Srinagar, November 19
The Samajwadi Party will hold series of public meetings across Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the next year’s Assembly elections in the state.

Samajwadi Party chief (left) Mulayam Singh Yadav talks to a Kashmiri during his visit to Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar on Monday . — Photo by Mohd. Amin War

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav stated this at a convention of party workers at the Sher-e-kashmir cricket stadium. Accompanied by party colleagues ,including Amar Singh and Abu Asim Azmi and senior state party leaders, Shiekh Abdul Rahman, Mulayam Singh Yadav arrived here today a day after the visit of his arch- rival and UP Chief Minister Mayawati, who visited Jammu region yesterday.

Yadav expressed concern over situation in Jammu and Kashmir due to militancy- related killings. His party could not remain silent over the situation in the state he said, adding it would launch a statewide campaign. He blamed governments in Jammu and Kashmir for the prevalent situation and stressed developing confidence between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre.

Soon after his arrival here Yadav drove to Hazratbal and paid obeisance at the shrine where the relic of Prophet Mohammad is housed. He also met senior party leaders and addressed the workers’ convention. 

Srinagar, November 19
The police has arrested one of the ‘most wanted’ militants of Hizbul Mujahideen, who was functioning as a self-styled district commander of the organisation.

Tariq Ahmad Lone, alias Gowhar, was caught after the police raided the house of Nazir Ahmed Bhat in the Nanil locality in Anantnag district. An AK rifle, four magazines, 100 rounds of ammunition and two grenades were recovered from his possession.

The militant was involved in many civilian killings and IED blasts, the police said.

In another anti-insurgence operation, the police killed two Al-Badr militants in a joint operation with the Army in Chitragam village in Shopian district in southern Kashmir.

The slain militants have been identified as Gulzar Ahmed Chopan and Abid.

Srinagar, November 19
People’s Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has stressed an end to an atmosphere of armed confrontation with greater trust in people and gradual reduction of dependence on security forces for relief to common man.

Addressing party workers in Anantnag district of south Kashmir today, the Mufti said the intra-state confidence- building measures could help create environment for peace. The Mufti said the central government’s decision to get all schools and hospitals in the state vacated from the security forces in a time-bound manner should mark the beginning of phased withdrawal of troops from civilian areas. He reiterated his demand for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). "These measures are now inevitable if we really want the peace efforts to gain ground", he said.

The Mufti urged political leadership of the state and the country to pioneer the fresh bold initiatives put momentum in the normalization process. "Dallying around the process of troop reduction and revocation of the AFSPA, at this juncture, could only brew cynicism and alienation to the detriment of peace efforts", he said.

Srinagar, November 19
A wreath-laying and homage ceremony was held at Chushul in Ladakh to commemorate the Battle of Rezangla in the 1962 Sino-Indian war.

A Defence spokesman said here wreaths were placed on behalf of Chief of Army Staff Gen Deepak Kapoor, and Northern Army Commander Lt-Gen H.S. Panag, Lt- Gen P.C. Bhardwaj, GOC Fire and Fury Corps and other senior officers of 13 Kumaon in the region.

This day in 1962 soldiers of 13 Kumaon under the command of the legendary Major Shaitan Singh fought valiantly to ‘last man last round’ of Indian Army. They stood their ground till dead and defeated Chinese onslaughts. That only 10 men out of the 124, were left alive shows ferocity of the epoch battle but there was no sign of panic or withdrawal. Accounts of those who visited Rezangla, three months later stand testimony to this as "The dead soldiers were found in their trenches, frozen stiff, still holding their weapons and grenades in their hands. Broken Light Machine Gun bipods, and some men holding only the butts of their rifles while the remaining weapon had blown off, bore witness to the enemy fire." The grateful nation honoured Maj Shaitan Singh with highest gallantry award of Param Vir Chakra and seven other martyrs with Vir Chakra. The mortal remains of the 114 soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice could be recovered only after three months, the Defence spokesman said.