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| Wednesday, October 25, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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3 ultras killed in encounters NC divided over Assembly poll issue Split averted in Hizbul Mujahideen Army Chief
visits forward areas No build up of Pak troops :Farooq DGP recruits
106 constables Fire destroys
30 shops |
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Advani’s remarks on
trifurcation flayed Bunker construction
in full swing Hurriyat says no
to panchayat poll
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3 ultras killed in encounters JAMMU, Oct 24 (PTI) — Three militants, including two belonging to the Lashker-e-Toiba outfit, were killed in two encounters in Rajouri and Kathua districts of Jammu division since yesterday, an official spokesman said here today. On specific information about the presence of militants, troops launched an operation in Kalai village in Rajouri district yesterday. While the troops were searching the village, the militants opened fire at them. In the ensuing gunbattle, two militants were killed, the spokesman said. Two AK rifles, 114 rounds of ammunition and five hand grenades had been recovered from them, he said. In the other encounter, security forces killed one militant near Mawa village in Udhampur district. One AK-56 rifle with two magazines and 42 rounds, one IED with two remote-control devices, four detonators and a fuse wire were recovered from the slain militant. Srinagar: Alarmed at the increase in the number of improvised explosive device (IED) explosions, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has requisitioned high-tech equipment and communication gadgets to counter militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior CRPF officer said on Tuesday. The casualties of security forces shot up this year because of more and more use of IEDs by militants which proved fatal to the security forces, CRPF Inspector-General P.C. Joshi told reporters here. He said the CRPF and local police had lost 87 gallant officers and other ranks, including 16 CRPF personnel, 48 policemen and 23 special police officers while eliminating 681 militants, including 229 foreign militants, in the Kashmir valley alone till the middle of the current month. The scenario in the entire state during the period was alomst the same as against 1,123 militants killed, 285 security personnel had lost their lives, Mr Joshi said. The casualties on our side mostly resulted in the IED explosions triggered by the militants as we lacked proper communication facilities like jammers, he said. Mr Joshi said he had taken up the matter with the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, during the unified headquarters meeting held here recently and was expecting the first batch of jammers shortly. |
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NC divided over Assembly poll issue JAMMU, Oct 24 — While the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has ruled out the possibility of holding mid-term Assembly poll in the Jammu and Kashmir, many National Conference leaders included on cashing on the schism in the main Opposition parties. Dr Abdullah told newsmen at Udhampur on Monday that the Assembly elections in the state would be held as per schedule in October 2002. He said there was no need for holding a snap poll. He added that the government was determined to hold the panchayat elections in January. National Conference leaders have discussed the question of holding Assembly poll a year ahead of the schedule at various levels. The opinion was, however, divided. One section of the party leadership is opposed to going to the electorate a year ahead of the schedule because of the acute cash crunch the government has not been able to fulfil aspirations of people. They want more time for the party to see if it could tide over the financial crisis and resume work on various development projects. Those who favour early elections argue that since the major opposition parties, including the Congress, BJP and BSP, had been gripped by infighting, the National Conference could take advantage of it. They have also been arguing that if “we wait for time” it would give a chance to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who heads Peoples’ Democratic Party, to consolidate his position. There are consternations among National Conference leaders over reports that some separatist outfits, including the JKLF, were receiving poll alliance offers from mainstream Opposition groups. Even Dr Abdullah has welcomed the reports. The National Conference is aware that it would not get the type of assistance from security forces, especially the Army, which it received in 1996 when the soldiers goaded voters to polling booths. The results of the panchayat poll in January 2001 will resolve the dilemma over the state Assembly elections. |
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Split averted
in Hizbul Mujahideen JAMMU, Oct 24 — By reinstalling Syed Salahuddin the Hizbul Mujahideen supremo, as the Chairman of Jehad Council in Pakistan, comprising over 15 guerrilla groups, Pakistani agencies have averted a split in the Hizb. Reports from across the border said following Hizbul Mujahideen’s unilateral ceasefire in July last for cleaning decks of peace talks the Pakistan government had become suspicious of the future plan of Hizbul Mujahideen. Though Syed Salahuddin had later dissociated himself with the ceasefire and peace talks he was removed from the chairmanship of the Jehad Council and the Hizbul Mujahideen ceased to be a constituent of the council. Two major developments are said to have forced Pakistani agencies, engaged in giving teeth to the ongoing proxy war, to revoke their decision and install Syed Salahuddin as Council’s Chairman and allowed Hizbul Mujahideen to remain a constituent of the Jehad Council. First, with the suspension of funds to the Hizbul Mujahideen those activists of this guerrilla group who had favoured peace talks had started making preparations for parting company from those opposed to the bilateral talks. This could have led to a split in the outfit. As reports reached Islamabad the Pakistani agencies revised their opinion and befriended the Hizbul Mujahideen after convincing themselves that Hizb activists continued to battle against the Indian security forces which was evident from the reports of killing of over two dozens of Hizb activists in Jammu and Kashmir during the past two and a half months. Secondly, the recent armed clashes between two groups of rebels, one led by Masood Sarfaraz Khan and the other by Shamsher Khan, in which seven rebels were killed in Kotli and Muzaffarabad opened the eyes of those who had stopped patronising the Hizbul Mujahideen. It was so because Masood Sarfaraz Khan was the Chief of Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjab Regiment engaged in fighting proxy war in Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur districts. In addition to this, Pakistani agencies had been placed in an embarrassing situation with large number of foreign mercenaries having started crossing over to Pakistan. These mercenaries had been pinched by drop in the day temperature in hill areas of the state in the absence of proper woollen jackets and snow shoes. Since the Indian security forces had smashed scores of militant hideouts rebels had lost precious foodgrain and other eatables. They had no money to build fresh stocks of foodgrain. The agencies across the border were taken on raising the number of local militants. The Hizbul Mujahideen is the only top rebel group which has more than 90 per cent activists belonging to Jammu and Kashmir. By reowning the Hizb, Pakistani agencies thought that they could have full support from the local youths which was very necessary for sustaining the ongoing subversive violence. Reports said that the truce between the Hizb and the Pakistani agencies has been the result of fresh talks Hizb leaders had with
them. The Hizb leaders have assured agencies across the LoC that they would no longer take any step without seeking prior approval from Pakistan. This resolved the rift and averted a split in the Hizbul Mujahideen. |
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Army Chief
visits forward areas JAMMU, Oct 24 — The Chief of the Army staff, Gen S. Padmanabhan accompanied by the president of the Army Wives Welfare Association, Ms Roopa Padmanabhan visited the Northern Command theatre. On their arrival at Udhampur, they were received by the Lieut-Gen General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command. At headquarters of the Northern Command, he was given detailed assessment of the current situation along the Line of Control. He also had discussions with the Army Commander. Gen Padmanabhan visited Nagrota where he interacted with the General Officer, Commanding, the Corps Lieut-Gen A.S. Khanna. He thereafter visited forward locations in Poonch, Surakot and Palanwala sectors. Ms Roopa Padmanabhan visited the Northern Command hospital where she distributed sweets and cards among patients. She also visited Asha Rehabilitation Centre, a school for special children. She also visited the AWWA Vocational training centre. |
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No build up of Pak troops :Farooq JAMMU, Oct 24 (PTI) — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has said there is no build up of Pakistani troops across the Line of Control (LoC), terming press reports in this regard as ‘incorrect’. ‘‘They (Pakistan) have deployed troops in some other sectors for carrying out exercises, but the reports about building up of troops across the border are not correct,” he told reporters at Udhampur, some 66 km from here yesterday. Referring to recent meeting of unified headquarters with Home Minister
L k advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes at Srinagar, Mr Abdullah said, ‘‘we took stock of the situation regarding militancy, ex-filtration and infiltration and other related matters’’. ‘‘We also discussed how to meet the challenge of the enemy and how the situation should be tackled to further improve the security situation in this militancy-infested state,’’ he said. On the Centre’s finalisation of state plan, he said the details about this have been discussed at Delhi recently and announcement about it was expected soon. |
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DGP recruits 106 constables SRINAGAR, Oct 24 (UNI) —Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Gurbachan Jagat visited Parimpora in the downtown area and conducted on-the-spot special recruitment for the posts of constable yesterday. Mr Jagat, the first Director General of Police to visit down town Srinagar during the past 10 years, selected 106 candidates for the post of constable in the state police from among local residents. A large number of candidates who had gathered at Parimpora, were put to physical tests in the presence of Mr Jagat. Later, addressing the selected candidates, Mr Jagat exhorted them “to come forward in our fight against militancy so that peace and developmental activities are restored”. |
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Fire destroys
30 shops BARAMULA, Oct 24 (UNI) — At least 30 shops were gutted and property worth lakhs destroyed in a fire at the main chowk in the district late last night. No one was injured in the incident. Official sources and witnesses said the fire broke out in a double storeyed shopping complex and immediately spread to the entire area. Fire tenders from across the district were pressed into service to control the blaze. |
Advani’s remarks on
trifurcation flayed JAMMU, Oct 24 — Prof Virender Gupta, President, Jammu Mukti Morcha has criticised the statement of Home Minister, L.K. Advani rejecting the demand for the trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. It was unfortunate that Central leaders had turned blind eye towards the cause of Jammu. It was sad that the Centre was pursuing the policy of appeasing the Kashmiris and ignoring the genuine grievances of the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions, he said.
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Bunker construction
in full swing SRINAGAR, Oct 24 (PTI) — The construction of individual and community bunkers in border areas of Uri and Gurez in north Kashmir is in full swing, an official spokesman said here today. Out of the 1,000 bunkers to be constructed in these shelling-prone areas, work had started on 600 individual and 25 community bunkers in the first phase, which would incur an expenditure of Rs 1.30 crore, he said. |
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| Hurriyat says no
to panchayat poll SRINAGAR, Oct 24 (PTI) — The Hurriyat Conference today said it will not participate in the forthcoming panchayat elections in the state and termed it as a ‘farce’ aiming at misleading the international community about the real situation in Kashmir. “The elections as usual will be conducted under the shadow of the gun and no Kashmiri will participate in the drama,” a Hurriyat spokesman said here. |
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