Locals help RR fight militancy in Doda
JAMMU, Oct 10 — With pressure from the Rashtriya Rifles mounting the militants in Doda district has started losing local support. Case studies of most of the recent operations reveal it.

Goods train derails

Militants attack Doda villages
Tribune and agencies

JAMMU, Oct 10 — Militants attacked two villages in Doda district of the Jammu region and snatched 24 rifles from village defence committee (VDC) members yesterday, official reports said here today.

The reports said a large group of about 15 to 20 militants, wearing army uniforms, swooped on Sihote village yesterday and forced all members of the village, including women and children, to assemble at one place on a roof top.

They also threatened the VDC members to surrender their weapons otherwise they would resort to mass killings, the reports said, adding 16 VDC members surrendered their arms and ammunition and handed these to the militants.

After taking 16 rifles and ammunition, the militants left the village towards the Behuta-Marmat area without causing any harm to the villagers, the report said.

However, five of the VDC members to escape along with their arms and ammunition and reported to the police, which rushed the security forces in the area to track down the militants.

Later, the militants raided Thath-Kangoi village of the Marmat area and snatched eight .303 rifles from VDC members.

The militants also kidnapped two persons from the village. However both escaped from their captivity today, the reports said.

In another incident five jawans of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) were injured when a vehicle in which they were travelling was smashed in an IED blast on the Ghatt road in Doda today. Reports said the militants had planted the IED as they had received information that one RR vehicle was to pass on that road to carry out search operations in a nearby village.

Senior police and Army officers rushed to the spot. The area was cordoned off and search operations launched.

SRINAGAR: Four militants and a jawan have been killed and a large quantity of arms and ammunition seized during search operations from different parts of the valley since yesterday.

Two foreign militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Bemina Housing Colony, on the outskirts of Srinagar last night.

The security forces seized two AK rifles, 13 magazines, one pistol, 20 grenades and two wireless sets from the encounter site. A young boy, Abid Hussain, was injured in the encounter.

A security force jawan, Mohammad Aslam was killed when the militants opened fire on the patrol party at Hari Singh High Street (HSHS) here last evening.

One foreign militant was killed at Doniwara Panzla from whose possession an AK rifle, three magazines, 256 round of ammunition, three rifle grenades, nine hand grenades and Rs 10,000 were seized.

Another militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Nachhni in Baramulla district. One AK rifle, four magazines, 14 rounds, one mortar bomb, five grenades and 478 rounds of the ammunition of sniper rifles were recovered from the site of the encounter.

The police assisted by the security forces apprehended nine suspects from the Nowhatta area of Srinagar city last evening. They are being questioned. Two suspects were apprehended from Dalgate here by the security forces. Another suspect was apprehended from Pulwama district from whose possession one UMG and one RPG were recovered.

The security forces raided a hideout in Kupwara district yesterday, 3 AK rifles, 10 magazines, 400 rounds, one UMG, seven grenades, 25 metres of cord X and 57 assorted ammunition were recovered.

Hurriyat rejects Pak claim
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 10 — The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has rejected the Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary-level talks in Islamabad next week as yet another futile exercise without the participation of the Kashmiris.

"There can be no outcome of the talks between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan on a Kashmir issue, without the representatives of the people of Kashmir", Syed Ali Shah M. Geelani, chairman of the APHC said while reiterating its stand on the tripartite talks. He was addressing a press conference here today along with other senior executive members of the separatists conglomeration of 23 separatist organisations. Moulvi Abbas Ansari and Dr Hubbi were also present.

Answering a question, the APHC chairman, rejected the statement of the Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Shamshad Ahmad that Pakistan would represent the Kashmiris in the talks. Syed Geelani said: "We do not accept this statement", adding that the APHC was the only representative body of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Stating that the Hurriyat did not authorise anybody for representing it in any talks between the two countries, the chairman said those in the PoK also held that "Kashmir issue" was a "dispute". But Pakistan had been supporting the cause of Kashmir, he added.

The APHC chief asserted that it was "a single forum of the people of entire Jammu and Kashmir aspiring for the resolution of the issue under UN resolutions". He pointed out that there were 23 separatists organisations in the conglomerate, with seven major political parties as its executive bodies. "Only those parties within the APHC are the real representatives of the Kashmiris and these are the parties of the people of Kashmir taking care of the aspirations of its people", Syed Geelani said.

He rejected the mainstream parties like the National Conference, the Congress, the Janata Dal, the Left and others as supporters of the accession to India. He said the National Conference was a "puppet government" that did not enjoy the mass support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Supporting his claim as the representative of the people of entire Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Geelani displayed a letter from the "Thinkers Forum" of Gilgit and Baltistan presently under the occupation of Pakistan. He said the people through the forum had sought a representation in the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

Addressed to the former APHC chairman, Moulvi Umar Farooq, the letter was signed by the leaders, including Moulana Mohammad Bilal Zuberi, Mohammad Hanief and Mohammad Iqbal Kazmi, provincial general secretary of the Hurriyat. The letter dated February 14, 1998, was also signed by Abdul Hamid Barakzai and Mohammad Hussain.

The letter had just been received by the APHC, the chairman and the executive member, Moulvi Abbas Ansari claimed and it was yet to think over the plea of the people from Gilgit and Baltistan.

Syed Geelani also expressed concern over the continuing harassment and atrocities being committed by the security forces across Kashmir. He gave various instances of the killings of innocents and rapes as also blasting of houses of "innocents" at the hands of the security forces. He said the APHC would only express concern over the victimisation of the "innocent".

Locals help RR fight militancy in Doda
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10 — With pressure from the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) mounting the militants in Doda district has started losing local support. Case studies of most of the recent operations reveal it.

Flow of information on militants' hideouts and their activities from locals had been quite reliable and quick. Based on sources' information, the Rashtriya Rifles eliminated eight top militants involved in the massacre of locals, including three mercenaries in second and third week of September last. Arms, ammunition, explosives, radio sets of high frequencies, and incriminating documents were recovered from the sites of the encounters, without any loss of life to troops of the Rashtriya Rifles.

Rapport between officers of the Rashtriya Rifles and locals have revealed their locals' discipline of militants.

The Rashtriya Rifles introduced quick changes in tactics anticipating next moves of insurgents and steps were taken to counter them, said Major-General C.S. Brar, General Officer Commanding of the Delta Force.

Civic actions of the Rashtriya Rifles have also brought local populace closer to them. With gradual declining of local support and setting up of nearly 800 village Defence Committees (VDCs) all over the district to some extent, also posed a threat to militants' survival.

But area of responsibility of more than 11,600 square kilometres, which is more than the entire planes of Kashmir valley. Topography of Doda district is entirely different, mostly mountainous system and lofty ranges varying from 3500 metres to 4500 metres coupled with many rivulets' basins. The rugged and mountainous terrain covered with dense jungles offers militants camouflage for concealment in safer sanctuaries. Hiding in gorges and dungeons, also offer them sojourn avoiding detection. This type of terrain is quite ideal for guerrilla types of operation.

Despite challenges posed by the terrain, RR since inducted to combat militancy in Doda district, has eliminated 311 militants, apprehended 821 and secured surrender of 37 militants following encounters after hot pursuit over inhospitable terrain often in adverse weather conditions. The force has also countered abductions of young boys by militants to join their cadres.

Maj-General Brar, heading the RR in this sector has so far, effected recoveries of 237 AK-47 rifles, 10 LMGs, 83 pistols, six sniper rifles, two rocket launchers, huge quantities of ammunition and explosives besides seizing 44 foreign made radio sets used by militants for their communication network.

Goods train derails

JAMMU, Oct 10 (PTI) — Two bogies of a goods train were derailed near Samba railway station, about 40 km from here today forcing the authorities to suspend traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot axis.

A police spokesman ruled out sabotage.