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UK unlikely to withdraw adverse
advisory IED planted to target Army convoy
defused CRPF to replace BSF on Dec 1 BJP to launch signature
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Kashmiri migrant’s relief increased Resettle Pandits says Panun
Kashmir 13 detainees to be freed on Id
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UK unlikely to withdraw adverse
advisory Jammu, November 24 The latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office Country advisory has warned that despite the increased official promotion of Kashmir as a tourist centre, tensions remain high there. “No matter how convincing the travel agents appear to be, their advice should not be followed.” The advisory says that “you should be aware of travel agents who will try to convince you that it is safe to travel to Jammu and Kashmir”. The Mufti along with his daughter, Ms Mehbooba Mufti and a contingent of ministers and officers from here camped in London for a week earlier this month and held meetings with a cross section of people, including certain members of the House of Lords, to convince them that the state was safe for tourists who should not be scared of the stray incidents of terrorism. He urged them to put pressure on the government to withdraw the adverse advisory which was keeping the foreign nationals away from the valley. Although the Mufti was hopeful that his demand would be met, those connected with the travel industry do not visualise any change in UK’s stand in the near future. More than four lakh British tourists visit India every year and Kashmir was the most favoured destination before terrorism started there. The advisory has pointed out that militants had taken five foreign nationals, including two Britons, as hostages in July 1995. One of them was murdered and the others were believed to be dead. The advisory also has a warning for those visiting Himachal Pradesh where it has recommended that the trekkers should travel in groups and engage local guides while trekking because there had been several incidents of attacks on trekkers, in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh areas in the year 2000. It has “strongly advised” the tourists to visit Ladakh only via Manali or by air to Leh. It has pointed out that those in areas adjoining Pakistan or planning to cross the international border should take account of the tension between India and Pakistan. “We advise against all travel in the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan and the Line of Control. However, we do not advise against travel to Amritsar or Jaisalmer, which are close to the border.” |
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IED planted to target Army convoy defused Srinagar, November 24 In other militancy-related incidents, five persons, including four militants, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir overnight. An official spokesman said militants had planted a powerful IED at Lower Munda in the Qazigund area of the highway this morning to target a security force convoy proceeding to Jammu. However, the IED was detected and later defused by the security forces before the convoy reached there. The spokesman said security forces personal gunned down two militants in an encounter at Mora Bachal in Poonch district last night. Two AK rifles, three magazines and three grenades were seized from the slain militants identified as Abu Tariq and Abu Qaiser of Pakistan. One militant each was killed by the security forces in two different encounters at Talpora Khansaheb in the central Kashmir and Sarthangel in Doda district last night. Militants shot dead Nazir Ahmad at Kora in Doda district last night when he was returning home from a mosque, he said. —
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CRPF to replace BSF on Dec 1 Srinagar, November 24 “Our security personnel are starting counter-insurgency operations independently from Monday next when the BSF will move out from the north of the Jehlum river area,” CRPF Inspector-General V.B. Singh told UNI. Initially, Mr Singh said, five CRPF battalions would take over from the BSF in the city. The process would be completed by the end of this month, he said, adding that three more battalions would replace the BSF in other city areas of the city which would take about a month. Mr Singh said clear orders had been given to officers and men that there was no human rights violation. —
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BJP to launch signature
campaign Jammu, November 24 According to the BJP spokesman, Dr Hari Om,” we will collect one lakh signatures within one week and meet the Governor to convey peoples’ resentment against the power tariff hike.” The BJP spokesman said, “Instead of resorting to unimaginable increase in power tariff the government should install meters and charge on the basis of meter reading.” Not only the Opposition parties, including the State Morcha, Shiv Sena, Jammu Mukti Morcha but the Congress, which is a partner in the coalition government, has also opposed the government decision to increase power rates. A senior Congress legislator, Mr Raman Bhalla, has already conveyed his displeasure to the Chief Minister and other functionaries of the government, demanding withdrawal of the tariff hike. Official sources said, “After reduction in the power cuts the annual power bill touched over Rs 1,600 crore whereas the realisation of power tariff arrears had not crossed Rs 400 crore.” |
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Kashmiri migrant’s relief increased Jammu, November 24 In all 17,000 families consisting of 70,000 persons are receiving relief through the Relief Commissioner (Migrants) here. The disbursement of cash assistance is spent by way of the cost of free ration to the registered families. Besides this, these families are provided infrastructure for day-to-day living and other amenities. A sum of Rs 32 crore has been spent for the development of the infrastructure. In the current year Rs 12 crore will be spent, for construction of one-room sets and other amenities in migrants’ camps. |
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Resettle Pandits says Panun Kashmir Jammu, November 24 Addressing the one-day convention organised by PKM’s unit at Nagrota camp in the camp premises near here, PKM chief Ashwani Chrungoo alleged that this plan is aimed at dismembering the community and giving a false picture of Kashmir to the outside world. He reiterated that the Kashmiri Pandits could not live in Kashmir on someone’s ‘magnanimity or goodwill’ and these words had no meaning for the community. Mr Chrungoo maintained that Kashmir belonged to Pandits and made it clear to the Union Government that dialogue with separatists could not solve the core issue of Pandits and KPS are the first party to Kashmir tangle. Advocating for the demand of homeland for seven lakh Kashmiri Pandits within the Valley, he urged the community to be prepared for a massive struggle to achieve this goal. —
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13 detainees to be freed on Id Srinagar, November 24 He said these detainees lodged under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in different jails would be released before Id. The coalition government lead by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in its common minimum programme had promised to release all detainees against whom there were no serious charges. However, after releasing about 100 persons the process was stopped following opposition from the Centre and BJP leaders. The government later formed a committee with a representative from the Centre. However, it could meet only a couple of times, giving the National Conference and separatist organisations a chance to criticise the coalition government. —
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