Amanullah Khan held, 21 hurt

ISLAMABAD, Oct 5 (Agencies) — JKLF leader Amanullah Khan was today arrested as security forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to thwart an attempt by his party activists to cross the Line of Control (LoC) for the second consecutive day.

Khan, who was injured in the police action, was whisked away from Hajira town, nearly 10 km from the Line of Control (LoC), an eyewitness told PTI over the phone from the scene of action.

A JKLF source confirmed the arrest of Amanullah Khan, who he alleged was injured after security personnel on duty used force to prevent the marchers from proceeding towards the LoC.

He claimed that as many as 21 persons suffered injuries due to lathi charge and firing of tear gas shells while at least 2000 JKLF activists were taken into custody.

Meanwhile Kashmiri pro-independence activists carrying shrouds symbolising their readiness to die came within 100 metres of the dividing line between Indian and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) today.

More than 100 activists of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) defied the police for a second day to try and cross the Line of Control (LoC) into Kashmir.

Witnesses said JKLF supporters walked through forests and swam across the Poonch river in Madarpur sector to get to Dharam Sial village, where Indian Army positions are visible.

The Kashmiri activists oppose the Line of Control and any possible move to make the line a permanent border between India and Pakistan.

JKLF sources told Reuters that hundreds of supporters were still at Hajira village, 12 km (eight miles) east of the LoC, and would attempt to break the police cordon on their way to Dharam Sial.

India said last week it would hold Pakistan responsible if there was any breach of the LoC.

Village residents said the Indian Army had been issuing warnings through loud-speakers that intruders would be shot but JKLF supporters marched and raised banners in front of the Indian troops demanding Kashmir’s independence.

The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front claimed that a dozen of its activists crossed the Line of Control to the Indian side last night.

Twelve JKLF members crossed over to the Indian side of Kashmir from PoK and hoisted flags on trees near the border, the front said in a release issued in Muzzafarabad yesterday.

Indian troops manning the border later resorted to firing, the release added.

At Hajira, near the LoC police in full riot gear stood guard ready with tear gas shells and rifles to stop Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) activists should they try to cross the Line of Control.

"We won't let them cross... we don't expect any trouble, but we are prepared," said Deputy Commissioner Chowdhry Munir.

Despite reports from ambulance workers and march organisers that eight people were hurt yesterday when police stopped them from crossing, Mr Munir said no one was injured.

The leader of the JKLF, Amanullah Khan, surfaced briefly yesterday, with supporters carrying him on their shoulders as they shouted anti-India and anti-Pakistan slogans. Khan's group organised the march and he said they would try again today.

Troops on high alert along LoC
Two NC activists shot dead

JAMMU, Oct 5 (PTI) — Troops continued to be on a high alert today to thwart any fresh move by activists of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to cross the Line of Control (LoC) after their attempt was foiled by the Pakistani authorities yesterday.

Troops, especially in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, continued monitoring the movement along the LoC and announcements are being made over the public address system that any bid to cross the LoC would lead to dire consequences, a defence spokesman said here.

Chief of the JKLF Amanullah Khan, who was 10 km away from the border at Hajira village in PoK yesterday, had threatened to make another attempt today to cross the LoC at Poonch.

The JKLF’s proposed move fizzled out yesterday as the Pakistani security forces used lathis and teargas shells to prevent the marchers from violating the LoC.

Meanwhile, militants shot dead two senior workers of the ruling National Conference (NC), wounded another and made an abortive attempt on the life of another leader in the Kashmir valley since last evening.

Elsewhere in the valley, five persons, including two security personnel, a militant and a counter-insurgent were killed and another person was wounded during the period, an official spokesman said here today.

Work in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and its subsidiary courts remained disrupted today following an indefinite strike called by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association against the arrest of its treasurer Tanvir Ahmad in Jammu recently.

"Lawyers will abstain from work until Mr Ahmad is released," a spokesman of the bar said.

Official sources said the bar-sponsored strike affected work in the high court and its subsidiary courts in Srinagar and other parts of the valley.

Normal activity remained suspended in the Maisuma locality in Srinagar and its adjoining areas for the second straight day today as groups of youths protesting the arrest of Hurriyat leaders clashed with police in the area.

Shops and business establishments in Maisuma, Gawkadal, Madina Chowk and Red Cross Road remained closed as supporters of the Hurriyat Conference took to streets in the area and threw stones at policemen, official sources said.

The sources said police fired dozens of teargas shells and used batons to disperse the youths demanding release of the Hurriyat leaders and activists, detained during anti-poll campaign.