10 militants killed in J& K
SRINAGAR, Oct 10 —Thirteen person, including ten militants and a village defence committee member, were killed and two wounded in separate incidents while four militants have been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman here said today.

• 182 militants killed in operations

PDP to move court on ‘poll offences’
SRINAGAR, Oct 10 — The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Democratic Party today said that it would approach the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and seek a CBI or a judicial inquiry into the "election offences" committed by the ruling National Conference in the Lok Sabha poll.

Warrants for Sapna Mukherjee
JAMMU, Oct 10 — The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jang Bahadur Singh Jamwal, has issued bailable arrest to warrants playback singer Sapna Mukherjee and directed the Inspector General of Police, Jammu, to execute the orders.

10 militants killed in J& K

SRINAGAR, Oct 10 (PTI) —Thirteen person, including ten militants and a village defence committee (VDC) member, were killed and two wounded in separate incidents while four militants have been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman here said today.

Four militants, including three hardcore foreign mercenaries associated with Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba outfit were killed in a joint operation by black cat commandos of 51 Special Action Group and Rashtriya Rifles in the dense forests of Keshwan and Berna in Doda district, official sources said in Jammu.

Countering extreme weather conditions in treacherous terrain at an altitude of around 4,000 metres, the troops eliminated the militants in a two-day operation, they said.

These militants were behind forcible recruitment and extortions in the area, the sources said, adding a large quantity of weapons was recovered from their hideout.

Two unidentified militants were killed and another was arrested in separate encounters at Baramulla, Sherwali-Bahak in Nowgam sector and Palhalan in Pattan area of Baramulla district in North Kashmir last night, the spokesman here said.

Two militants fell to the bullets of security forces in an encounter at Chamber in Sawjian sector of Poonch district yesterday.

Security forces gunned down another militant at Dugani-Chingas village in the border district of Rajouri early today, he said.

Another report from Rajouri district said the body of one Sat Paul of Sarop village was recovered by the police in the outskirts of his native village.

The spokesman said militants kidnapped and later shot dead one Ghulam Hassan Dar outside his village at Shalla-Gandhoh in Doda district last night.

A pedestrain, Mohammad Altaf Dar, was injured when militants exploded a grenade near a club in the high-security zone of Sonawar in Srinagar last evening, the spokesman said adding the intended target was a parked security vehicle.

Militants shot at and injured special police officer Gulla Sheikh in his village at Vill-Treiran in Tangmarg area of Baramulla district last night. Sheikh was a relased militant of the outlawed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation-Front, the spokesman said.

In another incident the, a body of a village defence committee member was found from the Bank of Chenab river near Gogla area of Doda district.

Identified as Shib Lal, he was missing since September 3, the sources said.

Security forces, during a joint operation in Charote area of Doda district, recovered one universal machine gun and its 98 rounds, one sniper rifle and its 19 rounds, a few magazines, one wireless set and 30 pencil cells.

Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling on Indian positions in the Keran sector since last evening while a soldier and a militant were killed at Palhalan in Pattan last night.

Official sources told UNI that Pakistani troops resorted to indiscriminate firing and mortar and artillery shelling in Keran sector, targeting civilians and security forces installations.

The shelling, which started around 1900 hours last evening continued throughout the night. Indian troops retaliated. There were no reports of any casualties.

Militants fired upon a security force patrol party at Palhalan in Pattan last night with automatic weapons. Troops also fired back and in the fierce clash one militant was killed. One soldier also lost his life and a special police officer and another Jawan were injured in the clash which continued for about two hours.

Unidentified gunmen shot at and wounded one Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh at Kreeri pattan last night. He was hospitalised.

182 militants killed in operations

SRINAGAR, Oct 10 (UNI) In a major offensive after Operation Vijay, troops killed 182 militants, including 77 foreigners, across the Kashmir valley.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and Indian Army, immediately after victory in Kargil, launched a massive offensive against militants across the Kashmir valley, particularly in the border districts of Kupwara and Baramulla .

During these well planned operations, troops killed 182 hardcore and heavily armed militants, including 77 foreigners.

Troops also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including 192 AK series rifles, four universal machine guns, two rocket launchers, 33 pistols besides huge quantity of explosives, wireless sets and other items.

The spokesman said 20 infiltration attempts were also foiled by troops guarding the northern sector.

Several exfiltration attempts were also thwarted and the boys, who were being taken to cross the country at gun point for receiving arms training in Pakistan occupied Kashmir(PoK), were rescued and reunited with their families.

"We have no doubt that in the coming winter months, pressure on militants will be increased further and process of their elimination will continue unabated," he added.

All security agencies, including the para-military forces and Jammu and Kashmir police engaged in counter insurgency operations, are working in close cooperation with the troops.

Expressing satisfaction over the peaceful conclusion of parliamentary elections in the state, he said barring some stray incidents, the Rashtriya Rifles and Indian Army were able to provide a safe and secure environment for the smooth conduct of elections, particularly in the valley.

He said the complete operation to ensure security was planned and executed by the unified headquarters with cooperation of all agencies involved.

PDP to move court on ‘poll offences’

SRINAGAR, Oct 10 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) today said that it would approach the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and seek a CBI or a judicial inquiry into the "election offences" committed by the ruling National Conference (NC) in the Lok Sabha poll.

"Due to procedural delay election petitions usually take time but I am thinking to approach the high court and seek a CBI or a judicial inquiry into these election offences taking place in Kashmir", party leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, who unsuccesfully contested from Baramula parliamentary seat, told reporters here today.

He alleged the Lok Sabha polls in the valley was "neither free nor fair" and said the election was treated as a question of "survival" by the leader of the ruling National Conference, Farooq Abdullah.

Basohli waits for promised bridge
By Kavita Bhargava

ONCE famous all over the world for its Basohli miniature paintings, the town of Basohli situated on the right bank of river Ravi, at a distance of 120 km from Jammu city, is bracing for an agitation once again for the long-pending demand of a bridge over the Ravi.

Fear has gripped the people as work on the Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein Dam) on the Punjab — Jammu and Kashmir border is going on in full swing and is expected to be completed by the year end.

The completion of the dam will submerge, a major portion of the Kathua-Basohli road, the only road-link with district headquarter Kathua.

At present the people of Basohli town and the surrounding areas have to travel 41 km after the completion of work on the dam distance would become 83 km. The alternative Basohli-Mahanpur-Lakhanpur road, which has come up recently, has also increased the distance from Basohli to Kathua by 43 km.

A bridge on the Ravi will also link the town with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and facilitate transport, trade and tourism. The proposed bridge, when constructed, will be the highest in the country.

Dr Uttamchand, President of the Bridge Action Committee (BAC), Basohli, says the proposed bridge will also work as a second defence link and an alternative entry to the state. The proposed bridge would be far away from the Pak border and will connect Kashmir with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh through the Basohli-Bhaderwah road which is under construction by GREF. It will also reduce the journey from Bhaderwah and Doda to Punjab from the present 350 km to just 180 km. This road can also be an alternative route to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which often remains closed because of landslides and snowfall says Dr Uttamchand.

For the past over three decades, the people of Basohli have been demanding the construction of this bridge and in support of their demand, they have held several demonstrations and dharnas, including 16-day relay hunger strike in 1994. Despite the approval by the state government, the construction work of the bridge has not been started till now.

Way back in 1958, when the then Sadar-e-Riyasat, Dr Karan Singh, had visited the Basohli bridge site, had announced that a suspension bridge would be built soon. On May 6, 1981 at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, the construction of the bridge over river Ravi was approved and Rs 4 crore were allocated for the construction of the bridge. The following year, Indira Gandhi during her visit to Basohli as Prime Minister also announced the construction of the bridge. later, the next Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, even visited the proposed site and promised the people of Basohli that the government would soon provide funds for the construction of the bridge.

It was even decided by Dr Abdullah that the bridge would be constructed by the amount which the J&K Government would receive from the Punjab Government as compensation for the forest, state and revenue land of Basohli tehsil which would be submerged by the proposed dam.

The Punjab government had also announced a contribution of Rs 8 crore for the construction of this bridge as a gift to the Jammu and Kashmir. Following this announcement, a foundation stone was carved and it was to be laid by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But ironically the foundation stone is still lying in the office of the Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) Division here.

In spite of repeated promises and assurances, the people of the town are still waiting for the bridge. This has resulted in a growing resentment and unrest among these people. In July 1995, three activists of the BAC even observed an indefinite fast. It was, later called off after the assurances that the state government had already initiated measures for providing the bridge and geo-technical survey, including drilling had already been taken up.

The state government has commissioned the UP Bridge Construction Corporation in 1995 for preparing a complete project report on the proposed bridge for which an amount of Rs 1 crore had been provided to them. But in spite of its report the project had not progressed any further.

Recently, a BJP leader and MP, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, strongly pleaded with the Prime Minister to start the construction of the bridge and to provide jobs to the children of those dislocated after the construction of the Ranjit Sagar Dam.

Warrants for Sapna Mukherjee
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10 — The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jang Bahadur Singh Jamwal, has issued bailable arrest to warrants playback singer Sapna Mukherjee and directed the Inspector General of Police, Jammu, to execute the orders.

A criminal complaint filed by Mr K.K.Khosa, Secretary, Jammu Club, under Section 420 of the RPC states Sapna was booked for the club to perform on New Year's eve. She had been paid 3.20 lakh for the performance. The case was filed after she failed to show up even after the programme was postponed.

Earlier, pleas of Sapna's counsel regarding her absence on hearings had been conceded.