J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Put off Assembly poll, insist Gujjars
Jammu, July 7
Leaders of six Gujjar and Bakerwal organisations have demanded that the Assembly poll due in October be postponed by at least five months so that delimitation of constituencies and issuance of identity cards to voters is completed.

12 Al-Umar men held for Lone’s murder
Srinagar, July 7
The Jammu and Kashmir police has arrested 12 militants in connection with the killing of All-Party Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone, Director-General of Police Ashok Kumar Suri said.

Ultras attack police station
Srinagar, July 7
One person was killed and a police station attacked by militants in the Kashmir valley overnight.

An Army officer trains two girls in computer operations at a centre set up by the 255 Field Regiment of the 109 Brigade for the benefit of local children at Gurez, near the Line of Control, in north Kashmir. — PTI

Death toll in hill collapse rises to eight
Srinagar, July 7
The death toll in a hill collapse during stone quarrying at Pantha Chowk has risen to eight, official sources said.

Video

Residents of Kargil say the money being provided by the government to build bunkers is not enough. (28k, 56k)

Put off Assembly poll, insist Gujjars
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 7
Leaders of six Gujjar and Bakerwal organisations have demanded that the Assembly poll due in October be postponed by at least five months so that delimitation of constituencies and issuance of identity cards to voters is completed.

Mr Anwar Choudhary, Mr Shah Mohammad Choudhary of the Gujjar United Front, Mr Wali Mohammad, President, Anjiman-e-Gujran, Mr Shemsher Hakla, President, Gujjar Sudhar Sabha, Mr Khalid Firdous, President, Gujjar Students Federation, Mr Mohammad Yunus, President, Gujjar Bakerwal Welfare Organisation, Molvi Shah Mohammad and Mr Abdul Rashid of the Gujjar Samaj Sudhar and the Gujjar Youth Federation told a press conference here today that besides setting up of a delimitation commission for identifying reserved constituencies, imposition of Governor’s rule was necessary for ensuring a free and fair poll.

The Gujjar leaders said whatever be the number of observers the Election Commission may appoint, the next Assembly poll “will not be free and fair under the NC Government.”

They berated the National Conference for having given a raw deal to the Gujjar and Bakerwal people by denying them concessions entitled to Scheduled Tribe.

They were also denied due share in government jobs, admission in professional colleges and the state legislature.

The Gujjar leaders lambasted the NC leaders, especially the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, for raking up the demand for restoration of greater autonomy. These organisations said in case the central government decided to discuss the issue of restoration of greater autonomy, it should first consult Gujjar and Bakerwal leaders as these ethnic groups constituted 25 per cent of the total population of the state.

They opposed the idea of greater autonomy and regional autonomy as mooted by the National Conference.

They suggested to the central and state governments to allocate development funds at the district level on the basis of the population figure and that the census report of 2000 be made the basis of fund allocation.

12 Al-Umar men held for Lone’s murder

Srinagar, July 7
The Jammu and Kashmir police has arrested 12 militants in connection with the killing of All-Party Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone, Director-General of Police Ashok Kumar Suri said.

“We have arrested 10 to 12 militants of the Al-Umar outfit in connection with the killing of Lone,’’ he said, adding that the outfit had assumed a new name “Al-Madina.

Mr Suri said that the recent killings by the Al-Madina in Srinagar were carried out for intimidating people so that they kept away from supporting and cooperting with the government.

The police chief, however, said that adequate security measures would be taken for free and fair elections in the state.

At least 2,275 foreign militants, besides 1,225 locals were active in Jammu and Kashmir and more were infiltrating into the state as Pakistan continued to push fresh batchs, Mr Ashok Kumar Suri said.

“We have information that about 3,500 militants are active in the state. About 65 per cent are foreigners while rest are locals,’’ he said.

Mr Suri said that there was a slight decline in the infiltration from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) as compared to the corresponding period last year but it had not stopped totally. “We have information that infiltration is still continuing.” UNI

Ultras attack police station

Srinagar, July 7
One person was killed and a police station attacked by militants in the Kashmir valley overnight.

Militants lobbed grenades followed by firing with automatic weapons at a police station at Shopian in south Kashmir late last night, sources said. Police guards returned the fire and in the clash, a constable was injured.

Militants also killed Ghulam Hassan at Rajwara in the frontier district of Kupwara late last night.

Security forces arrested a militant along with arms and ammunition and Rs 2.5 lakh in cash in south Kashmir last night. UNI

Autonomy sole solution, says acting CM

Srinagar, July 7
Calling for greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, acting Chief Minister Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah today said such a move alone could bring sustainable and ever lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute.

“The demand for greater autonomy represents the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Autonomy is imperative for the economic development, prosperity and unity of the state,” he said addressing a public meeting here.

“The state acceded to the Union of India on certain conditions and the constitution of the country guarantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir,” Mr Shah, who is also Housing and Urban Development Minister, said.

Accusing successive Central Governments of “diluting the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir, which had created disenchantment among the people,” he urged the NDA government to “respond positively” to the state Assembly’s resolution calling for granting of more autonomy. PTI

Death toll in hill collapse rises to eight

Srinagar, July 7
The death toll in a hill collapse during stone quarrying at Pantha Chowk has risen to eight, official sources said.

Two more bodies were recovered today taking the toll to eight. Five injured persons were admitted to different hospitals.

A portion of a hill collapsed during quarrying at Pantha Chowk, about 10 km from here on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway yesterday, when labourers were quarrying and loading stones on three tippers.

The sources said a portion of the hill gave way when stone quarrying was in progress. The possibility of some labourers still being under huge stones could not be ruled out.