Jammu, November 4
The Chief of Tehrik Hurriyat Conference, Mr Syed Ali Shah Geelani, seems to have exhausted his energy on fulfilling his dream of incorporating Kashmir with Pakistan when he began hitting at the government for what he has called “corporate occupation of Kashmir.” He also accused Mufti Mohd. Sayeed of selling the idea of self-rule and termed him as an “Indian agent.”

What seems to have provoked Mr Geelani to plan a valley wide agitation is the recent decision of state government to give land at tourist resorts on lease to state subjects who could incorporate outsiders for setting up hotels and huts for tourists. Another provocation is the way the government has initiated series of moves for attracting business houses from various parts of the country to invest in Jammu and Kashmir. These business houses have been assured various incentives for setting up industrial units for which land was being given on lease in the industrial hubs of the state.

Sources close to Mr Geelani said senior separatist leader had fear that after the government failed to ensure occupation of Kashmir militarily a new scheme had been taken in hand under which corporate occupation of Kashmir could be achieved.

The sources said Mr Geelani had in mind the recent decisions of the government to acquire vast area of land for armed forces at various places which includes the strip of land near Manigam in north of Srinagar where an airport was to be built.

The Tehrik Hurriyat Chief is for leasing land in the industrial hubs to only to local people who could invest in setting up units. But senior most political figure in Kashmir does not possibly know that those belonging to Jammu and Kashmir do not have as much money as was required even for setting up a small scale industrial unit.

According to a senior official of the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) more than 100 industrialists have set up their units in the state during the past three years and out of them more than 80 per cent were non-state subjects indicating that companies like Sun Pharma, Cedilla, Berger Paints, United Phosphorous Ltd, LG and Videocon had more money and expertise than the local for setting up units in Jammu and Kashmir.

State government sources said arguments of Mr Geelani were untenable because “in our aim of revolutionising the industrial sector we need cooperation from the business houses in the country.” The sources said during the past 16 years of militancy the industrial sector had been hit hard and outsiders were not prepared to invest in Jammu and Kashmir. It was after prolonged negotiations with industrial houses that the government succeeded in receiving fair response from them

The sources said “We usually give preference to local people but there is dearth of genuine entrepreneurs and if Mr Geelani could rope in state subjects we will provide them all facilities for setting up units in the state.”

The government also explained that the armed forces required land for setting up their offices and residential quarters. With its geographical and security constraints Jammu and Kashmir Government cannot ignore security forces that have been serving the state since 1947.

Political observers here are of the opinion that Mr Geelani plans to digress from his Kashmir centric stance and touch a topic which may not find buyers in the entire state because acquiring land for security forces is not confined only to Jammu and Kashmir. The practice is in vogue in all other states in India.

These observers opine that Mr Geelani has fears that ultimately the Government of India may opt for either self-rule or greater autonomy or an amalgam of the two in its bid to resolve the Kashmir issue and hence he has fulminated against the Mufti and Dr Farooq Abdullah for floating the concept of self-rule and autonomy. 

Srinagar, November 4
Militants made an attempt on the life of a senior police officer while security forces killed a militant during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

He said militants resorted to indiscriminate firing at Pinglish near Tral, about 35 km from here in south Kashmir, when Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pulwama was passing through the area last evening.

The security guards of the SSP returned the fire. The exchange continued for about 10 minutes. The officer, escaped unhurt in the incident, but his vehicle was damaged.

Later, Border Security Force (BSF) conducted a search operation in the area. However, militants managed to escape.

Security forces killed a militant during an encounter at Sangiote, in Poonch district of Jammu region last night.

The encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants with automatic weapons. Two AK assault rifles, two magazines and 66 rounds were seized from the site. — UNI