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Monday,
August 18, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Mobile phone booking from today Eight militants among 13 killed in valley
APHC for joint patrolling of border |
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Jamaat may stay with Hurriyat Governor praises securitymen on
successful Amarnath yatra
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Mobile phone booking from today Jammu, August 17 This was disclosed to reporters here today by Chief General Manager of the BSNL Arun Kumar. He said that under the existing rules the security agencies can be authorised by the central or the state governments to intercept telephone messages of any particular subscriber. He said that initially the booking will be done for subscribers in Jammu and Srinagar cities. Other 12 district headquarters will be provided cellular phone service later. A total number of 42,500 connections will be provided in the first phase, but 13,000 connections each for the Jammu and Srinagar cities have been earmarked. The CGM said that the application forms would be available for eight day between August 18 and August 25 and these can be submitted between August 19 and August 26. The SIM cards will be issued through a computerised draw of lots and the application forms submitted on any of the days would be treated on a par to avoid rush at booking counters. He said that initially only the Cell-I post-paid service is being introduced in the state and the pre-paid Excel scheme will not be available. The coverage of the mobile phones will be on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, all district towns and the Katra-Vaishnodevi shrine route. |
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Eight militants among 13 killed in valley Srinagar, August 17 Five Pakistani militants were killed in a fierce gunbattle with the Army in the Mahore forest area in Jammu division's Udhampur district this evening, defence sources said. On getting specific information about the presence of militants in the forest area, the Army launched an operation, the sources said. In the ensuing gunbattle, five Pakistani militants were killed, they said, adding some arms and ammunition were seized from the scene. An unidentified militant was killed and a civilian wounded in an encounter between militants and the security forces at Dharamhama-Bandipora in Baramulla district. Militants shot dead constable Shakeel Ahmed Ganai in the Shopian area of Pulwama district last night. A Lashkar-e-Toiba militant, Abu Umar, was killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Kokerna area in Anantnag. Another militant was killed in a gunfight with the security forces at Kandikote in the same district. Militants abducted and killed Munir Hussain, a resident of Rajouri district. They also killed a youth, Mohammad Sabar, by slitting his throat in the same district. Unidentified militants kidnapped and killed Ghulam Hassan Mir at Sui Bhagar Dhar in Doda district on Friday night. His wife, who followed her husband trying to secure his safe release, was also injured in the incident. The police and security forces recovered three AP mines, one magazine, one RPG booster and 148 rounds from an abandoned migrant house at Logripora in Anantnag district yesterday. —
PTI |
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APHC for joint patrolling of border Jammu, August 17 According to Molvi Abbas Ansari, chairman of the APHC, “If Delhi and Islamabad agree to joint patrolling of the LoC and the international border by the Pakistani and the Indian troops, there will be no room for accusations and counter charges.” He told this correspondent: “We have been listening to complaints by Islamabad and Delhi accusing each other of inciting firing on the border. As long as these complaints keep on piling, restoration of peace is a distant dream.” Molvi Ansari, in reply to a question, said: “The issue of joint patrolling and end to infiltration could be discussed by the two sides before taking up the Kashmir issue.” He ridiculed those who believed that lighting candles on the border and exchange of sweets by the two armies could restore peace to Kashmir and result in the settlement of the dispute. The APHC chairman said: “We as representatives of the aspirations of the people of Kashmir can show the light provided our team is allowed to visit Pakistan.” He expressed concern over what he called a delay in the resumption of the India-Pakistan dialogue. “Nothing short of sincere parleys can result in peace and lead to the settlement of the Kashmir issue,” he said. “What is the use of resuming air and bus services between India and Pakistan when people continue to get killed in the Kashmir Valley,” he said. Molvi Ansari said: “Our participation in the proposed dialogue should be treated as mandatory because, besides our men getting killed on the border in firing and mortar shelling, the ultimate settlement of the Kashmir issue has to be in accordance with the wishes of the people of the valley.” He said Delhi and Islamabad should resume talks and added: “If Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee thought that by announcing some economic package for Jammu and Kashmir, the problem could be resolved, he was wrong. |
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Jamaat may stay with Hurriyat Jammu, August 17 However, the final decision on the matter will be taken by the Majlis-e-Shoura of the Jamaat within next two days. The apex body of Shoura will also decide whether or not to replace Mr Geelani, who represents the Jamaat in the Executive Committee of the APHC, by some other leader or persuade Mr Geelani to continue to be a member of the Hurriyat in the light of the request made by the APHC chairman, Molvi Abbas Ansari, to the Jamaat leaders. The decision of the Majlis-e-Shoura will have a far-reaching impact on the future of the APHC. In case the Jamait-e-Islami, which is considered to be a major constituent of the APHC on account of its size, decides to come out of the 26-party umbrella, the Hurriyat may face political emaciation. According to Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, a former APHC chairman, it will be difficult for any constituent to quit the Hurriyat Conference. |
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Governor praises securitymen on Srinagar, August 17 Addressing officers and other personnel of these forces at Sonmarg and Pahalgam today, the Governor also complimented the civil administration, the local population “who also played an important role which cannot be ignored”. He assured the people of the state that with their willing cooperation and of all agencies, the designs of militant groups would be defeated. He held that an incident-free yatra, large number of tourists, large crowds at Kheer Bhavani Mela and celebration of Independence Day by thousands of people were indicators of a visible change in the situation. While awarding commendation certificates at Sonmarg and Pahalgam, to unit heads of the Army, the BSF, the CRPF and the police in recognition of their excellent work done during the recently concluded Amarnath yatra, the Governor said the yatra was one of the sacred and holiest pilgrimages in the country in which devotees from different parts of the country participated. General Sinha called on the security personnel to establish cordial relations with the people and win over their hearts and minds. He said his happiness lay in seeking the fullest cooperation and support of the people. He held that the situation had changed drastically and the people yearned for peace and tranquillity. The Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Amarnath Shrine Board, was accompanied by the GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lt-Gen Nirbhay Sharma, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mr Parvez Dewan and the IGP, BSF, Mr Vijay Raman. Mr Dewan read out a message of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, on the occasion. In his message, the Chief Minister said this year’s yatra had a special significance — not because it was the first during the tenure of this government, but “because of the winds of change” that had swept across the state. This followed a change in the mindset of the people. The Chief Minister also expressed his happiness over an incident-free yatra which attracted over 1.54 lakh pilgrims. |
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