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Saturday,
August 23, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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5 pc quota
in Union Budget sought for J&K Vohra,
Soni in valley All terror
training camps in Pak operational, says ultra |
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BSF
jawan killed in Pak shelling 3 Pak
militants killed Independents
float party Geelani
to float party Charges
against Capt to stay, says BSF Army
Chief visits valley
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5 pc quota in Union Budget sought for J&K Srinagar, August 22 A greater importance has also been attached to the return of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, which was on the top priority of the state government, though the Nadimarg massacre has hampered the process. This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Coordination Committee, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, at the end of its two-day meeting here today. Mr Azad, AICC general secretary and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, said the committee had reviewed the performance of the Jammu and Kashmir Government and implementation of the common
minimum programme. He said that during two-day deliberations various issues and problems were taken up for full implementation of the common minimum programme of the coalition government led by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. He said the thrust was also on providing a transparent and corruption free administration. This was the first meeting of the committee held here since it was constituted. Two similar meetings had been held in the winter capital, Jammu, earlier this year. Two members — Mr Bhim Singh of the Panthers Party and Mr M.Y. Tarigami — who had earlier raised objections over the functioning of the committee also attended the meeting, thereby allaying the reports of differences between the coalition partners. Giving details at a press conference here, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad said it had suggested to the state government to approach the Centre for the grant of 5 per cent quota in the budget of all ministrie exclusively for the Jammu and Kashmir state on the pattern of north-eastern states, where it was fixed at 10 per cent. This suggestion was made as the state had suffered a lot over the past 13 years, which hampered developmental process. It had also asked the coalition government in the state to approach the Centre to lift the ban on appointments in the government departments, which is in force since the previous National Conference government. It was also suggested that steps be taken to fulfil the promise of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during his last Kashmir visit, to provide one lakh jobs to the educated youth in the state. The committee members further urged the government to adjust youth in various Central Government departments functioning in the state. It has also suggested to frame a recruitment policy to give equal representation in employment to the educated youth of all the three regions of the state. Regarding admissions in professional colleges, the committee suggested that the intake capacity in all such colleges be doubled to meet the demand. The committee also sought an improvement in the health services by bringing the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, on a par with AIIMS, and the setting up of a similar institute in Jammu. The committee also discussed Panchayat Raj and representation to women in the panchayats and better facilities to those living near the LoC or the IB in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Vohra, Soni in valley Srinagar, August 22 The visit of the senior party leaders is also regarding the day-long Congress workers’ meeting scheduled to be held here tomorrow. A convention of the Youth Congress workers was also held recently. It was attended by Mr Azad and senior vice-president of the PCC and Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma. |
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All terror training camps in Pak operational, says ultra
Srinagar, August 22 “All training camps in Pakistan are still operational. During the heightened tension between India and Pakistan and under US pressure, most of the camps were shifted”, the militant, Shahbaz Ahmad Bhat, said when he was presented before the media after his arrest by BSF yesterday. Three base camps, in the Boi, Garhi Habibullah and Mansera jungles were shifted to Tarbela, Haripur and Taxila, which were running under ISI supervision. These camps had been shifted back to their original locations, he said. A resident of Chukar village in Pattan tehsil of Baramula district, Bhat was arrested during a raid on a hideout at Harbachu village in the township of Pulwama, a BSF spokesman said. The militant said all forward launching detachments along the LoC numbering approximately 17, had been fully activated and the launching of militants to the Indian side was going on unabated. From the forward Kahuta detachment of the ISI, at least two groups were launched prior to his infiltration into the valley and two more groups were waiting there to infiltrate during the first week of August, he disclosed. The ultra said he had been motivated by Hizb militants in the Pattan belt and taken for training in one of the outfits camps in Pakistan in September 1999. After undergoing training at Hizb training camp ‘allaqa-e-gair’ in North-East Frontier Province for four months, Bhat moved to the Jungle Mangle camp and stayed there for more than three years, the BSF spokesman, said, adding that he returned to the valley last month.
— PTI |
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BSF jawan killed in Pak shelling Jammu, August 22 According to reports reaching here, a BSF personnel was also injured. The women injured due to the shelling have been identified as Kateeja Bi and her daughter Gulshan Bi. They have been admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Pakistani troops also indulged in shelling at various places in the Kargil and Dras areas of Ladakh. The Pakistani troops made a futile attempt to target the TV tower of the Doordarshan at Viji at Debri in the Mendhar sector of Poonch. However, the shells landed near the tower without causing any damage. An exchange of fire was reported in the Bhawani sector of Rajouri district. |
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3 Pak militants killed
Srinagar, August 22 Umar Shoib of the HuM was killed in a gunfight with troops at Landoora in the Shopian area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir in the wee hours of today, they said. On a tip-off, the troops raided a hideout in Doda district. In the encounter that took place between the troops and militants, a Pakistani militant belonging to the Lashkar was killed. Code-named Abu Khaleefa, the militant was tehsil commander of the Lashkar, they said. The sources said the troops killed another HuM militant Mohammad Ashraf at Khiram village of Anantnag district. A pistol and some ammunition were recovered from him. The troops launched an operation in the Thandi Kasi area of Rajouri district of Jammu last evening following information about the presence of militants there. The troops were fired upon and in the ensuing gunbattle, a Pakistani militant was killed this morning and one was captured alive.
— PTI |
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Independents float party
Srinagar, August 22 After a two-day meet at the office of the new party at Rawalpora here, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Minister for Revenue in the coalition, said the forum would from now on function as a party, but retain its title. “We will approach the Election Commission for recognition as a regional political party and other related matters,” he said in reply to a question. With 11 members, the forum becomes the third largest partner in the ruling coalition. Mr Yaseen replied in the affirmative when asked if the forum would bargain for more ministerial berths in the state. He said the forum, which was formed on October 7 last year — three days ahead of the election results for Assembly elections — would also seek representation for the party in the coordination committee. The forum would continue to work towards resolution of the Kashmir dispute through peaceful dialogue, Mr Yaseen said. Mr Raman Matoo, Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, said before India and Pakistan started a dialogue on Kashmir, an internal agreement had to be reached with the people of Kashmir. The other PDF members who attended the meeting were Mr Sofi Ghulam
Mohiuddin, Thakur Puran Singh, Abdul Majid Wani (all ministers), Manohar Lal ‘Babu Singh’, Moulvi Abdul Rashid and Usman Abdul Majid.
— PTI |
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Geelani
to float party Srinagar, August 22 |
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Charges against Capt to stay, says BSF
Srinagar, August 22 The complaint was filed on August 17 in Handwara after Sub Inspector Ram Mehar Dahak of the BSF was allegedly beaten up and held hostage by Captain Manish. However, the Army says that the officer acted in a professional manner to save the situation from turning ugly. The altercation had ensued over crossing a bridge. Their convoys faced each other in the centre of the bridge near Langate in Kupwara when the Sub Inspector reportedly aimed his gun at he leader of the Army convoy — Captain Manish. “Soon, Dahak was overpowered by the Army personnel and taken to the Drugmulla Army Camp,” said a Defence spokesman. He denied that the BSF officer had been assaulted before being taken into custody. “The Army wanted to hand him over to his battalion on Sunday itself, but nobody came to take him away from the camp,” he said. The BSF Deputy Commandant in Drugmulla said the Army had refused to hand over Dahak even though he had personally gone to the Army camp with his team. “Since they did not release him, we lodged a complaint at the Handwara police station against Captain Manish,” he said. The Handwara Superintendent of Police had to personally go to the Army camp on Monday to get the BSF officer released, he said. The BSF has also denied that its officer pointed his gun at the Army officer.
— UNI |
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Army Chief visits
valley Srinagar, August 22 According to a defence spokesman, this was as part of reviewing operations along the Line of Control and counter-insurgency operations in the valley. He said that General Vij had detailed discussions with the Srinagar-based Commander of 15 Corpse, Lient-Gen Nirbhay Sharma. General Vij also visited Sharifabad and Budgam, where he interacted with commanders and troops. General
Sharma apprised the Army Chief of various operational activities,
including conduct of the incident-free Amarnath Yatra, and Operation
Sadhbhavna launched to alienate the local population from the
militants’ influence. |
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