The Hindu : Don't oblige Vajpayee, militants tell Hurriyat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 20, 2002

National

National

Don't oblige Vajpayee, militants tell Hurriyat
By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, MARCH 19. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's call to militants and separatist political leaders to join the electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir has evoked a strong reaction from militant groups. They have targeted Hurriyat leaders asking them to desist from ``obliging New Delhi'' in its endeavours.

Rejecting the appeal by the Prime Minister, the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen and the Islamic Front, constituents of the 17-member Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Council, said they would ensure that the election process was sabotaged. The Islamic Front also warned the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief, Shabir Shah, of dire consequences for any attempt to negotiate with New Delhi or take part in the elections.

The Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen spokesman, Jameel Ahmed, in a faxed statement, said Mr. Vajpayee's statement was an attempt on his part to get out of internal problems. ``We have not given our sacrifices for the election and Mr. Vajpayee should not shut his eyes to the realities in Kashmir,'' he said adding that ``Indian forces have turned psychological wrecks with the increased number of attacks on them and the resolve of the people of Kashmir''.

He said the Jamiat was working out a joint strategy with like-minded groups to fight the Government's plans to conduct elections.

The Islamic Front spokesman said in a statement that some leaders, including the Hurriyat chairman, Abdul Gani Bhat, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Javed Mir, Abdul Gani Lone, Umar Farooq, Shahidulo Islam, Abbas Ansari, Bashir Ahmed Tota and Nazir Ahmed Ronga were seen in the forefront of Indian politics. The Islamic Front, as a constituent of the United Jehad Council, would not allow anything that ``our enemies'' wanted to see through. ``We do not want to label you as anti-movement but want to tell you that none of you will take part in the elections,'' the spokesman said in an address to the leaders.

The Front suggested that the Kashmir problem could be resolved by adopting a joint strategy for which unity was important. Instead of going to Delhi you should concentrate in Kashmir because from the Indian Government you can get nothing but betrayals, the spokesman said.

Siege ends, 2 killed

With the killing of two militants in a mosque in Mirangund village of Baramulla district the 12 hour-long siege by the Rashtriya Rifles ended this morning. Two PoK militants, later identified as Abu Mohammad and Mohammed Sayeed, had entered the mosque after security forces laid a cordon around the village to nab them.

When the cordon was tightened they opened fire on the security personnel.

The exchange of fire continued for some time. Attempts by villagers to persuade the militants to surrender failed.

The security forces, according to a local news agency, used poisonous gas to smoke out the militants resulting in their death. Minor damage was caused to the mosque.

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