J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

CM issue: students flay Mufti
Jammu, October 20
The Jammu Joint Students Federation has criticised the PDP chief, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, for claiming the Chief Minister’s post only because he was from the Kashmir valley. The president of the JJSF, Mr Rajinder Singh Jamwal, who was flanked by Mr Kuldeep Chib, Mr Hari Dutt, Mr Pushpinder Singh and other party leaders told newsmen here today that the Mufti, like other valley-based politicians, “stood exposed” by denying the right to a Jammuite to become the Chief Minister.

Holed-up ultra surrenders
Srinagar, October 20
In a swift action, the Army today forced a Hizbul Mujahideen militant seeking shelter in a mosque to surrender after a brief siege in Badgam district in central Kashmir, official sources said. The militant, Abdul Hamid, laid down his arms when the troops tightened their cordon around the mosque at Ongam in the Beerwah area where he had sneaked in this morning, they said.

CM issue: students flay Mufti
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 20
The Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF) has criticised the PDP chief, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, for claiming the Chief Minister’s post only because he was from the Kashmir valley.

The president of the JJSF, Mr Rajinder Singh Jamwal, who was flanked by Mr Kuldeep Chib, Mr Hari Dutt, Mr Pushpinder Singh and other party leaders told newsmen here today that the Mufti, like other valley-based politicians, “stood exposed” by denying the right to a Jammuite to become the Chief Minister.

The JJSF leaders said the way Kashmiri leaders had been fighting for the Chief Minister’s post “vindicated our stand that the valley-based leaders will aggravate discrimination against Jammu.”

They said as a resident of the state, a senior politician from Jammu or Ladakh had as much right to become the Chief Minister as the Mufti. They said it was irresponsible for the Mufti to stake claim to the Chief Minister’s post when his party had not secured even one sixth of the total seats in the Assembly.

The JJSF leaders announced that if the Chief Minister’s mantle fell on a Kashmiri “we will have no other alternative but to intensify our agitation for securing statehood status for Jammu” because the Jammuites would not tolerate sectarian and regional approach of the PDP leaders. Referring to the Mufti’s agenda for running the government, Mr Rajinder Singh Jamwal said it smacked of “foul play” and could endanger the national interest and security.

He explained that employment for the family members of the militants killed by the security forces, disbanding of the special Operation Group of the police and amnesty for arrested militants were against the national interest and integrity.

He said all political parties should beware of the “dangerous gemeplan” of the PDP and join hands to facilitate a Jammuite to lead a coalition government which would be a healthy change in the state after 55 years.

The JJSF leaders said nowhere in the Constitution it was mentioned that only a Kashmiri politician could become the Chief Minister. He said the valley-based politicians had discriminated against the Jammuites to such an extent that they ignored the recommendations of the Gajaendragadkar Commission which had recommended that in case the Chief Minister was from the valley, the Deputy Chief Minister should be from Jammu or vice versa.

Holed-up ultra surrenders

Srinagar, October 20
In a swift action, the Army today forced a Hizbul Mujahideen militant seeking shelter in a mosque to surrender after a brief siege in Badgam district in central Kashmir, official sources said.

The militant, Abdul Hamid, laid down his arms when the troops tightened their cordon around the mosque at Ongam in the Beerwah area where he had sneaked in this morning, they said.

The sources said troops of 34 Rashtriya Rifles were on a routine patrol in the village when they came under gunfire from the local mosque around 10.30 hours today.

The soldiers retaliated and laid a cordon around the mosque. They then made village elders enter the place of worship to ask the militant hiding inside to vacate it, the sources said, adding that after an hour-long drama, the lone militant came out and surrendered to the Army.

The siege around the mosque was immediately lifted and the militant was taken away for questioning, the sources said.

Militants shot at and critically wounded a security force jawan at the Dalgate bus stand in the city this afternoon. The injured jawan later died in the hospital, he added.

Two civilians also received bullet wounds in the shootout.

Militants struck yet again at Khanyar in the downtown city, critically wounding a police constable near the shrine of Dastigir Sahib this afternoon. The injured constable was admitted to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

Militants also shot dead a class nine student Suhail Ahmad Dar at Kapran in Pulwama district while the body of Riyaz Ahmad Shah, who was abducted by militants a month ago, was found at Ahato Kulgam in Anantnag district today.

Security forces killed three militants belonging to Tehreek-ul- Jehad in an encounter at Dhawan in Rajouri district of the Jammu region last night.

The encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants who were hiding there. Later, three AK rifles, one pistol, 3 UBGLs, 14 magazines, 480 rounds, one grenade, one wireless set and Rs 13,500 were found from the slain militants.

Security forces also gunned down one militant each at Anganpathri and Doligam in separate encounters last night. PTI