J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Geelani didn’t say no to Pak trip: APHC
NEW DELHI, Jan 18 — The All-Party Hurriyat Conference has denied reports that its leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had expressed his inability to travel to Pakistan due to health reasons.

Bandh paralyses life in valley
Angry protesters pelt stones
SRINAGAR, Jan 18 — Life was completely paralysed through bout the valley today in protest against power shortage. Several incidents of stone-pelting were reported from the capital city. The call for the protest was given by the coordination committee of traders and transporters and supported by various organisations and government employees.

Security tightened in Jammu for R-Day
JAMMU, Jan 18 — Police commandos are being deployed in and around vital government installations to prevent militants from storming them. According to official sources, these commandos, equipped with assault and self-loading rifles, are being deployed in and around the Jammu airport, civil secretariat, radio station, doordarshan kendra, main bus stand, railway station and the Chief Minister’s residence. 

Peace process in jeopardy
JAMMU, Jan 18 — The peace process in Jammu and Kashmir, which was initiated with the enforcement of the ceasefire from November 27 and which was extended by another month, is in a jeopardy following marked escalation in the level of violence in the state, especially in the Kashmir valley.

J&K Houses to meet on Feb 12
JAMMU, Jan 18 — The Governor, Mr Girish Chander Saxena, has summoned both the Houses of Jammu & Kashmir legislature in Jammu on February 12. 

Geelani didn’t say no to Pak trip: APHC
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 18 — The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has denied reports that its leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had expressed his inability to travel to Pakistan due to health reasons.

Mr Geelani, who is in New Delhi for medical treatment, has been advised “complete rest” by doctors and is under continuous treatment. He is being treated at Escorts Heart Research Centre since January 16.

The Hurriyat leader had a luncheon meeting with Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jahangir Qazi yesterday.

In a statement, Hurriyat spokesman Abdul Rashid Banday said that Mr Geelani had not conveyed to the Pakistan High Commissioner that he would not be able to travel to Pakistan due to ill-health.

“Whenever the Indian Government releases passports, Mr Geelani along with other Hurriyat leaders will travel to Pakistan,” the spokesman said. He quoted Mr Geelani as saying that he (Mr Geelani) would definitely go to Pakistan if travel documents were given.

Mr Geelani has also condemned “action against people in Srinagar” and “refusal of handing over bodies of six alleged Laskar-e-Toiba activists” killed near the airport on January 16.

He demanded the release of Hurriyat leaders, including Abdul Khaliq Hanif, Massarat Alam Bhat, Ghulam Nabi Sofi and Abdul Samad Inqlabi.

Bandh paralyses life in valley
Angry protesters pelt stones
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Jan 18 — Life was completely paralysed through bout the valley today in protest against power shortage. Several incidents of stone-pelting were reported from the capital city. The call for the protest was given by the coordination committee of traders and transporters and supported by various organisations and government employees.

All shops and business establishments in the capital city and major towns of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian in south Kashmir and Baramula, Kupwara, Sopore and Handwara in north Kashmir remained closed. Passenger transport was off the road and the attendance in government offices was thin. The strike follows a series of protest demonstrations here and other major towns of the valley against the worsening power situation.

Angry demonstrations indulged in stone-pelting in Budshah Chowk, Lal Chowk, Karan Nagar and Chanapora localities here. The police had to lob teargas shells and resort to a lathi charge to quell the demonstrations. Some autorickshaws were damaged by the demonstrators in various areas of the city.

Over 24 persons have been injured in police action during protests against the power crisis in Anantnag district since Friday last. Several localities of Srinagar city, including Batamaloo, had witnessed demonstrations against the erratic power supply here yesterday.

The organisations which supported the bandh call are the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), the Government Employees Conference (GEC) and the Jammu & Kashmir Students United Forum. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) headed by former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the Congress have also expressed concern at the worsening power situation in the valley.

Several areas of the city and elsewhere continue to reel under long power cuts. As per the new schedule, after every three hours of power, there is a curtailment for six hours, providing power for nine hours only.

According to official estimates, there is a daily demand of 1363 mw against which only 480mw are available. There is a shortfall of 883 mw. But there has been a further decline in the availability of power from state hydel projects and the Northern Grid.

Security tightened in Jammu for R-Day
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 18 — Police commandos are being deployed in and around vital government installations to prevent militants from storming them.

According to official sources, these commandos, equipped with assault and self-loading rifles, are being deployed in and around the Jammu airport, civil secretariat, radio station, doordarshan kendra, main bus stand, railway station and the Chief Minister’s residence. The biggest security deployment will be made in and around the Maulana Azad Sports Stadium where the main Republic Day function will be held.

Security experts have carried out search operations in the stadium.

Under a plan the police and the Army experts will carry out search operations on the banks and the bed of river Tawi that flows close to the stadium to see if any remote-controlled rockets had been planted by militants.

The sources said these measures were being taken following reports from the intelligence agencies that groups of militants had sneaked into Jammu for disturbing Republic Day celebrations.

According to the sources, police patrolling in sensitive areas has been further strengthened.

The biggest deployment has also been made in and around the Jammu airport. The police authorities have given directions to the security personnel deployed at the airport in this regard.

Peace process in jeopardy
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 18 — The peace process in Jammu and Kashmir, which was initiated with the enforcement of the ceasefire from November 27 and which was extended by another month, is in a jeopardy following marked escalation in the level of violence in the state, especially in the Kashmir valley.

In the wake of a series of ‘fidayeen’ attacks on camps and convoys of the security forces and killing of over 15 National Conference leaders and supporters during the past 52 days of the ceasefire, besides daring bids to storm the Srinagar airport and grenade attack on the Chief Minister’s public meeting in the interior of Srinagar, opinion in ruling political circles in Delhi is divided over the issue of further extending the ceasefire.

When the first month of the ceasefire was to elapse on December 26, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, announced a month’s extension for the purpose of carrying the peace process to its logical conclusion. However, between December 27 and January 18 the level of violence has further registered an upward curve, warranting the government to do rethinking on the issue of further extending the ceasefire period.

The first leader to oppose publicly further extension in the ceasefire period has been none else than the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who personally conveyed his views to the Prime Minister. Informed sources said Dr Farooq informed Mr Vajpayee on the disturbing trends in the Kashmir valley where militants, especially foreign mercenaries, had enjoyed free movement for fortifying their bases.

The Chief Minister is said to have told the Prime Minister that militants had plans to carry out bigger armed strikes against the security forces as well as political leaders which could create a 1990-like situation.

The sources said the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, has endorsed Dr Farooq’s stand. The Prime Minister is stated to have made no commitment because he would like the issue to be discussed threadbare at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Kashmir Affairs.

According to the sources, the PMO may seek a fresh opinion from the Army and the BSF. So far the Army is in favour of continuation of the peace process because the ceasefire has rendered the LoC quiet, giving respite to the troops.

Those who favour further extending the ceasefire say it had generated a healthy atmosphere. Prior to the initiation of the peace process, people in the Kashmir valley would not agitate against economic problems and other difficulties. During the past several days the valley has witnessed a series of protest rallies against curtailment in power supply.

In parts of south Kashmir the police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the protesters. The valley observed a complete bandh today in protest against the power crisis. This, indicates that the people have bid farewell to issues connected with ‘jehad’ and militancy-related incidents and have begun concentrating on issues that affect the common man.

These supporters opine that the peace process has enlarged the number of supporters and sympathisers in the world backing India’s case in Kashmir. Once the ceasefire withdrawn, the Government of India will be blamed for sabotaging the peace process.

They are of the view that since the ceasefire is a unilateral decision, the militants are not bound by any agreement to stop armed attacks.

But the other side is worried over the increase in the number of militant bases in the Kashmir valley. Antagonists of the peace process say in case the situation is not handled with a firm hand by allowing the security forces to carry out combat operations for destroying militant hideouts, it will be difficult for the forces to tackle the situation after a couple of months when groups of guerrillas infiltrate into the state from across the border.

Dr Farooq is said to have conveyed to the Central leaders reports from intelligence agencies hinting that in case combat operations are not relaunched, things may go out of the hands of the forces. Such plans if left unchecked can result in demoralisation of the police which can be disastrous for the state.

Kashmir experts favour further extension in the ceasefire with instructions to the security forces to carry out combat operations against the militants only on specific information so that innocent persons are neither harassed nor put to inconvenience.

Such a plan could help India to secure political advantage over Pakistan. And daily armed strikes by the militants despite the government ceasefire will further expose Islamabad and its agencies in the eyes of the world.

J&K Houses to meet on Feb 12
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 18 — The Governor, Mr Girish Chander Saxena, has summoned both the Houses of Jammu & Kashmir legislature in Jammu on February 12. 

According to a Raj Bhavan communiqué, the Governor has called upon the members of the Assembly and Council to assemble together in the Central Hall of the Legislature Building on the premises of the new secretariat, Jammu, on February 12 at 10 a.m. to hear his address to both Houses of the legislature.