11 killed in J&K violence

SRINAGAR, July 23 (PTI) — Thirteen persons, including a Congress leader and 10 militants were killed and seven wounded in an escalation of violence, while two government officials escaped with injuries in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Militants launched a rocket attack, set off a land-mine explosion and clashed with security forces and police at several places, even as two ultras were arrested and three of their hideouts smashed an official spokesman said here today.

The spokesman said militants, armed with silencer-fitted pistols, shot dead a Congress leader, Habibullah Wani, at his house in the Tankipora area of the city today.

Wani (55) was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced brought dead.

Three militants were killed in a clash with security forces at Boniyar in Baramula today.

Earlier, a Defence Ministry spokesman said troops shot dead seven militants, including two foreign mercenaries, in two encounters in Kupwara and Baramula districts last night.

While three militants were killed in Lachipora area of Kupwara, four militants including two foreigners were shot dead in Watlab area of Bandipora.

The Defence Ministry spokesman said two soldiers were injured in the encounters and a militant hideout was unearthed at Kazi Nag Dhar in Lachipora. Some arms and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants.

Militants shot dead a civilian, Ghulam Qadir Rather and injured another, Ghulam Rasool Magloo at Ahan Nallah in Anantnag last night. Both the civilians were kidnapped by militants from their houses at Gadole-Lohar Sanzi and taken to Ahan Nallah, where they were shot.

Another civilian, Abdul Majid lost his life in an exchange of fire between militants and security forces at Karwa in Banihal area of Doda district last night.

The encounter between the militants and security forces began after the militants launched a rocket attack and followed it up by firing towards a security camp in the area, the spokesman added.

Two government officials identified as Ghulam Mohiuddin, Tehsil Supply Officer, and Prithvi Raj, a patwari (revenue official), were injured when militants attacked their residence in Thathri area of Doda last night.

Militants also fired upon the grid station at Thathri, besides the area’s security pickets and police station. No loss of life was reported in the ensuing clash.

Militants shot at and wounded a surrendered militant Abdul Qayoom Tantray and special police officer Dewan Singh in Rafiabad area of Baramula and Arnas in Udhampur today.

Militants also set off a mine-blast when a security convoy was on move at Soin Zalangam-Kokernag road in Anantnag district early today. However, no one was hurt in the explosion.

Unidentified militants assaulted a civilian, Mohammad Sultan Wani at Tulmulla in Ganderbal area of Srinagar today, injuring him seriously.

Two militants were arrested in Kupwara district and their two hideouts smashed during search operations at Helmatpora forest, Yaroo-Handwara and Awatkul-Rajwar in Kupwara.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition, including two missiles, two pistols, an AK assault rifle, nine mines, six kg of explosives, five boxes filled with fuses, six improvised explosive devices and 54 grenades were recovered during the operations.

He said security forces also unearthed a major militant hideout during combing operations at Brainar in Baramula district and seized four AK assault rifles, two pistols, a grenade launcher, 48 grenades, two anti-personnel mines and 31 electric detonators last night.

Mahbooba Mufti's resignation
Way paved for floating regional party
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 23 — The resignation of Ms Mahbooba Mufti from the primary membership of the Congress is treated as a double-edged weapon for which the ground had been cleared by raising a demand that the AICC leadership should announce it will hold unconditional talks with the militants which the party high command could have hardly accepted in the light of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

The announcement of her resignation by Ms Mehbooba Mufti, who is leader of the Legislature Congress Party, from the organisation has set the pace for floating a regional party for which Mufti Mohd Sayed had been working on for the past six months. In fact, the floating of a regional party would be a double-edged weapon in the sense that it will form a united front against the ruling National Conference and cause further erosion in the Congress in the stete.

When six months ago Mufti Mohd Sayeed toyed with the idea of floating a regional party after resigning from the Congress, he was persuaded to drop the idea. He had threatened to quit the Congress because he felt suffocated with the way his political rival, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, interfered in his work. It was the Mufti who, after rejoining the Congress two years ago, had revamped the organisation and wanted to carry leaders of all factions with him. However, he was not given a free hand and a situation had been created that his daughter, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, could not get the support of all seven party MLAs in the Assembly when she was leader of the Legislative Congress Party.

During the reconstitution of the PCC the Mufti's position was weakened when a sizeable number of supporters of Mr Azad were accommodated in the committee though it was on the suggestion of Mufti Sayeed that Ch. Mohd. Aslam was installed as PCC chief. He could have tolerated Azad's interference had the Lok Sabha not been dissolved and fresh elections ordered. Mufti Sayeed has nurtured his Anantnag constituency for a long time and since 1998 he has strengthened his image in the area by fulminating against the National Conference and the BJP. As he did not want to lose the seat, he found that keeping the separatists and anti-National Conference forces in good honour was the only key to his success.

The fluid political and economic situation in the state had led to rapid erosion in the National Conference vote bank. The Mufti sensed the mood of the people and on the basis of the "isolationism" psyche of average Kashmiri be found that the situation demanded a new regional party which could attract people and politicians wary of what his supporters call "misrule of the National Conference".

The Mufti wants to have a forum for anti-National Conference forces and he found that the Congress was not the answer to it.

If last-minute changes do not take place, the new regional party will plead for direct and unconditional talks with militants, grant of greater autonomy to the state, withdrawal of the Army and the paramilitary forces from within the state and an end to excesses being allegedly committed by the security forces.

There are indications that a large number of Congressmen would follow the Mufti as they had done when he had resigned from the Congress to join the Jana Morcha and later the Janata Dal in the late 80's . His area of influence is not confined to the Kashmir valley only but he has pockets of influence in Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts. He may receive support from Mr G.M. Shah, a former Chief Minister and President of the Awami National Conference.

Inside reports said the regional party to be floated by Mufti and Co will have covert support from separatists of different hues and this can make things difficult for the National Conference. The National Conference seems to be so much upset over the move to float a regional party it suspects that the central agencies have been supporting the Mufti for repeating the 1984 episode when the Farooq Abdullah-led Government was dislodged through defections.

The Mufti camp has set its priorities. The number one priority is to win all three Lok Sabha seats in the valley. The Mufti plans to contest from Anantnag and Mr Musaffar Hussain Beg is likely to be his candidate for the Baramula constituency in case the Mufti does not lend support to Prof Saifuddin Soz, who after having been expelled from the National Conference, is keen on contesting from Baramula which has returned him to the Lok Sabha since 1984.

Curfew imposed in Bhaderwah

JAMMU, July 23 (UNI) — Curfew was imposed in Bhaderwah town of Doda district today as a precautionary measure following tension over the killing of a surrendered militant.

Inspector General of Police (Jammu range) R.V. Raju told UNI here this evening that Sadiq was killed by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday. The local people blamed security forces for his death.

A protest procession was taken out today by the people against the security forces in which anti-national slogans were raised. Apart from this, there was still tension over the killing of fifteen people at Thathri on Monday night.

In view of the tension, curfew was imposed as a precautionary measure.

Counter-insurgency HQ opened

SRINAGAR, July 23 (PTI) — The new headquarters which will be responsible for counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir was formally inaugurated at Sharifabad on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Lt Gen Avtar Singh, Director General of Rashtriya Rifles and security advisor to the state government, declared open the headquarters at a simple ceremony yesterday.

The raising of this headquarters was carried out last month in the wake of Operation Vijay to ensure better coordination amongst all the Rashtriya Rifles and central police organisation units handling counter-insurgency operations within the state.