Thousands flee Kargil
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Aug 19 — Panic has again gripped residents of Kargil town forcing thousands of people to flee to safer places following renewed shelling of the Kharbu and Kaksar areas by Pakistani troops.

Official sources said Pakistan troops resorted to heavy shelling of three inhabited pockets in Kargil in which three civilians were injured. Some of the shells damaged several houses. The passenger transport services on the Drass-Kargil road were affected.

What has caused concern in government quarters is that militants have extended their activities to Kargil sector. This was confirmed when a group of militants equipped with sophisticated weapons opened fire on one Army picket at Matiyar in Drass. Though there was no casualty the firing on Army picket by the militants in the area is the first of its type. Earlier, the militants damaged a security vehicle with IED blast on the Drass-Kargil road.

Reports said during the past three weeks Kargil has witnessed intermittent but heavy Pak shelling and one main reason behind this unprovoked shelling has been to provide fire cover to the militants. According to these reports, some groups of militants have sneaked into Kargil town from across the border others have travelled from Kashmir to the Shia-dominated area soon after the Srinagar-Leh road was thrown open in June last.

Official sources are of the opinion that Pak plan was to involve more area in the state so as to create confusion among the security forces and force the government to bear additional burden on its exchequer. During the past nine years insurgency which took roots in Srinagar travelled to other parts of the valley which was followed by subversive violence in Doda district. And during the past two years, Poonch, Udhampur and Rajouri districts have been made the target for militant operations. And now it is the turn of Kargil to bear the brunt of insurgency.

As compared to Doda or Udhampur Kargil is a highly strategic and sensitive area. In case militants succeed in establishing their bases in Kargil town and its adjoining areas it could pose serious threat to the security of entire Ladakh region which is surrounded by Pakistan, and China. In addition to this the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road can come under threat of the militants.

Knowledgeable circles are of the firm opinion that Pak agencies were trying to lure Shia-youths belonging to the Kargil area to militancy. So far the people of the town have remained away from anti-India armed campaign. And by creating terror among the people by shelling the Kargil town Pak agencies want to force people to allow the militants to establish hideouts from where they could operate freely against the security forces.

Defence Ministry sources said that Pakistani troops resorted to intermittent shelling on Kaksar-Drass-Kargil area to snap the supply line by damaging the Srinagar-Leh road. The sources said that on the basis of the reports that several groups of militants have sneaked into Kargil sector an action plan had been formulated to launch a manhunt for the insurgents.

The sources said Pakistan troops used several types of weapons, including air defence guns, for pounding the Indian villages. The Indian troops retaliated everytime Pak soldiers opened artillery and mortar fire.

Indian, Pak troops exchange fire

JAMMU, Aug 19 (PTI) — Indian troops and Pakistani Rangers exchanged fire at three places along the international border in the Jammu region last night, a BSF spokesman said here today.

He said the Pakistani Rangers targeted two border outposts of Alfa Machal and Garoda in the R.S. Pura sub-sector and one post of Bobiya in the Samba sub-sector from 9 p.m. yesterday to 3 a.m. today.

The BSF troops, returned the fire and the intermittent exchange continued, he said, adding there was no report of any casualty or damage to property.

On Monday a flag meeting was held between the BSF and Pakistani Rangers at the octroi post in R.S. Pura sector to review the situation, the spokesman said.

The meeting was held on the request of the Pakistani rangers and both sides agreed to minimise firing and engage in a dialogue in case of any dispute, the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, a report from Srinagar said six persons, including a security force jawan and four militants were killed in the state since last evening.

An official spokesman said here today that three militants of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen and a security force jawan were killed in a fierce encounter in Badgam district of Central Kashmir last evening.

Two security personnel also sustained injuries in the encounter. Some arms and ammunition were seized from the site of the encounter, he said.

Two persons, including a militant, were killed in an exchange of fire in frontier district of Kupwara last night, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said security forces arrested two militants from Malaratta in downtown Srinagar and seized a big cache of arms and ammunition which included eight AK assault rifles, eight pistols and a bag containing hand grenades.

Security forces also recovered a rocket, a hand grenade and 43 rounds of ammunition during search operations in Poonch district last evening, the spokesman said.

A militant surrendered to the security forces in Kupwara district, he said.

NC watches as Opposition MLAs clash
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 19 — The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today witnessed noisy scenes with heated exchanges between the Opposition Congress and BJP members on the issue of massacres in Doda district in recent months.

The Congress members, led by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Ms Mehbooba Mufti staged a walk-out from the House in protest against the "insufficient" reply of the Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Lone to a question on the issue of relief and compensation to Doda victims. BJP members objected to the statements of the Congress members on the selective killings and engaged in heated exchanges with Congress members.

The heated exchanges continued between the two opposition groups with ruling National Conference members watching the noisy scenes between the two party members as proceedings of the House continued uninterrupted.

The Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil's repeated directives to the Congress members to take their seats failed to calm them down. Mr Vakil later ruled that the Congress member, Ms Mehbooba Mufti's supplementary did not pertain to the question. Then when the Mufti's question came up in the list of questions for oral answers refused to put it before the House as her supplementary question was not satisfactorily answered.

Ms Mehbooba Mufti wanted the government to give "the definition of the cross-firing and encounter", as she felt that members of the one community were being selectively killed and the government defended the killing of Muslims.

In his reply, the Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Lone stated that 83 civilians were killed in cross-firing in Doda district since the start of militancy. He added that 73 next-of-kin of the deceased were provided ex-gratia relief of Rs 73 lakh, and employment was given to 28 persons. This was in reply to a question tabled by Javed Najib Suharwardy.

Noisy scenes were again witnessed during zero hour, when members of the opposition parties cutting across party lines objected to the statement of Bhagat Ram Chand about reservation to Scheduled Castes. Again the ruling National Conference members watched a virtual scuffle between opposition members.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah cautioned the people against "Pakistan's machinations" saying that after "completing their designs in Afghanistan, the Taliban might be diverted" to Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking on a calling attention motion of Mr G.S. Charak on migration of families from the Darhal area in the Legislative Council, Dr Abdullah said while the security forces and the government would do their best to meet the new challenge, there was a greater need to create a positive awareness all over the country about lurking dangers. He said in order to prevent border crossing an Army garrison was being stationed shortly at Bhaderwah to strengthen the security environment in Doda.

Amarnath Yatra Trust to be formed
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 19 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah said here today that the Amarnath Yatra Trust was being constituted on the pattern of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Trust.

Responding to a resolution by Mr M.Y. Tariganj in the assembly Dr Abdullah said the Trust would be constituted soon. He added that the trust would supervise the pilgrimage to the cave shrine on the pattern of the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu.

Earlier, moving the resolution in this regard, Mr Tarigami stated that a separate "nodal agency" should be set up to monitor the arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra. Various members belonging to Anantnag district supported the move. They said that the district administration was engaged in the yatra arrangements at the cost of the development of the district.

Three other resolutions were moved in the House today. These included the demand for bringing the reservation rules for the Scheduled Castes on a par with those of the Centre and other states, subsistence allowance for educated unemployed youth and uniform syllabi from the lowest classes in government, semi-government and private educational institutions.

Operation to flush out militants

JAMMU, Aug 19 (PTI) — The police and security forces have launched a major operation to flush out militants from the higher reaches connecting Doda and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir with Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district, a top police official said here today.

The operation was launched following the militants' second strike in Chamba, Inspector General of Police (Jammu zone) Kuldeep Khuda said here today.

Militants yesterday shot dead three members of the Gaddi community in Chip Chora village of Chamba.

Mr Khuda said contingents of the Rashtriya Rifles, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the state police were rushed yesterday to the Chatragala and Padri Gali areas of Doda bordering Chamba district.

Simultaneously, police and CRPF personnel launched operations from the Bani side of Kathua district of the state.

He said the authorities in Himachal Pradesh had also deployed the police in Chamba to track down the militants.