SRINAGAR(PTI): Army foiled a militant’s bid 10 escape from besieged holiest Muslim mosque in the North Indian border state of Jammu and Kashmir under the cover of darkness and heavy rains Nov.7 while talks between the government’s new chief negotiator and the militants continued for an early solution to the over 3 week old crisis. The escape attempt by the militant could have been a prelude to a break out attempt,” Brig subarea commander, who commands the security forces positioned in the picturesque Hazratbal shine complex, told reporters here Sunday.
‘The militant who wanted to ¢scape, came out from old Namaz hall to bathroom old library side. As he reached the fence to escape he saw an army patrol and ran back inside the shrine, Brig Kanwar said.
He said it could be a case of testing the alertness of the troops in heavy rains and foggy weather. The attempt was followed by two more attempts around 0430 hours by the people trapped inside the shrine which were also foiled, he said.
‘The official chief negotiator and additional chief secretary in charge of home affairs, Mehmood Ur Rehman Sunday held two rounds of talks with the militants, Brig Kanwar said.
He said 80 packets of food were Sent in around 1300 hours Sunday 4S per the directions of the Supreme Court. The food was being prepared by the civil authorities and sent in under the personal supervision of Rehman.
Usually 4045 people come out and collect the food packets, he said, adding the number of persons holed up inside the shrine was more than 80.
Meanwhile, government had appointed B.R Singh, senior TAS Officer, as divisional commissioner, “Kashmira in places of Wajahat Habibullah, who is in AIMS hospital at Delhi, in critical condition. After a road accident, in which he and Gen Zaki were hit by an army truck. Lt Gen (Retd) M.A Zaki, security advisor 10 the Jammu and Kashmir governor was Sunday flown to Delhi by a special BSF aircraft. Gen Zaki, who is reported: to be out of danger.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 12, 1993
