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Friday,
January 24, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Mufti’s somersault on SOG draws flak Two passengers
shot J&K security
reviewed
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Pak shelling in Rajouri, couple hurt Vaishnodevi Temple damaged in fire Beig hints at
clean-up in bureaucracy Chemists threaten
indefinite strike Girl dies after
inhaling gas
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Mufti’s somersault on SOG draws flak Jammu January 23 Not even 100 days of the coalition government led by the Mufti have been completed and he has started backtracking on various promises which his PDP had made during the Assembly elections. The SOG, which allegedly
committed atrocities on innocent people while tackling terrorists, is not being disbanded now and its personnel are being attached with various police stations. The Mufti had all along been saying that the first thing he would do after coming to power would be disband the SOG. The daily power cut in the state reduced to four and a half hours from the earlier nine hours soon after the Mifti took over as Chief Minister. However, the cut has gone beyond nine hours these days and that too without prior information. The Mufti has himself announced after the terrorist attack on the Raghunath temple that there would no power cuts in the town after the sunset, but he had failed to stick to the commitment. The President of the National Conference, Mr Omar Abdullah, has also accused the Mufti of indulging in witch hunting. Mr Omar Abdullah said the Mufti had in his election campaign, criticised Dr Farooq Abdullah of misusing the state aircraft and frequently flying to Mumbai to meet Bollywood personalities, but he had himself surpassed all this after coming to power. The BJP General Secretary, Mr Ashok
Khajuria, alleged that Ms Mehbooba Mufti, daughter of the Mufti, had become an “extra-constitutional” authority and was accompanying her father everywhere. He took exception to her visit to Mumbai and other places with the Chief Minister. Mr Khajuria alleged that the Mufti met a Bollywood producer who allegedly had connections with the underworld. He said that although the Mufti had claimed that he was on a tourism promotion mission to Mumbai, Hyderabad and other places, the Minister for Tourism was not taken along in the tour and surprisingly Ms Mehbooba Mufti was there in the entourage. |
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Two passengers shot Srinagar, January 23 National Conference activist Ghulam Rasool Dar and a civilian, Ghulam Ahmad, were killed when militants stopped a minibus and opened fire at Saraipul in Baramula district of north Kashmir today, the sources said. They said the gunmen forced out the passengers of the minibus, which was on way from Magam to Wanigam, and fired upon the duo from point-blank range, killing them instantly. According to the UNI, the militants were travelling in the minibus and opened fire on those-travelling with them. In another incident JeM militant Habibullah was killed in an encounter with a joint police party and Army at Khudari village in Bandipora area of Baramula district last night. Another militant of the outfit, Mohammad Sayeed of Multan, was shot dead by the Army in Lolab forest in the border district of Kupwara yesterday, the sources said. Meanwhile, the sources said police guards posted at the residence of Abdul Rehman Magray, who contested as an Independent in the last month’s Assembly election, opened fire on observing some suspicious movement at Kangan on the outskirts of Srinagar last night. However, none was hurt in the shooting, they said. Meanwhile, the BSF busted a hideout of the Hizbul Mujahideen at Kajipora village in Pulwama district of south Kashmir today. A BSF spokesman said troops belonging to 8 Battalion of the force raided a militant hideout in nearby grounds of Kajipora village and recovered one IED weighing 10 kg, eight grenades, one wireless set, five detonators, two magazines and 60 rounds. JAMMU: Militants on Thursday attacked the house of a Congress leader in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir injuring four members of his family and security guard, official sources said. A group of militants cordoned off the house of block president and Congress leader Abdul Rasheed at Patoli village and fired at the inmates through the windows, injuring five, they said. The security guard deployed at the house fired at the militants, but they escaped, the sources added. In another incident, a Pakistani militant, identified as Kari Abdull of Al-Badr outfit, was killed and a jawan injured at Thori Mal area of the Manjakote in Rajouri district in an encounter today, the sources said.
PTI, UNI |
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J&K security
reviewed Srinagar, January 23 Arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the celebrations in view of the reported threats of militant outfits were discussed at the meeting that was also attended by officials from the Union Home Ministry. Tension and fear continue to prevail here in view of the stepped up security arrangements in view of the Republic Day celebrations amid reports of militants attempting to create trouble on the occasion. Strict vigil is being maintained around the venues of the celebrations and vital installations to thwart the designs of militants and to ensure incident-free celebrations throughout the valley where main function is being held at the Bakshi Stadium here. Reports here suggested that militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba,
Jaish-e-Mohammad and Al-Badr militant outfits were planning to carry out suicide attacks to create trouble on Republic Day in the Kashmir valley. |
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Pak shelling in Rajouri, couple hurt Jammu, January 23 Beri-Pattan, Roomli Dhara, Bhawabni and Nowshera areas were targeted by Pakistani troops with heavy mortar shelling since early this morning, the sources told PTI. Nearly 50 to 60 shells landed in these areas from across the LoC, they said. The couple, Mangir and Shanti Devi, were going on a motor cycle when a shell exploded near them injuring both. They were later air-lifted to the military hospital at Udhampur, the sources said. Indian troops retaliated and exchanges continued till 2 pm hours, they added. The Pakistani troops has fired more than 150 82 MM mortars today. In reply Indian soldiers opened fire from similar calibre guns and troops have so far fired more than 250 shells when reports last came in. The mortar firing by Pakistani Army began at 5.55 pm last evening, and they kept on pounding Indian positions intermittently but with equal ferocity. This morning also, Pakistanis fired 150 mortars, but in reply Indian soldiers fired more than 250 mortars, targeting enemy’s forward positions, sources said. In the firing by the Pakistanis, one soldier, who was proceeding on leave, was injured while his wife also sustained shrapnel wounds. The firing simmered this evening when guns from the sides of the LoC fell silent. However, sporadic small-arm fire was reported from many areas near the LoC, sources added.
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Vaishnodevi Temple damaged in fire Jammu, January 23 The fire was noticed in the ancient temple located in Poonch town of Jammu and Kashmir by a watchman, who informed the police and the fire brigade, the sources said. The flames were brought under control by the fire brigade. The roof of the temple was damaged in the fire. The remaining structure and the idols were safe. Meanwhile, temple sources said repair work would begin soon. The fire was caused due to a short circuit late last night, officials said. Local residents were moved out of their houses as a precautionary measure. However, the fire tenders succeeded in dousing the fire after one and a half hours, they said. PTI, UNI |
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Beig hints at
clean-up in bureaucracy Jammu, January 23 Mr Beig told mediapersons here that an exercise to identify such officers has been undertaken. He hastened to add that victimisation was not the intention. He said that another reshuffle of administration will be ordered when some senior IAS officers would be repatriated to the Central government. The government was not discriminating against any area in posting officers. |
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Chemists threaten
indefinite strike Srinagar, January 23 “We are being unnecessarily harassed by the authorities on charge of selling substandard and spurious drugs, Kashmir Druggists and Chemists Association president Mushtaq Hussain Geelani told reporters here. Admitting that there might to some truth in the charges of the administration, Mr Geelani said his association would extend all possible help in identifying the offending traders in this respect. Mr Geelani said the procedural norms for making such a claim were not followed as the drugs were summarily seized and a claim made. “Which lab gave them a report overnight to conclude that drugs were sourious,” he questioned. He said the state government should immediately set up a testing facility as the funds for the same have already been allocated. He also demanded a thorough probe into the working of the state drug control organisation.
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Girl dies after
inhaling gas Srinagar, January 23 The police found Kiran Gul Kerni dead and her companion Nazia unconscious when they broke open the hotel room at Nehru Park after the hotel staff complained that the duo, after checking in yesterday evening had not shown up till morning. Nazia has been admitted to a hospital.
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