Infiltration bid foiled in Poonch
6 terrorists, cop killed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 2: Six terrorists including four infiltrators and a police head constable were killed while two security personnel were injured in separate militancy-related incidents across Jammu region today.

Our Poonch correspondent reports: the troops of Poonch Brigade today thwarted an infiltration attempt by a group of six to seven terrorists on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jalian area of Mandi sector in Poonch district killing four terrorists including two foreign mercenaries.

Defence sources said the security personnel challenged the terrorists as soon as they came within their firing range after sneaking into Indian territory in the forward village of Jalian this morning. A heavy exchange of firing took place between army jawans and the terrorists for about two hours.

Four terrorists were killed in the encounter. Two to three other terrorists managed to escape back to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). One army jawan sustained injuries in the encounter. He has been hospitalised.

Sources said bodies of all four terrorists have been recovered from the encounter site. Two of them have been identified as Abdul Rehman, an ‘area commander’ of Hizb-e-Islami and Showkat Hussain, both residents of Surankote, Poonch. Two other slain terrorists remained unidentified and were stated to be Pakistanis.

Recoveries made from the scene of encounter included five AK-47 rifles with 16 magazines and 536 rounds, two pistols with five magazines and 90 rounds, four anti-tank rifle grenades, two I Com wireless sets, eight hand grenades and two antennas. Two letter heads of Hizb-e-Islami (HEI) outfit were also recovered from the possession of the slain terrorists.

Another unidentified terrorist was killed by army and police in a joint operation at village Madana in Surankote tehsil this evening. One AK rifle, three magazines, 61 rounds and four hand grenades were recovered from the encounter site.

Meanwhile, in Doda the terrorists triggered a mine blast targeting a police patrol party at village Shikari in Bhaderwah tehsil this afternoon. A police head constable Farooq Ahmed was killed on spot while a SPO was injured.

A police party reached the blast site and shifted injured SPO to a local hospital. Police also carried out a search operation in Shikari but the terrorists, involved in the explosion, remained untraced. Searches were going on till late this evening when the reports last came in.

A terrorist was shot dead by security forces in Chajru area of Mahore this morning. One AK rifle and some ammunition was recovered from him. Yesterday also, security forces had killed a terrorist in Mahore area.

Meanwhile, a blast took place in the shop of Abdul Samad son of Abdul Gaffar in Gool area of Udhampur district this morning. Abdul Samad’s son Ghulam Rasool sustained minor injuries in the blast.

Police said the IED had been planted in a drain outside Abdul Samad’s shop by the terrorists.

Protagonists of peace lose their own peace

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Oct 2: It was, without any doubt and without any fear of contradiction, a horror-filled event for the three-member family travelling by a bus, which was bound for Katra this morning. And they couldn’t be blamed as they, in a state of deep agony and shock, anxiously posed: " Where is my sister, where is our daughter?"

These questions, in fact, were thrown up soon after the family had lost its youngest member in a blast in the bus at Manda. All the three were unaware of the fact that they had lost their youngest member. And for no fault of theirs each one of them made anxious queries of the missing member. The queries were addressed to each and everyone who came nearer to their beds in Disaster Ward of the Government Medical College and Hospital.

The doctors and other para medical staff attending on them, for obvious reasons, parried their questions. Worse for them was their inability to make easy movements from their beds in the hospital ward.

The blast had incapacitated them physically, leaving each one of them in a state of bewilderment. Considering the gravity of their wounds and mental agony, doctors have deemed it necessary to keep them in the dark vis-a-vis their missing relation.

The head of the family Surinder Pal, a Punjab Government teacher and resident of Batala, has sustained critical sharpnel injuries on his arms, legs and at abdomen, while his wife Meena, also a Government teacher, has received severe wounds on back and legs and their elder daughter, a private teacher, has wounds on almost all the parts of her body. The fourth member, Rita, daughter of Surinder Pal, succumbed to her injuries soon after her admission in Government Medical College and Hospital.

The family of teachers, known for their strong loyalty to "apostle of peace", Mahatama Gandhi, always taught children to follow the path of peace and never allow anger to overcome their peace of mind. Hardly had they anticipated or imagined that they will, on Wednesday (Oct 2) get deprived of their own peace of mind for forever by losing youngest member of family.

When this correspondent tried to talk to Surinder Pal in the hospital, he repeatedly enquired: "where is my younger daughter?" And he went on:"I have not seen her since we were admitted in this hospital". And with these words his voice got chocked and he started weeping.

"We all are the strong followers of Mahatama Gandhi, a symbol of peace and our lives were going on peacefully but we were caught unawares by the destiny which has virtually shattered our peace", he said. His plan was to offer prayers at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine for peace in his family. But the dark shadow of terrorism had an unfortunate tale for them-that is, from Manda to the hospital.

According to Suman, they all were enjoying cool breeze of morning and suddenly with a big bang dark clouds engulfed the bus, leaving all the passengers crying in pain. "After that I fell unconscious and it was only in hospital I really came to know what horrendous had happened with us", she said while writhing in pain. "If some untoward happens with my family I will not come to have Darshan of Mata in future", she showed her mind.

Her mother Meena said "Rita got slept soon after boarding the bus and after big bang I have not seen her. Doctors are telling us that she is fine and has been admitted in another room. Please go and inquire about her", Meena pleaded to one of the social workers.

"The blast has left me physically disabled and now I have to seek the help of others to reach Mata Vaishno Devi shrine", Man Bahadur of Nepal, whose leg was amputated, said with misty eyes and added: Maybe Mata brought me here to get my leg amputate".

The pain of losing leg coupled with the question of his future continued to haunt him and he has been confronting with various ideas as to what will he do to feed his family.

Omar promises economic package for backward areas

Excelsior Correspondent

RAMBAN, Oct 2: Omar Abdullah, president National Conference assured that his party, when resumed power, will strengthen Panchayat Raj and make it ensure that the process of decision making and financial allocation for projects will be decided by the Panchayats.

Speaking at public meetings at Dessa, Rajgarh, Batote and Ramban, Omar said that he was very strong votary of self-government because he, "feels that it is locals only who understand the parties and requirements of the local area". He said that Panchayats will be further strengthened and given adequate powers to bring accountability in the system. Omar said that legislators will work in close coordination with the Panchayats and ensure equitable development of all villages.

The National Conference Chief Ministerial candidate said that he will draw a special package for the development of the rural backward areas and ensure that they get their due share in the State’s fund.

Omar said, "Doda is a landlocked area and we will strengthen road network to open up the far-flung areas by drawing out a road grid plan whereby each village is close to the highway". He further ensured economic development of the backward areas of Doda district.

Omar further said, "National Conference is a party which has the capacity to solve the problems of the State, because of its leadership and policies". He assured the people that National Conference Government will provide new direction to the State with new approach and modern technology.

The NC president promised a special package for the women and children, which will help in their development and health care. He said, "women will also be engaged in village cottage industries, so that they can add to their income of the household".

Omar said that he will provide a Government which will work for the upliftment of the downtrodden and create new employment avenues for the backward hilly regions of the State.

Restoration of peace Cong's top priority, says Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

DODA, Oct 2: Pradesh Congress Committee president Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that the restoration of peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and safety and security of common citizens will be the top priority of the Congress if voted to power in the trouble-torn State.

Addressing series of public meetings in Doda district at Chinta, Gandoh, Jakyas, Tanda and Bhella, Mr Azad said that restoration of peace and ensuring safety of the common people is of paramount importance and would be the top priority of Congress Government. Militancy, he said, has brought miseries, sufferings and poverty to the State which requires to be dealt with to restore peace, progress and prosperity.

Mr Azad said that youth of the State took to guns because of the wrong policies of National Conference Government and due to the large scale unemployment. National Conference, he said, has been responsible for pushing the State into the present turmoil because of its lust for power.

The PCC-I chief said that Doda district has been the worst neglected in the matter of development and people have been deprived of basic facilities of water, electricity, roads, schools and hospitals. There is need to provide large scale job avenues to the unemployed youth of this backward district, he said.

Mr Azad said that National Conference during its 27 years of misrule has totally ignored this hilly and backward district and even the developmental works initiated by the Congress Government before 1975 have remained unfinished. The schools, he said are without teachers and buildings and promised to take up this issue on priority.

According to Mr Azad, Doda district has vast potential of tourism but not tapped by the NC Government. The Congress Government will initiate special measures to fully develop the tourist resorts to attract large number of tourists which will benefit the local population and provide jobs to the unemployed youth, he said.

Referring to the drought situation in Doda district, Mr Azad said that wherever crops were damaged in the country due to the natural calamity, the farmers have been compensated, but regretted that in case of Doda, the farmers continue to suffer for want of compensation.

Congress candidate, Mr Mohd Sharif Niaz and other local Congress leaders also addressed the gatherings.

It may be mentioned here that Doda district will go to the polls in the fourth and last phase of elections on October 8 and almost all the political parties have switched over their base to this district in a bid to woo the voters.

PM hits out at critics of reforms

NEW DELHI, Oct 2: Differences between the BJP and the Sangh Parivar on disinvestment and economic policies were sharply visible today with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee lashing out at critics of privatisation that vital assests and country’s interests were being sold off.

Rejecting what he called a media campaign to create an impression that the country’s vital assets were being sold through the privatisation process, Vajpayee said "such a campaign is not in the country’s interest.

"It is incorrect to say that the country is being sold. No one can sell this country and no one has been born who can buy India".

The Prime Minister’s sharp comments came on a day when RSS chief K S Sundarshan demanded immediate removal of people at the helm of affairs supporting western model of development and free inflow of foreign investment and hardliners in the cabinet against strategic sale of Public Sector Undertakings —George Fernandes, Murli Manohar Joshi and Ram Naik— met to discuss the disinvestment process.

The Prime Minister also accused sections of media of distorting facts on the disinvestment issue and regretted that an atmosphere was created as if the disinvestment process had come to a halt due to divisions within the Government.

Apparently referring to the meeting of the three ministers, he said "differences are bound to be there when knowledgeable people disucss policies. An impression is being created that the disinvestment policy is wrong and that there are divisions within the Government".

Maintaining that he was not against a discussion on privatisation policy, Vajpayee said he was also not against corrective measures being taken after such a review. "But there should be a limit to that (review)".

Addressing an RSS intelligensia meeting, Sudarshan said the economic policies being followed "at the behest of" WTO and IMF were "urban based, high-energy consumptive, capital intensive, labour displacing and ecologically destructive".

He said the present policies were responsbile for terrorism as they rendered people jobless.

Earlier in the day, Joshi, Fernandes and Naik met at the HRD Minister’s house to discuss various aspects of disinvestment issue and were believed to have come to an agreement against privatisation in the oil PSUs due to their strategic importance.

Naik said downward trends in the stockmarket should not be linked to the issue of disinvestment in oil sector PSUs.

On the other hand, Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie said it was for the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to take a decision on disinvestment issues. (PTI)

Prospects-2002 (I)
In 1996 Kashmiris wanted Azadi from guerrillas. In 2002,
a section wants it from NC
Did NC fail to read difference between 1996 and 2002 ?

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Oct 2: National Conference, headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah, was the ‘lesser evil’ for the Kashmir electorate in 1996. An average Kashmiri’s perception was that when Azadi is not possible, Sheikh Abdullah’s party of anti-Delhi mantle was the best representative of the sub-national aspiration. For varied reasons, all shades of political ideology were yearning for a change. There was consensus on replacing the seven-year-long Governor’s rule. And, NC was not only New Delhi’s best bet but also the most potential contender.

Analysts here believe that it suited even to Pakistan to see a civilian Government in Jammu & Kashmir. Accountable to none, the Governor’s administration had driven the proverbial last nail in the coffin of militancy. With and without prejudice to the urge for Azadi, most of the Kashmiris wanted to take silent revenge from the unbridled gunman, who ruled the roost.

Obviously the predictions were easier. Before counting of votes, EXCELSIOR summed up the prospects: ‘NC is next only to Azadi in Valley’. As all psephologists, political analysts and the Intelligence agencies gave 35-38 seats to the NC, this newspaper predicted that the party would stay a little short of the two-third-majority i.e. 58 seats. It bagged 57— as many as 40 in Kashmir, 3 in Ladakh and 14 in Jammu.

Year 2002 is a completely new phenomenon. The Kashmiri is not that much at the receiving end of the gunman’s atrocities and high-handedness. The infamous Ikhwan has been demobilised and the Special Task Force (STF) caged. Security forces do not enjoy the ultimate freedom of catching and killing militants, their overground functionaries and other suspects. On the other hand, there is no forced conscription by militants, fewer instances of harassing the uninvolved civilians and, according to latest reports, even the fresh recruits are being paid handsome salaries. An analysis shows that the militant’s actions against the uninvolved civilians have reduced by 90%.

Still, a decisive majority of the Kashmir’s wants restoration of peace, honorable solution to the Kashmir problem, good governance, macadamized roads, drinking water, electricity and the Government jobs. Inspite of average, good and very good performance in many sectors, the NC Government has failed to deliver the goods on some very crucial fronts. Thanks to his style of functioning as a non-residential Chief Minister, his own bureaucracy and New Delhi’s non-cooperation in many spheres, Dr Abdullah has failed to fulfil 90% of his promises and public commitments.

As observed in Ganderbal and other places in the Valley, Dr Abdullah’s being inaccessible and not available to the common people is the ubiquitous complaint. Many people have been keenly watching his frequent sorties to several Indian and foreign cities, giving unlimited powers to Government officials, making the institution of the Cabinet inferior to bureaucracy. Others are sore over the way Government jobs were doled out to their favourites by Heads of Departments. Cases under SRO-43, in favour of the victims of militancy, have been pending since 1990. Government has failed to show will to clear the backlog, even as thousands have been recruited through backdoor channels.

People, committed to the cause of Azadi and accession to Pakistan, want neither security forces nor instruments like POTA. The real majority is actually concerned about the accountability of the security forces and misuse of POTA. People do ask how many of the 62,000 militancy-related incidents have been solved by Dr Abdullah’s Police; how many inquiries have been completed and what action has been taken on the recommendations of the Commissions of Enquiry.

A thick chunk of the electorate is not convinced over NC’s partnership with the BJP in the NDA Government at the Centre. The NDA Government’s contemptuous disposal of the resolution of Greater Autonomy, passed by the state legislature, had left no justification to NC’s continuance in the coalition. After the communal riots in Gujarat, Kashmiris have not liked Omar Abdullah’s alliance with a party that shielded and patronised the Narendra Modi Government. Even to a lay man, it is a cheap sell-out.

Today, everybody here says that the NC Government had taken everything for granted. Of course, it had reasons for being overconfident—abnormal security scenario, unassertive Press, judiciary and Opposition. Most of the mainstream Opposition parties were virtually non-existent in the field. Others growing in the Valley had the heretic impression of being the puppets of India’s Home Ministry. These factors paved way for a new wave of anti-incumbency which was, to a limited extent only, capitalised by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s PDP.

Even a Hurriyat constituent was enticed to jump into the fray, albeit by proxy. And, one saw pro-Azadi slogans in the CRPF and BSF-guarded election rallies. PDP’s plank was also "half Azadi". Firebrand Mehbooba Mufti succeeded in wooing the audiences at several places with the call for Azadi. She glorified the active militants, lashed out at the surrendered ones, assurred them of "solution of the Kashmir problem according to your wishes and aspirations" and finally asked her audiences to "first get the Azadi from the NC Government". She magnified the impression that NC was a stumbling block in the resolution of the Kashmir crisis.

Inspite of the near-total boycott to polling in Mufti’s Bijbehara town on Tuesday, many of those obsessed with the Azadi believed that Mehbooba’s party would "force" the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to solve the Kashmir problem. They sounded optimistic that the solution would be freedom from India.

Still, the maximum of credit for NC’s possible jolts will go to its own mandate managers, who made blatant mistakes in choosing the candidates and antagonised the party’s hardcore rank and file. In Kashmir valley alone, there are 12 NC rebels directly in the fray and in six more segments one or the other NC leader is covertly pulling the legs of own party candidate.

War is last option: Sinha

RANCHI, Oct 2: India will exercise all diplomatic options to check cross-border terrorism, before waging a war against Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has said.

Diplomatically, we have managed to corner Pakistan in the international arena and further steps are proposed to expose the latter for fanning cross-border terrorism, Mr Sinha said while talking to UNI at the residence of Chief Minister Babulal Marandi.

Reacting to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s recent statements about peace and aggression, he said the former has a knack of making such irresponsible statements.

Regarding the United States’ observation about Pakistan that it had the maximum number of training centres of religious terrorists, he said undoubtedly Pakistan had a number of such training centre which the world community has only now realised . Mr Sinha said even on the domestic front, efforts were underway to counter terrorism with the people’s active support, as had been done in Punjab.

The 48 per cent voter turnout during the polls in Jammu and Kashmir was a positive sign, he said, adding that it indicated the people’s resolve to root out terrorism.

"We will defeat terrorism," he said recalling Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s statement that "terrorism is in its last stage."

"Internationally," he said, "we have succeeded in convincing the world community about Pakistan’s designs and even on the domestic front, people have come out against it."

To a query as to how long people’s patience would be tested and how many Akshardham-like incidents would be allowed to take place, he said "all options were being viewed before the final move". (UNI)

Centre says no role in J&K Govt formation

SRINAGAR, Oct 2: The Centre will not thrust a person of its choice as the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and will fully respect the will and aspirations of the people on the formation of the next Government in the State.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his Deputy L K Advani have given these assurances to the leaders of various political parties during discussions with them on the ongoing election process in the State.

The leaders told UNI here that the "Delhi Darbar (Centre)" will not play any role in deciding the future Chief Minister of the State giving their right in the installation of the new Government.

They said this will be the first time that the Centre would not play the role of a power-broker in the State.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, BJP leaders and others acknowledged fairness in the conduct of the elections.

"It is for the first time that the Delhi Darbar has ensured rigging-free polls in the State and given the people a free choice to elect their Chief Minister. This had not happened so far in the State, where almost all elections were rigged," Mr Sayeed said.

He gave the credit for fair and transparent polls to Mr Vajpayee and his deputy.

Leaders of the political parties in the beginning were apprehensive about transparency of the elections, but their doubts were removed after witnessing the "fairness’ of the first three phases of the elections.

The Centre has also reportedly conveyed its stand on the issue of the formation of the Government and the elections to the Congress leaders in Delhi.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami also expressed similar sentiments and was hopeful that the people will be given free choice to elect their leader in the state legislature.

He also lauded the role of the Election Commission for conducting the rigging-free elections in the State. (UNI)

Both CPI MLAs join Cong in Punjab

CHANDIGARH, Oct 2: The Communist Party of India today suffered an unprecedented jolt in Punjab when both the party’s MLAs quit the party and joined the Congress.

The CPI MLAs, Gurjant Singh from Pacca Kalan and Nathu Ram from Malout, made the announcement at a news conference in the presence of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Punjab Congress president H S Hanspal in the State Civil Secretariat.

Both were elected to the 12th Punjab Vidhan Sabha with the support of the Congress. The CPI and the Congress were allies in the February 13 Assembly elections in Punjab. But CPI state secretary Joginder Dayal had, of late, become a stringent critic of the Amarinder Singh Government on the farmers issue.

Dr Dayal pre-empted the Chief Minister’s all-party meeting here today by convening a similar meeting at the CPI state office here yesterday. He boycotted the all-party meeting held by the Chief Minister but both CPI MLAs, before announcing their exit, attended the meeting convened by the Chief Minister. Both Gurjant Singh and Nathu Ram said they had communicated their decision to the Assembly Speaker. The Chief Minister and Congress state president welcomed both the MLAs into the party fold. With their joining the Congress, the ruling party strength in the House goes up to 64, followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) 41 and the BJP three. Nine independents were also elected to the 117-member House.

While Gurjant Singh had quit the Congress on the eve of the election to successfully contest on the CPI ticket, Nathu Ram, a committed communist, was elected to the Assembly on April six from Malout. The polling in Malout was held on April four because sitting SAD MLA and then Minister Sujan Singh, who was also his party candidiate, had died on January 26, three days after close of nominations for the elections held on February 13. (UNI)

Schools, colleges closed today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 2: Divisional Commissioner Anil Goswami tonight ordered that all educational institutions, both Government and private, will remain closed tomorrow in response to a strike call given by Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF) and National Panthers Party.

The strike call had been given to protest the terrorist attack in Hiranagar yesterday and a blast in Katra bound bus at Manda today.

Massive searches in Narwal area

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 2: Army and police carried out searches in Narwal Fruit Mandi, NHPC building and a forest area throughout the day today after a temple priest told police that he had observed movement of two terrorists.

Initially, police came into action and carried out searches. Later, police also took the help of army. The NHPC building was searched as the priest said he saw two terrorists entering the building. However, police didn’t observe any movement inside the building or any other place in Narwal, a police spokesman said.

He said the searches were also being conducted in the surrounding forests. He, however, declined to comment on statement of the temple priest saying in such a situation "we have to carry out searches even if the information turned out to be a rumour".

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