Jammu, November 26
Molvi Umar Farooq, chief of the APHC, has, on one hand, dropped his exercise of bringing about reconciliation with Syed Ali Shah Geelani, while on the other hand renewed his efforts for wooing the JKLF chief, Mohammad Yasin Malik, and the president of the Democratic Freedom Party, Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah, back to the separatist conglomerate.

Sources close to the APHC leadership said Molvi Umar Farooq decided to close the option of winning back Syed Ali Shah Geelani who even refused advice from the Pakistani leaders, including the Prime Minister, Mr Shaukat Aziz, for the unification of the two factions of the Hurriyat Conference.

According to the sources, Mr Geelani defended his decision to keep away from the moderates when he had a session with Mr Aziz in Delhi.He is said to have informed the Pakistan Prime Minister that the moderates had not violated the Hurriyat constitution but accepted an offer for dialogue from the Central Government without ensuring the involvement of Pakistan.

When the APHC leadership came to know about the rigid stand taken by Mr Geelani, it decided to pursue the goal of getting the JKLF and the Democratic Freedom Party back to its fold.

The JKLF chief, Mr Mohammad Yasin Malik, had come out of the APHC conglomerate soon after Mr Geelani snapped ties with the amalgam headed by Molvi Abbas Ansari.

Mr Malik had floated what was called a third front when Mr Shabir Shah and Peoples’ League Chairman Sheikh Aziz besides the Kashmir Bar Assoiciation supported him.

However, the third front was dissolved when Mr Geelani floated Tehrik Hurriyat Kashmir two months ago and Sheikh Aziz joined his conglomerate.

Both Mr Malik and Mr Shah decided to remain neutral. But the APHC leadership, in its bid to score over the faction led by Mr Geelani, is keen to win back the support of these two leaders. Once it materialised the APHC may claim to be a bigger group than the one headed by Mr Geelani.

Inside reports said ruling elite in Pakistan may not mount pressure on Mr Geelani for bringing about unity because the hardliner is said to have convinced Mr Aziz that he (Geelani) alone could serve Pakistan’s interest in Kashmir.

There is denying the fact that Mr Geelani has an edge over the moderates. His conglomerate has the outside support of the Jamait-e-Islami which has pockets of influences in the entire Kashmir valley.

With his pronounced pro-Pakistan postures Mr Geelani has the support of a couple of militant groups that matter in the valley.

Pakistan is aware of it and hence has not rejected the allegation levelled by Mr Geelani that the APHC leaders could ultimately end in an agreement with the Government of India on the pattern Sheikh Abdullah did in 1975.

Srinagar, November 26
Five persons, including two Hizbul Mujahideen militants and two Special Police Officers (SPOs), were killed and two policemen injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, a police spokesman said today.

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces at the Kara Ranjna forest in Doda district early today, the spokesman said.

Bullet-riddled bodies of the two SPOs, identified as Jagdish Ram and Ramesh Kumar, were recovered from Ganai Mohalla in Doda district last night, he said, adding that both of them were residents of Kiyar and had been abducted by militants while on way to the Dachan post a few days back.

Militants also shot dead a Class XII student Zahoor Ahmad Mir after dragging him out of his house at Kangroosa in the Rafiabad area of Baramulla district last night, the spokesman said.

He said two policemen, Constable Mohammad Yaqoob and SPO Sunavari Lal,were injured when militants hurled a grenade towards them at Suriyan in Doda district last night.

Militants also hurled a grenade towards a security patrol at Sopore township in Baramulla this afternoon, but no one was hurt in the explosion, the spokesman said.

He said security forces arrested Abdul Ahad Sheikh from Sheikhpora village of Kreeri in Baramulla district and recovered two hand grenades from him.

Security forces have recovered some explosives after a brief encounter with militants in the Surankote area of Poonch district, he said, adding that the ultras fled away leaving behind two bags containing six UBGL grenades, four RPG grenades and one hand grenade, three detonators. — PTI