Jammu, September 14
Reiterating its claim for a 'homeland' within the Kashmir valley, the Panun Kashmir, today proposed the status of a union territory to this desired homeland.

A resolution to this effect, which was adopted at the Panun Kashmir annual convention here, stated, "We resolve to relentlessly pursue the goal of creation of Panun Kashmir (homeland within the Kashmir valley) to the north and east of the Jhelum where there will be an unfettered flow of the Indian Constitution with a union territory status".

It also stated that the Panun Kashmir would consistently oppose the Dixon Plan "and its variants like the Musharraf plan, Kathwari formula, Wajahat Habibullah model, greater autonomy or the self-rule".

In a second resolution, the Panun Kashmir, headed by chairman Dr Ajay Chrungoo, demanded the constitution of a special tribunal to address the issue of forcible occupation and "fraudulent usurpation of Kashmiri Hindu properties and shrines" in the valley. This tribunal should be empowered to issue immediate decisions for evacuation and prosecution.

The community further demanded that all distress sales of the properties since 1990 be declared null and void.

The resolution further stated that the project of satellite-township for Kashmiri migrants, the foundation stone of which was recently laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh near Jammu, appeared to have come to a dead end.

The government continued to dither on the issue of rehabilitating Kashmiri migrants despite its loud pronouncements that 1,000 new upgraded residential quarters would be allotted to the camp dwellers.

Udhampur, September 14
On the first day of the fasting holy month of Ramzan, security forces this morning eliminated four militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit at Chatroo, about 35 km from Kishtwar town.

According to reports, on a tip-off, Rashtriya Riffles launched a joint combing operation in the dense forest of the Trinalan Dhok area of Keshwan village.

As soon as the security personnel zeroed in on the hideout of militants, ultras hiding there resorted to indiscriminate firing. The security forces retaliated the attack, which led to a fierce encounter.

The gun battle lasted for more than three hours in which four militants were killed by the security forces.Four belonged to LeT, and one was a self-styled deputy district commander of the outfit.

The slain militants have been identified as Lal Din Gujjar, Omar Din, Ghulam Qadir and Kasih. Lal Din was self-styled deputy commander of the LeT and active in Chatroo and adjoining areas since 2002. One AK 47, grenades and a large quantity of arms and ammunitions have been recovered from their possession.