J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Republic day celebrations on low key
SRINAGAR, Jan 26 — Republic Day celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir were on a low key with shops and business establishments remaining closed and most of the people preferring to stay indoors in view of the call for observance of ''black day'' by militant organisations.

11 killed in J & K violence
SRINAGAR, Jan 26 — Seven militants, a CRPF jawan and a woman were among 11 killed and ten others wounded in unabated violence in Jammu and Kashmir since last night.

Full-blown proxy war on: Governor
JAMMU, Jan 26 — Frustrated by its military and diplomatic defeat in Kargil, Pakistan has stepped up militancy in Jammu and Kashmir by sending across a large number of foreign mercenaries and carrying out sneak attacks on security forces to create a feeling of insecurity in the state, Governor Girish Chander Saxena said today.

Pak shells Indian positions
Srinagar, Jan 26 — Pakistani troops have been shelling Indian positions along the line of control (LoC) in Keran sector of Kupwara district

Republic day celebrations on low key

SRINAGAR, Jan 26 (PTI) — Republic Day celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir were on low key with shops and business establishments remaining closed and most of the people preferring to stay indoors in view of the call for observance of ''black day'' by militant organisations.

The streets in Srinagar and other major towns of the valley wore a deserted look with shops and business establishments remained closed and all modes of public and private transport remained off the roads, official sources said.

Except police and paramilitary forces, no one was seen on the Srinagar streets. Police assisted by the security forces were deployed in full strength in Srinagar to maintain law and order, the sources said.

The undeclared curfew imposed by the security forces who restricted the movement of civilians, including some media persons near the venues of the Republic Day functions, benefited the sponsors of the boycott call.

Several militant organisations, including Hurriyat Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party of Shabir Ahmad Shah, J and K Peoples League, and a number of militant outfits have given calls for the observance of a "black day" today.

11 killed in J & K violence

SRINAGAR, Jan 26 (PTI) — Seven militants, a CRPF jawan and a woman were among 11 killed and ten others wounded in unabated violence in Jammu and Kashmir since last night.

CRPF jawan Ashok Kumar of the 54th battalion was killed and three others injured when a group of heavily-armed militants ambushed a patrol party near Mattan area of Anantnag district today, an official spokesman said.

Kumar, who received a complete burst of AK assault rifle in both his legs, was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, he said.

Seven militants were killed in separate encounters with security forces at Sangla-Gunthal area of Surankote and Shahpur in border district of Poonch yesterday, the spokesman said.

Four security personnel and two civilians were also injured in the Surankote encounter, he said, adding four AK assault rifles, two rockets, three grenades and a wireless set was recovered from the slain ultras.

Elsewhere in the state, militants abducted a person and set off a powerful blast, while an ultra was arrested and a major disaster averted following timely detection of a powerful improvised explosive device (IED).

A woman lost her life when she was caught in a crossfire between militants and police at Arnas-Latri of Udhampur last night, the spokesman said, adding ultras shot dead one Hassan Mohammad and abducted Mohammad Ayub at Chauhan-Manjiani area of Poonch last night.

Body of an unidentified person was picked up by police from Kurihama in Kupwara today.

The spokesman said militants shot at and injured an employee of Srinagar Development Authority near his house at haft-yarbal in downtown Srinagar last evening.

Militants also opened fire on a police station at Wachi-Zainapora in Pulwama district last night, but none was hurt.

While, the IED kept in a plastic basket in a government high school at Trehgam in Kupwara district was detected and neutralised last night, a powerful blast shook Shah mohalla in Doda of Jammu last evening, he said. However, no damage was caused in the explosion.

Police nabbed a Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militant Abdul Rashid Shigun alias Rashid Moulvi from Badgam district last evening. His arrest led to the recovery of a pistol, 14 detonators, two time devices, a grenade, a remote control and a magazine with five rounds.

Police also recovered five IEDs, three remote control devices, an anti-personnel mine and 10 grenades from a house at Banglow-bagh in Baramulla last night, he said.

Full-blown proxy war on: Governor

JAMMU, Jan 26 (PTI) — Frustrated by its military and diplomatic defeat in Kargil, Pakistan has stepped up militancy in Jammu and Kashmir by sending across a large number of foreign mercenaries and carrying out sneak attacks on security forces to create a feeling of insecurity in the state, Governor Girish Chander Saxena said today.

Militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has become a full-blown proxy war and cross-border terrorism is now largely conducted by foreign mercenaries with the local militants playing only a subsidiary role in the state, he said after unfurling the Tricolour on the occasion of Republic Day here.

Majority of militants killed in the state now are foreign mercenaries, he said, adding the recent hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane by Pakistani terrorists has given a new dimension to the security scenario in the state.

He complimented the army, para-military forces and police for valiantly combating militancy and appreciated the restraint shown by them to prevent civilian casualties and to safeguard the human rights of citizens.

Saxena exuded confidence on the nation's capability to meet the challenges. "Let us resolve to work hard for the security and progress of our state and a bright and glorious future for India", he said.

Chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, his ministerial colleagues, Assembly Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil, High Court judges, legislators, senior army, civil and police officers and prominent citizens besides a large number of people were present at the Republic Day celebrations at the Maulana Azad Stadium.

Saxena said the political issues, grievances and aspirations of the people could be solved through dialogue and reasonable accommodation, and urged the misguided youth to join the national mainstream.

"Armed militancy is both unnecessary and futile when a well established and liberal democratic dispensation offers avenues for political expression and accommodation", he added.

After the flag hoisting function by the Governor, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah told reporters that Pakistan was "hell-bent to close all doors on dialogue with India as evident from the recent border skirmishes".

"India yearns for peace with its neighbour and wants normalisation of relations through the process of dialogue, but Islamabad is igniting hostility by promoting terrorism on our soil," he said.

"We do not want war, but if thrust (on us) we cannot stay away", he said.

In his message on occasion of the Republic Day, Abdullah pledged to steer the state to a new era of peace and normalcy which suffered colossal damage during decades-long militancy.

He said despite financial constraint, much headway has been made in reconstruction of infrastructure.

Stating that his government was working overtime to take democracy to the grassroot level, he said panchayats would be fully empowered to take decisions about developmental priorities at the local levels.

In Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Public Works Minister A M Sagar said the state government was determined to root out militancy from the state.

Though the task was enormous but our determination was equally strong and matching, Sagar said after unfurling the tricolour at Bakshi stadium here.

He took the salute at the march past presented by the contingents of Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, Auxilliary Police, fire services, J and K ladies police and Kashmir frontier brass band.

Sagar said return of Kashmiri migrants was high on the agenda of the government and steps were taken to ensure their safe home coming.

Pak shells Indian positions

Srinagar, Jan 26 (PTI) — Pakistani troops have been shelling Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of Kupwara district in north Kashmir since last night, official sources said here today.

Indian troops retaliated effectively, they told PTI.

The shelling from across the border was unprovoked and indiscriminate, they said, adding there was no casualty on the Indian side.