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Be firm but humane, PM tells security forces
Strike leaves valley paralysed
Azad unhappy over stance of separatists
Speed up sex racket probe, HC asks CBI
Doda residents’ dharna on
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3 CRPF men among 11 hurt in blasts
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Be firm but humane, PM tells security forces
Srinagar, May 24 “It is only through dialogue that issues can be solved,” he observed. At a meeting with the United Command soon after his arrival here for the second Roundtable conference, Dr Manmohan Singh advised the security forces to be “firm, humane, effective, efficient and in control, but unobtrusive.” He stressed that the security forces had to function within the parameters of the law and must remain steadfast in safeguarding human rights. There should be zero tolerance for custodial deaths. Paying tributes to the security forces for fighting against all odds, he complimented them for going through with the recent democratic process in a peaceful manner and ensuring the security of the bus services across the Line of Control. In this context, he said trade through truck traffic is bound to increase in due course. At the meeting Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and heads of security agencies were present. The Prime Minister was given a detailed presentation of the general security environment in the trouble-torn and sensitive border state. He also undertook a detailed review of the reconstruction and development plan of Jammu and Kashmir. While the Prime Minister acknowledged that the implementation of developmental programmes was better in some areas, he expressed concern about the slow pace connected with power generation and road projects. When the Chief Minister drew pointed attention that requiring at least an additional 1000 MW of power in the next five years, Dr Manmohan Singh directed the Union Power Secretary to ensure that there was marked improvement with regard to access of power at least in the winters. The Prime Minister asked the Union Finance Secretary to sanction the resources within the next 15 days so that road construction work could speed up. |
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Convention Centre a virtual fortress Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived in Srinagar in the morning, wasted no time in assessing the security environment in Jammu and Kashmir and taking a detailed review of the implementation of the Rs 20,000 crore developmental package for the state. To facilitate matters he had in tow nearly 10 Secretaries of various central key economic and social ministries and departments. * * * With the Prime Minister’s second Round-Table on Kashmir spread over two days taking place in an atmosphere of terror amid calls of hartals by separatist organisations, Srinagar has been turned into a veritable fortress. Getting into the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre is quite an ordeal. There are more than half a dozen checkpoints with repeated checks and rechecks before anyone can gain entry. The convention centre is in Centaur Hotel taken over by Air India recently. Guests in the hotel have been requested to move out for security reasons and the staff pruned drastically to just a 100 essential personnel. The security forces have combed virtually everything from the Zethyar forest bushes to houseboats at the Dal lake. * * * The Manmohan Singh government has invited 48 individuals and leaders of political parties for the second Round Table compared to the 71 in the first instance in February. There is no question of the PM meeting the Hurriyat leaders separately on this occasion. After the discussions last time, the Hurriyat was to come
forward with specific proposals and ideas to be taken forward at a meeting with Union Home minister Shivraj Patil.
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Strike leaves valley paralysed
Srinagar, May 24 The roundtable was held at the SKICC here amid tight security arrangements, where the movement of civilian traffic was restricted for the past two days in view of the suicide attack by militants at a rally of the Youth Congress here on Sunday. The militants had also resorted to a series of grenade explosions, injuring at least 30 persons on Monday in addition to a car bomb explosion at Hyderpora here last evening in which at least two BSF men were killed and several others injured. Even as the unprecedented security measures were taken, at least three grenade explosions took place at different places in the valley today, injuring at least nine persons, including six security personnel. Two IEDs were also detected by the security forces at Anantnag and Baramula towns without causing any damage. Three CRPF personnel and a pedestrian were injured when suspected militants hurled a grenade towards a bunker of the security forces at Qamarwari crossing here today. Two other CRPF personnel were injured in a grenade explosion at Saraf sarafkadal in the interior city later in the afternoon. The police here said three CRPF personnel were injured when militants hurled a grenade towards a picket at Khannabal, about 50 km from here, on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Anantnag. |
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Azad unhappy over stance of separatists
Srinagar, May 24 Talking to reporters here last evening ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit Mr Azad said the state had witnessed bloodshed, conspiracies, conflicts and wars but without any result. “Much time has been wasted in confrontation, hatred and violence, and global events are witness to the fact that nothing can be achieved through violence”, he maintained. Even the strongest power in the world, the USA today was trying to solve issues with smaller countries through dialogue and interaction, as war and violence had proved futile, he added. The Chief Minister lamented that some groups had given a call for general strike today instead of facilitating the roundtable conference to resolve the issue and celebrate the event as a festival. “It is beyond ones comprehension to understand the logic behind such an attitude. They are being asked to come forward with a solution and discuss the roadmap but they neither come up with a proposal nor take part in joint efforts to settle the issue”, he said while referring to the stand of separatist political parties here. “This amounts to misleading people and beating about the bush to waste time”, he lamented. He expressed sorrow over conspiracies hatched within and outside the state time and again to lead astray people of Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Azad added it was most unfortunate that a sincere opportunity provided by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the form of round-table conference had been missed by the groups pretending to be people’s friends. Mr Azad claimed that it was on his initiative that the Prime Minister convened second roundtable conference here to provide an opportunity to all parties and groups of different shades of opinion to get effective platform at their doorsteps and contribute positively. He added that no condition was attached to the participation in the roundtable conference and the organisations outside the mainstream were free to express viewpoint and discuss proposals. This, he said, clearly vindicates the seriousness and sincerity of central leadership to address Kashmir issue. “Unless we jointly address the issue and come up with a concrete proposal, how is it possible to relieve the people from the perpetuated agonies, miseries and trauma they have been put into for the past 58 years for petty politicking”, he questioned the groups calling for boycotts and hartals. Mr Azad said the sincerity of holding roundtable conference and resolving the issue amicably had been misread by the groups outside mainstream and chose to be away from the conference, an opportunity that came their way after a long time. He said missing such a platform to put forth their viewpoint free and fairly across the table is the most unfortunate. Mr Azad said both India and Pakistan had resolved to settle all issues amicably and various CBMs have been initiated and many more are in the pipeline in this direction. Earlier he reviewed pace of progress on the Prime Minister’s reconstruction plan under implementation in the state for massive infrastructure development at a meeting at SKICC last evening.
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Speed up sex racket probe, HC asks CBI
Srinagar, May 24 The Division Bench comprising Justice Hakeem Imtiyaz Hussain and Justice B. A. Kirmani listed the case for Monday to assess the speed and developments in the case being monitored by the high court. The Division Bench, taking cognisance of the case in view of media reports followed by a PIL filed by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association, has been monitoring the investigations since it had been handed over to the CBI by the state government earlier this month. The court took exception to the delay in the investigations in which only two arrests had taken place during the past 13 days since it was handed over to the CBI. “Your reputation as the premier investigating agency is at stake”, the court told the CBI officer at the head of investigation while expressing displeasure over the delay. It was also asked why no arrests had been made in connection with the identification of some accused on May 22. “What about the identification of those who matter somewhere? It is not a case of ordinary sex racket, but has broader dimensions where names of some ministers and officers have come up”, the court observed. The number of those accused had gone up to around 70 from 56, it added. At least five persons had been identified and two arrests made during the past 13 days, it was informed. The Division Bench directed the district police to provide assistance by constituting three teams comprising three or four officers and providing vehicles to the CBI for immediate progress in the case. Earlier, Mr S. A. Naik, Assistant Solicitor-General of India and counsel for the Union of India, said 10 persons had been identified by the CBI so far and one had been produced for recording statements.
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Doda residents’ dharna on
Jammu, May 24 For the sixth consecutive day the Doda residents raised anti-government slogans in protest against the failure of the Congress-led ruling coalition in setting up Army pickets and strengthening village defence committees. Senior BJP leader Ashok Khajuria today led the protesters. He and other Doda residents stated that in case the government did not take measures for strengthening the security grid in and around hamlets inhabited by Hindus “we will purchase weapons to fight militants.” Members of the Mahila Wing of the BJP also joined the dharna. A piquant situation arose at the venue of the dharna when leaders and activists of the Praja Parishad, including Mr Chander Mohan Sharma and Mr Rishi Kumar Koushal, former senior BJP leaders, arrived at the scene with empty pitchers, raising anti-government slogans. They accused the state government of failing to ensure adequate supply of drinking water in the winter capital. However, the BJP-led demonstrators from Doda called the Praja Parishad protesters “traitors of Jammu.” The latter remained unmoved and continued with their dharna.
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3 CRPF men among 11 hurt in blasts
Srinagar, May 24 Militants hurled a hand grenade towards a CRPF bunker at Qamarwari in the downtown city today. However, it exploded just outside the bunker, causing injuries to two CRPF personnel and eight others, including three Bihari labourers. Militants also lobbed a hand grenade towards a CRPF patrol party at Khanabal on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, causing injuries to one CRPF jawan.
— UNI
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Recruitment rally Kargil Awami Utsav Tithwal Day
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