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| Saturday, December 23, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Top Hizb leader shot dead Ceasefire no
solution, says Hizb leader Sales, passenger tax arrears touch 600
cr Panel to review cases of suspended officials |
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Sale of Army combat
uniforms banned Drinking water for
Kargil in 2 years Siberian birds arrive in J&K
wetland Scheme to set up
herbal gardens
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Top Hizb leader shot dead SRINAGAR, Dec 22 (UNI) — Four militants, including a self-styled battalion commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, a ruling National Conference leader and two soldiers were among nine killed, while militants attacked a security camp and pickets at four different places in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours. Official sources said ruling National Conference leader Abdul Rashid Rather was abducted and later killed by militants at Hargam Kellar in Pulwama this morning. He is the second leader killed by militants in as many days in the valley. Sources said a surrendered militants, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, who was shot at and wounded critically by militants at Baramula this morning, died in hospital later. A report from Jammu said a police party noticed some persons moving in a suspicious manner in the Samba Sector and challenged them. When they opened fire, the jawans retaliated. In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed and five soldiers injured, one of them seriously. It was believed that these militants had recently infiltrated into the Indian territory. In another incident, two soldiers were killed and six wounded when militants opened fire on buses hired by the Army at Deri Leot village in Rajouri district last evening. The Army opened fire, but the ultras escaped. A combing operation has been launched. An official spokesman said the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police killed a Hizbul militants, Ghulam Ahamad Sheikh, alias Jehangir, in an encounter at Breh Ahabal last evening. A rifle and 15 rounds were recovered from the slain militant. However, villagers alleged that he was arrested and later killed in custody. Militants hurled a hand grenade at a BSF party at the main chowk in Kupwara last evening. The grenade missed the target and exploded on the road, injuring a BSF jawan and three pedestrians. In a similar incident, driver Nazir Ahamad was injured when a grenade lobbed by militants at a police party in the Tangmarg main bazar this afternoon missed the target and exploded on the road. The spokesman said a militant was injured in an encounter with the security forces at Sodal Handwara village last night. He was later arrested. |
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Ceasefire no
solution, says Hizb leader SRINAGAR, Dec 22 (PTI) — A top leader of the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit made a dramatic appearance at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid today, declaring that his group favoured peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue. Self-styled district commander Abdul Basit, who was masked and armed as were his seven associates, told reporters at the main gate of the mosque after Friday prayers that the Hizb wanted “peace and initiation of a purposeful, meaningful and result-oriented talks to resolve the Kashmir issue.” He, however, said the group opposed the current ceasefire announced by the Centre as it is not the solution to the issue. Kashmir problem cannot be resolved through ceasefires as has been witnessed in the past.” When referred to the Hizb’s ceasefire in July, he said it was to demonstrate to the world that we (militants) would not be a hurdle if the Kashmir issue is resolved peacefully.” “We also desire peace and we do not want to become a hurdle in the way of resolving the (Kashmir) issue peacefully through negotiations,” he said. He, however, added that “the only solution to the Kashmir issue is its merger with Pakistan”. Hurriyat Conference leaders were inside the mosque offering prayers on the occasion of “Jamiat-ul-Vida” (last Friday before Id-ul-Fitr) when Basit made the appearance and talked to newspersons. Basit said he had come “to the mosque “to listen what message the Hurriyat leaders would give to the Kashmiris.” On the Hurriyat leadership’s plans to travel to Pakistan next month, he said they may proceed “to hold talks with the leaders there and explain their stand to the leaders of militants in Pakistan.” He, however, added the Hurriyat leaders had not clarified as to whom they wanted to talk to in Pakistan besides the militant leadership.
JAMMU, Dec 22 — Despite a drive launched against tax defaulters, the sales tax and passenger tax arrears in Jammu and Kashmir continue to mount causing problems to the already cash starved state government. Government reports indicate that the sales and passenger tax arrears in the state have touched nearly Rs 600 crore. According to these reports, the sales tax arrears have shown a regular upward curve since 1995-96. In 1995-96 the sales tax arrears in the Jammu region were over Rs 83 crore which kept on increasing in the subsequent years to reach Rs 123.50 crore in 1999-2000. Tentative figures have indicated that these arrears may touch a record figure of over Rs 125 crore by the end of the current financial year. Similarly in the Kashmir valley the sales tax arrears in 1995-96 were over Rs 144 crore which kept on rising in past five years to reach over Rs 388 crore in 1999-2000. It is expected that during current financial year the arrears may touch over Rs 392 crore. As far as recovery of the sales tax is concerned the government has been able to realise about Rs 10 crore out of Rs 83 crore in 1995-96 in the Jammu region. The rate of tax realisation has kept a slow pace as compared to the increase in the arrears. In 1996-97 the tax recovery in the Jammu region has been over Rs 13 crore out of the total arrears of over Rs 90 crore. Last year the tax collection had been to the tune of Rs 16 crore out of the total arrears of Rs 123 crore. And during the first eight months of the current financial year the tax collection may not be more than Rs 65 crore. In the Kashmir valley though sales tax realisation has been higher than in the Jammu region but it has again failed to maintain a balance between collection and the mounting arrears. In 1995-96 sales tax collection has been just over Rs 1.60 lakh out of the total arrears of Rs 144 crore. The revenue collection in the subsequent years has been Rs 2.50 lakh, Rs 24 lakh and Rs 3.82 crore. Last year the tax realisation had been over Rs 5.23 crore. And during the first eight months of the current financial year the recovery may touch about Rs 20 crore. In case of passenger tax arrears in the Jammu region there has been a gradual fall. In 1995-96 the arrears had been over Rs 15 crore which had shown decline in the subsequent years. In 1997-98 the arrears had been Rs 12 crore, in 1999-2000 the figure was Rs 36 crore. It may not exceed Rs 4 lakh. In the Kashmir valley the passenger tax arrears have, however, increased during the past five years. In 1995-96 the total arrears were Rs 7 crore, which increased to Rs 10 crore in last year and are expected to touch over Rs 11 crore during the current financial year. In this sector also the rate of tax realisation has been very low. However, the Sales Tax Department authorities said that it was in recent years that the department carried out tax assessment. It is because of this assessment, which had never been done on a large scale in the past, that the tax arrears have multiplied. The authorities said that the state government has introduced a scheme of amnesty for arrears on account of the sales and passenger tax. The amnesty scheme came into effect from 1995-96. Still the realisation of arrears did not touch the expected mark. The authorities stated that it was for the first time during the past two fiscal years that the state government had succeeded in collecting about Rs 600 crore. The current financial year has been declared by the government as the year of “recoveries”. The tax collection has been also launched in the power sector too. The arrears have touched over Rs 600 crore during the last several years. This has deprived the government of the much needed cash for purchasing additional electricity from the Northern grid. The state’s arrears with northern grid too have increased sharply. |
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Panel to review cases of suspended officials JAMMU, Dec 22 — The committee set up under the chairmanship of the Chief
Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly, will review the cases of various officers/ officials of the government departments under suspension pending investigation into criminal complaints against them or after orders sanctioning their prosecution were issued. The Financial Commissioner, Agriculture and Rural Development Department, and the Principal Secretary, Planning and Development
Department, are the members of the committee while the Commissioner Secretary General Administration Department is the member secretary. According to a circular, all administrative secretaries to the government have been asked to send brief notes in respect of such officers for being placed before the review
committee. With regard to non government employees, the administrative departments will review their cases at their own level and keep the General Administration Department informed about the outcome of such review. However, non gazetted employees involved in a case belonging to more than one department, such cases may also be referred to the General Administration Department for consideration of the review committee.
SRINAGAR, Dec 22 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Government yesterday imposed a ban on the sale and making of Army combat uniforms, both camouflage and olive green colours, in Srinagar. The ban will remain in force for two months, an official announcement said. The step followed reports that Army combat uniforms were being misused by miscreants, it said. The ban order stipulates that “no shopkeeper, tailor and other agencies concerned dealing with such combat uniforms, camouflage and olive green colours, and material will sell or use the material for making Army combat uniforms in any form whatsoever.” It has been observed that foreign militants who storm security camps in the state used the uniform to deceive Army personnel, it said. The order was issued by Srinagar District Magistrate, Bipul Pathak, under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1989 (1988 AD). Copies of the order have been displayed in offices of executive magistrates and in police stations of Srinagar district. Militant suicide squads, commonly known as “Fidayeen”, carried out 12 attacks on security camps in the state this year. |
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Drinking water for
Kargil in 2 years JAMMU, Dec 22 — Drinking water will be made available to the population of Kargil district within the next two years. This was revealed at a meeting of engineers here yesterday to review the achievements made under Public Health, Engineering, Irrigation and PWD sectors in Kargil and Leh districts. The Works Minister, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar, presided. The meeting was informed that out of 130 villages of the Kargil district 30 villages had been provided with drinking water whereas 17 villages would be provided with this facility by March 2001. The meeting was told that 17 drinking water schemes were under execution in Kargil at a cost of Rs 2 crore. The remaining 23 villages would get drinking water in the year 2002. Mr Sagar asked the officers to initiate steps to reactivate some defunct water supply schemes in the district immediately to augment drinking water supply. While reviewing performance of the irrigation sector, the meeting was informed that Wakhar Rong irrigation project in Kargil district coming up at a cost of Rs 8.25 crore was likely to be completed by the end of next financial year. So far 65 per cent work on the project involving an expenditure of Rs 5 crore had been completed. The project would provide irrigation facility to 680 hectares of land benefitting 15,000 persons of the area. Meanwhile, sanction has been accorded to the Khumbathan irrigation project, Kargil. The project will provide irrigation facility to over 500 hectares of land covering 60 villages of the district. While reviewing achievements in PHE sector in Leh district it was stated that eight water supply schemes at a cost of over Rs 1 crore had been taken up last year for providing drinking water to the people. The meeting was told that so far Rs 34 crore had been spent on the construction of centrally sponsored Igophy irrigation canal in Leh and further Rs 7 crore for the project are being provided. |
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Siberian birds arrive in J&K
wetland JAMMU, Dec 22 — As the guns fell silent following Pakistan’s announcement that its troops had been ordered to observe maximum restraint on the LoC, hordes of Siberian birds have started arriving in various wetland farms in Jammu and Kashmir. At least villagers of the Gharan border belt in the R.S. Pora Sector are delighted over the arrival of the Siberian “guests”. Within three days of the guns falling silent, the Gharan wetland farm has so far attracted over 20,000 Siberian ballards, koots, king fischers, vultures and a few craines. According to Mr Bashir Ahmed Nengroo, Minister of State for Forests, and Mr S.D. Swatantra, Chief Wildlife Warden, prior to the heavy firing on the border, more than 60,000 Siberian birds would throng the Gharan wetland reserve. However, during the past five years the wetland farm had no visitor from Siberia. On a couple of occasions some groups of birds did arrive but they had to cut short their stay with guns roaring on the border. The Siberian birds fly to warm zones in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana during October-March every year. Mr Nengroo said the government would set up projects for attracting tourists to the wetland reserves in case the guns did not disrupt the passage of these birds from Siberia to Jammu and Kashmir.
Scheme to set up
herbal gardens JAMMU, Dec 22 — Herbal gardens at each district headquarters in the state will be set up under the Centre sponsored Vanspati Van Scheme for growing medicinal herbs. This was revealed by the Minister for Health and Medical Education, Mian Altaf Ahmed, while addressing the first annual day function of the Jammu Institute of Ayurveda and Research held here yesterday. He said under the scheme, the Centre Government would provide the financial assistance. The state government would provide land for setting up gardens. He said it was heartening that now more and more people not only in India but also in foreign countries were inclined to the ayurvedic system of medicines. He said the state government had accorded high priority to this system of medical treatment and efforts were being made for further strengthening its infrastructure.
JAMMU, Dec 22 — The state government today nominated four members to the Ladakh Autonomous hill development Council, Leh. Those nominated included, Ms Spalzes Angmo, Ms Rigzin Spaldon, Mr Ghulam Abbas Abidi and Mr Mohammad Sadiq.
This has been done in pursuance to sub-section (2) of Section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act, 1977. |
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