Srinagar, January 11
With about 14 months of ceasefire along the border in Jammu and Kashmir facilitating uninterrupted exercise of border fencing, the infiltration of militants has been curtailed to a great extent during the past six months. Nearly 45 infiltration attempts have been made along the LoC since July last year. The task of fencing the porous LoC along the rugged mountains to check the infiltration of militants was completed in a year by September last.

“The fence has added a new dimension in the battle against infiltration and exfiltration of militants, according to Army officials here. With the Army keeping an ever-constant vigil along the fence, crossing the border has become very tough for the militants. Sources here claimed that the security forces have seen groups of militants move up to the fence and then turn back realising that any attempt at crossing will be suicidal.

The fencing that prevented infiltration is also regarded as the main reason behind a decline in the violence in the state during the past year. However, “ the infiltration is there. It has not stopped”, said a senior police officer here, adding that the infiltration attempts by the militants from across the border were calibrated. With the decline in the violence the past year has witnessed over 2500 incidents and over 700 civilian killings, which has been rated as the lowest level of violence since the eruption of militancy 15 years ago.

Not only the border fencing, various other measures like laying of landmines and possession of modern equipment and weaponry, have helped the Army to check the infiltration and exfiltration along the border. The sources said except for some populated areas, the entire border is laden with landmines. It has, however, been hazardous to many civilians living in the border areas injuring them or rendering them maimed over the years.

The Army is also equipped with world-class night vision devices, detection equipment, surveillance, alarm and communication system. The security forces have sought installation of more sensors made in Israel to effectively check any movement along the border.

The fencing was first attempted in 1994 on the pattern of Punjab and Rajasthan but was suspended due to cross border firing. Later it was restarted along the 198 km-long International Border in the Jammu region in 2001. The fencing along 778 km of the LoC in Kashmir was taken up in 2003 and completed after one year in September last year, according to the sources here.

In order to ensure deterring and detecting the infiltrators or exfiltrators, two systems have been conceived. These are the anti-infiltration obstacle system, which is an integration of an electrified fence incorporated with an “anti-intrusion alarm system”. Moreover, there is “hi-tech surveillance and communication clubbed with the deployment of troops so as to cover the fence with little or no gaps”, said the sources.

Jammu, January 11
Talks between the BJP and the Shiv Sena over the sharing of seats for the ensuing Jammu Municipal Corporation poll have run into rough weather following the demand of the latter for more seats than the former can afford.

Though the two have decided to have another round of meeting for settling the issue, the Praja Parishad, led by Mr Chander Mohan Sharma, has established contact with the Shiv Sena.

Both Mr Sharma and Mr Rajesh Gupta, Chief of the Shiv Sena, told this correspondent that they were in touch with each other. Mr Gupta said “in case we are accommodated as per our desire we will have no hesitation in contesting the civic poll in collaboration with the Praja Parishad.”

The Praja Parishad was floated by dissidents in the BJP who after quitting the party, revived the Praja Parishad in Jammu last month. It released the list of 11 candidates for Jammu Municipal Corporation today.

Mr Sharma said: “It is our first list and more candidates will be fielded by Praja Parishad.”

Informed sources said that the Shiv Sena had suggested to the BJP leadership to allot seats to the Shiv Sena candidates on the basis of the party’s performance in the last Assembly elections. It had also advised the BJP leaders to start the seat- sharing exercise in each Assembly segment so that “we get what we deserve.”

This suggestion was not accepted by the BJP leadership on the plea that the organisation was well entrenched in all three Assembly constituencies in Jammu city and in other areas where the elections to the urban local bodies was to be held.

The BJP had already indicated that it was willing to contest the civic elections in alliance with the Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal.

Political observers in Jammu are of the opinion that though the Shiv Sena has limited areas of influence in the city and its adjoining areas its alliance with Praja Parishad could affect the BJP’s search for winning majority in the corporation.

Whether the Shiv Sena contests the forthcoming civic elections in alliance with the BJP or the Praja Parishad the poll will be a multicornered contest because besides these three organisations the National Conference, the Congress, the PDP, the Panthers Party, the NCP, the Janata Dal(U) and many other smaller political groups will field their candidates.

In the Kashmir valley it may be a contest among the candidates belonging to the National Conference, the Congress and the PDP after the separatists have given a call for the poll boycott.

As such indications are that polling in the Kashmir valley may be poor as was the case in the Assembly and the Lok Sabha elections during the last two years but there are prospects of good turnout of voters in the Jammu region, except for some pockets in the troubled areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda districts and in the upper reaches of Udhampur district.

Jammu, January 11
After a long drawn uncertainty, the National Conference (NC) today decided to contest the forthcoming elections to the local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision came following a two-day long meeting of the working committee of the party that concluded here today under the chairmanship of Mr Omar Abdullah, president of the party.

It is learnt that the decision came following the intervention of Dr Farooq Abdullah, a former Chief Minister and patron of the NC. Dr Abdullah, who was not in the town, was briefed about the views of the members, many of whom wanted the polls to be boycotted by Mr Omar Abdullah.

Dr Abdullah suggested that the NC would provide an open field to Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed in case it did not participate in the elections. This would also erode the base of the party not only in the Kashmir valley, but also in the Jammu division.

Sources said the members of the working committee were divided on the issue of contesting these elections as they suspected that the ruling coalition would indulge in rigging and other unfair means.

Mr Omar Abdullah after the conclusion of meeting said that they had a very strong case for not participating in these elections as the election commission too had chosen not to take any action against the Mufti government on the complaints of rigging filed by the NC during the recent Lok Sabha and the byelections for four Assembly seats.

He made it clear that the NC would not have any poll alliance with any other party and would contest these elections alone.

Mr Omar Abdullah said it was unwise to hold these crucial elections during the peak of winter when many of the areas were cut off due to snow. Moreover, the Opposition parties were not taken into confidence over the conduct of the elections.

He alleged that the Mufti government has started violating the election code and the government machinery was being misused after the declaration of the civic elections. Mufti was trying to rush through these elections before his term as Chief Minister ends, he alleged.

The NC chief said the common man was fed up with the Mufti government under which corruption was flourishing. He alleged that not a single person had been employed even after the lifting of ban on fresh recruitments by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

He said the Mufti government was trying to create a fear psychosis among the Opposition by withdrawing the security cover of leaders of these parties.

Jammu, January 11
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has welcomed the announcement of the National Conference to contest the civic poll on party basis saying it is a good development for democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. “I welcome the announcement,” Chief Minister told reporters at Jammu University when they sought his reaction on the decision of the National Conference announced by its President, Mr Omar Abdullah, at a press conference here today.

The Chief Minister was on the campus to inaugurate fitness centre, library automation and campus networking facility.

Mufti Sayeed said that he considered the decision of National Conference good for the development of democracy at the grassroots level. He dismissed as unfounded the apprehensions of the party that the civic poll in the state would be rigged.

He said there was no basis for having such apprehensions and referred to the recent elections held in Jammu and Kashmir saying the world has testified to their impartiality and fairness.

Jammu, January 11
Three Lashker-e-Toiba militants were shot dead by security forces in an encounter during a search operation in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today, official sources said.

Acting on a tip-off, the security forces assisted by the police launched a search and cordon operation in the Naka Majhri area of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district around 10 am, they said.

During the search an encounter took place in which three LeT Militants were killed and the operation was still on, they said.

Three AK rifles, eight magazines and some grenades were recovered from the encounter site, they said adding the identity of the militants was yet to be ascertained.

Meanwhile, a top Hizb-ul Mujahideen militant surrendered before troops in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir today, official sources said here.

Motivated by his family members, the militant Altaf alais Abu Hyder surrendered before troops in Doda. He also handed over weapons including one AK rifle, four magazines and 10 rounds to troops, they said.

A self-styled area commander of Hizb-ul Mujahideen had surrendered before troops in the Gool area of Udhampur district yesterday. — PTI

Jammu, January 11
Cracking down on illegal petrol pumps, the police has sealed 45 of them operating in Rajouri district and arrested six operators in this connection, official sources said here today.

A police team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri, Mr Mohammad Abbas, yesterday sealed the pumps and arrested six operators for defying the District Magistrate's orders to stop the illegal business, the sources said, adding that illegal business had been running in the district for quite some time.

During the raids, the police also seized all infrastructures, including tanks and pumps belonging to these operators.

"These people were earlier issued licenses by the administration only for small quantity storage for agricultural purposes and not for carrying out petrol pump business", Mr Abbas said.

Meanwhile, in the continued drive against adulterated edible oils in Jammu city, officials of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department collected several samples from various shops and sent them to laboratory for testing. —PTI

Srinagar, January 11
It has been a long wait that ended with utter disappointment for a freedom fighter to get sanction for a retail outlet of the Indian Oil Corporation at Shopian in Pulwama district in south Kashmir.

He has urged the Union Government to look into the matter as he was not being considered even after his selection with all requisite formalities having been completed.

The freedom fighter, Abdul Gani Sodagar, who completed all formalities before he was selected for a retail outlet in Shopian in June last year, has been waiting for a formal letter of intent from the concerned authorities.

What added to his disappointment was that he was lately informed about a new panel having been constituted in this regard. He claimed that it was against the rules and regulations, adding that he had been selected for the purpose under the freedom fighter category.

A team of the concerned officers had also visited the site in August last year, but so far there had been no response, he alleged.

Jammu, January 11
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said that the issue of job insecurity and low wages of private school teachers are under the consideration of the government and that there is a need to redress these matters.

Mufti Sayeed was talking to a group of private school teachers who called on him today to discuss their problems and seek his intervention to redress these.

The Chief Minister assured the group that he was aware of their problems as these had been brought to his notice earlier adding he would discuss the issue with the Education Minister and the authorities concerned.

He agreed with the teachers that they should have a decent salary and security of job. He was of the view that private schools imparted quality education and teachers in these institutions should have job satisfaction.

A deputation of college teachers also met the Chief Minister today and apprised him about their problems, including stopping of their time-bound promotions. He assured them that their grievances would be looked into.

Srinagar, January 11
A central team led by Member Planning Commission, Sushma Chowdary, visited an under-construction migrant township in Badgam district of Jammu and Kashmir and asked the authorities to ensure the completion of the first phase on schedule, an official spokesman said today.

The team visited the township, comprising 300 flats for migrant Pandits willing to return to Kashmir, yesterday and took stock of the ongoing work there.

Accompanied by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Vijay Bakaya, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Chowdhary went round the under construction flats and urged the officers to ensure the completion of the first phase by the end of April, 2005, the spokesman said.

During the first phase, 200 flats which will have two-bed rooms and a kitchen, are being constructed by the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC).

The township would have basic civic facilities like parks, schools, temple and path-ways.

Chowdhary also asked the authorities to introduce neighbourhood concept in the colony.

She also visited Habba Kadal area of downtown city, an area largely inhabitated by Kashmiri Pandits, prior to mass migration by the community in the wake of militancy in the valley. — PTI

Jammu, January 11
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today stated that politicians had failed the people of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to their alienation. He said politics today was generally viewed as an unclean profession even as there was no dearth of honest and committed politicians in the country.

Mufti Sayeed was speaking at an interaction session with the faculty of Jammu University after inaugurating a fitness centre and library automation and campus networking facility here this afternoon.

The Chief Minister said nowadays everybody wanted to be a legislator or an MP to wield power.

This, he said, was not the right connotation of being a public representative. He said service to society should be the driving force for joining politics. He, however, added a silver lining to the dim scenario by saying that talented and professional people like scientists, corporate heads and actors were also joining politics to add colour to the political scenario in the county.

Talking about his government, the Chief Minister said the administration had been made accountable, adding that the government’s effort was to win hearts of the people. He said each region was getting its due share of development. He said, “we have to reconcile the aspirations of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh and unless there is reconciliation we will not be able to achieve anything.”

The Vice-Chancellor, Jammu University, Prof Amitabh Mattoo, gave a brief description of the developments being undertaken on the campus.