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| Saturday, August 26, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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J&K to raise 3 more police battalions Fernandes confident of
talks revival with Hizb Red Cross
Bhavan
for Srinagar Kidnapped cop rescued |
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Geelani again
harps on tripartite talks Death of poets
mourned
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J&K to raise 3 more police battalions JAMMU, Aug 25 — The state government has decided to raise three more battalions of the police for looking after the internal security following the Central Government’s refusal to send additional companies of the paramilitary forces. The state authorities, including the Chief Minister, in the past over one year have repeatedly urged the Union Home Ministry to deploy additional companies of the paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir following increase in the militancy-related violence. The state government had informed the Centre that as a result of the increase in the rate of infiltration of militants from across the LoC more areas had become militant infested. This called for a suitable security cover for people. The Union Home Ministry had suggested to the state government to make the optimum utilisation of the forces that were available in the state because law and order situation in other states, especially in the North-East, would not allow the deployment of additional companies of paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the state government succeeded in securing an assurance from the Centre regarding a hike in funds if three more battalions of the police were raised. Senior state authorities, including the DGP, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, have prepared a plan for recruiting able-bodied youths in the three battalions that are to be raised within the next two years. Youths belonging to the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities and those living in the border villages will be given preference in the recruitment. Over the years it has been seen that youths belonging to the border villages, once recruited in the police, have proved to be of great help not only in handling the law and order situation but also in checking the infiltration of militants from across the border. The Chief Minister has approved the plan of raising three additional battalions of the police to increase the manpower and reduce the problem of unemployment in the state. In the past four years the strength of the police has been increased from 30,000 to 60,000. With increased manpower and better equipment the police has been in a position to take on the militants in different areas of the state. The DGP has been instrumental in securing required funds from the Union Home Ministry for modernising the police force by way of better equipment, transport and communication system which can match the facilities the Pakistan-trained militants have been provided by the agencies across the border. Informed sources said that the state government had a plan of increasing the police strength to over 75,000 during the next three to four years. The government is of the view that the ongoing proxy war may be a prolonged affair and hence an increase in police strength could help the Centre to deploy additional battalions of the Army and the paramilitary forces on the border to check the rate of infiltration. The state government has conveyed to the Centre on many occasions in the past three years that the only way to tackle militancy and that too without causing any inconvenience to the civilians is to reduce the rate of infiltration to zero level. Since the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir is dotted with lofty mountains and deep ravines the deployment of additional forces up to the outskirts of all the border villages is the only way to halt the ingress. The state government has also sought Centre’s assistance in equipping members of the village defence committees with better weapons. The VDC members have played an important role in containing the activities of the militants. But they have been handicapped because of lack of better weapons as fighting militants, who are equipped with assault rifles Pika guns and other sophisticated weapons, with .303 rifles is not going to prove helpful in flushing out the rebels. |
Fernandes confident of
talks revival with Hizb NEW DELHI, Aug 25 (PTI) — Defence Minister George Fernandes today voiced confidence about revival of discussions between the Centre and the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) in the next two months and said the issue of Pakistan’s involvement in the talks would be forgotten by then. “The Hizbul Mujahideen’s proposal (for a ceasefire) came out of nowhere and then it faded away. I believe that there will be a revival of this proposal,” Fernandes told Karan Thapar on BBC’s “Hardtalk India” programme. To a question whether HM would continue to insist on tripartite talks involving Pakistan, he said he was not too sure “whether this proposal would be put across in all seriousness”. “Yes”, He replied when asked whether the issue of involvement of Pakistan in negotiations would be forgotten or watered down in the next two months. He said the government had “well established” contacts with HM in Kashmir. On Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat’s proposal to constitute two groups of its executive committee to hold talks with India and Pakistan simultaneously, Mr Fernandes said the Hurriyat did not represent any mainstream political or insurgency-oriented movement in Jammu and Kashmir. On the split role suggested by the Hurriyat and the possibility of proximity talks, the Minister said there was nothing new in it as the Hurriyat has been continuously talking to Pakistan. Mr Fernandes said Hurriyat leaders were in the capital earlier this week and had met officials of the Pakistan High Commission. Asked if there was a split between the Pakistan-based and India-based HM commanders, Mr Fernandes said there were reasons to believe that “strong differences” existed. Those on the Indian side were “keen” that the talks should resume, he said adding he had credible reasons to believe that. On whether HM ‘chief commander’ in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdul Majid Dar, who announced a ceasefire in the state on July 24 which was called off by Pakistan-based HM chief Syed Salahuddin on August 8, was being protected, he said Dar was “very safe” and it was “our duty to protect anyone who needs protection”. |
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Red
Cross Bhavan
for Srinagar SRINAGAR, Aug 25 — A Red Cross Bhavan on the pattern of Jammu is being constructed here. Disclosing this, the Minister for Industries and Commerce Dr Mustafa Kamal, said the proposed bhavan would have a full-fledged medical, office and commercial complex and its blueprint would be prepared shortly for approval by the state Cabinet. Addressing a function held here in connection with the annual lucky bag draw, he called upon philanthropists to come forward and help make the Red Cross Society more vibrant and an effective human welfare organisation. He said such voluntary organisations had an important role to play, particularly in view of the prevailing conditions in the state. The minister said industrialists would be approached for contributions to the Red Cross regularly so that a large number of people affected due to militancy and other natural calamities could be given timely relief. The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, who was also the Chairman, Regional Red Cross Society, informed the minister that the Kashmir branch of the Indian Red Cross Society had distributed about 40,000 blankets among those who had migrated from their homes during the Kargil conflict. He said the society had distributed 14,800 blankets among those who had migrated from the Ladakh region during the conflict. Of these, 12,050 blankets were distributed in Kargil and 2,750 in Leh
district. |
Kidnapped cop rescued SRINAGAR, Aug 25 (PTI) — The police assisted by the BSF today rescued a kidnapped policeman from the clutches of militants in north Kashmir today, an official spokesman said. The kidnapped cop, Ghulam Jeelani of the Indian Reserve Police, was rescued during a lightning raid conducted on a militant hideout at Trhama-Sheikhpora in Baramula district, he said. Mr Jeelani was kidnapped by the militants from his house in the Palpora-Beerwah area of Badgam district on August 23, the spokesman said. However, he said the kidnappers of the cop were not present in the hideout at the time of the operation. The constable, tortured by the militants, was hospitalised, the spokesman said, adding a case had been registered against the militants. |
Geelani again
harps on tripartite talks SRINAGAR, Aug 25 (UNI) — Former All Party Kashmir Hurriyat Conference
(APKHC) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani today said tripartite talks or the implementation of the United Nations resolution were the only ways to resolve the Kashmir issue. Addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid here, he said the
APKHC was ready for negotiations to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. But, he said, the talks should not be for the transfer of power, autonomy or contesting elections instead these should be to find a solution acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Geelani said bilateral talks so far had yielded no lasting solution to the Kashmir issue as had been proved by past experience. He said any decision within the framework of the Indian Constitution would not be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The congregation was addressed by senior
APKHC leaders including Moulana Abbas Ansari, Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Javid Ahmad Mir and Mohammad
Yousuf. |
Death of poets
mourned SRINAGAR, Aug 25 — Various Literary and cultural organisations writers and intellectuals have condoled the deaths of two prominent figures of Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. These include Mr Nishat Ansari, a prominent Kashmiri and Urdu poet, Mr K.S. Madhukar a Dogri poet. A condolence meeting was held at the office of the J&K State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages here today. The meeting was attended by writers, intellectuals, stage artists, besides staff or the Academy. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Balwant Thakur, Secretary of the Academy, referred to the achievements made by the writers in their life time. Mr Nishat Ansari was a prominent Kashmiri and Urdu poet of the state and has been the author of more than two dozen books. He was the recipient of prestigious awards. Mr K.S. Madhukar, a prominent Dogri writer was associated with the Academy as Editor, Dogri. His first collection of poetry “Dhola Kun Thapia” was a trend-setter. He also compiled a number of collections of Dogri folk songs and folk
tales. |
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