J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

APHC stance gains ground
Jammu, April 29
Following the All Party Hurriyat Conference’s rejection of the Government of India’s offer for talks several APHC leaders have moved out to campaign in favour of including Pakistan in talks for the settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Army pays compensation
Jammu, April 29
The Army has paid Rs 1.05 crore as compensation for 149 lands and properties hired by the Rashtriya Rifles troops in the Kashmir valley, a defence note said today.

90-lakh loan for 154 youths
Srinagar, April 29
The district industries centre in Kupwara has provided a loan of Rs 90 lakh to 154 educated unemployed youths under the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana scheme, an official spokesman said today.

APHC stance gains ground
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 29
Following the All Party Hurriyat Conference’s rejection of the Government of India’s offer for talks several APHC leaders have moved out to campaign in favour of including Pakistan in talks for the settlement of the Kashmir issue.

APHC leader Maulvi Umar Farooq, who used to confine his activities to the Jamia Masjid, advocated this line during public rallies at Shopian in South Kashmir and Chadora.

Separatist leaders, including Naeem Khan, Ghulam Nabi Hagroo, Azam Inquilabi, Fazal Haq Qureshi and Qazi Amanullah, have surfaced soon after the APHC turned down the offer for talks. These leaders are trying to rally behind Shabir Ahmed Shah, chief of the Democratic Freedom Party. These leaders have also taken the line of tripartite talks. These developments have emboldened militants and caused worry to security forces.

“We fear! we are losing ground,” remarked a senior officer of a security agency in Srinagar. He said the APHC leaders and other separatist outfits have been able to build up charges of human rights violation against security forces. These separatists have maintained astute silence over the abuse of human rights by the militants.

The officer said “we receive messages on the wireless about hideouts of militants. When our men rush to the spot not a single rebel is found, indicating that militants convey fake messages to us.”

A senior police officer admitted that foreign mercenaries have established their bases in Srinagar city. The way former Hizbul Mujahideen activist was killed in broad day light in his shop in the posh Gogji Bagh area indicates renewed confidence of militants.

Though the Indian troops have been directed to check infiltration on the LOC and the international border in the Jammu sector, a large number of trained guerrillas, including about 500 trained by the Taliban, have been moved close to the border. These guerrillas are being pushed into Jammu and Kashmir to bolster the separatists’ campaign.

Meanwhile, Pakistani agencies have stepped up the recruitment drive not only within the Kashmir valley but also in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. These agencies are reviving Jamit-ul-Mujahideen to cause confusion to Indian intelligence and security agencies.

Reports from across the border indicate that militants will escalate violence so that political forces opposed to state’s accession to India emerge as principal players.

Since most of main stream political organisations are in disarray the pro-Pak or pro-Azadi forces will spearhead.

Army pays compensation

Jammu, April 29
The Army has paid Rs 1.05 crore as compensation for 149 lands and properties hired by the Rashtriya Rifles troops in the Kashmir valley, a defence note said today.

Of this, Rs 58,39,044 was paid to 119 land/property owners by the assistant defence estate officer, Baramula and the remaining Rs 46,93,368 to 38 owners by the defence estate officer, Kashmir circle, Srinagar, it said. PTI

90-lakh loan for 154 youths

Srinagar, April 29
The district industries centre in Kupwara has provided a loan of Rs 90 lakh to 154 educated unemployed youths under the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PRMY) scheme, an official spokesman said today.

He said the amount would be utilised to enable the youths set up their own ventures, a goal which is being achieved with due cooperation of financial institutions, he said.

Claiming that Kupwara district industries centre had taken the lead in implementing PRMY, he said financial assistance of Rs 1.43 crore had been provided earlier, enabling 180 small-scale units to be set up.

He said 165 female trainees were imparted training during 2000-2001 by different mobile machine knitting training centres. PTI