J&K seeks more forces, funds
NEW DELHI, April 1 — Jammu and Kashmir has sought additional deployment of forces and financial assistance from the Centre to tackle the situation in the state. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who met the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, here requested him to take initiative to reduce the fiscal deficit and help in building infrastructure.

J&K seeks more forces, funds
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, April 1 — Jammu and Kashmir has sought additional deployment of forces and financial assistance from the Centre to tackle the situation in the state.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who met the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, here requested him to take initiative to reduce the fiscal deficit and help in building infrastructure.

After his 45-minute meeting with the Home Minister in the North Block, Dr Abdullah told reporters that the state was facing financial crisis and the Centre was aware of it.

He said there was an urgent requirement to reconstruct and repair roads, schools, bridges and other facilities.

The Chief Minister also expressed dissatisfaction over the reduction of Plan allocation. He said the allocation of Rs 1,750 crore this year was less than that of the last year and sought a hike of 20 per cent to enable the state build its infrastructure.

On the security situation, he said infiltration was likely to increase during summer as the mountain passes would be cleared due to the melting of snow.

He said measures to check infiltration were already in the process and a broad plan to control the heights and other areas vulnerable to infiltration had been prepared.

To a question whether some paramilitary units had been shifted from Jammu and Kashmir to Bihar, he said that was the reason why the state was seeking additional forces.

Dr Abdullah described his meeting with the Home Minister as fruitful and said Mr Advani appreciated the demands of the state assuring assistance.

The Chief Minister said non-plan expenditure had been brought down by Rs 150 crore as part of austerity drive, and on the other hand taxes had been raised to bridge the gap between revenue and expenditure.

He added the state government would trim the secretarial staff and the state ministers had been asked to travel in economy class.

15 militants killed in J&K
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, April 1 — At least 18 persons including 15 militants, were killed in separate incidents, while security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Three foreign militants and two security forces jawans were killed in an encounter at Fatehpora Gund and Larkipora in Anantnag district yesterday. Two security personnel were also injured in the incident. The police said that security forces cordoned off the two villages for conducting search operations to flush out militants yesterday. The troops were fired upon by the hiding militants after which an encounter ensued resulting in the death of five persons and injuries to two jawans. The identity of the slain militants was yet to be ascertained. Security forces recovered three AK rifles, six magazines 10 rounds of ammunition and a wireless set from the site of the encounter.

In another encounter at Watanar in Anantnag district of south Kashmir today two unidentified militants were killed. The hiding militants fired upon a search party leading to the fierce encounter between militants and the security forces. Till the last reports came in, the operation was continuing, the police said.

Three militants, travelling in a truck loaded with illicit timber, were killed at Nawpora village near Sopore in Baramula district of north Kashmir. The truck bearing No 2098-JK 01A was also completely gutted as a result of the encounter between militants and security forces. The militants killed have been identified as Abdul Ahad Magrey, Rafiq Ahmad and Abdul Ghani Shah. Two burnt rifles were also recovered from the site of the encounter which took place yesterday.

Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Tilgam, Pattan in Baramula district yesterday and the house in which they were hiding was completely gutted. Reports said that a search party was fired upon by the hiding militants from the house of Master Mohammad Maqbool and the fire was returned leading to the death of two militants and damage to the house.

The police here said that four unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Khurd near Kot Dhara in Rajouri district. Two AK rifles, one pistol, seven RPGs, one grenade launcher, nine magazines, seven hand grenades, two rifle grenades and three wireless sets were recovered from the site of the encounter. In another encounter at Dhar Gogala in Rajouri district one militant, identified as Maskeen was killed.

Militants shot dead Nazir Ahmad at Gogaro Thathri in Doda district of Jammu region. The police said that unidentified militants intruded into his house and fired upon him killing him on the spot.

Unidentified militants intruded into the house of Abdul Ghani Malik at Aloosa Bandipore in Baramula district and looted Rs 60,000 and some golden ornaments at gun point. The police has registered a case and further investigations were in progress.