Firing bleeding Pak dry: Farooq
JAMMU, Nov 9 — Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has emphasised the need for continuing talks with Pakistan so that a solution can be hammered out for all bilateral problems. He said no doubt Islamabad cannot be trusted. Still, there was no harm in keeping parleys going.

7 foreign mercenaries killed in valley
SRINAGAR, Nov 9 — Seven foreign mercenaries were among 12 persons killed in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday, while security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations.

300 BJYM activists held, let off
JAMMU, Nov 9 — Government offices opened here today after a lapse of six months with activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, youth wing of the BJP, holding a demonstration in protest against alleged discrimination against Jammu and Ladakh and the rise in militancy, corruption and the failure of the state administration to give jobs to the educated unemployed.

8 die in accident near Sonmarg
SRINAGAR, Nov 9 — Eight persons were killed when a truck coming from Leh to Srinagar met with an accident near Sonmarg, 100 km from here, yesterday.

Firing bleeding Pak dry: Farooq
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 9 — Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has emphasised the need for continuing talks with Pakistan so that a solution can be hammered out for all bilateral problems. He said no doubt Islamabad cannot be trusted. Still, there was no harm in keeping parleys going.

Talking to newsmen on the opening day of the Durbar in the winter capital here today Dr Abdullah said that Pakistan "has realised now that by launching armed campaign against its neighbour it will not be in the interest of Islamabad." He said Pakistan should understand that by waging a proxy war and shelling the border villages it had merely created hellish conditions for the common people on both sides of the border.

They fire mortar shells, each costing Rs 30,000 and we retaliate. And the result is economic bleed on both sides," he said adding that seizure of "two flying bombs" from the forest belt of Kalakot had added an alarming dimension to the ongoing Pak-sponsored proxy war. He said the police and the troops were aware of the problem and were doing a good job of tackling militants.

Referring to heavy Pak shelling in Hiranagar he said that people on this side of the border had been subjected to severe hardships. "They can neither carry out farming practices, nor can send their children to the schools nor are safe in their houses," he said adding that the state Government would discuss the issue with the Hiranagar migrants and other security agencies.

He blamed Pakistan for adopting an insincere attitude at the Indo-Pak talks. He said the Tulbul project was in the interests of both the countries but Pakistan continued to create hurdles. Siachen glacier belonged to India and Islamabad had no legal and moral ground to lay claim to it. He suggested Pakistan demarcate the border on the glacier and stop indulging in reckless firing on Indian village.

Claiming that his government has good relations with the BJP-led Government in the Centre, the Chief Minister however expressed sorrow at problems being faced due to the acute cash crunch. He said he had already taken up this issue with the Centre and the Planning Commission and he hoped the state would get additional funds. He said in the absence of financial assistance from the centre several development works had been abandoned. "We have to fulfil the aspirations of people and we cannot do it without the fiscal assistance from the Centre," he said.

Dr Abdullah referred to largescale destruction caused in Kargil and Tangdhar sectors in Pak shelling and said "we need funds for rebuilding the damaged houses, for construction of bunkers and for giving compensation and ration to the affected families."

He said that the Centre was also in a difficult financial position because of the economic sanctions imposed by the USA and Japan. He hoped the situation would ease now that USA had announced that some sanctions would be lifted.

In reply to a question regarding sales tax raid on Ansari Motors owned by the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Maulvi Iftkhar Hussain Ansari, the Chief Minister said that the Government had to act against tax evaders. "We shall give same treatment to ministers and commoners as far as recovery of tax arrears is concerned," he said adding that the government would re-examine the representation made by Ansari Motors regarding wrong assessment of sales tax arrears.

Regarding the recent statement of the Minister for Information, Mr Ajatshatru that he would resign if he learnt that the demolition of his house had the support of the Chief Minister, Dr Abdullah said that the minister's statement was premature and wrong. He said he had not sought permission from the concerned government agencies for rebuilding a damaged house and for construction of another house in the green belt area. At the same time the government will examine why the demolition was not ordered at the time the plinth was raised. He advised his ministers not to go to the press for in 'mud-slinging'.

Asked whether the BJP government was in danger of being dislodged the Chief Minister said that he did not see any danger to the BJP-led government.

"It does not matter whether the government survives or not. Governments come and go but the country remains," he said adding that some alliance partners were creating problems for the Centre. He said some women leaders, especially Jayalalitha and Mamata Banerjee, had been giving pinpricks to the Vajpayee-led government. These pinpricks had weakened the government. But this gave a bad name to the country.

He said that he had already taken up the issue of grant of visa to Sikh pilgrims wishing to visit shrines in Pakistan with the Centre. He had even requested Mr I. K. Gujral, who has 'personal ralations' with Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, to persuade the Pakistan Government to grant visas to all Sikh pilgrims wishing to visit the shrines.

In reply to a question Dr Abdullah said the law and order situation was not 'quite bad' in Jammu and Kashmir. "We are fighting the proxy war and we hope that Pakistan will understand the futility of its anti-India armed campaign," he said.

7 foreign mercenaries killed in valley
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Nov 9 — Seven foreign mercenaries were among 12 persons killed in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday, while security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations.

Four militants including two foreigners were killed in an encounter with the joint operations group of Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces at Peerbagh on the outskirts of Srinagar city this morning. The identity of those killed was yet to be ascertained. An official of the police and a security force Jawan were also injured in the exchange of fire. The security forces recovered four AK rifles from the site of the encounter, the police said.

Giving details of the encounter, the police said that a police party assisted by the security forces, cordoned off Peerbagh locality on specific information this morning. During searches, hiding militants fired upon the security forces and the police party. In the retaliatory fire four militants, including two foreigners were killed. Peerbagh locality on Srinagar airport road falls in Budgam district and has heavy movement of high security and civil administration officers due to its proximity to the airport about three kilometres away.

This is the second such incident in the capital during the past fortnight in which foreign militants were killed in encounters with security forces. Last month two foreign militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Bemina, another outskirt in the north of the city.

Five foreign militants and a Jawan of the security forces were killed in a fierce encounter at Neelipora, in Kupwara district yesterday. A security forces Jawan was also injured in the exchange of fire. Five residential houses in which the militants had taken refuge were gutted in the firefight.

Unidentified militants shot dead Abdul Majid alias Col Majid, and Ikhwan counterinsurgent in Qazigund area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir last night. The police said that Majid was killed after he was kidnapped from the house.

The police said that militants shot dead Nazir Ahmed at Darhal in Rajouri district of Jammu division on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

Security forces recovered 32 detonators and some IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) from Plangh village in Rajouri district yesterday. Further investigations to nab those involved are on.

The police here said that a grenade was found near the taxi stand at Jehangir Chowk this morning. It was later defused by experts.

In an explosion at house of Farooq Ahmed Sheikh at Ompora in Budgam district last night, his house was damaged extensively. However, no one was injured. The security forces have apprehended a suspect in this connection.

Militants set ablaze a panchayat building at Beijbehara in south Kashmir district of Anantnag last night. The police have registered a case.

300 BJYM activists held, let off
From M. L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 9 — Government offices opened here today after a lapse of six months with activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, youth wing of the BJP, holding a demonstration in protest against alleged discrimination against Jammu and Ladakh and the rise in militancy, corruption and the failure of the state administration to give jobs to the educated unemployed.

The BJYM activists marched from Dogra Chowk to the secretariat shouting anti-government slogans. They were, however, stopped at City Chowk, where the police foiled their attempt to break the police barricade to rush to the civil secretariat. About 300 activists of BJYM were taken into custody. They were later let off.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, was the first leader to enter the secretariat premises. In his cheerful style he said that every political party had the right to hold protest demonstrations. "They, BJYM, have to keep their shop open. They have to fight elections and hence they have to keep their existence. It is a different matter whether the voters vote for them or reject them."

Several Cabinet ministers and their deputies were seen entering the secretariat amidst security measures to prevent BJYM activists from speaking into the secretariat.

8 die in accident near Sonmarg
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Nov 9 — Eight persons were killed when a truck coming from Leh to Srinagar met with an accident near Sonmarg, 100 km from here, yesterday.

According to the police the truck met with the accident near Baltal, Sonmarg last evening, killing all the eight persons on board on the spot.