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Monday,
September 24, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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PoK camps
to be made arms stores
Jammu sees
spurt in militant attacks Dissidents
ask Sonia to replace Qureshi Three shot
dead in valley |
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Panel
proposals violate rights, say employees Plan to
boost handloom units
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PoK camps to be made arms stores Jammu, September 23 Official sources said here today that soon after the USA announced war against global terrorism, the Pakistani authorities decided to wind up these arms training camps for the time being. The militants in these camps were asked to move to civilian villages and mix with people. This decision was taken in view of Islamabad’s initial fears that Indian troops may carry out air strikes and ground operations to destroy these camps in order to show to the world that Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism was no longer a secret. But as fears of an Indian retaliation have receded following assurances by New Delhi and Islamabad of cooperation to the US Government, the Pakistani defence authorities do not want the US satellite system to carry pictures of these camps which could warrant a US strikes on these camps. According to the official sources, the Pakistani authorities have plans of converting these camps into defence stores, schools, and porter sheds because they are loath to destroy these structures. While militants belonging to Afghanistan and PoK have been allowed to return to their ancestral villages, those belonging to Kashmir have been directed to cross over to Jammu and Kashmir. Official reports revealed that more than 800 Kashmiri youths were among the 4,000 militants under training in 12 camps, including the ones at Aliabad, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Sensa, Mirpur, Bhimber, Kahuta and Thub. Informed sources said the Indian security forces were yet to receive instructions regarding the policy to be adopted towards infiltrators and exfiltrators. There is a difference of opinion over the policy. One opinion favours elimination of both infiltrators and exfiltrators but the other wants safe passage for Pakistani and Afghan militants so that for the time being the state could have respite from these terrorists. According to these sources, small groups of Afghan mercenaries from various part of the state are planning to cross over. They are yet to find guides who could facilitate their exfiltration. Against this, Pakistani troops have been asked to assist Kashmiri militants to infiltrate into the valley and the Jammu sector so that the US authorities had no proof of Pakistan’s involvement in giving arms training to Kashmiri youths. Those who favour tough dealing with infiltrators and exfiltrators argue that if they are not eliminated on the border, there is no guarantee that those guerrillas would not resurface and create problems in Jammu and Kashmir after the war against terrorism is over. |
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Jammu sees spurt in militant attacks Jammu, September 23 “Jammu has also gone in the Kashmir valley way following imposition of the Disturbed Areas Act in the division including Jammu city area”, said Mr Ravi Khajuria, a Congress leader and added, “now everywhere militants’ strikes are being reported even from city areas”. As many as 102 persons — 32 security personnel, 61 militants and nine civilians — were killed in Jammu division during the past three weeks of September, official sources said here today. The sources said 21 security personnel were killed in as many as 37 IED blasts, triggered by militants during the period in Doda, Udhampur, Poonch and Jammu districts. In Jammu district alone 26 blasts were reported. Out of 31 blasts in Jammu division, 24 rocked Jammu district last month, sources said, adding 157 persons, including 69 militants, 54 civilians and 34 forces personnel, were killed in 82 militancy related incidents in Jammu division in August. There were also reports of lethal attacks on police stations, district police lines, house and residence of senior police officials and security camps in Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur and Doda districts during the period. This all had happened after the failure of Agra Summit as militants were directed to disturb situation in Jammu, which is the state’s main business hub, Mr Khajuria said. The Director General of Police Mr Ashok Suri, said yesterday at a police conference that Jammu would be the main target of militants after the “darbar” (seat of government) moved its offices in winter.
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Dissidents
ask Sonia to replace
Qureshi Jammu, September 23 They had come to Delhi to make a final bid to score a victory over the loyalists headed by Mr Mohammad Shafi
Qureshi. Informed sources said Mrs Sonia Gandhi gave a patient hearing to the aggrieved leaders and allowed many of them to speak freely and frankly. This encouraged Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, Mr Ayub Khan, Peerzada Mohammad Syed and others to cite instances where Mr Qureshi had gone wrong which resulted in the ongoing infighting in the organisation. The dissidents informed the Congress President that during the past two years the state unit of the Congress had gone downhill and those who felt suffocated under his leadership had either joined the National Conference or the Peoples’ Democratic Party, led by Mufti Mohammad
Sayeed. According to the sources, Mrs Sonia Gandhi did not give any assurance as far as the demand for change of leadership was concerned. She pacified the angry dissidents and said, “We will look into the matter.” Mrs Sonia Gandhi was not assisted by any of his trusted party colleagues at the meeting. She was informed by the dissidents that they were ready to work under any new leader she would choose. They told her that a panel of names had been submitted to her in the past, which include Ghulam Rasool
Kar, Ayub Khan, Mangat Ram Sharma, and Peerzada Mohammad Syed. According to a dissident leader, “We are fully satisfied with the response we received from Mrs Sonia Gandhi.” Asked whether they hoped to see Mr Qureshi out, he said “We cannot say anything. We have explained our problems and difficulties to Madamji and it is up to her to take a decision in the interest of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir.” However, dissidents seemed to be “highly satisfied” and expect an immediate change because they have assured Mrs Sonia Gandhi that they would work under any leader of her choice. |
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Three shot dead in valley Srinagar, September 23 The encounter broke out when the security forces laid a cordon to carry out house-to-house searches in the village to flush out hiding militants, the spokesman said. He said the bullet-riddled body of a former militant, Mukhtiar Ahmad Khan, was recovered from village Malikpora-Dooru in Anantnag district today. The deceased was missing since July 7, 2001. He said two security personnel were injured when militants ambushed a patrol party at Brangoti Nallah in Kathua district early today. Militants fled the scene after the ambush leaving behind six grenades, three improvised explosive devices and 21 rounds of ammunition which were seized, the spokesman said. He said a jawan was injured in a landmine explosion triggered by militants in Kupwara today. Militants set ablaze a residential house belonging to Mohammad Shafi at Chajala-Mendhar in Poonch district last night, causing damage. He said a militant belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen was also apprehended with a Chinese-made pistol.
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Panel proposals violate rights,
say employees Jammu, September 23 Addressing a one-day conference of workers here, the NMC president, Mr Subhash
Shastri, said the “recommendations are violative of the Fundamental Rights which have been enshrined in the Constitution and Mr Vajpayee should announce the rejection of the proposals of the 11th Finance Commission, headed by Mr A.M.
Khusru, in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament.” He said due to the recommendations of the commission, the working class all over the country was facing acute economic problems. There should be a review of the pay scale and other service conditions of the employees, he demanded. Several resolutions were adopted at the conference, including release of DA (dearness allowance) along with distributed area allowance, regularisation of the services of daily wagers at the earliest, enhancement in the wages of daily wagers to Rs 100 per day, setting up of employees colonies and pensionary benefits to the public sector unit employees.
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Plan to boost handloom units Srinagar, September 23 Under the scheme, thrust would be laid on the development of exportable handloom products by upgrading skill and design capabilities of weavers to make exportable products to suit specific market demands. They said seven projects with the cost of Rs 2.43 crore as the Central share and Rs 1.07 crore as the state share would be launched in the state under this scheme. The Centre has already sanctioned one such project in favour of a cooperative society ‘Kashfab’ in Srinagar, the sources said. Under the scheme, world renowned designers would be engaged to develop latest handloom designs besides, undertaking modification of looms and product development and diversification. A sustained promotional campaign through the media as well as international exhibitions and buyer-seller meetings would be launched to generate market avenues for handloom products of Jammu and Kashmir in the overseas market, the sources said. The Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Departement has taken measures to upgrade product quality. These include provision of 50 per cent subsidy to weavers for purchase of latest looms and accessories, they said. They said Rs 5.80 lakh had been earmarked for this purpose during the current fiscal year. The special credit plan facility has been extended to the handloom sector, wherein 90 per cent of the term loan would be provided along with 5 per cent interest subsidy to the weavers.
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