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Minister sees militants’ camps in Poonch, Rajouri, GOC-in-C does not
Amarnath yatra arrangements adequate, claims board
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200 Peoples Conference activists join PDP
Three militants, SPO among five killed in J&K
PSO of Ghulam Nabi’s kin joins Hizbul: police
Probe assured into alleged rape by BSF troops
Two litterateurs felicitated
Six killed by lightning in Jammu
Three killed as train hits car
Ponywallahs go on strike in Katra
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Minister sees militants’ camps in Poonch, Rajouri,
Jammu, June 26 GOC-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Hari Prasad, told mediamen in Jammu on Saturday that “there were no training camps run by militants in Poonch and Rajouri” it was contrary to the statement of Union Minister of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal, who in his June 23 statement asserted that in the higher reaches of Poonch and Rajouri militants were had training camps. After Gen Prasad emphatically denied that training camps existed in Poonch and Rajouri an impression went round Jammu that Mr Jaiswal was briefed wrongly by senior functionaries of the central agencies, coming under the Union Home Ministry, that training camps were being run by militants. Mr Jaiswal spent two days in Jammu and interacted with senior officers of different central agencies and the police to assess the latest security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. However, reports, collected by this correspondent, revealed that the officers of the central agencies had informed Mr Jaiswal about specific areas in Poonch and Rajouri where concentration of militants was conspicuous. One senior officer of a central agency told me here today “no one from our side told the Minister that training camps were being run by militants in Poonch and Rajouri.” He said that possibly the Minister mistook “hideouts where militants stay with arms and ammunition for training camps.” And this is exactly what Gen Prasad told newsmen. He said that “there were no training camps but hideouts.” He referred to one hideout which was smashed by the troops in the Kashmir valley from where arms and ammunition in large quantities were recovered. At the time of the raid there were no militants in the hideout indicating that they (rebels) were changing one hideout for the other. Mr Jaiswal had also stated that there were some belts in Poonch and Rajouri which were under the control of militants. This claim too was denied by the Army commander who said that “our troops were present everywhere and there was no question of any area having been under the control of militants.” However, eyewitness accounts from Poonch and Rajauri revealed that in number of areas, including Surankot, Mendhar, Darhal and Kalakot in Poonch and Rajouri districts, militants had been moving freely with guns on their shoulders. This had created scare among the people forcing several families to migrate to safer places temporarily. The eyewitnesses,including one senior police officer, said that the Union Minister of State for Home and the Army commander may differ on the interpretation of the activities of militants one thing is certain that following focus of agencies across the border on pushing into the Indian territory groups of militants from across Poonch and Rajouri the number of rebels had not registered any marked fall. The police officer said that during the past three months militants had been engaged in carving out new bases in Poonch and Rajouri areas with the result their operations have been on the lower side when compared to the situation in the Kashmir valley. Possibly it is in this context that Mr Jaiswal announced launching of multidimensional anti-insurgency operations in Poonch and Rajouri and the Army Commander reiterating his
commitment of making these operations for smashing out rebel hideouts a regular feature. |
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Amarnath yatra arrangements adequate, claims board
Srinagar, June 26 An official spokesman said here that adequate number of tents had been pitched at Baltal and double bunk pre-fabricated shelters had also been raised to accommodate 5,000 pilgrims, besides toilets, drinking water and electricity had also been put in place. Similarly, two sheds had been raised enroute the cave shrine with drinking water and toilet facilities for the pilgrims undertaking the arduous journey, said the Chief Executive Officer, SASB, Dr Arun Kumar, here this evening. He said the pilgrims had repeatedly been advised that there were no arrangements for stay either at the cave shrine or enroute from the Baltal route. He said these had never been there, least in recent years, as night stay at the high altitude shrine was not advisable and keeping this in mind, the SASB had emphasised that the pilgrims would not be allowed to trek to the cave after 8 am so that they were back to Baltal by the evening. This had become more necessary this year due to the unprecedented snowfall that had left some patches on the track, which were still under thick layers of ice that kept melting creating slushy and slippery conditions, he added. Dr Kumar said the pilgrimage from the Baltal route had always been difficult. Every year intending pilgrims had been provided with leaflets containing instructions for undertaking the yatra that relate to terrain, weather and carriage of essentials like walking shoes, sticks, warm clothes, drinking water etc for a safe and smooth journey, he said, adding that this year also the state Tourism Department and the board had been distributing the leaflets to every pilgrim. The officer said the board in conjunction with the state government was monitoring the arrangements and ensuring medicare facilities at various places enroute the holy cave. Referring to the registration system, Dr Kumar clarified that it was necessary to have an idea of incoming pilgrims every day in advance and also to have insurance cover for pilgrims. A mechanism was, however, being evolved to provide on-the-spot registration on first come first visit basis at Baltal and later at Jammu, Srinagar and Pahalgham. He said strict vigil was being maintained at langers for ensuring availability of hygienic food as per the guidelines. The officer said the SASB was setting up complaint booths at various places for pilgrims to give their suggestions for initiating corrective measures. Public address systems were being made to announce instructions to pilgrims regarding the yatra. Mobile teams were being contemplated to keep strict vigil on the availability of essentials and hiring of ponies at prescribed rates. Any attempt of overcharging would be strictly dealt with, he added. Meanwhile, a high-level meeting would be held at the Nagrota Corps HQ here on Monday to review the security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. |
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Curriculum framing without political interference:
Srinagar, June 26 This was stated by the Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Mr Arjun Singh, here today on the occasion of the “northern zone review meeting of centrally sponsored schemes in elementary education and adult education”. “We have been able to ensure that anything that is not in tune with the Constitutional imperatives, is modified”, he said. Some modifications had taken place, he added. “At some point of time, some changes were made in the curriculum, giving rise to many misgivings”, he said. He arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit to the state to review the developments towards implementation of the Prime Minister’s package. He said the state government had successfully projected its requirements in the education sector, both at the primary and at higher education level. The states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are also participating in the meet. He said the UPA government gave top priority to education at both primary and higher levels. He announced the sanctioning of 14 new degree colleges in the state by the Prime Minister. He said the state Governor, Lieut-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), as Chancellor of the universities in the state, had sought the setting up of a centre for Kashmir studies at the University of Kashmir. “We have agreed to this”, he said. The university had been asked to send a proposal to this effect to the University Grants Commission (UGC), he added. He held had separate meetings with the Governor and the Chief Minister besides laying the foundation stone of a degree college being set up at Dooru in Anantnag district. He disclosed that Rs 1 crore each was being provided to Gandhi Memorial Science College, Jammu, and Sri Pratap College, Srinagar, The colleges were organising centenary celebrations this year. At least Rs 20 crore each were also being provided to Kashmir University, Srinagar, and Jammu University, Jammu. Mr Arjun Singh said a new atmosphere of peace was dawning in state and the credit for this went to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. |
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200 Peoples Conference activists join PDP
Srinagar, June 26 The Peoples Conference activists joined the PDP at Beerwah in the Badgam district in the presence of many senior party functionaries, a PDP statement said. The Peoples Conference was formed by separatist leader Abdul Ghani Lone. After the senior Hurriyat leader was assassinated at a public meeting on May 21 2002, the party split into factions. Major differences surfaced between his two sons — Bilal Ghani Lone and Sajjad Ghani Lone — and both the brothers parted ways and formed their own groups. Incidentally, the erstwhile Hurriyat Conference also split into two factions after differences emerged between the moderates and hardliners over the continuation of the Peoples Conference in the amalgam. The hardliners, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, insisted that the Peoples Conference be expelled from the Hurriyat Conference for fielding proxy candidates in the 2002 state Assembly elections. However, the moderates within the Hurriyat refused to oblige Mr Geelani and others, resulting in the split in the separatist conglomerate. Mr Geelani left the amalgam and later formed his own Hurriyat Conference. Speaking on the occasion, Peoples Conference activists said they were joining the PDP because of its pro-people policies and programmes.
— UNI |
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Three militants, SPO among five killed in J&K
Srinagar, June 26 The police here said three infiltrators were killed in an encounter with the security forces along the LoC at Kalsian, Bhawani in Poonch district last night. In another incident, an SPO was killed in an encounter with militants at Jantron in the Thathri area of Doda district yesterday. The body of a farmer, Abdul Hameed, was recovered from Dachabpora in the Rafiabad area of Baramulla district last night, the police here said. The deceased had been kidnapped by militants yesterday. A security jawan was injured when suspected militants hurled a grenade on a patrol party near Government Degree College, Sopore in Baramulla district this afternoon. Meanwhile, the security forces recovered one pistol, six magazines, two wireless sets, 75 rounds and two hand grenades from Madiana Zamber, Uri in Baramulla district today. A hideout of militants was busted by a joint party of police and security forces at Morian in Manjakote sector of Rajouri district yesterday. The recoveries made from the hideout included two AK rifles, one magazine and 30 rounds. In yet another incident, two AK-47 rifles, 13 magazines, 200 rounds and 45 UBGL grenades and 20 IEDS were recovered from Channa gali in Poonch district, the police said. |
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PSO of Ghulam Nabi’s kin joins Hizbul: police
Jammu, June 26 “We have definite reports that the PSO has joined Hizbul Mujahideen and given the arms, which were stolen from his other two colleagues on June 14, to its commander,” Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Udhampur-Doda) Satvir Gupta said. A manhunt had been launched to track down the PSO, he said. The DIG said Mr Azad’s brother Liaqat, sister Shakeela Begum and other relatives, who live at their ancestral Soti village, have been given PSOs for their protection from militants.
— UNI |
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Probe assured into alleged rape by BSF troops
Srinagar, June 26 Taking a strong note of media reports about the incident during a search operation at Vialoo, Kokernag in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag, he said those responsible for the “gruesome act” would be dealt under law. Mr Sayeed, also the state Rural Development Minister, said the district administration would be asked to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident.
— UNI |
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Two litterateurs felicitated
Srinagar, June 26 The poet and critic, Ameen Kamil got Padma Shri in recognition of his valuable contribution to the filed of literature. Prof Ghulam Nabi Firaq, a retired Professor of English, is a freelance poet, essayist, translator, critic and educationist of repute and has been awarded national award by the Sahitya Akademy. The two litterateurs spoke about their experiences and contribution to the field of literature over the past five decades. |
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Six killed by lightning in Jammu
Jammu, June 26 Police sources said Lance Naik Naresh Singh was on guard duty at Behramgala in Poonch when he was struck by lightning. In another incident, lightning struck at Topa near Kalakote killing Wazir Hussain, while his daughter Rubina Akhtar (15) sustained serious burns. Lightning also struck at Panjnara, killing Mohammad Latief and Mohammad Yousaf (14), sources added. Mohammad Bashir and his daughter Kali (14) were killed and Mohammad Feroz and Ulfat Bani were injured by lightning at Parori near Darhal.
— UNI
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Three killed as train hits car
Jammu, June 26 The train, which was on its way from Jammu to Pathankot, hit the vehicle at Chapper Morh in Hiranagar tehsil at around 3.10 p.m., the police said. Three persons, identified as Kaka Ram and Taro Devi of Kathua district and Santosh Kumari of Pathankot, were killed on the spot and three others were injured, they said.
— PTI |
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Ponywallahs go on strike in Katra
Jammu, June 26 Many labourers, who carry luggages of devotees from Katra to Bhawan and back, also joined the strike, official sources said here. The striking ponywallahs and labourers are demanding that the tempo service be stopped as it was affecting their income, the sources said adding, they did not carry pilgrims or their luggages since this morning. The tempo service by the board authorities was started early this month.
— PTI |
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3 Khalistan Zindabad Force activists held
Jammu, June 26 According to the police, two pistols,a countrymade gun,and some ammunition were recovered from them. They have been identified as Hardeep alias Badal, Sukhwinder alias Pappa, and Hardeep alias Ricky. They were being interrogated by the police. |
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