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BJP harps on terror again, Cong sticks to development
Phase V: 11 seats go to polls today
BSF steps up vigil
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Poll trouble for students
Ultras put up death threat posters
Panthers’ chief, gen secy allege assault
Poll – boon for transporters
PM’s rehabilitation package gets good response
State told to give compensation
Syed Geelani, others under house arrest
Yet-another shutdown in Srinagar
BSNL subscribers rue poor service
Two cops suspended for beating farmer
Five lawyers held
Four leopard skins seized, two held
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BJP harps on terror again, Cong sticks to development
Jammu, December 12 The
BJP, which appeared to be on the defensive a day after the poll results of five states were declared, has again raked up the issue of terrorism in the Assembly elections here. BJP president Rajnath Singh yesterday not only accused the Congress-led UPA government of lacking resolve and guts to root out terrorism from the country but also highlighted the previous
BJP-led NDA regime's "heroics" during the Kargil war. Reiterating his charge of the UPA being "soft on terror", he said the political will and consensus were a must to fight terror. However, the state BJP leadership continues to bank on the Amarnath land agitation and discrimination with Jammu for the party's triumph in the state elections. Former state BJP chief and party candidate from Gandhi Nagar Nirmal Singh said terrorism was definitely a key issue in the state elections though it was a different matter that local issues dominated the party's election campaign. On the "rejection" of the BJP stand on terrorism in the recent Assembly poll in five states, he said “the electorate doesn't vote on a single issue and multiple issues dominate the elections.” On the other hand, the Congress, riding high on the success in three states, wants to replicate the party's performance in Delhi where like Jammu and Kashmir it fought the elections on the development plank. Congress J&K affairs in charge Prithviraj Chavan and state Congress chief Saif-ud-Din Soz feel that the people have clearly rejected the "negative and divisive politics" of the BJP and the electorate here would also emulate the trend set in Delhi and other states. The election campaign of former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is a fine example as to how the Congress is raising the issue of development among the electorate. In his election rallies, Azad is going all out to highlight his two-and-a-half-year stint's achievements on the development front. |
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Phase V: 11 seats go to polls today
Srinagar, December 12 An electorate of 8,38,953 voters include 4, 01,833 women and 3,772 service voters. As many as 1,154 polling booths, including 65 auxiliary booths, have been set. Of these, 626 have been identified as sensitive, 386 as hypersensitive and 142 as normal. As many as 179 contestants, including five women and 58 Independents, are in the fray in the fifth phase. Of them, Pulwama district in Kashmir division has the highest number of 73 contestants, which include 21 from Tral, 15 from Pampore, 19 from Pulwama and 18 from Rajpora. Likewise, 40 contestants are contesting from Shopian district, which include 19 from Wachi and 21 from Shopian. In Kathua district, 66 contestants are in the fray, out of which 11 are in Bani, nine in Basohli, 20 in Kathua, 15 in Billawar and 11 in Hiranagar. Over 5770 polling staff and about 200 companions of security personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth, free and fair elections. |
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BSF steps up vigil
Srinagar, December 12 Baljit Singh said the BSF had received intercepts about militants' movement and their attempts to disrupt the election process in the valley but the security forces have managed to keep them at bay. The BSF has been deployed in huge numbers for election duty in the state, especially in Kashmir. He admitted to militants' increased activity, especially in areas like Wachi and Tral, both going to the polls tomorrow, and said the BSF was taking all adequate measures to deal with the situation. He said 72 BSF companies were still in Kashmir while 25 had been sent to Jammu for deployment on poll duty. |
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Defacement of Property
Jammu, December 12 Despite issuance of many notices to the state presidents of different political parties, they are still indulging in defacement of public property. These teams were headed by a municipal officer, a municipal assistant and an education officer of the area, J.S. Tandon, municipal joint commissioner, said. He said: “Among these teams, three will keep an eye on Jammu West, three in Gandhi Nagar and two in the Jammu East Assembly segment.” These mobile teams have been assigned a duty of removing all banners, posters and pamphlets pasted on the city walls. Expressing disappointment over the defacement done by different political parties, Tandon said: “With a view to restrain the political parties from the violation, we had also sent them a notice last time, in which we had instructed them to submit the amount incurred by the corporation for the removal of their posters but they are still violating the Act.” He said: “Only the NC has submitted an amount of around Rs 3,500, whereas other parties have not submitted their amount so far.” |
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Poll trouble for students
Jammu, December 12 Students of Government Degree College, Kathua, are a
worried lot as the district goes to poll on December 13. They maintained
that the college administration has informed them that the college will
remain closed from December 11 to 28 as its building is being used for
the conduct of elections. President, Kathua unit of the Progressive
Students Association (PSA), Rajnesh said: “We staged a protest by
obstructing the normal plying of vehicles in front of the college on
Wednesday and Thursday.” “The principal of the college intervened
and assured that the college shall reopen on December 16,” he said.
“The CRPF has been occupying our college and restricted our entry from
December 11. A senior CRPF official told us that not even teachers would
be allowed to enter the college campus till December 28, the day of
counting,” he claimed. He, however, appealed to the student community
to come to the college on December 16 as promised by the principal. Rajnesh
warned that if they were kept from attending their classes after
December 15, the students would resort to protest
demonstration. Principal A.K. Malhotra said: “After the matter was
taken up with DC Mandeep Kaur, she agreed that the college would be
vacated by December 15.” Meanwhile, students of MAM College, Jammu,
said the college would remain closed for them as the city witnesses the
polls on December 24. “It has been learnt that the college will remain
closed from December 20 to 27 as the campus is used as polling centre in
the wake of the elections,” the students said. “Academically, it
has been an ominous year for us. Due to the land row, results,
admission, class work and everything else got delayed. Now the elections
are spelling doom for our careers,” they said. “We don't understand
how we will complete our syllabus as exams are likely to be held in the
month of March-April,” they rued. Principal M.S. Beloria said: “The
college has not got any official intimation regarding the elections.” |
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Ultras put up death threat posters
Pulwama, December 12 The anonymous posters put up in villages like Naina, which is in Pulwama, and some parts of the Wachi constituency, from where PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is contesting, have threatened the likely voters with death, saying that the "first person to cast vote would be shot". Such warnings from militant outfits are nothing new in Kashmir elections but the Hizbul Mujahideen had publicly announced to stay away from interfering in the election process this time. "Whatever they say out of their own vested reasons, they can't really afford a healthy turnout. Militants have concentrated in decent numbers in south Kashmir to thwart the electoral process," a top official said. Two polling booths in Naina and Braw Bandana, he said, had been targeted. Though the militants' hand was not really confirmed and, besides, officials did not want to make it an issue and scare away voters. Both villages fall in a zone which officials describe as a fertile recruitment ground for militants. These areas have also seen several encounters. Another concern for the authorities is more than routine movements of militants from the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba outfits. The recent escape of a top HM commander, Rais Kachroo, who is regarded as an explosive expert, from police custody has come as a shot in the arm for militants. The good thing, an official said, was that the government had managed to keep these areas largely incident free so far and the momentum in support for polling generated in the previous phases had blunted separatist aggression and encouraged normal voters. |
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Bring Cong to power, Soz appeals to voters
Srinagar, December 12 He was addressing a series of public meetings at Homshalibugh and Shangus constituencies of Anantnag district today. Soz assured the people that if voted to power the Congress would devise a scholarship scheme under which educated youth would be paid stipend till they get the employment. He also assured the people that the party would prepare a relief package for orphans and marriage of girls from poor families. Meanwhile, in a statement issued here, Soz has appealed to the people of Pulwama to vote for Sonaullah Dar, an Independent candidate, who can serve them better. |
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Panthers’ chief, gen secy allege assault
Jammu, December 12 According to Bhim Singh, returning officer Rajesh Sawan aided by a police contingent reached Kanachack where he was addressing a public rally. “The officer pushed me and threatened of dire consequences. He even directed the police to attack and seize my bulletproof car provided by the Security Department,” Bhim Singh said. Bhim Singh alleged that Sawan was acting at the instance of political opponents of the party. He alleged that Sawan removed the beacon light from atop the bulletproof vehicle provided to him by the security department. “The beacon light is not a private property but it was official property of the Security Department which is lawfully installed on the official vehicle,” he said. He alleged that Sawan directed the police party accompanying him to seize the vehicle and “physically pushed me as I was saved by hundreds of people present there.” The party has sought an immediate intervention of the Election Commission and the Governor and removal of the returning officer.
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Poll – boon for transporters
Jammu, December 12 Talking to The Tribune, Jammu Province Tourist Taxi Operators Federation president Anchal Singh Manhas said a majority of their vehicles were engaged in election duty these days, adding that the political parties too had hired their vehicles for campaign. "Overall, the two-month-long elections in seven phases has turned out to be good for taxi operators who suffered huge losses during the 63-day-long Amarnath land agitation," he averred. With almost all major political parties holding rallies to woo the electorate ahead of the last three phases of Assembly poll, the demand for minibuses too has shot up. "All our five buses were hired twice by different political parties for their rallies and we are getting good work these days," said Kartar Singh, a transporter. He felt had the elections been held in three or four phases like previous occasions, they would not have gained so much. However, the transporters lamented that they were yet to receive any compensation for the losses they had suffered due to the land agitation. "The state administration didn't do anything prior to the implementation of the code of conduct and now all our hopes are pinned on the new government," they said. Meanwhile, commuters are a harried lot. With most of the taxis engaged in electioneering, they either don't get a taxi or have to shell out more money to have one. "The taxi operators are charging exorbitantly to cash in on the scenario," rued Ramesh
Talwar, a tourist from Allahabad. |
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PM’s rehabilitation package gets good response
Jammu, December 12 Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Vinod Kaul said: “We had distributed some 10,700 consent forms under the Prime Minister’s package on November 20. Since we are in the process of receiving these forms through post as well from far off places in the country, so the number might cross 10,000 mark in a few days.” This time around the entire community had shown remarkable enthusiasm in doing so, Virender Rana, spokesperson of the Panun Kashmir, said. “When former CM Farooq Abdullah had asked for consent form, he offered only employment but this one under the Prime Minister's package not only offered government jobs to all unemployed youth, but also Rs 7.50 lakh. The migrants who are registered under relief category would continue to get their relief for two years after they return to the valley.” Small-time businessmen and farmers too are applying in huge number to get cash assistance of Rs 5 lakh to set up income-generating units or Rs 1 lakh for re-cultivation of land under the PM’s package. |
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State told to give compensation
Jammu, December 12 Petitioners’ son, employed as daily wager in the Power Development Department, is stated to have been electrocuted while performing his duties at Rambagh Kullian due to negligence of the department. The department had allegedly switched on electricity without ensuring that he had climbed down electric pole on which he had been working under orders of his superiors. The petitioners approached seeking the writ of mandamus to pay them Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the death of their son. Admitting Kuldeep Raj to have been employed as a daily wager, the respondents urged that he had died because of his own negligence while adjusting electric wire. The HC while allowing the writ petition observed: “State counsel’s plea that the petitioners’ writ petition may not be maintainable as disputed questions of fact arise in the present case, may not, in my view, be sustainable in view of respondent’s candid admission flowing in paragraph no. 8 of their objections in which they admitted that Kuldeep Raj was still working on electric line when someone had joined the detached links facilitating flow of electric energy in the electric line on which the deceased had been working.” |
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Syed Geelani, others under house arrest
Srinagar, December 12 Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz was again denied permission to offer Friday prayers in the historic Jamia Masjid today, HC spokesman Shahid-ul-Islam said. He said Mirwaiz, who was released from more than a month-long house arrest a day before Eid-ul-Zuha, was again detained in his Nigeen house since last evening. “A senior officer has informed Mirwaiz that he cannot move out of his house since he has been put under house arrest,” Islam said. Chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani also remained under house arrest since yesterday. Geelani was informed that he has been put under house arrest and cannot leave his Hyderpora residence till further orders. Official sources said it was a preventive measure. About half a dozen other separatist leaders were also put under house arrest in the Kashmir valley to prevent them from leading anti-poll demonstrations. The authorities have arrested about 100 senior and second rank leaders, including JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik, JKDFP chief Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Dukhtaran-e-Milat chief Asiya Andrabi and Aiyaz Akbar since the Amarnath land row agitation.
— UNI |
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Yet-another shutdown in Srinagar
Srinagar, December 12 As has been the norm for the past many Fridays, police and CRPF personnel fanned out across the city and checked vehicles, especially four-wheelers, moving into and out of the capital city. Traffic was reduced to a trickle as people remained indoors and offices were closed. Transport services also remained off the road. Commercial establishments were also closed. However, many towns other than Srinagar like Anantnagh and Budgam were open and life went on as usual there. Srinagar is likely to witness a similar situation tomorrow when polling takes place its six constituencies. The coordination committee has given a call for march to these areas, which is unlikely to elicit any response due to tough measures adopted by the government. |
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BSNL subscribers rue poor service
Jammu, December 12 "People, including bank clientele, Internet users, CellOne and Excel subscribers are a harried lot these days because of the poor service," said a banker, who had to face angry clients. “While Internet connectivity often remains elusive, bank customers enter into heated arguments with us,” he said. Echoing similar views, a journalist said: "With BSNL's mobile network turning worse, ban on SMS has taken a heavy toll on my job." “Earlier, we were able to get information via SMS but in the backdrop of the Amarnath land agitation the state government had banned the facility rendering us virtually handicapped,” he rued. BSNL's GM Mobile A.K. Mittal attributed the dismal service to the network upgradation work in Jammu. “We are upgrading the Jammu network replacing the older 2-G network with a new 2-G one,” said Mittal. He said the work had been completed in 30 per cent of the areas that would witness an improvement within a few days. The remaining areas would be covered by month-end after which normal services would be available to BSNL customers. Mittal promised normal services by month-end. He said the 3-G network too would be available to the subscribers in a phased manner. Regarding the restoration of SMS in the state, Mittal said the government had not issued any instructions to restore the service. Another BSNL official said SMS would be restored probably after the elections. |
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Two cops suspended for beating farmer
Kathua, December 12 The police also arrested two Congress workers in connection with the incident that took place on Wednesday. Charan Dass had complained that the landing of former Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad's helicopter in his fields had damaged his entire crop. When he went with his complaint to sitting MLA and Congress candidate Manohar Lal during the rally and demanded compensation, Lal, along with his PSOs and workers, allegedly beat him up severely, a police officer said. The police later registered a case against Congress worker Ramesh, besides arresting two activists, but denied the involvement of the Congress candidate in the matter.
— PTI |
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Five lawyers held
Srinagar, December 12 Some of the executive members of the KBA reportedly came out from the Saddar Court and started moving towards the Lal Chowk area today. As they were holding protest demonstrations against the polls, the police made the arrests. The attorneys who were arrested are vice president of the KBA Mohammad Abdullah Pandit, general secretary of the KBA Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, Rafiq Ahmad Joo (executive member), Ajaz Bedar (former vice president and executive member) and Mohammad Hussain Wani (executive member). The Kashmir Bar Association is part of the Coordination Committee formed in the aftermath of the Amarnath land row. The Coordination Committee has been opposing polls for state assembly and they have been asking the masses to move to areas where the elections are held. Meanwhile, the authorities imposed undeclared curfew in some of the areas falling in the old city. They also restricted movement of people in the other areas of Srinagar. |
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Four leopard skins seized, two held
Udhampur, December 12 While police officials remained tight lipped over the issue, reliable sources
revealed. Sources disclosed that on specific information, "the police set up a naka in the Thard area along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and started checking vehicles. During checking, the police arrested two persons and seized four leopard skins worth lakhs from them." During interrogation, the two accused, Fulal Singh and Kuldeep Singh, both residents of Ramban district, said they had brought these animal skins from the Ramban area for sale in the international market. The Udhampur CJM later remanded the accused for five days. |
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