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Hizbul not against peace talks, says Salahuddin
4-cr package for surrendered militants |
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Notification for poll on March 24 Security situation for poll reviewed Kashmir Scouts to have Gujjars, Bakkarwals 11 Bangladesh nationals held Farmer steps on landmine, loses leg Govt cancels order for drugs worth
Rs 10 cr
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Hizbul not against peace talks, says Salahuddin Srinagar, March 2 “We have no objection to the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan. The aims and objectives of the talks should be to find a solution to the Kashmir issue acceptable to the people of Kashmir,” he said in an interview to local daily ‘Srinagar News’ published today. Salahuddin ruled out the division of Jammu and Kashmir as a solution to the issue. “No such formula would be acceptable to us. We will oppose any such move”, he said. About Pakistan’s support to the militants, Salahuddin said no government in Islamabad could ever think of withdrawing support to the Kashmiris or deviate from the chosen Kashmir policy because people of Pakistan have unmatched sympathies for the cause of Kashmir and the people of the state. However, he exhorted confidence that militant outfits had the capacity and courage to carry on the freedom struggle without any foreign help and cooperation. About the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Salahuddin said they could return to their motherland provided they joined the “freedom struggle”. He said militants would oppose the government’s move to carve out a safe zone for Kashmiri Pandits in the valley. “We will not allow that to succeed”. About the Lok Sabha elections, Salahuddin said the people of Jammu and Kashmir should prove their loyalty towards the “freedom movement” and desist from participating in the poll.
— PTI |
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Jawan, two militants among 6 killed Srinagar, March 2 A report from Baramulla said a surrendered militant Abdul Rashid was shot dead by militants at Bandipora this afternoon. One militant was killed in an encounter at Kunzer in Tangmarg area this afternoon, the report said. Official sources said militants triggered a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted in a scooter at Peerbagh on the busy Srinagar airport road around 12.20 p.m., targeting security force vehicles. However, the blast occurred shortly after all vehicles had passed the area. No one was injured in the explosion, the sources said. Another IED blast took place at Hayatpora in the central Kashmir district of Badgam late last night, causing damage to a bundh. Militants shot dead a security force jawan Nazir Ahmad Peerzada at Gundwachi Tangmarg in north Kashmir district of Baramulla last night. The body of one Abdul Rashid Baba was found at Tilgam Pattan in Baramulla today. Security forces gunned down two Hizb militants, Muneer Ahmad, alias Badar, and Bahadur Ali, alias Javid, at Mahore in Udhampur
district of Jammu region last evening. Two AK rifles, one pistol, 6 magazines, 2 wireless sets and a set of binoculars were seized from the slain militants. Security forces seized two grenades, 21 detonators, 8 magazines and 17 rounds during two operations in Baramulla district last evening. However, no one was arrested.
— UNI |
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4-cr package for surrendered militants Jammu, March 2 The minister in charge, Home, in the Assembly stated this in a written reply to Mr A.R. Rather of the National Conference yesterday. The minister said last month 10 militants surrendered and 2,289 surrendered from 1995 to 2003. He said the government on January 31 approved a comprehensive rehabilitation package for those who surrender. Each surrendered militant would be entitled to Rs 1.40 lakh as incentive. The amount would be kept in fixed deposit for three years and drawn only subject to good behaviour of the beneficiary. Each surrendered militant will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 for three years from the date of his surrender. Special incentives will be given to those who lay down the arms. In another written reply to Mr Jugal Kishore of the BJP the minister said the Centre had reimbursed the security-related expenditure amounting to Rs 657 crore in the past two years. This includes Rs 90.71 crore for Special Police Officers. A sum of Rs 26.66 crore was spent on arms and ammunition and Rs 16.50 crore for the purchase of new vehicles. A sum of Rs 47.58 crore was received as rent of accommodation and Rs 83 crore for the payment of ex gratia. A sum of Rs 80 crore was received for the payment of assistance to Kashmiri migrants and Rs 50.48 crore for relief to border migrants. In a written reply to Mr Shah Jahan Dar of the NC, the Chief Minister informed him that 439 activists of different political parties under threat perception had been provided accommodation in 16 private hotels in Srinagar. These included 279 workers of the NC, 52 of the Congress, 38 of the PDP and 22 of the BJP |
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Notification for poll on March 24 Jammu, March 2 The last dates for filing of nominations have been fixed for March 31, April 7, April 15 and April 23, respectively, he said. The scrutiny of nominations will be conducted on
April one, April 8, April 16 and April 24, he said adding that the last date for the withdrawal of candidature would be April 3, April 10, April 19 and April 26. The poll dates in the state are April 20, 26, May 5 and 10. The counting of votes will begin from May 13, he
said. — PTI |
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Security situation for poll reviewed Srinagar, March 2 The state Director-General of Police (DGP), Mr Gopal Sharma, visited a number of areas in north and south Kashmir and took stock of the security situation for the smooth conduct of forthcoming parliamentary elections . He addressed a high-level meeting of police officials in the frontier district of Kupwara which witnessed violence, including the assassination of Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmad Lone during the Assembly Elections. Concerned over an allegation of human rights violation, the DGP laid emphasis on good police-public relations and stressed on the need to curb militancy in the district. Mr Sharma along with Inspector-General of Police, K Rajendra also visited the police district of Pulwama, Kulgam and Awantipora in south Kashmir yesterday. During his visit, the DGP held meetings with senior officers of the police and paramilitary forces. He urged the officers that police-public
relations should be strengthened and the common people should not be harassed during operations against militants. The DGP earlier inaugurated the new building complex of Zadibal police station. The DGP also inspected the construction of an office-cum- residential complex of the SDPO, Hazratabal. Meanwhile, to discuss the preliminary arrangements for elections and finalise the electoral rolls of Anantnag district, a meeting of Revenue Officers was held here last evening under the chairmanship of the District Election Officer (DEO), Dr A H Samoon. The meeting was informed that the electoral rolls of all the constituencies of the district were being updated. The DEO said the electoral rolls, after finalisation and summary revisions, would be notified for information of all poll parties and the general public shortly.
— UNI |
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Kashmir Scouts to have Gujjars, Bakkarwals Jammu, March 2 It is learnt that the Defence Ministry has given a green signal for raising the battalion in which the soldiers will mostly be from the Gujjar and Bakkarwal tribes. Both the tribes dominate the mountainous areas and border districts of the state. Sources said the battalion would be part and parcel of the Army and not like the Territorial Army. It would be just like the Ladakh Scouts that was deployed in the Ladakh area and the Siachen glacier. The Gujjars and Bakkarwals had helped the Army during a conflict with Pakistan. They have the ability to trek any treacherous hills. After infiltrating into the Indian
territory, the terrorists usually take the Peerpanjal route to reach various parts of the valley. The Gujjars and Bakkarwals are familiar with these areas as they take their cattle during summer for grazing. The Army is also raising a porter company and the recruitment drive will begin tomorrow at Akhnoor. The porter company is being raised following the controversy that has triggered due to killing of five porters at
Bandipura. |
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11 Bangladesh nationals held Jammu, March 2 The nationals were trying to cross over to Pakistan in the early hours near the Khura border outpost, about 700 metres from the international border, when the BSF troops guarding the area in Jammu district arrested them, the sources said. Nothing incriminating was found from their possession, they said, adding they were later handed over to the police. With today’s arrests, the number of Bangladeshis arrested from the border belt while trying to cross over to Pakistan in Kathua and Jammu districts had gone up to 143 in the past one week, they said.
— PTI
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Farmer steps on landmine, loses leg Jammu, March 2 Farmer Harbans Lal stepped on a landmine near the international border in Kathua district early this morning while grazing cattle. In another incident, militants hurled a grenade at the Abdullah bridge last night from a hilltop last night but it missed the target and fell in a garbage dump. After about 20 minutes, the militants threw another grenade at the bridge but it fell into the river. — PTI |
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Govt cancels order for drugs worth
Rs 10 cr Jammu, March 2 “Minister for Health and Medical Education Lal Singh has cancelled the drug supply, ordered by the Directors of the Health and Medical Education Department from a blacklisted drug company,” the ministry sources said. The issue had snowballed into a major controversy in the state Assembly yesterday with Opposition members charging the government with purchasing drugs from a blacklisted company. The minister will make a statement in the Assembly tomorrow on the issue and the progress of investigation, the sources said.
— PTI |
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Rs 1.26 crore grant for
self-employment Srinagar, March 2 |
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