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Sonia to ‘decide’ on next CM
Militants’ threat aimed at derailing peace talks: Pandits
Hizbul deputy commander among six militants killed
Strike cripples life in Kashmir
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Two more ultras arrested in Ayodhya case
Jawan dies in freak firing
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Sonia to ‘decide’ on next CM
Srinagar, July 27 “There is a valid agreement between the Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the transfer of power. But, any decision on the issue will be taken by Ms Gandhi”, Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed told a news conference here. He said the transition of power from the PDP to the Congress was a political issue and Ms Gandhi would take a decision on it at an “appropriate time’’. The state unit would accept any decision taken by the Congress highcommand, he added. However, the state unit chief advised the party functionaries and workers not to make statements, which would otherwise create bitterness between the two parties. “We have to run the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir not only for six years, but beyond that also. We don’t want bitterness among the two alliance partners and do not want any statements from either side,’’ Mr Sayeed, who is also the state Rural Development Minister, said. Asked if he was interested in the Chief Ministership, Mr Sayeed said, “I am a disciplined worker of the party and will abide by any decision taken by the party
high command’’. The state Congress chief said Ms Gandhi would only nominate the next Chief Minister of the state, if there was a transition of power. “He can be either from Jammu, Kashmir or Ladakh,’’ Mr Sayeed said when asked if the next Chief Minister could be from the Jammu region. Under the power sharing agreement reached between the Congress and the PDP after the 2002 elections in Jammu and Kashmir threw a hung Assembly, each party would rule the state for three years. The Congress agreed to allow the PDP to govern the state for the first three years and the transfer of power was now due in November this year.
— UNI |
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Militants’ threat aimed at derailing peace talks: Pandits
Jammu, July 27 As many as 16 Pandit leaders while referring to the threat given by Al Arifeen, Al Nasreen, Farzandani Milat and the Save Kashmir Movement, told mediamen here today, “These four militant groups who survive and thrive on borrowed guns have intensified their acrimonious campaign to thwart the new ambience of meeting of hearts in Kashmir.” Mr J.N. Bakshi, Mr Anil Dhar and Mr G.K. Mujoo, who were among the 16 Pandits present at the press conference, said, “Those who were trying to thwart the return of displaced people need to be told that no power on earth can deny or deprive the Pandits of their right to return to Kashmir. They appealed to the moderates among the separatists to “defeat the designs of fanatical groups who are trying to destroy Kashmiriyat”. The Pandit leaders held rebel groups responsible for having terrorised Pandits forcing over 3.50 lakh to flee Kashmir in 1990. They said the gun-tottting youths and their patrons were striving to destroy the cultural, secular and civilised legacy in Kashmir. In reply to a question, they said, “We will not bow to the wishes of militant groups by seeking an apology from them.” They made it clear that the time had come when all right thinking people of the displaced community and opinion making leaders in Kashmir to be involved in preparing a roadmap for “our dignified return to the valley.” The Pandits said, “We rely more on the APHC leaders than the government.” They were critical of those leaders of the displaced community who had called for a social boycott of the Pandits who had gone to Srinagar to attend a meeting convened by the APHC leaders. Asked to comment on the reticence of the leaders of the mainstream political parties and the APHC on the threat the Pandit leaders had no valid answer. Some of them singled out the National Conference leadership for not having condemned the rebel threat to Pandits and others said the government was busy with the Kupwara incident. These leaders did not hide their annoyance against those organisations that had mushroomed in Jammu and Delhi during the past 15 years. They said during the first two years of the exodus of Hindus from Kashmir there were not more than two genuine Pandit bodies and their number had swelled to 35. They were of the opinion that the mushrooming of organisations had created a situation in which not a single body could claim to represent the entire migrant community. The result was discordant and diverse stands being taken by the leaders of these organisations thereby complicating problems.
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Hizbul deputy commander among six militants killed
Srinagar, July 27 The deputy district commander of Hizbul for Bandipora area, Ishfaq Ahmad, alias Khalid of Pakistan, was killed along with his local accomplice Irshad Ahmad Dar at Aragam village of Baramulla district this morning, the defence spokesman said. He said the militants were killed when the troops opened fire in retaliation to militant firing during a cordon and search operations in the village. Two AK assault rifles, seven magazines, 156 rounds, a wireless set, two mobile phones, a pistol magazine and a grenade were recovered from the slain militants, the spokesman said. Security forces killed an unidentified militant during an operation at Handoora village of Shopian in Pulwama district today, the spokesman said. He said another militant was killed in a gunfight at Balkulgali village in border district of Kupwara today. The identity and group affiliation of the deceased was awaited as the operation in the area was still continuing. The spokesman said an unidentified militant was killed during search operations at Ajas village in Sonawari today. A civilian was also injured in the crossfire and was hospitalised, the police spokesman said adding, the search operation in the village was still continuing and further details are awaited. The police spokesman said a militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit was killed in an encounter with security forces at Yamberzalwari in Sopore area of Baramulla district early today. An AK assault rifle, two magazines, 12 rounds and two grenades were recovered from him. He said a surrendered militant of Hizbul Mujahideen Farooq, alias Imran of Punara village, was killed by an active militant of the outfit Zakir Hussain at the residence of his in-laws at Kishanpur in Kathua district last night. Hussain fled the scene after the murder and a hunt has been launched to nab him, the spokesman said. The spokesman said security forces recovered a pistol, six magazines, eight rounds, two AK magazines, 60 rounds, two grenades, a wireless set, an IED switch and a charger from a hideout at Manda area of Hari in Poonch district last night. Meanwhile, the spokesman said, a car belonging to one Syed Abdul Gayoom has been stolen from the premises of Kashmir universiy at Hazratbal in Srinagar yesterday. The police have launched a hunt to trace the stolen vehicle and arrest the culprits, he said. — PTI
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Strike cripples life in Kashmir
Srinagar, July 27 Shops and business establishments in the city and at some other major towns of the valley remained closed and traffic was also off the road. Work in government offices and financial institutions remained affected due to strike as most of the employees stayed away in response to strike call, also supported by a number of organisations, including Kashmir Bar Association, various employees unions and Kashmir traders. A report from Baramula said a complete shutdown was observed in the town. Streets were deserted and shops closed, it said. A complete shutdown was also observed at Bagargund, Vilgam and other villages for the fourth day today. Meanwhile, the government has appointed Additional Commissioner Kupwara Ali Mohammad Dar to inquire into the firing incident by the Army in which three children were killed on the night of July 23 during a marriage ceremony at Bagargund. Mr Dar has been directed to submit the report within two months.
— UNI |
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Two more ultras arrested in Ayodhya case
Jammu, July 27 Superintendent of Police (Poonch district) S.D. Jamwal said in Jammu that Mohammad Nazim and Akbar Hussain were arrested from Narool in Mendhar on a tip-off provided by the two main Lashkar cadres Nasim and Asif Iqbal, who are being interrogated jointly by the Uttar Pradesh Police and Jammu police at a joint interrogation centre here. Mr Jamwal said both arrested persons had been sent to Jammu and handed over to the interrogators of Nasim and Iqbal. The police sources in Jammu said as LeT had a wide network of contacts in Mendhar, some more arrests were likely to be made in the days to come. Nasim is accused of providing a mobile phone SIM card to the five LeT militants, who had carried out a suicide attack on the Ramjanmabhoomi site at Ayodhya on July 5, while Iqbal had supplied them arms and ammunition in his Tata Sumo.
— UNI |
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Srinagar, July 27 Sepoy Ajit Singh of 5 Jat was hit by a bullet from his own weapon while he was on duty in the Sardari Nar area this morning, the sources said. Ajit Singh was taken to hospital where he was declared brought dead, they added. — PTI
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Srinagar, July 27
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