‘Hardliners’ versus ‘moderates’ in Pak Army
Fundamentalists are now ranked next only to Army

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Feb 18: Pakistan military is confronted with a serious challenge from the home-made Islamic fundamentalism. The Pak Army, of course, holds the key to power. But fundamentalists have become so powerful that they are now ranked next only to the Army in muscle power.

These and other vital details about the enhanced menace of fundamentalism and sectarianism are contained in a report purported to have been prepared by Pakistan-watchers for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

According to the report, if the meeting of religious parties and groups recently convened by Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Lt Gen Moinuddin Haider, was to seek their cooperation to create a tolerant society, the tone and tenor of belligerent religious leaders’ statements and utterances left none in doubt about their unwillingness to oblige the military Government in Islamabad.

And why should they go about as ‘moderates’ when the Pak Army, too, is known to have a large number of ‘hardliners’? The report, in fact, has made a pointed reference to the ‘tussle’ going on between the ‘hardliners’ and ‘moderates’ among the military Generals themselves on key issues of concern to Pakistan, such as Kashmir and Afghanistan.

If the report is to be believed, Lt Gen Haider begged the participants at the January 13 conference to shed their militant image and respect the law of the land. But immediately after the conclusion of the conference, fundamentalists reaffirmed their commitment to the motto of their respective outfits: "Catch them young".

The report contains several instances to prove that the damage caused by religious organisations in Pakistan is at a more fundamental level. And the poison of communal hatred and of anti-India feelings, the report points out, is injected into children through the vast network of religious schools, better known as madrassas, across Pakistan.

The report says that while the products of seminaries have already infiltrated the Pak Army, the ‘tussle’ between ‘hardliners’ and ‘moderates in the Armed Forces has of late begun to engage the attention of various media, political and official circles. Considering the fact that Pakistan continues to be a fertile ground for religious outfits and their militant wings, the possibility of further hardening of attitudes of fundamentalists cannot be ruled out.

And that the Pak military leadership has begun to feel the pinch is borne out by the Musharraf Government’s move to get to grips with militant organisations. The Musharraf Government has reiterated its plan, which requires all the madrassas to register with the Government, disclose their sources of funding, seek permission to admit foreign students and stop sending students for training programmes. There are about 50,000 madrassas in Pakistan. And they are the breeding ground for jihadis.

Significantly, however, almost all the religious outfits have refused to cooperate. Different militant organisations, particularly the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, the Jaish-e-Muhammad and the Al Badr, rejected Gen Parvez Musharraf’s plan and announced to continue the jihad.

A media report from Islamabad stated that the fundamentalist groups, pampered over the past decade for their participation in the ‘proxy’ war in Kashmir, seemed to be coming into their own. The report let it be known: "Helped by the ‘rogue’ elements in the Army establishment, they are now setting the agenda for the militancy in Kashmir as well as within Pakistan. They are convinced that jehad is the only way to ‘liberate’ Kashmir, and no wonder they have contemptuously dismissed the peace moves by the Governments of India and Pakistan".

Is Pakistan going the Afghan way? This question has been a subject of intense debate in the Pakistani media and civil society in recent months. And Pakistan-watchers have begun to point to the dreadful prospect of Talibanisation of Pakistan.

Considerable significance requires to be attached to the recent disclosure of the agenda of fundamentalist groups to Islamise Pakistan on the lines of Afghanistan. And the military Government in Islamabad has been accused of being too eager to further their agenda.

Strike spreads to Chenani, Ramnagar
Complete bandh in Udhampur for 10th day; NH blocked

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Feb 18: A complete bandh continued in the town here for 10th day today while the strike also spread to Chenani and Ramnagar tehsils of this district with people taking to streets at all the places denouncing police failure to recover the kidnapped teen-aged girl, who spent her 11th day in the captivity.

Shouting anti-administration slogans, a large number of people marched in the town this morning and proceeded towards Jammu-Srinagar national highway at 1030 hours. They scattered on the road and disrupted vehicular movement.

Traffic on the busy highway came to a standstill as agitated people didn’t allow a single vehicle to cross Udhampur. Protesters charged the police with ‘complete failure’ in tracing out the girl and indulged in massive sloganeering against the district administration.

Blockade of the national highway continued for about three hours after which the people dispersed peacefully. Commercial transport also remained off the roads in the town, where shops and business establishment were closed for the 10th straight day today.

Core Committee of the people, which had been spearheading the agitation, had yesterday given a call for ‘jail bharo andolan’ from Tuesday and threatened to further intensify the agitation if the kidnapped girl Meenakshi wasn’t traced by then.

An official spokesman here described as ‘baseless’ a report published in a local daily that the girl has been recovered by police. There is no truth in the report, which was merely based on rumours spread by some vested interests, he said.

A complete bandh was also observed in Chenani today in support of Udhampur people’s agitation and press the demand for immediate recovery of the hostage girl. People held a procession in Chenani town, which culminated in a rally.

Reports here said that local BJP MLA from Chenani Prithvi Chand was hooted by the mob when he tried to address them from the stage. Chenani Beopar Mandal president Mohan Lal addressed the people alongwith other citizens and threatened that agitation will also be intensified in Chenani if the girl wasn’t traced at the earliest.

Ramnagar town also observed a complete bandh for the second day today with shops remaining closed to protest the kidnapping of Meenakshi. The town had also observed a complete bandh yesterday. No untoward incident was reported during the bandh.

Reports said that police parties continued raids in Jammu and neighbouring Punjab in search of Meenakshi but a breakthrough remained elusive. Efforts continued on this front with senior police officials also camping in Jammu to co-ordinate the searches.

Budget session begins Opposition to grill Govt

NEW DELHI, Feb 18: The opposition parties are gearing up to grill the Government in the budget session of Parliament commencing tomorrow for its failure on the economic, industrial and law and order fronts.

They are also concerned over the manner in which the Railway budget for 2001-2002 and the Union budget for the same fiscal are being selectively leaked out violating their sanctity and confidentiality maintained so far. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee were speaking in different voices on the Railway budget. Not only the preparation of the budgets, but also disbursement of relief material in the earthquake affected Gujarat had been politicised, they say. These issues would be raised by the opposition, R S P leader Abani Roy, MP, said.

The opposition is also dissatisfied over the steps being taken by the Government to restore peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir and part of the northeast. They will seek clarification from the Government on the issues. The Congress, the main opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and the Left Parties will jointly oppose the Government’s policy on disinvestment and selling out of profit making Pubic Sector Undertakings. We cannot ignore the interest of thousands of workers engaged in the PSUs,’’ a Congress leader said. Meanwhile, security measures are being beefed up in and around the Parliament House and the Union Cabinet has approved the address to be delivered by President K R Narayanan to a joint sitting of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha on February 19, formally opening the budget session. He is expected to spell out the policies and programmes to be initiated by the Government in the next financial year.

While the economic survey detailing the economic scenario in the country will be presented by Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha on February 23, the Railway budget will be presented for the second successive year by Ms Mamata Banerjee to the Lok Sabha two days later and the Union budget will be presented to Parliament on the last day of the month. (UNI)

Army admits troops opened fire, orders inquiry

SRINAGAR, Feb 18: Army today admitted its troops and intelligence personnel opened fire in self-defence during protests over custodial killings at Haigam-Sopore and Maisuma in Srinagar, putting an end to controversy over the two firing incidents in which seven people were killed.

"Notwithstanding the judicial probe, we have also ordered a detailed inquiry into these unfortunate incidents," General Officer Commanding, 15th Corps, Lt Gen J R Mukherjee, told reporters here.

The inquiry would be time-bound and any jawan found guilty would be brought to book and dealt with according to law, he said.

Lt. Gen. Mukherjee, also Security Advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Government, expressed regrets over the "unfortunate incidents" and offered condolences to bereaved families, he said an Army convoy was attacked by protestors at Haigam village on February 15 forcing the Convoy Commander to order his men to open controlled fire in the air.

On the Maisuma incident on February 16, Lt Gen Mukherjee said intelligence personnel of 15th Crops ran into an unruly mob that rained stones damaging the Army vehicle and its driver who fired two rounds in self-defence from his pistol.

Asked to comment on the press release issued by the Army immediately after the Haigam incident blaming police for the firing, Lt Gen Mukherjee said initial reports were conflicting but "I have apologised to police".

"On part of the Army, I give you my solemn word that any of my men found guilty will be punished," he said and appealed to the people to shun violence..

"The vast majority of us wish to see peace return to Kashmir. Let us join hands to counter those who are instigating violence in a bid to derail the peace process," Lt Gen Mukherjee said.

He said he would ensure that such incidents do not recur.

To a question, Lt Gen Mukherjee said Army intelligence personnel had no business to go to Maisuma.

Giving details of the two firing incidents, Lt Gen Mukherjee said on February 15 at 1000 hrs, a crowd gathered at Haigam protesting the death of Jaleel Ahmad Shah who, he said, was killed in an operation by security forces early in the day.

The protestors, demanding that Shah’s body be handed over to them, blocked the national highway forcing a security force convoy to halt, he said.

"On request of the officer-in-charge of the convoy, additional troops were rushed to the area. They controlled the situation and the convoy began to move," Lt Gen Mukherjee said.

But the demonstrators turned violent and stoned security force vehicles forcing the convoy commander to order five of his men to open controlled fire in the air in self-defence, he said, adding the commander reported the entire incident to his superiors.

"But,we have also received reports about some elements that have actually resorted to firing," Lt Gen Mukherjee said.

On the Maisuma incident, he said an intelligence detachment of 15 Corps in plain clothes ran into a violent mob that stoned their vehicle injuring the driver.

The driver took out his pistol and fired two rounds in self-defence to ward off the protestors, Lt Gen Mukherjee said.

On further extension of ceasefire in Kashmir, he said "it is up to the Government to decide. I have submitted my report on the ceasefire to my superiors."

On the situation at the Line of Control, he said peace prevailed there.

To a question, he said 78 militants were killed in 133 encounters during the ceasefire period, adding 85 per cent. of these encounters were engineered by militants.

He said 119 civilians, including surrendered militants, were killed and 403 wounded during the period. (PTI)

2 Hurriyat leaders detained
Curfew extended in Srinagar areas; 10 hurt in clashes

SRINAGAR, Feb 18: At least 10 people were injured, two of them in police firing, as mobs clashed with police for the third consecutive day today in the bandh-hit Kashmir valley, while curfew was extended to more areas in Srinagar as a "precautionary measure."

In the militancy related incident, militants attacked the house of a senior police officer and a foreign militant was killed in a gun fight with the security forces in Kashmir valley since last night.

Meanwhile, senior leaders of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) were put under house arrest while Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmad Shah remained under custody since last evening.

At least 10 people were injured, two of them in police firing, as mobs clashed with police for the third consecutive day today. Police opened fire to disperse a mob which attacked a police post at Bagyass in Chattabal area of downtown Srinagar injuring two youths, official sources said.

Police resorted to firing when repeated lathicharge and bursting of teargas shells failed to disperse the mob which attacked the police post demanding registration of FIR against a counter-insurgent associated with Special Operations Group, who was allegedly involved in yesterday’s firing at Zampakadal in which two youths were critically injured, they said.

Seven people, including a policeman, were injured as mobs engaged police in a pitched battle at Bohrikadal and adjoining areas in interior city and Hazratbal on the outskirts of Srinagar. Police fired a few warning shots at Bohrikadal, but none was hurt in the firing, they added.

Shops and business establishments in curfew-free areas of Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley remained closed for the third day today though there was no hartal call for today from any organisation.

A two day general strike call given by the APHC in protest against Haigam killings and alleged increase in the custodial deaths in the Valley, ended last evening.

Traffic was off the road with only security force personnel guarding the streets.

Groups of youths were seen indulged in stone-throwing and burning of tyres at nearly a dozen places in the city, including Nowshehra, Gojwara, Noorbagh, Naidkadal, Khawaja Bazar, Natipora, Parimpora, Bemina, Habbakadal and Babademb for the third day today, official sources said here.

Police dispersed demonstrators by firing teargas shells and using lathis. Five demonstrators were detained by police from Natipora, Babademb and Naidkadal during the clashes which caused no harm. Groups of slogan-shouting youth also took to streets in other areas of Srinagar to protest the alleged custodial killings and firing on demonstrators at Haigam and Maisuma on Thursday and Friday. The sources said the curfew which was imposed in the areas falling under police station Maisuma and Kothibagh on Friday following large-scale violence was today extended to areas under the jurisdiction of Shaheedgunj police station. Besides the three police station areas, the curfew continued in Batmaloo area of central Srinagar for the third day today, the sources said.

However, the curfew was lifted from Natipora and Rambagh localities of Srinagar today, the sources said.

The situation in the curfew-bound areas was peaceful but tense, the sources said, adding there was no curfew violation reported from any area.

Meanwhile, militants attacked the house of a senior police officer and a foreign militant was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Kashmir valley since last night.

The militants opened fire at the residence of Superintendent of Police (East), Bashir Ahmad Dar, at Rawalpora in uptown Srinagar. Police guards posted at his house retaliated, forcing the militants to flee, the sources said.

No one was injured in the shoot out, they said.

It was not immediately known whether Dar was at home at the time of the attack, the sources said.

A foreign militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Narbal on the outskirts of Srinagar today. A house was extensively damaged during the encounter which followed the militant attack on a security force search party in the area last night.

An AK assault rifle, four magazines and 60 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the killed militant, they said.

The sources said security forces recovered a wireless set, two plastic grenades and two AK magazines with 60 rounds from Galiwalibahak in Kupwara last night.

Meanwhile, Police today detained two senior leaders of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, including its chairman and senior executive member Mohammed Yaseen Malik, while Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat and another member have been placed under house arrest since last evening.

Malik was detained by police at Srinagar airport on his return here from New Delhi, official sources said.

He was scheduled to visit Haigam-Sopore to take part in the fourth day ceremony of JKLF activist and others who were killed in a firing incident on Thursday.

Police took Malik into custody as soon as he came out of the plane and lodged him at Humhama police division, they said.

Police and paramilitary forces laid a seige around the houses of Abdul Gani Bhat at Wazirbagh and his predecessor Syed Ali Shah Geelani at Hyderpora to stop the Hurriyat leaders from visiting Haigam-Sopore today where hundreds of people have assembled to attend the fourth day ceremony of those killed on Thursday.

No one is allowed into or out of the houses of the two leaders, the sources said.

Hurriyat Conference and JKDFP led by Shabir Ahmad Shah had given separate calls to people to reach Haigam-Sopore.

Meanwhile, J and K Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) president Shabir Ahmad Shah and six other party activists arrested in Srinagar yesterday and lodged in Kothibagh police station, were shifted to Srinagar Central Jail today, the sources said.

Shah and the activists were arrested at Badshah Bridge in violation of curfew restrictions in force in the city, the sources said.

He wanted to proceed to Maisuma to offer condolences to the family of Javed Ahmad Nath, who was killed in a shooting incident on Friday at Maisuma.

Malik’s deputy, Javed Ahmad Mino, was also taken into custody by police today from curfew-bound Lal Chowk in Srinagar when he made an abortive attempt to reach party headquarters in Maisuma, where curfew was in force, the sources said.

Mir was intercepted by police when he tried to enter Maisuma from Abi Guzar area and detained at Kothibagh police station, they said. (AGENCIES)

Eminent citizens urge India, Pak to begin talks

NEW DELHI, Feb 18: Eminent citizens from both sides of the border have urged India and Pakistan to begin talks on all outstanding issues as the two countries had expressed their preference for a peaceful settlement of all disputes through the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad’s withdrawal of troops from the Line of Control.

"What is needed now is bolder initiatives that will build on recent measures", they added noting that the two countries were hesitating to take follow up steps.

"If the peoples of India and Pakistan have to end their stark poverty, widespread unemployment and ill-health they will need all the god-given resources and maximal efforts for their uplift. For that to happen, the cold war rivalry between India and Pakistan has to end, with its arms races of all kinds. Above all else, the nightmare of a nuclear holocaust has to be removed", they said in a joint statement.

The signitories to the state on the Indian side included members of Parliament Kuldip Nayyar, Mr Biplab Dasgupta and Mr Mohammed Salim, former Naval Chief Admiral L Ramdas, former Lok Sabha Speaker Rabi Ray, former Union Minister Vasant Sathe, Ms Nirmala Deshpande, former MP, Vincent M Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi, Kumar Ketkar, Editor Maharashtra Times, Mumbai, Lama Lobzang, Member Minority Commission, Delhi, Prof M H Qureshi, JNU, New Delhi and Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, MLA J&K,

From Pakistan Mr I A Rehman, Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, former minister Tahir Mohammed Khan, Mr Gul Rehman, Mr Abdul Hameed Chhapra, Mr Abdul Latif Kapadia, Mr Mohammed Teshmeen, Dr Zaki Hasan, Mr M B Naqi, Mr Karamat Ali, Mr B M Kutty and Miss Sheema Kirmani were among those who made the appeal.

They said forces on both sides and also outside both countries that flourish on hatred want the arms race to go on and are determined to build ever more nuclear weapons and missiles.

The peace activists said public meetings will be held in more than 100 cities of India and Pakistan simultaneously to raise the voice of the people for peace.

"We reiterate that the resolution of the problems of South Asia lies in the people-to-people reconciliation throughout the region and resolving their problems in accordance with the values of democracy and human rights.

They said the widest possible free exchanges among non-official groups and individuals need to be encouraged by maximum relaxation of visa regimes on both sides. (UNI)

Pak resumes firing on LoC
Jawan killed, another hurt; infiltration bid foiled

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Feb 18: After a lull of about a month, Pakistan army today blatantly violated the call of ‘maximum restraint’ on the Line of Control (LoC) in Keri sector of this district by resorting to heavy firing killing an army jawan and critically wounding another.

Indian side also replied and not only thwarted a full-fledged infiltration attempt of trained foreign mercenaries from across the border but also inflicted some casualties on the enemy side, official sources said.

They said Pakistani troops suddenly opened heavy firing with sophisticated heavy fire arms on Indian positions in Keri sector in the early hours of this morning and tried to push a big group of trained infiltrators under the garb of covering fire.

Army retaliated effectively. Exchange of firing between the two sides lasted more than two hours in which Lance Naik Lavinder Singh of Sikh Li was killed and another jawan Avtar Singh was seriously injured.

Effective retaliatory firing brought down by the Indian side forced the foreign mercenaries, numbering between 10 to 15, to escape back to Pakistan. Some casualties were also suspected on Pakistan army side but their exact number couldn’t be ascertained.

Sources said army on this side saw two Pakistani ambulances moving on the LoC shifting dead or injured to the hospitals.

The injured jawan Avtar Singh was today airlifted to Command Hospital in Udhampur where his condition was stated to be critical. Body of the deceased Lance Nail Lavinder Singh was sent to his native town this afternoon.

Sources said that after more than a month that Pak army violated the ‘maximum restraint’ offer and indulged in heavy firing besides pushing in trained infiltrators.

Pak Govt orders clampdown on fund collection by Jehadis

ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: Pakistani military regime has directed all provincial Governments to clamp a ban on public collection of funds by the Jehadi groups and open display of weapons by their activists, according to a media report here.

Although there has been no official announcement on the order, ‘The News’ daily reported today that the military regime has directed all provincial Governments to enforce its orders prohibiting the public fund collections and open display of weapons by Islamic militant outfits.

"An Interior Ministry directive says that there should be no permission of arms display to anyone," the daily said.

The regime has already been facing criticism from the Jehadi groups, including Lashker-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul Mujahideen, after Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider announced on Tuesday last that the Government was planning to check the public collection of funds by the Islamic militant outfits.

"No one will be allowed to display arms whether he belongs to a Jehadi or religious group or force people to give donations for the purchase of weapons in the name of the Jehad," Haider said in Karachi on Tuesday.

The militant outfits have reportedly decided to form an alliance to resist the Government’s move. Lashker chief Hafiz Saeed was quoted two days back as saying that he had held a meeting with various other Jehadi outfits to work out a broad alliance to resist any attempts to impose curbs on them.

Sources said the regime is in no mood to totally get rid of these groups as they were too important for furthering the low cost war against India in Kashmir. (PTI)

Pak Kashmiris plan peace trip to Indian zone

ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: A group of leading Pakistani Kashmiris today said they planned to attend an unprecedented peace meeting in Jammu of politicians from both sides of Kashmir.

The Pakistani Kashmiris said more than 60 politicians and intellectuals from the Pakistani side had been invited to a March 17-18 conference in Jammu being organised by former Kashmir State Chief Minister Ghulam Mohammad Shah.

They said the number of delegates who would travel depended on how many were granted visas by New Delhi. But Amanullah Khan, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, who is coordinating the planned trip, told Reuters he thought Indian authorities had assured Shah there would be no "undue hurdles" to the meeting.

Khan said the meeting was designed to work out a formula to solve the 53-year-old Kashmir dispute. (REUTERS)

Govt puts off decision on extension of ceasefire

NEW DELHI, Feb 18: The Government tonight put off a decision on the issue of extension of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir with the last-minute cancellation of a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) which was to consider the matter in the backdrop of escalating violence in the State.

The CCS meeting, which was to be presided over by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was scheduled for this afternoon but was put off by four hours to later tonight. However, the meeting did not take place at all.

No fresh date was announced for the next meeting but it was officially stated that it would be held certainly before February 26 when the duration of the extended ceasefire in J and K comes to an end.

The meeting may take place in the next couple of days.

The official reason for cancellation of the CCS was that the Prime Minister was pre-occupied with the meeting of the National Committee on Disaster Management which he chaired at Parliament House.

That meeting went beyond its schedule, necessitating postponement of the CCS meet.

However, postponement of the CCS meeting gives the Government more time to deliberate on the sensitive matter of extending the ceasefire, given differing views within it as to whether there should be a third extension of the truce.

In spite of reservations from within, Government had on January 23 extended the ceasefire for a month beyond Republic Day to give peace "every chance" in Kashmir with the Prime Minister asking Pakistan to rein in militant outfits which rejected the extension.

The Prime Minister had in Mumbai yesterday denied media reports of his being in favour of extending the ceasefire and said the CCS would take a decision on the issue.

Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters that the "meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security has been cancelled. It will be held in the coming week but no date or time has been scheduled for it yet.... Naturally, it will be held before February 26, he said. (PTI)

Teacher held for sheltering ultras

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 18: Army today arrested a Government teacher Abdul Latif from village Chambalwas in Banihal tehsil of Doda district, who was working as an over ground worker of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit.

A letterhead bearing the stamp of HUJI outfit and some other incriminating material was recovered from his house. After preliminary questioning, troops handed over Latif to local police for further investigations and registration of a case against him.

A Defence spokesman said Latif was a teacher in a school at Khari and his arrest was a major setback for the militants as he was working actively for them. He had also given shelter to a group of four militants last night.

Latif’s hand was suspected in harbouring the militants, who had massacred truck driver at Sher Bibi, the spokesman said, adding ‘it is a shame that a teacher, who was supposed to show the path of truth and Allah to one and all, was instead harbouring the notorious militants.

Search underway for abducted foreigners

RANGAMATI (BANGLADESH) Feb 18: Army troops today continued search for three abducted foreigners in southeastern Bangladesh hills along with official efforts to contact the suspected tribal kidnappers for negotiations.

Security sources said the troops were carrying out the search cordoning off some 30-kilometre area alongside the Rangamati-Khagrachhari hilly highway where suspected tribesmen kidnapped the two Danish and a British consultant for ransom on Friday.

No group, however, claimed the responsibility sofar but security officials suspected United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), a tribal faction, for the abduction.

Torben Mikkelsen and Nels Fargrand of Denmark and Tim Selbi of Britain were abducted at gunpoint from a place 25 kilometres off Rangamati, on Friday evening when they were returning here surveying a proposed reconstruction site of the Rangamati-Khagrachhari road.

The armed men numbering eight ordered the other British national David Weston and their Bangladeshi car driver to come back with 90 million taka (1.6 million dollars) to get their companions freed while taking away the three into the deep forests.

UPDF opposed a landmark 1997 peace pact, which ended a more than two-decade long insurgency in the hills. The insurgency claimed 25,000 lives and forced thousands of tribesmen to take makeshift refuge in bordering Tripura.

"We have decided that the foreign nationals must be rescued through peaceful means," a senior army official told the state-run BSS after a meeting at the brigade headquarters here with civil and military officials, local politicians and tribal leaders. (PTI)

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