13 militants killed in valley

SRINAGAR, Sept 2 (UNI) — Security forces killed 13 militants, including foreign mercenaries arrested two others and recovered RDX and other explosive materials while militants killed two persons and attacked security forces with grenade and automatic weapons in the state during the past 24 hours.

Panic gripped Jamallata area in downtown Srinagar when unidentified militants fired upon a Border Security Force (BSF) Jawan from close range this afternoon. However, the Jawan escaped unhurt.

In another incident at least four persons were injured when a grenade lobbed by militants on a security force vehicle at Nawabazar missed its intended target and exploded on the roadside today.

An official spokesman said Jammu and Kashmir Special Operation Group and security forces in a joint operation killed a foreign militant Abdul Manan at Lolab in the frontier district of Kupwara last evening.

Another militant was gunned down at Kakaroosa Rajwari in the same district. Two AK rifles, four magazines and 70 rounds were seized from the slain militants.

Giving details about yesterday clash at Tekri Balakote the spokesman said security forces killed eight militants and seized ten kg RDX, 15 kg of explosive, four smoke bombs, Rs 1.98 lakh in Indian currency, three binoculars and 3133 rounds of ammunition.

Troops killed three militants during a search operation at Kalban last evening. Three AK rifles, three rockets, eleven grenades and one rocket-launcher were recovered.

The body of one Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din was recovered from Chandri Ada Tral while militants killed one Mohammad Ibrahim at Ponwah last evening.

Militants shot at and wounded an NC activist Abdul Rehman Tramboo when he was coming out from a mosque at Shall Kadall in last night.

Militants attacked a security force post at Mattan in Anantnag last evening. Forces also retaliated and the exchange continued for ten minutes during which one Jawan was injured. Militants however, managed to escape, the spokesman said.

Militants and security forces exchanged fire at Tengpora Batmaloo last evening. No one was injured in the shootout.

Security forces averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused a plastic time-device planted by militants in a school at Rajouri today. The forces recovered three kg of RDX, ten metres of cordex wire and 15 detonators at Bakori forests while two militants were arrested from Pulwama and Srinagar last evening.

PTI adds: Troops engaged in anti-militancy operations have recovered an inflatable boat from a militant hideout located in Kakua, situated at the height of 14,808 feet in Naugam sector of north Kashmir.

The boat, recovered along with rockets and other explosives by the troops on August 23, was to be used for crossing the river Jhelum and Wullar lake areas by militants for carrying out sabotage, defence sources told PTI today.

A couple was killed and their daughter injured in Pakistani shelling in Kupwara sector, official sources said today.

Indian troops fired back in retaliation. The shelling started yesterday afternoon and continued till this morning.

The worst affected was Shagpura village, where dozens of Pakistani shells landed, killing the couple and injuring their daughter and forcing residents to flee to safer places.

Plan to blow up shrines foiled

JAMMU, Sept 2 (PTI) The police today foiled militants' plan to blow up two religious shrines in Rajouri town of Jammu division by detecting two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at these places.

A police spokesman said here the militants had planted an IED concealed in a bag near a religious place in Rajouri town.

Another IED, which was also concealed in a plastic bag, was kept at another religious place in the town, he said.

On receiving the information about the bags at these two religious places, the spokesman said the police, with bomb disposal squads, reached these religious places and defused both these IEDs.

The IEDs were planted by militants at these religious places to damage them and create communal tension in the border town.

Farooq reiterates stand on autonomy
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 2 — Reiterating his stand on the grant of greater autonomy to the state, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today declared that the National Conference (NC) would extend its support to any party that came to power at the Centre.

He was addressing a rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in support of his son, Umar Abdullah, who is contesting as the ruling party candidate from the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. He said autonomy was the main plank of the NC campaign in 1996.

The Chief Minister said autonomy committee reports submitted to the state assembly would be made public soon.

Referring to the situation in Kargil, the Chief Minister regretted the role of Pakistan.

Dr Abdullah said that tourism suffered a jolt this season due to the Kargil problem.

The Chief Minister, stressed the need creating an atmosphere for safe return of Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to migrate to other parts of the state.

Dr Abdullah sought the cooperation of NC workers and the print media in Kashmir for the creation of an atmosphere conducive for the safe return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.

He lashed out at Hurriyat leaders who had launched an anti-election campaign in the valley. He said they were the same people who participated in all previous elections.

The Chief Minister also lashed out at former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who had launched a sinister campaign against the ruling party in the state.

He said the Mufti was in favour of talks with militants at "this stage while as Union Home Minister had refused to do so" The Chief Minister blamed him for rigging in the last elections in Anantnag.

The Chief Minister admitted that the state was faced with a financial crisis and sought more funds from the Centre.

Relief package for migrants
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 2 — HelpAge India, an organisation working nationwide for the cause of the elderly people, has launched a relief programme for migrants dislocated from border areas of Jammu district in the wake of Pakistani firing from across the Line of Control and international border in the Jammu region.

Mr Ajaib Singh, a senior Programme Adviser, HelpAge India, said that the organisation spent Rs 2.50 lakh for the distribution of dry ration among these people. A total of 702 needy families belonging to the border areas of Jammu district and temporarily residing in campus at Kot Bhalwal, Ranjan, Amb, Doomi, Sobka, Kangrail, Pakhian, Dori Dagar, Chowki Chora, R.S.Pura, Seer and Balah had been benefited by this relief package.

He further said that the relief was distributed after an identification survey for the most needy families was conducted and identification cards issued to the beneficiaries. Group Captain A.W. Limaye, Deputy Director-General, HelpAge India, also distributed the relief package to the migrants at Chowki Chora and Dori Dagar camps.