J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Forces ready for challenge: IG
Srinagar, December 28
The security forces, along with the Jammu and Kashmir police, are ready to maintain internal security in the Kashmir valley in the event of any Pakistani aggression, a senior police officer said.

Sever ties with Pak, says Panun Kashmir
New Delhi, December 28
Urging the government to sever all diplomatic ties with Pakistan, the Panun Kashmir today said India should declare its neighbour a terrorist state without waiting for a “nod” from the United States of America. “India should declare Pakistan a terrorist state. We should not wait for a nod from the USA to address our internal matters,’’ Panun Kashmir convener Agnishekhar said.

Hurriyat-sponsored strike hits life
Srinagar, December 28 Life was disrupted today in Srinagar and other major towns of the Kashmir valley following a general strike called by the Hurriyat Conference in protest against the killing of five women of the minority communities last week.	Security men patrolling deserted Lal Chowk, nerve centre of Srinagar, during a general strike on Friday.  — PTI photo

A sticker pasted on an AK assault rifle seized during an anti-militant operation in Srinagar recently, reads “Al-Badr Shahadatoo-ki-Ameen” (Al-Badr is trustworthy to the martyrs). — PTI

SFC sanctions loans worth Rs 66.72 cr
Jammu, December 28
The state Financial Corporation has sanctioned loans to the tune of Rs 66.72 crore to different entrepreneurs and has succeeded in reducing its losses from Rs 6.09 crore to Rs 30 lakh in the past five years.

YOUR TOWN

Jammu Srinagar

A policeman shows deadly white RDX explosive seized during an anti-militant operation in Badgam district of central Kashmir recently. — PTI

	Lone blames Centre for war-like situation December 28, 2001
	Peace eludes J&K as another year ends December 27, 2001
	Curbing of funds by Pakistani groups worries APHC December 26, 2001
	Four militants killed in Kashmir December 25, 2001
	Sikh leaders warn Kashmir ultras December 24, 2001
	5 shot in Anantnag district December 23, 2001
	Border villagers fear the worst December 22, 2001
	Dec 13 attack: Geelani’s brother released December 21, 2001

A huge cache of ammunition along with 350 gm of RDX seized by the CRPF in Srinagar. (28k, 56k)

Major killed in road mishap
Baramula, December 28
A Major was killed and three others, including another Major, were injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge on the Baramula-Uri road today.

• Protest against Education Officer

Forces ready for challenge: IG

Srinagar, December 28
The security forces, along with the Jammu and Kashmir police, are ready to maintain internal security in the Kashmir valley in the event of any Pakistani aggression, a senior police officer said.

“We have not yet made an extra-ordinary deployment of our security forces and the state police, but we are ready to face any challenge in the event of any Pakistani aggression,’’ Inspector General of Police K. Rajinder Kumar said here.

He said: “Till today, we have our normal deployment across the valley, combating a proxy war. But for war period, we definitely have to change everything for maintaining internal security and peace.’’

The IGP said they had identified vital installations, bridges and other areas which needed extra vigil in the event of war.

“We have also a list of persons who could be a threat in our security in case of war and we have already taken note of this,’’ he said, adding that they would be arrested.

Mr Kumar said because of extra-ordinary build-up of forces on the border and heavy snowfall in the upper reaches of the valley, there had been some decline in the infiltration from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

He said Pakistan was sending more trained militants and sophisticated weapons into the valley for carrying out fidayeen and snap attacks on security forces: “But we are ready to thwart all their designs,’’ he said.

The Police chief said: “We have got a link after we arrested a militant belonging to Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaida network in Jammu and yesterday we could manage to get a harbourer of Al-Qaida militants from the outskirts of the city. He said a massive operation in North Kashmir, particularly in the frontier district of Kupwara had been launched to nab more militants.

The IGP said according to intelligence inputs, there could be 450 to 500 activists of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed the operating in Kashmir. When asked about Gazi Baba, the mastermind behind the December 13 terror attack on the Parliament building in New Delhi, Mr Kumar said no success had been achieved so far. UNI

Sever ties with Pak, says Panun Kashmir

New Delhi, December 28
Urging the government to sever all diplomatic ties with Pakistan, the Panun Kashmir today said India should declare its neighbour a terrorist state without waiting for a “nod” from the United States of America. “India should declare Pakistan a terrorist state. We should not wait for a nod from the USA to address our internal matters,’’ Panun Kashmir convener Agnishekhar said. 

Demanding that the government launch an offensive against terrorist-training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the convener said, “We are justified in doing so. We have suffered for the past two decades. The December 13 attack on Parliament vindicates our stand on cross-border terrorism." Dr Agnishekhar said, “America did not furnish any proof of Osama bin Laden’s or the Taliban’s involvement in the September 11 attack. India should function on its own’’. UNI

Hurriyat-sponsored strike hits life
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 28
Life was disrupted today in Srinagar and other major towns of the Kashmir valley following a general strike called by the Hurriyat Conference in protest against the killing of five women of the minority communities last week and the alleged violation of human rights in the state.

The streets and main markets in Srinagar wore a deserted look as people remained indoors with all modes of transport being off the roads.

However, there was no report of any bandh-related violence from any part of the valley.

A Hurriyat Conference spokesman said “Only anti-movement elements can resort to such heinous crime,” referring to the killings of the women belonging to Sikh and Pandit families at Poshkreeri and Hugam villages in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag on December 21.

“We also feel insecure,” the spokesman said and demanded an impartial probe into the killings.

While authorities blamed militants for the killings, militant groups and secessionist organisations alleged that the killings were carried out by “pro-government” agencies to malign the ongoing “struggle” in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, shops and business establishments in Badgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama and Anantnag district headquarters and other major towns of the five districts were closed today and public and private transport were affected, official reports reaching here said.

Work in government offices were badly hit, while semi-government offices, banks and courts were closed across the valley, the reports said.

The police and paramilitary forces, who have been deployed in full strength in the sensitive areas, were seen patrolling the streets, the reports said. PTI

SFC sanctions loans worth Rs 66.72 cr
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 28
The state Financial Corporation (SFC) has sanctioned loans to the tune of Rs 66.72 crore to different entrepreneurs and has succeeded in reducing its losses from Rs 6.09 crore to Rs 30 lakh in the past five years.

The Finance Minister, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, said over 1,000 entrepreneurs had benefited and employment avenues for about 26,000 generated.

He said following certain corrective measures adopted by the government the SFC was able to extend its services to the rural areas and the emphasis was on helping the educated youth in setting up industrial units in the state.

Mr Rather said while the loan disbursement schemes were liberalised the SFC introduced several measures to realise the sums from those who had been given loans. And during the past five years the corporation was able to recover Rs 118.34 crore. He, however, stated that the recovery rate had yet to touch the target.

The minister assured educated youth that the corporation would sanction loans to them provided they came forward with suitable and viable industrial projects.

Major killed in road mishap

Baramula, December 28
A Major was killed and three others, including another Major, were injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge on the Baramula-Uri road today.

Official sources said a jeep in which soldiers were on way to Baramula from Uri skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge near Dandnakhan resulting in the death of Major Manmeet Singh.

It said Major Malik and two other soldiers were injured.

The injured were admitted to hospital. UNI

Protest against Education Officer
Our Correspondent

Kathua, December 28
Hundreds of activists of the United School Association and other trade union leaders held a demonstration in front of the office of the Chief Education Officer (CEO) here in support of a teacher who is allegedly being victimised by the officer. The protesters were led by Mr Shyam Parshad Kesar, state president of the association.

Various trade union leaders spoke on the occasion and criticised the anti-employees' policy of the CEO. They appealed the higher authorities to intervene in order to solve the matter amicably.