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| Friday, February 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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2 NC workers, DD employee killed |
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| Probe ordered into Shah's escape SRINAGAR, Feb 3 — The Jammu and Kashmir Police has ordered an inquiry into the escape of a former chief commander of the Jamaitul- Mujahideen, a militant outfit, who gave a slip to the police at the SMHS hospital here yesterday. Pressure
on ultras in valley 'pays off' Directive to gear up field
agencies Winter carnival at Patnitop BJP opposes more autonomy to
J&K Autonomy demand a farce: Mufti Two ITBP jawans charred to death
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Clinton
shadow over Kashmir NEW DELHI, Feb 3 — With the announcement of the date of President Bill Clinton’s visit to India, there is a sudden spurt in activity among certain organisations over Jammu and Kashmir, which may complicate the already complex situation in the valley. Willy-nilly even official agencies and certain decisions of the Atal Behari Vajpayee government may be responsible for making the waters muddy. One such is the recent decision to include a Kashmiri Pandit as a member of the Minorities Commission. (The nominee, Mr Vijay Dhar, a retired IAS officer, is a non-valley Kashmiri, with no affinity with the community in the Valley whom he is supposed to represent.) Two separate happenings today have the potential of complicating the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. In New Delhi, leaders of the Jammu Joint Students Front (JJSF), Ladakh Buddhists Association (LBA) and Panun Kashmir - which respectively represent Dogras of Jammu, Buddhists of Ladakh and Pandits of Kashmir - raised a joint demand for splitting the state into four parts and voiced their opposition to the Farooq Abdullah government’s January 19 decision favouring restoration of pre-1953 autonomy to the State. Today’s joint demand of the Dogras, Ladakhi Buddhists and Pandits in effect means that Jammu and Ladakh divisions of the State be separated and the residual Kashmir division be partitioned to create Panun Kashmir. This development, viewed with today’s Hurriyat Conference’s statement from Srinagar that President Clinton’s primary purpose of visiting India was aimed at resolving the "vexed Kashmir issue", provides an unsavoury scenario. Acting Chairman of Hurriyat, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, said in Srinagar, "US President is coming with a proposal on Kashmir resolution which will be discussed with New Delhi during Clinton’s stay in India". The Hurriyat chief criticised the ruling National Conference for propogating internal autonomy to the State - however, his criticism was based on the premise that autonomy was no alternative to the demand of "right to self-determination". This was in sharp contrast to the opposition of the JJSF, LBA and Panun Kashmir leaders to the autonomy demand. They feel that if autonomy is granted, the rights of these communities will be affected. "Right now, if we have any problems with the state government, we rush to the Centre. Where will we go if the Centre’s powers in the state are reduced?" they asked. These organisations felt that the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian Union can be kept intact only if the State is reorganised. They likened the autonomy demand to that of the move of the Muslim Conference in Kashmir in the 1940s, at the behest of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. It may be recalled that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s Jammu and Kashmir National Conference was the regional party which had opposed the Muslim Conference moves in the valley. Ironically, the Farooq Abdullah government today is being accused by a section of its opponents for pursuing the line which the Sher-e-Kashmir had debunked. Significantly Panun Kashmir’s political affairs committee chief, Mr Ajay Charangoo, who raised the "Jinnah" accusing finger at the present regime, said, "the timing of the demand for more autonomy is intriguing. It raises doubts in one’s mind whether it may have been made to coincide with the coming visit of US President Bill Clinton to India". Meanwhile, the National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today criticised the
National Conference government in the state for being
tardy and non-serious towards the plight of the Kashmiri
Pandit migrants who had fled the Valley due to militancy. |
APHC
invites Clinton to valley SRINAGAR, Feb 3 — The separatist APHC here today urged the US President, Mr Bill Clinton, to visit Kashmir during his forthcoming tour of the sub-continent for “personally assessing” the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. This was stated by the acting chairman of the APHC, Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, at a press conference here this morning. He said he would be meeting the US Ambassador in New Delhi in a couple of days and formally invite Mr Clinton to Kashmir. The Mirwaiz said President Clinton’s visit to India next month was important from both the economic and political point of view. The APHC leader hailed the recent statement of the US President in Switzerland asking world leaders to help India and Pakistan resolve the Kashmir issue. Mirwaiz Farooq said the US policy on Kashmir was clearly for solution of the “Kashmir issue”. “It is important for peace in the sub-continent...,” he said. “There are indications that Mr Clinton will be coming with a proposal”, the Mirwaiz said, replying questions. He did not elaborate on the proposal. However, he emphasised the USA “keen to solve the Kashmir issue”. Referring to the negotiations between India and Pakistan, the Mirwaiz said since the two countries were main parties to the “Kashmir dispute”, it was important for them to negotiate in a congenial atmosphere before involving Kashmiris, the third party to the dispute. In this connection, he criticised the Central Government for not holding talks with the neighbouring country on the plea democratic rule had not been restored there. “That does not make any difference”, he commented. “India seeks to stay away from negotiating with Pakistan on the plea that there is army rule... that is Pakistan’s problem”. Reiterating the APHC stand on solving the Kashmir problem under UN resolutions and through tripartite talks, Mirwaiz Farooq, without identifying any body warned people against the “designs” of the Farooq Abdullah government. “Those who talked of Kashmir being an integral part of India, now talk in terms of azadi or autonomy”, he pointed out. This was with reference to the recent statement of a senior minister in the Farooq government that “autonomy is no solution... we want its (Kashmir) permanent solution which is possible only when it is solved in accordance with the wishes of the people”. Moulvi Farooq accused
the Centre and the state government of following
“repressive” policies. He pointed out that
innocents were being harassed, Hurriyat leaders arrested
and tortured and property was being damaged in the name
of fighting militancy. |
2 NC
workers, DD employee killed SRINAGAR, Feb 3 — India and Pakistan traded gunfire across the border in the Karnah sector while two ruling National Conference workers and a Doordarshan employee were among eight persons killed in the valley overnight. An official spokesman said today that troops retaliated to "unprovoked Pakistani mortar and artillery fire, which targeted civilian and security force installations in the border area. No one was injured in the shelling which continued since last evening". An employee of Srinagar Doordarshan and a police constable were killed while three others received injuries when the jeep in which they were travelling was caught in a cross fire in Batamaloo last evening. Those killed have been identified as Ghulam Hassan Sofi, an employee of Doordarshan and Constable Mohammad Amin. Three injured were identified as Ghulam Qadir, Altaf Hussain Khan and Constable Mohammad Ramzan. A National Conference activist, Ghulam Mohammad Malla was killed when unidentified militants shot at him at his bakery shop in Chinkral Mohalla, Habbakadal area of Srinagar city this morning. He was shifted to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. One militant and a security force jawan were killed in an encounter at Chontipora village in the Verinag area of Baramulla district. The police here said the house of Salam Bhat was gutted in the exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces. The encounter ensued when hiding militants opened fire on the search party of the ITBP. In another incident an unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Duhom in Kupwara district. One AK rifle was recovered from the site of the encounter. The security forces also seized one pistol, one magazine and 54 rounds in another search operation at Zunireshi village in Kupwara district. One militant was killed in an encounter with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police at Tulmulla village in the Ganderbal area of Srinagar district. The encounter ensued when the hiding militant opened fire on the search party. The police has recovered a wireless set, two AK magazines and two grenades from the slain militant. Meanwhile militants shot at and injured Sonaullah Wani, an NC activist at Hardtoora in the Tangmarg area of Baramulla district today. He has been admitted to a hospital. Militants also fired upon the residence of a Congress worker, Mohammad Afzal, in Sumbal area of Baramulla district last night. The guards returned the fire. However, no one was injured. While reacting to the death of Doordarshan employee, a spokesman of the Doordarshan Employees Association blamed the Border Security Force (BSF) for the firing on the Doordarshan vehicle. "BSF personnel deployed in the Batmaloo area opened fire on the vehicle after stopping it in the area", the spokesman alleged. Demanding a high-level inquiry into the incident, the employees, who held a condolence meeting at the Doordarshan Kendra here, today threatened "direct action" if an impartial inquiry was not ordered immediately by the government, a press note issued after the meeting said. They also demanded that
security for Doordarshan staff be ensured and urged the
authorities to stop what they termed as
"humiliation" of the staff. |
Probe
ordered into Shah's escape SRINAGAR, Feb 3 — The Jammu and Kashmir Police has ordered an inquiry into the escape of a former chief commander of the Jamaitul- Mujahideen, a militant outfit, who gave a slip to the police at the SMHS hospital here yesterday. Ghulam Rasool Shah, alias General Abdullah, escaped while he was being shifted to the SMHS hospital here yesterday under police escort, along with five other detenues from the Srinagar Central Jail. Another detenue, Mohammad Jameel, who had also attempted to escape from the premises of the hospital, was later apprehended in a quick action by the police. The incident took place at about 3.30 p.m. when the two militants gave a slip to the escorting party on the plea of going to the toilet. The Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir Range, Dr Ashok Bhan, has already ordered an inquiry into the incident to be headed by a DIG of police. The inquiry would establish whether it was connivance or a security lapse, Dr Bhan said. The DIG, Mr K. Rajendra, told TNS that he had already submitted a preliminary report to the government. He said the nine police personnel, who had escorted the six detenues to the SMHS hospital, had already been put under suspension. An anonymous caller, claiming to be Jamait-ul's spokesman, told newspaper offices here last evening that Shah from Kupwara was held by security personnel in a Gypsy outside the premises of the hospital and thrashed. The spokesman expressed apprehension about the safety of the militant leader. Shah was detained in June, 1997, and lodged in the Central Jail here. He is reported to be one of the militants whose release was sought by the hijackers of the Indian Airlines plane last month. Tension gripped several
localities of the Capital city today as security forces
launched a massive hunt to trace Shah. |
Pressure
on ultras in valley 'pays off' SRINAGAR, Feb 3 — Even as security agencies here claim to have achieved a "lot of success" against militants in the rural areas during the past two months, efforts are on to keep the militants at bay in urban centres of the Kashmir valley as well. In view of several attacks by foreign militants during this period, security agencies had to take "extra measures" to thwart militants' designs to disrupt Republic Day celebrations, which passed off peacefully here and in other major towns of the valley. "Extra steps were taken to protect areas around Bakshi Stadium, venue of the main Republic Day celebrations here, and other areas of the city and the major towns" to frustrate the designs of the militants, commented a senior police officer. The stepped-up violence by the 'Fidayeen' or "suicide squads" of militants, ranging from an attack on the Badami Bagh Cantonment of the Army and the SOG headquarters here and Army installations at Baramulla and Khannabal between November 3 and January 12, kept the security agencies on tenterhooks. Nearly 40 security force personnel, including several policemen, were killed in these attacks. Commenting on the situation in the Capital city after the Republic Day celebrations, the Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir range, Dr Ashok Bhan, said it was "more because of the pressure on militants, which prevented them from striking rather than their strategy". He held that there was a qualitative improvement in the situation after the Republic Day celebrations. The police and the Army have maintained their dominance in rural areas, said Dr Bhan, adding that a number of operations were conducted by these agencies in the Pulwama district of South Kashmir and Kupwara district in North Kashmir. A large measure of success was achieved with the cooperation of the public in these areas. The Border Security Force (BSF), which has been maintaining vigil in the Capital city, also achieved successes, the IGP said. The stepped-up security measures in Kashmir led to the elimination of three top militants since last month, said Dr Bhan. These included Mohammad Yousuf Chopan, alias Abu Zarar, the most-wanted militant who was killed in an encounter with security forces in Bandipore area of Baramulla district. Shakeel Bangroo, who, according to security agencies, had been "deputed to coordinate with various militant organisations to create trouble" on Republic Day was killed in an encounter with the BSF here on January 23. That was only two days after he landed here from Pakistan via Saudi Arabia, according to a BSF spokesman. Another top militant of Hizbul Mujahideen, Manzoor Ahmad Najar, alias Kaka Moulvi, was reportedly killed in an encounter with security forces in the Karan Nagar area here on Sunday. While security forces
maintained a pressure on the militants in the valley,
they made their presence felt in the Jammu region only
recently. |
Directive
to gear up field agencies JAMMU, Feb 3 — Stressing the need for expeditious revenue realisation all over the state, Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitly yesterday issued instructions for gearing up field agencies in this regard. Addressing a meeting of committee of secretaries here, the Chief Secretary called for launching a vigorous drive by the field agencies to achieve revenue collection in the remaining two months of the current fiscal year. Outstandings, however, small these might be, had to be recovered to pool the resources for undertaking development works and accomplishing various welfare schemes for the masses, he said, while laying thrust on the recovery of sales tax and electricity tariff. The Chief Secretary said the mobilisation of resources was imperative for successful implementation of various programmes. On this front, a lackadaisical attitude at any level would not be tolerated, he said. Urging the officials to take effective measures for clearing the backlog in the wake of employees' strike, he said pending matters should be speedily disposed of. He said the plan performance of key departments would be reviewed in a week's time and called for renewed efforts for achieving financial and physical plan targets.
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JAMMU, Feb 3 (UNI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department will organise a winter carnival at Patnitop, about 100 km from Jammu, on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, from February 4 to 6. Director of Tourism (Jammu region) S.S. Bhalla told UNI here today that the three-day festival would be held to attract tourists to Patnitop, the famous snow-covered resort. He said during the carnival, tourists could enjoy different winter games. According to Mr Bhalla, the department had made special arrangements for the stay of tourists at Patnitop. The Jammu and Kashmir
Tourism Development Corporation had offered 30 per cent
concession on the accommodation for the tourists visiting
Patnitop during the winter season, he said. |
BJP
opposes more autonomy to J&K JAMMU, Feb 3 — The state unit of the BJP has launched a campaign against a demand raised by the National Conference (NC) that greater autonomy should be restored to Jammu and Kashmir. A senior BJP leader from Ladakh, Mr Sonam Paljor, said at a press conference here today that people of Ladakh were opposed to granting greater autonomy to the state. He said the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, was trying to have a “mini country” within India and cautioned the Centre against this “nefarious” move. He said by demanding
greater autonomy for the state, the NC was trying to
widen the wedge among the people of Ladakh, Jammu and
Kashmir. He said instead of autonomy the state should
have regional councils for each of the provinces so that
political power percolated to the people of all the three
regions. He said the people of Ladakh would oppose tooth
and nail any move aimed at granting greater autonomy to
Jammu and Kashmir. |
Autonomy
demand a farce: Mufti JAMMU, Feb 3 — The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, has described the demand of the National Conference (NC) regarding the restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir as a "farce". Mufti Sayeed told mediapersons after the conclusion of the party’s two-day conclave here today that autonomy was not the main issue at present and the NC had no justification for raising this demand. He said the issue of restoration of autonomy should have first been debated among various political parties. The Mufti reiterated his demand for holding talks with leaders of all parties to find a solution to the current turmoil. He agreed that such talks could prove meaningful only when "guns on both sides fell silent". He wanted both the militants and the security forces to end attacks to create an atmosphere for talks. Referring to the NC’s work style the PDP chief alleged that the party had failed on all fronts. He said the NC leaders, including ministers and legislators, lived in security zones and moved about under heavy security cover and thus were miles away from ground realities. He alleged that the NC was "dead wood" and the only job left with its leaders with its leaders was to mint money by the misuse of central funds. He alleged that there was rampant corruption in the state. The misappropriation of funds, meant for development works, had led to a financial crisis in the state. Work on development schemes had also been suspended thereby adding to the woes of the people. In reply to a question the Mufti said fresh Assembly elections would prove to be a meaningless exercise unless all political parties participated in it. He demanded a white paper on the use of funds by the state government. He said the white paper could be issued either by the state government or by the Centre and this would also help people in the state to know the real picture regarding the state of funds in Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti Sayeed said it was
surprising that the Centre had agreed to initiate
political dialogue in the insurgency gripped North-East
region but has adopted a negative approach as far as
Jammu and Kashmir was concerned. He said talks with all
sections of people were necessary not only because of
deterioration in security scenario but also on account of
maladministration, unabashed corruption and nepotism.
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Two ITBP jawans charred to death SRINAGAR, Feb 3 (PTI) — Two Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel were charred to death when a major fire broke out in their barrack, trapping them within, in Anantnag district of South Kashmir last night, an ITBP spokesman said here today. The fire broke out in the barrack in the Kokernag area around 10.30 p.m. yesterday, trapping the two jawans inside, the spokesman told PTI. He said jawans from other barracks inside the camp immediately rushed and put out the flames, but the trapped jawans could not be saved. The fire damaged the
barrack, he said and added a departmental inquiry had
been ordered into the incident to ascertain the exact
cause. |
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