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Tuesday,
June 10, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Ex-Chief
Secretary among five booked in J&K George: Pakistan not responding
positively 58 pc J&K population below poverty
line Statehood for Jammu
sought
Munsif courts soon:
Mufti Hurriyat leader Sumji released |
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Children from outside
Jammu and Kashmir, at present on a tour of the Kashmir valley organised by
the Army under operation
'Maitree se ujala' (friendship to light), light candles along the Dal
Lake in Srinagar on Sunday night. — PTI
photo P.T. Usha opens integration
camp Demand to set up pay panel
3 CRPF men killed in
clash Judge among 2 killed in
mishap
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Ex-Chief Secretary among five booked in J&K Srinagar, June 9 The Vigilance Department has registered a case against five officials, including Mr Jaitley and Mr B.R. Singh, Principal Secretary to the former Chief Minister, on charges of misappropriating public money to the tune of Rs 5 crore, official sources said here today. The sources said as Mr Abdullah did not come under the purview of the state Vigilance Department, his case would be referred to the Accountability Commission when it is set up. However, Mr Abdullah dismissed the allegations as political vendetta and charged Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed with pursuing a policy of vengeance. “Making false allegations and framing me will not give this government a chance to derive political mileage when it has itself failed to root out corruption from the administration,” he said. Soon after assuming power last November, the Sayeed government introduced a Bill in the state Assembly to bring all legislators, including the Chief Minister, under the purview of the Accountability Commission. However, the commission is yet to start functioning. The bureaucrats, who formed a group of close aides to Mr Abdullah, allegedly embezzled the money in the renovation of Jammu and Kashmir house at Prithviraj Road in Delhi, the sources said. Mr Abdullah had allegedly allotted the renovation contract to a fake firm, Mansara, in violation of rules and regulations, the sources said. The same firm was engaged for renovating the residence of Mr Abdullah, official residence of Mr Jaitley and the circuit houses in Jammu and Srinagar, they added. The sources said Mansara was not a recognised firm to carry out government works and the costs estimated by it were higher by Rs 3 crore. The consultation fees charged by the company was also exorbitantly high at Rs 15 lakh, they said. The contract had been given to Mansara on the recommendation of the state Resident Commissioner in Delhi who had informed the then Chief Secretary that Mr Abdullah was interested in allotting the work to the said firm, the sources said.
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George: Pakistan not responding
positively Jammu, June 9 Mr Fernandes, who was talking to mediapersons here after returning from the border areas of Poonch and Rajouri where the Army has killed many terrorists and destroyed their hideouts during “Operation Sarpvinash”, said that there were no let-up in cross-border terrorism and Pakistan was indulging in the training of terrorists and sending them into our country. He said that he felt unhappy that there was no response despite repeated requests of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that cross-border terrorism should be stopped by Pakistan to pave the way for talks. The Defence Minister said that there were days when there was no infiltration from across the border, but generally there was a lot of infiltration. He made it clear that there would be no talks with Pakistan if there was no change in the ground situation. He said that he saw the bodies of three of the five terrorists who were killed today by the Army near Gurdwara Nangali Sahib in Poonch district and whatever arms and ammunition they were carrying were made in Pakistan. Mr Fernandes said that “Operation Sarpvinash” to flush out Pakistani terrorists from Hill Kaka and other areas had been successful and would continue till the last terrorist in Jammu and Kashmir was killed. He said that equating the events at Hill Kaka with Kargil was “stupidity”. He said that the fencing of the Line of Control and the border with Pakistan was being done by the Army with the help of the BSF. The job would be completed at the earliest. He was convinced that the fencing would play a great role in action against terrorists. He said that Pakistan should understand that creating a congenial atmosphere was a prerequisite for talks. He said that India had already started taking confidence-building measures by restoring the High Commissions and deciding to restart the rail and bus services to Pakistan. Mr Fernandes said that China was keen on improving its ties with India. However, he made it clear that India would not allow any country to use its territory for military operations elsewhere. |
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58 pc J&K population below poverty line Srinagar, June 9 He said as against 41 per cent at the national level, 58 per cent people in the state were living below the poverty line. Replying to the supplementaries to a question by Mohammad Sarfaraz Khan, the minister informed the House that the coalition government had taken up the matter with the Centre for providing liberal assistance to Jammu and Kashmir under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and the Rural Housing Scheme (RHS) in view of a larger number of people living below the poverty line in the state. The report of the Census 2001 would be published in August and the projects under these schemes would be formulated for each block accordingly, he informed the House. Earlier, replying to the main question, the minister said 43 per cent population in Beerwah and Khag blocks were living below the poverty line in 1997-98 as per the survey conducted by the Rural Development Department. The number of families without shelter in these blocks would be known after data based on latest census conducted in the state was published. He said the department was providing financial assistance under the IAY and the RHS to those eligible for construction of new houses and upgradation of old ones.
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Statehood for Jammu
sought Jammu, June 9 The delegation of the JSM, led by Mr Shri Kumar, chairman, included Mr Jugal Sharma, the lone MLA of the morcha in the state Assembly. The JSM urged Mr Vohra to help in delinking the Jammu region from the valley and granting Union Territory status to the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region. The JSM said such a step alone could enable New Delhi to initiate a dialogue with all groups in Kashmir. Mr Shri Kumar, while briefing mediapersons, said the JSM had brought to the notice of Mr Vohra that the Jammu region had been discriminated against by the successive Kashmiri rules. Mr Vohra also met a delegation of the All-Kashmiri Pandit Solidarity Conference led by Mr O.N. Trisal. The memorandum presented by the conference said the Centre should help the Kashmiri Hindus to live a better life in Jammu till the time when their return is actually possible. A delegation of SAD also met Mr Vohra. A retired DGP, Mr M.M. Khajooria, also called on Mr
Vohra. |
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Munsif courts soon: Mufti Srinagar, June 9 Mr Sayeed said his government would set up the courts so that people could seek justice nearer to their homes. The Mufti said it was not necessary that each and every block should have a munsif court without its utility. Earlier, in reply to the main question by Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone, the Minister of State for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr A.R. Veeri, told the House that the creation of courts would be done in consultation with the high court. He said a representation in this regard was made to the high court but the court had not made any recommendations so far.
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Hurriyat leader
Sumji released Srinagar, June 9 Sumji, vice-chairman of the Muslim Conference headed by Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, was arrested on January 13, 2002, and was lodged at Bijbehara police station, official sources said. He had been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) which was quashed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
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Kids illuminate Dal Lake with candles Srinagar, June 9 The show, organised last night by Headquarters Kilo Force under the aegis of headquarters 15 Corps, was attended by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, his cabinet colleagues and senior Army and civil officials. A good number of tourists and local residents were also seen enjoying the show held in the Dal Lake after almost a decade. To provide a first-hand experience to the children regarding the way of life in a typical Kashmiri village, the visit was organised as part of “Operation Maitree’’ by the Army. More than 500 schoolchildren from all over the country, besides 250 local Kashmiri children are participating in this event. These children are being exposed to the pristine beauty of Kashmir, dovetailed with adventurous activities in natural surroundings and picnics with celebrities. Earlier, the army had conducted “Operation Sangam”, in which children of valley were taken to various parts of the country. The Kilo Force, engaged in counter-insurgency operations in North Kashmir, have also established three camps in different parts of the valley at Mamar, Arch and Salura. In these camps, the children were introduced to Kashmiri culture and handicrafts. They also shared their experiences with local children. A live demonstration on carpet weaving, basket making, and embroidery on shawls was also organised for the children, the statement added. Lt-Gen V.G. Patankar said there was a need to reinforce the benefit of “Operation Sangam” during “Operation Maitree”. The children also planted saplings as a symbolic gesture of the growth of bonds of friendship.
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P.T. Usha opens integration camp Leh, June 9 The camp, under the auspices of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), was inaugurated by ‘golden girl’ P. T. Usha. She exhorted the participants to strive hard with utmost discipline, dedication and devotion if they want to achieve something in their life. She thanked the organisers for inviting her to this beautiful land of the Lamas. NYKS Director General V. Muraleedharan in his presidential remarks said, his organisation was trying to revive the age-old Indian tradition of integration, by bringing the youth from different parts of the country together. He said such camps and cultural exchange programmes gave the youth an opportunity to exchange ideas, share knowledge and discuss their future endeavours. Besides, cultural exchange, the campers will interact with some eminent resource persons, who will be deliberating on different issues confronting the country. They will also witness the festival.
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Demand to set up pay panel Jammu, June 9 Addressing a workers’ rally here yesterday, Mr Shastri said such a step would help in the fixation of salary structures of Central and state government employees on the same pattern, leaving no room for any discrepancy. He demanded that the DA instalment should also be automatically released to the state employees whenever such a relief is sanctioned for Central Government employees. Several resolutions were adopted at the rally, including demanding grant of disturbed area allowance to state employees and regularisation of the services of daily wagers working in the Rural Development Department |
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3 CRPF men killed in clash Srinagar, June 9 Sources said following a verbal altercation among some CRPF personnel camping inside the stadium, a jawan fired indiscriminately at his colleagues. Two CRPF personnel died on the spot, they said. A sentry also fired at the violent jawan, injuring him. He was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Panic gripped the high-security Tulsi Bagh area where several ministers, legislators and top civil and police officials reside.
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Judge among 2 killed in mishap Jammu, June 9 Jammu and Kashmir District and Sessions Judge R.K. Mangotra was one of the two persons killed in the accident, the sources added. Five of those injured were in a critical condition and were rushed to Jammu. The other injured were admitted to hospitals near the site of the mishap.
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The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, today said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan was not responding positively to India’s offer of peace talks and was continuing to indulge in cross-border terrorism.
In video (
