J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Security in place for Srinagar MC poll
Srinagar, January 31
After a clear verdict against the National Conference in civic elections held in north Kashmir, all eyes are now on the Srinagar Municipal Corporation elections in which the fate of 218 candidates would be decided tomorrow by 4.42 lakh voters.

  Editorial: At the cutting edge

4 of family among 7 killed in valley
Srinagar, January 31
Four members of a family, a woman and three children, were among seven persons killed and four others injured in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Troops rescue 3,000 stranded passengers
Jammu, January 31
Army troops rescued more than 3,000 passengers on the Jammu-Srinagar stretch of the national highway last evening when over 200 vehicles got stranded near Banihal due to fresh snowfall.

Sikh bodies flay Modi’s decision
Jammu, January 31
Various Sikh organisations have condemned the decision of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narinder Modi, to cancel holiday in connection with the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Security in place for Srinagar MC poll
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 31
After a clear verdict against the National Conference in civic elections held in north Kashmir, all eyes are now on the Srinagar Municipal Corporation elections in which the fate of 218 candidates would be decided tomorrow by 4.42 lakh voters. The elections are being held after a gap of 27 years.

The scene here is different in view of the stand taken by some separatist groups even as they had called for a boycott of elections on the plea that these held "no solution to the Kashmir problem". Observers here feel that the softened approach has been adopted following an overwhelming turnout in the twin districts of Baramula and Kupwara despite the boycott call. With its victory in north Kashmir, the ruling PDP has an added edge over its opponents of the NC here. It had made inroads into the NC bastion by wresting Batamaloo Assembly constituency in the by-elections held in 2004. The National Conference represents five of the eight Assembly constituencies in Srinagar.

Adequate security measures are being taken to instill a sense of security among the voters. The main thrust is on creating an atmosphere “so that people can come out without any fear”, said Mr S.K. Lohia, DIG, Kashmir range. Adequate security has been provided to the contestants and voters by way of area-wise domination by the security forces. Certain vital areas have also been cordoned off as a security measure. However, individual security to the candidates has not been given as their number is “quite high”. While the police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have been deployed to look after security in and around the polling stations, the Border Security Force (BSF) provides the area wise domination to frustrate the designs of militants to vitiate the process.

The police and CRPF personnel and polling staff have already been deployed at the 511 polling stations within the municipal limits where polling is to be held tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A total of 4,42,360 voters, including 2,36,298 males and 2,06,062 females, would decide the fate of 218 candidates tomorrow.

Of the 68 wards 23 have been reserved for women candidates, while 50 women are in the fray. The opposition National Conference has fielded its candidates in all 68 Wards, followed by 64 candidates fielded by the PDP, 45 by the Congress, five from the Panthers Party and 36 Independents.

There have been differences over the fielding of candidates here between the two main allies — Congress and the PDP — though Ms Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president, believes that "it is not a battle between political parties, but a fight for basic amenities." Sources here maintained that the Congress was originally willing to field 35 candidates, but its ally PDP wanted the number to be restricted to less than 20. The differences thereby led to the Congress raising the number of its contestants to 45.

The ruling PDP has welcomed the statements of Hurriyat leaders, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Moulana Abbas Ansari regarding these civic elections. Its spokesman said the separatists also believed that the civic bodies’ elections were only meant for the betterment of civic facilities and not for resolving the Kashmir issue. Ms Mehbooba Mufti, president of the PDP, said Mr Geelani had authenticated the view of the ruling party and added that its realisation was a welcome step. Mr Geelani had earlier stated that these elections were meant only for civic bodies but were being exploited by pro-India parties and added that people “voted for civic bodies and not for India”. Mr Geelani held that the call to boycott elections had been given to check the exploitation.

Ms Mufti said the people, by coming out in large numbers in the twin districts of Baramula and Kupwara in north Kashmir had given a clear indication that they wanted a solution to their problems. She addressed over a dozen election rallies here during the past couple of weeks and reiterated that the civic polls had nothing to do with the Kashmir issue.

Holding that there was 33 per cent reservation for women in these elections, Ms Mufti hoped that there would be positive response from the women voters too.

4 of family among 7 killed in valley
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 31
Four members of a family, a woman and three children, were among seven persons killed and four others injured in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

One person was injured when suspected militants fired upon a canvassing vehicle of the National Conference contesting civic poll for the Srinagar Municipal Corporation here last evening.

In another incident, militants fired upon the house of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, candidate of the Congress at Khudhamam Dooru in Anantang district, yesterday. However, no one was injured in the incident.

The police here said that four members of a family were killed when suspected militants threw a grenade into their house at Nashala Bijarni in Doda district of Jammu region last night. Two others, including the house owner, Abdul Aziz and his four-year-old daughter, Safia Bano, were injured in the incident. Those killed were identified as Naseema Begum, wife of Abdul Aziz, their 15-year-old son, Sabu, and daughters, Rabeena Bano (10) and Rehana Bano (5).

Three unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Manjakote area of Rajouri district in Jammu region yesterday. Two AK rifles and a wireless set were recovered from the site of the encounter. The security forces also recovered 256 cartridges and 10 pencil cells from a cave at Dharana, Rajouri, during searches.

Troops rescue 3,000 stranded passengers
Tribune News Service

Sikh bodies flay Modi’s decision
Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 31
Various Sikh organisations have condemned the decision of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narinder Modi, to cancel holiday in connection with the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Leaders of several Sikh organisations held a meeting hero today, which was presided over by Mr S.S. Wazir, a former President of the state Gurdwara Prabhandak Board, adopted a resolution in which they expressed anguish over Mr Modi’s decision.

The resolution said that Mr Modi’s decision was “aimed at communalising the situation not only in Gujarat but in other states.”

It appealed to the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, to intervene so that Modi was forced to revoke the order for the cancellation of public holiday on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. It said the order was “most insulting not only for the Sikhs but for all those who were followers of the great spiritual and religious leader.

Those who attended the meeting included Mr Narbir Singh, president state Akali Dal (Youth), Mr Mohinder Singh, chief organiser Bhai Kanhaya Nishkam Sewa Society, Mr Paramjit Singh, president AISSF, and Mr Amar Singh, president Sikh Welfare Society.

The leaders of these Sikh organisations urged the BJP president, Mr L.K. Advani, to force Mr Modi to resign in case he did not agree to revoke the order.