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Sunday,
February 23, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Angry mob ‘welcomes’ Farooq
4 ultras, jawan among 8 killed in valley |
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Avalanche kills 2
jawans, JK highway reopens Mufti praises role of police Mufti for speedy development of Kargil, Leh Man gets 7-yr jail for daughter’s rape
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Angry mob ‘welcomes’ Farooq Srinagar, February 22 The police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the angry demonstrators when National Conference leader arrived in Pampore today. The Pampore constituency in Pulwama district goes to polls on February 26 to fill the vacancy due to the killing of former PDP MLA, Abdul Aziz Mir. Dr Farooq Abdullah was accompanied by his son and the party President, and former Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Omar Abdullah, senior party leader, Ali Mohammad Sagar and the contesting candidate. Mushtaq Ahmad Kuchay. According to reports, the trouble started when National Conference leaders started a march on foot on Frastabal-Pampore-Kadlabal portion of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, about 15 km from here. The march was started to express the party’s sympathies and woo the voters over the demolition drive launched by the Mufti Sayeed government, particularly in this area. Hundreds of shops and business establishments, along the highway, have been removed as part of the demolition drive by the present government. But angry demonstrators raised slogans against the National Conference leaders blaming them for the “demolition” of the structures raised during the NC regime. The demonstrators also indulged in stone pelting and damaged the NC poll banners hoarding raised recently in view of the byelections. The former Chief Minister and his party colleagues were escorted to Awantipora, part of the Assembly constituency. Apprehending similar demonstrations at the Awantipora, the reports reaching here said that the NC leaders addressed a gathering in the highly guarded Town Hall. Later, a statement issued by the National Conference said that the NC leaders criticised the demolition drive launched by the present government headed by the PDP leader, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Mr Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the failure of the coalition government in fulfilling poll promises like the abolition of POTA, disbanding of SOG and the employment to the educated youth in the state, particularly in the Kashmir valley. He also flayed the government for “misuse of government machinery” during poll campaign in the constituency. Dr Farooq Abdullah alleged that the demolition drive led to displacement of a number of people and their only sources of income, while no rehabilitation programmes were taken up for the affected people. |
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NC nominee’s papers rejected Jammu, February 22 The papers of two other Independents, Mr Abdul Rehman and Mr Darshan Kumar, were also rejected during the scrutiny. Mr Namgial is the only candidate who has filed his papers for the seat that is reserved for Leh and Mr Khan has filed his nomination for the Kargil seat. Although the papers of Mr Akhoon were filed well in time, but he was not present in the office of the returning officer to take the oath within the stipulated time. Now 11 candidates, including the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, are left in the fray for the 8 vacant seats of the upper house over. |
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4 ultras, jawan among 8 killed in valley Srinagar, February 22 An official spokesman said militants shot dead one Ghulam Hassan Ganai at Narkara village in the central Kashmir district of Badgam late last night while body of an unidentified person was recovered near a hospital at Karan Nagar last night. Security forces killed a foreign militant at Gutapora in Badgam district last night during a search operation. One AK rifle, three magazines and 65 rounds were seized from the slain militant. A Border Security Force spoksman said troops of 61 battalion arrested a militant of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba Mohammad Ashraf alias Iqbal at Nihalpora Pattan along with three grenades last night. He said troops of 54 battalion acting on a specific information raided a militant hideout at Dorai in Baramulla and seized 10 grenades, two rocket boosters, 9 electric detonators and half a kg of deadly RDX last night.
UNI |
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Avalanche kills 2 jawans, JK highway reopens Srinagar, February 22 It was not known yet if the bodies of the two jawans were recovered from the debris, they added. JAMMU: The 300 kilometre-long Jammu Srinagar national highway, the only road link to Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was reopened today, according to a spokesman of the Border Road Organisation (BRO). "The national highway which was blocked due to landslides between kilometres 151 to 181, has been reopened to vehicular traffic around 06.30 am for one way traffic," the spokesman told PTI today. The men and machines of the BRO, were working round the clock to clear the landslides and make highway through for two way traffic, he said. The highway was closed on Thursday night due to heavy rains, snowfall and multiple landslides at several places in
Ramban, Khooni Nallah, Jawahar tunnel, Batote, Patnitop and Nashri.
PTI |
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Mufti praises role of police Jammu, February 22 Addressing the passing out parade at the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Academy, Udhampur, Mufti Sayeed said that appointment of Mr N.N. Vohra as an interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir has potential to improve the situation on ground. He said it was an indicator of the Centre’s policy that dialogue was the key to solving all issues. “This concept has been strengthened by the Central Government’s peace initiatives be it in Jammu and Kashmir or North-East,” he added. Underlining the vital role of the Jammu and Kashmir Police in bringing a turn around in the situation, the Chief Minister said that the local police was better placed than any other force to change the ground situation by their compassion for innocents and poor and firmness for violators of law. He said the situation on the ground could be transformed if the police and the administration dispensed justice to all and went out of way to help those underprivileged citizens who could not afford to go to courts. Mufti Sayeed said that it had been the endeavour of his government to remove the causes that bred tension, alienation and militancy. While political efforts had their own importance, the role of the police and administration was no less significant. It was in this context he asked the police and administration to change their mindset in dealing with the people. He also made special mention of police constables who were at the cutting edge. He said though he wanted graduates to be constables, but ultimately it had been decided that minimum qualification for constables would be matriculation. He said this had been done to ensure that those who dealt with people must have a good academic background that would help them in making a correction appreciation while dealing with a situation. Saying that Jammu and Kashmir was standing at crossroads Mufti Sayeed impressed upon the police to help creating new atmosphere in the state. “Nothing can be achieved without the support of the people. In fact, welfare of the people is the focus of the government’s policies. While their development needs would have to be tackled by accelerating the pace of development, officers have to ensure that people do not face difficulties due to the usual red tape and bureaucratic wrangles. The mindset of our bureaucracy has to undergone a change to deliver better,” he added. The Chief Minister said that task before the police was not an easy one, but they would have to acquire requisite skills and professionalism to tackle the situation. The Chief Minister took salute at the impressive march past and inspected the parade. He also presented awards to the meritorious trainees at the function. DSP Randhir Singh was declared as all-round best trainee and awarded Chief Minister’s appreciation letter and sword of honour while DSP Harmeet Singh was declared as second all-round best trainee and given DGP’s appreciation letter and silver plaque. DSP Jugal Kumar was adjusted first indoor activities while DSP Khalil Ahmed was declared best in outdoor activities. Likewise, DSP Mohammad Feisal Qureshi was awarded for being best marksman while DSP Javid Iqbal and DSP Atul Sharma were awarded for being best rider and best sportsman, respectively. In all 214 officers, including 51 DSPs, 35 Prosecuting officers and 121 Sub-Inspectors passed out today from the academy. |
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Mufti for speedy development of Kargil, Leh Jammu, February 22 “We have made complete devolution of powers to Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council under the Act and by June, a similar dispensation would be in place in Kargil opening new vistas of development for the district”, Sayeed told at Eid-cum-annual day function organised by Kargil students here last night. The Chief Minister expressed happiness that the district, which has remained cut off for about six months, has been linked by the Air Force flights. There was need to increase the frequency of flights to Leh and Kargil, he said, adding he would take up the matter with the authorities concerned for the purpose. He said he had also taken up the matter with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for exploring possibilities for a tunnel at Zojila to keep the region open round the year. Given the latest technology, it should be possible to connect Kashmir valley by rail by 2007 and there was no reason why a tunnel cannot be constructed at Zojila, he added.
PTI |
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Man gets 7-yr jail for daughter’s rape Jammu, February 22 “The inhuman act of the accused has shaken the confidence of daughters as a whole in their fathers, who are natural guardians... it is no doubt widely condemnable and deserves to be punished to the maximum,” Principal Sessions Judge Subash Chander observed while awarding the sentence here yesterday. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000, in default of the payment of which the accused will have to undergo further imprisonment for two years. Accordingly the prosecution case, on March 3, 1996, a written report was made by the victim, who was 15 years of age at the time of the incident, and her maternal grandmother at the police station, Bishnah in Jammu stating that she was raped by her father.
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