CM admits raw deal to Jammu
JAMMU, Feb 25 — The state government today admitted in the Assembly that Jammu region had been given a raw deal in civil secretariat recruitment.

60 militants killed in winter
SRINAGAR, Feb 25 — More than 60 militants, 25 per cent of them foreigners, have been killed in different encounters with security forces during Winter Offensive Operation launched in South Kashmir districts of Anantnag and Pulwama since December last year.

Nambardars hold protest dharna
JAMMU, Feb 25 — Several thousand nambardars staged a protest dharna and later marched to the civil secretariat here today to demand an improvement in their service conditions.

One killed in J&K bus accident
JAMMU, Feb 25 — One passenger was killed on the spot and 19 were injured, two of them seriously, when the bus in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge at Dahari in Rajouri district last evening, the police said here today.

Varsity magazine released by CM
JAMMU, Feb 25 — Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today released "Vision-2020" magazine published by the Sher-I-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (Sukast).

Leopard kills girl
SRINAGAR, Feb 25 — A 7-year-old girl was mauled to death by a man-eater leopard at Chak-Sangri in Kanmoh area on the outskirts of the city yesterday.

CM admits raw deal to Jammu
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Feb 25 — The state government today admitted in the Assembly that Jammu region had been given a raw deal in civil secretariat recruitment. This led to an exchange between two National Conference members, Mr Mohammed Shafi Bhat and Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar, (both from the Kashmir valley) and BJP members, including Ch Piara Singh, from the Jammu region.

The issue was raised during question hour when Ch Piara Singh tabled a question to know the details of cadre and community of employees of the civil secretariat from the three regions of Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, informed the House that out of 1647 employees in the civil secretariat 1235 belonged to the Kashmir valley, 398 to Jammu region, eight to Ladakh and 16 were non-state subjects.

He said that in the gazetted cadre 101 were Hindus, 140 Muslims, four Sikhs and one outsider. In the non-gazetted cadre 615 employees were Muslims, 220 Hindus, 45 Sikhs and in the class IV category 284 were Muslims, 124 Hindus and 12 Sikhs.

The reply led to a protest by the BJP alleging discrimination against Jammu region. They were interrupted by two NC members. But the Chief Minister shouted down his two NC colleagues.

"It is not a fish market," he thundered and he directed his party members not to violate the decorum of the House. He said the BJP had asked the question and it was its right to raise the matter of discrimination. He said over the years there had been discrimination against Jammu and asked his partymen to have courage to face facts. He said that the Government would take measures to remove the disparity. This was greeted with thumping of desks by the Opposition benches.

In reply to another question he said that the percentage of recruitment in the police and the Armed police from Leh and Kargil districts was low because, in view of peaceful situation, there was no need to recruit more. He informed Mr Chering Dorjay that there was also no need to appoint special, police officers (SPOs) in Ladakh. SPOs had been appointed in Udhampur, Doda, Rajouri and other areas on a temporary basis and there was no fixed criteria for appointment of SPOs.

Dr Abdullah said that since October 1996 14742 constables had been recruited in the police and Armed police. In reply to a question he said that in case the scheduled castes had not been given their due share they would be compensated in future recruitment. He said it was not possible to appoint SC candidates to the police in areas which had no SC population.

During question hour Mr Ashok Khajuria pleaded with the Chief Minister to reduce load-shedding so that students preparing for examination did not suffer because of non-availability of electricity. The Chief Minister said that consumers got almost free electricity in the sense that against a cost of Rs 2.50 consumers were charged at the rate of Rs 1.25.

He reiterated the Government's difficulty in avoiding load shedding as its arrears with northern grid had touched Rs 600 crore. He said the planning commission was angry over recurring losses suffered by the Government in the power sector and in the state transport corporation. The commission has asked "us to reduce the losses but how much increase we can announce in power tariff and bus fare?" he asked.

60 militants killed in winter
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Feb 25 — More than 60 militants, 25 per cent of them foreigners, have been killed in different encounters with security forces during Winter Offensive Operation launched in South Kashmir districts of Anantnag and Pulwama since December last year.

This was disclosed here yesterday by Maj Gen R.K. Kaushal, GOC Victor Force, while giving details of Tuesday's encounter between security forces and militants in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district. Two militants, including Mohammad Yousuf, alias Sharifuddin, divisional commander, Hizbul Mujahideen, was killed at Wabzan near Bijbehara. Another dreaded militant, Farooq Ahmad Tantray, alias Maulvi was also killed in the operation. Farooq was an IED expert and arms controller in South Kashmir. Sharifuddin, Maj Gen Kaushal said was second in command after Aamir Khan, deputy supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, South Kashmir.

Maj Gen R.K. Kaushal said the two top militants had been hiding in the house of Wabzan village head. Security forces had cordoned off dozen villages on a specific information about the presence of a group of militants in the area. "The house-owner did not disclose the presence of militants even as troops were deployed in the whole area. This is a rare case of hiding information about the presence of militants. People normally come out with the information about militants", said Maj Gen R.K. Kaushal. He added that it was due to this reason that five civilians were killed in a similar incident at Khayar near Pahalgam last month. Five civilians and three militants were killed. Among the killed were two informers and three members of the family in whose house the militants were hiding.

According to eyewitnesses Lt Dixit Sahai and NCO Naik Raj Kumar Singh escaped bullets fired by militants hiding inside the house of the village head at Wabzan. Naik Raj Kumar Singh is undergoing treatment at the 92 Base Hospital here for a bullet injury in his left arm. "I suspected the presence of suspicious persons behind a closed door under a staircase and went out to inform my troops. All of a sudden a volley of bullets came from the militants a few feet away from me", said Lt Dixit Sahai. He had a narrow escape while his associate Naik Raj Kumar Singh got a bullet in his left arm. Sharifuddin died on the spot, while the other militant, Farooq Tantray moved to a nearby house and killed later.

More than a dozen top militant leaders have been killed in Anantnag and Pulwama districts since December last when the winter offensive against militants was launched. Those killed included Abbas Bengali, who fell to the bullets from security forces a day earlier, Colonel Hyder, Saifullah, Mana Kandur, and a battalion commander, Hizbul Mujahideen, who had been involved in laying an IED on a road near Shangus late last year in which five family members of the former Union Minister, Mohammad Maqbool Dar, were injured while travelling in a vehicle.

3 ITBP men killed, 12 hurt in blast

SRINAGAR, Feb 25 (PTI) — At least three Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel were killed and 12 others wounded when a landmine, suspected to have been planted by militants, exploded at Kokernag in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The three jawans died on the spot when the landmine blew up an ITBP vehicle on its way to force headquarters at Duksun yesterday, an ITBP spokesman said here today. Twelve jawans were also injured in the powerful blast.

The entire area was immediately cordoned off to nab the militants responsible for the blast, he said, adding no extremist outfit had claimed responsibility for the incident so far.

Elsewhere, a top militant of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen was gunned down and two ultras arrested in Kupwara district of north Kashmir yesterday. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel smashed a militant hideout in the Lolab forests of Kupwara last evening following a raid. As the troops approached the hideout, the militants resorted to firing. The troops returned the fire and in the ensuing encounter lasting nearly six hours, a self-styled company commander of the outfit, Bashir Sheikh of Takipora, was killed. Two militants, Abdul Majid Magray and Mohammad Yousuf of Doruswani, were arrested. A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered during the operation. Another militant, who was injured in the encounter, escaped.

Our Correspondent adds from Jammu: Army troops foiled yet another infiltration bid at the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kalani area of Poonch sector and killed two hardcore foreign militants on Thursday morning. A huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. A group of militants after crossing over to the Indian side were ambushed by the troops at the LoC in the Kalani area. The militants fired at the troops, who retaliated, killing two militants while their other associates fled to PoK. The slain militants have been identified as Sadam Hussain and Shaif Ayal.

Congress decries grant of visa to Rushdie
Tribune News Service

BUDGAM, Feb 25 — The Congress today decried the Central Government's decision to grant visa to noted controversial writer of 'Satanic Verses' Salman Rushdie for his visit to India.

The Congress voiced its stand on the issue at a public meeting held here against the price hike and alleged favouritism being showed by the National Conference government in Jammu and Kashmir.

A senior Congress leader, Mr Agha Syed Mehdi, and other leaders addressed the public meeting, attended by about 5000 persons from various areas of the district.

A memorandum addressed to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor was later submitted to the Deputy Commissioner. The memorandum expressed concern over the grant of visa to Salman Rushdie, price hike of essential commodities, hike in power tariff and the alleged harassment of innocent people at the hands of Special Task Force of the Police.

Banners against Salman Rushdie were also displayed along with other banners at the meeting venue. "Salman Rushdie Vajpayee ka dost kiun?" said one banner.

Several other party leaders, including Mr Ghulam Nabi Mir Lasjan, Mr Sarfaraz Khan, Mr Ghulam Nabi Lone and Mr Nazir Ahmad Khan also addressed the meeting amid tight security arrangements. The meeting was held at the main Chowk of Budgam this afternoon. All routes leading to the town from other parts were closed to normal traffic.

With today's public meeting which senior Congress leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (MP) and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti (CLP leader) were also scheduled to address, the Congress has launched its campaign for the proposed panchayat elections in the state.

Nambardars hold protest dharna
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 25 — Several thousand nambardars staged a protest dharna and later marched to the civil secretariat here today to demand an improvement in their service conditions.

The marchers were led by several legislators. A delegation of nambardars, led by Mr G.S. Charak, Mr Lal Singh and Mr Harsh Dev Singh met the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and submitted a memorandum.

They demanded an increase in their remuneration from Rs 81 to Rs 1500 per month, and provision of telephone, transport and other felicities to them. Their other demands included proper representation in local panchayats, provision of security cover to their families and relief for the families of nambardars killed in militancy-related activities.

One killed in J&K bus accident

JAMMU, Feb 25 (UNI) — One passenger was killed on the spot and 19 were injured, two of them seriously, when the bus in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge at Dahari in Rajouri district last evening, the police said here today.

The police said the deceased was identified as Krishan Lal from Mendhar. The critically injured were admitted to Government Medical College Hospital here while the others were admitted to District Hospital at Rajouri.

He said the bus was on its way from Mendhar to Rajouri when the mishap took place.

Varsity magazine released by CM
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 25 — Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today released "Vision-2020" magazine published by the Sher-I-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (Sukast).

Dr Abdullah, who is also pro-chancellor of Sukast presented copies of the magazine to the Agriculture Minister, Mr Nisar Ahmed Khan and Financial Commissioner, Agriculture, Mr IS Malhi.

Another Sukast publication "Annual Report 1997-98" was released by the Minister for Agriculture on the occasion.

Vision-2020 identifies priority areas in agriculture research, teaching and extension for the next 20 years in Jammu and Kashmir. It also highlights achievements in agricultural development in the state and identifies likely challenges including problems associated with degeneration of the eco-system and threat to bio-diversity. It also proposed establishment of need-based new colleges in emerging sectors.

Leopard kills girl

SRINAGAR, Feb 25 (PTI) — A 7-year-old girl was mauled to death by a man-eater leopard at Chak-Sangri in Kanmoh area on the outskirts of the city yesterday.

Official sources said the leopard struck the girl, Alif Jan, when she went out of her house responding to the call of nature.

The girl shouted for help, but the villagers could not come to her rescue in time, the sources said.

The animal vanished back into the forest and could not be traced in the darkness, they added.