J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Srinagar, April 22 In stepped-up violence ahead of the second phase of elections, at least two persons were killed and six others injured in two explosions here today.

Rs 270-cr project for Dal Lake okayed
Srinagar, April 22
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said today that a Rs 270-crore project had been approved for the development of Dal Lake, adding that a World Bank project for Wullar Lake was also in the offing.

Kashmiri women listen to a political speech during a rally in Srinagar on Thursday.  — Reuters

BJP suspends five members
Jammu, April 22
A day after polling for the Jammu Lok Sabha seat groupism has resurfaced within the BJP when Mr Chander Mohan Sharma, a member of the state-unit working committee, along five others were suspended from primary membership.

Lanterns given to voters confiscated
Srinagar, April 22
The election authorities have ordered the confiscation of solar lanterns distributed recently in Srinagar, citing violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Securitymen booked for eve-teasing
Baramula, April 22
The Jammu and Kashmir police has registered a case against security personnel for harassing women at Handwara in Kupwara district.

5 killed as bus rolls down into nullah
Jammu, April 22
Five passengers of a bus were killed when it rolled into a nullah after being hit by an Army truck near Tikri on the Jammu—Srinagar highway in Udhampur district today. Twentynine persons were injured in the mishap.

2 killed, 6 hurt in Srinagar blasts
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 22
In stepped-up violence ahead of the second phase of elections, at least two persons were killed and six others injured in two explosions here today. Polling for the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency will be held in the second phase on April 26.

Two labourers were killed and another was injured when an IED planted by militants in a dustbin at Gousai Colony, Khanyar, went off around 9 am today. Those killed were identified as Shamsuddin Sangoo from Karnah in Kupwara district and Farooq Ahmad Drasoo from Banihal in Doda district.

Five persons were injured in a grenade explosion near the Naaz cinema crossing around 2 pm today.

Elsewhere, four persons, including three militants, were killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday, while the security forces busted a hideout in Kathua district.

Three Pakistani militants of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen outfit were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Dara Kalaban in Poonch district. Three AK rifles, nine AK magazines, 202 rounds, three hand grenades and three pouches were recovered from the site of the encounter, the police said.

The police recovered the body of Ali Mohammad from Thuru Kund area of Doda district today.

The security forces busted a hideout at Billawar in Kathua district and recovered two rifles, two magazines, 14 rounds, one UBGL and two UBGL grenades.

Rs 270-cr project for Dal Lake okayed

Srinagar, April 22
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said today that a Rs 270-crore project had been approved for the development of Dal Lake, adding that a World Bank project for Wullar Lake was also in the offing.

“The Nigeen and Wullar lakes will also receive focused attention,” he told a boat rally on Dal Lake.

A World Bank project for Asia’s largest freshwater lake, Wullar, is also in the pipeline, he said.

Calling on the lake dwellers, especially houseboat owners, to supplement government efforts for keeping the lake pollution-free, he said voluntary efforts would go a long way in achieving the objective.

The lake wore a festive look with a large number of decorated “shikara” boats cruising on the waters. The rally was the first of its kind since the commencement of campaigning for Lok Sabha elections in Kashmir.

Mr Sayeed said the time had come for the people “to reject exploiters who had befooled them for decades and to strengthen the forces of change and development set in motion by the 2002 Assembly elections”.

The Chief Minister said for the first time in many years, the mood in the tourism industry in Kashmir was upbeat, with arrivals sharply picking up and tourist operators finding it difficult to cope up with bookings.

Two lakh tourists visited Kashmir last year, which was four times higher than the previous year’s figure. Foreign arrivals also registered a five-time increase during the same period, the Chief Minister said. — UNI

BJP suspends five members
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 22
A day after polling for the Jammu Lok Sabha seat groupism has resurfaced within the BJP when Mr Chander Mohan Sharma, a member of the state-unit working committee, along five others were suspended from primary membership.

A party spokesman said here today that the disciplinary action had been taken for their anti-party activities during the Lok Sabha elections.

Mr C.M. Sharma was a former state unit vice-president of the BJP.

Others who were suspended are Mr Madan Lal, Mr Virender Mohan and Mr Satish Sharma (Vijaypur), Master Sohan Lal (Kot Bhalwal) and Mr Rajesh Khakuria (Jammu).

There were allegations against them that they had campaigned against the BJP candidate and the state unit party chief, Dr Nirmal Singh, and supported Mr Madan Lal Sharma, PWD Minister and Congress nominee.

However, the BJP leaders have denied the allegations.

Lanterns given to voters confiscated

Srinagar, April 22
The election authorities have ordered the confiscation of solar lanterns distributed recently in Srinagar, citing violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

‘’Yes, I have directed the police to confiscate all lanterns distributed by the Science and Technology (ST) Department at Beerwah since it (their distribution) was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct,’’ Returning Officer Khawaja Bashir Ahmad told UNI.

He said about 138 such solar lanterns had been confiscated by the police till last evening.

Mr Ahmad said he had already sent a letter to the ST Director seeking an explanation for the distribution of the lanterns among rural voters in the constituency, which would go to the polls on Monday.

This was in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and the department had to reply, he said, adding that his office had not received any reply so far.

It was being alleged that the department had distributed the solar lanterns to influence the voters in Beerwah segment of the Srinagar-Budgam constituency from where National Conference president Omar Abdullah was seeking re-election. — UNI

Securitymen booked for eve-teasing

Baramula, April 22
The Jammu and Kashmir police has registered a case against security personnel for harassing women at Handwara in Kupwara district.

A senior police official said a group of people lodged a complaint that personnel of a patrol party of the security forces, deployed at Chongal Handwara, had been harassing women for the past one week.

He said an FIR had been registered against security personnel. He said senior security officers were informed about the incident who promised stern action against the guilty personnel. — UNI

5 killed as bus rolls down into nullah
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 22
Five passengers of a bus were killed when it rolled into a nullah after being hit by an Army truck near Tikri on the Jammu—Srinagar highway in Udhampur district today. Twentynine persons were injured in the mishap.

Those killed include a woman. They have been identified as Anil Kumar, Rajendra Prasad, Pushpa Devi and Rajinder Kumar. The body of a middle-aged man has not been identified.