J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Cops grope for Gazi Baba
Srinagar, January 23
Even as several operations have been launched by the security forces in Kashmir to nab Gazi Baba, a top militant of the Jaish-e-Mohammad and prime suspect in the attack on Parliament House, the hunt continues after a lapse of over one month.

Heavy firing on border
Village head among 3 killed
Jammu, January 23
The Indian and Pakistani forces exchanged heavy fire today in Samba and R.S. Pora sectors in which a BSF jawan was wounded. Several Pakistani armymen were injured and three Pakistani bunkers were destroyed across the Galard post in Samba.

A security man keeps vigil from an armoured vehicle on pedestrians outside Bakshi stadium, the venue of the main Republic Day function in Kashmir, on Wednesday. — PTI photo

Advani’s remarks on pre-1953 position flayed
Srinagar, January 23
The National Conference, a partner of the ruling NDA at the Centre, today criticised Union Home Minister L.K. Advani for his statement ruling out the return of Jammu and Kashmir to the pre-1953 position, saying “restoration of pre-1953 position of the state is the only guarantee for national integration and independence of India.”

The wait for a snowfall has been long for the residents of Kargil. (28k, 56k)

Tourists shun Gulmarg due to turmoil
Gulmarg (J&K), January 23
Gulmarg, the famous ski-resort in the Himalayas, has assumed, after four years, the look that is special about it in winter as it received 5 to 6 feet of snowfall last week, but no tourists, foreign or domestic, were around.

Skiing competition by February-end
Gulmarg, January 23
At least heavy snow is here after a spell of four years when the National Winter Games were held in 1998.

4 killed in mishap
Jammu, January 23
Four persons were killed on the spot and another was seriously injured when their car collided head on with a Delhi Transport Corporation bus at Supwal near Samba in Jammu district this evening, the police said.

Dogri girls from Jammu and Kashmir rehearse a dance—which is performed at marriages—in New  Delhi on Wednesday. — PTI photo

Senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah talking to a Sikh delegation, headed by head priest and Anandpur Sahib Jathedar Prof Manjeet Singh, which called on him at his residence in Srinagar on Wednesday. PTI Photo

In Video

Security strengthened in Jammu ahead of Republic Day celebrations to ward off any possible terrorist attack. (28k, 56k)

Cops grope for Gazi Baba
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 23
Even as several operations have been launched by the security forces in Kashmir to nab Gazi Baba, a top militant of the Jaish-e-Mohammad and prime suspect in the attack on Parliament House, the hunt continues after a lapse of over one month.

The police and security agencies are reported to have received a number of clues about the presence of Gazi Baba in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag. Massive search operations were launched in parts of the south and central Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama and Budgam to nab him. Reliable sources confirmed that Gazi Baba, chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad’s unit in Kashmir, was also seen in the Aroo area in deep jungles, about 15 km from Pahalgam, in south Kashmir.

According to the sources, copies of photographs of Gazi Baba have been distributed in Anantnag district to arrest him. He is also known as Shahbaz Khan and Jehadi, a top militant from Multan in Pakistan.

A search operation, based on a tip-off, was also launched in Budgam district of central Kashmir about two weeks ago. However, Gazi Baba could not be arrested.

Gazi Baba’s name came to limelight after the arrest of Mohammad Afzal, a Kashmiri, suspected to have links with those involved in the attack on Parliament House. The police here is working on more information provided by Mohammad Afzal following the attack in New Delhi.

Gazi Baba is also suspected to have masterminded two major suicide attacks here during the past two years. The first such attack was made on May 4, 2000, when a local militant blew himself up with a car, laden with high explosive, in front of the main gate of 15 Corps of the Army here. The second major attack at his behest is regarded as that on the Legislative Assembly here on October 1 last year.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad was floated early in 2000 following the release of Azhar Masood, along with two others, in exchange of the passengers of a hijacked Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu at the Kandhar airport on December 31, 1999. Gazi Baba was then appointed as chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in the Kashmir valley prior to which, he was, according to sources, working as chief of operations of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in the valley. He had also functioned as financial controller of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. “When Gazi Baba joined the Jaish-e-Mohammad early in 2000, many of his associates in the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen also switched over with him”, sources in the security forces said. Gazi Baba had first intruded into the valley in 1997-98 while he operated in the Ganderbal, Gotlibagh, Soura, Tullamulla and Anchar areas near Srinagar.

Heavy firing on border
Village head among 3 killed
M.L. Kak

Jammu, January 23
The Indian and Pakistani forces exchanged heavy fire today in Samba and R.S. Pora sectors in which a BSF jawan was wounded. Several Pakistani armymen were injured and three Pakistani bunkers were destroyed across the Galard post in Samba.

Reports said more than 50 mortar shells were fired and in addition to this the Pakistani forces fired from small arms. The Indian forces retaliated using automatic grenade rifles and other heavy weapons in which several Pakistani armymen were injured and three bunkers were destroyed.

The Pakistani guns fell silent after an hour of heavy firing. In R.S. Pora sector, the Pakistani forces resorted to unprovoked firing in which a BSF jawan, and member of the patrol party, was injured.

Reports said the Indian forces have been instructed not to resort to reckless firing which could mean loss of ammunition. Instead, the BSF jawans have been asked to adopt “Ek goli ek dushman” (a bullet for an enemy) slogan.

The barbed wire raised on a 16 km stretch of the border has been converted into cobra wire by making it live with electricity supply.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Home, Mr Najib Sohrawardhy, and the Director-General of Police, Mr A.K. Suri, visited Gambir Mogla area in Rajouri today where the troops had killed four militants and in the crossfire two civilians had lost their lives.

Soon after the death of the two civilians people had staged protest demonstrations and lodged a complaint with the authorities in Rajouri that the security forces had committed excesses. Mr Sohrawardhy and Mr Suri assured them that inquiry would be conducted into the incident and sought their cooperation in destroying the hideouts of militants.

SRINAGAR: Militants gunned down three persons, including a village head, and snatched away service weapons of two policemen in separate attacks in Kashmir valley, where BSF personnel arrested a top militant since last night, an official spokesman said here today.

Militants abducted and later killed the village head, Mohammad Subhan Bhat, along with another person named Iftikhar Ahmad Shah at Donipora-Kantpora village in Kupwara district early today, the spokesman said.

Ultras also killed Jan Mohammad Bhat at Sagam near Kokernag in Anantnag district of last night, the spokesman said.

He said two policemen, Ayaz Ahmad and Nisar Ahmad, who were guarding a bridge at Naina-Sangam in Pulwama district were overpowered by nearly 20 militants who snatched their weapons yesterday.

Both policemen have been placed under suspension and a probe was ordered into the incident, the police said.

The spokesman said a self-styled district commander of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Javid Ahmad Wani, was arrested by the BSF from Narkara area near Galwanpora in Dadgam district last night.

An AK assault rifle, two magazines and 32 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the captured militant who was wanted in connection with a large number of militancy-related incidents, he said.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Riyaz Ahmad Khan, surrendered before the Army at Natnoosa village in Kupwara last night and handed over one AK rifle and three magazines to the authorities, he said.

Another Hizbul Mujahideen ultra, Ghulam Mohideen Alamgar, self-styled tehsil commander of the outfit, surrendered before the BSF at Pulwama district yesterday, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the police fired dozens of teargas shells and used batons to disperse agitated residents of Maisuma here who resorted to stone pelting while taking out a demonstration protesting against the arrest of five youths by the BSF.

The residents took to the streets and disrupted normal activities in the busy business centre, official sources said. They also staged a dharna outside a BSF camp at Badshah Chowk.

Tourists shun Gulmarg due to turmoil

Gulmarg (J&K), January 23
Gulmarg, the famous ski-resort in the Himalayas, has assumed, after four years, the look that is special about it in winter as it received 5 to 6 feet of snowfall last week, but no tourists, foreign or domestic, were around.

The small number of holiday-makers who used to visit Kashmir in winter for skiing, shunned it because of the continuing turmoil in the state, officials said.

On an average, 10,000 foreign and domestic tourists used to visit Kashmir, but militancy has kept them away from this “paradise on earth”, they said.

Not a single foreigner or domestic tourist was seen on Sunday in the cup-shaped meadow at 2653 metres above the sea level, when a press party visited the ski-resort in connection with the launching of a ski-training course for school children.

With infrastructure facilities of international standard, like the 11,000 feet high gondola providing a gradient of three km, German snow beating machines, rescue snow mobikes and centrally heated accommodation, Gulmarg, 51 km from Srinagar, is the paradise for a skier, state Director General of Tourism Muhammad Ashraf said.

Last week’s heavy snow has transformed it into a resort that could be the dream of any winter sports lover in the world, he said adding that what makes Gulmarg unique is the sunshine over thick layers of snow, which is unlikely in other world-famous ski-resorts.

The second phase of the gondola, already taken up, would enhance the run by another 3 km making it fit for any international ski competition, Mr Ashraf said. PTI

Advani’s remarks on pre-1953 position flayed

Srinagar, January 23
The National Conference, a partner of the ruling NDA at the Centre, today criticised Union Home Minister L.K. Advani for his statement ruling out the return of Jammu and Kashmir to the pre-1953 position, saying “restoration of pre-1953 position of the state is the only guarantee for national integration and independence of India.”

Reacting to Advani’s statement at a function in Delhi yesterday, NC’s Kashmir provincial president and MLC G.N. Shaheen said “return to the pre-1953 status which has been snatched through force and through puppet regimes in the state is the only guarantee for national integration and independence of India.” Terming Advani’s statement as “far from truth,” Shaheen said the Home Minister should keep in mind the disintegration of the erstwhile USSR.

Addressing a one-day convention of party workers of Beerwah Assembly Constituency in Budgam district of central Kashmir, Shaheen said “unfortunately Advani should know that Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim majority state and Kashmiris have made numerous sacrifices and will not hesitate to do so in future to protect the identity and individuality of the state, especially the Kashmiryat.” PTI

Skiing competition by February-end
Tribune News Service

Gulmarg, January 23
At least heavy snow is here after a spell of four years when the National Winter Games were held in 1998.

The snow-capped slopes, which turn lush green during the summers, surrounded by sky touching pine trees, await the Gulmarg 2002-Year of the Mountain Skiing Championship this season.

“We want to encourage local talent this year, declared by the UN as the Year of Mountains and Eco-Tourism,” says Mr Mohammad Ashraf, Director-General (DG) of Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir. The year will focus on “improvement in the lives of communities living in the mountains”. “Under it we want to hold a championship with the involvement of the locals” said the DG. Stress would be laid on the involvement of about 200 locals associated with winter sports like skiing here, he added.

The locals are engaged in providing assistance to skiing and other sports activities in this health resort. “We want to train locals in these sports”, said Mr Ashraf adding they were quite experienced in different sports activities. “The training will definitely lead to an improvement in their conditions”, he added. Many of the sportsmen had participated in events abroad.

The Gulmarg Skiing Champion-ship would be held by the end of February or early March when the slopes in Khilanmarg locales were ready for sporting activities. The infrastructure was good at the cheapest skiing ground in the world, according to tourism officials. Machines like German snow-beaters, skiing lifts, snowmobikes for rescue operations and a gandola car cable project had already been activated to make preparations for the events.

Gulmarg was the centre of activity during the past few years also when several film-makers shot their films in the green and snowy slopes here.

4 killed in mishap

Jammu, January 23
Four persons were killed on the spot and another was seriously injured when their car collided head on with a Delhi Transport Corporation bus at Supwal near Samba in Jammu district this evening, the police said.

It said the Maruti Zen on its way from Kathua collided with the Delhi-bound bus killing the occupants of the car instantly.

The injured had been shifted to the Medical College, Jammu, sources added. UNI