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Nexus between Kerala, Kashmir militants
Nomination process for phase-I begins
PDP releases self-rule document |
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‘Education our priority if voted to power’
BSP ropes in upper caste leaders
Panthers release 7 names
Poll Boycott
Recession may hit political parties
Army flags off educational tour
Sociology dept holds 1st alumni meet
Ex-ministers seek relief for farmers
Pak firing in Poonch
Protest against ‘high-handedness’
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Nexus between
Kerala, Kashmir militants
Jammu, October 25 According to police sources, a group of 70 people who have been trying to cross over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from Kupwara district comprises a number of Kerala residents. The Kerala police team headed by Calicut SP P.K. Rajamohan earlier identified the slain Keralites as Abdul Rehman, a resident of Malappuram district, and Muhammad Fayaz, a resident of Kannur district. Abdul Rehman was the prime accused in a case relating to the burning of a bus of Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation Limited in Kerala few years ago. The bus was burnt to catch attention of the authorities. They demanded release of a Muslim prisoner, Abdul Nasir Madni, who was the prime accused in the Coimbatore blast case in which the senior BJP leader L.K. Advani was the target. “Madni, supremo of Peoples Democratic Party in Kerala, was jailed for a failed assassination attempt on Advani,” a senior officer of the Kerala Police told The Tribune over telephone. The officer informed that another slain militant Muhammad Fayaz was an active member of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the party responsible for creating problems in Kerala. The party has been spreading religious vandalism in Kerala.” Both Abdul Rehman and Muhammad Fayaz were missing from Kerala for the past few months and as per the police, Rehman had a quarrel with his family as he wanted them to stop watching television as it was “un-Islamic.” The officer informed that two more bodies were lying in Kashmir which the state police also claim to be of militants from Kerala; however, the bodies were charred beyond recognition. The special police team from Kerala, which was still in Kashmir to find out how deep the tentacles of the nexus between the Kerala and Kashmiri militants have spread, was shocked to see the intelligence reports that proved to them the involvement of large number of the Kerala residents in militant activities. “Religious leaders from outside Kerala who come for preaching are responsible for the increase in religious fundamentalism,” said the police officer. He said: “The northern districts of Kerala have become a hub for hawala money transactions and the fake Indian currency from Pakistan also comes here in large number,” said the police officer. |
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Nomination process for phase-I begins
Srinagar, October 25 This was informed at a meeting held here yesterday to review the arrangements for the smooth conduct of polls. Governor N.N. Vohra presided over the meeting attended by adviser (Home) S.S. Bloeria, chief secretary S.S. Kapur and others. Meanwhile, chief electoral officer B.R. Sharma and IGP P.L. Gupta today visited Kargil and took stock of poll arrangements in the district, which would go for poll on November 17. Speaking at a meeting of the returning and police officers, the chief electoral officer directed the administration for strict adherence to the model code of conduct to ensure fair poll. Giving details about the arrangements of elections, Satesh Nehru, district election officer, Kargil, said that 237 polling stations were being established for an electorate of 77,242 in the district.
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PDP releases self-rule document
Srinagar, October 25 PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and other senior leaders Abdul Aziz Zargar, Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Mohammad Dilawar Mir and Tariq Hameed Karra were also present. The PDP had been working on a roadmap and strategy to provide a conducive atmosphere in the sub-continent for resolution of the Kashmir issue, Mufti said. He added democracy had taken a good time to develop in Jammu and Kashmir after a continued “siege mentality” since 1947. He pointed out that the ways and means of cross-LoC movement of people and trade was distinct where people were required only LoC permit and no customs was required on the trade that started on Tuesday last. “It shows that the two neighbouring countries have accepted the concept of free economic zone,” Mufti said in his remarks while releasing the document. When asked about the nature of self-rule as compared to autonomy demand of the National Conference, the PDP leader said that autonomy was “just a component of self-rule.” The PDP patron, however, declined to comment on its participation in the forthcoming Assembly elections, as the party is yet to declare its stand. He said any final decision would be taken by the party’s committee led by Mehbooba tomorrow.
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‘Education our priority if voted to power’
Jammu, October 25 Replying to media queries on the sidelines of a function at Jammu University, Abdullah said: “We can form the government on our own and we don’t need to forge alliance with any party.” However, he added it would be a sad day for the National Conference if it had to enter into a tie-up with any party for forming a government in the state. “There are many problems in ensuring smooth functioning of a coalition government and it is always better to have a stable government under a single party,” he averred. Regarding the scenario of being denied a majority in the Assembly, he said the party would take a decision on its future course of action at that moment only. “We will cross the bridge when we reach it,” he stated. On the NC’s manifesto, he said the party’s vision document highlighting its intent for the forthcoming term and also for further 15 years would be released in a day or two. On reports of differences in the party, he said there was no infighting among the party men and they all were united in these elections. Earlier, addressing a function organised by the J&K Christian Dalit Association, the NC patron said if voted to power he will make all the efforts to raise the level of education in the government schools at par with the missionary schools. “The government teachers are better paid, but their output is less. We will see to it that the kids studying in government schools also get quality education,” he said, adding that health and education sectors are the backbone of any state. Lauding the role of missionary schools in spreading education in the state, he assured that if voted power he will provide them land for raising a girls’ school in Srinagar.
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BSP ropes in upper caste leaders
Udhampur, October 25 Langeh claimed that people from all castes and religious were coming forward to support the BSP candidates and asserted that the party would get maximum seats from this belt. The BSP has been especially targeting “upper caste” leaders in only those constituency where the BSP expects to perform well. To consolidate its vote bank among the “upper castes”, the BSP has already announced Rakesh Wazir - a Rajput as the Lok Sabha candidate for the Doda-Udhampur constituency. In the 1996 Assembly elections, the then state president of the BSP, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, had won Bhaderwah seat with the NC’s support But in the 2002 elections, the party failed to even get respectable votes. Meanwhile, in the erstwhile Doda district, comprising Kishtwar and Ramban, the BSP has already announced Muslim candidates to consolidate its position in these areas. As far as Udhampur district is concerned, the party is very particular about giving mandates to the “upper caste” candidates. The party has already roped in former president of the Ramnagar Municipal Committee chairman Vinod Khajuria, who had joined the BSP along with his supporters. Vinod Khajuria from the Ramnagar constituency was earlier associated with the Panthers Party headed by Prof Bhim Singh. Meanwhile, BSP leader Khalil Ullah Qazi, who had unsuccessfully contested two consecutive Assembly elections from the Ramnagar constituency has been sidelined by the party. Although Ramnagar is considered a citadel of the Panthers Party, the BSP has a strong base in this belt due to caste equations.
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Panthers release 7 names
Srinagar, October 25
”Mohammad Iqbal Jan will be our candidate for Bandipora assembly seat. Jan is presently under detention in Tihar jail for his alleged involvement in militant activities,” party chief Bhim Singh told reporters here. He said, he had written to the Election Commission seeking transfer of Jan to Srinagar jail to facilitate filing of nomination papers. Others in the fray are Mohammad Abbas Shah
(Sonawari), Mumtaz Ahmad (Gurez), Manzoor Ali (Kargil), Tabasum Choudhry
(Poonch Haveli), Syed Jalil Shah (Surankote) and Tariq Hameed Khan (Mendhar).—
PTI |
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Poll Boycott
Srinagar, October 25 He described elections were an “irrelevant exercise” and not a solution to the Kashmir conflict. He is outside the fold of Hurriyat Conference and separatist coordination committee. Lone said he would arrange mass contact programme from November 12 to 20 to mobilise opinion against the elections. “I have nothing to do with elections… I would pursue the boycott campaign,” Lone told a press conference at his residence after a meeting of the general council of his party today. He said his party had unanimously decided to boycott elections and launch the campaign. “We will tell people how important it is to stay away from elections,” Sajad Lone said adding that all separatists from all shades were welcome to join the march. The mass contact programme would be launched from Langate to Kupwara in north Kashmir on November 12. This would be followed by similar marches on November 13, 14, 19 and 20 from different areas in the north and south Kashmir.
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Recession may hit political parties
Jammu, October 25 The reason: they may not get as much financial support from businessmen, traders and transporters as they got in 2002 poll. The impact of recession on the capacity of businessmen in donating for the election fund surfaced here recently when one senior party leader asked an industrialist to make available at least Rs one crore for the party fund. But the businessman, who has been providing financial support to the party for the past several years, according to knowledgeable circles, conveyed to the party leader that he could give only Rs 20
lakh. Political leaders belonging to the regional parties said: “We could be losers in the absence of much needed funds because of recession whereas those belonging to the national-level parties, including the Congress and the
BJP, receive financial support from Delhi.” However, a former Congress legislator and minister said: “We receive a pittance.” Explaining it he said: “Candidates in each constituency have been receiving between Rs one lakh and Rs two
lakh.” Echoing similar views, another Congress legislator said: “We have to spend a fortune on hiring jeeps and on
shamianas, tents, chairs, refreshment, hoarding, buntings. The two former legislators stated that at times contesting candidates have to spend money on luring voters. They claimed that to ensure success, candidates have to spend anything between Rs10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh per constituency. A former Education Minister, belonging to the Panthers Party, said: “Our party candidates will not be spending heavily because we do not have resources.” The Panthers leader said last year the same industrialist had sent costly Diwali gifts to his friends and others. |
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Army flags off educational tour
Jammu, October 25 According to Udhampur-based PRO of the Army's Northern Command, Col D.K. Kachari, the group comprising 35 boy students chosen from various schools falling under the Mendhar Brigade were selected. Three teachers were also included in the tour, besides the representatives of the sponsoring unit. “The highlight of the tour was the harmonious mix of students of various religious, culture and economic background coming together and embarking on this educational rejoice” Col Kachari said. He said: “The aim of the tour was to develop awareness about our nation's economic growth, development and cultural diversity among young children”. He said the tour helped in spreading the message of peace, and brotherhood among children. During their tour, the children visited the Birla Planetarium, science museum, Howrah Bridge, Mother Teresa Mission Charity and the Metro train in and around Calcutta. The children also had the opportunity to interact with the GOC-in-C, Eastern Command at Kolkata and were presented with mementos by the Army commander. |
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Sociology dept holds 1st alumni meet
Jammu, October 25 Apart from cultural extravaganza which was the main highlight of the function, the pass outs of the department belonging to different batches from 2001-04 shared their experiences with the present students of the department. Prominent among others who attended the function included dean, Students Welfare, Dhian Singh Bahu; head of department, Sociology, Abha Chauhan, and director, Ambedkar Study Centre, Ashish Saxena. |
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Ex-ministers seek relief for farmers
Jammu, October 25 Addressing a press conference here, the ex-ministers said the crop had suffered 100 per cent damage in various pockets of Bishnah, Vijaypur and Suchetgarh areas in the border belt. They demanded a special package for the farmers of the border areas for the losses of their paddy crop. They also sought compensation for the damage caused to the people's houses due to the hailstorm. They said the government should make special arrangements for facilitating financial aid, seeds and fertilisers to the farmers for helping them prepare their fields for the next crop. They also demanded the repair of irrigation tube-wells at the earliest, besides seeking de-silting of canals and distributaries in time. The senior Congress leaders said the affected farmers were having a tough time meeting daily expenses of their households and the government should come to their rescue without any delay.
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Jammu, October 25 “The Pakistani troops fired indiscriminately from their post number 1080 on Indian posts of the 4 Bihar Regiment and 192 Bn of BSF in a bid to give cover fire to a group of infiltrators late last night at around 0200 hrs,” sources said, adding that the fire was retaliated during which the armed militants returned back. — UNI
Two ultras, 3 suspects held
Srinagar, October 25 Jammu: A special team of the police arrested three suspects from different areas in Jammu late last night, sources here today said. “Based on tipoff, a team of special operation group arrested a suspect associated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit from the general bus stand,” sources said and added that six rounds of AK ammunition and a letter head of LeT outfit were also recovered from his possession. —
UNI |
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Protest against ‘high-handedness’
Srinagar, October 25 Residents of the Panthachowk area blocked the national highway early in the morning and started raising slogans against the security forces alleging that they had roughed up several inmates during cordon and search operations in the area, the sources said. They said police requested the protestors to disperse peacefully and allow the traffic on the highway to pass through. However, the agitated mob rejected the police request, forcing the latter to use batons and tearsmoke shells to chase them away, the sources said, adding that four persons sustained minor injuries in the incident. The traffic on
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