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Work to
continue: DG BSF From B L Kak/Agencies NEW DELHI, May 21: India has deeply resented what is officially described as "highly provocative" action of Pakistan on the Indian side of the International Border in the Samba sector of Jammu. Meanwhile, Border Security Force today asserted that fencing work would continue despite aborted attempt by Pakistan to disrupt barbed-wire fencing in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The Government of India, in fact, has warned that the possibility of retaliatory action cannot be ruled out if the Pakistani forces continued to prevent Indians from constructing barbed-wire fencing along the International Border in Jammu region. The warning surfaced at a high-level meeting convened by the Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, to discuss the situation arising from the unexpected Pakistani action, resulting in the destruction of a number of iron pillars set up by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel for fencing the border. The meeting took place after the Director-General of the Border Security Force, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, had furnished to the Home Secretary, Mr Kamal Pande, details like the clandestine entry into the Indian territory by Pakistani subversives, the number of pillars blown up by them, the area where the construction material has been stocked, the increase in the number of Pakistani troops close to the border in Samba and RS Pora sectors in the last some days, and continuing threats from Pakistanis against the BSF’s plan to set up the barbed-wire fencing. According to one account, as many as 40 iron pillars, set up under the supervision of the BSF authorities in the Samba sector, were blown up by powerful incendiary material used by Pakistanis late night on May 19. Pakistani action, apart from blatantly violating the recent agreement between the BSF and Pak Rangers on the conduct of the troops of the two countries along the International Border in Jammu, clearly suggested the possibility of more heat on the frontier in the event of the BSF continuing the work of fencing the 200-km-long International Border. The agreement, which was reached at a meeting at Jalandhar on May 12 between the two sides, provided for cooperation by the troops of the two countries, cessation of firing by the two sides and joint patrolling for checking smuggling and illegal crossing along the frontier. True, at the Jalandhar meeting, the Pakistani delegation raised strong objections to the Indian Government’s move aimed at constructing barbed-wire fencing along the International Border in Jammu. But the Indian delegation strongly defended the move, which, it was asserted, would cover the area on the Indian side of the frontier to prevent infiltration and smuggling from the Pakistani side. The Pakistani side, which reiterated its description of the International Border as the "working boundary", was told by the Indian delegation that International Border "cannot be called "working boundary". The BSF, it was reiterated at the meeting, had the "right" to construct any defence structure that may be required to stop infiltration and smuggling from across the International Border. Mr LK Advani, in his discussions with a group of security and intelligence officers, sent out the message that while the Government would not tolerate any "provocative" acts anywhere along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the stand taken to raise defence structures on this side of the International Border in Jammu for preventing infiltration and smuggling from the Pakistani side will not be given up. According to Mr Advani, the fencing is going on alongside the Jammu-Sialkot border. "Why should Pakistan create obstacles in our way when the work is going on the Indian side of the International Border", Mr Advani asked. Loud and clear was the Home Minister’s yet another message at the meeting: The area in question is part and parcel of India and fencing within Indian territory will continue. It is an essential requirement against infiltration. Conscious of the fact that the responsibility of completing the fencing has already fallen on the BSF, Mr Advani was reported to have conveyed to the BSF chief, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, that India will, despite loud noises and threats from Pakistani forces, go ahead with its border fencing programme. It became evident, at the end of the meeting, that the Government will not hesitate to press the Army into service for assisting the BSF troops if the Pakistani side intensified shelling to subvert the Indian effort to raise defence structures to plug infiltration and ex-filtration routes along the International Border. Meanwhile, BSF Director General Gurbachan Jagat today asserted that fencing along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu will continue despite Pakistani attempts to disrupt it. "These things won’t deter us," Jagat said when referred to the blowing up of fencing material in Samba sector of Jammu by Pakistani rangers on Saturday night. Terming it as a "small incident", Jagat said Pakistan has been doing such things earlier also. "We will continue with the fencing work," he told reporters after flagging off a BSF mountaineering expedition. He said earlier Pakistan had resorted to firing in the Poonch sector to disrupt the fencing work. Pakistani rangers blew up 40 iron pillars used for fencing work in Samba where a fence is being constructed about 500 yards away from the International Border, sources said. Pakistan had earlier threatened to disrupt the fencing work, claiming the fence could not be constructed there as it was only a "working border". But the Indian Government had asserted that it would proceed with the fencing of the 200 km stretch of International Border from Jammu to Kathua despite the threats as it was essential to prevent infiltration and smuggling. The fencing work, previously entrusted to Central Public Works Department (CPWD), had to be taken up by the BSF because of the Pakistani threats. |
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Militants escape after firing on
Kanachak police station Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 21: For the first time in Jammu district, a big group of militants attacked Kanachak police station with automatic weapons in the early hours of this morning. The militants’ attack was beaten back by police personnel after an hour long exchange of firing. There was no loss of human life in fierce exchange of gun-fighting but a cattle was killed. Militants reportedly escaped back to Pakistan as they couldn’t be traced despite a full-fledged operation launched by army and police in Kanachak. Official sources said the militants rained bullets on Kanachak police station at about 0215 hours. Alert sentries, who were on guard duty at police station, retaliated with their SLRs. Sound of intermittent exchange of firing was heard in the area for about an hour. SHO Kanachak police station Inspector Arvind Kotwal supervised the operation. Meanwhile, army personnel also came to the rescue of police and started firing aiming the direction of militants. Firing from militants’ side stopped at about 0300 hours. While an exchange of firing between the militants and police was going on, Pakistani troops started heavy volume of firing and mortar shelling on Indian positions. Army jawans returned the firing from all their forward pickets. Firing and shelling from across the border was aimed at giving safe passage to the militants. Besides, it also caused minor damage to some equipments being used in border fencing by the Border Security Force (BSF). Immediately after getting a reports of attack on Kanachak police station, which was located within a span of about a half kilometer from the international boundary, Additional SP Jammu Nissar Ahmed rushed to spot alongwith two companies of police. SDPO Akhnoor Jagjit Singh alias Jagga also reached Kanachak in the night itself. Police and army personnel launched a massive search operation in Kanachak sector but the militants remained elusive. Sources don’t rule out the possibility of the militants having succeeded in returning to Pakistan after attacking police station taking cover of Pakistan firing. Return of militants to Pakistan was possible since Kanachak police station was barely half a km from the border. Taking no chance, police and security forces continued searches in Kanachak to restore confidence among border people, who were panic-stricken following attack on police station. Police sources said there had been bullet marks on boundary walls of police station. Besides, a number of empty cartridges of AK rifles were also recovered from the spot, which confirmed a militants’ attack on police station. There was no possibility of the attack having taken place from across the border as in that situation, the police station building couldn’t have been hit accurately, the sources said, adding police station sentries, who retaliated, too have confirmed that they saw the militants well within the firing range. When contacted on telephone, SHO Kanachak police station Arvind Kotwal, who led the operation, maintained that the attack had been carried out from within the Indian territory. "We exchanged firing with the militants for quite sometime. It was due to effective retaliatory firing brought down by cops that militants’ attack was repulsed", he asserted. Incidentally, this is for the first time that militants had attacked a police station in Jammu district, which was a clear indication of their area of expansion and future strategy. Attack on police station came within a week of an encounter between security forces and police at Sungal Sama in Akhnoor tehsil in which two militants, three SOG constables and an Army Major were killed. Militants had intruded into a village in Sungal Sama. Few months back, army had eliminated seven militants, who had infiltrated through Kanachak, in Mishriwalla area. Security arrangements in Kanachak have been further intensified following militants attack. Reports said tension prevailed among the people living in border villages of Kanachak in view of stepped-up movement by the militants and attack on police station. Firing from Pakistani troops, which have again intensified due to fencing work, has also hampered people’s movement. |
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Kadalbujoo is Principal
Secretary Health Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 21: The State Cabinet has deferred the proposed administrative reshuffle as serious difference of opinion surfaced over the proposed appointment of Sheikh Mohammad Hussain as Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir. The State Cabinet, which met here today, over the agenda of a largescale administrative shake-up, failed to evolve a consensus over certain key appointments. Even as a number of Ministers favoured the proposed appointment of Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Sheikh Mohammad Hussain, as the new Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, others opposed the move with the argument that installing a junior official on the coveted post would trigger off controvery in cadres. Sheikh Mohammad Hussain is a selection grade officer but he will have to supersede at least eight senior officials in the proposed appointment. In case Government decided to maintain the status of the post of Divisional Commissioner, Commissioner-Secretary Tourism Parvez Dewan, who is in IAS supertime, is likely to succeed Mr Khursheed Ahmed Ganai as the head of divisional administration in Kashmir. Names of three Kashmiri Muslim officers — Abdus Salam Bhat, A R Mubarki and Mumtaz Afzal — are also under consideration of the Government. However, an influential political lobby is pushing the name of Mr Sheikh Hussain who is a close relative of the National Conference general secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmed. While as DC Anantnag G A Pir is tipped to succeed Masood Samoon as the Director of School Education Kashmir and the name of Director Census Operation Feroz Ahmed has been cleared for the post of Director Social Welfare, two IAS officers Shelin Kabra and Bipul Pathak are likely to be appointed as Deputy Commissioners in Bramulla and Anantnag districts. In today’s Cabinet meeting Revenue Minister Abdul Qayoom and MoS Law Mushtaq Ahmed Lone projected Mr Azad Ahmed Lone for the vacant post of DC Pulwama, but the proposal faced criticism as Mr Lone’s name was linked to the current PRIME controversy. Two NC politicians also proposed the name of additional DC Budgam, Mrs Dilshada, but others opposed it saying that it would send wrong signals in KAS cadres to pick and choose junior officials for senior positions. Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitly is understood to have been asked to review certain proposals as 67 officers are likely to be touched in the proposed reshuffle. Cabinet is likely to finalise the shake up later this week. However, in today’s meeting, Cabinet approved the appointment of Mr H L Kadalbujoo as the Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education. Kadalbujoo will be returning to the position after his arrest and suspension in the infamous Kandla Port Trust scandal. CBI had arrested the senior J&K cadre IAS officer early this year. Mr Amit Kushari, who was initially appointed as Chairman of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, has been asked to report to in General Administration Department. Informed sources said that the Cabinet also approved the promotion of two IGPs as Additional DGs. Names of IG CID Kuldeep Khuda and Director Sher-e-Kashmir Police Training Academy P S Gill, had been cleared by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) last week. Cabinet today approved their elevation to the post of ADG but both of them shall continue to hold their present postings. The Cabinet also approved a drought relief package for both Jammu and Kashmir divisions and discussed some other service matters. |
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Mortar bombs seized
in Budhal Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 21: In a major breakthrough, security forces today busted three underground hideouts of the militants in general area of Surankot. Also two boys, who were forcibly being taken for arms training by Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) outfit militants, escaped from their clutches and were rescued by army near Surankot this morning. In the first incident, based on specific information of movement of militants in general area of Surankot, operations were launched by forces this afternoon. The troops during their search found three underground hideouts. The first hideout had space for 10 ultras while second could also accommodate five militants. Both these hideouts had large number of blankets, clothing and rations for the militants. The third underground hideout was in the cellar of a house belonging to Jamaludin. Jamaludin, however, managed to escape seeing the columns of army. About 40 rounds of AK and 30 pencils cells were recovered from the hideout, giving the clear indication that militants had recently left these underground hideouts. In the second incident, 17 Kashmiri boys in the age group of 14-20 years had been forcibly abducted by the militants belonging to the HuM outfit. Four ultras were escorting this group of 17 Kashmiri boys, when, while crossing Pir Panjal Ranges, when the weather became cloudy. Getting this opportunity Riyaz Ahmed Mir S/o Ghulam Rasool Mir, R/o Fatehpur Gund, Anantnag and Ghulam Hassan Padder, S/o Ghulam Mohd Padder, R/o Verinag, Godli Gund, Anantnag, escaped from the clutches of militants and came to a security forces camp near Surankot. Riyaz and Ghulam told army that they had been abducted by the militants when they were going to school. The condition of the boys was pathetic, as they had not been given food for almost three days. They had to hide during day time and only move at night. The boys also said that they did not want to join the militancy but wanted to study and earn a humble living. Additional search columns of security forces have been sent to rescue the remaining 15 Kashmiri boys and nab the militants. "It is clear that the people of Kashmir are now yearning for peace and do not want militants to come to their villages. They have understood that the perpetrators of terrorism in the false name of ‘Jehad’ are only militants who have come to Kashmir to enjoy and earn a living. The youth too now only want to study and become good citizens," a Defence spokesman said. Meanwhile, army today launched a massive search operation in dense jungles of general area of Budhal tehsil on receiving a sketchy information of a hideout which was used and frequented by militants. The lead to the troops was given by locals of the area. On receiving this information, Army swung into action and launched a huge search operation which resulted in discovery of well concealed and a deceptive hideout in the dense jungles of Budhal tehsil. Troops recovered 82 mm mortar, large quantity of mortar bombs of 82 mm and 60 mm alongwith massive quantity of ammunition and grenades. This weapon system has capability of causing large scale damage to civilian life and property if used by terrorists in the built up areas. It may be noticed that this is the first recovery of such lethal weapon system in this area. This is the third such weapon system which has been recovered from the Jammu region. As the last reports came in the search operation was still in progress. |
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Further crisis in Hurriyat NEW DELHI, May 21: In what could create further ripples within the 23-party Hurriyat Conference, its leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz today defended his stand of supporting Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. "Our first priority is to abide by the United Nation’s resolution (which calls for accession of Kashmir with India or Pakistan) and this at no point can be termed as jumping overboard or going astray from the Hurriyat agenda," Aziz told PTI on his arrival from Lahore, where he had gone to attend a family function. Aziz was reported by Pakistani newspapers as saying that "Kashmir’s accession with Pakistan was inevitable." However, this statement of Aziz drew severe criticism from another Hurriyat constituent — JKLF — which said "Aziz had been sent to Pakistan to attend the family functions and not indulge in making statements of his choice." Aziz, however, maintained that "second priority" could be accorded to tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir. "The independence aspect of Kashmir can be covered in the tripartite talks," Aziz said. During his nearly three-week stay in Pakistan, Aziz met military ruler General Pervez Musharaff and other leaders in Islamabad and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. About his talks with Gen Musharraf, Aziz said "despite Pakistan being a nuclear power and having missile technology, the leaders in Islamabad want to solve the problem peacefully through negotiations." Asked why was Hurriyat shying away from talks when even Islamabad was showing inclination towards dialogue, Aziz said "the present offer of talks by the Centre was aimed only at presenting Kashmir as an internal matter of the country and not at resolving the issue." He said the offer of talks was a step by the Centre to mislead the world community besides being ploy to buy time. Aziz said "if the Centre is so keen on resolving the issue, then a proper invitation stating that talks were being held for resolution of Kashmir must come out from the Centre." But when his attention was drawn to the recent statement of Centre’s interlocutor K C Pant saying that India was not averse to involving Pakistan and that the talks were aimed at final and a permanent solution to the problem, Aziz said "we will participate only when India agrees for tripartite talks." About the step taken by president of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) Shabir Shah in response to Pant’s invitation for talks, Aziz said "apparently Shah is not aware of the designs of the Centre, which has never been serious about resolving the issue." (PTI) |
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Police cop running charas smuggling racket nabbed Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 21: City police have arrested a police constable of JKP 5th battalion for running a racket of charas smuggling. Another racketeer was also arrested by police during a planned raid carried out in Rehari this afternoon. Constable-cum-charas smuggler has been identified as Suresh Kumar alias Puppy (No. 51) son of Bindraban, a resident of New Plots, presently posted in JKP 5th battalion, headquartered at Channi Himmat. He was on guard duty at Police Workshop. SP City (North) Sheetal Singh said police had developed a specific information about police constable’s involvement in charas smuggling racket. Plainclothesmen had been alerted to keep a vigil on the cop. This afternoon, Puppy was arrested red-handed while selling charas to one Romesh Lal alias Bittu son of Inderjeet, a resident of Rehari Colony. Romesh was also part of the charas smuggling racket and used to sale charas after procuring it from Puppy. About 500 grams of charas was recovered from the possession of police constable as well as Romesh Lal. Both of them were arrested by a Pacca Danga police station party led by SHO Swaran Singh Jangi from the spot and put behind bars. A case under Narcotics Act has been registered against police constable and his associate. Police said both of them were active in charas smuggling for past quite sometime. Meanwhile, Bakshi Nagar police today rescued a minor girl, kidnapped by two miscreants from Patoli Mangotrian last night. The girl was rescued from Nagrota and both the kidnappers were arrested. Fifteen year old Savita had been kidnapped by Laxman Singh and Ram Kumar, both residents of Gorakhpur, presently putting up in Patoli Mangotrian. After getting a report of kidnapping, a Bakshi Nagar police party headed by DySP Bhupinder Singh and SHO Maggar Singh swung into action and nabbed both the kidnappers. The girl was taken for medical examination and then restored to her family. A case has been registered against the kidnappers. In another case of group clash, police arrested five miscreants from different places. They have been identified as Rattan Lal, Tara Chand, Kala Ram and Sanjay Kumar, all residents of Krishna Nagar and Vicky Sharma alias Master of Tope Sherkhanian. Arrested miscreants were affiliated with Garu and Ashok Sharma Groups of miscreants in Krishna Nagar. They had clashed in Krishna Nagar locality on April 26. Tara Chand has been sent to Kot Bhalwal jail while others miscreants were lodged in police station. Three more criminals of two groups including their ring leaders were still at large. |
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Miscreant injured in shoot-out; 4 held Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 21: A miscreant was injured in a shoot-out and was arrested by police alongwith his three other associates when they were planning to commit a dacoity in Transport Nagar area under the jurisdiction of Trikuta Nagar police station last night. Miscreant, injured in the firing, has been identified as Mohd Farahim son of Mohd Ibrahim, hailing from Pune and presently putting up in Talab Tillo. He was an ‘aarti’ in Fruit Mandi, Narwal. Farahim has been arrested by Trikuta Nagar police alongwith his three associates Rameem Ahmed and Mohd Bashir, both residents of Chenani and Manjeet Singh alias Bittu of Gadigarh. A pistol was recovered from the possession of Rameem Ahmed. Police said Mohd Farahim had sustained a deep bullet wound on his chest and was shifted to Medical College hospital by his three associates. Initially, Farahim disclosed his identity as Bablu son of Krishan Singh of Talab Tillo and claimed that he was injured when he tried to separate two clashing groups outside Fruit Mandi, Narwal. A police party led by DySP East Sanjay Sharma and SHO Trikuta Nagar police station Shamsher Singh Parihar rushed to spot. Sources said police became suspicious on seeing the nature of injuries on Farahim’s body. Police subjected his associates—Rameem Ahmed, Mohd Bashir and Manjeet Singh to questioning during which they confessed that Farahim was injured when a round went off from pistol, which he was preparing for shoot-out in Transport Nagar. Police said Farahim and his associates were planning to commit a dacoity using pistol. A bullet pierced through Farahim causing him a deep bullet wound. Farahim has been kept under custody by police in Medical College hospital in serious condition. His three associates had been put behind bars in Trikuta Nagar police station lock-up. A case against miscreants has also been registered. |
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SRINAGAR, May 21 : Seeking to mobilise support for his move to enter into peace talks with the Centre on Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) leader Shabir Shah today held separate meetings with top Kashmiri leaders even as former Pakistan Foreign Minister Aga Shahi welcomed Shah’s initiative. Shah met prominent Shia leader and president of Anjuman-e-Sharie-Shian Agha Syed Mustafa Almoosvi, president of People’s Political Front Fazal Haq Qureshi and chief of Mahaz-e-Azadi Mohammad Azam Inquiabli to seek their support for his bid to enter into dialogue with the Centre, a JKDFP spokesman told PTI. During the 90-minute meeting with Agha Syed Mustafa, the JKDFP chief "was able to seek support of the prominent Shia leader," the spokesman said. The Agha assured Shah of full cooperation and support for the steps taken by him for "restoration of basic rights" of the people of Kashmir, he said. However, the spokesman remained silent over the response of Qureshi and Inquilabi over the stand taken by Shah. He said the JKDFP chief explained to them the stand taken by JKDFP with regard to accepting the Centre’s invitation for talks on Kashmir issue. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Agha Shahi and general secretary of Muslim World Congress Raja Muzaffar-ul-Haq have hailed the initiative taken by Shabir Shah, accpeing the invitation for dialogue on Kashmir issue saying it would help arrive at a solution to the problem. The views of Agha Shahi and Raja were conveyed to Shah by JKDFP’s senior vice-president Muhamood Ahmad Sagar, based in Pakistan, who met them in that country today. Sagar has been entrusted the job of meeting important leaders of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to muster support for Shah’s initiative. (PTI) |
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Koijam Govt defeated; ripples in NDA NEW DELHI, May 21 : The Radhabinod Koijam Government in Manipur was defeated today in a trial of strength in the Assembly as BJP MLAs voted against the Chief Minister’s confidence motion, creating problems for the Vajpayee Government but Samata Party chose not to carry out its threat of reconsidering its continuance in the NDA Ministry. After a stormy four-hour meeting in the backdrop of what it called a "betrayal" by BJP, the Samata Party national executive unanimously authorised George Fernandes to take a decision he deemed fit on the Party’s "relationship" with NDA. The deferring of a decision by Samata Party is seen as an attempt to buy time to await tomorrow’s possible action in Manipur where BJP Legislature Party leader R K Dorendra Singh met the Governor and claimed majority support. He may stake formal claim tomorrow. Amidst claims and counter-claims about BJP issuing a whip to its MLAs to vote in support of Koijam’s motion, 24 of the 26 BJP MLAs voted against the motion which was defeated 17-39 votes. To add to Samata’s woes. Dorendra Singh met the Governor with a list of 39 MLAs and claimed majority support in the 60-member House. He announced that he would formally stake claim to form the Government tomorrow after creation of a 40-member legislature group comprising BJP and MSEP MLAs. However, BJP leaders said they would abide by the Central leadership decision on Government formation. A bitter Samata Party, which has threatened to reconsider its participation in the Vajpayee Government, retaliated with Fernandes, convener of the NDA, staying away from a Coordination Committee meeting of the alliance. Seeking to mollify Samata Party, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee deputed BJP MP Vijay Goel and his aide Sudheendra Kulkarani to persuade Fernandes to attend the NDA meeting. But the exercise failed to yield result. After a two-hour NDA meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence, the NDA Coordination Committee decided that no BJP MLA will be a contender for the Chief Minister’s post in Manipur following the fall of Koijam Government. Defence and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told newspersons after the NDA meeting that there was no crisis at the Centre because of Manipur development. Official s ources said said Fernandes spoke to the Prime Minister over phone tonight and is likely to meet him tomorrow. (PTI) |
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SRINAGAR, May 21: Militants attacked a police station and a security force camp with automatic weapons and grenades and set ablaze the house of a BSF constable in continuing violence in Jammu and Kashmir since last night. Militants hurled a grenade at a security force camp at Kapra cinema, Sopore, in Baramulla district this afternoon, which missed the target and exploded without causing any damage, an official spokesman said. Security forces also returned the fire, but no one was hurt, he said. Militants also attacked a police station at Shopian last night but no casualties were reported in the exchange of fire, even as the militants managed to escape. Meanwhile, the body of a 70-year-old Ghulam Rasool Baba was recovered at Pulwama last evening. Security forces also recovered two grenades and one wireless set at Handwara last evening. (UNI) |
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Ultras spotted in Niki Tawi, Shame Chak Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 21: Ten militants were spotted in Niki Tawi area and three in village Shame Chak near Jhiri tonight. Immediately after the receipt of report, all army formations and police stations were alerted by police along Niki Tawi and Shame Chak. Police nafri from Kanachak, Domana, Ghrota and Akhnoor police stations rushed to Shame Chak and started searches with the help of army and other security agencies. Similarly, police parties of Satwari police station and SOG Jammu with army and para-military launched searches in Niki Tawi. Searches at both places were going on till reports last came in late tonight but the militants couldn’t be traced. Police said there was a possibility that the ultras spotted in Shame Chak could be part of a group that attacked Kanachak police station in early hours of this morning. However, the militant group noticed in Niki Tawi was fresh one. |
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Writing letter Shah’s own decision: Pant NEW DELHI, May 21: The Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir K C Pant today said India had nothing to do with president of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) Shabir Shah writing a letter to the Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf on the Kashmir issue. Asked whether he approved of the move of senior Kashmiri secessioinst leader, Pant told PTI "we have nothing to do with it." "Shah is handling the situation and he does what he feels the best," Pant added. The Government, though making it clear to Shah that it was not averse to involving Pakistan in the talks, has, however, maintained that unless Islamabad made attempts to stop cross-border terrorism in the State New Delhi could not hold any parleys with Pakistan. Shah has written to Pakistan military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf urging Islamabad to come forward and contribute in the restoration of peace and stability in the sub-continent. The letter was carried by two representatives of the party — Maulana Abdullah Tari, secretary general of Shah-led Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) and Saleem Geelani, spokesman — for being handed over to the Pakistani High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi here. Officials at the High Commission, however, said they had not sought any appointment with Qazi. (PTI) |
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Pak top brass reviews J&K situation ISLAMABAD, May 21: The high-powered Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) of Pakistan, headed by military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, today discussed the political and security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the light of JKDFP president Shabir Shah’s inclination to talk to the Indian Government and his request to Islamabad to contribute to the peace process in the sub-continent. JCSC reviewed the situation relating to a number of developments in Kashmir, chief military spokesman Maj Gen Rashid Qureshi said while declining to divulge the detail. Official sources said the meeting, which was attended among others by chiefs of Navy and Air Force and senior Army officers, besides discussing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir also went into India’s decision to go ahead with fencing of border in Jammu and Kashmir. An official release issued after the meeting said JCSC discussed important matters relating to defence, national security and professional aspects. Qureshi said he was not aware whether the political developments relating to Kashmir especially in the light of Shah’s inclination to hold talks with the Indian interlocutor K C Pant figured at the meeting. Pakistan which normally made swift comments on developments relating to Kashmir has so far not reacted to Shah’s latest announcement. Besides Kashmir, JCSC also discussed the developments in the region arising out of India’s support to US President George W Bush’s plan for a strategic security framework. Pakistan has opposed establishment of National Missile Defence (NMD) system proposed by Bush as part of the security framework. (PTI) |
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No let up in fight against terrorism:NDA NEW DELHI, May 21: NDA constituents tonight asserted that there should be no let up in the fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir but left the decision on extension of the cease-fire, due to expire this month end, to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The NDA meeting was of the view that "the peace process should remain in place but there should be no let up in the fight against terrorism," Defence Minister Jaswant Singh told reporters here. Singh, who had attended a meeting of the Unified Command of security forces in Srinagar on Saturday along with Home Minister L K Advani, said their views on the situation in Kashmir were conveyed to NDA partners and the advice of the allies on the peace process was sought. After a two-hour-long NDA meeting, Singh maintained "no NDA partner said whether the cease-fire should be extended or terminated and left it to the Prime Minister to decide on the issue." The CCS is expected to meet later this week to take a decision on the fourth extension of the J and K cease-fire which had come into force in November last year. (PTI) |
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