Srinagar, September 27
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here today said that 131 Army personnel, 68 BSF men and 17 police personnel had been punished for violation of human rights during the past 15 years of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. Of the 131 Army personnel two had been awarded life imprisonment, 59 rigorous imprisonment, 11 dismissed from service with one year’s imprisonment, four others dismissed and 55 awarded other punishments.

Mufti Sayeed was replying to the discussion on an adjournment motion on human rights violations tabled by the leader of the Opposition, Mr Abdur Rahim Rather, in the Legislative Assembly today. He asked the Director-General of Police to ensure assistance of the local police to the security forces during any anti-militant operations. The Chief Minister also asked the Law Minister to look into the powers of the State Human Rights Commission in view of certain points raised by the opposition National Conference. The NC members expressed concern over the human rights violations and described the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) as a “toothless body” and sought to ensure that due cognizance was given to complaints of rights violations.

Giving details, the Chief Minister stated that there were 1385 complaints against the Army from 1990 to 2004, of which 1311 were found false, 32 substantiated and 42 others were under investigation. In case of the Border Security Force (BSF) the Chief Minister said 206 complaints had been registered between 1990 and April 2004. Of these 162 were false, 41 proved, three were not proved while punishment was given to 68 personnel. He stated that 17 police personnel were also punished for rights violations during the past two years. They included one SP who was suspended, one DSP who was dismissed, one Inspector and two Sub-Inspectors who were suspended, one ASI who was dismissed, six constables who were dismissed and two suspended while three SPOs had been disengaged.

The opposition National Conference members staged a walkout followed by noisy scenes from the Assembly over the issue of human rights blaming the coalition government for excesses and human rights violations at the hands of security forces.

Earlier the Speaker, Mr Tara Chand, adjourned the House for 25 minutes when the National Conference members created noisy scenes over the alleged recruitment in government departments made by the coalition government since it assumed office. The proceedings were adjourned when noisy scenes were created during the first question taken during Question Hour. Intervening on the question, the Chief Minister challenged the opposition to bring before the Assembly a single case of irregularity in the recruitment to government departments made by the coalition government since it assumed office.

Replying to the adjournment motion on human rights violations, Mufti pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir was a complex situation to handle. However, consistent efforts made by the government brought about an atmospheric change, he said. He said infiltration, too, was on decline with 192 persons infiltrating this year up to August as compared to 500 last year.

The Chief Minister said when the coalition took over in November 2002, there were 1197 persons under detention while there were only 376 detainees now. He said the situation on the human rights front had also improved even as some isolated incidents of violation do take place. He said any human rights violation was condemnable and if an innocent was killed the government felt as much pain as the opposition. He said the complaints of human rights violations have also come down adding in 2002 there were 142 complaints that came down to 25 in 2003, 16 in 2004 and six so far this year.

Jammu, September 27
The hardline separatists have suffered a severe setback with the former Prime Minister of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Sardar Abdul Qayum Khan, stating that Kashmir becoming an independent country was “impossible”. The statement of Khan has come as disappointment for those who believed that both Kashmirs could reunite in case pressure was maintained on the Indian Government by sustaining terrorism here.

However, not only the former Prime Minister of PoK but also many other delegates from Pakistan, who recently visited here, made it clear that reunion of Kashmirs on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) was not possible.

Certain prominent delegates from PoK, during a seminar, said that division of the country in 1947 was a mistake. However, when “you” had accepted the division, you should face it. The clock could not be reversed and the fate of the Kashmiris could not be reset again and again.

This indicates the change that is gradually taking place in the mindset of the people of that side of Kashmir, which is controlled by Pakistan that has over the years been funding terrorism and “politically and morally” creating unrest in the valley. It seemed that the PoK leaders had finally closed the chapter of an independent Kashmir and now Pakistan should also seriously follow suit and let the people on this side live in peace.

Such a change in the mindset of the PoK leadership was recent, but on this side the former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, had many a time suggested that the LoC should be accepted as the border by India and Pakistan as this would not only settle the vexed Kashmir issue but also allow the people on both sides to prosper in peace.

While the Hurriyat Conference is being considered as a very important factor in Jammu and Kashmir, various delegations that have come here in the recent past from PoK have refused to accept conglomerate as a representative of the entire state.

Political observers here believe that terrorism can be stemmed out only when Pakistan also starts understanding the sentiments of the people of the so-called “Azad Kashmir” under its occupation and demolishes the terror training camps.

Srinagar, September 27
Three infiltrators were among 11 persons, including 10 militants killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday, while the security forces recovered arms and ammunition during searches.

Four masked gunmen looted Rs 71,630 from Ellaquai Dehati Bank branch at Hard-Toori in the Mattan area of Anantnag district today.

The police here said that security forces intercepted a group of militants near the LoC in Machil sector of Kupwara district yesterday in which three unidentified militants were killed. Two AK rifles, four magazines, 52 cartridges, one pistol and a wireless set were recovered from the site of encounter.

Three militants of the Jaish-e-Mohammad were killed in an encounter with security forces while two security personnel were injured in the encounter in the Kiloora area of Shopian in Pulwama district yesterday. Those killed were identified as Salahuddin Ayoubi and Abu Haris Khan from Peshawar, Pakistan and a local militant, Abdul Rashid Dar alias Adnan from the Shopian area.

An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces and police near JVC Bund, Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar last night. One AK rifle, two magazines and three rounds were recovered from the site of encounter.

An unidentified militant and a civilian were killed in an exchange of fire between militants and security forces at Chowki Salwa in Mendhar sector of Poonch district, Jammu region last night. One AK rifle, four magazines, a wireless set and a hand grenade were recovered from the site of encounter, the police here said.

One militant was killed in another encounter with security forces at Phalga in Surankote sector of Poonch district today.

A militant of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, identified as Mohammad Hussain alias Abrar, was killed in an encounter with security forces at Kanow in Kishtwar area of Doda district.

The security forces busted four hideouts of militants across the state since yesterday in which arms and ammunition was recovered. Two AK rifles, 111 AK rounds, 13 Pika rounds, and a hand grenade were recovered from a hideout at Larkipora, Dooru in Anantnag district.

Four AK rifles, 370 rounds, four pistols, 32 pistol rounds, one UBGL grenade, four IEDs, two time devices and two wireless sets were recovered from a forest area in Uri sector of Baramula district.

The security forces recovered six IEDs, 13 grenades, a wireless set and 50 AK rounds during searches in Sumo forests in Kalakote area of Rajauri district.

One UBGL grenade, two AK magazines, 10 AK rounds, and four blankets were recovered from a hideout at Charala, Thathri in Doda district yesterday.

Jammu, September 27
A mason murdered his wife and her paramour, besides inflicting serious stab injuries on the latter’s mother and two other women at Rah Siot in Akhnoor yesterday.

The police said Kuldip Raj (35), who is a mason by profession, suspected that his wife, Chanchla Devi (32), had illicit relations with their neighbour, Romesh Kumar (28), a retired teacher of Rehbar-e-Talim.

Yesterday, in a fit of rage, Kuldip stabbed Chanchla and Romesh to death with a sharpedged weapon, the police added.

The police said he also stabbed Romesh’s mother Vidya Devi (50) and two other women, Savitri Devi and Preeto Devi.

The women have been hospitalised.

The police said Kuldip was absconding and a hunt was on to nab him. — UNI