Centre may take decision on amending AFSPA

NEW DELHI : The Centre is likely to take a decision soon on bringing amendments to the much-criticised Armed Forces Special Powers Act and its phased withdrawal from some parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is expected to meet shortly, is likely to take a decision whether certain provisions in AFSPA should be amended by incorporating some more "humane" clauses.

Besides, the CCS is expected to explore the possibility of phased withdrawal of the AFSPA in some districts of the Kashmir valley and some in the Jammu region, highly-placed sources said.

The Government’s thinking comes ahead of a meeting of the CCS to discuss the Kashmir situation "threadbare" which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised a couple of days ago. There are indications that the Centre may take some initiative to break the impasse.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been advocating amendments in the AFSPA and the phased withdrawal of the law in some parts of the State while separatists have been demanding repeal of the law.

The Central Government has also been talking of making changes in the AFSPA by including more humane clauses.

Violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir in recent months have claimed nearly 70 lives. Both the Central and the State Governments have been talking the need for bringing normalcy back to the State. (AGENCIES)

Antony visits Leh, appreciates army’s effort

LEH : Defence Minister A K Antony today appreciated the army’s efforts in undertaking rescue and relief operations in the cloudburst-hit areas of Ladakh.

Antony arrived here this morning to review the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work by the armed forces in the cloudburst-hit areas of Ladakh.

"The minister appreciated the army’s efforts in rescue and relief operations in the area," a defence spokesman said.

Later, Antony conducted an aerial survey of the calamity-affected areas adjoining Leh to assess the damage.

Accompanied by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General P C Bhardwaj, Antony was received by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command Lieutenant General B S Jaswal and Commander of Fire and Fury Corps Lieutenant General S K Singh at Thoise.

Later Lt General S K Singh briefed the Defence Minister on the rescue and relief operations at Tyakshi in Nubra valley, where the army had suffered casualties due to a mudslide on the intervening night of August five and six.

Antony was also briefed by Lt Gen Singh on the latest situation in Ladakh and the army’s role in providing succour to the affected people and restoration of connectivity along Zoji La and Rohtang axis. (AGENCIES)

Militant killed in Doda

JAMMU : Militants today shot dead an ultra belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit following a clash between two groups in Doda district.

The clash took place between two groups of Hizbul militants in Marmat area, about 220-kms from here, early this morning following which the militants fired at their colleague, killing Firdos Ahmed Zaral, official sources said.

Police later recovered the body from a drain, they said, adding that a case has been registered against the militants in connection with killing.

Firdos’s brother and former self-styled district commander Yousuf Zaral was killed in an encounter with security forces in Doda district last year. (AGENCIES)

Curfew in some parts of Kashmir Valley

Srinagar : Curfew continued in Srinagar city for the second day today while it was extended to two towns in Anantnag district following violent clashes between protestors and security forces in these areas.

"Curfew is in force in the entire Srinagar city as there has been no improvement in the situation. Stone pelting incidents on security forces and installations continued till late last night at many places," police said.

Anantnag district town and nearby Bijbehara town in south Kashmir were also brought under curfew after incidents of stone pelting were reported from these areas yesterday.

Police has also imposed restrictions on the movement of people in nine districts of the Valley as a precautionary measure.

"Although no major incident took place anywhere in the Valley yesterday, curfew and restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure," they said.

Four persons were injured in late night clashes between security forces and stone-pelting mobs in Batmaloo, Karan Nagar and Chota Bazaar area of the city.

The mob tried to attack and ransack the police station at Karan Nagar following which police fired several shots in the air to disperse them. This was second attack on the Karan Nagar Police Station in as many days after a mob hurled a petrol bombs at it on Monday night.

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city yesterday in view of violent protests and stone pelting incidents in many areas after four persons were killed when security forces allegedly opened fire on a stone-pelting mob that had attacked inspector general of police SM Sahai's convoy in Pattan area.

Police has initiated an enquiry into the incident.

The Valley was rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after he was allegedly hit by a tear smoke shell near Rajouri Kadal area of the old city. Sixty-nine people have been killed in the ongoing unrest in the Valley. (Agencies)

GOC Northern Command briefed
about situation in Kashmir, LoC

SRINAGAR : Lt General B S Jaswal, GOC-in-C Northern Command was given a detailed brief about the prevailing situation in the Kashmir valley and on the Line of Control (LoC).

Lt Gen Jamwal, who arrived here on a two-day visit to the valley, was received by Lt General N C Marwah, GOC Chinar Corps.

The Army Commander interacted with senior officers and was briefed about the prevailing security situation.

He was also briefed about the measures taken to foil the infiltration bid from across the border before the onset of winter when the routes get blocked due to heavy snowfall.

The General is expected to meet troops in the forward areas tomorrow, before flying back.

General Jaswal is visiting the valley at a time when troops guarding the LoC foiled a number of infiltration attempts recently. (AGENCIES)

No ground-level coordination between NC-Cong: Soz

JAMMU : Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Saifuddin Soz today admitted there was no coordination between ruling partners National Conference and Congress at the ground level in the State, but stressed the need for both the parties to move together.

"Yes, there is no ground-level coordination between the two parties in Jammu and Kashmir," Soz, also Chairman of coalition Government's Coordination Committee, told a group of reporters here.

"The coalition politics is very difficult," he said but emphasised the need for both the parties to move together.

"The way is laid with thorns, boulders and snakes, but there is no other way except to tread on the same path," Soz said quoting a Sanskrit verse.

On suggestion of senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma for rotational Chief Ministership in Jammu and Kashmir, he said "it is for the party High Command to take a decision in this regard."

He said Sharma at a party convention in Samba had made a suggestion for rotational Chief Ministership after three years.

"I cannot reject it as Sharma is a senior party leader and also cannot support it. The party High Command is aware of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and it is for them to take a decision," he said.

On the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Soz said "it is very sensitive and all of us are aware of it."

On Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani's five-point proposal to bring peace in Kashmir, he said "it is for the Government of India to consider these."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is holding an all-party meeting where proposals from various quarters would be taken up, he said.

It is for the Central Government to consider proposals like autonomy and self-rule, the JKPCC chief said adding the Prime Minister had already assured the people that dialogue would be held with all sections.

On the likelihood of reshuffle in J&K Council of Ministers, he said "this will happen at a proper time".

Later, Soz told a party rally in Nud border area, 40-km here, that Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir regions would always remain integrated.

He asked party workers to ensure unity of the State at any cost. (PTI)

CCS to discuss Kashmir on Friday; Omar meets PM

NEW DELHI : The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will meet here on Friday to discuss the situation in Kashmir as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking amendments in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act or its partial withdrawal from the State.

Omar, who flew in here and met Singh, also urged him to kickstart a political dialogue with the separatists at the earliest.

During the 45-minute meeting, Omar highlighted the need for amendments in the AFSPA to make it more humane.

"Yes, I have requested the Prime Minister to take a decision on amending the AFSPA or at best withdrawing it from some areas where it was not required. To begin with we may choose four districts in the state on experimental basis," Omar said after the meeting.

Omar said, "Some calculated risks have to be taken, let us see." Asked whether he was hopeful, he said, "If I am not hopeful, I won't be here."

On his meeting with PM, Omar said he had very good discussions with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

The CCS headed by the Prime Minister will be meeting on Friday to discuss and take a decision on AFSPA, official sources said.

The Prime Minister had on Monday told editors that he would soon be calling a meeting of the CCS to "threadbare" discuss the Kashmir situation.

After the meeting with PM, Omar joined the 'Iftar' hosted by Singh at his official 7, Race Course residence.

While Omar remained non-committal about the districts, sources said that Srinagar and Ganderbal districts in Kashmir Valley and Jammu and Sambha districts in Jammu regions could be the first one from where the AFSPA could be withdrawn.

The Chief Minister also discussed threadbare a road map for its phased withdrawal beginning with the districts which have registered no or minimum violence during the past one year and in this context he gave examples of the four districts.

The Chief Minister said that there have been recommendations made by the Law Commission and Administrative Reforms Commission about the repealing of the act.

The Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Veerappa Moily, now Law Minister, has also endorsed withdrawal of AFSPA or at least incorporation of some measures which prevents giving sweeping powers to the security forces.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also constituted a committee headed by Hamid Ansari before he became the Vice President, to find ways for improving internal confidence building measures. The Ansari panel had recommended revocation of AFSPA in the State.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also stressed on the need for a comprehensive political dialogue with all shades of opinion including the separatists, the sources said.

Omar also discussed the formulations for kick-starting the dialogue with the separatists who have been approached through back-channel efforts.

Besides resumption of dialogue with all shades of opinion and a review of laws, the Chief Minister also sought measures to deal with unemployment, the figure of which has gone upto six lakh over the years, a comprehensive package for people who have suffered during the present unrest and former militants who served their sentence and were without jobs, the sources said.

The sources said among other things discussed were the relocation of security forces and a fresh surrender policy.

The Chief Minister had earlier this week said that "status quo is the only option not available to us" which implied that some steps needed to be taken immediately for amendment of AFSPA and starting the dialogue process.

"This is unnecessarily being made a highly emotive issue which has led to extreme positions. I would like to request that a pragmatic view about the continuation of the AFSPA be taken with a view to removing its applicability from those districts where terrorist or insurgent activities are minimal or insignificant," he had said. (PTI)

7 militants killed in gunbattle with army

SRINAGAR : Seven militants were killed today in a gunbattle between security forces and infiltrators near the Line of Control (LOC) in Gurez Sector of Bandipora district in north Kashmir, defence officials said here.

"Seven militants have been killed in a fresh exchange of firing during an ongoing operation in Baktoor area of Gurez Sector, Srinagar-based defence spokesman Lt Colonel J S Brar told.

The spokesman said more details of the encounter will be available when the operation concludes as the gunbattle is still on.

With today’s killings, the death toll in the four-day operation has gone up to 12.

Four militants and an army jawan were killed on September 6.

Army had launched an operation Sunday in Baktoor area, around 140kms from here, following information about a group of militants trying to infiltrate from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The soldiers had asked the militants to surrender but the latter opened firing, resulting in injuries to two jawans one of whom Havaldar Jung Bahadur Thapa, later succumbed.

The troops had returned the fire, triggering the gunbattle in which four unidentified militants were killed. (PTI)