J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Ministers visit migrants’ camps

Kathua, January 1 The acting Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Mohi-u-din Shah, visited border migrants’ camps at Ghagwal, Sherpur and Rajpura in Hiranagar tehsil and took stock of the situation arisen out of the uninterrupted shelling from across the border. (28k, 56k)

Kashmiri children from border villages warm themselves in a refugee camp in Samba, about 40 km south of Jammu, early on Tuesday.   — Reuters photo

No STD calls from Srinagar PCOs
Srinagar, January 1
Amid mounting tension between India and Pakistan, the Centre barred the STD facility to all PCOs in Srinagar from today. The facility, in other districts of Kashmir, division would also be withdrawn shortly.

Ministry deposits Rs 2 crore for acquired land
Jammu, January 1
The Defence Ministry has deposited over Rs 2 crore with the Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur, Doda and Poonch districts for payment to those whose land was acquired by the Army in the state.

Ministers visit migrants’ camps
Our Correspondent

Kathua, January 1
The acting Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Mohi-u-din Shah, visited border migrants’ camps at Ghagwal, Sherpur and Rajpura in Hiranagar tehsil and took stock of the situation arisen out of the uninterrupted shelling from across the border.

The Minister for Youth Services, and Sports, Mr Harbans Singh, Minister of State for Rural Development Mr Ajay Sadhotra and Minister of State for Home, Mr Najeeb Saharawardy, also accompanied the Chief Minister. The Ministers visited the camps on the directions of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is monitoring the relief operations in the state.

Addressing the migrants, Mr Shah said India was not in favour of war as it would bring misery to the people of both countries. However, if Pakistan opted for war, the Indian armed forces were fully equipped to face any eventuality, he said.

Mr Shah said the government was alive to the problems of border migrants. He said elaborate arrangements had been made to mitigate their problems. Free ration, kerosene oil, firewood, medical facilities, drinking water and shelter were being provided to the migrants. For shifting movable property of the border people to safer places, the government was planning to arrange transport. He said 10,000 blankets would be distributed among affected families within few days.

Mr Shah expressed satisfaction ever the arrangements made at the camps. He said the migrants might bring their problems to the notice of the district administration for early redressal. 

No STD calls from Srinagar PCOs
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 1
Amid mounting tension between India and Pakistan, the Centre barred the STD facility to all PCOs in Srinagar from today. The facility, in other districts of Kashmir, division would also be withdrawn shortly.

“The step has been taken following instructions from the higher authorities,” Mr Sunil Kumar, General Manager, BSNL, Kashmir, told TNS here today. He said this was being done for security reasons.

The STD facility at the PCOs in neighbouring states is also being withdrawn, it is learnt. It is, however, not known how long the restriction would continue in the valley.

The STD and ISD facilities, with the exception of Pakistan, were available with all PCOs in the valley. With the withdrawal of the facility, the consumers, could not contact their kin. The businessmen were the most affected as most of them had to use the STD facility provided on privately owned telephones.

The owners of the PCO were equally hit due to the “security measure taken by the Central Government.” Most of them had to down their shutters.

Ministry deposits Rs 2 crore for acquired land
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 1
The Defence Ministry has deposited over Rs 2 crore with the Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur, Doda and Poonch districts for payment to those whose land was acquired by the Army in the state.

According to a press note, the Defence Ministry has deposited over Rs 1 crore with the Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, for paying the rental of requisitioned land and made it clear that there was no outstanding payment with the ministry.

Similarly in Doda district, the ministry has deposited about Rs 74,000 and in Poonch over Rs 9 lakh. In Poonch district, the ministry has revised the rent rate with effect from February 16, 1988.