J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Mufti may be elected unopposed
Jammu, February 15
The Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed, is likely to be elected unopposed as a member of the Legislative Council on February 22. Elections to eight vacant seats of the council were announced here today. The Mufti is expected to get himself elected to one of these as he is not a member of any of the two Houses of the legislature.

J&K finance panel proposed
Jammu, February 15
The Coordination Committee of the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir has urged the government to set up a state finance commission with statutory powers to ensure that all three regions receive an equitable share of resources for development and the backlog of development and employment at the regional and district levels is made good within a time frame.

Militants kill three
Srinagar, February 15
Three persons were killed by militants in the Kashmir valley overnight. Official sources said militants kidnapped and later killed Mushtaq Ahmad Mir at Damahal Hanjipora in south Kashmir last night.

• Heavy shelling along LoC

• Two hurt in explosion

• Accidental fire kills jawan

• Tarigami held for defying ban

Mufti may be elected unopposed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 15
The Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed, is likely to be elected unopposed as a member of the Legislative Council on February 22.

Elections to eight vacant seats of the council were announced here today. The Mufti is expected to get himself elected to one of these as he is not a member of any of the two Houses of the legislature.

Although voting for these seats is scheduled for March 4, the Mufti is expected be the unanimous choice for one of these. The Mufti, who became the Chief Minister in November, has to become a member of any of the Houses within six months in accordance with constitutional requirements.

The Mufti had recently told TNS that he would not contest the elections to the Assembly, but would become a member of the Upper House.

Initially, it was being speculated that he may contest the Assembly election from the Pampore constituency where the seat had fallen vacant due to the assassination of his party MLA, Mr Abdul Aziz Mir. However, the PDP has fielded Mr Zahoor Mir there.

Scrutiny of papers, which will be filed for the eight seats till February 21, will be held the next day.

Meanwhile, there is a race among the coalition government partners, particularly among activists of the PDP and the Congress, for a berth in the Upper House. Many candidates who had lost the Assembly elections are also vying for a seat in the council.

It is difficult time for the Mufti and the PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, to choose their party candidates for the seats of the MLC. Mr Azad has been swarmed by Congress activists since yesterday when he arrived here for a meeting of the Coordination Committee.

Four vacant seats of the Council were filled recently.

The National Conference (NC) will also stake its claim to seats in the Upper House as it is the single largest party in the Assembly which is the electoral college for these seats.

Certain activists of the NC were upset that during the party’s regime, Dr Farooq Abdullah did not take steps for filling the vacant seats before the Assembly elections. He was hopeful of returning to power and planned to get his loyalists into the Council.

J&K finance panel proposed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 15
The Coordination Committee of the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir has urged the government to set up a state finance commission with statutory powers to ensure that all three regions receive an equitable share of resources for development and the backlog of development and employment at the regional and district levels is made good within a time frame.

The meeting of the committee was held here today under the chairmanship of the PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad. The Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, MLA, Prof Saifuddin Soz, MP, Mr Trilok Singh Bajwa, MP, Mr Nawang Rigzin, Minister of Science and Technology, and Haji Nissar, Minister for Youth Services, also participated in the meeting.

Briefing mediapersons about the meeting, Mr Azad said the committee urged the state government to introduce a Bill in this regard in the coming Budget session.

While the demolition of unauthorised buildings across the state was appreciated, the committee urged the government to find alternative sites for the affected persons.

The committee urged the government to hold panchayat elections where these were not held earlier. It urged the government to vigorously pursue the matter of filling vacancies in various central government departments with the Centre.

It appreciated the government for implementing many provisions of the Common Minimum Programme, including the setting up of an autonomous Hill Development Council for Leh and Kargil, an initiative taken regarding the return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to the valley and the resolution of the Cabinet for inclusion of the Dogri language in the 8th Schedule.

Militants kill three

Srinagar, February 15
Three persons were killed by militants in the Kashmir valley overnight.

Official sources said militants kidnapped and later killed Mushtaq Ahmad Mir at Damahal Hanjipora in south Kashmir last night.

Militants also shot at and wounded critically Mohammad Abbas Sheikh at Chockoora village in south Kashmir district of Pulwama late last night. He was removed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Sources said militants also kidnapped and later killed Bashir Ahmad at Bankote Bandipora in North Kashmir last evening.

The Jammu and Kashmir police has ordered an inquiry into an incident in which militants disarmed five policemen guarding a vital road communication link in Kupwara district, even as the five have been arrested and suspected, official sources said here today.

Ultras snatched five SLR rifles, eight magazines and 280 rounds yesterday from the police personnel guarding the Kahroo-Langate bridge in Handwara area of north Kashmir and escape without any harm, the sources said.

An FIR has been lodged by the district police the five, belonging to state police’s armed wing and they were taken into custody, the sources said adding the policemen had also been suspended.

JAMMU: A militant belonging to pro Pakistan Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit was killed in an encounter in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here today.

They said acting on an information, troops ambushed a group of militants in the Kaka forest area of Poonch last night, killing one of them on the spot, though the remaining escaped.

In another incident, Muzaffar Hussain was kidnapped by militants from the Ramban area of Doda district last night, the sources said, adding his whereabouts were so far not known. UNI, PTI

Heavy shelling along LoC

Jammu, February 15
Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged heavy mortar shelling in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district this evening.

Defence sources said Pakistani troops stationed across the LoC resorted to unprovoked shelling targeting vital Army installations and civilian areas in the sector. Heavy shelling was reported along the Line of Control in the Jhangar, Lam, Kalsian, Kalal and Bhawani areas in the Nowshera sector when reports last came in. UNI

Two hurt in explosion

Jammu, February 15
Two persons were injured in a landmine blast near the Line of Control in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir today, official sources said.

Mustaq Ahmed and Sabir Hussain were returning from their fields this afternoon when they walked over a landmine planted by troops to check infiltration along the LoC in the Noushera area, they said. PTI

Accidental fire kills jawan

Jammu, February 15
One Army jawan was killed when the gun of another jawan accidentally went off in the Mendhar area of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir this afternoon, official sources said today. Gurdeep Singh, a sepoy, was fiddling with his gun when it went off and the bullet pierced through the neck of his colleague, the sources said. PTI

Tarigami held for defying ban

Srinagar, February 15
Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the CPM Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami was today detained by the police for defying prohibitory orders and trying to take out a march in protest against the US plans to wage a war on Iraq.

Mr Tarigami, a member of the state legislative assembly and whose party supports the coalition government from outside, was arrested along with his supporters while he tried to lead a march towards the UN observers office here, official sources said. PTI