Jammu, June 7
A group of Kashmiri separatists, who are on a fortnight visit to Pakistan and “Azad” Kashmir, have thrown the ball in the court of Delhi by making it known that on their return they would discuss with the Government of India the scope for continuing the dialogue for evolving a solution to the Kashmir issue.

The nine Kashmiri separatists have so far met several ruling and opposition leaders in “Azad” Kashmir and their next meeting with President, Gen Parvez Musharraf, is expected to unfold the contours of alternatives on the Kashmir issue.

Before leaving for Muzaffarabad on June 2, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Maulvi Abbas Ansari, two senior APHC leaders, had told me that on their return they would hold a meeting with the Government of India where “we can exchange views on our feedback from Pakistan.”

They said “we will request Gen Musharraf to unfold a solution or alternatives for settling the Kashmir issue.”

Reports from across the border revealed that the two sides, in their meetings so far, discussed certain preliminaries and nothing tangible has emerged till date.

In the meantime, the Chairman, Syed Salahauddin of the United Jehad Council,had agreed to meet two of the nine separatists from Kashmir. The council sources had confirmed the meeting of Salahuddin with two Kashmiri separatist leaders but refused to divulge their names. However, reports indicated that the council chief met Maulvi Umar Farooq, Chairman , APHC, and the JKLF chief, Mr Mohammed Yasin Malik.

It was revealed that Maulvi Umar Farooq had been in touch on phone with Syed Salahuddin weeks before leaving for Muzaffarabad and the council supremo had a soft corner for Mr Malik.

Even if the Kashmiri separatists return without getting any clue to the Pakistan’s plan for resolving the Kashmir issue, the APHC leaders wish to interact with powers that be in Delhi for exchange of view on the dispute.

For the last one year, Delhi had not sent any formal invitation to the APHC leaders for the resumption of the dialogue despite the fact that the separatists had made repeated announcements on their willingness to meet the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh.

Will Delhi change its stance after the separatists return from Pakistan ? This question has assumed significance following support the Kashmiri separatists have given ,during their visit to Pakistan, to the peace process initiated by Delhi and Islamabad.

Srinagar, June 7
Three members of a family and six militants were killed while security forces busted a number of hideouts and defused an improvised explosive device (IED) in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

Militants barged into the house of Bashir Ahmed Bohra at Seripora village in Udhampur district last night and opened indiscriminate fire on the residents.

Bohra, his wife Jero Begum and son Riyaz Ahmad died on the spot.

Security forces have launched a manhunt in the area to arrest the culprits, he added.

An encounter took place between militants and security forces at Hariparigam on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway early today during which one militant was killed. One AK rifle, three magazines and 22 rounds were seized from the slain militant.

Security forces also shot dead a militant at Soker Naka Dhok in Rajouri last evening. One assault rifle, five magazines, 80 rounds, two hand grenades and one matrix sheet were seized from him.

A report from Jammu said Border Security Force (BSF) troops shot dead a militant guide near here last night, foiling an infiltration bid.

A BSF spokesman said the militant guide infiltrated into the Indian territory from Painthee in Samba sub-sector, about 40 km from here, at about 11.50 a.m.

When a BSF patrol challenged him, he started running towards the International Border, he added.

Despite repeated warnings he did not stop and the patrol party later opened fire, killing him on the spot.

His identity was yet to be established. Some Pakistani currency was seized from him.

Giving details about the encounter at Manjari in the Poonch sector last evening, the spokesman said three foreign militants were killed. The slain militants were identified as Abu Mawya, alias Mabir, Abu Lora and Ibrahim, alias Abu Driver, all Pakistani nationals.

Three AK rifles, seven magazines, one mobile phone and one wireless set were also seized from them.

Security forces defused an IED kept in a gas cylinder at Karan Nagar chowk here this afternoon, the spokesman said, adding that had it not been defused, it would have caused damage to life and property.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said troops came across two militant hideouts at Thalista in Gool in Udhampur district last evening.

The search led them to the recovery of 500 kg flour, 400 kg rice, one cricket bat, two carom boards and other items.

From another militant hideout at Morha Bachai in Poonch, troops recovered ration, 90 AK rounds, four AK magazines and some other explosive items. All the three hideouts were later destroyed by the troops, the spokesman added.

Security forces apprehended a suspected militant at Sunchipora under the Mattan police station in south Kashmir district of Anantnag along with four UBGL grenades and four detonators. He was handed over to the police for further questioning, the spokesman said. — UNI

Srinagar, June 7
The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet today decided that all tax-related incentives under the value added tax (VAT) system will be valid up to 2010.

The Cabinet, which met here under Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, ordered that all incentives extended must confirm to the VAT system and VAT chain would not be broken. It further ordered that the support under the VAT regime would exclude items and activities placed on the negative lists for exemption on account of the purchase of raw material or sale of finished goods under the General Sales Tax (GST) Act.

It was also agreed that SICOP should undertake the responsibility of supplying industrial inputs to locally registered small-scale industrial units.

Financial support will be provided to SICOP to the extent of VAT incidence on such products, the meeting decided. SICOP will pass on the benefit to the extent it receives budgetary support to the local small-scale industrial units.

The Cabinet ordered that similar budgetary support would be provided to Jammu and Kashmir Minerals Limited or any other public sector corporation of the state that supplies industrial inputs to locally registered small-scale industrial units.

It was decided that Industries and Commerce Department will make necessary budgetary provision for providing departmental financial support to SICOP, the Jammu and Kashmir Minerals Ltd or any other public sector corporation of the state on a quarterly basis.

The Finance Department will be requested by the Industries and Commerce Department to provide necessary provisions for the current year.

About VAT being applicable on finished products of small, medium and large-scale industries, it was decided that after providing set off against the input VAT, the due amount will be collected by the industrial units, but not deposited with the Finance department.

Each dealer will submit quarterly statement of VAT collected by the Finance Department in the prescribed format and the department will pass a remission order in favour of the dealer for the amount collected.

In this manner, the VAT chain will not be broken, an official spokesman said. — UNI

Srinagar, June 7
A two-day conference of the Directors General of Police, north zone, concluded here today with emphasis on the role of police for maintaining peace necessary for and economic development.

The meeting was attended by police heads of the northern states, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, apart from the host, Jammu and Kashmir. Various aspects of the role of the police under present circumstances, particularly in view of the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and the atmosphere in the neighbouring states were discussed. A report of the meet, according to sources, is being submitted to the central government.

In his valedictory address, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Dr S.S. Bloeria, said that peace and development were linked and the police had an important role to play in this direction. He said that not only Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir or the North Eastern states were strife-torn areas, there were other vital institutions that suffered the most, which had to be checked with efforts by the police. He said that during the past 12 years, anti-terrorist efforts by the police in state had yielded good results. Dr Bloeria, also sought the police to have an effective media management in its campaign against undesirable elements.

Asserting that the police, peace and progress were inseparable components of every society, the Jammu and Kashmir DG Police, Gopal Sharma called for more vigilant and people friendly approach. He held that the police had a challenging role in the changing scenario in the trouble-torn State. Referring to the conduct of such a conference of the police heads of neighbouring states, Mr Gopal Sharma said that it was also to seen in what challenging environment the police was discharging its duties for the welfare of the people. 

Jammu, June 7
A soldier shot dead a Junior Commissioned Officer after tempers got frayed in an Army camp in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir last night, defence officials said here today.

There was an altercation between N.K. Vijay Singh and Naib Sube S.K. Gautam of 222 Army Service Corps (ASC) at Udhampur Army camp last night, they said.

As tempers ran high, Singh picked up his service rifle and opened fire on the JCO, killing him on the spot, they said.

The soldier has been arrested and a court of inquiry ordered, the defence officials said, adding that the police too has registered a case and started investigations. — PTI