J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Cops fire into air to quell protest
Srinagar, October 12
The police fired into the air and lobbed teargas shells here today to quell demonstrators, protesting for the fifth consecutive day against US attacks on Afghanistan. Normal life was also paralysed here in response to the general strike called by hitherto unknown separatist groups in protest against the US military action in Afghanistan.

The police lobs teargas shells near Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers in Srinagar to quell anti-US demonstators.  — Photo Amin War

4 Lashkar ultras among 10 killed
Srinagar, October 12
At least 10 persons, including six security force personnel and four militants, were killed and five others injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

VC: check overuse of pesticides
Jammu, October 12
A two-day seminar on plant protection strategies opened here today. The Society of Plant Protection Sciences and the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology is organising the seminar.

Pony race contest a big draw
Gulmarg, October 12
The captivating meadows of this famous hill-station, 50 km from Srinagar, witnessed a unique sports event — the first-ever pony race competition — yesterday.

Cops fire into air to quell protest
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 12
The police fired into the air and lobbed teargas shells here today to quell demonstrators, protesting for the fifth consecutive day against US attacks on Afghanistan. Normal life was also paralysed here in response to the general strike called by hitherto unknown separatist groups in protest against the US military action in Afghanistan.

The police resorted to firing into the air and lobbed several teargas shells in Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta area, here this afternoon where a large number of people held protest demonstrations against the US action.

The people held protest demonstrations after the Friday prayers and pelted the police and government vehicles with stones.

Earlier, former Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, while addressing the Friday congregation, urged the UN and the OIC to help in resolving the crisis in Afghanistan through negotiations.

Teargas shells were lobbed in the Lal Chowk area to disperse women, supported by the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, underground women’s organisation, who were raising slogans against the US action in Afghanistan. Protest demonstrations were held in the area throughout the day. Similar reports came in from several other localities in the city.

The police was on the alert throughout the day to control the situation as shops and business establishments remained closed in response to the call given by some separatist groups, hitherto unknown.

Passenger transport was off the roads. Only light vehicles plied in the city. However, transport on the inter-district routes plied normally. Attendance in government offices was thin as employees could not reach their offices due to the lack of transport.

Meanwhile, the state unit of the CPM has urged the Centre not to participate in any “unilateral American military operations against Afghanistan”. A day-long convention of the CPM here today condemned the civilian killings in Afghanistan and demanded that these should be stopped.

4 Lashkar ultras among 10 killed
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 12
At least 10 persons, including six security force personnel and four militants, were killed and five others injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

A police spokesman said here four militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit and two security force personnel were killed in an encounter in the Shopian area of Pulwama district last evening. Five AK rifles, seven magazines, two wireless sets, two pistols, four hand grenades and some incriminating documents were recovered from the site of the encounter. Six residential houses were damaged in the exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces, the police said.

Three security force personnel were killed when unidentified militants fired at a patrol party at Daksum, Kokernag in Anantnag district yesterday. The militants also took away a rifle from one of the killed constables.

A jawan of the security forces was killed when unidentified militants fired upon a patrol party at Braripora , Handwara in Kupwara district in north Kashmir today. Four pedestrians were injured when unidentified militants hurled a grenade towards the patrol party of the security forces near Sopore in Baramula district this afternoon. The area was cordoned off to flush out the militants, the police said. Till the last reports came in, the searches of the area were going on.

One person was injured when unidentified militants fired upon him at Hullar village in the Kishtwar area of Doda district in Jammu region yesterday.

The security forces seized two hand grenades near Government High School, Nadihal, Bandipore in Baramula district yesterday. However, no damage was caused.

VC: check overuse of pesticides
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 12
A two-day seminar on plant protection strategies opened here today. The Society of Plant Protection Sciences and the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology is organising the seminar.

Scientists from various parts of the country said pest management techniques had not reached the doorsteps of the farmers with the result that pests, weeds and other diseases had played havoc with crops and fruits, forcing many farmers to commit suicide.

Mohammed Ramzan Minister for Agriculture, laid emphasis on proper use of pesticides. He said actual needs and problems of the growers were being neglected.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Kashmir University Mr H.U. Khan, who presided over the seminar cautioned the experts against indiscriminate use of pesticides.

Several scientists were presented special awards. While Dr Ms Jagadiswari Rao from Cuttack was given Outstanding Scientist Award, dr T.K. Das and Dr Pankaj from IARI and were given Meritorious Scientist Awards. Dr Parvatha Reddy, Director, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, and Dr Udit Narain from Kanpur were given honorary fellowships. Dr G.S. Dhaliwal, Professor of Ecology, Department of Entomology, PAU, Ludhiana, also received fellowship from the society.

Pony race contest a big draw
Tribune News Service

Gulmarg, October 12
The captivating meadows of this famous hill-station, 50 km from Srinagar, witnessed a unique sports event — the first-ever pony race competition — yesterday.

The first of its kind after over a decade long militancy, the competition organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department attracted a large number of people.