J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

No ceasefire during Ramzan, says J&K Governor
Baramulla, October 27
Ruling out any unilateral ceasefire during Ramzan, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lieut-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), today said the government would put its operations on hold if militants stopped their activities during the period.

Unilateral ceasefire not possible, says Sinha
Baramulla, October 27
Rejecting suggestions for a unilateral Ramzan ceasefire, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt-Gen Sinha today said it was not feasible as the neighbouring country was continuing cross border infiltration into the state.

Partial response to bandh, Hurriyat leaders arrested
Srinagar, October 27
Life was partially affected in the valley today in response to separatists’ bandh call against the landing of the Indian Army in Kashmir on this day in 1947. Over 50 demonstrators were taken into preventive custody this morning.

Hizb military adviser shot
Srinagar, October 27
A self-styled military adviser of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Saif-ul-Rehman Bajwa, alias Saiful Engineer, was killed in an encounter with the police here today, a senior police officer said.

Infantry Day celebrated Srinagar, October 27 Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Finance and Planning Muzaffar Hussain Baig today hailed the recent initiative of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to end hostilities between India and Pakistan and urged the security forces to complement these efforts by winning over the people of the state. Soldiers of the Sikh Regiment bow their heads as mark of respect to fallen colleagues at a ceremony to mark Infantry Day in Baramula, 54 km north of Srinagar, on Monday . — Reuters photo

15 kg of charas seized from bus
Jammu, October 27
The police today recovered 15 kg of charas from a passenger bus during checking on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Batote, 120 km from here, police sources said.

No ceasefire during Ramzan, says J&K Governor

Baramulla, October 27
Ruling out any unilateral ceasefire during Ramzan, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lieut-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), today said the government would put its operations on hold if militants stopped their activities during the period.

‘’Unilateral ceasefires only give the militants a breathing period to regroup and reorganise, which we would not allow them to do. If militants stop their actions, we can also put our operations on hold,’’ General Sinha said while speaking at a function organised by the Army here to commemorate the sacrifices made by the soldiers and the people of the Kashmir valley while fighting the Pakistani raiders in October, 1947.

‘’Today again the Army is fighting a proxy war unleashed by the enemy from across the border,’’ he said and added with optimism that it would come out victorious in its ongoing war against terror.

Narrating his experience of the 1947 war in Kashmir, in which he himself participated as an Army officer, General Sinha said it was a joint effort of the Army, Air Force and the people of Kashmir which saved the valley from the wrath of the tribesmen.

He also paid glowing tributes to Brig Rajinder Singh, Lieut-Col Dwaqn Ranjit Roy, Maqbool Sherwani and other martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting the invaders and presented mementos to the civilians and retired soldiers who played a vital role in the 1947 war. — UNI

Unilateral ceasefire not possible, says Sinha

Baramulla, October 27
Rejecting suggestions for a unilateral Ramzan ceasefire, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt-Gen Sinha today said it was not feasible as the neighbouring country was continuing cross border infiltration into the state.

“Unilateral ceasefire during the Muslim fasting month of Ramzan is not feasible as we have experienced in the past. The militants will use the opportunity to strengthen their position,” Mr Sinha told reporters after addressing jawans on the occasion of Infantry Day.

Asserting that any ceasefire had to be bilateral, Mr Sinha said “if there are no infiltrators from the neighbouring country, we will have no need to open fire.”

National Conference chief Omar Abdullah had on October 24 advocated a graded dialogue with Pakistan and demanded a Ramzan ceasefire while asking the Centre to invite all separatists organisations for talks to resolve Kashmir problem.

Maintaining that infiltration was going on, Mr Sinha said, “we are fighting infiltration. Everyday media reports killing of 10-12 persons including six to seven militants while trying to sneak into our territory...this has become a routine.”

Mr Sinha said new gadgets acquired by the Army had helped in curbing infiltration on the Line of Control. “The results achieved by the security forces indicate that we will be able to overcome the problem.”

Welcoming India’s slew of peace proposals to Pakistan, Mr Sinha said one-sided efforts to normalise ties between the two neighbours would bear no fruit and expressed hope that Pakistan would respond positively to them. — PTI

Partial response to bandh, Hurriyat leaders arrested
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 27
Life was partially affected in the valley today in response to separatists’ bandh call against the landing of the Indian Army in Kashmir on this day in 1947. Over 50 demonstrators were taken into preventive custody this morning.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and vehicles plied on roads. Some educational institutions and government offices were closed.

Those arrested included several leaders of the Hurriyat Conference and the Awami Action Committee of the Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, a constituent of the APHC. The chairman of a section of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, said the response to the bandh was good.

He condemned the arrest of nearly 40 of his supporters while taking out “peaceful marches” in the Lal Chowk area.

He said India had failed in fulfilling its promise at the national and international levels to resolve the Kashmir issue. He reiterated the APHC stand on the grant of right of self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and resolution of the issue under UN resolutions.

He also flayed the claims of the Government of India for being the largest democracy in the world. “We do not see any signs of democracy here. We are facing the barbaric Indian forces and authorities”, he said. Copies of a memorandum addressed to the UN Secretary-General were distributed to mediapersons.

Several functions were held here and at Baramula in connection with the Infantry Day celebrations today. The Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), laid floral wreaths on the memorial at Baramula this morning. He was accompanied by senior government functionaries, besides Lt-Gen Nirbhay Sharma, GOC, 15 Corps. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the JAKLI Centre here and tribute were paid to those who had sacrificed their lives.

Hizb military adviser shot

Srinagar, October 27
A self-styled military adviser of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Saif-ul-Rehman Bajwa, alias Saiful Engineer, was killed in an encounter with the police here today, a senior police officer said.

Terming the killing of the top militant, a resident of Pakistan, as a major success, DGP Gopal Sharma told reporters that acting on a tip-off, the police raided the Noorbagh-Palpora area at around 3 am and asked the militant to surrender. However, he opened fire and in the ensuing encounter, he was killed.

One AK rifle, four magazines, 73 rounds, a grenade and a wireless set were recovered. — PTI

Infantry Day celebrated
Tribune Reporters and UNI

Srinagar, October 27
Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Finance and Planning Muzaffar Hussain Baig today hailed the recent initiative of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to end hostilities between India and Pakistan and urged the security forces to complement these efforts by winning over the people of the state.

Addressing a function to celebrate Infantry Day organised by the Army at Baramula today, he said, ‘‘We have to together take upon ourselves the great national task of ending the alienation of the people whose lives have been ravaged by violence and they witness only death and destruction around them every day’’.

He added that the Army had an added responsibility in this task as it has to fight militancy.

Mr Baig called upon the Army to uphold human rights while fighting militancy and to try to avoid any trouble to the civilians.

15 kg of charas seized from bus

Jammu, October 27
The police today recovered 15 kg of charas from a passenger bus during checking on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Batote, 120 km from here, police sources said.

Acting on a tip-off, the police set up checking points on the highway and intercepted a passenger bus of the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) on its way to Jammu at Batote in Doda district this morning, the sources said.

During checking, 15 kg of charas was recovered from under the seats of the vehicle, the sources said.

However, nobody was arrested as the narcotic smuggler had given slip to cops before the search, they said, adding a case had been registered in this connection. — PTI