J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Farooq warns against Talibanisation
JAMMU, Nov 8 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has cautioned the world community against the growing tentacles of Talibanisation. He said not only India but even the USA and other developed nations, including China, had come under its shadow.

14 militants killed in J&K
SRINAGAR, Nov 8 — At least 11 persons, including 10 militants and a security force jawan, were killed and several others injured in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Top leaders among 30 JKLF men held
JAMMU, Nov 8 — More than 30 Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) activists, including its senior leaders Javed Ahmed Mir, Bashir Ahmed Bhat and Ghulam Rasool Dar, who were here in connection with the Front’s public rally tomorrow, were taken into police custody last night, official sources said today.

Board meeting: MLAs stage walkout
UDHAMPUR, Nov 8 — Shiv Charan Gupta, local MLA who is also the Leader of the Opposition BJP group in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly along with BJP MLA Prithavi Chand and Harsh Dev Singh, MLA, Panther’s Party today walked out of the meeting of the District Development Board. The walkout was in protest against the participation of a nominated member of the ruling party.

Farooq warns against Talibanisation
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 8 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has cautioned the world community against the growing tentacles of Talibanisation. He said not only India but even the USA and other developed nations, including China, had come under its shadow.

Speaking at the fifth conference of the Indian Congress of Asian and Pacific Studies hosted by the Political Department of Jammu University here today, the Chief Minister said Pakistan was the sources of Talibanisation and it was time for the USA to declare it a terrorist state.

He said several Asian countries had been plagued by inter-nation conflicts. “India has had water problem with Bangladesh, Tamil issue with Sri Lanka, border problem with China and threat of extremism from Pakistan,” he said, adding that gradually India had started resolving her problems with her neighbours. He appreciated China for having kept the border issue on the sidelines in order to promote trade and commerce.

Dr Abdullah said the day was not far off when the Chinese goods would flood the Indian markets. He said this had become possible because of Beijing’s full support to the industrialists. He wanted the Government of India to take similar steps.

The Chief Minister said the USA, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and the UN had to play a key role in promoting peace in South Asia.

But said he did not hope that the US Government would act fast because of its narrow national interests.

He expressed shock over the way the security forces alone were being maligned for committing human rights violations.

Several ministers, bureaucrats, intellectuals addressed the conference and urged the UN and the USA to prevail upon Pakistan to put an end to cross-border terrorism. They felt that peace in South Asia would bank on the attitude of Pakistan.

A large number of delegates, including those from Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, besides other Indian states, are also participating in the conference.

14 militants killed in J&K
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Nov 8 — At least 11 persons, including 10 militants and a security force jawan, were killed and several others injured in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Four foreign militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Dofall in Surankote sector of Poonch district in Jammu region today. Two security force personnel were injured in the encounter, a police spokesman stated here today.

Six rockets, four AK rifles, 11 magazines with 286 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. Those killed were identified as Abu Khasa, Abu Khalid, Abu Darda and Hinshiken.

In another encounter, four foreign militants were killed at Shumnag in Kupwara district today. The encounter had started following a specific information in the area yesterday. Four AK rifles, 12 magazines, one grenade thrower, 620 rounds of ammunition, 34 rifles grenades, 10 detonators and 3 kg of explosives were recovered from the site.

Two militants were killed in an encounter with the SOG of the J&K Police and security forces at Wathpora in Chadoora area of Budgam district today.

A jawan was killed and three of his associates were injured when an IED blast took place in the Pawan forest area, Handwara in Kupwara district when the patrol party was on the move.

Militants shot at and injured an activist of Ikhwan, Abdul Rahman Magray, at the main bazar, Kulgam in Anantnag district today, the police said. The militants also took away his service rifle.

An encounter between militants and the security forces started at Khandaypora village, Kulgam area of Anantnag district this afternoon. Till the last reports came in, the encounter was going on and no details were available. The police said the encounter started when the hiding militants opened fire on the search party.

JAMMU (PTI): Senior National Conerence (NC) leader Haji Buland Khan escaped a bid on his life while six ultras were among seven killed in militancy-related incidents in Jammu division since yesterday, official reports said here today.

The militants laid an ambush and fired from a hilltop on Mr Khan’s vehicle near Dharmari in Udhampur district last evening, the report said.

Mr Khan, who is a member of the legislative council and Vice-Chairman of Gujjar and Bakerwal advisory board, had a narrow escape while his accompanying relative, Mohammad Sultan, received bullet wounds.

UNI adds: An official spokesman said the BSF killed two foreign militants during a search operation at Maglogi-Sangaldan village in Udhampur district yesterday. Two AK 56 rifles, four magazines, one wireless set, one tape recorder and some ammunition were recovered from the possession of the slain militants. The identity of the slain militants was established as Jassi Mohammad of Afghanistan and Abu Hassan of Pakistan.

Security forces shot dead two more militants at Dhera village in Rajouri district yesterday during an encounter, some arms and ammunition were also recovered.

Militants fired at a sentry post of the 10 Rashtriya Rifles at Dessa in Doda district yesterday resulting in the death of sentry Sandeep Rajer while the police recovered the body of SPO Baldev Singh from Jaggar Nullah, Dharmkund.

Top leaders among 30 JKLF men held

JAMMU, Nov 8 (PTI) — More than 30 Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) activists, including its senior leaders Javed Ahmed Mir, Bashir Ahmed Bhat and Ghulam Rasool Dar, who were here in connection with the Front’s public rally tomorrow, were taken into police custody last night, official sources said today.

“Among the senior jklf leaders taken into custody around 11 p.m. last night from a local hotel included its vice-president Javed Ahmed Mir, Bashir Ahmed Bhat and Ghulam Rasool Dar,” the police said.

The sources said jklf chief, Yasin Malik, had not arrived here so far as he was camping in New Delhi. Malik was scheduled to address the rally after ‘peace march’ by jklf activists.

Police officials said the jklf would not be allowed to take out march in the city as it could disturb peaceful atmosphere in the winter capital.

All other activists who reach here by this evening would also be arrested, they added.

The jklf activists had arrived here in connection with the proposed public rally tomorrow, the sources said, adding the local unit of Shiv Sena had taken a strong exception of the proposed rally.

Board meeting: MLAs stage walkout
From Our Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Nov 8 — Shiv Charan Gupta, local MLA who is also the Leader of the Opposition BJP group in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly along with BJP MLA Prithavi Chand and Harsh Dev Singh, MLA, Panther’s Party today walked out of the meeting of the District Development Board. The walkout was in protest against the participation of a nominated member of the ruling party.

Mr Gupta termed the board’s meeting as a show of the ruling National Conference wherein nominated members of the party were allowed to participate although they did not represent the people. He said only the elected members should be entitled to attend the meeting.

He said the draft district plan had been formulated without holding prior discussion with the board members. While formulating the plan, the district administration tried to allocate less funds for development works in Udhampur Chenani and Ramnagar constituencies of the district. He also alleged that the board members particularly the MLAs from Chenani and Ramnagar constituencies were not taken into confidence, before the formulation of the plan.