Army on maximum alert: Gen Malik
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 17 — The Chief of Army Staff Gen V.P. Malik said today that Indian Army was prepared to meet any challenge from across the border and on maximum alert as "tension between the two countries — India and Pakistan is not over" and the proxy war waged by Pakistan had escalated.

Talking to reporters Gen Malik said the Army was working day and night to ensure that the situation remained under control and there was no escalation in the violence and militancy related incidents.

The Army Chief said in the post-Kargil period, there has been spurt in militancy related incidents and militants were increasingly targeting security forces and Army camps. Keeping in view these developments, he said, Army had been put on maximum alert. "We will ensure that there is no Kargil like situation in near future," said Gen Malik adding that if Pakistan would try to open any other front with India, it would have to face the consequences it faced in Kargil.

Gen Malik who was flanked by Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, Param Vir Chakra Winner for his bravery in Kargil and S.V. Bhaskar, Vir Chakra Winner, praised the jawans for bravery in Kargil. "The country is in safe hands," said Gen Malik while pointing towards these two gallantry award winners adding that the whole nation was proud of such jawans.

On alleged intelligence failure in Kargil, Gen Malik said as the committee had been set up for the probe, he would not comment on it. He also refused the answer whether the other intelligence agencies would work under Military Intelligence or not.

Asked about any post under Pakistani occupation in Kargil, the Army chief said there was no post under Pak occupation and all heights had been cleared of intruders.

Later, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, who hails from Bilaspur in Himachal and has been awarded Param Vir Chakra for gallantry in Kargil, said it was the night of July four when he went to Point 4875 to launch an attack against the enemy holding the heights. He along with his other colleagues, launched an offensive against the intruders and in the action, he received two bullet injuries and his ammunition has also exhausted. Sanjay Kumar then snatched the machine gun from the intruder and attacked them. He was instrumental in the recapturing of two posts on these hills. This 24-year old jawan from 13 JAK Rifles is happy about the award.

Militants target DIG’s house

SRINAGAR, Aug 17 (PTI) — Two persons — a militant and an Imam of a local mosque — were killed and another person wounded in separate incidents, while the police repulsed a militant attack on the house of a senior police officer in the Kashmir valley since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

A group of heavily-armed militants opened fire on the residence of Deputy Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir police, Dilbagh Singh, at Pattan in Baramula district late last night, the spokesman said.

The police guards posted at the DIG’s residence returned the fire. No one was injured in the shootout, he said, adding Mr Singh was not present in the house at the time of the incident.

An unidentified militant was killed in an ambush by police at Nundbal in Badgam district in central Kashmir late last night, the spokesman said.

He said a party of special operations group of the local police had laid an ambush in the area following information about militants’ movement there. An AK assault rifle, a pistol, a wireless set, a hand grenade and some ammunition were seized.

The police recovered the body of an Imam, Haji Habibullah, from the Zakoora area of Srinagar today. The victim, an employee of posts and telegraph department, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen after night prayers yesterday, the spokesman said.

JAMMU: Army troops on Tuesday detected and defused a rocket shell weighing about 20 kg from Greater Kailash colony on the outskirts of Jammu city.

The shell, about 30 inches long, fired from an unknown destination, landed near club premises of the colony just before noon, the police said.

However, it did not explode, it said, adding that bomb disposal squads and Army experts rushed to the site and defused the rocket.

Film stars sparkle along Dal Lake
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 17 — A mega entertainment show, Vijay, in memory of the martyrs of Kargil was conducted on the shores of Dal Lake here on Sunday evening. It marked the culmination of day-long Independence Day celebrations held amid tight security in the valley.

The message was clear — homage to the martyrs of Kargil and solidarity with the people of Kashmir. The show was presented by film stars Naseeruddin Shah and Amitabh Bachchan, and a host of about 150 young artistes including Fardeen Khan, son of Feroz Khan. Naseeruddin Shah led the Bollywood volunteers before the selected audience including VIPs, on the lawns of Centaur Hotel. The show, a live telecast was organised by Mr Rahul Mahajan, son of the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan.

Mr Pramod Mahajan, in his inaugural address, regretted the happenings in Kashmir as also in Kargil and recalled the difference between "yudh" (war) and "shanti" (peace). "In war father performs the last rites of his son, while in peace son performs the last rites of his father", he said.

On the other hand, Naseeruddin Shah, regretted the long gap in arrival of Bollywood artistes in Kashmir. He blamed his own people and not the Kashmiris for the delay in re-establishing the close relationship between Kashmiris and Bollywood.

It was a unique experience for the selected lot of Kashmiris to have such a mega show in the aftermath of the Kargil situation. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the Governor, Mr Girish Chander Saxena, a host of other ministers, legislators, bureaucrats, prominent citizens and mediapersons were among the invited few.

The presentation of Urdu couplets by Naseeruddin Shah in the background of the set built like a Kashmiri houseboat, specially built for the show, added the Kashmiri colour to the presentation.

It was after a decade that such a mega show by over 150 Bollywood artistes on voluntary basis, including Naseeruddin Shah, Amitabh Bachchan, Jitendra, Sridevi, Boney Kapoor and Pooja Batra, on one stage marked the (ID) occasion. Their presence in the aftermath of a decade-long trouble in the state had, however, also been marked by the return of some Bollywood film crews for shooting in picturesque landscapes of Kashmir, and re-opening of two cinema halls here since last year after a decade.

"Why to go to European countries, we have much more and attractive surroundings here", Mr Pramod Mahajan said. This would go a long way in reviving the economic fabric of the valley, that had suffered during the turbulent years, the minister hoped, thus joining hands with Dr Abdullah who had been aspiring for a increased flow of tourists and film crew to Kashmir for strengthening the state's economy dependent on tourism.

CEO wants more forces in J&K

JAMMU, Aug 17 (PTI) — More security forces would be required for ensuring peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir where more than 4,500 polling stations have been identified as "sensitive" and "hyper-sensitive," Chief Electoral Officer S.V. Bhave today said.

Of a total of 6,511 polling stations spread in six parliamentary constituencies in the state, about 70 per cent of these were either "sensitive" or "hyper-sensitive", he told mediapersons at meet-the-press programme at the Press Club of Jammu here.

Mr Bhave said 90 per cent of polling stations were "sensitive" and "hyper-sensitive" in the Kashmir valley and 50 per cent were earmarked as such in the Jammu Division.

The CEO said in view of this situation, more central paramilitary forces were required for the smooth conduct of elections. Earlier, he had said at least 350 companies would be needed in the state.

Mr Bhave dispelled the impression that government employees from the Kashmir valley and some parts of Jammu would stay away from the electioneering process in view of boycott call by the All-Party Hurriyat Conference.

Mehbooba, Ahmad enter fray from J&K

SRINAGAR, Aug 17 (PTI) — Ms Mehbooba Mufti, senior leader of the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party (PDP), was among the three candidates who filed nomination papers today for the Srinagar Parliamentary seat going to the polls on September 5.

Mr Mohammad Yousuf Shah of Jammu and Kashmir Awami League, an organisation of surrendered militants and Mr Fayaz Ahmad of the BJP were the other two, who filed nomination papers from the constituency, an official spokesman said.

With this, the total number of candidates who have filed their nomination papers for the constituency so far has gone up to seven, including two candidates of ruling National Conference, one Independent and a Congress.

Ladakh, the other constituency in the state which is going to the polls in the first phase, has attracted four candidates (two from BJP and two from Congress) so far.

Tomorrow is the last date for filing of nominations for these two constituencies.