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Yaseen, Shabir detained in J&K
Poll boycott campaign PDP pursuing BJP’s agenda, alleges NC 2 jawans, 3 militants killed in Kashmir UK Envoy briefed on terror in J&K |
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HC quashes case against Pak militant Measures to grow medicinal plants discussed HC stays order on BJP candidate Two file papers for Jammu LS seat
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Yaseen, Shabir detained in J&K Poll boycott campaign
Srinagar, March 26 All separatists were taken into preventive custody in Baramula district of North Kashmir as the authorities apprehended that they might use the Friday congregations to influence people to boycott the coming parliamentary elections in the state, the sources said. Mr Malik, accompanied by several party activists, including his deputy Javid Ahmed Mir, was first to be detained while heading towards Bandipora at Safapora in Baramula around, they said. Minutes later, Mr Shah and his five supporters, who were on way to Kupwara, were taken into preventive custody at Narbal, the sources said. The police also detained 12 activists of Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference at Sumbal en route to Bandipora. Mr Malik, who, according to his party was to address a Friday congregation in connection with the JKLF’s signature campaign, was asked to return to Srinagar but he was allegedly adamant to visit Bandipora, the sources said. The JKLF launched a statewide signature campaign last year to seek people’s opinion for their role in the Indo-Pak talks aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue. Condemning the police action, JKLF chief spokesman Tahir Ahmad Mir allege that Mr Malik was detained along with dozens of his colleagues by the police without any justification. Mohammad Yousuf Mir was heading a Hurriyat delegation to Bandipora when the police took them into custody, the sources said. Besides Mir, the sources said others detained by the police included Abdul Khaliq Bhat and Moulvi Bashir Ahmad who were lodged in police station Sumbal.
— PTI |
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PDP pursuing BJP’s agenda, alleges NC Srinagar, March 26 A spokesman of the National Conference alleged that the ruling party was an “agent of the BJP” in the state and pursuing the party’s agenda vigorously. He said if this was not stopped, the special status of the state would be diluted and the ethnicity of Kashmir and Kashmiriyat eroded. He called the Transfer of Property Act and moves to thwart the passage of the Amendment of PR Act as moves designed by New Delhi and executed by the PDP to accelerate the process of loss of special identity of the people of Kashmir. The National Conference spokesman held that the people of the state had always suffered at the hands of conspirators, who, “at the behest of their masters in Delhi” had bartered the interests of the people of the state. Such “moves” were being piloted by the PDP at the behest of the BJP, he said. Referring to some recent reports, the spokesman said it was unfortunate that the PDP’s decision about the mandate of Baramulah to Nizammudin was directed by the PMO. He hoped that the PMO was involved only till the process of selection of a candidate and does not interfere in the election process. |
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2 jawans, 3 militants killed in Kashmir
Srinagar, March 26 Three JEM militants and two securitymen were killed in a fierce gunfight at Sonabrari village in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir last night, according to defence and police spokesmen. The spokesmen said the encounter took place when a joint search party raided a house in the village following specific information about the presence of some militants. The hiding ultras opened heavy fire on the troops, killing two jawans and wounding two policemen, they said, adding that the troops fired back and in the ensuing encounter the house caught fire and was gutted. Later, search of the debris led to the recovery of bodies of three JEM militants, who were identified as Aijaz Ahmad, alias Abu Maaz, his Pakistani accomplice Abu Bilal and Mohammad Amin Shah. Two AK assault rifles, a pika gun, a wireless set, four under barrel grenade launchers and seven hand grenades were also seized from the killed militants, the spokesmen said. However, residents of the area today held protest demonstration in the village, alleging that Shah was a civilian and not associated with any militant group. Jammu: Three top Lashker-e-Toiba militants were captured and their weapons seized by the police in an operation in the Doda district, official sources said. The police launched a search operation in the Donadi area of Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district last night, following an information about the militants there, the sources said. An encounter took place between the police and the ultras, the sources said, adding that the police entered the hideout and captured the three militants. Two AK rifles, two magazines, one pistol, one grenade and one wireless set have been seized, they said. The militants, whose identities were not revealed, have been sent to an interrogation centre. Meanwhile, the security forces have busted three militant hideouts in Rajouri and Doda districts of the Jammu division and seized arms and ammunition, including 28 kg of explosives, defence sources said. During search operations in the forest area of Rajouri, the security forces seized three AK rifles with 10 magazines and 292 rounds, one pika gun and its one spare barrel and 27 rounds, one hand grenade and 23 kg of PEK explosives, they said. Another hideout was busted in the Samhot area of the same district and two hand grenades and 49 kg of assorted ration seized. In the Kurfi area of Banihal tehsil in Doda district, the security forces seized two pistols and five kg of RDX, the sources said. — PTI |
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UK Envoy briefed on terror in J&K Jammu, March 26 General Prasad was discussing the current security scenario in J&K with Sir Michael who visited the headquarters of the Northern Command yesterday. He informed the British envoy that despite public proclamations, there had been no tangible signs of reduction in Pakistani support to terrorists who might also try to create communal disharmony. The General said the dismantling of terrorist camps had been largely cosmetic to (some extent due to winter constraints). Infiltration has reduced but this is usual every winter, he added. It was pointed out that the level of terrorist radio transmissions remained the same. The installation of a fence on the Line of Control will also serve to bring down the level of infiltration. However, there was uncertainty and inter-group rivalry among terrorist organisations and their morale was low. Sir Michael was given a brief overview of the terrain and the background to the growth of terrorism in the state since 1989. The aspect of human rights was covered in detail and it was pointed out that 1383 allegations of human rights abuses had been received so far. As many as 1,343 cases, had been investigated and 1,311 were found to be baseless. Even the number of allegations of rights violations has declined. Against 151 and 156 allegations in 2000 and 2001 respectively, their number declined to 112 in 2002 and only 14 in 2003, the High Commissioner was told. The High Commissioner was also explained in detail the situation post the ceasefire that came into effect on November 26 last year. |
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HC quashes case against Pak militant
Srinagar, March 26 Allowing a haebus corpus petition filed on behalf of detained Al-Badr militant Hamid Nuaman Bhat, a resident of Clfiton Colony in Lahore, by advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom, Mr Justice Muzaffar Jan directed the state government to release the militant forthwith, if he was not required in any case. Bhat, who was arrested under POTA in a wounded condition from a private hospital here on August 22, 2002, was slapped with the PSA by the District Magistrate on November 23 but shifted to a jail only on January 31, 2003. These detained under the PSA, have to be shifted to a jail within 48 hours. Taking serious note of the delay in shifting Bhat from police custody to jail on the orders of the District Magistrate, Budgam, under the PSA, the judge observed that from the facts and circumstances reflected, there was no justification to sustain the order of detention which had been executed after a period of 67 days without any satisfactory explanation. Therefore, the petition is allowed and the detention order passed by the District Magistrate quashed. The court observed that the delay in shifting Bhat to a jail was inexplicable as the detainee was already in custody.
— PTI |
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Measures to grow medicinal plants discussed Jammu, March 26 A large number of NGOs from Delhi, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir attended the workshop. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr P. Patnaik, was the chief guest. The objective of the workshop was to discuss effective measures to produce and grow medicinal and aromatic plants in the state and to share the experience in the field with the NGOs during the one-day deliberations. The Director, SFRI, while talking about the concept of organising the workshop, said sharing of experience in the workshop would inspire the NGOs to explore the potential of valuable plants. He said the workshop would encourage the people to cultivate medicinal plants. Mr Patnaik, in his address, lauded the efforts of the State Medicinal Plants Board and the Forest Department in organising the workshop. He said there was a dire need to promote these plants which would not only enhance the quantity of plants but would meet the requirements of national and international markets besides raising the socio-economic status of the people in the state. He made it clear that the Unani and Ayurvedic research had proved more effective than other disciplines and, experimentally, it had proved successful in curing several diseases. He said the NGOs and others could seek financial assistance from the National Medicinal Plants Board, the Department of Indian System of Medicines and the Health Ministry. The Director, Regional Research Laboratory, also spoke at length regarding the potential of the medicinal and aromatic plants. He stressed the need for producing quality medicinal and aromatic plants. He also gave valuable suggestions in promoting these plants. |
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HC stays order on BJP candidate Jammu, March 26 A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S. Jah and Mr Justice Y.P.
Nargotra stayed the order of Mr Justice Muzaffar Jan of Srinagar Bench of the Court, which had restrained Mr Nirmal Singh and two other Jammu University teachers from undertaking any type of political activity. Mr Nirmal Singh filed the appeal yesterday. A case was filed on March 3 with the objective of seeking a ban on political activities of teachers and professors of Jammu University, Dr Nirmal Singh, Prof Hari Om and Prof Virender Gupta.
— PTI |
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Two file papers for Jammu LS seat Jammu, March 26 Mr Madan Lal Sharma of the Indian National Congress (INC) and Mr Surjit Singh Slathia of the National Congress (JKNC) filed nomination papers before the Returning Officer for the constituency here today. Mr Sharma filed two sets of nomination papers. No nomination papers were filed for Baramula constituency. Last date for filing of nomination papers for Baramula and Jammu parliamentary constituencies is March 31, 2004.
— UNI |
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Sale, storage of Army pattern dresses banned Jammu, March 26 The order will remain in force for two months. |
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