Sunderbani, April 19
Taking an indirect dig at one of the main partners in the coalition Government, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for demanding troop withdrawal, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said troops would be withdrawn only after terrorist activities cease.

Addressing a mammoth public meeting here, Azad said that even today lakhs of unprotected people of the state are living with swords of militants hanging on their heads. "There are some political parties who don't know that there of lakhs of unprotected people who are secure only because of the Army. For the safety and security of my people, I certainly won't favour withdrawal of the Army." he asserted. "When it comes to safety and security of the people of the state, I will not succumb to any sought of political pressure to withdraw the troops".

"People are paramount and politics subservient to public", said Azad.

This, he said, would further strengthen the relations across LoC.

Chief Minister said that government's thrust would also be on starting trade through Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route and working out modalities for conventional and pilgrim tourism.

Azad lauding UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh for opening of Sringar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads, said the visionary leadership of these leaders provided great relief to the divided families to travel across and meet their dear ones. "Let the gesture be broad banded and others allowed to travel across LoC besides initiating trade and tourism activities, he said.

Chief Minister said that massive infrastructure development programme

Reacting to the separatists decision not to participate in the forthcoming Round Table Conference, J&K Pradesh Congress Chief and Education Minister Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed today said they (separatists) don't attend RTC but they go to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and even visit Pakistan for putting forth their agenda.

"I believe that they are shying away from participating in the RTC.

They shouldn't shy away to sit on the same table with the mainstreampoliticians and discuss things", he said, while addressing a public meeting at Sunderbani.

Srinagar, April 19
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has urged the UPA government to take lead in resolving the Kashmir issue.

Mufti was addressing a public meeting at Ganderbal near here today as part of the PDP’s mass contact programme across the state following its demand of withdrawal of troops and ahead of the third round table conference.

The PDP patron emphasised that the region’s stability could be only ensured through political and economic stability in the State.

Referring to the forthcoming round table conference, Mufti Sayeed said this could offer the best platform for initiating practical steps towards the resolution of the issue as the recommendations of the four working groups, finalised after intensive deliberations, could lay the foundations for the ultimate solution.

He expressed the hope that the round table conference would prove result-oriented and the recommendations finalised by the four working groups would be implemented in letter and spirit to consolidate the resolution process.

Mufti urged the centre and state governments to immediately work towards the implementation of the recommendations of the working groups, once presented at the round table conference.

Jammu, April 19
The Centre has ordered the security forces to move out of the private orchards and agriculture lands they were occupying to fight terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Highly placed sources told this correspondent here today that the Defence Ministry has ordered the army to vacate such private properties it was occupying in the state for the past about 18 years.

A similar letter has reportedly been written to the paramilitary forces, including to the BSF, the CRPF and the ITBP by the Union Home Ministry.

Financial Commissioner (Home) B.R. Kundal confirmed that the Defence Ministry has ordered its establishments here to take corrective measures in this direction. He, however, made it clear that the Centre’s action was in response to the letter which Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had written some time ago.

He said that the vacation of private and public property by the security forces was an ongoing process as the troops move out when some alternate accommodation was built by the government. The Chief Minister had specifically asked the defence and the home ministries to get the orchards and agriculture lands vacated on priority basis.

PDP leader Mufti Sayeed had recently threatened to break the coalition with the Congress in case immediate steps were not taken to vacate the orchards and agriculture lands by the security forces. 

Srinagar, April 19
Militants shot dead a civilian and wounded another in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramula district this evening.

Militants entered into the house of Shahzad Ahmed Dar at Dangerpora-Sopore, 55 km from here, and shot him. Dar was shifted to hospital where he succumbed, officials said.

They said Shahnawaz Ahmad was hurt critically when rebels shot at him at Arampora.

A militant, allegedly involved in two overnight shooting incidents in Baramula district was today arrested from Sopore, 55 km from here.

The police arrested Hilal Ahmad Peer of Rinner village, from Sopore, assistant superintendent of police Mir Imtiyaz Ahmad said.

Shahzad Ahmad Dar was killed and two others — Shahnawaz Ahmad Kallu and Naseer Ahmad Peer — were injured in separate militant attacks at Dangerpore, Arampora and Bulgam villages of Sopore last evening, Ahmad said.

He said Peer was involved in the shooting incidents at Arampora and Bulgam while the Dangerpora incident was the handiwork of some other militant.

The militant was arrested on specific information and was taken for interrogation, Ahmad said, adding, “we will come out with complete details once his interrogation is completed.”

Ahmad said a hunt had been launched to nab the militants involved in the killing of Dar.

Jammu: A boy was injured when militants opened fire on some houses in Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here today.

Militants went to Bakerwal Mohalla in the Haroni area of the border district last night and opened fire on some houses, they said.

One 12-year-old boy, identified as Shafakat Hussain received bullet wounds, they said adding Hussain was the son of Sadiq Mohammad, a serving JAKLI Jawan.

Militants later escaped from the area under the cover of darkness, the sources said.

The injured boy was taken to nearby health centre for treatment, the sources said. — PTI