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Thursday,
May 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Ten
militants killed, SOG camp attacked Al-Qaida men sneak into valley Militants
again resort to extortion Bid to
manhandle Malik at hospital Over 6.78 lakh visit Shahdara Sharief |
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Ten militants killed, SOG camp attacked
Srinagar, May 8 An encounter took place between militants and security forces at Kalaroos in north Kashmir early this morning in which two Al-Badr militants were killed. One AK rifle, three magazines, 40 rounds, one RPG with four shells, six UBGL grenades, four rocket boosters, one wireless set and two hand grenades were seized near the site of the encounter. A bomb exploded in the house of Abdul Rashid War at Magam in Baramula this morning, causing some damage to the structure. However, no one was injured. Militants entered the house of Wali Mohammad Pal at Bandipora in Kupwara district and fired upon the residents with automatic weapons. The house owner died on-the-spot while his son, Amir, was critically wounded. The body of Reyaz Ahmad, who was abducted by militants few days ago from his house, was recovered at Saranhal Bandipora this morning. An official spokesman said militants attacked an SOG camp at Magam in the central Kashmir district of Badgam late last night. However, no one was injured and the militants fled away after the fire was retaliated by camp guards. The SSP Poonch, Dr Kamal Saini, told UNI by telephone that acting on a tip-off that some militants had forcibly entered a house at Seowali, which was under construction, the police and the Army jointly launched a pre-dawn operation to flush them out. When the ultras spotted the security men, they opened fire and in the following gun battle, which lasted for more than three hours, three LeT ultras were shot dead. The spokesman said a fierce encounter took place between militants and a joint patrol party of the SOG and village defence committee members at Lopara Sounder last evening in which two Lashkar-e-Toiba ultras were killed. Two AK rifles, five magazines, 50 rounds, one grenade and one wireless set were seized from the slain militants identified as Abu Abdullah Qasim and Abu Dujaan of Pakistan. Two more militants were gunned down at Dara while another was killed at Gambhir Mughlan Morah Bain Wali Gali last evening. Lal Mohammad was shot dead by ultras at Rajdhani village in the Thanna Mandi area in Rajouri district last night, the police sources said today.
UNI |
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Al-Qaida men sneak into valley
New Delhi, May 8 Top intelligence sources told UNI that two groups of Al-Qaida militants, each comprising 10-15 members, had crossed over to the valley via the Pir Panjal mountain ranges from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). “The two groups comprise 10 to 15 men ... They are moving and operating with Jaish cadres in the valley. The highly-trained and motivated Al-Qaida men are planning to strike in Kashmir in a big way,’’ the sources said. One group was seen in the Tral area of south Kashmir and another in central Kashmir, they added. Even police sources in Kashmir, when contacted, did not rule out the presence of Al-Qaida cadres in the valley. They said there were reports that 20 to 25 Al-Qaida men were operating in the frontier district of Kupwara also. “However, we are yet to nab or kill anyone,’’ the sources added. They also said that two months ago a US intelligence officer visited Kashmir to investigate and ascertain the presence of Al-Qaida forces in the valley. However, it was not clear what information he had gathered from there. They said as the infiltrating routes, high mountains and rugged terrain are still heavily snow-clad, chances of sneaking into the valley from PoK were slim. However, the sources said as the thaw begins, the infiltration of Al-Qaida operatives is most likely to increase.
UNI
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Militants
again resort to extortion Jammu, May 8 This was revealed in a
conversation on the wireless and phone between two groups of militants, which, after interception, was released to media persons here today by the Defence Ministry spokesman. The message was conveyed in codes. When “X” (code name) asked for money from “he” was told that “X” was also in possession of Rs 3 lakh. The voice on the other end said, “From where have you got the money?” An instruction is given to “X” that if he has Rs 3 lakh “then distribute Rs 50,000 each among colleagues and give Rs 1 lakh to “Y” (code name). The same voice speaks,” I know the reality. You harass the civilians and take money from the same people whom you are supposed to help.” “There is extreme shortage of money in the entire Kashmir. Why don’t you tell bujurg (elder or commander) ?” the other rebel said. “We are not begging. I have spoken to bujurg and he has told that faloose (funds) be provided to me once he received the same. You should be aware of the situation.” This was the reply from the rebel in Kashmir. He was given an advice: “Why don’t you do what I tell you ? Lashkar-e-Toiba persons are present everywhere in the valley. There should be a system so that faloose could reach everyone. Bujurg has made the system from his side and detailed colleagues for the same so that faloose reaches the respective areas. But nothing happens at all.” The Defence Ministry spokesman, basing his information on an earlier interception, said militants had always been in need of heavy funds. They needed funds for ensuring a luxurious living and for hiring youths who could carry out grenade or IED blasts. For each blast the youths are paid anything between Rs 500 and Rs 10,000 depending on the extent of damage and death caused in the explosion. The spokesman said the level of extortion, that was witnessed between 1989 and 1995, had registered a marked decline after the extortionists lost people’s support and sympathy. Agencies across the border issued strict instructions that no militant should accept free food and shelter nor should anyone extort money. This resulted in a change and even foreign mercenaries were seen paying heavily to ration dealers or to those who prepared meals for them. Growing economic distress in Pakistan and Islamabad’s realisation that no spectacular gains were being achieved by the jehadis, the level of flow of funds declined. Even the separatist conglomerate, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, experienced an acute cash crunch during the past two years preventing its leaders from distributing doles to the poor. The Defence Ministry sources said with the squeeze in the flow of funds, militants had again resorted to extortion though without using the gun. They used the art of persuasion and motivation and wherever the rich were relunctant to pay, they received threats. It is only the activists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad besides known pro-Pak separatist who continue to receive funds from across the border. The moderates in the separatist camps are entitled to a pittance. |
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Bid to manhandle Malik at hospital
Jammu, May 8 A group of activists of HSS Jammu and Kashmir unit, led by its President Krishen Manhas, stormed into the room of Superintendent of Government Medical College here and asked why Malik was relaxing there, the sources said. Dissatisfied by the reply of the GMC Principal, the activists pushed and abused Malik who was, however, saved from being manhandled by CRPF personnel guarding him, the sources said. Shouting anti-Malik slogans, the sainiks left the hospital. The HSS President was expelled from the Shiv Sena last year and formed the new outfit. Srinagar: The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) have alleged that JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was today attacked by Shiv Sena activists at a Jammu hospital and have given a call for a general strike on Friday in protest. Describing the attack this morning as an attempt to eliminate Malik, JKLF Acting Chairman Javid Ahmad Mir said Malik, who is presently under detention, was taken to the hospital from a Jammu jail for a check-up when the Sena activists attacked and abused him in the presence of his lawyer and police personnel. Mir alleged that a similar attack was also made on the life of APHC executive council member Abdul Gani Lone by Sena leaders at Jammu. However, no action was taken against the Sena leaders, he said, adding that this indicated that attacks on Hurriyat leaders were pre-planned. Meanwhile, describing the situation in Kashmir as very serious, a spokesman for the APHC today appealed to the people to observe a strike on Friday in protest against the attack on Malik, massacre of Muslims in Gujarat and the burning down of houses by the security forces at Baramula recently. The JKLF and the Muslim League have also supported the call and asked people to hold demonstrations after Friday prayers in their respective areas.
UNI, PTI |
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Over 6.78 lakh visit Shahdara Sharief
Jammu, May 8 They said the shrine management had taken several steps for improving board and lodging arrangements for the visitors. Free langar programmes had also been organised at the holy shrine at a cost of Rs 39.88.
PTI |
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