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Army foils infiltration bid near Keran encounter site
Srinagar on high alert
Pak intruder shot at in Kathua district
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assembly in session
PM’s Scholarship Scheme
Assembly to discuss VK Singh issue today
Governor greets people of J&K on Navratras
Vohra presents Dogra Ratan Awards
Governor reviews working of Sanatan Dharam Sabha School
Torture of minor boy: Rights body takes suo moto cognisance
Evidence indicates accession not ‘conditional’: BJP
J&K fails to utilise over
Rs 1,150.55 cr Central funds
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Army foils infiltration bid near Keran encounter site
Zirhama (Kupwara), October 4 The militants were killed in the Gujjartur area of the Keran sector today morning after a group of suspected militants tried to infiltrate into the Valley. The troops of 17 Punjab noticed the movement of the militants along the LoC around 2 am after which an operation was launched. “The militants were challenged. They opened fire which was retaliated. In the gunfight which ended this morning, three militants were killed. The firing has stopped in the area, but the search operation is continuing,” spokesman for the Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps Naresh Vig told The Tribune. “The bodies of two slain militants have been recovered along with three AK-47 rifles, four pistols, one Yeasu set, three bags with warlike stores. The body of the third terrorist is lying just across the LoC along Kilpara Nar,” the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the Army for the 11th day is battling highly trained militants backed by Pakistani special troops at Shalbato along the LoC and there seems no early end to the operation. Sources said a large number of militants, who were hiding in huts and natural caves, continue to exchange fire with troops at regular intervals. There is, however, confusion among the security establishment in the state as some suspect that it could be even Pakistani troops, who could be hiding in Shalbato village near the LoC, which was abandoned by its residents in early 1990s. The Army claims that 30 to 40 militants are holed up in the village. An Army officer in frontier Kupwara district said precautions were being taken in the biggest counter-infiltration operation as the area at an altitude of 10,000 to12,000 ft. “We are not acting in a hurry as we have cordoned off the militants and their movement has been restricted to a limited area,” the Army officer said. The sources said the Army also flew over 200 paratroopers to the area to combat the hiding militants. Additional deployment were drawn from various counter-insurgency units in north Kashmir to flush out the militants holed up between the LoC and the fence. Residents of Zirhama and other neighbouring villages said they had been seeing huge flames blowing in the air in deep forests near the LoC during the last few nights. “It seemed as if a war had begun. The firing has been going on uninterrupted and it was not like the gunfights that used to take place in early 1990s. The sound was different,” said Ghulam Qadir, a resident of Zirhama. The locals pray that the LoC tension should not flare-up which would make their life difficult. “We have been hearing that the Pakistani army has been involved in the firing. We want peace to prevail between India and Pakistan. Our children are scared. The sound of helicopters hovering over the area from the past over a week scares us,” said another villager from Zirhama. The security around the village has also been beefed up. The Army spokesman on the Shalbato operation said, “The entire area has been effectively cordoned off by the Army, thereby pinning down the militants within the cordon. In the current operation, there has been intermittent exchange of firing between troops and militants. Five soldiers have sustained injuries and are stable in military hospital. The media reports regarding capture of three Indian observation posts, occupation of a village in the Keran sector by militants and one soldier succumbing to his injuries is totally false.” IAF ready to send support New Delhi: As Army Chief General Bikram Singh on Friday hinted that the 11-day-long Kupwara operation may be over soon, his IAF counterpart, Air Chief Marshall NAK Browne, said they were ready to send in air support in case it was needed. Speaking on the sidelines of a function of the National Disaster Management Authority, General Bikram Singh said, “They (the militants) have been stopped, prevented, neutralised and operations are on to flush them out.” The Army Chief said: “This was not a Kargil-type situation. No village has been occupied.” He said the Indian Army was in a dominating position from all sides. The terrorists are holed up, the terrain is undulating, very treacherous and difficult. “We will take them on. It takes time as we have to avoid our own casualty,” General Bikram Singh said. Later, the IAF chief, while addressing a press conference in the national capital, said this was a small local tactical operation. On being asked if the IAF’s helicopter gunships could be requisitioned, the IAF chief said “The Army has all means to tackle this. In case they need anything we will send it.” When reminded that in 2003, the IAF copters were used in the Gurez sector, the IAF chief said the current operation was localised. — TNS |
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Srinagar on high alert
Srinagar, October 4 Five policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector, were injured in the firefight, which began on Wednesday evening. Police sources said the LeT militant, a Pakistani national, had sneaked into the summer capital few days back and they were ascertaining whether the militant was planning to carry out any attack in Srinagar or was on his way to south Kashmir or Dachigam — where the outfit has a module. “This foreign militant had reached Srinagar just a few days back and we got a tip off and an operation was launched on Wednesday evening in the Ahmad Nagar locality on the outskirts of the city. The militant managed to escape by taking advantage of the darkness. After he escaped, an alert has been sounded in the city,” said a police officer. “We are investigating as to why the militant was in Srinagar and what were his plans,” he said. While the police maintains that only one militant was hiding in the area, the lesser-known militant outfit, Shuhada Brigade, claimed that the militant commanders of various outfits were holding a meeting when security forces cordoned off the area. “The commanders of Alnasreen, Farzandani Milat and Shuhada Brigade were busy in a meeting at Ahmad Nagar. In the meantime, security forces cordoned off the area but our cadres gave a tough fight to the forces and managed to make a safe passage for the commanders. However, while fleeing from the spot, they injured a number of security men,” a statement issued by the Shuhada Brigade to Srinagar-based Kashmir News Service said. The Shuhada Brigade had also claimed responsibility for the twin fidayeen attacks in Jammu and the attack on an Army patrol on the Srinagar bypass road. |
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Pak intruder shot at in Kathua district
Jammu, October 4 “Around 1:15 pm today, BSF guards on patrol duty observed some suspicious movement. They spotted a Pakistani intruder, who after crossing the international border, had come close to the barbed fence,” said a BSF spokesperson. “The guards challenged him but he started to run compelling them to open fire. The intruder was hit in the shoulder,” he said. The spokesperson said nothing incriminating was found from him. The intruder was later shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu. He has been identified as Akhtar Hussain, a resident of Marjal village in Pakistan. — TNS |
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assembly in session
Srinagar, October 4 The protesting MLAs demanded a reply from the government over the issue and raised slogans against the Pakistan army, which is reportedly assisting these militants. The encounter between the security forces and the militants at the Keran sector, along the Line of Control (LoC), today entered its11th day. Soon after the Question Hour started, JKNPP legislator Harsh Dev Singh said: “another Kargil is being repeated” at Keran. Harsh Dev demanded a reply over the reports of “taking over” of the villages by the militants and added that Pakistan army was “directly involved” in the infiltration. Speaker Mubarak Gul said the information related to the issue was with the Defence Ministry and urged the protesting MLAs to allow the Question Hour go on smoothly. However, the JKNPP legislators continued with their demand. They were joined by the BJP members and together both the party legislators staged a walkout amid slogans against Pakistan and the coalition government. Pertinently, the Army has already denied the reports of any village being taken over by the militants. Earlier, BJP MLA Ashok Khajuria strongly raised the issue of the alleged torture of a minor boy of the minority community in Kishtwar by the police. Khajuria alleged that the minority community was being “targeted as part of a conspiracy” in Kishtwar. The Speaker, though, said a reply will be given at an appropriate time in this regard. Gul also said he will not allow statements in the House that would lead to communal tension in the state. Meanwhile, the MLA from Langate, Engineer Rasheed, entered into a heated exchange with the BJP and the JKNPP members over the Kishtwar issue. He asked the BJP and the JKNPP members not to “polarise” the situation in Kishtwar. He also expressed his resentment over the anti-Pakistan slogans. Rasheed further questioned Army’s claim over the killing of 12 militants in the Keran sector. “Not sharing any information about the whereabouts of the militants that have been killed in the encounter raises many serious questions, which need to be answered as fake encounters that took place in Machil and other places have created many doubts about the claims of the Army,” he said. Meanwhile, ruling National Conference MLA Mustafa Kamal said the government should “explain” yesterday’s encounter that took place at Ahmad Nagar on the outskirts of the city. “People spent the night in terror…the government should explain Ahmad Nagar attack. Is the police hand in glove with the Army over fake encounters?” Kamal asked. A Lashkar-e-Toiba militant had escaped after an overnight encounter, which ended yesterday at Ahmad Nagar. Five policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector, were injured in the incident. |
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PM’s Scholarship Scheme
Srinagar, October 4 Intervening during Question Hour in the Legislative Council here, the Chief Minister said the scheme, effective from 2011-2012, was a good scheme conceptualised and implemented by the Central government and added that it was aimed at improving and shaping the future of many students. Omar, however, lamented that some NGOs were taking an undue advantage of the scheme and putting the students to trouble. He appealed the students not to get trapped by such NGOs. The Chief Minister said one such case was already under investigations by
the police. He urged the students to get admissions directly and added that scholarships would be provided to only five students on merit basis. Omar also informed the House that he had already taken up the issue with
the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Earlier, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar, on behalf of the Education Minister, informed the House that in case more than five students from J&K are admitted in a particular institution, the scholarship would be given to the top five students on the basis of merit. “The Department had received some complaints from various quarters to the effect that some NGOs are misleading the student community by presenting themselves as the sponsors of Scholarship Scheme,” Sagar said while reading out the reply from the Education Minister. “The matter has been handed over to the CID for investigations into the role of NGOs in misleading the students,” he added. |
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Assembly to discuss VK Singh issue today
Srinagar, October 4 Speaker Mubarak Gul informed the House that he would allow a discussion on the revelations made by VK Singh tomorrow. The issue was raised by the members of both the ruling parties and the opposition, during the obituary references on on the first day of the session. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mir Saifullah had pointed out that raising any other issue than the obituary references was in violation of rules and tradition. However, the discussion on VK Singh’s remarks and the recent killings overshadowed the obituary references. Soon after the proceedings of the House began today, the opposition PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said the issue related to VK Singh’s remarks was getting murkier and sought a discussion on the matter. Members from other parties, including the
BJP, Panthers Party and CPM also raised the issue, prompting the Speaker to announce his decision to discuss the issue tomorrow. Noisy scenes were also witnessed in the Legislative Council when the members of the ruling NC and opposition PDP entered into heated arguments over the issue related to former Army Chief. Three members of the NC had on the first day of the session moved a Privilege Motion in the Council against the statement of the former Army Chief. Chairman Amrit Malhotra said there would be a discussion over the issue for which a date would be duly fixed. |
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Governor greets people of J&K on Navratras
Jammu, October 4 The Governor said Navratras had great significance in Jammu and Kashmir as during the period, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine attracted a large number of pilgrims from the country. He said Navratras also marked the beginning of a grand festival at Katra, the base town for the commencement of the trek to the Vaishno Devi shrine. The festival showcased the glorious traditions of the composite cultural ethos of the state. The Governor prayed for the well-being of the people of the state. |
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Vohra presents Dogra Ratan Awards
Jammu, October 4 The recipients of the awards included Param Vir Chakra Honorary Captian Bana Singh; Prof Zahur-ud-Din Zahur, eminent Urdu writer; Ravinder Jamwal, reputed sculptor; Amit Dutta, noted film maker; and Vijay Kumar, editor of a prominent Hindi newspaper. The awards instituted by the Council for Promotion of Dogri Language, Culture and History comprised a plaque, a framed citation and a shawl. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor observed that the Jammu region had produced many prominent personalities who had made outstanding contributions to art, culture, literature and other fields. He said the region and the adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab had remained an important catchment area for the Army and other two defence services, besides for the Central paramilitary forces and the state police. He observed that the extended region had produced a large number of Army officers and men whose valorous deeds had brought laurels to the state and country. He referred, among today’s awardees, to Honorary Captian Bana Singh and to many other decorated gallant officers and men who had made commendable contributions to maintaining the territorial integrity of the country. He noted that Dogras had a long history and saga of bravery and valour. The Governor emphasised the need to protect and promote the Dogri languages and literature, “which portray history and carry forward our invaluable heritage.” He referred to the initiatives being taken by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for the promotion of the Dogri language and literature, for which a committee has been set-up under the chairmanship of SS Bloeria, Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu. Referring to the proposal for setting up a cultural centre at Jammu, the Governor observed that it should be planned in such a manner so that it provides support to the coming generations to showcase the composite cultural heritage. Bhim Singh, convener of the Council dwelt on the contributions of the awardees. Justice (retd) KK Gupta, vice-chairman, Dogra Ratan Awards Committee, in his welcome address, spoke about the aims and objectives of instituting the awards. Dogri writer Champa Sharma presented the vote of thanks. MPS Ishar, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu; Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; members of the Dogra Ratan Awards Committee, former Army officers, intellectuals, writers, representatives of trade and industry and prominent persons from various walks of life were present on the occasion. |
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Governor reviews working of Sanatan Dharam Sabha School
Jammu, October 4 The Governor went around the classrooms and interacted with the management, teachers and students. He also discussed the technical appraisal, which had been undertaken for effecting renovations to the existing structures, which are in a dilapidated condition. He viewed the list of additional facilities required to be created for facilitating the education of children. Referring to the requirements of the school mentioned in a memorandum presented by Jagdish Dogra, president of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha, the Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, announced that the engineering wing of the Shrine Board would undertake the urgently required repairs and renovation of the school building, estimated to cost over Rs 16 lakh. — TNS
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Torture of minor boy: Rights body takes suo moto cognisance
Jammu, October 4 The body has decided to serve a notice to the Kishtwar police in this regard. “We have taken suo moto cognisance of the incident, which has been reported in a section of media regarding the torture of a minor boy by police in Kishtwar,” Amolakh Singh, one of the members of the SHRC, told The Tribune. “The matter was serious in nature, so the SHRC has decided to serve a notice to the police to further investigate the matter,” Singh added. Meanwhile, a complete bandh was observed in Kishtwar town by the members of the minority community on the call of the BJP. All shops and business establishments belonging to the minority community remained closed throughout the day. However, keeping in view the prevailing tension in riot-hit town, members of the minority community did not take out any protest march. Annoyed over the approach adopted by the authorities, minority community has decided to intensify the stir in the days to come. “We are ready to cooperate with the police to identify real culprits responsible for the riots, but it is totally wrong to torture minor boys in the name of investigation,” Hans Raj, convener of the Santan Dharam Sabha Kishtwar, said. He alleged that the police crossed all limits of brutality, while torturing the minor boy, who was later shifted to Jammu for advanced treatment. Ajay Kumar, a minor boy from Kishtwar, was picked up by the police for questioning regarding the August 9 riots. “Nearly two months have passed, but authorities have not taken any step to rehabilitate the riot-affected families of Kishtwar,” Hans Raj regretted, adding that except promises nothing has been done so far. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sat Pal Sharma termed the incident as “most atrocious and barbaric”. He alleged that this way the police was trying to cover-up their “deliberate inaction” on August 9, which resulted in large scale arson and loot of minority properties in
Kishtwar. |
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Evidence indicates accession not ‘conditional’: BJP
Jammu, October 4 Chief spokesman for the state BJP Jitendra Singh said there was enough documentary evidence both from the Constitution of India and the Constitution of J&K to indicate that the accession of J&K was not conditional and that Parliament had absolute jurisdiction over J&K. In a statement issued here today, Singh said in an era of evidence-based argument, it did not suffice to pass unsubstantiated judgements. What matters was conclusions based on recorded facts, he said. The state BJP spokesman said the Instrument of Accession, signed by Maharaja Hari Singh, was in no way different from the one signed by other 560 princely states. He said those who say there was accession in case of J&K but no merger are actually not clear in their concept. |
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J&K fails to utilise over
Rs 1,150.55 cr Central funds
Srinagar, October 4 Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra today said at the end of 2012-13, Rs 1,150.55 crore had not been utilised out of Rs 4,703.31 crore received under Centrally sponsored schemes. The minister was replying to a question by CPM state secretary and Kulgam MLA MY Tarigami during the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly. Tarigami had asked whether it was a fact that more than Rs 1,500 crore had lapsed during the last financial year. Sadhotra said funds under the Centrally sponsored schemes did not lapse as unspent balances at the end of the financial year get revalidated by the departments concerned in the following year for utilisation. He also said at times, Central funds were received late which led to delay in spending while last year’s funds were being utilised during the current financial year. To this, Tarigami said: “How will you get the capacity to spend the amount next year (along with fresh funds) when you failed to utilise the same in the previous year.” Tarigami also asked about the reasons for non-implementation of District Development Board (DDB) decisions. National Panthers Party legislator Harsh Dev Singh and People’s Democratic Party MLAs, Mehbooba Mufti and Zulfiqar Ali, besides Congress MLA GM Saroori also raised queries in this regard. Speaker Mubarak Gul informed the House that he would allow a discussion on the implementation of decisions taken at the DDB meetings on October 9. |
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Srinagar, October 4
Srinagar, October 4
Jammu, October 4
