J&K govt blamed for not restoring peace
JAMMU, Jan 10 — The state unit of the Youth Congress has blamed the National Conference leadership for failing to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Four killed in Kashmir
SRINAGAR, Jan 10 — Four persons, including a top militant of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen, were killed in two incidents, while a prominent activist of the ruling National Conference escaped with multiple injuries in a militant attack in Kashmir valley since yesterday.

Shah sets up party HQ in Jammu
JAMMU, Jan 10 — Political tussle in Jammu and Kashmir assumed new dimensions when former Chief Minister, Mr GM Shah, today set up the headquarters of his Awami National Conference here to launch a campaign against his brother-in-law, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

• Peace march taken out in Srinagar

J&K govt blamed for not restoring peace
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 10 — The state unit of the Youth Congress has blamed the National Conference leadership for failing to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a resolution adopted at a one-day political convention here today the Youth Congress, led by Mr Yogesh Sawhney, said the National Conference Government had failed to deliver the goods and as a result of government's failure militancy had taken roots in new areas in the state. It said that if the State Government failed to give a clean administration things would deteriorate further giving the pro-Pak elements an opportunity to foment turmoil

The resolution blamed the National Conference Government for giving new and dangerous dimensions to the problems of corruption and nepotism. It said, "Jobs are being sold, after each legislator had been given a quota." The resolution alleged that besides giving jobs to undeserving youths allotment of development works on political considerations and irregularities in recruitment in government departments and admission in professional colleges had caused alienation among people.

It said the BJP and the National Conference were trying to divide people on communal lines and this could "strengthen", the hands of the separatists.

The resolution urged the Chief Minister to check the drift by improving the working of the state administration. It could upon him to deal firmly with foreign mercenaries and initiate measures for bringing the misguided Kashmiri youths back to the national mainstream through talks.

The Youth Congress pledged to focus peoples' problems and fight communal and disruptive forces. It wanted the government to reintroduce the unemployment allowance.

The resolution also favoured immediate holding of panchayat poll in the state which could lead to the introduction of Panchayati Raj.

Several speakers at the convention wanted the Chief Minister, Dr Abdullah, to quit in case he failed to fulfil the aspirations of the people by tackling unemployment, poverty and corruption on a war footing. The Youth Congress leaders appealed to the youth in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the hands of the Congress for giving a political fight to the separatists operating in the state.

Four killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Jan 10 (PTI) — Four persons, including a top militant of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen, were killed in two incidents, while a prominent activist of the ruling National Conference escaped with multiple injuries in a militant attack in Kashmir valley since yesterday.

The security forces arrested as many as six militants, including a trans-border smuggler, smashed a militant hideout and seized some arms and ammunition in the valley during the period, an official spokesman said here today.

The body of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Mohammad Hussain Baba alias "Chota Saifullah" was recovered from the Kulgam area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir today, the spokesman said.

However, reports received here from Kulgam claimed Baba, had been arrested by the security forces and later shot dead during interrogation.

An AK assault rifle, a magazine and three hand grenades were recovered from his possession.

Militants attacked the house of Ghulam Mohammad at Baramulla town last evening seriously injuring the NC activist, Mr Ali Mohammad, who was rushed to a hospital with multiple injuries.

The spokesman said, the bodies of three unidentified persons were recovered by the police from the Kanthi-Chhan area of Udhampur district last night. One of the deceased had been beheaded while the other two bore bullet marks.

A militant and an activist of the counter-insurgency Ikhwan outfit were wounded in a brief shootout between militants and counter-insurgents at Bhat mohalla in the Sumbal area of Baramulla district last night.

However, the injured militant managed to escape with the help of his accomplices. The Ikhwan activist was rushed to a hospital by the security forces.

The Jammu and Kashmir police apprehended a trans-border smuggler in Hira Nagar sector of Kathua district last evening and recovered a .303 rifle from him.

The security forces also apprehended five suspected militants from different areas of Srinagar yesterday. A wireless set, a hand grenade and 77 rounds of ammunition were recovered during the operations.

Two of the suspects were, however, released after questioning. The security forces smashed a militant hideout at the Adjigar forest in Rajouri district and seized two assault rifles, seven magazines and seven hand grenades from it.

Cong alone knows how to rule nation: Azad

JAMMU, Jan 10 (PTI) — Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said today his party would form the government at the Centre by the beginning of next year.

"People are eager to see that the Congress comes to power at the Centre to lead the country," he said addressing a one-day political convention organised here by the Jammu and Kashmir Youth Congress.

Assuring his partymen that the Congress under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi will be saddled in power by next year, Mr Azad said only the Congress knew how to run the affairs of the country.

He urged the partymen, especially youth, to unite, saying that only then could the party fight the "anti-people" policies of the Central Government.

Speaking on the occasion, Indian Youth Congress President Manish Tiwari accused the BJP-led Government of having "anti-youth policies" and said the number of unemployed youth in the country had swelled to over 3.5 crore.

Blaming the Vajpayee Government for violence against Christians in parts of Gujarat and Karnataka, Mr Tiwari said "this is being done to distract the attention of people from real problems facing them."

Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, the IYC chief said the National Conference Government "has lost faith of the people because of its failure on all fronts."

Shah sets up party HQ in Jammu
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 10 — Political tussle in Jammu and Kashmir assumed new dimensions when former Chief Minister, Mr GM Shah, today set up the headquarters of his Awami National Conference here to launch a campaign against his brother-in-law, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

Mr Shah, accompanied by his son, Mr Muzaffar Shah, entered Jammu from Nagrota with hundreds of party workers shouting slogans in his support. The procession culminated in a workers' conference where Mr Shah said he favoured tripartite talks on the Kashmir issue. He said a series of talks between New Delhi and Islamabad had been held during the past four decades, but they had failed because representatives of the people of Kashmir had not been included in these negotiations.

The former Chief Minister, who wrested power from the brother-in-law, Dr Farooq Abdullah in 1984 through defections, said if India and Pakistan were sincere in resolving the Kashmir issue, they should include representatives of the people of the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir in future talks.

He berated the functioning of the state government, saying that corruption had touched a new high. He said when the National Conference assumed power in 1996, people had expected better governance, but the past two years had proved otherwise.

After holding a successful party convention in Srinagar two months ago, Mr Shah had planned to spend sometime in the Jammu region to widen the party base.

Peace march taken out in Srinagar

SRINAGAR, Jan 10 (PTI) — Activists of the Youth National Conference and the Samaj Sudhar Committee today took out a peace march here to express their support to peace in the militancy-torn state.

Numbering about 100, the peace marchers, chanting slogans for peace, dispersed after covering a distance of half-a-kilometre under tight security cover, official sources said.