Jammu Srinagar

PDP for dialogue with militants
SRINAGAR, Oct 26 — The Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party has sought a far-sighted and realistic policy of dialogue with militants for a peaceful solution to Kashmir problem.

Dry fruit exporters want govt to relent
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26 — Kashmir dry fruit exporters fear that they may be blacklisted if they do not fulfil their commitment of exporting walnut and its kernel, considered to be the best in the world, to their customers before the Christmas.

Dry fruit from Kashmir, especially walnut and almonds, are exported to 25 countries including France, Spain, Iran, Britain, the USA and other European countries. Forty per cent of the total production of dry fruit in Kashmir is exported which fetches over Rs 100 crore per year to growers and the exporters.

During the past one week dry fruit, especially walnut, worth over Rs 25 crore has been blocked by the Government which wants the exporters to clear the toll tax arrears which have touched over Rs 17 crore.

Several hundred trucks carrying walnut and its kernel are stranded at Jammu and Lakhanpur barrier, 110 km south of Jammu, as the Government authorities have stopped permission for exporting the fruit unless the toll tax arrears were remitted to the state coffers.

The increase in toll tax, 60 paise for kg, was challenged by the exporters in the court. After a prolonged litigation the court upheld the Government move and directed the growers and exporters of dry fruit to pay toll tax at the enhanced rate with retrospective effect. This put a burden of Rs 17 crore on the exporters who say they are not in a position to pay in one go.

According to Mr K.B. Singh, President, Jammu Kashmir Walnut Exporters Association, even India might be blacklisted by the World Trade Authorities if "we do not send dry fruit before Christmas to our clients in several countries."

He said "if permission is not given to us to export walnut kernel, packed in boxes, within next five days the stock worth over Rs 15 crore would be damaged.

Mr G.A. Dar, Commissioner Horticulture, said Kashmiri walnut is considered to be the best quality in the world and it has turned to be a major foreign exchange earner.

He said "various improvements had been made in walnut growing practices. Walnut trees now give their produce after five years, against 15 years a few years ago."

He said better practices had allowed the growers to "harvest four tonnes of walnut from one hectare plot against one tonne earlier."

However, walnut growers and exporters said that there would be no meaning of improved practices if "we are not allowed to export our produce."

Mr K.B. Singh said "we assured the Government that we will clear the toll tax arrears in instalments but the authorities have refused to accept our demand."

He said "the Government turned a blind eye to the way growers and exporters destroyed walnut and other dry fruit worth over Rs 50,000 as a mark of protest against the unhelpful attitude of the state authorities."

4 Pak soldiers killed; 200 kg RDX seized
Tribune News Service and agencies

SRINAGAR, Oct 26 — At least four Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory action by the Army in the Uri sector of the Line of Control (LoC) yesterday.

A defence spokesman said here today that "Pakistan's attempt to capture two Indian posts in the Uri sector was foiled by alert Indian troops". He said the attack in early hours on Monday was beaten back and four Pak soldiers were reportedly killed. The attack was preceded by a heavy volume of artillery and small arms fire by Pakistani troops, the spokesman said.

Three of the four persons killed in the action were identified as Nazir, Kala, Chain and Majid.

The Army here today recovered at least 200 kg of RDX, one of the biggest haul in the valley in a pre-dawn search operation. The explosive was concealed in four bags kept in a lavatory of an abandoned house in the interior part of the city.

Giving details of the search operation, Col P.T. Gangadharan, said the recovery was made on the basis of a specific information.

It is believed that the RDX was being collected to create disturbance in the valley on the shifting of government offices to Jammu in connection with Darbar move. However, no arrests have been made in this connection.

The Civil Secretariat and other offices are scheduled to close here on November 1 and reopen on November 8 in Jammu, winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports reaching here from Uri, 101 km from here, said one civilian was killed and three others, including a woman, were wounded in the unprovoked and indiscriminate Pakistani firing yesterday.

Pakistani troops began unprovoked and indiscriminate firing and shelling on forward Indian villages and security installations which continued for most part of the day. Some houses were damaged as Pakistani shells landed in Chranda, Hatlanga and Mathal villages in Uri, the reports said.

A civilian identified as Abdul Rashid Bhat was killed and three others injured in Pak shelling.

The reports said Indian troops also fired back to silence the Pakistani guns and the intermittent firing.

A report from Baramula said one person was killed and three others were injured in Pakistani shelling in Hatlangoo area in the same sector. Some houses were also damaged.

PDP for dialogue with militants

SRINAGAR, Oct 26 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) has sought a far-sighted and realistic policy of dialogue with militants for a peaceful solution to Kashmir problem.

A resolution, adopted at a conclave of party delegates here yesterday, said the current policy pursued by Centre and state governments was "inherently flawed and was doomed to fail."

"The policy of brutal and wanton use of force, violation of human rights and subversion of genuine democratic process had only deepened the sense of alienation among people and it was proving counter-productive," the resolution released to the press today said.

A PDP spokesman told reporters, "The state has become virtually bankrupt and unemployment, nepotism and corruption have reached disconcerting heights."

The conclave called for a comprehensive economic aid package for rehabilitation of those below the poverty line, reduction in taxes, a time-bound employment policy and distribution of free ration to the drought-afflicted populace.