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Saturday,
July 26, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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11
militants killed, infiltration 12 Pak
bunkers destroyed Rs 2,500
cr state plan approved No
consensus on commission chief
Shah blames Nazir
Geelani for split |
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Dar’s
widow floats NGO
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11 militants
killed, infiltration bid foiled Srinagar, July 25 A group of five heavily armed militants attempted to cross the Line of Control (LoC) under the cover of darkness but were confronted by troops at Manju Top near Nageena Bridge, Karnah, the sources said. In the ensuing gunfight the five infiltrators were killed, the sources said adding that five AK assault rifles, 14 magazines, 1788 rounds, 11 explosive sticks and three grenades were recovered from the scene of the encounter. Three unidentified militants were also killed by security forces at Jumgund near the Line of Control in the Trehgam sector of Kupwara late last night. Two AK assault rifles, six magazines, 102 rounds, a rocket projectile gun, an under-barrel grenade launcher and three hand grenades were recovered from the ultras. In another encounter in Kupwara, they said troops killed three militants at Hachmarg in the Vilgam area last night. An Army jawan was also killed in the encounter, the sources added. Meanwhile, body of one Shakeel Ahmad Bhat was recovered by the police from the Ashmuqam area of Anantnag district early today. Bhat, a local resident, was kidnapped and later killed by militants, the sources said. JAMMU:
Five Pakistani intruders were shot dead by the BSF at Kanachak in the Akhnoor sector on Friday. These persons had entered the Indian territory from a Pakistani post from where firing was simultaneously done on the troops in an apparent bid to engage them in action and enable them to infiltrate on the Indian soil. Three soldiers were injured when ultras opened fire on them in the Moda-Bacheri village of Surankot last night. Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian positions in the Bhawani sector of Rajouri district this morning. They had also fired mortar shells on the Indian side last night. Pakistani troops fired on the Indian side in Korotana and Arnia near Ranbirsinghpura near Jammu. At least three soldiers were seriously injured in an ambush by unidentified militants near Morah Bachchai village in the Poonch sector last evening, official sources said today. The sources said that a group of soldiers was moving towards an Army post to deliver rations there. When the armymen neared Morha Bachchai village, the terrorists, who were hiding in thick bushes, opened heavy fire, injuring three jawans seriously. The Jawans retaliated but the ultras managed to escape into the thick jungles. |
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12 Pak bunkers destroyed Jammu, July 25 Official sources said Pakistani troops stationed across the LoC opened heavy and unprovoked mortar fire on forward Indian formations in Digwar and Salotri villages, which continued for sometime. Indian soldiers returned the fire, following which the Pakistan army used artillery guns. But Indian soldiers again returned the fire, smashing at least a dozen Pakistani bunkers and causing unknown number of casualties on the other side, the sources added. The shelling finally reduced at 10.30 p.m. after which it continued intermittently throughout the night, the sources said, adding that the Indians did not suffer any casualties. Indian and Pakistani troops have also been locked in a mortar fire drill along the LoC in the Bhiwani area in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district since 12 noon.
— UNI |
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Rs 2,500 cr state plan approved Srinagar, July 25 The thrust was on making funds available for works nearing completion in tourism, power, social welfare, health and education sectors. To be supplemented with available loan component, the allocations for these sectors have been made to ensure implementation of the decisions taken by the District Development Board meetings held in November and December last year. A sum of Rs 100 crore has been provided as the state’s share for centrally-sponsored schemes. The power sector has been accorded the highest priority and an additional sum of Rs 200 crore has been provided against last year’s allocation. In a significant decision, the Cabinet instructed heads of departments to earmark at least 35 per cent of current year’s allocations for clearing past liabilities. A sum of Rs 14.50 crore has been provided as a matching contribution for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, construction of buildings for colleges at Reasi, Ramnagar, Ganderbal and Kulgam and salary for additional staff required for opening and upgradation of schools. Another Rs 4 crore have been provided for implementation of mid-day meals scheme. To provide enhanced financial support to widows, physically handicapped and old-age
pensioners, an additional Rs 22 crore has been provided. Emphasis has been laid on revival of social forestry projects with a capital component of Rs 4 crore. Under the housing and urban development sector, Rs 10 crore have been provided for conservation of Dal lake. An amount of Rs 7.46 crore has been additionally provided for the cable car project, avalanche protection, sports equipment for winter games, construction and renovation of Ziarat Baba Hanief-ud-din, Beerwa and Ziarat Sheikh Alam Pampore, Royal Springs Golf Course and for the Pahalgam Development Authority for development under the tourism sector. For Jammu, Rs 20.80 crore has been provided as against Rs 8.30 crore last year. In Kashmir Rs 20 crore has been provided this year as compared to Rs 8.65 crore last year. With this, the state will be able to avail large grants from the Centre. With these efforts, 4.80 million gallons of potable drinking water will be added daily to the present availability in the state.
— UNI |
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No consensus on
commission chief Jammu, July 25 The Cabinet met twice, yesterday and on Wednesday, in Srinagar but could not choose the incumbent from a panel of three. The post fell vacant following the retirement of Mr H.Y. Tayabji recently. During the two sittings the Cabinet, for the first time, overhauled the bureaucracy and the police set-up. Such mass transfers were ordered by the coalition government of Mufti Sayeed for the first time after coming to power about nine months ago. It is learnt that the panel for the top slot in the public service commission has the names of Mr M.L. Kaul, a retired Financial Commissioner, Mr K.B. Pillai, who has been given the status of Chief Secretary and is holding the post of Director-General of the Institute of Management and Public Administration, and Mr J.A. Khan, Chairman of the Special Tribunal. The name of Ms Sushma Chaudhary, who belongs to Jammu and is a Secretary at the Centre, is not in the panel although she was initially being tipped for the post. It is learnt that the Mufti government was under pressure to appoint the chairman from the Jammu region as he had faced severe criticism by appointing officers from Kashmir on senior positions. The state government has come under criticism for appointing people from Kashmir as vice-chancellors of all three universities here by ignoring claimants belonging to Jammu. The alleged issue of discrimination against the Jammu region in the matter of appointments to key posts has become a hot topic of discussion among Jammuites even at marriage parties and other social gatherings. Meanwhile, it is being said that the Congress had the upper hand in the large-scale bureaucratic reshuffle involving 20 IAS, 35 IPS and nearly 100 KAS officers. |
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Shah blames Nazir Geelani for split Jammu, July 25 Mr Shabir Shah has blamed some agencies, including Mr Nazir Geelani, chief of the London-based Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Council, for engineering split in his organisation. He told this correspondent that Mr Nazir Geelani had spent over a fortnight in Kashmir recently and during his stay he had hobnobbed with Saleem Geelani and Bashir Ahmed Wani. He said that when he came to know that Geelani and Wani were indulging in anti-party activities he had no other alternative but to expel them from the organisation, which he had floated in 1998. Mr Shah had left the League when he had no smooth sailing with some of his close associates, including Nayeem Khan, in 1998. In 1997 he joined the All Party Conference and was taken as a member of its executive committee. Hardly after less than a year Mr Shah suggested to the APHC leaders to set up their units in Jammu and Ladakh also and
enrol of non-Muslims in the conglomerate. The suggestion was not accepted and Shabir Ahmed Shah resigned from the APHC even though later it established its units in Jammu and Delhi. Shabir Shah has been a votary of peace. This had brought him in direct conflict with some rebel groups and the agencies across the border. However, he preferred to bank on the strength of the support from the people, in whatever measure it has been available, because after his release from a prolonged detention in 1995 his support bases among the people has been shrinking. Mr Shah does not agree that his Democratic Freedom Party has faced a vertical split. I have expelled some leaders for anti-party activities and they cannot work under the banner of the DFP, he said. No doubt Mr Shah has been working in isolation after the distance between him and the APHC and with the rebel group widened, he continues to draw respect from his supporters and common people, not only in the Kashmir valley but in the Jammu region where he visited several years frequently during the past three years. |
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Dar’s widow floats NGO Jammu, July 25 She has decided to raise funds through donations and will also contribute from her earning as a medical practitioner. Indications are that several government agencies are willing to help the NGO once they are satisfied that Dr Shamima is sincere in her efforts. Inside reports said Dr Shamima, who belongs to a rich family of Badroos in Sopore, fell in love with Abdul Majid Dar, a dreaded militant. The two married in 1992 and had two children. She left the government job soon after marriage but after the death of her husband Dr Shamima resumed her practice in a private nursing home. |
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