J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hizb commander killed
Exfiltration bid by 32 B’deshis foiled
Srinagar, May 28
A Hizbul Mujahideen commander was among six persons killed while militants snatched weapons from the police and also kidnapped one person in the Kashmir valley overnight, an official spokesman said today. He said the body of deputy district commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen Mujahid Ali Mohammad was recovered from Neelipora Nowgam Handwara late last night.

APHC (Abbas) against talks with separatists
Jammu, May 28
The APHC (Abbas) group is not in favour of the Union Government holding talks “with separatists” in Kashmir. “If the dialogue is held with all political groups it will be a waste of time. 

Protest against Najaf attack
Srinagar, May 28
Muslims in the Kashmir valley today staged demonstrations protesting against the US attack on the holy city of Najaf. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the occupational forces from Iraq. After offering the Friday prayers, the protesters took out marches, raising anti-US slogans in different areas of the city and elsewhere in the valley, official sources said.

Kashmiri protesters hold a burning flag of Israel during a demonstration after the Friday prayers in Budgam, 25 km north of Srinagar. — Photo by Amin War

Guest control order from June 6
Jammu, May 28
The guest control order, which puts a ban on extravagance during marriages and other parties, will come into force in Jammu and Kashmir from June 6. Those violating the order will face a three-year prison sentence.

Mehbooba, Lal Singh resign as MLAs
Srinagar, May 28
Ms Mehbooba Mufti and Mr Lal Singh have resigned as members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from Pahalgam and Basohli constituencies, respectively. This follows their election to the Lok Sabha from Anantnag and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies, respectively. 

Panel set up to restore art academy’s autonomy
Srinagar, May 28
In an effort to restore autonomy to the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, the state government has constituted academy’s general council, central committee and finance committee.

Tourists head for Kashmir
Jammu, May 28
Despite incidents of terrorism, Kashmir appears to have become favourite destination for tourists this summer. Tourists are flocking the valley these days, leaving Manali and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh which they had patronised ever since militancy troubled J&K. Buses carrying tourists from various parts of the country can be seen on the Jammu Srinagar highway heading for the valley.

Hizb commander killed
Exfiltration bid by 32 B’deshis foiled

Srinagar, May 28
A Hizbul Mujahideen commander was among six persons killed while militants snatched weapons from the police and also kidnapped one person in the Kashmir valley overnight, an official spokesman said today. He said the body of deputy district commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen Mujahid Ali Mohammad was recovered from Neelipora Nowgam Handwara late last night.

He was identified as Abdul Malik of Faridpur. Rs 100 in Pakistan currency were recovered from him, the spokesman added. — UNI

APHC (Abbas) against talks with separatists
Our Correspondent

Jammu, May 28
The APHC (Abbas) group is not in favour of the Union Government holding talks “with separatists” in Kashmir. “If the dialogue is held with all political groups it will be a waste of time. If others want to be associated with the dialogue let them join hands with us,” said Prof Abdul Gani Bhat,a senior APHC leader and its former chairman.

Professor Bhat told the correspondent today, that “there is not only Mr Sajjad Lone of the People’s Conference but there are leaders of many factions like the People’s League, and Muslim Conference. There are leaders of the Jamait-e-Islami and other groups also.”

He said, “It is not possible to hold a meaningful dialogue with all of them separately. Let them join hands with us or we can join hands with the other groups so that the dialogue process is hastened.”

The APHC leader said “The National Conference, PDP and CPI(M) need not be involved in the dialogue because they have found the way. They treat Kashmir as an integral part of India and as such there is no dispute for them. We have not found a way and we have to work out a formula which can result in the permanent settlement of the Kashmir dispute.’

“We are neither for transfer of power nor are we interested in the change of guard at the civil secretariat and the Raj Bhavan. We represent the sentiments of people of Kashmir and want a solution to the problem which can satisfy people’s aspirations,” Professor Bhat said.

The separatist leader wanted the Congress-led Union Government to follow the policy vis-a-vis Kashmir and Pakistan adopted by Vajpayee-led government.

He added that “if the government was not prepared to consider our solution on Kashmir for discussion we may discontinue the talks.”

He also wanted the new government to grant permission to the APHC team to visit Pakistan where we could discuss our solution with men who matter there.

Protest against Najaf attack

Srinagar, May 28
Muslims in the Kashmir valley today staged demonstrations protesting against the US attack on the holy city of Najaf. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the occupational forces from Iraq. After offering the Friday prayers, the protesters took out marches, raising anti-US slogans in different areas of the city and elsewhere in the valley, official sources said.

Meanwhile, National Conference president Omar Abdullah condemned the USA for attacking holy places in Iraq saying that the action had hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims all over the world. — PTI 

Guest control order from June 6
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 28
The guest control order, which puts a ban on extravagance during marriages and other parties, will come into force in Jammu and Kashmir from June 6. Those violating the order will face a three-year prison sentence.

To make marriage ceremonies and other parties simple, the order restricts the size of the marriage party to 25 persons. Food can be served on the bride’s side to only 75 persons. This excludes family members of the host, an official spokesman said here today.

Similarly, food can be served only to 50 persons, excluding family members, at the bridegroom’s house.

The order states that not more than five dishes would be served at a marriage function or social, religious and other functions. No party would be hosted on the bride’s or the bridegroom’s sides within 15 days of the marriage.

The Director, Consumer Affairs, has been nominated as the enforcing authority of the order within the municipal limits of Jammu and Srinagar cities. Deputy commissioners, tehsildars and naib tehsildars are the prescribed authorities within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

The guest control order was introduced in 1973, but withdrawn in 1984.

The Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government has revoked the order as marriage functions have become a costly affair in the state, particularly in the Kashmir valley. At least 22 dishes were supposed to be served to baraatis, as a result of which mutton worth about Rs 30 crore was sold during the marriage season in the valley.

Mehbooba, Lal Singh resign as MLAs
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 28
Ms Mehbooba Mufti and Mr Lal Singh have resigned as members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from Pahalgam and Basohli constituencies, respectively. This follows their election to the Lok Sabha from Anantnag and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies, respectively. 

In a communiqué issued by the Legislative Assembly secretariat, Speaker of the assembly, Tara Chand has accepted their resignations from Wednesday. Pahalgam and Basohli have fallen vacant, an official spokesman said.

Panel set up to restore art academy’s autonomy

Srinagar, May 28
In an effort to restore autonomy to the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, the state government has constituted academy’s general council, central committee and finance committee.

As per the constitution of the academy, the central committee have the powers to exercise the executive authority of the academy in all matters of finance, administration and organisation, subject to the policy directives of the general council. — PTI

Tourists head for Kashmir
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 28
Despite incidents of terrorism, Kashmir appears to have become favourite destination for tourists this summer. Tourists are flocking the valley these days, leaving Manali and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh which they had patronised ever since militancy troubled J&K. Buses carrying tourists from various parts of the country can be seen on the Jammu Srinagar highway heading for the valley.

Tourists from Gujarat, Maharashatra and other states are arriving in Srinagar in groups. More than 75,000 tourists have visited the valley in the past five months. But real rush started this month when 23,397 of them came to Kashmir in the first fortnight. On an average about 2000 tourists are reaching Srinagar every day.

Inspite of advisories against travel to J&K issued by Britain and other countries, 1176 foreign tourists so far reached the valley this month against 311 last year and 188 in 2002.

There is no room available in Gulmarg and Pahalgam where the entire accommodation has been booked till June end. Sonamarg near the Kolhai glacier is also receiving tourists.