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Wednesday,
August 20, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Cong worker, 3 Jaish militants German envoy meets CM, Hurriyat
leaders
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Govt gearing up to host inter-state
meet
BSF officer assaulted by Army
officer Liquor shops to be reopened in
valley Operation charas launched in Jammu Gulmarg to be developed as
skiing resort 4 officers transferred Gujjars being neglected, says BJP chief Transport strike called off
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Cong worker, 3 Jaish militants among 6 killed Srinagar, August 19 The three JeM militants were killed by the Army in an encounter during search operations at Kaninwall in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama last night. Another JeM militant was killed in an encounter with the troops at Arah village of Kulgam in Anantnag district, the sources said. Militants opened fire on an Army patrol at Rajpora forest in Pulwama district killing a jawan. The troops retaliated, but the militants escaped. A Congress activist, Abdul Ahad Wani, was shot by militants in his house at Damhal Kashipora in Anantnat district. Militants kidnapped and later killed Mohammad Rustam at Bakhipora in Baramulla district last evening. Two special police officers (SPOs) were wounded when militants attacked a patrol party at Gandali in Udhampur district last night. The SPOs were hospitalised. Meanwhile, three youths yesterday crossed over to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir from Tad village near the Line of Control in the Karnah sector of Kupwara district in north Kashmir. The youths were Sajjad Ahmad (18), Parvez Ahmad Mughal and Mohammad Akram (both 22). —
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Be vigilant, Army chief to soldiers Jammu, August 19 General Vij, who was on a three-day visit to the state, visited several forward areas in Poonch and Rajouri districts where he asked the soldiers to remain alert to meet the challenge from rebels and their patrons. Before leaving for Srinagar today the Army chief offered prayers at Raghunath Temple, which was attacked twice by the militants in the last one year, in which 12 persons were killed and 45 wounded. About 2-km area around the temple was placed under heavy security cover during the General’s visit. The Army chief interacted with soldiers in the remote areas of
Thanamandi, Budhal (in Rajouri district) and Surankot belt of Poonch where he complimented the troops for their dedication to duty. General Vij was briefed by senior field commanders about the situation on the LoC and in the border areas. |
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Civilian hurt in Pak firing Jammu, August 19 Official sources said Pakistani troops restored to heavy mortar shelling from across the Line of Control on civilian population in forward areas in the Nowshera sector. Indian troops retaliated. A civilian — Om Parkash of Jhangar area — sustained splinter injuries and was taken to hospital. Indian and Pakistani troops have also exchanged fire along the international border in Samba,
R.S. Pura and Jammu sectors since last evening. However, no loss of life or damage was reported. —
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German envoy meets CM, Hurriyat
leaders Srinagar, August 19 Interacting with the Ambassador on the situation after last year’s elections, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said it was due to the people’s yearning for peace and development that the situation in the state had taken a turn around. He said the realisation was fast dawning that gun was no solution to any problem. Dialogue was the key to resolve issues and his government pursued it. An official spokesman said the Chief Minister expressed happiness that both India and Pakistan were moving ahead on the peace path to ensure lasting peace in the region. He said tough “we have not yet crossed the hump and there is still a long way to go, but certainly a process of reconciliation between the two countries has started”. This process could be further accelerated by dismantling the walls of hatred and suspicion by taking more confidence-building measures, he asserted. The Ambassador and the Counsellor also had a meeting with the senior executive members of the Hurriyat Conference at the party’s Rajbagh headquarters. During the 75-minute meeting, the APHC leaders sought the involvement of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in any negotiation between the two neighbouring countries. The leaders welcomed the developments taking place in the Indo-Pakistan relations. The Hurriyat executive members who attended the meeting included its Chairman, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Maulvi Umar Farooq and Mr Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Ghani Lone (People’s Conference), Bashir Ahmad Tota (People’s League) and Ghulam Rasool Dar. |
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Govt gearing up to host inter-state
meet Srinagar, August 19 This would be Mr Vajpayee’s second visit to Kashmir within a few months. He had addressed the first public meeting after 15 years by a Prime Minister here in April. People here eagerly await the Prime Minister’s visit after the nod to mobile telephone services in the state. The meet is scheduled to deliberate on various issues, including the power-sharing equation between the Centre and states and strengthening of the Panchayati Raj and other related issues. Apart from the Prime Minister, who is to chair the meet, some of his ministerial colleagues, including the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister are expected to attend the meeting. The Chief Ministers of all the states and the Lt-Governors of the Union Territories will also attend the meet. A high-level team of officers of the Inter State Council secretariat, will arrive here by the end of this week, to oversee the arrangements. The state government has made a list of the issues that may be brought to the notice of the central leadership for necessary action. It was on the insistence of the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, that the Inter State Council meeting is being heldoutside the union capital for the first time. When the top central leaders and heads of all the states and union territories converge here on August 27, it would be yet another major event in the valley. Some of the earlier major events include the Prime Minister’s two-day visit in April, followed by the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s visit and the Congress Chief Ministers’ conference that was also attended by the party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi. The peaceful conduct of the Republic Day celebrations followed by peaceful conduct of the Independence Day celebrations that was attended by thousands and the peaceful conclusion of the Amarnath yatra, are considered among the major achievements of the present government. |
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BSF officer assaulted by Army officer Srinagar, August 19 Taking exception to the “assault and abduction” of Sub-Inspector Ram Mehr Dahak allegedly by Capt Manish on Sunday, the BSF said it planned to take up the issue at the highest level to avoid the recurrence of such incidents in future. The incident, which reportedly took place after an altercation near Langate in Kupwara, was reported to the BSF headquarters and the case would be taken up at the highest level as it was for the second time that BSF officers were “targeted” by an Army officer in the valley, BSF sources told PTI. They said BSF had already lodged a strong protest with the Army authorities here besides lodging a formal complaint in Handwara police station against the accused. However, a defence spokesman denied the charge of the BSF and defended the action of the Army officer. “The officer acted in a professional manner and prevented the situation from taking the turn for the worst,” he said adding the officer acted when the BSF officer, travelling in a vehicle, blocked the bridge when the Army convoy was passing. He was asked to take back the vehicle, but instead he pointed his gun at the officer upon which the officer took him to the nearby camp and tried to contact his battalion, the spokesman said. The spokesman said the Army wanted to hand over the BSF officer to his battalion on Sunday evening itself, but nobody from his battalion came to take him back. Some BSF personnel visited the camp but left when they were asked to sign some documents pertaining to the release of the officer on the plea that the officer did not belong to the battalion, he said. The BSF, on the other hand, said a senior officer of the force posted at Drugmulla visited the Army camp for the release of the officer but the Armymen refused to hand over Dahak to him. After having failed to get their officer released from the Army camp, the BSF lodged a complaint at Handwara police station. Later, the SP Handwara went to the Army camp and got the officer released on Monday evening. —
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Liquor shops to be reopened in
valley Jammu, August 19 Mr Beig said here today that about 1,000 applications had been received for opening bars and liquor shops in Jammu and Kashmir. Many applications have also been received from the Ladakh region which is visited by a large number of foreign tourists. He said the single liquor shop operating in the valley was doing a daily business of around Rs 4 lakh. The last date for receiving applications for liquor shops and bars was July 31. He, however, said abiding the directions of the high court, the government would not allow Jammu to be turned into a city of boozers by indiscriminately opening more liquor shops. Mr Beig said the new shops would be sanctioned through a draw of lots if there was more than one applicant. He said the government was planning to handover the collection of taxes at Lakhanpur, which is the gateway to the state, by private hands by next year in case some good offers were received. He said the intelligence network was being strengthened at the sales tax and excise barriers at Lakhanpur to plug leakages and the staff of these departments had been shuffled resulting in a 37 per cent increase in the revenue. Mr Beig said the government was determined to smash the nexus between certain officers and the mafia which was involved in the leakage of tax. A system of reward and punishment for officials had been introduced to bring in efficiency. He warned that accounts officers bringing political pressure for getting plum postings would face disciplinary action. Mr Beig ruled out ending the “exit tax” which the motorists have to pay while driving out of the state at Lakhanpur. This was besides the entry tax which they have to pay while coming to the state. |
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Operation charas launched in Jammu Jammu, August 19 The NCB has identified 1,500 acres on which charas has been grown. The NCB officials with the help of the police and the CRPF have destroyed standing charas fields. According to the NCB Zonal Director, Mr Arun Kumar, labourers have been engaged by charas smugglers and dealers who extract hashish from plants. Each labourer gets Rs 200 per day. The dealers get hashish worth Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a day. He said the NCB planned to launch the operation in the valley also where rice fields have been converted into charas-growing areas during the past 20 years. A DIG said “militants’ ban on cultivation and smuggling of charas had remain in force for less than four years from 1992. It has picked up since it is a lucrative trade as 1 kg of charas can fetch anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 and over Rs 2 lakh in the international market.” |
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Gulmarg to be developed as
skiing resort Srinagar, August 19 This was disclosed by the Chief Minister while interacting with the German Ambassador to India, Mr Heimo Richter, who called on him here this morning. In order to attract tourists the government would expand the facilities at various places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Patnitop and other destinations, he said, according to an official spokesman. The Chief Minister said the second phase of the Gulmarg-Gondola cable car project would be completed by the end of this year. It would extend the facility upto a height of 13500 ft at Affarwat peak. This would enable the visitors to have a glimpse of the bewitching Alpather frozen lake. The Chief Minister said the Winter Games Federation of India may organise the winter games at Gulmarg this year. The Gulmarg Ski Cup and the Gondola National Cup would be held in the winter. |
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4 officers transferred Srinagar, August 19 The officers include Mr Dhanatar Singh, Deputy Director, Tourism, Jammu, Mr. K. K. Kitchloo, Deputy Secretary to Government, Agriculture Production Department, Mr Showkat A. Beig, awaiting orders of adjustment in the GAD, and Mr Khursheed Anwar, on deputation to the JKI. The officers have been directed to report to the Secretary to Government, Rural Development Department. |
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Gujjars being neglected, says BJP chief Jammu, August 19 Dr Nirmal Singh who was addressing a conference of the Gujjars here yesterday said it was unfortunate that even after 56 years of Independence, the percentage of literacy among the Gujjars was low and they were denied the facilities of drinking water, healthcare and power. He highlighted the importance of the community in the ongoing fight against terrorism. He accused the Congress and the Panthers Party of discriminating against the Jammu region while being in the coalition government. |
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Transport strike called off Srinagar, August 19 The move follows a meeting of the federation functionaries with Mr Sayeed here this evening. —
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Three Jaish-e-Mohammad militants and an Army jawan were killed in separate encounters, while militants gunned down two, including a Congress activist, in the Kashmir Valley.
