Chief of Army reviews security situation in J&K; Ladakh inches closer to Union Territory status; Clashes reported in Ganderbal; BSF firing in Gool, Ramban district of Jammu leaves civilians dead; Union Home Minister orders probe into the BSF firing; Amarn
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  • (JULY 15-21)

    According to reports, with spurt in militancy-related incidents from last some time, Army Chief General Bikram Singh on July 15 arrived in Kashmir and reviewed the overall security situation of state. The Army Chief’s two-day visit assumes significance in the wake of number of militant attacks in Kashmir recently, including the one on an Army convoy in Srinagar on June 24 that left 8 soldiers dead. 1

    Reports noted that Ladakh on July 16 inched closer to achieving the Union Territory (UT) status as the National Conference-Congress coalition government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conceded to the crucial demands of Leh and Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Councils by agreeing to grant a separate police range for the region. The government also agreed to grant powers to both Councils for transfer of officers other than district officers. 2

    According to reports, police resorted to baton-charge and fired number of tear smoke shells in air to disperse protesters at Dangarpora on the Srinagar-Leh highway, in district Ganderbal on July 16. The protesters were demanding probe into the mysterious death of a local youth Abid Hussain Ganai at Udaipur on July 13. As the protesters marched towards Srinagar-Leh highway, police and paramilitary CRPF men intercepted them. However the protesters showed stiff resistance, triggering clashes. 3

    According to reports, traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway and almost all inter-district roads in Jammu region remained off the roads for the second consecutive day on 19 July due to prevailing tension in the region following killing of four persons in Gool, Ramban, in BSF firing. Meanwhile, Amarnath yatra from Jammu was suspended on July 19 in the wake of tension. No fresh batch of pilgrims was allowed to proceed towards the Kashmir Valley. 4

    Reports noted that Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on July 18 ordered an inquiry into the firing incident in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district and said any excessive use of force will be dealt with strictly. Expressing regret over the unfortunate incident, the Home Minister said the loss of life in the incident was particularly sad and offered his deep condolence to the bereaved families. The Centre has asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to keep a strict vigil over the situation in the State. 5

    In other developments, according to reports, four persons, including a government lecturer and an Imam, were killed and around 42 others injured when paramilitary Border Security Force men resorted to indiscriminate firing twice on a protest demonstration in Dharam, Gool, area of Jammu division’s Ramban district on July 18. 6

    According to reports, an under-trial former militant of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed while four policemen and a civilian were injured when unidentified persons hurled a grenade on a police vehicle in Batamaloo area of Srinagar on 17th July. The slain militant was the former bodyguard of Hizbul Mujahideen and United Jihad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahudin. 7

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