J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Army camp attacked; two personnel killed
Jammu, October 15
Two Army personnel were killed and seven wounded as terrorists attacked a military camp on the Jammu-Delhi highway at Kathua today. The terrorists, who were heavily armed, were able to escape. The injured Army personnel were taken to the military hospital at Pathankot.

Injured soldiers receive treatment at the Civil Hospital in Kathua, about 90 km from Jammu, on Saturday. — Reuters photo

Three militants among five killed in valley
Srinagar, October 15
Three ultras and a counter- insurgent were among five persons killed in separate incidents while a militant of Lashker-e-Toiba was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, a police spokesman said today.

Quake delays power transfer agreement
Jammu, October 15
The recent earthquake that left about 1,000 persons dead and several thousand injured in Jammu and Kashmir has, for the time being, delayed the implementation of power transfer agreement and the next round of talks between the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, and the APHC leaders.

Perspective page: Coping with nature’s fury

THE WILL OF GOD: The house of Mohammad Rashid in Surankote, Poonch, withstood the October-8 quake but was damaged when a fully-loaded truck skidded off the road and landed on the roof on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Varsity staff give aid to
quake-hit
Jammu, October 15
The Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof Amitabh Mattoo, has provided blankets and woollen clothing to victims of the earthquake in Poonch. Professor Mattoo yesterday led on official team of the university to the affected areas to assess the damage.

Woman killed in landslide
Srinagar, October 15
A 45-year-old woman was killed and three others rescued after they were caught under a landslide, triggered by a fresh tremor in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, in the wee hours today, official sources said.

Army camp attacked; two personnel killed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 15
Two Army personnel were killed and seven wounded as terrorists attacked a military camp on the Jammu-Delhi highway at Kathua today. The terrorists, who were heavily armed, were able to escape. The injured Army personnel were taken to the military hospital at Pathankot.

The militants threw grenades and then fired indiscriminately at the Army personnel who were engaged in their morning exercise. Thereafter, they forcibly entered a house and changed their clothes before escaping. One AK 56 rifle and some grenades were found from the house.

Those killed have been identified as Atul and Sandeep.

Meanwhile, a gunbattle took place between militants and security forces at Kohli near Gool in Ramban today.

SSP (Ramban-Gool) Gareeb Dass said acting on a tip-off policemen of the special operation group of the state police rushed to Kohli area in the morning. He said when they were approaching the hide-out, the militants opened fire, which was returned.

He said a large amount of ration and blankets were seized from the spot.

Srinagar: Three militants were killed in two separate encounters in Srinagar and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

Two militants were killed in a gunbattle with security forces during search operations at Mansbal on the outskirts of Srinagar this morning, defence sources said.

In another encounter the security forces shot dead a militant at Maspathi village in Anantnag district of South Kashmir. The identity of all three slain militants could not be ascertained. — UNI, PTI

Three militants among five killed in valley

Srinagar, October 15
Three ultras and a counter- insurgent were among five persons killed in separate incidents while a militant of Lashker-e-Toiba was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, a police spokesman said today.

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in a gunbattle during search operations at Pushwar near Manasbal on the outskirts of Srinagar this morning, the spokesman said.

A residential house belonging to Ghulam Ahmad was damaged during the encounter, he said adding two AK rifles and a wireless set were recovered from the slain militants.

In another encounter, defence sources said security forces shot dead one more militant at Maspathi village in Anantnag district today.

The identity and group affiliation of the deceased could not be ascertained immediately as the search operation in the village was still in progress, they said.

Militants shot dead a counter-insurgent affiliated with Ikhwan Abdul Rasmid Bhat near Arin in the Bandipora area of Baramulla district this morning, the spokesman said.

Militants also kidnapped and later killed Ghulam Qadir at Peermarg in the Surankote area of Poonch district last night.

The spokesman said security forces arrested an LeT militant and seized an AK rifle and three magazines from him. — PTI

Quake delays power transfer agreement
M.L. Kak

Jammu, October 15
The recent earthquake that left about 1,000 persons dead and several thousand injured in Jammu and Kashmir has, for the time being, delayed the implementation of power transfer agreement and the next round of talks between the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, and the APHC leaders.

A couple of fast changing developments took place in the state which have motivated the Centre, especially the AICC, to postpone the implementation of power transfer agreement.

First, Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed had felt suffocated over the growing political uncertainty in the state following the inability of the AICC leadership in announcing the name of the party leader who had to replace the Mufti under the power-transfer agreement as head of the government.

Sources close to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said the Chief Minister conveyed his desire to the AICC leadership and the PMO that the uncertainty be ended and the name of the Congress leader who was to be installed as the Chief Minister be announced. In case the implementation of the power transfer agreement had to be postponed a statement to this effect was also called for.

Secondly, the Mufti had felt slighted after senior bureaucrats had started giving weightage to the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, who, till now, tops the list of the Congress leaders tipped for the Chief Minister’s post. On a number of occasions since October 9, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was ignored by several bureaucrats who were seen dancing to the tune of Mr Azad.

Sources said that the bureaucrats saw in Ms Sonia Gandhi’s announcement that Mr Azad was stay put in Jammu and Kashmir till a relief and rehabilitation programme was completed a clear hint that the Union Minister was to replace the Mufti as the Chief Minister. And Mr Azad started ringing up Chief Ministers of Haryana, Punjab and other agencies for sending material aid for the quake victims of Jammu and Kashmir.

Leaders and workers of the state unit of the Congress too were under the impression that Mr Azad was definitely taking over as the Chief Minister.

However, Mufti Sayeed is said to have received hints from the PMO that till the relief operations were completed the power transfer implementation plan might be kept under the carpet.

And the APHC leaders too are of the opinion that the next round of talks with the Prime Minister may be delayed because of the earthquake. Senior APHC leaders are of the view that “since the Government of India and we are engaged in sending relief to the earthquake-affected people holding of talks within the next three weeks is not feasible.”

Varsity staff give aid to quake-hit
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 15
The Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof Amitabh Mattoo, has provided blankets and woollen clothing to victims of the earthquake in Poonch. Professor Mattoo yesterday led on official team of the university to the affected areas to assess the damage.

He said that the university had decided to establish a disaster management cell to coordinate with the civil administration and NGOs for relief and rehabilitation and also run short-term courses for government and non-government officials.

Meanwhile, the power grid corporation of India, has decided to adopt eight remove villages and provide food, shelter, woollens, blankets and first aid to victims of the earthquake.

Srishti, the powergrid women welfare organisation, was also collecting donations for the victims.

Woman killed in landslide

Srinagar, October 15
A 45-year-old woman was killed and three others rescued after they were caught under a landslide, triggered by a fresh tremor in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, in the wee hours today, official sources said.

The earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, was felt at 1.08 a.m. triggering a landslide at Udoosa village near the LoC in Baramula district, the sources said.

Four persons, including a woman, were buried when their makeshift tent house was buried in the landslide, they said, adding that relief workers and local villagers immediately rushed to the scene despite heavy showers and rescued three victims who were injured.

Body of the fourth victim, identified as Nazir Fatima of Dardkote-Sadwani, was recovered later today, the sources said adding that conditions of two injured, Muneer Shah and Farooq Ali, was stated to be “serious”.

Udoosa, along with other border villages of Uri and Tangdhar, was devastated by earthquake which claimed 1,195 lives in the state. —PTI