J&K seeks reinforcements
SRINAGAR, July 19 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government awaits the replacement of 38 battalions of paramilitary troops following the withdrawal of 58 Army battalions for reinforcement in Kargil during the past two months.

Install anti-pollution devices: PCB
JAMMU, July 19 — The Chairman state Pollution Control Board, Mr P.P. Sharma, has issued instructions to the district-level officers of the board to make an inventory of all industrial units functioning in their respective districts and to motivate the unit holders to install anti-pollution devices for checking the increasing level of pollution.

1 dead in house collapse
JAMMU, July 19 — A woman was killed and two others injured in a house collapse due to heavy rain in Poonch and Doda districts of Jammu region yesterday, official sources said here today.

BSF jawan kills 3 Army men in
cold blood

JAMMU, July 19 (UNI) — A Border Security Force jawan caught sleeping on duty by an Army patrol opened fire on them killing a Captain and two Army jawans and wounding another jawan, highly placed defence sources told UNI here today contradicting the BSF version that mistaken identity had led to the killings.

The incident which occurred on the night of July 19 at a naka post in forward areas in Akhnoor sector of Jammu region was a deliberate act and not the result of mistaken identity or a misunderstanding, the sources said contradicting the BSF version.

Inspector General of BSF (Jammu Frontier) U.C. Chhabra had told UNI here today that the killings were the result of mistaken identity when Captain Sanjeev Dahiya and three Army jawans on a routine patrol in the forward areas of Akhnoor sector were mistaken by BSF jawans for Pakistani infiltrators trying to sneak into Indian territory.

The BSF jawans challenged them and on getting no response, they opened fire on the patrol killing three Army personnel on the spot and wounding another. The injured jawan has been hospitalised.

Earlier reports had said the Army officer and two jawans were killed in firing from across the border.

Gen Malik surveys forward areas
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 19 — The Army Chief General V.P. Malik, flew over almost all strategic areas in the Kargil and Dras sectors which had been captured by Pakistan troops and infiltrators and which now stood cleared of them.

General Malik first flew today to Batalik where he interacted with the troops and praised the jawans and officers and advised them to remain vigilant because agencies across the Line of Control could not be trusted.

He had an extensive aerial survey of the forward areas of Kargil, Dras, Batalik and Mushkoh valley in order to ascertain for himself whether all infiltrators had withdrawn from the Indian posts and positions.

The Army Chief landed on Point 4875 which had witnessed a grim battle between the Pakistan troops and the Indian soldiers. It was here that 12 men of the Pakistan’s Northern Light Infantry had been killed and one Sher Khan had been captured. General Malik praised the jawans for regaining it.

He addressed the troops in Kargil, urging them to continue to demonstrate their sense of dedication to duty and spirit of sacrifice. He said recapturing all icy heights in the Kargil and Dras sectors had further enhanced the prestige and name of the Indian defence forces in the world.

General Malik later landed at Srinagar where he had a detailed discussion with senior Army officers. During the discussion, modalities were worked out for keeping non-strategic post or position occupied during the winter as some officers were of the view that despite having faced defeat and isolation, Pakistan might not hesitate to create problems for the Indian troops by repeating the Kargil misadventure.

Sources said the issue of the deployment of troops for internal security was also discussed. It was decided that guarding the Indo-Pak border was a priority and that some companies of the Army would be made available on request of demand from the state government in the light of reports that militants might step up their activities during the elections to avenge Pakistan’s defeat in Kargil.

Cong divided over peace talks
From M. L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 19 — The issue of holding a dialogue with militants in Jammu and Kashmir has divided the state unit of the Congress with supporters of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, a former Union Home Minister, favouring talks and those owing allegiance to Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and several other leaders from the Jammu region opposing parleys.

The Azad lobby favours talks only after the militants give up arms while the Mufti camp supports unconditional talks. With the Lok Sabha polls round the corner the Mufti has renewed his plea that the AICC to support talks with the militants that peace can be restored. The Mufti had at one stage even decided to quit the Congress, if the AICC opposed his initiative for a dialogue with the rebels. But his supporters in the organisation opposed his plan telling him that he had lost his credibility when he first resigned from the Congress joined the Jana Morcha and later the Janata Dal and then returned to the Congress.

Sources said several party leaders including Mir Ghulam Nabi, Mr Ghulam Rasool Kar, Mr Ghulam Qadir Pardesi and Mr Taj Mohiuddin told the Mufti that they might not follow him if he quit the Congress and floated a regional party. The Mufti camp told AICC leaders, including Mr Ahmed Patel, that there was no harm in initiating a dialogue. If the Congress could start a dialogue with Nega rebels why not with Kashmir rebels?

Sources said the majority of AICC leaders supported the Mufti's stand and he may be asked to work out the modalities for talks. This is expected to help the Mufti in some parts of the state.

But several senior Congress leaders from the Jammu region have expressed misgivings over the Mufti's experiment and conveyed to the AICC leaders that initiating a dialogue with the separatists could be exploited by the BJP and the National Conference in the Jammu region. The BJP is totally against talks and the National Conference wants talks after the militants surrender their weapons.

Poll analysts are of the opinion that in case the Congress fails to keep the Mufti in good humour his resignation from the Congress may deny the organisation a chance at least three of the six seats in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress unit in Jammu and Kashmir is emaciated and cannot handle another split. At the same time the Mufti, as a Congressman cannot mar the chances of the party in the Jammu and Ladakh region, where a sizeable section of voters may resent a soft policy towards militants.

Keeping this in mind the state unit of the Congress and Mufti Sayeed himself stand at the crossroads as there is no feedback on whether initiation of talks will help the Congress in the ensuing poll.

With the tussle on the party has not been able to finalise its list of candidates for the six Lok Sabha seats although the reason given for the delay is the large number of aspirants for the party ticket. For instance there are more than six Congressmen keen to contest from Jammu and four from Udhampur constituencies. Mufti Sayeed wants the party high command to consider the names of candidates he has suggested. This is being opposed by the Azad camp.

7 killed in J&K violence

SRINAGAR, July 19 (PTI) — Seven persons, including a counter-insurgent-turned-politician and three militants, were killed and four others wounded as militants stepped up their activities in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Security forces also repulsed a militant attack on their camp in the state during the period, an official spokesman said here today.

He said militants gunned down Abdul Hamid Sheikh alias Sajad Gani, counter-insurgent-turned-politician, at Hari Watno in Tangmarg area of Baramulla district last evening. Sheikh, a surrendered militant, was block president of Awami League, the political wing of the counter-insurgency Ikhwan outfit.

He said militants today shot dead a surrendered militant and activist of Ikhwan, Abdul Hamid Mir, in Rajpora in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.

Militants killed an ex-serviceman, Satish Ram Sharma, in Deol village of Doda district last night, he said.

He said two top ranking militants of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were killed in a gun-battle with troops of Delta Force during search operations in Mora Bachie area of Surankote in Poonch district last night.

An unidentified militant was killed in a gun-fight with security forces at Farkian in Kupwara last night, he said, adding an AK-assault rifle and a magazine were recovered from the slain militant who was reportedly trying to sneak into the valley from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

A teenaged-boy was killed when a bullet hit him during a gun-battle between militants and the police in Doda yesterday.

The spokesman said three security personnel received gunshot wounds in a militant attack on their post at Nika Manjari in Mendhar sector of Poonch last evening.

The militants escaped immediately after the attack. Combing operation were launched in the area.

Heavily-armed militants attacked a security camp at Wader-Payeen in Zachaldara area of Kupwara district last night.

While no casualty was reported on either side, a civilian Abdul Jabar Mir was hit by a stray bullet inside his house and seriously wounded.

The police nabbed a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen, Bashir Ahmad Dar alias Basharat, from Palhallan area of Baramulla last evening. He led to the recovery of a wireless set from his hideout.

Security forces arrested a suspected militant during searches at Dangerpora area of Shopian in Pulwama district yesterday. He is being questioned.

J&K seeks reinforcements
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, July 19 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government awaits the replacement of 38 battalions of paramilitary troops following the withdrawal of 58 Army battalions for reinforcement in Kargil during the past two months. Additional deployment of paramilitary troops may be required for Amarnath Yatra beginning this week and the coming General Election.

The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, during his visit to Kargil and Srinagar today said the surveillance along the LoC in the state would be continued throughout the year.

This may lead to the reinforcement of 58 battalions of Army deployed along the LoC in the Kargil sector not being returned to the valley.

According to Mr Gurbachan Jagat, Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, requisition for replacement of these battalions has been made to the Centre. Out of a total of 58 battalions, 36 from Kashmir and 22 from Jammu divisions, replacement has only been made for 20 battalions. These included 14 battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and six battalions of Border Security Force (BSF).

At least three massacres in Rajouri, Poonch and Anantnag districts of the state took place during this period only. Senior police officers believe that these massacres were worked out due to the lesser presence of security force personnel in these areas following reinforcements in the Kargil sector. However, according to Lt-Gen Avtar Singh, Director-General of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) these massacres could not be directly linked to the Kargil situation. "These massacres were handiwork of the militants on the directives from their mentors across the border", he said. His appointment was made soon after the shifting of Army battalions from various parts of the state to Kargil. With his appointment, the two security advisers of the state government, including commanders of 15 and 16 Corps were divested of their powers since May.

Senior security officers believe that situation in the valley had improved to a great extent, particularly during the past two to three years. It was during these years that major towns of the valley, including Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Bijbehara, Pampore and Pattan were handed over to the police. These towns were now under the vigil of CRPF and J&K police.

Militants, according to police sources, have been able to sneak into the valley during the past couple of months through high mountain passes. They may also be planning to create trouble during the Amarnath Yatra and also during the coming Lok Sabha elections. "We are waiting for the Centre's response", Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat said.

Install anti-pollution devices: PCB
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, July 19 — The Chairman state Pollution Control Board (PCB), Mr P.P. Sharma, has issued instructions to the district-level officers of the board to make an inventory of all industrial units functioning in their respective districts and to motivate the unit holders to install anti-pollution devices for checking the increasing level of pollution.

The chairman accompanied by member secretary and the joint director of the board visited Anantnag district yesterday to review the functioning of the board office set up recently.

Mr P.P Sharma exhorted the unit holders to take preventive measures for checking the pollution and adhere to the laws governing environmental pollution.

He added that following a major decision of the government, the scope and functioning of the board, which were hitherto limited to the two cities of Jammu and Srinagar alone had been widened and its offices set up at all districts, headquarters of the state.

1 dead in house collapse

JAMMU, July 19 (PTI) — A woman was killed and two others injured in a house collapse due to heavy rain in Poonch and Doda districts of Jammu region yesterday, official sources said here today.

They said heavy rain since yesterday resulted in the collapse of a house at Kalyain village in Poonch leading to the woman's death.

In Doda two persons were injured when their houses collapsed.

Authorities have advised people leaving in mud houses in Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch to move to safer places.