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May 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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6 civilians killed in
Baramula Pak design to push ultras in J&K Fissures in BJP come to fore Rs 1.51 lakh for quake victims Farooq
working on quota for women in House |
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Farooq hints at early Assembly poll
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6 civilians killed in
Baramula Srinagar, May 9 Tension gripped Sopore town in Baramula district as hundreds of people took to the streets in protest against the killing of a local youth allegedly by the security forces, the sources said. Shakeel Ahmad Balla was killed in a crossfire between militants and the security forces in Sopore last night, they said. However, residents of the town accused the security forces of killing Shakeel in “cold-blood” alleging he was dragged out of his house and shot at after militants exploded a grenade near a security picket in the area. The youth’s body was handed over to his kin early today following which shops and business establishments downed their shutters and people took to streets to lodge their protest against the killing, the sources said.
PTI |
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Pak design to push ultras in J&K Nagrota (Jammu), May 9 This was stated by Major-General H.S. Kanwar, GOC, at a press conference here today. He said reports had revealed that Pakistani agencies were aiming at pushing large groups of militants into Jammu and Kashmir, most of them foreign mercenaries, for escalating the level of violence in order to derail the peace process. General Kanwar said: “We are determined to foil the Pakistani gameplan.” He added, “We may witness a hot summer” and explained that since measures had been taken to foil infiltration, armed clashes would take place between the security forces and militants. He said between January and May 8 this year, 35 infiltration bids had been made in which 37 intruders were killed, 33 on the LoC. He said of late Pakistani agencies had started concentrating on the 187 km-long IB in the Jammu sector for pushing into the state groups of militants. He said the idea was to extend militancy-related activities to areas south of Jammu which hitherto have remained relatively peaceful. General Kanwar said till date 236 militants had been killed during this year and large quantities of arms and ammunition had been seized from the slain rebels. He said both the LoC and the international border were relatively calm because of a marked decline in the rate of Pakistani firing and shelling. He said since November 27, when the ceasefire was enforced, Pakistani troops had fired several hundred rounds and shells against several lakh rounds prior to the non-initiation of combat operations. However, despite this improvement, the Indian troops have been told to remain on alert to foil any mischief from the enemy. He said cordon and search operations had been suspended following enforcement of the ceasefire and militants were being eliminated by patrol parties when they came under fire. He appreciated the role played by the civilians and the police for giving specific inputs regarding the hideouts and the plans of the militants. He said 70 per cent militants operating in the Jammu sector were foreign mercenaries. These mercenaries were being pressed by agencies across the border to do something sensational to derail the peace process. In reply to a question, General Kanwar said the matter of deployment of additional troops on the border for checking ingress of militants was a routine matter. “We deploy additional forces on points which we feel may be used by the militants as routes for infiltration,” he said. In reply to another question, he said the BSF as yet did not need support from Indian troops for foiling Pakistan’s bid to disrupt the fencing project on the IB. He said the Pakistani troops may try to fire in the air and the BSF was there to keep the situation under control as it was working under the operational command of the Army. He said India’s biggest wargame Poorna Vijay (complete victory) had also been started in an area between Dasuya and Mukerian in Punjab. When asked whether the exercise will be held in the Jammu sector also, he said such exercises were carried out in areas where sufficient area was available and harvesting had been completed. In the Jammu sector such vast areas were not available for this exercise. General Kanwar said it was wrong to say that the soldiers had become more vulnerable to attacks from the militants during the non-initiation of combat operations. He said: “We have done a good job of keeping the situation under control.” |
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Fissures in BJP come to fore Jammu, May 9 In a statement issued here today Mr Gupta said that the four members, Vidya Sagar, Ashok Mahajan, Kartar Singh and Vijay Kumar, remained as active members of the party. He said the party’s constitution had been violated by the President, Mr Kotwal, who had expelled the four members without referring their case or his complaint to the DAC. Under the party constitution the members had to be served with a show-cause notice and they were supposed to be heard by the party forum. Mr Gupta also contested the claim of the president that the expulsion of the four members had been endorsed by the working committee of the party. He said no working committee meeting had been held. He said the party constitution did not debar any member of the BJP from seeking court assistance against any wrong. It may be recalled that these members had gone to the court to seek intervention against the way the organisational elections had been conducted in some areas of the Jammu region. Mr Gupta said it was unfortunate that certain leaders holding top posts in the BJP had lowered the image of the party. |
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Rs 1.51 lakh for quake victims Srinagar, May 9 An official spokesman said here yesterday that Mr Harbans Singh presented a cheque amounting to Rs 1 lakh to the Chief Minister on behalf of the managing committee of M.C. Khalsa College of Education, Jammu. Mr Ramzan presented the cheque for Rs 51,000 to Dr Abdullah for Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Gujarat victims. |
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Farooq
working on quota for women in House Srinagar, May 9 Speaking at a function organised in observance of World Red Cross Day here yesterday, the Chief Minister said that notwithstanding pressures from various quarters some seats for women would have to be considered. He regretted that despite tall claims about protecting the rights of women in a male dominated society Parliament was yet to pass the legislation for reservation to them. World Red Cross Day was organised by the state branch of the IRCS and its theme was “Wiping tears — Red Cross volunteers”. A large number of schoolchildren participated. The Chief Minister in his address on the occasion said a magnificent Red Cross Complex would be raised in Srinagar for which a suitable site is being identified. Highlighting the role of the Red Cross in coming to the rescue of the needy and poor during natural calamities and other exigencies, the Chief Minister noted with satisfaction streamlining of its activities in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. He said though the Red Cross was at the brink of collapse some time back it has started picking up now. He recalled the visit of the International Red Cross team to the state some time back to take stock of the condition in jails. Dr Abdullah asked the youth to imbibe the spirit of social service and contribute in wiping the tears of the needy. “You can even contribute in your humble way by donating for this noble cause out of pocket money”, he said, adding that this would inspire others to care for those in distress. He hailed NGOs for coming forward to further the philanthropic cause. The role of the Red Cross has increased manifold, he said. In his address, the honorary general secretary of the IRCS state branch, Qazi Mohammad Amin, said the society has been reorganised during the past two years, thereby extending its activities to all corners of the state. He said the society though providing humble support to the needy during natural calamities and other exigencies, was dedicated to the cause of helping people in distress. |
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Farooq hints at early Assembly poll Srinagar, May 9 Elections in the state could be held soon, Dr Abdullah said while talking to local station of Doordarshan here last evening. Not specifying any date, the Chief Minister, however, asked his political opponents to be ready for testing their popularity. He asked the Opposition to be ready for the elections and not complain of being kept in the dark about it. “My government conducted panchayat elections in the state, including in the Kashmir valley, even as almost everyone was sceptical about it and doubted whether we could do it.
Traders demand apology The Jammu and Kashmir Traders’ Federation (JKFT) today demanded an apology from Farooq Abdullah for his reported remarks that traders are “criminals’’. “We want an apology from the Chief Minister for his remarks against traders, otherwise we will drag him to court and prove who the criminal is”, JKTF president G.N. Shah told reporters here. He described as “unfortunate’’ remarks of the Chief Minister, which he allegedly made while commenting on the traders’ bandh against inadequate power supply.
UNI, PTI |
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