LeT planning another major attack on highway in next two days

Groups directed to ensure that civilians are not harmed in any strike

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jun 26: Lashkar-e-Tayyiba under the command of Abu Dujana, Divisional Commander for South Kashmir, is believed to have ordered another fidayeen attack on security forces on the strategic Srinagar-Jammu highway in the next two days.

Police and security forces are understood to have alerted all the field units, including ROPs, against another major strike by LeT militants in the next two days anywhere from Sempora-Pampore to Qazigund. Eight CRPF men got killed and 21 were injured in the fidayeen attack on a paramilitary convoy at Pampore on Saturday. Five of the critically injured are still under treatment, though one N.P. Chakrarty seems to be losing the battle for his life at 92 Base Hospital.

Highly placed authoritative sources revealed to STATE TIMES that LeT was planning another major fidayeen attack either in Srinagar or anywhere from Sempora to Sangam on the National Highway. Security agencies have learned that in all four fidayeen cadres had been mobilised, two each for two major attacks. While as one was carried out at Pampore on Saturday, another is expected any time on Monday or Tuesday as two more suicide cadres have been kept ready for it.

Sources said that LeT has passed special instructions to the fidayeen field handlers that they should take utmost care of the civilians and ensure that none of them is harmed during a strike. LeT has communicated to its field units that the organisation was satisfied with the attack at Pampore which had caused significant damage to the security forces, unprecedented in the last three years.

Security agencies have learned that a Kashmiri militant, Raheel Amin Dar, has been assigned the responsibility of coordinating the second fidayeen attack on the highway while as another Kashmiri militant, Majid Zargar, was coordinating some attacks in Shopian-Kulgam belt of South Kashmir.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]

Bloodbath on highway in Pampore: 8 CRPF men killed, 21 injured

2 militants killed in retaliation, 2 believed to have escaped; LeT claims responsibility

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jun 25: Exactly three years after killing 12 soldiers of Army in a dare-devil attack on the National Highway bypass at Hyderpora, in Srinagar, on June 24, 2013, militants of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba on Saturday struck in a big way on a CRPF convoy at Pampore. Two militants were killed in the retaliatory action but CRPF suffered substantial damage as eight of its men died and 21 others sustained injuries, three of them critically.

Director General of Police K. Rajendra Kumar told STATE TIMES that some militants appeared on the highway near a mosque at Frestbal in Pampore and fired indiscriminately from front of the convoy vehicles at around 4.40 pm. As the tyres of a bus got burst due to gunfire and it came to a halt, two militants attempted to enter it. CRPF retaliated valiantly killing both the militants on spot. Eight soldiers got killed and 21 injured. He said that all the injured were evacuated to hospital for treatment. Five of them were critical at Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Badami Bagh.

DGP, as also senior Police and CRPF officers, visited Pampore and stayed there for about one hour until all the injured were evacuated, a law and order situation was defused and traffic was restored on Srinagar-Jammu highway.

DG CRPF Durga Prasad, who was on a private visit in Ladakh today, would be flying from Leh to Srinagar on Sunday. Sources said he would interact with the living victims of the attack and senior Police and CRPF officials, attend a wreath-laying ceremony and review the security situation including the strategy to deal with the militant attacks on the convoys of security forces on the highway besides threat perception to the impending Amarnath Yatra, beginning in 10 days. Mr Prasad would also visit the spot of today’s attack in Pampore.

Sources in New Delhi said that the Union Home Secretary could also visit Srinagar on Sunday or Monday to take a review of the security scenario with J&K Police top brass, Army, paramilitary forces and Central intelligence agencies.

Earlier this year on February 20, two CRPF men and a civilian had got killed in a similar attack on a paramilitary convoy on the highway in front of EDI complex at Sempora, 2 Km short of Saturday’s spot in Pampore, that led to three-day-long gunbattle in which three soldiers of Army, including two Captains, got killed and all the three militants involved in the fidayeen attack were also killed.

On today’s audacious militant strike, IG CRPF Atul Karwal told STATE TIMES: “We have suffered damage and we will take appropriate retaliatory action”.

DIG CRPF Srinagar (South) Kamal Kant Sharma said that the small CRPF convoy of 161 battalion was returning to Srinagar from Letapora after a routine shooting practice in the evening when at least two militants appeared on the highway at Frestbal in Pampore town and opened indiscriminate fire. “Eight of our jawans have attained martyrdom and 20 are injured. Three or four of them are critical. They are under treatment at Army Hospital. Some of the injured have been shifted to SKIMS for treatment”, DIG said.

“We have killed two militants in retaliation. They appear to be Pakistani nationals”, DIG said but added that CRPF was looking into reports that two more militants had escaped in an Alto car towards Srinagar. “We are not sure about it but we are investigating”, he said. Earlier, reports said that the Alto used by the militants was hit by a bullet but it was driven fast towards Srinagar. Two militants thus escaped from the spot.

Under treatment at 92 Base Hospital, CRPF Sub Inspector P.K. Yadav narrated to STATE TIMES: “I had four vehicles in the small convoy. At Pampore, two terrorists attacked the second vehicle, which was my truck, from the front. Six of us sustained injuries in my vehicle. I was hit by a bullet but sustained only a minor injury. Thereafter, the terrorists directed a huge attack on the third vehicle which was a bus. Most of our men got killed and injured in that bus. The terrorists attempted to enter the bus but were shot dead in retaliation from our QRT which was a semi-BP Mazda in the rear”.

Yadav said that he was able to hide behind a seat but his associate Inspector Bansi Dhar was injured. He said that the ROP of 110 Bn was about 200 metres away and a contingent of J&K Police and Traffic Police at an equal distance. “They could not do anything as they were far away from the spot”, Yadav said.

According to official sources, eight soldiers killed in the militant strike included an officer and one Sub Inspector.

In Saturday’s issue, STATE TIMES had reported in detail that LeT was likely to carry out major attacks on Police and security forces in Central and South Kashmir particularly in and around Srinagar, on the highway.

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba spokesman Dr Abdullah Gaznavi said in a statement that in all two fidayeen of his group carried out the attack on CRPF convoy. He claimed that 13 soldiers were killed and 20 left injured. He said that both the militants involved in the attack were also killed on spot.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]

Despite reverses, LeT planning major strikes in Kashmir

Two groups of 10 militants on way to Srinagar, another group surveys Yatra route, South Kashmir alerted against terror strikes on Police

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jun 24: Even as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti claimed in reply to a question in the state Legislature on Tuesday that insurgency had dipped to its lowest ebb---total of 91 Kashmiri and 54 foreign militants---Kashmir valley in next half of the current year could experience a fresh spell of bloodshed as the formidable jihadist outfit, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, is believed to have tasked around 50 cadres with major strikes in Central and Southern Kashmir, particularly the summer capital of Srinagar.

According to highly placed authoritative sources, Police and security forces have been alerted against major terror strikes in and around Srinagar and the Police in South Kashmir have emerged to be the prime target of possible militant attacks this season.

Police and security agencies have received reports that Hizbul Mujahideen had, of late, mobilised its overground as well as underground cadres for identifying the Policemen of counterinsurgency background visiting their residences frequently in the four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama, including the Police district of Awantipora in south Kashmir. Authorities are expecting attacks on such soft targets besides June 4th-type strike.

On June 3rd, militants left three BSF men dead and five injured in a dare-devil attack on a convoy at Bijbehara, unprecedented on the highway in the last several years. Next day, two Policemen, including an ASI, were gunned down in broad daylight on KP Road, in Anantnag which had not witnessed such an audacious guerrilla strike in the last many years. Previously, two Policemen, including an ASI, were shot dead in broad daylight at Zadibal in Srinagar and another constable at Tengpora, on the highway bypass on May 23rd. Same night, Police claimed to have killed two Pakistani militants of LeT in an encounter in Saraiballa locality in Srinagar.

Subsequently, in Srinagar as well as in entire South Kashmir, Police and security forces have been asked to take no chances.

Simultaneously, authorities have received credible information that a group of three militants, led by Muzaffar Ahmad Naikoo of Hizbul Mujahideen, carried out reconnaissance survey of the Amarnath Yatra route from Shalteng to Wayil, via Sumbal, on June 12th after a meeting in an orchard in Shilvath, near Sumbal. Necessary security bandobust is being put in place to ensure that the pilgrimage beginning around 1st July was safe.

June 4th attack on the Policemen in Anantnag on the Yatra route has exposed the militants’ manoeuvrability in carrying out attacks on the pilgrim convoys even as Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has claimed that the militants were not planning any attack on the spiritual caravan.

Police and security agencies have learned how LeT top brass assigned some 50 highly trained and indoctrinated Pakistani cadres to conduct some major attacks on the hard targets, particularly J&K Police and security forces, in and around Srinagar in the months June through October. A particular group of 15 LeT militants managed to infiltrate into the Valley through Machhil. However, five militants of the group got killed in different encounters with Army.

Currently, remaining 10 militants of the group have split into two groups of five militants each and they are believed to be camping in Malangpora area of Bandipore. Headed by Abu Gaznavi and Mujahid Bhai, both the split groups are planning their passage to Srinagar. Earlier this month, militants of both Hizbul Mujahideen and LeT have been directed by their handlers to remain stationed in Srinagar.

Even in North Kashmir, at least three groups of LeT militants have infiltrated via Machhil and Nowgam-Uri strip. Even as seven militants of these groups have been killed in three encounters in Kupwara district in the last two days, officials believe double the number have already sneaked into the valley hinterland.

After several years of peace, barring some attacks in 2013, Central and South Kashmir are now in for a shock as the militants seem to be planning a fresh spell of guerrilla attacks. Earlier this year, a major attack on the highway occurred near Pampore at Sempora when LeT militants ambushed a paramilitary convoy and subsequently a bitter gunfight continued for two days at EDI complex.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister informed the Legislature that the militancy had shrunk to a trickle as, according to her, only 91 local militants and 54 foreigners were operating in the Valley.  She said that a total of 146 militancy related incidents had happened in Kashmir from 15-01-2015 to 15-01-2016 in which 190 people---including 47 forces personnel and 47 security forces and Police personnel---had got killed. In North Kashmir, 92 people--including 60 militants and 21 security forces and Police personnel---had been killed during the same period while as 54 people---including 34 militants and 12 security forces and Police personnel---had been killed in North Kashmir.

Thirty-seven militants had got killed in Kupwara, 18 in Pulwama, 16 in Baramulla and 9 in Shopian. Besides, 13 Police and security forces men got killed in Kupwara and 6 in Baramulla.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]

Mehbooba appears safe in 34% turnout Anantnag by-election

Boycott has an impact but no untoward incident, no major complaints

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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ANANTNAG, Jun 22: Even as only about one-third of the electorate turned up at the polling stations to exercise their franchise and two-third did not participate in the democratic exercise, polling for by-election on the all-important Anantnag segment was conducted by the authorities on Wednesday in the backdrop of a routine boycott call from different separatist and militant outfits. Ruling PDP’s President and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is seeking vote to become a member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly following her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s death in January.

In the 8-cornered contest, Mehbooba’s key rivals are Iftikhar Hussain Misgar of National Conference (NC) and Hilal Ahmad Shah of Congress. In 2014 Assembly election, PDP’s Mufti Sayeed had secured around 16,000 votes while as Shah and Misgar had polled 11,000 and 2500 respectively. In 6 months of having taken over as Chief Minister on April 4, Mehbooba is constitutionally bound to become an elected member of either Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council. While functioning as CM, she is retaining her seat in Parliament as in 2014 Lok Sabha elections she had been returned from South Kashmir for her second term.

Mehbooba has also won Assembly elections three times in her 20-year-long political career from Bijbehara, Pahalgam and Wachi segments in South Kashmir.

District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah told STATE TIMES that 33.84% voters exercised their right. He said that 102 polling stations had been set up for 84,067 voters. Of them 28, 446, including 638 migrants (out of 4229 migrant voters), cast their vote. This is around 5% short of the 39% turnout recorded in General Assembly elections here in 2014. DC said that the polling was conducted in a free and fair atmosphere with utmost transparency and cleanliness. He asserted that neither any untoward incident took place anywhere nor had he received any written complaint from any candidate or his authorised agent.

Later, addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu said that 15,384 male and 13,062 female regular voters, besides 638 migrants cast their vote. He said that 13 polling booths had been set up at Jammu for migrant voters and one each at Udhampur and Delhi, adding that 3 additional Observers were also deployed for these three locations.

Shantmanu said that the Election Commission of India had deployed 4 Observers including two General Observers, one Expenditure Observer and one Police and Security Observer for monitoring. He said 118 EVMs were used for the polling on 117 polling booths, saying that one EVM was replaced at Gangyal Jammu before start of poll as it developed technical snag. He said 582 personnel were detailed for election duty.

Shantmanu said that 102 polling booths were setup at 61 designated locations which included 52 hypersensitive and 50 sensitive polling stations. He said that 20 polling stations were set up as model polling stations equipped with necessary facilities. He said 77 Micro Observers were deployed on the booths to ensure free and fair polls. He said that webcasting facility at 20 polling booths and videography at 5 polling booths was also available to cover the poll process. He said that the postal ballots were also dispatched to migrants, service voters and detainees and under trials at different places.

Counting will take place on June 25 and results will be announced on the same day.

Different militant outfits and alliances, including United Jihad Council, had asked the people of Anantnag to completely boycott Wednesday’s polling. Besides, all the separatist political parties and conglomerates, including both factions of Hurriyat Conference, had also called for boycott to the election. Because of these calls, as also a degree of fear caused by the June 3 and June 4 killing of 5 Police and BSF personnel in Anantnag and Bijbehara, the polling recorded only a moderate voter turnout.

This correspondent interacted with polling staff, voters and election agents of different contesting candidates at around 40 polling stations. All of them said invariably that the polling was going on without a single complaint of bogus voting, bribing of voters, coercion by Police or security forces and other unfair means, Agents maintained that no non-voter had turned up in an attempt to cast a vote.

While as the peripheral polling stations of Kihribal, Krangsoo, Van Trag and Muniwar crossed 60 and 70% turnout, there was only poor to moderate polling in the main township of Anantnag. Hazratbal and New Qazibagh, the localities around the spot on KP Road where militants had gunned down two Policemen on June 4th, witnessed the lowest turnout of 6 to 7 percent. DC Anantnag claimed that not a single polling booth had drawn blank like in many of the previous elections.

Liaquat Nazir, a BA Hons Political Science student of Jamia Millia Islamia, who lives in Muniwar neighbourhood but is not registered as a voter, said on the pattern of the voting: “Most of the people here are voting for Mehbooba Mufti because she is the sitting Chief Minister and the people feel that she could give them the best of development. They think they would become disempowered if Ms Mufti loses the election and Chief Ministership. Many of the voters here had favoured Congress candidate Hilal Ahmad Shah in 2014 with the expectation that Congress could form the government with NC. Today, even if he is elected, he will have no powers and would have to sit in opposition. That’s the wastage of a vote”.

Nazir and over 50 others, who were interviewed at different polling stations, maintained that Mehbooba’s alliance with BJP-RSS was no issue in Anantnag. “Those who are worried about the Nation of Kashmir have boycotted the polling. Those who want development, employment etc have exercised their right---this time for Beti Chief Minister. Had she not been CM, it would have been hard for her to get a vote”.

NC candidate Misgar’s brother in law Dr Feroz  said in Mir Dantar locality that PDP would win again. He, however, added that Misgar would stand at number two this time as Shah of Congress had become a very week candidate and lost a chunk of his voters in the last two years.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]

Blatant goof up by CM-headed SHRC selection panel

Recommendation for Justice Imtiyaz stopped before going to Governor

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jun 20: In an embarrassing development for Mehbooba Mufti Government, the selection panel headed by Chief Minister has selected retired judge of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain as Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) despite his ineligibility on account of his having served as Member of Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission (SAC).

On June 17th, the selection panel comprising Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Speaker Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta, Chairman Legislative Council Haji Inayat Ali, Leader of largest opposition party in the Assembly Omar Abdullah, Leader of the largest opposition party in the Legislative Council Ali Muhammad Dar and Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan met here and finalized the name of Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain for position of Chairman SHRC.

According to the law that governs appointment of the Chairman and Members of SAC, which Mr Hussain has served for full term of three years, neither Chairman nor any member can be appointed as Chairman or Member of any Commission after his retirement. Section 6, sub section 2 of Jammu and Kashmir Accountability Commission Act 2002 reads: “ (2) On ceasing to hold office, the Chairperson and every other member shall be ineligible for (i) reappointment in the Accountability Commission; (ii) any other assignment which is required by law to be made by the Governor by warrant under his hand and seal; and (iii) further  employment to any other office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of a State.

Justice Hakim, who retired as a judge of J&K High Court in 2011, has served as member of SAC and thus become eligible for any further appointment in the government. He is presently heading a committee set-up by the Government to regulate fee structure of private schools in the State.

Former judge of J&K High Court Nisar Ahmad Kakru, who has also served as Chairman of Human Rights Commission in Andhra Pradesh and another retired judge of J&K High Court and some other High Courts Bilal Nazki, besides Imtiyaz Hussain had been reportedly shortlisted by the State Law Department that provides service to the selection panel. Reports said that former Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jang Bahadur Singh Jamwal was chosen as Member of SHRC.

Before the recommendations for issuing warrant of appointment would go to Governor, it was pointed out in Law Department that a major goof up had been committed by the panel headed by Chief Minister.

According to legal experts, the rider of ineligibility for further appointments has been put in place for Chairpersons and Members of J&K State Public Service Commission, SAC, SHRC etcetera so that their urge for subsequent appointments in the government would not tilt their balance in favour of the government. Sources said that this ineligibility rider has been acquired from similar provision governing appointment of heads and members of the commissions of Government of India.

Comprising a chairperson and four members, SHRC in J&K has been totally defunct since June 28, 2014. It has been headless since Justice (retd) Bashir-ud-Din completed his tenure as its chairperson in October 2011. While Abdur Rashid Khan, former Inspector General of Police, completed his term as member in November 2011, another member Javaid Ahmad Kawoos retired on October 24, 2013. Remaining two members, Amlok Singh and Rafiq Fida, retired in June 2014.

Commissioner-Secretary Law Mohammad Ashraf Mir admitted that a goof up had occurred. He revealed to STATE TIMES that the file had been stopped from going to Raj Bhawan where Governor N.N. Vohra would examine it and issue warrant of appointment. He said that the selection panel would meet afresh and make a fresh recommendation.

END

[Published in today’s STATE TIMES]

Beleaguered Revenue Minister Bukhari assures enquiry in Roshni scam

MLAs of NC, Congress, PDP and BJP demand retrieval of fraudulently grabbed State land; ask Minister why Government is concealing names of beneficiary politicians, officials

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Jun 18: Cutting across party lines, members of almost all the mainstream political parties---National Conference, Congress, PDP and BJP---on Saturday forced Minister of Revenue Syed Basharat Bukhari to assure Legislative Assembly that the Government would order an enquiry into fraudulent transfer of State lands to unauthorised occupants under the smokescreen of so-called Roshni Act.

While responding to a high-voltage debate over the question of NC MLA and former Speaker Mubarak Gul, a beleaguered Bukhari put up resistance for some time but finally said: “I assure the House that we will order an enquiry into it (Roshni scam)”.

Earlier, in his reply to the question, Bukhari revealed that 2,29,691 Kanals and 2 Marlas of state land had been transferred to 50,157 beneficiaries as per the Roshni Act in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that in Kashmir province 19,293 Kanals of the state land had been transferred among 10,328 beneficiaries. In Jammu province 2,10,398 Kanals of state land had been transferred among 39,829 beneficiaries.

Bukhari said that an amount of Rs 77,05,65,989 had been realised as cost of the land from the beneficiaries under the law. Of this Rs 54 crore had been collected in Kashmir and Rs 24 crore in Jammu.

During the course of his supplementary questions, Gul wanted to know whether the scheme was still in operation or it had been closed down in 2007 with its last extension. He also highlighted that influential people had grabbed thousands of Kanals of State land under Roshni scheme and managed to transfer it to their name by fraudulent means. While demanding a commission of enquiry, Gul and some other legislators asked for retrieval of the lands from illegal beneficiaries and stringent action against them as also the officials involved in the scandal.

Members of almost all the political parties joined the chorus and demanded an enquiry and retrieval of the fraudulently transferred lands. BJP’s Rajiv Jasrotia alleged that huge bungling in transfer of land to beneficiaries, especially politicians and bureaucrats, had taken place. Articulating the demand of enquiry, Jasrotia reminded the House that the Government had committed to collect Rs 25,000 crore as cost of the transferred land from the beneficiaries so as to create power plants and generate uninterrupted electricity for the State. He pointed out that only a meagre amount of Rs 77 crore had been realised and the scheme’s basic purpose had been defeated. “It has proved to be a big fraud. Will the Government revoke all transfer orders and retrieve the land from the beneficiaries? Why doesn’t the Minister name the politicians and bureaucrats who have unfairly benefitted from this scheme?”, Jasrotia asked.

PDP’s MLA and former Minister Mohammad Ashraf Mir too joined the chorus and demanded constitution of a commission of enquiry. While asserting that the Government was shielding the beneficiaries and the Minister had not named them as demanded in NC MLA’s question, Mir asked why the answer about Srinagar Municipality had been given but the same concealed about Jammu Municipality.

 Replying to the allegations, the Minister admitted that Roshni scheme was introduced to generate revenue of Rs 25,000 crore for the state. “I was then working in Radio Kashmir when it was said that it will generate a revenue of Rs 25,000 crore and help the state to start new power projects in the state”, Bukhari said. He said that a PIL on this issue was under consideration of Jammu and Kashmir High Court. He sought suggestions from members for churning out corrective measures.

“Mein abhi andheri mein hoon, Roshni ki taraf nahi aaya hoon”. (I am fresh with this portfolio and have not touched the Roshni scheme yet). It will take me some time to understand it and formulate necessary remedial measures”, Bukhari pleaded. However the members refused to relent. Finally the Minister obliged them with his assurance that the Government would order an enquiry into the Roshni scam.

Minister revealed that Jammu and Kashmir Land Records Management Agency, a nodal agency of revenue department had outsourced the activities of the project, modernization of land records in the state including digitization of revenue records in a phased manner.

END

For word ‘BOMB’ on their bag, 2 Kashmiri girls detained at IGI Airport in New Delhi

Both MBBS students of Bangladesh college let off, putting up at J&K House for night, reaching Srinagar on Saturday morning

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, June 17: Security authorities at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Friday detained two Kashmiri girls, Huzefa Mushtaq of Kursoo Rajbagh and Naqshab Ashraf of Shaheed Gunj Srinagar, who were returning from Dhaka to Srinagar via Kolkata.

Family members of the two girls told STATE TIMES that Huzefa and Naqshab, who are MBBS students with Bangladesh Medical College Dhaka, left for India last night. Their flight took off at Dhaka airport at 9.30 pm. Traveling with five other Kashmiri female students of MBBS, Huzefa and Naqshab reached Kolkata at 11.30 p.m. and stayed at the airport for the night as they had not exit for person or luggage.

At 6.30 a.m. on Friday, all seven Kashmiri girls boarded Go Air flight at Kolkata and reached IGI Airport New Delhi around 8.30 a.m. On their landing at IGI Airport where they had to catch connecting Go Air flight for Srinagar at 3.30 p.m. Huzefa and Naqshab were detained by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as some passengers pointed out to the security that the word ‘BOMB’ was labelled on their bag.

Both the girls were subjected to thorough questioning and detained for a long time by Delhi Police, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and intelligence agencies. Five other Kashmiri girls were let off. However, they protested the manner of detention and questioning on flimsy ground and asked the officials who the fool on earth would carry a bomb with the label of ‘BOMB’ on the luggage. As Huzefa and Naqshab were not released for two hours, five Kashmiri girls refused to leave the airport. Thereupon, Huzefa and Naqshab urged them to leave for Srinagar so that their parents could learn about their detention and take up the matter with the State government.

On their arrival in Srinagar, the five girls called the parents of Huzefa and Naqshab and narrated the whole story. Huzefa’s father told STATE TIMES that he and Naqshab’s family members met SSP Airprt Srinagar Manzoor Dalal and Go Air Manager Aamir Meraj and sought their help but both expressed helplessness. They maintained till late in the night that they had no knowledge about the safety and whereabouts of their daughters who had not called any of the family members by telephone.

It was late in the night that officials of CID Cell in New Delhi called STATE TIMES and informed that both the girls had been traced. Both had gone out of the airport but returned to stay at the airport for a night in order to board Srinagar-bound Go Air flight at 5.45 a.m. Saturday.

“We went to the airport and got them back. They are now staying comfortably at J&K House Chanakyapuri. We will escort them to airport where they will be boarding Go Air flight for Srinagar at 5.45 a.m. tomorrow. We also arranged their telephonic conversation with their parents”, said a senior CID Cell official in New Delhi.

END