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- October 1, 2001Militants storm J&K
Assembly, 25 killed Times of India reprted that in a daring suicide attack, an
explosive-laden car was blown up by militants on
Monday near the entrance of the Jammu and Kashmir
state legislature. At least 25 people were feared killed and 50
injured in the attack.
Pakistan-based militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed
responsibility for the attack, saying a suicide bomber drove the
explosive laden car to the legislature.
The blast caused damage to at least 150 buildings or street
stalls around the tightly guarded legislature, including a
six-storey hotel.
Witnesses said gunfire was still heard three and a half hours
after the attack inside the legislature, which two militants had
managed to enter.
"Many people bled to death as no one dared to rush to the
spot," said Abdul Rashid, a local shopkeeper.
The explosion took place at about 2:00 pm in the heart of
Srinagar, after Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and several of
his cabinet ministers had left, official sources said.
The Speaker, Abdul Ahad Vakil, and a few legislators were
inside the building, but security forces brought them out of the
building safely, the sources added.
The area around the state legislature was immediately sealed
off by Border Security Forces (BSF), who turned away traffic
throughout downtown Srinagar.
Jaish-e-Mohammed, told a local news service it was
responsible for the attack, which it said was carried out by a
suicide bomber named Wajahat Hussain, a Pakistani national.
The group told the Current News Service that several more of
its members entered the assembly building.
Jaish-e-Mohammed recently made a threat against Indian
airports, all of which have been on high alert since Sunday,
officials said.
A spokesman for the Airport Authority of India said militants
issued a "general threat" against all domestic airports.
Check-in security was boosted and all people not holding
tickets have been banned from entering airports.
In eastern India, state officials said they received intelligence
reports that several members of Jaish-e-Mohammed had
entered Kolkata to unleash suicide attacks on the international
airport.
"Airport authorities received the threat on Sunday. Security has
been immediately tightened all around the airport," Debdas
Bhattacharya, deputy superintendent of police at the airport,
said.
Security has also been stepped up in Kolkata around
government buildings and historical monuments such as the
Victoria Memorial and Writers Building.
- October 1, 2001 Hizb "district commander" killed in Budgam2 soldiers, 5 militants among 10 killed in Valley Excelsior Special Correspondent reported that even as two soldiers died and six sustained injuries in a dare-devil militant attack on an army convoy in Baramulla outskirts of Janbazpora today, troops retaliated and killed two Pakistani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba. In other militancy-related incidents, security forces eliminated three militants in the same district while as death of a civilian evoked protests in Shopian.Informed official sources told EXCELSIOR that, at 11.30 a.m. today, militants in ambush launched a dare-devil attack on an army convoy at Chakla hamlet, in Janbazpora outskirts of Baramulla town. The convoy was on way to Kupwara from Srinagar. As the militants, operating very close to the road, lobbed a volley of hand grenades into the vehicles, eight army personnel sustained injuries, four of them critically. Troops retaliated and engaged the militants in a fierce gunbattle. As troops of 8 J&K Rifles, SOG Baramulla, Rashtriya Rifles 28 Bn and BSF 191 Bn reached the spot quickly, both the militants were killed. They were identified as Abu Haider and Abu Abdur Rehman, who were Pakistani cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba.After a while, two of the critically injured soldiers succumbed to injuries. Late tonight, sources at 92 Base Hospital, at Corps Headquarters, described the condition of two critically injured soldiers as "not stable". They described four others, admitted and operated at the hospital, as stable and claimed that they were responding to the treatment satisfactorily. As some news agencies and television channels reported death of two militants and six soldiers in the incident, PRO Defence Lt Col Mukhtiar Singh maintained that only two soldiers had died. He too claimed that six soldiers were admitted at the military hospital and two of them were "not stable".Sources said that earlier during last night, troops of RR 28 Bn eliminated a militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba in an ambush at Machhanpora, in Panzla area of Rafeeabad. He has been identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Ganai of the same village. Two AK-56 rifles are claimed to have been recovered from the spot.Troops of 12-Sikh LI eliminated two more militants, in an ambush, at Bandi nullah, in Somawali Gali, close to LoC, in Uri-Gulmarg sector during last night. Both of them remained unidentified. Setback to HizbOfficial sources confirmed that Hizbul Mujahideen’s "district commander" for Budgam and "battalion commander" of Magam area, were among the three militants killed by security forces in an encounter at Hardu Malpora on Saturday. While as Ghulam Nabi Wani alias Zakaria S/o Ghulam Ahmed Wani of Daharmuna (Soibug) was Hizb’s "district commander", Abdul Majeed Bhat of Peth Kanihama was described as a "battalion commander". Third militant, killed in the encounter, was identified as Nasrullah Dar of Ari-Panthan, Beerwah. Sources said that Majeed was found wearing the uniform of a Dy SP of J&K Police.Meanwhile, reports from Tangmarg said that, during last night, unidentified gunmen lifted two residents of Gokahama, Kunzar, namely Nazir Ahmed Ganai S/o Ghulam Hassan Ganai and Bilal Ahmed Ganai S/o Abdus Samad Ganai. This morning their dead bodies were recovered from Wusan nullah. However, residents claimed that in the morning, troops swooped on Gokahama and announced through public address system of the mosque that they were looking for two butchers, Nazir Ganai and Bilal Ganai. Even as officials believed that the duo had been lifted and eliminated by militants, residents had doubts on a unit of security forces.Protest in ShopianReports from Shopian said that a civilian, namely Firdaus Ahmed Shah S/o Ghulam Mohammad Shah of Shopian, died in a mysterious gunfire at Gagran camp of CRPF 30 Bn at 12.50 p.m. today. Officials maintained that he had died of a misfire from a CRPF soldier’s gun. Identified as C V Rawat, the constable has been arrested and an FIR has been registered at Shopian Police Station. Residents said that Shah was deliberately shot dead by CRPF. They said that he had been supplying livestock to the camp and had visited Gagran for recoveries. While he was handing over a bill to the soldiers, he got killed. They put up a protest demonstration and alleged that Shah’s killing was unwarranted and deliberate.
- October 1, 2001 3 of a family shot JCO, SOG cop, 2 ultras killed in Rajouri battle Excelsior Correspondent reported that the Militants gunned down three members of a family including a woman and wounded another in an attack on their house at village Sangla in Surankot tehsil of Poonch district last night while a JCO a SOG cop and two militants were killed and a civilian was injured in an encounter in Thanna Mandi tonight.Official sources said a group of militants raided the house of a shopkeeper Hamidul Khwaja in Sangla village late last night and straightway opened firing killing Hamidul, his younger brother Abdul Samad Khwaja and Zareena Begum, Samad’s daughter-in-law. Zareena’s husband Qamar Din was seriously injured in the firing.Militants escaped from the village after about 10 minutes firing. All of them stated to be local cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, the sources said.They said a son of Abdul Samad was working as Special Police Officer (SPO) with Surankot Police. Besides this, the militants were on the look out for Hamidul Khwaja, general secretary of Shopkeepers Union Surankot, for his refusal to provide ration to the militants.Due to militants’ threats, Hamidul Khwaja had stopped staying in his Sangla house during night and was putting up in Surankot. He went to his house last night after about one month and was killed alongwith his family.Sources didn’t rule out the possibility of some local persons, having links with the militants, giving the information of Hamidul’s visit to his house, leading to militants’ attack. Police was carrying out the investigations.Army and police started searches in Sangla village this morning but couldn’t trace the militants. Victims were buried this evening in Sangla. The injured Master Qamar Din has been hospitalised.Incident sparked off tension in Sangla and Surankot today. Shops in Surankot town also remained closed in protest against the killing of Hamidul Khwaja and his family members.Meanwhile, an encounter took place between army and militants at village Bhathian in Behrot area of Thanna Mandi tonight. The encounter took place in the house of Mirza Hafiz.Sources said army got a report that two militants had taken shelter in the house of Mirza Hafiz after infiltrating into Indian side from Manjakot sector on the Line of Control (LoC).An army and SOG team headed by JCO Chowdhary went to the house and asked Hafiz about the militants. Hafiz refused that there was any militant in the house. As troops entered inside, the hiding ultras fired a burst killing JCO, a SOG cop and wounding Hafiz.Army jawans retaliated and gunned down both the militants. Slain militants have been identified as Abu Rehman and Abu Qurim.Injured civilian Mirza Hafiz has been admitted to hospital. His condition was stated to be critical.A powerful explosion rocked village Fatehpur, near here, this evening. No casualty was reported in the explosion that took place in a field.
- October 1, 2001 4 injured in Bishnah shoot-out
Youth murdered, another injured in cricket ground
Excelsior Correspondent reported that a youth was murdered and another seriously injured in a clash at cricket ground in village Chak Salaria under the jurisdiction of Ramgarh police station this afternoon while four persons were injured in a shoot-out in Bishnah tehsil.
Police said two group of youths clashed over a dispute on overs while playing cricket in a ground at Chak Salaria village this afternoon. After heated exchanges, three boys attacked the other group with sharp-edged weapons killing one of them on the spot and wounding another critically.
Deceased was identified as Tarsem Lal alias Kaka, 24, son of Krishan Lal, and the injured as Tejinder Singh alias Babbu son of Prem Chand, both residents of Chak Salaria. Accused included Sanjeev Kumar son of Khem Raj, Arjun Kumar and Sunil Kumar son of Bansi Lal, all residents of Garhwal.
While Sanjeev Kumar has been arrested by police, Arjun Kumar and Sunil Kumar were absconding.
SP Border M K Sinha tonight suspended Jaswant Singh, PSO of SHO Ramgarh following allegations by local people that he helped assailants in fleeing from the village.
Soon after the incident, shopkeepers in Vijaypur and Ramgarh downed their shutters. A number of villagers marched to Vijaypur and blocked Jammu-Pathankot national highway demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
Body of the deceased has been shifted to Ramgarh hospital while the injured Babbu has been admitted in Medical College hospital, where his condition was stated to be critical. A police party from Ramgarh rushed to the scene of crime.
Situation was stated to be tense in the village. A case has been registered at Ramgarh police station and investigations were on.
Meanwhile, four persons were injured in an incident of firing and armed clash between two groups of different castes at village Kotli Charkan in Bishnah tehsil this afternoon. Three persons have been arrested by police in connection with the clash.
Reports said a youth Garu Ram, riding on a scooter, was stopped by Sethi son of Jai Singh at Kotli Charkan village. Sethi, joined by his brother Joginder Singh, beat-up Garu Ram severely causing him serious injuries on his person.
An injured Garu Ram reached his house and informed the incident to his family members. According to reports, Garu Ram and his family members went to the house of Sethi to inquire reasons for the attack. They were fired upon by Sethi and his other family members from the house and attacked with lathis.
Mangal Dass and Bholi Devi sustained bullet injuries in the attack. Joginder Singh of the other group was also injured in retaliation by the victims.
Mangal Dass, Bholi Devi, Garu Ram and Rajinder Singh were hospitalized. Sethi and Jai Singh have been taken into custody by Bishnah police while Rajinder Singh has been kept under arrest in the hospital. A gun used in the firing has been seized by police.
A case in the clash has been registered at Bishnah police station. Further investigations were being carried out. Situation was tense in the village. SHO Bishnah and police parties were camping there to defuse the tension.
Situation also became tense in Janipura Housing Colony this afternoon when a National Conference leader Chander Mohan Sharma started construction of a wall on a piece of land, which Ram Sharma claimed was his property.
SHO Janipura Dalip Singh reached the spot. Police assured people that Revenue records would be used to sort out the dispute.
- October 1, 2001 Harkat vows to continue its activities in J&K
Daily Excelsior reported that Pakistan based militant outfit Harkat-ul Mujahadeen, which figures in the US terrorist blacklist for its links with Osama bin Laden, today said it would continue its activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief of the outfit Maulana Muhammad Sajjad Shahid said it would resist all attempts to undermine efforts of "Jehad groups", Pakistan news agency NNI reported today.
The outfit also said that it had moved its head office and dismissed reports that it had been closed by Pakistani authorities.
A spokesman of the group said it had planned to shift its office well before Washington began its war on terrorism in response to the September 11 attacks in the US.
Pakistan authorities closed down seven offices of the group across the country yesterday and several of its key leaders went into hiding.
Shahid also said the outfit would resist moves to dub it a terrorist organisation and asked the US to stop interfering in its affairs.
The US does not have any justification to impose ban on Harkat-ul Mujahideen and it should not level baseless charges, he said at a meeting of the outfit at Muzzafarabad, capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
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