J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hizb militant killed, 38 kg of RDX seized
Srinagar, May 2
A hardcore Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed and a retired forester injured, while the security forces arrested two suspects and seized 38 kg of RDX, foiling militants’ plan to set off massive explosions in Jammu and Kashmir, a police spokesman said today.

Rajnath against talks with Hurriyat
Jammu, May 2
Mr Rajnath Singh, BJP President, today demanded imposition of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir as the state government had “miserably failed” to prevent killing of innocent persons by terrorists.

Geelani condemns massacre
Srinagar, May 2
Condemning the massacre of 35 persons in Doda and Udhampur, APHC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani today sought an impartial judicial inquiry at the international level to identify those behind such attacks.

• LeT denies hand

No plan to lease out tourist resorts: Baig
Srinagar, May 2
Dispelling rumours that the Jammu and Kashmir Government was contemplating leasing tourist resorts to private operators, Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig today said the state was only planning to hire a consultant to develop the resorts.

Hizb militant killed, 38 kg of RDX seized

Srinagar, May 2
A hardcore Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed and a retired forester injured, while the security forces arrested two suspects and seized 38 kg of RDX, foiling militants’ plan to set off massive explosions in Jammu and Kashmir, a police spokesman said today.

The Hizbul militant, Khurshid Ahmad, alias Muneeb, was killed in an encounter with the security forces in the forest area of Thathri in Doda district last night, the spokesman said.

In another operation in the district, the security forces recovered an IED, filled with 35 kg of RDX, from Mathora-Dharam Kote in the Bhaderwah area last night. The IED was later defused by experts, foiling militants’ plan to set off a massive explosion in Doda, the spokesman said.

The security forces apprehended a suspected militant at Takia Saderkote in Baramula district and seized 3 kg of RDX and some documents from him, he said.

The spokesman said the security forces arrested one more suspect from Brinal Lamand in Anantnag district and seized a hand grenade and 35 cartridges from him.

Militants shot at and injured a retired forester, Mohammad Assadullah War, inside his house at Sheikhpora in Baramula district, he said, adding, War was hospitalised.

The security forces busted a natural cave-type hideout at Kanthol in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district yesterday.

The recoveries from the hideout included one AK-56 rifle with its five cartridges, one under-barrel grenade launcher with one grenade, three anti-personnel mines, four Chinese hand grenades, one round of rocket-propelled gun, two IEDs, 14 detonators, 80 metres of cordex wire and one radio set, the spokesman said. — PTI

Rajnath against talks with Hurriyat
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 2
Mr Rajnath Singh, BJP President, today demanded imposition of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir as the state government had “miserably failed” to prevent killing of innocent persons by terrorists.

Mr Rajnath Singh, who was talking to media persons here, said the Congress-led coalition government had no right to continue in office as it had failed to protect the lives of minorities.

The massacre of Hindus by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists was a challenge to the sovereignty of India which the UPA government had failed to meet.

He said the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, should not talk to the Hurriyat Conference until it gave up the demand for a tripartite dialogue with Pakistan as one of the parties.

No interference of Pakistan in J&K, which is an integral part of India, was acceptable to the BJP.

He said he had convened a meeting of the office-bearers of the BJP at Delhi on May 13 to discuss the situation in J&K and also decide an agitation programme against the soft policy of the UPA government on Kashmir.

Mr Singh alleged that the UPA government at the Centre and the Azad government in the state were soft towards terrorists and had imposed restrictions on the military operations against ultras. Such restrictions should be withdrawn immediately to prevent the situation from worsening further.

Mr Rajnath Singh will go to the village of Doda tomorrow where 22 Hindus were massacred by terrorists, while Mr Sahib Singh Verma will visit Basantgarh village in Udhampur district.

Geelani condemns massacre
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 2
Condemning the massacre of 35 persons in Doda and Udhampur, APHC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani today sought an impartial judicial inquiry at the international level to identify those behind such attacks.

He also questioned the government’ claim on the peace process saying that it would not be possible without the withdrawal of security forces and special powers given to them in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference here, Geelani held that if the government was “sincere in peace process, it should withdraw all forces, special powers to them and release all those (Kashmiris) in detention of the PSA”. The APHC chairman held that the only possible solution to all such problems was to “accept Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed state, fulfil promises to its people and thereby find a lasting solution to the dispute”.

Geelani recalled the massacre of 36 Sikhs in Chhattisinghpora on March 20, 2000, during US President Bill Clinton’s visit to Asia, and alleged that the recent killings “to brand Kashmiris’ struggle as a communal struggle” were on the same pattern.

He added that after a period of over six years, things were becoming clear as to who were actually responsible for the killings that followed in south Kashmir.

LeT denies hand

Srinagar, May 2
The Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) today denied involvement in the massacre of at least 35 Hindus in Doda and Udhampur districts.

LeT spokesman Abu Huzaifa said the outfit was not involved in the killing of innocent civilians. — UNI

No plan to lease out tourist resorts: Baig

Srinagar, May 2
Dispelling rumours that the Jammu and Kashmir Government was contemplating leasing tourist resorts to private operators, Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig today said the state was only planning to hire a consultant to develop the resorts.

“We will not sell an inch of our state. External investments will not be allowed at the cost of local interests, even if the interests are only emotional,” Mr Baig, who is also the Tourism Minister, told reporters here.

Reiterating that famous tourist resorts like Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam were not being leased out, the minister said the administration would consult the Union Ministry of Tourism before appointing a consultant for developing the resorts and tourism-related infrastructure. — PTI