9 militants among 12 killed in J&K

SRINAGAR, Oct 27 (UNI) — Nine militants, most of them foreigners, and two security personnel were among 12 persons killed in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman told UNI that special operation group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police headed by Mr Manohar Singh killed four militants in a fierce clash at Shankerpora in the central Kashmir district of Badgam this afternoon.

The operation was still going on, he said, and added four AK rifles with some magazines were recovered so far near the site of encounter.

The security forces in yet another operation recovered 10 AK rifles, six magazines, 1911 rounds of ammunition, 23 rocket launchers, 28 boosters, 7 disposable rocket launchers, two flame throwers, 26 solar rockets, two pistols, 27 grenades, 20 anti-personnel mines, 15 kg of RDX and one wireless set last evening.

An official spokesman said the security forces killed two militants in an encounter at Khokher Mohra village last evening. Two assault rifles, two grenade launchers, one pistol and 11 grenades were recovered from the militants.

He said at least one security jawan was killed when militants attacked a patrol party at Targain village last night. However, militants managed to escape before the security forces could retaliate.

He said one person was injured in an encounter at Chachai village while one body was found at Baramulla today.

An official spokesman said the Jammu and Kashmir police special operation group, the CRPF, and BSF launched a joint search operation at Kangan village in Pulwama district of South Kashmir last evening to nab militants.

He said during a search operation militants hiding in a house attacked forces with automatic weapons resulting in injuries to two police personnel and two BSF jawans. One of the injured SPO Mohammad Ahsan died in the hospital.

He said the forces immediately retaliated and the fierce clash continued for several hours.

Later bodies of three militants were recovered near the site of encounter. One house was also damaged as a result of exchange of fire, he said.

The spokesman said the Director-General of Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat announced a cash reward to security personnel who participated in the operation.

PTI adds: The BSF has busted a major gang of grenade-throwers with the arrest of four Al-Fateh militants in Kashmir valley, a BSF official said today.

The militants, including a self-styled co-ordinator and a financial chief of the outfit, were apprehended by the 22nd battalion of the BSF in close co-ordination with Yousmarg team of the BSF intelligence from downtown Srinagar last evening, BSF Deputy Inspector General R.P.Singh told PTI here.

After gathering information about the gang, the BSF smashed their hideouts and arrested four ultras, he said.

The raids were conducted at Mukdom Kocha, Chattabal-Bagyas, Urdu Bazar and Pather Masjid localities of interior Srinagar, he said, adding the arrested militants were identified as self-styled co-ordinator of Al-Fateh Mohammad Yaseen Nazar, financial chief Javid Ahmad Khan, Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh and Javed Ahmad Batoo.

With their arrest, the BSF has nabbed 15 militants of the outfit in a fortnight, he said.

Interrogation of the captured militants led to recovery of six hand grenades, four magazines and some ammunition, he said.

The gang was part of a group of 12 militants who had sneaked in from Pakistan.

Panun Kashmir plea to EU delegation
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 27 — In a memorandum submitted to a five-member delegation of the European Union, the Panun Kashmir, a premier organisation of Kashmiri Pandits, has requested the delegation to persuade the Government of India to restore all political rights of the displaced people by carving out a separate homeland with the status of the union territory in north-east of lower Jhelum in the valley.

The memorandum was submitted by Dr Agnishekhar, a leader of the organisation here today. The delegate also visited the Mishriwalla camp, where the Kashmiri migrants have been staying for the past several years.

In the memorandum the Panun Kashmir leaders explained the plight of Kashmiri Pandits who had become refugees in their own country and who find themselves "totally neglected and ignored for the past 10 years". They demanded a clear cut policy for suitable rehabilitation of the displaced people and legal action against those who had looted their property.

The memorandum also demanded the reservation for displaced Kashmiri students in professional colleges.

Srinagar: Both the government and the separatists, who met the European Union delegation in Kashmir, have put forth their divergent views before the diplomats.

An official spokesman said here today that the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly, apprised the delegation about the developmental and security scenario of the state, particularly the Kashmir valley, last evening. Mr Jaitly told the delegation that Jammu and Kashmir was among the 10 most developed states in the country in 1990 but due to militancy the socio-economic development suffered.

He said the popular government, soon after assuming office in the state, initiated several measures to revive developmental activities and restore normalcy. The destroyed infrastructure particularly bridges and school buildings were reconstructed and various measures were underway to activate the development process in the state to move it towards peace and prosperity.

Earlier, the delegation had a meeting with the former Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Mohammad Shah, and leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference which also submitted a memorandum to the delegates and apprised them about the "ongoing movement" in Kashmir.

J&K may amend wildlife Act

SRINAGAR, Oct 27 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Government is considering to amend the Wildlife Protection Act to make it more effective in preserving the state’s endangered species.

The State Minister for Works, Mr Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah, told a meeting here yesterday that while safeguarding the interests of traders dealing in fur and leather goods, the government would not compromise on the preservation of wildlife which was useful for maintaining the ecological balance.

Representatives of fur and leather associations sought early measures to dispose of the government inventoried fur stocks, lying in custody of fur traders, and pleaded for alternatives for the payment of compensation and rehabilitation of bonafide fur unit holders.

The Principal Secretary, Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries, Mr Vijay Bakaya, said the government had identified some 225 bonafide fur units which were likely to be affected due to ban on trade of fur and leather products.

The cost of inventoried fur products is to the order of Rs 9.45 crore and Rs 2.50 crore would be required to rehabilitate the affected artisans.

Mr M.S. Pandit, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, suggested that the fur and leather traders should contribute generously towards the rehabilitation plan of the affected artisans.

Vaishno Devi 'darshan' on Net soon
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 27 — Those not able to trek to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi atop Trikuta Hills, can now have ‘darshan’ of the shrine on the Internet.

The multi-crore project for the march of pilgrims from Katra base camp of the pilgrimage to the holy shrine on the Internet will be completed in various phases. The Rs 40 lakh phase I is in progress and 50 computers have already been installed at Katra by the Shrine Board.

Under the project, four VSAT are being installed at Jammu, Katra, Adh Kunwari and the shrine. These will link the Internet system with the satellite. This will help the devotees all over the world to have complete information about the infrastructure built and being built for the pilgrims from Jammu to Katra and from Katra to the shrine.

One can even have pictures of the various shrines on the Internet. At least 38 lakh pilgrims visit the holy cave every year.

The project will help the pilgrims to plan their yatra to the shrine. All necessary information regarding board an lodging facilities, room reservation at Katra, Jammu and at the shrine besides mode of travel by bus or train will be available on the Internet.

Pilgrims will also be able to get information about the number of yatris visiting the shrine.

Once the VSAT system is complete, the evening aarti at ‘bhavan’ will be available on the internet for those not able to reach the shrine.

For the time being the authorities are busy feeding the computers with details of board and lodging facilities, names of the hotels, inns and guest houses with details of rooms available and their rent. With further improvement in the Internet system the Shrine Board authorities will feed the computer with changes in the reservation of rooms, rent, and in train timings on daily basis.