Lashkar says it has Chinese anti-aircraft guns

NEW DELHI, DEC. 31. The Pakistani mercenary group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has claimed to have acquired Chinese anti-aircraft guns and 60mm heavy mortars for use in Jammu and Kashmir.

``Our cadre have procured latest Chinese-made guns which can be used against fighter aircraft and to destroy bridges and buildings,'' according to the Lashkar mouthpiece Jihad Times.

The paper said Lashkar cadre had also been equipped with 60mm heavy mortars with an accurate range of 2.5 km, adding these sophisticated arms had been pushed into Jammu and Kashmir.

The paper also said the Lashkar and other mercenary groups had begun using mobile phones for communication with commanders based in Pakistan.

According to Army sources here, in recent operations security forces had captured two sophisticated mobile phone sets manufactured by the American company Ericsson, linked to mobile phone companies operating in border towns in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

For security reasons, the State Government has banned use of mobile phones in the State and according to Army officials, mercenary groups have begun to use smuggled mobile phones, particularly in Poonch and Rajouri areas from October this year.

JUM threatens Qureshi

The radical militant outfit, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen has termed the surrender of Hashim Qureshi, who had hijacked an Indian Airlines flight to Lahore in 1971, as ``an act of treason'' and threatened to ``take him to task''.

``Qureshi's humiliating surrender to Indian authorities amounts to treason and the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen will take him to task when he returns to Kashmir,'' a press statement released by the pro-Pakistan outfit to local newspapers said.

``Qureshi's statements that Pakistan was exploiting the sentiments of the people of Kashmir has been taken note of. Pakistan is our sympathiser and militants in Kashmir will fight till last to make Kashmir part of Pakistan,'' the statement said.

While living in Holland, Qureshi indulged in propaganda against the ``Jehad'' in Kashmir at the behest of India, it said, adding that was the reason for the Indian authorities providing him visa.

Three militants were killed when troops foiled two infiltration bids by ultras along the line of control (LOC) in Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors of Jammu division since yesterday, Defence sources said here today.

A group of armed militants sneaked into Rajouri district via the Keri area from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) last night and opened fire at the troops. The troops retaliated, killing two ultras, the sources said.

Troops foiled another infiltration bid in the Ghakrial area of Akhnoor sector along the LOC yesterday, the sources said. One militant was killed in the encounter.

Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen shot dead a militant of the Hizb- ul-Mujahideen outfit in Udhampur district of Jammu today, police said.

The body of Mohammad Irshad, who was killed following inter-group rivalry, was recovered from the Gool area, they said.

A constable Lal Hussain of the State police was killed by militants who raided his in-laws' house at Uchar-Magam in frontier district of Kupwara late last night.

- PTI, UNI

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