3 Armymen killed in border firing
Tribune News Service
and PTI

SRINAGAR, Sept 30 — Three Army personnel were killed in cross-border firing by Pak troops in Kargil and Uri Sectors yesterday, while at least four persons, including three militants were killed in separate militancy related incidents across Kashmir Valley since yesterday.

An Army spokesman said here that two Army personnel, including a Subedar Major, Lekh Raj Sharma and a Jawan were killed in firing by Pak troops in Kargil sectors on Tuesday. Another jawan was killed in similar firing by the Pak troops in Uri Sectors in Baramula district of north Kashmir. The spokesman added that the Army retaliated "effectively to the Pak firing. However, details of 'damage' on the other side of the border were not known.

Elsewhere, two militants, Nazir Ahmad Pal and Manzoor Ahmad Khan were killed in an encounter with security forces at Khanampora in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Wednesday.

The police said that a foreign militant, Jawhar Moosa from Lahore in Pakistan was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kupwara. Further details were awaited.

A patrol party of the security forces and the Police was fired upon by militants at Dooru in Anantnag yesterday. The security forces retaliated and in the encounter that ensued one civilian, Khursheed Chopan was killed.

JAMMU: Seven people, including five militants, were killed in militancy-related incidents in Doda and Poonch districts of Jammu region, police said here on Wednesday.

They said four militants of Lashker-i-Toiba (LeT) outfit were killed in an encounter with Rashtriya Rifle personnel in Mahu Mangat forest area of Banihal tehsil in Doda last evening.

Four assault rifles, some grenades and explosives were recovered from the militants, they said, adding the encounter was still on when reports were last received.

In another incident, a militant was killed and some arms recovered during an encounter near the Line of Control (LoC) in Cartrinote area of Poonch district on the night intervening September 27 and 28, the police said.

They said on the same night some unknown militants attacked houses of Gujjars in Kala-Loren area of Poonch district and killed two members of the Gujjar community.

Militants forced their entry into the house of a member of a village defence committee, Nek Ram, at Seriporagool in Doda district last night and shot him dead. His wife and sister-in-law were injured in the shoot out.

The bullet-riddled body of an unidentified person was found in Safapora area of Baramulla district last night.

Fair poll can untie Kashmir knot: Gani
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 30 — The All-Party Hurriyat Conference is not shy of contesting elections if they are held for deciding the future of Kashmir although it wants the elections to be held under the supervision of an international agency — the United Nations, SAARC or NAM.

According to a senior All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader, Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat, elections held so far in Jammu and Kashmir have not been "free and fair." Instead insurgency took roots in Kashmir it is the result of "rigged" assembly polls in 1987.

Explaining his opinion Prof Bhat says the once the elections are free and fair and people vote without fear they would throw up an organisation of party that would be "genuine representatives" of the people of Kashmir and it could negotiate with India and Pakistan for resolving the 50-year-old dispute amicably.

"We favour resolution of the Kashmir through talks and for the success of any future Indo-Pak talks representatives of the people of Kashmir have to be consulted and included in the parleys," he says adding "we do not treat the ruling National Conference as an organisation that represents the people."

Prof. Gani is clear on the APHC position fresh elections are held as per the conditions set by the APHC. "If we lose, we will withdraw gracefully. We will accept the peoples' verdict with dignity," he says.

The APHC leader does not subscribe to the government claim of an improvement in the situation. He says the "dynamics of militancy" have changed but the "Jehad" has not ended. He explained that gun-toting youth carry out specific operations against the Indian security forces and during the past over one year they have inflicted heavy loses on the security agencies.

Prof Gani says that many experiments have been carried out by New Delhi in Kashmir during the past 50 years but these have been fruitless. "There is no harm if the experiment of holding a fresh poll under the supervision of any international agency is conducted in Jammu and Kashmir.

Medicos hold demonstrations
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 30 — For the second consecutive day here today over 300 students of the two private medical colleges held protest demonstrations in support of their demands for the conduct of examinations and attaching of these institutions with some hospitals for practical training.

The demonstrations started at the Polo Grounds here yesterday with 30 students sitting on fast in support of their demands. The students today alleged that over six of them were roughed up by the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) here last night, as they held demonstrations. The students of the Institute of Asian Medical Sciences and Kashmir Tibya College have been demanding the fulfilment of these requisites in accordance with the rules and regulations, they claimed.

The two Institutions did not reportedly conduct the examinations of the students of BUMS courses who were admitted to the Institute of Asian Medical Sciences (IAMS) and Kashmir Tibya College (KTC) in 1994 and 1995, respectively. The students said that no inspection of the two institutions was conducted so far. The college authorities were neither pursuing the case in the court nor were they taking up the case with Kashmir University for the conduct of the examinations.

A statement issued by the agitating students said that the students of the first year at the IAMS had already appeared in their final examinations conducted in April 1996 by the University of Kashmir. The results of the candidates were declared later but the marks sheets of these candidates were not issued. The Jammu and Kashmir Government had already issued a "no objection" certificate to the establishment of the IAMS. Also, the Health and Medical Education Department had inspected the Institute. The Central Council for Indian Medicine has directed the University of Kashmir to admit the students. The college had been recognised by the Council.

Vaishno Devi board still headless
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 30 — The state government has refused to spare Mr S.Pandey Special Secretary, Labour and Employment in the Chief Minister's Secretariat, for assuming the charge of Chief Executive Officer Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in place of Mr Anil Goswami, who has left for London on study leave.

Official sources said that the name of Mr Pandey had been suggested by the Governor, Mr Girish Chander Saxena, who is also the Chairman of the shrine board. He had communicated to the government his desire to post Mr Pandey as Chief Executive Officer, Shrine Board. Sources said the matter figured in the state Cabinet meeting, where a decision was taken not to spare Mr Pandey as he had only recently been appointed Special Secretary, Labour and Employment.

For the time being, Mr BM Vyas an IAS officer has been given temporary charge as Chief Executive Officer of the shrine board. Reports said that the Governor is still in favour of Mr Pandey heading the board as his work as Deputy Commissioner, Doda and Managing Director, State Industrial Development Corporation has been appreciated by the government.

Reports said that the Cabinet had also explored the possibility of stopping deputing IAS officers to the shrine board. But in case the state Cabinet insists on its decision not to send any IAS officer on deputation it would have serious ramifications because the Shrine Board Act provides that a chief executive officer should be an IAS officer and not below the rank of Deputy Commissioner.

Meanwhile, a section of Baridars have renewed their agitation to press for change in the Shrine Board Act which could allow them one-third share from the offerings made at the shrine and its adjoining temples. The state Law Minister, Mr PL Handoo, has made it clear that the proposed amendment to the Shrine Board Act was not aimed at empowering Baridars to get a one-third share from the shrine's income but enact a law under which they could go in for an appeal against the judgement of the special tribunal the state had set up under the orders of the Supreme Court to fix the quantum of compensation to Baridars.

The special tribunal had fixed Rs 12 crore as compensation for the Baridars. The Baridars refused to accept the amount and wanted a bigger share.

A section of Baridars is said to have been encouraged by a segment of the National Conference leaders to launch an agitation.

Those who are opposed to any amendment to the Shrine Board Act have explained to the Baridars that they could earn more from the interest on Rs 12 crore than they used to get from the offerings from the shrine. Some of the senior functionaries of the BJP had suggested the Baridars set up industrial units and shops, for which they could be given financial assistance. Many Baridars are said to be willing to open business centres with some financial assistance.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders have alleged that the ruling National Conference leaders want a direct say in the management of the shrine's affairs and are hence trying incite the Baridars.

The VHP leaders, while complaining of unnecessary interference in the shrine board affairs refer to the fate of Mata Vaishno Devi University. They said that the bill adopted by the state legislature in April last had been sent to the Governor for approval but the Governor had returned the Bill suggesting some modifications.

The ruling National Conference did not discuss the matter in the last session of the Legislature with the result that there has been a further delay in the establishment of the university.

PTI adds: Over 1.60 lakh devotees have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in the first eight days of Navratras, official reports said here on Wednesday.

Nearly 20,000 devotees from different parts of the country were arriving everyday at Katra, the base camp to the holy shrine, they said, adding Katra town and the route from Katra to the shrine wore a festive look.