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Saturday,
May 31, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Caught unawares, militants flee hideouts Bashir was sucked into quicksand of militancy Eight killed in valley Respect human rights, Mufti to forces Conclave converted into playing field: Omar Fewer rides for ordinary tourists Cong men litter city with polythene |
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Congress sees no mid-term poll in UP
Mufti’s plea to Punjab CM for J&K youth 4 Vaishno Devi pilgrims killed in mishap Mine blast kills two boys Hospital for industrial workers
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Caught unawares, militants flee hideouts Somewhere near the Line of Control, May 30 Highly-placed intelligence sources told UNI here today that before Operation Sarp Vinash began in Surankote, an estimated 250 to 300 militants were at various hideouts in Hill Kaka and its surrounding areas which lie in the South of Pir Panjal mountains. However, since the commencement of the operation at least 65 militnats have been shot dead and many are on the run. “Caught off-guard by the Army’s sudden attack, the militants had no choice to flee the area, while at least 65 of them have been eliminated so far. These militants now are trying to take refuge in local villages and dumping their weapons to avoid detection by the forces,’’ Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch, Mukesh Singh said. Intelligence agencies have recruited spotters to trace out such militants as they are a potential source of danger even to the local populace, as suicide attacks cannot be ruled out. Some of those who fled Surankote are Pakistanis who are highly trained mercenaries and adept in handling sophisticated weapons, sources said. Seizures like satellite phones from one such hideout amply explain that the militants were technology-savvy and in touch with their mentors across the Line of Control (LoC). A command post ‘dhok’ where all groups coordinated was also busted at Ban Labda adjoining Hill Kaka. Available inputs suggest that there were new recruits in the area forced by the militants to join their ranks, the SSP said. Two boys aged 11 and 13 respectively were rescued from the militants in the course of the operation, he added. The Army launched Operation Sarp Vinash on April 21 and according to available information 40 per cent of the terrain had been sanitised. Hill Kaka is a remote area located in the south of Pir Panjal ranges and is populated only by migrant shepherds. The militants had been frequenting the area comprising thick jungles and snowbound ridges at heights up to 4,000 metres. They reportedly procured rations from the adjoining Surankote town which lies across the Ranjati bridge bordering their habitat. When troops busted their hideouts, they found 7,000 kg of rations besides a stockpile of arms and ammunition, sources said. Hill Kaka was a hub where terrorists of all types infiltrating from Pakistan assembled before being assigned respective missions, they added. Seizures from the hideouts revealed that the militants maintained meticulous records of the arrival of
infiltrators, their addresses, training, education and weapon handling capacity, the sources said.
UNI |
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Bashir was sucked into quicksand of militancy Jammu, May 30 Bashir told mediamen in Poonch that he was picked up by rebels from his house in a village in Surankot two years ago and sent to Pakistan for receiving training in the handling of weapons. He received training at Kotli training centre. After returning from Kabul he was pushed into the Jammu sector for joining those engaged in Jehad.
However, within short time he was thrown out of the Lashkar-e-Toiba as “its activists did not trust local youths”. Though I was allowed to return to my village, I did not do so fearing death from security forces”. He said, adding “I approached the field commanders of the Jamait ul Mujahidin who accepted me in the outfit.” Bashir was one among scores of militants who carved out a sanctuary for rebels in the Hil Kaka area in Surankot. “When the Indian troops launched Operation Sarap Vinash I fought with my weapons,” he said. “I along with several rebels escaped from the Hill Kaka area after more than 35 rebels were killed in the operation, “he said adding that “many among us trekked to neighbouring Rajouri and some crossed into Pulwama district”. He said “when I was receiving training in arms there were 4500 trainees in the centre at Kotli and adjoining areas and the training was being imparted by the ISI experts and some agencies”. He said that “in Pakistan we were told that Kashmiri youths had launched a Jehad against India in the state for getting Kashmir incorporated with Pakistan”. He and three other rebels, who are in police custody, said “we have found that it is not Jehad but Fasad”. “The way militants have been killing innocent people and indulging in extortion we have felt dismayed over their activities”, they lamented. “I have realised the futility of the so called Jehad and I prefer death as an Indian to any link with the rebels,” Bashir said. The SSP Poonch said militants had established bases in 35 villages in the Hill Kaka area and all these bases have been demolished. He said efforts were on to motivate rebels to lay down arms. |
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Eight killed in valley Srinagar, May 30 Two civilians, Javed Ahmad Naik and Mohammad Ramzan, of the Kulgam area were killed in a mine explosion in the Dregpathri Behak forest area in Anantnag district yesterday. Some militants kidnapped and subsequently shot dead one person, Mohammad Sharief, in the Kulgam area in Anantnag district last night. One person, Mohammad Shafi Mir, was shot dead by some gunmen in the Asham Sonawari area in Baramulla district. Security forces busted a militant hideout at Banihal and recovered an IED fitted in a pressure cooker and some edible items. The police today recovered one AK rifle, three magazines, 35 rounds and one wireless set from the Choudhary Nar area in Rajouri district, while 24 UBGL grenades, one UBGL, one set of binoculars, 25 remote control devices, 3 metre of cordex wire and four batteries were recovered from Dudasan Pain. Two militants surrendered before the police at Doda and handed over two AK rifles, six magazines, 180 rounds, two hand grenades and a wireless set. JAMMU: At least two children were killed when some ultras triggered a blast at the Anardana area in Thanamandi sector of Rajouri on Friday afternoon. Official sources said according to initial reports received here, a group of people were sitting near a tea stall when the ultras triggered the blast, killing two children on the spot. Several persons were also wounded in the blast. Two youth were killed when a rocket fired by security forces to target militants hit a mud house in Thanamandi mountainous belt of Rajouri district on Friday afternoon, official sources said here. During an operation to track down militants, the security forces fired some rockets to target a group of militants in Thanamandi forest, the sources said. The rockets missed intended target and one hit a mud house killing two youth, the sources said. The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Sarfaraz and Mohammad Jameel, the sources said. |
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Respect human rights, Mufti to forces Srinagar, May 30 Chairing a joint meeting of the Unified Command here last evening Mr Sayeed directed the police and security forces to ensure that civilians were protected from the senseless acts of militants. He said human rights violations during counter-insurgency operations should be avoided even in the most difficult circumstances by educating security personnel at the ground level. Appreciating the security forces for their hard work, he said the number of rights violation incidents have gone down substantially. “But people expect more from us as they do not want a single such incident to occur,” Mr Sayeed said. He also stressed the need for greater coordination between various agencies and administration at all levels to enlist cooperation of people in combating militancy. He said security forces, besides dealing with militancy with iron hand, were also undertaking civic action programmes. “Fight against the militancy will continue and at the same time we have to address the problems of the people,” he said.
UNI |
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Conclave converted into playing field: Omar Jammu, May 30 The president of the National Conference, Mr Omar Abdullah, said in Akhnoor today that Srinagar had been converted into a playing field by the Congress and the BJP. He said that if Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee addresses a public rally in Srinagar, Ms Sonia Gandhi would do it in Baramulla or elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir. “Good hotels in Kashmir will have some occupancy. Such conferences will boost tourist traffic to Kashmir,” Mr Omar Abdullah told newsmen. He stated that after some time “you will have series of conferences organised by the Congress and the BJP in Jammu. In reply to another question, the NC president slightly retracted from his earlier stand when he had stated that with the support of 18 Congress and PDP MLAs the National Conference would form the government. He said there was no need to topple the Congress-PDP government. It would fall under its own weight. Mr Omar made it clear that his party had not been keen to retain power. Had it been the case, we would have formed the government in November last with the support of the Congress. The party provincial president, Mr Ajay Sadhotra, had organised a convention in Akhnoor, where Mr Omar Abdullah criticised the coalition government’s performance, saying “each partner was trying to pull in different directions”. He said the Panthers Party, which is a major partner in the coalition government, had launched a frontal attack on another partner, the Congress. However, the separatists caused a surprise in the political circles in the state when they did not issue a call for Kashmir Bandh on the day the conclave began. Usually the All-Party Hurriyat Conference has been in the forefront of issuing such calls. In recent weeks it had given a call for Kashmir Bandh when Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid a two-day visit to Srinagar last month. The Hurriyat gave a call for the Kashmir Bandh when the Government of India’s interlocutor reached Srinagar. According to information, recently two top separatist leaders, Molvi Umar Farooq and Mohd Yasin Malik, had met several Opposition leaders, including Ms Sonia Gandhi and Mr V.P. Singh, in Delhi. Possibly they did not want to cause any annoyance to Ms Sonia Gandhi when she reached Srinagar to preside over the Congress conclave. One Hurriyat leader refused to comment on it and said “our fight is with the establishment in Delhi as we want the settlement of the Kashmir issue through negotiations”. |
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Fewer rides for ordinary tourists Srinagar, May 30 Mr Ghulam Hassan, president of a Shikara association, said that about 5000 boats were not being allowed to move because of the Congress visitors. He said that a good number of tourists had arrived here from Gujarat, Maharashatra and other places in the past 10 days. Ghulam Mohammad Dar, a house boat owner said that the recent shooting of a film in the Dal Lake had encouraged tourists. |
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Cong men litter city with polythene Srinagar, May 30 More than 3 lakh polythene buntings, two lakh paper posters and 20,000 cloth banners have been put up in the city for the past two days with authorities not only witnessing as mute spectators but also facilitating and assisting the Congress workers deface the city. PCC sources said it received a huge consignment of buntings, posters and banners last week, for which orders were placed a month ago, adding Congress workers and Seva Dal members hoisted these buntings from Srinagar airport to the venue of the conclave. The buntings, posters and banners have also been put up in the green belt in the Dal Lake where use of banners, flags or polythene buntings is prohibited, prompting environmentalists to say they feel polythene would go in the lake if not disposed of after the event. All posters and other such material had been removed from the public places and road signs recently by the government but today the very same poles and road signs were pasted with posters of Sonia Gandhi. A two-day conclave of Congress Chief Ministers is being held in the city from today. PTI |
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Congress sees no mid-term poll in UP Srinagar, May 30 Mr Khursheed’s statement comes close on the heels of withdrawal of support by 14 member Rashtriya Lok Dal to the Mayawati Government. Both Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and RLD chief Ajit Singh, who recently quit the Union Cabinet, had separate meetings with Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the last two days. Mayawati is on a foreign tour. |
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Virbhadra for regional cooperation Srinagar, May 30 Mr Virbhadra Singh, who was talking to mediapersons here, said the pace of development could be further accelerated in case the states join hands. He said it would be his endeavour to see that the relations among the northern states were cordial. The Chief Minister reiterated that his government would come down heavily on corrupt elements in the state. A high-level committee had been set up to probe the granting of various hydroelectric projects to private parties by the previous BJP government. He said his government would not indulge in witch-hunting, but would not spare any one who was found involved in corruption. However, those persons would be prosecuted against whom the evidence was sufficient to stand the legal scrutiny. He said vigil had been strengthened in areas of Himachal Pradesh bordering terrorist-hit regions of Jammu and Kashmir. A constant touch was being maintained by the police of two states to prevent infiltration of terrorists. Mr Virbhadra Singh said he had last visited here in mid-1970s but it was unfotunate that terrorism had badly tarnished the Kashmiriat and he hoped that it would be a passing phase. |
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Mufti’s plea to Punjab CM for J&K youth Srinagar, May 30 Mr Sayeed also discussed the sharing of Ravi water with Captain Amarinder Singh as per the agreement between the two neighbouring states. Mr Sayeed also stressed for the early completion of the over-delayed Shahpur Kandi barrage so that the state could draw its share of water for irrigation. The two leaders, who met here this morning, also discussed strategies for the promotion of tourism in the twin states. Mr Sayeed requested his Punjab counterpart to help Jammu and Kashmir in promoting tourism, the backbone of the state’s economy. Amarinder Singh, who is here to attend the Congress Chief Ministers’ two-day meeting, assured to expedite work on the Shahpur Kandi barrage. He said quick action would be taken to resolve other issues also, an official spokesman said. Several other issues between the two neighbouring states also came under discussion during the 45-minute meeting, spokesman added.
UNI |
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4 Vaishno Devi pilgrims killed in mishap Jammu, May 30 The jeep carrying the pilgrims, who had paid obeisance at the cave shrine, was on way to Madhya Pradesh when it crashed into a truck on the highway last night, the police said. While four pilgrims died on the spot, seven others were injured, three of them seriously, and were hospitalised. The deceased have been identified as Parvati Devi, Kalawanti, Dolabhai, and driver Gopal, the sources said.
PTI |
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Mine blast kills two boys Jammu, May 30 According to the police, the two boys were working in a maize field when they were trapped in a mine explosion. The mines had been laid by the Army as part of their anti-infiltration plan. A helicopter was rushed from Jammu to bring the two wounded boys to the Medical college but before the copter landed both of them had succumbed to their injuries. |
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Hospital for industrial workers Jammu, May 30 The Rs 4.50 crore hospital, to be handed over by the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) to the Labour Department will be made as model hospital with all medical facilities for the industrial workers. The project will be completed in a phased manner.
PTI |
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