J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Pak detains 3 fundamentalists
JAMMU, Oct 14 — The Pakistan army is said to have kept three senior fundamentalist leaders in confinement following armed clashes between two groups of militants at three places across the border.

Bridge over Indus key to end smuggling
Somewhere along the Sino- Indian border, Oct 14 — It was one of the most vital bridges on the Indus and little has been done to re-construct it nearly 34 years after it was dismantled by the Indian Army following "objections" from China.

Opposition walks out of J & K Assembly 
SRINAGAR, Oct 14 — Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today as two Opposition members belonging to the BSP and the PDP staged a walk-out in protest against government’s failure in streamlining the education system.

Demonstration by ABVP activists 
JAMMU, Oct 14 — Activists of the state unit of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad today staged a demonstration in protest against the National Conference government. Addressing a rally, Mr Anil Kothari said Pakistan would be given a befitting reply if it tried to disintegrate India by continuing its proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir, which was an inseparable part of India.

Pak detains 3 fundamentalists
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 14 — The Pakistan army is said to have kept three senior fundamentalist leaders in confinement following armed clashes between two groups of militants at three places across the border.

Reports reaching here said Masood Sarfaraz Khan, former chief of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Pir Panjal regiment in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Shamsher Khan, who replaced Masood, and one other were kept in confinement and arms training camps at Kotli, Nakyal and Khuratse were cordoned off by Pakistani troops. Searches were carried out and those rebels who had opened fire on the rival groups, within seven militants and injuring 20 others, were disarmed.

Senior army officers warned the militants that if such clashes were repeated all of them would be disarmed and thrown out of the camps.

In the meantime, Maulana Azhar Masood, Chief of Jash-e-Mohammad, has remained in contact with the ISI for stepping up recruitment drive not only in occupied Kashmir but in Jammu and Kashmir through his supporters. His associates are being assisted by the ISI in identifying new infiltration routes.

Scores of civilians who had, in recent weeks, crossed over to Pakistan from Poonch, Rajouri and Kupwara sectors are being approached by the ISI for escorting militants to the Indian side of the LoC.

In recent weeks, more than 300 militants have been enrolled as “Fidayeens”, members of suicide squads, and they have been attached with the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jash-e-Mohammad.

Reports said stress was being laid to push all “Fidayeens” and dreaded militants across the border before the routes were buried under snow. Pakistani agencies want to keep machine power intact so that during the winter, the rebels did not face shortage of ammunition.

Bridge over Indus key to end smuggling
From Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

Somewhere along the Sino- Indian border, Oct 14 — It was one of the most vital bridges on the Indus and little has been done to re-construct it nearly 34 years after it was dismantled by the Indian Army following "objections" from China.

The nearly 100-foot-long bridge was in use prior to the 1962 war and was the shortest route to many of the forward posts in this area. After the conflict, when the issue of sorting out matters of military and strategic importance came up for discussion between the two countries, this bridge figured prominently. Despite resistance by the Indian side, the Chinese remained firm on dismantling it and they succeeded in getting their way in due course.

On a tour to the forward positions manned by the valiant men of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Leh district, this correspondent was shown the remnants of the bridge, the construction of which figures prominently on measures being initiated by the force to curb trans-border smuggling in the Dungti-Demchok axis.

According to ITBP officials, as many as two new posts are being set up in this area which would not only tackle smugglers but foil attempts of infiltration by anti -social elements. A large number of nomads, locally known as Ribu's and Tibetan Refugees (TRs), camp in the area along the river and tend to large herds of sheep, yaks and horses which are traded among the local populace.

Although it a visual delight to behold thousands of sheep, yaks and horses grazing on the river beds of the Indus, the ever increasing numbers spell more hard work, vigilance and surprise checks for the controlling agency, which in this case is the ITBP.

Added to their responsibility is confiscating goods on which no customs duty has been paid. Under powers delegated to them by the Customs Department, large consignments are confiscated by the force and forwarded to the local customs office at Leh every year

Over the years, due to reported laxity and the multiplicity of agencies operating in the area, smuggling is said to be on the rise, a fact vehemently denied by all concerned, Recently, the ITBP authorities received a letter from the authorities asking it to tighten vigil and apprehend the culprits.

The force is leaving no stone upturned to prove its supremacy in this field. It is in this context that additional personnel are being deployed at the new posts and the traditional route, said to be used by the smugglers. Besides this, the men from these posts would carry out reconnaissance of their area thereby " dominating it", officials revealed.

The items smuggled include Chinese-made jackets, sabre shoes, electronic items, tea flasks, shoes and other sundry items. These are freely available with the TRs and with villagers along the border at nominal cost and the largest clientele, ironically, are men of the ITBP and the Army units stationed nearby.

Apart from trans-border activity, ITBP officers are quick to point out the strategic importance of the bridge. This would not only shorten the distance between Chushul and Demchok by more than 45 - 50 km, but would also be of great help in their present offensive.

Pointing out to the tracks running beneath the hills along the Indus, they said they were being used by the Ribu's for their activities. When the river recedes, it is possible to use wide tracts on the river bed for patrolling purposes but at present it is out of question. The reason : they have to use the present operational track, a detour of nearly 20 - 25 km even if any activity is spotted across the river.

An officer revealed that during winters, when the river freezes, they are able to ply light and heavy vehicles for patrolling purposes and checking any illegal movement or activity. But during summers, it is almost impossible because by the time they reach the other side, the quarry has fled leaving no trace.

With a view to curbing this, a customs check point has been set up a couple of months ago near the bridge at Loma bend, nearly 15 km from Dungti, to check smuggling. The personnel at this post check all vehicles for contraband.

Explaining the importance of this bridge, officials reveal that if this bridge was damaged or washed away by the river, the posts on the other side would be completely cut off. "Therefore, we have urged the authorities to take up the issue of having an alternative approach so that we are not left high and dry in the case of any eventuality," an official stressed.

However, everybody is optimistic that after their view point was agreed to by the Army authorities, the proposal would be cleared.

Opposition walks out of J & K Assembly 
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 14 — Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today as two Opposition members belonging to the BSP and the PDP staged a walk-out in protest against government’s failure in streamlining the education system.

Mr Harsh Dev Singh of the Panthers Party also walked out from the House during zero hour in protest against the “failure of the government in fulfilling its commitments” on the plea of financial constraints.

Mr Som Nath, BSP, staged a walk-out as he was not allowed by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Ghulam Hyder Malik, to speak on problems being faced by students at the school level.

The Education Minister, Mr Mohammad Shafi was replying to two separate questions raised by Mohammad Maqbool Lone and Mohammed Sayeed Akhoon, both from the ruling National Conference.

The Panthers Party member, Mr Harsh Dev Singh, also staged a walkout in protest against state government’s inability to fulfil its commitments due to financial constraints faced during the past four years.

Earlier, replying to a question raised by Mr Akhoon that 145 schools in Srinagar had been closed down in Srinagar district due to militancy, the Education Minister said that there was no need to close down any school.

During the ninth Plan period the policy of the Department had been to strengthen the existing schools instead of laying stress on expansion of educational facilities, he added.

No high school has been upgraded to the higher secondary level during the past three years. The minister said criterion for implementing Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme was based on vacancy in the primary and middle schools. He added that lack of teachers in secondary schools level was made up by engaging post-graduate students on contract basis.

Demonstration by ABVP activists 
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 14 — Activists of the state unit of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today staged a demonstration in protest against the National Conference government.

Addressing a rally, Mr Anil Kothari said Pakistan would be given a befitting reply if it tried to disintegrate India by continuing its proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir, which was an inseparable part of India.

He said the accession of the state with India was a reality and any attempt by Pakistan to reverse the clock would be opposed.

Referring to the education scene in the country, he said it was the most neglected sector.

He said only 6 per cent in the age group of 18-23 went for higher education.

The secretary of the ABVP, Mr Romesh Pappa, said since the National Conference regained power, the security scenario had worsened in the state. He held the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah responsible for taking things lightly and added that while militants were on the offensive, Dr Abdullah was touring the country telling people that the greater autonomy to the state alone would restore peace and normalcy.