Jammu, October 1
The state unit of the Congress plans to take with the party High Command the “negative role being played by the Panthers Party chairman, Prof. Bhim Singh, by not only fielding party candidates against the Congress in Akhnoor and Basohli Assembly constituencies but by maligning the name of the Congress.”

A senior Congress leader said today “we had raised the matter when Prof Bhim Singh fielded party candidates in the Lok Sabha poll from Jammu and Udhampur constituencies but there was no response from Delhi despite the assurances that the Panthers Party would be asked to quit the coalition government.”

With four MLAs the Panthers Party’s two KLAs are members in the council of Ministers headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

What has irked the Congress leaders is the way Prof Bhim Singh launched a frontal attack on the Congress while campaigning for Mr Ashok Mahajan and Mr Kartar Singh, fielded by him from Akhnoor and Basohli respectively.

Prof Bhim Singh, during his pre-poll campaign, held the Congress responsible for all problems in Jammu and Kashmir.

While addressing a number of election rallies in Akhnoor the Panthers Party leader said that the Congress was responsible for the plight of border refugees and those from Pakistan occupied Kashmir who were denied citizenship rights.

He said on one hand the Congress remained a silent spectator & the miserable condition of the refugees, on the other they supported the valley centric leadership to pass resettlement

Bill providing for the restoration of citizenship rights to those from Pakistan and occupied Kashmir who wished to return to Jammu and Kashmir.

Srinagar, October 1
A militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba was killed while three persons, including the kin of a PDP worker, were injured in firing by militants in separate incidents in the Kashmir Valley since yesterday. One foreign militant of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit was killed in an encounter with security forces at Rainawari, Handwara, in Kupwara district, today, the police said. One AK rifle, two magazines, 48 cartridges and a wireless set were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Unidentified militants fired upon Mohammad Yaqoob Chatt, an employee of the Food and Supplies Department, near his house at Namblabal Pampore, near here in Pulwama district yesterday. His father, Ghulam Hassan, is affiliated with the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The police said that the locals tried to chase the militants who fired upon Mohammad Yaqoob yesterday, but they fled on a motor cycle snatched from a passerby.

In another incident, unidentified militants fired upon two persons associated with Ikhwan or the counter-insurgents in Anantnag town of South Kashmir today. They have been identified as Abdul Ahad Sheikh and Farooq Ahmad Magray.

Srinagar, October 1
Expressing concern over growing road mishaps in Jammu and Kashmir, the Director-General of Police, Mr Gopal Sharma, has called for launching an awareness campaign on safety measures.

The DGP was speaking at the Traffic Awareness Programme, 2004, held at the Government Higher Secondary Institute, Kotibagh, here yesterday.

He said that youth could play a major role in bringing about awareness in the society.

He said that the electronic and print media too could contribute in this regard, further he said the police had a major role in checking road accidents by ensuring better traffic management.

Mr Sharma said the traffic wing of the police had to manage, regulate and streamline the traffic, particularly here and in Jammu.

In view of the increased number of traffic he called for more synergy between various wings of administration in making roads safe for regular traffic.

He pointed out that the menace of over loading, rash driving and non-adherence to traffic norms had to be checked sternly. No slackness in duty would be tolerated, he added.

The function was inaugurated by Additional Director-General of Police, Mr Kuldeep Khuda.

The IGP, Traffic, Mr Ram Lubiya, said that different functions were also held in all districts of the state to educate the people about traffic awareness.

Srinagar, October 1
The Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, inaugurated a Pashmina de-hairing plant installed at a cost of Rs 8.25 crore in Leh yesterday.

Inaugurating the plant during her day-long visit to the region, Ms Gandhi said Pashmina fibre was known all over the world as Kashmiri wool which was considered to be one of the most costly, beautiful and warm product. She expressed happiness that Pashmina wool is being produced and processed in our own country and used by our own citizens.

Ms Gandhi appreciated the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) for the measures for promotion of Pashmina wool in the Changthang area of Ladakh by commissioning the plant. She hoped that the commissioning of the plant would directly benefit the Changpa community of Ladakh.

Ms Gandhi congratulated the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Union Textile Ministry along with UNDP for formulating the programme for speedy development of far-flung areas of Ladakh.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Mr Rigzin Spalbar, disclosed that the total cost of the project was Rs. 8.25 crore.

The Union Textile Minister, Mr Shanker Singh Waghela, assured all possible financial assistance from his ministry for the promotion of Pashmina wool in the area.