Srinagar, November 15
Nine militants and an Army jawan were killed and four Army personnel injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

The police here said that four unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police at Sangran Patti, Warsun, in the Lolab area of Kupwara district last night.

The house of Bashir Ahmad in which the militants were hiding was also damaged in the exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces. The recoveries made from the spot included four AK rifles, the police said.

Three militants and an Army soldier were killed and four Army personnel injured in an encounter at Gulgam in Kupwara district today, the police said.

A Pak militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Uchchar Magam in the Handwara area of Kupwara district last night.

The security forces killed one militant, Basharat Shah, at Sumbar in the Ramban area of Doda district today.

Srinagar, November 15
The Jammu and Kashmir Government is working out a plan of auctioning 561 kanals of land in the tourist resort of Gulmarg for leasing out to different parties, experienced in tourism trade, for the construction of hotels, restaurants and other tourist-related facilities to match the international tourism standards.

While the state Cabinet had decided it on October 17 last, the reports had created resentment among a cross section of society, particularly those associated with tourism trade in the Tangmarg-Gulmarg area. Protest demonstrations were held by those associated with the tourism trade in the Tangmarg area for three consecutive days last week against the reports of auctioning of the land to non-state subjects.

The demonstrations by the traders were suspended yesterday, as they constituted a committee to approach the government with their fears and apprehensions.

The Tourism Minister, Mr Mohammad Dilawar Mir, has denied the reports that the land in the Dobhigath area of Gulmarg is being auctioned to non-state subjects. Responding to the reports in Jammu, the Tourism Minister clarified that the government land would be allotted only to the state subjects keen to build hotels and huts in the area.

Any assistance from non-state subjects, experienced in tourism trade, could be sought once the basic structure is made, he said. The officials here also clarified that in case there is any joint venture after the structure was made, it could be done with the help of the Law Department.

“There is no right on land to the non-state subjects,” an official said, adding that in the case of any joint venture or assistance, at least 50 per cent of the employees had to be state subjects.

According to the plan, the least bid has to be Rs 15 lakh per kanal and the area per plot would range between 6 kanals and 16 kanals, depending upon the type of hotel, hut or restaurant.

Senior PDP leader and former Tourism Minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir, representing Tangmarg constituency in the state Legislative Assembly, said he had asked the protesting traders to identify the issues.

“They want that locals should not be ignored,” he said and added that government could be approached to take adequate measures. Mr Mir held that he would be helping the residents of the area, protesting against any problems, in taking up the issue with the  government.

Jammu, November 15
The new president of the state unit of the BJP, Mr Ashok Khajuria, is trying to win back the support of some estranged senior BJP leaders, including Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, former Minister of State for Defence, Mr Shiv Charan Gupta, former MLA, Thakur Baldev Singh, former MP, and Mr Chander Mohan Sharma, president of the Praja Parishad.

Mr Khajuria has claimed that his meetings with Professor Gupta, Thakur Baldev Singh and Mr Shiv Charan Gupta have been satisfactory.

However, his attempt to bring back to the fold Chander Mohan Sharma-led Praja Parishad, has not succeeded. Mr Sharma, who was vice-president of the BJP, had left the parent organisation and floated the Praja Parishad over three years ago.

Mr Sharma confirmed that Mr Khajuria had come to seek blessings from his (Chander Mohan’s) father, Mr Dina Nath, 95-year old BJP leader, and “we met each other but without any discussion.”

Asked whether he would rejoin the BJP, Mr Sharma categorically stated: “There is no question of going back to the BJP.” He said two days ago more than 75 BJP activists had joined the Praja Parishad. “More BJP workers, including some senior leaders, are expected to join the parishad as they are disillusioned with the growing dissidence in the BJP,” Mr Sharma claimed.

If Mr Khajuria has secured cooperation from Professor Gupta, Thakur Baldev Singh and Mr Shiv Charan Gupta, the BJP, in Jammu, may be able to reverse the process of severe erosion in its base. Though the BJP leadership, during the past five years, has been trying to rope in youth in the region, it cannot afford to displease or keep senior party leaders on the sidelines. — TNS

Jammu, November 15
Recruitment of constables for the four new battalions of the India Reserve Police (IRP) will begin on November 20.

These battalions were recently sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir. This would increase the number of IRP battalions in the state to 14.

Mr Niyaz Mahmood, DIG, said here yesterday that the recruitment process for the applicants of Jammu and Kathua districts would begin on November 20. Physical test of the applicants would be held in the district Police Lines, Kathua, for three days. The venue would shift to the Police Lines here on November 30 for the candidates of Jammu district.

Jammu, November 15
Impressed by the performance of Bharatnatyam by 11-year-old Sonali Sharma, Governor S.K. Sinha, invited her to Raj Bhavan on Monday evening to facilitate her.

The Governor appreciated the performance of the budding artiste and complimented her. The Lady Governor, Mrs Premini Sinha, presented a memento to the child artiste.

Sonali was accompanied by her parents who appraised the Governor about her stage performances around the country, including the one in the presence the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.