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April      Last updated: April  8,  5:00 p.m.

Our Special Correspondent

Jammu: The exposure of Pakistani hand in the massacre of Chhattisinghpura may prove a serious debacle to Pak-sponsored militancy in Kashmir as also elsewhere.

According to some observers this could bring a bigger shame for Pakistani rulers than the humiliating defeat in Kargil. They point out that Pakistan had committed this carnage with many objectives. First was to put the blame on security forces as the mercenaries were wearing Indian army uniforms. Another objective was to create a communal divide. Also they wanted to prove to the visiting American President, Shri Bill Clinton, that inhuman acts are being committed by the Indian authorities themselves.

These objectives were amply clear when immediately after the massacre of Sikhs the Pakistani electronic media, as also the agents of ISI, had started spreading rumours about sincerity of the Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

But the swiftness with which the State police and the security forces have apprehended the local militant—Yaqub Waghey— and subsequently eliminated five foreign mercenaries, has brought a shock for those spearheading the anti-India campaign and advocating for an independent probe into the act.

There had been reports that under threats certain Sikhs had been giving direct and indirect support to the militants and even providing them food and shelter. The incident had been largely criticised by one and all.

Unauthorised colonies by Muslim names

A large number of people in the outskirts of Jammu have not only unauthorisedly constructed big bungalows and raised structures but certain mohallas in these unauthorised colonies are being given communal and controversial names.

According to Choudhary Piara Singh, MLA of the area, over 3500 to 4000 buildings have come up on the encroached forest and other lands in the recent years. But some of these unauthorised colonies and mohallas of Bathindi, Raika, Bajlta, etc., are being given names like Islamabad, Faislabad, Qasimnagar, Sultannagar etc. On certain shops and hotels some strange boards have also been put up, Shri Singh said adding that this clearly indicated the designs behind the game plan of the fundamentalist and communal elements operating from within and outside the administration.

Those who have raised unauthorised buildings mostly include people from Kashmir Valley, Doda District and Poonch-Rajouri areas.

While many of the old colonies remain undeveloped and without electricity and other essential facilities, in these unauthorised areas developmental activities are going on with unbelievable speed. Metalled roads are being constructed, electricity and drinking water supplies have been ensured, most modern facilities of telecommunication system have been provided. Interestingly, those who have constructed their buildings in these colonies also include the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, many other ministers, legislators, political activists and other people. Many strangers have also raised their huge structures. It is alleged that some foreign money is also being used in these constructions. It may be noted here that in the Valley of Kashmir in the past years many old names of towns, villages and other places were changed with Islamic ones.

Pro-Pakistanis in a fix

The denial of meeting to the separatists of Kashmir and subsequent rejection of the demand for plebiscite in Kashmir by US President Bill Clinton has left the separatists high and dry. They are also disappointed over the mounting international pressure on Pakistan to stop exporting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as also to honour the Line of Control (LoC).

There are reports that in a sullen mood the leaders of the pro-Pakistan Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups are finding themselves in a fix about their future course of action as they had been pinning their hopes on USA and also on the visit of Bill Clinton to India and then Pakistan

These leaders had been telling their followers that the goal of azadi is round the corner and international forces especially USA will come to their support and compel India to respect the voices of those who are clamouring for azadi.

It is understood that now these leaders will wait for directions from across the border but the rejection of their moves at the internal level would make it difficult to keep their flock together and more so the support they had been enjoying so far amongst the Muslims in Kashmir and a few parts of Jammu area too.

Their supporters both in the Valley and elsewhere were already tired and considerably dejected for various reasons including that of mounting pressure of the security forces against the gun-totting elements, and also ever-increasing condemnation in and outside the State against the acts of terrorism like killings of innocent persons and destruction of public property.

In addition to the rejection of their demands by America and other world powers the recent massacre of Sikhs in Chhattisinghpora village, has also proved a rude shock for these leaders of secessionism.

Till now they had been trying to garner the support of Sikhs also and making attempts to create wedge between Sikhs and Hindus as well as other pro-India forces but the exposure caused by the massacre of innocent Sikhs, has made them untrustworthy.

Their trust has received more setback because after the massacre of Chhattisinghpora, the secessionist camp had been trying their best to shift the blame on Indian army and other Indian agencies. But after the arrest of local youth, Yaqub Waghey, and the information provided by certain villagers itself, and the subsequent killing of the five foreign mercenaries at their hide-out in the same area in the wake of the interrogation of Yaqub, their camouflage move has been unveiled.

In the changing situation the next few weeks will be quite crucial because of the likely new course of action these leaders will be guided along by their mentors from across the border and also the measures that the Governments of the State and the Centre will opt for to tackle the new developments.

Protestors burn down Pakistan flag

Representatives of the Rashtriya Vichar Manch and the Janshakti Morcha demonstrated against the Chhattisinghpura massacre at Dr Dharmaveer B.V. Moonje Chowk, opposite the New Delhi Railway Station. The demonstrators set ablaze a Pakistani flag in the presence of Kulmohan Singh, senior member of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Shri Gopal Krishna, Secretary of the Hindu Seva Sangh.

Abrogate Article 370 —demand Sikhs of Nagpur

A protest march by Khalsa Yuvak Dal of Nagpur against the massacre of 40 Sikhs of Chhattisinghpura, burned the Pakistan flag and an effigy of Gen P. Musharraf, shouting Pakistan murdabad joined by officer-bearers of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, the RSS and the BJP. The demonstrators demanded an end to Article 370.