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Sunday,
August 19, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Trifurcation and Jinnah’s theory ‘same’ New-look security set up in J&K
Homage paid to first gallantry award winner |
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Trifurcation and Jinnah’s theory ‘same’ Jammu, August 18 Addressing a convention of the National Conference (NC), Jammu district (urban) here today, the Chief Minister said the sub-continent was facing the consequences of the ill-conceived partition in 1947 even now. “We cannot afford another partition,” he added. Dr Abdullah said the state has to flourish as a single entity and nobody should nurture even an iota of impression that one region will dominate another. The funds to all regions were being allotted equitably and the government was committed to providing equal opportunities of development to regions and sub-regions, he added. He said the vested interests had been creating regional discrimination for quite a long time to further their interests. Asking his partymen to get ready for elections due after October next year, the Chief Minister said the selection process for candidates would begin right now keeping in view their standing, dedication and mass base. He exuded confidence about his party coming to power in the next elections and said he would have a small council of ministers. He also referred to the recent expansion in his ministry, saying that it had become necessary to give representation to Poonch and Rajouri districts and also because of the ailing Mr Bashir Ahmed Kitchloo. Dr Abdullah said the NC alone could keep people together and those criticising the party every day would meet their fate during poll at the hands of the electorates. Dr Abdullah has appealed to Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homes saying that the valley was incomplete without them. “The government will ensure every assistance for your safe rehabilitation in the Kashmir valley,” he said while addressing Kashmiri Pandit migrants at the Batal Balian camp in Udhampur district of Jammu division yesterday. The Chief Minister called upon the Pandits to constitute a temple management committee on the pattern of the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for the management and upkeep of the temples in the valley. The government would provide adequate financial assistance for the same, he added. He also announced relief for the next of the kin of three migrants of the camp who were killed in an accident recently at Sher Bibi on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
PTI, UNI |
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New-look security set up in J&K Jammu, August 18 Official sources said columns of troops, besides some companies of the police and paramilitary forces, are being sent to the hilly range that connects Udhampur with areas in south Kashmir. These troops were available after the recent month-long Amarnath yatra ended where more than 15,000 security personnel had been posted to foil the militant plan of disrupting the pilgrimage. The sources said that the security situation in the state was reviewed at separate meetings of senior Army, BSF and police officers and those manning various intelligence agencies in Srinagar, Jammu and Delhi. They discussed the field reports that throw light on the largescale infiltration from across the border and movement of equally large groups of militants from Poonch, Rajouri belt to Kishtwar and then to Pulwama and Shopian areas in south Kashmir. Under the new strategy, sufficient security forces would be deployed on the hilly terrain covering the entire Pir Panjal range that links Poonch with Shopian via Kishtwar. This will check the movement of the militants and prevent rebels from escaping. What seems to have disturbed the government agencies are the reports that the Pakistani agencies were exploring new infiltration routes not only in Kupwara, Keran, Poonch and Rajouri but also in Gurez, Tangdhar and Mushkov valley in the Kargil sector. Field reports have revealed that Pakistan agencies were trying to increase the level of infiltration from various areas so that a stage was set for repeating what is called a Kargil-type “adventure”. The reports said that the Kargil type “adventure” could be carried out in any sector on the Kashmir north-west borders with a view to force India to adopt reconciliatory postures as far as the Kashmir issue is concerned. Another disturbing factor is the sudden increase in the rate of exfiltration. And senior police officers do not agree with the latest observation of the Army Chief, Gen S.Padmanabhan, that militants were on the run and that was the reason for the step-up in “exfiltration.” Police sources said that except for Poonch and Rajouri, militants were not under any pressure from the security forces. In this connection, they referred to the situation in which the militants have managed to sneak into areas close to the Jammu city and have concentrated in the summer Capital and its adjoining areas in recent months. And those going across the border were fresh recruits because the agencies in Pakistan had refused permission to foreign mercenaries to return for some time. Police experts are of the opinion that militants would enjoy free movement till various hilly routes between Rajouri and Kishtwar and from Kishtwar to South Kashmir belts were not plugged. This could be done by establishing security pickets and regular patrolling in these areas. They referred to the vast motorable and mountain routes in Doda district which have remained without any security cover for the past three years, allowing militants to move freely and strike at will. Eyewitness accounts say that right from Tathri to Tilogra, from Kishtwar to Paddar and from Kishtwar to Sympthon Top, the security cover is absent. There is no usual checking of vehicles and no surveillance. As per the new plan, the deployment of security forces is to be increased in sensitive and vulnerable areas and there is a plan to increase the number of village defence committees in Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri areas provided the Union Home Ministry gave the sanction and released additional funds for purchasing better weapons for them. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has allotted the Home Portfolio to Mr Najeb Sohrawardhy who hails from Doda. Mr Sohrawardhy is an upcoming political leader who has already displayed his capacity to register his presence in the state Assembly. His performance would be watched as he has got a berth in the Council of Ministers after five years of waiting. |
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BSF passing out parade held Srinagar, August 18 Five constable recruits were adjudged best in different fields. They included Rajesh Kumar, all round first, Dharam Singh, all round second, Madhe Gouda, best in drill, Girish R, best in firing and Basavaraj, best in endurance. Mr L.R. Rana, DIG, Frontier Headquarters, BSF, Srinagar, took the salute. Senior BSF Officers, including principal of the STC, Mr S.N. Sastry were present on the occasion. The training of these recruits started in October, last year. They included 40 from Karnataka, 36 from Gujarat, 13 from Punjab, five each from Uttranchal, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, three each from Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, two from Haryana, one each from Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and Kerala. During their basic training, stress was laid on physical training and fitness, weapon handling, shoot to kill exercise, map reading and discipline. Besides this, training is also given in field engineering, field craft, minor tactics, anti-militant and anti-insurgency operations, commando operations and respect for human rights. The STC, established near Srinagar airport, Humhama, on June 10, 1990, has so for imparted training to 4,607 recruits. The Centre was raised keeping in view the training requirements of Srinagar and Baramula frontiers and to impart basic training to the Kashmiri youth. |
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Homage paid to first gallantry award winner Srinagar, August 18 Lt-Gen S.S. Garewal, the Colonel of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Ladakh Scouts, other senior officers of the Dagger Division, civil administration officers and the MLA were present on the occasion. The Brigadier, as Chief of Staff of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces while tasked to prevent Pakistan invaders from crossing over to the valley along the Uri-Boniyar link, played a historic role in defending the mother land and by his undaunting courage and astounding leadership, successfully repulsed the invaders till arrival of the reinforcements. The Brigadier and his valiant soldiers fought four successive battles at Garhi, Uri, Mahura and Boniyar in a span of four days. |
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