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100 kg RDX, missile, UMGs among seizure
4 Lashkar, 2 HM ultras gunned down in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: The elite troops of Delta Force have eliminated four top militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit and two activists of Hizbul Mujahideen, one of whom was involved in Chapnari massacre of 1998, in Doda district. The operations, which were carried out under the command of 4 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, have resulted in a massive haul of arms and ammunition.

A Defence spokesman said today that recovery made after the encounter include one missile, two Universal Machine Guns (UMGs), one sniper rifle, one Rocket Projectile Gun, six radio sets, over 100 kgs of RDX, thousands of rounds of assorted ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other war like materials.

The spokesman said the 4 Sector RR had been receiving reports of large scale extortion and incidents of rapes by a group of foreign militants operating under the command of a self-styled Lashkar commander in remote and inaccessible areas of Bharat and Kastigarh. A delegation of the local villagers had also called on the senior Army officials of the area and complained about large scale atrocities by the militants.

Accordingly, a seek and destroy ‘Operation Flush Out’ was launched. Troops of 8 RR, 10 RR and National Security Guards participated in the manhunt.

At the very outset, Major Arvind Yadav of 8 RR shot dead chief co-ordinator of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit identified as Mohd Lone alias Hataf in the forest area of Bagla, about eight kms north of Doda. Troops recovered one AK-47 rifle and one wireless set from the militant.

Later, the black cat commandos of National Security Guards under the command of 8 RR Col A Saxena were inducted in the area. Troops led by Major R Gurung cordoned off a militant hideout in adjoining Lal Draman forest. Spotting troops, the militants, numbering two, tried to escape.

However, both of them were shot dead by the army soldiers and were identified as Billal and Zuber, both foreigners belonging to Lashkar outfit.

Troops, meanwhile, also started closing-in from the opposite direction near a hutment in village Bhadargwadi after noticing suspicious movement atop a house. Major C M Babu, who was leading another patrol party, chased the militant. Another army column led by Major Anshuman also joined the same operation in Lal Draman forest.

In the massive exchange of firing, which ensued, a dreaded ultra Mohd Aslam alias MD, an IED expert of Lashkar outfit, was killed. No casualty was reported on army side.

Troops of 10 RR were also simultaneously pressed into areas of Kastigarh, north of Doda. One Commando team under the supervision of Major K R Srivastava cordoned off Pothi and Dhandal nullahs, a tributary of Chenab river. Armymen noticed footprints leading to a natural hideout.

Search of the area confirmed the presence of militants, the spokesman said, adding the militants were asked to surrender. Rather, one of the militant came out and started heavy firing on army soldiers with his automatic weapon. But, he was shot dead. His colleague, however, kept on firing on the army team.

In a daring act, Major K R Srivastava crawled to militants hideout and eliminated the militant. Both the slain militants were identified as Abu Ukuba and Abu Saraka, both residents of Pakistan and belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. Two AK rifles, one missile, one radio set and explosives were recovered from the hideout, the spokesman said.

In all these encounter, there was no casualty on army side which showed the effectiveness of troops with which they fought with the hardcore militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul mujahideen outfits. Bodies of all slain militants were handed over to local people for last rites.

Sector Commander Brigadier S C Sharma personally co-ordinated the operations. He ordered troops to apprehend all suspects, who had been sheltering militants and providing them logistic support. Special teams of army have been positioned at Bharat and Kastigarh areas to interrogated the suspects.

The Sector Commander said the slain militants were involved in kidnappings, rapes, extortions and killings of innocent villagers. He complimented the general population of the area for whole hearted support to army during the operations. In some cases, information about militants’ hideout was given by the local people which led troops to hideouts and identification of the militant.

General Officer Commanding, Counter Insurgency Delta Force, Major General C S Brar has congratulated the Sector, all Commanders and troops for brilliant executing of the operations, which has left both Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen disorganised and in disarray following the killings of their top leadership.

Jaswant spurns Musharraf offer
Delhi wants Islamabad to stop anti-India hostile propaganda

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI Oct 22: The Government of India has sent out a signal to Islamabad, informing the military ruler, Gen Parvez Musharraf, about Delhi’s intention not to have dialogue with Pakistan unless there was "sufficient" evidence on the ground of action against cross-border terrorism.

The action, the message said, had to be initiated by the military regime of Pakistan. This apart, the military ruler is also required to ensure "early" end to hostile propaganda against India.

The Minister for External Affairs, Mr Jaswant Singh, has turned down Gen Musharraf’s offer for talks. In an interview, Mr Singh reiterated that it was "too early" to consider resumption of the stalled bilateral dialogue with Pakistan.

Stating that India continued to keep a close watch on the developments in Pakistan, Mr Jaswant Singh observed: "Whatever is happening in Pakistan is not clear. It will not be proper to say what will happen in coming days".

On the other hand, a top Government source, while commenting on Gen Musharraf’s announcement of ‘unilateral’ military de-escalation along Pakistan’s International Borders with India, dismissed it as a ‘gimmick to impress the international community’. In fact, the source, who is operating from Delhi’s South Block, told EXCELSIOR that the withdrawal of Pak troops had to be expected as Gen Musharraf could not keep his troops in a forward position for a protracted period.

According to the source, the Government of India cannot be faulted for entertaining certain doubts in view of Gen Musharraf’’ complete silence on the vital issue of terrorism. India, the source pointed out, was concerned at Gen Musharraf’s strong assertion on Kashmir.

The Vajpayee Government has not taken well the Pak military ruler’s promise to continue "our unflinching, moral, political and diplomatic support to our Kashmiri brethren in their struggle to achieve their right of self-determination". Gen Musharraf’s categorical statement, according to Mr Jaswant Singh and the Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, is "unwarranted" as it completely goes against India’s position.

It was officially stated that India had decided to judge Pakistan by its actions. And the Indian Foreign Office posed: How can India be forced to hold talks at a time like this when the transgressions of the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir continue and when the terrorist camps are also operating within Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) ?

India has just witnessed a generally representative assertion of the popular will. And the new Vajpayee Government is in a far better position to match Islamabad step-by-step, but the lead has to come from General Musharraf about his good intentions. This is so because in the past, there have been many declarations of good intent that have not translated into very much in the end.

If Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee is somewhat sceptical about Gen Musharaff’s move to unilaterally withdraw forces from Pakistan’s International Border with India, he cannot really be faulted. The same holds true for the General’s offer to thrash out all outstanding issues across the negotiating table.

After all, India has taped evidence to show that this was the same man who planned and executed the strategy of sending in Pakistani troops into Kargil under the guise of "freedom fighters". In the ultimate reckoning, a senior Indian Army General argued at a meeting of his associates in the Capital, what will really matter is the sincerity behind the many resolves made by Gen Parvez Musharraf and not just his utterance of it.