J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

VHP’s divisive move endorsed
Jammu, June 24
Accusing the ruling National Conference of attempts at “implementing its secret agenda” of carrying out further ethnic cleansing in parts of the Jammu region on the pattern of the Kashmir valley, the President of the state unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Dr Ramakant Dubey, supported the demand of the VHP for the division of Jammu and Kashmir.

Put off Jammu & Kashmir poll: Cong
Jammu, June 24
The Congress has demanded that the Assembly elections in October be postponed until identity cards to all voters are issued. According to the AICC Secretary, Mr Satyajit Gaekward, issuance of identity cards and holding of the elections under the Governor’s rule were necessary for ensuring free and fair poll. 

Shelling in Kargil, RS Pora
Jammu, June 24
Exchange of shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops continued along the Line of Control and the international border in Kargil and R.S. Pora sectors of Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, official sources said here today.

J&K minister’s house attacked
Baramulla, June 24
Jammu and Kashmir Law Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone’s house was attacked by militants, injuring five CRPF personnel at Sogam in north Kashmir today.

VHP’s divisive move endorsed
M. L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 24
Accusing the ruling National Conference of attempts at “implementing its secret agenda” of carrying out further ethnic cleansing in parts of the Jammu region on the pattern of the Kashmir valley, the President of the state unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Dr Ramakant Dubey, supported the demand of the VHP for the division of Jammu and Kashmir.

He told newsmen here today that dividing the state into four parts was the only way to foil the NC gameplan of carving out an independent state of Kashmir. In this connection, he referred to the speeches of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and that of his son Omar Abdullah and said the demand for greater autonomy was the first step towards independent Kashmir for which the American and the British Government had been lending tacit support.

Dr Dubey said if the VHP had raised the demand for the division of the state, it was, only the outcome of “our worry against the NC plan for ‘Islamisation’ of the state.”

He blamed the National Conference for having harmed the community amity in the state and held it responsible for the exodus of 3.6 lakh Hindus from the Kashmir valley in 1990. He said since the Kashmiri Hindus had no guarantee for an honourable living in the valley, “our demand for a separate homeland which will be centrally administered is justified.”

Asking Delhi to “understand the implications of the hidden agenda of the NC”, the VHP chief demanded the dismissal of the Farooq government. He said if the Centre was keen to ensure a free and fair Assembly poll, the state should be placed under President’s rule.

He lashed out at the National Conference for imposing an entry tax for passenger buses. He said charging an entry fee of Rs 2,000 per bus would affect the pilgrim traffic to Mata Vaishno Devi and Amarnath. He said the NC government had introduced the system of registration counters at only six places in the country. This means the pilgrims would have to travel several hundred kilometres to get themselves registered for the Amarnath pilgrimage. He said it was another instance of the “anti-Hindu policy being pursued by the NC.”

The others who supported the division of the state included the Jammu Mukhti Morcha chief, Prof Virender Gupta, and a Panun Kashmir leader, Dr Ajay Chrungoo. They said division of the state into four states would end regional imbalance and allow Kashmiri Hindus to have a safe place for an honourable living. Professor Gupta said it would also allow Kashmiri Muslims to rule as per their wishes and aspirations.

Dr Chrungoo said, “We have been pressing for a separate homeland for the past over one decade on the plea that it is the only solution to the core Kashmir issue.”

However, the National Conference and the Congress are opposed to it on the plea that it will lead to disintegration of the state on communal lines.

The Union Minister for Food Processing, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, chided Dr Abdullah and his son for making their patriotism conditional. He said it was ridiculous that Mr Omar Abdullah felt hurt that his father was not rewarded with Vice-President’s chair for defending human rights violations in Kashmir in Geneva.

Put off Jammu & Kashmir poll: Cong
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 24
The Congress has demanded that the Assembly elections in October be postponed until identity cards to all voters are issued. According to the AICC Secretary, Mr Satyajit Gaekward, issuance of identity cards and holding of the elections under the Governor’s rule were necessary for ensuring free and fair poll. Mr Gaekward told newspersons here today that the National Conference leadership had started misleading Kashmiris by raking up the demand for the restoration of greater autonomy. He said Dr Abdullah was trying to cover up his failure by raising the autonomy slogan and added that by doing so he was vindicating the stand of the APHC.

The Congress leader said under the Farooq regime, free and fair elections were not possible and hence the Centre should not take any hasty decision. He said all formalities, including the imposition of the Governor’s rule, should be completed and only then the poll schedule be announced. Mr Gaekward criticised the state government for having failed to provide timely relief and ration to border migrants. He said about 350 families in the Mankot area of Poonch had crossed over to Pakistan when they could not got ration or relief. He said the quantum of ration distributed by the Congress to 7,500 migrants in the Poonch area was bigger than the one provided by the government.

Referring to the VHP demand for the vivisection of Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress leader said, “We will oppose it tooth and nail.” He said such a step would promote disintegration not only of the state but also of the country on communal lines. He said the Congress continued to stick to the Sheikh-Indira Accord of 1975.

Shelling in Kargil, RS Pora

Jammu, June 24
Exchange of shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops continued along the Line of Control and the international border in Kargil and R.S. Pora sectors of Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, official sources said here today.

Artillery exchange between the two sides took place in Kargil sector since last evening, without any loss of life or damage to property on the Indian side, the sources said.

Exchange of mortar shelling along the international border also continued in Sangral area of R.S. Pora sector, they said, adding that the exchange of shelling in Sangral area had been continuing for the past two to three days.

The shelling had been resorted to by Pakistani troops in the area as fencing work was going on for some time. “However, there was no casualty or damage on our side and the fencing work was continuing”, the sources said.

In the remaining sectors of the LoC and the border, there had been exchange of small-arms fire in the state, they said, adding that in Jammu and Kathua districts, there had been reduced small-arms intermittent firing exchange at Samba, Arnia, Khour, Akhnoor, Rajbagh and Hiranagar subsectors.

SRINAGAR: Three militants of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba and two of the Hizbul Mujahideen were among six persons killed and eight others were injured while forces captured an ultra and seized some arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman said the Army and Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police gunned down three LeT militants during a fierce clash at Waghat Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara.

He said militants hurled a hand grenade and then opened fire on a police party near Sangloo bridge in Pulwama district, injuring six civilians and two police personnel. The militants managed to escape. One of the injured, Ghulam Rasool Malik, died later in hospital.

Last night, two militants were killed by a joint patrol party of the Army and SOG at Loon Butta near Taran Wali. the slain militants were identified as Tufail and Nizam Din.

Elsewhere, security forces arrested a militant and recovered three rifle grenades, one wireless set and Rs 10 in Nepalese currency at Chak Dangerpora village.

Forces also seized two wireless sets, two pistol magazines, seven rounds and one cassette of the LeT from Banihal. PTI, UNI

J&K minister’s house attacked

Baramulla, June 24
Jammu and Kashmir Law Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone’s house was attacked by militants, injuring five CRPF personnel at Sogam in north Kashmir today.

Official sources said militants threw a hand grenade at the ancestral house of Mr Lone at Sogam in the frontier district of Kupwara. The grenade exploded near the CRPF personnel guarding the house causing injuries to five personnel.

The injured were admitted to hospital. However, two of the seriously injured were shifted to Srinagar.

The sources said the area was immediately cordoned off and a massive hunt had been launched to nab the militants responsible for the attack.