J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Infiltration bid foiled; Captain killed Jammu, January 1 Three persons, including an Army Captain, have been killed in different encounters in Poonch and Udhampur districts of Jammu division Security forces also foiled an infiltration bid since last night, official sources said here today. Family members of a person injured in a blast wail in Srinagar on Thursday. — Photo by Amin War

PDP rally goes on despite blast

Jammu, January 1 Braving the extremely cold weather, hundreds of people participated in the “peace and friendship” rally that was organised by the PDP-led coalition at Srinagar in view of the SAARC Summit at Islamabad.

A policeman stands guard as Kashmiris listen to speakers during a peace rally in Srinagar on Thursday. — Reuters photo

Geelani, wife refused documents for Haj
Srinagar, January 1
Chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his wife have not been issued travel documents for the Haj pilgrimage this year.

Jammaat-e-Islami leaves Hurriyat
Srinagar, January 1
The Jamaat-e-Islami, founder constituent of the Hurriyat Conference, today announced its decision to dissociate itself from the separatist amalgam led by Maulana Abbas Ansari and not to extend support to the rival faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani “for the time being”.

Scheme to irrigate drought-prone areas
Jammu, January 1
The government has formulated a plan to irrigate Kandi and drought-prone areas in Jammu and Kashmir.

Infiltration bid foiled; Captain killed

Jammu, January 1
Three persons, including an Army Captain, have been killed in different encounters in Poonch and Udhampur districts of Jammu division Security forces also foiled an infiltration bid since last night, official sources said here today.

A group of three armed militants sneaked into the Indian side from across the Line of Control (LoC) via Kalhna Peer area in Mendhar tahsil of Poonch district early today, the sources said, adding that alert troops challenged them and in the subsequent encounter one of them was gunned down .

In another encounter, an Army Captain, identified as Mridul Sharma, lost his life and another jawan was injured at Chasana in Mahore area of Udhampur district last night, the sources said.

Reinforcement was rushed to the area for launching operations to flush out the militants.

One Army jawan was killed and another injured in an ambush by militants on a patrolling party in Mastan area of Surankote tehsil of Poonch district today.

The troops also retaliated, but the militants managed to escape in forests, the sources said.

The body of Capt Mridul Sharma, 25, a resident of Hamirpur town, who laid down his life while fighting militants, is on way to Hamirpur and will be cremated with full state honours on Friday.

Son of an Army officer, Col J.K. Sharma, who is serving at Yol Camp in Kangra district, Mridul was a product of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Hamirpur. He completed his B.Sc in computer applications from Hamirpur College before joining the Army.

The Hamirpur Beopar Mandal has decided to keep the shops closed till afternoon to pay homage to the departed soul.

SRINAGAR: A suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant died when an improvised explosive device (IED) he was carrying on a bicycle exploded accidentally in the city, officials said here.

Seven civilians were also injured, two of them critically, in the explosion outside a hospital at Rainawari around 9.10 am, Senior Superintendent of Police Syed Javed Mujtaba Gilani said.

The deceased, identified as Tariq Ahmad Najar, was going on a bicycle fitted with a powerful IED when it suddenly exploded blowing him into pieces, he said.

Najar, an unemployed medical assistant, was identified by his family members with the help of his clothes, officials said. — PTI

PDP rally goes on despite blast
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 1
Braving the extremely cold weather, hundreds of people participated in the “peace and friendship” rally that was organised by the PDP-led coalition at Srinagar in view of the SAARC Summit at Islamabad and to give momentum to the peace initiative taken by India and Pakistan.

The explosion of a powerful IED downtown failed to deter the people who turned out in large numbers at the venue of the rally in the municipal park. The terrorist carrying the IED on a cycle was torn into pieces.

The organisers were keeping their fingers crossed regarding the success of the rally because of bad weather yesterday but there was a bright sun this morning and the rally turned to be a big success.

Seeking consensus across the board within Jammu and Kashmir for a common agenda to carry forward the peace process, the Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed, made an impassionate appeal to the gun-totting youth and their leaders across the border to give the dialogue process and peace a chance.

He said this was a historic opportunity to solve all pending issues as people of both countries had not only realised the significance of peace but developed stake in it. There was a movement forward in the peace process and leaders of both countries were engaged in improving bilateral ties on the one hand and on the other hand, the Centre appointed a person not less than the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, to hold a dialogue with separatists within the state.

He recalled that the peace process took off from Srinagar on April 18 last year when during his public meeting the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, extended friendship to Pakistan.

He said a lot of blood had been shed during the past 14 years and the youth holding the gun should now return to their homes where their parents were waiting for them.

Praying success for SAARC Summit the Chief Minister was optimist about its outcome as the sentiments and aspirations of the people of the sub-continent were attached with it. This will pave way for Indo-Pak friendship.

We have suffered because of conflicts, confrontation and wars and it was for the first time after Partition that a sense of security has returned among the residents of the border areas because of the ceasefire.

The Mufti said the New Year had dawned with a new promise and hope of good days ahead. A new atmosphere had been created that would demolish the walls of hatred between the two countries.

The PDP chief, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, said the intentions and efforts of the PDP and the coalition-government were for restoring peace and reunify the divided families.

She said tremendous development would take place once peace was restored here. This would provide employment opportunity to the youth.

Among others who participated in the rally were Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister, and Mr Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, CPM leader and MLA.

Geelani, wife refused documents for Haj

Srinagar, January 1
Chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his wife have not been issued travel documents for the Haj pilgrimage this year.

A spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) Ayaz Akbar told UNI that the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of central Kashmir district of Badgam when contacted yesterday said travel documents, including passport, visa and air ticket could not be issued in favour of Mr Geelani and his wife.

Other pilgrims scheduled to leave for Jeddah on January 4 have been provided the requisite travel documents. Mr Ayaz said this was the third time that Mr Geelani was refused permission by the authorities to go on the Haj pilgrimage. — UNI

Jammaat-e-Islami leaves Hurriyat

Srinagar, January 1
The Jamaat-e-Islami, founder constituent of the Hurriyat Conference, today announced its decision to dissociate itself from the separatist amalgam led by Maulana Abbas Ansari and not to extend support to the rival faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani “for the time being”.

Putting at rest speculations about its support to one of the two factions of the Hurriyat, the Jamaat said, “while completely dissociating ourselves from the Ansari-led Hurriyat, we have decided not to extend support to the rival faction led by Mr Geelani for the time being.”

Jamaat spokesman Zahid Ali told reporters after a four-day marathon meeting of the Majlis-e-Shoora (advisory council)here this evening that his party had distanced itself from Hurriyat due to differences on several counts, especially over Mr Ansari’s election as Chairman of the amalgam.

“The manner in which Mr Ansari was elected Hurriyat Chairman in the absence of the Jamaat is not acceptable to us. Jamaat therefore has dissociated itself from the Ansari group,” he said.

Mr Ali said the Majlis-e-Shoora also deliberated upon the present political situation in the state and hailed the reconciliation moves of India and Pakistan. — PTI

Scheme to irrigate drought-prone areas
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 1
The government has formulated a plan to irrigate Kandi and drought-prone areas in Jammu and Kashmir.

The plan, cleared by the Technical Advisory Committee, included 30 minor irrigation schemes, costing Rs 14.15 crore, in Jammu division and 28 schemes in eight districts of Kashmir division, involving an expenditure of Rs 38.98 crore. The schemes have been designed in accordance with the present needs of farming community.

With an approved outlay of Rs 5 crore as state share and Rs 15 crore as Central loan assistance, the projects will be taken up in this financial year.