J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Two militants among four killed in J&K
Srinagar, December 24
Two persons were killed and 24 others, including three personnel of Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police, were injured in a grenade blast near crowded Pakherpora bus stand in Badgam district this afternoon.

Power Dept role appreciated
Srinagar, December 24
The Public Accounts Committee has appreciated the overall performance of the Power Development Department (PDD) at its meeting held in Jammu yesterday. The meeting was chaired by Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, MLA, an official spokesman said.

Khurana tells dissidents to fall in line
Jammu, December 24
Senior BJP leader and former Rajasthan Governor Madan Lal Khurana today urged the loyalists and the dissidents in the state unit of the party to resolve their differences. Mr Khurana, who has been made in charge of the party affairs in the North, including Jammu and Kashmir, reached here today to sort out the problem of dissension in the state unit of the BJP. 

Govt accused of halting development works
Jammu, December 24
Former Minister of State for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta has accused the Congress-led UPA government and the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir of “deliberately” halting the execution of several development projects cleared by the then BJP-led NDA government for the state.

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Two militants among four killed in J&K

Srinagar, December 24
Two persons were killed and 24 others, including three personnel of Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police, were injured in a grenade blast near crowded Pakherpora bus stand in Badgam district this afternoon.

Elsewhere in the state, the security forces gunned down two militants and busted three hideouts during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said.

Militants hurled a hand grenade at the Pakherpora bus stand near a SOG camp immediately after Friday prayers were over at 2.45 p.m.

Twentyfive people, including 3 SOG personnel, were injured in the blast. Two of the injured later died before they could be shifted to hospital, sources said. The injured were admitted to different hospitals where the condition of some of them was stated to be critical.

The security forces and the police in a joint operation killed two militants in an encounter at Mahore in Udhampur district last night.

One jawan was also injured in the encounter which ensued during a search operation. Two AK rifles, eight magazines and one wireless set were seized from the slain militants.

The security forces unearthed three hideouts and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition, including 44 Pek sticks, two detonators, one IED, one AK-47 rifles two wireless sets and one SLR magazine at Basantgarh, Lancha Mahore and Kancha Thathri. — UNI 

Power Dept role appreciated
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 24
The Public Accounts Committee has appreciated the overall performance of the Power Development Department (PDD) at its meeting held in Jammu yesterday. The meeting was chaired by Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, MLA, an official spokesman said.

The PAC held wide-ranging discussions on the performance of the PDD and deliberated on Comptroller and Auditor General’s audit report for the year 1995-96.

The committee sought various details relating to the augmentation of power position and suggested measures in this regard.

While replying to the queries, secretary PDD, Mr. Basharat Ahmed satisfied the Members and representatives of Accountant General.

The committee placed on record its appreciation for the department for the satisfactory work and asked the officers to initiate measures to provide uninterrupted power supply in the State. The department should make long lasting viable projects keeping in mind the future requirements of the areas concerned so that the existing infrastructure was not disturbed. 

Khurana tells dissidents to fall in line
Our Correspondent

Jammu, December 24
Senior BJP leader and former Rajasthan Governor Madan Lal Khurana today urged the loyalists and the dissidents in the state unit of the party to resolve their differences. Mr Khurana, who has been made in charge of the party affairs in the North, including Jammu and Kashmir, reached here today to sort out the problem of dissension in the state unit of the BJP. 

He has succeeded in securing an assurance from the RSS-led State Morcha that it will remain away from any election process. The BJP leadership had realised that the party had won only one Assembly seat in 2002 poll against eight in 1996 because the State Morcha had fielded its candidates in more than 12 constituencies.

Inside reports said Mr Khurana might try to persuade group of dissidents led by vice-president Chander Mohan Sharma, to give up their plan of reviving the Prajya Parishad which had remained a force to reckon with till 60s.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Khurana said the reduction in troops in Jammu and Kashmir was unwarranted because terrorist violence was continuing.

He said soon after several companies of soldiers were withdrawn, the killing of security personnel had increased and that of the militants had decreased.

The BJP leader said cut in the strength of troops had affected the pace of counter-insurgency operations, which used to be intensified during the winter months.

He said the reduction in troops had caused a sense of insecurity among common people and boosted the morale of the militants. He said it had also jeopardised the security of the state.

Professor Gupta, a former Minister of State for Defence, said the state government spent huge sums of money on the rehabilitation of militants but had financial problems for resolving the problem of unemployment.

Govt accused of halting development works
Our Correspondent

Jammu, December 24
Former Minister of State for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta has accused the Congress-led UPA government and the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir of “deliberately” halting the execution of several development projects cleared by the then BJP-led NDA government for the state.

Professor Gupta said here yesterday that the Centre had delayed the inauguration of projects completed by the NDA government. Referring to the Jammu-Udhampur rail project, he said it had been completed six months ago but its opening was postponed on several occasions.

He said work on a bridge on the Ravi at Basholi, upgradation of Jammu Medical College, another bridge on the Chenab at the Akhnoor extension of Udhampur-Katra railway line and other projects had been put on the back burner.