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Sunday,
September 15, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Minister rules out autonomy for J&K Zargar assumes ‘command’ of ultras? Shutdown in protest
for second day Omar to quit Union Ministry after poll |
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PDP threatens rethink on poll Sarpanch, NC leader shot Shafi seeks sixth term from Uri POLL TIDBITS BJP MLA Dogra expelled from party Lolab poll schedule 3 polling stations shifted Several held for intimidating voters
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Minister rules out autonomy for J&K Jammu, September 14 “For the Centre, the autonomy chapter is closed. The state already enjoys a special status and under no circumstances will we revert back to 1953 status. If there is need for providing more financial powers we will consider it,” Professor Gupta said here. Dismissing National Conference President Omar Adbullah’s claim that BJP spokesperson Arun Jaitley had been appointed to discuss the autonomy issue, he asserted that talks would be held only on devolution of power. “The concentration of power in Srinagar will be discussed... and the devolution of powers to the Jammu and Ladakh regions will be on the agenda,” he added. Stressing that the matter would not have any bearing on the NDA, of which the NC is a partner, the Union Minister said: “The ball is in the National Conference’s court, and it is up to them whether to continue with us or to leave... Its absence will not make any difference.” Professor Gupta said the NC was resorting to election gimmicks by raking up the autonomy issue to “cover up their failures, on all fronts, in the state”. “The Farooq Abdullah government is a non-performing government. Militancy gained roots in the state because of this government and no development work has been done,” he alleged. Professor Gupta said the resettlement Bill being advocated by the NC established that the party was dangerous for national integration. “The government wants to settle ultras in the state under the garb of refugees from the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), but is conveniently ignoring the Kashmiri migrants, and refugees from the border areas in the country,” he said. The administration was hand in glove with the militants, he alleged, saying that the NC was deliberately trying to keep the people away from the poll process.
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Zargar assumes ‘command’ of ultras? Jammu, September 14 Intelligence reports pointed out that Zargar, who was one of the six terrorists released by India along with Maulana Masood Azhar to secure freedom for the passengers of the Indian Airlines plane hijacked to Kandahar in Afghanistan, has been nominated chief organiser of various terrorist outfits. He has the backing of the Pakistan’s ISI. Reports indicated that terrorists have been ordered to target the central election observers. Besides, normal deployment of security forces for anti-insurgency operations, more than 450 companies of the BSF, the CRPF, the Punjab Armed Police, the SSB, the ITBP, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF), have been deployed for the smooth conduct of election. The authorities are taking extra precaution in the Surankot constituency of the border district of Poonch in Jammu where terrorists killed 12 persons, including 10 personnel of the BSF earlier this week. People were not allowed to cast vote in Surankot in the last election in 1996. The highest number of 14 candidates are in the Rajouri segment. While the contest is straight in Gulmarg and Kargil. Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, a minister and brother of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, is pitted against Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir of the Peoples Democratic Party in Gulmarg. Other prominent candidates whose fate will be sealed in ballot boxes on Monday are, Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mr Mohammad Shaffi and Haji Abdul Ahad Vakil of the ruling National Conference. |
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Shutdown in protest for second day Srinagar, September 14 Barring a brief clash between protesters and the police at Maisuma this morning, the bandh was peaceful today, official sources said. Residents of Maisuma staged violent protests and engaged the police in a pitched battle for the whole day yesterday to protest against what they called “cold-blooded murder” of Bilal Ahmad and Nazir Ahmad by BSF personnel. However, the BSF said the youths were killed when they were caught in a cross-fire after they were detained by the troops for questioning following a complaint by a political activist that some militants were harassing him at gun-point. After a night-long lull, the protesters again took to the streets early today and blocked the main roads by burning tyres. As the police moved in to clear the roads, they resorted to pelting stones and the police retaliated by bursting tear-gas shells, the sources said, adding that the clash did not last long as rain forced the protesters to rush inside their homes. However, shopkeepers at Maisuma, Gawkadal and the adjoining areas, including Lal Chowk and Badshah Chowk, did not open their shops for the second day today. Work in courts was also affected.
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Omar to quit Union Ministry after poll Srinagar, September 14 Mr Abdullah said here that he would no longer remain a minister in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. “I will submit my resignation to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the conclusion of the poll process in the state,” Mr Abdullah, who is also the National Conference (NC) President, said. Asked if another minister from his party will join the Vajpayee government in his place, he said the party working committee would decide on the issue after assessing the situation. “It is a decision I cannot take alone.” Mr Abdullah said there would be no drastic change in the nature of his party’s relations with the NDA if the NC was voted back to power in Jammu and Kashmir. “We are part of the NDA....We seek to maintain good and healthy relations with the Centre,” Mr Abdullah added. He, however, said the structure of the NC’s relations with the NDA will be determined by the party high command after the outcome of the poll. Asked whether the relations of the NC with the NDA would be like that of the Telugu Desam Party, the Union Minister said the decision to support the NDA from the outside maintaining a healthy relationship with it would also be decided by the party working committee.
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PDP threatens rethink on poll Srinagar, September 14 The PDP, the Congress and other parties contesting the Assembly elections have alleged that proper security was not being provided to their candidates ahead of the elections. “The government is trying to vitiate the atmosphere to keep people away from the poll, a senior PDP leader and candidate for the Batamaloo constituency in Srinagar, Mr Tariq Hamid Qarra, said. Talking to mediapersons here this afternoon, he alleged that the Special Operations Group and the Special Task Force of the Jammu and Kashmir police were functioning as “publicity wings” of the ruling party. He also alleged the involvement of some government officials in the campaigning of senior NC leaders. “We will watch the first phase of elections and after that we might rethink on the future course of action,” Mr Qarra said. He said the party President and former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, had gone to New Delhi to apprise the Chief Election Commissioner and other leaders of the “gross violation” of election norms in the state. Mr Qarra alleged that SOG personnel were involved in the attack on its activists at Bandipore on September 10 in which five persons were seriously injured. One of them later succumbed to his injuries, he said. The PDP also released its list of 61 candidates, 37 in the Kashmir valley, and 24 in Jammu province, who have filed nomination papers for the elections. They include a former MLA, Mrs Mehbooba Mufti, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh and Mr
Qarra. |
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Sarpanch, NC leader shot Jammu, September 14 The militants entered the house of Sarpanch Haji Mohammed Riyaz in the Shadra Sharif area and fired upon him early today, killing him on the spot. Riyaz was canvassing for a candidate in the area. In another incident, the militants shot an NC leader, Nazir Hussain, at Baghote village of Poonch district last night, the sources said. Hussain had joined the NC only a fortnight ago, they added. Meanwhile, the NC leader from Mendhar Mohammed Sadiq, whose sons were allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday, was found missing. A Rashtriya Rifles jawan was killed and another injured when the militants attacked them in the Mendhar area of Poonch district. The party which was sanitising the road between Mendhar and Poonch was fired upon from a hillock by the militants in the Jagal area around 10.30 a.m. killing a jawan on the spot and injuring another.
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Shafi seeks sixth term from Uri Baramula On the other hand, Social Welfare Minister, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, who has twice represented the Pattan constituency, as a Congress candidate, is now pitted as NC candidate his lone Congress rival, Dr Abdul Ahad Yatto. An electorate of 57, 259, including 31,287 men and 25,972 women will decide the fate of two candidates, Mohammad Shafi (NC) and Taj Mohiuddin (Cong) in the Uri constituency. Eighty one polling stations have been set up. Residents in most of the areas have been witness to the cross-border shelling and firing over the years. Most of the victims are sore over the apathetic attitude of the government in the release of funds for the construction of underground bunkers. “Only the favourites have been provided with relief measures”, allege many of the residents in the area. Mohammad Shafi has been representing the constituency since 1972 when he was elected for the first time as an Independent candidate. He was re-elected as a candidate of the National Conference for the first time in 1977, when the party swept the elections with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah as Chief Minister. Later he was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 1983, 1987 and 1996 elections. In the 1996 poll Mohammad Shafi defeating Taj Mohiuddin (Congress), and three Independents, Syed Anayat Shah, Mushtaq Ahmad and M.A. Tantray. The Social Welfare Minister, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, representing the Pattan constituency, seeks re-election here. He is pitted against Dr Abdul Ahad Yatto of the Congress and Nazir Ahmad Mir of the Awami League of former militant leader, Kukka Parray. |
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POLL TIDBITS It was a pleasant surprise to meet Hafeeza Begum for this remarkable 40 year old is contesting for the fourth time. She had lost every time. Not the one to give up, she is contesting against all odds. Her husband, Ghulam Mohammad Lone, popularly called “Papa
Kishtwari” has seen upheavals in life. He was earlier in the CRPF and was kidnapped twice by militants and later imprisoned by the government for his suspected links with the militants. When found innocent, he was released after serving 25 months in prison but by then be was so fed up that he quit the service and took to active politics. In 1999 he joined the NC. Though he is not contesting these elections he jokingly says. “We are the Mr and Mrs Laloo Yadav of the valley. I would be very happy if she wins, after all she is my home minister...” His wife’s political views are different from his but he has no problems. What if she loses? “I will contest again and again. This is the fourth time that I am contesting. In 1996 I fought on as Awami League ticket, and in 1998 and 1999 I fought as an Independent. If I lose, I will fight again.”
When contacted the Srinagar based Association of Parents of the disappeared persons said no political party had offered help to locate 6,000 missing youths. Members, , however said they would not give up their struggle. Over 300 Kashmiri families are members of the association and are awaiting the return of those missing. “It is a grim reality that 6000 of our young men are missing. They were picket up for questioning by various security agencies but have not returned home. I have been filing habeas corpus but there is no way to find out whether they are dead or alive or lodged in jails,” the founder of this
association, Mr Parvez Imroz, said.
3 Sikhs in fray Three Sikhs are contesting from the valley. There seems a bonding between the two communities. They are contesting from the Amira
Kdal, Baramula and Chandsna constituencies. |
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BJP MLA Dogra expelled from party Jammu, September 14 Mr Dogra had filed his nomination papers as an independent although the BJP had left the seat for the JSM with which it had entered into seat adjustment. Mr Dogra is the third sitting MLA of the BJP to have been expelled from the party in the past few days. Mr Piara Singh, who represents the Hiranagar segment, were expelled were for joining the ruling National Conference. Mr Daya Kishen Kotwal, the state President of the BJP today also expelled four other partymen, who are contesting the election as rebels. They are Mr Vishvinder Sharma (Sunderbani) and Mr Chaman Lal (Khour) expelled for failing to withdraw from these seats, earmarked for the JSM. |
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Lolab poll schedule Srinagar, September 14 An official spokesman said here yesterday that the National Conference has been called upon to nominate, if it so desired, another candidate by or before September 20, 2002. The scrutiny of nomination papers would be held on September 21 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature has been fixed September 23. The polling in the constituency will be held on October 8 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killing of the former Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mushtaq Ahmad Lone. The inquiry officer shall also inquire as to why the forces, including security personnel deployed, failed to react. The inquiry officer has been asked to furnish the report within a fortnight. The inquiry officer will also look into matters incidental to such an act. |
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3 polling stations shifted Rajouri, September 14 According to sources, a polling booth at Dara in Fetahpur has been changed from the primary school on top of a mountain to a girls’ middle school on its foot. Dodsanbal, Fetahpur, Khablan, Pangai, Shahdra Sharief, Rajdhani and Pangai areas have become very sensitive following skirmishes between the security personnel and the ultras. At least three CRPF jawans were injured in five encounters with the militants in these areas on Thursday evening. The sources said two polling stations at Dodsanbala, close to which 13 persons had been massacred in two incidents in a fortnight, had also been shifted. Since poll officials would have to trek 5-6 km through maize crop and forest to reach the polling stations of Kunda and Chawata, the booths had been shifted to the high school at Dodsanbala. The administration had divided the district in to 38 sectors and 11 zones. For security purposes, however, the police had divided the district into 48 sectors and 12 zones.
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Several held for intimidating voters Srinagar, September 14 “We have been successful in apprehending the Dukhtran-e-Milat activist and several others in connection with circulating posters and pamphlets, asking people to stay away from the election process in the state, “state Director-General of Police A.K. Suri told reporters here. He said various “desperate” militant groups, with an aim to disrupt the poll in the state, had been making fervent calls to the people to boycott the elections. He said the arrests had been made in Srinagar, Baramula and Handwara.
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No coercion for voting: Chief Secy Srinagar, September 14 “The role of the security agencies is well defined...It is not their role to ask voters to come out and vote,” he told reporters here. The Chief secretary said there was no basis for such reports. The Army and the security forces were conscious of their role and would not go beyond their defined duty. He said in a democracy voters were free to exercise their right to vote. The government and the security forces would facilitate this process by reducing the element of fear among the voters due to threats by militants.
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Change in J&K poll timings Srinagar, September 14 Announcing the change in timings, State Chief Electoral Officer Pramod Jain, told reporters that the voting would now start from 7 am hours and end at 4 pm. He said the timings had been changed for the convenience of the voters.
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PAP jawan kills colleague after altercation Jammu, September 14 The cops had an altercation at Dak Bangalow last night and in the firing that ensued one of them died on the spot, they said, adding that the duo were deployed for the security of an election observer. The injured cop has been hospitalised, they said, adding the incident did not affect the security arrangements of VIPs in the area.
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