Jammu Srinagar

Attack on sectt leads to IG’s transfer
JAMMU, Oct 3 — The recent grenade attack on the civil secretariat in Srinagar in which eight persons, including three security personnel, were wounded is said to have been the main reason for the unceremonious transfer of IG (Crime) P.S. Gill as IG (Prisons).

32 pc cast vote in Pattan
SRINAGAR, Oct 3 — An estimated 32 per cent voters exercised franchise at six polling booths of the Pattan Assembly segment of the Baramula parliamentary constituency where repoll was held today.

4 militants, cop killed in J&K

SRINAGAR, Oct 3 (PTI) — A policeman and a militant were killed and three policemen wounded, two of them critically, in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Militants attacked Bijbehara police station near Tulkhani village in Anantnag district of south Kashmir last evening, injuring two constables, an official spokesman said here today.

One of the injured, Ali Mohammad, later succumbed to his injuries.
A militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Madhugalla Dhok in Rajouri district yesterday. An AK rifle and two grenades were recovered from his possession.

Two policemen were critically wounded as militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at Thuroo nullah in Udhampur district of the Jammu region today.

The IED went off when the personnel of special operations group were conducting searches in the area, seriously wounding a constable and a special police officer, who were hospitalised.

Militants exchanged fire with the security forces in Nathpora-Bandipora village in Baramula district last evening, he said, adding that no one was injured in the incident.

JAMMU: Three militants were killed when BSF personnel fired on a group of ultras attempting to sneak into the Mandi area of Poonch on the night of Saturday, official sources said on Sunday.
A group of Pakistan-backed militants, trying to intrude into Indian territory from the Mandi area, was challenged by the BSF and in the ensuing gunbattle three ultras were killed while others fled to the Pakistani side.

Two AK rifles, three magazines, two IEDs and some explosive material were recovered from the scene.

The BSF also arrested an explosive expert and a Pakistani intruder in separate raids in the Darni area and the RS Pura border area last night.

A report from Rajouri said two brothers, who were among three persons kidnapped by ultras in the Sanjiwan area of Rajouri, had reached their homes safely last night.

BARAMULA: The Army has seized a large quantity of ammunition and explosives from militant hide-outs in Duniwar forests in Rafiabad area in a five-day operation.

The seizure included 15 RPG rockets, 14 RPG boosters, two rocket launchers (disposable), five silencers, 80 anti-personal mines, 68 anti-personal mines (fuses) and an anti-tank mine, Brig V.K. Pahwa of Rashtriya Rifles told reporters here today.

Brig Pahwa said the Army also recovered nine IED remote control boxes, 41 IED devices, 11 AK rifle grenades and 2,160 rounds of AK ammunition, 950 rounds of ammunition sniper and eight hand grenades.

Attack on sectt leads to IG’s transfer
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 3 — The recent grenade attack on the civil secretariat in Srinagar in which eight persons, including three security personnel, were wounded is said to have been the main reason for the unceremonious transfer of IG (Crime) P.S. Gill as IG (Prisons).

Preliminary investigations conducted by the state agencies had revealed the grenades fired on the civil secretariat on September 29 were the handiwork of some renegade militants who happened to be close to Mr Gill when he was Inspector-General Police (Kashmir Range).

The investigations, according to official sources, had revealed that since the civil secretariat and its adjoining areas were heavily guarded it was not possible for the militants to carry out their operations without either being killed or identified.

Since the renegade militants had the identity cards they could move freely in any part of the high security zone area.

Mr Gill had proved himself to be an effective officer as Inspector-General Police (Kashmir Range) and during his tenure the rate of militancy related crimes and violence had registered a marked decline, especially in Srinagar district. He had, however, earned peoples’ displeasure as he was blamed for having given sweeping powers to the special operation group of the police who are said to have committed excesses and indulged in extortion.

He managed to retain his post despite opposition even from ruling National Conference leaders only because the Director-General of Police appreciated the leadership qualities in Mr Gill whose courage was next to none.

As soon as the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, received reports that some renegade militants had attacked the civil secretariat by firing grenades he yesterday summoned the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitley, and the Director-General of Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, and recommended immediate transfer of Mr Gill, It was under National Conference leader’s pressure that Mr Gill had been transferred to the IG (Crime) which was not to his liking. He wanted to remain IGP (Kashmir Range).

Father, son shot
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 3 — People residing in parts of thickly populated area of New Plots observed complete bandh here today in protest against the killing of two persons allegedly by militants. Most of the shops remained closed and passenger transport services were disrupted when protesters blocked the main road.

Eyewitness accounts said Bodh Raj and his son, Pinky, came out of their house last night after switching off the lights. As they were just outside the house two gunmen in masks opened fire and while Bodh Raj died on the spot his son succumbed to the injuries in the hospital.

One of the daughters of Bodh Raj came out on hearing the sound of the gunshots. The killer threatened her in case she raised the alarm. She kept mum till the killers escaped in a car parked nearby.

Sources said that Ganshyam, elder son of Bodh Raj, had an affair with a girl belonging to another community. They later married secretly. The girl’s parents mounted pressure on the police and the girl was recovered three months ago and was sent to one of her relations in Kishtwar. Recently the girl reportedly escaped from Kishtwar and eloped with Ganshyam again.

This infuriated the parents of the girl who kept on pestering Ganshyam’s parents to disclose the whereabouts of their son. However, Bodh Raj had no knowledge as to where his son had gone.

Residents of New Plots have alleged that one brother of the girl had links with some militants whom he engaged for eliminating Bodh Raj and his son.

The police has registered a case. So far the police refute the charge that the double murder had been committed by militants. The police authorities said that nothing definite could be said about the motive of the murder and about those involved in it.

Two sisters die after having poisonous food
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA, Oct 3 — Two minor sisters today died after consuming poisonous food offered to them by an old woman at Bhalura village in Hiranagar tehsil. The deceased, Nishu (11) and Monika (9), daughters of Mr Balwant Singh of Bhalura, were studying in Classes V and IV, respectively, at Mandwal High School.

On returning home from school, Nishu complained of severe pain in the stomach. Monika too told her grandfather that they were feeling uneasy after consuming the food offered to them by an old woman on their way home.

The girls were immediately rushed to a local doctor on whose advice they were shifted to a Samba hospital.

Following deterioration in their condition, they were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, in the evening. The police said Monika died on the way to the hospital, while Nishu breathed her last at GMC Hospital after admission.

The bodies were kept in the mortuary where a post-mortem examination was conducted on them today.

The police has registered a case and started investigations. The old woman who offered them food was yet to be traced out.

32 pc cast vote in Pattan

SRINAGAR, Oct 3 (PTI) — An estimated 32 per cent voters exercised franchise at six polling booths of the Pattan Assembly segment of the Baramula parliamentary constituency where repoll was held today.

Of the 5,922 eligible voters in these booths, 1900 voters cast their ballots, an election office spokesman said.

The Election Commission had ordered repoll in six polling booths of the Pattan Assembly segment following complaints of ‘‘large-scale rigging’’ at these booths on September 18.