7 infiltrate through Basantar
3 Pakistanis killed, 5 cops injured in Samba encounter

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 21: Announcement of maximum restraint followed by partial withdrawal of troops from the border notwithstanding, Pakistan continued massive infiltration of militants through the international border of Hiranagar and Samba sectors.

A big group of atleast seven militants was pushed by Pakistan army through Basantar river in Samba sector in the early hours of this morning. The group was spotted by local people and later an encounter took place between police personnel and militants at Nud in which three militants, all believed to be Pakistanis, were killed and six cops including SP Kathua Manohar Singh and his four body-guards were seriously injured.

DIG Jammu-Kathua range Dr S P Vaid told EXCELSIOR after returning from the spot that three militants had been killed by late tonight after a fierce 10-hours long gun-fight. Atleast four more militants were trapped in the encounter. He said six cops including SP Kathua and his four body-guards were injured.

One of the injured cop was in critical condition and he has been rushed to Military Hospital, Satwari, Dr Vaid, who supervised the entire operation, said, adding the operation was still going on and will be intensified with the onset of dawn tomorrow to eliminate the absconding militants.

The injured cops have been identified as Manzoor Ahmad, Devinder Singh, Bunty Sharma, Happy Singh, all body-guards of Manohar Singh and Rocky Chander of SOG Kathua. Manohar Singh suffered splinter wounds on his right hand and was taken to MH Kathua. He returned to encounter site late tonight to resume the operation.

Official sources said a group of villagers, who had gone to attend nature’s call along Basantar early today, noticed a big group of militants moving towards Jammu-Pathankote National Highway and immediately sounded police.

A police party from Samba police station, Border Police, Kathua Police and jawans of Special Operations Group (SOG) cordoned off the area and launched a massive search operation. At about 1230 hours today, the police personnel intercepted all seven militants at Chilla Danga village and challenged them to surrender.

Militants, who were in possession of assault rifles, opened heavy firing on the cops, who were joined by Village Defence Committee (VDC) members. A large number of grenades were also used by the ultras in targeting police personnel.

In the fierce fighting, cops gunned down three dreaded foreign mercenaries. One militant was killed in the afternoon while two others were gunned down by the evening. In the process, five police constables were also injured. One of them has been identified as Devinder Sharma.

Other militants were still suspected to be hiding in surrounding forests of Chilla Danga. In the meantime, police officials also called security forces to the village and searches were stepped-up for absconding militants, who were suspected to be four in number.

Massive searches were going along the forest area from Chilla Danga to Mansar and Ramkote to apprehend or eliminate the militants, who had infiltrated from across the border and were mostly believed to be foreign mercenaries.

Police have also alerted security forces and police in Ramkote and adjoining areas anticipating that the militants were on way to upper reaches of Udhampur and Doda districts and will use the traditional route to reach there.

Sources said identity of the slain militants couldn’t be carried out immediately but they were suspected to be Pakistanis. A large quantity of arms and ammunition including rifles, ammunition and grenades were recovered from the scene of encounter so far. More recovery was expected to be made by tomorrow morning.

Only yesterday, police had gunned down a Pakistani militant at Gurha Mundayan near Hiranagar on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway while his five-six associates had escaped.

Sources said the encounters at Gurha Mundayan and Chilla Danga were clear indications that Pakistan hasn’t stopped, or rather stepped-up infiltration of trained militants even after announcing maximum restraint and partial withdrawal of troops from the borders.

SPECIAL REPORT
Hurriyat emerges as central force
The fury in J&K has toned down several notches

From B L Kak

A process has, at last, begun to create a congenial atmosphere for the much-required dialogue between India and Pakistan. Both New Delhi and Islamabad, it seems, have swallowed at least a bit of their ego and allowed certain ‘positive’ trends to surface. The entire credit for this is given to Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Mr Vajpayee’s announcement about further extension of Ramzan truce in Jammu and Kashmir has clearly suggested his line of action vis-à-vis Kashmir - that is, one good turn deserves another. His announcement, significantly, was followed by equally significant announcement in Islamabad about "partial withdrawal" of Pakistani troops on the Line of Control (LoC).

Late night on December 20, a message was received in New Delhi from Islamabad about commencement of the move-back of Pak troops to cantonments. The message was on Thursday (December 21) discussed by the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, and the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen S Padmanabhan, with the Prime Minister.

Mr Vajpayee called for a constant monitoring of the situation, simply because of the fact that Pakistan’s ruling military leadership had, as revealed by a brief military press statement in Islamabad, taken "necessary safeguards against any possible Indian misadventure across the LoC and to ensure protection of the local population".

New Delhi and Islamabad continue to differ with each other on several issues. But there is no denying that rancour has lessened and the fury toned down several notches, among all parties concerned, after the announcement of Ramzan truce in Kashmir by the Government of India on November 19. According to latest reports from Islamabad, the Pakistan Government—Gen Parvez Musharraf in particular—is desperately waiting for word from Delhi fetching it to the negotiating table.

The Pakistan Government expects the Vajpayee Government to come forward with an ‘imaginative’ plan or ‘new ideas’ for taking the Kashmir issue forward from the present position. However, as Mr Vajpayee has adopted a "wait-and-watch" policy, Islamabad should not expect an early invitation from New Delhi in this regard.

And taking the situation, as it is, the Governments of Pakistan and India seem to have focussed their attention on ‘what next?’ from the central players in the drama-the Kashmiris themselves. The All-Party Hurriyat Conference, which claims to represent the people of Kashmir, has now emerged as the central Kashmiri force. The Hurriyat Conference, which, to a certain extent sabotaged the last initiative taken by the Government to talk to the Hizbul Mujahideen, has now evinced interest in peace talks.

Are Hurriyat leaders and New Delhi going to move in the direction of finding a solution? "No", says the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani. He sees a ‘stalemate’ on the horizon because the Government of India has not so far accepted Kashmir as a ‘disputed territory’.

At the same time, the APHC’s chairman, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mr Abdul Ghani Lone and Mr Yasin Malik, to name only a few of the Hurriyat leaders, have appreciated Mr Vajpayee’s yet another ‘good’ gesture-that is, the announcement of the Government’s decision to extend the ceasefire in J&K by another month. Mr Lone, who recently spent three weeks in Pakistan, said in a media interview that the consensus among the people there was that there should be peace in Kashmir.

"I got the strong feeling that all Pakistanis want the Kashmir problem to be resolved. They feel that there should be no feeling of enmity between India and Pakistan and both countries should march forward in an atmosphere of peace", Mr Lone was quoted as saying.

When asked to comment on the Hurriyat chairman’s none-too-old statement that he was not in favour of militancy ending in Kashmir as this would leave the Hurriyat only with ‘slogans and principles’, Mr Lone said: "The issue is not whether militancy should stay or end in Kashmir because, at least for the time being, when there is a ceasefire in Kashmir, that problem is solved. We have also said that we will try and convince the militants about the need for peace. Once they are convinced, the problem is solved. But the main issue, I feel, is whether or not the central parties to the dispute have the will for a dialogue".

Asked which of the three options he would endorse-staying with India, going to Pakistan or getting independence-Mr Lone was quoted as having argued: "When you go to the dialogue table you cannot go with strong views. You have to go with an open mind and listen to the problems and dificulties faced by all the parties. Only then can there be a lasting solution".

Omar welcomes Pak decision

CALCUTTA, Dec 21: Union Minister of State for Commerce Omar Abdullah today hailed Pakistani ruler General Pervez Musharraf’s "bold initiative" in reducing tension along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir by reciprocating India’s decision to

extend the cease-fire by one more month.

Describing Gen Musharraf’s announcement to partially withdraw troops from the LoC as the "most positive step" towards reducing heightened tension between the two countries because of cross-border terrorism, the National Conference leader said the credit should also go to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his announcement in Parliament yesterday extending the unilateral cease-fire till January 26.

Expressing the hope that such "positive" steps on both sides of the border would go a long way in reducing tension and discouraging militant groups from continuing their killing spree in the Valley, he said it was unfortunate that despite the unilateral cease-fire, 62 innocent people were killed in the Valley during the month of Ramzan.

Asked whether such steps would in any way help change the mindset of Pakistan-based militant outfits and bring them back to the discussion table, Mr Abdullah said if the tactical support from across the border ended, peace was bound to return to the Valley as the common people were "disillusioned and disgusted with the unabated and senseless killings" all over the State.

The Union Minister who arrived here today to inaugurate the Bangladesh-India trade infrastructure summit, was speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with Bangladesh Commerce Minister M A Jalil to discuss bilateral trade and the scope of its growth. (UNI)

Pak troops withdrawal
India assessing ground situation

NEW DELHI, Dec 21: India today reacted cautiously to Pakistan’s announcement of partial withdrawal of troops from the Line of Control in Kashmir, saying it was assessing the ground situation and will welcome any step that leads to "real de-escalation" and reduction of tension.

"India has always stood for and will welcome any steps that leads to real de-escalation and the reduction of tension," a Foreign Office spokesman said in response to questions on Pakistan’s announcement yesterday.

Islamabad’s statement, made shortly after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s announcement in Parliament on a month-long extension of Ramzan ceasefire, said the partial withdrawal had already commenced and its troops had started moving towards the cantonments.

The spokesman said the Defence Minister was being apprised of ground situation. "We can comment on this only after a complete evaluation of Pakistan’s claim has been made".

On Islamabad’s contention that India should reciprocate by de-inducting part of its aid "we do not wish to comment on the unrealistic and inaccurate assessment of Pakistan spokesman’s comments on the strength of India’s security forces deployed in the State of Jammu and Kashmir."

He said this was determined by the Defence Ministry in response to the threat that comes in the face of encouragement, abetment and incitement of terrorism in J and K and the infiltration of terrorists, principally foreign terrorists, into the Valley.

India has been wary of taking such Pakistani claims at face value, officials explained while citing the example of the Kargil conflict which came close on the heels of the historic Lahore initiative.

Vajpayee had struck a note of caution in his statement when he spoke of activities of organisations like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen continuing in the State which had witnessed a decline in incidents of terrorist violence in the last one month.

The Prime Minister’s ceasefire extension has been welcomed by the US, Russia and several other countries.

In a statement in Washington, President Bill Clinton termed it an "an important step forward" in reducing tensions in Kashmir.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, in another statement, said it has not gone unnoticed in Russia that Delhi’s November initiative has been positively received by the population and the political parties of J and K.

It said this, alongwith Pakistan’s decision for partial withdrawal of its troops, "may be emerging favourable pre-conditions for the renewal of India-Pakistan political dialogue."

In the first formal response from the Arab world to the Government initiative, Tunisia said it welcomed the ceasefire and hoped this gesture of goodwill would help resume negotiations between all parties involved to achieve lasting solution to the Kashmir problem in conformity with the Simla agreement and the Lahore (PTI)

HC clears all Army officers in the Samba spy case

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: The Delhi High Court today burst the bubble of Samba spy case, which rocked the country in the mid-70s, by giving a clean chit to the two officers who were convicted by the Army in court martial proceedings launched against them and dismissal of several others from service for allegedly spying for Pakistan.

Ordering the Government to grant all consequential benefits to the officers who were dismissed from service including the two captains, who were convicted by the General Court Martial (GCM), a division bench comprising Justice Devinder Gupta and Justice K Ramamoorthy declared the orders against them as null and void in absence of any evidence.

Accepting the writ petitions of Capt R S Rathuar and Capt A K Rana, and appeals of seven other officers against a single judge bench upholding the Government action against them, the court said the "their conviction is void in law."

Setting aside the GCM conviction and Army’s dismissal order, the bench said the Army authority had failed to produce any material evidence of their alleged involvement in the espionage.

The Samba spy case relates to arrest of Army personnel Sarwan Dass and Aya Singh in 1976 and their sentence to seven years imprisonment by the GCM. GCM consequently had named Capt Rathaur and Capt Rana, who were arrested in August 1978.

Following their interrogation by Military Intelligence, several Army officers were arrested, seven of whom had moved the high court against their dismissal from the service. Castigating the Army for "roping in" so many officers in the case, the bench said "we are of the view that there is no other conclusion possible except to say that the orders, which are subject matters of the writs and appeals by the petitioner, are merely camouflaged and passed for extraneous reasons under the cloak of innocuous form of orders of termination."

"To give an air of verisimilitude, the Army had held the court martial proceedings (against them), which are wholly void," the court said in an 111-page judgement delivered after three years of concluding the arguments.

Stating that in the name of records, the Army authorities had produced four "thin files without pagings" as evidence, the court said "the respondents tried to play the cards very close to their chest, as it were, have not allowed any light being thrown on the issue to be decided."

The seven army officers against whom a single judge bench had upheld Army’s dismissal order, are; R K Midha, M R Ajwani, S P Sharma (all in the rank of Majors), Arun Sharma, Kulwant Singh, Vijay Kumar Dhawan and J S Yadav (all Captains).

The Military Intelligence (MI) had arrested 52 Army officers and personnel in the case and a few of them, however, were not proceeded against.

Referring to the records produced by the Army, the court said "it does not disclose any fact. If any material worth mentioning have been found in the files, we would (have) not certainly interfered to annal the proceedings (of CGM)." (PTI)

Hurriyat to send delegation to Pak on Jan 15

SRINAGAR, Dec 21: Hurriyat Conference today unanimously decided to send a delegation to Pakistan on January 15 to initiate dialogue with the leadership of militants and other leaders there to carry forward the peace moves "initiated by India and Pakistan."

"We have unanimously decided that a delegation of Hurriyat will visit Pakistan on January 15 to initiate talks with militant leadership and other leaders in that country to carry forward peace moves initiated by India and Pakistan," senior executive member and chairman of JKLF, Mohammad Yaseen Malik, who came out midway from the meeting of Hurriyat executive council, told reporters at the venue of the meeting. Malik said the composition of the Hurriyat delegation to Pakistan would be finalised later.

He said the Hurriyat executive council termed as "bold steps" Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s extension of Ramzan ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan ordering partial pullback of its forces from Line of Control saying these had brought a "ray of hope for the resolution of the Kashmir issue."

"In view of the steps taken by India and Pakistan resolution of Kashmir issue will speed up", he said.

Ahead of today’s meeting, Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mohammad Yaseen Malik are understood have had telephonic conversation with the Emir (chief) of Lakshar Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and Hizb supreme commander and chairman of United Jehad Council Syed Salahuddin last night to take them into confidence.

Hurriyat leaders, according to sources, were understood to have told the militant leaders in Pakistan that talks were inevitable in order to attain their "objectives."

Militant leaders are believed to have made it clear to the Hurriyat leaders they would not allow the Kashmir issue to become a victim of politics.

Confirming the telephonic talks with militant leaders, told reporters that a "new process has been set in motion because of which it is imperative for us to have face to face meeting with them."

The militant leaders, Bhat said, welcomed the Hurriyat initiative and were in fact "eagerly waiting for the Hurriyat leaders".

Keeping in view of the violent factional feud after the previous meeting of Hurriyat executive council at its headquaters just three days ago, today’s meeting was held at the residence of former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Maulvi Umer Farooq.

Workers and senior office-bearers of constituents of Hurriyat, a conglomerate of 23 separatist outfits, were not informed where the meeting is taking place.

However, a Hurriyat spokesman said the venue of today’s meeting was not changed because of last Sunday’s clashes. It was because of heavy rush at Hurriyat headquarters. A large number of victims of violence assembled there to receive relief on the eve of Eid-ul- Fitr he added.

Meanwhile, Abdullah, supreme commander of Pakistan-based Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen in a statement to a local news agency cautioned Hurriyat leaders about what he alleged "false propaganda" of unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir saying "which has been announced to hoodwink the world community". (PTI)

Vajpayee’s announcement has ‘positive tone’, says Pak

ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: Pakistan today said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s announcement of extension of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir had a "positive tone" but added it was "watching very closely every word that is being said" by Vajpayee and other senior leaders of India.

Vajpayee’s announcement in Parliament yesterday about extending Ramzan month-long ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir "has a positive tone", Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Riaz Mohammad Khan told a press conference here.

He, however, said the announcement fell "short of a clear response to Pakistan’s initiative for early start of negotiations process for settlement of Kashmir dispute"

Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, meanwhile, told BBC that Pakistan was "watching very closely every word that is being said" by the Indian Prime Minister and "every other senior leader of India."

"What we hear is good. (But) what we would like to see is the same thing conveyed to us officially, so that we can set the stage for the commencement of the dialogue in consultations with the representatives of the Kashmiri people," Sattar said.

"Conditional statements have been emanating from New Delhi for nearly three weeks which show reluctance on India’s part to respond to Pakistan’s response for talks," said Khan.

He added that "India clearly needs to make up its mind for meaningful dialogue process as Pakistan initiative envisages a comprehensive approach."

"We call for consultation with Kashmiris especially the Hurriyat Conference and .. We call for resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and India with the participation of Kashmiris soon after Ramzan for a just settlement of Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris," the foreign office spokesman said.

Khan said the latest decision to withdraw unilaterally troops from the Line of Control was "yet another demonstration of Pakistan’s willingness to reduce tension and is part of policy of restraint along the border."

"This step should help start a meaningful dialogue to address the long-standing Kashmir dispute," he said.

On the withdrawal of troops, he refused to give the exact number. "The number is significant," he said, hoping it would lead to the resumption of meaningful dialogue.

Sattar said "if the Government of India is to embark, as it is indicating at present, on the political road, that would generate confidence among the Kashmiri people..." (PTI)

Pak troop withdrawal claim has to be verified: George

NEW DELHI, Dec 21: Defence Minister George Fernandes today said that the Go-vernment would have to "verify" at ground level before commenting on Islamabad’s claims to have undertaken a partial withdrawal of troops from the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have to understand the meaning of these claims. How can troops be withdrawn overnight from high up in the mountainous terrain that marks the Line of Control", he said, when asked to react on Pakistan Army’s announcement last night.

"How were the troops withdrawn. Were they moved by road or aircraft, as the cantonement are far back in the rear. The roads are bad all along the LoC", Defence Minister told PTI, adding that these facts had to be verified before Government could react to the developments.

He also said that the Pakistan Army’s announcement had not mentioned the areas from where the troops had been withdrawn and the strength of the reported withdrawal.

Asserting that an atmosphere could be created for resumption of peace dialogue with Pakistan, Fernandes asked Islamabad to curb activities of mercenary groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen to prove its sincerity towards peace with New Delhi.

Fernandes said the groups like LeT, based and bred in Pakistan were vowed to violence and their continued activities within Kashmir were a "cause of grave concern".

They have their camps in Pakistan and to prove it’s bonafide to peace process Islamabad should control the activities of these groups by putting a curb on them," he said.

Fernandes said there had been a marked improvement all along the borders since the Prime Minister’s announcement of the ceasefire. "Borders are more or less peaceful with a let up in shelling." (PTI)

Sonia parries queries on her relationship with Quattrochhi

NEW DELHI, Dec 21: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today parried questions on her relationship with Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrochhi, a key accused in the Bofors pay off case, who was arrested and released in Kuala Lumpur by Malaysian authorities.

"I don’t know," she told reporters when asked to comment on Quattrochhi’s reported statement that he was in trouble because of his closeness with the Gandhi family.

She rejected the charge that she or any member of her family was involved in the multi-crore Bofors gun deal kickbacks and asked the Government to come out with proof.

"Neither me nor any member of my family is involved," Gandhi told reporters at an Iftar party hosted by her at AICC headquarters.

Let the Government come out with proof of involvement of her family, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha said, adding the issue was being raised time and again by ruling BJP for political ends.

"Let the Government continue with investigations. Law will take its own course," Gandhi said in reply to questions.

Her husband (the late Rajiv Gandhi) had categorically told Parliament that neither he nor any member of his family was involved in it, she said.

Even after Rajiv Gandhi’s statement, this was being pursued for so many years, she said. (PTI)

Bhandari appointed Special Secy in Home Ministry

JAIPUR, Dec 21: Senior most Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in Rajasthan Ashok Bhandari, has been appointed Special Secretary (Kashmir Affairs) in the Union Home Ministry, officials said here today.

Bhandari, a 1964 batch IPS officer is presently working as Director General Anti-Corruption Bureau in the State, and is expected to assume charge from January first. (PTI)

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