J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Farooq favours “final assault”
CHANDIGARH, Feb 19 — The problem in Jammu and Kashmir is not of insurgency or a low intensity conflict, but a proxy war or a full war. The question is how do we tackle it?

Tral blast death toll rises to 12
SRINAGAR, Feb 19 — With the death of another CRPF jawan while being shifted to a hospital, the death toll in IED explosion at Tral yesterday, has gone up to 12. The police, however, put the toll at 11 including six CRPF men, four personnel of the Special Task Force (STF) and a civilian driver.

Farooq favours “final assault”
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 19 — The problem in Jammu and Kashmir is not of insurgency or a low intensity conflict, but a proxy war or a full war. The question is how do we tackle it?

“If Pakistan does not listen to vibrations of peace, India should be prepared of a final assault,” was the message given by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah as divergent but convincing opinions were expressed on the issue at a colloquium organised by the Bradlaugh International Centre here this evening.

The participants at the maiden function of the centre were former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the former Director-General of Punjab Police, Mr K.P.S. Gill, and the former Governor of Punjab-cum-President of the Bradlaugh International Centre Management Committee, Lieut-Gen BKN Chhibber (retd).

Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Honorary Secretary of the Centre, in her welcome address traced the history of Bradlaugh Hall in Lahore and the contribution Mr Charles Bradlaugh, a British, had made in favour of India’s freedom struggle during the British empire. She said that though the building plan had been approved, the centre had decided to start its activities by holding the colloquium on the important subject of terrorism by inviting those who had been actually involved in fighting or controlling terrorism.

Dr Farooq Abdullah stressed on the need for religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence between states and the Centre for a vibrant democracy in the country and a firm policy on terrorism, including strengthening of the propaganda machinery and unleashing of powerful and diplomatic channels to garner international support on the issue. He also suggested the political establishment to get itself rid of the two-nation theory.

The former Prime Minister, Mr Indoor Kumar Gujral, while appreciating the setting up of the centre, hoped it would not only have a body (building) but also a soul.

On terrorism he said the gun alone did not constitute terrorism. It also included those who “killed” history or alienated a nation from its history, legacy and heritage. The main strength of India, 50 years after Independence had been its unity in diversity. Terrorism, on the other hand, attacked unity in diversity.

Mr Gujral cautioned against uniformity saying that once uniformity replaced diversity, democracy would not be able to sustain itself. Separatism, he said, was another dangerous phenomenon.

“We must be cautious against those who attack ethos. Irrespective of political factors, we must look for unifying factors and not dividing factors. The best thing for a democracy is governance by persuasion and not by suppression, he emphasised.

Mr KPS Gill said there were as many interpretations of terrorism as were the interpreters. There had been no consensus about the causes of terrorism, but simplistic explanations of a complex problem.

He said in 1993 when the Director-General of Police of various northern Indian states met in Kashmir, the then Security Adviser, General Zakki, put the number of foreign mercenaries in the valley at 300. Thereafter there were massacres in Doda. Subsequently, the Chief Secretary of the state put the number of mercenaries at 1000-1200. Today’s estimate was around 5,000.

“Five thousand men with weapons amount to a division in the Army. They are sitting inside your country. I do not think the response is adequate”.

Well-trained men, motivated or paid to be fundamentalists, a “compromised” human rights lobby and a criminalised administration formed a dangerous mix which was responsible for the flourishing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, observed Mr KPS Gill who wanted the political establishment in the country to rid itself of the two-nation theory at the earliest.

Tral blast death toll rises to 12
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Feb 19 — With the death of another CRPF jawan while being shifted to a hospital, the death toll in IED explosion at Tral yesterday, has gone up to 12. The police, however, put the toll at 11 including six CRPF men, four personnel of the Special Task Force (STF) and a civilian driver.

Wreaths were laid on the bodies of the six killed jawans of 69 battalion of the CRPF here this morning, before being taken to the airport. Later, the bodies were flown from here to their respective native places in Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Those who laid wreaths on the bodies of the jawans included the IG, CRPF, Mr P.C. Joshi.

Six jawans were killed and four others were injured in the powerful IED explosion which hit two vehicles near Kahlil village at Tral on Friday. The condition of those injured was stated to be "serious",. They have been admitted to the 92 Base hospital of the Army here. The CRPF jawans killed included Head Constable Rajsingh Yadav from Mollakalan village in Rewari district of Haryana, Constable M.B. Reddy (AP), L.B. Sundresha (Karnataka). G. Dhanujaya (AP), Bharat Bushan Paroliya (Rajasthan) and Constable D.D. Patel from Madhya Pradesh, who later succumbed to his injuries.

The police confirmed the death of a Constable Abdul Rashid, three Special Police Officers or counter-insurgents (surrendered militants) Abdul Majid Ganai, Ali Mohammad Jan and Fareed Gujjar, and a driver of the Sumo vehicle, Tariq Ahmad Bhat.

Talking to mediapersons after the wreath laying ceremony, the IG, CRPF, Mr P.C. Joshi said that search operations had already been started in Tral area to nab those involved in the explosion. He said that such acts by the militants reflected that they were "disheartened" and trying to create "havoc". They want to get media coverage by indulging in such acts", Mr Joshi said. "The militants are on the run and are doing such acts in desperation", he said.

Meanwhile, two militants were among the four persons killed while the forces captured five militants in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours, a UNI report said.

An official spokesperson said two Army personnel were injured when their vehicle was blown up by militants at Dareshpora Tangmarg in the north Kashmir district of Baramula today.

One of the injured soldiers has been admitted to Army hospital here in a critical condition.

One of the injured was airlifted to Army Base Hospital here.

Pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen outfit claimed responsibility for the blast.

Meanwhile, a police party defused a powerful IED planted by militants at Shopian in Pulwama district yesterday.