J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Toiba militant escapes police net
SRINAGAR, Jan 20 (PTI) — A top Lashkar-e-Toiba militant and Pakistani national, Irfan alias Abu Talha, today escaped the police dragnet, but his local associate was nabbed from his hideout in downtown Srinagar, a police spokesman said here.

J&K move to divide workers?
JAMMU, Jan 20 — The decision of the state government to make secretariat services inter-transferable with field services after abolishing the Civil Secretariat Subordinate Services is being seen by some government officers as a "smart move" to create dissensions among members of the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) which has spearheaded the month-long strike in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP team asks Governor to dismiss J&K Govt
JAMMU, Jan 20 — A BJP delegation led by its president D.K. Kotwal, today met the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, and urged him to dismiss the Farooq-led government on grounds of “total failure”.

Toiba militant escapes police net

SRINAGAR, Jan 20 (PTI) — A top Lashkar-e-Toiba militant and Pakistani national, Irfan alias Abu Talha, today escaped the police dragnet, but his local associate was nabbed from his hideout in downtown Srinagar, a police spokesman said here.

On a tip-off, a police party raided a militant hideout in the Rainawari area used by the foreign mercenary this morning. On noticing the movement of policemen, self-styled Toiba deputy chief Abu Talha escaped taking advantage of the darkness, the spokesman told PTI.

He said the police party arrested his local associate identified as Ishfaq Ahmad of Nowgam and found one hand grenade, a few passports, including that of Abu Talha, photographs of some suspects and Rs 1,38,000 in Indian currency.

The spokesman said the case was being investigated to track down other associates and ascertain how Abu Talha, who has been active in Kashmir for the past five years, was able to obtain a passport.

Meanwhile, the police has arrested four militants in the frontier region of Kupwara for questioning, the spokesman said.

A Youth National Conference leader and five militants were among eight persons killed in the Kashmir valley, while ultras exploded two powerful grenades in the heart of Srinagar, injuring five persons since last evening.

An official spokesman said here today that a group of militants forced themselves into the youth leader Ghulam Nabi alias Azad’s house in Badgam district of Central Kashmir last evening. Nabi, who tried to escape, was shot dead.

Three militants were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces at Fatehpora, 6 km South of Anantnag in South Kashmir, last night, he said. Forces blasted the house where the militants had taken shelter.

In another encounter in the same district, troops gunned down two volunteers of Hizbul Mujahideen at Radwani, West of Anantnag, last evening. An Army jawan was also killed in the clash which lasted about three hours.

Five persons including two BSF personnel were wounded when militants exploded two grenades at Lal Chowk, last evening. The first grenade was hurled at a BSF picket at Lal Chowk in which one jawan was wounded.

Ten minutes later, militants lobbed a grenade at another BSF picket at nearby Hari Singh highstreet wounding three pedestrians and a BSF jawan, he said.

J&K move to divide workers?
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 20 — The decision of the state government to make secretariat services inter-transferable with field services after abolishing the Civil Secretariat Subordinate Services is being seen by some government officers as a "smart move" to create dissensions among members of the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) which has spearheaded the month-long strike in Jammu and Kashmir.

Leaders of the secretariat employees forged unity with other employees unions to give tooth to the strike. The state government had eight months ago planned to throw out those employees in the Civil Secretariat who had reportedly developed vested interests and had from time to time lent indirect help separatists.

Those in the field services may not oppose the decision, being posted in difficult areas.

Informed sources said the move was also aimed at forcing the secretariat employees to end strike. However, there is no sign of any change in the attitude of the employees even after 12 of their colleagues have been suspended. However more clerks and those on the personal staff of ministers and senior bureaucrats could be seen working in the secretariat today.The state government has pleaded that the civil secretariat services be made inter-transferable with field services to give due representation to employees belonging to the Jammu and the Ladakh regions in the Civil Secretariat. At present 70 per cent employees in the Civil Secretariat are from the Kashmir valley.

Senior officers are apprehensive of the success of the government plan. They say over the years employees working in the Civil Secretariat have acquired expertise in their respective fields. Employees from the field may require several months before they can pick up the subtleties of the work.

These officers have other fears too. They say ruling National Conference leaders, including ministers and legislators, may fill the Civil Secretariat with their favourites who may not be as accomplished in government work as those who have put in seven to 20 years of service.

Two employees working in the Civil Secretariat now on strike said the move would lead to corrupt practices. "Postings will now be sold by men who matter in the government."

Meanwhile, the Cabinet sub-committee constituted to hold talks with the employees has kept its doors open for fresh parleys. Reports indicated that behind-the-scene mediations are in progress with a section of employees.

The government has assured the employees that after April some of their demands will be considered favourably.

BJP team asks Governor to dismiss J&K Govt
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 20 — A BJP delegation led by its president D.K. Kotwal, today met the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, and urged him to dismiss the Farooq-led government on grounds of “total failure”.

The deputation told the Governor that the Chief Minister was duty-bound to hold talks with the employees and tell them of the difficulties the government faced in conceding all their demands. Instead, the Chief Minister had left the issue to a Cabinet sub-committee.

The BJP leaders alleged the Chief Minister had lost interest in providing good governance. They expressed displeasure over the Chief Minister’s insistence on securing greater autonomy for the state when there were other pressing problems.