J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Pak plan to disrupt R-Day celebrations
JAMMU, Jan 25 — In the wake of reports that Pakistan-trained militants planned to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, at least 20,000 men of different security agencies have been deployed to ensure incident-free celebrations tomorrow.

Pak out to sabotage peace process: Farooq
JAMMU, Jan 25 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has blamed Pakistan and foreign mercenaries for trying to wreck the peace process initiated by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Allow Hurriyat team to visit Pak: Parrey
JAMMU, Jan 25 — Supporting the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for having given another extension to the ceasefire period the Awami League, headed by Mr Kukka Parrey, MLA, has said the five-member Hurriyat Conference team be allowed to visit Pakistan. “Let us see what the team could do in Pakistan.

NC leader, 3 militants killed
SRINAGAR, Jan 25 — The Jammu and Kashmir police foiled a militants’ bid to target a police station in the downtown when it defused an RDX explosive device late last night while a ruling National Conference leader was among two persons killed in the Kashmir valley since last evening.

Pak plan to disrupt R-Day celebrations
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 25 — In the wake of reports that Pakistan-trained militants planned to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, at least 20,000 men of different security agencies have been deployed to ensure incident-free celebrations tomorrow.

While the Army has been deployed to guard the sports stadium and its adjoining areas, troops in Jammu have been asked to stand by. A senior Army officer said: “We are alert. My men will be out of the barracks within minutes.”

Additional forces have been deployed in and around Maulana Azad Stadium, where the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, is scheduled to hoist the National Flag. All entry points to the stadium have been placed under three-tier security cover and each entrance has metal detectors.

A senior police officer said the Army would also assist the security forces in providing foolproof security cover as top brass of the Army is attending the main function.

Security personnel carried out search operations in the Tawi embankment areas, to sanitise it against solar rockets and other explosive material which the militants might have planted. Last year nine solar rockets were recovered by the police.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in all district headquarters. As part of precautionary measures passenger bus services on all routes connecting the upper reaches of Udhampur and the adjoining areas were suspended on Friday.

Pak out to sabotage peace process: Farooq
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 25 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has blamed Pakistan and foreign mercenaries for trying to wreck the peace process initiated by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

He said in the “war between peace and terrorism” the peace process would win. In his message to the people on the eve of Republic Day, Dr Abdullah said he was not opposed to the Prime Minister’s peace initiative, which he described as a bold step, but added that he wanted the ceasefire to be meaningful. He said people of Jammu and Kashmir could not be left to the mercy of gun-toting militants who “have no religion or faith.”

The Chief Minister posed a question: “How can we be mute spectators to enhanced violence against our people?” He said fed up by unending violence and destruction people in the state had made known their strong desire for peace but Pakistan would not allow peace to return to Kashmir.

He charged Islamabad and Pakistan-trained militants with attempts at derailing the peace process by stepping up armed attacks on civilians, security forces and on vital installations. “No amount of killings and destruction can suppress peace cry in Kashmir that is louder than the roar of guns”, he said.

Dr Abdullah urged militants to bid farewell to the gun culture and allow the peace process to reach its logical conclusion. He made it clear that the non-initiation of combat operations against the militants was “meaningless” unless “senseless” killing and acts of violence were stopped.

He wanted Pakistan to establish its credentials by responding positively to the peace process initiated by the Centre. This could be done if Islamabad stopped infiltration of militants into Kashmir and withdraw all foreign mercenaries operating in Jammu and Kashmir. He urged world leaders to mount pressure on Pakistan so that it stopped “bleeding us.”

The Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, in his message called upon people to stand unitedly against those trying to scuttle the peace process. Supporting the Prime Minister’s peace initiative he said another extension given to the ceasefire clearly indicated that India wanted to promote peace. He hoped that Pakistan would reciprocate and innocent lives would not be lost at the hands of foreign mercenaries.

Praising the security forces for observing restraint despite provocations from the militants the Governor suggested that they take all possible steps to ensure that the evil designs of terrorists and their foreign mentors were “frustrated.”

Mr Saxena blamed foreign mercenaries for having taken control of armed operations against the civilians and the security forces at the behest of Pakistan which wanted to punish the people of the state for having joined hands with India in 1947. He said the 11-year-long Pak-sponsored proxy war had resulted in human tragedy of major proportions when about 9,000 civilians had been killed by the militants, 2800 persons had lost their lives in crossfire, 12400 rebels had been killed by the security forces and 2500 security personnel had lost their lives while combating militancy.

He suggested to the militants to realise the futility of the gun and allow the peace process to succeed which could help people to achieve their desire of living in peace and security.

Allow Hurriyat team to visit Pak: Parrey
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 25 — Supporting the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for having given another extension to the ceasefire period the Awami League, headed by Mr Kukka Parrey, MLA, has said the five-member Hurriyat Conference team be allowed to visit Pakistan. “Let us see what the team could do in Pakistan. I do not find there is any harm in allowing the Hurriyat leaders to visit Islamabad, “he told newsmen here today.

Kukka Parrey, whose organisation of counter-insurgents had struck terror in the camp of fundamentalists in various parts of Kashmir till 1996, said by giving peace another chance Mr Vajpayee, had shown to people that Inda was for the immediate restoration of peace while Pakistan was making all out efforts to scuttle the peace process.

Mr Parrey, whose activists continue to hunt for militants, said Pakistan had so far not responded positively to “our peace process.” He claimed that this was part of the bigger design of Pan-Islamists to shed blood not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in other parts of the country. He referred to the war cries of dreaded militant outfits, including the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad, and said “we should have no delusion about Pakistan’s deep rooted hatred against India.

The League leader said Pakistan had shown its plan of creating disorder on a large-scale by violating the very spirit of agreements reached with Delhi in Karachi, Tashkent, Simla and Lahore.

He said the recent attack within the Red Fort area, another near Srinagar airport and bomb explosions at several places in Kashmir indicated that Pakistan and its trained mercenaries had embarked on operations which had bigger and serious dimensions. He wanted the Centre to realise the grim realities when the designs of terrorists were clear.

Mr Parrey said even while supporting the peace process he would not like people of his state to be left at the mercy of foreign mercenaries. He said leaders of the APHC had been openly advocating the cause of jehad. And this so-called jehad had cost many precious lives and forced over 3.50 lakh Pandits to migrate from their ancestral villages to lead a life of penury.

He suggested to Pakistan to respond positively and sincerely to the peace process initiated by Mr Vajpayee so that there was no further bloodshed. He said if the Hurriyat team could ensure peace by visiting Pakistan it should be allowed to go.

NC leader, 3 militants killed

SRINAGAR, Jan 25 (UNI, PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir police foiled a militants’ bid to target a police station in the downtown when it defused an RDX explosive device late last night while a ruling National Conference leader was among two persons killed in the Kashmir valley since last evening.

IG Ashok Bhan told UNI that militants had planted a 4-KG RDX device in a scooter which was parked near a downtown police station late last night.

He said a police official noticed the abandoned scooter and informed his seniors. A bomb disposal squad was summoned to defuse the explosive device today, he added.

It would have caused much damage, had it not been defused, Dr Bhan said adding that police officials who averted this major tragedy would be rewarded.

Official sources said militants shot dead Ghulam Mohammad Mir, a ruling National Conference block president at Tujjar Sharief near Sopore in north Kashmir last evening.

A beheaded body was recovered from Kunzar on the Srinagar-Gulmarg road last evening.

Militants hurled a hand grenade at a BSF picket at Nawakadal in the downtown city last evening. However, the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside without causing any damage.

JAMMU: Five persons, including three Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants and an Army jawan, were killed and a huge quantity of ration recovered from Jammu division since yesterday, a police spokesman said here on Thursday.

Three militants were killed in an encounter with Army troops in the Ghambir-Mongla area under Manjakote police station of Rajouri district yesterday, the spokesman said.

One Army jawan also lost his life, he said. One AK 47 riffle and six magzines had been recovered.

The identities of the militants belonging to LeT were being ascertained, he said.

In another incident, militants killed Mohinder Kumar of Kulhad village in Doda district and kidnapped one Mohammad Shafi from the same village, the spokesman said.