J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

MLA’s brother among 7 killed in valley
SRINAGAR, Jan 12 — At least seven persons, including four militants and the brother of a ruling National Conference MLA, were killed and five others injured in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday.

Hizb men secure release of kidnapped workers
JAMMU, Jan 12 — That local militants, including those belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, were for the peace process to succeed became evident when some Hizb activists intervened to secure the release of seven road construction personnel working with the GREF.

ABVP activists burn effigies of CM, Slathia
JAMMU, Jan 12 — Activists of the ABVP today celebrated Lohri in a novel way by burning effigies of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and the Power Minister, Mr S.S. Slathia, in protest against continued load shedding and “legalising” admission of 54 students of a private medical college to two government medical colleges.

Mining lease for 34 entrepreneurs
JAMMU, Jan 12 — Based on mineral exploration done by the Geology and Mining Department, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has granted mining lease to 34 entrepreneurs, including eight in the public sector, for setting up mineral-based industrial units.

Motor Vehicles Dept earns 8 pc more revenue
JAMMU, Jan 12 — The Motor Vehicles Department has earned a revenue of Rs 15.79 crore during the first eight months of the current financial year. This is an increase of 8 per cent over the revenue earnings of Rs 14.62 crore during the corresponding period last year. 

MLA’s brother among 7 killed in valley
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Jan 12 — At least seven persons, including four militants and the brother of a ruling National Conference MLA, were killed and five others injured in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday.

The police here said unidentified militants shot dead Abdul Majid Mir, brother of an NC, MLA, Mr Mohammad Dilawar Mir, near his house at Rohama in the Rafiabad area of Baramula district this morning. “The deceased was some distance away from his house when an unidentified gunman fired one pistol shot at him”, a spokesman said. Mr Dilawar Mir represents Rafiabad constituency in the legislative assembly.

In another incident militants shot dead Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat of Karnah at Kenyal in Kupwara district.

Sources said a security jawan lost his life when militants attacked a patrol party at Cherkote in North Kashmir last night. However, the militants managed to escape in the nearby woods before the security forces could fire back.

The death toll in the encounter between militants and the security forces at Machpuna in Pulwama district yesterday has gone up to four. Three of the four militants killed have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Lone, Mohd Amin Dar, both locals, and Kaka Bhai from Pakistan. A large quantity of arms and ammunition was seized from the site of the encounter.

Five pedestrians were injured when militants hurled a grenade towards a security picket in Sopore town or Baramula district today. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the road, causing injuries to five pedestrians. Two of them were shifted to SMHS Hospital here for treatment.

PTI adds from Jammu: Three persons were killed in Doda district of Jammu division since Thursday, the police said here on Friday.

Militants entered the house of Abdul Rehman in the Muthi-Marmat area of Doda district and shot him dead on Thursday. Mukhtiar Ahmed of Dondi village in Bhaderwah tehsil in the same district was killed by ultras in a separate incident.

Twenty-year-old Bashir Ahmed, who was kidnapped by militants earlier, was also killed at Alan Bass in the Banihal area of Doda, the police said.

Hizb men secure release of kidnapped workers
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 12 — That local militants, including those belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, were for the peace process to succeed became evident when some Hizb activists intervened to secure the release of seven road construction personnel working with the GREF.

A group of foreign mercenaries had kidnapped seven GREF employees from their tipper in the Lassana area of Rajouri on Wednesday. As the news spread Hizbul Mujahideen activists intervened and persuaded the mercenaries to release the kidnapped people unharmed. The moment the mercenaries showed reluctance the Hizb activists threatened that their refusal would lead to a bloodbath.

The mercenaries relented and set free all seven GREF employees. A Defence Ministry spokesman claimed a large number of local militants were keen to cooperate with the security forces in order to allow the peace initiative to succeed. He said the differences between local militants and foreign mercenaries in the Rajouri and Poonch areas had sharpened over the reports that the mercenaries had resorted to extortion of many hues, leading to a lot of harassment and inconvenience. The local militants were angry over the way the mercenaries recently blew up the Lassana bridge which affected the easy movement of the people of the area.

He said after mercenaries had lost local support they were trying to kidnap GREF personnel and other political activists in order to make a quick buck from their release.

ABVP activists burn effigies of CM, Slathia
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 12 — Activists of the ABVP today celebrated Lohri in a novel way by burning effigies of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and the Power Minister, Mr S.S. Slathia, in protest against continued load shedding and “legalising” admission of 54 students of a private medical college to two government medical colleges.

Led by its national secretary, Mr Romesh Puppa, ABVP supporters marched to Raj Bhavan, raising anti-government slogans. Metres away, they set on fire effigies of the Chief Minister and the Power Minister.

Mr Romesh Puppa announced that the ABVP, with the support of several political and social organisations, would intensify the agitation against power curtailment and the government’s refusal to cancel admission of the 54 students. The announcement was applauded by the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, members of the Bar Association and leaders of the Congress, the BSP and the BJP have supported the protest rallies against heavy load shedding.

A BJP delegation led by the party President, Mr D.K. Kotwal, met the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, in the Raj Bhavan today. The delegation submitted a memorandum in which concern was expressed over the increase in the power cut period and the admission policy of the government.

The Governor gave a patient hearing and assured the delegation that he would look into the matter. The BJP leaders also informed the Governor that if things were set right, Jammu may witness a major law and order problem because women, too, had joined the agitators.

Mining lease for 34 entrepreneurs
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 12 — Based on mineral exploration done by the Geology and Mining Department, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has granted mining lease to 34 entrepreneurs, including eight in the public sector, for setting up mineral-based industrial units. The state possesses vast natural mineral reserves, which include 3200 million tonnes of high grade lime stone mainly located in the Kashmir valley and 45 million tonnes in the Jammu region, 3 million tonnes of magnesite deposits in the Katra-Panthal area of Jammu province, 8.6 million tonnes of bauxite deposits mainly of diasporic type in Udhampur district, 100 million tonnes of Gypsum found in Baramulla and Doda districts and 35 million cubic metres of marble deposits found in Kupwara district. Marble also occurs in the Thathri area of Doda district.

With a view to fully exploit the lime stone deposits, five cement plants in the Kashmir valley are fully functional. In Jammu, out of three cement plants in the private sector, one has already been commissioned. Besides this, half a dozen cement plants, both of small and medium capacity, the Kashmir valley are expected to come up shortly. In the field of gypsum, besides one in the public sector, two mining leases for extraction in the private sector have been granted to feed the small scale units dealing with plaster of Paris and cement plants in and outside the state. Likewise, seven marble extraction units, including one in the public sector, have been established. The Jammu and Kashmir state is also bestowed with vast deposits of granite available, particularly in Uri, Baramulla, Harwan, Verinag, Kargil, Leh, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar areas which needed to be exploited fully.

The mineral-based industries established in the public sector include Wayan Cement Factory, PCF Wuyan, Khrew Cement Factory, PCF Bari Barhamana, marble unit, Drugmulla run by J and K Mineral Ltd and Brick and Tile Factory, Pampore and Hydrated lime, Lethpora run by the Srinagar Development Authority. The units set up in the private sector include mechanised brick plants at Ompora in Kashmir and Akhnoor in Jammu etc.

Meanwhile, the Geology and Mining Department is continuing its efforts for investigation of new units and has conducted drilling of 542.78 metres and detailed geo-mapping of 0.94 ml sq. metres during first eight months of the current fiscal year as compared to drilling on 899.47 metres and detailed geo-mapping of the order of 0.94 ml sq metres during last fiscal year. The revenue mobilisation has also witnessed a steep increase during the last three years. The department has achieved a revenue of Rs 1.58 crore during last fiscal year against Rs 74.31 lakh in 1996-97. The revenue realised during first eight months of the current fiscal year has been to the tune of Rs 1.49 crore.

Motor Vehicles Dept earns 8 pc more revenue
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 12 — The Motor Vehicles Department has earned a revenue of Rs 15.79 crore during the first eight months of the current financial year. This is an increase of 8 per cent over the revenue earnings of Rs 14.62 crore during the corresponding period last year. This year’s target of Rs 24 crore would be exceeded.

This was revealed during a review meeting of the Transport Department held under the chairmanship of the Minister for Transport and Information, Mr Ajatshatru Singh, here yesterday. The Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Transport and Information, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Ganai, Transport Commissioner, Mr Mohanty, State Motor Garages and other senior officers of the department also attended the meeting.

During the deliberations steps about improvement in the functioning of the front wing of the department wiz the SRTC and the State Motor Garages were discussed and several decisions were taken on the spot.

The minister stressed upon the transport authorities to make maximum use of the SRTC vehicles by deploying them with the defence, paramilitary forces, Railway and central and state government departments. He said, this way maximum revenue could be earned and the losses of the department reduced. Mr Ajatshatru Singh advised the transport authorities to liaise with the Northern Command, Railways and other Central Government departments for carrying their goods and compete with the state transporters.