Clashes between the militants and the security forces also took place at several places in Srinagar city. Two CRPF personnel were injured in an exchange of fire with the militants at Ali Kadal while a civilian Shahbaz Shah of Thana Mandi was killed at Kaw Mohalla Khanyar.
The militants burnt the Indian flag at several places in the city.
On the other hand apart from the main Independence Day function at the Bakhshi Stadium where the governor took the salute the tricolor was hoisted at Lal Chowk Batmaloo and other important places in the city by the security forces Thursday.
The state police chief J.N.Saksena himself visited Lal Chowk and saluted the tricolor. The pro-Pakistan militants had hoisted the Pakistani flag at the same place in Lal Chowk Wednesday. It was later pulled down by the security forces.
Meanwhile unidentified militants abducted the sub-divisional magistrate tehsildar and sub divisional police officer of Shupian Wednesday. However all the three were released Thursday morning an official spokesman said.
The security forces arrested three militants and 10 others during the last 24 hours the spokesman said. Aug 14 the army was deployed in Srinagar downtown and curfew imposed in Anantnag Baramulla and Sopore Wednesday to thwart the militants’ attempts at holding parades and other programs in connection with the celebrations of Pakistan’s’ independence day.
Two militants and three civilians were killed in exchange of fire between the security forces in Srinagar and Baramulla in different incidents
One civilian was killed when a bomb exploded outside the civil secretariat Tuesday night Ghulam Nabi Dar of Palpora was killed when he was caught in crossfire between militants and security personnel on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Two civilians died in a similar incident in Sopore Wednesday morning following which the curfew was imposed in the Lola valley of Kupwara district. One militant of the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in a raid by the security forces.
A powerful bomb was detected in the high security area of Sonawar where a number of senior state government officers were holding discussions this afternoon. According to sources the bomb was defused minutes before senior officers including the Additional Chief Secretary were about to leave the state guest house.
Reports of clashes between the security forces and militants were also reported from other towns where curfew was imposed to sabotage militants’ attempts at causing tensions. However a group of militants managed to hoist a Pakistani flag in the historic Lal Chowk in Srinagar city in full view of the police and a few photojournalists. The policemen on duty were later suspended and reprimanded by senior officers for dereliction of duty.
Following a call from pro-Pakistan militant groups the people in various held small functions
A hitherto unknown militant organization Izahil Group has claimed the responsibility for the kidnapping of Dr.B.L.Khosa Branch Manager of the New India Insurance Company who was abducted from his office Tuesday. The organization has not put forth any demand for his release.
Meanwhile fresh efforts have been initiated for securing the release of K. Doraiswamy the kidnapped Indian Oil Corporation Executive Director.
According to sources the govt was still insisting on the simultaneous release of Doraiswamy and the jailed militants while the kidnappers insisted on prior release of the militants at least by onc hour.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 23, 1991
