J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Bid to kill three J&K ministers
SRINAGAR, Feb 13 — At least three persons, including two militants, were killed in separate incidents while security forces recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

RSS to campaign against autonomy
JAMMU, Feb 13 — Despite the assertion of Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, that his demand for the restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir was neither an urge for "azadi" nor for the separation of the state from the Indian Union, the RSS has stepped in to launch a peoples’ awareness programme against going back to the 1952 constitutional status of the state.

Poets’ hamlet to come up in Bengal
JAMMU, Feb 13 — Poets from across the world will soon have a forum for their cultural activities in an idyllic poets’ hamlet to be set up in West Bengal by the Poets’ Foundation, a spokesperson for the organisation today said.

Martyrs kin given RSS ‘certificates’
KATHUA, Feb 13 — Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Prof Chaman Lal Gupta honoured the family members of eight Kargil martyrs at a simple function organised by the RSS at town hall today.

J&K highway blocked
JAMMU, Feb 13 — The 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the fourth day today due to snow and landslides even as the Border Road Organisation continued to clear it, official sources said here today.

Bid to kill three J&K ministers
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Feb 13 — At least three persons, including two militants, were killed in separate incidents while security forces recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

One militant, identified as Mohammad Qashif Badana, a hitman of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, was killed in an encounter with a joint operation group of the police and the BSF here last night.

A police spokesman said Badana, alias Chhottu, alias Javed, alias Gasha, resident of Uri, was a released militant who was being used as a hitman by the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen for attacks on police and security force personnel. Acting on specific information, the police and security forces conducted a raid on Dalkawpora in Naidyar area of the capital city last night where the encounter took place. A pistol, two magazines, nine rounds and a hand-grenade were recovered from the slain militant, the spokesman said.

The police said Badana was involved in a large number of killings, including the killing of two police personnel at Kralkhud, an ASI at Abi Guzar, an SPO in HS High Street, Srinagar, and two BSF jawans. He was the brain behind the killing of Ghulam Mohammad Bala, National Conference activist at Chinkral mohalla here recently. He was also instrumental in hurling grenades on Residency Road and at Batamaloo causing injuries to several civilians.

Another militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Daki-Kote Reasi in Udhampur district, the police said.

A security force jawan was killed when militants fired at a search party at Phagla in Poonch district.

The police yesterday foiled an attempt by some militants to rob a businessman carrying cash at Batamaloo bus stand. The businessman, Darshan Lal, from Delhi, was injured in the attack, but was rescued by the police. A sum of Rs 2.15 lakh and a cheque for Rs 20,000 was also recovered. He has been shifted to a hospital.

JAMMU (PTI): Rashtriya Rifles troops foiled a bid by pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen to eliminate three Jammu and Kashmir ministers in Doda district of Jammu division on Saturday, official reports said.

The troops on specific information, detected explosives with 15 kg of RDX fitted with a remote device under a culvert at Siangwari village from where the ministers were to pass to inaugurate a bridge.

The reports said Works Minister Ali Mohmmad Sagar, Minister of State for Works Qamar Ali Akhoon, Minister of State for Power Gulam Hassan Bhat and Inderwal constituency MLA, Qazi-Jalal-ud-Din were to pass from that area to Chatroo to inaugurate the bridge across the Chenab.

Soon after the recovery of IED, the troops sounded an alert and a combing operation was launched to track down the persons responsible for the act.

RSS to campaign against autonomy
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Feb 13 — Despite the assertion of Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, that his demand for the restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir was neither an urge for "azadi" nor for the separation of the state from the Indian Union, the RSS has stepped in to launch a peoples’ awareness programme against going back to the 1952 constitutional status of the state.

In this connection the RSS convened a meeting of various political and social organisations in Jammu recently. A resolution was adopted favouring the formation of a nationalist forum which would campaign for the ouster of Dr Abdullah. The resolution said that Dr Farooq Abdullah’s continuance in office as Chief Minister was "dangerous" for the state and for the security of the nation.

The meeting, which was presided over by Mr Shri Kumar, Sangchalak, RSS was attended by leaders of the Jammu Mukti Morcha, United Gujjar Front, ABVP, State Minority Forum, Bharatiya Vikas Parishad, Hindu Raksha Samiti, BJYM, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, Purav Sainik Parishad and other organisations.

The leaders asserted that all the Central laws extended to Jammu and Kashmir with the approval of the state legislature were beneficial for the people of the state. In this context they cited a former minister, Mr D.D. Thakur, who had headed a committee to examine the issue of autonomy, having noted on the report that "the arms of the clock could not be reversed and most of the Central laws applied to the state were in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir".

The meeting resolved to oppose tooth and nail any move to restore to the state constitutional status that existed till 1952. Referring to the report of the Regional Autonomy Committee it said that "it is a mysterious design for dividing the state and the regions on communal lines". It said that the committee had not been authorised to recommend reconstitution of the regions and hence had violated the terms of reference set for its working.

The resolution said since the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and the National Conference had lost peoples’ support he was playing the autonomy card to win over the masses, which he would not.

Poets’ hamlet to come up in Bengal

JAMMU, Feb 13 (PTI) — Poets from across the world will soon have a forum for their cultural activities in an idyllic poets’ hamlet to be set up in West Bengal by the Poets’ Foundation, a spokesperson for the organisation today said.

"We have decided to set up a village for poets of the country in particular and world in general for interaction, innovation and exchange of culture and languages", General Secretary, Poets Foundation (India), Pradip Kumar Chaudhari told PTI here.

The hamlet will be a centrestage of poetic activities of poets in India, he said, adding that its physical shape is being discussed.

Arjan Dev Majboor of Kashmir donated his cheque for Rs 50,000 for setting up the hamlet at a function attended by Vice-Chancellor of Vishwabharti University, Pabitra Sarkar, West Bengal minister Pratim Chattopadhy, Dr Ismail Zohdi of Iran Chapter, Dr A. Memchoubi of Manipur Chapter and Dr Puranjan Ganguli.

The foundation, has also decided to have branches all over the country and to institute a scholarship for students.

Martyrs kin given RSS ‘certificates’
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA, Feb 13 — Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Prof Chaman Lal Gupta honoured the family members of eight Kargil martyrs at a simple function organised by the RSS at town hall today. A trophy and commemoration letter from the RSS were presented to a member of each martyrs family. Students of various schools presented a cultural programme.

Prof Gupta said that to look after the families of martyrs was the fundamental duty of the nation. He announced several benefits for the martyrs’ families.

J&K highway blocked

JAMMU, Feb 13 (PTI) — The 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the fourth day today due to snow and landslides even as the Border Road Organisation (BRO) continued to clear it, official sources said here today.

The sources said that while the snow has been cleared from the Patnitop stretch, the work was hampered due to fresh snow in Lower Munda-Jawahar tunnel and Banihal-Ramban stretch.

Telecom staff threaten to intensify stir
From Our Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Feb 13 — The strike by telecom employees against police atrocities entered the sixth day on Sunday.

At a general body meeting held on the premises of old exchange at Udhampur today the striking employees regretted delay in bringing to book the erring officials and intensify the stir.