Statutory powers for people's panel sought
JAMMU, Sept 6 — At a special session of prominent Sikh leaders and Akali jathedars held here today, a resolution was adopted urging the Punjab Government and the Centre to accord recognition to the World Sikh Council formed by Justice Kuldip Singh as also the Peoples' Commission.


5 militants killed
in encounter
SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — Seven persons, including five foreign mercenaries, were killed in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday, while militants shot dead a police official in Baramulla district last night.

Donating blood despite odds
SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — About three years back a man from Uri needed blood to save his wife, who was admitted to Lalla Ded Maternity Hospital here.

Army medical camp
SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — More than 2000 villagers were given medical facilities free of cost at a camp organised at Naugam in Kupwara district.

Raising day celebrated
SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — Lt-Gen Krishan Pal, GOC, 15 Corps, placed a wreath at the Corps Memorial at a function held at Badami Bagh to commemorate the raising day of the Corps Headquarters, yesterday.

2 Pak nationals sentenced
JAMMU, Sept 6 — A local court has sentenced two Pakistani nationals to seven months imprisonment for violating the Foreigners and Passport Acts.

Statutory powers for people's panel sought
Sikh leaders adopt resolution
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 6 — At a special session of prominent Sikh leaders and Akali jathedars held here today, a resolution was adopted urging the Punjab Government and the Centre to accord recognition to the World Sikh Council formed by Justice Kuldip Singh as also the Peoples' Commission.

The resolution urged the Centre to make the commission a statutory body to investigate the massacre of people during successive Congress governments.

The resolution called upon international agencies to mount pressure on nuclear countries to halt the ongoing arms race and appealed to the UNO to initiate steps to ensure the "protection of mankind against nuclear weapons".

The meeting appreciated the Central Government for its decision to enact the Lok Pal Bill and for resolving the Cauvery waters dispute. It urged the Prime Minister to end the turmoil in "Punjab, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the wishes of the people". It also urged the BJP-led government to deal firmly with all corrupt politicians in the country.

In another resolution, the meeting demanded that all refugees from Pakistan since 1947 be suitably rehabilitated and their claims for compensation in lieu of property in Pakistan accepted. It said till the time the quantum of compensation was decided, every family be paid an ad hoc grant of Rs 1 lakh and landless refugees be allotted land.

It also demanded adequate pension, free medical aid and free travel facility to all freedom fighters.

It suggested to the Jammu and Kashmir Government to raise the age of retirement from 58 to 60 in the light of the acute financial crunch being faced by the state.

Mr Sant Singh Teg, President, State freedom Fighters Conference, Jathedar Sewa Singh, Mr Amrik Singh, Mr Prem Singh, Mr Jagjit Singh, Mr Balwant Singh and Mr Teja Singh were among the prominent leaders who attended the conference.

Donating blood despite odds
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — About three years back a man from Uri needed blood to save his wife, who was admitted to Lalla Ded Maternity Hospital here. The hospital authorities demanded a sum of Rs 1000 for a blood point. Since he could not pay up, he entreated the officials.

Moved by his plight Gazanfar Ali Mir and his associate donated a pint of blood. This act on that day laid the foundation of the Youth Hussaini Relief Committee and Blood Bank.

The 22-member committee has this year alone provided 225 points of blood to the needy in Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, SMHS Hospital, Bones and Joints Hospital, Lalla Ded Maternity Hospital and Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital. The committee donated 165 points of blood in 1995, 210 in 1996 and 305 last year.

During this year's Amarnath Yatra, two medical camps were held at Pahalgam and Chandanwari. Such camps are also held annually at Srinagar airport for Haj pilgrims. The bank also provided 20 blood points to the injured persons in the Jammu bus stand explosion earlier last year.

The patron of the Bank, Syed Javed Mussavi has donated more than 50 blood points since 1972. Gazanfar Ali , chairman of the bank, has also donated over 36 points.

The only income of the committee is the annual donation of Rs 50 from its permanent members and Rs 10 each from 500 members from across the valley.

The blood bank functions without accommodation and ambulance services. The bank is also faced with apathy of hospital administrations in providing emergency treatment in case a donor develops a complication while giving blood, says Gazanfar Ali.

Moreover, the bank is neither able to conduct jaundice or AIDS tests on donors nor provide them with a refreshment.

The state Revenue Minister, Mr Ali Mohammed Naik, and Mubarak Gul, MLA who visited a blood donation camp held at Nehru Park here recently has assured a grant , land and an ambulance service for the bank.

5 militants killed in encounter
Tribune News Service and PTI

SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — Seven persons, including five foreign mercenaries, were killed in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday, while militants shot dead a police official in Baramulla district last night.

Two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba, both residents of Pakistan, were killed in a fierce encounter with the Army at Shangus in Anantnag district late last night. A jawan of 7 Rashtriya Rifles, Sukhwinder Singh, was also killed in the encounter, a defence spokesman said here. Another jawan was injured, reports said.

The slain militants have been identified as Abu Hamza, battalion commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba and resident of Multan in Pakistan, and Kari Bhai, alias Hafiz, also of Lashkar-e-Toiba and a Pakistani citizen.

Two AK rifles, a radio set, a grenade launcher, six hand grenades, four rifle grenades and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from the site of the enounter.

Acting on a tip-off, troops cordoned off Sheikh Mohalla, at Shangus and asked the militants to surrender. The militants, however, opened fire on the troops, who retaliated. In the exchange of fire that ensued, four houses were gutted, reports reaching here from Chchatrgul valley, of Anantnag said.

At least eight militants were killed at Khul in June by 7 Rashtriya Rifles (1 Sector RR). In another operation in August, five militants were killed and a major training camp busted at Thimran.

In another incident, militants entered the house of a police Inspector, Ghulam Mohammad Wagay at Sumbal in Baramulla district last night and shot him dead, the police said.

Three foreign mercenaries were killed in a fierce encounter with the security forces in Dumari forests in Kupwara district yesterday. Further details were awaited.

The police today recovered the body of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat from Baderhar village in Kupwara district. It said he was a Pakistan-trained militant and had been killed by a rival group.

An official spokesman said Abdul Rashid Gujri, a village chowkidar who was shot at and critically wonded by the militants at Pattan Bazar in Baramulla district yesterday, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital last evening.

Three militants associated with Hizbul Mujahideen were arrested by a joint party of the security forces and the police from the Chadoora area of Badgam district, yesterday, he said.

Three militants were apprehended by the security forces from their hideouts in Srinagar and two more fell in the trap laid in Baramulla district today.

The security forces also smashed a militant hideout at Rangwarnar forest in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district and seized a huge quantity of weapons, including 15 RPG rockets with boosters, 20 remote control devices, two AK assault rifles, three magazines and 2100 rounds of ammunition.

JAMMU: Meanwhile, Pakistani troops continued targeting solar and halogen lights along the international border (IB) in Samba and R. S. Pura sub-sectors in the Jammu region on Saturday, the BSF said.

Pakistani Rangers have been firing at Sangral, Khatmaria, Mangral, Karotna, Alfa Machal, Bobiya, Londi, Suchetgarh and B T forward areas during the past two nights mainly targeting the lights which make the movement of terrorists difficult, a BSF spokesman said, adding there was no casualty or damage.

BSF troops retaliated and the exchange of fire continued till this morning, he said.

The Pakistani soldiers also targeted forward posts along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch sectors of the region in a bid to push militants and weapons into the Indian side, defence sources said.

Army medical camp
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — More than 2000 villagers were given medical facilities free of cost at a camp organised by the 16 Sector of the Army at Naugam in Kupwara district.

Inaugurating the camp, Brig N.S. Rana, Commander, 16 Sector, said the Army had started a concerted programme to organise medical camps to provide basic and specialised medical facilities to the poor.

He stressed the need for mother and child care programmes and timely immunisation.

A large number of infants were immunised against polio, tuberculosis, and measles, in the camp.

Gift packets and school uniform were distributed among the poor families and children.

Raising day celebrated
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — Lt-Gen Krishan Pal, GOC, 15 Corps, placed a wreath at the Corps Memorial at a function held at Badami Bagh to commemorate the raising day of the Corps Headquarters, yesterday.

A defence spokesperson said the wreath-laying ceremony was attended by senior officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks of the Corps.

The function was followed by a sainik sammelan which was addressed by Maj-Gen A.S. Sihota, Chief of Staff.

2 Pak nationals sentenced

JAMMU, Sept 6 (PTI) — A local court has sentenced two Pakistani nationals to seven months imprisonment for violating the Foreigners and Passport Acts.

They were arrested on January 31 at the border outpost of Chamblyal, Ramgarh while crossing the international border.