Akhnoor migrants scared to return
PALLANWALLA (Jammu) , Sept 6 — While more than 20,000 persons in the Kargil and Dras sectors have returned to their ancestral places, but the border belt of Pallanwalla is still deserted. For the past three months several hundred shops and residential houses have been locked. Farming practices have been suspended for the past 85 days, life seems to have come to a standstill here and in other 20 border villages of the Akhnoor sector.

Soz lashes out at NC, Mufti
SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — Lashing out at the ruling National Conference and the chief of the Peoples Democratic Party, the former Union Minister, Prof Saifuddin Soz, here today advocated unconditional dialogue with separatists to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the state.

Mehbooba demands repoll in Srinagar
SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party nominee, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, today demanded a repoll in the entire Srinagar constituency alleging large-scale rigging by the ruling National Conference in connivance with the Central Government and the Election Commission.

JP leaders visit migrant camps
JAMMU, Sep 6 — The Janata Party candidate from Anantnag,Mr Ajay Sharma, and the candidate from Baramula, Mr Sushil Gupta, today visited migrant camps at Nagrota, Misshriwalla and Pamposh Nagar near here in order to garner their support.

Akhnoor migrants scared to return
Tribune News Service

PALLANWALLA (Jammu) , Sept 6 — While more than 20,000 persons in the Kargil and Dras sectors have returned to their ancestral places, but the border belt of Pallanwalla is still deserted. For the past three months several hundred shops and residential houses have been locked. Farming practices have been suspended for the past 85 days, life seems to have come to a standstill here and in other 20 border villages of the Akhnoor sector.

When this correspondent visited Pallanwalla yesterday only one, out of over 200 shops, was open. But the shopkeeper of a video and still film studio, was only winding up his business as he had rented a shop 20 km away from the border village.

The scene was hardly different in Panjdoot, Palatan, Samu, Chaprial, Gigrial, Pungali and 10 other border villages. According to Jadish Raj, a trader in Pallanwalla, more than 12,000 families had migrated from 15 border villages of the Akhnoor sector. "Whenever we plan to return to our villages Pakistani troops resort to shelling forcing us to change our plan," he added.

The police authorities in this border belt said nearly 50,000 persons had been rendered homeless and had been camping in school buildings and in tented accommodation. These displaced families had decided to boycott polling in protest against the government apathy towards their plight. But they later changed their mind.

Krishan Lal, who volunteered to speak on behalf of over 800 families camping in Devi Pur Government School building said, "we had thought of boycotting the polling. But now we have decided to cast our votes and fight for our rights after the new government takes over."

Another migrant, Harbans Lal, was critical of the government on the account that, "We were given free ration for one month only, out of the past three months". We have to bank on doles and whatever foodgrain we had in store at our ancestral villages in getting exhausted. We do not know whether we can live for many more days."

These migrants keep on visiting their homes which fall within the firing range of Pak gunners, and bring some foodgrains to the camps. Some of the migrants visit their villages in the early morning to collect milk from their milch cattle.

Harbans Lal said that political leaders and contesting candidates had been visiting their camps. "They make tall promises which we know they will not fulfil. But we have decided to exercise our right of franchise."

Even in the face of lacklustre electioneering, the contesting candidates are not allowed to enter the shell-locked border village. Since these villages are "without people" and there is no fun in carrying out the campaign.

The Chief Election Commission has already taken note of this development and about 30 polling stations have been established around the migrant camps where the voters belonging to the displaced families will be also cast their votes.

Soz lashes out at NC, Mufti
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 6 — Lashing out at the ruling National Conference (NC) and the chief of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former Union Minister, Prof Saifuddin Soz, here today advocated unconditional dialogue with separatists to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the state.

"I consistently wanted Delhi to talk to the All-Party Hurriyat Conference and others. Had there been a judicious approach from Delhi there would not have been any problem in Kashmir", Professor Soz, former Union Minister, said here today. Professor Soz is a contesting candidate as an Independent from his home constituency of Baramula which goes to the polls in the third phase on September 18. He was earlier this year expelled from the National Conference as he voted against the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre. He has been representing Baramula since 1977 as NC leader.

Top most on his 15-point agenda is the restoration of autonomy to the state and regional autonomy within the state. He claimed the National Conferences autonomy plank was his initiative, but lamented the role played by the party in the formation of its report. "It has been submitted to the Assembly and not discussed with the people of the state", he regretted. "It is a battle which they (NC) can never fight people earlier thought that it was an achievable goal", when the valley was gripped by militancy early in 1990, Professor Soz said.

Referring to floating of a new party by the former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Professor Soz claimed that Mufti did "not reveal his full agenda... it is camouflaged". He held that the Mufti by forming the PDP had further fractured the fragile Opposition. He blammed the Mufti for not discussing the issues with any other leader or a party for an end to the problems of the people of Kashmir. He added that in case of his (Professor Soz's) victory he would consult representatives from all Assembly segments and discuss the issues related to the present situation in Kashmir.

Answering questions, Professor Soz said the 12 per cent of polling recorded in the prestigious constituency of Srinagar in yesterday's polling was "as low as it could be". He said the NC had failed on all fronts and betrayed the expectations of the people, who had extended all support to the party in the 1996 Assembly elections. He lamented the role played by the party by joining hands with the BJP. He blamed the BJP for "Pumping a lot of money for my defeat", adding that corruption had been institutionalised in the state.

Expressing concern over the financial crisis faced by the state, which faced a lot during the past decade, the former minister claimed there was a possibility of giving a relieving budget and other assistance to Jammu and Kashmir.

Professor Soz also expressed concern over the "indifferent" attitude of the Election Commission of India for not "responding" to his pleas on various issues pertaining to the violation of the code of conduct in these elections. He alleged that 370 persons had been appointed with predate orders since the code of conduct was enforced.

Raising Day celebrated
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 6 — The elite counter-insurgency Delta Force battling militancy in the Doda district, celebrated its sixth Raising Day today. It was also a red letter day in the history of the fledgling formation as Major-Gen C.S. Brar, General Officer Commanding, Delta Force, dedicated a martyrs' memorial in the memory of its valiant officers, JCOs and jawans, who laid down their lives while combating insurgency in the district.

The ability of this specialised force is elucidated by its achievements within a short span of five years. It has eliminated 423 militants, apprehended 803 militants and rescued 43 innocents from being coerced into militancy and obtained surrenders of 58 militants. The recoveries affected, include 345 AK 47/56 rifles, 15 UMG/LMG, 104 pistols, 8 snipers rifles, 4 rocket launchers and 75 radio sets of foreign make.

A large number of officers, JCOs and jawans have laid down their lives in the pursuit of their goals. The valiant troops of the Delta Force have won 276 honours and awards till date, including nine Shaurya Chakras, 55 Sena Medals, 2 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 99 COAS commendation cards, 102 GOC commendations.

Mehbooba demands repoll in Srinagar

SRINAGAR, Sept 6 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party nominee, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, today demanded a repoll in the entire Srinagar constituency alleging large-scale rigging by the ruling National Conference in connivance with the Central Government and the Election Commission.

A formal request for the repoll had been made to the Election Commission, Ms Mehbooba told newsmen here.

"We did not see any central observer in the constituency," she charged.

It was a "pre-planned conspiracy" in which the central and state governments and the Election Commission were party against her and the police played the role of mere "spectators", she charged.

The ruling party, including Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and other party leaders, were involved in "massive rigging" in Charar-e-Sharif, Badgam, Ganderbal and Kangan, she alleged, wondering how the poll parcentage could suddenly shoot up between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Questioning the poll percentage provided by the Election Commission, she said first it was stated that only 12 per cent of the electorate had cast their votes but in Delhi it was later increased to 15 per cent.

She said the low voter turnout was not because of the Hurriyat call for poll boycott but because of the disillusionment of people, who had participated in the 1996 poll at the risk of their lives but had their dreams shattered by "anti-people" policies of the state government.

Meanwhile the state unit of the BJP on Monday claimed that election authorities had despatched ballot boxes without engraving serial numbers to some areas of the Jammu Lok Sabha constituency and feared rigging by ruling National Conference in the September 11 polling, a report from Jammu said.

The state BJP leaders, — candidate for the Jammu Lok Sabha seat Vaid Vaishno Dutt, party state general secretary Nirmal Singh and working committee member T.R. Sharma, told reporters that ballot boxes without engraved serial numbers had been despatched to the Akhnoor, Vijaypur, Rajouri, Marh and Mendhar assembly segments.

Most of the ballot boxes despatched to these five assembly segments had painted serial numbers as against the mandatory requirement that the numbers be engraved, they said.

The leaders said the matter had been taken up with the Chief Election Commissioner and a request had been made to him to instruct the state authorities not to violate rules and regulations enforced by the Election Commission of India.

"If authorities do not take immediate steps to send the ballot boxes with engraved serial numbers at these places, there is every possibility that they may be substituted at the instance of the ruling party", they said.

JP leaders visit migrant camps
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Sep 6 — The Janata Party candidate from Anantnag,Mr Ajay Sharma, and the candidate from Baramula, Mr Sushil Gupta, today visited migrant camps at Nagrota, Misshriwalla and Pamposh Nagar near here in order to garner their support.

Mr Gupta and Mr Sharma fully supported the demand of Kashmiri Pandits that a separate homeland for them should be created in Kashmir.

Both the leaders strongly condemned the failure of the National Conference and the BJP for their failure to rehabilitate Kashmiri migrants and make them come back to their homes with dignity and honour.

The Janata Party leaders determined to make a national issue of this to pressurise the Government of India to redress their grievances.

Mr Sharma and Mr Gupta expressed full faith and confidence in the leadership of the party state unit president, Mr Randeep Singh Parihar, and the national president, Dr Subramaniam Swami.