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Srinagar, May 18 At least seven persons, including four militants and two Army men, were killed and three injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. Nine persons, including three children and three police personnel, were also injured in a grenade explosion at Pulwama this afternoon.
JKLF (Amanullah) to set up unit in J&K
New govt will understand problems better:
Mufti
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NC seeks fresh elections
Territorial Army recruits pass
out
A Muslim priest (from R), a Sikh priest and a Hindu priest at the oath-taking ceremony of Territorial Army soldiers in Khrew, 25 km south of Srinagar, on Tuesday.
Telecom revolution in Ladakh
28 J&K officers shifted
Army orders probe against
driver
6 caught trying to exfiltrate
Billoo gang chief arrested
Cable theft renders phone lines defunct
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2 Armymen among seven killed in J&K
Srinagar, May 18 The police said nine persons were injured when militants hurled a grenade near the State Bank of India at the main market place in Pulwama. These injured have been shifted to hospital. Two militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Hend Chawalgam village in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district today. The house in which they were hiding overnight was also damaged in the exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces. A jawan was killed when the militants fired upon the security personnel last evening. The security forces later cordoned off the house and launched fresh search operation this morning, leading to the killing of the two militants. They have been identified as Mohammad Yaseen, alias Abu Haris, and Mohammad Ashraf Wagay of the same area. Two AK rifles, five magazines, 144 rounds, a grenade and a UBGL shell were recovered from the site of the encounter, the police said. A Pakistan militant of the Al-Mansoorian outfit identified as Salman, was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Jablipora in the Beijbehara area of Anantnag district yesterday. An AK rifle, three magazines and a grenade were recovered from the site of the encounter. A militant of the Lashkar-e-Toiba was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Babagund near Qazigund in Anantnag district today. The encounter followed an ambush by the militants in which a security force jawan was killed near Qazigund. The police recovered the body of Ghulam Hassan of Banihal area from Kharu Kawana in Doda district today. The militants shot at Mohammad Maqbool Malik, a released militant of the Al-Jehad outfit in Pulwama today. Shabir Ahmad Magray was critically injured when the militants fired upon him at Tantraypora, Aishmuqam in Anantnag district today. The militants shot at Dawood Ahmad Reshi, injuries him seriously in Qazigund, last night. His father was beaten up by the militants. The BSF has busted two hideouts and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition in Baramula and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir. JAMMU (PTI):
A Colonel was among two Army men injured in an encounter with militants in Rajouri district on Tuesday, official sources said. On a tip-off, the security forces cordoned off an area in the Kalakote forest in the district to track down a group of militants. As troops searched the area, the militants ambushed them and opened fire, causing minor injuries to the Colonel and a jawan who were later shifted to hospital. |
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Army not to be put on internal security in J&K
Srinagar, May 18 “There is no question of putting the Army on internal security duty. In fact, it was the BSF which is deployed in Kashmir and that too is being phased out by the CRPF in the next three or four months,” state Chief Secretary Sudhir S. Bloeria said during an interaction with Indian Foreign Service probationers here yesterday. Lauding the efforts of the Army, BSF, CRPF and state police in fighting militancy, he said steps were being taken to ensure the “honourable” return of Kashmiri migrants to the valley. Mr Bloeria said flats were being constructed for Kashmiri Pandits in Mattan and Pattan where they are living in groups. Mr Bloeria said the tourism industry was all set to be back with a bang as tourists were thronging the valley in large numbers. Mr Bloeria also expressed hope of a systematic growth in the information technology sector in the state. “Sixty blocks in J and K have already been taken up under the ambitious community information centres programme while the remaining will have connectivity by the next financial year which will revolutionise the state’s infrastructure to keep pace with modern trends,” he said. With larger connectivity through the rail link, which is likely to reach Baramulla within three and a half years, there was bound to be a phenomenal growth in the state’s scio-economic development, he added. —
PTI |
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JKLF (Amanullah) to set up unit in J&K
Jammu, May 18 The JKLF faction, led by Pakistan-based Amanullah Khan, had ceased its existence in Jammu and Kashmir after Mr Mohammad Yasin Malik, chief of the JKLF, parted company with him some six years ago. The vice-chairman of the JKLF Amanullah, Sheikh Mohammad Afzal,who has returned to Srinagar after his 10-year stay in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir, has been assigned with the task of establishing the party unit in Jammu and Kashmir. Sheikh Afzal has demanded that other separatist groups, including his organisation leaders, be invited for talks by Delhi. He too has followed other separatist groups in rejecting the poll process, whether the Assembly or the Lok Sabha elections, as an instrument for the settlement of the Kashmir issue. Meanwhile, the separatists, especially the APHC(Abbas) and the Peoples’ Conference faction led by Mr Sajjad Lone, are, at present engaged in demonstrating their strength during the observance of the death anniversaries of Molvi Farooq,who was killed by militants in 1990, and Mr Abdul Gani Lone, who fell to the bullets of the rebels two years ago. While the APHC (Abbas) has announced that series of functions would be held in connection with the death anniversaries of Molvi Farooq and Mr Abdul Gani Lone, in order to retain the support of the faction of the Peoples’ conference, headed by Mr Bilal Ahmed Lone, Mr Sajjad Lone, on the other hand, would hold a separate function for observing the death anniversary of his father, Mr Abdul Gani Lone. Mr Sajjad Lone has quit the APHC(Abbas) five months ago in protest against Molvi Umar Farooq leading the funeral procession of a rebel leader who was suspected to have masterminded the assassination of Mr Abdul Gani Lone.This led to the split in the Peoples’ Conference with the two brothers heading separate groups. Members of the Kashmir Bar Association had joined hands with the JKLF chief, Mr Mohammad Yasin Malik, Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah, president, Democratic Freedom Party, and Sheikh Aziz Ahmed, chief of the Peoples’ League, for bringing about reconciliation among the separatists, especially the two factions of the APHC,one headed by Molvi Abbas Ansari and the other by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. However,so far there has been no progress in the exercise even when the APHC(Abbas) leaders had announced that its doors were open for reconciliation. |
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New govt will understand problems better:
Mufti
Jammu, May 18 Talking to mediapersons after the conclusion of the first convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, here yesterday, the Chief Minister said even as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in New Delhi was helpful, he hoped the new government would be more positive towards Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister said his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would work as a coalition partner with the Congress at the Centre like it did in the state. He said the arrangement had worked well in the state and hoped it would do so at the Centre too. He said Jammu and Kashmir was likely to be adequately represented in the new Union Council of Ministry which would make it easy for the Central Government to appreciate issues concerning the people of the state and take necessary measures. Asked if the peace process initiated during the Vajpayee government would be carried forward, Mufti Sayeed said it was, perhaps, the only issue on which there was national consensus. All political parties across the board had supported this initiative, he said, adding he saw no reason why the process would not be taken forward. Earlier, while addressing the convocation, the Mufti stressed diversification of agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir to replace low-yield traditional farming. He asked the agriculture universities to hold seminars and discussions to educate farmers about advancement in the agriculture sector and the need to adopt the latest methods of farming. “Even our extension educators need to be educated,” he said. He said unless the latest technology reached the farmer, it was of no use. Eminent agricultural scientist and Director-General, Indian Council for Agricultural Research, Dr Mangala Rai, was the chief guest. Governor Lieut-Gen (retd) S.K. Sinha, who is also Chancellor, SKUAST, Jammu, conferred degrees on the first batch of graduates.
Srinagar, May 18 Trouble erupted as people poured onto streets alleging custodial killing of a militant, who the security forces said was killed during an encounter last night. The demonstrators, who were shouting slogans against the forces, turned violent and pelted them with stones, they said. The security forces tried to disperse the crowd by firing couple of warning shots into the air which failed in its objective. A shopkeeper was seriously injured in the incident, they added. —
PTI |
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NC seeks fresh elections
Srinagar, May 18 Reacting sharply to the poll figures as released by the senior PDP leader and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, here yesterday, a spokesman for the NC said these figures had been manipulated and were far from the actual poll figures. He alleged that the PDP had tried to project “genuine voters as bogus” in an attempt to overshadow its malpractices during the polling in the Srinagar constituency. He said the Election Commission had filed an FIR against the PDP leader on the basis of media reports against the party. There was only 8 per cent of polling up to 3 pm in the Anantnag constituency which had been later “manipulated and raised” to 17 per cent, thereby ensuring the victory of the PDP candidate, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, he said. Similar practices had been adopted in the Ladakh constituency, where he alleged that a different picture was reflected after EVMs reached the counting centre. The PDP indulged in similar practices in the Jammu region also, he claimed. |
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Territorial Army recruits pass
out
Khrew (Pulwama), May 18 “Their presence will provide an interface between the regular Army and the local populace. They will also strengthen the security grid and give confidence to the villagers”, said Maj-Gen A.K. Chopra, Chief of Staff of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Army. These troops of the Home and Hearth Territorial Army are being deployed close to their homes in areas from where they have been recruited, he said. The recruits of the Infantry battalions of the Army (Home and Hearth) comprising youth of the Kashmir valley would be deployed from Kupwara in north Kashmir to Banihal. These three battalions 160, 161 and 162 Infantry battalions are in addition to the four others for the Jammu region. This is part of the assurance given by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen N.C. Vij, during his visit to the valley in November last year. “This is the first experiment of raising such battalions of the Army in the country”, said Maj-Gen A.K. Chopra. He added that the aim of these battalions would be to provide employment to the local youth in this trouble-torn state, to help people in trouble, and to help the Army whenever required. By dint of these objectives, the raising of these battalions was unique in itself, he said. The Chief of Staff, Maj-Gen A.K. Chopra addressed the new recruits and exhorted them to work with greater zeal in the service of the people. Earlier, the troops took oath and demonstrated the oath parade. The troops also demonstrated their military skill on the basis of their training for over four months. |
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Telecom revolution in Ladakh
Ladakh (Leh), May 18 On the face of it, achieving connectivity in Ladakh may sound routine, but in reality the task is more daunting. Thanks to the availability of optical fibre connectivity and to the zeal of the BSNL, even the farthest corners of the region now stand connected. The BSNL has set up 13 fullfledged remote stations to connect people who remain cut off from the mainland for most part of the year. These 13 stations set up in locations like Drass, Hardas, Trespone, Panikar, Chiktan among others, have been connected by MCPC V-satellites. Besides this, Leh and Kargil, located at a distance of 227 km, are now on optical fibre connectivity (OFC). Even in the distant Nubra valley, the OFC has been achieved between three remotest locations, Diksit, Partapur and Theos. Media for STD connections in Kargil and Leh is on IDR satellite which, in turn, is connected to Secunderabad. As of today Ladakh has 12,928 subscribers in Leh, Kargil and Nubra, while 686 are on the waiting list. In fact, the BSNL has provided 49 Ladakh villages with VPTs (village panchayat telephones) to cater to the requirements of the inhabitants. The scheme is picking up and the demand is swelling. BSNL’s Divisional Engineer for Ladakh, Mr S.L. Raina, said that a demand for 102 VPTs was pending for clearance. He added that many areas in Ladakh had been declared non-feasible insofar as telephone connectivity was concerned. “For such regions we are planning the WLL (wireless in local loop) system. These are the places which can neither be connected through optical fibre nor through satellite,” he said. The BSNL is planning to bring the entire Srinagar-Kargil highway on OFC. While 80 per cent of the task is complete, the remaining will be taken up by this year-end. Even while connectivity has been achieved, restoration of telephone line faults remains the biggest challenge for the BSNL. Since the roads are closed for six months in a year, it becomes difficult to procure stores required for restoration of faults. Further due to heavy inflow of tourists travelling by air, even the cargo refuses to transport material to Ladakh. In winters the temperature dips below – 30° Celcius, making outdoor work impossible. Staff shortage is another problem area for the BSNL, which is yet to find ways and means of restoring the many pending faults in telephone lines.
Mobile service in Leh/Kargil by June The BSNL will launch mobile services in Leh, Kargil and Choglamsar by June. Due to difficulty of terrain the services will not be provided immediately along the entire national highway. The work of tower erection has started at Choglamsar and it is expected to be through in 15 days. Meanwhile, private companies like Airtel are also surveying Ladakh’s telecom potential. |
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28 J&K officers shifted
Srinagar, May 18 A.H. Samoon, Director, School Education, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag. Navin Kumar Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Vice-Chairman, Jammu Develoment Authority. Pawan Kotwal, Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. Rohit Kansal, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, has been transferred and posted as Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Manoj Kumar Dwvedi, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri has been transferred and posted as Director, Employment, Jammu and Kashmir. Hirdesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Doda, has been transferred and posted as Director, School Education, Jammu. B.D. Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, has been transfered and posted as Commissioner, Muncipal Corporation, Jammu. Tashi Dorje, awaiting orders of adjustment, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Leh. Mohammad Abbas Dar, Director, Employment, Jammu and Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri. Satish Nehru, KAS, Deputy Commissioner, Leh, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner (Central) in the office of Financial Commissioner (Revenue). Gulzar Ahmad Qureshi, Director, Defence Labour has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Doda. The Labour Commissioner, Jammu and Kashmir, shall hold the additional charge of the post of Director Defence Labour till further orders. M.I. Baji, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Baramula has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kargil. Sharif-ud-Din, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Baramula. Mohammad Maqbool Wani, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Budgam. Mohammad Amin Bhat, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama. Rafiq Ahmad Sheikh, Deputy Commissioner (Central) in the office of Financial Commissioner (Revenue), has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. B.M. Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur. R.C. Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, has been transferred and posted as Joint Director, Industries and Commerce, Jammu. J.S. Pachanda, Joint Director, Industries and Commerce, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Poonch. Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Settlement Officer, Jammu. Sarita Chauhan, IAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, has been posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. Charanjit Singh, Settlement Officer, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kathua. Mohammad Talib Malik, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, has been transferred and posted as Collector, Army Defence, Rajouri. M.R. Thakur, Addditional Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantag. Abdul Latief Deva, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, shall now resume his normal duties as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag. He shall also hold the additional charge of the post of Chief Executive Officer, Pahalgam Development Authority till further orders. Sharafat Ali Khan, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, relieving General Manager, DIC, Kupwara of the additional charge of the post. Abdul Majid Mir, KAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Doda, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar. —UNI |
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Army orders probe against driver
Srinagar, May 18 The Army vehicle was part of a convoy going from Srinagar to Jammu on May 12. The accident had taken place near Malpora village on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. As per the driver, Mr Bhat (60) tried to run across the road in between the two convoy vehicles which were about 40 to 50 metres apart. Though the driver had applied the brakes, the vehicle had hit Mr Bhat, injuring him critically. —
UNI |
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6 caught trying to exfiltrate
Jammu, May 18 According to a BSF spokesman, six Bangladeshis were heading towards the International Border to cross over to Pakistan when BSF troops caught them near the AMK outpost at about 5.30 a.m. The exfiltrators included two women and two children. All of them were later handed over to the police. —
UNI |
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Billoo gang chief arrested
Jammu, May 18 Acting on specific information, a police team raided a hideout in the Shakti Nagar area of the city late last night and arrested the chief of the Billoo gang, Vipan Kumar, alias “Bhoot”, they said. Vipan was involved in several cases of murder, attempt to murder and land grabbing and had links with the underworld. Some weapons and ammunition have been seized from Vipan. He is being interrogated to ascertain the whereabouts of over 24 gang members, including underworld don Sanjay Kumar, alias Sanju. Sanju had jumped parole and has been evading arrest for the last four years. —PTI |
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Cable theft renders phone
lines defunct
Jammu, May 18 A spokesman for the BSNL said it would take two to three days to restore the telephone services in the affected areas. —
UNI |
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Khrew (Pulwama), May 18
