J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hizb denies reports of Geelani-Salahuddin rift
Jammu, September 2
Have Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his disciple Syed Salahuddin, chief of Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Council, fallen out? This question surfaced with the reports that Mr Geelani and Mr Salahuddin had a heated argument on telephone. However, the Hizbul Mujahideen leadership described these reports as “unfounded and baseless.”

Srinagar-Jammu national highway closed due to landslides. (56k)

Two ultras among three killed
Srinagar, September 2
Two militants and a civilian were killed while security forces seized a large cache of arms and ammunition, including RDX, in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

Ladakh festival inaugurated
Srinagar, September 2
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad inaugurated the Ladakh festival at Leh yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said Ladakh possessed a great tourist potential and required proper grooming for international tourism.

Hizb denies reports of Geelani-Salahuddin rift
Our Correspondent

Jammu, September 2
Have Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his disciple Syed Salahuddin, chief of Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Council, fallen out? This question surfaced with the reports that Mr Geelani and Mr Salahuddin had a heated argument on telephone.

However, the Hizbul Mujahideen leadership described these reports as “unfounded and baseless.”

A spokesman of Hizbul Mujahideen, Mr Ehsan Illahi, said in a statement that reports of Salahuddin-Geelani confrontation were concocted and baseless. He said the Hizbul Mujahideen had faith in the leadership of Mr Geelani, who is a prominent political figure in Kashmir.

Mr Illahi said the reports of rift between Geelani and Salahuddin had been manipulated to take advantage of the differences between the two and there was no truth in the report that the two had a heated argument on telephone.

Inside reports said the Hizbul Mujahideen dominated United Jehad Council used to treat Syed Ali Shah Geelani as the political face of the ongoing armed struggle in Kashmir. However, some misunderstanding developed after Mr Salahauddin announced his desire to perform a political role and get himself involved in the dialogue process. Though he imposed conditions for participating in talks with Delhi. These conditions included demilitarisation in Kashmir, release of all detinues and end of human rights violations, Mr Geelani is said to have not relished his pupil’s desire to dabble in politics.

According to reports Syed Ali Shah Geelani had not reacted immediately to Mr Salahuddin’s desire to adopt a political role by participating in the dialogue , but he was not comfortable with Hizb stand on participation in the dialogue because the Tehrik Hurriyat Chief saw a threat to his leadership after mainstream political leaders and separatists welcomed Hizbul Mujahideen’s readiness for joining the dialogue process.

According to these reports, the level of conflict between the two leaders has been reduced to a great extent by some senior separatist leaders who interacted both with Mr Geelani and Mr Salahuddin.

According to political observers here once the differences between Mr Geelani and Syed Salahuddin were totally ironed out, it may not be easy for Hizbul Mujahideen leadership to accept an offer for dialogue from Delhi.

Two ultras among three killed

Srinagar, September 2
Two militants and a civilian were killed while security forces seized a large cache of arms and ammunition, including RDX, in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

Security forces killed two militants during an encounter at Lashdat village in the frontier district of Kupwara late last night, he said, adding the gunfight erupted after the ultras attacked the security forces’ patrol with automatic weapons.

Two AK rifles, eight hand grenades, four magazines, one wireless set and 80 rounds were seized from the slain ultras. The identity of the slain militants was yet to be established.

Security forces conducted a fresh search operation in the village early today, the spokesman said.

During the operation, troops found a militant hideout and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition from it. Ten kg of RDX, 161 UBGL grenades, 22 anti-tank grenades, an AK rifle, 419 detonators, one IED, 16 IED boxes, 14 IED switches, seven UBGLs, two RCC bombs, 90 sniper rounds, one Pika gun, five AK magazines and 90 sniper rounds were seized from the hideout, he added.

Militants shot dead Ajmad Ahmed Hamal, a vegetable vendor, at Gani Hamam, Baramula, in north Kashmir last night.

Security forces apprehended a militant at Boniyar while a Hizbul Mujahideen ultra surrendered along with an AK rifle, three rounds and a grenade at Naidkhai in north Kashmir last night.

Security forces also seized nine AK rifles, nine magazines, one Pika gun, one pistol, two magazines, one wireless set, one antenna, one hand grenade and over 150 rounds in Rajouri district last night during two separate operations. — UNI

Ladakh festival inaugurated
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 2
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad inaugurated the Ladakh festival at Leh yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said Ladakh possessed a great tourist potential and required proper grooming for international tourism. He said in order to promote tourist activities in the region, two tourism development authorities had been set up at Leh and Kargil.

He said each development authority would receive Rs 20 crore for the development of tourism-related infrastructure and creation of other facilities. Mr Azad said the target should be to make Ladakh a tourist attraction round the year.