The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sunday, October 21, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

J A M M U & K A S H M I R

11 militants killed in valley
Srinagar, October 20
Eleven militants, four of them Pakistani mercenaries, were killed in various encounters as the Army frustrated an attempt by a group of militants to cross over to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir last night, official sources said today.

Armymen keeping a strict vigil on the Line of Control in Poonch sector on Friday. — PTI photo

Fernandes visits Siachen camp
Siachen Base, October 20
Accusing Pakistan of continuing to aid and abet terrorism against India, Defence Minister George Fernandes today said the international community had to make concerted efforts to eradicate the menace.

Wakhlu quits ANC
Srinagar, October 20
Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference led by former Chief Minister G.M. Shah today suffered a jolt when its vice-president Khem Lata Wakhlu resigned from the primary membership of the party, saying that she was “disillusioned” with its functioning.

YOUR TOWN

Srinagar

EARLIER STORIES

	Attack ultras’ camps in Pak, says Farooq October 20, 2001
	3,000 mercenaries active in J&K October 19, 2001
	Nine militants, two jawans killed in J&K October 18, 2001
	11 ultras shot, arms cache seized October 17, 2001
	Bandh against Powell’s visit October 16, 2001
	Jaish ban fails to impress security experts October 15, 2001
	APHC hardliners in catch-22 situation October 14, 2001
	Cops fire into air to quell protest October 13, 2001
	Destroy ultras’ bases in Pak, nations urged October 12, 2001

Srinagar-Leh road open till November 15
Srinagar, October 20
The Srinagar-Leh National Highway, the only road linking cold desert region of Ladakh with Kashmir valley, would remain open till November 15 this year, an official spokesman here said.

Stone laid for Yatri Nivas
Srinagar, October 20
The Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, laid the foundation stone of a Yatri Nivas at historic Durga Nag Temple here last evening. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, said that ‘vanvaas’ (exile) of Pandits would end soon.

Nirankaris hold ‘smagam’
Kathua, October 20
A “smagam” of Nirankaris was held at Sant Nirankari Bhavan here. It was blessed by “Shri Raj Kavi Ji” Nirankari Mission sant and an executive committee member of Nirankari Mandal, Delhi, in which 2000 devotees participated.

11 militants killed in valley

Srinagar, October 20
Eleven militants, four of them Pakistani mercenaries, were killed in various encounters as the Army frustrated an attempt by a group of militants to cross over to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir last night, official sources said today.

The army troops confronted a group of militants trying to enter Pakistan-occupied Kashmir at Gornal Nallah near Eagle Complex in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district last night.

They were asked to surrender, but they opened fire and in the ensuing gunbattle five militants, including four Pakistani mercenaries were killed, sources said, adding that some arms and ammunition were seized from the slain militants.

This was the first attempt by foreign mercenaries to cross over to the other side, apparently to join Taliban militia in their war against US-led forces in Afghanistan.

In another incident, five militants of Pakistan-based Al-Bader outfit were killed in a joint operation by the BSF, the Army and the police at Ashipora in the Shopian area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir last night.

The operation in the area was continuing when reports last came in as the intelligence inputs revealed nine more militants were hiding in the area.

The troops gunned down one more militant at Urpach in the Ganderbal area on the outskirts of Srinagar early today. An AK rifle and some ammunition were seized from him, they said.

JAMMU: Two civilians on the Indian side were injured and three Pakistani bunkers destroyed along the Line of Control (LoC) in heavy exchange of fire between the Indian and Pakistani troops in the Poonch sector on Friday evening, police sources said here on Saturday.

The Pakistani troops opened heavy fire, including mortar shelling in Khari Karmara, Salotri and Jhullas area of the Poonch sector forcing the Indian troops to retaliate.

Two civilians, Madan Lal and Ajay Kumar of Khari Karmara, who were injured in the firing, were admitted to the Poonch district hospital.

This is the third incident of firing along the LoC this week. The Pakistani troops had opened heavy fire along the border in Jammu division on Sunday night, killing a civilian. PTI

Fernandes visits Siachen camp

Siachen Base, October 20
Accusing Pakistan of continuing to aid and abet terrorism against India, Defence Minister George Fernandes today said the international community had to make concerted efforts to eradicate the menace.

“No air strike can eradicate the menace of terrorism completely and the international community has to make concerted effort to eradicate this,” he said, addressing the troops at Siachen Base camp.

Mr Fernandes, who visited the world’s highest battlefield for the first time in his second stint as Defence Minister, said, “India has been highlighting the menace of terrorism for decades now. But, unfortunately world never understood our contention that terrorism has no boundaries”.

Accusing Islamabad of continuing with the proxy war, the minister said Pakistan had been abetting terrorism and pumping narcotics money in training and equipping the militants.

Stating that there was no decrease in violence in Kashmir, Mr Fernandes said Pakistan was continuing with its “dirty tricks and we should remain vigilant”. PTI

Wakhlu quits ANC

Srinagar, October 20
Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference (ANC) led by former Chief Minister G.M. Shah today suffered a jolt when its vice-president Khem Lata Wakhlu resigned from the primary membership of the party, saying that she was “disillusioned” with its functioning.

“The meaningful silence of ANC against the government’s inaction on many fronts”, was the reason for her resignation, Ms Wakhlu said in a letter to the party chief. The former minister said, “Because of this, party workers and the public alike were disenchanted with the ANC”.

“I did try to sort out the party’s action programme with you on many occasions but received a cold shoulder”, Ms Wakhlu told the party chief in the letter, released to the press. PTI

Srinagar-Leh road open till November 15

Srinagar, October 20
The Srinagar-Leh National Highway, the only road linking cold desert region of Ladakh with Kashmir valley, would remain open till November 15 this year, an official spokesman here said.

The 434 km-long highway, which normally closes for traffic on October 1, would remain open till middle of November this year due to the dry spell in the state, he said.

This would facilitate despatch of essential commodities to Leh and Kargil districts for winter months, the spokesman said.

However, the highway will remain closed to vehicular traffic on all Mondays, he said.

He said nearly 95 per cent of the essential commodities like rice, atta, sugar, kerosene, petroleum products had been stocked in Ladakh, which remains cut off from rest of the world in winter. PTI

Stone laid for Yatri Nivas

Srinagar, October 20
The Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, laid the foundation stone of a Yatri Nivas at historic Durga Nag Temple here last evening.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, said that ‘vanvaas’ (exile) of Pandits would end soon. The Chief Minister announced an initial grant of Rs 1 crore for the newly constituted Mandir Prabandhak Committee, hoping that renovation of temples would be taken up in a phased manner. He also said the allotment of land to the Durga Nag Trust for a similar Yatri Nivas at Jammu would be considered. The President of the Durga Nagh Shrine Trust, Mr Pran Nath Taku, Minister for Power, Mr S.S. Slathia and the Adviser to the Chief Minister on Minority Affairs, Prof Satish Raina, were also present. UNI

Nirankaris hold ‘smagam’
Our Correspondent

Kathua, October 20
A “smagam” of Nirankaris was held at Sant Nirankari Bhavan here. It was blessed by “Shri Raj Kavi Ji” Nirankari Mission sant and an executive committee member of Nirankari Mandal, Delhi, in which 2000 devotees participated.

Addressing the smagam Raj Kavi Ji said that all human beings had souls. Barriers of caste, creed, colour and religions distance man from man sowing seeds of disintegration everywhere for selfish gains. To lift all barriers, dispel darkness and establish peace in the Universe God appears on the earth in human form. Thus truth is being revealed by Nirankari Baba Ji.

The sant stressed on service to mankind for eternal peace on earth.