Farooq for early end to crisis
SRINAGAR, June 10 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah here today expressed the hope of an early solution of the Kargil crisis.

Sonia to visit Srinagar on June 12
JAMMU, June 10 — The Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, is scheduled to visit Srinagar on June 12, where she will meet soldiers wounded in Kargil and were being treated at the military hospital.

12 killed in J-K violence
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, June 10 — At least 12 persons, including two militants, were killed in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir since last night. Militants also made abortive attempt to kill two activists of the Congress and the ruling National Conference in separate incidents.

A Congress activist was injured and a girl killed when militants intruded into the house and opened indiscriminate fire last night. The Congress activist, Ghulam Nabi Lone of Bunlipora, in Baramula district was injured in the shootout. He has been shifted to a hospital here. Miss Ishrat, daughter of Bashir Ahmad Lone in the house died on the spot, police said.

Militants also fired at the house of Ghulam Mohammad Reshi, block president of the ruling National Conference at Rambir Bala, near Tangmar in Baramula district last evening. His guards fired back. There was no report of any casualty or damage in the firing.

In another incident, unidentified militants shot dead three members of a family at Teng-Bhatu, Ajas in Baramula district. They have been identified as Hafizullah Mir, his wife, Sabiya Jan and their son, Farooq Ahmad Mir.

Police said that unidentified militants intruded into their house last night and opened indiscriminate fire killing all three on the spot. All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader, Abdul Ghani Lone today alleged that they were shot dead by the pro-government surrendered militants of Ikhwan operating in the area. He added that one of Hafizullah Mir's sons, Ketam, was a militant and had been released recently.

Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Brimar Narsar village in the Achchabal area of Anantnag district yesterday. They have been identified as Mohammad Iqbal Malik and Bashir Ahmad Magray alias Jaffar from the same area.

Two AK rifles, four magazines, 27 rounds of ammunition, one pistol and a wireless set were recovered from the site of the encounter.

At least six persons, including three women were killed in two separate incidents of firing in Poonch district in Jammu division. Two women, Mrs Ghulam Fatima, wife of Syed Mohammad, and Mrs Arshad Begum, daughter of Syeed Mohammad were killed in firing at Surankote in Poonch.

Unidentified militants shot dead four persons at Dhoke village, Soinard in Poonch last night. They have been identified as Dilawar Khan, Nek Mohammad, Mohammad Ayub and Shaheena.

APHC denounces Indo-Pak talks
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, June 10 — The All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has denounced the foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan scheduled later this week as these did "not address the basic Kashmir problem."

"We condemn these talks for these are being held without the participation of Kashmiris", said Mr Abdul Ghani Lone, a senior leader of the APHC at a press conference here today.

"Hamaray Paas Fauji Taqat Naheen Hai. Yeh Aapas Mein Beith Kar Baaten Kar Rahay Hein. Kashmiri Marr Rahay Hein, Jin ka Koi Notice Nahin Lay Rahay Hein. Hum Yeh Na Pasand Kartay Hein. (We do not have the armies. They (India and Pakistan) are holding talks but do not take notice of the killings in Kashmir. We dislike it "), said Mr Lone in reply to a question. He reiterated that tripartite talks were the only solution to the issue.

Earlier a meeting of the executive members of the APHC had rejected the concept of the Line of Control dividing the state", Mr Lone said. He stated that the people of Kashmir had "already rejected the LoC by launching the ongoing movement." "The name of the LoC in itself reveals that the state of Jammu and Kashmir before and after 1947 has not been a part of any country", the statement added.

It further said the executive committee meeting resolved that intruders in Kargil and Dras were in fact on their own land and the occupation is justified internationally, constitutionally and morally."

The APHC also expressed concern over the rejection of its plea by the government for grant of permission to visit Kargil.

Drunken cop sparks protests at shrine
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, June 10 — Tension gripped the Hazratbal area here last night after a policeman on guard duty at the holy shrine created a nuisance under the influence of liquor during prayers.

The policeman of the JK Armed Police Company, has been taken into custody and action is being taken against him. Residents of the locality held protest demonstrations throughout the night demanding shifting of the whole company of the armed police for the act of ‘sacrilege’. The shrine of Hazratbal houses the holy relics of Prophet Mohammad and is the most sacred shrine in the valley.

The locality also observed a shutdown today in protest.

JK Armed Police guards were deployed at the shrine following a month-long siege of the shrine in October-November, 1993 when over 30 suspected militants holed up inside. Guards were also deployed at other major shrines in the valley after the incident.

The SSP Srinagar, Mr Niaz Mahmood told TNS that a policeman, identified as Subash, was found drunk outside the shrine by residents of the locality. This annoyed the residents who caught hold of him. He fired in the air in self-defence. This sparked of protests.

He was suspended by the company commander and later the concerned SHO took him into custody. A medical check-up of the erring cop was also ordered. Further details were awaited.

Senior police officers and the Deputy Commissioner had to remained in the area throughout the night after residents of the locality raised slogans and held protest demonstration against the unholy act. Morning prayers were offered at the shrine after assurances from the district administration and police officers of action against the policeman.

Arms seized in Turtuk

SRINAGAR, June 10 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir police unearthed a big cache of arms and ammunition in the Turtuk area of Leh in the frontier region of Ladakh today, the police said.

The seizure, which included eight AK assault rifles, a pistol, a rifle with telescope, a light machine gun, a rocket launcher, three rocket bombs and three rolls of explosives, followed sustained questioning of ten militants who were arrested by Turtuk police on June 7, police said.

The police also recovered 15 magazines, 495 rounds of AK ammunition, 23 pistol rounds, 185 rounds of medium machine gun, eight empty rounds, two electronic devices, an electric detonator, three solid spirit, two pouches and two plastic bottles from the hideouts of the captured militants.

Police said the arrest of the militants scuttled an attempt of Pakistan and its ISI to spread militancy into the hitherto peaceful Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir and to launch infiltration of Pakistan in troops.

Earlier, too the police had recovered arms from the militants.

Police said sustained interrogation of the captured militants revealed that on the instigation and motivation of the brother of one of the terrorists, a new terrorist outfit was to be floated in Turtuk for the purpose of sabotage and terrorism in Turtuk area.

State Governor g c Saxena, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and Director General of State Police visited the police station at Diskit in Turtuk and announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for the police personnel involved.

Farooq for early end to crisis
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, June 10 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah here today expressed the hope of an early solution of the Kargil crisis.

Speaking at a function here the Chief Minister said that the Pakistan Foreign Minister's scheduled visit to New Delhi for talks proved "they have realised that what they have committed is wrong". He prayed for successful conclusion of talks between India and Pakistan and said that peace was imperative.

Dedicating a community centre at Khanyar here to the Muslim Auqaf Trust, Mr Farooq Abdullah said that the Kargil incident had caused a lot of difficulty to the people of the area.

He said supply of essentials would be maintained to the area.

Sonia to visit Srinagar on June 12
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, June 10 — The Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, is scheduled to visit Srinagar on June 12, where she will meet soldiers wounded in Kargil and were being treated at the military hospital.

Official sources said Ms Sonia Gandhi will fly to Srinagar by a special aircraft from Srinagar airport she will drive straight to the military hospital to inquire about the conditions of the wounded soldiers and discuss their problems with the senior Army functionaries.

Ms Gandhi will fly from Srinagar to Chandigarh to see some wounded soldiers at military hospital near Chandigarh.

The sources said the Congress President has no plan of addressing any public meeting.

Earlier Ms Sonia Gandhi was to visit Jammu for meeting Congress workers and for addressing a couple of public rallies. However, the programme was cancelled because of some engagements.

Security has been tightened from Srinagar airport to the military hospital. It is not yet exactly known whether she will drive from Srinagar airport to the military hospital or the Army may arrange a helicopter.

It appears that she is planning to visit Srinagar ahead of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, who is likely to visit Srinagar on June 13.