The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Major among 7 killed in Jammu

Jammu, May 13
An Army Major and three police personnel were among seven persons killed in a gunbattle between militants and security forces in Akhnoor sector of the Jammu division today, an official spokesman said.

The encounter started this evening when the militants fired on a joint police-security forces patrol that was approaching their hide-out in Akhnoor, about 40 km from here.

He said security forces raided the village on getting specific information that some militants were hiding there. The ultras fired at the security personnel triggering a gunbattle.

According to sources, an ASI Surjeet Singh, SI R.D. Sharma and a civilian, who was injured in the crossfire, have been shifted to Government Medical College, Jammu.

Those killed included two militants, the spokesman further said, adding that six persons, two of them Army jawans, were injured in the gunfight.

SRINAGAR: Two top Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were among the 11 persons killed in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, official sources said today. The two Lashkar militants were killed in a cross-fire with the security forces during search operations in the Surankote area in Jammu division last night.

One of the slain militants was identified as Abu Muslim Zarar, alias Akhtar Ali, the divisional commander of the Lashkar for Rajouri and Poonch districts. Hailing from Pakistan, Zarar was an IED expert and involved in various cases of rape and murder, the sources said adding the other Lashkar ultra was identified as Abu Akshir, an area commander of the outfit and a close associate of Zarar.

Two AK-56 rifles with six magazines, one pistol, 12 incriminating documents were recovered from them, the sources added.

Meanwhile, residents of Keegam and adjoining villages in Kupwara district in north Kashmir came out in protest against the gunning down of two women and injuring of two others allegedly by the security forces last night, the sources said.

The two women — Saja and her mother-in-law Bakhti — were killed on the spot and two of their family members — Latif and Fayaz — injured seriously when they were fired upon allegedly by the Army troops last night. The villagers alleged that the family was targeted by the soldiers despite their signalling that they were civilians and not militants.

However, a defence spokesman said the family, which was carrying ration for militants hiding in the forests, came under fire from militants who mistook them for Armymen.

The agitated villagers raised slogans against the security forces and demanded an inquiry into the incident. The defence spokesman said two militants were shot dead by the Army during an encounter at Kadoora in the Bandipora area of Baramula today. PTI, UNI

	Two IED experts of Lashkar shot Srinagar, May 13 Two top Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were among the 11 persons killed in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, official sources said today. The two Lashkar militants were killed in a cross-fire with the security forces during search operations in the Surankote area in Jammu division last night. One of the slain militants was identified as Abu Muslim Zarar, alias Akhtar Ali, the divisional commander of the Lashkar for Rajouri and Poonch districts. Hailing from Pakistan, Zarar was an IED expert and involved in various cases of rape and murder, the sources said adding the other Lashkar ultra was identified as Abu Akshir, an area commander of the outfit and a close associate of Zarar. Two AK-56 rifles with six magazines, one pistol, 12 incriminating documents were recovered from them, the sources added. Meanwhile, residents of Keegam and adjoining villages in Kupwara district in north Kashmir came out in protest against the gunning down of two women and injuring of two others allegedly by the security forces last night, the sources said. The two women — Saja and her mother-in-law Bakhti — were killed on the spot and two of their family members — Latif and Fayaz — injured seriously when they were fired upon allegedly by the Army troops last night. The villagers alleged that the family was targeted by the soldiers despite their signalling that they were civilians and not militants. However, a defence spokesman said the family, which was carrying ration for militants hiding in the forests, came under fire from militants who mistook them for Armymen. The agitated villagers raised slogans against the security forces and demanded an inquiry into the incident. The defence spokesman said two militants were shot dead by the Army during an encounter at Kadoora in the Bandipora area of Baramula today. Two AK assault rifles were seized from them. Militants also fired at an ambush party of the security forces at Helmatpora in Kupwara district and in the retaliatory action, a foreign mercenary was killed, the spokesman said. They also shot dead an alleged informer of the security forces at Kellar in Pulwama district last night, the police said. Some unknown militants forcibly entered the house of Abdul Rashid in Jamshalan Shara Phar village in Udhampur district and shot dead his wife, the sources said adding that the ultras later fled away. A woman was killed by militants in the Kas Balari area of Rajouri district during the period, he said. The security forces recovered the body of Mohammad Ismail from the forests in Doda district who had earlier been abducted by militants from his residence at Punka village. PTI
	Recent Army successes due to people’s cooperation M.L. Kak Tribune News Service Sunderbani (Rajouri), May 13 Troops are on the move to win the hearts of over 8.50 lakh people in Poonch and Rajouri districts who otherwise stand sandwiched between the militants and the security forces. Those living in the villages close to the LoC keep praying for peace on the border because during any exchange of fire between the civilians suffer inconvenience and, at times, death. Though militants, especially foreign mercenaries, have caused deep scare among the civilians, people have started cooperating with the security agencies. On the basis of specific information the security forces have achieved major successes in the recent months eliminating dreaded rebels. The elimination of two top activists of Laskhar-e-Toiba in Phagla village near Shrankot yesterday has given a serious setback to the outfit. These two militants, Abu Muslim Zarar and Abu Akashir, were experts not only in planting IEDs, but in making these as well. They used the device recklessly to draw blood in Poonch and Rajouri districts during the past over six years. Information on their hideout was given to the security agencies by civilians. Recently 35 villages approached the authorities of the Border Roads Organisation with the request that various road development works be resumed. These villagers assured the BRO that they would ensure that their work was not disrupted by the militants. The BRO had suspended road construction work after its equipment was damaged and culverts destroyed by the militants. Men of BRO had been beaten by the militants and they had received threat of elimination in case they did not pack up and leave. The Army has adopted two villages, Palma and Sangra, in the twin border districts. These villages are being developed as model villages at the cost of Rs 130 crore. The villages will have all basic facilities, including a hospital, community and computer centres, schools and drinking water and electricity supply. People have welcomed this step. The Army has decided to construct a 50-km road linking Mandir Gala with Thana Mandi to facilitate people to visit the historic Shahdra Sharief shrine in Rajouri without taking a longer route. While the Army is on the move to complete various civic programmes, militants, too, are on the move. A senior Army officer told TNS that for most of the time the foreign mercenaries camp in the lower regions of the two districts. Between January and May 12 various security agencies in Poonch and Rajouri district had killed 250 militant, most of them foreign mercenaries. He said the killing of at least a score of top rebels and allowed the agencies to enjoy the upper hand, but admitted that the threat from militants loomed large in the two districts. He explained that since the two districts were dotted with alpine forest belts, militants took advantage of it and succeeded in carving out hiding places. He said that small groups of foreign mercenaries usually moved from one village to another during the night, entered the houses of civilians and forced them to serve them food. Invariably, everybody tried to oblige them. In most cases the civilians were paid by the militants for the food served to them The Army officer admitted that small groups of militants kept intruding into Poonch and Rajouri from across the LoC with weapons and explosives. He said even after having eliminated 250 militants during the past four months not less than 300 rebels operated in the two districts. However, recent successes achieved by the security forces have forced the militants to be on the defensive. During the past over six months not a single group of militants has dared to attack the security forces, except for a couple of suicide attacks on security camps in Rajouri and Surankot. Resentment against the activities of foreign mercenaries in these two districts is gradually building into a silent movement. But mainstream politicians have not been able to cash on it so as to give a fillip to anti-Pakistan sentiments. More than 5,000 people have migrated to occupied Kashmir during the past six years and most of them are keen to return to this side of the border. The two districts continue to be the most backward pockets of the state. Since the state government is faced with an acute cash crunch, it has not been able to take in hand various development works. The growing unemployment figures among the educated youth, absence of drinking water and electricity and poor medical facilities are reasons for the simmering discontent among the people. Chaudhary Mohammad Anwar hailing from Rajouri said on an average 15 to 20 patients died every three months when they failed to get timely medical treatment. Invariably, patents had to trek 20 km to 30 km to reach hospitals and some died on their way to the health centre.
	Attack on scribes: BSF, cops begin probe Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 13 The BSF and the police have started separate investigations into the assault by BSF men at Magam in Budguam district in which 21 mediapersons were injured on Thursday last. Mr K. Vijay Kumar, Inspector-General (IG), BSF Headquarters, who arrived here on Friday to investigate the matter today, returned to New Delhi after making preliminary queries. During his two-day tour, he met “all affected” mediapersons and also visited the Magam police station where an FIR was lodged by the journalists against the guilty cops. He had earlier been appointed to investigate the matter because of his familiarity with the valley. He had earlier been posted as IG of the Frontier Headquarters and was transferred last year. The Director-General of the BSF, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, who till late last year was the DG of the Jammu and Kashmir police for about four years, has already described the incident as a setback. As already reported at least 21 mediapersons were injured when they were assaulted by the paramilitary troops at Magam on Thursday morning. They had gone to the area to cover the incident of an IED explosion in the township on Wednesday evening in which at least eight civilians, two suspected militants and a BSF officer were killed and several others injured. Those injured included six BSF personnel. The journalists seeking refuge in the lcoal police station lodged an FIR. The local police is also investigating into the incident. A team of the police here yesterday registered statements of the mediapersons who were injured in the Magam incident. Their cameras were also smashed in the incident. Journalists in Kashmir have been witness to a number of such incidents in the over a decade-long militancy. At least five of them have been killed during these years. Mohammad Shaban Vakil, Editor of a vernacular daily, was killed by unidentified gunmen in his office on April 23, 1991. Mushtaq Ali, videographer, was killed when unidentified persons kept a parcel bomb in the office of BBC here in September, 1995. There was a murderous attack on a senior journalist, Zaffar Meraj, in December, 1995. He, however, escaped with bullet injuries. A group of 18 mediapersons was taken hostage by a counter-insurgent group in Anantnag in July, 1996. There were several other attacks on mediapersons in the valley. The police has also allegedly beaten up several photo-journalists repeatedly here since 1996. The latest attack on the mediapersons at Magam has been criticised and condemned by people from all walks of life. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who has condemned the assault, talked to some journalists on the incident before leaving for New Delhi on Thursday to convey to the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, his concern over the incident. The DG of the Jammu and Kashmir police, who was among the first to reach the spot on Thursday, while regretting the incident has assured an inquiry into the incident. The IG, BSF, Frontier Headquarters here, Mr G.S. Gill, told a group of mediapersons on the same day that an inquiry would be conducted and added that there was public anger against the administration and not the BSF.
	Rules relaxed for migrant staff From M. L. Kak Tribune News Service Jammu, May 13 The state government has issued an order under which migrant employees recruited in the Kashmir valley would be given more time to join their duties. In case they take more time than the non-migrant ones, their appointment would not be cancelled. However, the government has made it clear that the migrant employees would be eligible for drawing their monthly salary only from the date they joined their duties. The government has directed the recruiting authorities and agencies to post migrant candidates only in villages or areas which have been declared secure by the Home Department. These recruiting officers have been asked to secure a list of these “safe” villages from the Home Department so that migrant candidates were posted only in such villages. However, several Kashmiri Pandit leaders, including Mr A.N. Vaishnavi, Mr O.N. Trisal and Dr Ajay Chrungoo, have termed the latest government order as an eyewash. They said during the past five months the security situation in the Kashmir valley had further deteriorated and all those areas, which had been sanitised by 1997, had again become militancy infested areas. Dr Ajay Chrungoo said foreign mercenaries had carved out bases in the summer capital and there was no “secure” place in the valley. He said the villages declared secure by the State Home Department had become highly insecure for the minorities. He said the recent stoning of buses carrying non-Muslim employees working in the office of the Accountant-General in Srinagar indicated that the separatists were for total ethnic cleansing of the valley. Mr O.N. Trisal suggested to the government to allow these migrant candidates, recruited in different government departments, to work temporarily in Jammu and its adjoining areas till the security situation improved in the valley. In the absence of such an alternative it would be deemed that the government was not interested in giving jobs to the migrants and simply wanted to convey to the Union Home Ministry, which had objected against poor recruitment among the migrants, that its recommendation had been implemented. One senior government functionary said that the latest government order held a major concession for the migrants and explained that the government could fill the vacant posts and not allow the incumbent to remain absent.