Jammu, March 19
In an apparent message to the new Pakistani regime led by the Pakistan People's Party, the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) chief and the chairman of the United Jihad Council (UJC) Sayed Salahuddin has said Pakistan could not stop supporting the Kashmiri militant groups.

In an interview with a the private television channel, Times Now, the UJC chairman even admitted that Pakistan has continuously been providing both military as well as political support to the Kashmiri militants.

Maintaining that there was no let up in Pakistan’s support to his organisation, the television channel quoted him saying, “as of now Pakistan’s support is on. Now that things are changing in Pakistan, there is pressure on them to move away from the Kashmir issue. However, I can tell you that Pakistan cannot stop giving us substantial support on the Kashmir issue.”

Salahuddin was quoted saying that Pakistan has not only been giving the military but political, moral and diplomatic support to the ongoing freedom struggle in Kashmir. The reason behind this support, he said, was that because Pakistan believed in their position on Kashmir.

Apprehending that the new regime might withdraw the support to the militant outfits, Salahuddin claimed, his outfit was self-reliant. “As you may have heard, we have moved away from the rest of the separatist groups. We have our own agenda and we are capable of achieving our agenda on our own, without any help,” he was quoted saying.

Salahuddin’s admission of military support to his organisation assumes great significance in view of Pakistan’s persistent denial about it. While India has been crying hoarse about Pakistan’s military support to terror outfits in Kashmir, Pakistan has always been vehemently denying the same and maintaining that it only provided “moral, political and diplomatic support” to the “freedom struggle” in Kashmir.

The UJC chairman’s statement needs to be viewed in the backdrop of the observation by the PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari that Kashmir issue could wait for sometime. With Zardari almost certain to takeover as the Pakistan prime minister, the secessionist militant outfits operating in Kashmir might obviously been feeling apprehensive.

By admitting that Pakistan has been providing military support to terror outfits, Salahuddin apparently wants to warn new Pakistani regime that he could spill more beans that could embarrass Pakistan further.

Because, Pakistan has always denied having ever provided military support to militant outfits in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu, March 19
The state’s Home Department has started the process for seeking a CBI probe into the killing of minister of state for education, Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on October 18, 2005.

Earlier, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had announced in the Assembly in mid-January that the case of Lone’s murder be referred to the CBI. Dr Lone had fallen to the bullets of unidentified gunmen in his official residence in the high security area of Tulsi Bagh in Srinagar.

The commissioner, Home, S.S. Kapoor said, “It is under process. The case has been referred to the legal department for its opinion.” He said after the receipt of opinion from the legal department, the case would be referred to the CBI.

Kapoor made it clear that the government had not dropped the idea of referring the case to the CBI. In fact, the issue was again raised by none other than MLA Shoaib Lone and son of Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone during the budget session of the Assembly. Ghulam Lone had caused a flutter in the House when he said that the PDP-led government had not provided adequate security cover to his father. He even went to the extent of suspecting a political conspiracy behind his father's assassination. He drew full support from the NC.

Soon after Dr Lone was shot dead by militants, the government ordered an inquiry and the then divisional commissioner, B.B. Vyas, was asked to hold a probe. In his report, Vyas had stated that there was a security lapse but no political conspiracy behind Dr Lone's assassination.

The findings of Vyas had irked Shoaib Lone and PDP leader Ghulam Hassan Mir who demanded a CBI probe. Leader of opposition in the Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, had stated that it was not possible for a senior officer to submit a report against the state government. However, Shoaib Lone and Ghulam Hassan Mir disagreed with the findings of the Vyas report and said the assassination of Dr Lone was a “political conspiracy.” Both maintained that Lone was not killed by militants.

Udhampur, March 19
Four militants of the Laskher-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, including a foreigner, were killed by security forces in Gandoh area of Doda district today. Two police personnel and one Army jawan were also injured in the encounter which lasted for more than 14 hours.

DIG Doda-Ramban range, Himmant Kumar Lohia told the Tribune that four militants, including one district commander of the LeT namely Imtiyaz Hussain, alias Abu Tarab, had been shot dead. Abu Tarab had been active in the Doda area for the past 12 years.

He said based on specific information, the police along with troops of the 26 Rashtriya Rifles (Kumaon) under the aegis of the 9 Sector RR and 159 TA, launched an operation in the Sai Morha hamlet of Gowri village of Gandoh. The security forces cordoned off Sai Morha on late Tuesday night. The militants resorted to indiscriminate firing. The gun battle continued till 2 pm and all four militants were shot dead.

The other slain militants were identified as Abu Sagar, a Pakistani national, Meh Nawaz and Saddam of Gandoh. Two jawans of the special task force (STF) of Jammu and Kashmir and one Army jawan were also injured in the encounter. One of the injured jawan of the STF had been identified as Wasim Raja.

Three AK 47 rifles, one Pika gun, four Chinese grenades, four pouches and a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the possession of the slain militants.The killing of four militants, including the district commander would prove to be a major setback to the LeT in the belt, Lohia said.

Jammu, March 19
Various Sikh organisations of the state and elected members of the District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC), Jammu, today urged the state government to look into the arrangements for the upcoming Guru Gaddi Diwas Yatra that would enter the state on April 4.

In a joint press conference held in Jammu today, various Sikh organisations appealed to the people to participate in the yatra. “Guru Granth Sahib is a symbol of love and unity, so everybody should participate in the yatra,” said Sardar Dayal Singh, general secretary, Akali Dal, J&K.

The Sikh organisations have appealed to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to officially welcome the yatra and extend all facilities during its stay in Jammu from April 4 to 6.

“This is a unique opportunity for the public in general and Sikhs in particular to be a part of the holy yatra as has been done by thousands of devotees en-route for darshan of relics of Guru Gobind Singh,” said Amrik Singh, member, DGPS Jammu.

Udhampur, March 19
Although the police has termed the death of a newly married woman as suicide, family members of the deceased smelt a foul play and described the incident as “cold blooded murder” allegedly committed by her in-laws.

Sarishta Devi, 22, wife of Rattan Lal of village Basanta under the jurisdiction of Ramnagar police station died under mysterious circumstances on Tuesday. Her body was found hanging from a tree in nearby forest area. Her in-laws told the police that Sarishta had committed suicide by hanging herself.

On the other hand, brother of the deceased alleged that his sister was killed by her in-laws. Shivram, brother of the deceased, alleged that she was repeatedly tortured by her in-laws on minor issues.

He further alleged during her visit to the parental house some days back, Sarishta had informed the family about ill-treatment meted out to her by in-laws. Family members demanded a thorough probe in the incident.

Meanwhile, postmortem of the body has been conducted at Ramnagar Hospital to ascertain the real cause of the death.

According to the police, a case under Section 174 of the RPC has been registered and further investigation would be started after obtaining the postmortem report. “We are waiting for autopsy report for further inquiry,” a senior police officer said and hoped to get the report with in a day or two.

In another incident, body of a class fourth employee was found from a remote village of Kishtwar district. The deceased, identified as Sehdev Singh, was missing for the last one month.

According to the police, some youth, who had gone to forest, spotted an unclaimed body. Identity of the deceased established as class fourth employee, who was working in the office of the SDM Kishtwar.

Srinagar, March 19
The Kashmir Bar Association saw the separatist Hurriyat Conference walking by its side in a demonstration here today against the alleged assault on Bar members in Jammu.

A march led by senior Hurriyat Conference leader Shabir Ahmad Shah was taken out from the party headquarters at Rajbagh here this morning raising slogans against the Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal for their alleged harassment of the Kashmir Bar members in Jammu.

They also sought end to the alleged human rights violations, harassment to Kashmiri businessmen and students in Chennai and other parts of the country and the plight of detainees in different jails in and outside the state.

The lawyers held a protest demonstration with the banners “we are all prisoners release us,” in Lal Chowk after they struck work for the third consecutive day today.

A joint march was later taken out by the Hurriyat Conference leaders and the striking Bar Association members through Lal Chowk. The Bar Association has been demanding action against the erring officials who did not prevent the members of right wing groups at Kotbalwal jail the other day.

Jammu, March 19
Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police Kuldeep Khoda has stressed upon the need of launching surgical operations against militants and avoiding collateral damage under all circumstances.

Khoda, who was addressing the superintendents and deputy superintendents of police engaged in anti-militancy operations, said, “The J&K police has done a tremendous job by eliminating top ranked self-styled militants commanders of various militant outfits in the recent years.” The militant organisations have been rendered as headless, he added.

He stressed upon the officers to go after specific targets like militants commanders and “hunt them down to disarray the militant organisations.”

“The police officers should perform their duties with hard work and dedication and while performing duties the care should be taken to avoid human rights violation and custodial killings,” Khoda said.

He said though there was tremendous decrease in terrorism, but the same has not finished yet. “Infiltration is still going on and the launching pads of the militants are still intact across the border,” he said.

IGP (Jammu range) K. Rajendra Kumar said, “Though the anti-militancy operations in Jammu region are more tough as compared to valley, but the hardships can be overcome by developing specific intelligence about the presence and movement of militants for launching lethal strike on specific targets.”

He said, “There is a need to keep surveillance on the surrendered and released militants and the OGWs.”

Jammu, March 19
A Class fifth student was mercilessly beaten by his tutor in the Satwari area of the city outskirts here yesterday, police today said.

The police said, the student Arif (12) was thrashed by his tuition teacher Suraj Prakash on a complaint from his classmates.

“The classmates of Arif complained to his tuition teacher that he (Arif) has abused him (teacher) in his absence in the school,” the police said, adding the tuition teacher on seeing Arif in the evening, started beating him without knowing the full facts.

The student received multiple injuries to his body and was admitted to Government Medical College Hospital, they said.

Police have taken cognisance while the case is yet to be registered, as medical report is awaited, sources said. — UNI