5 of family shot in valley

SRINAGAR, Sept 16 (PTI) — Five members of a Muslim family were massacred by unknown gunmen at Dagpora-Ganderbal on the outskirts of the city last night, an official spokesman said today.

The gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, forced themselves into their house and sprayed bullets at all male members after dragging them out, the spokesman said.

The deceased have been identified as Abdul Rehman Sheikh, Zahoor Ahmed Sheikh, Bilal Ahmed Sheikh, Abdul Hamid Sheikh and Sajad Ahmed Sheikh while two of their neighbours, Bilal Ahmed Dar and Khursheed Ahmed Dar were shot at and critically wounded.

The injured were rushed to the Soura Medical Institute, the spokesman said.

Dagpora is situated near Wandhama where 23 members of a community were massacred by militants on January 25/26 early this year.

The latest massacre in Ganderbal, the home constituency of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, is the third major incident this year.

Elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir, 15 persons, including 10 militants and a counter-insurgent, were killed and a security jawan wounded in separate incidents while four militants had been arrested since last evening, an official spokesman said here today.

JAMMU: Army troops today killed a sector commander of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during an encounter in the Chicken Neck area of Jammu’s Akhnoor sector, senior Army officials said.

Identified as Hamid, the ISI sector commander was in charge of activities of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the Akhnoor belt of the Jammu region, Commanding Officer, Mulo sector, Col A.K.R. Tripathi, told reporters at Akhnoor, 32 km from here.

Giving details of the encounter, he said on specific information about the infiltration of the ISI sector commander into the Akhnoor area the troops maintained a strict vigil on the international border near the Chicken Neck area on Tuesday night.

He said the troops saw a group of armed intruders approaching the Indian border outpost after crossing over from the Pakistani side. The intruders opened fire when challenged by the troops.

In the ensuing encounter, the ISI sector commander was killed on the spot, while four other intruders managed to flee back to the Pakistan side under cover of darkness, the commander said.

He said that intelligence inputs indicated Hamid was visiting several ISI agents in Jammu and Delhi for distribution of arms, ammunition and explosives to the subversives for reviving militancy in the Kashmir valley and the Punjab area.

During searches carried out in the area, three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), each weighing 6 kg, were seized, Brig Deepak Kumar said, adding that these IEDs were time- devised and used earlier in explosions along the Jammu-Pathankot railway track.

Besides, one Chinese-made pistol, 1400 rounds of ammunition and two shoulder bags were also seized from the slain ISI top agent, he added.

Hurriyat offer to Army
TNS and Agencies

SRINAGAR, Sept 16 (PTI) — The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today said it would extend all help to the Army in identifying and producing witnesses for several alleged custodial killings in Kashmir.

"If the Army chief of Kashmir guarantees safety of the witnesses, the Hurriyat assures full support to identify the culprits responsible for the custodial killings", Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone told reporters here.

He was commenting on the statement by Srinagar-based Corps Commander Lt-Gen Krishan Pal that rape and custodial killings in Kashmir were a false propaganda being carried out by the Hurriyat.

The Hurriyat blamed Central government for the "killing spree" in the trouble-torn Kashmir valley at the hands of the security forces. There was an increase in custodial killings and victimisation of "innocents" during the recent months, the APHC claimed.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Lone stated "Atal Behari Vajpayee is involved in these killings" as he referred to various instances which took place here recently. Mr Lone held the APHC had reports of various other cases also which he did not divulge due to the "threat to the lives of many others".

While reiterating the APHC stand on tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and representatives of Kashmir, Mr Lone questioned as to why India reacted sharply against the statements of Mr Kofi Anan and Mr Nelson Mandela". He added Kashmir was a dispute and could be solved only with the tripartite talks.

Mr Lone added various other international bodies also had raised the question of Kashmir and "a movement had started for a solution to the problem".

The APHC leader challenged the Army Commander, Lt-Gen Krishan Pal, on his assertions that the Hurriyat was bent upon "maligning the Army". Mr Lone said the security forces as also the Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir police were on a "killing spree" in the valley. He added they were guided by the "pro-active policy" of the Centre.

The APHC leader also blamed the government for involving surrendered militants in the killings of innocents. He added such militants were being supported by the government. They were harassing people, killing innocents, damaging their property and also indulging in rapes.

Pak plan to train women militants
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 16 — Pakistani agencies have evolved a new strategy under which women militants from across the border will recruit women in Jammu and Kashmir and train them in the handling of arms and explosives at camps within the state and in occupied Kashmir.

This strategy came to light when eight girls, equipped with guns and wearing jeans under "pherans" (a long Kashmiri robe), were recently spotted by field sources of the security forces at Poonch and Rajouri. These women in the 20-25 age group had infiltrated from Pakistan to lure the girls to militancy. Six girls spotted at a village in Poonch were with 15 militants. Inquiries revealed that the militants had stayed in the house of a Gujjar who had been asked to make arrangement for food. The six women did the cooking and fled to another village before the security forces could nab them.

At another village in Rajouri, two women with weapons had been spotted but before the security forces could arrest them they escaped.

Official sources said the Pakistani agencies had evolved this plan to raise women militant groups as operating in Sri Lanka. They said the job of the women rebel infiltrators was to "motivate" girls in Jammu and Kashmir to join the ongoing "Jehad".

Official circles in the state seem to be perturbed over this development as once women took to guns it would be difficult for the security forces to distinguish between militants and innocent women. The usual practice during search operations had been to leave old people and women out of identification parades. However, the women police and paramilitary forces would now have to be deployed in strength to check the activities of the women militants.

Meanwhile, various security agencies have launched operations to arrest them.

CPM urges "maximum autonomy" for J-K
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 16 — The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the CPM has urged the Centre to grant "maximum autonomy" to the state with devolution of powers to the regions in an "equitable manner".

This was resolved at three-day meeting of the state unit of the CPM that was attended by Mr Hannan Mulla, MP, and a number of delegates from different parts of the State. The three-day meeting concluded here on Monday.

The meeting expressed concern at the delay in the submission of reports by the two committees on autonomy appointed by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, about two years ago. The meeting resolved that in alliance with all democratic secular forces in and outside the state pressure shall be put on the Centre to "honour its commitment". The United Front government at the Centre had assured the grant of autonomy under its common minimum programme.

The meeting also observed that Kashmir was "essentially a political issue". The problem could be resolved through the removal of erosions in the autonomy of the state and fulfilment of regional aspirations.

"Dialogue within and between the regions and with all those who are well-wishers of Kashmir, whatever their stand, and a meaningful Indo-Pak dialogue had become necessary to retrieve the situation. Encouragement of genuine democratic protest and protection of human rights, irrespective of class or creed, had to be ensured," a statement adopted at the end of the meeting said. The meeting also adopted a number of resolutions on autonomy, unemployment, corruption, migrants, price rise, power sector and the public sector.

Though continued violence had wreaked havoc on the lives of the people, yet it had not been able to destroy the cherished values of brotherhood, harmony and tolerance which formed the core of Kashmiri identity, the meeting asserted.

It added elections provided an opportunity to address the complexities of the Kashmir crisis in search for a solution. The National Conference with two-thirds majority in the legislative assembly was expected to address the daunting issues of reconciliation, peace, autonomy and provide a healing touch to the hurt feeling of the common man.

The meeting also expressed concern over the low pace of development in various fields.

Mehbooba Mufti demands probe

SRINAGAR, Sept 16 (PTI) — The Congress today demanded a judicial probe into all "innocent killings" in Jammu and Kashmir and sought adequate compensation to the bereaved families.

In a joint statement issued here, seven party leaders, including leader of Congress Legislature Party Mehbooba Mufti, condemned the recent shooting incident in Srinagar in which a woman and her teenaged son were gunned down and two family members injured by unidentified gunmen.

Expressing shock and anguish over this "cowardly act", Ms Mehbooba, Mr Taj Mohiuddin, Mr Ghulam Nabi Mir Lasjan, Mr Ghulam Qadir Pardasi, Mr Ghulam Nabi Lone, Mr Mohammad Yousuf Dar and Mr Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh said "innocent civilians are being killed and harassed."

Terming the incident as a "shameful act", they criticised the ruling National Conference government for its alleged failure on all fronts, including curbing militancy in the state.

"The situation is worsening day by day instead of improving", the leaders said.

Army expedition flagged off
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 16 — Determined to set a world record in long-distance running, 21 jawans of 16th Jat Regiment today embarked on a major expedition to cover 1426 km in 42 days. The jawans were flagged off at Jurian 50 km west of Jammu, by Maj-Gen T.S. Pathak.

Led by Lieut Sumeet Rawat, the jawans ran without a pause. Subedar Fateh Singh, an Olympian, remained a step ahead of his colleagues.

Lieutenant Rawat said: "It took three months to prepare ourselves for the difficult job."

"We want to break the record of running 42 km per day set by Greek soldiers in 490 BC when they ran from Marathon town to Ethens to convey the news to their victory," said the runners.

Maj Vivek Sharma, coordinator, said the long-distance run would boost the image of the Indian Army. The marathon runners are scheduled to run through Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and finally reach the Red Fort and India Gate on October 27 where they will be received by Army chief Gen V.P. Malik.

No pilot jeeps in Jammu, Srinagar
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 16 — Ministers and senior officers of Jammu and Kashmir will henceforth not use pilot jeeps, except when on a tour outside the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.

This was ordered by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah here today in order to "economise manpower and to reduce inconvenience to the general public". There will be only one escort jeep for ministers and the Chief Secretary, while senior officers will be given a security officer and a gunman.

An official spokesman said here today that the ministers and senior officers had been asked to use flags on their vehicles within Jammu and Srinagar cities. Only vehicles of ministers and the Chief Secretary would now have the red light.

The traffic police had been directed to ensure a smooth flow of traffic while giving due regard to the security aspect.

The withdrawal of the pilot jeeps and other measures have been taken for the first time in this capital city.

For the first time in summer, soon after the Civil Secretariat was shifted to the summer capital, the "No entry" sign on main roads leading to the Civil Secretariat were removed.