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| Tuesday,
April 3, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Pant’s name causes no ripples in APHC Army camp
attacked Farooq reviews passing-out parade Sikh society asks PM
to visit J & K Youths urged to cultivate self-discipline |
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Three-day festival at Jammu from April
13
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Pant’s name causes no ripples in APHC Jammu, April 2 The Chairman of the APHC, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, said that the appointment of Mr Pant as an interlocutor “does not make any difference.” He explained that the APHC had taken a clear and firm stand on initiating a dialogue with the government. It’s stand is that a five-member team of the APHC should first be allowed to visit Pakistan, after which it could discuss the matter with the Government of India. “First thing first, “he said, adding that the Government of India had announced that a team of APHC would be allowed to visit Pakistan for discussing the Kashmir imbroglio with different political and militant groups.” As such, the government was “bound to issue valid travel documents to our team.” Prof Bhat made it clear that whether the negotiator was Mr Pant or someone else “we will hold talks with the Government of India only after we come back from Pakistan.” He said, “It is not going to be a pleasure trip, but we are trying to explore the possibility of resolving the dispute amicably.” Another APHC leader, Mr Abdul Gani Lone, expressed his ignorance about the new interlocutor. He said, “We will sit and discuss it.” In reply to a question, he said, “I do not know if the APHC has taken a stand that its team should first visit Pakistan and then start negotiations with the Government of India. The Chairman of the Awami Action Committee and Kashmir Mirwaiz, Maulvi Umar Farooq, said that if the visit to Pakistan preceded talks with the Government of India, parleys could be “fruitful.” He said the Executive Committee of the APHC might meet again to discuss the installation of Mr Pant as a negotiator. All three Hurriyat leaders said that it was unfortunate that during the past four months, the Government of India failed in translate into action its commitment of allowing a Hurriyat Conference team to visit Pakistan. Meanwhile, the National Conference leadership is said to have been opposed to the appointment of Mr Pant as a negotiator with the Kashmir separatist leaders. The ruling party in Jammu and Kashmir wanted the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, to hold talks with the separatists. But the National Conference leadership was told that since Mr Jaswant Singh held two important portfolios, including Defence, he had no time to act as a negotiator. Inside reports said that the National Conference leadership had a tiff with Mr Pant while the state’s plan was being discussed with the Planning Commission and that was the reason that Dr Farooq Abdullah sent Finance Minister, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, to attend a second sitting with the Planning Commission some months ago. The National Conference has fears that if the Assembly was dissolved and fresh elections were announced it may result in further step-up in militancy related violence which could call for retaliation from the security forces, thereby defeating the very purpose of the Prime Minister’s peace initiative. One ministerial colleague of Dr Abdullah said that “the NDA Government at the Centre is faced with uncertain future. It has now no strength to dictate terms to us.” He said that the Assembly should be allowed to last for the full term and the elections be held on schedule in October, 2002. Others said that if the Centre continued to press for Assembly poll in September-October, 2001, “we may go in for the election in July this year to foil the Hurriyat game of grabbing power.” |
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Srinagar, April 2 Heavily armed militants lobbed five grenades and fired on an Army camp in Awantipora in Pulwama district late last night, an official spokesman here said, adding that the Army men retaliated. The exchange of fire continued for nearly an hour. However, no one was injured in the firing. Militants attacked a BSF picket with a grenade at the Batmaloo bus stand in central Srinagar injuring a security personnel and three pedestrians, including a couple. Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami militant Farooq Ahmad Lone, alias “Col Musa”, under police custody, was killed when militants fired at the police party which was escorting him for arms recovery in Kapran forest in Anantnag district. A surrendered militant, Ghulam Ali, and his wife were shot dead by militants in their house in Deoli village of Doda district while a surrendered militant-turned special police officer Ghulam Nabi Najar was killed outside his residence in Kondabal area of Pampore. Militants attacked and critically injured special police officer Manzoor Ahmad Yatoo at Bagh Wanpora in Anantnag district, while a police inspector sustained serious bullet injuries in an encounter between militants and a joint party of the police and the security forces in Marbte village of Poonch district. Personnel of the BSF arrested two Al-Badr militants identified as Shoukat Ahmad Patoo and Ashiq Mohammad involved in grenade explosions in Baramula on January 12 and January 26 that killed four civilians and injured two securitymen, from their houses in Arampora village of Sopore. In Srinagar, shopkeepers near the Batmaloo bus stand where the militants lobbed a grenade, observed a strike in protest against the arrest of some shopkeepers by the BSF following the attack. In Tral area of Pulwama, shops and business establishments remained closed for the second day in protest against the killing of Ashiq Hussain Shah during a joint operation of the BSF and the police. While locals claim he was a Class IX student who was arrested and tortured to death, the police says he was a Hizbul Mujahideen militant and was killed in an encounter yesterday. At least three persons were wounded at Magam in central Kashmir this afternoon when the special operation group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police fired on a violent mob. More than 12 persons, including women and children, were injured in the stampede after the firing. Official sources said the trouble started when a Muharram procession, on way to Imam Bara from Magam Chowk, did not allow an SOG vehicle to pass. The policemen fired in the air to make way. Several people were injured in the chaos.
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Farooq reviews passing-out parade Jammu, April 2 The Chief Minister was addressing the passing-out parade of 162 recruits at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry regimental recruiting training camp at Dansal, about 40 km from here, yesterday. Dr Abdullah said India always wanted pace to fight against poverty and to accelerate the peace of development in the country. But on the contrary, Pakistan was creating terror not only among the
people of India but of its own people as well, he said. He said Pakistan had not claimed the bodies left on Indian soil and Indian troops had performed their last rites with full honours. Dr Abdullah expressed confidence that the armed forces would, as in the past, continue to meet any challenge to the security and integrity of the country. He also awarded medals to four recruits for their distinction in various fields. Recruit Narain Singh Manhas, was awarded the sword of honour while Subhash Chander got the Schewang Rinchin Medal. The Maqbool Sherwani Medal was secured by Sushil Kumar and the Bana Singh Medal by Mohammad Ilyas. Earlier, the Chief Minister reviewed the passing-out parade and took the salute at the march past. |
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Sikh society asks PM
to visit J&K Jammu, April 2 At a meeting of the society held here today under the chairmanship of Mr Mohinder Singh, the society adopted a resolution requesting the Prime Minister to convene an all party meeting in Jammu for formulating a plan for providing security cover to the Sikh community living under fear in Kashmir. The meeting expressed deep concern over the failure of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, to fulfil his commitment of providing security cover to Sikhs living in Kashmir and other areas of the Jammu region. The society said the Chief Minister had not fulfilled his promise of getting the incidents of massacre at Chati Singhpora, Mehjoor Nagar, Ramban, Banihal, Narwal and Surankot probed by a judicial commission. Mr Mohinder Singh said the state government had not taken steps for providing security to the lives and property of Sikhs. He said after giving employment to a few Sikh youths in the police the state government had stopped further recruitment whereas the Chief Minister had assured a Sikh delegation that the problem of unemployment in the community would be resolved. |
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Youths urged to cultivate self-discipline Jammu, April 2 Speaking on the occasion of the introductory meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Bharat Scouts and Guides Association here, he said the state was passing through a turbulent period and the youth needed to shoulder the responsibility of putting the state on the path of progress and prosperity. Earlier, the members of the association apprised the minister regarding the functioning of the association. They also put forward their demands regarding infrastructural facilities and better funding. The association also demanded the promotion of sports like aquatic scouting, air scouting, paragliding and paratrooping in the state. The minister assured the association members that he would take up the issue of inclusion of physical education as a compulsory subject in the curriculum with the Education Minister, who is also the president of the association. Later, the minister honoured Dheeraj Sharma, a scout, for his gallantry in saving the life of a crippled girl. Assistant Commissioner (Scouts), Mr M.A. Tramboo, was honoured for his participation in the all-India scouts training competition.
Three-day festival at Jammu from April
13 Jammu, April 2 In this connection, the first-ever three-day cultural festival will be organised here from April 13. The festival is not going to be held under a roof. But 1,500 prominent citizens led by 200 cultural artistes from various parts of Jammu region will march from Vivekananda Crossing to the historic Amar Mahal, which houses a big museum, displaying cultural variety, diversity and unity of the region. According to Mr Parvez Dewan, Commissioner, Tourism, Jammu region, has a great potential for the tourist and pilgrim traffic. Its ancient shrines, especially the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, which attracts about 50 lakh pilgrims per year, tourist resorts and some mountain lakes and alpine forest belts could be a source of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. Mr Dewan disclosed that another added attraction during the festival days was the willingness shown by traders and hoteliers to sell their wares on 30 per cent reduced rates and cut down the room rent by 30 per cent. A special facelift of the city of temples was to be carried out and the streets and historic places would be illuminated. |
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