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Governor anguished over militant violence
Militants at it again
BJP announces Rs 15 lakh for quake-hit
Four telecom centres for J&K
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Aftershock jolts J&K
44 detainees freed in valley
10 villages in Uri still inaccessible
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Governor anguished over militant violence
Srinagar, October 18 Interacting with a five-member delegation of the European Union led by British High Commissioner in India, Sir Michael Arthur, at Raj Bhavan here, he said militants had scant regard for human lives during the holy month of Ramazan. He added that the militants were adopting barbaric ways and killing civilians by hanging and slitting throats, carrying out suicide attacks against security forces and engineering violence. The Governor said that recent earthquake caused havoc in border belts of Tangdhar, Uri and Poonch, killing over 1,200 and injuring more than 5,000 persons besides damaging 40,000 buildings and structures in these areas. Though relief operations were in full swing, the difficult terrain and weather conditions were a big hurdle. He said priority at was to provide shelter to those homeless in the winter which has set in. Referring to the Army’s response to the situation, the Governor held that despite suffering
casualties among their personnel in the quake, the Army swung into action to save civilian population. He, however, added that the civil administration and the Army were working in tandem to meet this grave situation. The Governor referred to the devastation caused in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and said that the Indian Army was in a better position to reach out some of the areas, inaccessible from that side, for rescue and relief operations. He appreciated General Pervez Musharraf’s acceptance of the Indian offer of aid after initial reservations and said the natural calamity had provided opportunity for strengthening relations between the neighbours. The Governor, who is also Chairman of the Amarnath Shrine Board, said that 30 insulated pre-fab shelters, with capacity to accommodate over 100 people each were being dispatched to the affected areas for providing shelter to the sufferers. These have wooden floors and insulated panels that would be very helpful in extreme cold. He said he had already visited the affected areas twice and is going round again shortly. He gave details of the relief being provided to the people. The delegation raised various issues like reduction of forces, human rights violations, status of development, complaints of discrimination against the Jammu region, an official spokesman stated. He added that the Governor made it clear that only 30 allegations of human rights violations by the security forces out of some 1300 received over the years were found genuine. For the proven allegations, 70 personnel found guilty were dismissed and given prison sentence ranging from two to 14 years. He also referred to the action taken against an Army Major accused of molesting a mother and daughter in Handwara. About reduction of the forces, the Governor said their presence in the Valley was proving a boon for the economy as locals find ample employment avenues. So long as the spate of violence continues, the Army’s presence was very essential, he added. Meanwhile, the EU team that arrived here yesterday had also two-hour long meeting with APHC leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq here yesterday. The Mirwaiz reportedly urged the visiting EU members to impress upon India to allow international help for the quake-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Militants at it again
Jammu, October 18 The attack on the battalion headquarters of the Territorial Army in Kathua in which four soldiers were killed and eight wounded, today’s attack on political leaders, in the high security belt of Tulsi Bagh in Srinagar, in which Minister of State for Education Ghulam Nabi Lone, a security personnel and a militant were killed, and the killing of 10 Hindus in Rajouri, besides other attacks in recent days have indicated that improved Indo-Pak relations have no meaning for the militants. Security experts in the state are of the view that by carrying out armed attacks on political leaders, security camps and houses of civilians, the militants wanted to reinforce their presence. The recent events in Jammu and Kashmir have also indicated that no single agency across the border or any group of rebel leaders can claim to hold the strings of militancy in the state. Recently, the Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Council chairman, Syed Salahuddin, had issued an appeal to the militants to suspend their operations during Ramzan. A number of gory incidents have taken place during the holy month. Reports reaching here from across the border said since troops on both sides of the LoC are engaged in relief and rescue operations in tremor-hit belts, the militants, are taking advantage of it to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir. Experts say that when some youths march unnerved and flaunting weapons, they are usually misconstrued security guards of politicians. This is what happened in the Tulsi Bagh area where only the security personnel guarding the house of CPM leader, M.Y. Tarigami, stopped them from entering the premises with weapons. He was killed by the militants. |
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BJP announces Rs 15 lakh for quake-hit
Jammu, October 18 The state BJP chief, Dr Nirmal Singh, said that the party would ask various NGOs to adopt one village each in Poonch district, which was being discriminated against by the government in the distribution of relief. Dr Nirmal Singh, who returned today after touring the devastated areas of Poonch, said the district administration had failed to meet the situation. Relief was not being distributed properly because the loss had not been assessed so far. The district authorities were handling the situation like a routine affair. He said a disaster management cell should be created to deal with the situation in Poonch. He said the state government had not yet taken note of the losses in Jammu city and other adjoining areas. Meanwhile, the Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) has distributed 5,500 blankets and 1,700 tarpaulins worth around Rs 30 lakh among the affected villagers in Uri. A spokesman of POWERGRID said the relief had been distributed in the villages of Parampilla, Shakoot, Sarai, Bandi, Chappra, Shahdara, Busgran, Dhani, Dachhi and Sultan Shaki. |
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Four telecom centres for J&K
New Delhi, October 18 These centres, expected to be operational by tomorrow, will permit people in J&K, who have relatives in Muzaffarabad, to contact them on telephone, free of charge, for the next fortnight. This facility is being provided as a special case, on the directions of the Prime Minister. In Srinagar and Jammu, the centre will be located near the Police Control Room, while in Uri and Tangdhar, they will be located adjacent to the Police Outpost. Those wishing to avail of this facility may please contact the Facilitation Centres for assistance. Telephone links with Pakistan and areas in PoK are already available in Jammu and Kashmir through the booking of regular trunk calls trough the exchange.
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Aftershock jolts J&K
Srinagar, October 18 The aftershock occurred at 4.10 p.m., Met Department officials here said. However, no casualties have been reported so far. The region has been experiencing a series of aftershocks, about 50 so far, after the October 8 massive quake wreaked death and destruction in Jammu and Kashmir and its neighbourhood, killing thousands and rendering millions homeless. Terrified people rushed out of their houses as the earth shook this afternoon. Reports from the worst-hit Uri and Tangdhar areas said the tremor caused terror-stricken survivors to scramble out of their tents and make-shift shelters in alarm.
— UNI |
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44 detainees freed in valley
Srinagar, October 18 He said a high-level meeting today reviewed cases of detainees and decided to revoke their detention under the PSA. These were arrested different parts of the Kashmir valley, he said.
— UNI |
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10 villages in Uri still inaccessible
Uri, October 18 The cut-off villages included Uroosa, Ishan, Gwattam, Nawarundha, Dardkote, Dulanga, Shadra and Kamalkote. Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din with a team of senior Army officials surveyed the inaccessible villages of the area in a helicopter today, he added.
— UNI |
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