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Patil reviews security situation in J&K
Amarnath yatra may commence on July 2
IED defused on Amarnath yatra route
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Signature drive to save Ram Setu
Lone’s statement: NC sees electoral gains
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Patil reviews security situation in J&K
Srinagar, June 30 The overall security situation in the state was thoroughly discussed and the officers gave first hand information to the Home Minister and Chief Minister, an official spokesman said here this evening. Patil arrived here on a two-day visit to review the overall security scenario earlier today. After holding a two-hour long meeting the Home Minister said the situation in the state had improved a lot. He said various suggestions were put forth that would help in further improvement of the situation. The state and central governments were working in close cooperation to achieve this objective, he said. The meeting was attended among others by the Chief Secretary C. Phunsong, DG, police, Gopal Sharma, DG, CRPF, S. I. S. Ahmad, DG, BSF, and Addl. DG, BSF, Special Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs Mitali Sen Gavai and GOC of Northern Command, Lt. Gen. H. S. Panag. The GOCs of 14, 15 and 16 Corps, IG, BSF and IG, CRPF also attended the meeting, the official spokesman said. |
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Amarnath yatra may commence on July 2
Jammu, June 30 In view of the bad weather conditions prevailing along Pahalgam and Baltal tracks towards the cave shrine, there will be no formal commencement of the annual pilgrimage tomorrow, Jammu and Kashmir minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma told reporters here this evening. The two-month long pilgrimage, which was to commence today, was deferred for till July 2 due to inclement weather enroute to the cave shrine from Baltal and
Pahalgam routes. The minister, who reviewed the arrangements for the yatra at a high level meeting here, said there will be no yatra tomorrow though the number of pilgrims who arrived here had gone up to nearly 8,000. To a question whether the shrinking of ice-lingam to one-tenth of its size would affect the arrival of pilgrims from different parts of the country, Sharma said people have faith in the sanctity of Amarnath shrine and thus undertake arduous journey to visit the cave located in south Kashmir Himalayas every year. The government is making all arrangements for the pilgrims who have arrived here from various parts of the country to undertake the yatra, he said adding officers of different departments have been directed to ensure that the pilgrims are taken care of without any problems.
— PTI |
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IED defused on Amarnath yatra route
Srinagar, June 30 The first convoy of pilgrims that was scheduled to pass through the route today, however, had already been postponed by one day due to bad weather. The police said the improvised explosive device (IED) kept in a tiffin box was detected near the gate of Government Degree College, Anantnag, on the busy Khannabal-Pahalgam road at 10 am today. It was later defused. Preliminary investigations revealed that the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit had been responsible for planting the IED, the police said. “Since the road is being used by Amarnath yatris, besides normal traffic, militant groups make attempts in yatra days to detonate explosive materials on the route,” a police spokesman said. |
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Temple bans entry of non-Hindus
Bhaderwah, June 30 Bhaderwah, which boasts of 100 per cent literacy rate, ails due to the Hindu-Muslim hostilities that run deep into the town’s conscience. After the spurt in militancy, the hometown of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad saw Hindus and Muslims living in separate localities. And now, with the temple banning entry of non-Hindus onto its premises, the gap has further widened.Terming it as retaliation to Muslim fundamentalists banning entry of non-Muslims in some shrines in Kashmir, the management committee is unapologetic. “There is no need to allow those who do not have any faith in our religion,” a priest says. However, even women are not allowed to enter the second Vasuki Naag temple, which is located on the outskirts of Bhaderwah. “For years together, we have been following these traditions that were established by our forefathers,” the priest staunchly supports the customs. He, however, admits that the board restricting the entry of non-Hindus has been installed recently. As Bhaderwah fights the divisions cast with the passage of time, authorities are trying hard to bring the people together by organising cultural activities. However, with the fundamentalist forces not giving peace a chance, only time will tell if this 100 per cent-literate town truly reaps the fruits of education and progress.
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5 cops hurt in Doda encounter
Jammu, June 30 Acting on a tip-off, the police launched an operation in Dali-Kulhand area of the district this afternoon following which the militants opened fire at the security personnel, they said. The security personnel retaliated and during exchange of fire between the two sides, five policemen, including two special officers, were injured, they informed. The injured have been admitted to a local hospital. Additional force has been rushed to the spot to track down the militants, number of whom could not be ascertained so far, they said.
— PTI |
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Signature drive to save Ram Setu
Jammu, June 30 Morcha chief Usha Choudhary said attempts to demolish the setu constructed by Lord Rama to reach Lanka would be foiled. The setu was a sacred landmark of the Hindu civilisation.
— TNS |
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Lone’s statement: NC sees electoral gains
Jammu, June 30 Lone at a public rally in Handwara declared his party would not "take part in the Assembly elections till the Kashmir issue was resolved. This announcement,according to sources,was music to the ears of the National Conference leadership that had started seeing in the Peoples' Conference potential for harming its voter support in Kupwara district.In 2002 Assembly elections the National Conference had won four out of five seats in the Kupwara district,which includes Karnah, Kupwara, Lolab and Langate. It had lost the Handwara seat because Sofi Ghulam Mohiuddin, who had entered the poll fray as an independent ,received support from the vote bank of the Peoples' Conference. The voters in Handwara have been supporters of Abdul Gani Lone,founder of the Peoples Conference. Political analysts had observed
Sofi, almost a new comer, would have not defeated the National Conference stalwart Chaudhary
Mohammad Ramzan had he (Sofi) not been backed by Peoples Cconference
supporters. In that election Sajjad Lone had not issued any whip to the party supporters against casting their votes. Since the Peoples'Conference is well entrenched in Kupwara district besides having pockets of influence in Bandipore, Rafiabad and Khan Sahib constituencies Lone's announcement on nonparticipation in the election seems to have pleased National Conference leaders. |
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