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| Wednesday,
August 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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11 militants killed in valley Steps for safety of migrant labour Panel for women to review laws 1000 handicraft
units being set up in J&K APHC meeting
today |
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Students’ body
starts relay fast Hizb ‘commanders’
go underground Dismiss Farooq
govt: VHP Two more pilgrims
die on way to shrine
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11 militants killed in valley SRINAGAR, Aug 8 — At least 14 persons, including 11 militants and three security forces jawans were killed in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. A police spokesman said here that four militants of
Al-Badr outfit and three jawans were killed in an encounter in the Kolnar forest area near Ajas in Baramulla district yesterday. Four AK rifles, eight magazines and 12 hand grenades were found at the site of the encounter. The encounter ensued when the hiding militants opened fire on the search party, the spokesman said. Three unidentified militants of Jamatul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with security forces at the Mirang forest area of Haihama in Kupwara district. Three AK rifles and a wireless set were found at the site. In another search operation at Kachama in Kupwara district security forces found 23 hand grenades, 49 rifle grenades and 476 rounds of AK ammunition. Two foreign militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with security forces at Kake Da Nalla in the Devar Lolab area of Kupwara district. A woman was also injured in an exchange of fire between militants and security forces. One militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at the Qazinag forest area in Baramulla district. One AK rifle, two pistols, 49 rounds, two hand grenades and a wireless set were found at the site. Another militant belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba was killed in an encounter with security forces at Beli Goran village in the Samba sector of Jammu district. |
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Steps for safety of migrant labour JAMMU, Aug 8 — After more than 450 labourers from Bihar, UP, MP Rajasthan and Himachal fled from the Kashmir valley following the massacre of 27 labourers from other states, the state government has decided to carve out safe places for them. Official sources confirmed that even after the massacre there were about 5,000 labourers from outside the state working in South Kashmir, comprising Anantnag and Pulwama districts. According to the sources, scores of labourers from Bihar and MP have been working in the South Kashmir range for the past seven to 12 years. Under the plan these labourers working in brick kilns would be divided into separate clusters. A group of 200 labourers would be given accommodation. Hitherto these labourers were scattered. These clusters would be set up close to security pickets. In addition to this between three and five bricks kiln owners would be told to provide safe accommodation for the labourers near the kilns. The labourers who fled from South Kashmir after the massacres of Amarnath pilgrims and Biharis on August 1 and 2, had felt unsafe because they were working in brick kilns and fields located in remote areas of Anantnag. One group of 35 labourers, working near Pahalgam, had sought police assistance to reach Jammu. Migrant labourers admitted in Samba that two major factors had prompted them to travel to Kashmir. Firest, Kashmiri “masters” were kind. They would never “treat us as bonded labour” as in other states. Secondly, wages were much higher than other states. Secondly, wages were much higher than other states. The labourers from Bihar and other states have been instrumental in keeping alive the economy of Kashmir. They carry out sowing and harvesting of crops, including paddy, work in brick kilns and pack fruit to be exported to other states. It is because of this realisation that majority of people of South Kashmir expressed their anger against the killing of innocent labourers. Soon after the massacre several hundred non-Kashmiri labourers were given shelter by their “masters” close to their residences. The state government does not want to create an impression that non-Muslims were not safe in Kashmir. A senior government officer said “We have proper steps to ensure safety of these labourers.” He said the local people have started taking measures to ensure protection to these
labourers.
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Panel for women to review laws SRINAGAR, Aug 8 — The recently constituted Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Women has started functioning here. The prime objective is to ensure security, development and wellbeing of women. The Commission comprises Dr Girija Dhar a chairperson and two nominated part-time members. Talking to mediapersons, Dr Girija Dhar said the objectives of the Commission included ensuring implementation of steps against gender discrimination, adequate provisions for women’s advancement to be included in the state policies, plans and
programmes. She said the Commission was also expected to review the state laws and suggest new legislation and amendments to existing laws to meet the objectives of gender equality and advancement of women. The Commission, Dr Girija Dhar said, would set up an expert committee to tender advice on utilisation of media, in addition to the setting up of a complaints and counselling unit. Another thrust area would be building a network with NGOs, social activists and academicians who have helped in running vocational courses. Awareness
programmes, seminars and workshops would be conducted through these agencies, she added. About women in custody, the chairperson said the Commission would be visiting them in jails, and work for getting justice to them expeditiously. She said, for this purpose, the Commission would be travelling throughout the state. She said enough data was not available about women’s problems in the state and added that the Commission would sponsor projects to have information on women’s problems. Dr Dhar said the Commission had taken cognizance of violence against women and cited some instances where it had sought information from the police. She, however, said laws need to be changed whereby the Commission’s communications would be taken seriously. She said the Commission intended to develop a close rapport with the police and other departments for the cause of women. |
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1000 handicraft
units being set up in J&K SRINAGAR, Aug 8 (PTI) — The J&K Industries and Commerce Minister, Mr Mustafa Kamall, has said 1000 more handicraft units would be set up this year to give fresh impetus to the handicraft sector. Exports from the handicraft sector touched a new high of Rs 663 crore last year. In view of the vast export potential, a credit plan has been launched under which Rs 25 crore would be disbursed among 7000 eligible artisans and craftsmen on 5 per cent interest subsidy, the minister said in an interview to Doordarshan (Kashmir Channel) here yesterday. He said loan assistance to the extent of 90 per cent would be given besides a soft term loan subject to 30 per cent of the capital cost of the project would be provided to viable sick small-scale units for revival and there will be a minimum interest rate of one per cent on it. The Quality Control Act, 1978, has been enforced to promote quality of crafts, he added. The handicraft sector provides employment to over 3.20 lakh artisans annually. The government has imparted training in various crafts to about 27,000 trainees during the first three years of the Ninth Five Year Plan through its 552 training centres, including 55 training centres under the massive carpet scheme. Employment was
provided to them through cooperative societies, he said adding that efforts were being made to promote genuine handicraft societies and a detailed survey was being conducted to identify those. |
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APHC meeting
today SRINAGAR, Aug 8 (PTI) — The Hurriyat Conference executive committee will meet here tomorrow to discuss the situation arising out of Pakistan-based militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen’s decision to withdraw its unilateral ceasefire declared in Jammu and Kashmir on July 24. ‘‘We have nothing to say on the issue immediately. We are meeting tomorrow to discuss the issue and then react,’’ a spokesman for the Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, said when contacted by the PTI for reaction on Hizbul’s decision. Meanwhile, a former Union Minister Prof Saifuddin Soz termed the decision as ‘‘unfortunate’’. ‘‘The people of Jammu and Kashmir are dismayed that negotiations between Hizbul Mujahideen and the government got disrupted’’, he said. The CPM state secretary, Mr M.Y. Tarigami, terming the decision as ‘‘most unfortunate’’, urged the Centre to pursue the path of dialogue ‘‘despite difficulties and provocations.’’ |
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Students’ body
starts relay fast JAMMU, Aug 8 — Activists of the Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF) started relay fast here from today in protest against the denial of admission to more than 700 students in colleges. The JJSF activists staged a dharna in front of Government Science College and shouted anti government slogans. The State Education Minister, Mr Mohd. Shafi, had ordered setting up of evening classes for accommodating these students who could not get admission in day colleges. Under this scheme, 950 students were admitted in five colleges in Jammu, Udhampur and Kathua but owing to poor resources and infrastructure other students could not be admitted. The JJSF leaders threatened to intensify their agitation if admission was not given to all students. They criticised the government for not opening new colleges in Jammu for the past 13 years when the number of students passing out of the higher secondary stream increased every year. |
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Hizb ‘commanders’
go underground SRINAGAR, Aug 8 (PTI) — ‘‘Commanders’’ of Pakistan-based militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), went underground in Jammu and Kashmir after the outfit today withdrew its unilateral ceasefire. The HM commanders, who represented the outfit in the first round of talks with government representatives on August 3, went underground in the state immediately after the news of withdrawal of the ceasefire became known here, sources said. The commanders had been in touch with news organisations for the past 15 days but were not available after the ceasefire withdrawal decision of their Supreme Command Council based in Islamabad was conveyed to them, the sources said. HM Chief Commander Abdul Majid Dar, who made the dramatic and surprise announcement about ceasefire on July 24, also went underground, the sources said. Mr Fazal Haq Qureshi, the mediator nominated by the Hizbul Mujahideen to facilitate talks with the government on the modalities of the ceasefire, is also not available. His family members said: ‘‘He has gone somewhere and will not be available for the night.’’ |
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Dismiss Farooq
govt: VHP JAMMU, Aug 8 (PTI) — The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today demanded the dismissal of Dr Farooq Abdullah’s government and imposition of Central rule in Jammu and Kashmir for its alleged failure to provide security to Amarnath pilgrims and other civilians killed by militants recently. Since the state government headed by Dr Abdullah has failed in providing security to the yatris and civilians, the Centre should take immediate steps in bringing the state under Central rule, VHP Senior Vice-President Acharya Giriraj Kishore told reporters here. Alleging that the role of the state police was under suspicion in the light of eye-witness accounts of the incident by the pilgrims, he urged the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, to fully inquire into the attack. He demanded payment of ex-gratia to the tune of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 to the injured in the militant attacks on August 1 and 2 in the state. The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the CPM has criticised the Centre’s refusal to hold a high powered judicial inquiry into the mass killing at Pahalgam. “Without waiting for directions from the Centre, the state government on its own should go for a time-bound and result-oriented judicial probe into the massacre”, CPM secretary and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said in a statement here. |
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Two more pilgrims
die on way to shrine SRINAGAR, Aug 8 (PTI) — Two more Amarnath pilgrims died on way to the cave shrine today, raising the number of deaths in the ongoing yatra to 22, an official spokesman said here. Nilni Deshpanday (53) of Maharashtra and 70-year-old Mansandhu Satram of Bihar died at Gongiri Langer at Amarawati, 2 km from the cave. Another batch of 887 Amarnath pilgrims left Jammu today for Pahalgam meanwhile, reports from Srinagar said 1,66,448 pilgrims from different parts of the country have visited the cave shrine of Amarnath so far. |
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