J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Militants set up ‘parallel govt’
UDHAMPUR, Sept 10 — Mr M.L. Gupta, publicity in charge of the BJP’s Udhampur unit who recently visited some parts of Gool area stated in a press release here that militants had established their district headquarters in the Khari forest of Banihal (Doda) and a divisional command at Lapri (Gool) of their peer Panjal regiment while the Kosuarnag regiments command was at Gulabgarh.

PCC, PDP for talks with militants
SRINAGAR, Sept 10 — The Jammu and Kashmir Congress unit has urged the Centre, Jammu and kashmir Government and militant groups to adopt “flexibility” so that the derailed peace process in the state is again brought on track.

Shiv Sena opposes division of J&K
JAMMU, Sept 10 — The president of State unit of the Shiv Sena, Mr Devinder Krishan Shastri and General Secretary Mr Yash Paul Gupta rejected the division of the State and demanded three separate regional councils for the State.

Avoid census work, 2 unions ask staff
SRINAGAR, Sept 10 — In the wake of threats by militants, two prominent government employee’s unions have asked their staff detailed for census operation not to “endanger” their lives by participating in the exercise scheduled to take place from tomorrow.

Youth killed in Pak firing
JAMMU, Sept 10 — Excitement turned into grief for the people of Suchetgarh village in Samba sector when Deepak Raj of the village was killed in heavy Pakistan firing when they burnt grass to help them keep a watch on a buffalo in labour.

 Militants set up ‘parallel govt’
From Our Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Sept 10 — Mr M.L. Gupta, publicity in charge of the BJP’s Udhampur unit who recently visited some parts of Gool area stated in a press release here that militants had established their district headquarters in the Khari forest of Banihal (Doda) and a divisional command at Lapri (Gool) of their peer Panjal regiment while the Kosuarnag regiments command was at Gulabgarh.

He said they had established a ‘session court’ an ‘interrogation centre’ and other departments in the area, with local Hurriyat leaders working with the militants.

Some members of the Allah party even went around collecting funds for “Azadee”. The administration of Mahore tehsil was being run by some 5000 men and women of the Anjuan Islami of Udhampur district, he said.

This group was assisted by revenue officials and others. In these circumstances of the 10000 Hindu residents of the area moe than 2000 had migrated and others were likely to migrate.

He said as many as 85 per cent of teachers and 75 per cent of government employees in the area were directly or indirectly assisting the militants with even the local police lending them a helping hand and local ruling party leaders actually heading groups of local militants.

Militants have so far killed 52 Hindus in the area while more than 31 militants, both local and foreigners, have been killed in encounters.

Hindu residents of Sangaldan, Chachawah, Moulkote, Dharam, Dedha, Bhimdassa Dalwah, Barakund, Gool, Sawalkote, Chilad, Thuru, Prankote, and Dhakkikote, have demanded the posting of Army and Rashtriya rifle units in the entire area.

PCC, PDP for talks with militants

SRINAGAR, Sept 10 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Congress unit has urged the Centre, Jammu and kashmir Government and militant groups to adopt “flexibility” so that the derailed peace process in the state is again brought on track.

“For reaching an amicable settlement on any issue, parties involved have to be flexible about their pronounced and publlicised position,” Pradesh Congress President Mohammad Safi Qureshi said addressing a day-long political convention of his party workers here yesterday.

He said efforts made with sincerity and pragmatism never fail in reaching a settlement.

Qureshi, a former Governor, said besides talks an effective administration was inevitable for improving the situation in the state and urged party workers to highlight day-to-day problems of the people and try to make an “insensitive” administration of the state responsive.

Meanwhile, the Vice-President of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti, urged the Centre to create an atmosphere conducive for holding a meaningful dialogue with the people of the state, particularly with the alienated sections of society without any further loss of time.

For hammering out a viable solution to the problem the government should create an atmosphere conducive for holding a meaningful dialogue with the people of the state, Mehbooba Mufti said addressing one-day convention of party workers at Baramulla yesterday.

She said political vacuum created in the state increases alienation of the masses and dialogue was the only way to solve the problem.

Millions of the people have been held hostage by the political mess created by the ruling National Conference (NC). She said and appealed to the union government to address the issue for cementing the bonds between people of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country.

Administrative failure of the NC Government and existing financial indiscipline had led to the formation of the People’s Democratic Party with the objective to provide the people of the state a viable alternative to the N C Government which has outlived its life, Mehbooba said.

The convention passed a number of resolutions, including the one urging the Centre to open a channel of communication with people of all sections of society regardless of their political and regional affiliations to evolve an early solution to the Kashmir issue.

Shiv Sena opposes division of J&K
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 10 — The president of State unit of the Shiv Sena, Mr Devinder Krishan Shastri and General Secretary Mr Yash Paul Gupta rejected the division of the State and demanded three separate regional councils for the State.

Talking to reporters, Mr Gupta said “We will demand a separate statehood for Jammu if we are not given our rightful share in governance.” Criticising the working of state-Government he said that “the government has always ignored Jammu people and adopted a stepmotherly treatment with them and now it was a right time when we have to fight for our genuine demands.”

Expressing concern our pitiable condition of Palanwala and Jaurian migrants, he said that the relief announced for border migrants was only a eyewash and nothing more. He appealed to the Government to make better arrangements for border migrants so that they could live a better life.

Elaborating about the arrangements of Chhari Shoba ‘Yatra’ on the occasion of Navaratras which will commence from September 28, he said that all arrangements regarding this are made and party would arrange free langar for yatris during Navaratras in Jammu.

 Avoid census work, 2 unions ask staff

SRINAGAR, Sept 10 (PTI) — In the wake of threats by militants, two prominent government employee’s unions have asked their staff detailed for census operation not to “endanger” their lives by participating in the exercise scheduled to take place from tomorrow.

We will not allow government employees to become “qurbani ka bakra (scapegoat)”, president of the State Employees Conference (sec) Ashraf Qadiri told PTI.

Employees Workers Confederation president Bashir Ahmed said “it is not wise to jump into the field blindfold to face the bullets as the militants have threatened to train their guns on anyone found participating in the census”.

He urged the state government to ensure protection of the 22,000 employees detailed for the job.

Pro-Pakistan militant outfits Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba have warned the state government and employees against conducting census operations in Jammu and Kashmir and threatened to eliminate all those involved in the exercise.

Youth killed in Pak firing
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 10 — Excitement turned into grief for the people of Suchetgarh village in Samba sector when Deepak Raj of the village was killed in heavy Pakistan firing when they burnt grass to help them keep a watch on a buffalo in labour.

As the flames rose Pakistani troops targeted the villagers. Deepak Raj received multiple bullet wounds and succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to the Samba hospital. Two other civilians received minor injuries.

Several houses were hit by bullets smashing doors and windows.

Meanwhile, village defence committee members and the Indian troops foiled militants bid to attack an Army unit in a fort in Rajouri town yesterday.

Reports said a group of militants launched an attack on the Army camp from a distance. As the guns roared village defence committee members opened fire in different directions. There was panic and the Indian troops fired illumination shells leading to the fleeing of militants.