Our Correspondent

Udhampur, February 23

Little Flower Convent High School paid tributes to Capt Tushar Mahajan here today.Captain Mahajan, who lost his life while fighting militants in the Pampore area of Kashmir on Sunday, had been a student of the school and learnt his first lessons of patriotism and valour in the campus. He was always in the forefront and led by examples. His teachers remembered him as a naughty but lovable boy.His classmates remembered him as a lovable and dedicated friend who left an inerasable impression on all those whom he met. He was a brilliant student, excellent in all disciplines.

Protesting Gujjars block Pathankot highway, seek compensation

Vishal Jasrotia

Samba, February 23

A day after the death of a Gujjar youth in the alleged police firing in the Sarore area of Samba, locals, including the relatives of the victim, blocked the Jammu-Pathankot national highway at Vijaypur in protest on Tuesday.The protesters laid Mohammad Yaqoob’s body in the middle of the road and raised slogans against the authorities.Despite inputs, no preventive measures were taken by the district administration and security agencies to avert the protest, which led to disruption in vehicular movement for more than two hour.The blockade led to a massive traffic jam on both the sides of the highwayThe protesters demanded compensation to the victim’s family and registering of criminal case against the police personnel responsible for the incident.Later, Deputy Inspector General Ashqoor Wani, senior National Conference leader Mian Altaf, Surjeet Singh Slathia and senior district officials reached the spot and assured the protesters of compensation and a magisterial probe into the incident.“We assured Rs 5 lakh from district administration as compensation to the deceased’s family. Directions have also been given for providing tents and relief material to the affected families. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered and the situation is control,” said Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Sheetal Nanda.An FIR into the killing of the youth has already been registered and police have constituted a team headed by Additional Superintendent of Police Faizal Qureshi to investigate the case, said a police spokesperson.A civilian was killed and seven police personnel, including two women constables, were injured after a clash over an anti-encroachment drive by the Jammu Development Authority in the Sarore area.

End of siege, diversions on NH lifted

Srinagar, February 23

The traffic on the Pampore-Panthachowk stretch of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was allowed to ply normally today after remaining in absolute disarray for about three days.Traffic on the NH remained diverted from Saturday afternoon to Monday evening in the wake of the 48-hour gun battle between security forces and militants in Sempora area of Pampore near here.Nine people, including three Army men, two CRPF personnel, three militants and a civilian, were killed in the gunfight.Security agencies, keeping the safety of commuters in view, diverted Srinagar and Anantnag-bound traffic to different routes to avoid the actual spot of the gunfight.The traffic today, however, was very thin in wake of a sporadic shutdown being observed in many parts along the highway, including Panthachowk, Pampore and Awantipora. Sources said public transport remained largely off the roads throughout the day.—OC