Pandits asked to go to Anandpur Sahib
JAMMU, April 14 — Panun Kashmir, a premier organisation of displaced Kashmiri people, has advised Pandits all over the world to undertake pilgrimage to Anandpur Sahib, singly or in batches, during the ongoing tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa.

Migrant camps to be renovated
JAMMU, April 14 — The State Government has projected a demand of Rs 561.58 lakh before the Centre for undertaking various renovation and improvement schemes in different migrant camps in Jammu Division.

Rajouri day celebrated
UDHAMPUR, April 14 — Rajouri day was celebrated yesterday to pay homage to those who laid down their lives for the liberation of Rajouri district.

Army gears up to foil ISI plan
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 14 — In the light of reports that Pakistani agencies are making arrangements for pushing in large groups of militants, especially foreign mercenaries, into Jammu and Kashmir, the security forces have started restructuring their plan to check infiltration and smuggling of arms.

According to the reports received by top security officials, Pak agencies were planning to carve out unconventional routes in the Kupwara, Uri, Keran, Poonch and Rajouri sectors for enabling the infiltrators to sneak into the Indian territory under the fire cover of Pak troops. These reports have indicated that the plan would be implemented from the middle of next month.

The need to send in more militants is said to have arisen as the local youths were not willing to join militant outfits and those who had been trained in Pak camps had started deserting their outfits after they felt that foreign mercenaries had taken control of the "armed campaign" against the government. These foreign mercenaries were treating the local militants merely as guides and helpers.

According to Major Gen G.S. Negi, GOC of a formation responsible for counter-insurgency operations in Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur mountain belts, the ISI was relying "less on local militants and inducting more foreign mercenaries from Pakistan and the occupied Kashmir" to boost the sagging morale of the insurgents. He said "with the onset of summer there is likelihood of increase in the rate of infiltration and militant strikes." He said: "We have worked out our plans for summer offensive and are fully geared to thwart the ISI gameplan".

General Negi said the success of the security forces in eliminating 179 hardcore militants and in arresting 17 insurgents in the past five months was the result of the offensive launched by the troops on the strength of specific intelligence reports and cooperation of the people.

He claimed that the security environment in Poonch, Rajouri and upper reaches of Udhampur had considerably improved and militants were no longer able to roam about freely as they used to do six months ago. The militants were either seeking shelter in the mountain ranges or were trying to go back to Pakistan. He said the killings of innocent people, including women, in the Poonch-Rajouri belt indicated that the Pak-trained militants had become "desperate" and to register their presence they will picking up soft targets.

Informed sources said during his recent five-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir the Army Chief, Gen V.P. Malik, discussed of the preparedness of the Indian troops to meet any challenge from across the border. To have an on-the-spot assessment of the border scenario the Army Chief flew to Rajouri, parts of the Udhampur-Doda belt, Srinagar, Leh and Siachen.

Before he flew to Srinagar and Siachen the General Malik is said to have been apprised of the need for plugging the routes that the militants were using for crossing into Jammu and Kashmir. During his meeting with the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, and the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, he gave an assurance that patrolling of the border would be further strengthened so that there was no major threat of massive infiltration and arms smuggling.

Sources said the state government had received reports indicating that Pak troops might resort to heavy shelling of the border villages from next month to provide fire cover to the infiltrators. The agencies across the border had been upset over the failure of the militants to kick up major subversive violence.

According to these sources, the Pak agencies planned to disrupt the panchayat elections which were expected anytime in the next two months. Hence the security forces guarding the border had been directed to take adequate and suitable measures for frustrating the Pak plan of disrupting the poll by pushing in large groups of foreign mercenaries.

Starvation spectre in J&K
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 14 — A majority of the 60 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir may face starvation in case the FCI does not extend the credit facility to the government for lifting foodgrains from its godowns. The existing foodgrains stocks, especially rice and wheat, in urban areas may not last beyond three weeks, according to officials sources.

The remote areas in several parts of the state, where the state government stocked foodgrains in recent weeks, may face the crisis after two months.

The Food Minister, Mr Ajay Sadhotra, visited Delhi thrice during the past fortnight to persuade the Centre to either place at the disposal of the FCI a revolving fund of Rs 230 crore, as had been suggested by the Union Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, or direct the FCI to extend the credit facility till the state government was able to clear the arrears of over Rs 95 crore.

Mr Sandhotra had explained to the central government and the FCI authorities that the state government, after the National Conference assumed power in October 1996, had cleared the arrears of Rs 60 crore which was due to the FCI on account of foodgrains taken on credit during the Governor's rule. And recently, the state government had reimbursed Rs 25 crore leaving an arrear of Rs 115 crore out of which over Rs 15 crore were in dispute.

The state government had not yet received payment in lieu of foodgrains it had stocked in September in Ladakh, Gurez, Machil and other upper reaches of Poonch and Doda districts because the stocks were not yet exhausted. The minister had informed the Centre that the state was faced with acute cash crunch problem. Once the situation improved the arrears would be cleared.

Since the Centre refused to bail out the state government, Jammu and Kashmir may face the worst crisis on the food front. The state has been importing wheat and rice for Rs 20 to Rs 25 crore per month. The demand has been on the high side because of an increase in the pilgrim traffic to the Vaishno Devi shrine (about 40 lakh people visit the holy shrine) and deployment of additional security forces.

What seems to worry the state government is that in case the credit facility by the FCI was not extended, the entire public distribution system in the state will collapse. At present over 27 lakh people living below the poverty line may not be able to receive any ration from the depots.

The open market in the state has witnessed a steep hike in foodgrains prices in recent days after traders came to know that the FCI had stopped the credit facility. Ratna and Superior Basmati rice have registered a hike between Rs 100 and Rs 150 per quintal. In the case of wheat and wheat atta, there has been an increase of Rs 50 to Rs 100 quintal.

Reports from the market say local stocks of rice had been exhausted even in private shops and the state authorities do not expect a bumper wheat crop because of the vagaries of the weather and on account of militancy-related violence and Pak firing on the border villages.

According to these reports, the state government may suspend work on all development projects and siphon the amount to the FCI to prevent starvation deaths. But if the state had to take to that extreme step, it may create a crisis in the other areas where the people have been clamouring over drinking water, electricity and bad sewage and irrigation system.

Pakistan's proxy war 'undermining ties'
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 14 — The Army Chief, Gen V.P. Malik, has said Pakistan's proxy war and continued support to the militants were "undermining" improvement in relations between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Addressing garrison officers somewhere in the northern sector on the last day of his four-day tour of the state today, General Malim said the present day balance of power made developing countries vulnerable to low-level conflict and exploitation of ethnic groups.

Referring to the post-Pokhran II scenario, the Army Chief said the security needs could not be overlooked and the Agni II missile test was its logical outcome. He felt successful testing of long-rang missiles and other weapons could decrease the chances of an all-out war.

General Malik emphasised the need for developing the capability of the Army. He said for this better quality of recruitment and weapons were needed. He said, "we have to keep an eye on the weapon and man requirement which could keep pace with the emerging high-tech battlefields of the next millennium".

The Army Chief said the restructuring of the armed forces was in progress and stress was being laid on individual skills, training and enhanced technical capabilities. He said in this context he was planning to have academics for each of the commands so that quality need-based training could be imparted.

General Malik disclosed that the rules for study leave were being made more liberal so that the officers at various levels could be given an opportunity to develop their knowledge and vision. He said an MoU was being signed with IGNOU for enrolling Army personnel for distance education.

The Army Chief was of the opinion that Pakistan had yet to respond to India's gesture of friendship and the country was watching the outcome of the Lahore declaration. So far, Pakistan had not stopped giving moral and material assistance to the militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir. He urged jawans and officers to maintain their tradition of discipline and dedication were needed at the present moment to foil any enemy plan.

Major, 3 militants die in encounter
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, April 14 — A Major and three militants, two of them foreigners, were killed in an encounter at Sadarkote village in Baramula district yesterday.

One of the slain militants was identified as Abdul Aziz Rather of the same village, while two others were reported to have been foreigners. Three AK rifles, a grenade launcher, one grenade and other ammunition was recovered from the site of the encounter, the police here said. Some of the houses were gutted in the exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces.

The police said that personnel of the Special Operations Group (SOG) acting on a specific information launched a search operation in Sadarkote Bala village of Baramula district yesterday. The hiding militants opened fire at the search party. The Army was requisitioned to flush out the militants. The exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces continued for the whole day. The encounter resulted in the death of a Major and the three hiding militants. An unspecified number of houses caught fire and were gutted, the police here said.

Elsewhere, body of Bashir Ahmed Khan of Gopalpora village in Anantnag district was found. No further details were available.

An intruder was killed by the security forces at Karatone in Jammu district, the police here said.

JAMMU (PTI): An explosion rocked the Surankote area in Poonch district while two other explosive devices were recovered by the security forces yesterday, official sources said here today.

An explosive device, planted by militants on the Jammu-Poonch road in the Madanna area, exploded in Surankote when an Army canvoy was about 300 metres away from the spot, the sources said.

No one was injured or killed in the explosion, the sources said.

Troops recovered two explosive devices on the Surankote-Poonch road and later defused them, the sources said.

Pandits asked to go to Anandpur Sahib
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 14 — Panun Kashmir, a premier organisation of displaced Kashmiri people, has advised Pandits all over the world to undertake pilgrimage to Anandpur Sahib, singly or in batches, during the ongoing tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa as a mark of reverence and a token of gratitude to Guru Gobind Singh who along with his followers had come to the rescue of Kashmiri Pandits who were being massacred and forcibly converted to Islam during the reign of Aurangzeb.

This advice is contained in a resolution adopted by the Executive Committee of the Panun Kashmir which met here today. Dr Agnishekhar, convener was in the chair. A three-member committee was constituted to chalk out modalities of the programme for celebrating the birth of the Khalsa by the Kashmiri Pandits.

Addressing the meeting, Dr K.L. Chowdhary, Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee, recalled the Pandits had four years ago organised a kritegta yatra (pilgrimage of indebtedness) to Anandpur Sahib.

While felicitating the entire Sikh community on the 300th year of the birth of the Khalsa the Panun Kashmir said it would never forget the sacrifices rendered by Sikhs and their revered Gurus in saving the minority community of Pandits from total annihilation.

The organisation has suggested to the displaced people to visit Anandpur Sahib to seek inspiration from the great saints which was needed for political, spiritual and intellectual rejuvenation of Pandits who after 400 years had been driven out of their homeland.

Migrant camps to be renovated
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, April 14 — The State Government has projected a demand of Rs 561.58 lakh before the Centre for undertaking various renovation and improvement schemes in different migrant camps in Jammu Division. Out of this, an amount of Rs 56.98 lakh will be spent on a migrant camp at Muthi, during the current financial year.

This was stated by the Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation, Mr Ali Mohammad Naik, during his visit to the migrant camp at Muthi here yesterday.

The minister reiterated the government's commitment for safe and honourable return of Kashmiri migrants to the valley. He said the Government was fully aware of the problems being faced by the migrants.

Mr Naik said the government was making all possible efforts to provide financial assistance and other facilities to the migrants. The Government was actively pursuing the issue of their rehabilitation.

Rajouri day celebrated
From Our Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, April 14 — Rajouri day was celebrated yesterday to pay homage to those who laid down their lives for the liberation of Rajouri district. Major-Gen V.S. Yadav, General Officer Commanding, Infantry Division, presided over a function held at Gujjar Chowk which marked the 51st anniversary of the liberation of the town.

The function this year was marked by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Gujjar Chowk memorial led by Major-General Yadav, followed by Brig S.C. Pathak, Brig S.S. Ahluwalia, Vr C, VSM, Brig V.K. Jain, Garrison Commander, and Mr P.A. Runiyal, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri. Later, addressing the gathering Major-General Yadav emphasised the importance of civil military cooperation in combating the present menace of militancy which has adversely affected the peace and tranquillity in the district.