NC leader among 6 killed in J&K

SRINAGAR, Sept 27 (PTI) — Six people including a block president of the ruling National Conference party and a girl were killed and an equal number wounded, while security forces unearthed a number of militant hideouts and seized a major haul of weapons in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

An official spokesman said the 12-year-old girl was today killed and two others sustained splinter injuries in an abortive attempt by ultras to blow up a security picket in north Kashmir at Magam village in Kupwara district.

Militants attacked the house of the state’s former chief secretary, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, at Ganderbal in the outskirts of Srinagar last night. The police guards there repulsed the attack, he said.

A group of unidentified ultras shot dead a block president of ruling National Conference in his village at Chandpora-Harwan, 21 km from here.

The spokesman said a village defence committee member, Chuni Lal succumbed to his injuries following a clash with ultras at Dharma in Udhampur district last evening.

A teenaged boy died on the spot and three others were injured when a militant-lobbed grenade, aimed at a security vehicle, missed the intended target and exploded on the road near Ompora chowk in Badgam district of central Kashmir.

The spokesman said militants also gunned down a man in his home in Pattan area of Baramulla district late last night.

An unidentified person was killed and his accomplice apprehended by security forces when the duo ignored a signal to stop for identification forcing the Jawans to open fire in Samba sector of Jammu last evening, he said, adding the two were moving in the area under suspicious circumstances.

In a major breakthrough, the spokesman said security forces arrested five militants of banned Harkat-ul-Ansar outfit from Chan-Khan area of Sopore in Baramulla district yesterday. Two grenades were recovered from them.

Security forces also foiled a bid by Pakistani intruders to smuggle arms and ammunition in Kashmir Valley when they seized a big cache of explosives from forests near the Line of Control in Kupwara sector today, the spokesman said.

The seizure included seven AK assault rifles, 36 rocket projectile guns with rockets and boosters, 301 grenades of various types, 106 kg of explosives, 60 detonators, 29 improvised explosive devices with remote controls, 60 switches and 34 magazines, the spokesman said.

Security forces also recovered a pistol, an anti-personnel mine, a grenade and some ammunition during combing operations at Gundi-Jehangir and Chaki-Sodal forests in the same district last evening.

In Srinagar, security forces today unearthed a major hideout of militants at the disclosure of an apprehended ultra and seized a deadly sniper rifle, four AK assault rifles, a magazine and ten rounds of ammunition, the spokesman said.

Pakistan and Indian troops exchanged fire along the Line of Control in north Kashmir but there was no loss of life or damage to property, official sources said here.

They said Pakistan troops targeted civilian areas in Keran sector of the frontier district of Kupwara last evening forcing India to retaliate.

The exchange of fire was still on, they said adding there were no casualties on both sides.

However, the shelling forced villagers to shift to safer areas.

The sources said Pakistani troops trained artillery at guns on the Indian side from across the border last evening. The Indian troops, after waiting for several hours, retaliated to silence the Pakistani guns.

Most of the shells exploded in wasteland or nearby forests, without causing any harm, the sources said.

Dal languishes for funds
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 27 — The Central Government has not fulfilled its promise of providing financial assistance to the Jammu and Kashmir Government for development of the world famous Dal lake here during the past two years.

Addressing media persons at a "Meet the Press" organised by the State Information Department, the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari said that the state received only Rs 45 crore during the past two years. This was against a worked out allocation of Rs 296 crore for the maintenance of the basic structure of the lake and its environment. The minister said that it had been agreed that the Centre would provide Rs 296 crore while the state provides Rs 200 crore from the planned funds for the maintenance of the lake. "Somebody is sabotaging in Delhi", the minister said.

"After doing the whole exercise of providing requisite documents", there has been no response from the Central Government, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari claimed. He added that such exercises were being repeated every now and then but there was no "positive response" from the Centre. Some of the Rs 45 crore had been received from the former government at the Centre while Rs 25 crore were provided by the present government.

An amount of Rs 496 crore is required for the maintenance of the Dal lake, which faced environmental degradation due to the "lack of accountability" during eight years of militancy. Any further delay in the release of funds would also increase costs and lead to a delay in completion of the "project", Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari told mediapersons.

However, the minister said the Dal had "started showing signs of past glory." He added that the National Conference government in the state had made various plans for the maintenance of the lake but due to the "lack of response" from the Centre there was a delay in their implementation.

The project needs treatment of the feeder channels to the lake, sewer lines around it, and rehabilitation of about 7000 families living in and around the periphery of the lake. Some of the families have already been shifted the minister said.

Some foreign countries including Canada and Swedan had already agreed to provide financial assistance for the maintenance of the lake, but so far there has not been any progress in this direction, the minister told mediapersons.

Security grid for 4 J&K districts

JAMMU, Sept 27 (PTI) — A new three-tier security system for tackling infiltration and dealing with militancy in the deep areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur and Doda districts of Jammu region has come into operation.

The scheme "police security grid" involves setting up of border, defence and operational posts from border villages to interior areas of the four affected districts, senior police officials told PTI here today.

The plan envisages setting up about ninety border posts in border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, while no such post will be established in Udhampur and Doda districts.

385 defence posts and 118 operational posts were being established in Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Narrating the effectiveness of the system, the police officials said it will help in the gradual takeover of anti-militancy operations by Jammu and Kashmir police from the Army and other para-military forces in the near future.

Since the management of the line of control (LoC) was exclusively with the Army, the role of the police was limited, they said, adding, however, a second line of check was required five kilometres inside protected areas by setting up of border posts.

Give security to foreigner: court

JAMMU, Sept 27 (PTI) — A Jammu court has asked the police to provide security to a foreigner allegedly being threatened by a caller to leave Jammu and Kashmir.

Upholding the plea of Dubai-based Alhaj Sayed Shamim Ahmed, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr B.L. Bhat, asked Inspector-General of Police, Jammu zone, to take into account the genuine requirements of the petitioner and ensure that he was provided adequate protection and security.

"Once he is staying in the state and seeking protection of law, he cannot be denied protection to his person from any onslaught. The accused in the case cannot be permitted to take law in their hands and force the petitioner to leave the state which will also result in defeating the rule of law", Mr Bhat said in his order.

Shamim Ahmed, a Pakistani national, is pursuing a legal case here against his estranged wife for custody of his minor daughter.

Apprehending assault on him, Shamim Ahmed has sought police security and moved the court, where one of his cases is pending.

Girls' School inaugurated
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 27 — Member Parliament, Dr Karan Singh inaugurated a new building complex of the Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Kandoli in Nagrota today.

The complex has been constructed under the MP local area development programme at a cost of Rs 4.28 lakh. The Minister for Information, Science and Technology and Sports, Mr Ajatshatru Singh was also present.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Dr Karan Singh said that a number of development works have been completed during the past two years in this area. Other development works undertaken are at different stages and would be completed within the next three years. He hoped that students of the school would pay attention to their studies and participate in various competitive examinations.

On this occasion Mr Ajatshatru Singh said that all-out efforts were being made to accelerate the pace of development of the area and bottlenecks, if any, would be removed. He said the problem of drinking water would be solved very soon. The minister announced a grant of Rs 15,000 for sports activities and construction of a youth hostel and swimming pool for students in the school.

Later, Mr Ajatshatru Singh planted a sapling in the premises of the school building.

Artistes of the state information department presented a cultural programme including patriotic songs and skits depicting Dogra culture.

Agitating staff seek release of DA
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 27 — Activists of the National Mazdoor Conference led by its president Mr Subhash Shastri, today staged a dharna here to protest against the delay in the issuance of notification/orders for releasing the first and second instalments of DA due from January and July, payment of arrears of the Fifth Pay Commission report, enhancement in the wages of daily wage workers and regularisation of their services.

Mr Shastri regretted that despite the cabinet decision to release 3 per cent DA, the relevant orders had not been issued so far, causing a lot of resentment among the employees. He urged the Chief Minister to release the instalment with effect from July 1, at the rate of 6 per cent for the employees and pensioners of the state government.