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Friday,
August 22, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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BSNL to launch SMS in 7 cities
Jammuites acquire SIM cards from Punjab 6,000 bunkers to be built in Kupwara Two militants gunned down |
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BSF jawan killed in Pak shelling Congress hints at ministerial reshuffle Coalmine workers end stir E-governance from October 2
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BSNL to launch SMS in 7 cities Srinagar, August 21 Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, Prithpal Singh stated this at a press conference here this morning, a day after the mobile telephone service was launched in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that landline telephones would have the facility of receiving and sending SMS landline messages on telephones and the mobile phones. He added that infrastructure for the introduction of SMS had been installed and it was being tested for launching shortly. On the launch of cellular service in Jammu and Kashmir, the MD of BSNL said that the services would be made available in all district towns. The air corridor and the Srinagar-Jammu national highway would also be covered by cellular services, he said. Also the two tourist destinations of Gulmarg and Pahalgam in Kashmir would also be covered. Towers are being raised in Budgam and Anantnag while the one at Baramula is nearing completion, Mr Prithpal Singh stated. Since the launch of mobile services by BSNL from Lucknow in October last year, it has introduced services in over 1200 towns in 481 out of 788 districts in the country, BSNL chief said. The mobile services of BSNL branded as Cellone has been subscribed by over 35 lakh subscribers across the country, he added. Its
tariff has made it affordable and introduction of the service by BSNL has “revolutionised mobile communication”, Mr Prithpal Singh said. BSNL chief claimed that the annual growth of cellular operators in the country was now almost total. He added that the number of cellular customers had grown from 1.2 million in July 1999 to over 16.3 million at the end of July this year. The number of landline telephone lines has gone up from 21.6 million in 1999 to approximately 43.5 million till June this year, the Chairman said. Mr Prithpal Singh said that with 36 lakh mobile customers in the country at present, BSNL was planning to have an additional component of 2.5 million more till March next year. |
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Jammuites acquire SIM cards from Punjab Jammu, August 21 The mobile service of the BSNL was inaugurated last evening by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, by talking to the Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed, at Srinagar. But there is a waiting period of more than a month to get a SIM card. However, those with a roaming connection can now use mobile phones immediately. Realising the rush at the application collection counters at five places in the city, many persons have activated their handsets with Sim cards of Punjab although they have to pay STD charges for calling local telephone here as the call is routed through Chandigarh. The General Manager, BSNL, Mr R.L. Kaul, said at a particular time last evening, 70 calls were being made from here through the SIM cards of other BSNL circles. The post-paid Cell-One service only has been introduced in J&K and the post-paid Excel connections were not workable here. Mr Kaul said about 25,000 application forms had been issued to those desirous of a cellular connection in the city and 30,000 more forms were being printed to meet the demand. However, only 13,000 connections will be issued in the first phase through a draw of lots and the other would have to wait till the capacity of the exchange is expanded. Meanwhile, the residents continued to throng the BSNL offices to get the application forms. They raised slogans as they had to wait in the sun for the forms. |
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6,000 bunkers to be built in Kupwara Baramula, August 21 Kupwara Deputy Commissioner told UNI that due to daily shelling by Pakistani troops, the administration had decided to construct 6,000 bunkers. “People can at least save themselves from the shells by taking shelter in these bunkers,” he said. He said 42 villages, which come under the direct target of Pakistani troops, had been identified along the border in the frontier district of Kupwara. It has been decided to construct these bunkers in a phased manner, he said, adding that community bunkers would also be constructed near schools for students. The official said a committee had also been formed under Subdistrict Magistrate, Karnah. The committee members will visit the villages to access the damage due to shelling so that immediate relief could be provided to the affected people. Nearly six persons have died and several buildings and houses were damaged in Pakistani shelling since January this year in Kupwara and Baramula districts.
— UNI |
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Two militants gunned down Jammu August 21 In another incident, army troops during a search operation in the Loran area of Poonch district last evening, seized one AK rifle grenade launcher, one AK rifle with two magazines and 37 rounds, two sniper rifle magazines with 30 rounds, one bayonet, and one radio set. Srinagar: A counter-insurgent associated with the Ikhwan outfit was killed on Thursday in an encounter in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir, official sources said. The encounter took place when the Army assisted by Ikhwanis raided Gadole village following specific information about the presence of militants, the sources said. Militants resorted to heavy firing and in the ensuing gunbattle, an Ikhwan activist identified as Ghulam Nabi, alias Saddam, was killed. Meanwhile, the Border Security Force has smashed two militant hideouts in Baramula district of north Kashmir and seized a large quantity of explosives, BSF sources said.
— PTI |
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BSF jawan killed in Pak shelling Jammu, August 21 Pakistani troops targeted the locations and the areas with civilian population using 60, 80 and 81 mm mortar shells along the Line of Control in the Noushera, Balakote, Achard, Jhangar, Kalsian, Kalal, Jhallas, Balnoie, Krishnaghati and Mendhar areas since 1.20 a.m. hours, the sources said. In the heavy shelling, BSF jawan Narinder Singh was killed and another jawan Ramesh Kumar was injured critically in the Achard border area in the Poonch sector, the sources added. Two other jawans were wounded at a forward defence location in the Rajouri sector.
— PTI |
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Congress hints at ministerial reshuffle Srinagar, August 21 Mr Azad said the Council of Ministers would have to be reshuffled from time to time to keep the element of dissent under control.
— PTI |
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Coalmine workers end stir Srinagar, August 21 He said the Principal Secretary (Industries) and Managing Director (J and K Minerals) would visit the mines in Rajaouri district in the first week of next month. The officials would suggest measures for improving the working conditions of the mines that would help reduce the workers’ dependence on government assistance, he told a delegation of the Bharatiya Coal Khan Mazdoor Union, Kalakote. He said the state government would meet workers’ demands within the available resources. Workers are demanding, among other things, release of salary, project allowance, opening of new mines and hike in underground allowance. Mr Sharma said the mine was dependent on the government’s budgetary support.
— PTI |
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E-governance from October 2 Srinagar, August 21 |
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