J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Two women sitting in front of their house damaged in an encounter between militants and security forces at Seen Tral, in Pulwama district on Sunday. — photo by Amin War

18 militants among 24 killed in valley
SRINAGAR, April 10 — Eighteen militants and five security personnel were among 24 persons killed and eight others injured in the stepped up violence, while the police seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition including 50 kg RDX, mortars and mines in the state during the past 24 hours.

White Paper on J&K economy tabled
JAMMU, April 10 — With a view to clearing misunderstandings created by some Central agencies and critics of the state government, a White Paper on the financial position was tabled in the state Assembly here today in which the state authorities have given detailed figures on the reasons for the ongoing cash crunch.

P.N. Bhat memorial awards presented
JAMMU, April 10 — The 7th Prem Nath Bhat memorial awards for amateur journalists 2000 were presented to five persons here yesterday.

18 militants among 24 killed in valley

SRINAGAR, April 10 (UNI) — Eighteen militants and five security personnel were among 24 persons killed and eight others injured in the stepped up violence, while the police seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition including 50 kg RDX, mortars and mines in the state during the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked mortar and artillery shelling from across the border on Indian positions targeting civilian and security forces installations in the Keran and Karnah sectors.

A report from Baramula said some of the shells fell in the Karnah main market around 11.30 a.m. today causing panic among the residents and the shopkeepers who closed their shops. However, there were no reports of any casualties or damage to the property.

More than 100 persons, including security personnel, have lost their lives and scores were injured in the Pakistani shelling in the past three years.

An official spokesman said the special operation group of Jammu and Kashmir police and the security forces achieved a major break -through when they recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition in the woods of Kalaban and Shindara tops last evening.

He said the recoveries included 32 mortar bombs, 47 rockets, two grenade launchers, 69 grenades, 50 kg RDX, two anti-personnel mines, three improvised explosive devices and two flame throwers besides two Sintex tanks and 20 bags.

This was the second major recovery in the state during the past one week. Earlier the security forces had recovered missiles with launchers and other sophisticated weapons.

The security forces today cordoned off Nathapora Bandipora village in Baramula in the wee hours to nab militants and their sympathisers.

When the troops approached one of the houses they were fired at by militants with automatic weapons from different directions. The troops, he said,returned the fire and in the clash four militants believed to be foreigners were killed.

The spokesman said the body of a bank employee Abdul Khaliq Rather, a resident of Ajas, was recovered near Rakhi Asham last evening.He was kidnapped by unidentified militants last week.

The security forces killed two Pakistani intruders immediately after they crossed over to this side of the border at Kamoree nursery last evening.

One revolver, four grenades,four packets of explosive and some Indian currency were recovered from the slain intruders.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said troops, acting on a specific information, cordoned off some villages in Rafiabad to nab militants and their sympathisers.When house-to-house searches were in progress militants hiding there fired upon troops with automatic weapons, the troops retaliated and in the fierce clash five militants, believed to be foreigners,were killed. Five AK rifles, one grenade launcher and one wireless set were seized.

White Paper on J&K economy tabled
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 10 — With a view to clearing misunderstandings created by some Central agencies and critics of the state government, a White Paper on the financial position was tabled in the state Assembly here today in which the state authorities have given detailed figures on the reasons for the ongoing cash crunch.

The White Paper has explained that despite increase in tax and non-tax revenue the overall budgetary deficit could not be narrowed down owing to sharp rise in the wage of the employees and the heavy expenditure on purchase of power from the northern grid. In addition, to the refusal of the Centre to waive off the Rs 1275 crore loan had created a situation in which the state had to spend over Rs 600 crore annually on servicing the loan.

It has stated that as a result of total dependence on bank overdraft and loans from the LIC and NABARD, the state had fallen in a debt trap. It said that the bank overdraft has touched Rs 950 crore in 1999-2000 against Rs 241.38 crore in 1990-91 when the National Conference government had resigned.

Though the state tax and non-tax collections had increased from Rs 451 crore in 1995-96 to Rs 617 crore in 1998-99, it could not help the state to meet a major shortfall in funds when the non-plan salaries had touched over Rs 2391 crore during the current year and Rs 1105 crore in 1995-96. Similarly, subsidy on power had shot up from Rs 290 crore in 1995-96 to Rs 671 crore during the current financial year and the security-related expenses, which were just Rs 2.12 crore in 1989-90 to Rs 617 crore in 1999-2000. The Centre had yet to reimburse fully the security-related expenses.

The report said that by the end of 1997-98 the security-related expenses had touched Rs 1658.58 crore and Rs 774 crore were the arrears which the Centre had not yet been released. The mounting debt servicing burden had reduced the availability of resources for the state and had the Centre given retrospective effect to 10 per cent loan and 90 per cent grant, things could have improved. The total debt service burden, which accounted for Rs 297.59 crore in 1989-90, has gone up to Rs 1078.68 crore in 1999-2000.

In other words, the state government has expressed its helplessness and has indicated that release of additional funds from the Centre and waiving off Rs 1275 crore loan alone could bring Jammu and Kashmir out of the debt trap.

In view of militancy and other allied problems there was a shortfall in tax revenues as against the attainable levels despite the fact that tax collections have increased because of the efforts of the state government. However, these efforts are expected to bear results during the current financial year, when the actual tax collections may be of the order of Rs 627 crore against the attainable level, as per the average growth rate of Rs 548 crore.

The White Paper has given details of various development projects completed by the government and those under completion. It has explained the enormous amount it had to spend on rebuilding bridges and school buildings that had been damaged by the militants.

The state government has made it clear that under the special category status the state enjoyed, it deserved further help from the Centre to resolve the cash crunch, which had hampered the pace of development works.

P.N. Bhat memorial awards presented
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, April 10 — The 7th Prem Nath Bhat memorial awards for amateur journalists 2000 were presented to five persons here yesterday.

The Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, gave away the awards to Dr Ashok Jerath, Director, Radio Kashmir, Jammu; Dr K.L. Choudhry, Major-Gen J.S. Jamwal (retd), Mr Onkar Nath Bhat Kothari and Mr Triloki Nath Dhar.

Mr P.L. Handoo, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs; Mr Ghulam Hassan Bhat, Minister of State for Power, Mr Safdar Ali Beg and Mr B.L. Bhat (both legislators), besides prominent citizens and journalists, were present at the function jointly organised by the Pt Prem Nath Memorial Trust and Jammu Panorama.

Paying rich tributes to Mr Bhat, the Speaker said he had laid down his life for cherished ideals of brotherhood, love, compassion and communal harmony.