Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3

At least 1,500 youths turned up for yet another recruitment drive in the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre at Rangreth.A defence spokesman said the drive was held on October 1 and 2 at Rangreth for enrolment as soldier general duty, tradesmen, clerk and youths participated with full enthusiasm.“Individuals, who have cleared the physical screening, will now be put through a detailed medical examination and a Common Entrance Examination following which a merit will be drawn as per vacancies to shortlist the candidates who will join the centre for training,” he said.Another Army recruitment drive is also underway in Bandipora in north Kashmir since September 29. Earlier, a similar rally was held in Anantnag.

Army launches go-green campaign

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 3

With a message to save the environment, the Army has initiated an afforestation drive with the theme of “Green India – Clean India”.The week-long event is being conducted by the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion at Kalal in coordination with the Department of Environment and Forests, local administration and local village committees at government schools in Mangiote, Seri and Deeing areas of Rajouri district.More than 600 students from schools and adjoining areas took a pledge to preserve the environment and maintain the flora and fauna in the region. The participants planted more than 1,600 ornamental and fruit bearing saplings to mark the event on the inaugural day. The concept of ownership of each sapling is being imbibed among students to ensure survivability of the saplings.Lectures on “Prevention of deforestation” and “Harmful effects of global warming and geological change in the sub-continent” were delivered by officials of the Forest Department on the occasion.

Militants had planned fidayeen attack

Attempt to sneak into Baramulla Army base camp foiled by alert BSF sentries

Majid Jahangir/

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Baramulla, October 3

Even as the combing operation was called off today in Baramulla, where two to four militants had attacked the battalion headquarters of the 46 Rashtriya Rifles late Sunday night, the recovery of a GPS (global positioning system) set and wire cutter at the site of the attack indicate the militants had come prepared for a fidayeen (suicide) attack. BSF constable Nitin, who was guarding the outer post, was killed while another border guard was critically wounded by the attackers before they fled from the spot. The slain constable belonged to Etawah in UP and had joined the BSF in October 2012.“It was a civilian area and the Army couldn’t retaliate effectively, apprehending civilian casualties in the dark. This resulted in the escape of the militants,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Imtiyaz Hussain. “The militants were beaten back and they were not able to breach the perimeter of the camp.”After the firing stopped, the security forces recovered a GPS set, compass and AK magazines from the spot where attackers had attempted to sneak in. “These recoveries indicate that the militants were foreigners and had planned to sneak into the camp,” Hussain said.Vikash Chandra, IG, BSF, Kashmir, said the timely detection of the militants by the BSF guards thwarted their entry into the base. “If the militants had managed to cut the razor wire and sneaked inside the camp, there would have been heavy casualties,” Chandra said.On September 18, a group of four fidayeen had stormed an Army base in Uri close to the LoC which left 19 soldiers dead. This was the heaviest blow to the Army in a single militant attack since the insurgency erupted in the Valley.Initial investigations in the Baramulla attack suggest that the militants were not fresh infiltrators, but had been active in the area for some time. The attack on the Army base in Baramulla was the first terror attack after the Army conducted surgical strikes on militant launching pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir last week.The 46 RR Battalion is responsible for counter-insurgency operations in the garrison town of Baramulla and its headquarters are located on the banks of the Jhelum. The town surrounded by mountains on three sides reverberated with gunshots and huge blasts around 10.23 pm on Sunday evening as most of the residents were preparing to go to bed. On Monday morning, when the Baramulla town woke up there was panic due to the nearly two-hour firing in the dead of night. Shops were shut due to the unrest and few people were seen moving in the town.The Sunday attack was the second militant attack in the town during the current unrest.  On August 17, militants ambushed an Army convoy on the Baramulla-Srinagar highway, killing two Army men and a J&K policeman. In this attack too, the attackers managed to flee. GPS set, fence cutter recovered  A GPS set, wire cutter, and AK magazines were recovered from the spot where militants had attempted to sneak in the Baramulla Army camp. Militants snatch weapons in Kulgam Militants decamped with five weapons from a security picket after taking “hostage” two minority community members in Kulgam on Monday. They let off the two hostages only after the cops handed over their guns. P4