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Sunday,
March 30, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Ultras chop off noses of 6 Jammu, March 29 In a shocking incident, militants chopped off the noses of six persons, including a woman, and thrashed another person at a village in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said today. A group of eight suspected foreign mercenaries, in combat dress, descended on Panihad village of the district and thrashed Abdul Khaliq on March 27 night, the sources said here.
Healing touch, no licence to militants: Mufti |
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Measures
to boost Kashmiri Pandits’ morale Top Hizb militant among 9 killed Killing of innocents not
jehad: minister Kin of militancy victims get jobs Woman hurt in cross-border firing 7 zones for Jammu markets
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Ultras chop off noses of 6
Jammu, March 29 A group of eight suspected foreign mercenaries, in combat dress, descended on Panihad village of the district and thrashed Abdul Khaliq on March 27 night, the sources said here. Later, the militants went to the house of Mir Waiz and in his absence abused his family members and cut the noses of his wife Fatima, son Mohammad Razaq and a guest Nisar Hussain. After leaving Waiz’s house, the militants went to the house of Noor Hussain and chopped off his nose and the noses of two of his two sons. Villagers later took the injured to a hospital. Police and security forces have rushed to the area and launched search operations to track down the militants. Meanwhile, a report from Poonch district said a teenager, Saleem Jaffri had been missing from Palera village since March 26.
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Healing touch, no licence to militants: Mufti Srinagar, March 29 At a meeting of senior police officers of the valley here last evening, the Chief Minister said lawbreakers would not be spared. “We do not want to fill the jails with people, but that does not mean that those who break the law would go scot-free’’ he said. Asserting that the people had great expectations from the government for the restoration of peace with dignity, Mr Sayeed said — “We have to deliver and this has to be done through available instruments”. Urging the Jammu and Kashmir Police to rise to the occasion to face the challenge of militancy, Mr Sayeed said the entire government was behind the police. The gun has no place in our society. “It has only unleashed unending travails of human tragedy and agony. We need to enlist people’s support to end this black chapter of our history”. On Sunday’s massacre of 24 Kashmiri Pandits at Nadimarg, the Chief Minister said such incidents did not go well with the image of the force and the Kashmiri people have strongly condemned the incident. He said the police had an important role in creating a sense of security among the people especially the minority and they should take all possible measures to thwart such incidents. The Chief Minister stressed the need for joint visits of SPs and Deputy Commissioners in minority pockets and asked the police to re-assess the security requirements. The police force needed to be galvanised to discharge its duties to effect a turnaround in the situation. This could be achieved by dealing firmly with militants, he said. The State Chief Secretary who also addressed the police officers asked them to take the initiative. “One bad incident can wipe out all the good work done by the force over the year”, he said and added that the police’s role was not restricted to operations but in good governance as well. It can enhance the image of the government by its firmness, commitment and good conduct. One the assimilation of SOG into the regular police, he said that the government wanted the entire police force, and not only a small group, to be dedicated and committed. At the same time everyone felt accountable for his acts, he added. Describing the Pulwama massacre as a “blot on our ethos”, the Mufti has asked the police to ensure such incidents do not recur. Emphasising the need for greater coordination between police, Army and paramilitary forces for better results, he said greater interaction at various levels would send the right message down the line. He said the security of the minority community living in the valley should be augmented, wherever necessary. He made it clear to the police that security lapses would not be accepted.
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Measures
to boost Kashmiri Pandits’ morale Jammu, March 29 As part of these measures, a team of prominent Kashmiri Pandits has reached Srinagar to motivate 10,000 Hindus, living in the valley, against any migration. Another measure taken by the government is in the shape of strengthening the security cover in 815 areas where nearly 10,000 Pandits have been living for the past 13 years. Through ministers, legislators and senior government functionaries, a series of parleys have been initiated for building confidence among the Pandits. Yet another measure initiated by the Chief Minister is clear instructions to the police and other security agencies to step up their drive against the rebels hiding in different parts of the state. In addition to this the Army authorities have been advised by the Mufti to intensify patrolling on the LoC in order to check infiltration. Official sources said the government has for the time being suspended, if not abandoned, its plan of carrying migrants in groups to the Khirbhawani and Mattan areas for now rehabilitation. The government is keen to first stop any fresh exodus of Hindus from the valley. The Chief Minister is himself eager to build confidence among the Kashmiri Hindus so that they abandon their plan of migrating from the valley. The sources said the majority of Pandits were opposed to leaving their ancestral villages despite the Nadimarg carnage in which 24 Pandits were killed. They said Pandits from the Mattan area had plainly told even the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, that they were not prepared for migrating from the valley. In fact those left Nadimarg were too scared to think of giving up their plan of leaving the village as the memories of the bloodshed had gripped them with panic. According to the sources, the plan of rehabilitation of some Pandit families in the Khirbhawani and Mattan areas had been conceived after emissaries of the Mufti met groups of migrants in Jammu camps. The sources said over 150 families had agreed to go back provided the government fulfilled its commitment of providing job to at least one member of each family and suitable security cover was made available to them. Despite stiff opposition from several leaders of different Pandit organisations the government had made up its mind to start the rehabilitation process from the next month. But the Nadimarg carnage has evidently delayed the implementation of the rehabilitation scheme. Also, the Centre has suggested to the Mufti to go slow with his plan of carrying small groups of migrants back to Khirbhawani and Mattan. The Chief Minister is said to be trying all possible means to prevent any fresh migration and if he succeeded he could take up the programme of rehabilitating Pandits in his hand after he found the security environment had considerably improved. |
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Top Hizb militant among 9 killed
Srinagar, March 29 Hizbul battalion commander Jalal-ud-Din Dar was killed after a nearly 20-hour gunfight with security forces at Garoora village in Baramula district this morning, he said. The gunbattle began last evening when Rashtriya Rifles jawans raided the village following specific information that Dar was hiding there. When asked to surrender, Dar, one of the most wanted militants, opened fire from inside a house forcing the troops to retaliate. The house was damaged in the exchange of fire, the spokesman said, adding that some arms and ammunition were seized from the encounter scene. Dar was wanted in a large number of militancy-related incidents and had escaped the security dragnet on several occasions, the spokesman said. A foreign mercenary belonging to the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Amanullah, was killed in an encounter with Rashtriya Rifles troops at Margdiwa village in Kupwara district. The slain ultra hailed from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Another Pakistani militant of Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami, Habibullah, was killed in a gunbattle with security forces at Chittidhara in Poonch district. Another militant was killed by the security forces in a gunbattle in the Tangdhar area in the wee hours today. The gunbattle broke out when the troops cordoned off the forward area near the Line of Control in the sector. JAMMU: Suspected Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) ultras triggered two IED blasts in the Fathepur area of Rajouri district on Saturday morning. Police sources said the ultras had planted the two IEDs, under a bridge mostly used by the Army. The explosions occurred a few minutes before the movement of an Army convoy around 6 am. The bridge was partially damaged and no casualties were reported.
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Killing
of innocents not jehad: minister Jammu, March 29 The Union Minister condemned Pakistan and President Pervez Musharraf for shedding blood of innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir in the name of jehad. Prof Gupta was talking to reporters at the Rajouri district hospital after meeting six villagers of Panihad village who were brutally assaulted and whose noses were chopped off by a group of eight-10 heavily armed Pakistan-trained militants on the night of March 27. He said killing and torturing of innocent people was not jehad. He said Islam did not teach such things and it was unfortunate that on the pretext of Islam, Pakistan was indulging in such shameful acts. The Union Minister, while expressing concern over the militant violence in the Jammu region during the past couple of days, said that all-out efforts would be made by the government to thwart the evil and nefarious designs of Pakistan. He said that directions had been issued to the Army and security forces to remain extra vigilant in the coming months when the snow melts. Prof Gupta said the morale of our troops was very high and they were ready to give a befitting reply if Pakistan indulged in any Kargil-type misadventure. He said that the government was committed to wipe out militancy from the state at any cost. However, he sought the cooperation of people in the fight against terrorism. He said the people of border districts of Poonch and Rajouri deserved praise and kudos for maintaining communal harmony and brotherhood despite grave provocation by the ISI of Pakistan. Prof Gupta also took a dig at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for persisting with his policy of “healing touch”. He asked if this healing touch was for the militants who come from Pakistan and shed the blood of innocent people or the innocent people who are brutally tortured, injured and killed. He said the policy being pursued by the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir had emboldened militants, who were now indulging in ruthless acts. Prof Gupta said the Mufti should rethink his policy of healing touch and assess as to how far this policy had succeeded in containing militancy in the state. Meanwhile, the minister assured all possible help to persons whose noses were chopped off by militants. He gave directions to the district hospital authorities to provide them the best possible medical care. He said the government would bear all expenses for the plastic surgery of the victims. The minister expressed shock over the incident and asked the world community to take note of such barbaric acts of Pakistan trained militants.
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Kin of militancy victims get jobs Srinagar, March 29 Nearly 250 other families, who have been victims of militancy, were also given an ex-gratia relief of Rs 1.91 crore at a public meeting held at the district headquarter town of Kupwara in north Kashmir this afternoon. Rs 3.40 lakh was distributed among 34 persons under the National Family Benefit Scheme while Rs 81.58 lakh was distributed as assistance to 518 persons for the construction of their dwelling units under the Indira Awas Yojana. This was part of the healing touch imparted to the victims of militancy. The drive was launched by the
PDP-led government in Jammu and Kashmir five months ago. With this the benefits under SRO 43, providing job opportunities on compassionate grounds to the kith and kin of the victims of the 12-year long militancy, have been extended to all six districts falling in the Kashmir valley. While distributing the appointment letters, Mufti Sayeed inquired from the beneficiaries about the condition of their families. He said, “While nobody can compensate for the precious lives of your near and dear ones, the appointment letters can at least ensure a dignified future”. Asserting that the peace initiative in Jammu and Kashmir would become a movement forward, the Mufti called upon the people to frustrate the designs of those attempting to derail the peace process. Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, the Chief Minister pointed towards the brave and committed people of Iraq, who, he said despite being pitted against the mighty powers, were giving a tough time to the US forces. He said with the same spirit “we have to fight the enemies of peace and isolate them”. Referring to the massacre of 24 Kashmiri Pandits at Nadimarg in south Kashmir early this week, the Mufti said Pandits were part of Kashmir’s composite culture. Those who engineered this carnage attempted to destabilise a situation that had started looking up. The Chief Minister said his government would continue the policy of imparting a healing touch even though it was wrongly projected to create confusion among the people. |
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Woman hurt in cross-border firing Jammu, March 29 Rashida Begum was injured in the shelling at Bagildara and has been hospitalised. Firing between two sides has also took place along International Border at Narayanpur and Ramgarh areas of Jammu district during the last 24-hours, the sources said. No damage or loss has been reported from the areas, they added. A defence spokesman said that Pakistani troops opened heavy and unprovoked mortar fire, targeting army installations and Indian villages along the in Lam area of Nowshera sector along the Line of Control (LoC) and Baghyal Dhara in Digwar area of Poonch sector late last night.
PTI, UNI
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7 zones for Jammu markets Jammu, March 29 The zones would be identified by a committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner of Jammu. The committee in consultation with representatives of chamber of commerce and industry and trade federations would also decide the day of the week on which the shops and business establishments would remain closed in a particular area. The decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting held here today to review the measures being adopted to regulate smooth flow of traffic in the congested areas of the city. The Housing and Urban Development Minister, Mr Ghulam Mir presided over the meeting. The meeting also decided to set up a public complaint centre in the municipal corporation office where the general public could lodge its grievances and the officer concerned would have to submit the same to the minister concerned within 24 hours so that these could be redressed immediately. It also decided to constitute a vigilance team comprising the traffic police, municipal corporation and revenue officers, which would daily conduct rounds of markets to ensure that footpaths and other public places were not encroached. |
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Drugs worth
Rs 4 cr seized
Jammu, March 29
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