NC minister files nomination
SRINAGAR, Aug 15 — Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister, filed his nomination for Srinagar parliamentary seat yesterday.

Peaceful I-Day in valley
From Tribune Reporters

SRINAGAR, Aug 15 — Barring a few minor incidents of attempts by militants to create trouble, the Independence Day celebrations were held peacefully across the valley today.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, led the celebrations at Bakshi Stadium under the tight security arrangements. Addressing from a bullet-proof podium installed for the first time since he took over as Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah warned Pakistan against creating disturbance in Kashmir in the name of Islam. He blamed forces from across the border for making attacks on villages in different areas of the valley. The Chief Minister held that the same could be repeated on them also, but India was a country for maintaining peace and friendly relations with all its neighbours.

Referring to the Prime Minister's visit to Pakistan by bus, the Chief Minister said it was a clear message for peace and friendly relations between the two neighbours. But, he lamented that Pakistan had betrayed all hopes and masterminded aggression in Kargil.

He lauded the role of valiant jawans who sacrificed their lives while defending the border.

The Chief Minister said it was hoped that a new chapter had been opened in relations between the two countries, but Pakistan did the contrary to the goodwill gesture of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. He stressed the need for a peaceful and friendly atmosphere between India and Pakistan for "friends can be changed but not the neighbours".

A colourful cultural programme was also presented by the State Information Department on the occasion, schoolchildren who usually participate in such occasions.

No public was part of the audience at the stadium, where a majority of the paramilitary personnel in civil formed part of the audience. Senior police and civil administration officers and some of his ministerial colleagues were present.

Tight security arrangements were made in and around Bakshi Stadium. No pedestrians were allowed around the localities in the area, including Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh, Aloochi Bagh, Haft Chinar and other adjacent localities. Mediapersons going to cover the occasion were thoroughly checked and frisked before entering the stadium. Their movement was also restricted in the areas around the venue of the main celebrations.

An IED went off near the Government Higher Secondary School, Handwara, in Kupwara district at 8.30 am two hours before the I-D celebrations. No damage was caused by the explosion, the SP, Mr Mohammed Amin Shah said.

In another incident, militants fired two rockets from dense forests near Kupwara district headquarters town. One of the these landed within the forests while the other landed in the stream passing through the town. No damage was caused due to the firing of rockets. The Minister for Social Welfare, Mian Altaf Ahmad, took the salute on the occasion of the I-D celebrations at the district headquarters of Kupwara.

Tight security arrangements were made in Kupwara district in view of the recent attacks by foreign militants on the security forces camps.

Meanwhile, in Anantnag a large number of people belonging to all sections of society and hundreds of schoolchildren participated in the I-D celebrations. This was for the first time in the past over 10 years that such a large number of people took part in the celebrations. The Minister for Higher Education, Mr Abdul Qayoom took the salute.

KATHUA: The district-level Independence Day celebrations was held at Police Lines ground here. Over 50 jawans of the police, armed police, NCC cadets held a march past. Mr Surjeet Singh Slathia Minister of Animal and Sheep Husbandry, hoisted the flag and took the salutes.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Slathia said the Farooq government had given jobs to more than 45,000 unemployed youths, bank loans up to Rs 50,000 had been waived, damaged bridges had been reconstructed, various welfare schemes for poor and down-trodden had been launched. Later, he distributed prizes among the winners of cultural programme.

UDHAMPUR: The 52nd Independence Day was celebrated in Government Degree College, Udhampur where State Industries Minister Mollaram hoisted the National Flag.

The minister asked people to remain vigilant against the designs of Pakistan and fight for removing poverty and militancy in the state.

Villagers pledge to fight militancy

URI (Jammu and Kashmir), Aug 15 (PTI) — A backward village near the Line of Control (LoC) which was transformed into a modern one by the development programmes of the Army has decided to repay the benevolence by helping the troops in combating militancy in the border areas.

Sumwali, hardly a kilometre from the LoC, has changed from an underdeveloped hamlet to a modern village thanks to a series of welfare measures initiated by the army in the area.

In return, the villagers, who migrated en masse to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 1994 and returned to the Indian side in 1997, have pledged to continue their cooperation in fighting militancy in the border areas, which is one of the infiltration routes of Pakistan-trained militants into the valley.

With the aim of improving quality of life of villagers, the army undertook a number of developmental projects including construction and repair of bridges, improvement of roads and tracks, repair of schools, provision of running water, medical aid and adoption of poor and needy families, Brig R.P.S. Malhan, Commander of Rampur garrison which is a part of Baramula division, told visiting journalists yesterday.

In addition, scholarships to deserving students and provision of stationary and sports equipment to various schools are part of the programme, he said.

The Army also created an Army development group project (welfare project) at Sumwali, Brig Malhan said after inaugurating a community hall at the village.

The project comprises a community hall, a fully equipped medical aid post and veterinary clinic, provision of electricity to all houses of Sumwali and Chotali villages through two 15 KVA generators and supply of running water to all houses of both villages, Brig Malhan added.

The Army has also provided two TVs, dish antenna and books to the villagers for entertainment and educational purposes, he said.

NC minister files nomination

SRINAGAR, Aug 15 (UNI) — Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister, filed his nomination for Srinagar parliamentary seat yesterday.

No nomination was filed for the Ladakh seat, an official spokesman said.

A total of five candidates have now filed their papers—three from Srinagar and two from Ladakh.

Mr Sagar filed his papers as covering candidate to Mr Omar Abdullah, son of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.