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Tuesday,
January 28, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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60 lakes
freeze in J&K Screening
panel meeting put off again Respond to
offer of talks: J&K minister
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| 158 forest
guards shown the door Jammu, January 27 The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the cancellation of the appointments of 158 guards of the Forest Protection Force (FPF) in Doda district on the grounds of their being "unjustified and unfair" and has said there will be fresh interviews, official sources said today. Pak
post burnt in border firing
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60 lakes freeze in J&K
Jammu, January 27 Most of these lakes have frozen between December and January as the temperatures have dropped to below freezing point in higher ranges, officials said here today. These include 50 large and small lakes within 50 miles of the Kangan-Sonamarg area of north-east Kashmir. The prominent lakes are Gangbal, Vishensar, Kishensar, Gadsar, Rehmansar, Satsar and Nandkul. Gangbal is one of the biggest lakes in the area, 2 km in breadth and 1.5 km in length. It is situated 3,600 metres above sea level. The other lakes which have frozen in the Pir Panjal range of South Kashmir include Tarsar, Marsar, Manawarsar and Sheshnag. Another frozen lake — Kaunsernag also known as Vishnupad — is located in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. It is 4.8 km in circumference. Some lakes in the Girgin valley of Poonch district in Jammu division have also frozen. Situated at an altitude ranging between 14,000 feet and 16,000 feet and surrounded by glaciers, the lakes are Sukhsar, Neelsar, Baghsar, Kaldachinarsar, Nandsar and Katorsar. Kailash Kund has frozen in the Baderwah area of Doda district in Jammu division. In the Ladakh region, where the temperatures hover between -15°C and -35°C during the winter, several lakes and streams also freeze from December to March. Important lakes that have frozen in the region are Pygong lake and Tsomorari lake. SRINAGAR: The famous ski slopes of Gulmarg came to life once again following fresh snowfall since Sunday evening, while the plains experienced light rains after a prolonged dry spell. The snowfall, which has brought down the temperatures in and around the valley, continued on Monday. Khilanmarg and Kongdoor also received about one foot of fresh snow. A report from Baramula said about six inches of snowfall was recorded at Sadhna Gali while the border areas of Keran and Karnah experienced more than one foot of snowfall. The holy cave of Amarnath experienced about one foot of fresh snowfall while Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Panjtherni and other areas had more than six inches of snowfall. Pahalgam experienced 3.2 mm rain while Srinagar had just 0.2 mm rain since early this morning. Baltal and Sonamarg, besides Zojila, highest point on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway also experienced fresh snowfall. However, the highway was closed for vehicular traffic since November end last for six winter months due to heavy snowfall.
Agencies |
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Screening
panel meeting put off again Jammu, January 27 The meeting of the committee which consists of officers of the Union Home Ministry and the state government was scheduled to be held on January 28. However, it was learnt today, that the meeting had been postponed. The committee has never met after it was set up over a month ago, following controversy generated due to the alleged indiscriminate release of some militants by the Mufti government in pursuance of its healing touch policy. The committee was earlier scheduled to meet on January 17, but the Special Secretary (Home) at the
Centre, Mr R.K. Ahuja, could not reach here. the committee headed by the Chief Secretary, Mr S.S.
Beloria, also had some police officers as its members. It is being suspected that the meeting was being postponed because the
BJP-led government at the Centre did not want to involve itself in the release of those connected with militancy. The BJP had highlighted the release of 24 militants by the state government during the Assembly elections in Gujarat and has taken a similar stance in the campaign for the elections in Himachal Pradesh and some other states. A section of the BJP was opposed to such action as the party had decided to take on the Congress on the issue. Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister,
L.K. Advani, had taken strong exception to the release of militants soon after the Mufti government came to power. The JSC was constituted thereafter, but has not met even once. It is learnt that the state government has prepared a list of 100 former militants it wanted to release. Although the Mufti some time ago said that his government would go ahead with its healing touch, but he was now moving cautiously because of the countrywide criticism of his action. The National Conference, which is a partner in the NDA at the
Centre, has accused the Mufti of trying to derive undue mileage by creating a hype on the release of “innocent” persons. NC president, Omar Abdullah, said that there was no need of the JSC and the previous government headed by his father Dr Farooq Abdullah had been releasing such persons in consultation with the district-level committees set up for the purpose. |
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Respond
to offer of
talks: J&K minister Srinagar, January 27 In his address at the main Republic Day function held at the Bakshi Stadium here yesterday, Mr Beigh expressed the hope that the current unpleasant phase of hostilities between India and Pakistan would end sooner than later. He said this situation had compounded the problems of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “I am hopeful that if not tomorrow or the day after, maybe in five to 10 years, an atmosphere of goodwill and peace would develop between India and Pakistan”, he said, adding that the clouds of war would disappear and the sun of amity and reconciliation shine over the subcontinent. A complete strike was observed throughout the valley in response to the call given by the separatist conglomeration of the Hurriyat Conference. All shops and business establishments remained closed. Only police, security and official vehicles were plying on the roads. The Finance Minister said while it was primarily for the Central Government to talk to Pakistan and find a solution to the Kashmir problem, the answers to the day-to-day problems confronting the people of the state could not be delayed till the two countries reached an understanding. The Republic Day celebrations here and at other places were held under tightest-ever security arrangements in view of the militants’ threats to create trouble on the occasion. The Bakshi stadium, the venue of the main function, had been virtually sealed to avoid any untoward incident. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic was suspended till late in the afternoon, after the Republic Day celebrations were over. Similar reports of Republic Day celebrations under tight security arrangements were received from other places and district headquarters of the valley. Several ministers and MLAs, including Rural Development Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Forest Minister Sofi Ghulam Mohiuddin, Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar, Minister of State for Education Syed Bashir Ahmad and Revenue Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen unfurled the Tricolour and took the salute at the functions in Baramula, Kupwara, Anantnag, Pulwama and Budgam, respectively. As part of the Republic Day celebrations, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mr Parvez Dewan, hosted an At Home here later in the afternoon. The Minister for Finance, Planning, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, and other ministers, legislators, prominent citizens, civil, police and Army officials were present on the occasion. Urging the Centre to provide the new state government with sufficient financial help to tide over the difficult situation that the state was in, Mr Beigh, in his address, said liberal assistance was required to change the state of affairs for the best. He said the time had come when the mistakes committed in the past were rectified, recalling the “negligible” investment made in Jammu and Kashmir over the years. Quoting figures, he said during the past 53 years, Rs 1,60,000 crore had been invested in the public sector in the country but Jammu and Kashmir had received only Rs 14 crore. The minister dispelled misgivings in some quarters in the country about the healing touch policy initiated by the state government, saying that this should not be construed as a weakness or a policy of appeasement. He said it was a policy of courage and determination, aimed at reducing the pain and agony of the unfortunate victims of the adverse situation. He said winning the hearts and minds of the people was necessary to win the war against violence and uncertainty. JAMMU: Despite militant threats, people turned out in large numbers for the Republic Day function here on Sunday. The Maulana Azad stadium, where Governor G.C. Saxena took the salute, was jampacked with people. Only security personnel had been witnessing the parade in the past 13 years. Despite unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops at several border posts in Poonch district, a good number of people witnessed the Republic Day parade. The enthusiasm was also high in the adjoining border district of Rajouri. Reports said about 10,000 persons participated in the
Republic Day function at the district headquarters of Doda, which is a hotbed of militancy. |
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158 forest guards shown the door
Jammu, January 27 "The General Administrative Department falling under the jurisdiction of the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, issued the order for the cancellation of the appointments of FPF guards in Doda district selected by the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) in year 2000," the sources told PTI here. The government further ordered the constitution of a special selection committee under the JKSSB which shall reinterview all candidates, they said. The committee shall complete the process of selection within a period of one month and recommend to the government a new list of candidates, they said. The new PDP-led government, on the direction of the J&K High Court, had asked the Vigilance Organisation to probe the matter following a complaint that the selection of 158 FPF guards was unfair.
PTI |
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Pak post burnt
in border firing Jammu, January 27 Pakistani troops again tried to target the Madari post near Banpat. Firing also took place in Ajot, Gulpur and some other pickets near Poonch, reports said. In retaliation by India, a Pakistani post opposite the Degwar area in Poonch went into flames, sources said. |
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