J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

3 ultras among 4 killed in J&K
SRINAGAR, Oct 31 — Three militants were among four persons killed while five Border Security Force personnel were injured in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours. In an other development, one woman was injured in unprovoked shelling by Pakistani troops from across the border in Karnah sector this afternoon. Official sources said the shelling by Pak troops was continuing when reports last came in.

Dharnas held for separate state
JAMMU, Oct 31 — The Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist Front (JKNF) today organised dharnas at several places in the Jammu region, including R.S. Pora and Bishnah, in support of its demand for the reorganisation of the state so that a separate Jammu state was carved out. The supporters of the demand for trifurcation of the state shouted slogans demanding statehood for the Jammu region.

Hold tripartite talks: KPP
SRINAGAR, Oct 31 — The newly-formed Kashmir Political Party (KPP) today appealed to militant organisations to end violence and find a peaceful settlement to the Kashmir issue through tripartite talks. Addressing a press conference here, KPP chairman Mohammad Yousuf Naqash said ‘’we appeal to militant organisations to stop violence on humanitarian grounds as more than 100,000 people have lost their lives in the 10-year-long militancy.’’

3 ultras among 4 killed in J&K

SRINAGAR, Oct 31 (UNI) — Three militants were among four persons killed while five Border Security Force personnel were injured in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

In an other development, one woman was injured in unprovoked shelling by Pakistani troops from across the border in Karnah sector this afternoon.

Official sources said the shelling by Pak troops was continuing when reports last came in.

Security forces arrested four militants and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition including one ballistic missile top, a 40 mm rocket launcher, two wireless sets and one pistol in Srinagar and Badgam during overnight operations.

Militants hurled a hand grenade at a Border Security Force patrol the general bus stand at Batmaloo here last evening. Five BSF personnel were injured when the grenade exploded and were admitted to hospital, an official spokesman said.

A report from Baramulla said security forces killed a suspected militant near Pattan in Baramulla district of north Kashmir last evening.

However, people who observed a total bandh alleged that the security forces arrested and later tortured to death Riyaz Ahmad Ahangar, a shopkeeper.

Army troops belonging to the Romeo Force killed three foreign militants of Lashker-e-Toiba during an encounter in the border district of Rajouri last evening. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, an Army spokesman said at Jammu today.

He said on a specific information about the movement of militants in the higher reaches of Pir Panjal range in Sarian near Behramgala, troops conducted a search operation to nab the militants. While the operation was in progress, militants opened fire with automatic weapons which was retaliated and in the two-hour long encounter the three foreign militants of Lashker-e-Toiba were killed, he said and added that no casualty was suffered by the troops.

Three AK 56-rifles, seven hand grenades, two UBGLs, 16 UMGL grenades, two wireless sets, 14 magazines and 309 rounds of AK ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

The spokesman said some security jawans were injured when a bomb hurled by militants exploded in their vehicle at Dhundak in Poonch last evening.

Dharnas held for separate state
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 31 — The Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist Front (JKNF) today organised dharnas at several places in the Jammu region, including R.S. Pora and Bishnah, in support of its demand for the reorganisation of the state so that a separate Jammu state was carved out.

The supporters of the demand for trifurcation of the state shouted slogans demanding statehood for the Jammu region.

Addressing protesters Mr Tilak Raj Sharma, the convener of the Front, Mr Yash Bhasin co-convener of the JKNF, Mr Anwar Chaudhary and Mr Shah Mohd, president and secretary general, respectively, of the Gujjar Front said carving out three states, Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir was the only way out to end discrimination meted out to the to the people of Ladakh and Jammu regions.

They said each regions has distinct culture, language and climate and as such these regions cannot witness proper development under the valley-based political and administrative leadership. They ridiculed the National Conference claim that trifurcation would result in communal tension and added that instead it would dilute regional passions and promote communal amity.

The Gujjar leaders said only in separate Jammu state the economic and political interests of Gujjars Bakerwal community be safe.

Prof Virender Gupta and Mr Rouf Ganai of the Jammu Mukti Morcha criticised the Central Government for opposing the trifurcation of the state which indicated that the BJP-led NDA Government was also following the policy of appeasement to Kashmiri people.

Hold tripartite talks: KPP

SRINAGAR, Oct 31 (UNI) — The newly-formed Kashmir Political Party (KPP) today appealed to militant organisations to end violence and find a peaceful settlement to the Kashmir issue through tripartite talks.

He said Kashmir was a political issue and needed to be resolved politically. “Our party will not allow trifurcation of the state on communal basis,’’ he said and warned’’ we will oppose any such move.” Mr Naqash said his party favoured removal of the ceasefire line.