* 3 kids killed in Bandipore blast * 4 RR men,
2 Ikhwanis injured in Anantnag
7 militants, 3 BSF men among 15 killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: In as a many as eight different militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening, 7 militants, 3 BSF personnel--including an Assistant Commandant--and 5 civilians have got killed while as 29 people have sustained injuries.

Informed official sources told EXCELSIOR that last evening at 1800 hours, militants caused a powerful IED explosion near Hillar bridge on Anantnag-Kokernag Road when a patrol of BSF 41 Bn was in movement. The blast occurred in close vicinity of BSF's Hillar camp. The targeted vehicle suffered extensive damage. Three BSF personnel, namely Assistant Commandant Ravinder Singh, constable driver Baldev Singh and constable Farooq Ahmed got killed. Four others, namely head constable CM Tiwari, constable Ganesh Dutt and Ramesh Kumar sustained injuries. They were rushed to 92-Base Hospital at Corps Headquarters. One of the injured was critical and three out-of-danger.

Another IED blast took place at a spot between Kreeri and Nawpora on Anantnag-Dooru Road at 1600 hours today when a patrol of RR 9 Bn were in movement. The targeted vehicle suffered massive damage as four RR personnel and two counter-insurgent Ikhwan members got injured. They were rushed to hospital.

During last night, militants appeared at Kremshore, Budgam and made an attempt to kill or kidnap a contractor namely Lassa Bhat. His son resisted and raised alarm. As the two militants came out, their own associates mistook them as inmates and fired a volume of AK-56 rifle. One unidentified militant, believed to be Pakistani, got killed. Lassa Bhat's tipper JK 02B-5931, was used for carrying the dead body to Sub District Hospital, Budgam and the Police Station today. Police registered a case and began investigations. Minutes after the tipper was parked in Budgam bus-yard, militants lobbed a handgrenade on it at 1455 hours. Minor damage was caused to the vehicle but as many as 18 civilians were reported injured.

Some of the injured were identified as Ghulam Ali Bhat, his brother Mohammad Jaffar Bhat and Ghulam Hassan Bhat of Budgam, Nazir Ahmed Ganai of Falchil, Ajaz Ahmed Teli of Ichhigam, Jana W/o Mohammad Sultan Ganai of Rathsona, Mohammad Yusuf Dar of Parnewa, Vinod Kumar of Srinagar, Khatija W/o Mehda Dar resident of Sholipora, Mohinder Singh of Sholigund, Mohammad Muzzaffar of Ketchh Razgeer, Mushtaq Ahmed of Ompora, Nazir Ahmed Gain of Falchhil, Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh of Budgam, Manzoor Ahmed Rather of Parnewa, Ghulam Mohammad Khan of Dadina, Bashir Ahmed Hajam of Pallar, Ghulam Mohammad Dar of Hadu Sorash and Ghulam Hassan Bhat of Budgam. One of the injured with relatively more grievous injuries was rushed to Srinagar.

Defence sources said that a major operation by Rashtriya Rifles Sector-03 was launched last evening in Lalmarg hilly terrain between Ganderbal and Safapora. A fierce encounter took place between militants and security in which six unidentified militants got killed this afternoon. A large quantiy of arms and ammunition was claimed-recovered from the site of encounter. Sources said that the operation was still in progress, late this evening.

Today's encounter has taken place in Choontwaliwar at a place where six foreign militants had been eliminated by security forces last fortnight.

This evening at 1815 hours, militants appeared at a video tapes shop at Shari Bhat near Hawal in downtown and gunned down its proprietor, namely Mushtaq Ahmed of Alamgari Bazar.

Reports available from Kupwara said that troops of 8-Jat shot dead a civilian namely Abdul Ahad Mir of Kawari, Trehgam, while mistaking him as a militant at 2130 hours last night.

3 kids killed

At 1440 hours today, three young children -- while fiddling with a stray explosive device--got killed and one more injured at Panar, Bandipore. They were identified as 6-year old Mumtaz Ahmed Khan S/o Mian Khan, 7-year-old Shabir Ahmed Khan S/o Ghulam-ud-Din Khan and 12-year old Nazir Ahmed Khan S/o Maya Khan. Shabir's 11 year-old elder brother Fareed Khan sustained critical injuries. He was admited at Sub District Hospital Bandipore for treatment.

Reports available from Kupwara added that an Army porter, namely Ali Mohammad Sheikh of Allachizab got killed alongwith his horse when he slipped down into a crevasse at Kundian near LoC.

During last night, militants fired upon an ambush of Rashtriya Rifles at Dalseer in Pahalgam area. Nobody got killed or injured in exchange of fire as all militants managed to escape in the woods.

Surankote tense after explosion
3 students injured in 2 blasts near school

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: Three students were injured, two of them seriously, when militants triggered two powerful explosions near Government middle school at Sangla in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district today.

Official sources said the militants had planted two powerful Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) near the Government middle school at Shia Mohalla, Sangla with a view to trigger heavy casualties among the innocent students at the time of prayers. The IEDs had been planted in the early hours of the morning by digging the ground.

However, as the luck would have it, the IEDs exploded when there were only few students moving towards the school. Students were gathering in the ground for prayers at about 1000 hours when the IEDs went off with bangs. Three students, who were standing close to the scene of explosion, were seriously injured in the blast.

Army and police parties rushed to the school building immediately after the explosions. The panic-stricken students and staff of the school fled from the spot following the explosion as panic-gripped the entire Sangla area.

Army and police parties cordoned off the school building to look for any other explosive device. The injured students were rushed to sub district hospital in Surankote where condition of two of them was stated to be critical. The injured had sustained multiple splinter injuries over their bodies.

The seriously injured students have been identified as Liaquat Hussain son of Lal Din, a 7th class student of Sangla and Abdul Hamid son of Nizaam Din.

Army and police launched a search operation in Sangla area and rounded up eight suspects for questioning in connection with the explosion near the school building. No militant had been arrested so far. Surankote police was investigating the circumstances leading to planting of an IED in the school. Possibility of some locals’ involvement has not been ruled out.

Sources said there was strong resentment among the local people of Surankote against such a heinous crime by the militants like planting explosive device near the school to kill innocent children. People, some of whom met army and police officers after the incident, have demanded stern action against the militants involved in the blast. Situation was tense in Sangla and Surankote town in the aftermath of blast.

It may be recalled that earlier also, militants had tried to blast two school buildings in Surankote. However, their previous attempts had failed as the blasts had occurred outside the school buildings and failed to cause any casualty or damage.

Meanwhile, a report from Rajouri said that militants shot at and seriously injured a civilian Alaf Din son of Umar Din at his house in village Kalyar of Kalakote tehsil last night.

Militants fired two shots on Alaf Din after dragging him out of his house and escaped presuming him dead. However, Alaf Din was shifted to Kalakote hospital where he survived. Kalakote police was searching the militants involved in the attack.

Toll 24 in last four days
6 more top militants, jawan killed in Poonch

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Oct 23: Continuing their offensive against Pakistan-trained militants and foreign mercenaries, army troops eliminated six more militants in Saloonia area of this district after an eight hour long operation. Five more militants were trapped in the encounter in which one army soldier also lost his life and a civilian was injured.

With the elimination of six more militants, total casualties inflicted on militants’ side in this border district during last four days has gone upto 24.

A Defence spokesman said troops of Poonch Brigade developed an information through their own sources about the presence of a group of 10 top militants in Saloonia area last night. Today morning, troops launched a seek and destroy operation in the area after sealing all exit routes of the militants.

A contact was established with militants at 0800 hours and an intense firing ensued between both the sides. Militants also used heavy fire arms like Pika gun and assault rifles in attack on the army personnel, who retaliated effectively.

A fierce gun-battle continued till 1600 hours in which troops liquidated six dreaded militants. An army jawan was also killed in the gun-battle while fighting bravely with the militants. A civilian Mohd Sakhi was injured in the encounter.

The spokesman said that atleast five more militants were still hiding in the area, who were firing intermittently on the army columns. More troops have also reached the scene of encounter to continue the gun-battle and eliminate the remaining militants.

Bodies of six slain militants were recovered from the encounter site late this evening but their identity couldn’t be established immediately. All of them were suspected to be foreign mercenaries, the spokesman said.

A large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives have been recovered from the scene of battle. The seizure include assault rifles, pistols, grenade, detonators, wireless sets and ammunition rounds. Exact details of the recovery were being worked out.

Body of the deceased army jawan has been shifted to a local hospital. He had sustained a volley of shots and succumbed to his injuries before being shifted to hospital. The slain jawan fought courageously with the militants before laying down his life.

With the killings of six militants, a total of 24 militants have been gunned down by the troops, assisted by Poonch police, in different encounters with the militants in Poonch district during the last four days. Most of the slain militants were highly trained foreign mercenaries including Pakistanis, Afghan nationals and Sudanese.

With these killings, the militants outfits of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Harkat-ul-Ansar, Al-Badar and Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen have suffered serious blows. Two slain militants were commanders of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, who had let loose a reign of terror in Surankote tehsil of this district. A huge quantity of weaponry has also been recovered from the possession of slain militants.

Brajesh Mishra meets Talbott
Indo-American working group to counter global terrorism

WASHINGTON, Oct 23: India and United States have proposed to set up a joint working group to consider ways to counter international terrorism, which New Delhi has been a victim for nearly two decades, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra has said.

The proposal is an outcome of several high-level talks between the two sides and a better understanding by United States of the Indian concerns, Mishra, who is also the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, told reporters here yesterday after a meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott.

Expressing concern over the unfortunate developments in Islama-bad, Mishra, who is here on a two-day visit, said there have been three previous military rulers in Pakistan. Under two, we had two wars, under a third, there was export of terrorism to India in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country.

So, obviously, we have to be vigilant in the present circumstances, Mishra said while conveying India’s views on the military coup in Pakistan.

Mishra said he had apprised Talbott, acting National Security Adviser to President Bill Clinton James Steinberg and other policy makers regarding India’s desire to improve relations with Pakistan but reaffirmed that unless cross-border terrorism sponsored by Islamabad stops, there can be no meaningful Indo-Pak talks.

Mishra also expressed satisfaction over US’ better understanding of the Indian concern, referring to Assistant Secretary of State Karl F Inderfurth’s recent statement that US would press Pakistan’s new military ruler General Pervez Musharraf to halt cross-border terrorism.

He said since June last year, we have had one of the most intensive dialogues with the US since independence. This has led to a certain measure of understanding between the two countries which was, perhaps, not there earlier.

Add to that the attitude of the United States during the Kargil conflict, which was, from our point of view, positive...All this provides us with an opportunity to further develop relations with the United States, Mishra said when asked how he interprets several references by the Clinton administration officials that US and India are natural allies.

On the proposed presidential visit to South Asia early next year, he said during last week’s telephonic conversation between Clinton and Vajpayee, the latter has said, you are welcome (to India). You will receive a warm welcome whenever you decide to come to India.

Asked about the response to the invitation, Mishra said, yes, they are thinking about it. That is the response.

The discussions with the US officials on recent regional deve-lopments as well as matters expected to come up at the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle, Mishra said, have been fruitful.

We have been able to present our point of view on some of the contentious issues which are sought to be put on the agenda. There will, however, be discussions in Delhi at the beginning of November with the deputy trade representative, Susan Esserman at the technical level, he added.

On dual citizenship, Mishra said there were about 15 million people of Indian origin living abroad and a smaller number was in the affluent countries of the West.

The larger number is in developing countries, where questions of nationality are very, very sensitive matters and dual nationality, I think, might be more of a burden than an assistance. We have to look at the picture from that point of view, not merely from the point of view of NRIs living in the US, UK, Australia or Canada.

We have also to look at persons of Indian origin who acquired citizenship in countries of Southeast Asia. It is a very tricky subject. However, the Government is committed to doing whatever is possible to facilitate the interaction, indeed the participation, of persons of Indian origin in the development process of India, he said.

Asked whether there was any forward movement in the talks on dual technology (whose export to India is barred by the US), Mishra said, we did not talk about that. (PTI)

Deshmukh Govt wins confidence vote

MUMBAI, Oct 23: The Vilasrao Deshmukh-led Government in Maharashtra today sailed through comfortably in its trial of strength in the State Assembly, winning the vote of confidece unanimously by a voice vote while the entire opposition kept away.

The opposition Shiv Sena-BJP members staged a walkout when the one-line motion, seeking confidence of the House in the new Government was moved by Mr Satish Chaturvedi and other ruling coalition members.

Mr Deshmukh, who is heading the Congress-NCP alliance was asked by Governor P C Alexander to prove his majority within fifteen days after he was invited to form the Government last week.

Earlier, the coalition Government, had had its first victory when its candidate Arun Gujarathi got elected to the Speaker’s post through a secret ballot. Mr Gujarathi had polled 154 votes against that of 132 by Sena-BJP nominee Girish Bapat. The ruling coalition got four more votes than its original tally of 150 MLAs, indicating that there had been cross voting from the opposition side.

The winter session of the legislature will commence from December 13, at Nagpur.

Talking to reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan press room at the end of the Assembly session, Mr Deshmukh said the total strength of the coalition Government had risen from 150 to 160 MLAs.

He said that ten independents had given a letter promising "unconditional support" to the new Government to ensure its stability.

When asked whether the independents would be accommodated in the State Ministry, the Chief Minister said, "since they had provided unconditional support, they are very important". The second phase of ministry expansion and allocation of portfolios would be done next week, he added. (UNI)

J-K Bank share trades at Rs 39.25

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: The share of Jammu and Kashmir Bank (JKB) was today traded at a highest price of Rs 39.25 at National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The JKB release issued here said that hundred thousand shares were traded in one hour and there were no sellers, although large number of buyers were in queue.

It is in place to mention here that the shares of most of the financial institutions and banks continue to be traded below their issue price . However, in view of the excellent half yearly results announced by JK Bank for the period ended September 1999, the Bank’s shares have shot up beyond the issue price, the release said.

Army brass reviews creation of Govt
Legal lacunae prevents swearing-in of Governors

ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: Pakistan’s new military ruler and Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf today held a high level meeting with other Services Chiefs to discuss the future system of Government and probable names for inclusion in the crucial National Security Council (NSC) and the Cabinet.

Gen Musharraf held a closed door meeting with Air Chief Pervez Mehdi Qureshi and Naval Chief Admiral Fasih Bukhari during which the future system of governance, appointments at senior posts, establishment of accountability cell and other matters of national importance were discussed, official APP news agency reported.

The meeting was held amidst indications that Gen Musharraf would give a final shape to his interm Government and announce names of other members of NSC and Ministers in the Cabinet in a day or two.

He had announced during his address to the nation on October 17 that a six-member NSC would be the supreme decision making body which would work under him and a Cabinet of Ministers functioning below it in a multi-tier system of interm Government.

Both Air Marshal Qureshi and Admiral Bukhari have already been included in the NSC and only four names, most probably civilians, are to be finalised.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military rulers are apparently faced with a legal deadlock which forced them to cancel the oath-taking ceremonies of the four Governors appointed by the Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf.

The scheduled oath-taking ceremonies of the newly appointed Governors last evening were hurriedly cancelled at the last moment in the provincial Capitals of Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar after a legal lacunae was pointed out to the authorities, according to the English daily ‘Dawn’.

The report said the functions were cancelled following an instruction from the Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi as the military authorities were discussing the matter with their legal advisers to find a way out of the impasse.

The authorities apparently found themselves in an unexplained position — whether the Chief Justice of the High Court was competent enough to administer the oath to Governors under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) of the Chief Executive of which the Chief Justice himself has not taken oath, the report said.

The Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf had earlier kept the constitution in abeyance through a proclamation of emergency in the country and issued a PCO number one declaring that Supreme Court or any other court cannot pass any order against him or any other person acting on his behalf.

Exercising his authority under PCO, General Musharraf had appointed Governors of four provinces on Thursday night to run the administration of the provinces under the new set up.

Incidentally, a petition has been filed before the Supreme Court by a senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party questioning the validity of the PCO and pleading with the court to declare that the promulgation of PCO and holding of constitution in abeyance has cancelled the oath of office of all the members of the legislature and judiciary and that they be asked to take an oath afresh under PCO.

Another petition has been filed by an independent lawyer Sohail Hameed in the Sindh High Court challenging Musharraf’s PCO order suspending the constitution. (PTI)

Pak’s partial troop pullback in final phase: Officials

ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: Pakistan’s partial troop withdrawal from its International Borders with India, started last weekend, has entered its final phase, military officials said today.

Military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf announced the de-escalation on October 17, five days after he took control of Pakistan in a coup that ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

A substantial number of additional troops, which were deployed to the International Borders during the Kargil conflict as fears grew of an all-out war, were returning, the officials said. They did not give an exact number.

The withdrawal has entered the last phase which will be completed soon, a military spokesman told AFP. (AFP)

Manipur Minister escapes unhurt in extremist attack

IMPHAL, Oct 23: Manipur Health Minister V Hangkhalian escaped unhurt, but five people, including four CRPF personnel, were killed and three injured when armed extremists attacked securitymen at two places in the State today.

Unidentified armed extremists targeted Hangkhalian and his security guard at Churachandpur district headquarters this afternoon,and the Minister’s civilian driver, Mongpu, was killed on the spot, official sources said.

The Minister escaped, but a passerby was injured by a stray bullet, they added.

The Minister’s security guard, belonging to the Manipur Rifles, returned the fire but the militants managed to escape, the sources said, adding securitymen from nearby camps rushed to the spot, about 45 km south of here.

The injured, Laltungkhom, was hospitalised, they said.

The ambush occurred just eight hours after a similar attack on a CRPF convoy by extremists of the Manipur People’s Army in Imphal east district in which four CRPF personnel, including a Sub-Inspector, were killed.

The Inspector-General of CRPF (Manipur and Nagaland), Mohan Raj, said two people, including Sub-Inspector Suraj Singh, died on the spot, while two succumbed to injuries on way to hospital. (PTI)

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