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PDP
leader, three policemen killed
Governor
addresses Budget session |
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Hurriyat
for stopping rights violations
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PDP leader, three policemen killed Srinagar, February 16 Unidentified gunmen shot dead Ghulam Mohammad Dar, a block president of the PDP at Hyderpora in Budgam district on the outskirts of Srinagar city this morning. Two policemen escorting him were also killed in the incident when militants opened fire on them at Hyderpora Chowk near J&K Bank at 10.45 a.m today, the police here said. The police personnel were identified as head constable, Mohammad Shafi and constable Ali Asghar, who succumbed to their injuries while being shifted to the hospital. A policeman was killed when unidentified militants attacked with grenades followed by heavy firing upon a newly created police post at Goshabugh, Pattan in Baramula district last evening. The fire was retaliated, the police here said adding that militants escaped in darkness, leaving behind an AK rifle. The policeman killed was identified as Ghulam Qadir. Unidentified militants shot dead a surrendered militant, Ashiq Hussain Khan in Magam area of Budgam district last evening. Another person with him, identified as Farooq Ahmad was also injured who succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to the hospital. The police here claimed to have identified decomposed body recovered at Kriri in Baramula district yesterday. It was identified that of Mohammad Ashraf Zargar, a surrendered militant, who had been kidnapped by unidentified militants in May last year. PTI adds:
Official sources said militant outfit ‘Save Kashmir Movement’, involved in the killing of Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Crime and Railways), Jammu, Mohammad Amin Bhat here on February 2, has owned responsibility for today’s incident. He said a person, identifying himself as the outfit’s spokesman, told a local news agency on Phone that the ODP leader was killed by the group for his “anti-movement” activities and links with the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. |
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Governor addresses Budget session Jammu, February 16 General Sinha was addressing a joint session of the two Houses of the legislature on the opening of the Budget session here. He said the policies of the state government had started paying dividends in terms of peace and the state was on the threshold of a new era full of promise for the future. He said although the achievements of the government had been commendable, there was still a long way to go towards the realisation of the ultimate objective of a peaceful and prosperous state. The turnaround in the situation in the state, the country and the region had generated optimism and hope. Right in the beginning, the Governor was interrupted by a senior member of the National Conference, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, who demanded the dismissal of the Mufti-led coalition government and a judicial inquiry into the killing of five civilian porters in an encounter between the Army and militants at Bandipora. Mr Rather alleged that human rights violations and corruption were at their peak under the coalition government. He said an additional burden had been put on the exchequer due to expansion of the ministry. General Sinha said the state had suffered as peace had eluded it for the past 56 years. The people of Jammu and Kashmir would be the biggest beneficiaries of peace, which was on the anvil. He said the unconditional dialogue between the Centre and those who were not part of the mainstream political process had generated an encouraging response. Hoping that the process of building bridges between India and Pakistan would not stop at the reopening the Srinagar — Muzaffarabad road, which the two countries were expected to discuss soon, the Governor, however, believed that it would be the first far-reaching step towards ushering in an era of peace and prosperity in the state. He underlined the need for restoration of other communication links between India and Pakistan. He said all forces operating in the state were being sensitised to human rights issues and the state police had included the subject of human rights in all basic training courses. He said 274 detainees, who were not involved in serious offences, were released from jails last year, while a new rehabilitation policy approved by the Centre was being implemented to provide sufficient incentives to those willing to abjure violence and return to normal life. Referring to the fiscal scenario, the Governor said in the current year’s Plan determined efforts were made to reduce the loan component and the negotiated loan had been brought down to Rs 272 crore from Rs 530.72 crore. The Plan for the next year was being proposed at Rs 2,800 crore with stress on consolidation of gains of development, early completion of on-going projects and reduction in the debt burden. Later, the House mourned the death of Ram Nath Manhas, Peer Hissam-ud-Din and Justice Janki Nath Bhat, who were former members of the Assembly. |
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Hurriyat for stopping rights violations Srinagar, February 16 Stating this after a three-hour-long executive and general body meeting, senior APHC leader Abdul Ghani Bhat said several others issues came up for discussion today. These included the future dialogue process with the Centre, release of detainees following the last APHC-Centre meeting held on January 22 and the leadership crisis in the People’s Conference. Referring to the violation of human rights, Mr Bhat pointed out towards the killing of five civilians at Chithaybandi in Bandipore recently. “If there is no end to such incidents, the dialogue process with the Centre may stop”, he said. The issue, he said, had already been conveyed to the government. He added that the Deputy Prime Minister had announced certain measures. “But if those decisions are implemented, we will decide accordingly”, Mr Bhat commented. The meeting also took exception to Sajjad Lone’s letter to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and decided to accept the People’s Conference led by Bilal Lone as its constituent. The meeting, led by its chairman Moulvi Abbas Ansari was attended by all four executive members, including Abdul Ghani Bhat, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Bilal Lone. Referring to the release of prisoners following the APHC-Centre talks, Mr Bhat said of the 32 released prisoners none was desired by the APHC. Those released, he said, included surrendered militants, timber smugglers, innocent citizens and thieves. Earlier, Bilal Lone arrived at the party headquarters at Rajbagh along with supporters. He was the last executive committee member to enter the meeting hall. He claimed the support of a majority of his party colleagues and reiterated that he had taken the decision to expel his younger brother, Sajjad Lone from the chairmanship of the party. This was decided in his capacity as chairman of the five-member supreme council of the People’s Conference. However, Sajjad Lone was not available for comments. A spokesman for his faction said decisions taken at a working committee meeting, which was held today, would be announced tomorrow. The spokesman, however, described as unwarranted the “decisions about the People’s Conference being taken up at the Hurriyat Conference meeting”. According to a PTI report, People’s Conference spokesman Abdul Majid Bandey said: “We had a presence of 21 out of 23 members in the working committee who were unanimous to expel Bilal Lone from the party.” He said the working committee had made it clear that it would not be in league with anyone who has glorified the killers of founder President of party, Abdul Gani Lone. The crisis between the two parties came to fore when Sajjad wrote a letter to Mr Ansari asking for an explanation over the participation of senior Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq in the funeral procession of Farooq
Lidari, alleged to be one of the conspirators in killing of Abdul Gani Lone. |
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From fighting the system
to improving it Jammu, February 16 Mr Majid, who has been given the portfolio of Planning and Development after his induction in the ministry last week, said here today that as a militant his fight was against the system and now he had got an opportunity to set the things right. He said it would be his endeavour to put the development on a fast track so that the state was in a position to compete with other developed states of the country. Having operated as a militant, he was personally aware of the ground realities. He said it would be his effort to involve the youth in the development process so that they have a feel of being a part of the process. “My foremost effort would be to generate jobs for the youth and channelise their energy towards development and create a sense of involvement among them.” Mr Majid became a counter-insurgent and contributed towards ending terrorism. But before that he crossed over to Pakistan in 1989 for training in handling arms and ammunition. He again went to Pakistan five years later on a fake passport. He became vice-chairman of the United Jehad Council of the dreaded terrorist Sallahuddin which guided terrorist activities from Pakistan. He was arrested in January 1992 but was freed a month later in exchange of three hostages namely Dr Surinder Dhar, Mir Nassarullah, son of a former minister, and Mr Tej Raina, a former Divisional Commissioner. He represents the Bandipora Assembly seat where the killing of five civilian porters in an encounter between the Army and the terrorists has created a controversy. |
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