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Monday,
December 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Grenade attack on CRPF camp Mufti ‘undeterred’ by criticism of policy Remove fear psychosis: CM
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Ministry expansion next week Kargil mountaineering ban on foreigners lifted Enhanced pension for disabled on cards USA, Israel ‘enemies of
Islamic world’
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Grenade attack on CRPF camp Srinagar, December 8 Three militants were killed in an encounter with security forces during search operations at Dhoke-Bari in the Surankote area of Poonch district, he said. The spokesman said security forces killed two more militants in an encounter at Gundana village in Doda district last night. Sajjad Ahmad Dar, a surrendered militant, who had served as a member of the Special Operation Group, was shot dead by unidentified militants inside his aunt’s house at Arigam village in Baramula district last night, the spokesman said. His aunt, who witnessed the killing, died of cardiac arrest, he said. Dar, a resident of nearby Nadihal village, had been dismissed from SOG, the spokesman said. Civilian Mohammad Sharief was killed when he was caught in a shootout between militants and security forces at Mahala in the Surankote area of Poonch district. Ultras shot dead an autorickshaw driver suspecting him to be an informer of security forces at Wanganpora in downtown Srinagar. Militants fired on a police vehicle at Pinglish village of Pulwama district and lobbed a grenade towards a security picket near the general bus stand in Batmaloo area of Srinagar today without causing any damage or injury, the spokesman said. The spokesman said an Irrigation Department employee Mohammad Rafiq Khan was killed by militants at Sonabrari in Anantnag district while the decomposed body of a woman identified as Shahzada, kidnapped by militants on November 25, was found in Razloo forests of the district, the spokesman said. He said a villager, Mohammad Yousuf Beig, who had been abducted by militants from his house at Hardwail village in Badgam district two days ago, was set free unharmed by his abductors. Hizbul Mujahideen militants headed by Billu Gujjar and Ferkhan set ablaze house of Shamas Din at Bhima Dassa village in Udhampur district last night, the spokesman said. He said security forces smashed two militant hideouts at Shawibugh Kurag forest on the outskirts of Srinagar and seized a 12-bore gun with 478 rounds, 2 kg of RDX, 189 AK rounds and 14 grenades. However, the militants hiding there escaped. A search party of security forces also seized some
ammunition from Sangam village in Anantnag district last night, he said.
PTI |
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Mufti ‘undeterred’ by criticism of policy Jammu, December 8 Sources close to the Mufti pointed out to this correspondent that the Chief Minister was not perturbed over the criticism and had decided to go ahead with his policy, which was a step towards normalising the situation in Kashmir. However, PDP sources were silent on the issue of appointing a screening committee to review each case before releasing the militants. Their release is on the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the coalition government, in which the Congress is a partner. The sources indicated that the Mufti would expand his ministry after the Gujarat elections, when Congress President, Sonia Gandhi would have time to discuss the issue. The Mufti has said he will discuss the expansion of his ministry with Ms Gandhi this week when he visits New Delhi to persuade tour operators to promote winter tourism in Kashmir. He said he was overburdened with work and required more hands to assist him in the ministry. He was unable to finalise the issue earlier as Ms Gandhi was busy with the elections in Gujarat. A reshuffle of the administration is also on the cards as the Mufti is taking his own time to think over the matter. He indicated that some IAS officers on deputation with the Centre might be recalled. The administrative reshuffle was postponed because the new Chief Secretary was to be appointed in place of Mr I.S. Malhi. Now that Mr S.S. Billowria has been appointed, he is likely to be given a free hand to choose his team of officers. There were indications that the Mufti might not for the time being replace the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Mr M.Y. Khan, during whose tenure the state-owned bank earned reputation abroad, sources said. The emphasis of the PDP-led government is on checking unproductive expenditure and plug loopholes in the excise, sales tax and electricity departments where financial bunglings are to the tune of crores. Those close to the Mufti said the Chief Minister was not in favour of creating media hype regarding the achievements that his government has made in a short period of one month. He has quietly started work on making the atmosphere congenial for the gradual return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to the Kashmir valley. Their return to the religious places of Mattan and Khirbhawani is being done as a test case. At least 200 families of Pandits will be returned to Mattan and almost an equal number to Khirbhawani, the sources said. |
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Remove fear psychosis: CM Jammu, December 8 “We are very clear in our objectives, which would be translated into reality with genuine and sincere efforts”, Mr Sayeed said, describing the agenda for peace, good governance and equitable justice to all three regions as the watchword for his government. He said efforts would have to be made for creating a congenial climate for investors to invest in the state for giving fillip to its economy. Investment will not only be for development and welfare but it will also be investment for peace in Jammu and Kashmir, he observed. He referred to the talks held with the Chairman, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), and said authority would be restored to it. |
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Ministry expansion next week Jammu, December 8 The coalition partners have agreed on a two-tier ministry with a strength of 25 or 26, representing all regions and communities, the sources told PTI. They have agreed on 12 ministers of Cabinet rank and 14 ministers of state. However, there will be no deputy minister. The name of CPM state secretary Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami is doing the rounds for a Cabinet berth and the coalition partners are awaiting a clearance from his party high command in Delhi. His name was earlier proposed for the post of Assembly Speaker but Mr Tarachand of the Congress was elected. The urgency to expand the Council of Ministers was felt as a number of portfolios like agriculture, tourism, power development, higher education and public works are being looked after by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. At present, both the Congress and PDP have three Cabinet ministers each and the J and K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) one. Among the ministers of state are one each from Ladakh and Leh and an Independent from Kargil. Since the Congress has the maximum of 20 MLAs representing all three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, it will take a major share in the ministry. The Peoples Democratic Party with 18 MLAs, J and K National Panthers Party, CPM and Independents would be given due representation. Mr Sayeed has said that every region and community would be given representation to meet their aspirations and ensure uniform development.
PTI |
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Kargil mountaineering ban on foreigners lifted Srinagar, December 8 At least 15 peaks, including the famous Nun-Kun and White Needle, will now be open to foreign climbers, Director-General of Tourism Mohammad Ashraf said. Instructions on the easing of restrictions imposed on foreign climbers to visit Kargil in the wake of the 1999 Kargil conflict came from the Central Government recently, he said. The ban on mountaineering in Kargil was imposed after militants had occupied high peaks overlooking a strategic 434-km Srinagar-Leh highway linking the frontier region of Ladakh with Kashmir. Mr Ashraf said the reopening of the snowbound peaks, soaring to heights of up to 21,000 feet (6,360 metres), would be a money-spinner for Kashmir. Kargil peaks have attracted large groups of mountaineers from Britian, Germany, France, Japan and the USA since 1974 when the Ladakh frontier region was opened to foreigners for the first time, the tourism chief said. Other major decisions taken by the government to boost tourism include linking of famous tourist spots of Gulmarg and Pahalgam with helicopter services. Helicopter services would be made available from the airport in Srinagar to Gulmarg and Pahalgam, ministry sources said. The state government would organise an interaction with tourism industry leaders and trips for tourists in different parts of the country. The new PDP-Congress government accorded priority to the revival of tourism that has suffered during the past 13 years. Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who held a series of meetings with tourist
traders, including hoteliers, houseboat owners and travel agents, seeking their suggestions for attracting holiday makers, particularly domestic, to the state said a whole lot of activities would be undertaken to attract tourists from different parts of the country. An interaction with the tourist industry and film industry would be held in New Delhi and Mumbai between December 12 and 18, followed by a familiarisation tour of frequent past visitors and travel writers to Gulmarg and holding of Kashmir food festival in New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, the sources said. The government also intends to constitute a consultative committee comprising officers of different
departments related to tourism to sort out problems confronting the tourism trade. Representatives of this trade would also be coopted on the committee. As part of efforts to tone up available tourist infrastructure. Gulmarg and Pahalgam Golf courses would be improved and amusement parks for children laid out at Pahalgam and Srinagar. A series of events were on the cards to attract tourists, including a snow carnival at Patnitop on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, on January 15 next year, ski competition at Gulmarg in the first week of February, travel and tourism fair at World Trade Center, Mumbai, and Jammu mela in March, 2003. Srinagar will host meetings of managing committees of travel agents and hoteliers of the country in April. South Asian travel and tourism exchange in April in New Delhi, national kayaking and canoeing championship in Dal Lake, Indus rafting challenge in Leh, Kargil festival, Ladakh festival and Himalayan car rally are the other major events aimed at promoting tourism in the state.
PTI |
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Enhanced pension for disabled on cards Jammu, December 8 This was stated by the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, at a function organised here today by the Jammu branch of the National Federation of the Blind as part of the observance of World Disabled Day. Mr Sharma said the enhancement in pension for the disabled was under the active consideration of the government and a decision to this effect was likely to be taken shortly by the state Cabinet. He said the pension was proposed to be enhanced to Rs 500 per month from Rs 200 at present. Referring to the implementation of certain provisions of the Disabled Act, passed by the state legislature in 1998, the Deputy Chief Minister said he would see that the rules, as required under the Act, were framed for the benefit of the disabled. As regards appointment of a teacher for Residential School for the Blind, Mr Sharma said he would soon take up this matter with the Chief Minister. He said he would be soon convening a meeting of all ministers concerned and their subordinate officers to discuss the problems of the disabled. |
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USA, Israel ‘enemies of
Islamic world’ Srinagar, December 8 “The people of Palestine continue to undergo the worst kind of atrocities due to the wrong and anti-Muslim policies of America and Israel”, he said while addressing a condolence meeting in the Pampore area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir. Mr Abdullah alleged that the two countries wanted control of the two Muslim countries — Iran and Iraq — with an eye on their oil wells. He called upon people to pray for everlasting peace in the state and an end to the unabated bloodshed and miseries. Mr Abdullah, who heads the Muslim Auqaf Trust, reiterated that an Islamic university would be set up at Ganderbal on the outskirts of Srinagar, a promise he made to the people of the state during his last tenure as Chief Minister.
PTI |
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