J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Walkout over PSU employees’ demands
Jammu, March 29
Opposition members belonging to the Congress, the BJP, the BSP and the PDP today staged a walkout in the Assembly in protest against the delay in the acceptance of the demands of employees of public sector undertakings (PSUs).

Pak militant killed in encounter
Srinagar, March 29
Three militants and a counter-insurgent were killed and two Army personnel injured in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, where the security forces smashed a militant hideout last night.

Talks with Centre after Pak visit only: Hurriyat
Srinagar, March 29
The Hurriyat Conference has reaffirmed that the process of negotiations would begin with the Pakistan visit of its five-member team to pave way for any dialogue with the Central government to end the Kashmir imbroglio.

Walkout over PSU employees’ demands
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 29
Opposition members belonging to the Congress, the BJP, the BSP and the PDP today staged a walkout in the Assembly in protest against the delay in the acceptance of the demands of employees of public sector undertakings (PSUs).

Before the start of question hour, several members belonging to the BJP and the Congress were seen on their feet, demanding immediate settlement of the PSU employees’ demands. Mr Bali Bhagat of the BJP raised the issue and criticised the state government’s tough posture on the employees’ demands who have been on strike for the past 15 days.

He said work in these corporations had been paralysed and the agitating employees, demanding release of wage and DA arrears, were being cane-charged by the police everyday.

As there was no response from the government, the Opposition members walked out of the House.

Question hour generated an animated discussion on the issue of arms licences to the people in militancy-infested areas and recruitment into the police.

When members cutting across party lines criticised the government, especially the police authorities, for having ignored several areas while recruiting youths into the police, the Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, directed the Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, to suggest to the Director-General of Police to make the recruitment drive effective and proper by absorbing youths from those Assembly constituencies which had been left out. The direction of the Speaker was greeted by the members with the thumping of desks.

Mr Lal Singh of the Congress alleged that arms licences were not being given to the people in militancy-infested areas for self-defence. The Minister of State for Home, informed the House that the District Magistrates had been empowered to issue arms licences and such licences were to be issued after proper screening of the applicants.

When members pressed for issuance of arms licence to all applicants in all districts, the Speaker quipped: “if arms licences were given to all the state would become an armed state.”

During question hour, the government admitted that militancy-related violence in the state had escalated since the enforcement of the ceasefire. The House was informed that during the ongoing ceasefire, militants had carried out planned, targeted and determined armed attacks. Since November 28, when the ceasefire was enforced, 1156 incidents had been registered against 1149 during the three months preceding the ceasefire.

During the ceasefire, militants had carried out armed attacks on political activists and civilians. As result, 29 political workers had lost their lives when during the pre-ceasefire period, six activists had been killed. Between November 28 and March 20, as many as 332 civilians had been killed against 279 during the corresponding period prior to the non-initiation of the combat operations against the militants.

The government informed the members that a system of providing graded security cover to political persons had been evolved. Security was being provided even to individuals on the basis of threat perception.

Members expressed concern at the severe drought conditions. Several members, including Mr Ashok Sharma of the Congress, demanded immediate measures, including release of free ration to the people whose crop had been damaged.

The Revenue Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom, announced that the Deputy Commissioners had been directed to prepare a drought action plan and special girdawari was under progress for assessing the loss owing to the drought. He said after the girdawari was examined by the government, relief measures would be started in the worst-affected areas.

He said short and long-term measures were being formulated for tackling the drought and the Government of India had been approached for release of additional funds.

The House was informed through a written reply that all refugees who had fled Kargil and Dras following Pakistani armed attacks had returned to their homes. The government said Rs 663.40 lakh had been received from the Centre for providing relief and cash assistance to the affected families.

Free ration had been provided to 22857 people in Kargil during and after the conflict. In addition, Rs 1 lakh had been given to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 25,000 to those permanently disabled in shelling.

As many as 18 civilians had been killed and 28 wounded. At least 9,000 cattlehead had perished during the conflict. 

Pak militant killed in encounter

Srinagar, March 29
Three militants and a counter-insurgent were killed and two Army personnel injured in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, where the security forces smashed a militant hideout last night.

Unidentified militants gunned down counter-insurgent Nazir Ahmad Bhet, belonging to Ikhwan outfit, outside his shop at Verinag in Anantnag district last night, an official spokesman said today.

He said the security forces killed a Pakistani militant Mohiuddin Karachi in an encounter at Zachaldara in Kupwara district early today. Some arms and ammunition were seized.

Official sources said a militant belonging to the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was killed in a retaliatory action by the security forces when militants opened fire on Rashtriya Rifle (RR) troops in Banihal tehsil of Doda district yesterday. He was identified as Sharif Mir.

In another encounter, troops shot dead a Hizbul militant at Jagaldore in Doda district. He was identified as Moinul Haq of Pakistan.

Two Army jawans were injured when their vehicle was damaged in a mine explosion at Balajmat in the Akhnoor sector yesterday, the sources said.

Militants triggered three blasts near the international border in the Kanachak and Gharkhal areas of the Akhnoor sector. However, there was no loss of life or damage to property.

A joint team of RR and state police busted a militants’ hideout at Gurmila village in Udhampur district and recovered an AK-type rifle, its 12 magazines and some ammunition. PTI

Talks with Centre after Pak visit only: Hurriyat
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 29
The Hurriyat Conference has reaffirmed that the process of negotiations would begin with the Pakistan visit of its five-member team to pave way for any dialogue with the Central government to end the Kashmir imbroglio.

In a statement issued here today, a spokesman of the APHC said efforts would be made for talk’s with the Government of India only if its team visited Pakistan. The statement was in response to a news item published in a local daily. The report claimed that the Central government was planning to nominate Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, to head negotiations with the Hurriyat Conference.

“The Government of India has already assured that the comprehensive dialogue to resolve Kashmir issue would begin only after the Hurriyat Conference team visits Pakistan,” the spokesman stated here this evening. There was no scope for any dialogue with the Central leadership even if such leaders are nominated. “There will be no change in the Hurriyat stand on the issue”, the spokesman claimed.

The Hurriyat Conference had early this year decided to send a five-member team to visit Pakistan for having negotiations with the leadership there for a “peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue”. The decision was taken after the Central government announced a unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir.