J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Political initiative needed to resolve allied issues: Gen Vij
Jammu, January 6
The Army Chief, Gen. N.C.Vij, while claiming that military part of tackling insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir “has been completed” following decline in the militancy-related violence said that political initiative was required to resolve allied issues.

4 militants killed in J&K
Srinagar, January 6
Security forces killed four militants, arrested one and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition while five persons, including three CRPF personnel, were injured in a grenade attack in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

4 Army men killed in avalanche
Srinagar, January 6
Four Army personnel were killed and another seriously injured when an avalanche hit a patrolling party along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said today.

JKLF blood donation camp for
tsunami victims
Srinagar, January 6
Over 150 persons donated blood at a camp organised here by separatist outfit Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front for tsunami victims. The camp was held at JKLF headquarters at Maisuma here and senior JKFLF leaders joined the locals to donate blood for the victims of the killer waves.

BJP threatens to boycott civic poll
Jammu, January 6
The state unit of the BJP has threatened to boycott the ensuing civic elections in Jammu and Kashmir if the Chief Electoral Officer did not take measures for ensuring free and fair poll. According to the BJP vice-president, Dr Hari Om, the ruling coalition “is out to rig the elections to the local bodies with the help of the state election authorities.”

Political initiative needed to resolve allied issues:
Gen Vij
M.L.Kak

Jammu, January 6
The Army Chief, Gen. N.C.Vij, while claiming that military part of tackling insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir “has been completed” following decline in the militancy- related violence said that political initiative was required to resolve allied issues.

General Vij told mediapersons soon after laying the foundation stone of the war memorial today that “our operations will continue whereever they were required” and added that already the political initiative was on the cards with the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, having decided to start talks with various political groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

In reply to a question, the Army Chief said further reduction in the troops would depend on the situation and “whatever de-induction had been done after taking into account the security environment.”

He said de-induction would not be done at the cost of security of the state.

In reply to a question, he said by reducing the strength of troops “we have conveyed the message of friendship to the concerned quarters.”

General Vij ruled out joint exercises on the LoC with Pakistan for the time being. He, however, disclosed that China had favourably responded to India’s suggestion of starting joint exercises on countering terrorism.

He said during his visit to China and during the ongoing talks between Delhi and Beijing, China indicated that it wanted friendship with India.

He defended the surrender policy on militants and said it was not faulty. He said there were four steps in the surrender policy and it was in the fourth step that the militants could get the promised pecuniary gain by encashing the FDR of Rs1.5 lakh after he is given a good conduct certificate.

He said any security personnel found committing any mistake or excesses would face punishment but wanted people and other agencies not to weaken the soldiers by raking up false allegations of human rights violations.

Laying the foundation stone of the first-ever war memorial, General Vij and the Army commander, Lt- General Hari Prasad, paid rich tributes to those gallant men of the Armed forces, paramilitary forces and the police who had laid down their lives while defending the security of the state.

The 60-metre tall pillar when completed would be a symbol of sacrifices “our soldiers had made.” The war memorial is being designed in such a way that the marble slabs will have the names of those who had become martyrs inscirbed.

4 militants killed in J&K

Srinagar, January 6
Security forces killed four militants, arrested one and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition while five persons, including three CRPF personnel, were injured in a grenade attack in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

He said security forces gunned down two militants in an encounter at Ajas Sonawari in Baramulla district of North Kashmir today. Two AK assault rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

The encounter ensued when a search party was attacked by the militants.

Security forces also killed two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen, including an area commander Hussain Kohli, alias Jabbar, at Barmali in Udhampur district of Jammu region last night. Two AK assault rifles, six magazines, 269 rounds and one hand grenade were recovered from the slain militants.

Militants hurled a hand grenade and opened fire on a CRPF patrol party at Nawakadal in the downtown city last night. Five persons, including two CRPF jawans, were injured in the incident. Another unexploded grenade was later defused in the same area.

Security forces arrested a militant along with one AK assault rifle, two magazines, 40 rounds of ammunition and two hand grenades at Kasblari last night.

The spokesman said security forces busted two hideouts and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, including seven hand grenades, five UBGL grenades, one AK assault rifle, four magazines, one pistol, one country-made pistol and more than 300 rounds in the state during overnight operations. — UNI

4 Army men killed in avalanche

Srinagar, January 6
Four Army personnel were killed and another seriously injured when an avalanche hit a patrolling party along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said today. Five Army personnel went missing after the avalanche hit the patrol party at Shindigali in Keran sector of Kupwara district on Saturday, the sources said.

Troops immediately launched a rescue mission and one of the jawans was retrieved in an injured condition.

However, there was no trace of the four other troopers, whose bodies were recovered yesterday, the sources said. —PTI 

JKLF blood donation camp for tsunami victims

Srinagar, January 6
Over 150 persons donated blood at a camp organised here by separatist outfit Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front for tsunami victims. The camp was held at JKLF headquarters at Maisuma here and senior JKFLF leaders joined the locals to donate blood for the victims of the killer waves.

The highlight of the camp was participation of local girls who donated blood for the benefit of the victims of the natural disaster. Over 100 pints of blood was collected 
at the camp.

On January 3, the JKLF pledged a relief of Rs 1 lakh for the tsunami-affected people after a day-long meeting of the separatist group chaired by its chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik. — PTI

BJP threatens to boycott civic poll
Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 6
The state unit of the BJP has threatened to boycott the ensuing civic elections in Jammu and Kashmir if the Chief Electoral Officer did not take measures for ensuring free and fair poll.

According to the BJP vice-president, Dr Hari Om, the ruling coalition “is out to rig the elections to the local bodies with the help of the state election authorities.” He said such fears were in the minds of the National Conference and the Janata Dal (United) also and added that “any failure on the part of the Chief Electoral Officer in mending his ways would only force these bodies to boycott the scheduled election.”

Dr Hari Om wanted the Election Commissioner to enforce the model code of conduct in the way it had been done in Haryana, Jharkhand and Bihar.

The BJP leader also demanded that the election authorities should follow a uniform policy as far as the schedule for filing of nomination papers was concerned.

He said the election authorities had given more time to candidates in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation by allowing the filing of nomination papers from January 8 against January 11 for the Jammu Corporation when polling is to be held on the same day.

He also alleged that the Congress ministers had started misusing their official position while trying to woo the voters.

He expressed concern over the way the Speaker of the legislative assembly, Mr Tara Chand, who is supposed to play a non-partisan role, had begun addressing pre-poll rallies where he had been highlighting the “achievements” of the Congress-supported government.