GVG satisfied with poll arrangements
SRINAGAR, Aug 25 — More than 70 per cent of the 6511 polling stations in Jammu and Kashmir are hypersensitive or sensitive. This includes 85 to 90 per cent in the Kashmir valley comprising three Lok Sabha seats and 50 per cent in Jammu comprising two seats.

3 killed, 15 injured in valley
SRINAGAR, Aug 25 — Two Pakistani intruders and a police constable were killed, while security forces captured four militants in the valley during the past 24 hours.

Conference on diabetes
JAMMU, Aug 25 — In the light of reports that diabetes is widespread among Kashmiri migrants, a diabetes update meeting is being organised here on August 28 to discuss the problem.

Soz files papers as Independent
SRINAGAR, Aug 25 — Former Union Minister Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz was among nine candidates who filed their nominations for the Baramula and Anantnag seats today.

3 sadhus die in mishap
UDHAMPUR, Aug 25 — Three sadhus died while five others were injured when a truck in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge near Bali Nullah on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway 12 km from here.

Panun Kashmir claims credit
US stand on Kargil
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Aug 25 — Leaders of the Panun Kashmir, an organisation of displaced families from the valley, have claimed credit for changing the pro-Pakistan bias in the US policy. They have stated that their efforts to project the plight of the displaced Kashmiri families had moved several senior American leaders who matter.

This was stated by Dr Agnishekhar, Convener, Panun Kashmir, who along with Dr K.L. Chowdhary stayed in the USA for six weeks interacting with senior American Congressmen, Senators, human rights organisations, intellectuals and anti-India lobbyists.

The Panun Kashmir team had the assistance of Dr Jagan Kaul and Mr Vijay Sazawal, who are settled in the USA , in explaining to the American leaders the impact of "ethnic cleansing" carried out by the Islamic fundamentalists in the Kashmir valley which had forced over three lakh Pandits to live as refugees.

Dr Agnishekhar said that even the known anti-India baiters were impressed by the restraint adopted by India during the Kargil conflict and stated that many pro-Pak lobbyists were hurt by Pak misadventure in Kargil which ultimately led the US Government to support India’s case on Kargil.

The Panun Kashmir team had meetings with senator Frank Pallone, Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, Mr Sherrod Brown, Senator Tim Johnaon and several others. American leaders expressed their dismay over the terrorist violence and ethnic cleansing of a minority community.

The Panun Kashmir team also claims credit for influencing the outlook of not only leaders but also of common people which led to outright support of the USA to India on Kargil issue. The team made these American leaders aware of the miserable plight of the Kashmiri migrants.

GVG satisfied with poll arrangements
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 25 — More than 70 per cent of the 6511 polling stations in Jammu and Kashmir are hypersensitive or sensitive. This includes 85 to 90 per cent in the Kashmir valley comprising three Lok Sabha seats and 50 per cent in Jammu comprising two seats.

Disclosing this here today, Mr G.V.G. Krishnamurthy, Election Commissioner of India, said that security was being beefed up to disallow secessionists to disturb the elections. Currently on a three-day tour of the state, comprising six Lok Sabha constituencies, Mr Krishnamurthy yesterday visited three constituencies of Ladakh, Srinagar and Anantnag. Srinagar and Ladakh constituencies go to the polls in the first phase on September 5.

Elections to Jammu and Udhampur constituencies of Jammu division are scheduled for September 11, while the remaining two seats of Anantnag and Baramula will go to polls on September 8.

"We have decided to beef up the security to combat the militants’ designs...secessionists will not be allowed to disturb elections", the Election Commissioner said at a press conference here this morning.

He had meetings with the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Inspector-General of Police and the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr S.V. Bhave, here today, and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements. Mr Krishnamurthy said that preparations were going on as per schedule and ballot papers were being printed under adequate security arrangements.

The Election Commissioner said that the state authorities, including the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitley, Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, Home Secretary and the Chief Electoral Officer were monitoring the hypersensitive areas and polling stations.

He added that adequate security was being provided to all the concerned which included the candidates and political leaders. Security was also being provided for confidence of the voters in the sensitive and hypersensitive areas of the valley and affected parts of Jammu region.

"We want to show to the world that Jammu and Kashmir can never be deterred by external aggression and creation of violence inside", Mr Krishnamurthy said. He added that it was necessary to ensure that intimidation was not there.

Mr Krishnamurthy appealed the Hurriyat Conference to withdraw its call for boycott of elections. "Boycott does not solve any problems. It adds to the problems of the people and it is not in their interest", Mr Krishnamurthy said, adding that "democracy means respect for dissent". The APHC has launched an anti-election campaign in the valley asking the people to boycott elections.

Referring to voters who left the valley in the wake of militancy about a decade ago, Mr Krishnamurthy said that there were about one lakh such voters this time. "This time a more effective system of postal ballot had been made whereby all of them can exercise their franchise", he said. He added that arrangements were also being made for the voters of Kargil, who had returned to their places from nearby areas.

Mr Krishnamurthy also disclosed that various facilities were being given to the voters and the media personnel. The special passes would be given to all journalists desiring to cover the elections. At the polling stations there will be drinking water, resting facilities for the aged and the sick, first aid and eating stalls near the polling stations. This is for the first time that such facilities were being provided during polling, Mr Krishnamurthy said.

3 killed, 15 injured in valley

SRINAGAR, Aug 25 (UNI) — Two Pakistani intruders and a police constable were killed, while security forces captured four militants in the valley during the past 24 hours. Fifteen persons were injured since last evening.

An official spokesman said militants kidnapped Sajad Ahmad Shah from his Machiponah Pulwama house late last night. Militants also entered the house of a police constable Ghulam Mohammad Wagay, at Saeapora in Baramula and shot him dead late last night.

Militants also lobbed a hand grenade towards a BSF vehicle at the busy Iqbal market Sopore in Baramula around 1015 hours today. The grenade missed the target and exploded on the roadside, but left injured nine civilians and two jawans.

The spokesman said security forces shot dead three Pakistani intruders and arrested three others immediately after they crossed over to the Indian side at Mangu-Chak post last evening.

He said militants entered the house of one Ghulam Rasool Parray at Veerinag in Anantnag and fired upon the inmates indiscriminately. One Farooq Ahmad and wife of house owner were injured.

A special police officer and a civilian were injured in a shootout between forces and militants at Champal village last night.

Security forces arrested one militant and recovered four grenades, 10 electronic detonators, 5 kg of explosives, six remote control devices, two stick grenades and 117 rounds of ammunition in the valley during overnight operations, the spokesman added.

Conference on diabetes
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Aug 25 — In the light of reports that diabetes is widespread among Kashmiri migrants, a diabetes update meeting is being organised here on August 28 to discuss the problem.

The conference has been sponsored by a leading multi-national pharmaceutical company USV Limited and is scheduled to be attended by eminent doctors, medical practitioners of the region.

Dr V. Seshiah, an internationally known "doyen of diabetology" will address the conference. Dr Seshiah, has been invited by Dr Jitendra Singh, a leading diabetologist who has carried out pioneering work on the problem of diabetes among the displaced Kashmiri families.

Dr Seshiah will speak on "Drugs in diabetes".

Soz files papers as Independent

SRINAGAR, Aug 25 (UNI) — Former Union Minister Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz was among nine candidates who filed their nominations for the Baramula and Anantnag seats today.

An official spokesman said 11 candidates have so far filed their papers for Anantnag and four for Baramula parliamentary seat.

Prof Saif-Ud-Din Soz, who was expelled from the National Conference after he defied the party directive and voted against the BJP government on the confidence vote, filed his papers as an Independent.

However, he is supported by the Congress and the CPM. Other who filed their papers today included Syed Mohammad Rafiq (Panthers Party) and M.H. Beg (Independent).

Last date for filing nominations is August 28.

3 sadhus die in mishap
From Our Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Aug 25 — Three sadhus died while five others were injured when a truck in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge near Bali Nullah on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway 12 km from here.

Among injured were three Army personnel who admitted into Army hospital whereas, the driver and a sadhu has been admitted in district hospital.

Bodies of sadhus were cremated after conducting the post mortem examination.