Left with memories, they’re full of pride
ARNIA (R S Pura), June 23 — For Neelam and her three sisters, the world is no longer the same. Everything changed for them when two jawans came to their house, 35 km from Jammu city, in Gadli village of Arnia block in R S Pura tehsil, on a sweltering afternoon last week, bringing with them the news of the death of their only brother, Tarsem Lal, in the Batalik sector.

Declare Pak terrorist state, says Joshi
JAMMU, June 23 — Union Human Resource Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi today urged the international community to get Pakistan declared a "terrorist state" for its direct involvement in aiding abetting and sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir.

ISRO to develop satellite to monitor border
JAMMU, June 23 — The Government of India plans to give a green signal to the scientists of Indian Space Research Organisation for developing the satellite which could monitor even minor border intrusion.

J&K Rifles heroes cremated
JAMMU, June 23 — Hundreds of people, including Army personnel and civilians, bade a tearful adieu to three Kargil heroes who died in Kargil fighting Pak-backed intruders, official reports here today said.

J and K Govt plans new road to Leh
SRINAGAR, June 23 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to construct an alternative route from Jammu to the frontier region of Ladakh via Sanku in view of persistent Pakistani shelling on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway.

3 militants, cop killed in valley
SRINAGAR, June 23 — Five persons, including three militants and a policeman, were killed and four others, three of them policemen, wounded in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Left with memories, they’re full of pride
From Our Correspondent

ARNIA (R S Pura), June 23 — For Neelam and her three sisters, the world is no longer the same. Everything changed for them when two jawans came to their house, 35 km from Jammu city, in Gadli village of Arnia block in R S Pura tehsil, on a sweltering afternoon last week, bringing with them the news of the death of their only brother, Tarsem Lal, in the Batalik sector.

When their father Bhuti Ram received the message in Nagpur, he could not believe it for a while. He was under the impression that his son’s battalion, 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, had already completed its tenure on the world’s highest and most expensive battlefield, Siachen, and was being moved to Delhi, a peace posting where he would no longer worry about his son’s well-being.

Shocked and in a frenzied state, Bhuti Ram somehow managed to reach his home at Gadli village after his son’s body had reached there. The people of R.S. Pura tehsil paid their homage on Monday to the valiant soldier who had joined the Army only four years ago.

Tarsem Lal and 12 of his colleagues of 12 JAKLI led by Captain Amod Kalia laid down their lives while pushing back Pak Army backed intruders in the Batalik sector on June 11. Even though they killed 25 intruders India suffered the heaviest casualties in a single assault yet in the Kargil action.

An eerie calm prevailed in Gadli village when this correspondent visited the village on Monday afternoon. In the scorching heat, hardly any human figure was seen on the roads to provide directions to his house. A group of elderly villagers sitting under a huge peepal tree, showed the way to the martyr’s house. Though his parents had gone to Hardwar to immerse his ashes in the waters of the Ganges, Tarsem Lal’s sister could not stop talking about their eldest sibling to this correspondent.

Enthusiastically, they brought out a huge bag carrying over 400 photographs of their only brother, most of them taken in Siachen, while showing the photographs, the sisters broke down.

"Mera beer (brother in Dogri) chala gaya," said Neelam. She said whenever he came home, he used to narrate stories about how they had to guard the posts against enemy attacks in hostile weather conditions. "We know that he was living quite dangerously on the glacier but at the same time, he was proud that he had got the opportunity to serve at the Bana post in Siachen". But never had they imagined that their brother who had successfully completed his 120-day tenure in Siachen, would fall to enemy bullets at Kargil. Neelam and her sisters Asha, Sunita and Rani are yet to reconcile to the fact that Tarsem is no more.

While Neelam and her sisters have lost their only brother who would never be there on "rakshabandhan", Anju Bala also lost her father Subedar Bahadur Singh whose desire was to see his daughter joining the Army as an officer.

Their house at Digiana, 12 km from Jammu, situated on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway could easily be located. The market on the highway remained closed the day the news of his death came.

Subedar Bahadur Singh was also on his way to Delhi after completing his two-year tenure at the Bana post in Siachen. An advance party had already left for Delhi when they were asked to go to Kargil, said his son Pawan Kumar (24), adding that they had no information regarding the whereabouts of their father since he had left Jammu in March this year after spending 20 days with his family. "There was no letter or money order from his side since then," informed Rachpal Singh, younger brother of Subedar Bahadur Singh. He said they were expecting him on his way to Delhi but his body came instead.

The soldier had also discussed his future plans with his family members as he had only six months left to complete his service. Father of three children, he always encouraged his daughter to join the Army as an officer. Besides, he had told his son Pawan that he would send him to join the Army after his retirement.

Throwing light on his father's supreme sacrifice, Pawan said Captain Kalia had hand-picked men for his mission to clear one of the Batalik peaks from the intruders. Subedar Bahadur Singh was however given the choice to forego the mission keeping in view his slight fatness. But the valiant soldier had replied, "How can I let go the opportunity provided to me for the first time in 28 years?"

Pawan informed that his father had succeeded in climbing the hill and killing the intruders along with his colleagues. In this action, Sepoy Rajinder Singh of Basohli (Kathua District) had got injured. Bahadur Singh tried to evacuate his injured colleague manning the light machine gun. He had also succeeded in communicating to his officers at the base about the success of the mission and Captain Kalia's death as he had seen him falling to a volley of bullets fired by the militants. He was asking them to send more reinforcements when he was shot by a telescopic gun," said Pawan.

Tarsem Lal's relatives have requested the visiting National Conference leaders to get his father Bhuti Ram, who is serving in DSC in Nagpur, transferred to Jammu as his family is still to recover from the shock of his death.

Declare Pak terrorist state, says Joshi
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, June 23 — Union Human Resource Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi today urged the international community to get Pakistan declared a "terrorist state" for its direct involvement in aiding abetting and sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, the Union HRD Minister who was in the town in connection with the death anniversary of Late Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, said the international community should take a decision in this regard and get Pakistan declared a terrorist country." He said Pakistan's game plan to promote global terrorism has been exposed after escalation of Kargil conflict which has provided evidence of Pakistan's direct involvement in the intrusion.

"Its troops are directly engaged in fighting in the Kargil sector and the recorded tapescripts between its Army chief and chief of staff throw enough light on it, he said adding that after failing in the past five decades to dilute integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country, Pakistan had now tried to open new fronts in Kashmir. It is also fomenting intrusions with the help of fundamentalist mercenaries into the Indian side, he said.

Lashing out at Pakistan, Dr Joshi said Pakistan today stood exposed and isolated which was also quite evident through the diplomatic win of India in G-8 summit where these countries supported India's stand on Kargil which was also followed by Germany. There was also a national consensus that the Vajpayee government handled the Kargil situation with wisdom and patriotic resolve. He had even taken a bold initiative by undertaking a peace trip to Lahore which was betrayed by Pakistan by sending hundreds of infiltrators with the insidious intention to redefine the Line of Control. "But by now, Pakistan would have realised the folly of its misadventure," said the Union Minister.

Responding to question regarding the statement of Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif of opening many new fronts with India, he said if Pakistan would try yet another misadventure, it would have to be ready to face the consequences as India would give a befitting reply to it.

Referring to the situation in Kargil, he said Indian troops were engaged in a serious war like combat against the evil designs of Pakistan which was bent upon creating instability in the region.

Asked about meeting Pak aggression with aggression and the possibility of Indian troops crossing over the LoC, he said their first priority at the moment was to recapture our posts in the Batalik and the Kargil sectors and retain the sanctity of LoC which Pakistan had tried to redefine. "Later, the things would be discussed on the table," he said adding that till the last intruder was pushed back, there won't be any dialogue with Pakistan. He however added that it was the resolve of the BJP government to get back PoK from Pakistan.

ISRO to develop satellite to monitor border
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, June 23 — The Government of India plans to give a green signal to the scientists of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for developing the satellite which could monitor even minor border intrusion.

A hint to this effect was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, in Jammu today. He arrived here to assess the border situation and enquire about the condition of the wounded soldiers.

When asked when the Government will give permission to the ISRO scientists to develop the satellite system, Dr Joshi said "very soon."

The ISRO scientists have already informed the Centre that if required funds and the permission were given they would develop this system within one year.

It is in this context that Dr Joshi said "our scientists have the capacity of developing the satellite system."

The scientists are said to have favoured to develop the latest satellite system after the intelligence agencies failed to monitor large scale infiltration into the Kargil-Dras belt.

Field reports revealed that during the six months of winter it was difficult for the intelligence agencies to carry out surveillance in these hills.

J&K Rifles heroes cremated

JAMMU, June 23 (PTI) — Hundreds of people, including Army personnel and civilians, bade a tearful adieu to three Kargil heroes who died in Kargil fighting Pak-backed intruders, official reports here today said.

The body of Havaldar Agan Nath of 13 JaK Rifles of Mohra-Batai in Ponda village of Basohli tehsil in Kathua district was consigned to flames yesterday in his native village with full military honours.

The Army presented guard of honour and a gun salute.

State Minister for Animal Husbandry Surjit Singh Slathia, Deputy Commissioner Chaman Lal, SSP R.R. Swain and several civil officers laid wreaths. Col Amarjit Singh and Lt- Col S.R. Chowhen placed wreaths on behalf of the Army.

The minister announced financial aid of Rs 2 lakh and job for one person of the martyr’s family. He said the local school will be renamed as "Jagan Nath memorial school".

Havaldar Jagan Nath leaves behind three daughters and a handicapped wife.

The body of Lance Naik Darshan Lal of 12 JaK Rifles was cremated at Rangpur Trewa village yesterday. The cremation was attended by Mr Bodh Raj Bali, Industry Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, who also presented a cheque of Rs 2 lakh.

Wreath was laid by Brig D.S. Bartwal, Commander Sanjuwan Brigade, on behalf of GoC-in-C Northern Command, GoC Agrota Corps and GoC Tiger Division.

Rifleman Ishaq Mohammad of 12 JaK was laid to rest in Kund Gwari village in Kishtwar tehsil.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of GoC Delta Force Maj-Gen S. Brar, Commander of 9 Sector Brig Satish Behl, and Transport Minister B.A. Kitchloo.

J and K Govt plans new road to Leh

SRINAGAR, June 23 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to construct an alternative route from Jammu to the frontier region of Ladakh via Sanku in view of persistent Pakistani shelling on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway.

The new route will be safer for traffic and away from Pakistani shelling, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah told a gathering of people at Kishtwar in Doda district yesterday.

The new road will avoid all areas on the 200-km Srinagar-Kargil highway that are within the range of Pakistani artillery guns, Dr Abdullah said.

He said Pakistan deliberately launched the operation to cut off the Srinagar-Leh national highway at various places to create problems for the people living in the region.

The Chief Minister said the state Government had also requested the Centre for help to construct a new road between Jammu and Srinagar via Dachan, Madwa, Wadwan, to be later extended to Ladakh via Panikhar.

This road will bypass Kargil and connect Ladakh directly with Srinagar, he said.

According to experts here, the proposed road will have to pass through tough terrain and may be available for use only a few months every year.

Construction on some parts of the road has already begun at Sonamarg, 80 km from here on the Srinagar-Kargil road, the Chief Minister said.

The state Government had announced last year that the entire township of Kargil would be shifted to safer places at Sanku but the project failed in the face of stiff resistance from residents of Kargil.

3 militants, cop killed in valley

SRINAGAR, June 23 (PTI) — Five persons, including three militants and a policeman, were killed and four others, three of them policemen, wounded in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Three militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces at Kashtigarh village in Doda district today, an official spokesman said here today.

Two AK assault rifles, two grenades, eight magazines and 300 rounds of ammunition were recovered during search of the area, he said.

He said militants shot dead a selection grade constable of state police, Mustaq Ahmad, in busy Batmaloo bus stand area of central Srinagar today.

Mushtaq was attacked by the militants from a very close range while he was on patrol duty, he said.

Policemen assisted by paramilitary forces immediately cordoned off the area and allegedly indulged in arson and beating of people present in the area. More than 50 shops of hawkers and two vehicles were allegedly set on fire in the arson, official sources said.

The spokesman said militants shot at and critically wounded a person near his house at Brenwar in the Chadoora area of Badgam district last night. The victim was rushed to a hospital, where he died.

Two policemen were wounded seriously when militants exploded a bomb in the residential block of police station Kulgam in Anantnag district yesterday. The injured cops were taken to a hospital, he said.