J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Efforts on to re-unite Hizb factions
Jammu, May 7
Efforts have been revived in Pakistan for bringing about reconciliation in the two factions of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, one led by Syed Salahuddin and the other by Assad Yezdani. Reports from across the border indicate that senior Jamait-e-Islami leaders in Pakistan have stepped in to remove differences between the two.

‘Inform Army about ultras’
Thana-Mandi (Rajouri), May 7
Lt-Gen T.P.S. Brar, GOC 16 Corps, today warned the residents of this border town against providing shelter to the Pakistani terrorists who have fled here due to the pressure being mounted on them by the Army in the Surankot, Bafliaz and Hilkaka areas of the Poonch district.

Tasting freedom after 4 months

Thana-Mandi (Rajouri), May 7 Tears rolled down the cheeks of Bashir and Gulzar as the Army today handed over their sons Maqbool Hussain and Altaf after rescuing them from Pakistani terrorists, who had kidnapped them for being taken across the border for arms’ training.

14-year-old Maqbool Hussain meets with his father Mohd Bashir after being rescued by the Army, at Thanamandi in Rajouri on Wednesday. — PTI PHOTO

Villagers block road
Rajouri, May 7
As many as 700 villagers blocked the Rajouri-Thanamandi road today protesting against the beating of some civilians by security forces during cordon and search operations at Behrot.

3,740-cr plan for forces okayed
Jammu, May 7
The Centre has approved a Rs 3,740-crore plan for the modernisation of weaponry, machinery, transport, communication, surveillance, night vision and training of the central paramilitary forces.

Efforts on to re-unite Hizb factions
Our Correspondent

Jammu, May 7
Efforts have been revived in Pakistan for bringing about reconciliation in the two factions of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, one led by Syed Salahuddin and the other by Assad Yezdani. Reports from across the border indicate that senior Jamait-e-Islami leaders in Pakistan have stepped in to remove differences between the two.

In fact the Hizbul Mujahideen had faced a split after its commander-in-chief (operations), Abdul Majid Dar had announced a unilateral ceasefire about two years ago. Though the ceasefire lasted for not more than eight days Syed Salahuddin, Abdul Majid Dar and his four lieutenants were expelled.

The rift deepend when Dar was eliminated and pro-Salahuddin commander Saiful Islam was killed by the security forces. This led to anti-Salahuddin demonstrations in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir with supporters of Dar getting engaged in a brawl with the followers of Salahuddin. Peace was restored after the Pakistani authorities arrested 15 Hizbul Mujuahideen activists, of which seven belonged to the Dar faction.

Reports said Jamaat leaders and other fundamentalists have been meeting Salahuddin and Asad Yezdani, who is also in Pakistan, for bringing the two factions together, which had become necessary after the US Government banned the Hizbul Mujahideen along with the Jamait-ul-Mujahideen and Al-Badr, dubbing them terrorist outfits.

It was out of the fear of the US anger that Syed Salahuddin welcomed the peace initiative taken by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan’s positive response to it when his political mentor in Kashmir Syed Ali Shah Geelani criticised Pakistan for having adopted a soft stand on Kashmir by agreeing to discuss trade and travel with India.

The Jamait-ul-Mujahideen like Mr Geelani have fears that under the US pressure Pakistan may agree to the proposal of converting the LoC into a permanent border between the two countries.

But at present the Hurriyat Conference leaders are trying to mount pressure on Islamabad and Delhi for starting talks. It is in this context that the Hurriyat leaders, while welcoming the new peace initiative have been favouring tripartite talks on the plea that bilateral parleys in the past have failed to settle the Kashmir issue.

Indications are that neither Delhi nor Islamabad my oblige the Hurriyat leaders.

‘Inform Army about ultras’
Tribune News Service

Thana-Mandi (Rajouri), May 7
Lt-Gen T.P.S. Brar, GOC 16 Corps, today warned the residents of this border town against providing shelter to the Pakistani terrorists who have fled here due to the pressure being mounted on them by the Army in the Surankot, Bafliaz and Hilkaka areas of the Poonch district.

General Brar was addressing a gathering of the local residents here. He urged them to persuade the local terrorists to surrender before the Army which would take every possible step to get them adjusted in some job. However, no mercy would be shown to the foreign mercenaries, he warned.

He said that about 70 per cent terrorists operating in Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts were of foreign origin, including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said six battalions of the Territorial Army were being raised in Jammu and Kashmir in which the local youth would be recruited.

Tasting freedom after 4 months
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Thana-Mandi (Rajouri), May 7
Tears rolled down the cheeks of Bashir and Gulzar as the Army today handed over their sons Maqbool Hussain and Altaf after rescuing them from Pakistani terrorists, who had kidnapped them for being taken across the border for arms’ training.

They had remained in the captivity of the terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba for over four months. The Army freed the boys during an encounter at Hilkaka in Poonch district.

Lieut-Gen T.P.S. Brar, GOC, 16 Corps, restored these boys to their parents at a simple ceremony in the border town in which the civil officers of the district and a large number of local residents were also present.

It was nightmare for Maqbool and Altaf who were made to trek through the forests for many days and made to stay in some underground hide-outs. Maqbool said he had lost hope of meeting to his parents.

Maqbool (14), a student of class VIII, was kidnapped on January 7, while Altaf (13) was kidnapped on February 3. They said they were given lecturers on Islam daily.

These boys said four other boys of Pangai village were also kidnapped by the terrorists, but their whereabouts were not known after the encounter.

Maqbool said initially the terrorists threatened to kill him as they suspected him to be a police informer. He said a group comprising 40 terrorists was engaged in the kidnappings.

He said he was unable to identify the places where he was taken because his face was covered with a cloth. But they said at times the LeT men used to interact with ultras of other outfits, including that of Al-Badr and Hizbul Mujaheedin, regarding attacks at various places.

Maqbool added that he was badly beaten up when he once tried to escape from the captivity of the terrorists.

Villagers block road

Rajouri, May 7
As many as 700 villagers blocked the Rajouri-Thanamandi road today protesting against the beating of some civilians by security forces during cordon and search operations at Behrot. The villagers were protesting against the alleged beating of four persons and wounding of one in firing early today, sources said.

They were demanding the registration of an FIR and probe by the government into the incident, sources said, adding that the cordoning and search operations were launched after the killing of Major A.K. Dubey in a nearby forest area last night. PTI

3,740-cr plan for forces okayed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 7
The Centre has approved a Rs 3,740-crore plan for the modernisation of weaponry, machinery, transport, communication, surveillance, night vision and training of the central paramilitary forces.

The allocation is for five years in order to modernise the paramilitary forces to meet the challenge of terrorism.