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| Sunday, January 28, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Ceasefire bold step: Saxena 4 killed in valley, ANC leader
abducted General Khanna
awarded PVSM
57 kg gold offered at Vaishno Devi
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Ceasefire bold step: Saxena JAMMU, Jan 27 — Barring grenade explosions in Surankot and Baramula, the Republic Day celebrations in the Jammu and Kashmir were held with fervour yesterday. Tight security measures had foiled the gameplan of militants to disrupt the Republic Day functions and people in large numbers participated in these functions. The state’s main function was held at Maulana Azad Sport Stadium in Jammu where the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, unfurled the national flag and took salute at an impressive march past from the contingents of the police, Army, Air Force, BSF, CRPF, NCC cadets and students of various schools. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Saxena said terrorism had acquired a global magnitude. Referring to the proxy war waged by Pakistan during the past 11 years in Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor said: “Our neighbour is deeply engaged in its efforts to trigger communal riots and weaken the socio-economic structure of the state.” He said the proxy war had caused mass exodus from the valley and had left 9,000 citizens killed, hundreds of social institutions damaged and affected the entire development process. Praising the role of the security forces in containing the activities of the militants, he supported the Prime Minister’s peace initiative. He said Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee had taken a bold step by extending the ceasefire period despite the fact that Pakistan-sponsored militant outfits had not responded positively to it. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, told newspersons that the government’s attitude would become harder if the militants stepped-up their strikes against innocent people. He said the militants had not responded positively to the ceasefire but still “we have given it further extension to allow the peace process to reach its logical conclusion.” SRINAGAR:
Amid the tightest-ever security arrangements, the Republic Day celebrations were held peacefully here and other district headquarters on Friday. A BSF jawan was injured when the militants hurled a grenade towards a patrol in Sopore town of Baramula district on Friday afternoon. One porter was critically injured when he walked over a landmine in the border belt of Uri in Baramula district on Friday morning. The situation was tense when the Republic Day celebrations were held at Bakshi Stadium. Public Works Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar took salute at the main function here. “It was a curfew-like situation”, said a resident here. APHC had called for a “civil curfew” and urged people to observe the day as “black day”. It alleged that the security forces had let loose a reign of terror in the name of security on the occasion of Republic Day. The valley presented a deserted look, according to reports coming in from other major towns. Speaking at the function Mr Sagar called for an end to violence and appealed all people, including the militants, to strengthen the peace initiative taken by the Prime Minister. He dismissed as media propaganda reports suggesting that Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and his government were against the peace process. Mr Sagar criticised the Hurriyat leaders for not reciprocating to the peace initiative positively, saying if they were well-wishers of people they would have extended their support to the move. Other ministers hoisted the Tri-colour at the district headquarters. At Budgam, Finance Minister A.R. Rather took the salute. Forest Minister Perrzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah unfurled the national flag at Anantnag while the Revenue Minister was present at the main function held at Pulwama, both in south Kashmir. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pyare Lal Handoo took the salute at the main function at Baramula while the Agriculture Minister took the salute at Kupwara. Our Correspondent adds from: UDHAMPUR:
The main Republic Day celebrations was held at Government Degree College ground here, Mr Mustafa Kamal, Cabinet Minister, was the chief guest on the occasion. He hoisted the national flag and took the salute.
Mr Kamal appealed to the people to maintain peace. |
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4 killed in valley, ANC leader abducted SRINAGAR, Jan 27 (PTI) — Four persons were killed and an Awami National Conference (ANC) leader was abducted by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening. Suspected militants abducted ANC district president Gulzar Ahmad Nengroo from outside his house at Kachdoora in Pulwama district late last night, an official spokesman said here today. A manhunt had been launched to nab the abductors. The ANC, headed by former Chief Minister G.M. Shah, is advocating a peaceful settlement for the Kashmir issue through dialogue. Ultras shot dead a surrendered militant at Sopore in Baramula district for his alleged links with the security forces, while unidentified gunmen killed a Hizbul Mujahideen worker in the Pattan area of the district last evening, the spokesman said. Militants shot dead a civilian at Khandaypora in Anantnag district today, he said. The body of Mohammad Shafi was recovered from the premises of a primary school at Saguda in Doda district. He was kidnapped and later killed by ultras. The tourist reception centre in Srinagar got an anonymous call that a suicide squad of militants would strike the heavily guarded campus housing several government offices and Indian Airlines booking counter. The police has rushed to the scene. Ultras lobbed a grenade towards a security picket at Gojwara chowk in downtown Srinagar injuring a civilian today, the spokesman said. They attacked a security camp at Niloo in Anantnag with grenades last night and set ablaze a government school at Chatergul. They exchanged fire with the security forces at Sangaldan in Udhampur district early today. No one was reported hurt. |
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General Khanna
awarded PVSM JAMMU, Jan 27 — Lieut-Gen A.S. Khanna, AVSM VrC, GOC 16 Corps, was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for his distinguished services on the occasion of the Republic Day yesterday. General Khanna was commissioned in the Regiment of Artillery in 1963 and had held several important command staff and institutional appointments. He was also Aid-de-Camp to the late Dr Zakir Hussain, President of India. He was decorated with the Vir Chakra for exemplary courage and leadership of high order during the 1965 Indo-Pak war. UDHAMPUR, Jan 27 — Two devotees of Delhi have offered 57 kg gold valued more than Rs 2 crore to Vaishno Devi shrine at Bhawan. According to reports, they replaced silver chhatar and other ornaments of three pindies. They were accompanied with 3000 devotees who took the gold on their head all along the 13-km- long route. Board officials were also present on the occasion. It took six months to make the chhatar and other ornaments and a railing. |
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