Five militants, soldier killed
SRINAGAR, Jan 30 — Five militants and an Army jawan were killed in separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, while security forces arrested four militants during the period.

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 J&K.

End handshake with Centre : Tarigami
SRINAGAR, Jan 30 — Mr M.Y. Tarigami, CPM legislator, today urged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to withdraw his "handshake with the Sangh Parivar in Delhi" as the Union Government had failed to come up to the expectations of the people.

Five militants, soldier killed

SRINAGAR, Jan 30 (PTI) — Five militants and an Army jawan were killed in separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, while security forces arrested four militants during the period.

Two militants of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen identified as Nazir Ahmad Bhat and Bilal Ahmad were killed in an encounter with Army at Petha-Dialgam in Anantnag district of south Kashmir last night, an Army spokesman said.

He said a soldier also lost his life during the encounter which was sparked off by the militants following a raid on their hide-out by the Army.

Two AK assault rifles, two grenades and some ammunition was recovered from the killed militants, the spokesman said.

In another encounter, troops killed two unidentified militants at Kundi Machil in frontier district of Kupwara today.

The Jammu and Kashmir police gunned down an Afghan mercenary — Zardar Khan Afgani of Pakistan during combing operations at Sangla village in border district of Poonch last night. Two rifles, three grenade launchers, two grenades and three magazines with 86 rounds were recovered from him, the spokesman added.

Militants abducted shopkeeper Ghulam Nabi Sheikh from his house at Telian mohalla in Sopore area of Baramula district in north Kashmir late last night, the spokesman said.

He said unidentified militants forced their entry into Sheikh’s house after midnight and took him to an unknown destination, the police has launched a hunt to nab the kidnappers.

The troops apprehended two militants, while two others laid down their arms at Parapora in Kupwara district, last evening, the spokesman said.

Four AK assault rifles, 15 magazines with 449 rounds, a Pika gun with a magazine and 176 rounds, a pistol, its magazine and ten rounds and six hand grenades were recovered from the captured and surrendered militants, he said.

He said Army ambush party also arrested two militants at Panzgam area of Kupwara and seized a big assortment of arms and ammunition from them.

The seizure included a sniper rifle, its magazine and 471 rounds, a tele-sight, two hand grenades, five kg of RDX, 10 detonators, an automatic grenade launcher and 20 automatic ground launcher grenades, the spokesman added.

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.

End handshake with Centre : Tarigami
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Jan 30 — Mr M.Y. Tarigami, CPM legislator, today urged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to withdraw his "handshake with the Sangh Parivar in Delhi" as the Union Government had failed to come up to the expectations of the people.

"The National Conference went with the BJP in the hope of getting economic support, but the Centre seems helpless", Mr Tarigami said addressing a press conference here today. He said there was an "element of reluctance" on the part of the Central Government as far as help to Jammu and Kashmir, that was faced with heavy expenditure in the security sector, was concerned.

In case of Punjab and Assam, security-related expenditure had been remitted, he said.

"The reconstruction of the shattered economy and damaged structures requires national will, but this is lacking" Mr Tarigami, the lone CPM MLA in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, said.

He appealed to all political parties, including the Congress, to force the government to give what was due to Jammu and Kashmir. "The government at the Centre is creating problems and adding to the already existing feeling of alienation", Mr Tarigami said.

Referring to the performance of the state government, he said there was a need to create various means to overcome the financial crunch. He said there should be an effective process for recovery of sales tax and excise tax from evaders and defaulters.

He criticised the state government for increasing the power tariff and the Central Government for increase in the rate of food items like rice and wheat.

Mr Tarigami also expressed concern at the killing of "unarmed, uninvolved and innocents political workers," saying this had caused fear in the valley. He said he had written separate letters to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Chairman, All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). Copies of the same were circulated among mediapersons. The letters sought a "minimum possible common agenda to stop killings in the valley immediately".

There had been no answer from any quarter, Mr Tarigami said.

J&K staff strike on Feb 1 & 2
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 30 — Employees in the Kashmir valley have decided to go on a two-day strike from February 1 in protest against the decision of the government to reduce the retirement age of the employees from 58 to 55.

This decision was taken after the employees learnt that the Finance Secretary had submitted a note, indicating the modalities for the reduction in the retirement age to the Cabinet.

Informed sources said the note carried details on the benefits the reduction in the retirement age would yield for the state government by way of resolving the unemployment problem.

The sources said the government had not yet examined the financial implication of the move. Experts are of the opinion that the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has been influenced by an IAS lobby which wants the state cadre officers to retire early so that officers belonging to the central services have a field day. Also, the Chief Minister wants to keep the employees under his thumb so that they do not launch any agitation.

The state government has no adequate funds to pay post-retirement benefits to all those employees who retire. During the past two years, several thousand pension cases are awaiting a final settlement and many of those retired have not yet received their provident fund.

The financial crisis has forced the government to dilly-dally on issues of leave encashment and gratuity. In case the figures of annual retirement increase from 7,000 at present to 12,000 after the reduction of the retirement age, the government will have no funds to pay post-retirement benefits to such a large number of employees annually.

The government's plan to recruit unemployed youths in place of retired personnel would be another heavy burden on the state exchequer.

The fact, the employees in Jammu and Kashmir have been demanding parity with the Central Government employees as far as retirement age is concerned. In case the government remains adamant on reducing the retirement age, it will mean fresh confrontation between the employees and the state.

Leaders of the State Employees Federation argue that the Central Government agreed to raise the retirement age in the light of the fiscal crisis and the state government is adopting a policy that will further aggravate financial difficulties. They suspect "ulterior motives" behind the move.