J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

2 ultras among 7 shot in Kashmir valley
Srinagar, May 18
At least seven persons, including two militants and a BSF jawan, were killed and three civilians injured in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday. Minor damage was also caused to a security force vehicle at Mattan in Anantnag district today, the police here said.

People from the Hira Nagar sector shift to a migrant camp in Jammu on Saturday. villagers staying near the Pakistan border are shifting to safer places due to increasing tension between the two countries. — PTI photo

With Dar gone, Jash backs Hizb
Jammu, May 18
Under a new strategy, foreign mercenary-dominated Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jash-e-Mohammad have started lending support to the pro-Pakistan Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in order to meet a serious threat to its cadre after four top commanders, including Abdul Majid Dar, were expelled by the Hizb recently.

PDP protests against POTA, 3 leaders held
Srinagar, May 18
Three top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party were held by the police here today while holding demonstrations against POTA and alleged atrocities being committed by the police and security forces in Kashmir. Protests held at about 20 other tehsil headquarters across the valley.

EVMs to be used in J&K poll
Srinagar, May 18
Electronic voting machines would be introduced for the smooth conduct of elections to the Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled this year.

DISTRICT DIARY
Park in need of upkeep
Udhampur
The condition of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park in the heart of the town is deteriorating day by day with the officials concerned ignoring its upkeep.

2 ultras among 7 shot in Kashmir valley
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 18
At least seven persons, including two militants and a BSF jawan, were killed and three civilians injured in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday.

Minor damage was also caused to a security force vehicle at Mattan in Anantnag district today, the police here said. The security forces also averted a major tragedy when it seized 35 kg of IED at Chansar in Kulgam area of Anantnag district today.

A militant of the Al-Badr outfit was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Malangam, Bandipore, in Baramula district last night.

The security forces also killed a militant of Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami at Kapran in Anantnag district last night. An AK rifle and some ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Militants shot dead Mohammad Rafiq Sheikh when they intruded into his house at Warapora, Magma in Kupwara district of North Kashmir last night.

A BSF jawan, Constable Ganesh Niwarday, was killed by ultras at Kaksarai Chowk in downtown Srinagar last night, the spokesman said.

Bodies of three persons, identified as Shabir Ahmad, Abdul Rashid Malik and Shabir Ahmad Bhat, were recovered from Pulwama area, a spokesman said, adding that the three were killed by militants after being abducted.

The police recovered three bodies of civilians in different areas of Pulwama district today.

Three pedestrians were injured when militants hurled a grenade towards a security force picket at Qumarwari crossing here last evening.

With Dar gone, Jash backs Hizb
M. L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 18
Under a new strategy, foreign mercenary-dominated Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jash-e-Mohammad have started lending support to the pro-Pakistan Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in order to meet a serious threat to its cadre after four top commanders, including Abdul Majid Dar, were expelled by the Hizb recently.

According to official sources, the moment the Hizb-ul Mujahideen split with the expulsion of Abdul Majid Dar and his close commanders instruction were received by field commanders of the LeT and Jash-e-Mohammad that they should support the anti-Dar faction so that not many Hizb activists could switch their loyalty to Dar.

In parts of south Kashmir, including Mattan, Kulgam three militancy-related incidents opened the involvement of the Hizb activists and the LeT. Recently the BSF killed four militants in the Magam area of Budgam district. Two belonged to the Hizbul Mujahideen while two others were from Jash-e-Mohammad.

It will become difficult for Dar and his associates to sustain without the support of the agencies across the border. The faction in the Hizb has either to toe the pro-Pak line and seek an apology from the Hizb command council or the Jehad Council or support pro-India or pro-azadi groups. At present, the Dar faction has the upper hand because a majority of its local commanders are with the group. But with the Lashkar and the Jash siding with the anti-Dar faction, there are chances that the pro-Pak faction in the outfit may become more powerful.

Some rebel outfits, had become inactive, and have started assuming importance.

The granade attack on the Army camp in Tattoo ground in Srinagar yesterday was claimed to have been the handiwork of the Al-Madina outfit which did not exist so far. Reports said two BSF jawans were killed by activists of the Tehrik Jehad in Sopore two days ago. It had become almost a defunct outfit. Similarly, the Al-Umar, which had only existed on paper for the last three to four years, has become active in the recent weeks.

The Kaluchak carnage in Jammu was said to have been carried out by the All-Mansooran, the new name for the Lashkar.

Agencies across the border are keen to ensure the survival of the Hizb as it is now the only major rebel outfit which is dominated by local youths and has its cadres and network throughout the state. These agencies fear that at some stage US pressure may force Islamabad to withdraw all foreign mercenaries and in that case an outfit based on local cadres should be kept active.

These agencies were also trying to foment anti-security forces sentiments by encouraging Hizb activists to carry out strikes against security personnel.

PDP protests against POTA, 3 leaders held
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 18
Three top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were held by the police here today while holding demonstrations against POTA and alleged atrocities being committed by the police and security forces in Kashmir. Protests held at about 20 other tehsil headquarters across the valley.

Those held included Ms Mehbooba Mufti, vice-president, general secretary Tariq Hameed Karra and Mir Ghulam Hassan, all PDP leaders. The PDP president and the former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed alleged that over 12 party workers were injured in the police action. Trouble started when Ms Mufti lead a protest march violating prohibitory orders.

As soon as the march reached Partap Park, the police prevented them from going ahead and even resorted to mild lathi charge. But the agitators continued with the march.

The former Union Home Minister, stressed the need for a dialogue with all sections of society.

Mr Sayeed said his party would continue to mobilise people on the basic issues at various levels so that the real problems of the people could be identified and solved. He pointed out that the alienation of the people was mainly because their basic problems had not been resolved.

EVMs to be used in J&K poll
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 18
Electronic voting machines would be introduced for the smooth conduct of elections to the Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled this year.

Election Commissioner, T. S. Krishnamurthy said 9000 such machines would be pressed into service in all polling stations of the state. Adequate reserve of these machines would be maintained to meet any additional requirement, an official spokesman said here.

Mr Krishnamurthy said the polling officers, staff and political parties would be acquainted with the new system aimed at checking manipulation. This will also help in containing stuffing of bogus votes into the ballot boxes. He said these machines have been used extensively in various parts of the country with encouraging results. Necessary training programme and awareness campaign on electronic voting machines would be undertaken at tehsil and other levels.

He said the electoral rolls are being consolidated to ensure correctness of all insertion and modification, wherever necessary. Efforts would be made to make these legible and available to the people and the political parties. Those figuring on the rolls would be allowed to exercise their right to franchise. The head of the family having identify card can also identify his family members.

Regarding election schedule, Mr Krishnamurthy said that the dates have not yet been finalised. However, it will be ensured that the Assembly is constituted within the stipulated time.

Mr Krishnamurthy said that steps would be taken for smooth electioneering and free elections.

The Election Commissioner said for the smooth conduct of elections, observers would be appointed to ensure transparency.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary, Mr I. S. Malhi also called on the Election Commissioner last evening and discussed holding of elections.

DISTRICT DIARY
Park in need of upkeep
Ramesh Gupta

Udhampur
The condition of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park in the heart of the town is deteriorating day by day with the officials concerned ignoring its upkeep.

The park, it is claimed, is the property of the Town Area administration. However, when the question of its maintenance arises, it is said that the park comes under the Department of Parks and Gardens of the state government.

The broken gate of the park and debris lying on the premises indicate its neglect by the authorities concerned. There are no floodlights. Filth can be seen inside as well as outside the park. The fountain, the swings for children and most of the benches are also in bad shape.

The Bhagat Singh Yadgar Committee in Udhampur town has drawn the attention of the authorities to the problems faced by visitors to the park but to no avail. No statue of the martyr has been installed in the park, though recently the Deputy Commissioner had announced that this would be done.

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Residents of Udhampur are facing an acute shortage of drinking water. Owing to inadequate rain and snowfall natural sources are drying up.

Arrangements for adequate water supply were required to be made before the start of the summer, but no attention was paid to this aspect by the PHE Department.

Udhampur district was brought under the Rajiv Pilot Project Programme, which is aimed at providing drinking water. Work on the programme has been started in the rural areas though the pace is slow. It was required to be launched on a war footing so that villagers did not suffer.