SRINAGAR: A total bandh was observed in Kashmir August 16 in response to a call by the JKLF to protest against the exclusion of Kashmiris from the secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan. The JKLF organized a procession in old Srinagar in which pro-independence slogans were raised. The JKLF activists also burnt copies of the Shimla and the Tashkent arguments, In a joint statement issued here, the party’s acting president, Sheikh Abdul Ramid and the “commander-in chief,” Javed Ahmend Mir, reiterated that the people of Kashmir would not accept any settlement without their participation,
Meanwhile, eight BSF jawans were injured when their vehicle hit a land-mine between Shopian and Trail in Pulwama district, official sources said. A land-mine also exploded a Buddo Bagh near Khanyar here. Local residents said they saw blood at the site of the explosion.
The para-military forces late cordoned off the area and conducted house-to-house searches, but no details were immediately available. Officials reports from the border town of Handwara said that the Amy shot dead the Imam of a mosque, Mohammad Hanif, during a crack-down.
Airport from Pulwama said that people were fleeing their homes in Trail Township out of panic caused by alleged indiscriminate killings by the para-military forces in retaliation to militants’ attacks. The toll in Saturday’s shoot-out by para-military forces has gone up to six, official sources said.
Earlier on August 13, the BSF shot four persons who, the government later said, were militants killed in the cross-fire, According to his official sources, apart from the human casualties, four houses were destroyed in alleged arson in Trail.
Meanwhile, The army was called out and indefinite curfew clamped in Bhaderwah township of Doda district after militants killed two police jawans and injured five others including the district police chief in an ambush.
The curfew was clamped in the township after the district police chief, Ashok Gupta was attacked by militants. Gupta, and four jawans were injured while two of his bodyguards were killed.
The police chief had gone to Panjwa village of Bhaderwah town with additional reinforcement to flush out militants who had attacked a village Lambardar.
Three militants have been arrested during the coming operations launched jointly by army, BSF and local police in the Bhaderwah Township. Militants had also fired at the police personnel in Bhaderwah. However, no one was hurt the reports added.
The militants fired a rocket on CRPF camp in another township on Kistwar in Doda district injuring two jawans and a driver.
The injured were airlifted to Udhampur hospital for treatment Gupta was also being shifted to Jammu as his condition was stated to be serious but stable.
The authorities have rushed additional police and paramilitary troops to the district.
Senior police and paramilitary officers including the LG, of police, Jammu division, .S.W: were continuously monitoring the Situation in the district.
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 28, 1992
