 |
|
Kashmir awaits visitors
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Seven militants among 9 killed in Pulwama
2 pilgrims killed in road accident
|
|
Kashmir awaits visitors Srinagar, May 22 If last year was a memorable one for tourism in terms of the number of tourists visiting the valley, the beginning of the current season is forgettable for the authorities. “We had expected it to be as good a year as the previous one. It’s still early days but signs are not good,” rued Mohammed Ismail, who is the only person lolling around in his shikara, waiting for some tourists to turn up. The over-dependence, as a senior official put it, of local economy on tourism means that an average Kashmiri’s living standard through a year often depends upon the number of visitors he has entertained. Asked why tourists are not That is why, official sources explained, the government has decided not to give out the statistics about the number of tourists arriving here. “If the figures are good, militants resort to violence and if they are poor, they hurt us,” he said matter-of-factly. But he insisted that it was also happening because they were focussing on high-end visitors who spend considerable amount of money, rather than those who, at times, come with their own tiffin. So far, however, the changed focus is not really benefiting the local economy. And, maybe, as Ismail said, the government is not doing enough. “The tourists want comfort, and the back-breaking road journey to the valley is anything but comfortable. Why should a family from Delhi or Chandigarh suffer so much trouble to come here, if he can go to a hill stations in Himachal Pradesh without much discomfort,” he said. His views also find resonance with the tourists. “The connectivity is not really good and it discourages us,” Balwinder Singh of Jalandhar said. He is here with his family.
|
|
|
Bandh complete, peaceful
Jammu, May 22 The bandh was peaceful and supported by the Jammu Traders Associations, the Jammu High Court Bar Association, transport unions and the local units of the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the Panthers Party. However, a few private banks and post offices functioned partially this morning before their closure was forced by Sikh youths at the Bahu Plaza complex and other places amidst the presence of policemen. Inter-state bus service also remained paralysed till afternoon at the ISBT here. No bus or truck from Punjab entered the city till evening. Except for an isolated incident in which two youths were beaten up by security guards of a minister at Vikram Chowk, no untoward incident occurred during the bandh which remained in force till afternoon. The Jammu District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and other Sikh bodies thanked people of Jammu for observing a peaceful bandh. The committee office-bearers also thanked the BJP and other political organisations for supporting the bandh. ''It was a voluntary bandh in which people observed strike cutting across religious barriers and we are thankful to all communities for this,'' Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) J and K unit president H S Rana told reporters. He added that the CBI probe against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in cases like alleged exploitation of women at dera headquarters in Sirsa and the murder of a Sirsa-based journalist should not be delayed. Meanwhile, the Bhai Kanahiya Jee Nishkam Sewa Society and other Sikh bodies, including the Sikh Students Federation and the Sikh Naujawan Sabha have urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene for the arrest of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief by the Punjab Police. They also reiterated their request to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to arrest the dera chief to keep law and order under control and pacify the Sikh community's anger.
|
|
Seven militants among 9 killed in Pulwama
Srinagar May 22 Sources said two militants, one of them the district commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad and an Army jawan were killed and five other jawans injured in an encounter at Kesrigam in Pulwama district. Those killed have been identified as a Pakistani militant Wasim, district commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad and a local militant, Arshid Dar, alias Omar. The encounter ensued when the hiding militants opened fire on the police search party. Sawar Choudhary Rajesh of 53 RR, who was among the six injured, later succumbed to his injuries, the police informed. A defence spokesman said the house, in which militants were hiding, was cordoned off at around 11pm last night. The hiding militants lobbed a grenade and opened fire on the troops that led to the encounter, he added. Meanwhile, four militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with a joint operations party of the police and the Army at Chak Matrigam in the Shopian area of Pulwama district today. Acting on specific information, cordons and searches were launched in the area that led to the encounter, the police said. One of the militants was identified as a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant, Nazir Ahmed of Rakh Litter, Pulwama. Another militant was killed in an encounter with the CRPF at Meloora in Pulwama district today. A civilian was also killed in a cross-fire during the encounter.
|
|
2 pilgrims killed in road accident
Udhampur, May 22 The victims, after paying obeisance at the holy shrine, were on their way to Patnitop. One of the deceased has been identified as Vidhya Singh (42), wife of Varinder Singh of Dhansar, near Kolkata. The driver of the truck fled the spot after the accident. |
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Srinagar, May 22
