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Rehabilitation
policy has Centre’s approval: Dy CM Militants
attack post, 3 cops hurt |
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Killed porters’ kin disconsolate Chithaybandi (Bandipore), February 12 The little girl’s father, Mohammad Aslam Mir (26) was among five persons killed in the encounter that had claimed the lives of six militants and three Army personnel at Dathiwas. Bilquis’ mother Shamima, cannot reconcile to what has happened to the family, with the only earning member dead. Though the Army claims that the youths were killed by the militants in two assaults during a cleaning operation, the survivors’ statements tell a different story. “From the sequence of events, it is obvious that the Army in no way used civilian porters as shields. The fact that three Army jawans were killed, bears testimony to this. The civilian porters were killed only as a result of reckless and indiscriminate firing by the terrorists in their bid to cause maximum damage while attempting to escape,” a defence spokesman stated. The Army chief, asserting that no civilian porter would be hired henceforth, said the civilians were killed in “an accidental fire”. Aslam’s father, Mohammad Yusuf Mir is weary and his sorrow is no different from that of the four other families. His son like the six others was taken away by troops from the nearby camp located in the village for some “necessary job” on Saturday last. Only two of them returned. Mohammad Yusuf is the only survivor having returned home, while Abdul Majeed Malla who was injured in the firing is undergoing treatment at the Bone and Joints Hospital in Srinagar. Malla, a resident of a distant village, Arin, had been taken away from the house of his in-laws in this village. “It was at 7.30 am on Saturday when the soldiers asked my son to accompany them to the nearby camp,” said Mohammad Yusuf Mir. Several others had been picked up. “When the boys were not freed, we went to the camp but we were told that they had been sent for some urgent job,” he said. Aslam’s cousin, Farooq Ahmad Qureshi, (22), who was about to leave for Srinagar to attend to his ailing mother in a nursing home, was also among those taken away and brought dead. “The blankets and kerosene stove is still packed for being carried to Srinagar as he had to look after me,” said his ailing mother, Sitara Begum. She had to return without being operated upon following his death. “The soldiers did not listen to us and took him away,” laments his father, Sirajuddin, who was in the Srinagar hospital nursing his wife. “Some bodies were brought to a nearby house under construction the next morning,” said Abdul Rashid, another resident. They were asked to identify the bodies, leading to a protest as the bodies were taken to the police station at Bandipore, 10 km away. This is not the only tragic incident that the residents of this village mostly inhabited by the Gujjars, have faced. They have paid a heavy price earlier too for no fault of theirs, recall some of the villagers. Mohammad Yusuf Khatana, a youth who had gone to the nearby jungles to ferry a log of timber, was allegedly killed by the security forces deployed there. That was about three months ago, says a villager, adding that the youth was branded as a militant and handed over to them at an Army camp at Safapore, about 20 km away. Bashir Ahmad from a nearby area who had been residing with his in-laws in this village was also killed under similar circumstances last year. His body was handed over at another camp at Chitranaar near Bandipore. “Despite assurances for compensation from the authorities, nothing has come out so far,” said one of his relatives. |
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Rehabilitation policy has Centre’s approval: Dy CM Jammu, February 12 “Those criticising the state government’s policy are against the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state which has been bearing the brunt of militancy for more than a decade,” he said addressing a public meeting here last evening. The criticism of the local BJP unit did not hold any ground as the Centre endorsed it, he said adding that the Centre had provided funds for the rehabilitation of surrendered militants. “Criticising the state government’s moves which are aimed at bringing prosperity and peace in the valley has become a practice of the local BJP unit. The policy was announced to encourage the militants to surrender and join the mainstream,” he said. In an apparent reference to the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, he said, “The Congress and the PDP would jointly field its candidates in all six seats. The coalition government has been working in cohesion.” “To meet the long-pending demands of the PoK refugees the state government has asked the Centre to allow the refugees to register their claims of property and provide them adequate compensation,” he said. The Deputy Chief Minister said the government was aware of the problems faced by the Kashmiri migrants and would take steps to ensure their return to the valley. He said unemployment was assuming great proportions in the state and the youth should try to draw benefit from self-employment schemes run by the government rather banking on white collar jobs alone. Mr Sharma also enumerated the salient features of the new industrial policy announced by the government and hoped that the unemployed youth would avail the benefits provided under the policy and set up industrial units in the state.
— PTI |
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Militants attack post, 3 cops hurt Srinagar, February 12 Militants opened fire on a police guard posted at the picket for the protection of minority community at Chotigam in Shopian last night. The policemen returned the fire and in the shootout three cops received bullet injuries, he said adding that the injured had been shifted to a hospital. This is the third attack on a minority community picket since last year’s Nadimarg massacre in Pulwama. Several police personnel were suspended and charged with cowardice for “failing to react to the militant attack.” Militants disarmed five policemen in central Kashmir in Budgam district and a similar incident took place in Shopian area last year. All the cops involved in the incidents were suspended and charged with cowardice.
— PTI |
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