J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Shah killed to unnerve Hurriyat, says Ansari
Jammu, October 4
The upbeat mood among leaders of the APHC, after the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, announced that unconditional talks would be held with the Kashmiri separatists, was shortlived when unidentified gunmen killed Mr Mohammed Rafiq Shah, Chief of Peoples’ Liberation League and a member of the Hurriyat Conference, in Srinagar on September 30.

Top Hizbul militant killed in encounter
Jammu, October 4
The security forces shot dead a "divisional commander" of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen militant outfit in Doda district official sources said here. Mohmmad Sharief, alias Musa, said to be third among the top Hizbul militants and divisional commander of Chenab, was critically injured in an encounter during a special operation in Buzla forests last night, sources told PTI.

Two security men commit suicide
Srinagar, October 4
Two security personnel allegedly committed suicide, using their service rifles, in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir today, official sources here said.

Shah killed to unnerve Hurriyat, says Ansari
M.L. Kak

Jammu, October 4
The upbeat mood among leaders of the APHC, after the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, announced that unconditional talks would be held with the Kashmiri separatists, was shortlived when unidentified gunmen killed Mr Mohammed Rafiq Shah, Chief of Peoples’ Liberation League and a member of the Hurriyat Conference, in Srinagar on September 30.

Militants reacted to Mr Patil’s announcement of inviting the Hurriyat leaders for the resumption of dialogue within five days by eliminating a member of the APHC.

Soon after Mr Patil’s statement on September 25, activists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad issued a threat to Maulvi Abbas Ansari directing him to tame his colleagues in the APHC, failing which they would be eliminated one by one.

And they executed the threat by killing Mr Shah. Maulvi Abbas Ansari told this correspondent today that the killing of Mr Rafiq Shah, destruction of Islamia school run by the Kashmir Mirwaiz and two bomb explosions at his residence were part of the plan to “unnerve us so that we do not accept the invitation for resuming the dialogue with the Centre.

Though Maulvi Ansari did not show signs of panic, major section in the separatist camp is upset over the recent developments in which not only the Hurriyat leaders but those belonging to the mainstream political organisations, including the Congress, the PDP and the National Conference, were being targeted by the militants.

Maulvi Ansari said “over the years vested interest has grown in Kashmir which does not favour settlement of the Kashmir issue through a dialogue.

Such elements have thrived from the ongoing turmoil and were keen to prevent peace from returning to the state.”

As a result of the threat perception, the APHC leaders have yet to react favourably to Mr Patil’s commitment to resume the dialogue, without any condition, with the Kashmiri separatists.

In the past the APHC leaders were quick to react to any statement from any Central Government leader and this time they have preferred to remain silent and keep on watching the situation.

When asked whether the APHC leaders would accept the invitation for talks with the Centre, both Maulvi Ansari and Prof Abdul Gani Bhat said “We will decide it after the chairman Maulvi Umar Farooq returned from the foreign tour.”

Prof. Bhat said: “The issue will be decided by the executive committee members and in case there was a need, the matter will be referred to the general council of the APHC.”

This clearly indicates that APHC leaders are not in hurry to accept or reject the offer for talks by the Union Home Minister.

They had been waiting eagerly for the resumption of the dialogue for the past several months.

The APHC leaders wish to examine all pros and cons of the matter before giving their consent to the resumption of the parleys.

They do not seem to be prepared for risking their lives in case rebels continue to oppose the dialogue between them and the centre to get resumed.

However, Maulvi Ansari said: “Holding talks with the Centre is a must though we do not expect miracles from the dialogue. We want to know the mind of the Central Government”.

Top Hizbul militant killed in encounter

Jammu, October 4
The security forces shot dead a "divisional commander" of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen militant outfit in Doda district official sources said here.

Mohmmad Sharief, alias Musa, said to be third among the top Hizbul militants and divisional commander of Chenab, was critically injured in an encounter during a special operation in Buzla forests last night, sources told PTI.

He died later and other militants left his body and escaped.

The killing is a major setback for the Hizb, the sources said.

Two IEDs, one AK rifle, three magazines, seven grenades, 110 rounds, one pistol and one radio set were recovered from the encounter site.

BARAMULA: Two militants and a soldier were among two killed in an encounter at Brar Bandipora, the sources said.

The sources said troops on specific information conducted a search operation at Brar Bandipora village yesterday.

When the troops were about to storm a hideout, militants opened the fire.

The security forces returned fire and in the encounter two militants were killed.

A soldier also lost his life and two civilians were injured. — PTI, UNI

Two security men commit suicide

Srinagar, October 4
Two security personnel allegedly committed suicide, using their service rifles, in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir today, official sources here said.

Lance Naik Mahavir Singh of 44 Rashtriya Rifles allegedly shot himself to death inside the Choudhary Gund camp where he was posted in Shopian area, the sources said.

Constable Subash Chander of 79th battalion of the BSF allegedly ended his life around 7.10 am while he was on duty at the Panthachowk camp, the sources said.

The motive behind their taking the extreme step was not immediately known, they added. — PTI