Terrorism chapter to end soon: Farooq
NEW DELHI, Jan 4 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, today said the "chapter of terrorism" in the state would soon draw to a close leaving the people to concentrate more on the development of the state.

Gen Malik against talks with militants
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 4 — The Army chief, Gen. V.P. Malik, has ruled out the possibility of holding purposeful talks with militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir because the "strings of insurgency are held by agencies across the border." He said talks with the rebels have to be held within the ambit of the Constitution. Since the foreign mercenaries held the key of insurgency there was hardly any scope for talks.

Gen Malik told newsmen here today after returning from a day's tour of forward areas in the Rajouri-Poonch belt that it was for the elected government to decide whether talks with the militants could be held or not. He said as far as the Bodo problem in Assam was concerned it was indigenous. He said Bodos were not being provided with any material or moral support from across the border and hence there was lot of scope for holding a purposeful dialogue with them.

The Army chief, who had visited forward areas to review the security situation following deployment of additional troops, claimed that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed considerable improvement. He said "1998 has been a good year for us as we killed large number of militants, including foreign mercenaries" adding that deployment of additional forces had contained the activities of foreign mercenaries.

He said additional troops had to be deployed as "we had reports that agencies across the border had targeted Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts". He said during 1998, 360 militants had been killed.

At three places in Rajouri Gen Malik was shown arms and ammunition which the soldiers had seized from the slain militants.

He said that during the current year security forces will concentrate on eliminating foreign mercenaries.

Asked when will the troops be withdrawn to the barracks Gen Malik said, "we are keen to go back to the barracks but there cannot be any time- frame for it. It depends on the situation." He appreciated the campaign launched against the militants by the civil administration. He, however, suggested to the government to take in hand socio-economic programmes in the border areas which would benefit the people.

Hizbul militant surrenders

SRINAGAR, Jan 4 (PTI) — Two persons, including a militant, were killed and a woman was wounded while a militant laid down his arms in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

An unidentified militant, believed to be a foreigner, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Surankote area of Poonch district in the Jammu region today, an official spokesman said here.

He said a rocket projectile gun, a pistol, two hand grenades, a wireless set and some ammunition were found near the slain militant.

Militants shot dead a boy at Tangpora-Zonimar in downtown Srinagar today, official sources said.

The spokesman said a woman was seriously wounded when militants exploded a grenade at Sherrbagh in Anantnag district of South Kashmir last evening.

A militant of Hizbul Mujahideen surrendered to the security forces in Anantnag district last night. He handed over two hand grenades to the authorities, the spokesman said.

He said security forces raided a militant hideout at Beliyan Gali in Kupwara district and found 50 rounds of ammunition.

At least one person was injured when Pakistani troops resorted to firing on Indian positions in the Mowgam sector in North Kashmir last evening. One Mumtaz Khan was injured after he was hit by a bullet fired by the Pak troops, they said.

Sixteen Bangladeshi nationals were arrested by the BSF when they were trying to cross into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan early today, a BSF spokesman said here.

The spokesman said the Bangladeshis were arrested near border outpost Khoura in the Samba sector.

Terrorism chapter to end soon: Farooq

NEW DELHI, Jan 4 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, today said the "chapter of terrorism" in the state would soon draw to a close leaving the people to concentrate more on the development of the state.

"People are providing more and more information about the presence of militants in the state as they are more interested now in peace than in destruction," Dr Abdullah said.

He, however, said there was still the presence of mercenaries in the state and added "these foreign militants have infiltrated in order to spread a fresh reign of terror in the valley and adjoining areas."

"The police and other security agencies have been getting information about their presence and are trying to arrest them as soon as possible," he said.

Refuting charges that the security situation in the state was deteriorating, Dr Abdullah said "had this been true, the state government would never have been able to function and launch development works in far-flung areas."

"I and my ministers move around not only in the city but to far-flung areas to educate people about the evil designs of militants and their mentors across the border," the Chief Minister said.

Dr Abdullah said the fact that Prime Minister A B Vajpayee during his recent visit to the state could address a huge gathering at Kupwara, once dominated by militants, was clearly indicative of the improvement on the law and order front.

Brushing aside charges of misrule and corruption levelled by former Chief Minister and his politically estranged brother-in-law, Mr G M Shah, Mr Abdullah said "they cannot fool the electorate by levelling such charges."

Referring to the Hurriyat Conference, he said the amalgam was toeing the Pakistani line by raising the bogey of human rights violations.

"Surprisingly they are the gross violators themselves. It is ridiculous that Pakistan which is responsible for untold atrocities in Jammu and Kashmir is talking about human rights violations and sermonising us on improving our human rights record," the Chief Minister said.