The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, September 26, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

J A M M U & K A S H M I R

9 militants among 15 killed in J&K
Srinagar, September 25
A couple and nine militants were among 15 persons killed while two militants surrendered in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours. A spokesperson said the Army in a fierce clash killed four militants at Nar in the Gurez area of North Kashmir last night. One militant each was killed by the security forces at Badram in village the central Kashmir and Chokibal in the frontier district of Kupwara last night.

Valley likely to see escalated violence
New Delhi, September 25
Intelligence agencies here expect sporadic escalation in violence in the Kashmir valley with the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) having been virtually forced to distance itself and withdraw its patronage to over half-a-dozen militant organisations active in the valley because of the recent developments in the subcontinent.

Fight terrorism jointly : Farooq
Srinagar, September 25
Expressing sympathy with those affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks in the USA, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, today stressed the need to tackle the root cause of terrorism in the world.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah speaking on an obtituary reference in the state assembly which began its Autumn session in Srinagar on Tuesday.
— PTI photo

YOUR TOWN

Jammu
Srinagar

EARLIER STORIES

	Be discreet with USA: Farooq September 25, 2001
	PoK camps to be made arms stores September 24, 2001
	Infighting in Cong, BJP breather for NC September 23, 2001
	Guerrillas told to return to Afghanistan September 22, 2001
	APHC annoys ‘jehadis’ in J&K September 21, 2001
	Five infiltrators killed September 20, 2001
	Ultras told to stay put in J&K September 19, 2001
	History repeats itself in Pak? September 18, 2001
	Five militants killed September 17, 2001
	Pak closes arms training camps temporarily September 16, 2001
	11 militants killed September 15, 2001
	Threat to shoot at ‘unveiled’ women September 14, 2001

VHP bandh hits life in Jammu
Jammu, September 25
Life was paralysed here today when traders and transporters responded to the call for Jammu bandh to protest against the continued support of some Islamic fundamentalists and Pakistan to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The call for the bandh was given by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal. Activists of ABVP also supported it.

Indian policewomen patrol a street outside the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar on Tuesday. The autumn session of the Assembly started in the summer capital on Tuesday amid tight security.
— Reuters

9 militants among 15 killed in J&K

Srinagar, September 25
A couple and nine militants were among 15 persons killed while two militants surrendered in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

A spokesperson said the Army in a fierce clash killed four militants at Nar in the Gurez area of North Kashmir last night.

One militant each was killed by the security forces at Badram in village the central Kashmir and Chokibal in the frontier district of Kupwara last night. A large cache of arms and ammunition, including an AK rifle, a pistol, five magazines and 20 rounds were recovered from the slain militants.

A CRPF jawan was also injured in the clash.

The spokesperson said the body of Mohammad Ramzan Mir was found at Tral this morning.

The militants entered the house of Mohammad Tariq and killed him and his wife Naseem Begum dead at Kotli Kalaban in Rajouri district last night while the body of Mulkh Raj was recovered from Guldanda Thar in Doda district.

Troops gunned down a militant at Pathri Behak while another was killed at Garmatnar Gali near the Line of Control last night.

A foreign militant Abu Hamid Sulfi and a guide Noor Din were killed by the security forces during a search operation at Dham Kund Thattarka in Gool. An AK rifle, three magazines, two grenades and 200 rounds were recovered.

Two militants surrendered along with two AK rifles and four magazines before the security forces at Bandipora last evening.

Shoukat Ahmad, a shopkeeper was shot by unidentified gunmen at Malaratta last evening.

Business activities in the nerve centre Lal Chowk and Budshah Chowk came to a halt this morning in protest against his death. UNI

Valley likely to see escalated violence
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 25
Intelligence agencies here expect sporadic escalation in violence in the Kashmir valley with the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) having been virtually forced to distance itself and withdraw its patronage to over half-a-dozen militant organisations active in the valley because of the recent developments in the subcontinent.

Finding themselves abandoned midstream, so to speak, by their mentor, the ISI, these organisations are now likely to step up their violent activities in desperation. This is the assessment of intelligence analysts who have been monitoring situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to senior security officials, the militants would not prefer to take a safe passage back to either Afghanistan or even to the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as indicated by messages intercepted by the Indian authorities.

In fact, the ISI itself is discouraging them to return to PoK in case they become a liability and help establish a direct link with it especially when the USA has repeatedly committed that it would take action against not only terrorist outfits but also against all those who harbour them or provide patronage to them.

These officials believe that the ISI at this stage would not like to even officially recognise these organisations leave alone interact with them on a regular basis. As such, the ISI conduits are encouraging these organisations and their cadres to act and act fast in view of the approaching winter.

Fight terrorism jointly : Farooq
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 25
Expressing sympathy with those affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks in the USA, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, today stressed the need to tackle the root cause of terrorism in the world. He said danger was “not over even now” and cautioned Pakistan against abetting terrorism in Kashmir.

The House was adjourned after paying homage to a former Speaker, Ghulam Rasool Renzu, a former minister, Peer Ghayasuddin, and a sitting member and Cabinet Minister, Bashir Ahmed Kitchloo. Two minutes’ silence was also observed.

Dr Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir was already facing over a decade-long militancy. He described the act in the USA as inhuman and said there was need to fight jointly against terrorism. “What we have been facing for years, the USA faced within minutes”, he said.

The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the role of the USA in international affairs. He also referred to the role of the USA viz-a-viz Israel and Palestine.

The lone CPM MLA, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, expressed concern over the role of the USA in the aftermath of the attacks. He said there was need to fight terrorism. He claimed that Arabs faced terrorism in the form of Israel.

VHP bandh hits life in Jammu
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 25
Life was paralysed here today when traders and transporters responded to the call for Jammu bandh to protest against the continued support of some Islamic fundamentalists and Pakistan to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The call for the bandh was given by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal. Activists of ABVP also supported it.

Most of the city roads wore a deserted look and only private vehicles plied on the roads. The VHP and the Bajrang Dal activists blocked roads and burnt truck tyres to disrupt traffic. Barring stray incidents of stone pelting, in which six vehicles were partially damaged, the bandh passed off peacefully.