J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

JCO, 6 militants among 10 killed
SRINAGAR, May 11 — Three Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, and six militants were among 10 persons killed in the state during the past 24 hours, while the forces seized RDX, rockets and other sophisticated weapons.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah himself supervising selection of policemen at Chatti Singhpora, the scene of March 20 massacre of 35 Sikhs in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on Thursday. Director General of State Police, Gurbachan Jagat (right) is also seen in the picture. — PTI photo

CM supervises police recruitment SRINAGAR, May 11 — Police recruitment were held at Chatti Singhpora today. Kashmiri group urges ceasefire SRINAGAR, May 11 — Expressing readiness to participate in an "informal dialogue", Azam Inquilabi chief of the Qaumi Mushawarati Council today appealed to India and Pakistan and Kashmiris to allow a "ceasefire for six months to create a congenial atmosphere" for the restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

JCO, 6 militants among 10 killed
Tribune News Service and UNI

SRINAGAR, May 11 — Three Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, and six militants were among 10 persons killed in the state during the past 24 hours, while the forces seized RDX, rockets and other sophisticated weapons.

In an encounter between the militants in a village of the Banihal area in Jammu and troops of 12 RR Subedar Rai Ali Khan was killed and sepoy U.P. Bhatia was seriously injured. Bhatia was evacuated to Command Hospital at Udhampur where he died. The militants escaped in dense forests.

The police today claimed to have identified four of the five militants who were killed in the Kupwara sector few days ago. The four youths belonged to the Kangan area of Srinagar district and were identified as Riyaz Ahmed Ganai, Riyaz Ahmed Sheikh, Abdul Majid Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Mir.

The militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Wadipora, Handwara in Kupwara district yesterday. They were Ashiq Chopan and Amin Lone, both local militants. Two AK rifles, six magazines with 55 rounds and 10 hand grenades were seized, a police spokesman said here today.

A militant of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Parray, alias Captain of Lassipora Drang was killed in an encounter with the Jammu and Kashmir police at Batamaloo bus stand yesterday. A pistol at a magazine were seized.

Tariq Ahmad Zargar was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Depha Dhar in Doda district. One AK rifle and other ammunition was seized, the police said.

The police recovered the body of Bashir Ahmad Lone from the Kandi forest area in Kupwara district yesterday. He had been kidnapped from his house by unidentified militants on Tuesday.

Two persons, including a girl, were injured when militants hurled a grenade on a picket of the security forces at Muslimpeer, Sopore in Baramula district today. The grenade targeted at a picket of the security forces missed the intended target and exploded on the road injuring two pedestrians, the police said. The girl, identified as Zarifa, was shifted to the SMHS Hospital, while Khazir Mohammad Dar who received minor injuries was admitted to the subdistrict hospital at Sopore.

CM supervises police recruitment
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 11 — Police recruitment were held at Chatti Singhpora today.

The Chief Minister, Mr Farooq Abdullah, supervised the recuritments, for whom it was fulfilment of commitment made on his last visit after the massacre.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by the police chief, Mr Gurbachan Jagat.

Finance panel visits J&K
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 11 — The eleventh Finance Commission is visiting the State next week to take stock of the fiscal requirements of Jammu and Kashmir and finalise award to offset existing financial problems.

The much awaited visit to the Finance Commission will enable the State authorities to put across demand for greater financial assistance in the shape of award for the next five years. During the two-day stay in the State, the commission will interact with the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah and other senior government functionaries, an official spokesman stated here this evening. However, the exact date of the arrival of the Finance Commission was not known.

This was disclosed at a meeting of the Committee of Secretaries held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Ashok Jaitley here today. This was the first meeting of the Committee of Secretaries after re-opening of offices in the summer capital.

The Chief Secretary stressed the need for accelerating the execution of existing schemes and taking up new works within the available resources. He asked for evolving a mechanism whereunder pending finalisation of state’s annual plan outlay and award of the Eleventh Finance Commission, some priority works could be taken up, especially in areas where working season is limited due to the weather conditions.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had on Monday indicated that the Finance Commission would be visiting the state to take stock of the fiscal situation in the militancy-hit State of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the Centre was aware of the financial conditions of the State and expressed the hope that measures would be taken to ease the situation.

The Committee of Secretaries also discussed optimum utilisation of the centrally sponsored schemes whereunder central funding has been assured. Such works should be taken up at the earliest without waiting for the formal release of funds as it normally takes some time in finalising payments.

As regards the construction of school buildings, it was disclosed that these works are now taken up under Rural Development sector, but the Education Department should prioritise these works.

Kashmiri group urges ceasefire
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 11 — Expressing readiness to participate in an "informal dialogue", Azam Inquilabi chief of the Qaumi Mushawarati Council (QMC) today appealed to India and Pakistan and Kashmiris to allow a "ceasefire for six months to create a congenial atmosphere" for the restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

"There is nothing wrong in informal talks.... if its is a sincere effort", Azam Inquilabi, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Qaumi Mushawarati Council told a press conference here today. He added that some militant organisations had "banned" initiation of a dialogue by any group from Kashmir. Mr Azam Inquilabi added that his Council supported any kind of talks — be it between Kashmiris and India, Kashmiris and Pakistan or between India and Pakistan for resolving the "Kashmir issue" once for all.

Replying questions, Mr Azam Inquilabi, alongwith some other leaders including the former Chief Minister Ghulam Mohammad Shah, said "beginning should be made somewhere, even if the talks are informal." He However, recognised that the militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir were not controlled by any political group.

Stating that a QMC plan for "resolution of the Kashmir problem the QMC chief, laid down a three point programme. First both India and Pakistan announce a simultaneous ceasefire in Kashmir. Second, a powerful Kashmir working group be constituted under the supervision of the UN and the OIC to pave the way for tripartite talks for a judicious, peaceful and honourable solution to the Kashmir problem. Third, political leaders on either side of the line of control be allowed to meet and discuss the issue for a final dialogue between all the three parties — India, Pakistan and the representatives of Kashmir.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Mohammad Shah’s Awami National Conference is also a part of the Qaumi Mushawarati Council.