J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

NC activist, 8 militants shot in J&K
Srinagar, September 19
Ten persons, including a National Conference activist and eight militants, were killed and two civilians critically wounded in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said today. 

Ticket to MPs’ kin ruffles Cong men
Jammu, September 19
The decision of the Congress high command to stick to dynastic politics by giving ticket for Akhnoor and Basohli seats to family members of two MPs, Madan Lal Sharma and Lal Singh, is being resented by party circles here.

Bahu Fort park cries for care
Jammu, September 19
The artificial lake at the Bahu Fort park here has dried because of the seepage of water and the pedal boats in it have been grounded. The lake has dried for the second time in the past few years, but the authorities have not taken any steps to restore it although the park is the only place for outing for the residents of the town. 

Pedal boats getting demaged in the dry artificial lake near Bahu Fort in Jammu.  — Photo by Madan

NC activist, 8 militants shot in J&K

Srinagar, September 19
Ten persons, including a National Conference activist and eight militants, were killed and two civilians critically wounded in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said today. The NC activist Mohammad Ibrahim was shot at by militants while he was working in his orchard at Tahab in Pulwama district today, the spokesman said.

Ibrahim was rushed to a Srinagar hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, he added.

The spokesman said two militants of Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit were killed in an encounter at Wani Doroosa in Sogam area of frontier district of Kupwara today. One of the slain militant has been identified as Saifullah Rehman, he said.

Another militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Lalpora area of the same district, the spokesman said.

He said a Pak-trained militant Imtiyaz Ahmed Wani of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit was killed in a gunbattle at Dedina Waterwani in Budgam district of central Kashmir.

One AK rifle, three magazines, 23 rounds and four handgrenades were found from the site, he added.

The spokesman said three militants were killed at Aham Sharief in Bandipora area of Baramula district yesterday. One of them has been identified as Abdul Gani Reshi. Three AK rifles were found from them, he added.

A self-styled section commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Mohammad Amin, was killed in an encounter at Nun Chaba in Gandoh area of Doda district last evening, the spokesman said, adding that a .303 rifle with seven rounds and two handgrenades were found from the slain militant.

He said a special police officer (SPO) Altaf Hussain was killed in a gunbattle with militants at Mela Mang Dhok in Darhal area of Rajouri today. Militants managed to escape from the site, he said.

He said another SPO was injured when militants fired on a police party of Surankote police station at Shindare in Poonch last evening.

Militants shot at and critically injured two civilians Arif Ahmed Khan and Gul Hassan Khan at Goguldar-Hapatnar in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, the spokesman said, adding that the injured, who were kidnapped by militants on September 17, had been hospitalised.

He said a militant involved in hurling grenades on security forces and public places was arrested from Bunaz Bazar in Shopian area of Pulwama district last evening.

Meanwhile, the security forces busted three militant hide-outs and seized 48 rounds and 22 magazines from a hide-out in Gurez area of Baramula district, two UBGLs, three handgrenades, eight UBGL grenades, 225 rounds, two claymore mines, 12 IEDs, 2.5 kg of explosives and a binocular from another hide-out in Daryala area of Doda district last evening, he said.

One AK rifle, two magazines and 58 rounds were recovered from a militant hide-out in Kalal Kas forest area in Rajouri district last night, the spokesman added. — PTI

Ticket to MPs’ kin ruffles Cong men
S.P.Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 19
The decision of the Congress high command to stick to dynastic politics by giving ticket for Akhnoor and Basohli seats to family members of two MPs, Madan Lal Sharma and Lal Singh, is being resented by party circles here.

To top this, the party has left the two seats in the Kashmir valley — Pahalgam and Batmaloo — for Mufti Sayeed’s PDP to contest.

Byelection to the two seats will be held next month, as the two legislators who were elected to the Lok Sabha vacated these.

While the Congress ticket for Akhnoor seat in Jammu district has been given to Shyam Lal, brother of Madan Lal Sharma, the ticket for Basohli seat in Kathua district has gone to Kanta Andotra, wife of Lal Singh.

Dharam Pal Sharma, a senior leader of the party who has contested Akhnoor seat four times, was earlier considered as a front runner for the ticket, but the party backing an altogether inexperienced person like Shyam Lal has come as a surprise.

Dr Karan Singh, a former ruler of the state, was reportedly backing Thakur Puran Singh for the Basohli seat.

Both newly elected MPs had been campaigning for a ticket to their relatives for some time.

Initially, the party high command had rejected their plea but later it relented. It is learnt that Shyam Lal did not even figure in the panel that was forwarded by the PCC for the ticket.

Shyam Lal and Ms Andotra are raw hands in politics.

The dynastic play is also expected to feature in the valley, where Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed is likely to seek election from Pahalgam seat, which has been vacated by his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, who got elected to the Lok Sabha.

Mufti Sayeed is currently a member of the Legislative Council, as he earlier did not opt to face a direct election.

The National Conference is also not lagging behind in dynastic politics, as it is likely to field Irfan Shah for the Batmaloo seat, which got vacated due to the death of his father Mohiuddin Shah.

Bahu Fort park cries for care
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 19
The artificial lake at the Bahu Fort park here has dried because of the seepage of water and the pedal boats in it have been grounded. The lake has dried for the second time in the past few years, but the authorities have not taken any steps to restore it although the park is the only place for outing for the residents of the town. It is being alleged that the poor quality of work has led to the drying of the lake.

The park was constructed on the hill slope of the Bahu Fort a few years ago, but has always been neglected by the successive governments.

Mr R.K. Bhan, in charge of the park, said steps were being taken to restore the lake and it might take some time to begin the job.

The lights around the lake have been broken by miscreants, as there is skeleton manpower to take care of the sprawling property at night. The steel arches erected about three years ago for building rain shelters and installing benches, are still without any roof.

However, the lower terraces of the park are lush green and many trees have been planted. But visitors complain that there are no shady trees in the park under which they could protect themselves from the sun.

The park is also facing a threat as the debris of an under-construction aquarium flow into its water bodies.