J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Farooq unhappy with deal
JAMMU, Jan 1 — The state Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah here today, expressed anguish over the Central Government's decision to release three top militants in exchange for the release of over 150 passengers on board the IA hijacked plane.

9 militants killed in valley
SRINAGAR, Jan 1 — Thirteen persons, including nine militants and three securitymen, were killed and 10 securitymen injured in different militancy-related incidents while the five cops kidnapped by militants from Udhampur were set free since yesterday in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sonia promises to restrain Azad
JAMMU, Jan 1 — Congress President Sonia Gandhi has assured a deputation of senior party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir that AICC General Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Azad, would not be allowed to interfere in the affairs of the PCC.

Farooq unhappy with deal
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 1 — The state Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah here today, expressed anguish over the Central Government's decision to release three top militants in exchange for the release of over 150 passengers on board the IA hijacked plane.

The Chief Minister informed his Cabinet colleagues that he had apprised the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, of the serious consequences that could follow the release of the militants as demanded by the hijackers.

Dr Farooq had lodged a protest with the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, when the RAW chief, Mr A.S. Dulat, reached Jammu to divulge the Union Government's decision to set free the three militants. In fact, the Chief Minister had threatened to quit. It was Mr Saxena who persuaded Dr Farooq to relent.

When the issue of the release of the militants figured at the Cabinet meeting, the ministers criticised the release of Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar Lattram sentenced on the charge of having killed four persons. What was even more irksome to Dr Farooq and his Cabinet colleagues was that a killer of a close relative of the Chief Minister, Sheikh Sadiq, too had been killed under the directions of Mushtaq Lattram.

The members of the Cabinet were of the view that instead of Lattram a foreign mercenary could have been released.

The Cabinet reviewed the administrative paralysis caused by the 12-day-long strike by state employees in protest against the delay in the release of two instalments of DA and arrears under the Fifth Pay Commission. The Cabinet authorised the subcommittee to continue its dialogue with the in the employees and in the meantime decided to declare the strike illegal and issue notices to the meantime that action would be taken against them in case they did not resume duty.

The Cabinet took strong notice of the gazetted officers also remaining absent, taking advantage of the employees' strike. The gazetted officers were directed to be in office failing which stern measures would be taken against them.

The Chief Minister and the Finance Minister explained to the Cabinet colleagues that acceptance of the demands of the employees entailed an expenditure of Rs 400 crore.

As a result of the strike, work in all government offices, hospitals and educational institutions has been hit.

The Chief Minister left for Delhi after the Cabinet meeting. He is scheduled to meet several central leaders, including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

Besides seeking additional funds for resuming work on development projects and for meeting the demands of the employees, he is likely to convey his and his Cabinet's displeasure over the release of the three militants.

9 militants killed in valley

SRINAGAR, Jan 1 (PTI) — Thirteen persons, including nine militants and three securitymen, were killed and 10 securitymen injured in different militancy-related incidents while the five cops kidnapped by militants from Udhampur were set free since yesterday in Jammu and Kashmir.

Security forces smashed four militant hideouts and recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition during the period in the state, an official spokesman said here today.

Five police personnel and a special police officer (SPO), who were kidnapped by militants from the Dudu-Basantgarh area of Jammu’s Udhampur district while they were coming out of a mosque after saying their prayers yesterday, were later set free, the spokesman said adding they were being questioned by senior police officers about the episode.

Two militants were killed and a security jawan received gun shot wounds in a gunfight that broke out today at Mochdhar-Gundha in Doda district of Jammu region.

Two militants and a security personnel were killed and another security jawan was injured in an encounter at Surankote in Poonch district of Jammu today, he said, adding the fight followed militants attack on the security camp.

Another militant was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces at Methan bypass in Badgam district of central Kashmir last evening.

A security force personnel was killed when militants opened fire on the security forces vehicles at Sopore chowk in Baramula district of north Kashmir last evening, the official added.

Six police personnel, including three special police officers (SPOs), received splinter injuries when militants hurled a grenade towards police station building at Gursai-Harni in border district of Poonch today, the spokesman said.

A report from Jammu said militants killed a security jawan in an ambush in Suranihal forests in Rajouri district.

In retaliatory fire by troops, three militants were also killed, the report said, adding one of the slain militants was identified as Sirajuddin of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Pirpanjal area.

Militants barged into the house of Abdul Hameed in Ujjan area of Rajouri district and shot his wife dead.

The deceased, who was teaching in a government school, was also the daughter of former Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Mirza Iqbal.

A surrendered militant was killed by militants at Sadah in Kalakote area of Rajouri during the period.

Security forces destroyed four militant hideouts, two in frontier district of Kupwara and one each in Baramula and Pulwama in Kashmir and seized a quantity of arms and ammunition, including a sniper rifle, one AK rifle, a pistol and four kgs of explosive.

JAMMU (UNI): Day curfew has been imposed in Surankote town after militants attacked the brigade headquarters today, killing an Army jawan and two militants.

Official sources told UNI here this afternoon that militants armed with sophisticated weapons tried to attack the brigade headquarters at Surankote this morning at 7.30 am. The sentry at the gate retaliated, but the militants fired heavily and killed him.

Some jawans who came out to rescue the sentry, shot at the militants, killing two and injuring one. The injured militant escaped.

Tension was prevailing in Surankote town and curfew has been imposed as a precautionary measure, the sources added.

The situation was stated to be tense but under control.

Meanwhile, in another incident, militants hurled a hand grenade towards the Gursai police station in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district this morning. The grenade exploded inside the police station, injuring six police personnel, five of them seriously. They have been airlifted to the Government Medical College, Jammu.

Sonia promises to restrain Azad
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 1 — Congress President Sonia Gandhi has assured a deputation of senior party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir that AICC General Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Azad, would not be allowed to interfere in the affairs of the PCC.

A Congress delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, led by senior vice-president Mangat Ram Sharma had an hour-long meeting with Ms Sonia Gandhi in Delhi recently where she was apprised of the 'negative' role Mr Azad had played in encouraging groupism in the Jammu and Kashmir Congress.

Mr Mangat Ram Sharma is said to have informed Mrs Sonia Gandhi that he had been in the Congress for the past 53 years and it was for the first time during the recent Lok Sabha elections that the party had ignored loyal and senior partymen while selecting candidates.

He is said to have openly accused Mr Azad of having sidelines important party functionaries to install his supporters on key party posts and to give to party mandate to them for contesting the Lok Sabha poll. He told the Congress President that it was for the first time during the past 20 years that the Congress had drawn a blank in the Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Ashok Sharma and Mr Raman Bhalla, member of the delegation, are said to have referred to the recent developments in which PCC chief Mohd Aslam appointed nine District Congress presidents and informed Mrs Gandhi that neither he consulted the PCC nor he sent a panel of names to the AICC for approval.

They told Mrs Gandhi that Mr Azad had become "an ornamental" politician who had no roots in the state. Later, the delegation met the party treasurer Mr Ahmed Patel, and urged him to cancel the appointment of nine district presidents. Both Mrs Gandhi and Mr Patel have assured the delegation that in case there was need the PCC would be reconstituted and the district chief would be appointed only after the AICC approval.

J&K IG police shifted

JAMMU, Jan 1 (PTI) — In a sudden move, the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the transfer and posting of Mr P.S. Gill, IGP (Modernisation) as IGP, Operations.

Mr Gill’s posting has been made against the available vacancy of IGP (Law and Order), an official spokesman said here today.

Mr Gill, who served as IGP, Kashmir Division for five years, was transferred early this year as IGP (Operations) and later as IGP (Prisons) and finally as IGP (Modernisation).

Official sources said this development has come in the wake of militants’ recent attacks on the headquarters of Special Operations Group in Srinagar and increasing attacks on police personnel in Kashmir.