J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Maulvi Farooq installed APHC
acting chief
Jammu, August 9
Kashmir Mirwaiz and President, Awami Action Committee, Maulvi Umar Farooq, was today installed as acting Chairman of the APHC. According to Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Maulvi Umar will continue to head the conglomerate till the election of a chairman.

Hurriyat (Abbas) rejects talks conditions
Srinagar, August 9
The Abbas faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, which had two rounds of talks with the Central Government, here today rejected the UPA government’s conditions for holding talks with separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

Top Hizbul commander among six killed
Srinagar, August 9
A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander and two other militants were among six persons killed in the Kashmir valley overnight, official sources said today. Two militants, Divisional Commander Samiullah and Mohammad Iqbal, were killed in an encounter at Kulgam in Anantnag district during a search operation last night, sources said.

Soldier killed in ambush
Jammu, August 9
A soldier was killed and three others were wounded as terrorists ambushed a patrol party of Army in Poonch district today. According to reports, a team of the Army was on its way to Pattan Behramgala in Poonch district following reports of presence of terrorists.

JSM criticises govt on electric meters
Jammu, August 9
The Jammu State Morcha has criticised the PDP-led coalition government for undertaking a drive to install electric meters here and not doing so in the Kashmir valley.

Maulvi Farooq installed APHC acting chief
Our Correspondent

Jammu, August 9
Kashmir Mirwaiz and President, Awami Action Committee, Maulvi Umar Farooq, was today installed as acting Chairman of the APHC.

According to Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Maulvi Umar will continue to head the conglomerate till the election of a chairman. The vacancy had been caused by the resignation of Maulvi Abbas Ansari a month ago.

He had stepped down to facilitate reconciliation between the two factions of the APHC. Since the unity moves proved futile after Syed Ali Shah Geelani floated the Tehrik Hurriyat Conference, the executive committee members of the APHC requested Maulvi Farooq to head the amalgam of separatist groups as its acting chairman.

Professor Bhat told this correspondent that the election for the chairman’s post was due in July next year.

Inside reports said the post of Chairman was not being filled because Maulvi Farooq was negotiating with the JKLF, the Peoples’ League, the Democratic Freedom Party and other groups, which have not joined hands with Geelani.

Professor Bhat, who has been acting as the spokesman of the APHC, expressed surprise over the latest statement of the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, in which he had favoured resuming talks with the APHC within the framework of the constitution.

The APHC leader told this correspondent today that “on one hand Mr Patil says he does not want to impose any condition for talks but on the other he has stated that the dialogue will be held within the ambit of the constitution, which itself was a condition.”

He referred to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s stand and said Mr Vajpayee had stated “we have to rise above constitutional limitations.”

Asked whether the APHC would accept the offer for talks in view of Union Home Minister’s statement, Professor Bhat said, “We will first find out from Delhi if the proposed parleys are to be held without imposing pre-conditions.”

Hurriyat (Abbas) rejects talks conditions
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 9
The Abbas faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, which had two rounds of talks with the Central Government, here today rejected the UPA government’s conditions for holding talks with separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

It has described Union Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil’s statement on the dialogue process with the separatist groups in this trouble-torn state as “unacceptable and impracticable”. This was stated by a spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference here today after a meeting of its leaders in this regard. Mr Patil had reportedly by said there would be no conditions in talks with the Hurriyat “except that I will be talking within the four walls of the Constitution”.

“Describing the conditional talks as unacceptable and impracticable, the Hurriyat Conference reiterates that dialogue is the only way out to resolve issues. Therefore, talks should be meaningful, result-oriented and unconditional”, the APHC (Abbas) spokesman stated.

He said the Hurriyat Conference had taken the initiative of dialogue with the Centre, which lead to two rounds of talks earlier this year, as these were unconditional. “The spokesman held that the parliamentary election had changed the whole scenario.

Top Hizbul commander among six killed

Srinagar, August 9
A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander and two other militants were among six persons killed in the Kashmir valley overnight, official sources said today.

Two militants, Divisional Commander Samiullah and Mohammad Iqbal, were killed in an encounter at Kulgam in Anantnag district during a search operation last night, sources said.

Two AK rifles, one UBGL with three grenades, two hand grenades, four AK magazines, 56 rounds and one wireless set were seized from the slain militants.

Another militant Farid Sheikh of Uri, was killed in an encounter at Uri. One AK rifle, five magazines, 145 rounds and two grenades were seized from him.

Sources said militants shot at and critically wounded forest guard Abdul Rashid at Palapora. He was rushed to hospital where he died.

Ghulam Hussain was killed in a firing incident at Zainapora.

Four security personnel were injured in a blast near Sangam in Pulwama district last night. One of the injured later died in hospital.

Security forces averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused a powerful improvised explosive device planted by militants at Goha Batugala last night.

Security forces also seized one gun with 135 rounds, nine AK magazines, 752 AK rounds, one pistol with magazine and six rounds of 47 pencil cells at Sangla last evening. — UNI

Soldier killed in ambush
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 9
A soldier was killed and three others were wounded as terrorists ambushed a patrol party of Army in Poonch district today.

According to reports, a team of the Army was on its way to Pattan Behramgala in Poonch district following reports of presence of terrorists.

The ultras, who had taken positions on hilltops, fired at the troops indiscriminately and hurled grenades. The Army personnel took up positions and a gunbattle between them and terrorists was continuing. Additional troops have been rushed there.

In another incident, ultras kidnapped a villager, Zakir Hussai, from Dul Daraman Gali in Doda and later shot him dead.

JSM criticises govt on electric meters
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 9
The Jammu State Morcha (JSM) has criticised the PDP-led coalition government for undertaking a drive to install electric meters here and not doing so in the Kashmir valley.

In a statement here today, Mr Onkar Seth, a leader of the JSM, accused the government of discriminating against Jammu by installing electronic meters that were rejected by the Delhi Government.

He said that the Congress, which is a partner in the coalition government in the state, had launched an agitation during the National Conference regime in 2001 against installation of these meters, but has itself resumed their installation after coming to power.

Mr Seth said that of the over eight lakh electric connections, about five lakh are without any meters in the Kashmir valley. Moreover, the Jammu region was contributing higher revenue towards electric bills, while there was leakage in the valley.

Rajouri-Poonch road closed after landslides

Jammu, August 9
The Rajouri-Poonch road was today blocked to vehicular traffic following landslides triggered by incessant rains at Lasana, near Surankote, in Jammu and Kashmir.

While road-clearing operations are on in full swing, traffic had not been restored till afternoon, the police said. — UNI