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Friday,
July 4, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Mobile phones: Defence Ministry creating hurdles NC panel to decide on poll tie-up Huge cache of arms, explosives seized Jamait-e-Islami to ‘decide on Geelani’ |
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Hurriyat leader Rashid arrested Sikhs rally behind Badal, to meet PM
Probe says no custodial killing Youth killed in Pak shelling
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Mobile phones: Defence Ministry creating hurdles Jammu, July 3 Mr Arun Kumar, who was talking to mediapersons here, said the manner in which the launching of the mobile phone service here was being delayed smacked of discrimination against Jammu and Kashmir. While the mobile phone towers had been installed in the areas of Punjab and Rajasthan bordering Pakistan without any objections from the Defence Ministry, there was no justification in delaying its launch in J&K. He said that keeping in view the euphoria among the people for the mobile phones, it had been decided to start registering the prospective subscribers to avoid an ugly situation. Mr Arun Kumar said the mobile phone service was earlier scheduled to be launched by the Communications Minister here on April 27 and simultaneously by the Chief Minister at Srinagar but suddenly he received telephonic orders on April 24 to put it on hold. He said the Cabinet subcommittee on Security (CCS) had given clearance for launching the service in its meeting on August 21, with the condition that the Defence Ministry would monitor the process. He said that monitoring was a delicate issue as it amounted to virtually interfering with the Telegraphs Act of 1949 which provided that monitoring of any telephone could be allowed only on the written orders of the Home Secretary of the state government concerned. The CGM said of the 16 different departments involved in granting clearance for launching the cellular service, only the Defence Ministry was creating hurdles in the clearance of the frequency. Generally all states had launched the mobile phone service without even waiting for a formal clearance of frequency. The WLL phone service here was launched a few months ago without getting the clearance. But where was the problem in allowing the mobile phone service, he questioned. Mr Arun Kumar said the BSNL had spent Rs 60 crore for creating the infrastructure for the mobile service, but it had got dumped because of the delay in the clearance. This had also resulted in laying the infrastructure for other towns of Sopore, Shopian and Bhaderwah. He said the system for the mobile phone was ready for being launched in all 14 district headquarters, including Jammu and Srinagar, Katra-Vaishno Devi and the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar highway. As many as 13,000 mobile phone connections would be released in Jammu and Srinagar cities each. Anantnag and Udhampur districts would receive a bigger share of 2600 connections each, while a limit of 1,000 connections had been earmarked for each of the other 10 districts. The mobile phone service had been delayed here although the communications minister had given a commitment of its launching on Baisakhi. |
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NC panel to decide on poll tie-up Jammu, July 3 Mr Abdullah, who was talking to mediapersons after a meeting of office-bearers of the party here, said the National Conference had always come to power on its own strength and not because of the favour of anyone. He said the National Conference never had an electoral alliance with the NDA or any other party except with the Congress once after the accord between the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, and Dr Farooq Abdullah. He said that “we” joined hands with the NDA only with the aim of improving conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, but “We have never fallen in line with the ideology of the BJP. Mr Abdullah said the recent statement of the Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed, that there was no problem of finances in the state indicated that it was not necessary to remain with the NDA only with the intention of betterment of the state. He accused the Mufti of having a secret understanding with the NDA government because he had now stopped criticising the Centre for lapses on serious issues. He alleged the Mufti was toeing the line of the NDA. Mr Abdullah said that India had knowingly or unintentionally “involved a third party” in the Kashmir issue by seeking the intervention of the USA, China and other countries. Only history would tell whether the step was right or not. India should stick to its stand of bilateral dialogue with Pakistan to solve the Kashmir problem. Mr Abdullah denied reports that there was a tussle between him and his father, Dr Farooq Abdullah, on the issue of who should lead the party. Earlier, addressing party leaders, Mr Omar Abdullah accused the Mufti-led coalition government of having failed to implement its election promises. The National Conference would go to the masses to expose the Mufti government, he said. |
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Huge cache of arms, explosives seized Srinagar, July 3 On a tip-off, the security personnel raided the Civil Lines area and unearthed the cache of arms and explosives from a hideout in Aloochibagh, an official spokesman said. Besides the three IEDs, fitted in gas cylinders and weighing 5 kg each, the security personnel recovered 25 hand grenades, two wireless sets, six timed pencil bombs and three detonators. The spokesman said the arms and ammunition were meant to step up violence in the state to stall the ongoing peace process. Meanwhile, the BSF killed a militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir last night. A policeman was also killed and two CRPF men were injured in the violence. The militant was killed in an encounter at Kadipora in the Chrar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district last night. One AK rifle, two magazines and 20 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. The slain militant was identified as Zafrullah, alias Colonel, a resident of Doda. A BSF spokesman said acting on specific information, troops of 42 and 76 Battalions of the BSF, assisted by the police and the CRPF, cordoned off Kadipura village last night. The hiding militant opened fire at the search party, which ensued the encounter. |
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Jamait-e-Islami to ‘decide on Geelani’ Jammu, July 3 “The issue of Mr Geelani’s continuation in the APHC is to be decided by the Jammat leadership,” the Hurriyat Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, told this correspondent. He said “the role of the three-member committee, which we had constituted to iron out differences between Mr Geelani and the People’s Conference, ended after the Jamait-e-Islami leaders refused to attend a meeting of our Executive Committee”. Mr Geelani has been demanding the ouster of the People’s Conference from the APHC on a charge of violating the decision of the conglomerate on boycotting the Assembly poll. Mr Geelani had complained to the APHC Chairman that the People’s Conference leadership had fielded candidates by proxy. The People’s Conference chief, Mr Sajjad Lone, had rejected the charge. In reply to a question Professor Bhat said that Mr Geelani “will not form a parallel organisation. If he did so, he may receive support from political non-entities”. He said: “I am against forcing a split in the conglomerate and leaders of all 26 constituents have decided to remain under the umbrella of the APHC.” Indications are that the APHC leadership is not in favour of expelling the People’s Conference from the organisation and if the Jamait-e-Islami was against replacing Mr Geelani “we will not oppose it”, said Professor Bhat. He, however, indicated that “we will not take cognisance of the complaint of Mr Geelani unless he confronts People’s Conference leaders in the presence of other members of the Hurriyat Executive Committee”. He said: “If we are convinced that the People’s Conference has violated the Hurriyat decision the committee will discuss it and act accordingly.” Reports say that for the time being Mr Geelani continues to be defiant. He is not even prepared to accept a unilateral decision taken by the Amir of the Jamait-e-Islami, Mr G.M. Bhat. In fact, he and his supporters, among them were leaders of different militant groups, had forced the Majlis Shoura of the Jamait-e-Islami to reverse its decision of replacing Mr Geelani by Mr Ali Mohd Sheikh. |
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Hurriyat leader Rashid arrested Srinagar, July 3 Hakeem Rashid was taken into custody soon after he came out of the Hurriyat headquarters at Rajbagh, the sources said without divulging the grounds on which he was arrested. Hakeem Rashid, a former member of Shabir Shah’s Democratic Freedom Party, quit the organisation in 2001 following differences with Mr Shah on the issue of holding a dialogue with the Centre’s interlocutor, Mr K.C. Pant, and joined the Muslim League, his parent organisation and constituent of the Hurriyat Conference. He was arrested under the Public Safety Act on June 17, 2001, and released on health grounds on June 3 last.
— PTI |
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Sikhs rally behind Badal, to meet PM Jammu, July 3 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of leaders of various Sikh organisations held under the chairmanship of Mr S.S.
Wazir, president, Gurdwara Parbandhak Board. At the meeting, the Sikh leaders “berated” Capt Amarinder Singh for “harassing Mr Badal by ordering police raids on his premises”. The leaders expressed resentment over, what they called, a “witch-hunt” exercise of the Punjab Chief Minister. Mr Wazir said, “We will request Mr Vajpayee to persuade Capt Amarinder Singh to stop maligning the name of senior Akali leaders and in case he refuses to budge, his government should be dismissed.” The Sikh leaders, including Mr Dayal Singh, general secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Mohinder Singh, chief organiser, Bhai Kanahaya Nishkam Sewa Society, and Mr Paramjit Singh, president,
AISSF, hailed the Centre and the Delhi Government for having accorded the second official language status to Punjabi. They urged other states, where a sizeable number of Sikhs live, to follow the example. They lauded the role of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in persuading the government to accord the official language status to Punjabi. Mr Wazir said the Punjab Chief Minister should concentrate on the development of the state instead of harassing the senior Akali leaders. |
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Amarnath yatris’ hunger strike continues Jammu, July 3 Agitated pilgrims raised slogans against the state government and the district administration’s “apathetic attitude” towards the Amarnath yatris at the exhibition ground here. The pilgrimage, scheduled to begin on July 12, would last exactly one month. An official spokesman said the quota fixed for the annual pilgrimage had been allotted and fresh registration had been stopped. Official sources said 1.07 lakh pilgrims had registered this year at 80 branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank across the country, while a temporary counter had been set up at Dehra Dun to register pilgrims from Uttaranchal. The pilgrims from Nepal were registered at the bank’s branch at Patna. Sources said the registration had been closed in accordance with the Nitish Sengupta Committee report, according to which only 3,500 pilgrims per day should be allowed to perform “darshan” of the naturally-formed “ice-lingam” in the holy cave shrine. Everyday, 3,500 yatris would be allowed to proceed for the pilgrimage, 2,700 from Pahalgam route and 800 from Baltal track, the spokesman said adding that all arrangements had been completed. The state government, for the first time, was providing an insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh each to the Amarnath pilgrims. Sources said 19,000 security personnel had been deployed enroute for the security cover of yatris. “The army will be responsible for the security of high peaks in the entire belt while the Border Security Forces, Central Reserve Police Force and the state police will be deployed all along the route and at the base camp.” The president of Rajasthan Sadhu Samaj, Mahant Virenderanand Giri has in a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, demanded extension in the registration of pilgrims for the ongoing Amarnath yatra. The mahant said that scores of pilgrims had resorted to an indefinite fast in Jammu after they were denied permission to get themselves registered. He said that the Chief Minister should take personal interest in the matter and allow all those pilgrims, keen to visit the holy cave, to proceed to Pahalgam. Swami Giri also criticised the state authorities for having imposed registration fee for the pilgrims. He said this practice should be stopped and those who had already paid the fee be reimbursed.
— UNI, OC |
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Record number of pilgrims
visit Vaishno Devi shrine Jammu, July 3 According to an official spokesman, about 19.28 lakh pilgrims had come to the shrine during the corresponding period last year. In June, over 7.41 lakh devotees visited the shrine. |
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Probe says no custodial killing Srinagar, July 3 An official spokesman said here that the Additional District Magistrate, Kupwara, who was appointed inquiry officer by the government on February 4 this year to investigate into the allegation, had relied on statements given by family members and friends of the deceased. Shabir was working for the Army. He was lifted by the Army and handed over to four prominent persons of the area at the request of Shabir to prove his credential of being innocent. This was corroborated by his friend who too had links with the Army. The youth was okay when he was released and he reached his residence safely. The father of the deceased also stated this to the inquiry officer. However, late at night some unidentified bearded persons wearing masks entered his residence and ruthlessly beat up Shabir Ahmad Pir as a result of which he died. The report had been submitted to the government which had accepted the report, the spokesman said. |
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Youth killed in Pak shelling Jammu, July 3 Mortar shells fired from across the border hit Gani, Balnoi and Tanian villages of Mendhar last night killing 18-year-old Mukhtiar Hussain Shah. Indian troops retaliated and an intermittent exchange of small arms fire took place between the two sides along the international border and also in the RS Pura, Samba and Akhnoor sectors of the state, they said.
— PTI |
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