J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Jammat chief refuses to revoke suspension of four leaders
Jammu, August 13
The Amir (chief) of the Jamait-e-Islami,Mr Nazir Ahmed Kashani, has rejected the demand for the revocation of a notice suspending four senior Jammat leaders,including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mr Ashraf Sehari, from the organisation.

Security stepped up for I-Day
Srinagar, August 13
A full dress rehearsal of the Independence Day parade was held here today at Bakshi Stadium amidst unprecedented security deployment all over the city two days ahead of the event, with the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir resembling a fortress.

Army assesses terrorist threat to shrine
Jammu, August 13
In view of threats of a terrorist attack at the Vaishnodevi shrine, the Army has conducted an aerial recee of the mountain shrine to identify the likely routes that could be adopted by the militants.

Jet passengers stranded, angry
Leh, August 13
More than 400 passengers, who were stranded at the Kushok Bakula Rinpochey airport here due to the cancellation of a Jet Airways flight, engaged in scuffles with the airline staff over their ‘unconvincing reasons’ for the non-operation of flights.

Jammat chief refuses to revoke suspension
of four leaders
Our Correspondent

Jammu, August 13
The Amir (chief) of the Jamait-e-Islami,Mr Nazir Ahmed Kashani,has rejected the demand for the revocation of a notice suspending four senior Jammat leaders,including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mr Ashraf Sehari, from the organisation.

In a recent interview, Mr Kashani said that the decision on suspending the four leaders was taken after a detailed deliberation on the matter.

He said for the Jamait-e-Islami, principles and ideology were more important than individuals.

The Amir has also ruled out the possibility of holding mid-term organisational elections. The decision followed a demand made by supporters of Mr Geelani that Mr Kashani should step down as the Jamaat chief or order a mid-term poll.

He said the Jamaat constitution did not provide for a mid-term poll. “I shall neither step down nor order a mid-term poll. I have to complete my three-year term,” he said.

Mr Geelani had already demonstrated his strength when he was able to draw a big crowd of party supporters, most of them owing allegiance to the Jamait-e-Islami,to his rally held in Srinagar recently.

Mr Kashani also made it clear that the Islamic identity of Kashmiri Muslims was not in danger in India. He said, “We do not believe in armed struggle. We believe in dialogue for resolving conflicts.”

He said his organisation was more interested in the propagation of Islam and Islamic values in the state than in securing settlement of the Kashmir issue. He said the Kashmir issue “can be a temporary affair and our long-term plan is to strengthen Islam in the state.”

On the other hand, Mr Geelani has been retaining leaders and workers on the slogan of grant of right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir. He is in the forefront among those who dispute the state’s accession with India.

This way, Mr Geelani has the support of groups of militants, too, enabling him to attract a sizeable number of people to his rallies where he has been openly berating leaders of the rival faction of the Hurriyat conference for what he terms as a sellout on the plea that the APHC leaders were begging for a dialogue with the Government of India, thereby trying to “derail the freedom struggle.”

Security stepped up for I-Day

Srinagar, August 13
A full dress rehearsal of the Independence Day parade was held here today at Bakshi Stadium amidst unprecedented security deployment all over the city two days ahead of the event, with the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir resembling a fortress.

Contingents of the BSF, state police, CRPF and schoolchildren went through the drill for the last time at the main venue of the celebrations in the state before the performance before the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, on Monday.

Outside the stadium and in the city, there was heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces on high alert following intelligence inputs that militants might try to carry out sensational attacks in the city to disrupt the celebrations, official sources said.

All roads around the stadium have been sealed off while vehicular movement has been suspended in the adjacent Maharaja Bazaar, Goni Khan and Lalla Ded areas.

Security forces have been deployed extensively in the 1-km radius around the stadium to prevent any militant attack ahead of the celebration next week.

A three-tier security had been thrown around all venues of functions to be held on August 15, including Bakshi stadium.

Security personnel, armed with snipers and electronic surveillance gadgets, have been deployed on rooftops of buildings near the stadium to maintain a vigil in the area around the stadium, the sources said.

Police intensified random checking of vehicles and pedestrians while stepping up house-to-house searches in the city to prevent the ultras from sneaking in with arms and ammunition.

Similar security arrangements have been made in all district headquarters of the Valley and important townships where several ministers in the state’s ruling coalition are scheduled to unfurl the Tricolour. — PTI

Army assesses terrorist threat to shrine
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 13
In view of threats of a terrorist attack at the Vaishnodevi shrine, the Army has conducted an aerial recee of the mountain shrine to identify the likely routes that could be adopted by the militants.

Army sources said here today that Special Forces had also carried out slithering exercises on the heights around the shrine. Terrorists have reportedly been trying to target the shrine.

The Army has been deployed all over the area, including the higher reaches. The Army and the police have established a number of check-posts.

Senior Army officers recently visited the shrine and Katra town to review the security arrangements.

Army sources said that in view of an enhanced terrorist threat, especially in Jammu and Katra, security forces had tightened security at both these places. After the terrorist attack at Ayodhaya, the Vaishnodevi shrine is a likely target of the militants to gain publicity and make their presence felt.

Jet passengers stranded, angry

Leh, August 13
More than 400 passengers, who were stranded at the Kushok Bakula Rinpochey airport here due to the cancellation of a Jet Airways flight, engaged in scuffles with the airline staff over their ‘unconvincing reasons’ for the non-operation of flights.

The passengers, including foreign tourists, became restless due to non-operation of flights in the city yesterday and today as they had connecting flights to catch.

The passengers claimed that the Indian Airlines flight, which was scheduled around the same time as that of the Jet Airways, landed at the airport but the latter did not operate.

They were not convinced by the explanation of airline staff who said the flights had been cancelled due to a ‘strong tail wind’.

The passengers tried to vandalise the counters of the airline at the airport but order was restored after they were promised that two additional flights would be operated to fly them out of Leh.

Jet Airways officials said the passengers had been given accommodation and transportation, besides free ISD call facility to make adjustments for their onward journey. — PTI