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Saturday,
August 16, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Give up gun, Mufti tells militants
3 securitymen among 6 killed BSF officer, 5 others hurt in Pak shelling |
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Give up gun, Mufti tells militants Srinagar, August 15 Speaking after unfurling national flag on the occasion of Independence Day at Bakshi Stadium here this morning, the Chief Minister held that things had changed since Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee extended hand of friendship to Pakistan from Kashmir, early this year. Mufti Sayeed reiterated his stand on the opening of border posts at Suchetgarh in Jammu region and Uri in Kashmir division. He held that this would help build confidence and establish a mutual trust among the people. The function held under tight security arrangements. Over 15,000 people from different rural areas attended the celebrations, this being the first such gathering on the occasion since 1988. Students from over 12 schools participated in the function, which continued for over two hours. Shops and business establishments in the valley were closed and traffic was off the roads. A number of buses carrying people for the function converged near Bakshi Stadium in the morning and later ferried them back. The Hurriyat Conference claimed that total bandh was observed in the valley in response to its call. An APHC spokesman said that the complete shutdown “clarifies that Kashmir is disputed and its people want freedom”. He urged the Central government to initiate a positive dialogue for permanent and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue with the involvement of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister in his 35-minute speech complimented the people for changing the situation. He added that it was people’s endeavour that led to change on the ground situation. He said that it was only the last Assembly elections that the people of the state realised “it is they who make the government in Jammu and Kashmir and not New Delhi.” He added the people had become real fountainhead of power. Saying that the people have great expectations from the coalition government, Mufti Sayeed assured the people that it would fulfill the promises made in the Common Minimum Programme. He said nine months were too short to fulfill people’s expectations, adding that his government had bold steps in this direction. He said that education was the top priority of his government, whereby over 28000 educated youth would be adjusted in the government schools. Over one lakh youth would be adjusted in different central government departments over the next two years, he said. He reiterated his stand on good governance and restoration of ‘peace with dignity’. UNI, PTI add:
At Halt Chinar, close to the stadium, a number of shops were open and people, besides security forces, were seen making purchases. A UNI correspondent who visited a number of localities in the city saw some shops open, children playing cricket and elders discussing the latest political situation. However, in the Natipora, Nowgam, Bypass, Chanapora, Barbar Shah and Dalgate shops were open and some three wheelers were also seen on the roads. The function was delayed by an hour as the Chief Minister arrived one hour behind scheduled time. Children from different schools, were kept waiting. Ministers hoisted the tri-colour at district headquarters while the Chief Executive Councillor of Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council unfurled the national flag in Leh. Rural Development Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed was the chief guest at Anantnag, Forest Minister Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi at Kupwara, Revenue Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen at Budgam and Minister for Health Choudhary Lal Singh at Kathua, they added. In Ladakh, Thupstan Chhewang took the salute at the function held at Leh while Youth Services and Sports Minister Haji Nissar Ali president over the function at Kargil, they added. Cautioning his Cabinet Colleagues, the Mufti said people should not be disappointed otherwise they will throw us out. “People are the real masters and if we cannot meet their expectation we will have to face their power of vote... The day I feel that I can not serve the people I will leave my chair,” he said. The Chief Minister renewed his appeal to the militants to abjure the path of violence as the gun had no role in the present century. Mr Sayeed also announced the Centre’s decision to create one Economic Free Zone (EFZ) each in Jammu and Srinagar to boost industrial activities. He said by December 2005, a train service would be started between Qazigund and Baramula and by 2007 the Kashmir Valley would be connected with the rest of the country through rail. JAMMU:
A large number of people turned out to participate in the Independence day celebration in the areas bordering Pakistan particularly in the Rajauri and Poonch districts. Terrorists had threatened people in Thanamandi and Buddhal areas of the Rajauri district not to hoist the tricolour. Reports said that a good number of people witnessed the parade and cultural functions at these places. This was perhaps for the first time in the past 14 years since 1989 when terrorism came to J&K that the day passed off free of any terrorist incident so far. There was a strong deployment of Army and security forces in the state. Terrorists made attempts yesterday to smuggle explosive devices to Thanamandi and Surankot (Poonch). A tempo fitted with explosive and a detonators was intercepted by the Army at Thanamandi, while a remote control improvised explosive device was seized at Surankot in Poonch. Main function of the region was held at the Parade Ground where Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, unfurled the national flag. Reports of celebration of Independence Day have also been received from other district towns of Kathua, Udhampur and Doda. Minister for health, Lal Singh, unfurled the national flag at Kathua where a large number of people witnessed the function. The PWD minister, Mr Madan Lal Sharma, took salute at the parade at the border town of Akhnoor. |
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3 securitymen among 6 killed Srinagar, August 15 Militants ambushed a security force patrol in which an Army jawan was killed at Handwara in Kupwara, the spokesman said, adding that the troops retaliated, but the militants escaped. Militants shot at two special police officers. Mohammad Younis Mir and Muneer Hussain at Bazipora in Baramula district, he said. While Mir died on the spot, Hussain suffered injuries. A Hizb-e-Islami militant, identified as Zakir Shah, was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Lonehari village in Kupwara district last night, he said, adding that 5 kg of RDX, besides an AK rifle and ammunition, were recovered from the killed militant, a resident of Peshawar in Pakistan. In the Jammu region, a militant was killed while trying to infiltrate into Chingus sector of Rajouri district, the spokesman said. He was identified as Ghulam Nabi, an “area commander” of Al-Badr outfit, and arms and ammunition seized from him, he said. Militants abducted a shopkeeper, Abdul Karim, at Surankote in Poonch district, tortured him all night and then chopped off his head and limbs. Karim’s dismembered body was recovered from the nearby Dhari Hari forests. A BSF constable, Vishwajeet Sahia, was killed in a gunbattle with militants at Thuroo-Mahore in Udhampur district, he said. The security forces recovered 4 kg of RDX, arms and ammunition from a hideout at the Zalwa nursery in the Bandipore area of Baramula, the spokesman said. Militants made an abortive attempt to target an Army camp in Kathua district today, which was foiled by alert security guards who fired back, forcing the ultras to flee. Barely a few hours after Independence Day functions concluded, militants attacked a police camp by hurling a grenade in central Kashmir's Budgam district this evening, injuring 16 persons, official sources said. They said militants hurled the grenade at the security camp at Pakharpora at around 4.40 pm, resulting in splinter injuries to 16 persons, including three girls.
— PTI |
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BSF officer, 5 others hurt in Pak shelling Jammu, August 15 Using heavy arms including field guns, Pakistani troops pounded Defence and civilian areas, including Jangard, Kalsia, Balakote, Bhawani, Laam, Jallas, Sabzian, Krishnagati, Kaa Neter, Kalal, Balnoi, Kerni and Mendhar in Rajauri and Poonch district since last night, they said. In the firing, Assistant Commandant, P.S. Maan was injured when shells exploded near forward Defence locations last night, the sources said. A civilian and three Army jawans were injured in Balakote area in Pak shelling early today, they said adding all injured were hospitalised. The BSF troops and Pakistani rangers exchanged fire intermittently along international border (IB) in R.S. Pura, Samba and Hiranagar areas of Jammu since last night, the sources said. The Pakistani Rangers fired on BSF troops and workers engaged in fencing and floodlighting in Samba and R.S. Pura areas to stall it yesterday, the sources said. — PTI |
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