J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Charred bodies of three of the five militants suspected to
be behind the massacre of 35 Sikhs at Chittisinghpora,
wrapped under a white blanket in Kashmir on Saturday.
— PTI photo (Story: 5 ultras behind carnage shot)

3 ultras held for blasts in region
JAMMU, March 25 — The Jammu Police and the Special Operations Group of the police claim to have solved the mystery surrounding the series of train and bus blasts in Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi with the arrest of three militants — Tejinder Singh, Ravinder Singh and Kamaldeep Singh.

Noisy scenes in J & K House
JAMMU, March 25 — The Sikh carnage on March 20 in Anantnag dominated the proceedings of the state Assembly here today. Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah in a suo moto statement on the floor of the House, said four of the killers had been killed.

3 ultras held for blasts in region
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 25 — The Jammu Police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police claim to have solved the mystery surrounding the series of train and bus blasts in Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi with the arrest of three militants — Tejinder Singh, Ravinder Singh and Kamaldeep Singh.

These three have been old associates of the chief of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), Ranjit Singh, alias Neeta, who has been living in Pakistan for the past several years.

Briefing newsmen about the incidents, the Inspector-General of police, Mr H.V. Raju, and the IG Operations, Mr P.S. Gill, said here today that Neeta along with his close associate had crossed into Jammu from across the border in November last. He had stayed in Jammu and visited Punjab, Delhi and Nepal during his four months stay.

Neeta had been sent to Jammu for creating mayhem by blowing up vital installations, passenger buses and trains. Neeta had brought with him a large consignment of RDX and weapons. Soon after coming from Pakistan, Neeta established contacts with his old associates, whom he used for carrying out the blasts.

Mr Raju said that so far the three arrested persons had confessed to their direct involvement in the bomb explosion in a passenger bus at Sirhind in Punjab on March 2, in which nine persons were killed. Mr Raju said that Manjit Singh and two others had carried the IED in a suitcase in a truck belonging to Kamaldeep Singh to the bus stand in Jammu. Two suitcases, one carrying the IED and another the clothes of Manjit Singh, had been taken inside the bus.

At the opportune moment, the suitcase carrying clothes was replaced by the one carrying the IED. Though two tickets had been purchased no militant boarded the bus.

Neeta and his associates were also responsible for the blast in a hotel in Paharganj in Delhi on February 27 last, another blast at Old Delhi Railway Station, the Pooja Express blast in November in Himachal Pradesh.

Neeta had paid money to his associates in Jammu for purchasing money and more than Rs 1.50 lakh had been handed over to them for this job. A truck was used for carrying IEDs from one place to another.

The ISI had tasked Neeta and his associates to kick up major subver sive violence during the visit of the US President, Mr Bill Clinton, to India.

Neeta and Manjit Singh had crossed back to Pakistan. Police teams had already recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition, including five assault rifles, grenades and explosive.

After completing the investigations and filing the cases in court, the government would approach Interpol for arresting Neeta and Manjit Singh so that they could be tried with their three associates who have been arrested.

At the press brief the three arrested militants were presented before newsmen. They kept their heads bent. The police chief gave credit to Sheikh Mehmood, SP SOG, for the arrest of the militants.

Noisy scenes in J & K House
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 25 — The Sikh carnage on March 20 in Anantnag dominated the proceedings of the state Assembly here today.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah in a suo moto statement on the floor of the House, said four of the killers had been killed. The clue to their whereabouts was given by Mohammed Yaqub Vagay who was arrested two days ago.

Members of the BJP asked the Chief Minister to expose those who had been alleging Army hand behind the massacre. This led to noisy scenes in the House. There were heated exchanges between the Congress and BJP members.

Mr Ashok Sharma and Mr Lal Singh of the Congress were seen gesticulating at Mr Piara Singh, Mr Prithvi Chand and Mr Ashok Khajuria as the former charged the BJP government with failure to tackle militancy in the state.

The Singhpora incident dominated during zero hour. The Speaker had to chastise BJP member Hans Raj Dogra for a provocative speech on the issue.

The issue of the devastation caused by floods in various areas was raised by several members during question hour. The Minister for Flood Control Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar, admitted in the House that meagre allocations were being made for flood control measures.

However, Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil said he shared the sentiments of the House and suggested to the state government to allocate a larger amount for flood protection schemes.

The Chief Minister said due to shortage of teachers there was no possibility of increasing the number of seats in the two medical colleges in the state.

Sikhs demand formation of VDCs
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA, March 25 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mr Farooq Abdullah, who was here in connection with the passing out parade at Sardar Prithi Nadan Singh Police Training School, was presented a memorandum by a delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir Sikh Forum led by Mr Kartar Singh Rishi, president.

The forum demanded early sanction of ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to each family of the Sikhs, who were massacred in Anantnag, besides a government job to one member of each affected family and formation of village defence committees (VDCs).