Road to link Siachen posts

SIACHEN GLACIER, Aug 27 (UNI) — In an engineering marvel, a high-tech road would be built to connect various Indian Army posts on Siachen Glacier.

This and various other requirements of the troops deployed in the glacier region would be discussed and prioritised for implementation in a time-bound manner at a high-level meeting convened by Defence Minister George Fernandes at New Delhi on September 7.

Defence Minister George Fernandes himself announced the convening of this high-level meeting while addressing troops at the Siachen Glacier base camp at a height of 11,700 feet and several other forward Indian Army posts in the Ladakh region yesterday.

In an informal chat with mediapersons, the minister explained that the meeting was essentially not to discuss whether or not the requirements of the troops had to be met but to prioritise these for time-bound implementation.

Besides top Defence Ministry and Army officials deployed in Siachen, also present at the meeting will would be Defence Research and Development Organisation and Border Roads Organisation officials.

When pointed out that the construction of such a road may involve a huge expenditure, Mr Fernandes justified it on the ground that it would be a one-time expenditure.

The Defence Minister observed that even otherwise road construction was not up to the mark in the region. Mr Fernandes stoutly justified the construction of such a high-tech road saying sometimes there was criticism that a lot of expenses were involved in the Siachen operations. He pointed out that everything had to be airlifted and once such a road was constructed, it would facilitate things on a permanent basis.

The meeting, besides several other matters, would prioritise the construction of roads in the far-flung region.

He said the construction of this high-tech road and other roads in the Ladakh region would result in a lot of savings in the long run and contribute towards the development of the region.

Mr Fernandes rejected a suggestion that there may be a need to augment troops in the glacier region. "There is no need to augment our forces in the region", the Defence Minister stated categorically.

The minister said what was needed was more sophisticated equipment and he had already convened a meeting for the purpose.

Asked to identify the requests made by the Army, the Defence Minister declined to give all the details but said the request included gun-locating radars.

He said other items on the agenda of the meeting were a heating system at the Siachen base hospital and air conditioning facilities.

The minister said the need of the hour was quick and immediate action and not discussion.

Addressing troops of the Assam Regiment, Mr Fernandes said people did not have adequate understanding of defence issues. Talking to the jawans at the Siachen base camp, the minister observed that the problems faced by the troops comprised a part of national security.

He said all talk of providing comforts to troops deployed in sub-minus temperatures was foolhardy. All that could be and should be done was lessen their hardship to the extent possible as they had decided to sacrifice their lives for the nation.

The minister said it was the paramount duty of the people to understand the kind of situation being faced by the troops and the sub-human conditions they were facing.

Mr Fernandes, talking to mediapersons atop the 18,300 ft Khardungla Pass, ruled out demilitarisation of the Siachen glacier area in the near future and said Pakistan was not "serious" towards a settlement.

The Defence Minister did not foresee the possibility of de-escalation of tension in the glacier region but categorically stated that the prevailing situation would not lead to a full-scale war.

Asked who was responsible for the prevailing situation in the glacier region, the Defence Minister said: "It takes two to settle a dispute or get it going. But certainly Pakistan is not serious towards any settlement as we have not progressed an inch in spite of the best efforts on our part and talks at all possible levels."

Mr Fernandes stressed that "all these issues (including demilitarisation and de-escalation of Siachen) had been discussed between India and Pakistan during the past six years without any result.’’

In response to another query, the minister said: "At the moment we are commanding these heights and we dominate them.’’

Answering a question on the costs involved in Siachen operations, the minister admitted that "a lot of money’’ was being spent but clarified that what was being printed was highly exaggerated.

"The ultimate question is not money but the security of the country and we are guarding our frontiers,’’ Mr Fernandes said.

The minister, referring to the casualties involved observed: "We are losing lives which cannot be evaluated but it is the question of guarding our frontiers.’’

Hizbul commander held

SRINAGAR, Aug 27 (PTI, UNI) — A self-styled company commander of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen was among five militants arrested, while six militants and two women were killed in separate incidents in the state since last evening.

An official spokesman said the Jammu and Kashmir police apprehended a self-styled company commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Ghulam Hassan Lone, from Diankhun village in Nowgam area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir today.

Lone, reportedly involved in the murder of Wali Mohammad Yatoo, a former Speaker, in Jammu four years back, was being questioned, the spokesman said, describing his arrest as a "major breakthrough".

Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Kurigam-Qazigund in Anantnag.

The security forces killed a foreign mercenary identified as Abu Abid at Sanai-Surankot village in Poonch district today. An assault rifle, two loaded pistols and a wireless set were recovered from him.

Shops and business establishments in Srinagar remained closed in response to a call by the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) in protest against the police action on peaceful marchers at Badshah Chowk in the heart of the city yesterday.

At least six police personnel were injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling was blown up after militants detonated a powerful improvised explosive device at Duroo in Anantnag this afternoon around 1245 hours.

Militants entered the house of Ghulam Hassan and shot dead his wife Basrah Begum at Bathri village while a body was recovered in Badgam this morning.

He said militants shot dead Latiefa at Phagla and another woman sustained bullet wounds.

A report from Jammu said the Jammu and Kashmir Special Operation Group killed a militant and injured two in an encounter near Luthung bridge in Surankote of Poonch district late last night.

Unruly scenes in J&K Assembly
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 27 — The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today witnessed unruly scenes when five members of the Opposition staged a dharna in the well of the House and later staged a walkout over the policy of admission to colleges in the Jammu region.

Mr Harsh Dev Singh of the Panthers Party staged a dharna in the well of the House during zero hour. He was drawing the attention of the House towards students strike in the Jammu region against the admission policy recently announced by the government.

He expressed concern over the hike in the fee structure in the colleges. He alleged that students were being denied admission to the colleges even though most of them could be accommodated, taking into consideration the intake capacity of these colleges.

Raising slogans against the government policy of admission and the hike in the fee structure from Rs 400 to 1300, Harsh Dev Singh staged a dharna in the House. He was later joined by Mr Lal Singh, Mr Tara Chand, Mr Ashok Kumar Sharma and Mr Jagdish Raj Dubey.

While the Deputy Speaker, Mr Malik Ghulam Haider, was in chair for the proceedings off the House today, the Revenue Minister, Mr Ali Mohammad Naik, intervened and referred to the rules about disruption of proceedings in the House.

The Deputy Speaker allowed the proceedings of the House to go on in spite of the references made to the violation of rules by some other Opposition members. These members included Mr Piara Singh and Mr Prithvi Chand.

PTI adds: Round-the-clock vigil is being maintained along the borders and remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir to check militancy and prevent incidents of selective killings, the state Assembly was informed on Thursday.

Replying to a call attention motion moved by Ashok Kumar Sharma of the Congress, Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmad Lone said steps taken to control militant activities included efforts towards effective sealing of the border and along the line of control for which some additional forces had arrived while others were still arriving.

He said although Pakistan's ISI had failed to sustain militancy in the state, it had now devised a new strategy to indulge in acts with communal overtones to infuse new blood to the sagging militancy in the state.

The minister assured the members that appropriate response to this new strategy had been planned and put into operation in the state, particularly in Doda district and the hilly areas of Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri districts.

Traders put up shutters
against police action
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 27 — All shops and business establishments remained closed today in response to the bandh call given by the Traders Federation in protest against police action on the protesting traders in which over 20 members were injured in the Lal Chowk area yesterday.

Police sources here today said that seven policemen and a DSP were injured in the demonstrations yesterday wherein agitating traders clashed with the police. The incidents of stone pelting were also reported. The federation claimed that more than 20 of its members were injured in the police action as the police indulged in an "unprovoked" lathi charge and teargas shelling. The traders had decided to hold a procession towards the Assembly seeking sales tax exemption, waiving interest on loans and reviewing decision on hike in power tariff.

In reaction to the demand for initiating a dialogue with the Traders Federation by Mr M.Y. Tarigami in the Assembly today, the Finance Minister Mr Mohammad Shafi, said the amnesty package for the recovery of sales tax arrears was formulated after several rounds of discussions with the traders' federations of Jammu and Kashmir. The question was raised by the CPM MLA, Mr M.Y. Tarigami during zero hour.

The Finance Minister said the government was always open to the dialogue and it was in this spirit that discussions were held with the Jammu Traders Federation and the Kashmir Traders Federation. He said a joint meeting was held with both traders' federations at Jammu in October last where it was decided that the traders would clear the outstanding dues in 20 quarterly instalments subject to the condition that they would pay the 1997-98 sales tax in one go.

Mr Mohammad Shafi said that under the amnesty package the interest and the penalty had been waived and the traders had only to pay the principal amount in instalments. He said that about Rs 344 crore were outstanding as sales tax from the traders which ranged between Rs 5 lakh and 3 crore.

The minister regretted the agitational attitude adopted by the traders and said that as responsible citizens the traders should pay the arrears.

During zero hour, the NC MLA, Mr Mohammad Shafi Bhat also expressed concern over the police action against traders here yesterday.

General Malik visits Tiger Division
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Aug 27 — The Chief of Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, visited the Tiger Division today. On arrival at Jammu, the General was received by Lt-Gen D.S. Chauhan.

General Malik visited the forward areas near R.S. Pura immediately on arrival. He was received by the General Officer Commanding, Tiger Division, Major-General Bhopinder Singh. The General was briefed on the prevailing situation in the region and the measures being adopted by the BSF to check infiltration by militants in the Jammu sector.

General Malik appreciated the efforts being put in by the agencies engaged in fighting militancy and exhorted them to continue to perform better.

Fernandes makes record of sorts

LEH, Aug 27 (UNI) — Defence Minister George Fernandes has made a record of sorts by crossing the 18,380 ft high Khardungla Pass, the world’s highest motorable pass, twice within 24 hours.

Mr Fernandes is the first Defence Minister to undertake the arduous 270-km road journey from Leh to the Siachen base camp and back within 24 hours.

The Defence Minister, who completed 68 years on June 3, refused to use Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters for visiting troops at Siachen and chose to go by road to be able to interact with the troops on a one-to-one basis.

Mr Fernandes completed the first lap of 53 km from Leh to Khardungla in three and a half hours, the second lap of 45 km from Khardungla to Khalsar in two hours, the third lap of 21 km from Khalsar to Diskit in 45 minutes and the last lap of 16 km from Diskit to Partapur in 30 minutes.