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Srinagar, September 27 With India unilaterally relaxing visa restrictions, 15 journalists from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will for the first time visit Jammu and Kashmir on a “goodwill mission” from October 3.
Army brings hope for militant victim
Hizbul commander, civilian killed
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Pak scribes to visit J&K on October 3
Srinagar, September 27 The journalists, representing different news organisations, are members of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and their week-long visit has been facilitated by a Jammu-based English daily, sources said. They will cross over to India from the Wagah border and proceed to Jammu. The journalists will meet Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, their counterparts and government officials. They will also interact with leaders of both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderates like Abdul Ghani Bhat and Maulvi Abbas Ansari, JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabbir Ahmed Shah. The Pakistani scribes will also go to some migrant camps and before leaving for Delhi on October 9, visit Gulmarg and Mughal Gardens. The visit follows a tour of scouts from Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir to the state a few months ago. The visit of the scouts, who took part in a camp at Gulmarg, had triggered a controversy with separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani criticising the Pakistan government. Another visit that sparked a debate was of Samia Malik, a singer of Pakistan origin, who visited the valley in August. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan Information Minister, had then brushed aside Samia’s visit saying she was not a Pakistani.
— PTI |
Army brings hope for militant victim
Jammu, September 27 Mariam was admitted to the hospital with her ears and nose chopped by militants who had abducted her and subjected to torture and rape in the forest area of Manakota village in Doda districts in June last. Her fault was that she happened to be a sister of a militant who had surrendered before the Army along with the Pika gun that had been provided to him by the rebel group he was working for. First the militants approached the family members of the militant who had laid down his weapon demanding that they should either give back the Pika gun or pay Rs 20 lakh. When the rebels found that the family members were not in a position to oblige them they kidnapped Mariam Begum on June 16. They left her bleeding in the hideout and her repeated cries drew the attention of an Army patrol. She was immediately shifted to Udhampur Military Hospital. Mariam has recovered to a large extent but the very mention of the painful incident frightens her She sobbed when the Army commander, Lt Gen. Hari Prasad visited the hospital, the other day, to inquire about her progress. General Prasad assured her that all possible measures were being taken by doctors to reconstruct her nose and the ears. |
Hizbul commander, civilian killed
Jammu, September 27 On a tip-off, troops launched an operation in the Gool area this morning and a gunbattle broke out in which Gulzar, sector commander of Hizbul, was killed, they said. One AK rifle, three magazines, five grenades and one wireless set were found at the encounter site. Unidentified militants barged into the house of Gulzar Ahmed, suspecting him to be a police informer, at Seripura village in the area last night and after thrashing him slit his throat. BSF personnel arrested one 60-year old Pakistani national from a border outpost in the R S Pura sector last evening. Identified as Gulshan Ahmed, the Pakistani national was found moving in the area suspiciously, the sources said, adding Rs 90 in Pak currency was seized from him. He was handed over to the police for further investigation, the sources said.
— PTI |
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