J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Tight security in Srinagar
Srinagar, August 13
Tight security arrangements are being made around Bakshi Stadium, venue of the main Independence Day celebrations here, and other vital installations for the smooth conduct of the celebrations.

Taking no chance, security forces on high alert outside Bakshi Stadium, the venue of the main Independence Day function in Srinagar. The stadium was virtually sealed by the security forces to thwart any possible militant attack on the occasion of Independence Day.  — PTI photo

Yasin Malik arrested
New Delhi, August 13
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Yasin Malik was today arrested and sent to Tihar jail till September 4.

Hurriyat discusses Agra summit
Srinagar, August 13
The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today expressed concern over an alleged increase in fake encounters, custodial killings and other security force atrocities in the Kashmir valley after the Agra summit.

Mir quits PDP
Jammu, August 13
Senior Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Party (JKPDP) leader Gulam Nabi Mir Lasjan today resigned from the party citing personal reasons. “I have resigned from the post of General Secretary of JKPDP due to personal reasons”, Mr Mir said in a statement here.

Tight security in Srinagar
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 13
Tight security arrangements are being made around Bakshi Stadium, venue of the main Independence Day celebrations here, and other vital installations for the smooth conduct of the celebrations.

The Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Mr A. K. Suri, told TNS here that the arrangements include the cordon and search operations around the venues of ID celebrations and checking of vehicles in the city.

“All necessary precautions have been taken to thwart the designs of militants to create trouble on the occasion”, the police chief said. These arrangements have become necessary in the trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir on the occasions of Independence and Republic Days, since the eruption of militancy.

Additional deployment of para-military troops have also been made in and around the vital installations to thwart the designs of the militants. The additional security arrangements include the area domination, cordon and searches in the localities close to the vital installations and checking of vehicles and pedestrians in the main areas of the city.

These arrangements are being taken in view of the Intelligence inputs that the militants may try to “disrupt the ID celebrations and do some big action”, a senior security officer said.

According to the DIG BSF, Mr R.P. Singh, over 60 militants of various outfits, including the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Badre and Hizbul Mujahideen, have been planning to disrupt the celebrations.

People are being checked and frisked at random in the Lal Chowk area and around the vital installations, including the Bakshi Stadium, the venue of the main ID celebrations here.

Most of the areas around the stadium, including Aloochi Bagh, Gogji Bagh, Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh, Magharmal Bagh, Iqbal Park area, Lal Ded Maternity hospital, Hari Singh High Street, Lal Chowk and Budshah Chowk, have been witness to frequent cordon and search operations during the past couple of weeks to ensure that militants’ plans are foiled.

Militants have made several grenade attacks in Hari Singh Street during the past few days.

Yasin Malik arrested

New Delhi, August 13
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Yasin Malik was today arrested and sent to Tihar jail till September 4.

Mr Malik ’s bail had been cancelled by a Delhi court and he had been remanded in judicial custody till September 4, JKLF leader’s advocate Raja Tuffail said. UNI

Hurriyat discusses Agra summit

Srinagar, August 13
The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today expressed concern over an alleged increase in fake encounters, custodial killings and other security force atrocities in the Kashmir valley after the Agra summit.

The APHC executive committee met here today under acting chairman Moulana Abbas Ansari to discuss the Agra summit and the alleged increase in the atrocities by forces, the Hurriyat spokesperson said.

He said the members expressed serious concern over the increase in alleged fake encounters, custodial deaths, rapes of women and other security force atrocities.

The spokesperson said the APHC believed that the Kashmir issue could be resolved only through a meaningful dialogue. The conglomerate of 23 parties warned that the freedom struggle of the Kashmiris could not be suppressed by use of force.

The spokesman said Moulana Abbas Ansari chaired the meeting as Prof Abdul Gani Bhat was not feeling well and was advised complete rest by the doctors. UNI

Mir quits PDP

Jammu, August 13
Senior Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Party (JKPDP) leader Gulam Nabi Mir Lasjan today resigned from the party citing personal reasons. “I have resigned from the post of General Secretary of JKPDP due to personal reasons”, Mr Mir said in a statement here.

The resignation has been sent to the party President and former Union Minister, Mr Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, he added. Mr Mir was a senior leader of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee and also contested Assembly election as a Congress candidate from the Budgam area of Kashmir. PTI