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Friday,
April 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Bhat has a peace plan, but won’t tell ‘Z’ security for HC judges in J&K Blasts rock RS Pura
sector Gen Patankar takes
charge 3 ultras killed
in Udhampur |
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4 ultras freed for lack of proof 
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Bhat has a peace plan, but won’t tell Jammu, April 18 “I will divulge it to the Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan” he told Tribune News Service. Professor Bhat said, “I would again urge both Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Gen Pervez Musharraf to resume their summit meeting and involve the Hurriyat leadership in the talks.” He said during such a summit, he would reveal to the heads of the two countries his solution, “which I am sure will satisfy the ego of both India and Pakistan and be acceptable to the people of Kashmir.” When reminded that since the Agra summit had not achieved anything, Prof Bhat said some hawks in the BJP created problems. As a result, the Agra summit failed. Professor Bhat feels concerned over the problems being faced by Mr Vajpayee. “I am worried about his growing physical infirmity and his loss of grip over the NDA and the BJP.” He said Mr Vajpayee was the most apt political leader to resolve the Kashmir issue. The APHC Chairman said “it is time for both Delhi and Islamabad to realise the gravity of dark clouds hovering over the Kashmir horizon and if the two sides fail to resolve the problem, the threat of using nuke weapons can end both nations.” When told that Delhi had made it clear that unless Pakistan stopped aiding and encouraging crossborder terrorism, there was no question of resuming the Indo-Pakistan dialogue, Prof Bhat said: “the trouble is within. It is the people of Kashmir who demand the settlement of the issue as per their wishes.” In reply to another question, the Hurriyat leader said the next assembly poll would not lead to the resolution of the issue. “We have had many Assembly elections in the past but these hardly resolved the problem. After each election, the problem became further complicated.” Professor Bhat reiterated the APHC resolve to ensure people’s boycott of the next Assembly poll. “We will tell people to not participate in the poll process. We will not force them,” he stated. He ruled out the possibility of the APHC contesting the poll. There was no question of fielding candidates by proxy or sending a “B” team to fight the elections. “The APHC is not a cricket team”, he said. He also wanted the “hawks” within the ruling BJP to realise the ground realities. “It is better for both India and Pakistan to accept the realities. India should accept that Kashmir is a disputed territory”. “Once India accepts Kashmir as a dispute, it is necessary to initiate a dialogue with Pakistan, the said, adding that a “purposeful dialogue is the only way to ward off nuclear war.” To another question, Professor Bhat did not think the conversion of the LoC as a permanent border between India and Pakistan, even after major border adjustments under which some areas in north-west Kashmir could be given to Pakistan, was a good idea. “I am sure this will neither be acceptable to the people of Kashmir, nor to Pakistan.” “Let Delhi give chance to the APHC leadership to explain the contours of the solution it has so that the region became free of tension”, he stated. |
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‘Z’ security for HC judges in J&K Jammu, April 18 The direction was given yesterday by a Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice V.K. Jhanji and Justice B.L. Bhat on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Jatinder Singh Jamwal. The Bench observed that the PIL was pending since 1998 and on several occasions the Advocate-General had submitted that the state government was considering providing “Z” security to judges of the High Court and a committee in this regard had been set up. The Bench said while going through the committee’s report it was found that the judges in the Kashmir valley were placed in “Z” category whereas judges in Jammu in “Y” category. The Chief Justice was placed in “Z” category. The Bench said there was absolutely no justification for placing the judges in “Y” category in view of identical threat perception to them in both Kashmir and Jammu. “The Bench is persuaded to pass this order taking into consideration the recent happenings in and around Jammu city where a number of people have lost their lives,” it said. “In the facts and circumstances of this case, the court is left with no option but to direct the state government to place all judges of the state High Court in Z category as has been done in case of the Chief Justice. This order be complied within one month,” the Bench said. The court took note of criticism of the state government by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the misuse of security-related expenditure for carrying out repair works at houses of ministers, senior government officers, journalists and legislators. It directed the state to place on record the CAG report pertaining to security-related expenditure.
PTI |
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Blasts rock RS Pura
sector Jammu, April 18 According to sources in the BSF, some infiltrators had
crossed into the Indian territory and carried out a series of blasts and after that they may have escaped back into the Pak territory. The sources said this was the fourth such incident during the past one year but “the work on the fencing of the international border will not be stopped.” So far more than 27 km of the international border have been fenced. The troops arrested 130 Bangla nationals who were trying to cross over to Pakistan from Akhnoor subsector today. As the Indian forces spotted a movement at 4 a.m., when it was dark, they ordered the group to stop. Screening of the people revealed that they were from Bangladesh and were going across the border for carrying out harvesting of wheat. Among the arrested were 57 males, 30 females and 43 children. As many as 60 landmine blasts rocked the international boundary along the RS Pura sector of the Jammu region when heavy machine gun (HMG) ‘Tracers’ fired by Pak Rangers triggered serial-explosions after they hit an anti-personnel mine near the Zero Line early this morning. Official sources told UNI here this afternoon that Pakistani Rangers opened HMG fire on forward Indian positions in the Ranbir Singh Pura sector at 5.30 a.m. targeting watch-towers and the adjoining areas between Pittal Post to Chinaz Post. The firing lasted about 35 minutes. The Indian security forces retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for more than two hours. During the fire exchange, the Pakistani Rangers commenced firing ‘Tracers’ from heavy caliber guns to pin the Indians down. And after a lull of about 15 minutes, the Pakistanis fired again from the HMGs and one such bullet pierced the agricultural land and hit an anti-personnel landmine. The mine immediately blew up triggering the serial blasts in the entire area near the Zero Line. So far 60 blasts had occurred and “likelihood of more blasts could not be ruled out’’, the sources said. |
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Gen Patankar takes charge Jammu, April 18 According to an Army release, here, General Patankar, who was awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal during ‘Operation Vijay’, was commissioned in June 1965. He subsequently joined the Parachute Field Regiment. General Patankar is a highly experienced aviator and skilled paratrooper. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, he operated as an Air OP Pilot and commanded the Parachute Field Regiment, the release stated. The officer has held important command and staff appointments. He served as the Brigade Major of an infantry brigade. At the Army Headquarters, he served as a Director at Military Operations Directorate and Additional Director General Perspective Planning. He has commanded a mountain brigade in counter-insurgency operations and later an infantry division engaged in the management of the Line of Control (LoC) and counter proxy war in Kashmir, the release added.
UNI |
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3 ultras killed
in Udhampur Jammu, April 18 On specific information about the presence
of militants, a “seek and destroy” operation was launched in the
area, they said, adding that in the ensuing encounter which lasted for
several hours, three ultras were killed. Troops seized two AK rifles
with some ammunition, a pistol and a radio set. Operation in the
area was continuing to track down other fleeing militants, the sources
said. Meanwhile, an Inspector of the BSF, identified as Parveen
Kumar, injured in militant attack at Gaibas village in Kalakote tehsil
of Rajouri district on April 12, succumbed to his injuries at the Army
Hospital yesterday. SRINAGAR: Militants killed a special police
officer (SPO) and took away three rifles at Bandipora late last night,
officials said today. Militants attacked a security post with
automatic weapons at Laharwalpora Bandipora in north Kashmir killing
Mohammad Ishaq, on the spot. Militants later took away three .303
rifles and other arms and ammunitions from the post. PTI, UNI |
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4 ultras freed for lack of proof New Delhi, April 18 Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) R K Jain discharged Mohammad Manzoor Mir, Mohammad Lateef Hajaam, Abdul Rashid Gojri and Inderjit Singh Bali for want of sanction from the Central government to prosecute them for waging war against the government of India as also for lack of evidence. These four accused have been ordered to be relased. However, the court framed charges against two other JKIF militants Feroze Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Sayed Tantrik, alias Yusuf under Section 121 (Waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against the Government of India), Section 121-A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by Section 121) and Section 120-B (Criminal conspiracy). The two “not guilty” to the charges. The police had arrested Feroze Ahmad Mir and Tantrik on June 20 last from a guest house in the walled city area of Delhi and seized Rs 15 lakh from them. Later rest of the accused were arrested from Chandni Chowk on the basis of their statements. With arrest of JKIF activists, the police had claimed to have frustrated the outfit’s attempts to revive its militant activities in and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
PTI
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