sanitising the localities around the stadium. According to Mr K. Vijay Kumar, IG, Border Security Force (BSF) here, security arrangements were being supervised by two DIGs and six Commandants. The security bandobast includes checking of the bus passengers in the area, verification of the residents of the localities close to the stadium.

Identification parades and security checks of bus passengers in the area has been going on for more than a week now in Haft Chinar, Sarai Bala, Gogji Bagh, Tulsi Bagh, Jawahar Nagar, Raj Bagh, Alchi Bagh, Solina and Ram Bagh and other localities around the stadium. All buses coming to and going from the General Bus Stand, Batamaloo, have to pass through security checks at Batmaloo and Exhibition Ground crossing.

Roads leading to the stadium, including Haft Chinar-Lal Mandi and Haft Chinar-Jawahar Nagar have been closed to normal traffic. Security has been beefed up on these roads.

The Army is also assisting the security forces. Five rifle grenades were fired last week towards the JAk Li Centre located at Haft Chinar, close to Bakshi Stadium.

Meanwhile, the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has called for observing Republic Day as "black day" in Kashmir. In a statement, an APHC spokesman said that since the Kashmir "issue" was "yet to be resolved", the people would observe the day as "black day". It has also called for a general strike on the day.

BJP leader, 2 others killed

SRINAGAR, Jan 24 (PTI) — Militants made an attempt on the life of a senior BJP leader and gunned down three persons including a senior BJP activist, in separate attacks in Kashmir valley since last evening.

Security forces smashed a key militant hideout and arrested 17 suspected militants during search operations in the valley during the period, an official spokesman said here today.

He said militants opened fire on the house of a senior BJP leader, Bashir Ahmad Khanday, who had unsuccessfully contested 1996 Assembly polls, in the Ganderbal area on the outskirts of Srinagar late last night.

The police guards posted in Mr Khanday’s house returned the fire forcing militants to retreat. No one was injured in the shootout, the spokesman said.

Earlier, militants entered the house of tehsil president of the BJP, Mohammad Yousuf Dar at Pati-Shallabug yesterday and killed him on the spot, the spokesman said.

Security forces today sealed entire Shallabug in Ganderbal, home constituency of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, to nab the militants responsible for the two incidents, official sources said.

The spokesman said militants shot dead Mohammadr Shafi Chaudhary at Gulab-Garh in Udhampur district last evening, while body of one, Mohammad Yousuf Mir was picked up by the police from Chak-e-Mujgund in Baramula district.

In a major breakthrough, security forces smashed a key militant hideout at Bernate village in the Boniyar area of Baramula last night, the spokesman said.

He said a big cache of arms and ammunition, including two ak assault rifles, a pistol, seven magazines, 75 rounds, 20.5 kg of explosives, 32 detonators, three rockets, a RPG night vision device, three boosters, three anti-personnel mines, three remote controls, 23 hand grenades, a 12-bore gun and a SLR magazine were recovered from the hideout.

Twelve suspected militants including a Pakistan-trained militant, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din alias Bilal Ahmad of Trehgam (Kupwara) were apprehended by the security forces in a major drive from Satwari and Narwal areas of Jammu yesterday, the spokesman said.

He said the police also arrested a top militant of the ‘Khalistan Zindabad Force’, Nasib Singh from Kathua district.

Four more militants — two from Anantnag and one each from Badgam and Baramula — were apprehended by the security forces during search operations yesterday, he said.

The spokesman said the searches were carried out in Chattergul and Pachhar in south Kashmir, Hyderpora and Soibug in Badgam and Chirangpora in Baramula yesterday.

JAMMU: The police has arrested more than 100 infiltrators from Pakistan, who had plans to disrupt Republic Day functions in Jammu and Kashmir, the police said here today.

Mr Kuldeep Khuda, Inspector-General of Police, Jammu Zone, said the infiltrators were arrested from Kathua and Jammu districts over the past few days.

He said the arrests were made under extraordinary measures being taken along the border areas following recovery of three consignments of weapons and explosives from Samba, Hiranagar and Poonch areas recently.

All district headquaters in the region have been alerted to ensure round-the-clock check around the venues of Republic Day functions and vital installations, he said.