J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hurriyat leader released, 5 shifted
NEW DELHI, April 24 — A senior Hurriyat leader was released tonight from Udhampur Jail in Jammu, while five detained Hurriyat leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front-Yaseen Chairman Yaseen Malik, were today shifted to Tihar Jail here from Jodhpur prison in Rajasthan in an apparent move by the government to release them.

Move for talks fizzles out
SRINAGAR, April 24 — The much-talked about readiness of the Centre to hold dialogue with the Kashmiri separatists leaders seems to be fizzling out. Both the Central government and the separatist conglomerate, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have already clarified their respective stands on the “restoration of peace” in Kashmir.

Gujjar front’s memo to Governor
JAMMU, April 24 — The Gujjar United Front had demanded that a Gujjar Bakerwal regiment be set up in the Army. The front has pleaded that this ethnic group had more population than those in whose community name regiments have been established.

2 killed in bomb explosion
JAMMU, April 24 — Two persons, including a woman, were killed and another was injured in a bomb blast in Harne village in Poonch district yesterday, official sources said here today.A time-device bomb went off in the village yesterday killing one boy on the spot and critically injuring two women, the sources said.

Hurriyat leader released, 5 shifted

NEW DELHI, April 24 (PTI) — A senior Hurriyat leader was released tonight from Udhampur Jail in Jammu, while five detained Hurriyat leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front-Yaseen Chairman Yaseen Malik, were today shifted to Tihar Jail here from Jodhpur prison in Rajasthan in an apparent move by the government to release them.

Senior Hurriyat leader Ghulam Nabi Hubbi of the People’s Conference was released tonight from Udhampur Jail.

The sources said another senior Hurriyat leader Ghulam Nabi Sumzi (Muslim Conference) would be released tomorrow.

Meanwhile, five leaders shifted from Jodhpur Jail are also likely to be released soon as part of the Centre’s efforts for restoration of peace in the troubled state.

Besides Malik, others shifted to Tihar Jail are Abdul Majid Dandoo, Abdul Ahad Waza, Ghulam Mohammed Sankara and Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai, the sources said.

Move for talks fizzles out
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, April 24 — The much-talked about readiness of the Centre to hold dialogue with the Kashmiri separatists leaders seems to be fizzling out. Both the Central government and the separatist conglomerate, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have already clarified their respective stands on the “restoration of peace” in Kashmir.

The offer of dialogue with the separatists was made by the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, three weeks ago when three top APHC leaders were released from the Jodhpur jail. these leaders included the APHC chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the spokesman, Abdul Ghani Bhat and another executive member, Maulana Abbas Ansari. Their release was expected to be followed by the release of other over one and a half dozen APHC leaders and activists from jails outside the state. The top APHC leaders had been detained under the PSA about six months ago after they ran an anti-election campaign in the valley.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, recently also hinted at the release of all other detained APHC leaders and thus remove any possible hurdles in the way of talks with the separatists. Some of his ministerial colleagues, including Education Minister, Mohammad Shafi, have also favoured dialogue with separatists for an end to the turmoil in Kashmir. Such an offer with the separatists comes after a gap of several years. It was the former Prime Minister, Mr Chandra Shekhar, who first offered a dialogue with the separatists early in 1991.

The Hurriyat Conference leaders, after giving initial indications about the softening their stand on the offer of talks have further toughened their stand on the issue. “We are not like Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. The UN resolution on Kashmir is still valid. American President cannot change the history”, said Ali Shah Geelani here. Addressing a gathering on the occasion of the ninth death anniversary of Mohammad Shaban Vakil, editor of A1-Safa, an Urdu daily here yesterday Syed Ali Shah Geelani reiterated that the Central government was “in search of another Sheikh Abdullah”. He ruled out the possibility of any such repetition of history by Hurriyat leaders.

The Congress party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed have been advocating dialogue with the militants. The Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was recently in the valley in the wake of the killings in Anantnag, hailed the government’s offer of dialogue with the separatists. Though late, the senior Congress leader said, the BJP-led NDA alliance had risen to the occasion to bring an end to the killings in Kashmir. He said that this would be the only solution to the day-to-day killings in Kashmir.

The former Union Home Minister, Mr Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who disassociated from the Congress before the Lok Sabha elections of 1999 by constituting his own Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been strong supporter of the dialogue with the militants. Mufti’s daughter, Ms Mehbooba Mufti resigned from the post of the CLP leader in State Assembly and the party on the grounds that the party’s leadership failed to impress upon the government at the Centre to find a peaceful end to the crisis in Kashmir by offering dialogue with the militants.

The Union Home Minister offered talks with the separatists on the condition of the laying down of arms by the militants and within the framework of the Constitution.

The separatists have been demanding tripartite talks — India, Pakistan and the representatives of Kashmir. The APHC maintains that Kashmiris being the “basic party” to the dispute, be included in any talks between India and Pakistan to solve the issue for an amicable end to the crisis, which has claimed over 50,000 lives during the past decade of militancy.

Gujjar front’s memo to Governor
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 24 — The Gujjar United Front had demanded that a Gujjar Bakerwal regiment be set up in the Army. The front has pleaded that this ethnic group had more population than those in whose community name regiments have been established.

This demand was contained in a memorandum submitted by front leaders to the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena here today. The delegation was led by Mr Anwar Chowdhary, President of the front and Mr Shah Mohd, Mr Haroon Chowdhary, Mr Farooq Chowdhary and Mr Shoukat Parvez were present.

The memorandum said the Gujjar and Barkerwals with 20 lakh population deserved reservation in the state legislature, civic bodies, panchayats and all decision making bodies framed by the state government. It alleged that these two ethnic groups had received a raw deal all these years.

It criticised the state autonomy committee having recommended the commission of the provisions of the Constitution under which the Gujjar and Bakerwals have been declared as scheduled tribe. It appealed to the Centre not to accept this recommendation of the autonomy committee. It lambasted the state government for not having given all those concessions these two ethnic groups deserve under Scheduled Tribe status.

The memorandum demanded Gojri language to be included in the eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India and introduction of Gojri news bulletins from All India Radio, New Delhi and Doordarshan Kendra. It has demanded setting up a committee, with two members from Gujjar and Bakerwals communities for probing into issuance of fraudulent Scheduled Tribe certificates.

The memorandum has expressed concern over unfair utilisation of Central funds providing under tribal sub-plan. It has also demanded a white paper by the state government on the utilisation of funds released by the Centre. It has also demanded to end discrimination of Scheduled Tribe employees in recruitment and promotions and urged the government to stop harassment of Gujjars residing on the border.

2 killed in bomb explosion

JAMMU, April 24 (PTI) — Two persons, including a woman, were killed and another was injured in a bomb blast in Harne village in Poonch district yesterday, official sources said here today.A time-device bomb went off in the village yesterday killing one boy on the spot and critically injuring two women, the sources said.

One of the women succumbed to her injuries in the sub-district hospital today, while another continued to be in a critical condition, the sources added.Militants have also kidnapped one person from Sathra village in Mandi tehsil on April 22.

Meanwhile, BSF troops seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition, besides explosives in the Chakli area following an encounter with the militants.The seizures include one rocket launcher, three magazines and 1500 rounds of AK-type, 440 rounds of UMGs ammunition, 16 launcher grenades, eight rockets, 10 plastic explosive rods, six anti-tank rifle grenades, 25 hand grenades, eight IED controllers and nine rocket illuminators.

One BSF jawan was also injured in the encounter.Militants escaped after the encounter, the sources said.

In another incident, some militants set ablaze a house in the Labbar Marmat area of Doda district here yesterday. Meanwhile, Pakistani troops resorted to firing on Indian positions and civilian areas in Karnah, Keran and Titwal sectors in Kupwara district throughout last night, official sources said today.

The Indian troops retaliated to the Pakistani shelling, the sources said.No casualty or damage was reported in the shelling, in which mortars were also used, sources added.