19 killed in valley violence
SRINAGAR, Oct 15 — At least 19 persons, including 10 militants and a block president of the ruling National Conference were killed in separate incidents of militancy related across violence across Kashmir valley since yesterday.

Anti-Pak slogans in J&K House
SRINAGAR, Oct 15 — Members of opposition parties in the Legislative Assembly raised anti-Pakistan slogans in the beginning of the proceedings of the House here this morning.

19 killed in valley violence
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 15 — At least 19 persons, including 10 militants and a block president of the ruling National Conference were killed in separate incidents of militancy related across violence across Kashmir valley since yesterday.

Unidentified militants shot dead, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Nath, block president of the ruling National Conference at Parimpora on the outskirts of the city here last evening. The police said that the gunman intruded into his house and shot him dead.

Three Armymen and two civilians were killed and five others injured when an IED planted by suspected militants in an auto-rickshaw in the Bemina area of the city exploded last evening. Reports said that one civilian was killed on the spot while three others were injured, one of them seriously. He later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. At least six Armymen were also injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling on the bypass road was hit by the explosion. Three of them later succumbed to their injuries. Harkat-Ul-Mujahideen has claimed the responsibility for the explosion.

At least nine militants were killed in two separate encounters with the Army in Ganderbal area of Srinagar district and Bandipore area of Baramulla district during the past 24 hours. An army spokesman here said that a large quantity of arms and ammunition, explosives and equipment were recovered from the site of the encounters. Six of those killed belonged to Multan in Pakistan, while others included "Commanders" of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Giving details of the two operations a military spokesman said here that six militants were killed in an encounter at Larmarg in Safapora forests at a height of about 10,000 ft above sea level. The encounter started in the afternoon on Thursday and continued till midnight, when the last militant was killed. Six AK rifles, 12 magazines, a large quantity of ammunition, explosives and other equipment were recovered from the site of the encounter at Larmarg in Safapora forests. The operation was launched on specific information, the spokesman said.

Three militants were killed in another encounter in Yaripora forests of Bandipore in Baramulla district by the troops of 5 Sector RR, on specific information. Three AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, one radio set one grenade launcher, 12 rifle grenades and six hand grenades were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Unidentified militants shot dead Noor Mohammad Dar, a businessman in Lal Bazar area of Srinagar city around noon today, police sources said.

One militant and a security force personnel were killed in an encounter at Hamam Markote in Baramulla district yesterday. One militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Sogan area of Kupwara district.

In the Doda region of Jammu at least five security personnel were injured in a mine blast near Jaranwali bridge last night while militants shot at and wounded one Inderjit Singh in Doda town.

Anti-Pak slogans in J&K House
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 15 — Members of opposition parties in the Legislative Assembly raised anti-Pakistan slogans in the beginning of the proceedings of the House here this morning.

As soon as the Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, entered the House, Mr Harsh Dev Singh raised his voice against what he called "Pakistan interference" into the matters of Jammu and Kashmir. He was referring to the announcements made by Radio Pakistan about a strike in Kashmir by the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference. The APHC had given a call to observe a complete shutdown in the valley in protest against the arrest of its Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and other leaders, including Mohammad Yasin Malik and Javed Ahmad Mir under TADA.

A number of members from the BJP, Congress and others joined Mr Harsh Dev Singh and raised slogans against Pakistan.

The proceedings of the House then started as the Speaker took his seat and marked the beginning of question hour.

Meanwhile, seeking a declaration of a plan holiday by the state government which had failed to fulfil its commitments in the absence of requisite funds, the Panthers Party has threatened to bring a privilege motion against the Chief Minister.

This was disclosed by Harsh Dev Singh, member of the Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said commitments made in the Assembly made by the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues were not taken seriously. He said a privilege motion would also be moved regarding the appointment of teachers which had been pending for the last couple of years.

He blamed both the Central and the state governments for the financial crunch in all departments of the state.

Referring to the release of constituency funds to the MLAs, he claimed that out of a total of Rs 25 lakh annual plan, only Rs 18.75 lakh were released during the first year, while during the last year only Rs 12.5 lakh were released. During the current financial year, only Rs 6.25 lakh had been released while the government had announced a release of Rs 12 lakh.

Mercenaries’ migration begins
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 15 — More than 12 "migrant mercenaries" have been killed in recent days while they were trying to cross back to Pakistan occupied Kashmir in the Kupwara sector.

Official sources confirmed reports that a large number of foreign mercenaries had crossed back to Pakistan to escape inconvenience owing to the impending rigorous winter in the hilly areas of Kupwara, Baramula and Handwara.

The sources said from September onwards the mercenaries had been sending frantic messages to agencies across the border requesting to allow them to return to Pakistan. They were directed to stay put and create scare so that voters dared not to cast their votes. Soon after the polling in Baramula constituency ended on September 18 several groups of mercenaries started crossing over to Pakistan for rest and recreation.

Reports said in several hilly belts of Kupwara, Rajwar, Handwara, Ramhal and Lolab there had been considerable thinning of the number of mercenaries who had been camping in the well built bunkers and structures.

More than 100 mercenaries are said to have completed their contractual period and were keen to go back. Others were not prepared to risk their lives by remaining in the bunkers covered by heavy show during six winter months. Yet others had come to know that the Indian security forces were planning to launch a major offensive, including limited air strikes against the hideouts of the Afghan and Pakistani guerrillas, and they opted to remain across the border to escape elimination or arrest.

These foreign mercenaries could have down to the inhabited villages and spent the winter months there but they, in that case, had the risk of being apprehended by the security forces who have been getting information from people regarding the activities of the foreign mercenaries.

And when the "migration" of foreign mercenaries started it remained an unnoticed event. Within days the troops received reports of these mercenaries trying to cross back to Pakistan and they intensified vigil on the LoC and in recent days 12 mercenaries were killed. Some of the wounded militants were, however, managed to across the border.

According to these reports, agencies across the border have kept ready several thousand trained militants on the other side of the Line of Control awaiting orders to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir. They would be pushed into the state in small groups to fill the vacuum caused by the "migration" of a large number of foreign mercenaries.

Reports of "migration" of mercenaries have been received from the mountain belts of Poonch and Rajouri. Those groups of mercenaries who had over stayed in Doda, Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri too have started returning to Pakistan.

The security agencies have been suggested by intelligence officials that since there was reduction in the number of foreign mercenaries, who had dominated several border areas, they should launch multi-directional operations to smash the three-to-seven-year-old hideouts established on heights ranging between 10,000 and 13,000 ft.

These operations, according to experts, could prove result-oriented and discourage those waiting across the LoC to cross into Jammu and Kashmir. Inside reports said preparations for such operations were being finalised and additional forces were to be sent to the hilly belts of Kupwara, Baramula, Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts for flushing out the mercenaries.

Speaker: CM's order not complied with
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 15 — The Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today took strong exception to the non-compliance of the directions of the Chief Minister for the renovation of MLA hostels in Jammu and Srinagar, which are in a dilapidated condition.

The Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, expressed his concern over the delay in starting the renovation and repair work in the two hostels.

It was a matter for concern as the legislators living in these hostels were facing difficulties on account of inadequate facilities. The Speaker intervened on the question of Mr Abdul Ghani Malik drawing government's attention towards the condition of the hostels during zero hour here today.

In his remarks the Speaker said it was an important issue and should be taken up before the biannual durbar move took place at the end of the month, when the legislators would have to move down to Jammu for the next six months. He pointed out that the Chief Minister on the first day of the present session had directed the senior most minister, also the acting Chief Minister Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah to look into the matter.

Replying to the Speaker's remarks, Mr Shah regretted the delay in the commencement of the work and said the file had been sent to him by the Chief Minister before his departure for a tour abroad this week. He also regretted the withdrawal of protocol personnel from the Assembly Secretariat without any notice to the Speaker.

The Speaker said the issue was brought to the notice of the House during the Budget session and on his instructions, Chief Engineers of Srinagar and Jammu conducted a survey of the hostels and submitted a report of the funds earmarked for the repair work. The assessment for the repair in Jammu, was made at over Rs 1 crore. while the Hostel in Srinagar was estimated at Rs 67 lakh.

The government was also directed by the Speaker to shift and accommodate non-MLAs or legislators residing in these hostels in Jammu and Srinagar.

Referring to the withdrawal of protocol personnel, the Speaker said the department was "unkind" and withdrew its personnel without any information. "When we made temporary arrangements for such purposes, the government was informed that some appointments were made in violation of the rules", the Speaker said.