A Border Security Force (BSF) officer was killed in Kashmir on Tuesday as forces foiled a militant attempt to storm a paramilitary base close to the high-security Srinagar airport, sparking an hours-long gun-battle that left all three radicals dead.

Three others security personnel also sustained injuries in the early morning attack, claimed by the Pakistan-based outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), blamed for similar strikes at Indian security bases including one at Uri in September last year that killed 18 soldiers.

4:15 am Firing starts at BSF camp from Gagoo near airport

Police says quick response teams of BSF responded

4:20 am Police says first militant killed as he enters the camp

4:25am Locals hear sound of blasts

Airport officials start emergency siren

4:30am One militant enters the subordinate officers (SOS) mess and another enters the administrative block

5:00 am CRPF and J&K police also join the BSF in the gunfight

Locals hear dozens of vehicles entering the camp

5:05 am Authorities deploy hundreds of forces which surround the airport

7:55 am JeM claims responsibility

10:30am Second militant firing for SOS mess killed. Police also confirm the death of a BSF personnel injured while militants were entering

2:00 pm Third militant also killed

“All the three militants have been killed. An assistant sub-inspector of BSF also died in the initial assault,” Jammu and Kashmir police chief SP Vaid said.

Tuesday’s attack was the latest in Kashmir which has seen a spurt in militancy, often blamed on Pakistan-based outfits by India. Last month, India described Pakistan as “terroristan” in a fiery attack on Islamabad’s proxy war in Kashmir.

The attack also came amid heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), the de factor border with Pakistan.

India summoned Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner and issued a demarche over the death of three minors in “unprovoked firing” by Pakistani forces in the Poonch sector on Monday.

“503 such violations (of 2003 ceasefire understanding) have been carried out by Pakistan forces so far during 2017,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement in Delhi.

The opposition Congress accused the BJP-led NDA government of compromising national security.

Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi ran a high-decibel campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, depicted by “56-inches chest and red eyes sloganeering” to deal with terror and security threats.

“But after 40 months, our internal security situation stands gravely in peril,” he alleged.

Inspector general of police (Kashmir range) Muneer Khan admitted that “six to seven” militants of a group which infiltrated between July and August were still at large and were potential threats.

Police sources said the three slain militants were from the JeM’s ‘Afzal Guru squad’, raised by the outfit to avenge the hanging of the 2001 parliament attack convict.

On August 26, at least eight security personnel were killed in a similar attack by the JeM in Pulwama.

The attack at the BSF’s 182 battalion camp was at a highly sanitised area where an Indian Air Force base, a CRPF camp and an NIA office are located, besides the Srinagar airport.

Flights at the airport, which shares a compound wall with the base, resumed after being suspended briefly, officials said.

Sources said the militants entered the camp in army fatigue and were carrying automatic weapons and grenades.

Khan said the militants, who intruded into the camp around 4am after cutting through the concertina wires and fence, entered two separate buildings — the administrative block and subordinate officers mess. He said one militant was killed at the gate while two managed to get inside the camp where they were shot dead later.

(With inputs from HTC Delhi and agencies)

Sepoy Zahoor Ahmed Tokar

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 7

The J&K Police have questioned over six persons, including family members, to trace the whereabouts of a Kashmiri soldier who deserted his base.The police are also investigating whether the soldier, a resident of Pulwama district in south Kashmir, was in contact with militants or any over-ground worker (OGW) back home. Pulwama district is home to nearly 20 militants.Sepoy Zahoor Ahmed Tokar, who was posted in the 173 Territorial Army (Engineering) unit at Gantmulla Baramulla, went missing along with an AK rifle and three magazines.After Tokar went missing, a high alert was sounded as the deserted soldier has a good knowledge of the “security system.” While the police suspect that Tokar may have joined militancy, but so far they have got no confirmation or any hard evidence regarding it.“Before deserting, Tokar had talked to his father and a friend over phone. We questioned them but the duo had no clue about his deserting the Army base,” a senior police officer said. “We have questioned other people also and we are trying to find out whether the soldier had any contact with any militant or OGW in Pulwama. The jawan was in fact home on Eid and had joined after availing two-day leave,” he said.Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Muneer Khan said there was no confirmation about his whereabouts.There have been instances in J&K where policemen have joined militant ranks, but this is the first such incident of a Kashmiri soldier deserting Army ranks. In May this year, Constable Syed Naveed Mushtaq, a resident of Shopian district in south Kashmir, had fled with four INSAS rifles, including his own rifle, from the guard post at the Food Corporation of India godown in Budgam and later joined militant ranks. In past five years, at least five cops have joined militancy in Kashmir.

 Bajwa joins Jakhar’s campaign

Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa (left) with Sunil Jakhar (2R) and other party leaders in Qadian on Monday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Qadian (Gurdaspur), Oct 2Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa finally joined the campaign of Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar, addressing a party rally today in his home town, Qadian.Bajwa, a former Gurdaspur MP, had sought the ticket for his wife, former Qadian MLA Charanjit Kaur, but the party opted for Jakhar.The MP recalled the close ties between his family and the PPCC chief’s father, Balram Jakhar. “Sunil Jakhar is like my brother. He is the ideal candidate to take up all issues of the people of the border belt in Parliament,” he said.AICC secretary Harish Chaudhary, legislators Fateh Jung Bajwa, Balwinder Singh Laddi and Darshan Singh Brar were also present.The BJP had threatened to make Bajwa’s absence a major talking point in its rallies scheduled for later this week. Sources said Chaudhury had persuaded Bajwa to take part in campaigning.

Cong denies hand, but says will expose ‘erring’ Akalis

Sukhjinder Randhawa

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2

Even as Punjab Congress chief and party’s Gurdaspur candidate Sunil Jakhar remains evasive over the allegations regarding the timings of the rape charge against Akali leader Sucha Singh Langah, he does not rule out more such cases coming to the fore to expose “offending” Akali leaders.He also disassociated the party and its leaders from the video leak in the case.Jakhar alleged that the victim was being exploited by Langah for long and the video was recorded much earlier. It was just that the victim felt confident during the Congress rule to come forward and expose the Akali leader, he said.Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa said: “Why should we do the sting? It is for the Badals to explain the act of their leader. It is not an issue of timings when the act is unpardonable.”When asked about his old rivalry with Langah, he said: “Why is everybody suspecting me? Did I send him to that woman’s house where he committed that sin?”The Congress leaders indicated carrying forwarding the party’s agenda to expose the Akali leaders in Majha, including Bikram Singh Majithia, and BJP candidate Swaran Salaria.Already 40 MLAs led by Randhawa have been pressing upon Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to act against the Akalis who had got “false” cases registered against Congress workers.Sources said local Congress leader in Gurdaspur were using the situation to divert the attention of the voters from issues concerning development.“The base of the Akalis is eroding in Majha. Local SAD leaders are already joining us. The public outrage against the Akalis is visible in rallies,” claimed Randhawa.At loggerheads since 2012

• Sucha Singh Langah contested the Assembly poll from Dera Baba Nanak in 2012, against the Congress’ Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Hence began an intense rivalry between the two.
• Langah lost the poll and the SAD government designated him as the halqa incharge. He did not allow Randhawa, the sitting MLA, to function properly.
• Sukhjinder Randhawa alleged: “Langah had instructed the SSPs of Gurdaspur and Batala that they should not take my calls. On several occasions, I raised the issue of Langah’s corrupt practices.”
• When Randhawa was re-elected in 2017, he became a powerful legislator of Gurdaspur district. There were rumours that his victory would turn out to be disastrous for Langah, although Randhawa has always denied indulging in political vendetta.

Chhotepur’s APP likely to support Cong candidate

Chandigarh: Sucha Singh Chhotepur’s Aapna Punjab Party (APP) is likely to support Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar. Sources said Chhotepur convened a meeting with senior party leaders last week. “Various options were discussed, but eventually we agreed to back Jakhar,” said a senior party leader who attended the meeting, wishing not to be named. “Whether we will support him openly or ask our supporters to silently vote for Jakhar will be taken at a meeting later this week,” he said. When contacted, Chhotepur said the final decision would be taken in a couple of days. Chhotepur was elected MLA twice from Gurdaspur district, once as an Akali candidate and the other time as an Independent. He contested on the AAP ticket from the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 and bagged 1.73 lakh votes to finish a creditable third. However, he received only 1,740 votes as the APP nominee from the Gurdaspur seat in this year’s Assembly elections. TNS

Gurdaspur cops initiate probe

Gurdaspur, October 2

The police have started an inquiry into the leak of the video clip involving Sucha Singh Langah and the woman who has accused him of rape. The video had gone viral hours after the victim, a government employee, handed it over to SSP HS Bhullar on September 28. Bhullar denied any lapse on their part. “I had ordered a DSP-rank officer to seal the pen drive. It is impossible that it was leaked from our end,” he said. An officer said they had asked a social networking site to probe the source of the video. “We have zeroed in on certain suspects. Once identified, they will be booked under section 228 A IPC (whoever prints or publishes the name of the rape victim),” said the SSP.  — TNS

Video in poor taste: Jakhar

Chandigarh, October 1

Even as PPCC chief and party’s Gurdaspur candidate Sunil Jakhar today questioned SAD president Sukhbir Badal’s silence on the rape charge against Sucha Singh Langah, he demanded that the video of the Akali leader be taken off the social media sites as it was not in good taste.“While the perpetrator of the act shall face action as per the law of the land, circulation of videos on the social media sites was in bad taste. There is no place for such obscenity in our culture,” said Jhakhar.Targeting BJP candidate Sarwan Salaria’s for defending the Akali leader, Jakhar said this did not absolve Langah of the heinous crime.In Sangrur, Akali MP PS Chandumajra accused the Congress of spreading misinformation about Langah to divert the attention of Gurdaspur voters from development issues. — TNS

 

 

US Senator Larry Pressler. Photo: @larrypressler/Twitter

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 28

Pakistan has three to four operational tactical command posts where nuclear weapons might or could be launched from, Senator Larry Pressler has warned.A US Senator for 18 years and the architect of the Pressler Amendment of 1985, the former lawmaker was speaking at the launch of his book “Neighbours in Arms” in Delhi.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The Pressler Amendment had banned most economic and military assistance to Pakistan in the absence of an annual certification of non-possession of nuclear devices by it signed by the US President, and halted the spread of nuclear weapons briefly in 90s. Pressler further expressed serious concerns about the nuclear command structure in Pakistan that leaves it very vulnerable to rogue elements. “India has very clear line of authority. In US, the President cannot alone launch nuclear weapons without the concurrence of more than a dozen people. We must get assurance from Pakistan that these tactical weapons are not unguarded or can work independently,” said the Senator. Agreeing with his assessment, former chief of RAW Vikram Sood emphasised that the state and non-state ideologies were blurred in Pakistan. “When you do terror under a nuclear umbrella, the terrorists already have a bomb. You have a mindset of nuclear terrorist and trigger in hand of an authority that could go rogue. So, the worry is how do you overcome the mindset,” asked Sood. Pressler believes that despite his controversies, there is a clear shift in the White House’s Pakistan policy under President Trump and chances of the non-NATO ally being declared a sponsor of terror cannot be ruled out. But on the Indo-US civil nuclear Deal, the US Senator expressed pessimism that it might not really go much forward and remains more of an arms deal right now. 

A young man voiced his despair in the columns of The Tribune yesterday. He had asked the Chief Minister questions that mirrored his anxiety about the future. The Chief Minister responds to the many unemployed youth in Punjab, stating that his top priority is boosting the job market.

ON page 8 of The Tribune dated June 30, 2017, a young man Ankush Mahajan, has asked me a question. He is faced with a dilemma that many youth in Punjab, in fact across the country, are facing. He wants to know where he can or should go for a job after completing his postgraduation. I can understand the sense of despair that motivated him to share his helplessness through your esteemed columns. At the same time, I also appreciate his candour and boldness in escalating his concerns to me — after all, if the people have elected me they have every right to expect me to resolve their problems and dilemmas.While it is not possible to list down everything we are doing to help young men and women like him to become gainfully employed, let me share in brief some of the ways in which we are trying to create employment opportunities for them.The entrepreneurial schemes we have launched — Apni Gaddi Apna Rozgar, Harra Tractor, Yaari Enterprises etc, are excellent resources to make our youth gainfully employed and independent. And to my colleagues in the opposition who have accused me of trying to convert the state’s youth into taxi drivers, I can only say — isn’t it better than making them drug addicts and criminals? In any case, some of the most successful youth in the world today are not those in white-collared jobs but those who have taken the entrepreneurial route. What we are doing through these schemes is to promote self-employment, which I am sure will go a long way in helping the unemployed youth.Our focus on skill development in the education system, which we are revamping in order to make it more goal-oriented, is in line with our thrust on stimulating the job market, which had become totally stagnant over the past decade. The results of this revamp will start becoming visible on the ground soon, helping lakhs of youngsters become job-ready and fully prepared to take on the new opportunities that are opening up for skilled professionals not just in India but across the world. While skill development and entrepreneurship are the core areas of my government’s focus, we are, at the same time, cognizant of the need to create regular job openings for those who are not skillfully empowered in any way. We will soon notify vacancies in PCS to fill administrative posts in the government. Horticulture, health, education and agriculture are some of the other areas in which we are looking to create more job opportunities, in addition to industrial establishments such as Bathinda Refinery and power projects in the state. Industrial development to boost employment generation is, in fact, a key solution we are pursuing aggressively to address the problem of large-scale unemployment. The next few months will see a host of big and small industries setting up business in the state, thus opening up new job prospects for the job-seeking youth.The private sector is coming out aggressively to support our initiatives. Only yesterday, Quark City Infrastructure assured me that their company will generate 500 new jobs, with 5,000 more likely to be added by IT and other companies seeking to enter the Mohali Quark City at Mohali.Finally, a small word of advice for those who belong to the so-called General class of society. It is no more a curse than belonging to some special class is. It is all a matter of finding the right opportunity at the right time and the right place. And I can promise that my government is committed to give you such opportunities, now and for the next five years, irrespective of the so-called class, creed or religion you belong to!

Wife of Rifleman Rajesh Khatri, who was killed in firing by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir’s Karen sector, lays a wreath on his coffin in Varanasi on Friday.

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