Next poll in Nov 2000, says Kanshi
KATHUA, Sept 5 — The Bahujan Samaj Party Chief, Mr Kanshi Ram, said the 13th Lok Sabha, which is going to be elected shortly, shall have a short lifespan in the manner of its predecessor. He has predicted elections for the 14th Lok Sabha in November 2000.

PDP seeks repoll in 30 Srinagar polling booths
SRINAGAR, Sept 5 — The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today demanded a repoll in 30 polling booths of the Srinagar parliamentary constituency which, the party claimed, had been captured by ruling National Conference leaders.

Cong alleges rigging in Srinagar
SRINAGAR, Sept 5 — The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress general secretary Taj Mohiuddin alleged today that the ruling National Conference resorted to booth-capturing in several polling stations here to "prop up the chances of its candidate in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency."

Election boycott in Srinagar rattles NC
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 5 — When separatists gave a call for poll boycott in the 1996 and 1998 Lok Sabha elections it was not heeded by the voters in the three constituencies of Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramula where between 50 and 55 per cent polling was recorded in the valley.

And when the same separatist groups gave a call for poll boycott why did it evoke total response from the electorate in Srinagar constituency where the polling ended today?

The response from the people seems to have created panic among the government and ruling National Conference circles. The way Srinagar district witnessed total hartal yesterday and today and the pattern of general strike in several parts of the valley today reminded one of the pre-poll scene in 1989 when out of scare the Srinagar seat went to the National Conference without a contest and between 3 and 5 per cent polling was registered in Anantnag and Baramula constituencies.

The reason for the poll boycott in 1989 was understandable because people had buckled under militants' threat, the law and order machinery had almost collapsed and a majority of people had been assured that "azadi" was round the corner. No doubt there has been a marked step-up in militancy related violence in some parts of the valley during the past three months but the overall security scenario has not been as alarming as it was in 1989. Hence the voters, except for known militancy infested areas, had no immediate and real threat from the militants. Had it been the case or had the voters been motivated by the call for boycott given by the separatists the polling percentage in Kangan, Chrar-e-Sharif and Chadoora Assembly segments would have also been as poor as in Khanyar, Ganderbal, Amira Kadal, Habba Kadal and other segments.

What has seemingly shocked senior National Conference leaders is the poor turnout of voters in Ganderbal Assembly segment, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah’s constituency, where by 3 p.m. the polling figure was less than 5 per cent. During the pre-poll campaign the Chief Minister had attracted a very small gathering in his constituency.

Four major factors are said to be responsible for very poor turnout of voters in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. First, the voters have demonstrated their anger against what is usually called non-performance of the state government and the Centre. The voters in 1996 and 1998 elections had nursed dreams of better days. The acute cash crunch forcing the state government to suspend work on projects related to people's welfare had resulted in annoyance with both the state and the Centre. The central government was accused of causing financial difficulties.

Secondly, the increase in the level of corruption had been a major irritant among the people. National Conference legislators were being openly blamed for having sold government jobs. The party leadership had been held responsible for nepotism.

Thirdly, the role of the special task force of the police and some of the groups of surrendered militants had resulted in a bitter taste in the month of the people. An impression had gone round that common and innocent people were not safe before the STF and the renegade militants.

Fourthly, the 60-year-old image of the National Conference stands damaged because the gap between the party leaders and the common people had been widened owing to lack of regular interaction between the rulers and the ruling class. Dr Abdullah's outright support to the BJP-led coalition government in the Centre proved to be Achilles' heel for the ruling National Conference.

Those who cite these factors responsible for the poor turnout also speak of the recent crackdown on leaders of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference who were not allowed freedom to campaign against the polling. They say personal performance and image counted among the people. The Education Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom, and the Rural Development Minister, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, had a good track record. That is the reason why polling percentage in several parts of Budgam district has been much higher than Srinagar district. Several high-profile ministers whom the common people avoided meeting because of their "arrogance" had to cut a sorry figure when in their assembly segments they could not organise more than 5 per cent polling.

Pak ammunition depot destroyed
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 5 — In a fierce artillery duel between Pakistani and Indian troops in the Turtuk belt of Kargil sector one major Pakistani ammunition depot was destroyed.

According to a Defence Ministry spokesman, Pakistani troops resorted to heavy artillery shelling in the Turtuk area last night. The Indian troops retaliated using long-range guns. The artillery duel lasted for over six hours.

He said the Pakistani artillery guns fell silent the moment its vital ammunition depot was totally destroyed. The Indian jawans retaliated with long-range guns and the ammunition depot at Siari, south of the Shyok river, was seen in flames. The loud sound of explosions was heard for about half an hour. The flames from the burning ammunition depot were seen kissing the sky.

The spokesman said, "There was no casualty on our side," adding, we have no report about casualties on the other side but it is presumed that Pakistani troops suffered heavy losses".

Meanwhile, reports from the Kupwara, Uri and Keran areas said Pakistani troops continued to resort to unprovoked firing on the Indian border villages. The Indian jawans retaliated and there was no casualty on this side of the border.

The Indian security forces have been directed to remain vigilant for the next 15 days because Pakistani troops may intensify firing and shelling from cross Kupwara, Keran, Uri, Poonch and Rajouri as these segments are to go to polls on September 18 and September 11, respectively.

3 ultras killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Sept 5 (PTI) — Security forces shot dead three militants in two separate encounters and defused two powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Kashmir Valley since last night, an official spokesman said today.

Two militants, identified as Nazir Ahmad Hajam, alias Afradi, and Hilal Khan, alias Zubeer-ul-Haq, were killed in the Achabal area of Anantnag. Manzoor Ahmad Dar of Safakadal, Srinagar, fell to the bullets of security forces at Datiwas in the Bandipora forests of Baramula district last night, he said.

Three AK assault rifles, two packets filled with explosives, three grenades and some ammunition was recovered from the slain militants, the spokesman said.

An IED kept in a gas cylinder weighing about 5 kg was detected by security forces from an orchard near Harwan in Srinagar last night, and was defused by experts, he said.

Security forces also detected and defused an IED, planted by militants on the main road between Soibugh and Haran in Badgam district of central Kashmir, last night, the spokesman said.

Militants hurled a grenade on a vehicle at Badgam district town last evening, wounding its driver, while on Mohammad Sadiq Dangroo was wounded when his house was attacked by militants with a grenade at Kralpora-Hawal in Srinagar last night, he said.

The police recovered 2 kg of RDX, a remote control, an IED and six metres of cordex in a raid on an abandoned militant hideout at Parimpora in Srinagar last night, the spokesman.

Next poll in Nov 2000, says Kanshi
From Our Correspondent

KATHUA, Sept 5 — The Bahujan Samaj Party Chief, Mr Kanshi Ram, said the 13th Lok Sabha, which is going to be elected shortly, shall have a short lifespan in the manner of its predecessor. He has predicted elections for the 14th Lok Sabha in November 2000.

Addressing a public rally at the Ramlila ground here this evening, he said the strength of the BJP and its allies of the NDA would be around 230 and the Congress and its allies would also not be able to form the government. In this background whichever government came to power-would have a very thin majority and it would not be possible for such a government to sustain for a long time. He said he had already conveyed this assessment to the Chief Election Commissioner when he convened a meeting of the political parties on May 3.

He said BSP workers from Uttar Pradesh had donated Rs 4 crore to the party fund for purchase of a helicopter to campaign in favour of the BSP and "awaken" the Dalit in India.

Mr Kanshi Ram appreciated the British Government prior to 1947 for giving equal opportunity to people irrespective of caste, creed or colour and providing employment to all. He said parties like the Congress, the BJP, the CPI and the CPM had enslaved the Dalits since centuries and exploited them. He said the British were angels for the Indian people, especially the Dalit British Samaj.

The MLA from Kathua, Mr Sagar Chand, donated Rs 11,000 to Mr Kanshi Ram and Mr Sohabayal Sharma and Mr Suresh Kumar of Hiranagar joined the BSP alongwith their supporters.

PDP seeks repoll in 30 Srinagar polling booths

SRINAGAR, Sept 5 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today demanded a repoll in 30 polling booths of the Srinagar parliamentary constituency which, the party claimed, had been captured by ruling National Conference leaders.

Polling booths were captured by rural Development Minister A.R. Rather in Charar-E-Charief, by MLAs Mohammad Shafi Bhat and Mubarik Gul in Srinagar and also by agents of Mr Mohiuddin Shah, Minister for Roads and Buildings, PDP leader G.Q. Pradesi claimed here.

Mr Pradesi alleged that eight booths were captured by Mr Rather while Mr Bhat was involved in the Wazir Dagh and Rajbagh areas of the city.

Letters demanding a repoll in 30 booths have been faxed to Chief Election Commissioner, M.S. Gill and the state Chief Electoral Officer, PDP leader said. Mr Pradesi alleged Mehrajgunj SHO Mir Hussain captured polling booths at Mehrajgunj and Kalashpora for the National Conference. Booth-capturing was also reported from Shamaswari.

Cong alleges rigging in Srinagar

SRINAGAR, Sept 5 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress general secretary Taj Mohiuddin alleged today that the ruling National Conference resorted to booth-capturing in several polling stations here to "prop up the chances of its candidate in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency."

"Scores of police recruits and special police officers under the supervision of relatives of ministers and MLAs captured polling booths in several areas to cast bogus votes in the city," Mohiuddin told reporters here.

He said he had faxed a communication to the Chief Electoral Officer to take cognisance of the bogus voting.

He said police personnel cast bogus votes under the direct supervision of Mr Irfan Shah, son of Minister for Roads and Buildings Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah, at the Cooperative Store, Bemina, polling station.

An NC MLA, Mohammad Shafi Bhat, accompanied by police personnel, resorted to booth-capturing at a school at Rajbagh, Mr Mohiuddin alleged.