2 Irrigation officials killed in Ganderbal blast
NC activist, 2 soldiers among 8 killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 17: While as security forces claimed to have killed three militants in two operations, militants eliminated a block president of the ruling National Conference (NC) and killed two Army soldiers in a blast since last evening.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that militants kidnapped NC’s block president of Kangan, namely Mohammad Sultan Lone from his home at Akahal late last night and slaughtered him at a deserted place in same area. His dead body was spotted and recovered this morning. Militants also torched the house of another NC activist and newly-elected Sarpanch, Mohammad Sultan War, at Warpora Handwara late last evening. War had already migrated to Handwara where he has been living at a protected place since June last year.

Officials said that during last night, troops of SOG Srinagar and CRPF 91 Bn raided a Handloom Factory, near Chakpora Chowk in Kanipora area, in the southern outskirts of the capital city on tip-off. An encounter took place in which a militant, namely Rayees Ahmed Malik alias Abu Ma’az alias Masood alias Saquib S/o Feroz Malik R/o Rahimyar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan, got killed. One AK-56 rifle and a hand grenade are claimed to have been recovered from the spot. Nowgam Kanipora area has been a stronghold of Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Official sources said that late last night, troops of BSF 151 Bn and Rashtriya Rifles 01 Bn laid an ambush at Danigam, in Shopian area of south Kashmir. At around midnight, troops spotted some suspicious movement and ordered a halt. Two persons ignored the signal and ran away. Troops opened fire and both of them got killed. They were identified as Mohammad Sayeed Malik alias Ehsan of Danigam and Sheeraz Khan alias Shahid of Dabpora. Troops claimed to have recovered one AK-56 rifle and a pistol from the spot and claimed that both the militants were members of Hizbul Mujahideen.

However, residents refused to swallow the official version and insisted that both the persons killed at Danigam were uninvolved civilians. Angry demonstrators shouted slogans against the security forces and registered their protest against the incident. Shopian township observed a shutdown in protest. Some of the demonstrators resorted to stone-pelting on Mohammadiya School and tried to set it on fire as the school was seen functional even after the shutdown. Reports said that two girl students sustained injuries and four more students got unconscious.

2 soldiers killed

Reports from Anantnag said that militants targetted a patrol of Rashtriya Rifles 03 Bn with a landmine blast at Aang-Matipora, Mattan, at 1630 hours this afternoon. Two soldiers got killed and two more sustained critical injuries. Angry troops fired in air and, according to residents, they set on fire the house of one Ghulam Rasool Lone.

Militants caused an IED blast at Manasbal (Safapora), attacked a camp of security forces at Wusan (Tangmarg), launched a grenade attack on a BSF picket at Ziarat-e-Batmaloo and attacked a patrol of ITBP at Bijbehara. However, there were no reports of any damage. Militants had also planted an IED near telephone exchange at Pattan, on Srinagar-Baramulla highway. However, troops defused it without suffering any damage.

2 Officials killed

in blast

Reports from Ganderbal said that troops of Rashtriya Rifles 4th and 5th battalions spotted a suspicious object on main road at Zazan. They called some officials of Irrigation Division Ganderbal from the nearby Irrigation hut and forced them to check the contents of the unclaimed box. As soon as they lifted the same, it exploded with a powerful blast, killing one official on spot. He was identified as Habibullah Dar S/o Abdur Rehman Dar of Wakoora. Two persons, namely Mohammad Sultan Parray of Badampora and Ali Mohammad Ganai of Wakoora, sustained critical injuries. While being rushed to hospital, Mohammad Sultan Parray breathed his last.

Meanwhile, another civilian — allegedly tortured by security forces — succumbed to injuries at Soura Medical Institute. According to his family members, Gulzar Ahmed Ganai S/o Abdul Qadoos Ganai of Wayiloo, Kokernag, had been lifted by troops on May 12 and subjected to excessive torture.

Grenade attack

at Magam

Reports from Budgam said that militants lobbed a hand grenade near the shop of one Ghulam Hassan Bhat at Magam at 1925 hours this evening. The spot is yards away from a BSF formation. Ten civilians sustained injuries. Eight of them were identified as Ghulam Mohammad Mir S/o Abdur Rahim Mir, Ali Mohammad Mir S/o Ghulam Hyder Mir, Ghulam Hassan, Ghulam Mustafa Mir S/o Mohammad Jaffar Mir (brother of former Congress leader and Lok Sabha member G M Mir Magami), Ali Mohammad Ganai S/o Ghulam Mohammad Ganai, Ghulam Ahmed Bhat S/o Ghulam Hassan Bhat, Ghulam Hassan Bhat (Shopkeeper) and Ghulam Mustafa Mir S/o Ghulam Qadir Mir, all residents of Magam.

A critically wounded Ghulam Mustafa Mir S/o Ghulam Qadir Mir was rushed to a Srinagar hospital while all others were treated at Sub District Hospital of Magam.

Magam township has been continuously observing a shutdown since the day of a mine blast, last week, in which ten civilians and a BSF officer had died. Residents are demanding removal of the newly established SOG camp which, they claim, has invited militant attacks in the town. Official disagree, saying that it was a militants’ ploy to seek withdrawal of the SOG camp through the local civilians.

Task Force for youths set up Pant for fillip to IT in J&K

NEW DELHI, May 17: Close on the heels of setting up of a Task Force for creating more job opportunities for Jammu and Kashmir youths, the Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir K C Pant has convened a meeting tomorrow of captains of Information Technology industry to give a fillip to IT sector in the State, industry sources said here today.

The meeting will discuss ways and means of introducing IT in the State which could help in generating more employment, the sources said.

One of the industralist, who will be participating in the meeting, told PTI that "the idea behind such a meeting is to give fillip to IT development in the State both in terms of employment and training."

The State Government has already started laying of optical fibres for internet from Qazigund (south Kashmir) to Srinagar and efforts were on for a similar exercise from Srinagar to Baramulla (north Kashmir).

Pant met representatives of leading chambers, including CII, Assocham, PHDCCI and FICCI, today after which a task force was set up.

During the meeting, the representative mooted an idea that 600 STD and PCO booths in the State should be converted into cyber cafes as per the Government practice in rest of the country.

The issue is also likely to figure in tomorrow’s meeting, the sources said.

Earlier, the Planning Commission today decided to set up a Task Force to suggest ways and means of creating additional job opportunities for the youths in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here today.

The decision was taken after a meeting of representatives of leading chambers including CII, ASSOCHAM, PHDCCI and FICCI with Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission K C Pant, who has been appointed by the Centre as its interlocutor on Kashmir, the sources said.

The Task Force, which will meet tomorrow, will have representatives from all the four chambers, Home Ministry and Planning Commission to suggest concrete measures to generate employment.

During the meeting with the representatives of chambers and industries, Pant said a better climate should be created by organising career opportunities to bright youths from the State besides targetting young children for training in a field of their choice.

The representatives of the various apex chambers said that return of peace and security in the State would give a boost to investment and creation of employment opportunities, the sources said.

Lalit Suri, leading hotelier, said there was a need for granting a package on the pattern of the North East besides taking effective steps for promotion of tourism.

PHDCCI representative H K Kapoor said that the chamber had already provided 2000 jobs to youths in the State in various companies.

He said the chambers had also prepared a status paper on unemployment in the State which would be dicussed at the Task Force meeting tomorrow.

Stressing the need for improvement of security climate for increased investment in the State, the representatives from the chambers said some industrial units, set up during last one decade, were forced to close down due to unfavourable conditions.

Special Secretary, Home Ministry, Ashok Bhandary set up an employment cell which had so far received 2000 bio-datas of which 294 interviews had already been conducted. (PTI)

Hurriyat forms team to meet US team

NEW DELHI, May 17: The Hurriyat Conference has formed a four-member delegation to meet a group of White House interns which is visiting New Delhi next week, sources in the conglomerate said today.

The Hurriyat delegation, comprising its chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat and executive members Maulvi Umar Farooq, Abdul Ghani Lone and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, will apprise the American delegation about the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir and its view on the resolution of the issue, the sources told PTI here.

The current peace process is also expected to come up for discussions, they said.

The delegation was firmed up at the Hurriyat’s executive committee meeting in Srinagar yesterday, the sources said, adding the meeting is scheduled for May 23.

According to the US Embassy sources, the group of 15 White House interns is visiting India for "orientation".

"They are lower level officials on deputation to the White House and they visit many countries for orientation," the embassy sources said.

Stating that the visit was "totally unofficial", the embassy sources said "the interns expressed desire to meet various political parties and formations, including the Hurriyat Conference."

"They are not here to resolve the Kashmir issue," the sources asserted. (PTI)

Revenue officials make mockery of Distress Sales Act
KPs property becomes a free for all affair

By Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, May 17: With authorities maintaining no check on encroachments, illegal sale and trespassing by throwing the Distress Sale Act to winds, the migrants property has become a free for all affair in Kashmir valley.

According to sources in many parts of the Kashmir valley the officials of the Revenue Department which has been declared as the custodian of this property are in league with the anti social elements who have forcibly occupied the migrants property. Surprisingly at various places these officials instead of initiating action against the trespassers have made mutations in revenue records by changing their entire nomenclature, the sources added.

Though a large number of such cases have come to light but the authorities till date have failed to take action against the officials responsible for tampering the revenue records, the sources confirmed.

The sources said in Anantnag district alone where the Government has identified some localities for the rehabilitation of the displaced people, hundreds of Migrants houses and shops have been illegally occupied by the anti social elements. Emboldened by the militancy and moral support provided by some officials in the Revenue Department hundreds of kanals of the migrants land under paddy fields and orchards is also under the forcible occupation of these elements.

Besides approaching the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, in various cases the migrants have also served the legal notices to the illegal occupants of their property seeking its restoration. But enjoying the official patronage the encroachers are reluctant to vacate the property.

The sources said this has happened despite the repeated assurances given by the Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom on the floor of State Assembly and outside it.

The Anantnag district is not the only exception but the trespassing has been made in all the six districts of Kashmir valley , the sources said, adding some elements are even seeking the help of the touts at Jammu in grabbing the migrant property.

These touts in open violation of the Distress Sale Act are fixing the deeds between the parties by taking huge commission and after seeking documents withhold the payments.

This has become a scandalous issue and presently hundreds of displaced families are fighting legal wrangles for restoration of their properties after falling in the trap of these touts, the sources maintained.

Giving more details the sources said in many villages of Pulwama District the revenue officials after taking hefty sums from the land grabbers have mutated the records in their favour. Such cases have surfaced from Shopian Batpora and Wasavhall villages of this district.

In Janglat Mandi Anantnag the houses belonging to Keshav Nath and Gopi Nath Rishi have been forcibly occupied by some locals over two years back. Such is the high handedness of these illegal occupants that Gopinath’s House has been converted into a confectionery.

In the same Mohalla five shops belonging to Radha Krishan Rishi have also been occupied by some locals.

In Handoo Mohalla which also falls in the vicinity of the Janglat Mandi number of residential houses of Kashmiri Pandits have been forcibly occupied by land grabbers.

Though these migrants have made a number of representations to the concerned district authorities for restoration of their property but to no avail.

In village Zablipora of Tehsil Kulgam in Anantnag district one kanal and 10 marlas of prime land belonging to one Prithvi Nath son of Amarchand has been sold by his relatives without his knowledge some time back. Though Deputy Commissioner Anantnag who under the Distress Sale Act is fully empowered to declare the sale deed nul and void has till date not initiated any action in the matter despite being approached by the land owner.

In Wasavhall village of Shopian Tehsil of Pulwama district 19 kanals of agriculture and horticulture land belonging to Dina Nath son of Tika Ram has been illegally occupied by some people from a near by village.

Though the Revenue authorities of the district are ceased of the matter but till date they have made no attempt to restore the land alleged Dina Nath, adding out of 19 kanals six have been occupied by Gh Hassan Bhat of Baskuchan, 10 by Khalil Rather of Imam Sahib and three by Mohammed Abdullah Bhat also of Baskuchan. While in village Baskuchan agriculture land of Chooni Lal presently a migrant at Jammu has been illegally occupied by Abdul Ahad Bhat of the same village.

The sources said that people have been so emboldened due to inaction of the authorities that in village Mahend of Anantnag district a local chowkidar who is supposed to be the custodian of the villages property has grabbed the orchard of one Kashi Nath Wachhi. The land is presently cultivated by the chowkidar who is enjoying the full patronage of Revenue Department and police.

At Kani Mohalla Rainawari in Srinagar district the residential house belonging to one Sushil Kumar son of Radha Krishan is also under the illegal occupation of some locals while in village Pehru the locals people have constructed a road from the compound of Radha Krishan.

At village Nunar in Gandherbal Tehsil of Srinagar district, over 100 kanals of agriculture land belonging to the Kashmiri Pandits has been grabbed by some goons of the surrounding villages.

The matter has even been brought in the notice of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah by the displaced Kashmiri Pandits here but despite his categorical instructions the administration has failed to maintain the status quo of this property.

Trader robbed under very noose of police

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, May 17: Unidentified burglars struck in a whole-sale shops, located just 20 yards away from the police post last night and decamped with over Rs 10 lakh worth currency garlands.

Reports said burglars broke open the shutter of prominent businessman Surinder Shah’s shop sometime around mid-night and robbed the shopkeeper of currency garlands and cash totalling more than Rs 10 lakh.

Burglars escaped after the theft notwithstanding the fact that Rajouri police post was barely 20 yards away from the shop.

A large number of local people gathered outside the shop this morning and shouted slogans against police alleging that cops were hand in glove with the burglars.

BJP and Sanatan Dharam Sabha leaders including Ashok Sharma, Vibodh Gupta, Kewal Koul and Yogesh Sharma addressed the gathering and strongly denounced police failure in preventing thefts in the town.

JKLF revolts against Pak Govt
Hurriyat a spent force: Amanullah

ISLAMABAD, May 17: JKLF (Amanullah faction) today virtually raised a banner of revolt against the Pakistan Government for making it obligatory for the candidates contesting the elections to the PoK assembly to declare their support for accession of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan.

In a strongly-worded letter to President Rafiq Tarar, military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf and other top officials, Pakistan-based Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Amanullah Khan said the introduction of the pro-accession clause tantamount to keeping 40 "pro-independence" candidates away from contesting the elections, scheduled for July 5.

The JKLF released selected contents of the letter in a statement released here today.

Stating that the accession clause was a gross violation of human and democratic rights of the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Kashmiris living in Pakistan, Khan said it negated Islamabad’s stated position of supporting the right of self determination of Kashmiris.

"Pakistan advocated right of self determination for Kashmiris and has never claimed any part of Kashmir to be her integral part, but the aforementioned provision of the nomination form for elections to PoK assembly was total negation of that declared stand of Pakistan," he said.

Khan said this provision would also deprive hundreds and thousands of their supporters of their right to vote for the candidates of their choice which was gross violation of their basic human and democratic rights.

While Khan demanded that the accession clause be deleted, the outfit’s diplomatic affairs chapter in London said JKLF (A) candidates would not sign the mandatory undertaking incorporated in the nomination papers.

The JKLF chief also criticised the military regime for demanding Islamabad’s involvement to resolve the Kashmir issue.

"What is the justification for Pakistan’s demand for bilateral or tripartite talks on Kashmir issue?" he asked.

PoK election authorities recently said that election to the 40-member legislative assembly will be held on July 5 under the supervision of the Pakistan army and international observers.

Candidates belonging to 20 political parties and independents are expected to take part in the elections.

The election authorities said a code of conduct had been finalised in consultation with the political parties and its violation could result in disqualification.

The PoK Government is currently controlled by Pakistan Peoples Party, whose local leader Sultan Mohammad Choudhary is the Prime Minister.

With JKLF (A) entering the arena, the contest this time is expected to be keen.

Meanwhile in London, a damning condemnation, the Amanullah faction of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has said the Hurriyat Conference is a "spent force" and it has given the impression that it is aligned with Pakistan.

Commenting on India’s offer of talks and the ceasefire, Zafar Khan, who heads the outfit’s diplomatic affairs chapter in UK, said Hurriyat had not been able to mobilise the masses.

"It has become a spent force and it has given an impression that it is aligned to Pakistan," he said.

He stated his party would contest, for the first time, Assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in July and field candidates in all 40 seats. But its candidates would not sign the mandatory undertaking incorporated in the nomination papers to support accession of Kashmir to Pakistan, he said.

Asked whether his party would participate in elections in Jammu and Kashmir as well, Khan said it would depend on the "leadership" in the State and the situation there. "We would like the people to participate in the electoral process."

He said the decision to participate in the polls in PoK was in keeping with the party’s objective of "re-unification of all Jammu and Kashmir as an independent entity."

He said party leader Amanullah Khan had put forth a new formula to solve the Kashmir issue by "setting up an 11-member International Kashmir Committee, which would implement a process whereby a fully independent Kashmir state, with a democratic, federal and non-communal system of Government, could be established for an initial period of 15 years.

"Thereafter, a UN-supervised referendum could determine whether Kashmir should remain independent or become part of India or Pakistan," Khan said. (PTI)

Farooq hails Pant’s initiative on Kashmir

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR May 17: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today termed the initiative taken by Mr K C Pant on solving problems in Kashmir as a good start, hoping that this will fructify in heralding peace and normalcy in the State.

Talking to Doordarshan here this evening, after witnessing a cultural programme presented by Doordarshan Kashir channel, the Chief Minister welcomed the response of Mr K C Pant to the clarifications sought by a political party and hoped that the initiative taken by the Centre would help solving political tangle.

He, however, replied in negative about the possibility of tripartite talks saying that the Government of India will decide it, as he believes ‘it does not come under the ambit of Mr Pant’s brief’. At some stage the Centre will have to take decision on this, but as of now Mr Pant is talking to own people in the State to elicit their views.

On being asked about Mr Pant’s proposed visit to Kashmir, he said this will provide opportunity to various parties to put forth their point of view before him.

When asked about the dates for conducting polls in the State, the Chief Minister refused to comment saying that he has asked people and parties to get prepared for the democratic exercise.

Earlier, several cultural items were presented by the artists in a programme that is being telecast on the Kashir channel.

Among others present on the occasion were the Chief Whip of National Conference Mr Mubark Gul, Director Doordarshan Kashmir Mr Ashraf Sahil and Director Radio Kashmir Srinagar Mr G H Zia besides a large number of artists and art lovers.

JAC leader jailed in Meenakshi agitation

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 17: Police swooped on political and social workers, involved in agitation against Meenakshi’s kidnapping, and arrested one of them in a pre-dawn raid today triggering protests and demonstrations from local people.

Other leaders, whose houses were raided by an Udhampur police station party led by SHO Kulbir Honda, couldn’t be arrested as they had gone under-ground.

Arrested person has been identified as Daljit Singh, who runs Singh Cafeteria in the town and was actively associated with Joint Action Committee (JAC), Udhampur, which had launched agitation against kidnapping of Meenakshi on February 8 this year.

Police sources said the house of Daljit Singh was raided by police and he was taken into custody. He was produced before a Court this morning, which sent him to judicial lock-up till May 22.

In the morning, JAC leaders and prominent citizens held a meeting. Joined by local people, they marched to City Chowk where they staged a dharna and disrupted vehicular movement shouting slogans against Udhampur police and demanding immediate and unconditional release of Daljit Singh.

Dharnas and protests continued in the town throughout the day today. Police parties remained deployed to maintain a vigil on the situation but no report of violence was received from any part of the town.

Police said a case of arson and violence had been registered under Section 436 RPC against 21 JAC activists for leading mob that torched a house of a kidnapping accused Aftaab Ahmed Chandel and damaged property of his two associates—Vikram Singh Slathia and Anoop Khajuria.

Vikram Singh and Anoop’s name didn’t figure in a charge-sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) in the court last month while Aftaab was charged with kidnapping of Meenakshi.

Police said the raids will continue to arrest other JAC leaders allegedly involved in violence.

Meanwhile, a meeting of prominent JAC leaders and citizens was held in a Gurdwara late this evening in which it was decided that police move to disturb peaceful atmosphere of Udhampur by raiding their houses will be strongly resisted.

They threatened resumption of agitation if the raids were not stopped immediately. After the meeting, JAC leaders again went under-ground to evade their arrest in anticipation of fresh raids by police.

Police sources said they had to complete legal formalities of arresting JAC leaders against whom a case of indulging in arson and violence has been registered under Section 436.

Lyngdoh to succeed Gill as CEC

NEW DELHI, May 17: Government today announced the appointment of Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to succeed M S Gill who retires on June 13.

"The Government has decided to appoint J M Lyngdoh as the CEC after incumbent M S Gill completes his tenure next month," a top official told PTI.

Sixty-two-year-old Lyngdoh becomes the first person from the North-East to occupy the constitutional post whose tenure is six years or up to the age of 65 years which ever is earlier.

The official said that Government has also decided to appoint personnel secretary Brij Bihari Tandon as an Election Commissioner to fill the vacancy that will arise with the elevation of Lyngdoh.

Born in Shillong, Lyngdoh was appointed as an Election Commissioner on March 1, 1997.

Tandon, an IAS officer of 1965 batch of Himachal Pradesh cadre, was due to retire on June 30, will take over on the elevation of Lyngdoh.

Reacting to his elevation, Lyngdoh told PTI "one of the major tasks before me will be to provide voter identity cards to every Indian and ensure that voting in all future elections took place through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)" .

Lauding the contribution of Gill in bringing "high reputation" to the commission, he said that the process of issuing voter identity cards in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Mizoram have to be expedited.

"I will also ensure that the commission has adequate powers," said Lyngdoh, who will be CEC for another three years when he attains the age of 65 years.

Lyngdoh said that he would also suggest various electoral reforms to the Government to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls.

On his elevation, he said "I have been already with the Commission for over four years and we three Commissioners are all equal in status. You may call me first among equals."

Gill had succeeded T N Seshan as CEC and had vigorously pursued electoral reforms. (PTI)

Centre to extend cease-fire after Advani, Singh’s visit to J&K

NEW DELHI, May 17: The Centre will take a decision on extension of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, due to expire this month end, after the visit of Home and Defence Ministers to Srinagar on May 19, Minister of State for Home I D Swami said tonight favouring its extension.

The Cabinet committee on security would meet after the day-long visit of Home Minister L K Advani and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh to attend a meeting of the Unified Command of security forces in J and K and review the ground situation there, Swami told reporters here.

Replying to questions, the Minister said ceasefire should be extended if the peace process initiated by the Government has to be taken to its logical conclusion.

"The Centre has already appointed its interlocuter K C Pant to hold a dialogue with various groups in Kashmir. Some of these groups have responded positively to the offer of talks. Therefore, the ceasefire should be extended to carry the peace process forward," he said.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had announced in February the third extension of the ceasefire till May end.

Swami categorically said that there was no question of making Pakistan a party to any tripartite parleys as demanded by the Hurriyat Conference, saying that Islamabad’s support to cross-border terrorism and its offer of dialogue could not go hand-in-hand.

"You cannot hold talks when guns are booming. Pakistan cannot continue to extend moral, diplomatic and political support to terrorism while seeking a dialogue with India," he said.

On the ground realities in J and K since the ceasefire came into force in November last year, Swami said "the situation has not been upto the expectations because of the intransigent and stubborn attitude of Pakistan".

He said Pakistan-backed terrorists have a vested interest in ISI-sponsored smuggling of arms, ammunition, narcotic drugs and counterfeit currency and "it is no love lost for the people of Kashmir who are yearning for peace".

Pakistan, he said, must realise that an ultimate solution to the outstanding problems lay in bilateral talks between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Swami recalled that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, during his recent visit to Pakistan, had given the same advice to Islamabad.

On the response of the Hurriyat to Centre’s talks offer, the Minister said the group, which was a divided lot, had "not outrightly rejected the offer and is putting conditions".

Asked about how long New Delhi would wait for a response the Hurriyat and intransigent militant groups, Swami said "perseverence is extremely important for such sensitive talks. There can be no time-frame".

On the response to security forces to terrorist strikes, he said army and other security forces had not been confined to the barracks and were taking appropriate action whenever required except launching regular cordon and search operations.

The Minister said he did not visualise any track-II diplomacy between India and Pakistan leading to a definite solution. (PTI)

ASI, cop formally arrested; FIR lodged
Militant escaped from Bus Stand hotel, not Janipura

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: Mystery shrouding the escape of Hizbul Mujahideen ‘divisional commander’ Mohd Amin Bhat alias Fayaz has been solved during two days long hectic investigations by Janipura police.

On the completion of preliminary investigations, ASI Aziz-ud-Din, Incharge of a police team escorting the militant and a police constable Jameel Ahmed have been formally arrested and a case registered against them under Sections 223 and 224 RPC.

A Jammu Police officer told EXCELSIOR that sustained interrogation of ASI and constable by a Janipura police station party under the supervision of SHO Dalip Singh revealed that Hizbul ‘commander’ had, infact, escaped from Hotel Hamdarad at General Bus Stand, Jammu on Monday.

The story of ultra’s escape from Janipura from near a photographer’s shop was a version cooked up by Aziz-ud-Din and Jameel Ahmed after their utter negligence had lead to the escape.

Police investigations also revealed that Mohd Amin Bhat among other militant activities was involved in the killing of Minister of State for Power Ghulam Hassan Bhat in May last year. He was one of the few most wanted militants in Kashmir valley but was allowed to escape from custody by the cops with impunity.

Giving details of the escape, po-

lice sources said ASI Aziz-ud-Din with two cops Jameel Ahmed and Showkat Ahmed were deputed from Parimpora police station on Sunday morning to shift the militant to Kot Bhalwal jail. Showkat Ahmed went to his house and didn’t accompany the police team.

ASI and Cop came in a police bus from Srinagar, reached here on Sunday night and booked a room in Hotel Hamdarad. Surprisingly, the militant hadn’t been handcuffed all along the route as well as in the hotel.

This was also confirmed to police by Hamdarad hotel staff, who said all three (two cops and militant) were in plain clothes. Hotel staff told police that they believed all three as police personnel.

Sources said on Monday morning at about 0600 hours, Jameel Ahmed went to a barber’s shop for shaving while ASI Aziz-ud-Din kept on sleeping in his hotel room leaving the dreaded Pakistan-trained militant all alone in his room and giving him ample opportunity to escape.

The Hizbul ‘commander’, who hadn’t been handcuffed, easily availed the opportunity and escaped from hotel. Jameel Ahmed returned to hotel at about 0645 hours and found ASI sleeping and the militant missing.

The duo later inquired from hotel staff about the whereabouts of Fayaz. Staff had seen Fayaz moving out but they were not aware that he was a dreaded militant.

According to sources, the Aziz-ud-Din and Jameel Ahmed told their interrogators that they cooked up a story. Instead of informing police immediately, then returned to Anantnag and took Showkat Ahmed, the third police cop in their team who had stayed in his house, into confidence.

The trio cooked up a story of militants’ escape from a photographer’s shop in Janipura on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday night, Aziz-ud-Din approached Janipura police station and lodged a report of militants’ escape.

Police sources said they doubted Aziz-ud-Din’s theory right from the beginning as local shopkeepers said they had neither seen the cops nor militant, where, as per initial version of the ASI, the ultra had escaped.

They said Aziz and Jameel Ahmed, who reached here this morning, were subjected to cross-questioning during which they disclosed the factual position.

Immediately, both of them were taken into custody. However, since the ultra has escaped from a Bus Stand hotel, the case was shifted from Janipura to Bus Stand police station. Police said a case against Showkat Ahmed will be registered at Parimpora itself as he willfully avoided his duty and strayed in his house.

A state wide alert had already been sounded by police for the arrest of escaped militant.

Delhi alerts VDCs, SPOs in J&K
Pak extremist groups to intensify anti-India offensive

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, May 17: A major anti-India offensive in Kashmir is round the corner, with the unexpected decision of the two dreaded Sunni organisations of Pakistan to make available "necessary mechanism"' to jihadi elements and groups for doing away with "all Indian signs, symbols, symptoms and sympathisers and supporters in the Islamic territory of Kashmir.''

The two organisations have been identified as the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). These organisations consider the Taliban as their role model, support Jihadi groups in Kashmir and thrive in an atmosphere suffused with Islamist ideology.

A move is afoot to set up branches of the two organisations in Jammu and Kashmir. Some ardent supporters of Pakistan in Kashmir, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani of the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami, are believed to have extended their hands of friendship to the leaders of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

The two organisations are also known for the effective military wings they have established over the years, with the bulk of their cadres trained in Afghanistan. The militant groups, known as the Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) and Imamia Students Organisation (ISO), are said to be eager to make inroads into the Kashmir valley and Muslim-majority districts of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda in the Jammu region.

Latest reports from Lahore, where these two orgasnisations have already established training camps, pointed out that while Pakistan is reeling under a spate of grisly sectarian killings, the nexus between the sectarian and jihadi groups and a mollycodding Government threatens to rip apart Pakistan's social fabric and turn it into a theocratic nation.

Extremist Sunni groups, particularly the Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, vociferously espouse the cause of transforming Pakistan into a Sunni State where Shias were to be declared a non-Muslim minority. While sectarian groups are becoming increasingly brazen, sectarian killings in Pakistan have been deadly this year—the figure has ballooned to over 300 dead in the last 15 months.

Reports also point out that while some religious madrasas, which train and send volunteers to Jammu and Kashmir, have even taken to issuing fatwas against the Shias, Masood Azhar's Jaishe-e-Muhammad is working in tandem with Maulana Azam Tariq's Sipah-e-Sahaba. The director of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Mr I A Rehman, has warned that a theocratic State is always in danger of disintegrating into a sectarian State.

Iran is a Shia State, Saudi Arabia is a Wahabi State, Afghanistan is an orthodox Sunni State. Can Pakistan's case be different? Many religious groups in Pakistan are said to be ready to take the cue from Kandhar. These include several factions of Jamait Ulema-e-Islam, Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, all Sunni organisations.

Reports have revealed that the Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, known for their links with Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami, Jamait-ul-Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Muhammad, want the "end of pro-India formations in J&K such as the village defence committees (VDCs) and special police officers (SPOs). Members of the VDCs as well as SPOs are treated by the jihadis as needles in their flesh. Hence, the spate of threats to those who want to become members of the VDCs or join the J&K Police as SPOs.

Folllowing the receipt of inputs from at least two intelligence agencies, the Centre deemed it necessary to caution the Jammu and Kashmir Government against the "impending" offensive from the jihadis or suicide squads against the members of the VDCs and SPOs.

This issue as well as other aspects of the terrorists' hit-and-run tactics will be discussed in Srinagar on May 19 by the Home Minister, Mr L K Advani, and the External Affairs-cum-Defence Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh.

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |