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Tuesday,
June 17, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Imam, son killed as troops open fire J&K ASSEMBLY SESSION Need to change cops'
mindset: Mufti Bid on Gen Rao’s life still a mystery |
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One soldier died for every 4 ultras killed in J&K,
say figures APHC okayed Malik’s signature drive 112 cr Annual Plan for Ladakh area Pak mobile radio stations along LoC Pak intruder gunned down Bill to withdraw money from Consolidated Fund passed Hakeem for tripartite talks 3 crushed by car
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Imam, son killed as troops open fire
Srinagar, June 16 The government also announced ex gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of those killed and promised a job for a member of their family. Abdul Qayoom Peer, imam of a local mosque, and his son, Masood Ahmad Peer, were killed last night when troops allegedly opened fire on them mistaking them for militants, official sources said here. As news of the killing spread today morning, several thousand people took to the streets in the Kreeri area and marched towards the local police station where the bodies were kept, the sources said. The agitated people, raising anti-Army slogans, blocked the main road at Wagoora after the police handed over the bodies for burial, demanding an inquiry into the incident and punishment to the jawans involved, they said. Baramula Deputy Commissioner Naven Choudhary, who reached Kreeri village along with senior police officers to pacify the people, announced the inquiry and the ex gratia relief. Talking to PTI after his visit, Mr Choudhary said, “We have ordered the inquiry on the directions of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad
Sayeed.” The inquiry would be conducted by Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sopore, Sharafat Ali, who had been asked to submit his report within 15 days, he said. Mr Choudhury said the Additional Superintendent of Police, Sopore, would also conduct a separate investigation into the incident. He said the ex gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh would be handed over to the next of kin of the deceased tomorrow. “The family of the deceased is very poor and hence it was also decided that one of its members would be provided a government job on compassionate grounds shortly,” the Deputy Commissioner added. The agitators kept the bodies with them during their protests and dispersed only after the Deputy Commissioner visited them and ordered an inquiry. The bodies were later buried at a local graveyard. Mr Choudhury said the situation in the area was now under control. Official sources said the Army had laid an ambush at a village near Wagoora last night following information about possible movement of militants. On observing the imam and his son, who were returning to their Frastihal residence, the troops opened fire killing them instantly, the sources said. They said additional police personnel had been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.
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J&K ASSEMBLY SESSION Srinagar, June 16 Speaker Tara Chand took up a question, but nothing was heard in the din as National Conference members kept shouting slogans. Rural Development Minister Peerzada Mohamamd Sayed introduced Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Amendment Bill and a Bill moved by Muzaffar Hussain Beig was moved and passed by the House by voice vote amid slogan shouting by the NC. The trouble started immediately after the House assembled for the day, when the NC members were on their feet demanding immediate discussion on the involvement of state police personnel in the killing of former Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone. Rejecting the motion, the Speaker said he would allow a half hour discussion on the issue, though the incident had happened in 2002 and investigation was still in progress. Not satisfied with the ruling of the chair, the NC members stormed into the well of the House and were not ready to resume seats till discussion was held. Former minister Ajay Sadhotra (NC) said the government had insulted the House by not taking it into confidence before the Director General of Police told the Press about the involvement of some police personnel in the killing of Mr Lone. Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar said they came to know about the involvement of police through media. The inquiry committee set up to probe the killing of Mr Lone by the NC government had presented its report to government three months ago but no action had been taken, he alleged. Mr Sagar said had the media not unearthed the nexus, they would not have known the truth. It was after the arrest of a militant by the CRPF, the nexus between militants and the police came to light, he said adding that since it was a question of the security of all members, the House should immediately take it up for discussion. Minister of State for Home Abdul Rehman Veeri, who wanted to reply, was shouted down by the NC members who wanted full discussion on the issue. Former Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather (NC) alleged that the DGP’s statement when the House was in session, was a deliberate attempt to avoid the House. Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who was present in the House, remained silent except indicating his acceptance of the half-hour discussion on the issue after the question hour. However, this did not pacify the NC members, who remained on their feet throughout. Members from both the sides, including Mohammad Yousuf Targami (CPM), avoided the worst in the House when they stopped NC member Sharif Uddin Shariq and Ghulam Hassan Khan (PDP) from indulging in a physical clash after a verbal duel. The PDP and Congress members alleged that the NC government was responsible for the killing of Mr Lone as it had been in power at that time. The House witnessed silence for a few minutes when former Minister Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah said in a democratic set-up, the opposition had a right to move an adjournment motion on important issues. As the Speaker signalled the end of question hour, NC members resumed their seats, but again stormed into the well after his announcement to hold discussions for just 30 minutes. Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig, on the direction from the chair, moved for consideration a Bill to provide for the withdrawal of certain sums from the
consolidated fun of the Jammu and Kashmir for the financial year 2003-2004. The Speaker adjourned the House for the day after Mr Beig’s Bill was passed.
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Need to change cops' mindset: Mufti Srinagar, June 16 "Gun and violence can never solve any problem," Mr Sayeed said after inaugurating the second Jammu and Kahsmir Senior Police Officers Conference here last evening. Asking the state police to allow the citizens to have recourse to peaceful and democratic means to air their grievances , Mr Sayeed said we were living in a democratic country and the people had right to air their grievances, if any, in a peaceful and democratic manner. "It is the duty of the government to address their grievances,’’ he added. Advising senior police officers against arresting separatist leaders unless they posed serious threat to peace and tranquillity, Mr Sayeed said it was a wise decision to allow Muharram and Id-i-Milad-un-Nabi processions in Srinagar after 13 years besides permitting National Conference leaders to hold a public meeting in the heart of the summer capital. This indicated a vibrant democracy and would help in relaxing the general atmosphere, he added. Probably referring to the recent arrest of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik during a signature campaign on the Kashmir issue, Mr Sayeed cautioned against over-reaction in such situations, adding that there is a need to change the mindset of the police officers. Reiterating his government’s commitment to upholding human rights, he counselled the state police to ensure that human rights of the citizens were not violated while dealing with militancy. The Chief Minister, however, made it clear that militants had to be dealt with a firm hand, asking the police not to be lax or show mercy to those elements who indulge in the killing of innocent persons.
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Bid on Gen Rao’s life still a mystery Jammu, June 16 The attempt on the life of Gen Rao was made in the high security Maulana Azad stadium here while he was taking the salute at the Republic Day parade. Terrorists had planned a string of remote controlled explosive devices under the podium where from Gen Rao addressed the people and his exit route by sneaking into the stadium which was supposed to have been sealed by the police a couple of days before the function. However, Gen Rao escaped as those who had planted the bombs apparently in a panic started exploding these in a reverse order starting from the main exit gate instead of the podium. This provided an opportunity to security men to take the Governor to a safe place. But nine persons, including three officers of the Information Department and six cops, died in the blasts. What is intriguing is that the terrorists, who apparently wanted to hit the headlines and demoralise the security forces, entered the stadium by breaking the cordon of the BSF, state police and intelligence agencies and dug earth to plant the explosives. The stadium is made out of bounds for all except the police many days before the Republic Day function. A couple of days later the police claimed having made an achievement by apprehending the master mind behind the incident but could not keep him behind the bars for long as he escaped. Later, efforts were made to cover up the episode. A magisterial inquiry into the assassination of Mr Lone while he was addressing an election rally on September 9 had indicted the police which did not react to the terrorist attack on the minister. The terrorists simply came there in the presence of 60 policemen, shot the minister and walked away, reports said. Eyebrows were raised on the role of a couple of bureaucrats and some policemen during the peak of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. A senior bureaucrat was promoted to a high post after he along with some IAS and IPS officers flashed a memorandum to the President against the role of the security forces in the state. Some other officers were inducted into the coveted IAS cadre and also given promotions after they sent a complaint to the UNO against the human rights violations by the central security forces while dealing with terrorism here. Assassination of Mr Lone was not the beginning of indiscipline among a section of the police. Some policemen reportedly revolted in Srinagar in 1990 and also virtually captured the police control room which is the nerve centre for maintaining law and order. The recent incident of desertion of posts by over 100 SPOs handling militancy in the Doda district has come as yet another question mark on their functioning. There were allegations that some top police officers and bureaucrats had been visiting the high-security jail here to seek “taweez” and blessings of the hardcore militant Maulana Azhar Masood who was among the top terrorists freed to secure release of the passengers of the Indian Airlines aircraft hijacked to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Azhar Masood is now guiding terrorist activities in J&K from Pakistan. |
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One soldier died for every 4 ultras killed in J&K, Srinagar, June 16 Around 118 security personnel were punished for violating human rights since militancy began in the state. Against the killing of 546 militants, 137 security personnel laid down their lives from January to May this year while 346 civilians also died during the same period in militancy-related incidents in the state. However, Srinagar district witnessed more deaths of security personnel (11) against six militants killed during the period, reports said. Security forces achieved major successes in Doda, Rajouri and Poonch districts where 273 militants were gunned down against 55 casualties suffered by them. Nineteen security force personnel laid down their lives in different encounters in Udhampur district during which 31 militants were also killed. Two security personnel and 20 militants were killed in the central Kashmir district of Badgam, the report said. Jammu district remained by and large peaceful with just three deaths — two militants and a security jawan — while four security personnel were killed in Kargil with no report of any militant’s death. Baramula and Kupwara in north Kashmir and Anantnag and Pulwama in south Kashmir also witnessed bloody encounters in which 214 militants and 49 security personnel lost their lives during the first five months of this year. According to the figures, 1,098 and 1,050 civilians, 613 and 539 security personnel and 2,020 and 1,707 militants lost their lives during 2001 and 2002, respectively. Official reports said 44 Border Security Force (BSF), 47 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 27 Jammu and Kashmir police personnel were punished for
committing human rights violation in the state since 1990. It said in 61 cases out of the 219 cases recommended by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), ex gratia relief had been paid so far while employment was given to 13 persons. Most of these cases belonged to custodial disappearance, extra judicial killings and tortures, official sources said. However, there was no proposal to give more powers to the SHRC, the sources said.
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APHC okayed Malik’s signature drive Jammu, June 16 Despite the APHC remaining a large umbrella under which separatists of different political hues work the three major constituents — the Awami Action Committee headed by Maulvi Umar Farooq, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front- led by Mohd Yasin Malik, and the Peoples Conference Chief Sajjad Lone — have started
concentrating on strengthening their parties in the Kashmir valley. Each leader has been trying to score a point. While the Peoples Conference organised a public rally on May 22 to demonstrate its hold on the people, the JKLF chief, Mohd Yasin Malik, has initiated a signature
campaign in favour of representatives of the people of Kashmir being involved in the proposed Indo-Pak dialogue. He has claimed to have collected 4,000 signatures and was arrested three days ago. He was let off yesterday and soon after his release, Malik announced that his campaign would continue. Some APHC supporters have raised their eyebrows over Malik’s signature campaign on the plea that he should have involved all the constituents. However, the APHC Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, told this correspondent that Malik "had informed us about his programme and we okayed it." He said,” I did not want to involve all the constituents in the programme at the present juncture.” Professor Bhat admitted that he was aware of some constituents working for strengthening their organisations, but "take it from me not a single unit will quit the APHC.” For the time being, neither the APHC nor the Jamait-e-Islami have been in a position to sort out the differences between hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Peoples Conference chief Sajjad Lone. The former is keen to see the latter expelled from the APHC on the charge of having indirectly participated in September 2002 Assembly poll, which charge Mr Lone has denied. When Geelani was in detention and later hospitalised, the Chief of Jamait-e-Islami had deputed Ali Mohd Sheikh as Jammat representative and he had conveyed to the APHC Chairman, Professor Bhat, that Sheikh would continue to represent the right wing party as Geelani was not physically fit. Geelani
contested it and under the threat from militants, supporting Geelani, the Majlis Shoura of Jamait-e-Islami reversed its stand and conveyed to the APHC chief that Geelani will continue to represent Jamait-e-Islami in the conglomerate. Professor Bhat had constituted three-member committee, comprising Maulvi Umar Farooq, Mohd Yasin Malik and Maulvi Abbas Ansari, for sorting out the conflict. The committee is yet to submit its reports. In the meantime, the Majlis Shoura has begun its deliberation on the matter because Geelani has not announced the acceptance of the changed stand of Jamaat. As a result of these developments, the APHC Chairman has had to defer convening the weekly meeting of the Executive Committee. Professor Bhat said, “ I am waiting for the report of the three-member committee and the fresh decision of the Majlis Shoura of Jammat before we can decide on Geelani’s re-entry in the Hurriyat Executive committee. |
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112 cr Annual Plan for Ladakh area Srinagar, June 16 Out of Rs 112 crore plan allocation for the hill region, Rs 57 crore has been provided for Leh district and Rs 55 crore for Kargil. The plan was finalised at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig here last evening, official sources said today. The sources said the meeting also discussed in detail the developmental requirements of the area keeping in view the limited working season and other technical hazards. The meeting was also attended by Minister for Science and Technology Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Youth Services and Sports Haji Nissar Ali and Chief Executive Officer, Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council Thupstan Chewang. The sources said in addition to the plan allocation, the twin districts could also avail the loan sanctioned last year for various developmental schemes in roads and buildings, public health engineering and irrigation and flood control sectors. They said the issues discussed at the meeting included double-lanning of Zoji-La-Drass sector of the Srinagar-Kargil highway to remove bottlenecks in the smooth traffic movement, creation of the post of a protocol officer for Leh, increasing frequency of Srinagar-Leh flights, hopping flights for Kargil, survey of Panikhar-Pahalgam-Srinagar road as an alternative road communication link and opening of Kailash Mansarovar yatra route via Leh.
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Pak mobile radio stations along LoC Jammu, June 16 An All India Radio official said they were unable to counter Pak propaganda due to the lack of funds and policies. A radio station — Sadai-Hurriyat — operating from Muzaffarabad in POK had been airing anti-India and anti-security forces programmes in Urdu language recently. These are heard in the Balakote, Mendhar, Rajdhani, Khari Karmara, Sabjian, Ajote, Loran and Mandi areas of twin border districts. The programmes launched by the radio since the last decade mostly reached the upper regions of Kashmir valley and Doda district.
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Pak intruder gunned down Jammu, June 16 Border Security Force (BSF) troops, guarding the international border (IB) in the Budhwal area in R S Pura of Jammu district observed and fired on the infiltrators, who were deep inside the Indian territory early today, the sources said, adding that one Pak intruder was killed and an anti-tank mine was recovered from him. This is the fifth attempt of infiltrators to enter along IB during the past fortnight and nine of them have been killed during the period, they said. In another encounter in the Darhal area of Rajouri district, security forces shot dead one Pak militant — Amtullah alias Abu Habji belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammad
(JeM) outfit and recovered an AK rifle, three
magazines, 117 rounds, two grenades, Rs 8100 in Indian currency last night. Another Pak militant was killed in an encounter with the troops in the Surankote area of Poonch district last night. One pika gun, one ammunition belt, two pistols, three magazines, four grenades and one radio set were recovered. The security forces also busted a hideout in the Kishtwar area of Doda last evening and recovered two UBGLs, 525 rounds, two radio sets, five antennas, two AK magzines, five grenades, 37 detonators, one IED and 1.5 volt battery. Militants shot at and injured a civilian at Idloo-Gadole in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district today, a police spokesman said adding that ultras also set ablaze a residential quarter of public health engineering department at Khandiyal village in Baramula district causing damage to it.
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Bill to withdraw money from Consolidated Srinagar, June 16 The Bill, moved by Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig and seconded by Minister for Rural Development Peerzada Mohammad Syed, authorizes the government to withdraw Rs 1025.71 crore out of the consolidated fund of the Jammu and Kashmir state for defraying several charges in respect of services that would come in the course of payment during the financial year 2003-04. The House passed the Bill after it was moved by the minister even as opposition NC members were agitating for adjournment of the House. Earlier, the Rural Development Minister introduced a Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act 1989 in the House. Explaining the objectives of the Bill, the minister said the proposed amendment envisages streamlining the functioning of various statutory institutions created in Leh and Kargil districts under the provisions of the Panchayati Raj Act 1989 and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act 1997. He said Section 27 of the Panchayati Raj Act 1989 provides for the constitution of Block Development Councils for each block comprising a chairman, all sarpanches of the halqa panchayats within the block and chairman marketing society within the jurisdiction of the block.
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Hakeem for tripartite talks Srinagar, June 16 Addressing first press conference after his release from two-years detention under the Public Safety Act, Hakeem said the peace process initiated by the leadership of India and Pakistan had generated hope and people had a lot of expectations. Every separatist Kashmiri will welcome this gesture from both the sides, he said adding, however, the conflicting statements by the Indian leaders were sending confusing signals. He said the Indian leaders should not close their eyes to the fact that Kashmir was a disputed territory. He said the recent statement of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that Kashmir was an integral part of India would jeopardise the process.
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3 crushed by car Srinagar, June 16 They said the driver of the car lost control of the vehicle at Gazigund while on way to Jammu and hit some pedestrians, killing the women and the boy on the spot. The driver of the vehicle and three others were also injured as the vehicle turned turtle and rolled into a nearby field, the sources said. The injured have been shifted to hospital. The incident sparked a protest as several hundred persons blocked the highway demanding punishment to the erring driver and compensation for the families of the deceased. However, they were dispersed by the police.
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Srinagar, June 16
