Militants kill 4 in valley
SRINAGAR, June 24 — Militants gunned down four people, including a special police officer (SPO) and a chemist, and wounded another while two government officials escaped unhurt in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Need to teach Pak a lesson: Pilot
JAMMU, June 24 — Former Union Minister of State for Internal Security Rajesh Pilot today said: "A decisive battle may take place between India and Pakistan if that country does not come to senses sooner."

Kargil conflict hits tourism in J & K
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, June 24 — Due to the Kargil situation the flow of tourists to Kashmir valley declaimed considerably in the last one month, Jammu and Kashmir government is hopeful of more tourists coming during autumn months.

There was an increase of 15 per cent in the number of tourists during April this year as compared to that of the last year. But the Kargil trouble scared a number of tourists already in the valley. With this there has been 30 per cent of cancellations during the coming months. Representatives of various travel trade organisations have sought cooperation of the media in conveying to the outside world that "Kargil is far from Kashmir". They feel that the situation has already shifted the flow of tourists from Kashmir to Himachal.

About five lakh people are directly linked to the tourist trade in Kashmir. According to Mr Mohammad Amin of the Hotel Association of Kashmir, there was a capacity of over 30,000 in over 300 hotels in Kashmir "The arrival of 150 to 500 tourists a day is not sufficient", he said, while talking to reporters here today. This population of about five lakh is "connected with fragile industry prone to little ups and downs... it has been the hardest hit industry", said Mr Mohammad Amin. According to Abdul Rauf, much effort has been made to revive tourism in the valley.

Giving details of the revival of tourism in the valley this year after a gap of over eight years Mr Parvez Dewan, Commissioner-Secretary of Tourism Department said that there was an increased flow of tourists to the valley during April-May this year. But due to the eruption of trouble in Kargil, the tourists started going back. These tourists included those from Gujarat, Maharashtra and other parts of country. Delhi crowd which flows into the valley by May before the onset of monsoon, did not turn up as expected", Mr Parvez Dewan said.

Several measures were being taken to attract more tourists to the valley in the coming months, he said. During September-October, when the tourists from West Bangalore expected for Pooja Holidays, more tourists are expected to visit the valley. The measures being taken to attract more tourists include joint missions of the Jammu and Kashmir government and the travel trade organisations to various parts of the country.

Expressing concern over the decline in tourists flow due to Kargil situation, Mr Mohammad Amin, of the Hotel Association sought various concession from different government agencies. These included 30 per cent discount by IA for tourists visiting Kashmir and concessions by the Railways for tourists. "We will charge for only two rooms in place of three rooms" to attract more tourists to the valley.

Militants step up activities in J & K
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, June 24 — Between May 16 and June 23 as many as 66 security personnel were killed and 110 injured in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir indicating clearly that after the armed conflict between India and Pakistan in the Kargil sector insurgents have launched more attacks on the police and the Army than earlier.

Though prior to the Kargil conflict the state registered a series of militancy related events but the militants killed only 25 security personnel and injured 34 between April 8 and May 15.

Official sources explained that the increase in the killing of security personnel was an outcome of directions from across the border in which the militants had been advised to carry out mine and IED blasts to cause heavy damage to the security convoys and pickets.

The sources said against 26 hand grenade and bomb blasts registered between April 8 and May 15 there were 47 such incidents between May 16 and June 23 indicating that militants have stopped up their activities to keep the Indian security forces engaged within the state so that India was not in a position to rush additional troops to the border.

According to these sources despite the fact that Pakistani agencies have rushed Afghan and Pak guerrillas to the Kargil-Dras belt for crossing swords with the Indian troops, more than 800 Pak-trained militants were pushed into the state during the past 50 days. Fresh infiltrators have yet to carry out their operations against the security forces, political leaders and vital government installations and that has been the reason for drop in the militancy related violence in Rajouri and Poonch during the past three weeks.

The state government has reports that fresh batches of infiltrators would start their operations after adjusting with new environment and studying the area and the people. It is in this connection that the state government has urged the Centre to despatch additional companies of the paramilitary forces.

Kargil shadow on mela
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, June 24 — The Kargil conflict cast its shadow on the annual Baba Chamliyal mela in the Samba sector today where on both sides of the international border not more than 30 per cent of the usual crowds had collected to collect "shakkar and sherbat" (Clay and water) from the shrine.

Despite white flags flying on the zero line, indicating that the two sides will not open fire, devotees from several parts of the country did not reach the shrine due to fear of the Indo-Pakistan war.

For the first time the BSF had installed 15-foot high bullet proof sheets on the border to prevent Pakistani troops from targeting the shrine and inflicting casualties on the people who had gathered to collect the "shakkar" and sherbat which is believed to have the power of healing even chronic skin diseases.

Since Pakistani troops had raised a high defence clay bundh one could not notice any movement across the border. During the past several years visitors to the shrine would observe large Pakistani crowds waiting across the border for receiving "shakkar and sherbat".

According to Mr M.S. Malik, Commandant BSF, during a flag meeting between the field commanders of Pakistani Rangers and the BSF on June 9 it had been agreed that the Pakistani soldiers would come on the zero line with a chaddar to be laid on the tomb of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas after whose death the clay and water of the well-cured chronic skin diseases. The Pakistani field commanders had informed the BSF that they would come to the zero line at 12 O' clock but the Pakistani Rangers had not turned up by one O' clock. The BSF had also been informed that they are not going to accept any shakkar and sherbat as its distribution created law and order problem across the border.

More than 7,000 men, women and children were present at the shrine. Some carried shakkar and sherbat others had a bath and smeared shakkar on the affected parts of the body. Women offered prayers at the shrine. The BSF had not kept ready any trolleys for carrying the "holy" water and clay for people across the border after the Pakistani Rangers had refused to follow the tradition.

Normally between 50,000 and one lakh Pakistanis would travel close to the border for collecting "shakkar and sherbat" but this time Kargil conflict seemed to be widened the gulf between the two sides.

The heroes of Tololing
From Sumir Kaul

DRAS, June 24 (PTI) — It was a display of remarkable courage by the Indian soldiers who climbed bare mountain ridges and dislodged the Pakistan-backed intruders from well-entrenched positions in Tololing and the Hump area here.

Despite the terrain, the sub-zero temperatures with high-velocity winds impeding progress, the Jawans still managed to reach the top inflicting heavy casualties on the intruders, says Colonel Ravinder Nath, commander of an infantry regiment which led the assault on Tololing top.

"Replenishment of ammunition and supplies to troops was moving up slowly and was cumbersome. But the determined troops kept going," says Col Nath.

"The Tololing feature, 15,000 feet high, was a task assigned to my troops after an infantry battalion had established a base" the Colonel said.

The operation was generally fought during the night and troops had to crawl up most of the way.

"When we were only 30 yards from the positions held by intruders, a fierce encounter took place in which Major Vivek Gupta and Havaldar Yashweer made the supreme sacrifice.

Yashweer threw grenades at the positions of the intruders in a bid to bring back the bodies of his fellow soldiers, says Col Nath with a lump in his throat adding "he did it successfully but had to sacrifice his life".

"Major Vivek led the offensive from the western side and choked the intruders," Col Nath said, adding the western side is almost perpendicular and climbing it is very difficult.

"We must not also forget the sacrifices made by Major R S Adhikari and Lt Col R Vishwanathan, who along with their troops had laid the foundation stone for the final assault by capturing the Tololing feature.

Col Kushal Thakur of another infantry division said "our troops went as men to the top and returned as heroes in coffins".

"When Indian troops go for the kill, nobody can save the enemy," Col Thakur said, adding "I have personally seen the enemy fleeing like rats after the Indian army mounted pressure on them in Tololing and the Hump area".

The two Colonels said the country would always remember the battle of Tololing and the Hump area.

The two features overlook the strategic Srinagar-Leh highway.

Militants kill 4 in valley

SRINAGAR, June 24 (PTI) — Militants gunned down four people, including a special police officer (SPO) and a chemist, and wounded another while two government officials escaped unhurt in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Meanwhile, in a major breakthrough the security forces arrested three top militants, including a self-styled chief commander of Al-Fateh force, and repulsed a militant attack on a police picket in the state during the period, an official spokesman said here today.

He said a special police officer, Ishaq, was shot dead by militants in his house at Hubi in Rajouri district today.

Militants barged into the house of a chemist at Susoo in the Pampore area of Pulwama district late last night and asked for some medicines. As soon as he came out from his house, militants fired at him. He was critically injured and was shifted to hospital where he succumbed to his wounds today, the spokesman said.

Militants shot dead a person near Sripora-Tethaar in Udhampur district last night.

An employee of Forest Department, Gulam Mohammad Lone, was also done to death by militants near his house at Akhal in the Kangan area of Srinagar late last night.

Two government officials, tehsil and agricultural officers of Ganderbal, escaped unhurt when militants opened fire on their house at Ganderbal on the outskirts of Srinagar last night.

The police repulsed a militant attack on their picket at Prem Nagar in Jagrata in Doda district yesterday. No damage was caused in the shootout.

In a prize catch, the spokesman said the police apprehended a self-styled chief commander of Al-Fateh force from the Chanapora area of Srinagar last evening.

Identified as Farooq Ahmad Lone, alias Bilal, the militant commander led to the recovery of a rocket launcher and a rocket from his hideout.

Two militants identified as Altaf Ahmad Khan, alias "Faisal", and Shabir Ahmad Khan alias Azad Akbar, were arrested by BSF jawans from the Badamwari area Rainawari in downtown Srinagar last evening.

The two militants were associated with banned Hizbul Mujahideen and were evading arrest for the last nine years. Two hand grenades and 500 gm of RDX were recovered from the captured militants.

Youths volunteer to serve as porters

SRINAGAR, June 24 (PTI) — As many as 1,000 youths from Chamb Jurian sector in Jammu region have offered their services as porters to carry food and ammunition for the Army battling the Pak-backed intruders in Kargil and Dras sectors.

"The youths are enthusiastic and wish to get an opportunity to serve the Army as porters. Accompanied by retired Army personnel they reported to Col Amit Sareen, Commandant of Field Ordnance at Udhampur," according to the Northern Command spokesman, Lt Col S. P. K. Singh.

"These people are even ready to carry loads to the heights of at least 15,000 feet, undeterred by the fear of enemy fire", he told PTI here today,

The youths arrived after a call by social activist K. P. Singh. A batch of 100 men led by retired Havildar Prem Kumar of Choki Jurian in the sector have also offered their services for dislodging the enemy from the Indian soil.

The spokesman said some of the volunteers even gave a test of their ability by carrying a huge load of ammunition and food material near Dhar road in Udhampur.

"Sir, given the opportunity, we will carry load to our soldiers and if need arises we will lift guns as well to defend our motherland," Col Singh quoted Havildar Kumar as saying.

Thakur Seva Singh, who already has all of his five sons serving in the Army, has also offered to carry loads.

Colonel Singh said people in Udhampur had registered themselves with the Army and even offered their blood if the need arose.

Need to teach Pak a lesson: Pilot

JAMMU, June 24 (PTI) — Former Union Minister of State for Internal Security Rajesh Pilot today said: "A decisive battle may take place between India and Pakistan if that country does not come to senses sooner."

Indian side has been bleeding since 1947 due to machinations of Pakistan, but the powers in Pakistan have not been responding despite our initiatives on peace, he said at a Congress rally at R.S.Pura, 16 km from here.

"We returned their areas which were captured in earlier wars, but now Pakistan needs to be given a lesson by making it clear that India is not a small country and there is a limit to tolerance", Mr Pilot said.

The Congress leader, who is on a five-day tour of border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, appealed to the Vajpayee government not to politicise the Kargil conflict as the whole nation was behind the government at this crucial juncture.

"Instead of politicising the issue the Central Government leaders should pay more attention on diplomatic efforts to project the real picture to the world", he added.

Referring to statements issued by G-8 and the USA on the Kargil conflict, Mr Pilot said though appreciative, these were mild ones.

These countries should have asked Pakistan to vacate the intrusion in a time-frame and that would have given a real message to Pakistan, he said.