J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Militants attack CRPF camp
Srinagar, March 17
Militants attacked a Central Reserve Police Force camp with rifle grenades at Rambagh on the Srinagar airport road last evening while elsewhere in the valley a special police officer was among three persons killed during the past 24 hours.

Geelani hurt in police action
Srinagar, March 17
Tension gripped most parts of the valley after senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was injured in police action outside his Peerbagh residence on the outskirts of the city here this morning. He has been admitted to SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, where his condition is stated to be stable.

NC to support NDA: Farooq
Jammu, March 17
The National Conference, which has four members in the Lok Sabha, has decided to continue its support to the NDA government. “There is not question of pulling out of the NDA” Dr Farooq Abdullah, President of the party and Chief Minister, told newspersons here today.

Taliban creation of USA: Jaswant
Jammu, March 17
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh has said that Jammu and Kashmir was not a core issue between India and Pakistan but it was the core of the Indian nationhood.

Militants attack CRPF camp

Srinagar, March 17
Militants attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp with rifle grenades at Rambagh on the Srinagar airport road last evening while elsewhere in the valley a special police officer was among three persons killed during the past 24 hours.

The police arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Javid Ahmad Malik, allegedly involved in the killing of a female SPO, Gousia, at Pulwama recently.

However, people of the area who demanded his immediate release said Malik was a teacher.

In another incident, militants shot dead an SPO, Mohammad Yousuf, at the Khansahib bus stand this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Muzamil Lohar, who was injured in a militant firing at Dardpora, died in a hospital late last night.

Sources said Habibullah Rather, a resident of Drang-Beerwah, was killed when the police opened fire in retaliation to the militant attack on them while they were chasing some timber smugglers at Lasipora village in Badgam district last night.

However, residents alleged that there was no firing from the militants and Habibullah was killed when the police fired on the timber smugglers in a bid to arrest them. The timber smugglers managed to escape.

Four migrant houses were set ablaze by militants at Palhallan in Baramula district last night, the sources said, adding that the houses, vacated by the security forces recently, were damaged in the arson.

Militants also fired on a house of a village head, Ghulam Ahmad Dar in the Rangreth area of Badgam district last night but no one was hurt, they said. UNI, PTI

Geelani hurt in police action
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 17
Tension gripped most parts of the valley after senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was injured in police action outside his Peerbagh residence on the outskirts of the city here this morning. He has been admitted to SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, where his condition is stated to be stable.

Normal life was affected as rumours spread in the entire valley soon after the incident. Shops in the central Lal Chowk area were closed as youths resorted to stone-pelting in the Maisuma locality and other areas of the city, disrupting the normal functioning of business establishments.

The trouble started when Geelani was released by the police after a day’s detention outside his residence this morning. He had been taken into custody after he attempted to proceed to Jamia Masjid and hold a public meeting in protest against the desecration of the Koran in Delhi.

He had been lodged in the Sadar police station here along with some party colleagues. While the police released him, his two colleagues allegedly continued to be in custody, which led to a verbal duel between the police and the Jammat leader, reports said.

A group of his supporters assembled at his residence and held protest demonstration following the incident.

They pelted stones on the police in protest against the alleged manhandling of the senior Jammat leader, and the detention of two others.

NC to support NDA: Farooq
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 17
The National Conference, which has four members in the Lok Sabha, has decided to continue its support to the NDA government. “There is not question of pulling out of the NDA” Dr Farooq Abdullah, President of the party and Chief Minister, told newspersons here today.

He said there was no difference of opinion in the party over this decision. He said after the Prime Minister announced a judicial probe by a Supreme Court judge, he was sure all aspects of the tehelka expose would be covered service punishment awarded to the guilty.

Dr Abdullah said the country was passing through a difficult phase and the tehelka exposes was tragic as it added to “our difficulties”. He wanted severe punishment for those involved in the scandal.

“I am satisfied with the decision of the government to hold a judicial probe,” he said, adding that the expose had harmed India’s image abroad.

The Chief Minister has set at rest speculation that he was under pressure from some party men to withdraw support to the NDA government. Informed sources said Dr Abdullah had a detailed discussion on the tehelka expose and the Kashmir situation vis-a-vis Pakistan’s postures with the External Affairs Minister yesterday.

Mr Jaswant Singh reached yesterday evening to preside over the 10th convocation of Jammu University today. He had talks with the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, and the Chief Minister during which the latest political and security scenario in the state figured.

The External Affairs Minister sought assurance from Dr Abdullah on his continued support to the NDA government.

Taliban creation of USA: Jaswant
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 17
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh has said that Jammu and Kashmir was not a core issue between India and Pakistan but it was the core of the Indian nationhood.

He has said that the unfinished agenda of the partition was to find lasting peace, normalcy and economic and political viability in the region so that “we can arrest the problem of poverty, being the major problem.”

Delivering the 10th convocation address in Jammu University here today Mr Jaswant Singh said “India is for promoting peace and we do not export destability as we have never coveted even a millimetre of others territory.

Coming down heavily on the superpowers he said that the Taliban were the creations of the USA. The United States wanted the Soviet troops, that had entered into Afghanistan, to be pulled out and encouraged and patronised the Taliban. The Soviets have left Afghanistan but countries in South Asia, especially India, have to pay the price of the birth of the Taliban.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is the pro-chancellor of the university complimented the efforts of Mr Jaswant Singh in promoting friendly relations between Saudi Arabia and India. He said that he was sure that under the able leadership of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mr Jaswant Singh India would be able to develop friendly relations with its neighbours. He informed the External affairs Minister that Jammu and Kashmir faced a major problem in the shape of growing unemployment. He reminded the Minister that large number of students, including women candidates, received gold medals and certificates today but most of them would remain jobless.

The Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, who is the Chancellor awarded medals and certificates to over 65 students and majority of the gold medal winners were women students. One Kanchan Kaur daughter of a practising doctor couple, won five gold medals today.