J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Three Lashkar men, NC leader killed
SRINAGAR, Oct 10 — Three foreign mercenaries associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit and block president of Youth National Conference were among five persons killed, while three militants laid down their arms in the Kashmir valley since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

NC member stages walkout
srinagar, Oct 10 — A ruling National Conference member Mohammad Shafi Bhat staged a walkout in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today when he was repeatedly prevented by Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress members from raising an issue about the arrest of two youths by the Army recently.

3 cops on guard duty kidnapped
JAMMU, Oct 10 — Militants have kidnapped three policemen. They were on security duty at the residence of one National Conference block president at Drabha village in the Surankot area of Poonch district last night.

New plan to ease fiscal crunch: CM
SRINAGAR, Oct 10 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, here today said the financial constraints faced by the state over the past couple of years would come to an end very soon.

Three Lashkar men, NC leader killed

SRINAGAR, Oct 10 (PTI) — Three foreign mercenaries associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit and block president of Youth National Conference were among five persons killed, while three militants laid down their arms in the Kashmir valley since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

Three Lashkar militants were killed in a joint operation carried out by the Army and the police at Pazalpora in the Bandipora area of Baramulla district in North Kashmir last night, he said.

Three houses were also damaged during the gun-battle which broke out when the security forces raided the village to flush out the hiding militants, he said, adding three AK assault rifles were seized from the slain militants, two of whom were identified as Abu Umer and Abu Khara of Pakistan.

Bullet-riddled body of a person, Noor Khan, was found from his village at Dardpora-Bandipora early today. Khan was killed by militants for his alleged links with the security forces, he said.

Unidentified militants shot dead block president of Youth NC, Ghulam Mohammad Mir, in Badgam district of Central Kashmir last evening.

Mir, a resident of Hawoora, was killed by the gunmen who intercepted a passenger bus on way to Badgam from Srinagar. He was dragged out from the vehicle and shot dead, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, three militants identified as Mohammad Rafiq, Ghulam Hassan and Muneer Ahmad surrendered before the police in the Bandipora area last evening. 

NC member stages walkout

srinagar, Oct 10 (uni) — A ruling National Conference member Mohammad Shafi Bhat staged a walkout in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today when he was repeatedly prevented by Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress members from raising an issue about the arrest of two youths by the Army recently.

Mr Bhat, during zero hour, alleged that the Army had arrested Firdous Ahmad and Mukhtar Ahmad from their houses 10 days ago without informing the local police.

When he alleged that the Army was committing atrocities on innocent persons in the name of counter insurgency, bjp and Congress members were up on their feet shouting slogans which were not audible. Later, Mr Bhat walked out of the House in protest.

However, Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil intervened and asked members not to prevent members from raising any issue on any Subject in the House.

“It is the duty of a member to raise the issue in the House about the rights of people, he said and added we should respect the peoples right.’’

The Speaker later allowed Mr Bhat to express his views on the subject when he returned to the House after some time.

Mr Bhat alleged that the Army arrested his relative Firdous Ahmad from Sonawar and Mukhtar Ahmad, relative of another mla G.M. Bhawan from Dalgate without informing the local police.

Mr Bhat said it has been agreed by all security force agencies time and again that they would inform the local police after arresting any person.

He said it was his mistake that he encouraged Firdous Ahmad to surrender before security forces some years ago so that he could lead a normal life.

Mr Shafi alleged that now no Army unit was accepting that they had arrested these two boys.

On this, the Speaker directed the Minister of State for Home to look into the matter and inform Mr Bhat about the whereabouts of the two boys.

He also directed him to arrange a meeting between them and their relatives.

Mr Sultan Pandithpuri of the ruling National Conference alleged that the whereabouts of one Karim-ud-Din arrested by security forces were still not known.

Mr Jalal-ud-Din Qazi (NC) from the Inderwal constituency alleged that security forces deployed in the area had tortured innocent people after a bomb blast.

He said three elderly persons were made to sleep on the road by security forces. Though senior Army officers admitted that the Army had exceeded their limits, no action had so far been taken against the erring officials.

Mr Ghulam Rasool Mir (NC) said no compensation had been paid to the families of two persons who were killed in a cross firing at Arin Bandipora recently.

Mr Vakil also directed the Minister of State for Home to give details about Pakistani shelling on border areas and measures taken for the safety of people.

Intervening during zero hour, Mr Vakil expressed concern over the safety of people living on the border following daily shelling by Pakistani troops.

He directed the minister to give details by tomorrow about the damages suffered in the Pakistani shelling and measures taken by the government for the people who had migrated from border areas.

The Assembly witnessed noisy scenes when Mr Mubarak Gul of the ruling National Conference raised the autonomy issue.

This House had passed a resolution with a majority vote on autonomy in the last session. But, it was very unfortunate that the bjp-led nda Government at the Centre had outrightly rejected it without taking into the consideration the sentiments of the people of this state, he said.

On this the bjp and Congress members, besides the lone Janata Dal (United) member, were on their feet.

However, nothing could be heard in the din as all the bjp, Congress and Janata Dal members besides Mr Gul were speaking all at once.

“We are begging, but we want to restore what has been snatched from us by the Centre’’, Mr Gul said and added: “the Centre should immediately accept our demand of autonomy’’.

“Mr Saifullah Mir (nc)the state government should force the Centre to accept our autonomy demand immediately’’, he said.

He said the National Conference had fought and won the 1996 election on the promise that it would restore autonomy in the state. But the Centre had rejected the autonomy resolution without going through the report.

3 cops on guard duty kidnapped
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 10 — Militants have kidnapped three policemen. They were on security duty at the residence of one National Conference block president at Drabha village in the Surankot area of Poonch district last night.

The police said a group of militants barged into the house of Babu Khan, NC block president and kidnapped Abdul Majid, head constable, Grulam Mohammad and Abdul Rashid (both constables) at gun point.

Since it was late night the security personnel were taken by surprise when militants swooped on them. The three policemen were kidnapped along with their service weapons and ammunition.

New plan to ease fiscal crunch: CM
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 10 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, here today said the financial constraints faced by the state over the past couple of years would come to an end very soon.

Intervening during question hour in the State Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said he had been assured by the Central Government of a “good Plan” this year. He said that the crunch will disappear shortly following the approval of the plan by the Planning Commission. He said the final shape to the plan would be given only after the return of the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, who is scheduled to return to New Delhi on Thursday.

Dr Farooq Abdullah disclosed that the matter would be discussed in the Cabinet meeting to be held here this evening. He was intervening during question hour on a question raised by the BSP member, Mr Som Nath, regarding the creation of new rural development blocks in the Jammu region.

In his written statement, the Minister for Rural Development said that the demands for creation of new blocks have been received from various quarters, including public representatives. He stated that the proposals received so far were still under consideration of the government.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the district administrations had already been told to go ahead with the expenditure of the 75 per cent of the last year plan of Rs 1750 crore. He said that action would be taken against those Deputy Commissioners who had not complied with the instructions in this regard.

The Speaker, Mr A. A. Vakil, took strong note of the delay in supply of reply statements by the General Administration Department to the Assembly Secretariat. In this connection, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil referred to three questions listed for today’s Assembly the replies for which had not been supplied by the departments concerned.

In his remarks, the Speaker, threatened to take action against the officials concerned in case of any delay in the supply of replies of the questions from different departments of the state government.

Steps to check pollution
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 10 — The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board has issued notices to all municipalities and local bodies in the state for taking immediate steps to ensure that municipal wastes are handled and disposed of in a proper manner.

This was stated by the Forest Minister Peerzada Ghulam Ahmed Shah, in a written reply in the State Legislative Assembly here today. He said that various steps were being taken by the board constituted under the Water (Prevention Control of Pollution) and Air Act, 1974. He said positive steps had been taken by the board in reducing the environmental pollution. The question was raised by Ram Chand Bhagat, NC in the House.