Jammu border villagers flee
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, June 7 — Apart from the Kargil-Dras belt Pakistani troops have opened fronts against India in four sectors, including Gurez, Machel and Poonch. During the past two days more than 10,000 people have migrated to safer places from Gurez, Machel, Uri and Tangdhar areas in North-West Kashmir and from several border villages in the Jammu sector.

Official sources said when Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling in Gurez and Machel areas several hundred families fled to safer places.

With tension escalating on the 1260-km long Indo-Pak border the Indian troops have been directed to take effective measures to thwart Pakistani plan of sending more than 500 infiltrators from across Gurez. So far over 3,000 foreign mercenaries have been brought close to the border across Gurez and Machel areas.

Official sources said Pakistani troops were trying to enact the Kargil type intrusion in the Gurez area. However, the Indian troops retaliated after one civilian was killed and two others were wounded in the shelling. Scores of Pakistani bunkers were smashed and unspecified number of Pakistani soldiers were killed by Indian forces.

In Mandi area of Poonch Pakistani soldiers made a determined attempt to push a group of militants while firing at Indian pickets late last evening. Three Indian soldiers were killed and three others were wounded. The Indian troops retaliated and nine Pak infiltrators were killed.

The BSF and the Army have been directed to maintain vigil on the border in the Jammu sector following reports that Pakistani soldiers may push Afghan and Pakistani guerrillas into the Indian side.

During the past two days more than 140 families of Gujjars have been asked to vacate the Jodha farm in the R.S. Pora sector to allow the security forces to make preparations for combat with the infiltrators.

Bashsir Ahmed Katana, President, Gujjar Nomadic Association, was upset when he and his community members were asked to vacate the farm. He said "We are ready to render any sacrifice for India, but at the same the state government should resettle us at a suitable place where we could sustain ourselves and our milch cattle."

Farida Bibi was in tears when she had to pack and leave her house along with her children. She said "We have no place. When people in Jammu have not water to drink wherefrom will we get water for our cattle."

There are scores of villages on this side of the International Border, right from Akhnoor to Kathua, where most of the people spend nights outside their villages because of intermittent firing by Pakistani troops.

6 militants killed in J&K
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, June 7 — At least six militants, including a "battalion commander" of the Hizbul Mujahideen were killed while 20 houses were destroyed in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

The security forces recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations.

Four militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Narsangar, Dooru in Anantnag district in South Kashmir yesterday.

They were identified as Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik, a self-styled "battalion commander" from Naubugh Kokarnang, Abdul Rashid Khatana of Dooru, Hilal Ahmad Sheikh of Dialgam and Abu Zahid of PoK. Three AK rifles, one pistol, a wireless set and 12 hand grenades were recovered from the scene of the encounter.

At least 20 houses, 12 cow sheds, seven shops and four granaries were gutted in the exchange of fire, the police said.

It added that security forces cordoned off Narsangar village near Dooru yesterday for conducting search operations. The militants hiding there fired at the search party and in the encounter that followed four militants were killed and several structures destroyed in the exchange of fire.

One militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at the Aildar forest area in Kupwara district, a police spokesman said. He added that one militant was killed at Doodi Dhok in the Budhal area of Rajouri district in Jammu division.

One AK rifle, three magazines, 90 rounds of ammunition and a hand grenade were recovered from the scene of the encounter.

At least three suspected militants, including two in Srinagar and one in Doda district, were apprehended by the security forces during search operations. A number of arms and ammunition were also recovered from them.

Militants fired at the house of Ghulam Qadir at Malangpora in Pulwama district. The fire was returned by the security guards. No one was injured.

Militants shot at and injured a person in Samboora village in Pulwama district.

Cricket bat units to be helped
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, June 7 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government is contemplating a Bill for effective enforcement of ban on the sale of raw material used for manufacturing cricket bats from the state to other parts of the country.

This was stated by the Industries and Commerce Minister, Mr Bodh Raj Bali, during his visit to various cricket manufacturing units at Halla-Mulla and Bijbehara in the Kashmir valley.

The minister was informed that cricket bats worth Rs 32 crore were sent to various cities from Anantnag district.

The Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Mr Mohammad Shafi Pandit, assured the owners that a centre with testing laboratory would be installed at Bijbehara shortly.