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Tuesday,
July 29, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Woman, 6 ultras killed in Jammu &
Kashmir Pilgrims continue to
throng Amarnath It’s PDP, Cong versus Panthers
again |
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4 killed as truck falls into gorge Groom
dies minutes after wedding BSF jawan
commits suicide
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Woman, 6 ultras killed in Jammu & Kashmir Jammu, July 28 On receiving specific information, the BSF and the police launched a joint search operation in the Ban area of Gool early today and in the ensuing encounter, the HUJI militant, identified as Malik Mohammad Saifullah, was killed. Saifullah was a self-styled area commander of HUJI's Chenab division, the sources said, adding that one AK rifle, 13 magazines, seven grenades, two improvised explosive devices, nine detonators, 103 rounds and a wireless set were recovered from him. Two militants were killed in an encounter with troops in the Mangat area of Banihal in Doda district today. Two AK rifles, two magazines, seven grenades and one wireless set were recovered from them. Army troops shot dead two militants in the Kakera area in the Manjakote forest belt in Rajouri district last night. One more militant was killed near the forest belt today. A woman was raped and murdered by militants in the Bafliaz area of Poonch district last night. A group of ultras barged into the house of Mohammad Bashir and gang raped his wife. They later killed her by hanging her from a tree and fled under the cover of darkness. Security forces seized a truck used by militants involved in the July 22 attack on the Tanda Army Camp. The truck was seized and its driver arrested while the vehicle was plying on the Rajouri-Poonch highway last week. On interrogation, the driver revealed that the militants boarded the truck from the Chingus area and alighted near the camp on the highway. Meanwhile, a rifleman injured in the attack succumbed to his injuries at the military hospital here, raising the toll to nine. SRINAGAR: At least 12 persons were injured in a hand grenade blast at Gagran Shopian in south Kashmir on Monday afternoon. Militants threw the grenade towards security forces at Gagran Shopian in Pulwama district. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside, injuring 12 persons. The injured were admitted to hospital. — PTI, UNI |
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2 jawans hurt in Pak shelling Jammu, July 28 Targeting the forward defence locations, the Pakistani troops resorted to intense mortar shelling in Naushehra sector in which two jawans suffered splinter injuries, they said. Indian troops also retaliated and the exchange came to a halt around 10 p.m. Exchange of fire between the two sides was also reported in Khari
Karmara, Degwar, Jhallas, Salotri and the Balnoi area of Poonch district during last night without any damage or loss on the Indian side. —
PTI |
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Pilgrims continue to
throng Amarnath Pahalgam, July 28 Long rows of heavy and light vehicles carrying local and domestic tourists on either side of the checkpoint at Langanbal, a few km short of this tourist spot, reveal volumes about the tourist season in the area. The police and paramilitary troops take no risk in ensuring a thorough checking of all those entering the area. The security forces have sanitised the area en-route to the holy cave to ensure a hassle-free yatra, though there has been no specific threat from any militant group. It has been a tough time for the administration and security forces to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatra over the years. Threats from separatist militants, a few strikes by militants during the yatra period leading to killings of many, and criticism of the government by the local business community have been commonly noticed during the years. “The authorities will not take any risk to allow the pilgrims move freely in the area due to militants’ threats”, said a police officer, adding that it did not help the business community. “We have not imposed any restrictions on the movement of pilgrims. They are free to move around”, said an officer looking after the yatra. “They (pilgrims) are not caged birds to be dumped at the base camp and then taken to Chandanwari for onward trekking to the cave”, said an officer looking after the yatra. He added that with this, over 25 per cent — more than 30,000 persons — mostly pilgrims, had come to the main market, which had had a good business these days. Occupancy of over 2,800 in the hotels of all categories have been fully utilised over the past several weeks. Contrary to the previous experiences, the hoteliers here have had a smooth flow of tourists, both local and domestic. “This year, we have both pilgrim and local tourist customers”, said Mr Jaleel Ahmad, hotelier in the main market. “We have allowed both local and domestic tourists”, said a senior officer of the Pahalgam Development Authority, constituted in May to overlook development activities at this picnic spot. A record number of 35,000 tourists, including schoolchildren, arrived here on July 20, according to official estimates. Nearly 65 temporary stalls had been put up by various government departments and private groups at vacant spaces at pony sheds. Amid the month-long yatra, there was good business for only a week, said Ghulam Rasool, though he had opened his shop since early June. SRINAGAR: A fresh batch of 1,732 Amarnath pilgrims, including 342 women and 21 children, arrived at Pahalgam and Baltal on Monday. With this, the total number of pilgrims who arrived here since July 9 went up to 1.33 lakh. A woman pilgrim, Kasturi Bhai from Madhya Pradesh, died at a hospital here. She had developed an ailment on way to the shrine. |
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It’s PDP, Cong versus Panthers
again Jammu, July 28 While the Panthers’ supremo has been given three-month time to decide whether he will quit the coalition or not, the PDP and the Congress have decided to discuss if the situation created by the “unhealthy role of Prof Bhim Singh warrants expulsion of the Panthers Party.” The latest row between the two sides has emerged with Prof Bhim Singh blaming the PDP-led government for perpetuating discrimination of the people in Jammu region. The PDP was irritated over Prof Bhim Singh’s recent statement demanding that the unified command should not be headed by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. It said, “Such a statement amounted to casting aspersions on the bona fides of the Chief Minister who has been instrumental in improving the security scenario in the Kashmir valley. The PDP circles said the Chief Minister had accommodated the Panthers Party against the wishes of the Congress by inducting two of its four MLAs in the Council of Ministers and getting Prof Bhim Singh elected to the Legislative Council. Indications are that the PDP-Congress combine will wait for a possible change in the role and attitude of Prof Bhim Singh for a couple of months. In case he continues to function as an Opposition leader despite enjoying power then the Panthers’ Party may be asked to quit the coalition. In fact it is the positive role being adopted by the Education Minister, Mr Harsh Dev Singh, who belongs to the Panthers Party, that has prolonged the partnership between Prof Bhim Singh and the PDP-Congress combine. The Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues are said to be satisfied with the performance of Mr Harsh Dev Singh. |
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4 killed as truck falls into gorge Jammu, July 28 The incident occurred when the driver of the truck, on its way to a construction site, lost control of the vehicle this afternoon. Three of the injured were in a serious condition at a hospital here.
— PTI |
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Groom dies minutes
after wedding Jammu, July 28 Mr Chitranjan Singh, originally hailing from Jalandhar and now settled in Canada, collapsed soon after completing the marriage rituals last night, was rushed to the government hospital where he was declared dead, they said. The body of the bridegroom was sent to his native village for last rites, the police said. —
PTI |
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BSF jawan
commits suicide Srinagar, July 28 Dawa Sherpa of the 127 Battalion fired two shots from his service rifle in his neck around 10.40 a.m. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead, the sources said. It was not immediately known what prompted him to take such an extreme step, they said. —
PTI |
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