Peaks of Drass or plains of Punjab
Army well prepared to meet challenges

From Dinesh Manhotra

KALA JHANGAR (Hoshiarpur), May 16: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (ARV) were roaming in the sky to keep a strict vigil on the activities of enemies who have infiltrated to this side. About 10,000 troops, 150 tanks, 1000 soft vehicles and about 15 air-crafts were pressed into service to flush out the enemy.

In a planned and well coordinated operation Armymen with help of Air Force ultimately eliminated most of the enemy soldiers and forced other to leave the our territory. As the troops launched offensive to flush out enemy, Air Force also pressed their fighter air-crafts into service to provide aerial security cover to the infantry. Within seconds fighter air-crafts bombarded the enemy areas and disappeared with within no time to prepare for ground infantry attack.

These thundering scenes were witnessed at village Kala Jhangar near Dasuya where troops of Nagrota Corps were conducting a full-fledged military exercise namely Exercise Vijay Shakti with the involvement of Air Force. Exercise Vijay Shakti is being conducted with the larger canvas of Exercise Puran Vijay.

The way how our soldiers were conducting exercise was a clear indication that Indian Army is fully prepared to face any challenge of enemy at any place either at peaks of Drass, desert of Rajasthan or plains of Jammu. To strengthen the infantry attack Russian combat vehicles BMP-I were also pressed into service along with T-72 Tank to match mobility of troops. BMP-I vehicles carrying trooping were moving with tanks to provide support during infantry attack.

In a domain of nuclear and other modern means, it was not a simple affair. A systematic training process, resources management and their optimum allocation as per battle needs and finally the mobilisation of all resources are vital in conventional war.

Village Kala Jhangar where Army was conducting exercise was divided into Blue Land and Red Land on near format and all realistic advantages have been given to the adversary. The Red Land, for its known grand strategy of restricting the conflict of a particular sector of Blue Land, has launched a major offensive in that sector with ambitious aims.

One important thing which emerged from this exercise was that beside planning and coordination, tools and techniques can change result of the war. Services of pilotless Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) became important to gather more and more information before launching an operation against enemy.

Chief of Staff of 16th Corps Major General H S Kanwar while talking to the visiting media-men told that this exercise encompassed all arms conducting deep breakthrough operations in obstacle ridden terrain whereas special forces conducting deep penetration on enemy’s criticalities. "This exercise has helped us to evaluate our combat readiness and our capabilities to handle joint operations with Air Force. It has convincingly emerged that our adversary would taste a crushing defeat if he wishes to opt for a misadventure", he said adding, "all norms have been incorporated in this exercise and the Air Force has actively provided the required air support to ground attack formations striking deep into the enemy territory. The emphasis is on missions accomplishment by integrated employment of available resources to break the enemy’s will to fight".

"In this exercise, we intend projecting our abilities of employing all resources at our disposal if we are forced for such an application of combat power", he said, adding, "it is absolutely essential to keep a standing army of our repute in a state of total readiness for conventional operations which is our primary task". And to achieve that, he said, there was no better method other than conducting exercises which offer realism in training by way of integration of all components, their employment in a synergised manner and above all, enable us to validate our military concepts vis-a-vis the fast changing modernised approach of warfare.

Giving reasons for organising these types of exercise, Maj Gen Kanwar said that Pakistani authorities have hatched a deep rooted conspiracy to destabilise our entire defence system by engaging army formations in counter insurgency operations. "We have been regularly organising such exercises to maintain our combat operations", he said and added that main aim of organising such exercises was to ensure combat readiness at very short notice. "Proxy war is low cost option that is why our adversary is giving more and more attention towards insurgency", he said and added, " it has also engaged large number of soldiers.

Replying to a question, Chief of Staff of 16th Corps said that exercise has been organised in this area as space was not available in Jammu. He, however, revealed that exercise will be conducted at some hilly areas also to maintain combat at those areas.

Pak to patronise jehadi groups

ISLAMABAD, May 16: In an attempt to perpetuate his rule, Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has adopted a two-pronged strategy, that of patronising Jehadi and fundamentalist groups on one hand and unleashing a ‘reign of terror’ against political parties on the other.

The military Government has promised leading Jehadi groups - the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Hizbul Mujahideen not to raid their offices or use force against them, media report said.

At the same time, the military regime was making every effort to "crush political parties" by banning rallies and demonstrations. Leading politicians are being harassed, victmised and arrested, while two former Prime Ministers are in exile facing charges of corruption.

On their part, the mainstream religious and fundamentalist groups, which are actively involved in armed struggle in the troubled Jammu and Kashmir, have agreed to be discreet on collecting donation for their activities and in recruitment of volunteers for militant activities.

The Government’s soft approach towards Jehadi organisation became known when Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin claimed that the Pakistan authorities have no intention to ban the militant outfits.

The military Government was only against fake Jehadi groups, which had nothing to do with Jehad, reported the Nawai Waqt, the Jang and other papers.

The report said that Pakistan Interior Minister Lt Gen Moinuddin Haider held several rounds of discussions with the militant groups and assured them that their camps would not be closed.

The military regime has allowed the Jehadi groups to recruit people. Recently more than 200 men, some of them teenagers, have been enlisted for a month-long training programme to be conducted in remote mountains of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The camp has been declared a base camp for Kashmir freedom struggle, The New Line reported.

The "unpublicised agreement between the Jehadi organisations and the Government agencies smoothly functioned when authorities allowed the fundamentalist groups to collect animal hides worth several crores". However, these outfits restrained from setting up camps for collecting money and hides, it said.

The military Government also ignored fiery speeches of the religious leaders against the US and India at a three day Darul Uloom Deoband conference at Taro near Peshawar last month, where the leaders pledged full support to Osma bin Laden.

On the other front, the political parties are ruthlessly treated. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has also endorsed this view in an article in the daily news.

She said, "independent thinking is prohibited. While the military regime clamps down on political activists, it entertains the militants. The strategy of the regime is to suppress the political forces on one hand and encourage ethnic and religious fundamentalism on the other".

Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Iqbal Haider said the Government was determined to "Talibanise" Pakistan. This fear finds support from its policy of all out support to the religious zealots, he added. (UNI)

ASI arrested, two cops flee from Janipura
HM ‘commander’ escapes from police custody

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 16: A hardcore Pakistan-trained militant and ‘divisional commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit escaped from Kashmir police custody in Janipura when he was being shifted from Parimpora police station to high security Kot Bhalwal jail here yesterday.

An Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of police, who was heading the police team, has been arrested by Janipura police while two police constables managed to escape and were being chased by police.

While police team escorting the dreaded militant identified as Mohd Amin Bhat alias Fayaz son of Ghulam Qadir Bhat, a resident of village Khandoora, Anantnag escaped from their custody, police sources here quoting investigations said possibility of the militant having been set free by the cops under an ‘agreement’ wasn’t ruled out.

ASI, who was leading the police team, has been identified as Aziz-ud-Din, posted in Parimpora police station of Srinagar district. He has been arrested and put behind the bars of Janipura police station. Two cops accompanying the ASI were identified as Showkat Ahmed and Jameel Ahmed, both posted in Parimpora police station. They managed to escape from the spot allegedly after ‘releasing’ Hizbul ‘commander’ from their captivity.

Giving details of the militant’s release, police sources said the Hizbul ‘commander’ was sent from Parimpora police station for lodging in Kot Bhalwal jail as he was a hardcore militant involved in a series of killings and attacks on security forces.

He was brought to Kot Bhalwal jail at about 0800 hours yesterday morning. As per ASI’s version, the jail authorities asked them to get the ultra photographed alongwith photostat copies of warrant for lodging militant in the jail, which had been issued by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Bipul Pathak.

ASI told an interrogating team of Janipura police station that one of the constable opened handcuff of the militant to get him photographed. At this, the ultra jumped out of the shop and fled away.

While the incident, as per ASI’s statement, took place at 0845 hours, the ASI approached Janipura police station with a complaint at 2300 hours—more than 14 hours of the incident. Police said the delay of 14 hours in sounding police itself explained police involvement in releasing the militant.

The ASI couldn’t explain reasons for delay in lodging a report. Police said a time gap of 14 hours was sufficient time for Hizbul ‘commander’ to reach a safe hideout. Though police launched searches for the militant, he remained untraced.

Sources said a police team went to the shop from where the militants had allegedly escaped as stated by ASI. Local shopkeepers including the photographer denied any knowledge of militant’s having been brought to the shop.

"We didn’t see any cop or the handcuffed militant close to any of the shop", the shopkeepers told police. This statement of shopkeepers, according to police, also indicated something fishy and gave strength to the theory that hardcore ultra was allowed to flee by cops under an ‘agreement’.

"Had the ultra escaped forcibly from police custody, the cops should have raised an alarm (which could have attracted attention of local people and shopkeepers) and immediately informed police station", sources said.

However, they asserted, as there was no confirmation from any of the shopkeeper of having seen the militants or the cops besides delay of reporting the matter at police station clearly pointed out towards police involvement in freeing Mohd Amin Bhat.

In view of the development, Janipura police have arrested ASI Aziz-ud-Din and was subjecting him to sustained questioning to ascertain the facts. Police said two cops accompanying the ASI were initially found missing.

But, the latest reports revealed that one of the cop identified as Showkat Ahmed has managed to reach Parimpora police station while Jameel Ahmed was still at large.

Janipura police have sounded their counterparts in Parimpora to arrest both ‘erring’ constables and send them here in custody for questioning.

A statewide alert has been sounded by police for the arrest of fleeing militant.

Ultra is GAD employee

Mohd Amin Bhat alias Fayaz, a Hizbul Mujahideen ‘divisional commander’, who escaped from police custody in Janipura yesterday, was working as a clerk in General Administration Department.

Reliable sources said that Fayaz during his posting in GAD clerk went to Pakistan for arms training for two months. He re-joined his duties after returning from arms training.

On the one side, Fayaz continued to work in GAD and on the other side he actively participated in militant activities like killings and actions against security forces, sources said.

Fayaz had been arrested with Rs 40,000 of looted cash, two sophisticated grenades and ammunition by Special Operations Group (SOG) Srinagar.

Kashmiri group flays Hurriyat Conference

NEW DELHI, May 16: A prominent UK-based Kashmiri group has criticised the Hurriyat Conference for insisting on Pakistan visit before holding a dialogue with New Delhi and said "there has to be a way forward in the best interests" of the people of the State.

Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR), in a letter to Hurriyat chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat, has also asked the conglomerate of 23 separatist groups and other political organisations to "define the general and specific contours of their political pursuit to the people of Kashmir..."

"We support the Hurriyat desire to travel to Pakistan for necessary guidance and for way forward. However, a visit and that too lock, stock and barrel, is not the only article of interest in the jurisprudence of Kashmir conflict.

"It is one singular article of interest and could be taken care of the Hurriyat chapter in Pakistan or by non-party experts or other notable Kashmiris," the letter sent by JKCHR secretary general Nazir Geelani said.

It said that the Hurriyat’s "belief of ‘Aut Caesar Aut Nullus’ (either caesar or nobody) is undemocratic and remains in absolute disregard of the value of an individual opinion in self-determination".

Stressing that "there has to be a way forward in the best interests of the people of Kashmir," Geelani said "we have to draw the humane limits of human endurance and think of a solution".

Gilani said the Kashmiri leadership needed to "climb up the ladder and qualify for a high moral ground, by conserving the faith of all regions and communities. It is possible through the acceptance of a culture of tolerance and dissent."

Hailing the appointment of K C Pant as the interlocutor on Kashmir talks, the JKCHR leader said it was "a serious increment added to the principal of the (peace) process" and "has tied up the earlier loose ends and the doors for a contact are set Ajar".

Apparently referring to the Hurriyat’s rejection of the talks offer on the argument that it involved a "crowd", Gilani said "whatever be the designs of the Government of India in broadening its appeal for a dialogue, it would not help us to attune any malafides to the dialogue as a ‘‘principle’."

Asking the Hurriyat to make a move for ‘a consensus’ with others outside its union, he said "in present shape and form, the Hurriyat or any other political party do not have a surprise element, for India and Pakistan.

"Historic disagreements and historic hostilities need craft and understanding, to be tampered with for a better tomorrow. There is of course a virtue in ‘taking risks for peace’."

"Since the Government of India has offered a ‘non-combating space’ and offered a dialogue, prima facie, it creates a corresponding obligation on the leadership to edge forward - but of course with caution," the JKCHR leader said. (PTI)

Cease-fire to continue beyond May 31

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, May 16: Undiminished opposition from the hard-liners of the Sangh Parivar to the Centre’s "soft" line in Jammu and Kashmir notwithstanding, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has decided to extend the cease-fire period in the State, which is slated to expire on May 31.

The Centre’s cease-fire, announced in November last year and later extended, would continue after May 31. A source close to the Prime Minister told EXCELSIOR that Mr Vajpayee appeared to have decided to extend the period, beyond May 31, by another 3 months.

According to the source, the Prime Minister’s decision followed his quiet consultations, prior to his four-day visit to Malaysia, with the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr LK Advani, the External Affairs-cum-Defence Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, the J&K Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. S Padmanabhan.

And the Centre’s chief negotiator for Kashmir, Mr KC Pant, during his separate meetings with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister recently, was found vehemently supporting the idea of further extension of the cease-fire period in J&K.

Mr Pant, who has personal equation with both Prime Minister and Home Minister, does not want his task to get affected by any move from the authorities in New Delhi and Srinagar and various political and militant groups across J&K. Hence, clear indications from the Prime Minister’s Office that by the time Mr Pant would actually plan to visit Kashmir, Mr Vajpayee could be expected to make an announcement of further extension of the cease-fire period.

On present indications, Mr Pant will visit the Valley some time after the coming visit to Srinagar by Mr LK Advani and Mr Jaswant Singh. The Home Minister and the External Affairs-cum-Defence Minister are expected to undertake one-day trip to the Valley on May 19. Continuance of non-initiation of combat operations against the militants in J&K beyond May 31 will suit the requirements of Mr Pant.

Yet another supporter of the idea is the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena. Mr Saxena, according to the source, has mentioned in one of his reports to the Prime Minister that a sizeable section of the Kashmiri population appreciated the Centre’s peace initiative, and, hence, the continuance of the cease-fire period was called for.

Kashmir-watchers attach significance to "private" conversation of the centrists of the Hurriyat Conference, who, though having been marginalised in recent days, want New Delhi’s cease-fire experiment to continue. The centrists were forced to refuse to enter into any dialogue with Mr Pant, and reiterated the Hurriyat Conference’s long-standing commitment to a three-way dialogue with both India and Pakistan.

Mr Pant has managed to make some inroads into more marginal figures on the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. Among them is former Chief Minister, Mr GM Shah, who, in recent years, was found to have positioned himself as an advocate of ‘independence’ to J&K.

The other significant endorsement won by Mr Pant is that of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party supremo, Mr Shabir Shah. Other non-Hurriyat secessionist figures like Mr Naeem Khan, Mr Azam Inquilabi, Mr GN Hangroo, Mr Hashim Qureshi and Mr Fazl-ul-Haq Qureshi could also join such a process.

Houses set ablaze in Kishtwar
Defeated Sarpanch, trader shot dead; couple injured

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 16: Militants gunned down a defeated candidate for Sarpanch in Mahore and a shopkeeper in Kishtwar and shot at a couple in Marmat area of Kishtwar tehsil in Doda district while setting four houses, being used by SOG cops for stay, on fire.

Official reports said some unknown gun-wielding militants entered into the house of Haji Nijam Din son of Imam Din at village Molan Jamla in Mahore tehsil last night and slit his throat with a sharp-edged weapon.

Haji Nijam Din, who had contested recent Panchayat election for the post of Sarpanch but was defeated, died instantly. Militants, stated to be three in number, escaped after the killing.

Militants left behind a chit which said that Haji was killed for contesting Panchayat election despite a warning given by Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Mahore police visited the site of killing this morning for investigations.

Militants also gunned down a shopkeeper Dhuni Chand son of Deepak Ram, a resident of village Sunder in Dachchan area of Kishtwar in his shop at 12 noon today.

Reports said two militants came into the shop of Dhuni Chand and asked for a ration item. As Dhuni Chand moved back to get the item, one of the ultra brought out a pistol from his pocket and fired three shots on the trader, killing him on spot.

Both accused fled after the shoot-out.

Local people gathered on spot after hearing the sound of gun shots and rushed the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police handed over dead body of the victim to his family members after post-mortem.

Reports said both the militants involved in killing were locals and have been identified. Efforts were being made to apprehend them.

Meanwhile, another big group of militants attacked hilly Marmat village in Kishtwar tehsil last night and set ablaze five houses, which were being used by cops of Special Operations Group (SOG) Doda as a transit camp for launching operations against the militants.

After setting houses on fire, the militants also shot at a couple Asadullah and Hazara Begum outside their house before fleeing from the village.

Inmates of houses managed to come out before the structures were reduced to ashes. Gutted houses belonged to Ghulam Mustafa, Beli Ram, Prem Singh, Asadullah and Mohd Rafiq, all residents of Marmat.

After getting a report of militants’ strike in Marmat, the SOG personnel, who had gone out for searches in an adjoining forest area, rushed to the spot but by then all militants had managed their escape.

SOG team has resumed searches for the militants involved in setting houses on fire.

2 Gujjars die in cloudburst
3 Shias killed, 35 injured in mishap

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 16: Three Shia Muslims got killed and 35 injured when their minibus turned turtle at Chhoora village on Srinagar-Baramulla highway this evening. Meanwhile, two members of Gujjar community died in a cloudbust in Handwara area today.

Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that a minibus with registration No: JK05-3033, turned turtle at Chhoora when it was returning to Delina from a Majlis-e-Hussaini, organised at Haigam village, at 1900 hours this evening. Hundreds of Shia Muslims participated in the congregation which was organised on occasion of the Chehlum of the martyrs of Karbala. When the residents of Delina were returning to their homes in the chartered minibus, they met with the accident.

Three persons, who died in the accident, were identified as Ghulam Mohammad Khan S/o Abdur Rasheed Khan of Delina, Zahoor Ahmed Yatoo S/o Mohammad Sultan Yatoo of Haigam and Ghulam Hassan Bhat S/o Assadullah Bhat of Delina.

Thirtyfive persons sustained injuries. While as 19 of them were rushed to Srinagar hospitals and eight were admitted at District Hospital of Baramulla, seven people with minor injuries were discharged after medical treatment.

Reports from Budgam said that a constable of J&K Police, Shamim S/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Nagum, Chadoura, got killed when his scooter collided with a speeding tipper, JK01C-2153, at Wathoura, Kralpora, on Srinagar-Chadoura road. Two pedestrians sustained critical injuries when they were knocked down by a truck, JK01D-8561, at Khanabal Crossing in Anantnag. They have been identified as Mohammad Maqbool Hakeem of Wanpoh and Meraj-ud-din Shah of Khushipora.

Meanwhile, two members of Gujjar community got killed when lightning struck them at Chak-e-Bahadalpora, in Handwara area of north Kashmir at 1530 hours today. They were identified as Ghulam Qadir Chopan S/o Abdus Sattar Chopan and Abdul Majeed Gujri S/o Mir Mohammad .

Union Cabinet expansion soon

NEW DELHI, May 16: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said he would expand his Council of Ministers before the monsoon session of Parliament.

"There are vacancies which have to be filled up," he told reporters at the IGI Airport on his arrival here from a "successful" four-day visit to Malaysia.

Asked if he would expand his Cabinet before his right knee replacement surgery in first week of June, the Prime Minister said "may be".

On whether it would a major Cabinet expansion involving reshuffle of portfolios, Vajpayee told newspersons on board the special aircraft that besides filling up the vacancies, he would also make new appointments.

To a question if Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee would be allowed to return to ruling NDA, he said "this is not under consideration."

On the outcome of assembly polls in which the NDA did not fare well, the Prime Minister said the results would be analysed.

He described his visit to Kuala Lumpur as "historic" and said the award of the Rs 8,500 crore railway contract to Ircon by Malaysia was "very significant". (PTI)

Cong poll panels for UP, JK, Punjab

NEW DELHI, May 16: Encouraged by the results of assembly polls in five States, Congress has set up high-level committees to devise electoral strategy in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir where assembly elections are due next year.

The committee for Uttar Pradesh is headed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh and has Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit, Balram Jakhar, Chaudhary Prem Singh, Furkan Ansari, L P Sahi and D P Yadav as its members.

Former Finance Minister Manmohan Singh is heading the panel for Punjab which has Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Veer Bhadra Singh, Yogendra Makwana and Nirmala Shaktawat as its members.

Senior leader Buta Singh, Nawal Kishore Sharma and Avtar Singh Bhadana form part of the committee for Jammu and Kashmir.

Party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters that the committees would give broadlines to the respective PCCs and finetune electoral strategy. (PTI)

Murder accused, rapist nabbed

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, May 16: A murder accused and a rapist were arrested by police today.

SP Kathua Manohar Singh said a murder accused Prabhu Dayal was arrested for his involvement in the killing of Shiv Ram in Banyari village of Rajbagh police station.

Dayal has confessed the crime, he said.

A rapist Alok Kumar, who was absconding after outraging the modesty of a 14-year old girl in Badala village of Nagri, has also been arrested. Alok’s associate Gurdayal Singh had already been arrested by police.

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