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Pak opens fire on LoC, 4 injured
28 militants killed in two months: Army
Kishtwar still under curfew
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Incessant rain wreaks havoc
in Jammu region, 12 killed
Cabinet nod for completion of Ravi-Tawi Canal project
No proposal to disband village defence committees
Some national leaders biased against state, says CM
Independence Day celebrated at Raj Bhawan
Guv launches website of 2014 science congress session
Kashmir shut on I-Day
Don’t misrepresent Kishtwar facts: BJP to Omar
Union Home Secy visits RS Pura forward posts
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Pak opens fire on LoC, 4 injured
Jammu/Poonch, August 16 Pakistani troops on Thursday resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing with rocket and mortar shells on forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector that left three Army jawans and a porter injured. The violation on Thursday was the 11th in the last five days. Around 7:30 am yesterday, Pakistani troops opened unprovoked fire on forward Indian posts in the Balakote, Hamirpur and Mendhar forward areas in Poonch district, resulting in heavy exchange of fire between the two sides, said an Army officer. The Pakistani troops fired small arms and automatic weapons, besides mortars, on villages near the LoC. Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts in the Shahpur sector last evening. Official sources said the Army's strong response came after three jawans and a porter were injured in firing by Pakistani troops. "We hammered them to convey the message that we reserve the right in no uncertain terms to protect our borders," said the senior Army officer. On the night of August 13, the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled an attempt by a Pakistani border action team (BAT) to attack a forward post along the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district. However, the Army termed it as an infiltration bid. "Around 11:30 am, border guards of the 135 Battalion noticed a group of six armed men, possibly belonging to the BAT, between 40 and 50 metres from the Kranti 1 post. They immediately opened fire, only to come under heavy fire from the Pakistani posts that provided covering fire to the BAT team," said a BSF source. "Our boys kept firing at the armed men, resulting in the BAT team escaping towards the Pakistani side," he added. The source said the heavy exchange of fire continued for three hours. Firing on the border Heavy exchange of fire between two sides Violation on Thursday 11th in last five days BSF foils attack by Pak border action team Omar: Pakistan double-faced Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called Pakistan a double-faced country on Twitter. "Ulta chor kotwal ko dante. They violate the ceasefire, injure civilians and pass a resolution blaming India," he posted on Twitter. He also tweeted, "Two civilians, including one working as an Army porter, have been injured by Pakistani firing along the LoC in Poonch."
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28 militants killed in two months: Army
Srinagar, August 16 General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmit Singh said though there had been no major ceasefire violation on the LoC in Kashmir, but infiltration attempts from across the border were continuing. “Since June 24, in nine successful counter infiltration operations near the LoC, we eliminated 18 terrorists. Out of them, 10 were killed on this side of the LoC and eight terrorists as per our inputs who were injured in the encounters died across the border,” Lt General Singh said while addressing reporters in Srinagar. “Ten terrorists, including top commanders, were eliminated in seven operations in hinterland.” The GOC said a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants during these nine operations. “Such a large recovery indicates that terrorist camps across the LoC are intact. Trained terrorists are present at the launching pads and are ready to sneak into the Valley. But our counter infiltration grid is in place and the Army is on a high alert to avert their designs,” Lt General Singh said. The GOC said there had been no major ceasefire violation on the LoC in Kashmir after the killing of five Indian soldiers in an ambush in the Poonch sector. “There has been no major ceasefire violation in Kashmir. But in case Pakistani troops violate the ceasefire, the Army will give an appropriate response,” he said. The GOC maintained that the four militants killed in the Machil sector on July 30 were infiltrators. “These were people who were armed and were killed 3 km inside our territory after a heavy fire fight which was initiated by them,” he said. “They were infiltrating terrorists who were trying to sneak into the Valley,” he added. — TNS |
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Kishtwar still under curfew
Jammu, August 16 “The situation was normal and peaceful, but there was no relaxation in the curfew today. We are closely monitoring the situation and have been holding a dialogue with prominent civil society members to restore normalcy in the town,” Basheer Ahmad Khan, District Magistrate, said over the telephone. The district administration relaxed the curfew for a while during Independence Day celebrations yesterday, but reimposed it later. Curfew was lifted in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Udhampur, Doda and Rajouri districts of Jammu province. All educational institutions, which were closed by the administration on August 10, would reopen on August 19. Sources said a ministerial team comprising Deputy Chief MInister Tara Chand, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Transport Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department Ali Mohammad Sagar would visit Kishtwar tomorrow and interact with members of both communities to restore normalcy.
—TNS
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Incessant rain wreaks havoc
in Jammu region, 12 killed
Jammu, August 16 At least 12 persons were killed in house collapse incidents, landslides and floods while around 1,500 houses and cattle sheds were damaged in the last three days. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said the Jammu region would get respite after Sunday and the weather in Kashmir would improve from Saturday evening, but poor weather conditions were hampering rescue and relief operations. On August 14, nearly 300 persons were rescued by the Army and civil defence authorities while several other persons had lost their lives. There was heavy damage to property in Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, Udhampur and Reasi, where several persons had been rendered homeless due to house collapse incidents. A house collapsed in the Peer Mitha locality of old Jammu, raising fears
that other weak structure might come down if the rain continued. The Chenab, the Tawi, the Ujj and other water bodies were flowing above the danger mark for the last three days, setting alarm bells ringing in the administration. "We had alerted the district administrations to take emergency steps. It was expected due to the low pressure area over Jammu and Kashmir," said Srinagar-based Sonum Lotus, Director, IMD. Assistant Commissioner for Revenue Sher Singh said, "Data is being gathered and the final assessment will be made after that. It will take a few more days to get the final picture. Initial reports say the damage is heavy." The Irrigation and Flood Control Department said the water in rivers was receding due to a decrease in rain since Friday morning. Billawar-Basoli: Initial reports suggested that 216 houses were damaged while 389 cattle sheds were lost due to the rain. Reports said 129 heads of livestock perished in the last 24 hours. The Basoli-Bani road
was blocked. Darhal (Rajouri): Fourteen persons were rescued by Army and police personnel from a flash flood in the Darhal river on Thursday evening. Reports said the people got stuck in Ujhan village when they were crossing the river. Tehsildar Tariq Aziz and Station House Officer Maqsood Basu rushed to the spot and initiated a rescue operation. Army divers were called and the 14 persons were rescued inr a five-hour rescue operation. Poonch: Hundreds of persons protested against the Department of Flood Control and Irrigation and blocked the Jammu-Poonch highway for four hours. They alleged that the administration had failed to take steps to prevent flooding and provide relief. They raised slogans against the district administration and demanded relief for the families affected. Army and police personnel rescued over 50 persons in an operation which lasted more than seven hours. They were trapped at Surankote after flash floods in the Suran river. |
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Cabinet nod for completion of Ravi-Tawi Canal project
Jammu, August 16 The project, which was objected to by the Punjab Government following the controversy over the share of the water, would improve the irrigation of 1.33 lakh acres in arid areas of three districts — Kathua, Samba and Jammu. “The Cabinet meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, approved the construction of the balance portion of the Ravi-Tawi Canal at a cost of Rs 275.14 crore and utilisation of 10 per cent of the water usage charges for the purpose,” an official spokesperson said. “Around 82-km canal and 500-km tributaries were constructed 30 years ago. The government has already initiated the process of acquisition of land for the remaining 6-km channel and the project would be completed soon,” said a senior official of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department. The project had the potential to produce nearly 20 MW of power for the state, the official said. “The Cabinet had in December 2012 put on hold the project after some Cabinet ministers had suggested that the law ministry should seek a opinion from the serving Attorney General of India so that the Punjab Government didn’t create any legal hurdle in the execution of the project,” the official said. He said the Attorney General of India had given a green signal to the J&K Government’s project for the construction of the Ravi Canal from Basantpur up to the inflow of the Ranjit Sagar Dam reservoir. “The Attorney General had expressed serious concern over denial of the due share of the Ravi river water to the state for several years despite being legally entitled to construct the canal and lift water from upstream of the Ranjit Sagar Dam,” the official claimed. There have been serious differences between the Punjab and J&K governments over the share of water from the Ravi river. Jammu and Kashmir has claimed that it is being denied its 20 per cent share of power and 1100 cusecs of water from the Ranjit Sagar Dam by the Punjab Government. J&K has been demanding a compensation of Rs 8,500 crore (on account of Rs 6,000 crore for agriculture losses and Rs 2,500 crore for power losses) from Punjab for the use of its land and for non-supply of the “promised” power. On the other hand, the Punjab Assembly on July 12, 2004, had passed the Punjab Termination of Agreements Bill, 2004, annulling the December 31, 1981, agreement among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan relating to the Ravi and Beas water. The case (of which J&K is a party as it has been staking a claim to its share) is with the Supreme Court. The issue also figured in
the North Zone Chief Minister’s Conference which was held in Chandigarh last year. |
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No proposal to disband village defence committees
Jammu, August 16 "There is no such proposal with the state government to disband those," Home Secretary Suresh Kumar said. He said there was criticism of VDCs in certain quarters. Inspector General of Police, Jammu zone, Rajesh Kumar said VDCs continued to exist and their relevance did not end in a day. VDCs played a crucial role in combating terrorists in remote and inaccessible areas, where security forces could not reach in time. Any move to disband those would have a backlash, said police sources. The sources said the VDCs were being paid regular visits by senior police officers and their weapons were being inspected. They admitted that members of some VDCs had misused their weapons in some cases. The sources added that this happened even in regular forces. Assuming that the entire concept of VDCs was wrong would be inappropriate, they added. |
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Some national leaders biased against state, says CM
Srinagar, August 16 Without naming politicians of the BJP and like-minded parties, Omar Abdullah lamented that these leaders discriminated against Jammu and Kashmir vis-à-vis other states and showed a biased approach while dealing with similar matters differently in Jammu and Kashmir than from the rest of the country. Addressing the gathering after unfurling the National Flag at Bakshi Stadium here yesterday, the Chief Minister said such leaders treated the state and its people differently, considered them to have a separate identity, dealt with them in a biased approach and exhibited a peculiar mindset towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the biased way of treating Jammu and Kashmir was amply visible in their reaction to the Kishtwar incident. The Chief Minister pointed out that
Kishtwar-like clashes between two communities claimed more lives in other states of the country and lamented that there was no hue and cry over these incidents. Condemning the incidents of violence at
Kishtwar, Gool, Budgam, Banidipora and other places, the Chief Minister said rumours and hype regarding the incidents fanned and propagated by elements opposed to peace blew those out of proportion and tried to spread violence to other areas. He said false photographs of the Kishtwar incident were circulated to exploit the sentiments of the people. He said these photographs were found to be of Myanmar. He said these elements tried their best to put up in flames the entire state for their vested interests. On the political issue of J&K, the Chief Minister reiterated his stand that money or the gun could not solve J&K-centric political issues and the dialogue process was the only way forward in this regard. He maintained that both internal and external dialogue were imperative to address the issues amicably. He said the external dimension of the issue needed to be settled with Pakistan and separatists should come forward for dialogue for addressing its internal dimension. |
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Independence Day celebrated at Raj Bhawan
The Governor took the salute presented by a contingent of the Border
Security Force. Later, he also interacted with officers and staff members of the Governor’s secretariat and security personnel and greeted them on this joyous occasion. Sweets were distributed among all those present
on the occasion. |
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Guv launches website of 2014 science congress session
Srinagar, August 16 Interacting with Vice Chancellor of the Jammu University M P S Ishar through video conferencing, the Governor, who is Chancellor of the University, emphasised the importance of ensuring that all arrangements and logistic facilities required for the science congress, which will be held for the first time in J&K, were put in place well in time. The Vice Chancellor briefed the Governor about the current status of various arrangements made for the science congress. Giving details, the Vice Chancellor said the science congress website (http://www.isc2014.in) would contain all information related to the mega event. He told the Governor that
the website would facilitate online registration of the delegates. The Governor emphasised the need for the timely finalisation of all academic events of the congress and putting the relevant details on the website. The Vice Chancellor stated that the Indian Science Congress Association was holding a meeting shortly for finalisation of the academic aspects of the science congress and immediately thereafter the related information would be placed in the public domain. He thanked the Governor for launching the website. |
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Kashmir shut on I-Day
Srinagar, August 16 The shutdown called by the hardline separatist group led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani crippled life across the Valley as roads were deserted and markets remained closed. While schools, colleges and government offices were closed on account of Independence Day, public transport services on inter-district and intra-district routes remained suspended. Markets, shops and commercial centres across the Valley remained closed due to the shutdown. Independence Day celebrations, limited to official ceremonies, were held under strict security arrangements. While mobile Internet services were shut in the Valley for the last one week, mobile telephone services were suspended from early in the morning till noon on Thursday as a preventive security measure. Mobile telephone services were restored around noon and Internet services in the evening. Hundreds of state police and paramilitary personnel manned the streets around Bakshi Stadium, venue of the main Independence Day function in which Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hoisted the National Flag. The day passed off peacefully except an isolated incident of stone-throwing at the Nawab Bazar locality in the old city. |
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Don’t misrepresent Kishtwar facts: BJP to Omar
Jammu, August 16 The party also regretted that the same version was put forward by the Union Home Minister in the Parliament. “All available information suggests that the violence was sparked by anti-India elements waiting for an opportunity to foment trouble,” BJP state chief spokesperson and national executive member, Dr Jatinder Singh, said here today. “After offering Eid prayers, a procession carrying Pakistani flags and chanting azadi slogans marched towards the town’s Kuleed Mohalla, where miscreants pelted stones and assaulted residents of minority community and when the latter resisted, the situation snowballed into a violent flare-up,” he said. Singh accused the local administration of adopting an "indifferent attitude", even as the mob went on rampage, burning shops, homes, buses and vehicles belonging to minority community. He also alleged that the ruling dispensation and local Kishtwar administration always indulged in a “balancing act” by apportioning equal blame to both the sides. "In this case, though, there was clearly one group of provocateurs," he said, adding that the communally motivated elements must be hunted down and put behind bars. The senior BJP leader said the NC-led government owes to explain why Kishtwar’s civilian administration was caught off guard in spite of the intelligence reports that Pakistan-based terror groups were trying to set up their networks in the town with the help of some communal elements of the area. Taking exception to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s “habitually judgmental and biased approach”, Singh said, “As soon as the riot began and a senior BJP leader from Delhi urged the CM to look into the situation, which was fast spinning out of control, the CM’s first response on Twitter was injuries and damage has taken place on both sides.” “A day later he went on to make a suggestive statement that two Muslims and one Hindu had died,” Singh said. |
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Union Home Secy visits RS Pura forward posts
Jammu, August 16 Talking to mediapersons, he said, “I have come here with a team of senior officials of the Home Ministry to inspect and review the security situation along the international border and to meet the border guards. Their morale is high and they are maintaining a high level of vigil along the border.” Goswami admitted that there was a spurt in cross-border firing and therefore he along with BSF officials would discuss the issue today in the frontier headquarters. “After hectic efforts, we raised the border fence on the international border and our border guards are thwarting infiltration attempts. It has become very difficult for the intruders to sneak into the state. We would hold further discussions on how to strengthen the fence,” he said The Home Ministry would look into land compensation issue of farmers on the forward areas whose land has come under the fence, he said. On reports of Bajrang Dal’s alleged involvement in the recent Kishtwar riots, Goswami said he had not received any intelligence report so far. On the recent incidents of firing by Pakistan Rangers on the border that caused the death of a border guard, he said a report was being sought from the BSF. Two guards were critically wounded when they were hit by sniper fire along the border at the Narainpur and Alpha Machail posts in Samba and Jammu. On August 6, 20 heavily armed men led by Pakistani troops had entered 450 metres into the Indian territory in Poonch and ambushed a patrol killing five Indian soldiers.
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by Pakistani troops on India's 67th Independence Day yesterday that left three Indian soldiers and a porter injured, the Army retaliated using heavy calibre guns for the first time to send a strong message to the Pakistani army.
Emphasising the need for a definite change in the mindset of a particular category of national leaders regarding discrimination against Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday criticised them for duplicity in their approach to issues like
Kishtwar.
Governor N N Vohra launched the website of the 101st session of the Indian Science Congress, which will be held at Jammu University from February 3 to 7 next year. The website was launched through video conferencing from Raj Bhawan here today.
Srinagar, August 16