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Wednesday,
August 7, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Kashmiri Pandits divided over
poll Army post attacked, 2 ultras
killed J&K Act amended for EVM
use |
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Kashmiri Pandits divided over
poll Jammu, August 6 Despite the fact that the Chief Election Commissioner has made a provision for the community in exile to cast their votes in separate polling stations that all to be set up in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi, a number of Pandit organisations plan to give a poll boycott call. Those in the forefront of staying away from the poll process include Pannun Kashmir, headed by Dr Agnishekhar, and the All Kashmiri Pandit Solidarity Conference (AKPSC) led by Mr O.N. Trisal. Both Dr Agnishekhar and Mr Trisal have clarified that their boycott call has nothing to do with a similar call given by the separatists. Mr Trisal said “as a community in exile facing tribulations in camps and other rented accommodation, we have been denied the basic right of being in our constituencies and vote for the candidates we favour.” Dr Agnishekhar said in 1996 also his organisation had given a call for the boycott of poll to register its protest against the way the minority community had been denied fundamental rights after having been forced to leave the land of their ancestors. He and Mr Trisal said mere participation in the poll process was not going to solve their problems. They said the government had failed to provide permanent rehabilitation to over 3.50 lakh Kashmiri Hindus, who had been “hounded out of the valley” in 1990. “Our demand for a homeland has not been conceded and hence participation in the poll process is a meaningless exercise for us,” they said. However, those supporting the National Conference, the Congress and the BJP have not yet taken any definite stand on the issue. Several Pandits owing allegiance to these mainstream organisations, have opposed those issuing the boycott call. Knowing that Kashmiri Pandit voters could tilt the scales in case the separatists call for poll boycott received response from the valley voters belonging to the majority community. For instance with a vote bank of about 60,000 in Srinagar district the Pandit electorate could play an important role in case the polling percentage in the valley ranged between 10 per cent and 15 per cent. It is in this connection that the supporters of the National Conference, the Congress and the PDP, led by Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, have been active in mobilising support of the migrants for their parties. |
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Army post attacked, 2 ultras killed Srinagar, August 6 Two militants in combat gear belonging to the suicide squad of the Lashkar-e-Toiba attacked the Army post at Handwara Chowk in Kupwara district this morning, an official spokesman said. Ultras Abu Khalid and Abu Saran first exploded grenades and then fired at the post, prompting quick retaliation by the Army, the spokesman said. The exchange of fire left a militant and a jawan dead. Another militant, who was wounded, managed to escape but was killed by the troops later. Defence sources said an Army patrol noticed a group of militants in the Bandipora area in Baramula district and asked them to surrender. However, they opened fire, killing two jawans and wounding another, the sources said, adding that the troops retaliated killing two militants. A policeman was killed and an SPO was injured when the militants attacked a police party on the Srinagar-Gulmarg road this afternoon. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Mohammad Jamal Kumar was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Baramula district. An unidentified militant was killed near Pattan in Baramula. The militants entered the house of Mohammad Hussain at Mouzia Nar village and shot him and his wife Afsafa Bi last night. Panic gripped Batmaloo when the militants hurled a hand grenade towards a security force bunker at Rekha Chowk this afternoon. However, the grenade missed the target and exploded on the road, injuring two pedestrians. JAMMU: A newly set up police picket in Rajouri was attacked by the militants while a militant was gunned down by the security forces in Poonch district on Monday evening, official sources said on Tuesday. The sources said the security forces shot dead a militant in Chella forest of the Sawjian area in Poonch district during an encounter on Monday and seized an AK-type rifle and some rounds of ammunition from him.
PTI, UNI |
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J&K Act amended for EVM use Srinagar, August 6 Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who chaired last-evening’s Cabinet meeting, emphasised the need for taking steps for free and fair elections. He said competent staff would be posted on duty during the four phases of the elections to handle EVMs. On the issue of identity cards and voter slips, the Cabinet observed that there could be voters without photo-identity documents and identity slips. The procedure of voting should provide voters free access to polling booths, state Chief Secretary I.S. Malhi said, briefing newspersons. Meanwhile, special election observers appointed by the Election Commission have begun touring districts to monitor the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the elections. Updated computerised electoral rolls have been made available to all district election officers. Two election observers today met the district election officer, Srinagar, Mr Abdul Hamid, to take stock of the poll arrangements made by the district administration. The meeting was attended by all district officers of Srinagar. Computerised voters lists have been displayed at tehsil offices, Srinagar municipality and in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, and people have been requested to verify their names on the lists. The SSP, Srinagar, Mr S.S. Swain, said arrangements had been made for providing security to the electorate, officials on election duty and polling stations. Meanwhile, the APHC has criticised the security forces for “compelling” people to get their election identity cards made.
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