J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Panun Kashmir blames NC
JAMMU, June 24 — Panun Kashmir, an organisation of displaced people, blamed National Conference leadership for pursuing "an agenda which is both Pan-Islamic and secessionist" by convening a special session of state legislature for adopting autonomy committee report.

Anti-insurgency drive to continue: Malik
JAMMU, June 24 — The Army chief, Gen V.P. Malik, has said that efforts are afoot to foil Pakistan’s gameplan of pushing a large group of militants into Jammu and Kashmir, especially foreign mercenaries.

10-day NSS camp begins
KATHUA , June 24 — A 10-day training camp of National Service Scheme volunteers of Jammu division began here today. It has been organised by Mr S.P. Sharma, district youth coordinator of the Nehru Yuva Kendra , Kathua.

Panun Kashmir blames NC
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, June 24 — Panun Kashmir, an organisation of displaced people, blamed National Conference leadership for pursuing "an agenda which is both Pan-Islamic and secessionist" by convening a special session of state legislature for adopting autonomy committee report.

Addressing a press conference Dr Ajay Ghrungoo and Dr M.K. Tong, senior leaders of Panun Kashmir, said here yesterday that the Government of India, "which had hoped to defeat the separatist politics by bringing the National Conference back to power has found itself pushed to an embarrassing position" by the stand taken by the ruling party on the autonomy issue." They were critical of the role of Left parties in the country by supporting the greater autonomy and said that the Indian Leftists had not "yet given up pro-imperialist leaning and had chosen to be willing tools for Anglo-US and the fundamentalist manoeuvres."

The leaders accused the BJP-led alliance at the Centre of following the path of its predecessors by allowing the National Conference to go ahead with its autonomy agenda. It said that the Centre should realise that the National Conference was following the same agenda which the Muslim League pursued before the partition of the country. They ridiculed National Conference claim that autonomy would strengthen national integrity and communal harmony. "How can a political approach which seeks devolution of political power on the basis of Muslim majority character of the state strengthen secularism and unity of the country?" they asked.

The Panun Kashmir leaders warned the Government of India of the consequences of ignoring the minorities in the State and renewed their demand that separate homeland be carved within the Kashmir valley for seven lakh Pandits and other nationalist forces where they could live honourably.

Anti-insurgency drive to continue: Malik
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, June 24 — The Army chief, Gen V.P. Malik, has said that efforts are afoot to foil Pakistan’s gameplan of pushing a large group of militants into Jammu and Kashmir, especially foreign mercenaries.

After a two-day visit to the Jammu sector, which took him to the border areas of Poonch and Rajouri, General Malik told newsmen here today that infiltration and Pak shelling on the LoC were linked.

He explained that Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing on the Indian border villages and posts in Jammu and Kashmir to carve out infiltration routes for the militants. He said the jawans and Army officers had thwarted major infiltration bids.

He said militants had stepped up their activities in recent months. This, he added, was a proof of their desperation and they were trying to attack security camps suffering casualties in the process.

In reply to a question, General Malik said the Union Home Ministry was "doing something" about the fencing of the international border (IB) extending from Kathua to Akhnoor. He said once the IB was fenced, it would reduce the level of infiltration and arms smuggling from across the border.

The Army chief said Pakistan was trying to push more groups of militants into Jammu and Kashmir after Indian troops killed a large number of foreign mercenaries in recent operations. He said the anti-insurgency operations would continue till the militants either surrendered or fled to Pakistan.

In reply to another question, he said there was no link between the Kargil conflict and infiltration from other sectors. "In Kargil, it was Pakistani invasion" and in the rest of the areas it is a "proxy war", he added.

General Malik was accompanied by an Army commander, Lt-Gen H.M. Khanna, Corps Commander, Lt-Gen A.S. Khanna, and several other senior officers, on his visit to Poonch and Rajouri. At Rajouri he was briefed by Major-Gen Richard Khare about the latest security situation in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

General Malik appreciated the role of the Romeo Force and the Ace of Spades Division of the Army in containing the activities of the Pakistan-trained militants by eliminating over 110 dreaded militants during the past three months and by destroying several hide-outs from where a large quantity of arms and ammunition had been seized. He exhorted all ranks of the Army to remain ready to face any challenge from Pakistan.

The Army chief told newsmen that as a result of the operations launched by troops, militants in Poonch and Rajouri were on the run and found it hard to sustain themselves.

He also visited the Poonch and Surankot garrisons where he urged the soldiers and officers to maintain utmost vigil on the border to defeat Pakistan’s gameplans of destabilising peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

10-day NSS camp begins
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA , June 24 — A 10-day training camp of National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers of Jammu division began here today. It has been organised by Mr S.P. Sharma, district youth coordinator of the Nehru Yuva Kendra , Kathua.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr U.C. Dingra, inaugurated the camp.

As many as 53 volunteers are participating in it. These volunteers have been drawn from Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu and Kathua districts of Jammu division.

Mr Sharma gave details of the activities of the camp and elaborated the objects of Nehru Yuva Kendra’s schemes. During the training camp, group discussions, lectures, citizens’ participation , debates, cultural programmes would be held.

Free board and lodging facilities are being provided to the trainees during the camp.