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Friday,
November 15, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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4
separatist leaders freed Mufti
‘following in Hurriyat’s footsteps’
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Pandits
oppose ‘policy of appeasement’ More
funds for Pulwama, Anantnag
LeT
ultra among 2 killed in Valley Notice
to Gupta creates ripples 234
militancy victims get employment
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4 separatist
leaders freed Srinagar, November 14 Pervaiz Ahmad Dar, a People’s League and Hurriyat Conference leader was released on bail from the Central Jail here today after a 10-month detention under the Public Safety Act, official sources said. Mr Dar, who was working in the legal aid cell of the Hurriyat Conference, was released at 4.45 pm, the sources said, adding that he was lodged in a Kathua jail before being brought to the Central Jail in Srinagar prior to his release. In Jammu, Bashir Ahmed Bhat, vice-chairman of the JKLF, Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, former spokesman for the Hurriyat, and Abdul Rahim Wani, a district president of the ruling PDP, were released from the Kot Balwal jail near here yesterday, official sources said today. Mr Bhat and Mr Rasheed were released after the expiry of the term of their detention under the PSA, the sources said, adding that the two were again taken into custody by police for completing some legal formalities. Mr Wani, who is the Kupwara district president of the PDP, was arrested under POTA along with his two bodyguards in December last year. He was granted bail in July this year by the designated court, but re-arrested the same day under the PSA and was later lodged in Kot Balwal jail, they said, adding that the two bodyguards were still behind the bars. With the release of the four separatist leaders, the government has so far set free nine detainees. On Monday, the government had released JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik. Mr Dar is the second People’s League leader after Mukhtar Ahmed Waza to be released since the change of guard in Jammu and Kashmir in an effort to restore normalcy in the state. Two JKLF commanders, Shaukat Bakshi and Nazir Ahmed, and Hizbul Mujahideen leader Ayub Dar are also among the beneficiaries of the new government’s policy of freeing political prisoners.
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Mufti ‘following in Hurriyat’s footsteps’ Jammu, November 14 Mr Ashok Khajuria, vice-president of the state BJP, while talking to mediapersons here, accused the Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed, of following in the footsteps of the Hurriyat Conference. He said the release of terrorists was an insult to the security personnel who fell victims to their bullets while fighting for the honour of the nation. He said the coalition partners, the Conference and the Panthers Party, would never be forgiven by the people of Jammu whom they had “betrayed” on the issue of Chief Minister from this region. Both “power hungry” parties were playing second fiddle to the Kashmiri leadership at the cost of the interests of the Jammu region, he alleged. The ministers from these two parties had not been given “good portfolios” which had been retained by the Mufti and his party colleagues. Mr Khajuria pointed out that at least 26 hardcore terrorists had been released without any screening by the PDP-led coalition government in the past one week. He expressed anguish over the state government describing these militants and anti-national elements as political prisoners. He said the BJP was opposed to the unconditional release of militants and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, had also expressed his annoyance over the step of the state government. Replying to a question, Mr Khajuria said the BJP would fight the National Conference at the state level, but at the national level the NDA was to decide whether to continue to receive the support of NC. He demanded that the main road outside the Secretariat here, which had been sealed by the police, should be reopened to the public which was facing inconvenience because of the step. |
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Pandits
oppose ‘policy of appeasement’ Jammu, November 14 In a joint statement issued here today, Dr
M.K. Teng, Chairman, Advisory committee of Panun Kashmir, and Mr O.N.
Trisal, president, AKPSC, said the plan of the coalition government to negotiate peace with Pakistan-backed militants was an overt message to all patriotic forces that secessionists and Pakistani agencies enjoyed a position of precedence in the state. They said the policy of reconciliation would help separatists and militants consolidate their position and result in the escalation of subversive violence. Dr Teng and Mr Trisal demanded that the state should be reorganised so that a centrally administered territory was carved out for Kashmiri Hindus where they could be rehabilitated. They also expressed concern over the inability of the coalition government to solving problems being faced by Kashmiri migrants. They said instead of tackling “our problem” the government was keen on the rehabilitation of militants and secessionists. This policy was bound to prolong political instability and violence in the state. |
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More funds for Pulwama, Anantnag Srinagar, November 14 Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed stated this at the Cabinet-cum-Pulwama District Development Board meeting held here last evening. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, almost all ministers of cabinet, legislators of Pulwama district, Chief Secretary, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, District Development Commissioner, Pulwama and several heads of departments. The meeting discussed the execution of development plans and implementation of welfare schemes. The legislators put forward demands of their areas and sought for additional funds for completion of several ongoing projects. The Chief Minister also Directed PWD authorities to explore the possibility for raising foot bridge at Chursoo on Jehlum to link it with Dogripora. The Board also approved the construction of school buildings in Padgampora, Sambora, Konibal and Noorpora Tral. The Chief Minister also directed to take up work on Aalamgunj-Imam Sahib road. He also asked Public Health authorities to explore the possibility of augmentation of drinking water facilities in Rampathri for which the Board approved the release of Rs 30 lakh. Minister of state for works, Nawang Rigzin, Education Minister, Harsh Dev Singh, Social Welfare Minister, Mulla Ram, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir and Minister for Urban Development, Peerzada Mohammad Sayed highlighted the priorities of their respective departments and stressed effective implementation of the programmes and schemes. Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig underscored adoption of responsive and accountable attitude while dealing with common people. Referring to the performance of the state Forest Corporation, Mr Beig asked the authorities to check green felling of forest wealth. He, however, said dry and fallen wood can be extracted for timber use. Summing up the four-hour long discussion of the board, the Chief Minister said by interaction between legislators and officers of various agencies, the government sought a valuable feedback. Mr Sayeed said institutions like Panchayats, local bodies and Municipal bodies need to be created for effective monitoring and evaluation of development process and implementation of welfare schemes. Also additional allocation of Rs 6 crore has been approved for south Kashmir district of Anantnag raising the current year’s plan to Rs.74.65 crore for development and welfare schemes in the district. A joint meeting of the Cabinet and the District Development Board Anantnag here last evening took this decision. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed chaired the meeting. Legislators of Anantnag district and Anantnag also attended the meeting. The major decisions taken by the board include installation of hand pumps in certain areas, allocation of required funds for the completion of irrigation pump station Symthan and upgradation of Girls High School Verinag to Higher Secondary School level. The Chief Minister invited the Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology (SKUAST), Dr M.A. Kamal, to make a presentation on saffron production at a joint meeting of the State Cabinet and the District Development Board, Pulwama. Mr Sayeed also suggested sprinkle irrigation of saffron fields in the event of drought and asked experts to examine its possibility on the Pampore Karevas, the land of saffron. |
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LeT ultra among 2 killed in Valley Srinagar, November 14 Official sources said four militants entered the house of Mr Ali Mohammad at Noupora Bandipora in north Kashmir late last night and fired indiscriminately with automatic weapons. While the son of the house owner died on the spot, his wife and daughter were injured and later hospitalised. According to the Defence Ministry spokesman here, an encounter took place between a patrol party and militants at Chrich village in Anantnag late last night in which a LeT militant was killed. An AK assault rifle, four magazines and three grenades were recovered from the slain militant.
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Notice to Gupta creates ripples Jammu, November 14 A notice issued by the commission was pasted on the wall of the residential house of Prof Gupta in the Gandhi Nagar area last evening which called upon the minister to appear today before the commission in person or through his “agent” with documentary evidence to establish his bona fides as a permanent citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. According to a UNI reports, Prof Gupta’s advocate today appeared on his behalf before the commission. The notice has been served through the Tehsildar and Prof Gupta has been informed that the necessary action would be taken in case he does not comply with the order. It may be mentioned that Prof Gupta belongs to Kleet village in Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu district where he has ancestral property. Last year Prof Gupta’s brother, Mr Romesh Gupta, a former chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries too had been served with a notice by the commission. He had to appear before it with documentary evidence and the case against him was dropped. During the past over one year, several hundred bona fide permanent residents of Jammu have received notices to prove their citizenship status. |
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234 militancy victims get employment Srinagar, November 14 At an impressive function at Baramula, some 55 km from Srinagar, Mr Sayeed also announced a slew of welfare schemes for widows and senior citizens to an overwhelmed crowd. During the past 12 years, only 294 such orders were issued while 234 appointment orders were issued within 12 days by the present government. The pension of widows has been raised from Rs 150 to Rs 200. This along with the pension being given to senior citizens as also to 23,500 disabled persons, will be delivered at their doorstep through money orders, the chief minister announced adding that the cost on delivery will be borne by the state government. On receiving her appointment letter, a visibly grateful widow Tasleema Begum, who was thrown out by her in-laws, said she had to sell a piece of her land to sustain her family as she had no other source of income. Another beneficiary Mohammad Ashraf Bhat stated that he had developed a heart problem after his father’s death in 1994 for which he underwent several tests free of cost at a local hospital on humanitarian
grounds. Armed with a job, he now hoped that he would be able to afford his treatment and provide for his family.
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