J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Consensus eludes separatists
Srinagar, November 19
A meeting of separatist leaders called by former Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to rope in dissidents within the APHC ended here this evening without reaching any conclusion.

Nadimarg survivors await relief
Jammu, November 19
Even after 8 months the survivors of the Nadimarg carnage are running from pillar to post for the relief and rehabilitation. Of the 31 survivors who migrated here none has been accommodated in the migrant camps.

Tension in Ganderbal over killing of youth
Srinagar, November 19
Tension gripped Ganderbal township on the outskirts of the city today following the death of a youth allegedly at the hands of the security forces at Nunar village last night.

Security forces save abandoned militant
Baramula, November 19
It was rebirth for a snowbitten foreign militant who was spotted by security forces after being abandoned by other infiltrators near the Line of Control in the Gurez Sector

Consensus eludes separatists
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 19
A meeting of separatist leaders called by former Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to rope in dissidents within the APHC ended here this evening without reaching any conclusion.

The leaders would meet again after the Id celebrations, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said after six-hour-long meeting held at the headquarters of the Awami Action Committee, Mirwaiz Manzil at Rajouri Kadal. He said all leaders were of the view that it was a crucial time and there was need to reunite by sinking all differences. The meeting followed individual meetings of the Mirwaiz with several separatist leaders of both factions of the APHC.

A senior separatist leader and chief of the J and K Democratic Freedom Party, Shabir Ahmad Shah, was among those who attended the meeting. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads another APHC faction, and Mohammad Yaseen Malik were conspicuous by their absence. Out of the 27 members, to whom the invitation was extended for the meeting, only 22 turned up, said Umar Farooq.

Mirwaiz was appointed by the Hurriyat executive body to hold negotiations with these groups and leaders following the decision of the former Chairman and senior Jamaat leader, Geelani.

Meanwhile, the general council meeting of the Hurriyat Conference to decide on the offer of talks by the Centre will be held at the party headquarters here tomorrow. If necessary, this will be followed by the executive committee meeting, said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Nadimarg survivors await relief
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 19
Even after 8 months the survivors of the Nadimarg carnage are running from pillar to post for the relief and rehabilitation. Of the 31 survivors who migrated here none has been accommodated in the migrant camps.

Of the total number of 55 Pandits residing in Nadimarg, 24 were mercilessly killed by terrorists on March 24 this year.

Chuni Lal, one of the survivors, said that initially the authorities were reluctant to allow them to migrate here, but they managed.

Ramesh Kumar, whose five family members were shot by terrorists, lamented that although the deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, had promised help, but nothing has come from the Centre or the State government.

Chuni Lal claimed that not a single survivor of the Nadimarg carnage had so far been given government jobs.

The Commissioner for Relief and Rehabilitation says that he had received instructions a few days ago to put up these victims in private houses. All facilities being given to others would also be extended to the migrants from Nadimarg, he added.

Tension in Ganderbal over killing of youth

Srinagar, November 19
Tension gripped Ganderbal township on the outskirts of the city today following the death of a youth allegedly at the hands of the security forces at Nunar village last night.

Over 2,000 protesters carrying the body of the deceased Abdul Hamid Baba staged a dharna at Beehama Chowk demanding an inquiry into what they called “cold-blooded” murder, official sources said.

Baba, a resident of Nunar, was killed in cross-firing last night when he went out to search a missing goat, the police said and held unidentified gunmen responsible for his killing.

Alleging that Baba was killed by the security forces who had laid an ambush for militants in the village, the residents said the troops fired at him without knowing his identity.

Shops in Ganderbal and adjoining areas also remained closed in view of the protest demonstration, the sources said. — PTI

Security forces save abandoned militant

Baramula, November 19
It was rebirth for a snowbitten foreign militant who was spotted by security forces after being abandoned by other infiltrators near the Line of Control (LOC) in the Gurez Sector.

Baki was waiting for his death when a security force patrol noticed him and brought him to the base camp. The militant was given treatment at the camp before he was handed over to the police. — UNI