 |
| Wednesday,
October 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
9 militants killed in
valley Mangat, Qureshi fight in the
open Shahtoosh: Farooq
for panel to Tibet RSS not against
splitting J &K 8 pc increase in
DA sought
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
9 militants killed in
valley SRINAGAR, Oct 3 — At least nine militants were killed in separate incidents across the Kashmir valley since yesterday, while the security forces found a large quantity of arms and ammunition during search operations. Four foreign militants, according to the police, were killed in an encounter with the SOG and security forces at Erin village in the Bandipore area of Baramula district. One of those killed has been identified as Abu Hamza of Jaish-e-Mohammad. Two civilians injured in the encounter were shifted to Srinagar last evening. Three residential houses were also gutted in the exchange of fire. However, a police spokesman said the operation was still in progress. Four AK rifles were found at the site of the encounter, the police said. Two unidentified militants were killed in another encounter with security forces at Pazalpora Panzla in Baramula district last night. Two AK rifles, and some assorted ammunition were found at the site of the encounter. Two houses were also gutted in the exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces. In Kupwara district of north Kashmir, two foreign militants of Jamiatul Mujahideen, identified as Talib Hussain and Mohammad Sidiq were killed in an encounter with security forces at Sogam in the tolab area. However, a Defence spokesman said that two foreign militants belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad were killed in an encounter near Drugmulla in Kupwara district. He said they were identified as Talib Hussain and Lohammad Siddiq both from PoK. One AK rifle, three magazines with 20 rounds, one pistol, one magazine with four rounds, three hand grenades, four disposable rocket launchers and three kg of explosives were recovered from the site of the encounter. The police claimed that three houses were gutted in the exchange of fire while security forces found arms and ammunition including two AK rifles. An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with the area domination patrol in Baramula district yesterday morning. Meanwhile, according to a PTI report, a teenager was seriously injured in shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control in the Uri sector of North Kashmir today. The shelling from across the border started around 6.30 am and lasted for over two hours injuring the teenager, a resident of the Peran Pellan area of Uri, official sources said. |
|
Mangat, Qureshi fight in the
open JAMMU, Oct 3 — Senior Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma, has come in the open against the PCC leadership urging the party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to take personal interest in the reshaping of party set-up in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Sharma led a party delegation to Ms Sonia Gandhi and explained to her various lapses the PCC chief, Mr Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, had committed during the past several months which had sharpeed factional feuds within the organisation. Inside reports said Mr Qureshi had sided with AICC General Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mr Madan Lal Sharma, to “elbow out” Mangat Ram and his supporters from the key posts in the organisation. In order to check Qureshi-Azad combine to oblige Mr Madan Lal Sharma by ignoring Mangat Ram the latter rushed to Delhi to apprise the AICC President about the mismanagement in the party after Mr Qureshi was installed as its president four months ago. When Qureshi was appointed the PCC chief Mr Mangat Ram Sharma had expected that he would be taken into confidence by Qureshi while selecting candidates for district units of the PCC. It was not done. Mr Qureshi banked on Madan Lal Sharma and Mr Dharam Pal Sharma known opponents of Mr Mangat Ram Sharma. Mr Qureshi had not taken into account the Mangat Ram factor in the Congress. As former minister and MP he has carved out a vast constituency in the Jammu region and he is the only party leader whose residence is frequented by large number of people from farfulng areas everyday. Reports said Mr Mangat Ram and Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad had met in Delhi recently where the two were able to shed some of their reservations about each other. At the same time Mr Azad fulfilled his commitment made to Mr Qureshi that he would attend the District Congress convention at Jammu. Out of six Congress MLAs only one Mr Tara Chand was present in the convention. Mr Madan Lal Sharma made great efforts to bring a large number of people from Akhnoor to the convention. Though the convention had a participation from a large number of people most of the party leaders, who matter in the organisation, were absent. From the loyalist camp Mr Mangat Ram has shifted to one of the dissident camps. The loyalists are shortly meeting in Jammu to finalise their strategy. Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad has been sounded that in case Ms Sonia Gandhi did not take steps to stem the rot the Congress would lose its little shine. However, Mr Qureshi too has his supporters in the PCC. It would be a sad commentary on the part of the party President if Mr Qureshi was replaced as he has not yet completed six months in office. He has to carry all important leaders with him and as far as the Jammu region is concerned be cannot expect to revive the organisation without sincere support and assistance from Mr Mangat Ram Sharma. Unfortunately Mr Qureshi has started banking on those who have either remained mere spectators or on those who have rejoined the party recently. Even if Mr Qureshi was replaced, no senior party leader would be able to bring all warring factions under one umbrella. The conflict in the party has its roots in ethnic and sub-ethnic tussle. It is Brahmins versus non-Brahmins and Gujjars versus non-Gujjars in Poonch and Rajouri areas as far as the Congress is concerned. As such Ms Sonia Gandhi has to take hard decisions to end the rift in the party failing which many more may cross over to the PDP, headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, others are being wood by the Nationalist Congress Party. |
|
Shahtoosh: Farooq for panel to Tibet SRINAGAR, Oct 3 (UNI) — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said the Centre would be approached to seek China’s permission for a visit by a technical team to Tibet to investigate whether shatoosh trade continues to threatens the antelope. Speaking at a function held in observance of the millenium’s first wildlife week here today. The Chief Minister said the team will comprise wildlife officials and representatives. If the team feels the threat to the antelope was genuine, the shahtoosh traders will stop the trade, he said, adding that with this the controversy over the issue would end once and for all. The Chief Minister said as a result of measures taken to preserve the wildlife, the population of the antelope was on the increase in the state. He stressed the need for creating an awareness among the people especially students about the need for protecting wildlife and said that two zoos would be set up at Manda in Jammu and Dachigam in Srinagar soon. He asked for comprehensive plans and proposals for conservation of various sanctuaries like Hokersar, Hygam and Mirgund. Dr Abdullah called for evolving a mechanism for making use of dead wood as fuel by those living near forests while stringent measures would be taken to preserve the green trees. Steps have to be taken for bridging the gap between energy-need and energy source, he said. This has become imperative in view of growing pressure of forest resource since other sources of energy like electricity and LPG have become costlier and scarce. He made a fervent appeal to the people make judicious use of electricity, generation of which is affected during the winter due to lesser water flow. The Minister for Forests, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmed Shah and the Minister of State for Forests, Mr Bashir Ahmed Nengroo, were among those who spoke on the occasion. Students of various educational institutions of the valley presented a variety programme depicting the importance of wildlife in maintaining the ecological balance. The Chairman, Legislative Council, Mr Abdul Rashid Dar, several ministers, legislators, representatives of various non-governmental organisations, officers and school children were present on the occasion. |
|
RSS not against
splitting J &K JAMMU, Oct 3 — “We did not oppose the demand for trifurcation or quadrification of Jammu and Kashmir state raised by different political and social organisations as it is not on a communal basis,” said Mr Indresh Kumar, an RSS leader here today. Clarifying the RSS stand on the demand for reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, he said “our party will decide its policy on reorganisation of the state after studying it”. Strongly opposing the demand of the National Conference government for regional autonomy, he said this demand was against the interest of the country and demanded abrogation of Article 370 and strikes on terrorist training centres. Mr Indresh Kumar said that the RSS will celebate its platinum jubilee on Dusehra on October 7 and will launch a mass-awakening campaign from November this year. 8 pc increase in
DA sought JAMMU, Oct 3 — The President of the National Mazdoor Conference, Mr Subash Shastri, has urged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to reconsider the decision to release the dearness allowance (DA) instalment due in July this year after increasing the rate by 3 per cent. He demanded that the instalment rate be increased by 8 per cent in the interest of government employees and pensioners. In a memorandum sent to the Prime Minister yesterday, Mr Shastri said the previous increase in DA instalment rate did not fully compensate for the hike in the prices of essential commodities. Mr Shastri also urged Mr Vajpayee to direct the state government to release the third instalment of arrears as per recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission and the DA
installments effective from January and July this year. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
