J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hizbul threat to administration
Srinagar, May 21
Pakistan based militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has threatened to “target” the Jammu and Kashmir administration in a “big way” besides intensifying attacks on the security forces in the wake of killing of nine persons, including an activist of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party in the last five days.

Bandh marks death anniversary of Mirwaiz
Srinagar, May 21
Normal life was paralysed in the Kashmir valley today in response to the bandh call which marked the conclusion of the week-long programmes to commemorate Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq on his 11th death anniversary today.

10 more tubewells for Greater Jammu
Jammu, May 21
With the digging of 10 more tubewells in Greater Jammu, the drinking water supply is being augmented by another 25 lakh gallons daily. Of these, four tubewells will become operational by the end of the month.

Hizbul threat to administration

Srinagar, May 21
Pakistan based militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has threatened to “target” the Jammu and Kashmir administration in a “big way” besides intensifying attacks on the security forces in the wake of killing of nine persons, including an activist of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party in the last five days.

“If growing incidents of custodial killings, uncalled for arrests and atrocities were not stopped immediately, the Hizbul Mujahideen will intensify attacks not only against the security forces but also against the state administration in a big way”, a statement circulated through local newspapers said here today.

The recent killings had evoked widespread protests, with locals accusing the security agencies of killing these persons in “fake encounters” after their arrests, even as the police claimed that seven of the deceased including the JKDFP activist were militants and killed in encounters.

Meanwhile, President of JKDFP Shabir Ahmad Shah, today condemned the killing of his party activist Aijaz Ahmad Ketab in Srinagar yesterday, saying he was arrested near the party office at Rajbagh and was later killed in a “fake encounter”.

Mr Shah said he would take up Ketab’s killing with the Centre adding that custodial killings have registered an increase during the past few days which do not go well with the offer of peace talks.

The police claimed that Ketab was a militant of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and was killed in an encounter.

Meanwhile, militants attacked a police station and a security force camp with automatic weapons and grenades and set ablaze the house of a BSF constable in continuing violence in Jammu and Kashmir since last night.

Militants hurled a grenade at a security force camp at Kapra Cinema, Sopore, in Baramula district this afternoon, which missed the target and exploded without causing any damage, an official spokesman said.

The security forces also returned the fire, but no one was hurt, he said.

Militants also attacked a police station at Shopian and at a security camp at Kanachak with automatic weapons last night but no casualties were reported in the exchange of fire, even as the militants managed to escape. UNI, PTI

Bandh marks death anniversary of Mirwaiz
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 21
Normal life was paralysed in the Kashmir valley today in response to the bandh call which marked the conclusion of the week-long programmes to commemorate Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq on his 11th death anniversary today.

The programmes were formulated jointly by the Hurriyat Conference and the Awami Action Committee (AAC), founded by the former chief priest of Kashmir, Moulvi Mohammad Farooq, which now is a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference.

Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq was killed by unidentified gunmen at his Nageen residence on this day 11 years ago during the early months of the eruption of militancy in Kashmir.

All shops and business establishments were closed and vehicles were off the roads. Skeleton transport plied in some areas. Educational institutions and banks also remained closed.

10 more tubewells for Greater Jammu
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 21
With the digging of 10 more tubewells in Greater Jammu, the drinking water supply is being augmented by another 25 lakh gallons daily. Of these, four tubewells will become operational by the end of the month.

At present 5.05 crore gallons of drinking water is available against the total requirement of 6.30 crore gallons for a populations of 14 lakh Greater Jammu. Presently, 116 tubewells are functional while 1.44 crore gallons of drinking water is supplied by the Sitli filtration plant.

To meet the drinking water requirements of Jammu Division, a Rs 32-crore proposal detailing short-term and long-term measures was presented to the Central team that visited the state recently. Of this, Rs 15 crore will be required for the purchase of six hand pump rigs and six tubewells rigs. At present, 80 tankers are being utilised for supplying drinking water to water scarcity areas.

In view of the damage of the rabi crops due to the dry spell, a contingency plan has been drawn for meeting the requirements of farmers for kharif sowing. Under the plan, 2,522 quintals of pulses and 16 quintals of oil seeds are being distributed among the farmers. Besides, about 62,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers will be made available.