Attempt on Geelani's life
JAMMU, March 13 — Chairman of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who escaped an attempt on his life by a group of unidentified youths here last night, blamed the state government for "engineering" the attack which, he said, was ninth in succession.

6 militants, woman killed in J and K
JAMMU, March 13 — Seven persons including six militants were killed in militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

Night curfew in Poonch areas
JAMMU, March 13 — To check the movement of militants, the District Magistrate, Poonch, Mr G.Q. Mughal, has imposed night curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. with effect from March 15, for a period of two months in the entire tehsil of Surankote and two panchayat circles of Haveli, Seri Khawaja and Shindra tehsils.

J&K Budget Tax hike draws flak
SRINAGAR, March 13 — The Jammu and Kashmir government and people are on the verge of an open confrontation over the recent hike in taxes as proposed in the state Budget for the next financial year.

Plan to develop tourist spots
JAMMU, March 13 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to develop Patnitop as a major spot for the tourists.

Geelani: govt behind attack
Attempt on Geelani's life
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 13 — Chairman of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who escaped an attempt on his life by a group of unidentified youths here last night, blamed the state government for "engineering" the attack which, he said, was ninth in succession.

He told media persons here today that the government "wants to eliminate Hurriyat leaders and suppress the voice of dissent."

In reply to a question, he said an election under the supervision of the United Nations be held in the state to elect representatives who could be invited to join the Indo-Pakistani talks. He favoured tripartite and not bilateral talks for resolving the issue because the solution had to be acceptable to the people of Kashmir.

He said the people should be allowed to exercise their right of self-determination as provided in the UN resolution on Kashmir. Mr Geelani said the dispute could not be settled by converting the line of actual control (LAC) into a permanent or international border as proposed by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah.

For the first time, the Hurriyat leader appealed to Kashmiri migrants to return to the valley without any pre-conditions. Mr Geelani said "Pandits are part and parcel of our culture. They belong to the valley and they are welcome to return and reclaim their land."

In reply to another question, Mr Geelani criticised the state government for imposing heavy taxes. He said "we are with the people in condemning imposition of heavy taxes."

Mr Geelani alleged that the security forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir had been committing excesses on the people and wanted these forces to be withdrawn. Referring to village defence committees, he said members of these committees were being "misused" by vested interests. He called for immediate disbanding of the VDCs, saying that giving arms to civilians could prove a grave mistake.

Flanked by several separatist leaders, Mr Geelani said youths carrying hockey sticks and iron rods gatecrashed into the hotel where he was staying last night. They broke the glasspanes and furniture and injured members of the hotel staff. He said it was because of his personal security officer that he escaped unhurt.

He said his guard bolted the room after he saw stick-wielding youths shouting his name. He said prior to the attack a police official visited the hotel to make enquiries regarding the room in which he (Geelani) was staying.

Reports indicate that the attack could be the outcome of Mr Geelani’s speech he delivered at the local Jamia Masjid before the Friday prayers. In his speech, Mr Geelani said he favoured tripartite talks and blamed the state government for complicating the situation by "committing blunders".

Last Friday too Mr Geelani had reiterated the demand. The Imam of the mosque had objected to Mr Geelani’s political speech at the religious congregation.

6 militants, woman killed in J and K

JAMMU, March 13 (PTI) — Seven persons including six militants were killed in militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

The spokesman said Army troops assisted by the local police raided a militant hideout on the Doda-Dessa road late last night.

After security forces threw a tight cordon in the area, militants fired at the approaching troops. In the ensuing encounter three militants and an unidentified woman were killed.

The slain militants have been identified as Abu Abdul and Abdul Tahir, (both foreign mercenaries) and Zahoor of Garhi village in Banihal.

In another encounter at Sarachi, West of Banihal, two militants were killed today. Some arms and ammunition was also recovered from the site of encounter, the spokesman said.

Official reports from Rajouri said one Pakistani militant was killed during encounter at Paran-Thandikassi area on March 11.

In Kashmir region, a head constable of state police received splinter injuries when militants hurled a grenade at a security picket in Baramulla in North Kashmir, the spokesman said.

He said two militants were arrested and two of their hideouts were smashed by the security forces.

An improvised explosive device, two magazines and four hand grenades were seized from two militant hideouts at Kralpora-Pattan in Baramulla and Guzriyal in frontier district of Kupwara.

J&K Budget Tax hike draws flak
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, March 13 — The Jammu and Kashmir government and people are on the verge of an open confrontation over the recent hike in taxes as proposed in the state Budget for the next financial year. The opposition parties and the people in the valley have expressed strong resentment against the Budget presented in the state Legislative Assembly last week.

For the first time in recent years a complete bandh was observed in the valley, not for 'azadi' but projecting the people's resentment against the Budget, for two days on Monday and Tuesday last. Local dailies including about 12 Urdu and English newspapers also highlighted public resentment against the Budget over these days. A number of cartoons, news stories and editorials were also carried by these newspapers against the Budget proposals.

Justifying the hike in taxes, Finance Minister Mohammad Sahfi has said that the claims by the Traders Federation in Kashmir were baseless. He said that over Rs 91 crore tax burden will be put on people by mobilisation of additional resources of Rs 565 crore with a deficit of Rs 707 crore. The Minister held that traders in the valley were not in a mood to pay the balance amount of Rs 220 crore not paid so far due to turmoil in the valley. The Traders Federation here on Tuesday threatened to charge Sales Tax from customers at old rates as prevalent in the 1998-99 Budget, and not according to the new rates proposed in the next year's Budget. The Traders Federation also asked the people not to pay power tariff and water taxes till these were revised by the government.

In his reply to the three - day discussion on the Budget, the Finance Minister said in the Legislative Assembly that out of the resource mobilisation of Rs 565 crore an amount of Rs 474 crore would not affect the public directly. He said that Rs 100 crore would be realised by economy on expenditure, and another Rs 140 crore would be available by crediting of arrears of the second instalment of fifth Central Pay Commission in the GPF account of employees.

According to the Traders Federation, the valley was already faced with acute financial constraints on account of the over-eight years of militancy that crippled the economic fabric. In this connection, the Federation held that growth rate had slashed down from 8.47 per cent in 1980 to a mere 1.90 per cent at present. Per capita income had also come down from sixth position in 1980 to 23rd at present, a Federation spokesman stated.

The local dailies also highlighted the people's resentment against the Budget through varied write-ups, editorials and cartoons. "Burden shifted to people as state fails to convince Centre" read a banner in an English daily, followed by the details of the state Budget presented by the Finance Minister, Mohammad Shafi in Legislative Assembly. "I hope the Opposition would take the Budget in right perspective and won't criticise it for the heck of it", the newspaper quoted the Finance Minister as having said at a press conference in Jammu, within hours after he presented the Budget. But the opposition, and Traders, Transporters and Employees of the valley joined hands to express resentment against the Budgetary proposals.

Describing the Budget as "devoid of any economic logic, an abstract off dull details", another English daily here quotes economics on the heavy Budget imposed on the poor masses of the valley in particular. "The Budget is abstract in all its dull details. Besides being contrary to the expectations and inconsistent with the aspirations of the people, it is unrelated to the economic situation prevalent in the State", comments an expert. "In short, the Budget strengthens the belief that the policy makers and planners commit blunders in the name of planning and budgeting and pass on the burden to the people. Since the people in the State lack the requisite capacity, the economy in bound to collapse", comments the newspaper.

The former Union Minister and MP, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, a strong opponent of the National Conference government, also criticised the government for the Budget. He blamed the State government for having failed in presenting its case at the Centre, adding that there was an excuse that the Centre did not provide funds. He alleged that there was a nexus between the NC and the BJP at the Centre. The National Conference at the same time accused the Centre for fiscal discrimination. This statement came from the senior NC Minister, Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah, three days after the Budget was presented.

Night curfew in Poonch areas
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, March 13 — To check the movement of militants, the District Magistrate, Poonch, Mr G.Q. Mughal, has imposed night curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. with effect from March 15, for a period of two months in the entire tehsil of Surankote and two panchayat circles of Haveli, Seri Khawaja and Shindra tehsils.

Under this order no person can move in the area without permission from the authorities concerned, but in case of emergency the person shall approach the nearby security picket.

The District Magistrate has also imposed night curfew in the 5 km border belt in the district from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

He also imposed restriction under Section 144 of the Cr P.C. within 200 metre radius of examination centres in the district till the end of class XII examinations.

Plan to develop tourist spots
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, March 13 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to develop Patnitop as a major spot for the tourists.

Informing this, Mr S.S. Bhalla, Director Tourism, Jammu, said the State Government wanted to utilise this picturesque spot by developing adventure sports like horse-riding, para-gliding, rock climbing and skiing.

Mr Bhalla said new tourist destinations would be explored and the existing be promoted for giving fillip to tourism industry in Jammu region. With the emergence of Jammu as a premier pilgrims centre in recent years, he said, the influx of pilgrims would increase manifold. He says resorts like Sudhmahadev, Mantalai, and Patnitop are being developed. The areas from Bani to Bhaderwah too have immense tourism potential, he asserts.

The Director Tourism also informed that the department had recently organised a three-day winter carnival at Patnitop which had generated good response from the tourists. Their overwhelming response, he said, had made them to plan a 15-day carnival in the first week of February every year.

CM defends love in Assembly

JAMMU, March 13 (UNI) — "Ishq par jor nahin, hai yeh woh a atish Ghalib ke lagaye na lage aur bujhaye na bujhe." The solemn precincts of the state Assembly may be the most unlikely of places for reciting this famous couplet by the legendary Ghalib.

But for the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, there could not have been a more fitting reply to the Opposition members’ bid to give a communal colour to what, to him, seemed to be a plain case of two human beings of different religions — the woman a Hindu and the man a Muslim — succumbing to the "love bug".

The Chief Minister was replying to Mr Hans Raj Dogra’s call attention motion about the lady Constable, Ms Paramjit Kaur, who had been missing from ladies police cell here since the last one month, and who had, reportedly, married Mr Mohammad Farooq, another Constable, after embracing Islam.