Militants target security pickets
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 26 — Six persons have been killed and six injured in the continued militancy related incidents across the Kashmir valley since yesterday while the police and the security forces apprehended three suspected persons.

Two unidentified militants were killed in a fierce encounter with the security forces at Safapora in Baramula early today. Two AK rifles and a large quantity of ammunition was recovered from the site of the encounter, the police said. It was in Safapora market that a Subedar was killed and two jawans were injured last week when their vehicle passed over an IED.

One militant of the Harkat-ul-Ansar outfit was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Nowshehra in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district yesterday. The militant has been identified as Ghulam Hassan Ganai, alias Umar Khan. One AK rifle and four magazines were seized from the site of the encounter.

A foreign mercenary was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Lalpora in Budgam district yesterday. Two hand grenades were seized from the site of the encounter.

A constable of the Jammu and Kashmir police was killed when militants fired at a police party near Parraypora in Budgam district on the outskirts of Srinagar city. The driver constable Saifullah Khan died on the spot while his colleague, Mohammad Iqbal Wani was injured. He has been hospitalised, the police said.

One person was killed and three injured when the militants hurled a grenade targetted at a picket of the security forces at Hawal Chowk. The grenade missed the target and exploded on the road causing injuries to four persons. One of the injured, identified as Ali Mohammad Sofi, died later.

Militants hurled a grenade at Karan Nagar police station, yesterday. The grenade was lifted by the experts of the bomb disposal squad and defused without causing any damage or injury to any person.

A jawan of the security forces was injured in an exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces at Bonapora, Batamaloo.

Another jawan was injured in an attack by the militant at Bonapora in Kupwara district. The militants hurled a grenade on a picket of the security forces and followed it by firing from automatic weapons.

The security forces apprehended a militant of Jehad Force in Kupwara district at whose instance a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered. Two others were apprehended from Nathpora, Sopore in Baramula district.

'Kashmir culture under threat'
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 26 — The threat to Kashmiriyat from fundamentalism and terrorism dominated the discussion at the two-day golden jubilee celebrations of state's accession to India, which opened here today.

Vice-Chancellor Jammu University, Prof R.R. Sharma, who inaugurated the two-day meet called upon the intellectuals and politicians to work for the promotion of national integration. He said there was need for countering the machinations of those who were trying to erode the composite culture and it could be done by forging unity among people of all three regions of the state.

The meeting had a participant from the occupied Kashmir Sarfraz Butt, whose father had migrated from Jammu in 1947. He criticised the late Sheikh Abdullah who was head of the state at the time of partition for having forced several important Muslim leaders of the time, including Mohd Akbar Khan and Ch Mohd Abbas to cross over to the occupied Kashmir.

He berated the successive Pakistan Governments for suppressing the Kashmiri citizens living in the occupied Kashmir. He announced his full support to Panthers Party chief, Prof Bhim Singh, convener of the golden jubilee committee, in his efforts to consolidate the process of uniting the people of all regions in Jammu and Kashmir. Major Gen Goverdhan Singh and Major Gen B.M. Dhar praised the Dogras for the sacrifices they had made for defending the country's security and integrity. They called for the proper development of all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Prof Bhim Singh said there was a need for promoting and protecting the most distinct culture of 15 lakh people of the region. He said people of Gilgit had already suffered a major assault on their unique Balti and Gilgiti culture and language since 1947 when it was annexed by Pak troops. Similarly, he added, the great cultural heritage of the people of Ladakh, including Kargil, did not receive the due recognition as was envisaged in the Constitution of India.

Several speakers said despite severe challenges from the fundamentalists and communalists the state had not 'totally' lost the essence of its composite culture. But if the threat from the fundamentalists was not tackled properly people might not be in a position to preserve what was commonly called Kashmiriyat.

Many speakers were of the opinion that the failure of the successive state governments to ensure the equitable development of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir provinces had given rise to regionalism. As a result of prolonged neglect of the Ladakh and Jammu regions their was a demand for the trifurcation of the state. The speakers wanted immediate measures for removing regional disparities to preserve the composite culture.

Bhang crop destroyed
Tribune News Service

ANANTNAG, Oct 26 — The police has destroyed the bhang crop over 300 kanals and cultivated in agricultural land in various parts of this south Kashmir district. More than 50 persons have been arrested and about 30 cases registered in Bijbehara, Aishmuqam and Kulgam areas where most of these crops have been damaged since last month.

During the month-long drive against the charas production here in which more than 50 persons were detained, at least 33 kg of charas has been seized by the police. This recovery from three persons — 18 kg , 8 kg and 7 kg — has been made after sustained interrogation of these persons involved in the clandestine trade, which had been going on in the area for several years.

Those still under detention claim that there was lack of employment over the years while charas procured earned them fabulous prices. The bhang crop is grown mostly on the land prone to floods that have been creating havoc in the area during the last one decade. There is also a wild growth of bhang in the district on about 700 kanals of land.

The district police chief, Mr Farooq Khan, claims that there seems to be the role of "some vested interests", including some government functionaries, and surrendered militants. Rural families are engaged in bhang cultivation, who have been giving out their lands for cultivation. "There has been a production of the narcotic on a higher scale during last year", Mr Farooq Khan, SSP, Anantnag claimed. This had been going on unchecked in the district for several years. The last instance of police action against bhang producers was taken about two and a half decades ago.

The Revenue Department, which looks after the land affairs is silent over the issue. The patwaris concerned have clandestinely evaded entries into the land records over the years about the kind of cultivation in these fields. The Agriculture Department looks after the produce of paddy, maize and other crops. While the two departments have not been able to identify the problem, the police has shown no indication of any action against those involved in the production of narcotic substance in bulk in different areas of south Kashmir.

Except for the police, the two other departments have not taken any action against the erring officials of the district administration. The police have already attached three of its officials including SHO of Bijbehara police station, to district headquarters. The action by the Revenue and Agriculture Departments is awaited. "Bhang production is a serious problem and unless checked effectively, the menace may go on eating the vitals of society", commented Ghulam Hassan, a school teacher here. "If the menace is unchecked, a special agency would be required one day to tackle the problem", said the SSP.

Hundreds of labourers are engaged in procurement of charas from bhang leaves in the vast areas of Bijbehara, Aihmuqam and Kulgam, apart from other areas where it is grown on a minor scale.

10 militants surrender in Doda
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 26 — Ten militants belonging to the Harkat-ul-Ansar and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfits today surrendered before the DGP, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, in Doda district.

The militants, most of them sporting beards laid down their arms before of the DGP. Mr Jagat appreciated their courage in having decided to join the mainstream. The militants, disclosed how they had been lured to join militancy. A majority of them were forced to join training camps in the district and some of them were taken to Pakistan and the occupied Kashmir for training in the handling of sophisticated weapons.

Today's surrender by 10 militants is the largest in Doda district where militancy took roots in 1991.

The DGP assured the militants who surrendered today that suitable measures would be taken to rehabilitate them. He handed over Rs 5,000 each to the militants and advised them not to rejoin the militant outfits. He said the Pak-sponsored proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir was on its last legs. The situation in the valley had registered a marked improvement and under a new plan anti-insurgency operations on a massive scale were being launched in Poonch and Rajouri districts shortly. He praised people of Doda district for their continued cooperation to the security forces in their drive against the insurgents.