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Hurriyat to continue ‘freedom struggle’
Omar favours involvement of separatists
After stink, operation clean-up begins in Srinagar
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3 persons killed, 8 militants held Another soldier commits suicide
Air fare to cave reduced
Most state commissions toothless
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No withdrawal of
Army: Gen Panag
Reasi, April 11
Stating that 1300 to 1500 militants were still present in Jammu and Kashmir,
he said the militants were still gaining the support from the locals.
"Over 40 per cent of the terrorists in J&K are still outsiders from Pakistan and we cannot rule out that our borders are not porous," General Panag said while talking to newsmen at the inauguration of a rehabilitation centre for women victims of terrorism here. He said infiltration was being apprehended with the onset of the summer, with the melting of snow at Peer Panjal and other border regions. The state Governor, Lt Gen S K Sinha (retd), who inaugurated the women empowerment centre Shakti Sadan, reiterated that demilitarisation in the Kashmir valley could not be undertaken till peace returned to the region. He said cross-border terrorism was still continuing. After inaugurating the centre, General Sinha said the Army was carrying out several goodwill projects for the terrorist-affected families, mainly women and children. The Army had converted three strife-torn villages into "model villages" in the state, he added. The Governor earlier inaugurated “Shakti Sadan” which now stands along with “Ankur”, another rehabilitation centre for the terrorist-hit orphan children. The twin project of “Ankur” and “Shakti Sadan” is based on the philosophy of spreading human kindness and empathy, developing children and women who are victims of militancy, both psychologically and physically, a spokesman for the Army's 16 Corps said. |
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Hurriyat to continue ‘freedom struggle’
Srinagar, April 11 Speaking at the party office at Jawahar Nagar, Nayeem Khan reiterated that the Hurriyat would continue its "freedom struggle" under the leadership of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Differentiating Hurriyat’s concept of demilitarisation from other political parties, he said the amalgam wanted complete withdrawal of troops from both sides of Kashmir . "Demilitarisation will be the first and foremost step towards the solution of the Kashmir problem", he said. Asking India to respond positively on Musharraf’s four-point proposal on Kashmir, he said both Pakistan and Kashmiris had adopted a positive and realistic approach in the ongoing peace process. Expressing serious concern over the human rights violations in Kashmir, Nayeem asked India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Disturbed Area Act. He alleged that despite ceasefire at the border Kashmiris were being killed by the security forces.
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Omar favours involvement of separatists
Srinagar, April 11 Though at loggerheads with the PDP of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, both parties and some separatist organisations have been unanimous in demanding the involvement of militant leadership in any dialogue process to find an amicable solution to the Kashmir problem. Addressing a public meeting at Qazigund in Anantnag district today, Omar said his party, despite losing 10,000 workers during militancy, favoured the involvement of separatists in the dialogue process. "This is the only way to end the problems of the people of Kashmir", he added. Referring to the ongoing differences between the Congress and the PDP over the issue of the troop withdrawal issue, NC president and MP said this had added to the problems of the people of the state.
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After stink, operation clean-up begins in Srinagar
Srinagar, April 11 The process of clearing the garbage from residential colonies and roads was started following an agreement between the residents of the Eidgah area and the elected members of the corporation yesterday. It coincided with the intervention of the state High Court on Tuesday issuing notices to the authorities concerned to report within two days about the measures taken to check the stinking environment and prevent the outbreak of an epidemic. The state High Court on Tuesday, taking suo motu note of the reports, issued notices to the commissioner/secretary, health, municipal commissioner, vice chairman, SDA, divisional commissioner, Kashmir and deputy commissioner, Srinagar to report within two days the steps taken in the matter. "It will take four to five days, even as about 40 per cent of the garbage has been removed after the work started today", said health officer of the corporation, Dr Shafqat Khan. It was a huge task with the shortage of requisite manpower and machinery to suffice the demands of about 1.5 million population of the city, officials here said. The corporation lifts only 300 metric tonnes of garbage from the municipal limits while an unaccounted garbage continues to be littered on the city roads, open places and banks of water bodies. The trouble started earlier last week when over 5500 residents of the area staged demonstrations against the dumping of garbage at the lone site of Achchan in the Eidga area of Srinagar. Forest and environment minister, Qazi Mohammad Afzal on Monday had revealed that measures were being taken to redress the grievances of the people of the area.
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3 persons killed, 8 militants held Srinagar, April 11 Official sources said body of Abdul Rahim Wagay was recovered from Dhobi mohalla in south Kashmir district of Pulwama. Wagay had been missing since October 28 last year. A body was pulled out from Jehlum river in North Kashmir today, they said. An official spokesman said civilian Mohammad Yaseen, who was injured in a hand grenade blast at Reka Chowk near here last night, died in the hospital later. Eight civilians and a constable were injured in the blast. He said two militants were arrested along with some arms and ammunition in Pulwama while five others were arrested along with Rs 2500 in fake currency at Singpora, Pattan, in Baramula district. An encounter took place between militants and security forces at Kuchal in Doda district of Jammu region in a search operation last night. Later, one militant identified as Ghulam Nabi alias Zaffar Safa of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen was arrested along with an AK INSAS rifle, seven RPG rounds and one hand grenade. JAMMU: The police today said it had apprehended a Hizbul Mujahideen militant and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession in a joint operation with the Army under Chatroo police station in Doda district. The militant was identified as Ghulam Nabi alias Zaffar Safa, a resident of Sheikh Mohalla, Kuchal, a police spokesman here said. Meanwhile, two CRPF jawans were injured in an accident when their Gypsy collided with a truck at Kanderi Nallah in Doda district.
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Another soldier commits suicide Srinagar, April 11 A police spokesman said a soldier of 52 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) shot himself dead with his service weapon at his company headquarters at Upalna in north Kashmir district of Baramulla. It was not immediately known why the soldier, identified as Pardeep Yadav, took this extreme step. This was the third such incident in less then three weeks.
— UNI
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Air fare to cave reduced
Jammu, April 11 The ice lingam had gained a height of 9 ft with a diameter of 5 ft when a group of Gujjars visited went there on March 27. Photographs taken by the group led by Qallandar show that the lingam had started crystallising to give it a longer life. These Gujjars risked their lives as they trekked 39 km on the snow-covered mountain to see whether the lingam had appeared or not. Pilgrims to the shrine last year returned disappointed as the lingam melted shortly after the pilgrimage started.The pilgrimage was also marred by a controversy of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) headed by Governor S.K.Sinha having put up an artificial ice lingam there. However, this time, the ice lingam has re-appeared as in the past and it is hoped that the late snowfall would help preserve it for a longer time. The chief executive officer of the shrine board and secretary to the Governor, Arun Kumar, told mediapersons here today that the area outside the cave shrine was still buried under 15-ft snow and it would take a lot of time to clear the 78-km bridal path and the helipad. This year's pilgrimage will start on Vrat Purnima simultaneously via Baltal and Pahalgham, subject to weather conditions, from June 30 and conclude on Shravan Purnima on August 28. Arun Kumar hoped that about four lakh pilgrims would visit the shrine for which matching infrastructural facilities were being put in place to meet the requirements. He, however, urged people not to venture for the pilgrimage on difficult and rugged terrain before the pilgrimage commenced officially. “The safety of pilgrims is our prime concern”, he said, adding that without proper security, track clearance and infrastructure it would be risky to embark on the pilgrimage. He announced a cut in the helicopter fare to the shrine from Baltal and Srinagar. The aviation companies would provide insurance cover of Rs 7.50 lakh for each adult and Rs 3.75 lakh for each child or infant ticket holder. The air fare has been reduced from Rs 7,500 to Rs 5,890 to and fro from Baltal to the cave and from Rs 20,000 to Rs 18,900 from Srinagar to the cave and back. However, those seeking to set up "langar" on the pilgrimage route shall have to deposit a refundable security of Rs 10,000 each for maintaining cleanliness of the area allotted to them. As many as 70 applications for setting up "langar" had so far been received and 58 out of them had been granted permission. Arun Kumar said the shrine board proposed to set up a micro-hydel power station at a cost of Rs 1.14 crore to light up the shrine area, whereas a 40 kva diesel generator had been stationed at Baltal for the track and base camp.
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Most state commissions toothless
Jammu, April 11 The Srinagar Bench of the commission is defunct for the past over a year following the retirement of Jamila Akhtar.Rules provide that the Jammu and the Srinagar Benches of the commission must consist of two members, including the president. Interestingly, the commission remained headless for more than a year before the present incumbent Justice G.D.Sharma was appointed the president.He does not have a trained stenographer to take notes and a private secretary. The high-profile commission is functioning in a dilapidated building in the old secretariat complex. |
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