J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Two LeT commanders among 7 killed in J&K
Srinagar, December 26
A self-styled divisional commander and a financial chief of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed by the security forces at Ganderbal on the outskirts of Srinagar early today.

21 quit BJP, form Prajya Parishad
Jammu, December 26
The state unit of the BJP suffered a split when more than 21 leaders of the party today resigned to form Prajya Parishad, which under the leadership of Mr Premnath Dogra, had crossed swords with the tallest Kashmiri politician, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, from 1950 onwards.

Two LeT commanders among 7 killed in J&K

Srinagar, December 26
A self-styled divisional commander and a financial chief of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed by the security forces at Ganderbal on the outskirts of Srinagar early today.

Elsewhere in the state five persons, including three militants, were killed while security forces recovered arms and ammunition during overnight operations.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said that troops on a specific information cordoned off Haptnar village near Khandabal in the Ganderbal area early this morning to nab the militants, who were reportedly planning to carry out attacks on security forces.

He said as the troops were sealing the area, the militants fired upon them with automatic weapons.

Troops returned the fire and in the two-hour long encounter two militants were killed.

The slain militants were later identified as Abu Abdullah, alias Saddam, alias Muslim, self-styled divisional commander of the LeT for Bandipora tehsil, and Abu Hataf, alias M2, alias Lala, financial chief of the LeT, for Bandipora tehsil.

Both slain militants were Pakistanis, the spokesman said and added that two AK rifles, one satellite phone, one wireless set, seven magazines, four grenades, three meters of cordex wire and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

The spokesman said that unidentified militants shot dead one Ghulam Nabi Khan at Bandipora market this afternoon.

Security forces recovered one kg of RDX, one wireless set, one hand grenade, a mobile phone and six audio cassettes during overnight operations in Baramula and Anantnag districts.

A report from Jammu said that security forces, acting on a tip-off, cordoned off Majmi village near Dessa in Doda district today.

As the troops were conducting their search operations, the militants opened fire forcing the soldiers to retaliate. In the ensuing encounter that lasted over three hours, the troops shot dead two militants.

Troops were still continuing search operation in the area, till reports last came in. The identity of the slain militants is yet to be ascertained.

Today, the police recovered the body of Mohammad Bashir from Dhanwar Nallah while Khalid Ahmad managed to escape from the clutches of abductors, the spokesman said. Militants kidnapped two persons — Mohammad Bashir and Khalid Ahmad — from Dhanwakote village in Rajouri district late last night.

A militant of Harkat-ul-Jehad-Islami, Altaf Hussain, alias Majid, was killed in a group clash at Kishtwar last night, he said.

Security forces recovered seven hand grenades, three anti-tank grenades, one mine, one IED, 10 detonators, one pistol with 12 rounds from a militant hideout at Keeri in frontier district of Rajouri last evening, he said. — UNI

21 quit BJP, form Prajya Parishad
M.L. Kak

Jammu, December 26
The state unit of the BJP suffered a split when more than 21 leaders of the party today resigned to form Prajya Parishad, which under the leadership of Mr Premnath Dogra, had crossed swords with the tallest Kashmiri politician, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, from 1950 onwards.

Among the prominent leaders who revived the Prajya Parishad, which had merged with the Jana Sangh in 1965,included Mr Chander Mohan Sharma, Mr Rishi Kumar Koushal, a former MLA, Mr Sohan Lal, Mr Rajiv Chuni, Haji Sardar Mohammad, Mr Mukund Lal, and Mr Bishan Dogra, son of late Premnath Dogra.

At a meeting held here today, Mr Chander Mohan Sharma was installed as the president of the organisation. He was authorised by a large group of supporters and members of the Prajya Parishad to constitute the working committee and nominate office-bearers.

Mr Sharma, who was the vice-president of the BJP, said, "We were left with no other option but to revive the parishad when the leadership of the BJP had ignored our plea for the reconstitution of the organisation".

He made it clear that "our aim is not to set up a parallel unit to the BJP but function as an independent and secular organisation.

He said a committee would be constituted to frame the constitution of the Parishad. He added that, "Our doors are to remain open for people belonging to different communities".

Inside reports said that the old problem of dissidence took a turn when six leaders of the BJP were suspended on the charge of anti-party activities. Dr Nirmal Singh, president of the state unit of the BJP, issued a show cause notice to the suspended leaders. Two of the six leaders sent their replies to the show cause notice.

In the meantime the matter was referred to the party's disciplinary committee four months ago. The committee endorsed the decision of the party leadership to suspend the six leaders.

Thereafter, Mr Sharma sent a detailed report to the party high command in Delhi listing several charges against the BJP state unit president, Dr Nirmal Singh, and his close associates. He remained in touch with Mr Arun Jaitley, who had assured him that the suspension notice might be revoked. He had suggested to Mr Sharma to get in touch with Mr Manohar Lal, in charge of BJP affairs in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Sharma felt that Mr Manohar Lal was supporting Dr Nirmal Singh. Two days ago Mr Madan Lal Khurana tried to persuade Mr Sharma against reviving the Prajya Parishad but the latter refused to budge if the BJP unit in Jammu and Kashmir was not reconstituted immediately.

Since Mr Khurana informed Mr Sharma that such an important decision could not be taken by one man, the latter stuck to his plan of floating the parishad.