Farooq for full-scale war
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 10 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has favoured step up in the offensive launched by the Indian Army against Pak soldiers and infiltrators in the Dras and Kargil sectors in case Islamabad did not order withdrawal of the intruders as early as possible.

Talking to newspersons here today after presiding over a function organised by the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), the Chief Minister said that in case the infiltrators were not withdrawn and the Pak troops continued shelling on the Indian pickets and border villages in other sectors he would recommend to the Centre to launch a "full-fledged war" against Pakistan to see an end to the problem of insurgency.

In reply to a question he said that the strings of the Pakistan Army were in the hands of the US Government, adding that withdrawal of Pak army regulars and infiltrators depended on the sincerity of the US Government.

He said the US pressure on Islamabad to withdraw the infiltrators had lessened the chances of war. He said, "We have kept both the channels", dialogue and military operations, open in Kargil and Dras", adding that it was for Pakistan to explain which channel it would accept.

The Chief Minister said, "India is not a small country and Islamabad's threat that it will create more Kargils in others sectors would be nothing but hollow".

In reply to another question Dr Abdullah admitted that large groups of Pak-trained militants and mercenaries had infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir and said that they had been assigned the task of "fomenting communal divide by carrying out selective killings". He said people of the state had in the past foiled such attempts and they would do it in the future also. He said it was in this context that he had suggested to the Centre to deploy additional battalions of the security forces for the state.

Dr Abdullah said that his government had raised the ex gratia amount for the martyrs of Kargil from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. He said he would take up with the Centre the issue regarding grant of ex-gratia relief so that there was a uniform pattern adopted in the entire country.

He said some states had raised the ex gratia relief amount to Rs 10 lakh and other states were not in a position to pay more than Rs 1 to Rs 2 lakh. He said this variation should end so that each martyr got uniform ex gratia relief.

He said that martyr memorials were being set up in Delhi-Jammu and Srinagar where the names of all those soldiers and officers who died while fighting Pak troops in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 would be inscribed.

Dr Abdullah announced a donation of Rs 2 lakh for the AWWA and praised the association's role during war and peace time. He said the AWWA had been doing a wonderful job of aiding and assisting families of the jawans.

Mrs Meera Khanna, President, AWWA, explained the activities of the association and praised the people of Jammu for having voluntarily contributed to the Defence Welfare Fund. Several organisations, including Officers Association of the State Bank of India, also announced their contribution to AWWA.

Mrs Khanna appealed to the people of Jammu region not to forget jawans and officers of the defence forces after the turmoil was over. "We have to be grateful to the jawans and officers for their sacrifices rendered for securing the integrity and honour of the country", she said.

4 killed in valley, NC activist escapes

SRINAGAR, July 10 (PTI) — A ruling National Conference (NC) activist escaped a bid on his life, while two militants and a security jawan were among four killed in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Militants kidnapped two members of a village defence committee (VDC) and exchanged fire with the guards posted at a shrine in Badgam during the period, an official spokesman said here today.

NC activist Ghulam Nabi Najar escaped a bid on his life by jumping out of a window when militants forcefully entered his house last night, the spokesman said.

A self-styled battalion commander of a militant outfit, Khazir Mohammad Ganai, alias Arif was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kupwara last evening, he said.

Another militant and a security personnel were killed and two securitymen injured in a gun-fight at Dara Sangla near Surankote in Poonch district yesterday.

The body of Manzoor Ahmad Lone was recovered from Gangbugh bund on the outskirts of Srinagar last evening, the spokesman said, adding that Lone was a resident of Zoonimar Panzwalpora.

Seven persons were injured as militants exploded a grenade in the old bus stand area of Anantnag last evening.

Militants fired on guards posted at the shrine of Sheikh-ul Alam Rigam in Badgam yesterday. The guards retaliated but there was no damage to the shrine or casualty on either side.

16 youths rescued by Army
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, July 10 — Sixteen youths from North Kashmir were today handed over to their parents by the Army here. These youths between the age group of 16 to 20 years were being taken across to PoK to be trained in various camps there.

Lt Gen Avtar Singh, Director-General of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), while handing over the youths to their parents at the 15 Corps headquarters here today, that the boys had initially refused to accompany the militants but later gave in because of threats. He also lauded the role of the civil authorities and the public, in general, for their efforts to bring back normalcy to the Kashmir valley.

Those apprehended from the Kandi-Baramula road belonged to North Kashmir districts of Baramula and Kupwara. It was on the night of July 6 that the troops succeeded in apprehending the youths on the Kandi-Baramula road. Troops had increased the vigil in the area and also alerted the troops along the LoC. The RR troops intercepted 16 boys in a truck who were being taken across the LoC. The apprehended boys later admitted that they were being forcibly taken across the LoC.

Abdul Hameed Bhat, one of the youths from Handwara in Kupwara district, said they were forcibly taken by the militants. The militants had also threatened to kill their parents if they did not accompany them. "There was no other alternative than to accompany them", said Abdul Hameed Bhat. He further added, "I preferred to accompany them at the risk of my life only to save my parents from any eventuality". The 21, RR battalion of the RR in North Kashmir rescued these youths.

Meanwhile, another group of five "prospective militants" was apprehended at Warpora while attempting to across the Line of Control, a defence spokesman said here.

Earlier also, another group of seven youths were apprehended by the security forces at Handwara on July 5.

Police may be next target: Farooq
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 10 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has cautioned the security forces, especially the police, against the Pakistan machinations of engineering killing of innocent people to foment turmoil and communal divide.

Speaking at the passing out parade of over 990 trainees of the state police at the subsidiary training centre here today, he said the police has to play a vital role in blunting the activities of the militants. He advised the police to remain alert since the militants may target the police in order to demoralise the force.

Dr Abdullah appreciated the role of the police in dealing with the militants in the past three years. He said the state government was making liberal donations to the Police Welfare Fund and he would donate more money to it from his secret funds.

He announced that the government would reserve some seats in the professional colleges for the wards of the police and each child of any policemen killed in action would be given a government job.