J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

CM lauds joint statement
Srinagar, September 15
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has welcomed the joint statement of India and Pakistan issued at the end of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf in New York, saying it would further the cause of peace in the subcontinent.

Musharraf’s proposal tricky, says BJP
Jammu, September 15
Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, a BJP leader and former Union Minister, has described the proposal of President Pervez Musharraf seeking reduction of troops in the key sectors of Kupwara and Baramulla in Kashmir as trickly and full of meanings.

4 infiltrators among 9 killed
Srinagar, September 15
Nine persons, including four Pakistani infiltrators and a Special Police Officer, were killed and a girl injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, a police spokesman said today.

A group of 292 students and teachers from seven states, including Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, who are on a visit to the valley, call on the Governor, Lieut-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), at his residence in Srinagar on Thursday. —  Tribune photo by Amin War

CM lauds joint statement
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 15
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has welcomed the joint statement of India and Pakistan issued at the end of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf in New York, saying it would further the cause of peace in the subcontinent.

Describing the commitment expressed by the two leaders to ensure peaceful settlement of all pending issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, as a significant step, the Mufti said it would lead to a lasting peace and end the miseries of the people of the state. He said the two leaders have once again exhibited courage and statesmanship by agreeing to continue pursuing possible options for a peacefully negotiated settlement in a sincere spirit and purposeful manner. Mufti Sayeed expressed confidence in the ability of Dr Manmohan Singh and Gen Parvez Musharraf to rid the subcontinent of the scourge of violence and terror and hoped that under their leadership the peoples of the two countries would forge lasting bonds of friendship and amity. He said Jammu and Kashmir having been a bone of contention between the two neighbouring countries was destined to become a bridge of friendship for the two sides.

Musharraf’s proposal tricky, says BJP
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 15
Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, a BJP leader and former Union Minister, has described the proposal of President Pervez Musharraf seeking reduction of troops in the key sectors of Kupwara and Baramulla in Kashmir as trickly and full of meanings.

Reacting to the proposal that the Pakistan President made at New York, Prof Gupta said such a move would hit the sovereignty of India and also open infiltration routes for terrorists.

The BJP leader said it was for India to see which part required what strength of force to ensure territorial integrity and safety of the people.

He said on one hand an attempt was being made to question the sovereignty of India and on the other to internationalise the issue by asking the USA to intervence in the matter.

Prof Gupta said the routes where General Musharraf had suggested a troop reduction have been major infiltration routes right from 1947. Pakistan-trained terrorists were infiltrating from the Kupwara route and arms and ammunition were being smuggled from Baramulla.

4 infiltrators among 9 killed

Srinagar, September 15
Nine persons, including four Pakistani infiltrators and a Special Police Officer, were killed and a girl injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, a police spokesman said today.

The four infiltrators were killed in two separate encounters with security forces near the Line of Control at Nabad Pathri and Boniar in Kupwara district, the spokesman said.

While three of them were killed while trying to sneak in from across the border at Nabad Patrhi on Tuesday night, the other militant was shot dead on Sunday.

The bodies were recovered today as they were lying in deep forest area and took some time to locate them.

The spokesman said militants shot dead two persons, identified as Sajjad Hussain and Abdul Wahid, in their shared rented accommodation at Tipri-Thathri in Doda district late last night.

However, official sources said Sajjad, an SPO, was the target of the militants.

The spokesman said militants killed a woman after kidnapping her from Shargam in Bandipur area of Baramula district today.

The militants kidnapped Parveena, wife of a militant, along with another girl Shakeela this morning. While Shakeela was let off after being tortured, body of Parveena was recovered from the nearby forest area, the spokesman said.

The police suspects that Parveena was killed by her husband, an active militant, as the two did not get along well and their marriage was on the rocks, the sources said.

The spokesman said militants shot dead Azad Hussain inside his house in Mangota village of Doda district last night. Another civilian Mohammad Hanief was killed on being caught in a crossfire between militants and security forces at Thanamang in the Darhal area of Rajauri district this morning, he said.

Meanwhile, militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at Malangpora village of Awantipora in Pulwama district this morning when security personnel were patrolling the area in an armoured vehicle. — PTI