M A I N   N E W S

12 hurt in 2 car blasts in Srinagar

SRINAGAR, Dec 1 (UNI) — Two powerful car bomb blasts near the boundary wall of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court complex rocked the city this afternoon injuring 12. Elsewhere in the valley two persons, including a militant, were killed and 10 injured in militancy-related incidents on the fourth day of the unilateral ceasefire.

An official spokesman said militants planted powerful bombs in two cars and parked these outside a hotel near the boundary wall of the High Court this afternoon.

Both bombs exploded, damaging the vehicles completely and causing minor damage to the HC boundary wall.

The blasts were so powerful that the reverberations could be heard in the entire Srinagar city. People present in the High Court complex ran for safety. Windowpanes of parked vehicles and nearby buildings were damaged.

Militants killed a cable operator, Noor Mohammad Bhat alias Gasha, at Chanapora on the city outskirts this afternoon.

Militants hurled a hand grenade at the security forces at Pattan this afternoon around 1320 hours. However, the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside, causing injuries to nine pedestrians.

Militants shot at and wounded counter-insurgent Bashir Ahmad Wani at Mir Bazar Shopian while another counter-insurgent, Shaban War, was kidnapped at Sopore.

Militants hurled a hand grenade at a security picket at Nowhatta in downtown area here this afternoon. However, the grenade missed the target and exploded without causing any damage.

The security forces gunned down a militant at Dachhan in an encounter last evening. An assault rifle, four magazines, 70 rounds, a grenade and a wireless set were recovered from the slain militant.

Seize peace offer, Advani asks Pak
From Our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Dec 1 — The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, has said the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramzan is another chance for Pakistan to end its international isolation provided it ends cross-border terrorism in the valley.

Pakistan should take this chance seriously and end aiding and abetting militants in Jammu and Kashmir to help resume the stalled bilateral talks.

Addressing Border Security Force (BSF) officers and jawans on the 35th raising day function here today, the Home Minister said “Pakistan has been isolated internationally due to its involvement in cross-border terrorism”.

On his recent visit to the Wagha border for inaugurating a visitors’ Gallery, Mr Advani said there was a feeling in the world today that nations spreading terrorism should be isolated.

The Lahore bus yatra by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, was an opportunity for Pakistan to end its isolation but Islamabad did not utilise it. The ceasefire was another chance for Pakistan, he said.

He regretted that an opportunity to settle all bilateral disputes, including the Kashmir issue, at the time of the 1972 Simla Agreement had been lost. “Now Pakistan should keep the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration in view and end terrorism to develop friendly ties with India,” he said.

Mr Advani said though the security forces had been instructed not to initiate firing, they “are duty-bound” to prevent killings and infiltration by militants in the valley.

Attacking Pakistan for making terrorism its “state policy”, he said “terrorism is a crime against humanity. The whole world has recognised this and decided to isolate the countries supporting terrorism.”

He said Pakistan had resorted to a proxy war as it had realised its inability to defeat India in direct wars in 1965, 1971 and the Kargil war. The Home Minister also lauded the BSF for playing an important role in guarding borders and during operation Vijay.

Instead of investing on defence, both countries should spend on developmental works, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the BSF Director-General, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, said the force had been meeting all challenges, particularly in dealing with militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and the North-East, effectively and would continue to do so in future.