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Friday,
September 6, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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NC, PDP workers among 7
killed HC: shift
Geelani to a prison in J&K APHC sets
terms for talks with Centre
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Omar comes down on
Oppn parties BJP-JSM seat row
continues
SAD
candidate to contest on BJP symbol Infiltration
of ultras up: DGP
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NC, PDP workers among 7 killed Srinagar, September 5 The PDP worker, Pir Mohammad Amin Shah, was killed when militants attacked the residence of senior party leader Mohammad Abbass Khan at Wanibal near Rangreth on the outskirts of Srinagar this morning. Militants, posing as party workers, went to Khan’s house, who is a probable candidate of the PDP from the Amirakadal constituency, around 8.30 am and asked his mother to call him. Sensing trouble, Khan’s mother did not allow him to meet them. Instead, Shah came out and was fired upon by the militants, the sources said, adding that he died on the spot. Ultras forcibly entered the house of a National Conference worker Mohammad Mustafa Lone at Darakashi village in the Kunzar area of Baramula last night and shot him dead. In another incident, militants abducted Nazir Ahmad Sheikh from Achkanpora village of Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir last night. Sheikh, said to be a National Conference worker, was taken to an unknown destination by the gunmen. A hunt has been launched to trace him. Meanwhile, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Mukhtar Ahmad Rather was killed in an encounter with the Indo-Tibetan border police (ITBP) during search operations in the Halsidar forest of Anantnag district in south Kashmir last night. Some arms and ammunition were seized from him, Jammu: Three civilians and a militant were killed in two separate incidents in Rajouri and Udhampur districts of Jammu division where security forces also busted a militant hideout since last evening, official sources said here. A group of militants opened fire on a patrol party at Hazmata Bagh in Thanamandi tehsil of Rajouri district on Wednesday night. Three civilians identified as Talib Hussain, Sadiq Khan and Mohammad Bashir were killed in the cross-firing. In another incident, security forces shot dead an ultra in the Mahore area of Udhampur district last evening. One AK-56 rifle with three magazines and 62 rounds and
three handgrenades were seized from him. PTI |
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1 hurt in Pak shelling Srinagar, September 5 Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate shelling from across the border on forward posts and villages at five places in the border town of Uri today, the sources said. They said
Chotali, Churanda, Silikote, Hatlanga and Tilwari villages were targetted by the Pakistani troops during the intense shelling which stopped around 4.15
pm. Hassan Din, a resident of Churanda was injured when a shell exploded near his house. He was shifted to a hospital where his condition was stated to be “serious”, they said. Pakistani troops used artillery guns and mortars to shell the forward villages. Troops guarding the border fired in retaliation but there was no immediate report of any casualty from the Pakistani side, the sources added.
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HC: shift Geelani to a prison in J&K Srinagar, September 5 The single-bench comprising Mr Justice Muzaffar Jan, in his order, directed that Mr Geelani, presently lodged in Birsa Munda central jail Ranchi, be shifted to Jammu and Kashmir within one week. After hearing counsel for the petitioner advocate Z.A. Shah and counsel for the respondents, Mr Justice Jan in his order, said that according to the law, it was mandatory for the state to lodge all detainees, who are permanent residents of the state, in jails within the state. He said Mr Geelani should be shifted to any jail within the state. Observers described the judgement as significant as nearly 100 Kashmiri separatist leaders are lodged in different jails outside the state at present. The Court order came on petition number 227/2002 titled Zahoor Ahmad Geelani v/s state and others. Mr Geelani, a hardliner, who represents the Jamaat-e- Islami in the Executive Council of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), was arrested early this year from his Hyderpora residence under the Prevention Of Terrorism Act (POTA). State police alleged that Mr Geelani had been receiving money from Pakistan’s intelligence agency the ISI and distributing it among militant outfits in the Kashmir valley. His son-in-law Syed Iftikhar Hussain Geelani, the Delhi-based Bureau Chief of a daily, Kashmir Times, was also arrested from Delhi on the same charges. Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s arrest came after a journalist Imtiyaz Bazaz reportedly told the police that Mr Geelani had been receiving money from Pakistan’s ISI through hawala channels. The police claimed that it had also seized $ 10,000 besides incriminating documents, from Mr Geelani’s house. However, later the police dropped the case under the POTA against Mr Geelani and booked him under the Public Safety Act (PSA). He was shifted to Ranchi central jail. Geelani and his son-in-law were arrested on June 9 following a joint raid carried out by the police and Income Tax officials at nine places in Kashmir valley including residence of the Hurriyat executive member.
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APHC sets terms for talks with Centre Srinagar, September 5 “We have no objection in talking to Indian leaders first, but we want a similar opportunity to meet leaders in Pakistan,” Professor Bhat said here. He said the Hurriyat had accepted an invitation from the Kashmir Committee (KC) headed by former Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani for holding a second round of talks in Delhi. “We too believe that the vexed Kashmir issue could be resolved through a dialogue and that is why we have accepted the invitation.” “We never said we are against holding talks with the Indian leaders on the Kashmir issue.... We are ready to hold talks anywhere, anytime,” he said. However, he clarified that during talks with the KC in Delhi, the amalgam would not meet any Central leader, even if invited. Asked if they would accept an invitation for talks from any Central leader, he said, “Ours is an alliance of several parties.... We will have to discuss the invitation within the amalgam before taking any decision.” A high-level Hurriyat delegation led by Professor Bhat will leave for Delhi tomorrow to hold the second round of talks with the Kashmir Committee on finding ways and means to resolve the Kashmir issue. Former amalgam Chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and JKLF Acting Chief Javed Mir would accompany him to Delhi while newly-appointed Delhi Bureau Chief Khaleel Ahmed Khaleel and executive council member Bilal Gani Lone will join them there for the talks. Professor Bhat said, “Pakistan, one of the main parties to the Kashmir issue, cannot be ignored.” The trip to Pakistan would be undertaken to hammer out a strategy which would help resolve the Kashmir issue, he added. “Several agreements exist between India and Pakistan, and India and Kashmiri leaders, but nothing has been achieved from them.... Even the one signed by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1975 failed.’’ Reacting to criticism by several Central leaders and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah that the Hurriyat was receiving dictates from Pakistan on the Assembly elections, Professor Bhat said the amalgam did not want to be part of an exercise which “leads to nowhere.” “Elections for running the government were held in the past also and they achieved nothing. The election chapter is closed for us as we have made it clear time and again that we cannot dilute our decision of 1996.’’
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BJP-JSM seat row continues Jammu, September 5 On the other hand, the RSS-backed JSM is adamant on contesting the seat on the plea that Mr Khajuria is “not a strong candidate” this time. The BJP general secretary, Mr O.P. Kohli, reached here to do some firefighting exercise and will return to Delhi tomorrow to brief the central leadership of the situation. Mr Kohli described as “baseless” the statement of JSM leaders that the BJP had been hankering for a seat adjustment with them and said that the poll pact was for unitedly fighting the “communal and disruptive” forces like the National Conference and the Congress to prevent division of the nationalist votes. In his last-minute appeal to the JSM, Mr Kohli said that the BJP would respond constructively to any initiative on their part for restoring a cordial atmosphere “which was necessary for avoiding the avoidable”. He described yesterday’s statement of the JSM chief, Mr Shree Kumar, as “unfortunate and untimely” and said that the morcha should not have unilateraly fielded candidates on some seats while talks on seat adjustment were progressing in a cordial manner. He accused the ruling National Conference and the Congress of being responsible for the current problems in Jammu and Kashmir, including terrorism, corruption, nepotism, unemployment and economic stagnation. On the other hand, Mr Ramesh Sabharwal, vice-chairman of the JSM, said the JSM would not succumb to any pressure but go ahead with contesting the Jammu (East) seat. The loser would be the BJP if it did not withdraw Mr Khajuria who has lost support of the people, he said. Mr Sabharwal asserted that the BJP would be benefited because of the poll alliance with the JSM. He said that the ball was now in the court of the BJP and the masses were with the JSM which is fighting for statehood for the Jammu region. Mr Tilak Raj Sharma said that there was no question of his withdrawing from the contest. “My position is very strong and there is a wave in favour of the JSM,” he added. Meanwhile, the BJP and the JSM are heading for another dispute over the Udhampur seat where the BJP has given ticket to Mr Pawan Gupta, who is son of the sitting MLA Shiv Charan Gupta. The JSM has already named Mr Som Raj Khajuria as its candidate for the seat. The JSM leaders said it was unfortunate that the BJP was following the policy of imposing “dynastic rule” in the Udhampur area. Today being the last day for filing nominations for the 13 constituencies of Jammu district which will go to the polls on September 24 in the second phase of the election, there was a virtual chaos on the streets here as a large number of supporters of candidates landed here. Supporters of various parties went around in buses and other vehicles, shouting slogans. Traffic on the road leading to the office of the Deputy Commissioner had to be diverted. |
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Poll code deprives migrants of relief Jammu Ms Arti Devi (55), camping at the migrant centre in a government school building of Samba, says, “For the past over 45 days, ration and cash assistance, which is quite meagre, have not been released to us. We may be on the brink of starvation if the Election Commission does not take a lenient view on humanitarian grounds.” Mr Trilok Singh, president of the Kisan Union, says, “Border farmers in Punjab and Rajasthan received compensation for the land occupied by the Army long back. We have not been given on one pretext or the other.” He says that the government had estimated over Rs 35 crore as compensation to the farmers whose 32,000 acres had been occupied by the Army for laying mines
and for establishing their units following the military build-up on the border several weeks before the poll schedule was announced by the Election Commission. He says, “If the amount is released to us, it will not amount to violation of poll code because the decision had been taken months before the announcement of the poll schedule.” However, the poll authorities say, “The distribution of free ration, cash relief and compensation to border farmers amounts to the violation of the poll code because such an exercise may influence the voters.” The revenue authorities in Jammu have sent a communication to the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Pramod Jain, to take a lenient view of the matter. So far the instructions have not been received. The Deputy Commissioners in Jammu and Kathua districts have received nearly Rs 3.75 crore for distribution among border farmers as compensation for the land occupied by the Army. The remaining Rs 31.25 is yet to be received. The revenue authorities say, “Once the instructions for the release of free ration and compensation are received from the Election Commission it will take a week for us to distribute the portion of the compensation.” Several migrants from R.S. Pora, Samba, Hiranagar and Akhnoor say, “We have lost our homes and valuables. We have not been able to carry out farming practices during the past seven months. Our losses have multiplied.” They say that though fixing Rs 11,000 per acre as compensation was meagre, “We would have been able to eke out means for our survival if the amount was paid to us on time.” Ms Shanti Devi says “The cash relief is spent on medicines, on purchase of eatables and for other requirements, our menfolk have to work as labourers to raise additional money. This small cash relief and free ration have sustained our existence.” She says “Since these facilities have been suspended, we are dazed. For us, election has become a bane.” One set of migrants from Akhnoor sector, numbering nearly 45,000, have been the worst sufferers because they have been living in camps, under painful environment, since 1999. They fled their villages after their border areas were pounded by Pakistani troops during the Kargil conflict. “Whenever we have attempted to return to our villages, gunfire and mortar shells have prevented us from opening our houses and shops,” Mr Raj Kumar of Pallanwala village says. However, these border migrants have not lost their zest for taking part in the poll process. They are keen to cast their votes and elder women say, “It is sin to waste votes.” But the stoppage of free ration, cash relief and compensation seems to have dampened their interest in the pre-poll activities. |
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Omar comes down on Oppn parties Kupwara, September 5 He addressed a series of public meetings in the border district in north Kashmir on the first day after he filed his nomination papers from Ganderbal constituency in Srinagar yesterday. He held that his party was responsible for addressing various issues and solving basic problems of the people living in far-flung areas like Kupwara. Mr Omar Abdullah also referred to the recent controversy over the alleged participation of Peoples Conference “dummy” candidates in the poll fray in four constituencies in the district. They included Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi from Handwara, Abdul Rashid Mirchal, Karnah, Abdul Haq Khan, Lolab and Ghulam Qadir Malik, even as the Peoples Conference, a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference denied any link with these persons. The APHC after a two-day discussion later dropped its plan to suspend Peoples Conference on the issue of the participation in the elections. The town and its adjoining villages are
virtually in the grip of “election fever” as the polling day approaches. Residents said the election-related activity had increased in the area after the scrutiny and withdrawals on September 2. The supporters of all nine candidates in the fray from Kupwara constituency, including that of the ruling National Conference, Congress and the Panthers Party and six others as independents, are busy wooing the voters. Vehicles carrying supporters and fitted with loudspeakers are seen all over the town and adjoining villages. Thousands of people attended the rally addressed by Mr Omar Abdullah under tight security arrangements. He was accompanied by senior party colleagues from the district, including the Agriculture Minister, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, and Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone and MLA, Kupwara, Mir Saifullah. The National Conference has nominated all sitting members from four of the five constituencies in the district, while Sharifuddin
Shariq, a senior party leader, has been nominated for the Langate constituency. Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan has again got the ticket for his home constituency of Handwara, while Mushtaq Ahmad Lone has been nominated for Lolab, Kafeel-ur-Rehman for Karnah and Mir Saifullah for Kupwara constituency. |
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SAD candidate
to contest on BJP symbol Jammu, September 5 The SAD had approached the BJP to field one of its candidate from the Bishan constituency. However, as the Bishnah seat had been given to the Jammu State Morcha (JSM) under a poll pact, the BJP decided to field the SAD’s candidate from Gandhinagar where a large number of Sikh electorates reside. Mr O.P. Kohli, general secretary of the BJP, who reached here from Delhi today, told the TNS that the SAD Parliamentary Board had
written letters to the BJP chief and him on August 22 suggesting that one of their candidate should be fielded from Bishnah. He said Mr Charan Jit Singh would contest the election on the BJP symbol. |
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Infiltration
of ultras up: DGP Srinagar, September 5 In an interview to The Tribune, the Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Mr A.K. Suri, said more than 400 companies of additional paramilitary forces had arrived in the state to meet the requirements ahead of the forthcoming four-phased elections. He said that adequate security had been provided to all contesting candidates, and also to the polling stations. Security would also be provided to the staff deployed on poll duty. The DGP said that there were no normal polling stations in the Kashmir valley as all stations had been categorised as sensitive or hyper-sensitive in view of the militancy. Additional forces would be provided to these stations. Mr Suri said militants under “definite instructions” from across the border were trying to disrupt the elections by killing innocent civilians, indulging in firing, explosions and distributing posters asking people not to participate in elections. He said political activists, especially of the ruling National Conference, were being killed and the militants would make “efforts to escalate violence”. “But, these are empty threats, because if they (militants) have the guts, they should fight the security forces. They should not kill innocent people,” Mr Suri commented. He said that anti-militant operations were being carried out by sanitising the areas. This, he said, led to the killings of a record number of 163 militants during the last one month. The increase in infiltration was also corroborated by the increased number of 1,143 militants killed this year. Infiltration was taking place whenever the militants got an opportunity under the cover of cross border firing in Baramula and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir, and twin districts of Rajouri-Poonch in Jammu division. Referring to the involvement of local residents in militancy, the DGP said their number was very less. Mr Suri said that despite adequate security arrangements, militants were in a position to “strike
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KLF acting
chief Mir released Srinagar, September 5 The senior Hurriyat leader and three others were arrested at Parimpora yesterday on his way to Sopore where he was scheduled to launch an anti-election campaign. Mir is officiating as the JKLF chief after its chairman Yasin Malik was arrested by the police under POTA.
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DEO suspends 5 govt employees Jammu, September 5 The action was taken after the election observer for Rajouri informed the Deputy Commissioner about the participation of these employees in a public rally organised by the National Conference, an official spokesman said here today. The District Election Officer has attached these employees with tehsildar Sunderbani. The tehsildar has also been directed to take attendance of these employees till further orders and submit the daily report to the District Election Officer, Rajouri, about their reporting to the tehsil office, the spokesman added.
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