Student among 14 killed in J&K
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 12
At least 14 persons, including 13 militants, three of them infiltrators, were killed and more than 30 others injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

A student was killed and 20 others, including two policemen, were injured when militants hurled a grenade in the main chowk of Handwara town of Kupwara district this afternoon. The student of Class XII killed in the explosion was identified as Irshad Ahamd Sheikh.

Five schoolchildren and three security force jawans were injured when militants fired four rifle grenades towards an Army convoy at the Tengpora by-pass on the outskirts of Srinagar this morning. A school bus carrying students from a school in the Pattan area of Baramula district was caught in the attack by militants as the Army convoy was moving on the bypass, reports said.

Three infiltrators were killed in an encounter with the Army near the LoC in the Machil sector of Kupwara district last night, while another was apprehended. All of them are believed to be Pakistani nationals.

Two militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with security forces at Nutnussu in Kupwara district today. Sources said troops, acting on a tip-off, cordoned off the village this morning. While the searches were going on, the hiding militants fired upon the search party in the ensuing encounter. The identity of the slain militants was yet to be ascertained. Two AK rifles, four hand grenades and five detonators were seized from the site of encounter.

Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Dogerpora in the Dangiwacha area of Baramula district today.

One militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Kainyalwan forest area of Kangan in Srinagar district today. One AK rifle, three magazines and four hand grenades were seized from the slain militant, the police here said.

Two Pakistani militants of the Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Jamola sector in Rajouri district yesterday. Two AK rifles, five magazines, 97 rounds and photographs were seized from the site of encounter, the police here said.

Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Gulabgarh Dhara in the Mahore sector of Udhampur district yesterday.

One militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Katha Dhok in the Kanari area of Poonch district yesterday, the police said.

Third round of Delhi-APHC talks may be delayed
M.L. Kak

Jammu, July 12
Third round of talks between the Government of India and the (APHC) Hurriyat Conference likely to be delayed following Maulvi Abbas Ansari’s stepping down as APHC Chairman and Maulvi Umer Farooq refusing to head the conglomerate.

The former BJP-led NDA government had planned another round of talks with the APHC(Abbas) in June. With the installation of the UPA Government the APHC was under the impression that talks would be held in current month.

With whom to hold a dialogue? This question is worrying the Union Home Ministry following failure of the separatists to come under one umbrella.

Maulvi Umer Farooq has announced that talks with the Government of India will not be held till “we get united.” His unity move has been ridiculed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads hardliners, by saying that the question of patch-up does not arise when the amalgam “I lead is the genuine APHC.”

Chances of Parleys with the separatists lead by Mr Geelani are bleak after hardliners said that nothing short of trilateral talks was acceptable to him.

With chances of a reconciliation between Mr Geelani and the moderates in the rival faction of the APHC being remote political observers say that talks with the Government of India can be possible if the JKLF, The Democratic Freedom Party, the People’s League and the Kashmir Bar Association join hands with Maulvi Umer Farooq and elect a new chairman of the APHC.

Prospects of an alliance are not bright. Reports said that separatists had felt unnerved with the militancy-related-violence having increased in recent weeks. Perhaps scared Maulvi Umer Farooq, whose uncle was killed and whose premier educational institution destroyed in a blaze, has refused to lead the APHC delegation for talks in New Delhi. He wants other separatist groups, that matter in Kashmir, to join him and support his resuming the dialogue.

Analysts say that agencies across the border have not favoured resumption of Delhi-APHC talks as they fear that a settlement with the separatists could go against Pakistan’s interests.

These agencies want a situation in which New Delhi had no choice but to hold talks with Islamabad for the settlement of the Kashmir issue.

J&K Cabinet to meet on July 16
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 12
Following a patch up between Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed and the Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, a two-day meeting of the state Cabinet has been convened at Srinagar on July 16 and 17 after a gap of about five months.

Mr Sayeed and Mr Sharma reportedly met at Srinagar yesterday to iron out differences between the PDP and the Congress, the two main partners in the coalition government in the state.

The Cabinet last met here on February 13 and thereafter no meeting was held as differences between the coalition partners had been growing on various issues. our ministers, belonging to the Congress, resigned recently in protest against the “adamant attitude” of Mr Sayeed towards not extending the Amarnath pilgrimage to two months.

Sources said the meeting of the Cabinet was being convened for two days because several important matters had piled up during the past five months. Many bureaucrats were holding additional charge of various departments as transfers and postings were to be approved by the Cabinet.

In a bid to show that all was right within the coalition, the Mufti and Mr Sharma would be seen on a common platform at Srinagar tomorrow during the inauguration of a flyover near the secretariat.

It is learnt that the Mufti and Mr Sharma would go together to Delhi within a couple of days to persuade the Congress-led UPA government to provide a special package of about Rs 4900 crore to the state to rebuild the infrastructure that has been destroyed during terrorism. They were also expected to urge the Centre to clear hurdles in the way of the loan from the Asian Development Bank.

Jammu varsity likely to get ISO 9001 certification
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 12
The Jammu University is likely to get the ISO 9001 certification by this year end and become first such institution in the country to get this recognition.

Mr Amitabh Mattoo, Vice-Chancellor of the university, told TNS today that his aim was to make the university, a globally recognised institution in academic research and teaching that could compete with best institutions in the country and abroad.

He said an internal quality assurance cell (IQAC) has been established on the campus to work for securing the certification.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council has already awarded four stars to the university.

Mr Mattoo said the UGC had selected Jammu University as one of the 16 institutions for the promotion of higher Indian education abroad. The university would be invited to educational fairs in South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia to give on the-spot admission to foreign students.

The UGC had also selected the university as one of the 20 institutions to be given funding and expertise for entrepreneurship development programmes.

He said after Pune, Jammu University was the second university in the country to have been selected by the Indian army for funding a chair on the campus.

The university would introduce a post-graduation course in media next session.

Mr Mattoo said the faculty of the university had published more than 250 research papers in some of the most prestigious journals in India and abroad last year.

In an effort to reach out to the society, the university had launched a heritage cell to promote, preserve and strengthen Jammu’s rich heritage. A consumer research and education cell had been set up to create awareness and conduct research about consumer rights.

Mr Mattoo said several steps had been taken to improve the communication system and the university was expected to be developed as a wireless campus within a year. A central video conferencing facility had been developed to improve the distance education programme.

As many as 150 local, national and international seminars were organised last year.

First batch of yatris to leave tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 12 The first batch of officially booked pilgrims for the Amarnath shrine would leave for the base camp here at 4.30 a.m. on July 14. The Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, would flat off the first batch. As many as 28 lodging sites here have been identified for the pilgrims. A control room being set up in Maulana Azad Stadium would function round the clock to facilitate the pilgrims. A high-level meeting was held here today under the chairmanship of the Divisional Commissioner to review the arrangements for the pilgrimage. A view of the base camp at Baltal, southeast of Srinagar, on Sunday. — Reuters

Two persons injured, 30 cattle washed away

Jammu, July 12
Two persons were injured and 30 head of cattle washed away following a cloudburst in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir early today, official sources said here.

At least 30 head of cattle, including three cows, were also washed away in the heavy rain. — PTI