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Saturday,
April 12, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Delhi police quizzes APHC chief Bhat Accept Pak demand for talks: Bhat Four ultras killed in J&K Sikhs in Tral feel ‘insecure’ |
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LeT denies hand in Nadimarg killing Bollywood’s ‘Mission Kashmir’ raises hopes Iraq war hits Walnut export Two kids drowned
in river 20 hurt in
lathi charge Subdued celebrations in valley ‘Aamadh-e Bahar’ from April 13
in Kashmir
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Delhi police quizzes APHC chief Bhat Srinagar, April 11 A team of the Delhi police led by Assistant Commissioner of Police L.N. Rao arrived at Bhat’s residence in uptown Srinagar last night and questioned his alleged role in the funding of the separatist movement in the state, following reported revelation by Anjum Zamrooda Habib, a woman activist of the Hurriyat who was arrested outside the Pakistan High Commission along with Rs 3.07 lakh on February 6. Habib, who heads Muslim Khawateen Markaz, one of the constituents of the Hurriyat, had reportedly told the police that she had visited the Pakistan High Commission at the instance of Bhat and the money was to be given to Bhat as “nazrana” (token money). However, Bhat is understood to have denied the claim. Bhat, when asked to comment about the visit of the Delhi police team, said “Since I have been named in the FIR, they had come to find out where I stand”. The police had also recovered Rs 2 lakh from the Delhi office of the Hurriyat on February 6. Hurriyat chairman had reportedly told the investigators that the money had been kept for day-to-day running of the office.
PTI |
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Accept Pak demand for talks: Bhat Jammu, April 11 Senior government functionaries said it was time for the US Government to take notice of such an announcement and time had come to stop Pakistan from piling up nuclear weapons. But the APHC chairman said, “For India there is no escape but accept Pakistan’s demand for talks.” Asked to comment on India’s condition for the resumption of bilateral talks Bhat said, “Even this issue can be discussed when the two sides meet.” He said so far Pakistan has been denying its involvement in the ongoing militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and by imposing preconditions for talks “Delhi was simply playing politics.” He said “Had the Government of India accepted our demand for permission to visit Pakistan we could have covered a lot of ground in removing the mistrust that exists between the two. Permission was not given to us and we feel it has been another blunder on the part of India,” he said. Asked whether he envisaged US intervention on Kashmir, the APHC chief said, “There is no need for mediation from a third country in case India agreed to start dialogue with Pakistan.” |
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Four ultras killed in J&K Jammu, April 11 Three AK rifles, 13 magazines, seven grenades, two IEDs and a wireless set were seized from the spot. In another operation, the police seized six pistols, six magazines, 32 rounds, one wireless set, 295 AK rounds and a medical kit from a militant hideout in the Khenater forest of Poonch district today. Three hand grenades and fuse wires were seized from the Methyani area of Rajouri district in another operation today. Meanwhile, heavily armed militants kidnapped five members of a Village Defence Committee (VDC) in Udhampur district last night, and later released them after snatching their rifles, official sources said here today. A group of militants, numbering over 30 and dressed in Army uniforms, swooped down on Karnail-Narha village in Reasi tehsil of Udhampur. They asked the five-member VDC committee to accompany them for an operation against militants in the nearby hills. Srinagar: A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Baramula district and the body of a kidnapped Home Guard personnel was found in North Kashmir.
PTI |
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Sikhs in Tral feel ‘insecure’ Jammu, April 11 A meeting of the committee was held here today under the chairmanship of Mr Mohan Singh, general secretary. During the past one week, two incidents of midnight knocking at doors of houses of Sikhs in the Kangloona and Chiri Bugh villages have taken place. Sikhs raised the alarm by beating tins to alert villagers and policemen posted there. The policemen opened fire which was retaliated by a BSF patrol party, mistaking them for militants. Following these incidents, the Sikhs in Tral were feeling insecure. To restore confidence among them, the government should take the necessary measures without delay and order an inquiry into such happenings, the forum demanded. The forum demanded that the government should take measures for confidence-building among the minorities, particularly Sikhs living in far-flung areas of the Kashmir valley by addressing to their problems. Their allegations are that Sikh businessmen and traders are harassed by vested interests and the local administration intentionally delays disposal of their cases. The Sikhs also feel discriminated against as the arrangement for the supply of provisions is not made to them on their festivals as is done for others, the forum regretted. |
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LeT denies hand in Nadimarg killing
Srinagar, April 11 LeT divisional commander Abu Usama said in a statement to a local news agency that the outfit’s member Zia Mustafa alias Abdullah Umer, who was presented before the media by the police yesterday, had been arrested on March 16 from his hideout whereas the Nadimarg massacre took place on March 23. The police claim about the involvement of the LeT in the massacre was a bundle of lies, he said.
PTI |
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Bollywood’s ‘Mission Kashmir’ raises hopes Srinagar, April 11 The group of six top film producers, which had come here on the state government’s invitation, returned to Mumbai today. And they left with the hope of returning. The group of Bollywood bigwigs comprised Yash Chopra, Ramesh Sippy, Manmohan Shetty, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Ashok Thakeria and Ramesh Taurani. At a meeting specially arranged at Dachigam near here, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today extended a warm invitation to Bollywood for considering Kashmir’s locales. For Yash Chopra it was a thrilling experience and he compared it with Switzerland. He said he would be happy to use Kashmir’s fascinating locations for his films. Similar feelings were echoed by others, including Vidhu Vinod Chopra, for whom it was homecoming. The Chief Minister also interacted with the visiting personalities at a dinner hosted by him at the Royal Spring Golf Course and urged them to ask more producers to Kashmir for shooting. The procedure for getting clearance for shooting has also been simplified. The visiting teams would be given full security, they were assured. |
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Iraq war hits Walnut export Jammu, April 11 Walnut exporters have suffered a loss of Rs 25 crore since the day the first US missile was fired on Iraq. Mr Sujjiv Jain, general secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Walnut Exporters’ Association, said here yesterday during the past three weeks “our European buyers have cancelled the orders.” Walnut exporters may “suffer further losses in case the war did not come to an early end”. On an average Kashmiri walnut worth over Rs 189 crore was being exported to the UK, France, Italy, Germany, the USA, Dubai and other Middle East countries annually. At present, over 63,000 hectares in the state are under walnut cultivation. More than 20,000 people are engaged in its cultivation and export. The walnut exporters have sought assistance from the state government and the Centre for finding new markets. |
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Two kids drowned
in river Jammu, April 11 The children, identified as eight-year-old Daram Veer and nine-year-old Parshotam Kumar were taking a bath in the river in Katra last evening when the mishap took place, the sources said. The sources added that the bodies were fished out from the river today and handed over to the families of the victims.
PTI |
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20 hurt in
lathi charge Jammu, April 11 Tension spread to Newplots, Sarwal, Vikas Nagar, Janipura and adjoining areas following the sacrilege. The people form these areas assembled and later informed the police about the incident. The VHP alleged that its general Secretary, Mr Surinder Sharma was injured when a police officer and his guard seat him up. Some leaders of the Bajrang Dal were also injured. Following the “unprovoked” police lathi charge, people of the area put up the shutters and held a demonstration. Mr Surinder Sharma condemned sacrilege on the occasion of Ram Navami and coinciding with the adoption of a resolution in the Lok Sabha banning ‘cow salughter’ all over the country. |
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Subdued celebrations in valley Srinagar, April 11 The Hindu Welfare Society announced the cancellation of the havan and held a solemn prayer meeting at the Ram temple at Barbarshah, a spokesman of the society told PTI. Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Raman Mattoo and district administration officials attended the prayer meeting. |
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‘Aamadh-e Bahar’ from April 13
in Kashmir
Jammu, April 11 Mr Mir said the festival would commence at Mughal Gardens, Nehru Park, Dal Lake and Cheshma-Shahee areas of Srinagar. Eleven events, including traditional “pahari and doora” culture would be reflected, he said. Mr Mir said he hoped the festival would give a boost to tourism and attract Bollywood.
PTI |
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10 CRPF jawans hurt in mishap
Jammu, April 11 |
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