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Saturday,
June 29, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Another blast on Amarnath route ISI-backed funding racket busted J&K Assembly session from July 16 |
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‘Governor’s rule will
ensure fair poll’ J&K poll: Oppn targets NC J-K ministries to move from Sectt Maneka to take up case of border migrants Furnace blast claims 2 lives
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Another blast on Amarnath route Srinagar, June 28 Elsewhere in the state 20 persons have been killed during the past 24 hours. An official spokesman said militants detonated an IED at Bonzgam road near Mattan shrine around 930 a.m. today when a security force vehicle reached there. The vehicle was damaged, he said adding that no one was injured. The “charrai mubarak’’ of the Lord Shiva passes through Mattan en-route to the holy Amarnath cave. The blast near the shrine occurred less than 24 hours after an IED blast at Chandanwari, first halting point to the Amarnath shrine, which left three security personnel dead yesterday morning. Meanwhile, a woman, Raja, who was injured in a grenade blast at the Lal Chowk in Anantnag yesterday died in the hospital. At least 21 injured were being treated in different hospitals. Spokesman said security forces killed a Hizbul Mujahideen militant during an encounter at Mominabad Papyabal in south Kashmir district of Anantnag today. Another militant was gunned down by security forces at Farnad forest in Baramula district today while ultras shot at and wounded one Abdul Rashid War near his Divaspora Magam house today. Militants also shot at and injured one Manzoor Ahmad at Nowpora Jageer in Baramula today. The body of a Head Constable Bashir Ahmad, who was abducted by militants from Kakran Kulgam, was recovered at Matargam today. Security forces have shot dead a Tehreek-e-Jehad militant from a hideout in Hamam forest of Baramula district of Kashmir and recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from him, an official spokesman said today. The spokesman said the hideout was believed to have been sheltering a large number of militants or providing a stop-over for those coming from across the LoC. Meanwhile, another militant was shot dead in an encounter in Chichripora in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. JAMMU: One soldier and three LeT militants were killed and one civilian was wounded during a fierce encounter that took place between the militants and the security forces at Chund Dok village in Darhal area of Rajouri on Friday. According to the police, on information about a militant hideout in Chund Dok village troops and a company of police launched a search operation. As the security forces neared the hideout they came under heavy fire in which one soldier was killed on the spot and another injured. The security forces retaliated. The exchange of fire lasted for more than two hours. In the retaliatory fire three militants were killed and the remaining, believed to be a group of six, managed to escape. One civilian was hurt. Ultras hurled grenades on an Army convoy at Chareel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, about 3 km from Banihal town in Doda district at 1130 a.m. today. |
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ISI-backed funding racket busted Srinagar, June 28 The four — Mohammad Safi Mir, a businessman and the kingpin, Mohammad Yaqub Vakil, a former Hurriyat leader, Abdul Majid Dar and Hayat Ahmed Bhat — were arrested last night and booked under POTA for allegedly providing funds to pro-Pakistan militant outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al-Umar Mujahideen and the Hizbul Mujahideen, a BSF spokesman said here today. The spokesman said Safi, a carpet dealer, was conducting his operations with the help of his Dubai-based son Naseer Safi Mir alias Bablu.
PTI |
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J&K Assembly session from July 16 Srinagar, June 28 Secretary Legislative Assembly Mohammad Iqbal Ganai issued a provisional calendar for the conduct of business from July 16. According to the calendar, government business would be
conducted on the first day followed by private members’ bills on July 17 and 18. The Assembly will meet again on July 21 for government business after a two-day holiday. Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil chaired a meeting to discuss the measures being taken for the smooth conduct of the session. Minister of State for Law and Parliamentary affairs Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Secretary-General Administration R.K. Jerath, Secretary Law A.H. Kochak, Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Ganai and other officers of the state Assembly attended the meeting. Mr Vakil directed Mr Jerath and Mr Kochak that replies to the questions from the members should reach Assembly secretariat well in time. He also said that action taken reports on all matters and issues should be placed on the table of the House for discussion. The Speaker also asked the law and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary to direct different ministries to submit the report of deliberations and conclusions of different consultative committees for information of the members. However, he informed the meeting that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited had not agreed to restore telephone facilities in the MLA hostel until an outstanding amount of Rs 9.73 lakh against the hostel for the period of Governor’s rule was not cleared. He directed the departments to get the outstanding dues cleared.
UNI |
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‘Governor’s rule will ensure fair poll’ Jammu, June 28 Talking to UNI here this afternoon state BJP chief Daya Krishan Kotwal emphatically supported the Prime Minister’s assertion at a press conference in Lucknow. “We have been repeatedly demanding that such a move be taken to ensure free and fair poll in Jammu and Kashmir for the simple reason that the same was not possible under the National Conference (NC) regime’’ he argued. State Congress spokesman B.R. Kundal also expressed happiness at Mr Vajpayee’s statement, stating that such a move was long overdue. “There were serious allegations against the NC for indulging in rigging in earlier elections and so it is in the interest of democracy that measures be taken to ensure that free and fair poll are held in Jammu and Kashmir,’’ he said. Talking to UNI Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice-President Mehbooba Mufti also welcomed Mr Vajpayee’s statement. “We all are aware of the NC’s history in rigging past elections and so it is imperative that elections be held under the Governor’s rule. This will instil confidence among the masses. And this would also enable all political parties to prove their mettle in the coming Assembly elections.’’ Ms Mufti alleged that the state’s socio-political condition had degenerated under the NC rule. “There is corruption and nepotism in all spheres of the state government under the present dispensation. The confidence of the masses has taken a downward spiral in the current scenario. So there is an urgent need to re-instil the lost confidence. Mr Vajpayee’s announcement is definitely a positive step in that direction,’’ she opined. State JD (U) leader Sanjesh Gupta also hailed the Prime Minister’s statement saying that Governor’s rule will definitely be a conducive step to ensure free and fair poll in the state.
UNI |
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J&K poll: Oppn targets NC Jammu, June 28 Besides militant groups and separatists, mainstream political organisations have started targeting the National Conference. Of late, the PCC President, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, who continues to be a Rajya Sabha member as a result of the support of the National Conference at the time of his election, has been firing one salvo after the other against the National Conference leadership while blaming it for state’s political and economic ills. Mr Azad has said that the NC regime “is a replica of the British Government which sucked the blood of the Indians for its interest.” He blamed National Conference leaders for having shown keen interest in retaining “power and amassing wealth, part of which has been deposited in foreign banks.” He accused the NC leaders of having sent their children to foreign countries in search of greener pastures and leaving Kashmiri youths in the lurch. The state unit of the Congress has been demanding the postponement of the Assembly poll till identity cards are given to all voters and the electoral rolls are fully updated. It has also been a votary of holding of the Assembly poll under the Governor’s rule. Dr Abdullah’s arch political rival, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, has been in the forefront of the demand for the dismissal of the NC government on the plea that under Dr Abdullah’s rule, the Assembly poll “can never be free and fair, even if scores of national and international observers are appointed to monitor it.” Despite Dr Abdullah’s repeated plea to the separatists, especially APHC leaders, to contest the poll, the Mufti has blamed the Chief Minister for “sabotaging the peace process.” He has said that owing to the machinations of Dr Abdullah, a dialogue between the Centre and the Hurriyat leaders “has not materialised.” He has even claimed that if Dr Abdullah’s government was dismissed, it would hasten the peace process. The state unit of the BJP, too, has been supporting the demand for holding the Assembly poll under Governor’s rule. Even those whose voice “does not matter” have started gunning for the Chief Minister. All this indicates that the mainstream political parties may use the anti-Farooq stance as poll card for wooing voters. Dr Abdullah has given two tools to his opponents to strike at him. First, his anguish over the way the NDA did not nominate him for the post of the Vice-President of India is being exploited by his critics. BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta has said that the anger expressed by Dr Abdullah indicates that he wants a “price” for being a patriot. Second, placing the NC President’s cap on his son, Mr Omar Abdullah, the anti-Farooq groups have started berating this exercise as part of the ruling party’s desire to sustain and perpetuate “dynastic rule”. When the question of holding the Assembly poll under Governor’s rule is being discussed in political circles, the National Conference leadership seems to be right when Dr Abdullah said there was neither “a constitutional crisis nor an emergency” which called for the imposition of Governor’s rule. He has aptly said: “Recently, Assembly elections were held in four states and no Central rule was imposed. So why should it be done in the case of Jammu and Kashmir?” He has stated that he would not oppose Central rule provided it is imposed in Maharashtra and Gujarat before the Assembly poll. Dr Abdullah is reported to be opposed to the postponement of the elections and the imposition of Governor’s rule. Inside reports say the NC leadership is aware of the fragility of two main opposition parties, the BJP and the Congress, because of internal dissensions and he does not want to allow more time to them to consolidate their position. His opposition to the imposition of Governor’s rule is being viewed by his critics as a sign of his weakness to face the voters without power. His critics say if Dr Abdullah is confident of his strength and popularity, he should welcome Governor’s rule as his father had done in 1977 and won an absolute majority in the Assembly. As the Assembly poll draws near, it will be Farooq-Omar on one side and the rest on the other. As such the NC is not prepared to throw away the initial advantage while making a serious bid to retain power. |
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J-K ministries to move from Sectt Srinagar, June 28 “There are plans to move out all ministries from the secretariat to bring them closer to their subordinate departments,” state Minister for Industries and Commerce Shiekh Mustafa Kamaal said today. “The Education Minister will sit somewhere next to the Institute of Education, the Revenue Minister will sit at the Revenue complex in Bemina and the Works Minister would be shifted in the vicinity of the PWD office at Rajbagh,” he said at a function here. Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had recently said that he would retain only the Finance Ministry in the Civil Secretariat. “This would make the minister easily accessible to the public as well as officials. No running to the secretariat,” he had said. Mr Abdullah said he would like to house educational institutions in the secretariat.
PTI |
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Maneka to take up case of border migrants Jammu, June 28 Speaking to groups of border migrants at several camps here today, Ms Maneka Gandhi said both the state and the Central governments should understand the problems of these displaced families who were the worst sufferers of the Pakistans sponsored proxy war. The Union Minister urged Islamabad to stop aiding cross-border terrorism and said it was intriguing that on one hand Pakistan was an ally of the forces that have launched a war against global terrorism, on the other hand, it had been giving moral and material support to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Ms Gandhi said that Islamabad should stop testing the patience of Delhi. “We have tolerated the nefarious Pakistan gameplan for the past 13 years and India may be forced to retaliate in case Pakistan did not stop aiding terrorism.” She said that once Pakistan stopped exporting terrorism to Jammu and Kashmir, which was an integral part of India, Islamabad could promote friendly relations with her neighbouring country which was needed for ensuring peace in the subcontinent. |
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Furnace blast claims 2 lives Jammu, June 28 The police said that scrap-collectors, who routinely gathered empty shells from a nearby firing range and sold them to iron factories, had
inadvertently picked up a live shell and sold it to the factory in the Bari Brahmana industrial area. The deceased were yet to be identified while a rescue operation had been launched to evacuate other workers to safer places.
UNI |
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