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Wednesday,
May 28,
2003, Chandigarh, India  
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NC backs
Mufti on LoC Marked
decline in infiltration rate Panthers
Party MLA for revival of SOG Surrendered
ultra, 2 of family killed |
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1 killed,
2 hurt in Pak shelling Mufti’s
strategy to check corruption Liquor
shops: MLAs to protest Revoke ban
on recruitment: Omar JDA scam:
KAS officer booked Gurdwara
panel members’ term extended JKPCC
gears up for CMs’ conclave Rs 200 cr
for Dal Lake conservation Multi-crore
scam: probe ordered Protest
against civilian’s death Pandits
seek quota in professional courses 
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NC backs Mufti on LoC Srinagar, May 27 “We welcome the latest thaw in relations between India and Pakistan. Now, we hope that the two countries would soften the Line of Control, ceding to a long-pending wish and demand of the people on its either side,” NC General Secretary Shiekh Nazir Ahmad said in a statement here. He said his party hoped that effective measures would be taken to allow people to interact with each other. “If bus service could be run between Lahore and Delhi, why can’t the
Rawalpindi-Srinagar road be opened.”
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Marked decline in infiltration rate Jammu, May 27 According to a report compiled by the police, not more than 30 identified rebels sneaked into Jammu and Kashmir from across the LoC between May 1 and May 25. The report said during the corresponding period last year at least 150 infiltrators had crossed into the state, among them 98 had crossed into the Jammu sector from across Poonch and Rajouri sectors. The rate of elimination of militants on the border during the past three weeks was much higher than recorded during the corresponding period last year. Between May 1 and May 25 at least 65 rebels were killed when during the same period last year not more than 10 infiltrators were eliminated. Police sources said more than 3,000 militants had been brought to the “launching pads” across Kupwara, Uri, Bandipore, Poonch and Rajouri for being pushed into Jammu and Kashmir. So far, the agencies engaged in assisting infiltration had not succeeded in sending large groups of militants into the state due to intensified vigil round the clock on the LoC. According to the sources, field reports received from across the border had indicated that an attempt was being made to set up make-shift arms training camps in the hilly regions of Anantnag,
Pulwama, Baramula, Poonch, Rajouri and Doda in order to convey an impression to the world community that Pakistan had closed all training camps. A senior functionary of paramilitary forces said interception of messages from militants had revealed that activists of the Hizbul Mujahideen feared strikes from those belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba and
Jash-e-Mohammad. He said since agencies across the border were providing support to activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jash-e-Mohammad, the latter had started establishing fresh bases in the Kashmir valley and some parts of Poonch, Rajouri and the Doda-Udhampur belt. |
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Panthers
Party MLA for revival of SOG Jammu, May 27 Mr Mankotia was addressing reporters here today after returning from a tour of the two districts of the Jammu division. Being a partner of the coalition government led by Mufti Sayeed, the demand of Mr Mankotia is significant because the SOG was disbanded by the Mufti coming to power. This was an important promise in the PDP’s election manifesto. He said residents of these districts were so afraid of terrorists that they do not tip off to the Army and the security forces on militants. The families of those whom terrorists suspected of being police informers were wiped out and as the police could not to protect the lives of such people. He said while the Army claimed having destroyed several hideouts of terrorists, killings of innocent people have increased in the villages. Mr Mankotia said on one hand India had again extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan and both countries have decided to initiate confidence building measures, but militant violence was increasing everyday in the state. India should firmly tell Pakistan to check militant outfits. He said the BJP-led NDA government did not have a clear policy on Kashmir and it should take the elected representatives into confidence before starting a dialogue with Pakistan. He said representatives of the people of Rajauri and Poonch, who are the worst hit by militancy should be invited for talks by Mr N.N. Vohra, the Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir. Mr Mankotia said that the Hurriyat had no locus-standi on the Kashmir issue and some vested interests at the Centre were giving undue importance to it. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Defence, Chaman Lal Gupta, has said that effective steps should be taken to prevent massacre of innocent people. Expressing grief over the yesterday’s killing of five persons of a family by terrorists in the Rajauri district, the Minister pointed out that this was second such incident in the past couple of days in the area. He said that while the Army was smashing the hideouts of terrorists, there was need that the police should tighten security in the two districts. |
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Surrendered ultra, 2 of family killed Srinagar, May 27 Security personnel intercepted militants trying to infiltrate into the Kashmir valley which triggered off a gunfight at Gagaldar in Kupwara district in which three intruders were killed, official sources said here today. In another encounter, the security forces shot dead a militant during search operations at Largam village in Pulwama district. A rifle and three magazines were recovered from the militant. Militants struck at the house of a surrendered ultra Rafiq Ahmad Khan killing him, his father, Sher Khan, and his wife,
Reshma, at Arin village in Baramula district in the wee hours. They also intruded into the house of Mohammad Shafi at Tararawali in the Surankote area of Poonch district and fired indiscriminately killing him and wounding his son, Manzoor Hussain, and his wife, Khateeja Begum, late last night, the spokesman said. Bullet-riddled body of Ghulam Ahmad was recovered by the police from Khag village in Badgam district.
PTI 1
killed, 2 hurt in Pak shelling Jammu, May 27 Targeting civilian areas of Noushera sector, Pakistani troops fired about 500 mortar shells in the Bhawani and Kalsian areas from 4.45 p.m. yesterday to the wee hours of today, the sources said, adding that Indian troops also retaliated. Three persons identified as Naik Malkit Singh,
Satpaul, and Rekha Devi suffered injuries due to shelling in the Kalsian area, they said, adding that Satpaul later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The house of Lal Chand was damaged and two cattle of Ram Saran were killed in the shelling. |
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Mufti’s strategy to check corruption Srinagar, May 27 According to an official spokesman, the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, announced the comprehensive strategy in this regard here last evening, that was a sequel to the coalition government’s commitment to provide corruption-free and accountable administration in the state. The departments are Revenue, Police, Excise, Sales Tax, Forest, Rural Development, R&B,
PHE, Flood Control Food and Supplies, Transport, Education, Social Welfare and
JDA. While these departments shall remain the focus of the State Vigilance Organisation
(SVO), other departments will also be monitored to prevent corrupt practices. The SVO will target officers of doubtful
intergrity and points out where corruption is rampant. It will prepare on “agreed list” of gazetted officers with doubtful
intergrity in consultation with the departments concerned. The working of such officers will be scrutinised closely, particularly in spheres where there is scope for discretion or for showing favours. Discrete checks will be made about their reputation. Secret inquiry will be conducted by the SVO about their assets and financial resources, where the secret inquiries reveal positive material, open inquires will be initiated by the SVO and further action will be taken accordingly. The SVO in consultation with the heads of departments concerned will also prepare a list of non-gazetted officers against whom there are complaints of doubtful
intergrity. Each departments will have a Departmental Vigilance Unit that will be manned by persons of
intergrity, initiative and drive. The SVO will now work in close coordination with the departmental vigilance units to monitor the functioning of government departments and PSUs and synergise action. The strategy also brings within its ambit unscrupulous contractors, suppliers, firms, contact men and clearing agents suspected of indulging in corrupt practices. The departments concerned will lay down the criteria for inclusion of such
undesirable persons and firms. A list of such persons will be prepared. Agreed lists will also be prepared of “points and places” where corrupt practices are prevalent. “Points” relate to items of work and stages at which decisions are taken or orders passed that provide scope for corruption. These include processing of tenders, appraising, grant of quote certificate, licences, permits etc. ‘Places” include sections, sectors and units of an organisation. The SVO will also conduct statewide surprise checks, raids and searches on definite information of malpractice to eliminate corruption in the state. Such checks and raids will be made on godowns and storage depots, goods and passenger booking stations, receipt or dispatch of stores, misuse of permits and licences and quotas. |
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Liquor shops: MLAs to protest Jammu, May 27 It is learnt that the Panthers Party, the BJP, the BSP and the Jammu State Morcha (JSM) are likely to join hands against the government move opposed at some places by residents of the villages where the country liquor shops are being opened. The Panthers Party, with four MLAs, is a coalition partner of the Mufti government. However, it has reportedly decided to protest against the government move. Mr Balwant Singh
Mankotia, a MLA of the party, told The Tribune here today that although their party was supporting the government, but none of them, including Mr Bhim Singh, who is an MLC and chairman of the party, was taken into confidence on the decision of opening new liquor shops. He said that residents of a village in the Ramnagar area of the Udhampur district burnt a liquor shop opened recently ignoring their protests. He said that six new liquor shops had been opened in the Udhampur district alone. |
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Revoke ban on recruitment: Omar Srinagar, May 27 Addressing a public meeting at Langate, about 120 km from here Mr Abdullah alleged that the government was using the ban as an excuse to refuse jobs to unemployed persons whereas it lacked the will to provide jobs. The Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, according to Mr Abdullah, “had promised that his government would provide two jobs for each family, but now in the garb of the ban it is not even providing a single job.” This, he claimed, was bound to frustrate unemployed youth. He said his party legislators would demand the lifting of the ban in the House. Referring to the “healing touch” policy of the coalition government, the NC President said the people of Kashmir needed “balm for their wounds and not a policy, which inflicted further injuries to the minds and bodies of Kashmiris”. He said while the Mufti was talking repeatedly about resolution of the Kashmir issue, he had not spelt out his government’s clear policy on the issue and was deliberately creating confusion. |
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JDA
scam: KAS officer booked Jammu, May 27 The vigilance registered a case against a senior Kashmir Administrative Service officer and Secretary of the authority, T.K. Sharma, in connection with alleged illegal appointments and land allotments by the authority, the sources said. The Vice-chairman of the authority, Aslam Qurashi, was booked yesterday. Both the officials would be placed under suspension and shifted from prestigious postings as their continuance at their present posts would hamper probe into the case, the sources said. Another case was registered against six officers of the Social Welfare Department (Kashmir division) for alleged purchase of sub-standard items, meant for distribution under the ‘Safe Motherhood’ programme and for childcare, at exorbitant rates, they said.
PTI |
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Gurdwara
panel members’ term extended Srinagar, May 27 According to a notification issued by the Law Department, here yesterday, this has been necessitated as it was not practicable to hold elections for such committees in accordance with the provisions of the J&K Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowment Act, 1973, and rules made there under. The elections could not be held in time because of the Assembly elections. Due to differences of opinion amongst members of the committee and the board no consensus could be arrived as far as amendments to the Act and rules there under are concerned, it adds. The notification further says that after the new committees are constituted, efforts shall be made to have the law reviewed on the subject in consultation with the different sections of the community and their elected representatives with a view to bring it on a par with the laws in vogue in other states. |
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JKPCC gears
up for CMs’ conclave Srinagar, May 27 Senior party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma held a high-level meeting with officials of security, intelligence and civil and police administration for finalising arrangements for the Chief Ministers and their entourage. Mr Sharma, who is coordinating arrangements for the event is in touch with AICC general secretary Ambika Soni and JKPCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad.
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Rs 200 cr for Dal Lake conservation Srinagar, May 27 “The government is spending around Rs 200 crore during the current financial year on the conservation of the Dal Lake,” Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh said at an interactive session held by an NGO, Ecosense, at Dachigam National Park yesterday. Mr Beigh said under the conservation programme, all houseboats in the lake would be relocated to minimise pollution.
PTI |
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Multi-crore scam: probe ordered Jammu, May 27 A Division Bench of the High Court comprising acting Chief Justice V.K. Jhanji and Mr Justice S.K. Gupta directed state Vigilance Commissioner Radha Vinod Raju to probe the scam acting on a public interest litigation filed by Sunil Koul. The court also appointed retired District and Sessions Judge Chowdhary Vidya Sagar as receiver of the protection of the immovable property belonging to Gopal Arya Finance.
PTI |
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Protest against civilian’s death Srinagar, May 27 The demonstrators alleged that security forces shot dead Ghulam Mohammad Mir early today without provocation. Shops and other business establishments remained closed in the area. However, the police said security forces opened fire after Ghulam Mohammad Mir did not stop when asked to do so. The police said he died on the spot.
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Pandits
seek quota in professional courses Jammu, May 27 “We urged Mufti Sayeed to reserve five per cent seats for Kashmiri Hindu migrants in medical, engineering, agriculture and dental courses in the three universities in the state,” its president A.N. Vaishnavi said here. Referring to the recent statement of the Chief Minister that he would propose reservation for Pandits in professional courses in other states during the Congress Chief Ministers’ conclave in Srinagar, Mr Vaishnavi said: “If he can talk to Chief Ministers of other states for reservation for Kashmiri Pandits, why can’t he reserve five per cent seats for us in the state,” he asked.
PTI |
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Finance
panel’s report to be examined Srinagar, May 27 Mufti Sayeed appointed the appraisal committee after discussing the recommendations of the interim report presented by Chairman of the State Finance Commission A.M. Lanker.
PTI |
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