Srinagar, August 1
Describing violation of human rights as a complex issue, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh has said there has been a gradual decline in the incidents of violence and excesses by the security forces.

He said it was wrong to blame the police or security forces alone for violations while militants were also responsible for such acts and the State Human Rights Commission Act has provided for reviewing such acts as well.

The Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Law, was replying in the state Assembly to the discussion on the resignation of Mr Justice A.M. Mir, chairman of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), who had submitted his resignation to the Governor here yesterday.

This followed a persistent demand of the Opposition National Conference for discussing the issue in the House today, in view of Justice Mir’s observations and reasons for quitting the post. The three-hour-long discussion, participated by members from different political parties, was taken up in the Assembly in place of discussion on security situation prevailing in the state.

Opposition members blamed the coalition government for making false statements on the human rights while there had been a rise in the human rights violations during its tenure. Former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar held that against 3,333 complaints received by the SHRC so far, 1,867 complaints of human rights violations had been received only during the coalition government.

Mr Sagar, a former Minister of State for Home, alleged that security agencies were arresting and harassing innocents as described by the outgoing SHRC chairman.

Mr Beigh said with the gradual improvement in the situation, there was a decline in the number of incidents. There were 60 cases of disappearances and 67 custodial deaths reported during the National Conference rule between 1996 and 2002. There were 14 cases of disappearances and 27 cases of custodial deaths during the past about four years of the coalition government.

Srinagar, August 1
Five security jawans and four militants were among 10 persons killed while a self-styled divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir since last night.

Striking in a big way, militants of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad gunned down four paramilitary personnel in two attacks at the busy Dalgate and Kak Sarai areas of Srinagar within a span of four hours today, a police spokesman said.

In the first incident, he said militants opened fire on a patrol party of 172nd battalion of the CRPF in Dalgate area around 11.35 a.m., killing a constable, Mohammad Abbass Khan, and wounding two others, including a civilian. Constable Kapil Kumar also succumbed to injuries, the sources said.

Militants shot dead two BSF personnel outside SMHS hospital at Kak Sarai around 3.30 pm.

The deceased, head constable Ram Avtar of 143rd battalion and constable Uday Sanjay of 39th battalion, were purchasing medicines when they were fired at from point blank range, official sources said adding that Sanjay had fallen ill and was accompanied by Ram Avtar to the hospital from the Pantha chowk.

Spokesman of Jem Abu Qadama in a telephonic call to a local news agency claimed responsibility for both incidents. Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a Pakistani and a policeman, were killed in an overnight encounter at Chidipora in Shopian area of Pulwama district, the police spokesman said.

Two militants were killed in encounters at Durandhok and Solan-Marhote in Poonch district last night, he said, adding that one of the deceased was affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Toiba. Body of a carpet weaver, Fayaz Ahmad, who went missing two days ago, was recovered from Sumbal area of Baramulla district today, the sources said.

Jammu, August 1
Three more policemen have been arrested on the charges of stealing AK-47 rifles from the police stores and supplying these to ultras in the Kishtwar area of the Doda district.

Two policemen were arrested on Sunday night while they were smuggling two AK rifles and ammunition for supplying to terrorists. These had been stolen from the malkhana of the police station.

Those arrested have been identified as SPO Mohammad Yousuf, head constable Nissar Ahmed and sepoy Ashiq 
Hussain.

The DIG of the Doda-Udhampur range, Mr L. Mohanty, confirmed the arrest of the two policemen and said a case had been registered in this connection.

He said a police team intercepted Special Police Officer Mohammad Yousuf at Thatri and seized two AK rifles from him. He was also carrying five magazines, 90 AK rounds and two mobile sets.

During interrogation, he admitted that he was carrying the weapons for delivering it to LeT terrorists. These weapons were given to him by two policemen of the Kishtwar police station, he added.

The head constable and the sepoy were arrested on the basis of the confession of Yousuf.

The arrested policemen have been sent to the joint interrogation centre.