J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K militants confused
Jammu, October 27
In the wake of an increase in confusion among the militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir, security agencies have received reports on the ingress and egress of foreign mercenaries which has been one of the factors responsible for the tension on the LoC owing to unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistani troops.

Extend POTO to J&K: police chief
Jammu, October 27
Mr A. K. Suri, Director General of Police, said the application of POTO to Jammu and Kashmir would help the security forces, engaged in anti-terrorist operations, to have an advantage over militants.

Hurriyat leaders meet diplomats
Jammu, October 27
The two-member all-party Hurriyat team comprising Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Maulvi Umar Farooq has held discussion with diplomats and ambassadors of several European countries in Delhi.

Securitymen check identity cards and frisk pedestrians in Srinagar on Saturday. Security has been beefed up in view of the general strike sponsored by the Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir valley against the landing of Indian troops on this day in Kashmir.  — PTI photo

J&K militants confused
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 27
In the wake of an increase in confusion among the militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir, security agencies have received reports on the ingress and egress of foreign mercenaries which has been one of the factors responsible for the tension on the LoC owing to unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistani troops.

Senior functionaries of the Ministry of Defence said during the past 24 hours, the troops killed nine militants who were trying to cross over to Pakistan from the Poonch and Rajouri sectors. They said the troops had spotted a group of 16 to 20 militants moving to the LoC in the Nowshera area of Rajouri and Bhimber Gali in Poonch. When they were challenged to stop, the troops came under heavy fire.

In the retaliatory fire, nine exfiltrators were killed and others managed to give them the slip. Search operations have been launched. There are reports that these militants were trying to mingle with the caravan of Gujjars and Bakerwals who were moving with their flock from the alpine forest belts to areas on this side of the International Border in Akhnoor tehsil and Kathua district.

On the other hand, Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged heavy fire in the Karnah and Tangdhar area yesterday. Official sources said the Pakistani troops brought two large groups close to the LoC in the Karnah and Tangdhar sectors. When they found the infiltration routes under tight security. The Pakistani troops resorted to mortar and artillery fire to provide fire cover to the infiltrators.

The Indian troops retaliated in which some Pakistan bunkers were hit and the infiltrators forced to flee.

Defence Ministry officials said in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors, the Pakistani troops had resorted to intermittent firing on the border villages during the past one month. “We have retaliated effectively whenever we observe an infiltration bid,” said the officials, adding, “We do not waste our ammunition by retaliating recklessly.”

They said ever since the American strike in Afghanistan, militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir had been gripped by confusion. While many foreign mercenaries were keen to cross back and fight against the American forces, others were being pushed into the valley. They said an attempt was being made to push into Jammu and Kashmir as many Kashmiri militants as possible to convey an impression that ongoing armed campaign was indigenous and not the result of foreign mercenaries.

Extend POTO to J&K: police chief
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 27
Mr A. K. Suri, Director General of Police, said the application of POTO to Jammu and Kashmir would help the security forces, engaged in anti-terrorist operations, to have an advantage over militants.

He told newspersons here today that POTO would have a “psychological impact on the militants” and added that under the provisions of POTO, the security forces and the police would enjoy more powers to deal with separatists and militants. He explained that under the existing laws “we had weak legal arms against the militants and subversive elements.”

In reply to a question, he said after the terrorist strikes in the USA and the following US attack on Afghanistan there “has been no change in the level of ingress, egress and violence in the state.”

He said the infiltration was continuing and the reports revealed that the boys were also crossing over to Pakistan for arms training.

Mr Suri, in reply to another question, said the police was fully prepared to meet any challenge from the militants who had started moving down from the alpine forest belts to the plains. He added that they could target Jammu city and its adjoining areas for which the necessary security measures had been taken. About the suicide attacks, the DGP said “if some boys are determined and destined to die, we cannot do anything.” He said the security forces were well equipped to retaliate and eliminate the suicide squads as had been done at Chadura yesterday.

He said during the past five years the police had done a commendable job in fighting against the militants. He said it was on the input provided by the police that the security forces were able to smash scores of militant hideouts and eliminates large number of terrorists. He said during these years many police constables and officers had joined the Army and the paramilitary forces in launching joint operations against the militants.

Hurriyat leaders meet diplomats
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 27
The two-member all-party Hurriyat team comprising Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Maulvi Umar Farooq has held discussion with diplomats and ambassadors of several European countries in Delhi.

The two Hurriyat leaders met senior functionaries in the Pakistan High Commission, American Embassy and ambassadors of some European countries to exchange views on the current crisis in Afghanistan and the Kashmir issue. They asked the diplomats and ambassadors to persuade the heads of their respective governments to define terrorism, its manifestations and its implications before a super power could strike civilians in order to eliminate one individual.

According to Professor Bhat, the American strike against people in Afghanistan for killing or arresting Osama bin Laden was another manifestation of state terrorism.

In reply to a question, Professor Bhat said that if terrorism was properly defined and differentiated from “jehad”, the Kashmir issue would be resolved.

He said that the custodial killings in Kashmir were not of state terrorism. On massacres being carried out by militants, the chairman of the APHC, said, “Let there be a high-level or judicial probe in massacres that took place in Chatti-Singhpora, Doda, Wandhama, Surankot and at other places for the reality to unfold.

In reply to another question, he said that if the American Government has, while defining terrorism, treated Osama bin Laden and the Taliban, which has given him refuge, as terrorists why has it not treated the Israeli action against Palestinian as terrorism.

On the promulgation of POTO, Professor Bhat said, “It speaks volumes about India being an imperialist country. He stated that POTO or “no POTO” the struggle for securing right of self-determination for the people of Kashmir would continue because the jehadis have overground outfit.

Selling of gurdwara properties opposed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 27
Several Sikh organisations, including the state Akali Dal, AISSF, Bhai Kanhiya Nishkam Seva Society and Sikh Naujawan Sabha, have demanded that the government should restrict the Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee from selling gurdwara properties in Jammu in a “clandestine manner”.

This demand was made at a press conference addressed by Mr Jagdev Singh, president, state Akali Dal, Mr Paramjeet Singh, president, AISSF, Mr Mohinder Singh, chief organiser, Bhai Kanhiya Nishkam Seva Society, and Mr Kulwant Singh, chief adviser, Sikh Naujawan Sabha, here today.

Mr Paramjit Singh said the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had decided to auction a prestigious gurdwara at Raghunath Bazaar in Jammu city without taking the Sikh community and the state Gurdwara Parbandhak Board into confidence.

He announced that they would resist this move. He added that the Gurdwara Parbandhak had lost moral and constitutional authority to sell the shrine property after it had been served with a notice by the Gurdwara Parbandhak Board to explain its position regarding embezzlement of funds. He said that instead of carrying out the much-needed repair of gurdwaras in Jammu, the committee was selling some property which belonged to the Sikh community.

Mr Jagdev Singh demanded a CBI probe into the alleged mismanagement of funds in M.c. Khalsa B.Ed. College, Jammu. He said that the management had not published the statement of college accounts because of mismanagement.

Criticising the recent incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, Mr Mohinder Singh blamed the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr PaRkash Singh Badal, for his failure to check such events. He said the guilty should be punished and urged people to defeat anti-Panthic forces.

Mr Kulwant Singh opposed the plan to dismantle the historical samadhi of Maharani Chand Kaur, wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and demanded that the site be handed over to the Gurdwara Parbandhak Board for development.