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Police lathicharges demonstrators, 36 hurt
Hindu youths joining militant outfits for money in J&K
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Exchange has altered Pakistanis’ perspective, says Mufti
ASI killed, jawan hurt in militant attacks
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Police lathicharges demonstrators, 36 hurt
Srinagar, November 10 The demonstrations were also held in the highway township of Pampore, about 15 km from here, and Handwara. The JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yaseen Malik, and several others were rounded up by the police. At least 36 persons, including a woman and four police personnel, were injured. The Opposition National Conference also held protest demonstrations against the recent incidents of alleged rape and the IED explosion in which the party president, Mr Omar Abdullah, and other senior leaders had a narrow escape at Sarnal in Anantnag district on October 24. A protest demonstration led by former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar was taken out from the party headquarters at Zero Bridge that culminated at Residency Road near central Lal Chowk here. The NC leaders holding banners and placards criticised the Mufti-led coalition government blaming it for the third such incident during the recent days. Another incident of the alleged rape of a woman at Mattan in Anantnag district of south Kashmir was reported last week. The third incident related to the alleged rape of a girl from Sopore in a hotel here last month. The NC leaders demanded a thorough inquiry into the matter. Angry demonstrators took to streets at Maisuma in the central Lal Chowk area this morning forcing the shopkeepers to down their shutters. They pelted stones on the police leading to lathi charge and lobbing of tear gas shells. The ding-dong battle between the angry demonstrators and police continued for several hours, which led to a partial shutdown in Lal Chowk, nerve centre of the town, ahead of the Id festivities. The traffic on the roads, however, was resumed soon after. Reports of stone pelting also came in from Pampore on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. Protests were also held by the students of Government Medical College. The teaching work at the University of Kashmir was suspended today following demonstration by the students yesterday. The JKLF chief along with five of his supporters was held by the police when they had gone to the UNMOG at Sonwar here to submit a memorandum addressed to the UN Secretary-General. Meanwhile, the ruling PDP and the Opposition National Conference have geared up their blame game over the incidents of alleged rape in Handwara and Mattan. The NC president, who visited Handwara town today, squarely held the Mufti-led coalition government responsible for the incidents, a day after the PDP president, Ms Mehbooba Mufti faced angry demonstrations in the town yesterday. Mr Omar Abdullah, while reacting to a statement of Ms Mehbooba Mufti blaming the Union Government for sabotaging the PDP’s healing touch, said it was an irony that while her father was trying to hush up the Handwara rape case she was trying to project herself as a protector of the human rights of the people of the state. "If the PDP strongly feels that the Union Government is responsible for the atrocities in Kashmir, it should break its alliance with the Congress and Mehbooba should not sit in the treasury benches with the Congress in Parliament", he said. He said the treatment she received at the hands of the people of Handwara yesterday clearly illustrates that the people no longer trusted her. A spokesperson of the PDP while condemning the alleged rape of a mother-daughter duo of Badra Payeen, Handwara today said the government would see to it that the guilty was punished severely. The spokesperson also respected the resentment shown by the people by holding demonstrations against this shameful act. He said that carrying out protests against the atrocities was a sign of a healthy democratic set-up and added that such demonstrations keep the government on its toes making it answerable to the masses. |
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Hindu youths joining militant outfits for money in J&K
Jammu, November 10 Manoj Kumar was a member of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) that was responsible for massacre of hundreds of innocent persons in the state. One of the reasons that the sources have put forth for the Hindu boys having joined the militant outfit is the extreme poverty in these areas. Manoj Kumar himself told media persons that he was kidnapped and given a gun by another Hindu militant, Baldev Singh. There are reports of over a dozen Hindu boys operating as terrorists in various parts of the state. It is a well-known fact that the ISI of Pakistan has been paying a handsome amount to those who join the militant outfits. A price tag has been fixed for every work they are assigned, including creating terror by killing innocent persons. There are reports that the ISI is also paying them a one-time cash dole according to their status in the organisation. But the rehabilitation policy for the militants announced by the state government has also become a catch for them as it not only provides an opportunity to them to return to the mainstream, but also a financial package to earn a respectable livelihood. A fixed deposit of Rs 1.50 lakh and a monthly remuneration of Rs 2,000 each to the surrendered militant have made nearly 300 of them to surrender. As many as 210 militants have surrendered in the Jammu region in the past four years. However, the sops to militants have created a controversy, particularly among the unemployed youth, who have started pointing out that being a terrorist was a gainful proposition as the ultras are fed by Pakistan when they take arms in their hands and then the state government provides them financial benefits and jobs after they surrender. Take the case of Manoj Kumar, who joined militancy in May this year, but has become entitled for financial benefits by the state government by surrendering within six months. All such surrenders need to be examined thoroughly, it is being pointed out even by a section of the security forces. The Army has launched “Operation Sadbhavana” in the far-flung areas in a bid to keep the people involved in the development process. Such steps and the rehabilitation policy for militants have made a number of militants sit on the fence and wait for an opportunity to surrender. However, there is fear among the surrendered militants as the terrorists have started targeting them. |
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Exchange has altered Pakistanis’ perspective, says Mufti
Jammu, November 10 The Mufti was addressing mediapersons after releasing two journals that have been revived by the Information and Public Relations Department. He said Kashmir had become a show-window of economic development in the state and he had urged the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, that there should be no restrictions on Pakistani tourists' visit to Kashmir. The Chief Minister said a delegation of Pakistani mediapersons that recently visited Jammu and Kashmir had returned with a different impression as they saw democracy and development in the valley. He said it was a welcome development that people of both countries had now started realising that the 57-year confrontation had not helped and dialogue was the only way to resolve the differences. He said the disputes could not be solved at a single meeting as there was no solution to the confrontation that had been continuing since Partition. He said about 1000 persons each from India and Pakistan would take out a peace march and cross the Wagah border. Replying to a question about the allegation of former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, that the Mufti government was trying to eliminate him, the Mufti denied this and pointed out that there was a grenade attack on himself (Mufti) when he had gone to Anantnag to file his papers for the byelections. |
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ASI killed, jawan hurt in militant attacks
Srinagar, November 10 ASI Mumtaz Hussain was shot dead by unidentified pistol-borne militants at Surankote Bazar in Poonch district this afternoon, the spokesman said. Hussain was fired upon by militants from point-blank range causing grievous injuries to him. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead, he said. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the incident. A hunt has been launched to nab the militants involved in the shooting which sparked panic in the area, the spokesman said. He said militants also attacked a security search party at Gangata in the Shiva area of Doda district early today, causing injuries to a jawan, who has been hospitalised. Security personnel fired back but the militants escaped from the scene taking advantage of darkness, the spokesman said. He said the security forces apprehended a militant from Magam village of Handwara and seized a pistol, its one magazine, 55 cartridge and nine hand grenades from his possession.
— PTI |
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