J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hurriyat poll panel this week
Srinagar, February 3
While a formal response from the Governments of India and Pakistan to the APHC’s latest move on determining its representative character is awaited, the Hurriyat Conference is scheduled to announce the constitution of its election commission this week.

J&K to be export zone for apple
Srinagar, February 3
Jammu and Kashmir, fruit bowl of India, will be declared export zone for apple in the country shortly, official sources said here today. The Centre had agreed to the proposal of the state government in this regard after observing the quality and production of the fruit, the sources said.

BSF man, civilian hurt  in Pak firing
Jammu, February 3
One civilian and a BSF Head Constable were wounded when Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing in the Samba and Ramgarh sectors. Official reports said while BSF Head Constable, Rajinder Prasad, was wounded on S.M. Pu post in Ramgarh today, a civilian Sheetal Sharma was hit by bullets in his legs in Ladowal village in the Samba sector last night.

With fresh snowfall in Gulmarg, skiing competitions have started in this world-famous tourist resort of Kashmir. —  Photo Amin War

Hurriyat poll panel this week
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 3
While a formal response from the Governments of India and Pakistan to the APHC’s latest move on determining its representative character is awaited, the Hurriyat Conference is scheduled to announce the constitution of its election commission this week.

A meeting, according to the APHC leadership, later this week will dwell on the constitution and members of the commission. All constituents of the 23-member conglomerate will decide about it.

It is a good, creative and non-violent move by virtue of which, the Hurriyat leaders have put themselves to test”, Mohammad Yasin Malik, senior APHC leader and chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, said.

He told TNS that this step was taken to dispel doubts and confusion created by the government over the credibility of the Hurriyat leadership and its representative character.

The nominees, would be “internationally known personalities,” he said, adding that “let there be a credible electoral process under the supervision of an impartial election commission”.

Reiterating APHC’s stand on the “resolution of Kashmir issue” through peaceful means, the Hurriyat leader held that a malicious campaign had been launched to give an impression that the present move was directed towards participation in elections.

The latest move announced by the Hurriyat Conference on January 28, after a working committee meeting included the constitution of an election commission to elect the “representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir”. The process would be completed in three phases — Kashmir valley in the first phase followed by Jammu and Ladakh regions in the second and lastly that of PoK.

JAMMU: A UNI report said Jammu and Kashmir Home Minister Khalid Najeeb Sohrawardy said on Sunday that the ruling National Conference would welcome the decision of the APHC if it contested the coming elections to justify its assertion of being the true representatives of the masses.

“We will welcome it if it decides to contest in the coming Assembly elections in the state to prove their true representative character. We known that we are representatives of the people as the masses have overwhelmingly voted us to power but we have no inhibitions and we would welcome if the Hurriyat decided to contest elections,” he said.

J&K to be export zone for apple

Srinagar, February 3
Jammu and Kashmir, fruit bowl of India, will be declared export zone for apple in the country shortly, official sources said here today.

The Centre had agreed to the proposal of the state government in this regard after observing the quality and production of the fruit, the sources said.

The step is being regarded as a major breakthrough in the uplift and progress of this vital industry in the state. The Director of Horticulture, Mr Kukoo Wazir, who visited various districts to give fillip to the horticulture sector, said the state was presently earning about Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,500 crore annually from the fruit produce.

This sector was providing employment, directly or indirectly, to about five lakh families of the state and earned foreign exchange of about Rs 200 crore per annum which was likely to be doubled in next couple of years, he said.

To boost the production of fruits, he said, his department would be distributing two lakh high-density fruit plants to orchardists on subsidised cost. He said Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal had placed orders for these plants.

Meanwhile, fruit growers and dealers association of Pulwama, urged the state government to extend and expand the upcoming fruit mandi at Preecho-Pulwama to ease the difficulties of the growers in the district.

The mandi, spread over 4.2 hectares with a provision of 112 shops and 70 stalls, would not be able meet the demand and sought its extension by more than 25 hectares to accommodate maximum number of fruit growers and traders of the south Kashmir district, association president Ghulam Dar said.

Pulwama is considered as “crown” of north India in respect of fresh fruit and dry fruits, especially saffron which is exported to other countries, besides meeting the domestic needs. PTI

BSF man, civilian hurt in Pak firing
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 3
One civilian and a BSF Head Constable were wounded when Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing in the Samba and Ramgarh sectors.

Official reports said while BSF Head Constable, Rajinder Prasad, was wounded on S.M. Pu post in Ramgarh today, a civilian Sheetal Sharma was hit by bullets in his legs in Ladowal village in the Samba sector last night.

The reports said Sheetal Sharma was asleep when Pak bullets pierced though the windowpanes and wounded his leg. Rajinder Prasad was evacuated to Army hospital and his condition was said to be stable.

Pak troops continued to fire with small arms and heavy calibre weapons on the Indian border villages and posts in the Akhnoor, R.S. Pora and Samba sectors yesterday night and today. The Indian troops retaliated and several Pak bunkers were damaged.

Meanwhile, the security forces today killed three militants at Galdun village in Udhampur district and two militants at Ranbir Moglan in Rajouri district.