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Top Lashkar man among 7 militants killed in valley
Mufti seeks public support
APHC finds wait for PM’s invite too much
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Hurriyat-Kashmiri Pandit meeting on July 19
J&K seeks Central help for police modernisation
2 Amarnath pilgrims die of cardiac arrest, one drowns
Floods wash away mines along
IB, LoC in J-K
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Top Lashkar man among 7 militants killed in valley
Srinagar, July 11 Four decomposed bodies were found from the Lam forest area in Tral, Pulwama district, in south of Kashmir today. They were believed to be of militants, buried alive under snow avalanche in February this year, the police said here. Some arms and ammunition were lying near the bodies. A divisional commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba was killed in an encounter with security forces at Ghodal in Doda district in Jammu today. He was identified as Mohammad Hafiz, alias Shahbaz. One AK rifle, three magazines, 10 rounds, one hand grenade and a wireless set were seized from the site of encounter. Two militants and a civilian were killed in an encounter between militants and security forces at Bapora in the Bandipore area of Baramula district yesterday, a police spokesman said here. The militants were identified as Hanzula, alias S4 from Pakistan, deputy district commander and chief financial controller of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Tanveer Abbasi, alias Gazali from Pakistan. The seizure made from the spot included two AK rifles seven magazines, 330 rounds, one pistol, one magazine with three rounds, two UBGL launchers, 12 grenade launchers, two radio sets, a mobile phone and two audio cassettes. Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Chhaterwachi in the Zainapora area of Pulwama district yesterday. They have been identified as Mir Momin Siraji, alias Momin Bhai from Pakistan, district commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad and his associate Mohammad Iqbal Wani, alias Furkan, from the Nagbal area. The recoveries included two AK rifles, six magazines, and 26 rounds, a defence spokesman said. The militants were involved in a dacoity at the Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch at Imam Sahib, Shopian, in November last year, the police said. A sum of Rs 35 lakh was looted in the dacoity. Two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with security forces at Gambhir Mughlan in Rajauri district of the Jammu region. One of them was identified as Mohammad Akbar, alias Abu Rehan from Pakistan. Two AK rifles, six magazines, 90 rounds, five detonators and a as many hand grenade were seized. |
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Mufti seeks public support
Srinagar, July 11 Addressing a public meeting at Kupwara in north Kashmir today, he said a peace was in the best interest of the people of the state and added that peace process needed continued public support. He said the message of peace and reconciliation emanating from Jammu and Kashmir had received global support and appreciation. He said Pakistani leadership was also advocating dialogue as the only option to address problems, rejecting violence as means to resolve matters. The Chief Minister said the 2002 Assembly elections were a milestone in the journey to peace adding by opting the democratic way to give vent to their aspirations people helped a great deal in bringing a turnaround in the situation. He recalled when his party was formed a sense of insecurity was prevailing in the state. He appreciated the support Jammu and Kashmir received from the Centre and especially mentioned the considerate approach of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi towards the state. He said the state was the priority with the Prime Minister who had sanctioned a Rs 24,000 crore economic reconstruction programme for Jammu and Kashmir that would completely change it’s profile. The Chief Minister said transparency and accountability brought into the administration had yielded positive results. He said in the past about three years 50,000 youth were provided employment and not in one case anybody could raise a finger on the selection process. As Chief Minister, he said he had not interfered in the recruitment process and let the merit prevail. Mr Mufti said his government promoted democratic atmosphere in the state where people had the freedom to put forth their views. He said not only the mainstream politicians, but even the Hurriyat leaders were also addressing public meetings across Kashmir. He said he believes in the freedom of expression saying that democracy was the battle of ideas. Referring to Kupwara, the Chief Minister said the district was the worst-affected during the long turmoil. He said the situation could be gauged by the fact that in one village alone there are 250 orphans.
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General Prasad discusses J&K security with Mufti
Srinagar, July 11 General Prasad, who is on a visit to the valley, had called on Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha (retd) yesterday and discussed the prevailing situation in the state. Corps Commander of 15 Corps, Lt Gen S S Dhillon, also accompanied General Prasad at the meeting with Mr Sayeed. He will also visit field formations and interact with soldiers.
— UNI
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APHC finds wait for PM’s invite too much
Jammu, July 11 He said “we have been seeking a date for a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the past one year. Instead of giving definite information the Central leaders keep on repeating that the Government was willing to hold talks with any group, including the APHC”. Asked why doesn’t the APHC leadership send a formal letter to the Prime Minister or telephone his Private secretary for a meeting, the Maulvi said “the executive committee of the APHC has already conveyed to the Centre that the leaders of the conglomerate were keen to resume the dialogue with the Centre”. The Maulvi said “we want the prime Minister and the Home Minister not to club us with other political groups whose leaders have been meeting the Central leaders”. He said “we want to meet Prime Minister for sorting out an issue that has threatened peace in subcontinent .As such it is in the interest of India that we are allowed to discuss the matter with the Government of India”. Knowledgeable circles in state said that Delhi has been forced by events to go slow on the question of sending a formal invitation to the APHC leaders for a dialogue. According to these circles, Delhi felt slighted when the APHC leadership conveyed to Delhi that it would meet Mr Manmohan Singh after their return from Pakistan tour. Secondly , the BJP has criticised the UPA Government for having allowed the APHC to visit Pakistan without Indian passport. Thirdly, the APHC leaders’ happiness over Islamabad recognising them the representatives of Kashmiris ,had not gone well with men who matter in Delhi. Hence the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister were advised to avoid showing haste in inviting the APHC leaders for talks. The result is sheer annoyance among the APHC leaders. Maulvi Ansari said today: “we are not beggars. If we are invited for talks we will be happy. If we are not we will not beg for it”.
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Hurriyat-Kashmiri Pandit meeting on July 19
Srinagar, July 11 ‘’We are holding our first meeting with Kashmiri Pandits in Srinagar on July 19,’’ former Hurriyat Chairman Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat told UNI. He said the meeting would discuss the safe return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. ‘’We will also sit and discuss ways and means to resolve the Kashmir issue besides other problems faced by us,’’ Prof Bhat added. However, the senior Hurriyat leader said the resolution of the Kashmir issue was very important. The settlement of the Kashmir issue would serve the interests of all sections of the society besides India and Pakistan, he added. ‘’Problem free people live a comfortable life and make faster progress,’’ he said. A deputation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits had called on Mirwaiz Farooq on July 5 and agreed to meet on July 19. The meeting is expected to be attended by senior leaders of various Kashmiri Pandit organisations. However, the move suffered an initial setback when two prominent Kashmiri Pandit outfits — the Panun Kashmir and the All-State Kashmiri Pandit Conference — refused to attend the meeting. — UNI
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Hurriyat emergency meeting today
Srinagar, July 11 Chairman of the Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has convened an emergency meeting of all its three bodies, including the executive working committee and general council tomorrow, sources in the conglomerate said. Mr Patil, who was here yesterday to review the security scenario in the state especially for the ongoing Amarnath yatra, told reporters that no fresh invitation would be extended to Hurriyat Conference for talks but those who are willing to talk were always welcome. “I don’t know what you mean by fresh invitation. Hurriyat has already had two rounds of talks with the Centre and New Delhi is ready to talk to all those people and groups who come forward,” he had said in response to queries by reporters.
— PTI
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J&K seeks Central help for police modernisation
Jammu, July 11 During a review meeting that Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had with senior functionaries of the Kashmir Government in Srinagar yesterday, a demand was made for Central assistance for modernising weaponry, mobility and communication system of the state police. Mr Patil was told by Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma and Minister of State for Home Abdul Rehman Veeri that besides additional bulletproof cars, the police required bomb and IED jammers and automatic bomb initiators during operations against militants. The state team informed the Union Minister since militants had started banking on IEDS, grenades and RDX explosives, the police needed to be equipped with the equipment that could foil the game plan of the rebels. Mr Patil is said to have assured the state authorities that their demand would receive due consideration by the Central Government. Mr Veeri also stressed upon the need for financial backup and sanction for raising five additional battalions of the police in the state. The demand was made after the Union Home Minister praised the role of the police in containing the activities of militants. He was told that raising five additional battalions would not only help the state government to tide over the problem of unemployment but also enable the police to have a better network for taking on the rebels. Mr Patil informed the state team that its demand for raising additional police battalions would be examined by the Home Ministry shortly. He agreed there was a need to further modernise weaponry and communication system of the police. |
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2 Amarnath pilgrims die of cardiac arrest, one drowns
Srinagar, July 11 Ganesh Kaka (75) of Gujarat and 55-year-old Jevan Dass of Punjab died due to heart failure at Sheshnag and Panchtarni on the traditional Pahalgam route respectively, the sources said. While Dass breathed his last this morning, Kaka passed away last night, they said. They said Darshan Singh, a resident of Batinda village of Punjab, fell accidentally into Lidder stream at Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam yesterday and lost his life. The body of Singh, driver with Shiv Shakti Langar, was yet to be recovered from the fast flowing stream, a tributary of river Jhelum, the sources said. Sham Lal of Pathankot (Punjab), Ram Krishan of Lucknow (UP), Prem Kumar and Tilak Raj of Delhi and Ouni Lal of Gujarat had died of heart failure at Baltal and Sangam during the past 21 days, they said. — PTI
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Floods wash away mines along IB, LoC in J-K
Jammu, July 11 Security agencies today recovered three such mines, one at Gallar in Samba tehsil and two others at riverbed of Basantar river in Jammu district, and defused them, the sources said here. “The flash floods have created another threat for civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, as hundreds of anti-personnel mines (APMs) and anti-tank mines (ATMs) along the Indo-Pak border got washed away,” the sources told PTI. Over 30000 APMs and 5000 ATMs were planted along Indo-Pak border in the state to stop infiltration, they said adding, these also act as anti-sabotage measures against enemies. But 200 to 300 such mines planted along international border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) have gone missing after the floods, they said adding, “these have got washed away and might be disposed somewhere else in civilian areas.” — PTI
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