J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

CM firm on autonomy panel report
JAMMU, March 28 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has no plan to withdraw the report of the autonomy committee, which has recommended restoration of pre-1953 constitutional status to the State.

Militant gunned down; 4 held
SRINAGAR, March 28 — The Jammu and Kashmir Special Operations Group today shot dead a heavily-armed foreign mercenary at Kandi in the frontier district of Kupwara and arrested four militants from different parts of the valley.

Allotment of govt land cancelled
JAMMU, March 28 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has ordered cancellation of all illegal allotments of government land to ministers, MLAs and politicians and announced a probe into the matter.

Leader escapes bid on life
BARAMULA (Kashmir), March 28 — Top counter-insurgent leader Ghulam Nabi Mir, alias Mir Niyazi, who unsuccessfully contested last parliamentary elections, escaped an attack by heavily armed militants on his house here last night, official sources said today.

3 killed as truck falls into khud
KATHUA, March 28 — Three persons, including the driver of a truck, were killed after the driver lost control of the vehicle which rolled down a 600 ft gorge near Chapar village this afternoon.

CM firm on autonomy panel report
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 28 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has no plan to withdraw the report of the autonomy committee, which has recommended restoration of pre-1953 constitutional status to the State.

This was stated by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, on the floor of the Assembly during question hour here today. In reply to a question tabled by a member BJP Dr Farooq Abdullah said the National Conference was committed to secure greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. When one BJP member, Mr Ashok Khajuria, wanted to know whether the Chief Minister would withdraw the report in view of countrywide anger and controversy on it, Dr Abdullah shot back "we have no plan to withdraw the report. Securing greater autonomy has been the main point in the election manifesto of the National Conference since 1983 elections."

He said that the autonomy committee report had raised fundamental issues about the constitutional framework of the relations of the State with the Centre. "These issues required a dialogue with the Central Government and the enlightened section of the society within the state and elsewhere in the country."

The BJP members, including Mr Piara Singh and Mr Ashok Khajuria, raised the issue of "land grab" by some NC leaders and their security officers. They waved copies of a local newspaper in which a detailed report on the issue had been published. The speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, refused permission to raise the issue.

Mr Vakil admonished them telling that they had "no discipline." He told the BJP members that they were on their feet even when their legislature party leader was speaking. He suggested to them to "behave properly and as disciplined members of the House."

Before the start of question hour Mir Ghulam Rasool Naz of the NC raised the issue of the killing of three civilians in a bomb explosion in Bandipora yesterday. He said more than 18 civilians were injured. He demanded immediate ex gratia to the kin of those dead and monetary help for the injured.

The government admitted that it had sanctioned establishment of Mata Vaishnov Devi University and a university of agriculture sciences and technology in Jammu. The House was informed the plan for the construction of the campus building for agriculture university was under preparations. And land was being acquired for Mata Vaishnov Devi University.

In reply to a calling attention motion, one tabled by Mr Ali Mohd. Dar of the NC and another by the Congress member, Mr Ashok Sharma, the Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, said that since the border terrain was very difficult it was not possible to seal the LoC. This had facilitated foreign mercenaries to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Lone denied the charge that militancy related violence had stepped up after the National Conference assumed power in 1996. He said recently three youths had been arrested by the police on charge of their direct involvement in carrying out bomb explosions in buses and train.

The issue of torturing five Dalits and two Rajputs, in which one Daya Kishen succumbed to his burn injuries and four others had been wounded, was raised by the BJP members in the Assembly today. The Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, assured the House that he would make a statement shortly. The matter was raised in the Legislative Council yesterday and today.

Informed sources said that six policemen, including Shoukat Ali, selection grade head constable had taken into custody five civilians on the charge of being burglars. In fact they were working with the Army as helpers. They were taken to the near forest belt in village Bioli in Doda district where they were tortured. One died in custody and three others were hospitalised.

According to the official sources, matter had been brought to the notice of the Director General Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta. The police chief had ordered a probe and on the basis of the complaint of the victims six policemen, including special police officers have been arrested.

Militant gunned down; 4 held

SRINAGAR, March 28 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Special Operations Group (SOG) today shot dead a heavily-armed foreign mercenary at Kandi in the frontier district of Kupwara and arrested four militants from different parts of the valley.

A police spokesman said the SOG raided a militant hideout at Kandi and killed a foreign mercenary while two of his accomplices escaped in an injured condition. One AK rifle, its two magazines and some quantity of assorted ammunition were recovered from him.

A number of militant hideouts in the area were destroyed in the operation.

He said the police arrested a militant of the Al-Fateh force, Abdul Qayoom Dar, from Karfali Mohalla in interior Srinagar.

As part of a pro-active drive against militants in Jammu and Kashmir, heavily armed helicopter gunships of the Indian Air Force have been used for the first time in the decade-old militancy to demolish terrorist hideouts in an area not inhabited by civilians.

Such gunships could be used in future too on a selective basis but joint IAF-Army operations of this kind would not be part of a pattern to flush out militants, defence sources said on Tuesday.

Russian-made MI-17 helicopters armed with machineguns and rockets were pressed into operation following a request from the Army to hit militant hideouts in snow-clad mountains in Merwah area of Doda district on Friday.

Allotment of govt land cancelled

JAMMU, March 28 (PTI) — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has ordered cancellation of all illegal allotments of government land to ministers, MLAs and politicians and announced a probe into the matter.

Reacting to the issue raised by Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, (CPM) in the State Assembly yesterday, Dr Farooq said a high-level committee would probe into the allegation and submit its report with regard to the illegal allotment in the current Assembly session. He also ordered cancellation of plots allotted to any politicians or minister with immediate effect.

Tarigami alleged a large chunk of land, including nazool and evacuee property, had been grabbed by politicians and politically influential persons in connivance with the revenue officers.

The working of the Revenue Department came under fire by members from all parties, including the ruling National Conference during the discussion on grant to the Revenue Department.

Leader of the BJP Legislature Party, Mr Shiv Charan Gupta, also raised the issue of irregularities in the Revenue Department.

Najeeb Suharwardhy (NC) alleged thousands of state subject certificates had been issued in favour of non-state subjects. He demanded a probe into the matter.

Leader escapes bid on life

BARAMULA (Kashmir), March 28 (PTI) — Top counter-insurgent leader Ghulam Nabi Mir, alias Mir Niyazi, who unsuccessfully contested last parliamentary elections, escaped an attack by heavily armed militants on his house here last night, official sources said today.

No one was injured in the attack, the sources said adding that Niyazi and his family were safe.

The militants hurled grenades and opened fire at Niyazi’s house at Kaloosa in the Bandipora area of North Kashmir last night, the sources said.

The police guards posted in the house of Niyazi returned the fire and repulsed the militant attack. Security forces immediately rushed to the scene and were making efforts to flush out the militants, they said.

No militant outfit has owned the responsibility of the attack so far.

3 killed as truck falls into khud
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA, March 28 — Three persons, including the driver of a truck, were killed after the driver lost control of the vehicle which rolled down a 600 ft gorge near Chapar village this afternoon.

The truck was on its way from Bani to Basholi. The conductor of the truck, who was seriously injured in the accident, has been taken to the Bani sub-district hospital for treatment.