Ladakhis may revive stir
SRINAGAR, Jan 27 — After a decade, Leh is faced with a revival of agitation for grant of union territory status to the Ladakh region. It follows the "continued neglect" of the demands put forth by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council for a better deal to this frontier cold desert region of Jammu and Kashmir. The Buddhist Association has threatened to launch an agitation for UT status.

Ladakhis may revive stir
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Jan 27 — After a decade, Leh is faced with a revival of agitation for grant of union territory status to the Ladakh region. It follows the "continued neglect" of the demands put forth by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) for a better deal to this frontier cold desert region of Jammu and Kashmir. The Buddhist Association has threatened to launch an agitation for UT status.

The Ladakh Buddhist Association, which spearheaded a prolonged agitation in the region in 1989, yesterday called for a boycott of the Republic Day celebrations attended by senior state government functionaries. The official function led by the State. Information and Science and Technology Minister, Mr Ajatshatru Singh, was boycotted by the people of Leh on the call given by the Ladakh Buddhist Association. The Chairman of the LAHDC led a separate function in protest against the "apathetic attitude" of the state government.

However, the people of Kargil district have refused to join the call of the Ladakh Buddhists Association for the grant of union territory status to the region. The region of Ladakh, comprising the twin districts of Leh and Kargil, witnessed widespread agitation late in 1980s in support of this demand.

While the Muslim-dominated district of Kargil has disassociated itself from the agitation, the Ladakh Buddhists Association succeeded in getting LAHDC status during Governor's rule in the state in 1995.

The 20-member LAHDC, headed by Thupstan Chewang, has been demanding flow of more funds, more powers and ministerial status to its members for overall development of the area. It has been demanding cabinet status for the LAHDC Chairman and Minister of State status for its executive members. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, had assured the council that all its demands would be looked into. He had also assured it that the Cabinet would have a meeting in Leh for looking into the problems, but this has not been done for the past over two years since the National Conference government headed by Dr Abdullah came to power.

Reports received here suggest that the Chairman of the LAHDC has threatened to revive the agitation for the grant of union territory status to Ladakh. Leh district, more than 400 kms from here, through Kargil remains cut off from the valley for over six months in winter. With the operation of frequent IA flights between Leh and Jammu and to Delhi, it has moved closer to the Centre.

8 RR jawans hurt

JAMMU, Jan 27 (PTI) — One militant was killed and at least eight jawans injured in incidents of rocket attack and encounter with security forces since yesterday even as three accused were arrested for allegedly killing a village official in Jammu region recently, Defence Sources said today.

Eight Rashtriya Rifle jawans (RR) were injured in a rocket attack by militants on the army camp at Potha village in the Surankote area of Poonch district yesterday, they said.

The militants fired three rockets at the camp around 10 am, causing minor injuries to the Army personnel, they said, adding the injured were admitted to Army hospital in Poonch.

Meanwhile, army personnel gunned down a militant during an encounter at Chambi-Tarar area of Dharal tehsil of Rajouri district today, the sources said, adding they recovered one AK-47 rifle and explosives from the slain militant.

Reports from Udhampur district said Border Security Force (BSF) jawans apprehended three persons allegedly involved in the killing of village numbardar, Suram Singh, at Sangladhan area a few days back.

The accused — Kamall-Uddin, Abdul Qayoom and Salim, all residents of Talaba village, have been handed over to police for investigation, a BSF spokesman said.

A report from Poonch said that six members of a family crossed over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (Pok) from Kern village on the night of January 24 and 25.

Five blasts took place in different areas of Jammu region while one Pakistani intruder was shot dead in Samba sector today, official sources said here.

The sources said two bomb blasts took place in Molu-Batwal village in Akhnoor tehsil of the region in the morning.

An improvised explosive device (IED) blast occurred under a culvert near ITI building in Poonch town.

Another IED blast occurred near Model School in Surankote town of Poonch district without causing any damage, they said.

Subversives also triggered a bomb blast in a school compound of Channi-Katrian village in Samba tehsil of Kathua. There was no casualty or damage to property.

Thirteen kg of explosives, two batteries and four pencil bombs were recovered from Taba Ditta village in the Kanachak area of the Jammu district this morning.

BSF jawans shot dead a Pakistani intruder near Majra border outpost (Bop) in Samba sector of the region today.

They also recovered 500 Pakistani currency notes, 200 Indian currency notes and five dollars from the possession of the slain intruder.

SRINAGAR, (UNI): Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked artillery and mortar shelling from across the border in Karnah sector, while a powerful mine blast occurred at Handwara in north Kashmir this afternoon.

Security forces meanwhile apprehended three militants, including a self-styled divisional commander, as two others surrendered in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours.

Official sources told UNI that Pakistani troops fired more that 12 mortar and artillery shells towards Indian positions in Karnah sector today, however, none was hurt in the shelling, sources added.

A powerful mine blast took place near a security force picket at Handwara. No one was hurt in the blast.

People at Kursoo Padshahi Bagh took to streets and protested against Border Security Force (BSF) personnel for entering a local mosque last night. The demonstrators addressed among others by All Party Kashmir Hurriyat Conference (APKHC) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, alleged that forces has shown disrespect by their act.

Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference leader Abdul Hamid Karah also condemned the forces for entering the mosque.

But a BSF spokesman said on a specific information Muslim officials of the force, with due respect, had entered the mosque to conduct searches. He denied that forces had shown any disrespect to the mosque.

He claimed that the mosque had been used as a hideout by militants in the past. Some recoveries were also made from there during the past raids, he said.

J&K Sikhs' plea to Takht chief
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 27 — Persons belonging to various Singh Sabhas and other social organisations here today adopted a resolution appealing to the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, to take stringent action against those members of the SGPC who had demanded withdrawal of the 'hukamnama' issued by him.

The meeting, which was presided over by Mr Sudershan Singh Wazir, President of the State Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, condemned the appeal made by some SGPC members for withdrawal of the 'hukamnama', which, it said, had been issued in the interest of unity among various Akali factions. The resolution said such an appeal was aimed at 'lowering' the prestige of the Takht.

The participants announced their support for the Jethedar of Akal Takht and declared that the Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir would go to any extent to protect the sanctity and supremacy of the Takht.

In another resolution, the Sikh intellectuals condemned the attacks on minorities, which had created a sense of insecurity, especially among Christians.

Mr Wazir criticised the vested interests which were trying to drag Dera Nangali Sahib into a controversy. He said Sikhism had flourished in Jammu and Kashmir because of the work being done at the dera and on account of the contribution made by Bhai Manjeet Singh for the uplift of Sikhs in the state.