Srinagar, August 15
Reiterating his stand on the dialogue Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here today sought involvement of the representatives of all the three regions of the state for the restoration of “peace with dignity”. He said that both India and Pakistan had realised the ground situation and expressed the hope that the people of this state, which had become the focus of international attention, would become the bridge of peace between the two neighbouring countries.

Speaking on the occasion of main Independence Day celebrations at the highly fortified Bakshi Stadium here, Mufti Sayeed said Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had made it clear that the Centre was open to unconditional talks on Jammu and Kashmir. This, he said, should include different shades of opinion in the state apart from the separatist groups. He said he had always been a strong votary of dialogue to address problems and believed that violence only complicated issues. He said there was no alternative to talks and he was happy that this fact was recognised by India and Pakistan. He said reconciliation process started from here, when former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee extended hand of friendship to Pakistan.

Referring to the 16-year-long militancy, the Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir had gone through a long phase of bloodshed and violence resulting in massive loss of human lives and infrastructure. He said time had come when violent means have to be given a burial and democratic route taken to address problems. Rejecting double standards on human rights, the Chief minister said some people showed selective concern on incidents of excesses. He said while they raised hue and cry on a human rights violations involving security forces personnel, they maintained complete silence on killings of innocents.

Mufti Sayeed said the long cherished dream of people to travel on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road has been realised with the caravan of Peace regularly moving on either side. He said the road was soon to become a trade link and the day was not far when apples of Kashmir would be sold in the markets of Pakistan. The road initially opened for the divided families would be thrown open for other people also. He said the visits of different sections of people from both sides had helped promote positive atmosphere with misperceptions about each other giving way to cordiality. He said the opening of other road links across LoC is also in the offing.

The Chief Minister pointed out that with various measures taken by his government to put the economy of the state back on the rails, every sector had witnessed an upswing. He specifically mentioned education, road communication, power, tourism, agriculture, healthcare and rural development to highlight the strides made since his government assumed office in November 2002. He said in the education sector, 10,000 new schools and education guarantee centres were opened, 422 schools upgraded and 22 new colleges set up. He said two new universities and four university campus were also opened while an ordinance was issued paving the way for opening the first Islamic University in Kashmir. He said the power sector is poised for a revolution in the coming years with several mega hydel power projects being taken up. He said Rs. 18000 crore was being invested under the PM’s package alone for power generation and improvement in transmission in the state. New power projects with an installed capacity of 15000 MWs have been identified. The GDP growth rate of the state, he said, would reach 10 per cent during 2006-07.

JAMMU: Defying terrorist threats, people came out in strength today to celebrate Independence Day here as well as in the other terrorism-prone districts of the Jammu division.

The day was celebrated with enthusiasm not only here but also in Rajouri, Poonch and Doda districts.

The Tricolour was hoisted in most of the chowks here. Traders distributed sweets and offered eatables to the poor.

The main function was held at the Parade Ground here where Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma took the salute.

However, there was commotion for a brief period when Mr Sharma suddenly collapsed while taking the salute.

Later, he said he felt giddy due to heat and humidity. He was immediately carried to a chair Mr Yogesh Sawhney, Minister of State took the salute until Mr Sharma recovered.

Reports said that the I-Day functions passed off peacefully amidst tight security at Udhampur, Kathua, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch. 

Jammu, August 15
Independence Day celebrations on the international border in Jammu and on the Ladakh border today exhibited growing thaw between the Indo-Chinese and India-Pakistan relations.

While a group of officers of the Chinese Army joined the celebrations organised by the Indian troops on the Chushul border post in Ladakh, a team of Pakistani Rangers, led by Major Mohd.

Akhtar, and the BSF team headed by Mr Rajesh Gupta Commandent exchanged packets of sweets on the Suchetgarh border post.

Mr Gupta presented the Pakistani team with a basket of fresh fruits and received packets of sweets from the other side.

Defence Ministry officials said that the Chinese soldiers had participated in India’s Independence Day celebrations on the Chushul border post with the Indian troops. The members of the two sides shook hands and had tea and snacks.

A senior BSF officer said that prior to the ceasefire on the LOC “our jawans had to remain alert on the border even during national day celebrations but we celebrate these occasions in a relaxed manner.”

He said yesterday a team of Rangers and the BSF officials exchanged packets of sweets at Suchetgarh in connection with Pakistan’s Independence Day.

He said the exchange of sweets and fruits was part of the peace process and confidence-building measures. He said that since the 1999 Kargil conflict guns would roar on the border even during the celebrations of national days and festivals. However, during the last two years the guns have remained silent allowing not only the troops but the people living in the border areas to participate in festivals and other functions.

Jammu, August 15
Two persons were injured in a grenade attack on the Subdivisional Magistrate’s office in Kishtwar town of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir this afternoon, official sources said here.

Unidentified militants hurled a grenade on the gate of the office building of the SDM at around 3.25 p.m. today, they said, adding two persons, Babu Ram and Shah Nawaz, were injured after the grenade exploded. The explosion caused panic in the area and the police rushed to the spot to take stock of the siutation.They immediately rushed the injured to the sub-district hospital in the town for treatment.

A jawan was injured in firing by militants, while a village defence committee member was shot dead in Doda and Udhampur districts last night, official sources said today.

Militants fired at a Border Security Force patrol party in the Jawari area in Doda district last night, sources said.

BSF head constable Buta Singh was injured in the firing, they said adding that he had been shifted to Udhampur Hilitary Hospital.

The militants escaped after a two-hour gunbattle, sources said, adding that police personnel repulsed another attack by militants in the Khawas area of Rajouri district early today.

Militants fired at the police post in Khawas but fled after additional troops arrived on the scene. No one was injured in the incident.

In Doda district, the body of VDC member Mohammad Qasim was recovered yesterday. Qasim had been kidnapped by militants on Saturday. — PTI