3 top Kashmiri militants killed in Pouni Chak

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 17: In another successful operation, police this morning eliminated three militants, suspected to be Kashmiris, in forward village of Purne De Kothe near Sandhwa in Pouni Chak police post of Akhnoor sub division.

The slain militants, who were heading towards Jammu alongwith a consignment of arms and explosive devices, remained unidentified but, according to a police official, the trio looked like Kashmiris. Their killing has averted a possible catastrophe in Jammu, the official said.

He said Pouni Chak police post was sounded by local people at 0730 hours today about the movement of some suspects in the grown up maize crop in village Purne De Kothe. Police parties from Pouni Chak, Domana and Akhnoor led by Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Akhnoor Jagjit Singh ‘Jagga’ rushed to the village and laid a cordon.

A contact with the militants was established at about 0845 hours. Within 25 minutes operation, the cops eliminated all three militants. The ultra fired a number of shots on the cops but latter didn’t suffer any casualty.

Bodies of all three militants were recovered from the maize crops. However, they were not carrying any identity card with them. In the absence of I-cards, police couldn’t establish the identity of the slain militants.

Police said they could be Kashmiri militants, entering Jammu from the International Border after undergoing arms training in Pakistan. From their possession, police recovered three Star mark Chinese Mousers, six magazines, three buoynets and Rs 19,000 cash in Indian currency.

Besides three Pathan suits, which the militants had changed after sneaking into Indian territory, were also recovered from a bag in wet condition. This indicates that militants had crossed Nikki Tawi for reaching the forward village from Pakistan. The militants were wearing normal dress.

This was the fifth successful operation carried out by Domana, Kanachak and Pouni Chak police stations and posts under Akhnoor sub division. Few days back, Early this week, Kanachak police had gunned down two militants.

A total of three encounters have also taken place in Pouni Chak area in which seven militants have been killed.

Police sources said the border areas of Domana, Kanachak and Akhnoor are being frequently used by Pakistan army to push trained militants into Jammu to step-up the militant activities. However, the alertness being displayed by local police has resulted into thwarting the majority of infiltration attempts, they added.

Cop shot at in Baramulla
Three militants, civilian killed in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 17: While as security forces today eliminated three militants in two different encounters in Kashmir valley, one civilian died during exchange of fire between militants and security forces in Kupwara.

Official sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that troops of 2 Para and SOG Kupwara killed two unidentified militants in an ambush at Sheikh Naar, in Sogam area of Kupwara district. Both the militants, killed in a fierce gunbattle, are believed to be Pakistani cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba, though their identities could not be ascertained immediately.

At Kanthpora, in Lolab valley again, four heavily armed militants went inside the primary school Malikpora this afternoon. Having received the information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 32 Bn and SOG Kupwara raided the school. On sighting the security forces, militants opened fire and managed to escape. One civilian, namely Syed Bashir Ahmed Andrabi S/o Sa’ad-ud-din Andrabi of Kanthpora got killed in exchange of fire. Another civilian, Mohammad Abdullah Ahangar S/o Shams-ud-din Ahangar of Potshai, Lolab, sustained injuries. He was admitted at a Sogam hospital.

Sources said that, on the basis of a specific information, troops of RR 34 Bn, SOG Baramulla and 15 JAK Li raided a militant hideout at Kunzar, on Srinagar-Tangmarg road. One militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit, Nayeem Ahmed Khan alias Khalid of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, got killed but his associate managed to escape. During the encounter, troops destroyed the house of one Ramzan Parray in which the militants were present.

Sources said that after the Friday prayers, a gunman fired upon head constable Abdul Majeed at Sangri, in Baramulla, and left him injured. He was rushed to a Baramulla hospital.

During last night, an IED blast occurred outside the house of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Bashir Ahmed Mir, at Batpora Payeen, in Bandipore. It caused damage to three close by house, However, all inmates were safe.

Vajpayee to visit China next year
Talks on Ladakh frontier soon

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Aug 17: India and China will record their perceptions of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh region in eastern Kashmir soon. The two sides have already recorded their perceptions of the LAC along a 345-km ‘middle sector’ stretch.

Indications are by no means uncertain that the differences between India and China in the contours of the Line of Actual Control in the western sector will be wider. Unlike the ‘middle sector’, the post-1962 occupation in the western sector by China has been considerable.

While most of these differences in the alignment of the LAC are known to the two sides, it will not be difficult, experts point out, to record the divergent perceptions in the western sector on map. It is already reported that there are some specific points along the frontier in the Ladakh sector where clarifications will be required.

Experts also point out that while the purpose of determining the LAC is to ensure the Sino-Indian border remains calm and commercial activity such as border trade can begin, the 4,060-km border will ultimately have to be settled politically. There is an encouraging change in Beijing’s attitude.

Unlike the early 1980s, when China wanted India to relent in the western sector, Beijing now wants New Delhi to show flexibility in specific portions of the eastern sector. China is said to be keen on persuading India to show some leeway in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.

Chinese academics have said on more than one occasion that Tibet had traditionally exercised administrative control, including collection of taxes, over Tawang. According to them, Tawang is also "an indispensable part of the Tibetan monastery network" which converges in Lhasa.

The External Affairs and Defence Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, who has planned to travel to China in October, will review the full range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. His consultations in Beijing will take place on the eve of the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Zhu Rongji’s visit to India in November.

According to diplomatic observers. Mr Zhu Rongji’s visit, to be followed by a return trip to China by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, next year, would create the opportunity for an intensive phase of political engagement between the two countries. The exchange of visits at the Prime Ministerial level takes place amidst a new effort by New Delhi and Beijing to quicken the pace of negotiations on the clarification of the LAC on their long and contested border.

The talks between the two heads of Government are expected to give the much-needed political boost to the negotiations at the official level to delineate the Line of Actual Control and implement past agreements to promote peace and tranquility on the border.

The clarification of the LAC could be the critical first step towards a final resolution of the boundary dispute that has hobbled bilateral relations for more than four decades.

Hizbul ready to leave gun if Kashmir issue solved

SRINAGAR, Aug 17: Ruling out any more ceasefire announcements, the pro-Pakistan militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen today expressed its readiness to say goodbye to the gun provided the Kashmir issue was resolved "as per the wishes of the people of the State".

"Hizb has no plans to announce ceasefire again and will continue its armed struggle till the Kashmir issue is resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," divisional commander and newly appointed spokesman of the outfit, Asad Yazdani said in an interview to a local news agency which appeared in an Urdu newspaper here today.

Yazdani, however, said his organisation will lend support to any move aimed at finding a peaceful solution to Kashmir issue.

"We have a sword in one hand, we have safely kept the olive branch in the other and it is upto New Delhi which of the two hands it prefers," the Hizb commander who was one of the militant leaders who held negotiations with the Central team after the outfit announced unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir in July last year, said.

"We had provided a chance to India last year by calling a ceasefire. Now the situation does not allow the same to happen again," Yazdani said.

However, he said the ongoing armed movement in Kashmir had nothing to do with so-called fundamentalist or Taliban movements.

"Hizbul Mujahideen will say good bye to the gun the day Kashmir issue is resolved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the State," he added.

The ceasefire ended abruptly even as army stopped operations against the Hizbul last year with the outfit setting pre-conditions for its continuance.

Hizbul had demanded inclusion of Pakistan in the talks and acceptance of Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed issue which was not acceptable to New Delhi. The outfit later blamed New Delhi for the failure of the ceasefire.

The Hizb commander did not agree with the statement of Lashker-e-Toiba chief, Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed that the "Jehad" (holy war) against India will continue even after the resolution of Kashmir issue.

Yazdani said Hizbul and the local people see implementation of already agreed UN resolution or tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir as the best solution to the Kashmir issue.

"We will not accept any other solution," he said, adding bilateral dialogue has never proved successful in resolving the long-standing problems.

Yazdani said Hizbul is satisfied with the role being played by Hurriyat Conference. Hurriyat is playing an important role. Any individual who is associated with the movement is respectable to us, he added.

Describing the foreign militants as "guests", the Hizb commander said they have come here to help us in our fight against occupational forces.

"The guests have left their homes, families and nation to join the fight against occupational forces’," he said. (PTI)

Two girls kidnapped, taken over to Pak for training

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Aug 17: Two teen-aged girls have been kidnapped by two boys, suspected to be the supporters of militants, and taken to Pakistan reportedly for training them in militancy from Sabjian belt of Poonch district. Kidnapping of the girls has sent a shock wave among the people living in border areas of Poonch.

The girls were kidnapped and whisked away to Pakistan on August 15 evening. The kidnapping was, however, detected yesterday when family members of the girls went to see their daughters in Dhoba dhok, where they had been putting up.

Kidnapped girls have been identified as Parveen Akhter, 15, daughter of Afzal Mir and Nazma, 17, daughter of Ghulam Hassan Malik. Two boys, who were said to be responsible for the kidnapping, were named as Aslam, 19, son of Ghulam Nabi Dar and Maqsood Ahmed, 18, son of Ghulam Rasool Malik.

All four boys and girls were residents of village Gagrian in Sabjian area of Mandi sector in Poonch district. The girls had gone to Dhoba dhok alongwith their cattle on August 15.

Reports said that the alleged kidnappers came to know of the girls’ presence in isolated dhok and went there. They were reported to have kidnapped the girls and crossed over the Line of Control (LoC) on August 15 night.

Next morning, the worried parents of the girls went to Dhoba dhok as the girls didn’t return to their houses in the night. They found the girls missing. Later, it was established that the girls had been taken away to Pakistan by two local boys, who were also found missing from their houses.

Local police have registered a case in the kidnapping of girls and started investigations.

Police sources said the girls might have been taken across the LoC for arms training by the youths, who were acting as conduits for Pakistan. This was the first incident of its kind wherein the two local girls were kidnapped and taken to Pakistan for forcible arms training and joining the militancy.

The incident has sent a wave of shock and panic among the people living in border areas, who felt a threat to their kins from Pakistan-sponsored militants.

Meanwhile, reports received from the LoC said that Pakistan army continued firing on forward Indian positions in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Firing was replied by the Indian side.

Under the garb of firing, Pakistan army tried to push in trained militants into Indian territory. However, the attempt was foiled by Indian troops. No casualty was reported on Indian side in the firing, the reports said.

Shelling creates panic in Nowshera
Two jawans, 2 ultras killed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 17: Two army jawans were killed in an encounter at village Matah in Pouni area of Reasi tehsil in which a top militant Abu Saifullah was eliminated by troops yesterday.

Meanwhile, Pakistan army resorted to mortar firing in Kallal area of Nowshera sector this afternoon forcing people, living along the forward areas, to abandon their houses and take shelter in safer areas. Two infiltrators were killed in Nowshera sector.

Official sources said two army jawans identified as Dinesh Kumar and Vinod Kumar sacrificed their lives while eliminating a Pakistani militant Abu Saifullah. Saifullah, as reported today, was a hardcore militant involved in a number of militancy-related incidents in upper reaches of Reasi.

Shopkeepers downed their shutters in Pouni last evening as a mark of respect to the army jawans, who attained martyrdom in the encounter. Bodies of the jawans were sent to their native towns this afternoon.

Pakistani troops fired about 50 to 60 mortar shells in Pokhran post of Kallal area in Nowshera section at 1300 hours today. Mortar shells were fired within a time span of 20 minutes, which created panic among the people living along the LoC.

Terrified people including women and children deserted their houses and took refuge in safer areas. Indian side effectively retaliated and silenced Pakistani guns by 1930 hours.

There was no casualty on Indian side in the firing. Casualties on the Pakistani side couldn’t be confirmed. Troops were maintaining a strict vigil on developing situation on the LoC. The mortar shelling was reported from Nowshera sector after a long time.

While troops were replying Pakistani shelling in Kallal area, Pak army made an attempt to push a group of eight to 10 militants into India side from an adjoining post. However, army jawans, who were anticipating such an attempt, opened firing on the infiltrators killing two of them on the spot.

Other militants fled back to Pakistan. Bodies of the slain militants couldn’t be recovered from the spot due to continued firing by Pak army. A consignment of weaponry was also lying alongside the dead bodies of the militants.

Troops also detected a powerful 10 kg IED, tied with an electric pole, in Bafliaz area of Surankot in Poonch district this afternoon. The IED was immediately defused by army after sealing the area.

Electricity supply would have badly disrupted in Bafliaz had the IED exploded, the sources said, adding a tragedy was averted with its timely detection.

JKLF not to pull out of Hurriyat

GENEVA, Aug 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has said it would not pull out of the 23-party separatist alliance — the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC).

"The Hurriyat Conference, of which the JKLF is an important constituent, at present represents the aspirations of the people of the State and it is important for all political groups to strengthen the conglomerate to help in finding a peaceful solution to the Kashmir problem," senior JKLF leader barrister Majid Tramboo told UNI here.

Barrister Tramboo, who is heading a two-member JKLF delegation to the UN sub-commission on human rights here, made it abundantly clear that his party would not take part in the elections in the State.

"Our party is not keen to get involved in electoral politics. We have a clear goal and would tirelessly work for achieving that objective," he added.

About the reported differences among the Hurriyat leaders, he said these were not serious and the JKLF fully adhered to the constitution of the conglomerate and was confident that all groups would work in a cohesive manner. Barrister tramboo, who accompanied party chief Yasin Malik to the United States, justified the JKLF’s decision to boycott the tea party hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi in honour of President Pervez Musharraf during his visit to India.

"The JKLF believes that bilateralism is not the solution to the Kashmir issue. It was in this context that the party decided to stay away from the tea party," he said.

Asked if the JKLF would participate in any dialogue with the Indian Government, he said any bilateral approach would not serve purpose for the resolution of the Kashmir problem.

"All the three parties — India, Pakistan and the true representative of the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be involved in talks to find an amicable solution to the problem," Barrister Tramboo said.

"The JKLF has declared the cease-fire more than six years ago and are in favour of peaceful means to end the conflict," he added.

About killing of the innocent people, he said "something has to be done to protect minorities as well as the majority Muslim community in our divided and occupied homeland."

"It is the people of the State - Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs that are being killed," Barrister Tramboo said. (UNI)

Three fold hike in MPs salary

NEW DELHI, Aug 17: Members of Parliament are to get a three-fold increase in salary and raised allowances and perks besides mobile phones under a bill approved by the Union Cabinet.

This would put an annual additional burden of over Rs 23.38 crore to the exchequer.

The bill seeking to amend the salary, allowances and pension of MPs Act 1954 was approved last night by the Cabinet under which monthly salary of an MP has been raised from Rs 4,000 to Rs 12,000, official sources said today.

It also proposes to provide mobile phones to MPs with adjustment of calls against one lakh free calls.

The amendment proposes to increase the daily allowances by 25 per cent from the present Rs 400 and raise the constituency allowance from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per month.

The joint committee on salaries and allowances had recommended that the constituency allowance continue without any change.

The bill also proposes to increase the transport allowance from Rs six per kilometre to Rs eight per kilometre.

Similary, office expense allowance has been raised from Rs 9,500 to Rs 14,000 per month and 20,000 additional telephones calls have been sanctioned beyond 1,000 km.

Free electricity and water are proposed to be doubled from 25,000 units to 50,000 units and 2,000 kilo litres to 4,000 kilo litres respectively. (PTI)

Three fold hike in MPs salary

NEW DELHI, Aug 17: Members of Parliament are to get a three-fold increase in salary and raised allowances and perks besides mobile phones under a bill approved by the Union Cabinet.

This would put an annual additional burden of over Rs 23.38 crore to the exchequer.

The bill seeking to amend the salary, allowances and pension of MPs Act 1954 was approved last night by the Cabinet under which monthly salary of an MP has been raised from Rs 4,000 to Rs 12,000, official sources said today.

It also proposes to provide mobile phones to MPs with adjustment of calls against one lakh free calls.

The amendment proposes to increase the daily allowances by 25 per cent from the present Rs 400 and raise the constituency allowance from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per month.

The joint committee on salaries and allowances had recommended that the constituency allowance continue without any change.

The bill also proposes to increase the transport allowance from Rs six per kilometre to Rs eight per kilometre.

Similary, office expense allowance has been raised from Rs 9,500 to Rs 14,000 per month and 20,000 additional telephones calls have been sanctioned beyond 1,000 km.

Free electricity and water are proposed to be doubled from 25,000 units to 50,000 units and 2,000 kilo litres to 4,000 kilo litres respectively. (PTI)

CPI opposes J&K's division

NAGPUR, Aug 17: CPI general secretary A B Bardhan today said his party was opposed to views of RSS on trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and asserted they would not allow division of the State on the basis of religion.

"The RSS’s reported advocation of Ladakh for Buddhists, Jammu for Hindus and Kashmir for Muslims is a dangerous proposal," Bardhan said at a ‘meet the press programme’ here.

He said the Centre should initiate a political dialogue as people in Kashmir had so far been alienated.

The CPI was in favour of giving greater autonomy to Kashmir but not as demanded by the National Conference, Bardhan said.

"The BJP-led NDA Government has failed miserably to capitalise on three ceasefire opportunities by talking to different groups in Kashmir. The K C Pant mission also did not yield any results," he claimed.

Bardhan said Prime Ninister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on the Independence Day was a "great disappointment for the people and the nation".

"There was nothing new in PM’s address, neither a new policy nor a new direction," he said.

Belittling the Prime Minister’s claim that persons, irrespective of position or status, involved in corrupt practices would not be spared, Bardhan asked "then what prevents Vajpayee from taking action against his Principal Advisor Brajesh Mishra, N K Singh and his son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharjee, who have been made targets for their alleged involvement in scandals by the entire opposition". (PTI)

Two Kashmiri ultras held in UP

VARANASI, Aug 17: The Uttar Pradesh Police today claimed to have arrested two suspected Kashmiri militants from various parts of the State.

While an activist member of the Hizbul Mujahideen Mohammad Yunus, a resident of Saidpura in Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley, was arrested in Azamgarh district, Afzal Hussain of Tigarawali village in Poonch district was nabbed at Chamanganj in Kanpur.

Superintendent of Police Azamgarh, B P Singh told UNI that Yunus was studying in a Madrasa at Azamgarh for many years. He was the self-styled area commander of the outfit and had been entrusted the job of spreading unrest in the region, Mr Singh said.

Two Chinese pistols and Rs 45,000 in cash was recovered from his possession.

Police said Afzal was believed to have landed in the city on the eve of the Independence Day with some disruptive motives.

Afzal has been remanded in judicial custody and sent to the Kanpur jail.

Earlier, three Hizb militants were arrested in Kanpur, who were out to disturb Independence Day celebrations. (UNI)

Usha Rawat quits BSP

FAIZABAD, Aug 17: In a major jolt to BSP in Faizabad district, former Uttar Pradesh Women’s Commission Chairperson Usha Rawat today resigned from the party along with two district leaders protesting the "autocratic style of functioning" of party vice-president Mayawati.

"I was alloted party ticket from Siddhaur Assembly constituency for the coming polls, but I am fed-up with the autocratic style of functioning of Mayawati," Rawat, who was a close associate of the party vice-president till recently, told reporters here.

"Sincere workers get no respect in the party as Mayawati is only interested in `money bags’ from prospective candidates belonging to mafias and non-scheduled castes for the forthcoming Assembly elections," she alleged.

BSP district vice-presidents Hushara Quddusi and Ambikesh Verma, who resigned from the party along with Rawat, blamed Mayawati for neglecting party supremo Kanshi Ram and said she was harming BSP with her dictatorial attitude.

Quddusi demanded an inquiry into the "huge illegal assets acquired by Mayawati." (PTI)

RSS opposes autonomy

NEW DELHI, Aug 17: The RSS today said it was firmly opposed to granting any further autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir as indicated by the Centre and demanded abrogation of article 370 to fully integrate the State with the rest of the country.

"We are against granting any further autonomy to Kashmir, as it would only serve to deprive the people of Jammu and Ladakh of their rights," RSS joint general secretary Madan Das Devi told PTI, when asked about the Centre’s proposed autonomy dialogue.

Article 370, which bestowed special status on the State, was a "stumbling block" in the way of the State’s total integration with the rest of India and it has only served to alienate the Kashmiris, he said and demanded the abrogation of the constitutional provision.

Devi, RSS incharge for BJP affairs, was here to participate in the two-day meet of all India propaganda heads (Pracharak Pramukh) of RSS, which concluded here today. The meet was addressed among others by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj.

According to highly placed sources, the Centre would discuss with the State Government and others aspects of autonomy in certain spheres but was against reverting to the pre-1953 status.

The RSS had earlier supported the Centre’s unilateral ceasefire as also the peace initiative with Pakistan but it has adopted a hardline approach following the failure of the Agra summit. (PTI)

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