12 militants killed in Jammu region

JAMMU, Oct 3 (PTI) — Twelve militants, including some foreign mercenaries, were among 14 people killed in separate encounters in Poonch, Surankote and Uhampur areas of Jammu division since yesterday, official sources said here today.

A woman was kidnapped by militants in Pachool area of Poonch district and an activist of the Hizbul Mujaheedin surrendered to the police in Kishtwar area of Doda district during the period, the sources said.

Five militants were shot dead in a gunfight with troops in Poonch this morning. Five AK-type rifles, some grenades and assortment of ammunition were recovered from the encounter scene, a defence spokesman said.

Five more militants, suspected to be Afghan mercenaries, and a security force Jawan were killed in Loren area of Poonch district during a "seek and strike" operation launched by troops yesterday, the police said.

Reports from Surankote area of Poonch district said the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the state police gunned down two militants in an encounter in Mohra Bachai area last evening. Two injured militants escaped.

The sources said militants struck in a village of Mahore tehsil of Udhampur district during the period and shot dead one man outside his house.

A villager was killed in Samba sub-sector of Jammu region in cross-border firing today even as the firefight and shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops along the international border (IB) and Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir continued since last evening, official reports here said.

The BSF retaliated when Pakistani Rangers fired at seven other border outposts and villages in Samba and R.S. Pura sub-sectors since last evening, the reports said.

The firefight continued till this morning.

A BSF spokesman said an 18-year-old youth of Londi village, wounded in firing by Pakistani border guards, succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

Reports from Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur said that Pakistani troops continued shelling and firing on Indian positions in Siachen and Kargil areas of the frontier region of Ladakh since last evening without causing any loss of life or damage on the Indian side.

Indian troops retaliated at these places, the reports said, adding there was some de-escalation in the exchange of fire.

J&K Akali Dal disowns 'chairman'
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 3 — The 1.80 lakh Sikhs community of Jammu and Kashmir is divided by the mushroom growth of community organisations. A rift between the J&K Akali Dal and the Gurdwara Prabandhak Board surfaced recently when National Conference supporters gained control of the Board after the elections. This, however, was contested by several Akali leaders.

The latest differences have surfaced over the way a senior Akali Dal leader and a veteran freedom fighter, Sant Singh Teg, claiming to be "chairman" of the J&K Akali Dal, announced his decision to expel Akali Dal president Mr Jagdev Singh, for "anti-Sikh and anti-religious activities."

At a meeting of more than 25 senior Akali leaders held here yesterday the Akali Dal "ridiculed" the announcement of Mr Sant Singh Teg on the expulsion of Mr Jagdev Singh. The Executive Committee of the state Akali Dal took a serious note of the announcement and said that some "self-styled" Sikh leaders had tried to create confusion in the community. It said that there was no post of "chairman", Akali Dal and the announcement lacked constitutional and legal validity.

The Executive Committee of the state Akali Dal reaffirmed its faith in the leadership of Mr Jagdev Singh and announced that he continued to be the elected president of the state Akali Dal. It called upon the Sikh "Sangat" to be careful of the machinations of the enemies of the Akali Dal and stop inviting these self-styled leaders to the religious congregations.

The Akali Dal accused Sikh leaders who worked against the Dal of betraying the community while the Akali Dal was fighting for its rights, community including those of displaced families from Pakistan, since 1947.

3 armymen killed in accident

JAMMU, Oct 3 (PTI) — Three Armymen were killed when their vehicle fell into a 300-metre gorge near Banihal tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, official reports said today.

The vehicle was part of an Army convoy, which was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar, the reports said. The driver lost control and the vehicle fell into Bishlieri Nallah around 9.30 p.m. yesterday.

Those killed were identified as Sunil Kumar, Trilok Nath and Romesh Lal of JK Naval Wing, reports said.