‘Durbar’ opens amid tight security
JAMMU, Nov 8 — As part of the biannual durbar move drill civil secretariat and other government offices opened here today after six months. The offices had closed in Srinagar on November 1. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, reached the secretariat in time and took the salute at the ceremonial guard of honour by the police.

16 killed as van falls into Chenab
JAMMU, Nov 8 — As many as 16 passengers were killed when a van, in which they were travelling rolled down 400 metre before falling into the Chenab near Pull Doda last evening.

36 stalls of fire crackers gutted
JAMMU, Nov 8 — Thirtysix stalls of fire crackers were gutted in mini stadium here on Divali yesterday, the police said.

‘Durbar’ opens amid tight security
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 8 — As part of the biannual durbar move drill civil secretariat and other government offices opened here today after six months. The offices had closed in Srinagar on November 1.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, reached the secretariat in time and took the salute at the ceremonial guard of honour by the police. He was accompanied by his ministerial colleagues, the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitley and the Director General police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat.

The secretariat premises and all roads leading the complex were heavily guarded after the recent incidents in Srinagar where the militants carried out grenade attacks on the secretariat.

Dr Abdullah told newsmen that the recent grenade attacks on the civil secretariat at Srinagar and the armed attack on the Defence Ministery’s PR Office in the Badami Bagh cantonment area were a serious development.

When asked to comment on the presence of suicide squads set up by the Lashkar-e-Toiba the Cheif Minister said it would affect the morale of the people. He said people in the state would not be "deterred by desperate acts of the militants."

Dr Abdullah said the state Cabinet had expressed serious concern over the militant attacks on the civil secretariat and in this connection the government was waiting the report of the DGP.

He said the cult of violence would not be tolerated and the USA had made known to the world the designs of Lashkar-e-Toiba. He hoped that Pakistan "will stop abetting terrorism and not commit such things as could escalate turmoil." "Let better sense prevail in Pakistan," he added.

He ruled out the possibility of war against Pakistan and in this context he referred to the recent statements made by the new Pak rulers favouring good relations with India. "We are watching the situation and wish for the restoration of democracy in the neighbouring country," he said.

The Chief Minister said all members of the UN Security Council had supported the resolution against terrorism and the Government of India had succeeded in drawing world’s attention against the dangers of terrorism. He said the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee would take up the issue at the forthcoming CHOGAM meeting

Answering a question he indicated that he would soon discuss the state’s financial crisis with the Centre and he would raise the issue during the ensuing Chief Ministers’ conference.

On the opening day of the durbar the state unit of the Congress staged a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan entrance to register protest against what it called the failure of the National Conference government in delivering the goods. Congress leaders and workers led by Mr Ashok Sharma MLA, Mr Raman Bhalla Squatted in front of the main gate shouting slogans against the State Government.

The protesters demanded Governor’s intervention in forcing the government to improve its performance. They demanded that in case the government failed to check corruption, nepotism and improve supply of electricity and drinking water it should be dismissed.

The demonstrators expressed concern over the rise in militancy-related incidents and held the state and the Central Governments responsible for it.

16 killed as van falls into Chenab
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 8 — As many as 16 passengers were killed when a van, in which they were travelling rolled down 400 metre before falling into the Chenab near Pull Doda last evening.

The police said six bodies had been recovered so far and four wounded passengers were rescued, out of them two had been sent to Jammu for treatment.

Eyewitness said as many as 10 passengers were missing.

The Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, in whose Lok Sabha constituency the accident had taken place, visited the area last evening to console the bereaved families.

People who met Prof Gupta demanded central assistance in the development of the backward area of Bani and Basohli and suggested that the Minister should persuade the state government to widen and improve Bani-Basohli-Jammu road. The Minister assured the people that he would take up the matter with the authorities concerned.

36 stalls of fire crackers gutted

JAMMU, Nov 8 (PTI) — Thirtysix stalls of fire crackers were gutted in mini stadium here on Divali yesterday, the police said.

There was no casualty, but crackers worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed in the fire which broke at 9.05 a.m.

Fire tenders were rushed to the site immediately and controlled the fire. Joint Director of the Fire Service Department R.S. Sondhi, said red alert had been sounded throughout the state and all fire stations had been asked to remain vigilant.