J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Anantnag DIG, DC, SSP transferred
SRINAGAR, April 5 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who visited Anantnag yesterday ordered the transfers of the DIG (Police), the SSP and the Deputy Commissioner of the district in wake of Monday’s police firing on protesters in which seven persons were killed and several others injured.

NHRC should visit Kashmir: Soz
NEW DELHI, April 5 — Former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz today met National Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice J.S. Verma and urged that the commission visit the Kashmir valley at the earliest to bring facts before the people about the recent killings in the area.

Sikh bodies warn against toppling J&K Govt
JAMMU, April 5 — Several Sikh organisations have warned of serious consequences if some central agencies continued to implement the plan of “dislodging” the duly elected government led by Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Screen J&K staff, says BJP leader
JAMMU, April 5 — The state unit of the BJP has demanded screening of employees in the state administration to be followed by a similar exercise in the ruling National Conference and the Council of Ministers so that anti-national elements are weeded out.

Ultra among four killed in J&K
SRINAGAR, April 5 — Three persons, including a militant and an alleged informer of security forces, were killed in separate militancy-related incidents while a BSF jawan was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, an official spokesman said today.

Anantnag DIG, DC, SSP transferred
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, April 5 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who visited Anantnag yesterday ordered the transfers of the DIG (Police), the SSP and the Deputy Commissioner of the district in wake of Monday’s police firing on protesters in which seven persons were killed and several others injured.

Expressing regret at the loss of seven lives and injuries to several others, the Chief Minister said the incident could have been prevented and there was no evidence of firing from the procession, according to an official spokesman here. Mr Abdullah said that action will be taken against the persons responsible for the incident after the judicial inquiry was held into the case. He added that all police personnel deployed at Brakpora had been placed under suspension with immediate effect and departmental action would be initiated against them.

The Chief Minister said the Law Minister, Mr Pyare Lal Handoo, had been sent to Delhi to consult with the Centre for selecting a Supreme Court judge for the probe.

The Chief Minister expressed condolences to the bereaved families and sympathies to the injured who, he said, would be given all necessary medical attention. Ex gratia grant and jobs on compassionate grounds to the next of the kin of deceased would be provided at the earliest, he assured.

Earlier, he visited Anantnag and Brakpora and also visited the site of the incident. He was accompanied by the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly and the Director-General of Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat. They held a meeting with the DIG (Police), Anantnag and the Deputy Commissioner and were given a detailed account of what had happened at Brakpora. These officers told the Chief Minister that the procession, which was 2000-strong was stopped from going further to Anantnag because of the prevailing tension in the town. At this point there was resistance from the processionists, who indulged in stone pelting. They also reported some indication of firing from within the procession. In self-defence, the CRPF and STF (Special Task Force of Police) picket had to open fire to disperse the procession, they said.

While shifting the DIG (Police) the SSP and the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag, the state government has also affected transfers and postings of some other officers.

Mr Asghar Samoon, Administrator, Srinagar Municipality has been posted as Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag in place of Mr Pawan Kotwal who has been shifted as Administrator, Jammu Municipality. Mr K.B. Jandial, Administrator, Jammu Municipality has been shifted back as Director of Information. Ms Shaileen Kahra under orders of posting as Director, Information, has been posted as Additional Secretary in the Home Department. Mr A.K. Angurana, awaiting orders of adjustment, has been posted as Commissioner of Departmental Enquiries relieving Mr A.S. Sidhu of the additional charge.

Mr Javed Makhdoomi, DIG (CID) has been appointed as DIG, at Anantnag while Mr Abdul Rashid has been posted as DIG (CID). Mr Raja Ajaz Ali, DIG, Anantnag-Pulwama has been appointed as DIG (Home Guards) and Mr Farooq Khan, SSP, Anantnag has been appointed as Commandant, 4th Battalion, JKAP. Mr Muneer Khan, SSP, Doda has been appointed as SSP, Anantnag and Mr G.P. Singh has been shifted as SSP, Doda.

NHRC should visit Kashmir: Soz

NEW DELHI, April 5 (UNI) — Former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz today met National Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice J.S. Verma and urged that the commission visit the Kashmir valley at the earliest to bring facts before the people about the recent killings in the area.

The commission’s visit would go a long way in restoring the people’s faith in the system of justice, he remarked.

In a statement here, Mr Soz said that Justice Verma told him that the commission had taken notice of the situation and assured that full-scale investigations would follow in due course of time.

In his memorandum to the NHRC, Mr Soz said the massacre of innocent persons in Chatti Singhpora in Anantnag had been widely condemned and the people of Kashmir observed a two-day bandh to express their deep anguish at the killings.

However, subsequent to the event, the forces killed five persons of Hallan and Mominabad identified as Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Yusuf Malik, Zahoor Ahmed Dalal and two men both named Juma Khan.

While the forces claimed that these five were terrorists involved in the Chatti Singhpora massacre, the people of the entire tehsil have alleged that these were innocent persons picked up by the forces and killed in mysterious circumstances.

On April 3, the forces fired upon a demonstration at Bulbul-Nowgam in Anantnag, killing seven persons and injuring 20. Independent observers had said that the firing was unprovoked and there was no warning before opening fire. “These killings have deepened people’s anger, uncertainty and unrest in Kashmir,’’ Mr Soz said.

He urged the NHRC to visit Chatti Singhpora, Hallan, Mominabad and Brari Aangan as early as possible and identify the culprits for punishment commensurate with the crimes that had been committed.

Sikh bodies warn against toppling J&K Govt
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 5 — Several Sikh organisations have warned of serious consequences if some central agencies continued to implement the plan of “dislodging” the duly elected government led by Dr Farooq Abdullah.

President of State Gurdwara Prabandhak Board S.S. Wazir, said that some central agencies and senior bureaucrats were trying to “destabilise” the Farooq-led government by engineering violence and activities which had serious bearing on the political and security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Wazir said that instead of “planning to pull the rug under the feet of” Dr Abdullah the Centre should have given full financial and security support to him. He said that the Centre was ignorant of the ground realities and by dislodging Dr Abdullah the situation would worsen.

Mr Wazir said the state needed more funds and forces from the Centre and by delaying the flow of funds and by refusing to send additional companies of paramilitary forces the Centre was adding to the difficulties of the people.

He demanded a judicial probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge in the massacre of 35 Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora and in the police firing in Anantnag district in which seven Gujjars were killed.

Mr Jagdev Singh, president, state Akali Dal, opposed the suggestion of the Akali Dal (B) that Article 370, giving special status to the state within the Indian union, be scrapped and the Farooq government be dismissed.

He said that abrogation of Article 370 and dismissal of the Farooq government would be detrimental to the interests of the people of the state.

Mr Gurdev Singh Ishar, president Shiromani Akali Dal, called upon Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir to remain united and vigilant in the current hour of crisis and maintain communal harmony.

Others who warned the central agencies which they said were fomenting mess included representatives from the AISSF and the Sikh Naujawan Sabha. They cautioned the BJP and others against implementing what they called a “hidden” agenda which was bound to create misunderstanding among various communities.

Screen J&K staff, says BJP leader
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 5 — The state unit of the BJP has demanded screening of employees in the state administration to be followed by a similar exercise in the ruling National Conference and the Council of Ministers so that anti-national elements are weeded out.

The President of the BJP, Mr D.K. Kotwal, at a press conference here today, said infiltration of anti-national elements in to the bureaucracy, the ruling National Conference and the police had led to support to militants and pro-Pakistani forces.

Mr Kotwal pointed at the way the National Conference MLAs had behaved in the Assembly while protesting against the killing of seven persons in police firing in Anantnag. He said the entire Assembly was converted into a public platform yesterday where the NC MLAs raised slogans and disrupted proceedings.

He said this indicated either the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, had no control over his partymen or some NC MLAs were lending support to the militants.

Mr Kotwal held the National Conference government responsible for the rise in militancy. He said political leaders were not being provided with a security cover. He said this was why the party’s Vice-President, Molvi Ahmed Din, was kidnapped and killed by the militants.

He said when a BJP team wanted to go to Chatti Singhpora, it was provided with security up to Banihal “from there we travelled to the village without any security”.

He said National Conference members had remained mum over the torture of five Hindus at Chirala village in Tathri area of Doda district recently. The government had not announced ex-gratia in favour of the kin of one of them who was killed. Nor had compensation to the four others been given.

In reply to a question, he said he favoured imposition of Central rule in the state.

Ultra among four killed in J&K

SRINAGAR, April 5 (PTI) —Three persons, including a militant and an alleged informer of security forces, were killed in separate militancy-related incidents while a BSF jawan was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, an official spokesman said today.

A militant identified as Abu Hafiz Jan affiliated to the Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba outfit was killed in an armed clash with security forces at Fogwali-Dhoke in the Budhal sector of Rajouri district in Jammu last night, he said.

An AK assault rifle, a grenade- launcher attachment, two grenades and some ammunition were recovered from the slain militant said to be a Pakistani national, the spokesman added.

An alleged informer of security forces, Abdul Rehman Dar, was shot dead by militants inside his house at Gusoo in the Batpora area of Hazratbal on the outskirts of Srinagar today, the spokesman said.

Militants barged into Dar’s house and fired at him killing him on the spot.

Unidentified militants also gunned down a chowkidar at Palhallan in Pattan area of Baramulla district in North Kashmir last night, the spokesman said.

A BSF jawan, Jagdish Chander of 60 Battalion, was found dead inside his post at Gosia colony in the Bemina area of Srinagar last evening, the spokesman said.

It was not immediately known whether the jawan had committed suicide, he said, adding a post-mortem would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the death.

Admn gears up for Muharram
From Our Correspondent

SRINAGAR, April 5 — About 400 quintals of sugar and 1,200 quintals of firewood, besides adequate quantity of foodgrains, kerosene and LPG will be provided to consumers in the Shia populated areas of the valley in view of the holy month of Muharram beginning on Friday.

This was stated at a high-level meeting to finalise arrangements regarding the Muharram. The meeting was presided over by the Works Minister, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar, here yesterday. It was decided at the meeting that efforts would be made to ensure uninterrupted supply of drinking water and electricity.

The arrangements in Kargil district were also finalised at a joint meeting of the district administration and representatives of the Islamia School and Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust at Kargil on Tuesday.