J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

PDF seeks economic package for J&K
Jammu, April 12
Leaders of various political parties and various sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir have started harbouring hopes of a suitable economic and employment package likely to be announced by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, during his two-day visit to the valley starting from April 18.

Dar followers’ no to Salahuddin leadership
Jammu, April 12
For the time being supporters of slain Abdul Majid Dar, former Chief Commander operations of the Hizbul Mujahideen have decided not to work under the leadership of Syed Salahuddin, head of the Pakistan-based United Jehad Council.

Protester killed in police firing
Jammu, April 12
A youth was killed and another injured when the police opened fire to disperse a crowd protesting against the stabbing of a businessman at Jakh village in Jammu district, police sources said today.

Racket in fake appointment letters
Srinagar, April 12
The Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir police claims to have unearthed a fake appointment racket in the Education Department.

Govt to get land vacated
Jammu, April 12
Revenue Minister Hakim Mohammad Yasin today announced that all government land whose 99-year lease has expired would be taken back.

PDF seeks economic package for J&K
Our Correspondent

Jammu, April 12
Leaders of various political parties and various sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir have started harbouring hopes of a suitable economic and employment package likely to be announced by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, during his two-day visit to the valley starting from April 18.

The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stones of the expanded airport terminal and the railway project at Qazigund, inaugurate the Express highway, interact with leaders of trade and industry, address a public rally and attend the convocation of Kashmir University. During the two-day visit the Prime Minister is scheduled to have a detailed discussion with the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, senior functionaries of the Army, the police and the intelligence agencies on the situation prevailing in the valley.

The Peoples’ Democratic Forum, which supports the coalition government headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, has demanded a comprehensive economic and employment package for the people of the troubled state.

In a statement issued here today the chairman of the forum, Mr Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi, wanted that the Prime Minister should announce this package during his two-day visit to Srinagar.

He said since the unemployment and poverty had been one of the reasons for peoples’ alienation it was time for Mr Vajpayee to reveal the contours of some of the measures to redress the grievances of the people failing which the unemployed youth could be lured by militants.

Mr Sofi said the forum also wanted the Prime Minister to declare a unilateral ceasefire which was required for building an atmosphere conducive for carrying out a dialogue with different political groups to the logical conclusion. He said success of the dialogue would be measured in terms of the restoration of peace in the valley. Mr Sofi also demanded that Mr Vajpayee should announce Delhi’s commitment to resume talks with Islamabad for resolving other pending issues.

The state government is said to be preparing a note listing concessions the state deserved for rebuilding the basic infrastructure which had been damaged as a result of prolonged militancy related violence. The list includes compensation in lieu of losses suffered by the state on account of restrictions imposed by the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 on the use of river water for power generation and irrigation.

The experts have conveyed to the Centre that annual losses have touched Rs 6,000 crore. Another demand includes waiving off Rs 1,275 crore Central loan on which the state has to pay Rs 600 crore per year as interest.

Dar followers’ no to Salahuddin leadership
M. L. Kak

Jammu, April 12
For the time being supporters of slain Abdul Majid Dar, former Chief Commander operations of the Hizbul Mujahideen have decided not to work under the leadership of Syed Salahuddin, head of the Pakistan-based United Jehad Council.

Reports from across the border revealed that Asad Yezdi, who was Deputy to Abdul Majid Dar recently crossed over to Muzaffarabad where he attended a meeting of the command council of the faction headed by Dar, before he was killed in Kashmir last month.

Yezdi has sent a message to his supporters in the Kashmir valley that “at the command council meeting it was decided to carry on the armed struggle in consultation with separatist political leaders and diplomatic missions in Delhi and Islamabad.” This indicates that the Dar faction of the Hizbul Mujahideen was not in favour of operating under the command of Syed Salahuddin, Hizb chief.

A fortnight ago supporters of the two factions of the Hizbul Mujahideen exchanged blows in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the police arrested more than six activists of both factions.

The rift between the two factions widened after the killing of Abdul Majid Dar and Saiful Islam, who had replaced Dar in the Hizbul Mujahideen in the Kashmir valley. The two sides traded charges despite the fact that Saiful Islam had been arrested and had lost his life in police custody. The pro Salahuddin supporters held Dar’s followers responsible for the arrest of Saiful Islam saying that the Dar group had given a tip-off to the police that raided and arrested Saif.

Abdul Majid Dar had been expelled from the Hizbul Mujahideen after he announced unilateral ceasefire in July 2,000. Though the ceasefire lasted for eight days he was accused of toeing the pro-India line by adopting the postures of a moderate rebel. He was not alone when the decision on unilateral ceasefire had been taken.

Protester killed in police firing

Jammu, April 12
A youth was killed and another injured when the police opened fire to disperse a crowd protesting against the stabbing of a businessman at Jakh village in Jammu district, police sources said today.

Tension gripped Jakh village last evening when a group of people, led by one Kaka Shah and National Conference activist Hazara Begum, attacked businessman Chander Shekhar with knives injuring him seriously, the police said.

However, Shekhar, who reportedly owed some money to Kaka Shah, was saved by local youths who rushed to his rescue and took him to a hospital.

Later, the angry youths raised slogans and blocked the Jammu-Pathankot highway.

Senior police officials, including the DIG (Jammu-Kathua range), Mr Dilbagh Singh rushed to the spot to pacify the youths but when they refused to disperse despite being lathi-charged and firing of teargas shells till late in the evening, police opened fire in which Bodh Raj was killed and another person injured.

Traffic on the highway was restored at around midnight, the sources said, adding that the police and para-military troops had been deployed in the village to maintain the law and order.

Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Jammu Charanjeet Singh has ordered a probe into the police firing at Jakh village near the Baribrahmana Industrial Area.

The administration has also ordered that the kin of the deceased should be paid Rs 20,000 and that of injured Rs 5,000.

SHO of Vijaypur Abid Hussain Shah has been suspended. PTI, UNI

Racket in fake appointment letters

Srinagar, April 12
The Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir police claims to have unearthed a fake appointment racket in the Education Department.

It has asked the authorities concerned to place the employees, who were allegedly appointed fraudulently, under suspension with immediate effect.

Investigations revealed that Abdul Ahad Magray an employee in the Handicrafts Department, had got six persons recruited in the Education Department with fake appointment orders in 1996-97.

By these orders Gulzar Ahmad and Mohammad Aslam Samoon, along with four others were appointed on the posts of the guard and library assistant in Gurez. The accused had taken Rs 20,000 from them for issuing fake orders.

The Crime Branch had sent these orders to forensic experts who found these to be fake.

The Crime Branch has also informed the Under Secretary, Education, that these appointment orders are fake and asked him to put these employees under suspension with immediate effect.

These employees have been working in the Department of Education for the past six years. UNI

Govt to get land vacated
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 12
Revenue Minister Hakim Mohammad Yasin today announced that all government land whose 99-year lease has expired would be taken back.

Addressing mediapersons here today, the Revenue Minister said the government considered all such land as encroached upon and a drive had been launched to get these vacated. This would constitute a major source of funds for the state government as funds are needed cash-starved hydropower projects, the minister said.

While he has ordered a survey of such land, it is estimated that at lease 10,000 kanals, the lease of which had expired, is located in prime urban areas. Revenue expected from this would range from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 crore.

Senior NC leader quits party

Jammu, April 12
Senior leader of the National Conference (NC) and former Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Govind Ram Sharma resigned from the primary membership of the party alleging that the party had forsaken basic agenda.

Talking to UNI here this afternoon, Mr Sharma said “I have been observing for quite some time that the NC has abandoned its basic agenda and was losing identity leading to party’s diminishing base. Moreover, vested interests are dominating principles of the party.” UNI