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Friday,
January 10, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Mufti
rules out division of J&K
The new Army chief, Gen N.C. Vij, addresses a Press conference in Srinagar on Thursday.
— Photo Amin War Exchange
of fire on border 1 BSF
jawan killed in ambush Wear
burqa: ultras tell women Intense
cold wave sweeps J&K |
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Mufti rules out division of J&K Jammu, January 9 The Mufti was addressing a public meeting organised at the historic polo ground at Leh to felicitate Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and leaders of alliance parties on their first visit to Leh. Over 10,000 persons had gathered there, despite biting cold and sub-zero temperature to accord a civic reception to leaders of the coalition government that empowered the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). The Chief Minister said his government’s much-publicised policy of healing touch was also aimed at assuaging the feeling of
alienation, neglect and discrimination that threatened the unity of the state which he described as a miniature India. The Chief Minister recalled that during the formation of the coalition after the elections a delegation from Ladakh had met him regarding their demands. He said he told them straightaway that we believe in dialogue and removal of injustices meted to any region or the people in the past. “After three to four rounds of talks they saw merit in our stand and showed faith in our sincerity and supported us in the government formation. The Mufti said the empowerment of the LAHDC was no concession but a right of the people of Ladakh. The Chief Minister said like the empowerment of the LAHDC, Jammu and Kashmir would also seek greater economic powers in the federal structure of the country. Supporting the concept of giving more powers to states he said Jammu and Kashmir had vast natural resources that unfortunately remained unexploited. Those, he said could be tapped through multinational investments. Giving example of Andhra Pradesh, he said Jammu and Kashmir, too demanded economic self-reliance. Enunciating his policy to tackle the 12-year-old militancy, he said. “We want to deal with the situation by winning the hearts and minds of the people”. |
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Gen Vij reviews valley’s security Srinagar, January 9 “It will be our utmost endeavour to do our best to bring a state of happiness and satisfaction level” in Jammu and Kashmir, General Vij told newsmen on his second day in the State after visiting some forward areas in Ladakh and Kashmir regions. General Vij reviewed the security situation in the valley and held discussions with senior Army commanders. He is on four-day visit to the State, this being his first visit after he took over recently. Expressing satisfaction over present security scenario in this trouble-torn state, General Vij said that the troops were in a good mood and were providing a lot of support to the locals in the forward areas, that he visited in north Kashmir, today. During his visit to the forward areas he interacted with the field commanders and troops to get first-hand account of the prevailing situation and exhorted them to carry out tasks assigned to them. Soon after taking over as the Chief of Army Staff, General N.C. Vij arrived here in continuation of his visit to Northern Command theatre. Kashmir valley is the priority area for the Army Chief and he has been closely associated with the situation in the valley as the Director-General of Military Operations, Vice-Chief of Army Staff and as the Chief of Army Staff. |
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Exchange
of fire on border Jammu, January 9 Defence Ministry sources said Pakistani troops resorted to heavy mortar and artillery shelling from across
Kupwara, Uri, Kargil and Nowshehra sectors. The sources said the Indian troops “retaliated suitably.” There was no casualty on the Indian side, though some civilian structures were partially damaged. The Pakistani troops also resorted to heavy
calibre weapon firing on the 19,000-ft-high Siachen mountain glacier. The Pakistani troops fired several mortar and artillery shells in Ghannigund area of Kargil sector. In
Kalsia, Jhangar and Bhawani areas in Nowshehra sector of Rajouri, several mortar shells exploded. There was no damage as over 1,700 civilians had migrated to safer places two days ago. The sources said the main purpose of renewed firing and shelling by the Pakistani troops was to provide fire cover to the groups of militants who had been brought to launching pads across the LoC for being pushed into Jammu and Kashmir. |
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1 BSF jawan killed in ambush
Jammu, January 9 A BSF spokesman said acting on a tip-off that some ultras were hiding in Daleri, a BSF foot-patrol was despatched to flush them out. As soon as the personnel reached the target area, the ultras hiding behind thick bushes opened heavy fire on them, taking the personnel completely by surprise. BSF jawan J.N. Dubey was killed on the spot while Assistant Commandant U.N. Prasad sustained bullet wounds. The injured BSF officer had been admitted to a nearby health unit for treatment, the spokesman said. Additional forces had reached the spot and a search operation was on to arrest the ultras, he added. SRINAGAR: Militants attacked an Army convoy and a police station, besides killing two persons in the Kashmir valley overnight. The militants detonated a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) on the Batapora Link road in Pulwama district this morning when a security force convoy was passing through the area, official sources said. Two jawans were injured and a vehicle was damaged in the blast, sources said. Claiming the responsibility for the blast, a Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman, however, said six soldiers were killed and a vehicle was completely destroyed in the blast. Militants hurled a hand grenade towards Shopian police station in south Kashmir last night, sources said, adding that the grenade missed the intended target and exploded without causing any damage. The sources said body of one Manzoor Ahmad, who was missing for the past one month, was recovered at Bandipora in north Kashmir last night while gunmen killed a contractor, Abdul Rashid Khan at Baramula this morning. Five personnel of the Special Operations Group of police were injured today when militants triggered a grenade explosion at their camp in Anantnag district, official sources said. Militants hurled a grenade at their camp in the Kulgam area around 3 p.m. which exploded at the lawns causing splinter injuries to the five personnel, they said. They had been admitted to hospital and a search had been launched for the militants, the sources said.
UNI, PTI |
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Wear burqa: ultras tell women
Srinagar, January 9 Asking woman to observe the dress code, the pro-Pakistan outfit in a statement faxed to local news agency, NAFA, said the responsibility of Muslim women increased manifold as their brothers were being killed, elders being humiliated and modesty of women outraged. Three girls and a woman have been beheaded by militants in the Rajouri area of the state ostensibly for defying their diktat on wearing burqa. A number of militant outfits have put up posters in various parts of the state warning people against unislamic acts like use of addictives and asking women to wear burqa and remain at home.
PTI |
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Intense cold wave sweeps J&K
Srinagar, January 9 Several parts of Ladakh recorded temperatures as low as minus 25°C as icy winds lashed the cold desert region, official sources said. In the Kashmir valley, the night temperatures dipped to below minus 5°C, freezing water in the supply pipes. However, the day temperature in the valley hovered around 12°C. In the Jammu region, the night temperature dropped to minus 4°C. The government ordered the closure of all schools in the Jammu region for two days from tomorrow. Fog engulfed parts of the state, particularly the Jammu region, affecting rail, air and vehicular traffic.
PTI |
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