J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Fernandes allays fears on Point 5353
JAMMU, Sept 4 — The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, today paid an unscheduled visit to border areas of Akhnoor, Rajouri and Poonch to assess the situation on the Line of Control.

Lieutenant killed in encounter
SRINAGAR, Sept 4 — An Army officer and two militants were among four persons killed in the Kashmir valley since last evening.

Hizb criticises Qureshi’s remarks
SRINAGAR, Sept 4 — Pro-Pakistan militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has criticised the statement of the chairman of People’s Political Front (PPF) suggesting creation of a semi-sovereign Kashmir jointly controlled by India and Pakistan as the only practicable solution to the dispute.

Govt strengthens PDS in J&K
SRINAGAR, Sept 4 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up 565 new sales outlets during the past four years to strengthen the public distribution system (PDS) in the state.

Fernandes allays fears on Point 5353
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 4 — The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, today paid an unscheduled visit to border areas of Akhnoor, Rajouri and Poonch to assess the situation on the Line of Control.

In the Pakistani shelling and firing more than six Army personnel, two BSF jawans and four civilians were killed. More than a score of civilian houses, sheds and bins were damaged in the firing.

On his arrival in the Pallanwala area of the Akhnoor sector, which has witnessed enormous damage owing to heavy mortar shelling by the Pakistani troops, Mr Fernandes was briefed by Lt Gen H.M. Khanna, the Corps Commander, Lt Gen A.S. Khanna and other senior officers on the latest situation on the LoC.

The Defence Minister was given details of the incidents and was told that during the past one fortnight Pakistani troops fired more than 1800 mortar shells besides 50,000 MMG and LMG rounds on border villages in Pallanwala and its adjoining areas.

He was informed that the Indian troops retaliated effectively and smashed several Pakistani bunkers. Mr Fernandes interacted with jawans and had tea with them. Later he flew to forward areas in Poonch and Rajouri. At Rajouri Maj Gen Richard Khare gave an account of successes of the Army’s Romeo Force in eliminating more than 120 dreaded militants during the past six months in the Rajouri belt.

Addressing troops and officers at three places Mr Fernandes called for strict vigil on the LoC to foil the infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir.

Later talking to newsmen Mr Fernandes said so long Pakistani troops continued to resort to shelling and firing on “our side” there was question of resuming talks with Islamabad. If Pakistan wanted talks to be resumed it should stop border firing.

Referring to his yesterday’s visit to Kargil he said there was no need for any concern over Point 5353 adding that sometime back the peak was with Pakistani troops.

He said the hospital at Pratappur was being updated so that wounded soldiers from Siachen and Kargil got top class treatment.

In reply to a question he said efforts for resuming talks with separatists were on and he did not want to elaborate as Pakistan may sabotage the peace process as it did last time when the Hizbul Mujahideen called off its ceasefire.

He said four committees, task force border management, internal security and defence management, had been set up to discuss in detail the Kargil conflict and recommend measures for foiling repeat of such action by Pakistani troops.

He said talks regarding normalising Sino-Indian relations by resolving the border dispute were on. Experts from the two sides were engaged in resolving the problem and the talks were progressing.

The Defence Minister blamed Pakistan for disrespecting the bodies of slain soldiers. He said the Indian troops had given due respect to the bodies of Pakistani troops and felt hurt over the way the Pakistani troops had handled a body of an Indian at Suchetgarh in the R.S. Pora sector recently.

Lieutenant killed in encounter

SRINAGAR, Sept 4 (UNI, PTI) — An Army officer and two militants were among four persons killed in the Kashmir valley since last evening.

A report from Baramula said militants fired on a patrolling party in Dardpora-Kralpora in Kupwara district last night.

The troops retaliated and in the ensuing encounter Lieutenant Umeed Singh was killed. The militants managed to escape under cover of darkness, it said.

A massive manhunt had been launched to trace the militants responsible for the attack. However, no arrests had been made so far, the report added.

An official spokesman said the security forces killed two militants in an encounter during a search operation at Sogam Kokernag in south Kashmir last evening. Two AK rifles, three magazines and one wireless set were seized from the slain militants.

He said unidentified militants shot dead retired revenue official Mohammad Yousuf Dar at Kulgam last evening. The police had arrested three persons allegedly involved in the crime, he said. 

Meanwhile, a Defence Ministry release in New Delhi said a large quantity of arms and ammunition were seized by the troops in an intense search operation at Krishna Ghati in Poonch district today.

Based on a specific information, the troops launched a well-planned search operation in the area of Pir Marghot Ghazi and seized 36 RPG rockets, one 60 mm mortar, 12 sealed boxes of AK- 47 ammunition containing 8,400 rounds and 5 kg of explosives, it said.

In yet another search operation in the same sector a large quantity of hand grenades, RPG rockets, pencil cells, ration items and Army pattern clothing had also been seized, the release added.

Hizb criticises Qureshi’s remarks

SRINAGAR, Sept 4 (PTI) — Pro-Pakistan militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has criticised the statement of the chairman of People’s Political Front (PPF) suggesting creation of a semi-sovereign Kashmir jointly controlled by India and Pakistan as the only practicable solution to the dispute.

Kashmir based “official” spokesman for the Hizbul Mujahideen, Mujahid Masood, asked Fazal Haq Qureshi, who served as a nominee of the outfit during the ceasefire negotiations, not to make such statements.

“We have given enough concessions to India by agreeing to tripartite solution and there is no scope for any further compromise”, Masood said in a statement released to local newspapers last evening.

“Now all of us should accept only that solution which is agreed through the tripartite negotiations”, the spokesman said.

Qureshi had recently told a website that he planned to launch a peace offensive in the Kashmir valley. He had said he had proposed a political model to the Centre, and if allowed would travel to Pakistan to discuss his plan.

“The model envisages a semi-sovereign status for Jammu and Kashmir and joint control exercised by both India and Pakistan,” he said. 

Govt strengthens PDS in J&K
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 4 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up 565 new sales outlets during the past four years to strengthen the public distribution system (PDS) in the state.

With this the number of such outlets has increased to about 3600 through which foodgrains were supplied.

To make the system more effective in the state, the government has also purchased 49 mobile vans and trucks. This has helped in timely supply or rations to the consumers in remote areas. This year 25 more vans and trucks are being purchased which will increase the carrying capacity to another two tonnes. An allocation of Rs 2 lakh has already been made by the Centre.

The government has also launched a new scheme Annapurna, this year under which the senior citizens, above 65 years, who are poor but not covered under the National Old Age Pension Scheme, will be covered. They will be given 10 kg of foodgrains per month free of cost under this scheme. Presently such beneficiaries are being identified.

The Food and Supplies Department is also providing 20 kg of foodgrains on subsidised rates to each poor family every month under targeted public distribution system. Under the scheme, 6.18 lakh families comprising 34 lakh persons are benefited in the state.

According to the official spokesman, the government has also enhanced the monthly allocation of sugar from 400 gm per head to 600 gm per head. It has also sanctioned additional supply of 1 kg of sugar to each ration card holder for 10 festivals.

To increase the LPG cylinders bottling capacity in the state, a Rs 38-crore bottling plant of oil companies at Bari Brahmna is nearing completion. Another bottling plant is also coming up at Leh at a cost of Rs 40 crore.